It has been over two weeks since my last post.
Two weeks ago, Sunday, Tumbleweed came in from pasture with a gas colic. That set off three days of fear as I waited and prayed his system would return to normal. Hourly checks. Watered down food and mashes with as much as salt as he would tolerate (per doctor’s orders). And time.
He recovered quickly, but the vet told me it takes about three days for their systems to return to normal, and that proved to be true.
We got back to work slowly and have had several wonderful trail rides. Not surprisingly, the time together bonded us more deeply. He has done his best rides since his colic.
I took him off chasteberry during that waiting period, and I probably won’t put him back on. He’s doing too well to need it.
More time in saddle, and out in the big world meeting people (and donkeys) has made Tweed a budding lead trail horse.
Epona is starting on the trails, and he enjoys leading her. He seems to be taking care of her, in his own way, by being more mature.
I’ve decided that Tumbleweed’s desire to take care of his mares is natural and noble. Here he is with his five girls.
And here he is after he settled from Epona riding away from him. He didn’t like it, at first, but became resigned and cocked a leg. (What more could I ask for? Good boy!!)
And that’s how we have handled buddy sour lately, the natural way. Give them jobs and let the natural process unfold.
Our training is largely finished with Tumbleweed, but the new plan is to use him to bring Epona along on the trails. (My daughter riding Epona above).
We will keep doing what we’ve been doing, lots and lots of trail exposure and longer and longer rides. I’ve found the longer the ride, the better he does.
His fitness level is just off the charts this year with all the early work he got. Katie said that he has finally matured into his body.
For example, he knows how to use his body up and down hills. Last year he was still a bit goofy in his body, and that led to some insecurity on his part (and mine.). But that is gone. I feel like I have a horse underneath me now. A horse who can lead out and go wherever we need to go.
One of my rides was with a friend’s horse who I rode with last year and had issues. What a difference. He didn’t pay any attention to what that mare was doing or how far she fell behind. It was just me and him, and he went wherever I pointed. He was still a bit looky, but a good kind of looky, the kind that lessens with exposure. The kind that listens to me for reassurance.
Maybe it took a colic to get us to this partnership. Maybe those hourly barn checks bonded us in a deeper way. If so, I guess I’m thankful for it.
I will leave off with a few images of our spring.
This crabapple tree we planted two years ago stopped us in our tracks everyday while it bloomed. We could also see it from our front windows.
What a gift.
A last bleeding heart.
Summer snowflake
Kwanzan Cherry.
Summer snowflake
Apple tree blossoms
Blue vinca
