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.

My Thanksgiving Day Poem

Wind in My Mane

Moon-tipped treetops covered rolling hills painted over by whinnies echoing from afar. The crisp evening air twirled the dark flocks running above my dapple-grey neck.

My deep, round eyes whispered, “I’m a gentle spirit, yearning to please” as a childish bewilderment blanketed my regal physique; I am a colt in horse’s clothing.

Like a puppy, I had rested my head in her lap after those caring hands groomed my growing belly, all the while I licked my droopy lips in response to her soft-toned praises.

Then, when tepid silence befell the twilight-swept pasture, encouraging slumber in its arms, I called to the herd in shrill-pitched searches for my four-legged sentries.

Finding them, I sighed and turned her way to say, “I’m thankful you brought me here to shed past pains and sleep every night with the wind in my mane.”

Proud of Myself! (Training Update)

After One of Our October Lessons

OK, I don't like to brag, but Mom and I had such a great ride today and it really made me want to share our progress with everyone...

For the last month or so, Ms. Jean has been trying to help me get "on the bit" or "between the aids." Basically, this means getting me collected so that I lower my head and neck and raise my back so that I can better engage my hind end for impulsion. Not only do I look better because I am more rounded, it also feels so much better to stretch down and use my back muscles.  This will help me properly carry my rider.

Ms. Jean really has been seeing and feeling my progress, but she wants to make sure that Mom can help me with it and feel it herself. Mom has been trying really hard to learn this and getting better each time we ride. Today we had a lot of great moments. Mom was feeling it. I was getting it. She was praising me and I was just so proud of myself that I couldn't help but stick my tongue out and start licking and chewing! Ms. Jean told Mom to mark this day on the calendar so I just knew I should blog tonight!

A quick shout-out to Lancet, our new friend at the barn. Thanks for this photo! 

Journey to a Healthier Me

Sorry for not posting in a while! I spent part of the last month recovering from a bought of lameness, but at least it gave me the idea for this blog post. :-) I am very thankful that Mom and Ms. Jean have helped me with several issues so that I can be the healthiest horse possible. I want to keep a list of what they've done. So, here are the things they've discovered so far and what they are doing to help:

• High-level of strongyles parasites || Deworming treatments
• Underweight, Weak Immune System || Specialized diet with alfalfa and rice bran supplements
• Significant weakness, lack of muscle || Consistent and progressive workout plan under saddle
• Sharp teeth || Teeth floated by Dr. J (see one of my previous posts!)
• Melanomas || Twice daily doses of Cimetidine
• Ulcers? (assessing) || For now, Pro-CMC before rides
• Mild arthritis? (assessing) || Weekly Pentosan injections and a daily dose of Prevecox for a month

They've also worked with my farrier, Chris, to make sure I am properly balanced with the best type of front shoes and hind trims for my flat hooves. Plus, Mom makes sure I get all the preventative vaccines I could have so that I don't have to worry about coming down with something. I'm a very happy horse!

A Healthier, Happier Me!