[lizardlady]

Folks seemed to enjoy my threads about the Great Horse Hunt, then trying to find the right name for the one I found. I thought I'd follow up with some posts about life with "the new man in my life."

I posted before that I felt like some major part of me was missing after Kyote died. First time since 1969 I'd been without a horse in my life. I'm happy to report the hole has been filled, no more missing parts.

I gave him a couple of weeks to settle in at the farm and let the two of us get to know one another. I've gotten to ride the last two weekends. The first day was a little exciting. He spooked once at the sight of a jump standard in the ring. He'd seen it before so who knows why he spooked. Then the dog went after a gopher tortoise, raising cain while he did it. Another spook. I locked up the dog and lead Kieran around the ring a couple of times to see the sights. He was fine when I got back on.

Second ride was uneventful. We just poked around the ring for a while. The barn he came from apparently has a standard of get on, walk around the ring a couple of times, then trot like crazy. The first week after we walked around the ring a couple of times he kept trying to trot. I'd ease him back and tell him we were just going to walk. The second week he offered to trot once. His attitude when I said we're just going to walk was funny. It was like "Huh? Just walk?!?! OK, I can do that."

Work has been very busy and very stressful lately. Last night when I got home I got out my brushes and groomed him while he munched on hay. I think that's one of the most restful sounds there is. He likes being groomed. Heck, he likes attention. We had a nice quiet time just hanging out together. Some times I like to just go out in the barn and hang out. I call it absorbing horse molecules.

He does soemthing that really touches my heart. He'll be out loose grazing and come over to me just to hang out with me. Gives me the warm fuzzies.

[Travelinglady]

So glad you and Kieran have bonded!

[LiteraryLark]

Great news LL! I would love to own my own horses. I'm glad you two are getting along. Wishing you all the happiest!

[cakeladie]

Great news I am so happy for you

[barbella]

He sounds like a really sweet horse. I love the name, too.

[Nammu]

Thanks for continuing the story. Been thinkin ng about the two of you and the kitties.

[Open Eyes]

Some horses spook to see what the rider's response will be and also to see if it can be a way to get out of working. Some horses learn how to get the best of riders that give up easily compared to riders that take the reigns and keep them on track with doing what the rider is asking.

He is just showing you what he has learned and you are a smart enough rider that you will train him to do whatever routine "you" want him to do which will include your getting in shape while he learns to do what you want as you work on getting in shape to slowly develop a schedule for the both of you. Perhaps on the days that you don't quite feel up to riding you could lounge him and ground work him so he gets to know you that way too.

It's so nice to hear he comes to you and likes to be near you.

[lizardlady]

OE, I'm going to have to teach him to lounge. I've tried lounging him and he is clueless. I do spend time doing stuff on the ground when I'm too tired to ride.

We had a nice ride last Saturday. No spooking. No silliness. We had some challenges in communicating though. He's been taught to go with little/no contact with his mouth. The style of riding I do includes light contact with their mouth. He is a quick learner I suspect it won't take him long to figure this out. He also seems to not have any idea what posting is.I'd put him in the trot, start to post and he would act like "What the heck?!?!" I spent our time trotting on Saturday sitting the trot. Oh my aching legs! For those who don't ride, sitting the trot is a lot of work on the part of the rider.

This morning when I went out to feed he walked up to me in the pasture and wanted some loving.

To those of you who keept encouraging me during the Great Horse Hunt to be patient because the right horse was out there waiting for me, you were right! He is the one!

[Open Eyes]

Try lounging him where you have a corner in your fencing so he can't pull away, it also helps him with his balance, actually that is why round pens are so popular because of how the horses use the fence line to balance. In my riding ring all my fence corners are rounded so when I lounge I can use these corners.

Yes, he will eventually learn to allow you to have more contact with his mouth. As a dressage rider (I think that is what you liked to do) it's nice to have the right contact with the mouth were if you close your fingers the horse learns to get into a better frame instead of on the forehand or hollowing out their back. You could also use a sursingle when you lounge eventually so he gets used to carrying himself in a better frame. But, first he needs to learn how to move forward and lounge. Keep walking towards his hind and pulling him inward at the same time, it's ok to start at just the walk. You probably know all this.

