Category: Uncategorized

Lunged Magic in front of the barn and rode him around the Oak pasture. We did not ride the arena as it is so muddy and wet. It was very windy again today. Magic is very level headed compared to Newt. We rode a little different route through a herd of cows. York and Topsie were with us. Lots of wind. Magic did pay attention to a group of calves laying down off by themselves. No spook, he just kept an eye on them. He will make a very good trail horse. He just needs more experience and we are doing that.

I led Newt to the arena and lunged and rode him in the arena. Very windy and his mood was the same. He was able to canter with some control but the footing is bad. Most of the canter hoofprints looked like skid marks, each of them sliding away from the center. He did listen and calm down and walk when requested but he was constantly on the edge of an outburst of energy. So I got on. I did manage to keep him from comming unglued but between the wind, his mood and the footing we got very little else done. Lots of head shaking. One time he shook and got his head lower and did a few crow hops but I was able to turn his head and make him circle where he could not buck. We did not ride the trail. When I got off, I told him how good we did. We were successfull in that we handled everything and had no big problems.

The horses are fit for riding and so is the weather. I am sick with the whooping cough since about the first of May. It was not too limiting until this week. I am getting better just a little bit each day. I’ll be glad when it is gone.

All horses are walking better today. The only thing I have done is painted the soles with Venice Turpentine. I have used it before without such dramatic improvement. I’m just happy that we are going in the right direction. Magic seems to be walking normal, something he has not done in a long time. I have never heard of any spring hoof sensitivity but the three geldings I am watching so close sure got sore all at the same time with the only catalyst being a normal farrier visit. I’ve used Dale for over 30 years and he has always been good. The ponies and the mares have not shown any tenderness but they are all out on pasture and not observed so close.

Everybody had sore feet this morning. (Newt, Little More, Magic) I got Newt in the round pen and he moved OK. But all of them are very tender footed in the little bit of gravel in the hall of the barn. This situation confuses me. Magic was decidedly worse this morning and this afternoon in the pasture he walked as good as I have seen him in weeks. I did paint their soles with Venice Turpentine this morning. I packed Magic’s off front with a turpentine soaked rag and wrapped it on with duct tape.

Little More and Magic are moving carefully, sore and tender feet. Magic is getting 1 gram of bute morning and night. Little More and Magic stop whenever they come to gravel and have to make a decision whether or not to go on. Newt is noticeably tender-footed but not so bad. I paint the soles of their feet with Venice Turpentine morning and night. The mares are out on pasture and I do not bring them up daily so I have not noticed how they are responding to the foot trimming.

Magical Minister photo from New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program Lexington KY Barn