I have really struggled to deal with Mister’s suspensory issue, knowing the surgery cannot be covered by insurance, and other lameness issues were present and undiagnosed during the lameness work-up, and feeling so uncertain about his ridden future. At a time when Ben has retired and Django was turned away, leaving me without anything to ride, it was hard to not feel very selfishly about being out of the saddle.
I tried to put Mister on grass livery so he wasn’t stressed about the other horses coming in and out to work, but he was like a boomerang and came back here in less than two weeks, after falling over in their field, badly cutting his legs and needing to be box rested. Then, with the weather being so horrific, I didn’t want to send him back, and while no one has really been doing any work it didn’t seem a problem. And with losing Ben, I was just happy to have him around!
Now we are heading into spring, and with everyone coming back into work, I have made plans to send him off on grass livery again. Hopefully, this time he will be able to give the leg the rest it needs, with plans to do a lameness work-up in October, which will be 12 months from the original injury. I have everything crossed it will work out, as he is just the easiest, most laid-back and keen horse, and only 12 years old.
On a brighter note, I have been offered an amazing opportunity, and there are plans to get back in the saddle, so watch this space!
Once again I threw Arlo in at the deep end, affiliating him purely for the Arena UK second round show, and once again he pulled it out the bag. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little horse? We haven’t really competed this year. I don’t really compete over the winter, and also my horsebox was away for repairs up until the beginning of June, so I had no transport even if I’d wanted to.
With the dry ground we don’t seem to be having much luck with shoes, as little madam managed to pull both her front shoes off within 12 hours the other day! We entered the arena with two shoes on for a schooling session and left it with one missing (took about an hour to find it). Then that afternoon, as I went to put some hoof ointment on, I looked down and had to double take, thinking I was looking at the wrong hoof. But, no, the other shoe was missing too.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.