Well I'm blowed!

I have never been more pleased to have a horse lose a shoe in my life. Henry now only has one shoe on. And you could have knocked me down with a feather today when I managed to put his foot onto a stand and ..... he left it there ...... and stood there rock steady until I had rasped it for at least a minute, probably two or three. He is still really difficult to get them picked up, particularly the fronts, but once up, the stand and rasping is no problem at all. I managed to get about half an inch in height off the back ones, and the front with the lost shoe is looking very smart now I have taken off the wings that the farrier saw fit to leave him with. Far from having big feet, they will be beautifully proportionate to the amount of bone he has once I have trimmed them up properly over a few weeks.

I rode him again and he is learning fast how to manage his own body. We can do circles, stop and turn and today he learnt a little basic leg yield. So very soon he will be safe to ride out, and then I'll get some photos of me on board. He has a natural flexion, which is just as well because his neck is huge and very strong. But when he flexed and trotted few strides, he felt as if he may have some awesome paces to be developed. I have him in a straight bar bit now. Like many big horses, he seems to like it a lot more than a jointed one.

It is touch and go whether I will be able to ride him tomorrow. Both Jazz and he had pulses in their fetlocks after a day of spring sunsine on the grass yesterday. So I put him and Jazz in the barn and Zippy and Button out in the field. They had all been out all night. When I got back 20 minutes ago, Henry was steaming and when I went to see why, he is covered in really nasty bites. One on his neck is much more than skin deep and there is a loose flap of skin. Jazz is a monster! He has clearly been chasing Henry around the barn, though all the bites are new and pink or red, so hopefully he hasn't been tormenting him for too long.

So once again, Jazz is locked in solitary confinement with the top door shut to stop him climbing out. Button is in the barn with Henry calming him down. Zippy is on his own in the field. Tonight they can all go out together and tomorrow I have no idea what I will do, but it certainly won't be to leave Henry with Jazz if he is going to be monstrous to him.

Nothing is ever easy with Jazz, is it?

C