July

July ended up being a super fun month. It was dreadfully hot here. Disgustingly so. But we continued lessoning and prepping for our next show.

I went to Tanglewood to take a lesson. It was so much fun. Most importantly, I conquered some fears I have been holding on to. It's rough having fears but still trying to teach your horse to be confident.

I have had an irrational fear of gates for a while. Jumping them, they just look so solid. Like if you hit them, they will stay and you will go. America doesn't give two craps. We jumped gate after gate after gate. I don't know how tall they were. 1.5'-2' He is so tall, that really isn't much for him. To me, they look ginormous. I was really proud of him for sticking with me and proud of myself for doing it.

The ever faithful Matt came with us and took pictures.

Later that month, I had a very dear friend come down from NJ and we went trail riding. She rode the naughty pony! And another dear friend came up from Charlotte too!!! It was like it was my birthday!

7-10-12

Derp says hi!

Well we ended up not going to the show this month.  It was just wretchedly hot and there was no way I was going to make him go in a trailer, which he would have with no fuss about it. Just wouldn't have been fair! But we have been working really hard. Really working on building up that topline.

His body is starting to even out. Top is becoming more muscular, butt is getting bigger and more muscular. He is getting big ol' moobies!

So  here are some pictures of him from last week! We are almost at our year mark, and holy crap at the difference.

 

I found an ad with America for sale as a four year old.

<<<LOOK how handsome he is!!!

They must have been doing some awesome training with him, for him to be in such great shape. His topline, his butt, look at that neck!

So it's been a while eh?

Let's see, where did we leave off.

Last I blogged, I had just taken off America's Shoes and we were starting our adventure to barefoot world. Which lasted 9 months!

I am just going to bring some posts over from our website blog and go from there.

3/30/12
So I think this picture is a good example of where we are right now. He has only been on Dynamite for 6 months. For the past four months, we have ridden maybe a handful of times, so this is becoming natural for him. He's more balanced all over. More muscled naturally. He is shaved in the second picture because of our awesomely early....summer.
A couple of other things that changed from August to March.
Switched barns
visit from the holistic dentist
2 chiro appointments to get that SI where it should be (as well as lots of other stuff but that was the worst)
Diet change (obviously)
New Farrier and then removal of shoes
MOAR COOKIES!!!

4/10/12
I was not overwhelmingly pleased with my farrier. I feel like he tried, but barefoot was not his specialty. He helped him a lot when we first started because his feet were all screwed up.

America got a visit from his new farrier yesterday. She is a barefoot trimmer who honestly seems very promising. I am very excited for her to start working with him. She came out yesterday just for a consultation, did a tiny straightening out of his feet. One hoof was longer on the inside than the out, which was causing a strange wearing pattern on the front of his hoof and him to step wierd. The nail holes are almost gone!

She said he has nice feet, not much sole yet but she has no doubt he will soon. She measured him so that I can order some Easyboot Glove Backcountry boots for trails and such. To have, just in case. Which I prefer. You just never know, you know? Better to be prepared.

FINALLY, she is going to get his back feet better too. They are so ....awkwardly long and toey and pointy. I didn't even have to point it out either!

Best of all, America was extremely relaxed with her. He was being his goofy, America self.

So i'm thinking we are in the right direction. Happy pony is happy!

4/16/12
Got some new sneakers!

We got our new shoes in! I went with the Easyboot Backcountry's. I have to say, I am about 99% pleased with these. I forgot how difficult easyboots are to get on, but once I go it, they are great. I like the snugness of them. No rubs, no pulling them off. It's nice. The only thing I don't like, is there is a screw on the inside that rubs on his hoof. I am pretty sure I can fix that though.

We got to spend a very beautiful sunday out on the trail with one of our greatest friends. We had a blast! We haven't been able to trail ride for a few weeks because I didn't want to push it with his feet. He was a champ out there, and quite excited to go!

 
BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE, WE DIDN'T DO MUCH. We started with a new trainer who has helped us in more ways than I could ever repay her for. 

6/11/12
America is doing quite well! We have been at it in our lessons and are preparing for a small, fun show in July. Quite excited!!!!

But healthwise, I feel like America is really on the up and up. He is filling out quite nicely and seems to prefer being exercised consistently. I invested in a thinline pad (heavensent). Though the saddle fits him quite well, I really like the extra shock absorption there.

Anywho, here is America right now! The right is August of last year. We are almost to the year mark!

6/13/12
America's feet were progressing beautifully. I will add in here, that even though they look amazing, he was still almost always lame for a week or so after his trim. 

I almost forgot the progress on America's feets!!!!

I love this new farrier. This is his progress thus far (well as of a month ago)! These were taken a month after being trimmed. During that one month transition, the only hoof that didn't start the change into a rounder, more natural shape was his hind right.

Front Right is his "clubby" foot.

