New goal

Phelps has become a part of a personal goal for me. I have always wanted to do an endurance race and it has come to the forefront recently as something I want to accomplish this coming year. I am working out, losing weight in bootcamp, and with that, I plan to start conditioning Phelps once he is completely healthy and together we'll figure out what we're supposed to do and compete by the end of summer 2009.

I have no idea other than slowly conditioning him with handwalking until spring or I feel I can safely pony him from Pie.

I don't have a firm plan other than my weight loss milestones and how that corresponds to being able to ride him.

Still loving Phelps

He is sweet and loving. I just watched an older movie called "A horse for Danny". A racehorse movie. Got me thinking about Phelps and how I happy I am that he is out of that lifestyle.

Accident prone

Phelps got his leg caught in something a few days ago. He was tender. It was puffy and had some very small, roundish scrapes on it. Just fetlock and below. Yeah, JUST.

It was warm again today and back with the fly masks and spray. Phelps is so good. He let me grab him, put on the mask, spray his whole body. And then he looks for some affection. Like he wants to make it up to me that I had to come spray him to keep the flies away.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to rehome this horse. He is a sweetie.

Leg is much better today. No longer ouchy on it and swelling is all down.

Blankets at night. Fly masks and sunburn during the day. Must be the High Desert.

A teenager to fuss over him

Some friends of ours are missionaries on Honduras. Costa Rica? Is that the same? Don't hate me. They have two daughters, one of whom is horse crazy. She has her own little...what did she call her...a Honduran Diva of a horse at home. They are here making their rounds of congregations and friends, trying to see too many people in too short a time.

Sydney, the teenage horsey daughter, came over today to get a horse fix since she hasn't seen her beloved mare in almost 3 months! She is being taken care of back in Honduras, but it's hard to stay away that long.

Since our only really ridable equine is Belle right now, she rode Belle. It was cute. Syd's legs were scrunched into a kid saddle, and Belle was being pretty feisty today. But, she got to ride a little and Belle got a little lesson too.

Before riding Belle, I introduced Syd to all the horses, and I could tell she had an immediate attachment to Phelps. She mentioned how beautiful thoroughbreds are and we talked racing a little, including the Kentucky Derby and the ill-fated Eight Belles. I am not a racing follower, but had watched the Derby on TIVO.

When Belle had toted Syd and my two around for awhile, she was groomed and put away. I told Syd that Phelps needed his supplements and asked if she wanted to brush him while he ate. She was first to the gate to go get him!

He was loving and kind, but after Belle, he seemed like he was on pins and needles. He is quite reactive, though he isn't trying to hurt anyone, it's clear that we needed a quick lesson on working around a 3 year old TB. Move calmly and slowly, not creeping around, but not flying around and screeching either.

Syd was grooming him and loving on him. We joked about her having a "man" in her life now and that they'd have to figure out a long distance relationship.

After his grain and grooming, she handgrazed him for me in the backyard until her parents came to collect her. I hope she enjoys the photos.

Another trim

Phelps got trimmed again last week. It looks like he had an old abscess or one that was going to be an abscess but didn't make it all the way to the coronary band. Either way, he has some feet issues in terms of tenderness right now. His heels are contracted and he has some bruising. My farrier still couldn't take his feet as far back as he wanted to, but they are no longer flaring out all crazy.

His feet are not symmetrical from one side to the other. If you put a line down the middle of his foot from coronet band to ground, the two sides do not look the same.

He's ouchy on the gravel right now, but is still very loving and sweet.

Phelps likes kids.

After the evening feeding, Faith and I took some pictures of the horses. Phelps is very happy to have attention and stood completely still for Faith to hug him. He wasn't sure about her rubbing her head on his chest (neither was I!), but just looked curious, not angry.

Earlier, I took some of him in his corral he shares with Dani. He was soaking up the late afternoon sun, watching Faith and Belle riding around.

"What's with the boot in my face as I'm eating?"

Then, he and Dani were chowing down together.

New hay

I bought 9 ton of hay yesterday. I had to go to The Hay Depot (large hay supplier who gets hay from all over the PNW) because all my friend suppliers didn't get as much as they thought and needed it for their own use. So selfish!

I bought alfalfa for Phelps and an alfalfa/grass mix for him and Shelby to share. I think he'll pick up weight quicker on that.

Hay gets delivered later this morning and they don't stack it. Now what?

Phelps was running and bucking this morning. I had to move the youngsters and Belle to an out of the way pasture so the hay truck could get in. I need to move the trailer and a truck out of the way too, but needed a cup of coffee first.

Remembering the September 11 attacks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_attacks

Leg getting better

A few days ago I dismantled the round pen to create individual areas for all the horses so we don't trample the pastures (again) all winter long. It seems to be working well. Pie and Flame are on a trip with Adam. Phelps will be done with his meds by the time they get back, so will put Shelby in with Phelps, Chavez and Dani in together, Flame and Pie, then Belle by herself.

This plan works if they stay healthy. Kali came today and after she was finished with Chavez said to watch him, he has a nasty fly bite on his belly. She's concerned for Pigeon Fever. Nice.

Belle's eye is goopy, probably from the dust swirling around, but didn't notice anything weirdly large on Chavez. Time will tell.

Phelps' leg is healing quickly. No excessive swelling and I'm not wrapping the lower part of his leg anymore. He is NOT happy when I try to squirt the anti-mastitis goop into the hole in his leg. I don't really blame him. I probably won't be able to do it past tomorrow anyway, unless I want to poke another hole in his leg to do it.

His nose has a few scrapes from learning to get his head out of the feed door quickly. Those 5 seconds of open door before the food arrives are laced with panic.

