June 4, 2010 – First bridle

Red letter day for my little man! Rory wore a bridle for the very first time. He opened his mouth easily when I stuck my thumb in and took the bit like a pro! Then he mouthed and wiggled his tongue for a moment to try and spit it out, but after that it was really no big deal for him.

He keeps demonstrating an essentially cool nature. Earlier this week he was eating his breakfast in a stall with one of those metal gates (with the V for them to put their heads out) and he got a little agitated about a dog barking a little way off outside the barn. Now I say agitated, but there was no screaming or pulling or pooping type activity. He wanted out and considered going over the stall gate. Rory stuck his head over first, tucked his bum under and gently lifted his front feet off the ground as he pushed his head forward. I tie him because he's more comfortable that way, so he couldn't get his head very far over the gate. He tried twice, but never thrashed or banged the gate or anything more forceful than the push forward against the halter. I was watching him to see how he'd take it since his momma tended to have meltdowns if she was taken into the barn alone (she improved with work, but I was worried Rory might have inherited that tendency). He swung his bum round a couple of times as he tried to turn around in the stall I think to find the source of the noise, but he stopped and stood still (on alert, but still) for a minute. That's when I went in and took him back out to his field. A couple of days later the dog was at it again when Rory was eating and this time he just kept eating.

Rory always comes over when he sees me in the field, and is mostly coming when I call - he'll look around and comes when he sees me.

I ordered red & black splint boots for him but haven't tried putting them on yet. I think I want the video running for that one, though he may not be any more concerned about them than he was about the bit.
And I pulled some of his mane the other day. Much to my surprise he didn't mind it at all (good thing with the thickness he's got).

It's been nasty hot here for a bit so I haven't done too much in the way of walking Rory around. The horseflies are likely to carry us away! We did have a trot down and up the driveway the other night. He's getting really good about stopping when I do, and slowing his trot when I give a little tug on the lead, and going faster when I run faster.

May 22, 2010 - An eventful week

Well, Rory had an eventful week. The flymask lasted about three days before it came off. Two more on/off days and I gave up when he had it off in under two hours on the last day. So he gets sunblock instead - which he considers nasty. He doesn't like it, but doesn't give me any trouble about putting it on either. He knows better.

Last Friday (a week ago) Rory had an inspection and adjustment from the chiropractor. I'd noticed some newly prominent vertebral bumps along his spine, and that he was lying down outside a lot more than normal so I figured if the bumps were still there he could be inspected when the chiropractor came to do the brat. Rory was a good boy, but he was a little weirded out when she bent his head round to check his neck. The stepstool was a little daunting, but after the first adjustments in his neck he felt much better and was relaxed enough to stand quietly and trust that nothing bad would happen when she stood over him. There was a fair bit to adjust in his body, but it's likely that most of it came from some scramble or slip or some such. By catching it now I won't have to worry about him developing to support the misalignment. I am convinced that the brat's SI issues comes from when he was badly cast as a weanling. We were very happy to find that brat needed no SI adjustments this time!

The next excitement came early this week when Rory started staying out at night. He's now on 24 hour turnout. I've wanted to to this for a while now, but felt he was ribby enough that he needed his two grain meals a day. I am still feeding him his grain, but I will not be able to feed him twice seven days a week. He's gotten to the point where the ribs are easily felt, but just seen when he bends away and sticks his barrel out to one side. I brought him into the barn and put him in a box stall one day and he didn't know what to do with himself. He ate a few mouthfuls, turned around, looked through the windows and bars, checked the shavings, and so on. I ended up tying him because I didn't want him in forever, and he instantly relaxed and put his nose back in the feeder. Silly boy. He didn't mind being alone - no screaming or pacing or anything like that. Other times I have tied him outside the gate to his field with the bucket also tied to the fence. That is a non-event for him and he'll happily stand and munch.

One day we went for a walk around the track after he ate. Rory was good until we got about halfway round and spotted the other horse coming the other way. Rory got a little up and so I turned him around quickly and got him to settle then turned around to continue. The other rider had turned around too and the horse was going away from us, so Rory got a little up as he wanted to go faster and follow. We had a very little discussion about walking properly, and he was good until we reached the end of the backstretch and some of the horses in the fields whinnied at him. The group in the infield paddock actually galloped around a little bit, which naturally set Rory off more. We had a larger discussion and he reared and tried to pull away from me, neither of which got him anywhere. I did some very sharp turns with him and made him back up and move his bum sideways for a minute, and got his attention back on me. There were a few more times when his attention wandered and once he considered rearing when I wouldn't allow him to run off with the galloping horses, but I saw it coming and checked it before he got anywhere near doing it. Not the most pleasant of walks, but a good training session - I was quite pleased.