 

 

 

 

Unintentional Blogging Hiatus

I don't even know that anyone really reads my blogs but I will be updating them anyways. It's a great way to keep up with the goings on of the equine dude and myself :)

Progress

Well it's been three weeks and four days since I took America's shoes off. He lived in his sneakers for about two weeks to help him transition. After that, I took those off to let his feet harden. I am going to take new pictures today but I am liking this progress so far. He is still a little more sensitive on  his club foot, but it is not growing as fast as the other. We've only ridden once in all of this time, which is fine. I would rather him heal correctly without any interference.


Hims in his sneakers! 

I also ended up having to take off his boots because they were causing rubs on his heal bulbs, which were swollen and bald! Which I have a feeling is because they either A. Don't fit a 100% right or B. weren't put on snug enough.

Sorry  it's blurry but I am thinking he is looking pretty dang good!

I think I might have figured out the naughty culprit behind his leaky behind as well. SAND! I did a manure test

(Yes, that is poop water!)
You can see a lot of sand around the edge of the jar. Farrrr too much. I'm just glad that it's coming out but I am worried about how much he is ingesting daily if this is how much is from just one turd nugget!!! I may have already helped with this without even knowing it. I purchased a Freedom Feeder for his stall. I really bought it because he scarfs his food down and then is out of hay within an hour, therefore leaving him hay-less until 7am. It's better for his metabolism to be able to extend his food out over longer periods of time. Plus now I know he wont be snuffling around on the ground and eating dirt and sand with his hay! I know, I am so gross for posting this picture :)

I bought my Freedom Feeder from this nice lady Freedom Feeders MS. These are super handy and helpful with porky horses, horses with stall issues, horses who eat too much dirt, etc....the reasonings are endless. On top of that, they are meant to hang somewhat low which is closer to the natural eating manner of a horse, which is infinitely better than the hay racks that are hung up high. High hay racks go completely against the nature of the horse. If you look at horses in the wild, (or in your pasture) horses eat with their heads down, it's how their digestion, metabolism and the biomechanics work best. Not to mention, high hay racks will cause  your horse to gain some funky neck muscles and lose back muscles.

Got my pony some sneakers!!!

So last monday, I decided I was going to take off America's shoes. He doesn't need them. He's got good feet, we don't show, we don't do anything strenuous that requires him to have shoes. Overall, I just feel like he would have better feet without shoes. Not a huge fan of shoes anyways. I understand for some horses it might be a necessary evil, just not a fan. I feel like they are constrictive and not conducive to naturally strong feet. Not to mention, the thought of the nails going through them.....::shiver:: ehhhhhhh.

ANYWHO! I bought these. They should be in today!!!

PONY SNEAKERS!!!! He has gradually gotten better. He was pretty sore on day 2 and since then, has a little at a time gotten less sore and less sore. I sent pictures of his feet to a very good friend of mine and she says he's been so sore because he is so short. Makes sense. The farrier shortened his feet a lot in August. But barefoot he needs more foot, especially on the outside. He hasn't had a lot of heat, just tenderness on the sole because right now he's basically walking right on them. :( Not a happy camper. I hate seeing him in pain. It kills me. So these are to help him with the transition and for us when we go on trail rides and stuff. I'm uber excited.

:)

SLOW DOWN!

It is not news that I despise the way some people drive.
People suck at driving post

It's to the point where I scream in the car (insert road rage here) a lot. But more than anything, I do not get people's need to speed through a work zone. Possibly, I am more sensitive to it than most because my dad has worked in construction (ish) all of my life. But come on people, in a completely serious tone (I know that's rare)....

They lower the speed limit for a reason. It's not news that the human body is not made to survive the impact of many things. We just aren't made that way. Add a high velocity on to that, it lessens that ability even more. The lower speed limit is to give these guys a chance. Lower speeds = quicker stopping time and less chance of accidents. Dropping your speed down to the speed limit in a work zone is not going to get you to where ever you are going THAT much later. Let us do the math, shall we:

Let's say you have to go 15 miles. You travel an average of 65 miles per hour. For hypothetical reasons, let's say 1 full mile of that is a work zone and is a 45 mile per hour zone. Here's the math:

65mph = .92 minute per mile (60 minutes/65mph)
45mph= 1.33 minute per mile (60 minutes/45mph)

You will be going 65 for 14 miles and 45 for 1 (this is hypothetical and is not including acceleration or deceleration, so if your car is super slow at these either A. get your oil changed and filters cleaned out or B. fix your durn brakes).

(.92 x 14) + (1.33 x 1)
(12.88)+(1.33) = 14.21 minutes to get to wherever the hell you are going

in comparison to if you don't slow down
.92*15=13.8 freaking minutes.

come on now....that is what .41 of a minute.

Is it worth killing someone because your dumbass is speeding through where these people are working to give you better roadways to get your asses to wherever the hell you are going?

SLOW DOWN!