Lesson with Karina

Karina Lewis came over last night to help me out with Chance. It seems that every time I work with her I get more out of than I thought I needed! The only thing that I was really asking for help with was helping Chance leave the yard. Karina is very intuitive and of course I was in tears within 5 minutes of her arriving. I thought I was doing much better with my sadness from loosing Shadow. Apparently Chance wasn't.

My biggest concern was with CC. He and Shadow are brothers and had been together for almost 30 years. They were separated for 3 years while Shadow lived here and CC lived at A's. I brought CC here to live with Shadow 2 years ago. They were at each others hip most of the time. They stood together, ate together even drank water together. So to say the least I was very worried about CC being here without his brother. We even considered putting CC down with Shadow but when the time came it didn't feel right. The thing that shocked me the most about CC was that he whinnied about 15-20 minutes after Shadow had been put down. CC has not whinnied once in the 2 years he has been here. So he whinnied for a couple of hours and then got quiet for the night. The next 2 days he spent standing next to the place Shadow is buried. He left the spot only to eat and drink. This is when I started to think we made the wrong decision about putting him down with his brother. On the 3rd day when I let him out of his stall he went to the round bale 1st. And from then on he goes over to the spot every now and then but seems to be doing just fine.

What I have missed in all of this was that CC has not allowed Chance to go to the spot where Shadow is buried. Chance hasn't had the opportunity to process Shadow's death or say goodbye to his friend. CC was very protective of Shadow and rarely let Chance get near him. Chance and Shadow did get along very well and I didn't realize that Chance was missing him. So last night I walked Chance over to the place Shadow is buried while CC ran around like a little wild pony. Chance did a lot of sniffing and smelling and stood very quietly. It did seem to help him process Shadow's death.

So then we went on to the physical stuff. He had been very sore a few weeks ago, his entire right side was lame. He could barely pick up his right hind leg but was able to stand on it just fine. I couldn't see any physical cuts or scratches, no hoof marks. I'll never know what happened but he either rolled and hurt himself or CC kicked him. There was improvement everyday but it took about 1 1/2weeks for all of the lameness and swelling to go away.
A very nice couple came with Karina and it just so happened that the gentleman with her does manipulation and equine massage. Chance was still stiff from his injury and not able to move as freely as he should have been. He went to work on Chance and when he was finished Chance was moving wonderfully!

Then came the riding part. Karina decided at first to try a different bit, a different snaffle. Then changed her mind and put a bosal on him. I have always wanted to try this with Chance, he has never liked putting the bit in his mouth and honestly riding him in a rope halter is just less stressful for him. But I don't have the confidence to ride him in a rope halter out of the yard. The bosal seemed to be exactly what he needed. Karina rode him to the spot he hasn't been able to get past. He stopped for a few minutes and then moved his head funny. After a few minutes he walked up the hill and out the gate. What Karina was able to pick up from riding him is that I am getting tight and pulling on his mouth. I have worked so hard at NOT doing this, but when Chance drops that head of his I get scared and pull it up. The fear of getting bucked off takes over. With the bosal I cannot yank on his mouth but I still have control.

By the end of the 1 1/2 hrs Karina was here my confidence was back and Chance not only feels better physically but seems to mentally also. I'll ride him a little later today when it's not so hot and see how I do on my own.