Navi's Growing...Too Fast

Poor Navi seems to be going through a growth spurt and apparently we were feeding her too well, because her tendons can't keep up with her bones. Last week we noticed her being "over at the knees" and being pretty shaky. So we called the vet, she came out the next day and said no more alfalfa as it is causing her to grow too fast. So now we were brainstorming on a way to keep her with the other three horses, but yet not have her get any alfalfa.

Currently we are pulling her out of the paddock at night when we feed the other three their alfalfa and then we put Navi back in the paddock in the morning to spend all day with the herd and eat all the grass hay she wants from the slow feeders. Navi gets a nibble net full of dry land straight grass at night so she has food at night in her pen.

Still I am pretty sure she thinks we hate her since during the day until her fly sheet arrives she gets sprayed with sunscreen (which is highly stinky in her mind) and then at night she is pulled away from her herd and the yummy alfalfa that she is accustom to getting daily. However it seems to be working, so she will be stuck with this routine for possibly the next year!

Speaking of fly sheets her outfit should be her tomorrow :)

What Navi will be wearing all summer to protect her from burning. Except her outfit isn't plaid...just plain white.

Currently Navi is just shy of 14 HH and is around 750lbs. So she hasn't grown a ton since November, but she is losing her baby look and is getting taller. I need to get some current pics of her!

Sad News, but some good things also.

Outside of the horse world things at home have been sad. Yesterday we lost one of our older kitties Jessie. Jessie has been with my partner since long before I came into the picture. He was born in 1995! I didn't come around until 2005. Jessie was a feral kitten when my partner took him in from the shelter that she worked at. So whenever something new happened at the house you could guarantee that Jessie would be in the attic where he felt safe.  For the first few years I lived here, he didn't venture down much while I was around, however these last few years he came down almost everyday and spent time in the living room with us. It was sad to have him leave us, but he lived a wonderful 17 1/2 years.

Jessie

In horse news things are good. It has been cold and snowy here, but we have still gotten in some playing time. Some really good news is that Jess is teaching a younger girl confidence. There is a family at our barn that own a National Show Horse (Arabian/Saddlebred cross) who is stunning and an amazing horse, but true to his breed he can be a bit of a handful. Because he is a bit much for the young girl she has been too nervous to ride him, so enter Jess. She has ridden Jess a few times this week and so far my trainer says it is going great! Jess has been really good for her. It is perfect for both of us, this way Jess gets light riding work and she builds her confidence back up so she can enjoy her horse more. 

Pixie and I are doing a demo on June 22 at the barns open house! So now that it is just two months away we have to start getting our routine down. I am going to use just a neck rope and then at liberty also. I think I might use my song I had picked out for last years demo that I had to miss due to work. I am excited to start practicing for it!  And now I am off to enjoy my three day weekend that of course will be spent with the horses!

Spring was here and now its winter again!

Last week we had amazing weather! In fact we rode both Wednesday and Thursday :) Not only did we ride, but we hauled 1 ton of hay each day and had the vet out Thursday to give shots and do wellness exams.

The vet visit went well! All the horses got their spring vaccinations and Navi got blood drawn so we could have a full blood panel done on her. We think everything is just fine, but we like to have blood work done once a year on everyone just to keep an eye on everything. Navi did well for being poked 3 times between the blood work and vaccinations.

Speaking of Navi, she is going through a phase of everything must be put in the mouth. Little bugger has been biting us and everything else she can reach! Apparently horse babies are just like puppies in that aspect, lol. Other than being mouthy she has been a very good girl. I will admit she hasn't been getting worked as much as she should be. Glad we have all the time in the world because my long work days have been cutting into her training time.

We finally made it over to the island that is owned by my barn owners. It is only reachable when the river is low so we ventured over there last week for the first time. Willow was a bit spooky but not bad and Pixie was super well behaved. I can't say enough how much I love that horse!

Willow

Pixie and I

 I am glad we enjoyed last week because currently it is 16 degrees outside with snow on the ground still! I think we will be riding/working inside today! Other than it being super cold I am glad it snowed, we needed the moisture in a very bad way.