New Stall, Same Great Care

I love my new crib...

I was having a rough, hot summer. I don't deal well with the heat so in mid-July Mom decided to move me to the big barn at Miran. It's much cooler in that barn and I have a personal fan in my stall. The stalls are a bit bigger too, which is nice because I am a big boy! I'm really happy Mom moved me even though I was a little stressed about the change a first. Not too long after the move, I caught Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) even though I had received the vaccine. Fared and Ms. Jean noticed right away that I wasn't feeling well and Dr. Jay told Mom there was a chance I had PHF. Mom decided to treat for it and thank goodness she did-- a week later the blood test results confirmed I had the potentially deadly PHF. I then spent a lot of time in my stall recovering, but luckily I was in the big barn so I stayed nice and cool. I feel blessed to have such a great human herd taking care of me!!!

Mom’s Thoughts - I Love Our Shared Reflection

Buck Brannaman (the man who inspired the movie “The Horse Whisperer”) philosophizes that your horse is a mirror to your soul, a reflection of who you are. On the year anniversary of Duke’s adoption, I wanted to write about why I’d grown to love him so much and why I thought he made the choice to love me too. I started by listing out all the reasons why I loved Duke and the things he accomplished that made me proud. Then I read it back, thought about what Buck said, and started to cry at the revelation. Duke’s list was everything I accomplished or aspired to accomplish myself.

This is what I had written… 

Duke is very willing to learn. He is getting braver and showing his confidence. He is healthier, happier, and in better physical shape. He has shed lots of stress and built lots of love. He is calmer, more patient, and more trusting. He’s made friends at the barn, mastered new skills in the arena, and learned that the horse world is much bigger than what he’d experienced before. I love Duke because he is genuine about what he needs and what he gives. He doesn’t play emotional games, attempt to hide his faults, or try to be anything different than what God made him. He is the best soul on earth to “just be” with because he is completely sincere.

Duke came into my life as I was working my way out of a three-year struggle with severe anxiety and a deep depression. In the last year, Duke has helped me recover from old wounds and love myself so much more. I’d like to think I’ve done the same for him.

Oh, the difference a year makes…best week ever!

 You know, Mom and I overcame a LOT of obstacles during the past six months and we are both proud of what we achieved this week in the run-up to my one-year adoption anniversary.

• Last Saturday (22 June), we took a 45-minute dressage lesson with Jeffrey Lord and had some great moments. Mom was able to tell me with just her seat that she wanted me to taking bigger strides at the walk. At the trot, she told me with all her aids that she wanted me in a nice long and low position so I could really stretch and engage my back muscles. I was a very good listener the whole session. We really worked as a team!

• On Thursday (27 June), Mom and I had a lesson with Miss Jean. I was stressed and not very focused at the beginning, but Miss Jean guided Mom on how to patiently get my attention back and reduce my anxiety. By the end, Mom and I had a very successful introduction to shortening my trot stride and sitting to the trot. Miss Jean hopped on and we showed Mom how I can hold self-carriage for a while at the canter. I was VERY proud of myself! Thanks to Miss Carol for videoing it all.

Mom and I during lesson with Miss Jean

• Finally on Friday (29 June), Mom and I went with some other Natural Connection riders and herd-mates for a trail ride at Temple Hill Park in Lucketts, VA. It was my first ride away from the farm. I was a little stressed at first, but then I calmed down and really started enjoying the day. Mom helped me get over my anxiety of crossing through streams. I was shaking, but Mom kept talking to me, telling me it was ok, and that I was doing great. By the second and third stream crossing, I went across like it was nothing! I’m a good boy! Mom also wanted me to walk over a large log toward the end of the ride…hehehe, I surprised her, though…I snuck two canter strides in and leapt over that thing with a big jump. Mom screamed than started giggling. HAHAHA! Thanks to Miss Jean’s boy, Ty, for letting me follow his butt the whole way. It made me feel much calmer. 

Waiting on trailer to go to Temple Hill

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

I feel it is very important to recognize my amazing Grandma Jill and Grandpa Bill, who helped Mom pay for some of my medical bills during the past six months. I am very lucky to have had the best treatment and lots of support. I look forward to seeing them later this fall when they visit Mom!!! Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa! I love you!

I Got Myself a Lady!

This past winter was a particularly cold one in Aldie, VA so I began looking for a nice mare to warm my heart. I guess Jazz always had her eyes on me. I was just a little too shy and a little too scared of her boyfriend to make a move. But then her boyfriend went off to rehab and Jazz and I spent more time grazing together and grooming each other next to the run-in shed. She is a tall, chocolate, Spanish-warmblood lady, who is a little over twice my age *blush*.  Dang, who would have ever imagined she would be interested in a young white boy from West Virginia?! I don’t like spending too much time away from her. Here's a pic Mom took of us being all kissy face...

Reach out and love someone!

The Past Six Months…

I’m sorry. I haven’t blogged since mid-December and I want to tell you why. Don’t worry; there is a happy “ending”… a new beginning really.

It started the morning of December 11^th. Mom came out to ride me in the morning. We were working in the indoor and about 15 minutes in to our session I took off fast. Mom couldn’t stop me and she eventually fell off. Miss Jean found her a couple of minutes later on the ground and Fareed took me away to untack. The next thing I know, an ambulance was taking Mom to the hospital and I was turned out in the field. I FELT HORRIBLE.

Mom and Miss Jean didn’t realize it until later that week, but I was running away from pain. It was kinda everywhere in my body, but especially in my stomach and back. I was just so afraid of the pain that I took off to get away from it. Luckily Miss Jean had a hunch that it was ulcers, told Mom, and they were able to start me on what would be a fairly long road to recovery. As we tried to treat the ulcers, a hind end lameness and back pain showed up as well. I was basically off from work for four to five months.

Mom and Miss Jean catalogued my many various symptoms so they could research possibilities, everything from neurological conditions to muscle disorders and West Nile Virus to “maybe that is just who Duke is.” I am so very grateful to know they will always fight to make sure I am getting the best treatment. I am doing much better now, but Mom and I were so busy trying to get me better that we didn’t have much time to blog.

Anyway, there is a lot to catch you up on related to this so I plan to break it up into several posts after Mom and I can sit down and look at all our notes from the past six months. I promise to write separate, individual blog posts on at least the following topics so you can get a better understanding of my journey since December:

• My battle with ulcers
• My back pain
• My hind end lameness
• My rehab workout plan
• My "down time" bonding with Mom

So plenty more...stay tuned!

Dressage Tack

Mom bought us some dressage tack about two months ago to help us in the best form possible for our dressage work. After trying out a couple options, Mom decided to get us a super comfortable Marcel Toulouse Aachen saddle. It's been working out great so I thought I'd post a picture.