Another day he was very well behaved while getting his feet trimmed despite having to stand by himself for about half an hour partway through the process.

Today he had to stand and move with me out in the dressage ring as I helped a fellow boarder with her dressage tests. He had one little fit when the horse that had been working in the grass ring went back to the barn, but again I provided discipline, work and praise. He was actually very good overall. I showed him the paper tests right when we went out so I wouldn't have to worry about shuffling them later and Rory was so distracted by the noises from across the street that he didn't even notice the paper until I rustled it on his shoulder. He jumped because he hadn't been paying attention, but that was the reaction I was trying to get so that I could show him they were harmless. It only took about a minute for him to realize it was nothing to worry about and stand while I rubbed the paper over his neck, shoulders and back from both sides. Another good training session for him.

When I go out into the field Rory tends to be quick to come over now, hoping I'm there to take him out for his grain. I'm hoping he'll come when I call soon.

I've been admiring him while he's eating outside his field. Right now his body proportions are quite nice and he looks good. I'm just waiting for the next growth spurt.

May 12, 2010 – Another flymask

Keeping his distance from the older mare who didn't
recognize that it was just Rory

I went to Greenhawk's sale last week and picked up a few items (I made a list, stuck to it, and even didn't buy something that was on the list after deciding I really didn't need it). One of the items was a Greenhawk cheapie long nose flymask for Rory. The weather promptly got cold and miserable so I didn't see any point in putting the mask on him (especially since I don't think TOY is going to let Rory wear it for very long.

I put it on today. I brought Rory out of the field after letting the brat go. Rory jumped a bit when I ripped the velcro open, but settled right away and didn't mind me putting the mask on over his ears and stuffing the sides and nose under the halter. It fit quite well (arab size). The long nose doesn't come down as far as I expected, but it should help provide some sun protection. Once the mask was on and I'd taken a couple of pics we went back to the field and I turned him loose.

The other horses decided that they didn't recognize this new horse in the field and Rory was very shortly mobbed, and shortly after that involved in a tear about the field. A couple of the mares were obnoxious, one going so far as to push between Rory and Toy and then turn and kick at Rory when she realized he was just the same little poop yearling. Rory had enough sense to dodge, but got stuck between her bum and the three year old's bum, bouncing back and forth a couple of times before squeaking between the three year old and the fence to get free. The three year old didn't threaten him at all, he was just feeling a little picked on by then. Toy was at first scared of the masked Rory, and then fascinated, becoming obnoxious as he tried to get a close look (and taste?) of the flymask. I kept checking through the day, but Rory was still wearing the mask when I left early this evening.

I took a bunch of pictures, but of course they are not great because he's wearing a flymask.

Toy was fascinated by the new mask

October 28, 2009 – Time to grow

It's been a month since the last Rory update. Sorry Rory fans.

Rory's been doing well. His latest lesson is in not doing the head flip and duck to pull out of his halter the moment the human goes to take it off at morning turnout. He still tries it, but I'm getting better at letting the halter slip from my fingers (and stay on his head) so the flip and duck trick doesn't work.

I have been doing next to nothing with him because October belonged to my quarterhorse Tommy - chestnut #2. Tommy was euthanized Monday October 26th. 4XChestnut's herd is down to two.

Rory's training will resume after I stop falling into the hole Tommy left in my heart. This blog is about the journey to the end of our time together, the decision to euthanize and the realities of dealing with that decision.

http://endgame-journeys-end.blogspot.com/2009/09/and-so-it-begins.html

September 28, 2009 – Introducing cross ties

Toy's two year old sister and Rory nibbling together

Rory has the "check hand first" thing down pat now. He sometimes lips hopefully after sniffing, but mostly he noses and then moves his nose away if there is no treat present. I make sure he gets a little reminder not to lip when he does it.

