koda update & horseless trip highlights

We stopped at the barn before heading out for our horseless trail trip to check on Koda. He came galloping up to greet us! Clearly the bute made him feel better, which in turn made me feel better. Funny how that works. You could still see him resort to limping at times, his lameness was far from gone. Knowing Koda was doing much better, made leaving easier.

We enjoyed our shortened horseless trip, but I would be lying if I said there wasn't a second that we didn't miss having Koda & Nemo with us. Nothing like staring at empty paddocks outside your cabin window. The void was most felt during our campfire time. We reeeally missed sitting at the fire with our boys! Hearing their soft chewing, knickers, and even the clanging hay bags. It's one of the things we love most about our horse trips north.

Fun was had with some of the usual non-horse stuff, and we enjoyed a few new adventures. We came across this little fellow during a morning walk, and helped him across the road to safety.

Hiking to Bagley Rapids was a trip highlight. It reminded me of our Colorado years. Horses can't access the spots we climbed to be in the midst of the rapids...there are no words for how much I love being one with nature!! 

We also found another lookout in the area, with a pretty lake view. There was one pile of evidence indicating horses have access. Not sure which trail the horses take to get to it, certainly not the one we hiked. The view pales in comparison to the southern lookout we usually trail ride up to.  Maybe it just looks higher & better from a horses back? I'm terrible at iphone photos, especially selfies...but at least we have a good laugh trying!

The WI Cowboy Dressage group arrived the day before we headed out. It was nice to meet a few of those folks. I've wanted to get back to doing Cowboy Dressage forever, especially since it became a formalized thing. Of course that would require having a horse to ride. Which leads me to Koda's update...

The vet blocked Koda's sore left foot yesterday, it confirmed soft tissue lameness (not caused by early navicular). His limping disappeared and nothing surface in his other (right) leg. So stall rest it is, 4-6 week until reevaluation. Fully knowing complete healing will take much longer. Other vet recommended care includes:

- Hand walking 2X a day (15 minutes-ish each, per day)
- Stop bute (unless he comes up super lame again)
- No re-shoeing (more comfortable barefoot)
- Regular trimming continued
- Hold off on Osphos (navicular shot) for now

I fully agree with all of the above. Too many things given/done at the same time and a person can't possibly know what is working and what isn't. In the interim, I plan to educate myself more on all of the above, spend a lot of time in hand with my boy, try to find some level of connection under saddle with Nemo...and just be thankful things aren't worse.

Koda & I will be spending a lot of time
hand grazing this summer

may flew by ~ an update

Apparently I'm tongue tied again. I didn't share a single thing in May, and yet much has happened in my equine life. The best way to attempt to catch up is a misc update. Here we go, in no particular order:

I'm 0-2 for photographing horse shows so far this season 
Cierra didn't show at the first one, due to the EHV virus. Attending horses came directly from a previous show with confirmed case (s). Several of the area barns stayed home and did not risk of exposure.

Our trainer showed her in Ranch Classes at the second show, and made valuable strides. Placing right behind the big guns. Brad's goal was to learn a lot, and he did. He studied the competitions, and rode her a lot during practice hours. Brad traveled north to the show and I traveled south, to help my daughter with our first newborn grand baby. Six days is the longest Brad & I have ever been apart...let's just say we honed our texting skills & are happy to be back together.

Koda is lame again
He healed over time from the first signs that surfaced at the end of March, and was completely sound at all gaits for three weeks of our regular arena riding. I thought we were out of the woods. Silly me. When I came back from traveling, it took two steps out of the pasture for me to know he was off again. X-rays revealed early stages of Navicular, altho this visible reoccurring lameness is most likely from his previous soft tissue bruising. I decided to forgo the $2,000-ish MRI to confirm which one of the two evils was the culprit. I had front padded plates put on him for now to relieve pressure. He is already somewhat better. 

Our vet participated in an Osphos study for Navicular with favorable results, and Koda is tentatively scheduled for a treatment. I must admit I am a little apprehensive about anything new. Time and (re) evaluating will reveal more layers of answers as we move forward. He is expected to be able to continue with our regular programming. We sure do a consistent job of living the adage "one step forward, two steps back"...

Nemo's allergies are raging
We also returned from our travels to find poor Mr. Nemo in full blown allergy mode. He is back on seasonal Dex, which is taking longer to work this year. It's a bad allergy season. For the first time he is sporting a double fly mask. Nemo was feeling better, I rode him last week. But this weekend he is miserable again, poor guy. 

Our first trail trip of the season will be horseless
It appears like it's going to be "one of those years" when we don't get to enjoy the trails much with our beloved horses. Yes, we do have two other rideable horses in our family. However Cierra is in training. She can certainly enjoy local trails, but it's not fair to whisk her away for extended trips. I wouldn't be comfortable riding our daughters horse Harmony on the trail. I've not trail ridden her, but guess she spooks at everything. Not to mention it's been eons since I've even ridden her in an arena. She's a bit too edgy for me. 

RIP Emma 
The new foal at our barn is gone too soon, due to colic. Felt so bad for her momma. I've never seen a horse so sad. I loved on Dolly while at the barn, sweet mare. I didn't manage to photograph her big spunky pretty baby while she bounced around in the field the past couple weeks. A good reminder to click before it's gone.

Going nowhere fast
Our wishful quest to move to a place where our horses can live with us is going nowhere fast. The options looked promising at the end of March, and then they fell flat. There is nothing even on the market that fits us. Acreage is either too far away, non existent, or out of our price range. Guess we won't be living with our horses any time soon. Sigh. I'm okay waiting for the stars to align, and they will. In the meantime we'll keep saving pennies.

Aurora Williamson Photography is on Facebook
I tried not to do it, really I did. Social Media for businesses was part of my job for years. Personally I don't like the Facebook platform, there I said it. However, some things are best not avoided. Like closing a business website and "replacing" it with Facebook - it's not remotely the same people!!! Saving that rant for another day. You are welcome :)

The Google gods count every stinkin' online thing, when done well. Speaking of doing things well, I've got a lot of never ending online work left to do!! I don't mind Facebook for businesses, but the personal side of it is soooo fake. On the other hand, I really like Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest for the different flavors they offer. I would forgo a personal page on Facebook, but you can't have one page type without the other. With all that said, join me on my new business page!! I mostly share pretty pictures (mine & others) along with inspirational thoughts. Think positive my friends!