After 2+ months away, the boys came back home last night. For so many reasons (primarily access to an indoor and outdoor arena, people to ride with, and a way to manage Nay Nay’s anxiety), it was nice to have them boarded, but, on the other hand, I’m so happy to have them back home. With the exception of the 5 days I was on vacation, I think I was out at least 1x day all but twice? And I won’t miss bagging their grain at all.

Cairo:

Lots of updates on this boy. He’s been doing so well and really adjusted to boarding life. If funds were unlimited, I’d have a third (retired) horse/pony and keep Cai boarded. But, that’s not in the cards. So he can deal with what I can provide.

Trailer Loading:

Cairo had 3 (?) sessions with a local trainer who specializes in trailer loading. She’s fabulous. Cai has a few issues. 1. He doesn’t understand my step up AT ALL (he had loaded in it several times before but I can’t say he ever truly understood it) and 2. He’s got a very strong stubborn streak. If he doesn’t want to do something, he is determined he doesn’t have to. So, combine his confusion over the step with a “I don’t want to” and… Yep. Anyway, after a lot of initial frustration (on my part, not hers. She did not get frustrated with him at all), we worked with some other trailers and Cairo started (he still fought the issue) loading with a ramp. By the 3rd session, he was loading on every ramp at which he was presented. At that point, we took him back to my trainer and he was a lot better, putting his feet on to the trainer and all that. We didn’t push the issue, just took the win. But, so many times he tried to put his feet on and… missed.

Anyway, the plan is to get a ramp added to my trainer. I’m working with the place I bought my trailer. We have one on order (a ramp “kit” for my trailer) and the ramp should be delivered with the next shipment of trailers in a few weeks (save on freight please!). At that point, they will arrange installation with a local welder they work with regularly and the installation process should be pretty quick (hinges and springs are already installed on the ramp side). Anyway, fingers crossed.

To get the boys home, our trailer trainer hauled us and both boys loaded well. Cai hesitated once he had to load into the smaller stall vs the open trainer, but was on in minutes once he realized the ask. Nay walked right on which bodes well for the ramp. Nay was a touch confused unloaded as he kept looking for the step and faced a ramp instead. He’s so trained to the step and kept stretching his leg out looking for the drop.

Riding:

Riding, Cai’s been great. He continues to be quiet and well behaved with a touch of a stubborn streak. Nothing bad, just that “I don’t want to” that comes in if we sit too long. It turns out a crop really helps and takes out most of the argument. Ask, then demand. After a couple of rides, most of the time I just need to ask.

His right lead has also massively improved. We went from not being able to pick it up to picking it up with playing to picking it up with lots of theatrics (bucks, lots of playing, drama, kicking out), to mostly being a good boy. To aid in the lead, my trainer had me put on a left spur. It worked, we got the lead. But, Cai eventually was over the spur. Once I pulled the spur and replaced it with a crop? Everything changed. Anyway, his leads are now solid. He’s slow, but solid.

We started working over a little 12″ brick box. He struggled with the concept of this for weeks. Just didn’t get how to pick up his feet. I did walk him over it though I can’t say it helped. One evening I set up a cross rail and walked him over that and he was way more willing. We trotted that a few times each way before he spotted a small gate on the landing (4 strides out). Since he carried me to it, I decided he could walk over it. It was 18 inches, nothing major. Next time? Something clicked and he landed the cross rail, locked into the gate, and jumped the damn thing landing in the canter. We did it a few times. But, the brick box hasn’t been an issue since.

He does has some on and off soundness issues. He’s fine most of the time and even better if I do a super long walk warmup. Some days he’s 100%, sometimes 90%, some days he has a stabby trot, some days he’s just off, and some days he’s off and works out of it. But, because it was all intermittent, I wanted to get a baseline to figure out what was actually going on.

Maintenance/Oil Change:

Cai had a soundness check. Nothing fancy. Just walking, trotting, and flexions. There wasn’t anything notable. We’re dealing with arthritis. And he’s “racehorse sound.” He looks like a horse that’s been on the track a long time…which he has. And he’s still recovering a touch from his injury. Having said that, the more we went, the better he looked. Not exactly surprising as he gets better with movement and stretching. But, watching him go, watching his videos, and based on discussion, my vet felt we had some options. The first was to do…NOTHING. Continue with the status quo. This option was recommended if we planned an easy summer, lots of long warm ups, and plans to focus on trail riding. The second? Injections. Both hocks and left fetlock. Anything in-between would be a waste.

In the end, we went with the injections. He’s too nice and too willing to be uncomfortable. So inject we did. He’s to have a light couple of weeks and then build back. All of this is fine since we’re back home and I’m not 100% sure he’s going to load in my trailer without the ramp (OK, I’d be shocked if he does).

I was going to update on Nay Nay too, but this post is long enough.