Friday, August 13, 2010

My Pretty Pony

It's been a while! I can't get enough riding in the fall, winter, and spring. And then summer hits and it gets hot. And dry. And dusty. And all I want to do is be at the lake cabin.

A doctor told me recently that people with low blood pressure have trouble handling both heat and cold. That certainly explains a lot. And that we should eat lots of salt. Which I already was doing, I pretty much douse everything with salt. So the cabin is a haven from the heat of the city and is pretty much where I want to be when the temps. get over 80*.

Plus we had our annual family/friends week-long reunion the first week of August. And I've been taking an online computer graphics class that took about 20-30 hours a week to complete. Just finished that up Wed. (phew), so Jasper has had some time off.

I decided last weekend that I would move him from his stall with giant run down to the big field so he could run and play with the other horses and eat grass while I finished up my last big project.









I got a call from the barn owner yesterday morning. She was concerned because all the horses have been really mean to him and chase him away from the herd so he has to stand 200 yards away from everybody. Apparently when they go to get water Alexandre chases him halfway down the chute. I went out and he has chunks of hide missing. His right hind leg has a huge gash and is swollen from hock to hoof. I really believe in letting horses live as naturally as possible but this is ridiculous. He may just be too submissive to be in a herd situation. So he's back in his stall with run attached and is getting cold hosed every day. If his leg hasn't improved by Monday I'll call the vet. Of course I sent my entry in for the Stanton Farm Horse Trials (Sept. 11-12) the day before.

On another note I see Alexandre almost every time I go to the barn, the (extended) family that's leasing him loves him and takes him out on the trails almost every day. Sometimes twice a day. He seems happy and gets lots of cookies. There was a little girl out there yesterday riding him. Her mom said that there are tears if she doesn't get to ride Alexandre. After she got off he got a bath, groomed, and his long mane brushed out. You could tell she LOOOOOOOOOVED him, you know, that young girl infatuation for a horse that we all had when we were 12. It kind of brought up a few tears. Happy tears.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Poor guy! Hope everything heals up OK!

allhorsestuff said...

OOh Sweetie Jasper~ Low horse on the rank sheet indeed! Darn..you can tell he is curious and that is what gets him in trouble...another horse needs to take care of him, and maybe it would have happened...but he could be legless by then too!

Well, Get him healed up for your cool competition soon!
He is so awesome, and I loved hearing of you two..missed ya!

I also have low blood pressure..thanks for the salt tip..I do get really dizzy/blackout like sometimes...and now that it's 90 + and I am riding..think I will take everything but water on those rides..more electrolyte drinks!

Be well, enjoy the cabin times and yea...
I teared up with the thought of her horse love and mine still!
XO
KK w
Wa mare~

PruSki said...

I have the same problem with Olly. All the horses beat up on him. He has chunks missing from legs, butt and everywhere else. My poor boy!

Anonymous said...

Awww poor guy...wow he really took a beating it sounds like :( Hopefully he heals up quick and the other horses chill out!

Beautiful pics!

Achieve1dream said...

Poor guy getting beat up on!!

When are we gonna get to see some pictures of Alexander again? I love that horse. :)

I love the third and sixth picture of Jasper. He is so gorgeous!

The Equestrian Vagabond said...

so what kind of blood pressure do you have if you just can't STAND the heat?

and your poor punching bag pony. mine always goes through that in a new situation, but now he's just the Ol' Guy in the herd here. they tolerate him and pay him no mind, even the Big Bosses!
- The Equestrian Vagabond

jacksonsgrrl said...

Megan- Is he going to be OK for the show? I hope so, I am still living vicariously through you show wise! But GOOD things are happening in the horse realm. We are cantering fairly consistently, and working on greenie jumps, but have done about 2'6. Jackson seems to LOVE it! That photog class seems like it paid off, those pics are fab! Did you take them on the old camera, or a digital? I want to take a photog class soooo bad. I'm learning Photoshop (self taught, ha ha) right now! Hope the plague is gone. Maybe you breathed in some bat poop in that cave when you went after the star garnets! Get better and go get US a ribbon! Bwahahaha!
~Mindy