Medical Update

Interesting things bones are. The bone shaft still appears VERY much broken on the x-rays but you can see a nice callus forming now and the bone is stable enough so that I don't have to wear my brace as long as I am SURE I am not going to fall or be pushed into. Basically that means I only have to wear it at the ranch.

I was put through some range of motion tests and the doctor pointed out some things that were not obvious to me. I can't physically extend my right arm out in front of me...the doctor asked me to raise both arms above my head and I had to laugh. Yea right!!! He lifted my arm for me...he was trying to see if my shoulder was locked...sure enough it is but not too bad. I can almost go vertical if somebody raises my arm for me. That is something I have to work on I just don't have the physical strength to lift the arm yet.

Another issue is my arm won't straighten completely. There is a 20 degree bend in my elbow. It is actually quite amusing now that I can see it and recognize the issue...but again something that I have to work on.

Alas Tabasco is such a good boy. He lowers his head so I can actually halter him for his turnout now. Dr. says after he sees me in 4 weeks and I have regained my range of motion he'll "clear" me for working with the horses but he said at least another 2 or 3 months before I can get on anything that I might potentially come off of. That means Tabasco will have to go out to a trainer to be started :( I'm looking for a couple now so we'll see what happens.

I think one of the biggest mistake horse people make is not acknowledging when they need help. I put my pride behind me a long time ago as far as getting on the babies...even though I have started a few. It creeped up on me again and look what happened. This broken bone has taught me one thing...Colt Starters are worth every penny you pay em!

MIA

Its been a while. My rider has one excuse after another about why he doesn't have the time to ride Tabasco. I'm probably going to wind up sending him out for thirty days. I have a 2 year old quarter horse stallion that needs to go to the trainer first...Tabasco will go for thirty days after that (unfortunately I can't afford to have 2 horses in full training at the same time).

Tabasco is such a good boy. I can still manage to turn him out every other day or so he leads with just a neck rope :). He's been getting exercise on the hot walker too. I still really like the horse a lot. My goal is to have him where I can ride him (without breaking my arm ;) ) by the time I have regained enough strength in my arm to be able to halter, bridle, saddle, etc. He's such a good boy I am pretty sure 30 days will be more than enough but I'll leave him for as long as the trainer says.

I'm really disappointed, not in him but in not being able to be further along than I am with him right now because of my injury. I've learned my lesson to leave the colt starting to the colt starters! I was so proud of all the progress Tabasco made early on only to have this big setback through no fault of his own.

I'll try and keep this updated as things progress. I've also had my eye on a NICE mare at the Ridgecrest facility so I'm kind of hoping she'll be available around the time my arm is healed so that I can go bring her home. I'm kind of glad at this point that she wasn't available when I got Tabasco because while it is very easy for me to manage three horses (or four or five) of my own in addition to my sale horses, its quite nice to only have to worry about exercising the three right now...and I'm super glad that Tabasco was nice and halter broke BEFORE I got injured (cause I realize I could have gotten hurt off of any horse).

Day 47 - Photo Shoot

We have just been doing lunging and turnout while I wait for my rider to have time to get back on Tabasco. Here are the best shots from the day...I just want to say...WOW can this horse extend. There is also a shot in there of me in my fancy contraption :)

P.S. The little black sheep is Ba Ba his stablemate. He and my quarter horse stud Hollywood are the only two horses we own gentle enough to room with her and willing to share their hay without question.

Day 40 - The Fall

First of al...he is NOT a bad horse... in fact he is one of the nicest, most intelligent horses I have ever had the pleasure of owning (I've had more than 50). He is green and I lost my balance and just happened to fall wrong. More later...its hard to type..his training will continue while I rehab.

3rd Ride - Video

Yes...that is me on him at the end :) Should be just a couple more rides with Joe till I start working him full time :)

Day 34: First Ride Videos

First Ride

Please remember that Joe's only job here is to get Tabasco used to weight. All I need my rider to do is get the horse to a point where he is not likely to buck, bolt or rear because he is afraid of his rider. After that...I can handle the training.



First time on the Hot Walker

First time. He still doesn't even know how to tie (he's almost there...I leave him at the rail all the time "looped up" just not tied). He is such a good boy. We've had far worse problems with horses that have been handled / leading all their lives.

Day 37: I RODE him.

Video will be posted later. Today I rode Tabasco.

Joe got on him first...he was really having trouble with getting him to move out forward. I didn't really like the way he was trying to teach him to move forward. Not that it was wrong just that I'd do it differently. I gave him some pointers but ultimately Joe was done working with him (tired of him is more like it). I didn't want to stop without having Tabasco learn something so I double checked with Joe that he was sure Tabasco wasn't going to throw me and then climbed aboard.

I have to tell you...my heart was pounding, I was sweating way more than usuall and it wasn't even hot outside...the sun was setting. I had to keep telling myself to calm down so that he wouldn't feed off of my own anxiety. It's a mind game for me I tell you. Eventually I got it although I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous throughout the whole ride.

But...I made it, and so did he...and I think we both learned something. I learned to relax and he learned to go forward. As the sun continued to set he became more and more wary of venturing away from the arena gate so I ended the lesson on a good note. I can't wait to start working with him. I still want Joe to put one or two more good rides on him...let me see him go through his paces willingly...then I'll take over completely!

No riding tomorrow, I have school...so the next time we ride him will be Friday evening and there will definately be video!