He eats so much! I thought Shelby was somehow Hoovering his hay from his side to hers, but I just don't think that's possible. He must be eating it all. I leave quite a few flakes at the morning and night feedings, thinking that certainly that will be enough and will probably hold him all day. It's always licked clean, including his grain, well before the next feeding. I will need to buy more hay.

It's been kind of an unfortunate few days. Just busy, things not going quite right...but I think I'll get back into the swing of things soon. I'll get my schedule organized better when Levi starts school next week and will be able to take more pictures and be current on Phelps and the other blogs.

What's with the right hind legs??

Dani is recovering from a tear in her right hind extensor tendon. Now, Phelps kicked down a couple of fence rails and punctured his hock on a nail. Hundreds of dollars later, he is on SMZ's and bute. Bad horse! :-)

What a cutie though. He is very affectionate and wants to be friends with everyone. He has even sniffed the dogs with curiosity. He meets new people with a manner of hesitant politeness and a desire to please. He wants to do the right thing, but isn't always sure what that might be.

He was trimmed and had his racing shoes pulled on Thursday. He did really well, but had a hard time holding up that sore leg, so Randy only checked it out a bit and left that one to trim when he feels better. Randy said his feet aren't horrible and should transition well to barefoot. They are chipping a little right now, but he doesn't seem to be ouchy without shoes, not even on gravel.

I'm including pics of when I first brought him home. He was scared to get out of the trailer, poor guy, and stayed in there for a couple of hours. I thought he'd come out when he was ready, but he didn't and I was afraid he would lose his courage completely if he didn't get out soon. So, I went back in and helped him out.

He has since ridden in the trailer to the vet and did well. We just need to make sure he always backs out and isn't allowed to turn around.

The "speckles" on his face are from the irrigation that was on as we drove past.

Though his feet don't look too dreadful in this picture, he is way under-run and his toes were incredibly long. He was tripping over them just walking around.

He's thin!

I suppose it's just "racing fit", but, wow, is he skinny. He seems to have plenty of energy as he flits from one horse to the next, trying to make friends. He and Belle seem to have found a comfortable acceptance, other than during feeding times, of course.

He met Kali (Faith's riding teacher) and Les (Kali's fiance) today. He was very brave leaning over Shelby's back to let me touch his face.

When he walks or trots away, he has some wonkiness in his hocks. Les thinks it's due to his horrible feet. I don't disagree. It looks like they "bow" to the sides. Like they are elastic.

My friend, Rocky, sent me a good link for working with OTTBs. Lots of good advice. Kali told me she's worked with an OTTB before and so that gives me hope for the spring. He's such a nice guy.

Horse Phelps photos

And...here he is! He's the one with three socks in the photos with two horses.

Phelps photos

Basically, because I am high on the Olympics, here are more photos of Michael Phelps. We'll have plenty of Phelps the horse to come.

A photo of Phelps; Michael Phelps

Yeah, that's not Nite Hitman. That's actually Michael Phelps.

I can't seem to get the pictures to work here, so will have to wait until I meet him and take my own pictures. Isn't that a super cool photo though?

Waiting to hear from Kerrie as to whether or not he loads. I am not a fan of taking out the divider of the trailer, but certainly will if he is not excited about loading and trailering.

Back to the Olympics. I think the women's beach volleyball final is in progress. Go Kerrie Walsh and Misty Mae-Traenor!!

Saturday is the day!

I am meeting my friend, Kerrie, in Biggs, OR this weekend to pick up Nite Hitman from her. She has been gracious enough to transport many horses for people. I am usually just the layover spot. Now, I get to keep one and he doesn't go anywhere afterward. Well, maybe a trainer next year.

Nite Hitman is going to be a great horse. I have no expectations other than a slightly bejiggity 3 year old gelding. Since I am used to cranky mares, this will be a fun addition to the herd dynamic. We have two geldings currently, but Nite will differ from them both significantly.

One gelding is very old, but my favorite horse ever. I promised him the summer and he is going downhill (metaphorically) quickly. He is a rescue from a feedlot and I think he held on until he knew his job was done. I don't think he's ever had the chance to just relax.

Our other gelding is a 4-year-old Kiger mustang rescue. He was horribly abused, emaciated, and now, after a couple of years of very gentle groundwork, we can get a halter on him every time and he's worn a saddle. He's not easy, but very beautiful, and affectionate once a person has won his trust.

Nite Hitman comes without too much baggage compared to these guys. Maybe he'll be the rush of reality that needs to be injected occasionally into my ragamuffin herd. A pal to hang out with over the fence and play chase with the others. I can't wait to see him run!

Kerrie, thank you for the help with Nite Hitman. He's a gem. I just know it.

* * * * *

I stayed up later than should be allowed on a Sunday night to watch Michael Phelps interview with Bob Costas on TIVO. It was fun to see him evaluate himself on his swims and the elation of the relays all over again. What a great athlete.

The Hitman cometh!

Nite Hitman is a liver chestnut 3-year old TB from Yakima, WA. He was raced and it was decided that he isn't fast enough. The owner did a good deed and, rather than sending him and a couple of buddies directly to auction, allowed a friend of mine to try to place them in homes. We're still working on the buddies, but Nite Hitman will be coming to live with me.

I know...I have plenty of horses without an OTTB to figure out. I think he'll figure himself out in time if he has a few months of nobody messing with his head.

He'll be fine.

Can't figure out how to get the pictures from the email to here... I'll get some downloaded later.

Congratulations Michael Phelps on your amazing 8 Gold medals in one Olympics! You are my (super-cute-little-bare-torso'ed) hero.