Signed off

I’ve had the best start to September! Buddy flew through his lameness retest this morning. He’s been signed off by the vets! Hurrah!!

We now have permission leave the ground again. Only 30cm initially, but building up to 50cm in a couple of weeks. As long as there are no further issues, we have the green light to crack on. Now I just need to keep Buddy from falling over the ‘trip / spook hazard’ heights for a bit.

I’m so relieved, emotional and excited all at the same time. This has been my first real experience of dealing with an injury like this. So it’s been a long 16 weeks from diagnosis to now.

Buddy’s support team have been in full force. It shows that with the right people around you, you can overcome anything. What is it they say about it takes a tribe. Well I am forever grateful to mine. Thank you for caring for Buddy so well and putting an arm around me when I wasn’t sure what was going on.

There have been so many people who’ve checked in on us too. So many have come on this journey with us. Thank you. It means so much knowing I have good people in my corner.

The downside to not riding as much is that I am feeling it now we are building up the work. I’m about 2/10th lame I’d say. My fitness has dropped off too, so we’ll both be blowing to start off with.

So it’s onwards and upwards!! For us both.

Out out

Woo fricking hoooo! Buddy and I headed out in the Buddymobile today. Cause for celebration indeed. It drives like a dream and so did Buddy. He was striding out round the tracks. Sound in walk, trot and canter. Phew!

It felt so good to be out and about again. The Equidry was out and about too! Have Spring and Winter had a tiff?! Cause Winter feels like it’s doing the whole ‘…and another thing’. It was so cold, windy and wet!

The bluebells were out and even in the wet, miserable conditions, they put a smile on my face. As did the cheese toastie and mocha. Well I needed warming up and there was cause to celebrate. We were out out!

Sound

Today I had some great news, Buddy is sound. Looks like he tweaked something in the field judging by where he was tight. Auntie Sam came and gave him the once over. He was VERY tight and VERY reactive. He left us in no doubt where the issues were.

I’ve been trying so hard not to worry or panic about it all. It’s really tough. I know it’s horses. They are even more accident prone than I am (and that’s saying something). When I got back from Burnham yesterday, I realised I’ve been flirting from anxious to sad. More tears followed.

Horses are such an important part of my life. Buddy gets the best I can afford. I got without at times. Going away to training camps, competitions and having adventures are really important.

Last night, I played the ‘what if’ game. I didn’t get the best night as my brain was whirling (don’t worry, I also included ‘what if he’s fine’). This morning, I sat and journalled. A lot came out. There isn’t an area of my life that doesn’t need some sort of attention.

So much of it is outside my control. Knowing that Buddy is OK really does make me feel better in myself. The rest, well I’m doing my best. That’s all I can do. At least I can put a few things down today.

Sound

Horses are such an important part of my life. Buddy gets the best I can afford. I got without at times. Going away to training camps, competitions and having adventures are really important.

You are my sunshine

Took Buddy out for a long hack in the sunshine. I wanted to check he was OK after the issue with his shoe yesterday. Thankfully he was sound as pound. Where does that phrase comes from?

It was such a glorious day. Spring is definitely on the way. Nature is definitely waking up too.

Hoof soup

You know it’s been hot when your tub of hoof dressing looks more like soup! It’s a tad melted. Still works though, even if it was running down Buddy’s hooves.

He had the farrier tonight. Since he had to have his shoe off for a bit a few weeks back, he’s lost a big chunk out of his hoof. It looks a bit of a mess. But Buddy doesn’t seem bothered by it. And he’d kept the shoe on without issue.

Given the problems he’s had with that hoof, my farrier asked me to trot him up after he’d shod him. Poor Buddy was uncomfortable on that hoof again. So off the shoe came and after a few adjustments and nailed it was back on differently, Buddy was good again. So glad we checked.

Undergrowth

I woke up on a mission. I’d stripped the bed, changed the bedding, washed the bedding, hoovered and cleaned before 9am!!

Then I hit the laptop. I got a bit distracted by a weird noise outside. At first I thought it was a bird. Then I thought I’d landed in a Hammer House of Horror film as all I could hear was creaking.

You know when you hear a noise. Then you can’t stop hearing said noise. So I headed into the garden to try and work out what it was. Few minutes later, I realised it was the overgrown buddleja rubbing on the fence.

Cue me diving into the undergrowth with the loppers like Lara Croft! Of course I took the more challenging route to get in. And found a fuchsia that I didn’t know I had. Also got smacked in the face by a few branches.

Might have got a bit carried away. So I now have a full brown bin and no more creaking.

I may have peaked too early this week…

Camp catch up

It’s 4 weeks today till Buddy and I head off to our ‘big camp’. Today I met up with 3 fellow campers to chat all things camp.

I love taking Buddy to training camps. It’s not just the learning or spending time with him. It’s about spending time with like-minded people (who don’t roll their eyes when you talk horses).

This photo sums up the fun we have. I’m very excited. Just need to get Buddy sound again.

Speaking of Buddy, he’s not a fan of a poultice as he took it off overnight. Attempt number 2 done tonight, so fingers crossed that stays on.