Checking in

It's been about a month and Gia is doing well on her weight gain diet. She's got more energy and is curious and sweet ... just a beautiful personality.



While I was out taking pictures, Missy had to show me how much she has Gia convinced that she is in charge. Good for you, Missy! You're the older, wiser mare!


I wanted to just see how many stickers I was going to have to comb out of Gia's mane and here's what I found.



I guess I'm going to have to finish my hillbilly wash rack and get her scrubbed down! Last weekend the bath was brief. We did take a walk up the driveway and down the road for some exercise. Gia thought the walk up the driveway to the green grass was pretty cool!

Fancy Footwork

Before


So Sean came out (sorry for the misspelling prior, Sean!) and did up Gia's feet. He said she has very hard hooves so that's good. I figured as much! He did a conservative trim since she's not getting ridden and it has been some time. He said she seemed a bit low in the heels but his opinion was to see if it bothers her, as sometimes it's best to sort of work with what nature gave you. So, we'll see! Dang, horse is savin' me money again!! HaHa. (Crap, if I could learn how, I could do it myself! -- or better yet, if JOHN could learn how..!!)

Speaking of which, I need to update my figures and will do so (when I've been drinking.)

After

Getting a Float Today

So it has been 16 days and Gia is look much better already. She is also getting a bit more spunky and will trot (is that a little gait thing going on there?) and canter in to get fed. Today she even did a frisky little buck - ok, maybe her back feet came off the ground only two inches, but hey, she was adorable! I tried to take a picture of it but wouldn't you know that the camera was lagging because I had the flash on. grrr.

Then she stood by the gate and nickered and looked cute to make me hurry up with breakfast!



It always works!! And here she is getting ready to wade into her food pool.



The float took about 15 minutes. Maybe 20! She stood there like such a good girl! Dr. Pam thinks that this is probably her first float ever since she is under 10. I held her and scritched her neck and said sweet nothings while Dr. P rasped away. Occasionally she would kind of relax her jaw and hang onto the rasp. She was awesome -- and since she didn't need any tranquilizer, Dr. P says as she's rasping, "Look! She's saving you money!" I looked at her and we both just cracked up because, yeah, right!!

Gia seemed to discover the bushes by the pond and took some bites today. She also found out about the hidden treasures all over the pasture: acorns. I spoke to Dr. P and she said to watch it ... her horse eats them too. They can affect different horses differently. I remember Baby Huey used to hear one drop and go gallop off to find it! He was fine, but then again, he was also 17hh and god-knows-how-heavy! Guy down the road tells me, "I pay my neighbor kid $10 a bucket to pick mine up!" Hmmm... how much would I have to pay Aaron to walk around 3 acres picking up acorns? More than I have!

Tomorrow is her trim with Shawn, the new farrier. 8am *yawn* Dang she needs it though... and I can't wait to see what he says about her being kind of low in the heels.

11 Days later

Gia finds the routine boring.

She would like some excitement perhaps?

She is filling in nicely. Once her teeth are done the hay will be a lot easier. I will say, she manages to suck it all down despite the points on her teeth!

Skip learned the hard way today that she doesn't want him behind her during feeding ... he took a hoof to the head. I think he needs stitches.

I think she's sorry.