And so it begins...

Ruby love

Remember when I said that I was going to bring back Ruby very slowly?  I wasn't kidding.  My plan is to build tendon strength as well as bone.  In that vein, we will be working in deep sand and on the road. 

Deep sand is easy enough to find in our round pen.  Last week we started off by walking two minutes to the left, then two minutes to the right, at Ruby's pace.  We walked three laps in each direction so I'll be increasing the laps by one in each direction each week.  Eventually the plan will include her carrying me at a walk in the sand, but that is a few weeks off.  Last week, we did this on three alternating days.

Road walking - Ruby gets so excited that she has nearly been dragging me to the gate in order to go explore off property.  Again, we've been alternating days for this and have only been going maybe a quarter of a mile total.  For now, road walks and sand days are alternating - next week, she will start doing both on the same day with rest days between.  I will be keeping a very close eye on her legs during this time.  

There are several macho geldings on Heather's farm that would love to flirt with Ruby when she's in heat, but she's not interested.  She only has eyes for Storm...a friend's KMH mare, lol.  Surprisingly, Storm usually enjoys the attention.

And a bombshell, well for me it was.  Remember back when I first met Ruby, and she was supposed to be six years old?  Several months later I was given some of her old paperwork that hinted she was actually much, much older and already into her early or mid-teens.  Last year when Ruby had her teeth floated I asked the vet to tell me how old she was and told the vet my suspicions.  The vet looked very quickly and said yeah, she's 14 or 15.  This year I had another vet float (due to scheduling) and asked him her age...turns out Ruby is probably 12, as evidenced by the fact that she still has the 11-year-hook and her Galvayne's groove has just started to show itself.  It must be really nice to have registration papers and know exactly how old a horse is, lol.  It's only three years difference, and yet it feels like a lot to me - it's that many more years that I will hopefully have with my funny, smart mare.

Ruby pics

She's so pretty.  I used to think that varnish roans looked dirty but now my heart tugs every single time I see a picture of one.  Love my girl!!!

Close-up of her right hind with arrow pointing to the bump.

 She's getting better with letting me put her SMBs on (she usually gives me some trouble with her injured leg). She continues to move completely sound from what I can see.  I will cut her down to one serving of the joint supplement at the end of this week and plan to walk her down the road tomorrow - she is spooking at nearly everything right now: barn cats, people cleaning stalls, people opening and closing gates, people pushing wheel barrows.  I'm hoping to get her mind working and expend a little of the extra energy that she's dealing with. 


Mustang mare Vegas may be here as soon as this coming up weekend.  So excited and nervous! I hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew.  Jennie was told that Vegas was broke at one time but that's hard to believe since she's been steadily popping out babies since she was first adopted.  We'll find out soon enough.

Quick update

Nothing new just a quick update.

Ruby is not enjoying her time off.  She's not really sure what to do with herself now that she's not being ridden and is not being turned out with her buddies - definitely going a little stir-crazy.  She's completely forgotten how to stand still, especially when I'm trying to put her boots on.  Swelling on her fetlock is nearly gone, though she does have a small, hard knot there (the knot appeared after her fall in the trailer).  She hasn't taken a lame step since that last trail ride, and I'll probably start hand-walking her off-property later this week.  Monday marks two weeks since the incident.  Vet said that I could ride her at a walk after two weeks, but I plan to give her a bit longer before putting her back under saddle.  No trotting, walking only until May (approximately).  I can deal though, if it means Ruby will come out on the other side happy and sound.   Oh, and if anyone is wondering how Princess Ruby feels about her joint supplement, I think she would eat it by the case if the opportunity arose.  It looks and smells like alfalfa dust.  She's taken to licking her feeder clean morning and night. 

Jennie should be back from vacation in a few days, after which time we will finalize all the details regarding Vegas.  Hubby is trying hard not to hyperventilate, knowing how I get attached.  No real worries there though - can't afford two horses so Vegas won't be a permanent fixture unless we win the lottery :)

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!