Happy 2nd birthday Albert!!!! Whooo! Hoo! Hoo!!!!

Photos coming soon.

He is healing well. I have a photo of the injury at about a month. Vet said (GREAT new vet, Paul Haffner...highly recommend...after 4 vets this one is a keeper!..of course we are in on place for a spell!) that because the portion of skin was taken off, it will tak longer. Things look good. He's been an excellent patient. Plus, my bandaging skills are less rusty...oh my goodness I was just a hoot. If Albert could laugh I think he would. After toooo many years out of practice, the fingers are getting their act together. I can imagine my riding muscles are laughing...

Albert's had a second trim. Keeping his toes in good shape, mainly because when the backs get too long he has to work too hard. He is a case study for conformation in the rears. Sickle hocked and a bit of a cocked ankle. I know that he has much growing to do, and lots of time to see how things hang. So keeping up with the trimming gives him a break.

Mostly though it's hanging out waiting to heal. He is turned out in a paddock and gets to socialize, and I think he likes the taaaaaaalllll grass a lot!

With the healing on the march, we are working on some ground work again. He is a keen horse, enthusiastic and loves interaction with humans. He also has such a well developed sense of horse humor. I imagine him laughing. I turned him out in the big arena and he galloped around, doing his squeal bucks with pleasure. He came up to me but did not rear, I picked up his halter, put it on and he just looked at me like "see, I know I should not be a goof and rear" so we worked on backing up and coming to me. leading at my side, turning with and away from me. We walked out to pasture and back, because I don't want him to go spare on the staff when they do turnout when he gets healed! :)

Also, since pretty soon we well have him back at pasture...fingers crossed! I have gotten him a feedbag for outdoor feeds. Ingenious idea for not wasting food and getting all of his nummies! (He just brings out the cute attack in me!)

Another hot summer here in the Northwest. Two in a row, nice, but we pay the price. This is a rainforest.

Tell that to Albert!

Click to enlarg this photo! Albert zipped around while I used an f16 stop and a nice long exposure!

He has shedded out to be a rather rosy warm bay color. Being the little monkey he is, the other advantage of being indoors, his "pasture battle marks" are healing. Also, hanging out with Albert in the turnout paddock has it's advantages...tanning, drowsing in the sun, watching Ursa goof around... heheh.

His foot has been healing at a good pace. Bandaging and a drug store antibiotic with some home made goop by Dr Haffner (anti-biotic, steroid, anti-fungal) really have kept the whole proud flesh concept out of the picture. I had him unbandaged some days, with the bell boot to keep him from injuring it. He had a little window overlooking the paddocks and he put his foot through it, lost a bell boot, and also scraped up his foot. Two steps back time.

So...back to the bandaging regime. And finally down to one gap, and the combination of open air and bandaging has closed it up to....

July 19. Horse Health Day at Cherry Creek Eq. Center! Dr Haffner says Albert can go out!

PARTY!!!! Oh my goodness! I took him out to the gelding pasture but did have to use a nose chain, since he was pretty excited. Once he reared. Which was not too bad, I had to focus him onto me.
Then he caught something going on out of the corner of his eye and spooked, but we made it.

He just had his silly old self thick in the fray of "social pecking order." He did his floating trot, squealed, reared, galloped, met old buddies, met new buddies, got nailed just above his knee....sheesh.

So, he is doing okay, nothing bad so far. He really does like to play with other horses, even if they aren't interested in him! I pulled him out of the pasture for a go over and worming on the 22nd. He's smilin'!

Just a few bits of rain here and there and one thunderstorm mark the month so far. Albert has been at pasture and, aside from some fresh tooth marks from his pasture mates, enjoying things rather well. He eats out of his feedbag, he knows how to use the ballcock on the waterer in pasture, and takes delight in pushing it down to hear the water running inside... only to walk off with water dribbling out of his mouth.

Life is goood!

A little note: I am back to using my Minolta XG-7, since I like the shutter control that I just don't get with a digital camera. My analog brain just loves my camera! So...slight photo delay!

His pink muzzle got some sunburn and a bit of dermatitis from the exposure to the grass. A little zinc oxide that's "destined" for a baby's bottom, covers his nose and now, mid month, things are looking nice.

Also, I was waiting for a new farrier's schedule and mine to match and I left his feet grow too long, and he got a crack. It ended up breaking to the right, and then was trimmed by the vet until the farrier could come. Sheeesh!
Must plan ahead!!!

