adventures with Kieran

lizardlady · Nov 12, 2016, 02:23 PM

Haven't been able to ride the last few weeks for a variety of reasons. Wasn't sure if I ought to today or not because I pulled a muscle in my back yesterday. Am so glad I decided to go ahead and ride. I thought that maybe the gentle swaying motion as he walked might help gently stretch the sore muscle.

I told Kieran if he was a good boy and walked quietly around the ring I'd only make him stay out for 10 or 15 minutes. He walked around on a loose rein like a complete gentleman. It was funny. We'd been walking around for 10 minutes when he walked to the middle of the ring and stopped. I swear he was telling me he'd been good for 10 minutes so I needed to get off as promised. Since it's bad form to let them decide when to quit I got him to walk around the ring a couple more times, then got off.

The pasture we were riding in has nice deep grass. Most of the time they are not allowed to graze there (resting the pasture). His reward today was to have his tack stripped off and be turned out with the good grass. He seemed like a very happy guy about it.

Oh yeah, the ride helped the sore muscle relax. I'm glad I went ahead and rode.

Nammu · Nov 12, 2016, 08:02 PM

What a great way to treat back pain! ((((Hugs))))

lizardlady · Nov 26, 2016, 09:21 AM

He is such a sweetheart. I was out in the pasture pulling weeds yesterday and he came over for a scratch and to say "Hi".

lizardlady · Nov 26, 2016, 05:09 PM

I had the mostest, wonderfulest ride today!

He started out distracted by a neighbor's tractor that was making a meep-meep noise. We had to wander over to the front gate so he could check it out.

He seems to have caught on to the idea of a nice steady walk. We spent most of the time noodling around on a long rein, just letting him amble. When I first got him, he didn't seem to understand it was okay to amble. A few minutes after I climbed on her would start trying to trot. Today he was content to just walk around. I did ask him for some serious walk a few times. That used to mean he thought he had to trot. A couple of mild corrections and he just walked like a gentleman. That was rewarded with calling him a "GOOD BOY" (said in high pitched ooy-gooy voice).

We finished up with me trying some weird things just to see how he would react. I laid on his neck petting him. He thought that was great. I tried to lay back with my head on his rump, but my stiff old body wouldn't let that happen. Got my head close to his rump though and he didn't care. Swung my legs around like an idiot. He didn't care. I finished up by dismounting on the wrong side. That earned me a look that I swear meant "Hey dummy! You did that wrong!"

I know I sound like a broken record, but I'm so happy I found him!

Nammu · Nov 26, 2016, 06:00 PM

I love the updates and that you're still experiencing such joy.

kindachaotic · Nov 26, 2016, 06:05 PM

These updates never get old.

Love them!

lizardlady · Dec 17, 2016, 04:00 PM

Today's ride was wonderful!!! Tired and sore today so I wasn't sure I wanted to ride. My body said no, but my head said yes. I'm so glad my head won. He was sooooo good today. I gave him a big hug when I got off today and told him how glad I am to have him, that he is exactly what I wanted.

notz · Dec 22, 2016, 12:01 PM

Merry Christmas Kieran! I hope you are as happy with her as she is with you!!!

I truly wish I could give you this wreath in person but this will have to do!
adventures with Kieran

lizardlady · Jan 14, 2017, 09:32 PM

Y'all who live in the frozen north are probably going to laugh your butts off about this. I just ordered Kiern a new winter blanket. The one I'm using is really ratty. It's got to be over 10 years old. He is the third horse to wear it. It got cold enough here last weekend that I needed to blanket the boys. I realized how nasty the blanket had gotten.

Tonight I was checking out the place I order such things from and they have one just like the old one at half price! So I ordered him a new blankie! I'll try and get a pic of him wearing it when it comes.

Before anyone questions why we blanket in sunny Florida, it's because the poor beasts can't adapt to the cold. It can be 80 one day and 30 the next. My vet convinced me years ago that it is worth investing in blankets and using them. Imagine if you lived outside with temp variations like that. In addition, they don't drink enough water when the temps drop. They aren't thirst, so they don't drink. Then they end up with an intestinal impaction from not drinking. Blanketing them keeps 'em warm so they drink. No intestinal problems then. A blanket, that will last for years, is w-a-y cheaper than an emergency call from the vet.

lizardlady · Feb 26, 2017, 02:35 PM

Yesterday's "adventure" was kind of funny. Kieran power walked out to the ring, practically dragging me along. I was thinking that he was really eager to go to work. When we reached the ring he dragged me across to the other side where the neighbor's donkeys were standing by the fence. They live in the pasture right next to where Kieran and Woody live so it's not like a donkey was something new to him. He stood staring at them, very alert. They both ignored him. Poor boy, unrequited love.

Yesterday was the first time I left BG (dog) loose while we rode. Kieran was fine with him running around being his hyperactive self. At one point BG went tearing along the side of the ring between Kieran and the fence. I expected some spookiness from Kieran. He did turn his head and look, but that was it.

Once again, I'm so happy I found him. I have to check my records. We are coming up on our one year anniversary of me owning him.

Travelinglady · Feb 26, 2017, 02:56 PM

I'm so happy for you and Kieran!

(one for you and one for Kieran)

Nammu · Feb 26, 2017, 09:18 PM

Already! A year? My time goes fast!

lizardlady · Feb 27, 2017, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nammu

Already! A year? My time goes fast!

Yep, it was some time in April when I got him.

lizardlady · May 14, 2017, 07:35 AM

For various reasons we haven't been able to ride the last couple of weekends. I wasn't sure about yesterday. We were having high winds that can make the horses silly. I've been struggling with fibro pain the last week. Wasn't sure my body was up to it.

We ended up riding. It was wonderful! Instead of spooking Kieran just poked around the ring, no acting silly, no spooking, no trying to go faster. We just poked around the ring. It was the best thing for my head. Work has been insanely stressful the last few weeks. It gave me a chance to turn my brain off for awhile. The gentle motion helped a teeny bit with the fibro pain.

Once again, I'm so glad I found him.

Nammu · May 14, 2017, 11:02 AM

So glad that magic day happened, it can brighten the whole week.

cakeladie · May 14, 2017, 08:31 PM

I am envy you Liz. I am glad you had a nice ride

lizardlady · Jun 24, 2017, 07:42 AM

In some ways Kieran is like a big dog. If he is around where I am outside he will come and just hang out near me. I think it's sweet. Sometimes he wants to be scratched, but most of the time he just wants to hang out and chill.

Funny story from last weekend. I was out pulling weeds from a flowerbed. He came over. I gave him a scratch then bent over and went back to pulling weeds. He apparently wanted more scratches. He took his nose and booted me in the butt. Sent me headfirst into the fence. It hurt, but I still thought it was funny. I told him to ask more politely for more scratches in the future.

Fresia · Jun 26, 2017, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Funny story from last weekend. I was out pulling weeds from a flowerbed. He came over. I gave him a scratch then bent over and went back to pulling weeds. He apparently wanted more scratches. He took his nose and booted me in the butt. Sent me headfirst into the fence. It hurt, but I still thought it was funny. I told him to ask more politely for more scratches in the future.

Perhaps instead he was returning the favor....you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours?

notz · Jun 29, 2017, 02:32 PM

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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