Louie

Louie moved a few weeks back to a foster home where he is being ridden and worked on a regular basis. He’s making great progress — really filling in along his topline too. We were very excited to get this great update from his foster mom, Lisa, along with some handsome photos!! Here’s what Lisa has to report about Louie’s progress:

Hi guys! I sent a few ‘naked’ pictures of Louie about a week ago but here are some from one of our hacks into my yard — in one of them he’s looking at the chicken coop but you can see that he is amazingly relaxed and doesn’t mind leaving his barn friend to go on little adventures. He seems to really enjoy it. We haven’t done any longer outings than around the block twice (he was fabulous) but I can tell he’s going to make an amazing trail partner for someone. Very sensible and bomb-proof type mentality and certainly not spooky or herd-bound. 

In other news, he is progressing well under saddle, feeling stronger every day. If I take a few minutes to longe him before getting on he feels much less sticky going up to trot. We are cantering both ways, about 20M circle staying sort of round. Left lead is harder to get than right lead. I have also played with just single trot poles which he very willingly works over. Today we cantered over one.

Veterinarian Kelly Taylor is coming in about 10 more days to do some bodywork/chiro on him again. In the meantime he seems comfortable, just working on getting the back strength and ability to stretch down and really use his butt and back. But he comes out with a great attitude and tries hard to do what I am asking. The occasional tap with the whip if he doesn’t want to go or use his butt goes a long way! He is definitely sensitive.

If we continue to do more hacking and trail riding I would like to see him in shoes or boots, even on the gravel of our road he seems to take an ouchy step here and there, so we can discuss whether you have a set of boots to loan out or if we should look at getting him shoes soon. For his conditioning as well as the way he seems to light up and enjoy it — I really want to take him out on some longer outings this fall/winter.

We’ve gotten a great update on Louie who moved to a great new foster home this past weekend. We’d also like to welcome Lisa to the SAFE family as a new foster “mom”!

Louie has settled in great at his new foster home. He and the other Arab gelding — Shazam — have hit it off. In addition, we have a lot going on in our neighborhood — sometimes screaming kids on the trampoline across the road, people using power tools, and vehicles on the move. He has proven to be sensible and calm, though alert, with all of it. He ate, drank, and pooped like a champ reported Sherene, the barn owner. This morning I decided to take him out for a quick ride and he came right up to me at the gate, willingly let me groom him and do all of his ‘carrot stretches’ in a new place, and then passed through the ‘goat gauntlet’ (small field of 2 baby goats) into the arena where we had a nice ‘get to know each other’ ride of walk, trot, and even a few steps of canter. 

Overall I am so pleased and excited to continue working with him on his strength and conditioning. I think he is going to make a super partner for someone, based on this extremely sensible beginning at a new and busy location. We are so excited!

Louie is back in regular work some time off for some chiropractic issues. He is feeling significantly better under saddle and is now willing to bend, work laterally and stretch long and low. His canter work is still developing but he is now able to sit down and use his back and the canter is getting more round and balanced with each ride. On a fun note, he was walked over to the alpaca farm with Aiden and after a few minutes decided they were nothing to worry about. He has proven himself to be pretty sensible and we hope to get him out on the trails soon.

Louie stuck to in-hand classes due to some back soreness issues but was quite the gentleman all weekend.  He placed 2nd in Halter and was very brave going through the trails class.  He was sweet and even tempered and charmed everyone who met him.

Louie is cantering under saddle! This was from Wednesday evening when Heather asked for the canter for the first time. He picked it right up with out any fuss and looked great! Heather has been doing trot (and now canter!) sets with Louie out on the track. He definitely enjoys being out in the open where he can really move out. Louie has come such a long way already. This is one to keep your eye on!

Cantering:

Trotting:

…if your teeth looked like this. Poor Louie had the terrible fangs…

This is why we stress the importance of annual dental checkups for horses!

Updated photos of Louie posted today. He is gaining weight and shedding like crazy! His rain rot is completely healed, and he is starting to look much better!