Virtual Brush Box

This weekend, hunter/jumpers are in Georgia, Alabama Hunter Jumper Association, 2023 Kick Off Show. Saddlebreds are Louisiana, Louisiana Carnival Horse Show. I’m stuck at home minding two pasture ornaments and walking around in circles. Just in case you thought the acute crisis had dulled the chronic whining.

State of the Fitness

No missed days in February. Did some level of activity every day, mostly quiet walking.

Missed few in January due to weather, footing, and at least one day when I couldn’t even.

Daily Mile

New places.

George W. Roy Park

J. W. Donahoo Park

Akridge Arborteum Park

The rest were pasture …

… & local park, where Spring is springing.

Monthly 5K

From Challenge in Motion.

Couldn’t identify a thematically appropriate location. Weather & footing both iffy on Fat Tuesday. So, I went to the nearest civic walking track and walked until Strava told me to stop.

Mostly done with virtual medals. This bling caught me in a rare shopasaurus moment. “Virtual medals have been a hoot. I have enough. Ordered one more that I will use in 2023.” [Picture This, Walk Photos, State of the Fitness]

Proof Of Concept

Rode a bike. Renewed gym membership. Went and said hello to weight machines.

Outro

The difference between a park with paths and a park with a walking path. On one hand, scenic, but with much turning. On the other hand, easy to get in the zone but the same plastic playground & picnic shelter landscape that is everywhere. Details vagued on Strava map, so as not to call out either park.

Last Month [Stall Rest Chronicles 3 Feb, plus Fitness Photos]

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Zeno’s belly zipper continues to get better without closing completely.

Ankle still slightly stocked. No heat. Puts weight on it. No idea of soundness, under veterinary injunction of No Trotting. Consistent with a minor swelling and then not being able to walk it off. [Minor Mishap]

Milton has his moments, and he will undoubtedly be feral when he goes back to work, but – so far – he’s been great about this.

A week & a half until vet permission to have the run of the pasture. Hang in there, Milton.

Onwards!
Katherine

Over the weekend, I had a getting-ready, anxiety dream.

I was to ride Bliss, Coach Kate’s outstanding driving horse. [ICDE 2017]

Tack up.

Wait, I need a helmet.

I have one in my truck.

Being a dream, getting back to my truck involved climbing through a parking garage. All of this took place in a hurry. Move! Lesson is about to start!

Hold on, I cleared everything out of the back passenger area to make space for the dogs.

Now what?

Never fear. