Not your average OTTB given another chance at a new life and a mostly average busy Mom who never gave up on her dream to ride again. An unlikely pair at an unlikely time, learning to event and loving life!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Day 6 and counting...
Ok this video was taken on day 5 I tried to post it on day 6 and had all sorts of problems with the video so it is officially day 7.
I have never had a horse on stall rest let alone a barn full of them. I makes me nervous wondering how long this is going to last. Monday evening the horses were put into their stalls because of the ice storm that was headed our way. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday these storms made their way through so no one put outside for those days. Then the result of all these storms was the ground literally being turned into a huge ice skating rink. EVERYTHING is solid ice! There are places where the ice is 6 inches deep! All I can see is the vet bills and injured horses when I look into the pasture. I would say there would be a good chace someone would end up with a broken leg. It just is not safe.
So here we are day 6 and they are still in thier stalls. Moonlight and Snappy seem little phased by the whole thing but Steady on the other hand. That guy is going bonkers. All of his old track habits that have slowly dicipated since I have owned him are rearing their ugly heads. I really wonder how long he can take it. My horses are used to 10 hours turn out a day minimum. And that is only winter months. They are out 24/7 8-9 months out of the year.
I took this video yesterday on day 5 but I thought you could see what I mean about Steady kinda going bonkers being pent up. I love this guy though. I feel like he is trying to use his body language in any way he can to communicate that it is time to go outside. He is such a brilliant guy. I hate turning around and walking out but I have no other choice at this point. Trust me if there was ANYTHING I could do it would have been done.
I was asked by some friends on fb if I could just hand walk them. That is not an option. It would be just as sensible to take your horse to Rockafeller Square and send him out in the ice skating rink. Now who would be that stupid?? Even if you were leading them I don't think it would have any chance of changing the out come. So here we are day six and going bonkers.
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I feel your pain...luckily it is not as bad here. We have them going out for a least a few hours a day, but it did take 3 days after the ice storm to get it safe enough to even walk out to the fields. I have been walking Gen, my OTTB, in the aisle of the barn. Which is pathetic since the barn is only 3 stalls long! It gets him out and lets him at least use his mind (he will smell everything) which I find makes for a happier horse. Yesterday was the first time in weeks that they got to go otu for a full 8 hour day. Poor ponies...winter SUCKS!!
ReplyDeleteWe were once stuck inside for 11 days. If you have a barn aisle, hand walk in the aisle - ours is only about 80 feet long and very narrow, but we did it. 10 minutes per horse at least 2x day, or 3x if you can manage it.
ReplyDeleteYou guys closer to Indy got nailed with ice. We were lucky up here, there is some ice but mostly snow and the ice is easily broken through. I guess the best you can do is keep hay in front of their face. So frustrating!
ReplyDeleteI think you are wise to keep them in, especially with the energy level they have now from being in. It's not worth the broken bones!
ReplyDeleteYep. I know it sucks for Steady, but if you put him out now, he will explode and most likely do all the horrible things to himself that you talked about. If he'd been out all along, maybe that would be different. Hang in there. It has to get better eventually.
ReplyDeleteCan't watch the video -- you need to set it to public.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that, it should be fixed now.
ReplyDeleteWow that sucks! I'm so tired of all of this winter weather! Luckily we haven't had ice like that. Yuck! I hope you thaw out so Steady can enjoy some time outside.
ReplyDeleteomg..ok, I wont complain about the winter anymore. We have snow and cold but at least the footing is good. I hate when they are locked in ...hang in there!
ReplyDelete