Tonto Update:

Here is the "Big Man"

We haven't done anything except ride in the pen once. My helmet should come Monday and we can get started out and about.

OK - the helmet should be there... hopefully no more loose shoes, or weird stomping/walking movements... how's he doing??  What have you been up to?

Oh my, You won't believe it. [sm=lame.gif] It has been nuts around here. My brother in-law passed away. [sm=sad.gif] So we had to scramble to get Jim on a flight to MN. Tuesday. No way I could go on short notice with this herd around here. Wed. the weather was iffy so I didn't ride. Thurs. morn I went out to the barn to find Jet with a runny nose and Tonto had stuck his front foot through the wire and cut around the back of his heel. [sm=angry.gif] It's not bad but I won't be riding him for a few days.

YAY!!! LANI IS BACK!!!

Hi MK!  Glad to be back, THANKS!!!  [sm=proud.gif]
 
Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss -- how terrible.  How's DH hanging in there?
 
Tonto cut his heel?!  [sm=smack.gif]  That boy!  What a trouble maker, you have to stay on your toes with that kid.  I read that Jet has a cold, between those two, you have a full time job, MK!
 
Unbelievable.

Thank you for the condolences L. His passing wasn't totally unexpected but sooner than expected so still a shock. DH is doing okay. I wasn't sure he would be able make the trip with his health issues. But he made it and is doing OK. He will be back Tues. night.

Yes, Tonto cut around the back of his ankle actually. It isn't very bad but we won't be riding until at least the coming weekend. Better safe than sorry. And yes, Jet has a runny nose/cold that seems to be improving.

[sm=dance.gif] He jumped! [sm=dance.gif] He jumped!! [sm=dance.gif] He jumped!!!
The naughty boys were running away from me when I went to bring Jet up for a ride. He has decided that he is above coming when I whistle. They ran the fence a few times and then dashed up to the barn as usual. When I got up to the barn They dashed off again with Jet in the lead and Tonto in hot pursuit. Jet went full tilt over the wash and Tonto followed. I held my breath but he did it! That is a pretty big leap!! He used to jump everything but this is the first jump since the accident. (11 months) He was completely wet but Jet had hardly broken a sweat when I finally got them up to the barn. And he didn't tear open the cut on his heel so I guess we are good to go back to the round pen. So I plan to start from scratch again this weekend.

GO TONTO, GO!  .... you naughty boy, running from your mama.  So bad!  BUT KEEP UP THE JUMPING! 
 
OK - so how was he this past weekend MK?  Did you get the opportunity to 'start from scratch' [:'(] it's terrible that you keep having to start from the beginning, but one of these times you're bound to get him back to fighting shape!  How's Jet? Been getting any riding in? 

Well I worked him Sunday and today. Sunday he was full of himself. Bucking and being a nut. But he did pretty well. Today he was more respectful. I am working him without the saddle because the horrible Cash horse next door took a couple bites out of his back. So no saddle until we get some hair covering those spots. Then I will get on and give it another try. The way he acts there isn't anything wrong with that horse.

I have been riding about every other day with my friend K. Jet was a butt today. I have been lazy and not working him in the round pen so he thinks he is driving and riding is just to find a greener patch of grass to eat. You know he is starving to death.

How about you Lani. Is it dry enough to ride or still raining?

Well, I guess feeling good works both for and against you, doesn't it!  But, it's always nice that they are feeling better.  Glad he went better the second day for you.  Are you going for every other day?  The other horse bit his back?  [&:] These horses!  Egads.  I'd say just wait for it to close up, I don't think you need actual hair there, probably sooner if it's not in a spot that will rub.  But, you probably have your hands full just lunging him!

Jet is obviously misstreated, he needs to eat more, that poor, very round guy [sm=lol.gif]  Sounds like my boy.  I don't call it going for a ride when going on a trail, I say "let's go get in the buffet line."  cause it's my guy and my friends horses moving slowly down an area as they stop to graze every other step [sm=smack.gif]   It's not like he doesn't graze all day everyday or anything.... (((SIGH)))
 
Riding - yes, thank you!  I've gotten a few rides in (it stopped raining about 8 days ago.) K, the trainer, has been working with him and people have been coming up to me "I saw K working with him, he looks GREAT!" .. so at least I know it's happening!  It began raining again yesterday and today a bit though.  I got the last ride in Saturday and K did work with him today, so that's good.  I'm gonna go hang with him for awhile tomorrow and then Easter I've decided isn't a good day to sit an Open, so if it's not raining I may go for a nice long "buffet" with him []  Thanks for asking!

Well every day would be better. The wound on his back isnt open. It is just a scrape about silver dollar sized. We are lunging, yielding and backing etc... And trying to work up his stamina. He would probably be fine if I just got on him. But we will work up to it.

I will be thinking no rain thoughts for you on Sunday. []

Nope, We haven't done a thing. I went to bring him up Easter Sunday and he had a swollen rear fetlock. Don't know why but he had a sore on his leg about halfway between the hock and fetlock. I am assuming that injury caused the swelling. So now the swelling is gone but we have had a couple days of much needed rain. So I have to wait for the round pen to dry out.

I AM NEVER GOING TO GET TO RIDE THIS HORSE!!!! [sm=angry.gif]

Okay, I feel better now and will go back to being patient.

We have been making some progress. I was able to ride him for about 40 minutes both inside and outside the roundpen. Mostly just walking and turning. We have lost our back up so have been struggling to get it back. And it takes about 10 minutes just to go away from the barn. But we are riding! [] I plan to ride every day this week except Thurs. Hopefully by the weekend I will be able to have him worked up enough to have R ride him. Then we will decide if I should continue or if R should work him. We also have a chiro appt. for him in a couple weeks.

I'm so glad you're FINALLY starting to make some headway.  Wow.. it's been a long time since you've had any luck with that guy.  He's really accident prone, isn't he?  Whew!
 
Let us know how it goes this week.... []