This all happened during a Terry Church clinic (9th and 10th), in which Albert and I participated doing ground work. Saturday at least, but Sunday we did not do any ground work, but we did watch. Very educational, and enjoyable. Helped me deconstruct some processes, and enabled me to make some super strides with Albert. I am a traditionalist at heart, but I enjoy the groundwork, and it offers me cool options that work. Especially since Albert is usually 3 steps ahead of me, and pony-brained too boot, so the more I understand how he thinks, the more pleasure I get, and I hope he experiences! Besides, I am just crazy about him....hehe.
We did actually participate in a round pen exercise on Saturday. Albert was just sooo much the cutie!!! He goofed around with the baggie at the end of the short dressage whip. I had to waive it more then he moved around the arena. When we stopped, I said whoa, and practiced body language, he even came over to me, like a flippin' cutie!! HUG ATTACK!!!
Last month, I just walked around behind and next to him, and could get him to come around in a circle in the arena. It was nice, this time, to understand that, again, he knew what was up, I needed to catch up! We also worked with Laura M and her horse Loyal together in the round pen (Loyal was his "injury buddy," they could chat about their cut heels over the partition).
Pretty cool to be able to focus on Albert. Even better, he focused on me.
During the July "rest and recovery" I had tried on two occasions to "traditionally longe him. It was too hilarious. He just would not cooperate unless I was sub-eight feet from his shoulder. Try to move away and he would fall in, wheel and bolt, and I just did not have the footing to keep from braining myself. The second day we ended in a decent walk. I think he also just stopped to watch someone take a horse for a trail ride, ignoring me completely then bolting way. I feel the collective forehead smacking wafting across the ether. So, my need to get him and I on a more connected discussion was good.

Aug 14. After the farrier came, we worked on leading, moving out of my space, and relaxation. Lots of fun, because we have the tendency to squabble, and I don't want to smack him, when he plays his nipping game. This clinic really helped connect some missing dots. For me, Albert has just been standing their laughing his head off. He already knows how to be a horse!
Of course I would be a fool to not acknowledge that turnout has been a huge benefit. Huge. Now that I think back on his time in a small paddock, I can totally understand why he went goofy when there was something to do. As an aside, I read in an old horseman's book that young horses should grow during their formative years at their stud, where they can run in huge pastures and grow strong, grow well sprung ribs and strong joints. Talk about guilt trip! Albert is still young, and I am extremely greatful that I have access to a huge pasture that he can grow strong, grow well sprung ribs and strong joints.

I finally figured out how to use my Rolleicord Vb, so hopefully, I will take some photos of Albert with it soon. Summertime...mmmmmm!

Feet, teeth and legs were the theme of the month.

It was largely just a loungey "I'm growing up in the nice sunny weather Mom" kind of beginning to the month. Another trim took care of the ol' silly crack remnants from last months miscalculation on my part, and he was looking marvo. Still a little short backed, little dude. More on that soon...

The 20th he got some dental work done and in my big plans, while he was under he was due for a sheath cleaning. When the vet did his teeth he educated me on the world of baby teeth. Then, to my shock, he took out the top four baby caps. I joked about a discount when I saw that there were NO baby teeth coming in behind! (I am writing this on October 16 and he's still eating like a bovine...I have to cut up all apples...POOR ALBERT!!! He squeaks when he eats grass!!!!)

However, he had a good job done on his molars and I have a little set of teeth packed away somewhere...I think they match a bruise on my mom's arm, he sampled her one day, but I digress, so here he stood, looking like Albert the Bovine instead of Albert the equine...and I didn't have the heart to continue with a sheath cleaning, it would have been strictly amateur hour any how!! So I asked the vet to do it. I think it made up for looking like a denture wearer for the next few months! I was pretty worried if he could eat, but he managed fine, he shot me some looks after I turned him back out and the next couple of times I brought him in all we did was hand feed in the next pasture that was essentially unused. I think it's all ok. But, he does not like his mouth handled as much any longer. I periodically peek at the teeth, or the gums, to see if something, anything, will come in. So far, it's an empty slate.

The month rounded out with a kick: Slight miscalculation by a working student and a mare was released for just a few minutes with the geldings. Albert decided to beome the self appointed welcoming committe. THWACK! just above the knee. Perhaps I can thank his diminutive height for the "above the knee" kicks he tends to get. However, he'd been wormed and trimmed and when I had to go out of town, he got very ex cellent care at CCEC. Yay!

