Tag: Sheldon
Mystery Swelling
With horse’s it’s always something. Freedom’s leg is looking pretty good right now. So it’s Sheldon’s turn. When I took him out to ride and removed his blanket I found a large area of swelling on his chest. Obviously the fluid is pooling at the lowest point, but I can’t figure out what’s causing it. […]
Read MoreHair today, gone tomorrow
The snow is almost gone and it’s starting to feel like spring. When I was out riding yesterday I saw a pair of swans fly down and land in the pond and the air is full of the music of bird song. With the warmer weather comes the dilemma of spring weather: hair. The horses […]
Read MoreSheldon finds his forward gear
One of the great puzzles about Sheldon has been his reluctance to go forward. I’ve restarted a few OTTBs and one thing they always had was a well established “go” button. Given his long and successful racing career, I knew that Sheldon had to have one too. I suspect that something must have happened to […]
Read MoreNew strategies for Sheldon
Since my trail ride with Sheldon I’ve been trying to find ways to get him to relax and stop constantly chomping on the bit and grinding his teeth. Seriously, sometimes he’s moving his mouth so much that it’s a wonder he can still remember how to walk! With most ex-racehorses, I just focus on keeping […]
Read MoreTurf wars
For the past few years Freedom has led the life of Riley. As the only gelding in the herd of four or five horses, he’s taken for granted that the mares belong to him. Then came Sheldon. Freedom and Sheldon get along fine when they are turned out together, but as soon as Freedom senses […]
Read MoreSheldon’s first trail ride
Last Saturday I left the safety of the enclosed paddock and ventured out on the trails with Sheldon. To stack the odds in our favor, we waited for a day when Curly could be the lead horse. Sheldon loves Curly. Most horses seem to but Sheldon has become extremely attached to her. The attraction started […]
Read MoreSheldon enjoys his acupuncture treatment
On Thursday, Sheldon got a treat — an acupuncture session with vet Carol. It’s not that Sheldon has an obvious problem. He’s actually in pretty good shape. But acupuncture can help with inflammation, boost the immune system and just make a horse feel better. I can get some pretty good releases using acupressure points and […]
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