Finding out what apps are installed

I started flipping through my copy of Beyond the Track today, and remembered what a great reference it is.  Leading has been an issue coming in at night - Essa is last because that's how the paddocks go, and gets very upset and rude.  I also found out the other night that bathing is not an installed app.

They were all extra-nutty this evening, having a rolling splashing mud-licious good time.  The book recommends a shank over the nose, so I read up to make sure I was doing it right and tried it on Essa and Cody.  Voila!  They both gave me the "yes, ma'am" treatment.  Very nice.  I'm positive that's a result of their track experience, and it's definitely a tool that I won't be afraid to use again if need be.

Honey isn't keen on the hose for bathing either - hoses are for drinkin'!  So I resolved to back things up and read up on bathing.  I found a nice soft setting on the hose nozzle, started with feet and a plan to see how far up I could go.  I got about half-way up Honey's legs; Essa barely tolerated her feet.  But now I have a plan, so we don't have to power through and hope nobody gets hurt - which is what I did the first time.  I don't think Essa has had much steady training, so treating her as if she's fresh off the track may be the way to go.

On the good side, I did a little lunging with Essa.  She was lovely and well behaved, even a little lazy.  So that's a positive end to today - with a long weekend to look forward to, I hope to have more updates soon!

Adventures in bathing

Wow, that was more than I bargained for!  It was a beautiful evening to get Essa all lathered up and clean up that rain rot.  Everyone was turned in and finished their grain.  The other two were close by in the barn, not far far away in the paddocks.  They would all go back out to graze with enough daylight left for Essa to dry off.

She would have none of my lovely plan.  She danced and pawed and kicked, and kept her right side to the fence.  I felt like a losing boxer, dodging and moving her over, and trying to get the shampoo on and rinsed off.  I got most  of the job done, then finished rinsing her right side in cross ties in the barn.  I turned her out to graze and she ran around like a wet dog until her pals were out.

I really expected Essa to be cool with bathing after all of her racetrack time.  She is pretty attached to her new crew, and gets very upset being the last one in in the evening.  I've been so spoiled by Cody.  I grumble about his work ethic, but his ground manners are the standard I aspire to for Honey and Essa.  He never fusses coming in or going out and tolerates endless mane-trimming, braiding, clippers, even sheath cleaning without a tranq!

But after all that, I have to say, wow!

After all that bath nonsense

(Farm equipment seems to be getting her attention).  She is a handful with lots of work to be done, but I'm delighted to share a picture like this.

Introducing rain rot!

There's a (bacterium that acts like a) fungus among us.

She's been shedding A LOT, but it's been slowing down.  Except for some areas that were kind of gray and extra-cruddy.  Then the hair started coming out in tufts.  That ain't right...

I've never had to deal with rain rot before, so yet another learning experience.  It's along her back, rump, and inside hind legs.  So it's no coincidence that she's been very sensitive, even intolerant (cow-kicking!), to grooming along her back and flanks.  She's been that way since the start, but I just chalked it up to her having no "padding" over her bones and tried to be gentle.

Parts of her coat are starting to look good, but I don't think we'll be seeing those dapples this year.

"Race-fit" in 2011

I suppose it's been hiding out under her winter coat.  She probably had a wet winter without much blanket changing.  So between rough turnout conditions, being underweight and probably not having a great immune system...there you go.

The treatment suggestions are endless - things you'd expect like Betadine, and less obvious choices like Listerine, diaper cream, Head N Shoulders, and garlic (!).  So I'm grooming out what I can, spraying her with Banixx, and I'll give her a Head N Shoulders bath this weekend.  Mmmm, green apple!

Here's her latest progress picture.  I'm still having no luck getting her attention and getting her head up for a picture.  She's not easily distracted and won't. Stop. Grazing.  Which isn't really a bad thing.

How Did OTTBs Fare at Rolex?

Essa is doing fine, just enjoying spring and whatever grass she can get.  She may have lost a few pounds from all that shedding.  I'm pretty sure Rolex isn't on the horizon for Essa (or me), but it was great to see this feature.

How Did OTTBs Fare at Rolex? | Eventing Nation

Congratulations to Rachel McDonough of Canada and Irish Rhythm, who placed 25th in their first Rolex.  Irish Rhythm also came from Fort Erie Race Track!

Irish Rhythm Has Brought Rachel McDonough From The Beginning to Rolex Kentucky - Chronicle of the Horse

I can barely manage crossrails, but I can dream...

Introducing the rest of the crew...

Essa continues to do well and is filling out nicely.  Her mud wallow has mostly dried up, which makes for more flattering pictures.

She has discovered grass!  They've all been easing onto it as it comes up, and the paddock is big enough that she won't eat the grass faster than it grows.  So she's getting lots of stretching and strolling around as she grazes.  A couple of people have suggested starting to lunge her before she gets too fat and sassy, so I hope to do that in the next week or so.  I'm really curious about what, if any "apps" she has installed.

And who are "they"?  Time to introduce the rest of the herd!

Cody is a 17-year-old OTTB (off-the-track Thoroughbred) gelding, and my first horse.  I've had him for 4 years.  Unlike Essa, Cody was pretty much a failure as a racehorse.  That's OK because I don't have a burning need for speed.  He is pretty lazy - if I tried to get closer to take his picture he would wander off to avoid being caught.  The story that came with Cody was that he was a Hurricane Katrina rescue, and his previous career was doing Civil War reenactments.  No idea if any of that is true but it's a fun story.  He's described in dressage tests as "handsome" and "sluggish".  My handsome slug.

Honey is a 3-year-old Clydesdale mare that we've had for two years.  She is sweet and obliging, but has no idea what you're talking about.  Her training for the last year has mostly been about manners and handling.  She was in her own paddock until we got tired of repairing the boards she would push through to be on Cody's side.  Now they're together, with no issues at all.    She is something to behold when she's excited and running around.  

There's a couple of dogs too...

Today's fun trivia

Essa sold for $3700 as a yearling in 2005, and earned almost $86,000 racing over 58 starts!

In comparison my other Thoroughbred Cody sold for $4200 in 1998, had 5 starts, and tended to finish 11th.

It's amazing what you can find on the interwebz.  It's also a testament to the fact that I should be doing something more productive.

She's officially ours!

Two weeks in - looking better already

The previous owner even had her Jockey Club registration.  OK, it was a corrected duplicate issued in 2006, but I'm kind of surprised that it's stuck with her for this long.

The farrier was out on Wednesday for a much needed trim.  Her feet weren't in bad shape considering they were last done in December.  She looks better and I'm sure she feels better for it too.  Yesterday was an inside day, so she got some extra grooming.  It's a rare picture without her head in the feeder!  Aside from the "zombie eye" I'm amazed at how much better she looks.  She's getting a little grain and beet pulp now, which is a huge hit.  I'll increase it after the weekend.