Back In Action - Rehab Officially Begins

I went to the barn last night for the first time in a week. As you may have read, I was dreading it the night before - nervous to go out and see a lame horse yet again. I woke up excited yesterday & throughout the day the excitement built and built...until I stared at the clock to make 5PM come faster!

When I pulled up to the barn, the nervous butterflies found their way back to my stomach and my hands got clammy. I pulled into the driveway and got out of my car to open the gate, practically panting. I peered off to the field Jimmy lives in to see if I could find him while I opened the gate for myself and stopped. "What the heck am I so nervous about?!?" I asked myself. The result will be the same - I will love him no matter what. Rome wasn't built in a day and however long this rehabilitation process takes, he's my horse and I love him. *Deep breath*

So I pulled down the drive and bounced out of my car & up into the barn. I stopped at his stall to grab his "clothes" (aka - halter & lead) and there were presents! EOC dropped off an EcoMitt for "Jimmy to try" and Lucy had left me a note as well. I'm definitely looking forward to trying out our new EcoMitt tomorrow if the weather holds up enough for a bath :-)

I drew up his Adequan so when I brought him in it was all ready. He knows what it means when we walk in the barn that way - past my trunk. So I did a drive by to pick up the syringe and walked him into the aisle where he's stabled. I dropped the lead rope and his nostrils flared. The best part about Jimmy is that when he starts thinking about going to "flight" mode, it just takes a hug or a gentle touch on his neck and he immediately takes a deep breath and relaxes. With nothing more than my arm curled under the curve of his neck & resting my hand on the other side, I gave him his shot. No one else was there, no one was even on the property. But he just stood there, like a perfect gentleman and breathed deeply while I injected his Adequan. He is comforted so much by just a touch it's unbelievable.

He was pretty resentful of me for the first 10 minutes I was there. He kept telling me "Mom. You were gone for a long time. I'm mad at you" and I kept telling him "I needed a break baby. I'm sorry I left you, but I promise I still love you and I will always love you, and I'm back now." I say "he said" / "I said" because I really do feel like I can hear what he is 'saying' and I speak out loud back to him. Astoundingly enough or not - once I told him that he walked up, put his head in my arms and seemed to say "I missed you Mama. Don't go." It was beautiful.

We stretched & then headed to the pen for his evaluation. I let him trot once around & then realized I won't be able to tell how sound he is unless I get up there. So I did :-D

He trotted beautifully. Just halter & lead rope, bareback. I rode him for about 10 minutes. He took two lame steps the whole ride. I even asked if he wouldn't mind cantering a few strides, so he did. He kindly stepped himself up and under me into a canter for 3 or 4 strides each direction as if to say "Here Mama. That's enough for me." It felt incredible to be back on him.

Now we are only looking onward to our bright future - no more looking back on the injuries and surgery and lameness. I am going to start sitting on him again, just a few minutes bareback every few days. I'll have Lucy ride him too when she's around with me. I think the only direction to move is forward. This week with no work is what he needed and last night he proved that he's feeling well enough to consider work again. A few lame steps I will respect, and I'm praying they become less and less every day.

How could you not love him?!?? When I sit on the ground in the pen, he grazes, but always close enough that I can reach out and touch him. I definitely think he missed me :-) I have the best horse in the world.

After our play time and ride I had to bandage him up a little bit. The bell boots have been rubbing him raw (I knew it'd happen, just a matter of time) because he's got VERY thin, sensitive skin (hence why I make my own fly spray).OUCH, JIMMY!!!!! He's such a delicate little thing.

By the time he was ready to go back out he looked ready for battle. Ankle doctored, bell boots on, fly mask on, hooves moisturized on the outside, turpentine'd on the inside. He is nothing if not special....in any given context ;-) I'm very grateful for every moment I spend with him.