From Kate, his former adopter:
Deeds spends the majority of his day in pasture turnout. He is happiest with another horse and has been pastured with both sexes, young and old, big and small. He generally has a pretty mellow, get-along, kind of attitude towards his pasture mates, but doesn’t put up with a lot of nonsense either. The horse he is currently turned out with actually bullied him badly at first, but it never became physical, and they have settled down very well and he is quite attached now. He comes into the barn every day to have his evening meal. In the winter time, or in poor weather, he stays in overnight. In the summertime, he comes in for his feed and then is turned back out after the worst of the bugs have died down.
I have not ridden him while I have had him. After x‑raying him, I was concerned that riding may put unnecessary stress on his front legs and figured I had plenty of time to try again in the future. When I first brought him home, I had to regularly hose down his front legs after turnout. They tended to swell, though not develop heat, but he was never actually lame because of it. After months of regular turnout, I never see his legs swollen anymore, even after he reenacts races in his field. This summer he did come up lame, and after x‑raying both front feet, we determined that it was simply his thin soled Thoroughbred feet and very hard ground. After putting on front shoes, he was sound again. Now that the ground is soft again, we pulled his shoes and will monitor how he does.
Deeds does best with a very regular schedule. He does not like to be left alone in the barn and will pace and fuss if it does not fit his routine.
He does not crib or chew his stall.
He is a very very good boy for his farrier, and does not mind having shoes put on.
He is fine with hoses, blankets, fly masks, dogs, children, chickens, and cats.
The best attitude with him is a no-nonsense one. Firm but not harsh. He will try to test you if you try to coddle him. He likes you brisk and confident.
He will load right into a trailer with this approach.
He is reasonably good for the vet, and very good if wearing a chain. The chain definitely does not need to be used, but he seems much calmer with it on.
With a chain on, he is an angel for his chiropractor, and really seems to enjoy his adjustments.
For a Thoroughbred, he is a pretty easy keeper. He prefers grass hay and also eats LMF Gentle Balance with Platinum Performance’s Ortho-Chon HA joint supplement. We also add oil to his feed.
He just had his shoes pulled, his feet trimmed, a chiropractic adjustment and his fall vaccinations on Monday the 9th of November. He is now up to date until the spring as far as the vet is concerned, and January for his feet. Below are some photos taken during these appointments.
All in all, this guy is a very very nice horse. He is quite a character and super sweet. I wish that circumstances were different and that I did not need to write all of this… but I do.
