Day #8 7/25/2010

Today I was still feeling a little bit ill, and so I took it easy today and figured that with all the work Touch Diamond / Bravo / Name T.B.A. put out this week he deserved a day off too.

Tomorrow I am going to take some measurements of / for:
halter/bridle
girth / weight tape measurement
cannon circumfrence
body condition measurements
wither height
croup height
body length
distal limb length
chest width
back height
circumference of upper front leg
circumference of hind at gaskin
circumference of hind at stifle
Angle of shoulder
angle of pasterns
circumference of pasterns
circumference of knee
height of belly
take his resting pulse

I am going to make a careful and documented effort to check on his tolerance wit handling his:
legs
ears
mouth
gums
girth
flank
tail
sheath

We are also going to begin doing stretches and "equine calisthenics"! LOL
These will get progressively more involved, but to start with, we are going to do neck stretches for down, left, and right 3 times each and a form of sit-ups 5 times. I will video instructions on this. The sit-ups will help him learn to round his back and collect himself more, as when he is moving at liberty he tends to move a little bit hollow, though not badly. I don't want to over sore him, so we will start low and build up. He hasn't been in any type of conditioning program before coming to me (as you can tell from the prior photos), so I am really starting with a blank slate, which is good. I have found he isn't bound up or tight, and freely moves to both sides.

After doing the stretches, I will be putting him into the arena again, and we will review what we did yesterday. We will address the walk, trot, easy, and woah commands. I will video the work this time, and hopefully he will give me an equal or better performance. I will not be attempting to take it up above a trot at this time, as I want to make sure I have the ability to compel him with my voice and no physical aids before I send him off on what could turn into a very dangerous type situation for him, and me.

Remember everyone, when working with these animals, even when you feel you know them, always put safety as the first priority for both you AND them. If it slightly slows down your progress, there is always tomorrow. It is much better to take an extra day, week, month, etc. than to rush things and end up with one or both of you seriously injured or killed.

According to the facility owner, his appetite is astounding. He has been getting free choice hay and a scoop of grain feed in the morning. This week we are upping it to a scoop and a half. He does need to put on weight and has not had loose stool with the introduction of grain in his diet. (He was pasture kept at the rescue). He has been a little gassy, but I have personally witnessed him eliminating and it was healthy looking.

I know this was a boring post, but it at least gives you a heads up to what I am aiming at tomorrow.

Keep your butt in the middle and a leg on each side -
Happy Tails!
Lucy Roberts

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