Colic, moving and drama

Yup, the dreaded "c" word. Thursday evening I went back up to the barn to give UK his dose of doxy. After dosing him I he kept acting funny, and looking a bit glassy eyed. Concerned, as he'd been fairly normal during the morning, I inspected him closely. If I didn't know him so well I would not have noticed how tight his midsection was. He wasn't in distress, but he wasn't normal either.

I lunged him, and managed to get one poop out of him, but his mid section was still blown up tight as a drum. He was angry that I took away his dinner, which was reassuring. We went for a hand walk down the road, got lunged again, but was still blown up with no gut sounds at all. I gave him some banamine, and waited.

Hours passed and he still wasn't better, no worse, but no better. I ran home and changed into more appropriate barn wear and ate something. I got back to the barn and settled in for the long haul. Mineral oil was my weapon of choice, and UK didn't enjoy getting a whole syringe of it forced down his throat. In the end though it did the trick. I didn't get to bed till 3am, but my horse was much happier after farting up a storm and pooping some more.

Friday dawned with me feeling very sleep deprived but needing to start packing up my stuff for UK's move to the new barn. Cleaning out my trunk always proves emotional as I there are always some items that have fallen to the bottom that used to be Jake's.

Leaving Betsy's was very bittersweet. I loved being there, but I was also looking forward to going to a barn with trails and lots of people to ride with.

Anyways... before I make myself all teary.

UK has been settling into his new home fairly well. He's been very excitable, and it took him a whole day to stop looking for Dacharia. I rode him bareback last night, and it was rather nice. The doxy is really starting to effect the Lyme as he moved forward easily for the first time in weeks.

Today was supposed to be relaxing and fun. Sally, who owns the barn, offered for UK and I to join her and some others on a nice relaxing trail ride. I figured since he's settled in well and was so good last night that we'd be ok as long as we didn't have to lead. Silly me.

I got on him and he started worrying on the bit and overreacting to everything. We started to walk down the driveway, in the middle of the group, and he starts jigging. The farther down the driveway we got, the worse he behaved. Then he reared. I stayed with him and tried to get him to move forward. Then he went up a second time and my right stirrup started to come off my saddle. My thoughts focused on the phrase "Oh shit". I was falling off the back of him. I'm not sure how, but I managed to almost step off him and ended up on my own two feet still holding the reins in my left hand. He proceeded to freak out more and spin around me as some brush had gotten stuck in his tail.

I got him to chill long enough for me to remove the offending branch and pick up my stirrup from the ground. I then decided that we're going on this damn trail ride hell or high water. So I hand walked him the whole bleeding way. UK was lather from head to hoof from nervousness and excitement. It was a miserable experience for me, but a good one for UK. I ended up sun-burnt, exhausted and dehydrated. UK never ran out of energy, despite sometimes trotting sideways while I walked. I think he has the stamina for eventing after all. Ha ha.

Depending on the weather, I think we'll do some ring work and maybe even jump a bit in order to get his brain back and give him some confidence.

I'm going to sleep now... I wish I didn't have to be up so early!

And it begins!

Hi All! (Or Hi great wide internet!)

Let's start by me introducing myself, My name is Jessica and as stated in my brief bio to the left *points*, I'm in my mid-twenties, married, etc. I've always loved horses and started riding at a very young age. I bought my first horse at 16, and now with the addition of UK have owned a total of three horses. I ride english and western, I used to compete (and now don't have the time or the money), I managed multiple barns, including an "A" Circuit barn and taught riding to humans and taught horses too! I currently no longer work full time in the horse world, and just train a couple horses on the side for friends.

But enough about me!

I am the proud new owner of a sweet 8yr old APHA/PtHA chestnut tobiano gelding named The Diversified U K! I've started this blog to chronicle his progress and life in the times to come. He's a big sweety, and worthy of a lot of love and kindness.
I bought him from a very nice Mother and Daughter who bought him in January. The daughter is a novice, and UK was just too green for them. He came to them head-shy and scared. Someone before them did a lot of not nice things to this sweet boy, and it breaks my heart that he went through that!

So here is my mission! To help him know kindness and to forget pain, to know he's safe and won't be beaten. I'll establish boundaries so he feels safe and we'll continue with his training. We'll ride english and western, and do a little jumping. I want to get him in shape, maybe go to a fair, and I'd really love to ride him in The Ride For the Cure this Fall!

I purchased him and brought him home to my friend Betsy's barn on 06/13/10. Then quickly loaded up my TB mare and brought her new home. When I got back I gave him a good grooming.
Day 2: After work we got groomed, lunged a bit and then ridden lightly! He was fantastic, even with the cars and people walking their dogs past the ring!

Today is Day 3: He seems to be finally getting settled, so when I turned him and his pasture mate (The 32yr old QH mare Savannah) I opened the gate to the big grass field. Boy did he get happy, and then he spooked and glued himself to his new friend.

TTFN!

-Jessica/EnglishCowgirl