Tuesday, October 20, 2015

I tell ya...

The hony, this evening... He's cute.

The hony has been, um, expressively bad as of late. Both under saddle and the handful of times I've lunged to see if it was me or saddle fit. Sigh. Typically this means he's uncomfortable. That could be saddle fit, in need of a chiro/massage, needs his feet tweaked with, whatever. It occasionally also means he's not getting enough turnout, the weather's been crazy, or his feed is making him hot. So let's go down the list:

  • Saddle fit - Yup, could be. He's lost a lot of topline (due to losing TONS of weight last winter, ulcers, no work, lyme and some more no work) and we're building it back now. I'm using a shimmable pad so I'm doing the best I can. Can't afford a saddle fitter at this time for a more professional opinion. Also, he's been bad when I lunge without a saddle so while I think the saddle fit isn't the best, it's probably not the only problem.
  • In need of a chiro/massage - Yup, could be. One of the lovely ladies at Digby's barn actually took a look at him tonight. She does some "energy work" but it was free and I figured no harm, no foul. It was fairly interesting when I convinced my science based self to be open minded. I'm going to see how he goes tomorrow.
  • Needs his feet tweaked - I mean, maybe? Probably not? His feet have looked the best they've looked since I've been back in PA. Does this mean it's working for him? No, but they look awful good. I'll chat with my farrier the next time he's out.
  • Turnout - Seriously doubt it. They go out for 7-8 hours a day. In the area I live, that's a lot of turnout.
  • Weather - Ehhh. It's fall and I get it. It's cooler, they're feeling better. His bad isn't "whoo it's cool! I'm feeling good!" though. It's more "I don't want to so SCREW YOU LADY."
  • Feed - Seriously doubt it. He gets almost unlimited grass hay plus about 6 lbs of Tribute Maturity which isn't particularly high in sugar/starches. In an ideal world, I'd keep him on TC Senior but that's not included in my horses board and again, money.

Not a whole lot else to say about that topic. I've done a lot of thinking, not a whole lot of whining, and too much adulting.

I'm trying to not think of the doom (AHH MY HORSE IS GOING TO GO LAME AND I'LL BE STUCK WITH HIM FOREVERRRR AND FOREVER BE BROKE OVER A HORSE I CAN'T RIDE AND IT'S GOING TO SUCK) and just continue on with my life. Full disclosure: I have asked around a bit lately to see if anyone wants a companion horse. It's not 100% what I want but.... Ya know. Digby and I do this shit. Every. Single. Year. Every damn year. Usually more than once a year. He tells me not so nicely that I can fluff off. I tell him not so nicely that I do everything I can to make sure he's comfortable and happy and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HORSE WILL YOU JUST BEHAVE?!? So then I fuss and worry and sometimes we come to an agreement and sometimes I get so frustrated that I give him some time off and he comes back fine at a later point. I'm not sure what to do about it now or in the future. Maybe he's made to be a pasture puff. Maybe I just need to learn how to ride. Hahahah.

Being an adult sucks.

9 comments:

  1. I'm so with you right now that it's not even funny. My mare and I have been going through this up & down with her injuries and I'm just so done. It sucks to feel this way about a horse we have dedicated so much to, but I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. <3

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    1. Thank you, thank you. This is why I wrote the post. Well, 1) because I knew getting the confusion, frustration, and stress off my chest would help and 2) because I hoped I wasn't alone. <3 On one hand I'm like, what? I've had him for almost 6 years?? How can I think about getting rid of him??? And on the other hand I think, I've had him almost 6 years and he hasn't stayed sound and well behaved for riding regularly (ie more than 3-4 times a week) through any of it.

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  2. Sounds frustrating! I've been there too. When you are spending a fortune of your time and money on a naughty/lame horse (a summary of my 2014/2015 years with Apollo) it's not a lot of fun and doesn't seem worth it. Trust your gut! Sending hugs <3

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    1. Yup.... Zero fun. My gut says "it's time to find him a pasture." My heart says "for the love of god please no, you've almost had him for 6 years and that's the longest anyone's ever owned him and you owe him." Ugh, ugh.

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  3. ugh so frustrating :( is it possible that his lyme levels are still elevated? i feel like i've heard that it can take a long time for the levels to drop... but then again a full year sounds intense... anyway good luck, adulting like that is never the most fun

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    1. To be honest, the thought crossed my mind. But, the scarier thought crossed my mind that, what if when I lived in MA (the only time he was never in true bad hony Digby form), he had lyme the entire time? Eeeeeek.

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  4. BAD HONY. Sometimes Dino gets wonky soundness-wise during the change of seasons - his hormone levels get whacked out and he can get a little hitchy and uncomfortable. So.. maybe he just has fall-itis? Or wants to be for real retired?

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    1. Yeah, I'm hoping it's just fall or something..... My gut and my heart are having a serious argument! Haha

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