Like I said, I had to go out of town...segue to...

Returning from a family emergency in California (how do you people deal with the traffic any more? I am fifth generation Californian, but I had to drive around like I had a death wish to keep up with the traffic!) was most pleasant: Cooler days and nights rain had been evident after a dry as toast summer, and best of all?

Albert Growed UPPPPPP!!! Not only is he a comfy 15.3, but he's got shoulders, and a chest and a barrel!!! And a winter coat! Plus his bump is healing and the thwack was pretty impressive, as recounted to me!

I confess that every time Albert has a growth spurt I am so pleasantly surprised with him! His smart eye, his nice head, and of course his great set of hips and shoulders...and...his longer back! Not a lot, just a little. But still very harmonious. Of course there are some negative aspects to his comformation, sickle hocked, and some funky angles below the knee and of course watching the back left fetlock, all just not as bad as he is nice. I still say, give a PMU foal a chance!

I decided to try to longe him last week at a walk and a trot in the indoor arena. He was a dream. Walking and trotting on command. I asked for a canter, which was too much for him, he stumbled and I thought let's keep the calmness. No antics, no diving in and then bolting off. He'd walk up to me after we stopped. Very tempting to work him harder, but the growth spurts in this fine baby horse o' mine take their sweet time, so why tinker with Ma Nature? Also, he seems to have buddied up with all the biggest youngsters in the field!

Just give me some days for some photos, got the ones back from August, too, my word, what a difference a couple months and a winter coat will do! He bonked me in the nose, tears flying everywhere so I think, even though I know he could have done it the whole time, I finally feel like he could really yank me around if he felt like it. Photo note: my beloved xg-7 may be on it's last legs, needs a light seal redo and worse, the "brains" are eating up batteries faster than normal. Drats!

Keeping up with Albert's trims is the focus for this year. He tends to overreach, so working with the great farrier and keeping on our game!

Two more longe sessions, one inside the covered arena and one outside. Albert wearing a cavesson and me using a longe whip. He was great! Whooohooo!

Albert has a new blanket! It was cold earlier this month, very cold, and I was having trouble keeping the weight on him. With one feed a day, and it's pretty massive at nearly 5 pounds of chow in one go, I didn't want to give it all up to the cold nights. Also, the ever present, or ever imminent rain. Now he has a nice Blackwatch plaid blanket. The number one consideration? Leg straps. This blanket won't get disemboweled like last years!!!

The 21st Albert got to be turned out in the indoor arena with his pasture buddy Loyal. Loyal is a classy black retired racehorse, he's a good hand taller, and it was such a blast to see them play. Laura, Loyal's mom, and I herded them around each end, they were so much fun to watch!

He's "butt high" now so another growth spurt is happening! And he's a solid 15.3hh no longer a shy 15.3! whoohoo!

Three floods so far this autumn! So that means Albert lounges in a spacious stall with hay and snacks at his, well not quite, beck and call! From approx the 18th of November through the first week of Decamber, Albert lived indoors. He was just as rambunctious as he used to be, but his manners are much more in tact: no rearing! The best part was that he could get turn out with a few of his pasture buddies into the large arena. It was too dark to capture photos, but it is a hoot to watch his attitude! Loyal, an elegant black ex-racehorse, the pasture Lord and Master, tolerates Albert's nippy little teasing, and they canter back and forth in the arena. If I added Cody, a lovely little Appy, with such a funny personality that he usually gets the upper hand in pasture. But in the arena, Albert pulled all his 7th grade playground clout with Loyal, and teased poor Cody mercilessly! Even got a frustrated squeal out of him! I am sure, Cody will right that wrong any day now, since they are back in pasture!

I did finally give Albert a modified pony clip. Just a bit under the armpits, and a bit off the chest. I left his throat and throatlatch covered. This will help when he zipa around pasture and gets sweaty. He has not had the kind of work Loyal has, and he also has a pretty thick coat, so it doesn't take long for him to get sweaty. Plus, I keep him blanketed, his food doesn't fly up to the coooold night air!

Ursa likes to watch Albert in the arena, but he won't let her in! He stomps over to the edge of the gate and stomps like a wild horse, ears pinned and nostrils flaired. Since his status in the herd is pretty low, he is sure that he is safe from "wild" dogs! Funny Albert!

