Rummy in the blue canvas halter.
Today was my first visit to the barn since December 2nd, the day before my surgery. I got the OK yesterday to walk outside on dry flat surfaces. I am as slow as a turtle but I made it there, got to go around and say hello to all the boys and girls. I have not seen Benny the youngest of the two OTTBs since the day in November that I bought him. I got to have a face to face and he is SO personable. They are both nice cuddly horses with good manners, so everyone loves them.
My most recent dilemma is ‘to clip or not to clip’ – that is the question. They are going to Florida mid-February and that is terribly late to clip as the summer coat is already coming through underneath. This makes it uncomfortable to be clipped (as well as dulling the summer coat) and I don’t want Benny’s first ever clip to be uncomfortable. Anne Marie says it’s pretty warm down there and, of course, it’s only going to get warmer, I may have no choice but to clip so that they are not stressing in the heat.
We are not planning on them competing this winter. We want to enter Rummy in the retired racehorse project so we are keen to get him started. He is five, full grown and strong. Benny is still growing and we want him to have a winter of sunshine, turnout on grass and light work so that he can achieve his full potential.
Benny chasing the lens.
The place was a hive of activity and I was able to watch our amazing team of working students for a few minutes as I toured the barn (on my walker.sigh). The horses are all going beautifully. I watched the lovely ‘Song of Songs’ who was being ridden very elegantly by Jacline Gnidec, ‘Noah’ who is coming back into work after cutting his leg was tactfully steered by Tori Morgan. He had quite a lot to say for himself although none of it was rude, just exuberant and desperate to go back to some serious work. He is a worker bee for sure. ‘Peanuts’ was going beautifully for our newest helper, Maddie Compeau and Abbey Gregus was rehabbing her own ‘Marco’ over raised poles. All in all, a very busy workmanlike place my arena! I just stood and breathed in the smell that makes all the rest worthwhile. I hope I am going to be able to ride again after this last op, but if I cannot, just being able to be back in the barn will be sufficient unto the day.
The photos are head shots of the two sweet OTTBs. They are a happy pair. Rummy poses for the camera but Benny just has to come and see you every time you step back he follows the lens LOL.