There are probably a lot of videos you can find if you do a search that may offer some tips you may not have thought of too.

Sitting trot can definitely be a workout for the rider. Yes, if a horse is broke western he may be confused by posting. Try posting for a few minutes then doing sitting trot, then post, then sitting trot until you can do the posting longer and longer.

Western horses don't have very strong hind ends, they are ridden long and low with a loose reign and tend to be on the forehand. It's hard when they go like that to find their balance when a rider posts. If you can get him lounging and then add in a sursingle where you can gradually get his head up in a better position where he learns to use his back and hind end better, that will help him build up muscle first without a rider. Then you can slowly ride him little by little so he builds up the muscle and hind end to also better carry a rider. You can keep him in better shape by just lounging in the surcingle on the days you don't feel like riding.

Also, before you ride him from the ground but have the bit in his mouth, take the bit and pull it back gently so he can feel it and open and close his mouth. This will also help him learn to feel the bit and then relax. So you will be pulling the bit back "gently" , he will open his mouth, then relax the bit so he is more relaxed when he feels the bit.

[lizardlady]

Kieran had his first visit from the vet today for routine stuff. I'm working from the assumption he's not had shots etc. I wormed him two weeks ago. The vet did his basic vaccines today. He also got his teeth floated (sharp points filed off). He was a good boy for all of it. The vet did sedate him to do his teeth when He saw how bad they were. He knew he was going to have to do some pretty extensive work and wanted to be sure Kieran didn't freak out about it. He stood quietly for all of it.

The vet looked him over and gave me his assessment of him. He didn't point out anything I hadn't already seen myself, but appreciated the "post-purchase" exam. I told the vet I realized he had problems when I bought him, but they are problems I can live with. The vet guessed his age as 15 or 16. I had guessed 13 or 14. So we are in the same ballpark.

I know I'm repeating myself, but Kieran is the right one for me.

Cute story about him with the vet. A lot of horses don't like the vet. Who can blame them? This stranger comes out to the barn and does unpleasant things to them, that often hurt. When I first brought Kieran out of his stall and he saw/smelled the vet he grew roots for a few minutes. Pretty soon he walked up to the vet and started nuzzling him. He is basically a cuddle bunny with people.

[Nammu]

Aww sweet. What a good guy, you did good.

[lizardlady]

He's learned his new name and responds to it. Might have something to do with the fact that for several weeks every time I said his name he got a treat!

The farrier was out yesterday. He got his second trin (equine pedicure) since I brought him home. The vet said he'd had laminitis (a serious foot problem) because he has ridges on his feet. I disagreed. Ridges can be caused by a ton of different things ranging from a fever to change in diet to change in environment. The list is almost endless. My assumption was it happened when the former owner stopped feeding him. The farrier agreed with me. He said he saw absolutely no signs of laminitis. YAY! Kieran's feet were in horrible shape when I brought him home. I figure with the good diet he is on and a couple of more trims they ought to be in good shape.

After the farrier left we had what I call a "weenie wash". Male horses have to have their private parts cleaned periodically. Their "male member" (I don't think the language filter will let me call it what it is) is normally housed inside a pouch called a sheath. Dirt and body oils combine to form a nasty mess in there. Periodically it needs to be cleaned out. Kieran got his done yesterday. Given his unknown history I don't know if it was ever cleaned before. He was pretty good about it. Towards the end, when I was elbow deep inside him, he picked up a back foot and waved it around. I'm not sure if he was actually trying to kick me or just saying "hey lady what the heck are you doing?!" Ah the joys of owning males horse! His reward for being good about most of the process was to be turned out on a rich pasture for awhile. He buried his nose in the grass as soon as I turned him out.

I know I've said this before, but it merits repeating. I'm so happy I found him.

[kindachaotic]

Don't know squat about horses but really enjoy hearing your adventures.
The updates are so sweet with his physical improvements & emotional connections you two are making.
So nice reading something uplifting!

[lizardlady]

Thanks Kindachaotic. I'm afraid people will get bored of me nattering on about him.

[cakeladie]

Nope never tired about hearing him. I got kind of worried when I heard what you were going to do not knowing how he would react glad he was ok with it for the most part

[Nammu]

I for one won't get bored.

I grew up with a horse and miss having one so I live though your stories. All the stories you have about the pets. Once you retire you can start writing pet stories and sell them.

[kindachaotic]

Nope won't get bored!
Do you still have the chickens?

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by kindachaotic

Nope won't get bored!
Do you still have the chickens?

Still have some chickens. Between the dog and other chickens nine of the young ones and one of the adult ones got killed.

[cakeladie]

For someone who is house bound most of the time I live for these stories I also miss riding

[lizardlady]

We had another first yesterday. He offered to buck! For non-horse people that means he acted like he wanted to buck, but didn't actually buck. I informed him in no uncertain terms that bucking was absolutely NOT acceptable. He fussed a little, then settled down and went to work. It was the first time he's tried to do anything naughty. While I was not crazy about him offering to buck, I was pleased that he quit and went to work when I told him to.

I know I keep saying this. I'm likely to keep saying it. I'm so glad we found each other. After Kyote died I mentioned I had this feeling that a huge part of who I am was missing. He fills that hole.

[googley]

Maybe his offering to buck means that he is adjusting to you and checking the boundaries. I'm glad he didn't buck you off and went back to work. Hugs.

[lizardlady]

Since I know next to nothing about his background, there's not telling what the offer to buck meant. Could be his former owner got off if he did it. He definitely was testing boundaries. I was delighted that he settled down and went to work. He really is a good guy. Even the good ones try to see what they can get away with occasionally.

[lizardlady]

No offer to buck last week. Yah! Something happened next door that spooked him. He startled and scooted forward. He stopped when I asked. Once he realized no monsters were coming to get him he went back to work.

We are still sorting out the trot. I've decided he most likely has no formal training. Or if he was trained it was hit or miss sort of training. He is adapting to me posting which my legs appreciate. Sitting the trot is hard work.

He discovered a new kind of treat last week. I took some watermelon rind out to the barn. I knew Woody, the boarder loves it. I don't think Kieran ever had any before. He sniffed and sniffed the first piece I offered him. He acted like he wasn't too sure about it. Then he licked it. You could see the light go on in his head "Hey this is sweet! Yummmm!" He was cute eating it. Woody is a chowhound and will eat as much as he can stuff in his mouth. Kieran eats treats in small bites. He'd take a bite of the rind, chew it up, then look for more. Woody, on the other hand, looked like a chipmunk he had so much crammed in his mouth.

We had a tropical storm move through Monday and Tuesday. When I'd go outside to check on things during lulls, Kieran would come over and stick his nose in my stomach. He acted like he did not like the weather and wanted reassurance.

I know I've said this before. I'm likely to say it again. Those of you who encouraged me to keep looking because the right horse was out there were right. He is exactly what I kept saying I wanted. I'm so happy we found each other.

[kindachaotic]

This has turned into the sweetest story!
Look forward to all your updates.

[lizardlady]

We had a ver quiet ride on a loose rein today. He kept jerking his head away when I tried to brush him before we went out for our ride. Investigating I discovered the left side of his mouth was swollen. The inside of his cheek was raw from rough edges on his teeth. I wasn't sure if I could ride him. He accepted the bit okay, but I let him walk on a loose rein (no pressure in his mouth). He seemed okay with that. We had a nice time just poking around in the ring.

It was ghastly hot and humid today. Both horses, my friend and I looked like someone blasted us with a hose when we came in. The horses got nice cool showers under the hose. I ended up turning the hose on myself before I came in the house.

edited to ad

I forgot to say I'll be calling the vet on Monday to have him back out to work on Kieran's teeth some more.