Bo bo

Bert had an imaginary ‘bo bo’ at Puppy Pre-School tonight. I could say that he was very brave having the bandage put on, but honestly, I’m not sure he even noticed. He was far more interested in the liver paste on the table.

It was all a bit too exciting for him tonight. He got rather overstimulated and needed a time out. There were 3 new puppies tonight. All tiny and terrified compared to him. He’s such a confident chap.

He had quite the day as he had another visitor. This one brought treats! It seems I have a very food-oriented dog to go with my very food-oriented horse. Not a bad thing at all when it comes to training. Just need to get over the excitement of food. For both of them….

Playpen

Bert has a new playpen in the garden. This is so he can be outside (supervised of course) while I puppy proof the garden. As adorable as he is, it’s hard getting stuff done. I have to wait for nap time. I have a new found appreciation for new Mums that’s for sure.

I have to admit, it looked bigger online and I’m sure I measured it out. I’m willing to admit that I’m not great when it comes to scale. It will do for now though.

He gets a gold star for photo posing! It seems I have yet another photogenic animal In my life.

He also gets a gold star for his trip to the vets today. He’s has his first jab, so he’s on the path to proper ‘meet & greets’. He weighs in at 4kg and is a good solid little chap according to the vet. Though he did say that he has rather large paws. Let’s see if he grows into them!!

He’s also enrolled in Pre-Puppy School. Exciting times in Bert’s World.

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.

Dramarama

Back home after a very long day at the BRC Intermediate Champs in Onley. I wasn’t competing, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t in on all the action.

Up for the Arena Walk, which mostly involved me taking my jacket on and off, jumping up and down and generally desensitising the horses to the fact the viewing gallery was rather close to the arenas.

Then it was helping one of the rider get ready for her test. Well I was until another rider’s horse managed to pull a shoe off and cut herself. Once the first rider was onboard, I rushed to get the vet and find a farrier. The later proved more challenging as there wasn’t one onsite. After ringing round as many farriers as we could Google. We found one who would put the shoe on. But only if we took the horse to him.

Cue 1.5 hour roadtrip to the farrier’s house! Where he put the shoe back on on his driveway. I kid you not!!

We managed to made it back in time for her to plait, get signed off by the vet and get ridden in for her test. Phew!

Good job I’m calm in a crisis.