Friday, August 1, 2008

March and April, 2008

After Ana's untimely death, I haven't really been inclined to keep these pages updated. We're all healing now though. Ana will be a part of all of us forever. Leroy is back to his old self, though he does have his grumpy days from time to time. But for the most part, he's a happy, content boy. Leroy LOVES to be brushed, he is a very itchy old drafty, and will think nothing of rubbing himself raw on a tree or ledge if I don't brush him. The winter coat has been flying for months, and his winter coat is quite thin. He had some rainrot on his back where the water pooled, and probably from lack of nutrition. That is all gone now, and he loves it when I use the manure rack to itch his back and butt with.


Leroy began learning how to tie in April. Well, I'm sure he already knew how to tie, he just preferred not to. At first, he fiddled and fussed, and danced around. Within a few days, he learned that he WILL be untied to go eat his hay, and will not be left tied up indefinately. So he is much more settled now, and doesn't start to fidget until he knows I'm almost finished with chores and he'll be released soon.



The dentist came in April and saw him. Leroy wasn't too thrilled at first, but James Cormier is very, very gentle, and takes his time. All the horses love him, even the ones with mouth issues. He doesn't use a speculum, and only floats the points, he doesn't take any length of tooth off, so they have as much as they have genetically for their lifetimes. Leroy has one tooth almost gone, and the opposite one is almost gone. He also had his canines cut off at some point in his life, right down to the gum line. James said Leroy has some age on him, he is at the very least 25 years old, which I agree with, and think he's even a bit older.


At the end of April, we've had some bizarre weather with 70's on up to 80F, then late April its back down to 20's at night, and 40's during the day with rain. The other morning, I found Leroy shivering in the rain! Amazing, he made it all winter with ice built up on his back and frigid winds, and he always was toasty warm. But the rain got him without that heavy winter coat. Leroy FINALLY allowed me to put a blanket on him! He was not happy about it at first, and he fussed and fidgeted around, but he settled soon when he stopped shivering and realized tht the blanket was keeping him warm and dry. So Mr. Leroy is well on the way to being a civilized horse!


Leroy's mane and forelock are also growing by leaps and bounds!!! I can't believe how much longer his forelock has gotten, and it looks so much healthier, too. Now that he is shedding so much, you can see more and more white spots on him from nerve damage. He has white hair on his croup from the straps from the harness that run over their butt and down. Leroy continues to chip off his hooves perfectly, and still has not needed any trimming. He does pick up his feet, which is great news. But I sure do like a horse who can maintain their own hooves. He is perfectly sound on them, too, and I've seen him step on a huge rock and commit all his substantial weight to it, and not even pull up.


Here are a couple of pics from late April, of the old man doing what he does best. Eat.






And here is a video I made, telling Leroy's story.




No comments: