New barn

We're at a new barn! It is like night and day. He's now at a show barn with an amazing trainer and gorgeous facilities. He gets grass turnout for 12 hours every day and goes out with another horse that he gets along fabulously with. He is seriously like a different horse. He is so happy and relaxed!

He starts training board on June 1st. I am so excited for this. I am hoping to be able to go to at least one or two shows by the end of this year. :D

Scatterbrained

It's been a while since I've updated. Lots has happened lately and I am totally scatterbrained. Here are some updates, in no particular order.

Bourbon had his feet trimmed and he's super sore on the hard ground again. I am trying a new farrier next time. I am not happy with the one that has been doing Bourbon's feet. It's going to be so awkward though because his current farrier lives on the property. Ugh.

I found a little trail off the back of the property the other day. It's really short and kinda crappy, but it's something different and both Bourbon and I enjoyed ourselves. Danny came out with Bruschi and walked with us.

I have been researching feeding a lot and I am doing a total overhaul of Bourbon's diet. Tomorrow morning 800 pounds of alfalfa is being delivered to Bourbon's pen. I am so nervous about all the extra protein all at once, but the barn owner didn't seem worried since the hay he is on now is orchard grass and alfalfa.

I'm going to be switching him to a ration balancer from the loads of grain he is on now. I'm just not sure which one I'm going to use yet.

I'm almost afraid to say it, but he hasn't had a single injury since he's been in his new pen. He actually seems to like the mare he lives next to. I caught her reaching through the gate to eat off Bourbon's hay pile, and Bourbon continued eating happily. I have never seem him so relaxed around another horse and his food. It was wonderful to watch. It gives me hope that one day he will be able to be turned out with another horse. :)

I tried a friend's western saddle tonight. I loved it! It was quite awkward and Bourbon was such a trooper, but man that thing stuck me in there like glue. I felt like Bourbon could throw anything at me and I wouldn't budge. It was great! I'd really like to get a western saddle (or maybe australian?) saddle when the budget allows for it.

I was looking into getting into endurance riding. They offer 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mile courses. I am thinking about starting out with a 10 miler in October. I am super excited! Plus, it gives me a deadline to have a trailer by. ;)

Bliss

Bourbon's eye is pretty much all healed up. The boots I was using rubbed the bulbs of his heels, so I can't use those anymore. He's still pretty sore on the gravel but he's fine on soft ground like grass and the dirt arena. I hope his feet toughen up soon so we can go for a trail ride. Either that or maybe there is some other kind of boot that would work for him without rubbing his heels.

He is in his new pen now. It's 26 feet by 40 feet (1040 square feet) and has a covered area. He seems to love it. He has room to roll and even trot around a bit. Knock on wood, he hasn't injured himself since he's been in there.

I lunged him for a bit today and sent him over a small vertical a couple times. He really perked up and seemed to enjoy jumping. I put a saddle on him, got on and trotted him around a bit. He was super responsive but he did keep looking at the jump. I pointed him towards it and he jumped it perfectly and confidently and cantered off, ON THE RIGHT LEAD! Not only the correct lead, THE RIGHT ONE! I couldn't have been more proud of him. No bucking, just a happy horse enjoying jumping and cantering off beautifully on the right, correct lead. I was in heaven.

It seems so simple looking at it, but it's a huge step for us and it was an incredible feeling.

One thing after another

Of course right when his left eye heals, he injures his right eye. *Sigh.*

His feet were still pretty sore today on the gravel and hard ground, so a friend at the barn let me borrow these.

They worked like a charm and he walked with no issues or soreness on the gravel. Sweet! I don't think I will ever go back to regular shoes again. I am going to borrow these for a while. Hopefully his feet will toughen up and we wont need them, but these will work great if not.

The barn is putting up new pens at the end of the arena that are supposed to be huge. I talked to the barn owner today about moving him in one on the end next to Snowbell, a mare at our barn that Bourbon doesn't seem to mind too much. I am excited for him to have a bigger pen.

I'm also going to get him one of those huge square bales of alfalfa for him to have free choice hay. Hopefull that will help him gain some weight. I'm not happy that he is still a tad ribby.

Headed in the right direction

Bourbon's eye is pretty much all healed up.

He got his shoes pulled and his feet trimmed and his feet look a lot better. They aren't perfect, but we're headed in the right direction. He is really sore on the hard ground, but seems fine on soft grass and sand.

Puncture Wound

Bourbon is so freaking accident prone. I have no clue how he did this.

I'm flushing it with betadine and putting antibiotic ointment on it every day. I hope it heals soon. :(

must.stop.spending.

I really need to stop spending money. I just need so much stuff! I think I am done buying crap for a while though. I just ordered a Roma Front Lift Wither Relief Pad, Wintec Webbers and Grand Hoof. I don't actually need anything else, but of course I really want a sheepskin girth, sheepskin half pad, and a horse trailer. No more spending. No more spending. No more spending!

My stirrup leathers that I currently have are brown, old as dirt and stretched unevenly. It was definitely time for some new ones that actually match my new saddle. I ended up going with Wintec Webbers because a saddle I tried a couple months ago had them and I really liked the way there was no bulk from the buckle under my thigh.

I am going to start Bourbon on the Grand Hoof that I ordered. I ordered it from Smartpak so I know the barn will give him the correct amount every day. It ships to me every 28 days so I never have to worry about running out. His feet look like crap, so I want to give the Grand Hoof some time to see if it helps. I really hope it helps... Here are what his feet look like now.

Did I mention I've got Bourbon on a joint supplement? It's in treat form and he absolutely loves it. I'm not sure I'm going to continue it or not though. I've got two bags with 60 treats each, so it's 4 months worth of joint supplements. His joints were clicking a lot and he seemed a little stiff at the beginning of our rides, so we'll see if I notice any improvement when I get to the end of the second bag. I read some studies that basically said the supplement I am using (Glucosamine in HCL form as the main ingredient) is worthless and not absorbed by the body. I guess we shall see.

On second thought...

On second thought, maybe the saddle does fit.

Yesterday Bourbon threw a bucking fit so I immediately assumed the saddle didn't fit. Apparently my dog Bruschi had run under his feet right before he started bucking. I didn't realize it until my husband mentioned it to me. I am guessing that is why he was bucking.

It appears to fit quite well and man it is SO comfortable. I love it! I ordered a Roma Wither Relief Pad with front lift that should make it an absolute perfect fit.

I rode Bourbon twice today. Lots of trotting both posting and in two point. I also asked for a bit of leg yielding at the walk.

I am trying to get a bunch of the girls at the barn to ship out for a trail ride next weekend. It would be so much fun to get off the property with Bourbon.

I give up.

The saddle doesn't fit. I give up and I am going to ride bareback forever.

It's here!

The saddle is here! There is really nothing wrong with it at all! I found one tiny barely noticeable scratch on the flap but thats pretty much it. The SMB boots are here too! Hopefully the girth will come tomorrow. I am so excited!!