Albert has finally started to grow in some top teeth. Weeeeellll one. One tooth is coming in and if we can get another of the four that Dr Vetter prematurely removed to come in I would be happier! Here is a tip: let the baby teeth grow in! Poor guy can not still eat an apple!!! Little dude!!! I have to cut them up. He mouthed one on the 25th for Christmas but dropped it, and I am sure if horses feel disgust, well, he would. At least he'd match my own! Next time I get a baby horse I will wait to pull baby teeth. Why? After filing down the molars to match for the teeth he had...the dentist pulls the loose (not that loose!) front ones. Somehow that does not make sense.

Have been working with the farrier to handle Albert's overeach issues. He forges, but he sometimes catches his heel, so the farrier is helping him turn over his fronts faster get the backs to not hit. He still wears bellboots in pasture, but I don't have him wear them all the time, perhaps I need to invent perforated bellboots for those of us who have horses with stride imperfections!

The year is winding down as I write this, so we are mellowing through the cold nights and short days. Albert has mastered stopping perpendicularly to me on the longe line and he understands "whoa" much better. In fact I am keeping it short and occasional, I have only longed him twice this month, but he really tries hard, and I do too, keeping it mellow, and really engaging my mind in the process. What am I asking him, how and is it making sense? Is he calm, relaxed ready for the upward transition? Am I letting him balance? We only walk trot and halt. Then I praise him at all times, because he does tune in! I also have to thank Terry Church for the great roundpen experience! Albert can walk and has, on occasion, trot on free longe. Rather than going the length of the arena, he will turn back toward me and do a 20 metre circle. I have actually leaned over on his back, but there is no need to ride him, he is only 2 1/2 and still a baby. I have no urge to rush him, and am not impressed with those who slap saddles and riders on their young horses. With his dental situation, a bit is just not going to happen and since he is pretty compliant, willing and workaday, I think when the time comes, it will be pretty straightforward. Plus, it's fun to have Mr Albert be a big funny baby for a while longer!!

Albert's blanket rubs his shoulders, so he has a lycra shoulder guard now! Next winter I will rethink blanketing! From my mouth to God's ears, I hope to live in a dryer climate!

In the meantime we are having a lot of fun...at least I am!

Brrrrrr! Cold snap for us Northwest Weather Wimps! Got down to the 20's. Then if flooded. Then it dried out and then it flooded. So for the next couple months he will be turned out during the day and brought in at night, with weekends out, when weather permits! This ensures that he get's enough food and a full feed of hay. Once I watched him nibbling at an empty patch because he's been knocked down to a low rung on the pasture heirarchy. When the grass comes in, he will be able to munch his heart out!

Weather! After it's too cold, you want to whip off the blanket as soon as it get's back to normal. Then Voila! You see how much weight the weather took off your poor little Babyhorse! Wah! With the flood Albert trends toward his old stockin up, so these days I am getting him back onto oats and some LMF and make sure he gets turn out. He could care less. The barley didn't really assist with the weight gain. So, enough of that feed.

I have been watching him while he's turned out. I sometimes wonder when he will mature. He loves to play and will go down his list of potential playmates until someone "gives" and starts to "horse wrastle" with him. He's got a top ten list and right now Cappachino, a little kiger gelding, is the most likely gelding he'll get to "wrastling" with. They rear, push, kick, bite, drop on their knees and gallop around. It's like Albert realizes that there isn't much grass and he will be getting hay or food later so turnout is playtime! It is a hoot to watch.

It's been a mellow month. Just hanging out, no pix, but will be next month..

Albert is a little tweaky on the oats and with the combination of flooded pasture and oats, he can hardly contain himself when I work with him. On the 8th we tried a lunge session, he drove the agenda with some of his arial displays and squealiness. I can only laugh, he could haul me across the arena, but he remained soft and after a dance or two around he settled. I finally decided he just wanted to run around. Which he did!

Another month or so before the flood threat will be a winter memory! When the sun comes out, even for a few days, we all go a little kooky and plan for the summer! Albert has been shedding for about two weeks...maybe he's doing the same.

Journal Continues...

I take my pix with a minolta xg-7 and x700 (I will build a page on this site that talks about my kit) - and my mom's advantix camera, if I am in them, my very talented mom did it (ain't she sweet?)

And that ultimately means that I have the film developed and scanned...so where am I going with this??...well, that means that hot off the press photos of Albert lag behind the text.

Note: My new image acquisition device: Olympus digicam! Not to shabby! The only thing that I don't like is the slow shutter lag time between button pushing and image capture. So, I still use my trusty XG-7