Today we practiced cross ties. I use one cross tie (the one on the far side of the horse, and then loop my long lead through the other tie ring to make the second cross tie and hold the end so I can control the amount of pressure on that side. It's kind of a pain to swap when I change sides, but after being squashed by a horse pulling back who swung to the solid cross tie side (vs the bungee tie side) I want the solid tie on the other side. Rory was a little edgy because he was the only horse in the barn, but he was very good. He didn't pull or wiggle while I groomed. The grooming was secondary to the cross tie training, but he was good about that too.

I have decided to leave his mane wild and woolly for the winter. It will help keep his neck warm and dry and I can trim it up in the spring. It's not as if we were going to a show or anything.

September 21, 2009 – Learning to be polite

Last week's lesson was on accepting treats properly. Rory almost always comes to see me when I go into his field and I usually have a little bit of carrot or something for him. Being a baby he is very focused on the yummy stuff and grabs for it. My horses are trained to check my hands without grabbing and so I spent a couple of days working exclusively on this with Rory. I'd go out into the field 3-4 times during the day and he'd come to see me. I offered him the back of my fist and if he grabbed he'd get bopped on the nose - not hard, but enough to make him back off a little. Then I'd offer the back of my fist again. Repeating the offer/bop until he sniffed or nosed without lips or teeth and backed off on his own at which point I roll my fist over and open the hand to reveal his treat. By the end of the first day he had it figured out. He forgets sometimes and gets lippy if the treat doesn't come fast enough, but he's really understanding the concept.

I scritch him and pick up his least favourite foot as well, then allow him to check my hand for more carrots. He doesn't always get one now. The first day he did, but now he's learning to check because sometimes there really isn't anything there.

He's growing - his joints are freaking huge! I'm used to TBxQH crosses and their finer than WB bones and build. Rory is going to be a very solid horse - but hopefully not too big for me.

I'm not doing a whole lot with him right now. There are a number of other things on my plate, one of which is taking much of my energy and focus. Plus master brat is returning to work and prepping for our first lessons in almost a year. I am riding again, and enjoying the brat very much.

September 12, 2009 – Me first!

Rory and the Brat

Yesterday I was feeding lunch hay to Rory's mum and baby sister (who are in a paddock right beside Rory's) and Rory just happened to come up near the gate as I was scratching baby sister. He looked at me over his gate, their fence and across the paddock and I said hello to him. He nickered. Then he tossed his head and nickered again - it seemed indignantly. Just what are you doing scratching THAT horse when I am HERE?! So I went and scratched him too.

When I go out to get the brat, Rory almost always intercepts me on the way. Bratboy allows him to have his scritch and bit of carrot, but once that's done Rory gets out of brat's way as soon as the brat moves in. No muscle required. If the brat comes first Rory stands a little distance back very respectfully. He can't charm the brat!

Bratboy is doing really well. We reintroduced counter canter last week, and have managed some trot poles, lateral work and even some spiral circles. I'm itching to jump again, but will not before our clinic - I'd scream if jumping set him back and I had to miss another clinic this year. So we wait a bit longer. I am enjoying riding him greatly - I've so missed being able to do interesting things with him.

I had Rory out for a handwalk last week. Once he got over the need to passage in hand, leap over trot poles, and do a giraffe impression he was pretty good. Thank gods we didn't see Mr Ginormous Wild Turkey! His mane seems to be flopping more to the left side now, and doing less of the perfect split on both sides. He still has vast amounts of mane which is getting long and scruffy again. I shall have to trim it up a bit before it gets cold, wet and muddy.

I almost forgot - Rory went out and TOUCHED the digger that made all those holes and dirt piles on two different mornings this week. Toy was not so brave about it and only sniffed it the one day.

September 3, 2009 – The boss returns



Toy's two year old sister and Rory following the group as
they follow the boss around the field



The Boss returned to Rory's field on Thursday last week. The "Boss" being the Brat who left the herd six months ago - before the yearlings went into that group. The yearlings were interested in seeing who the new horse was, but were very well mannered and sort of sneaked around behind some of the other horses before sliding out to where they could sniff brat's tail. For the most part the yearlings were beneath Brat's notice and since they got out of the way when he looked at them he didn't bother asserting himself any further.

After a while when the herd had settled around the haybales (except for brat who was still checking out the field) Rory followed one of the mares over to brat's tail. The other gelding came along and inserted himself between the mare and Rory, and nosed at Rory's head. After a moment, Rory turned away and went back to the herd followed by the gelding. Just as if the gelding had come along and told him not to talk to strangers.

Rory was more interested in the brat than Toy was, but Rory has demonstrated an ability to keep himself out of trouble and be inoffensive. I am often surprised at what the older horses allow him to do that they wouldn't permit Toy to even think about!

August 26, 2009 – You and what army

Rory was a little stinker yesterday. We had a... um... "discussion" about holding one forefoot up for me to rasp. He was fine for picking up (at first) but I wasn't allowed to hold it for very long - not even long enough to pick out. I eventually grabbed another lead rope and tied it round his pastern (with a blocker knot so the loop couldn't tighten) and just held it up. And put it down... and held it up while he hopped and wiggled and... remember he's getting big now... tried to body check me... and I got the foot trimmed! HA!! Stinker. He hopped a little bit on the other front foot, but I didn't have to resort to the rope again. He was quite good about his hind feet (I started with them).

This morning he was pretty good about the terribly dangerous giant pile of dirt and rocks outside his barn door that almost got TOY's sister. I persuaded Rory and Toy to go up to it and check it out. Rory was brave enough to actually touch one of the rocks that had tumbled to the edge of the pile! I grant that the pile was at least as tall as me and as long as an extended cab pickup truck, but it was there last night when they went into the barn (though maybe it was dark and they couldn't see it! Surely we can pretend to believe that).

This afternoon I went to get his big sister and Rory came over first. Followed me to her. Pushed in for more carrot. Followed us back to the gate. And met us when we returned. All sweetness and cute.  At least he doesn't hold a grudge.

August 20, 2009 – Testing the boundaries

Rory's been acting like he's feeling his (non-existent) testosterone kicking in lately and getting a little pushy and mouthy with me in the mornings. He hasn't actually bitten me, but I have felt his mouth around my wrist (as I reach over to hook up TOY) more than once in the last few weeks. Once his halter comes off he's decided he's going where he wants, when he wants regardless of whether I've already claimed that particular piece of real estate. So I got a little more demanding and pre-empted his pushy behaviour by keeping his nose where I say, and making him back out of my space right after the halter comes off. He's returned to being his sweet cooperative self again - for now.

There must be something in the water - all the babies have been a little mulish lately. Maybe it's Mr. Gigantic-Wild-Turkey setting them off. Rory hasn't seen him yet as far as I know (Mr. Turkey stays back on the other side of the barn).

Today we shuffled fields for a little while to allow each to be cleaned up. I didn't have any trouble moving the herds as the horses natural curiosity (oh look! an open gate!) worked quite nicely. There were only a couple of horses in each group that needed to be encouraged to notice the open gates. Rory's gang had a blast running back and forth in the new paddock and pretending to spook at the machinery as it passed by for the first few minutes. I got a couple of decent photos.

Otherwise we haven't been doing anything special lately. Just letting him be a horse for a bit. He had a bit of a minor cold thing going on for a couple of weeks. It was only bad for about three days, then improved quickly.

July 21, 2009 – A month of progress



TOY seemed a little too interested in the flymask -
I wasn't convinced Rory would be allowed to keep it!



It's been a while since I posted an update.

Rory is now officially a yearling!

I've had him out for various handling sessions, showing off, trotting in hand (last time he was very good until he got bored and decided trotting was too tame and tried to canter!) grooming, hoof work, etc. He is looking very good just now (must post some pictures) and is largely behaving.

I put my arm over Rory's back the other morning when taking him and TOY out to their field, and he scooted forward a little bit when I leaned on him (as we were walking). Then he realized it was just me being silly and settled. He completely ignores me when I do it now.

I was out taking pictures on the weekend and he and TOY got into a tussle. Rory bounced towards TOY, reared and his hind feet slipped forward and he fell right over, landing on his right side. He was up in moments and cantering away. I watched to see if he was lame but he trotted out sound and was back playing with TOY shortly afterwards. I actually managed to get two pictures as he slipped (I was expecting the rear).

Rory's baby sister was born a couple of weeks ago (half sister - different sire). She is adorable and tiny when compared to the other foal on the farm (now three months old).

Oh yes - the fly mask. Brat's flymask fit perfectly and TOY even let Rory wear it... for a week. So no flymask for him for now.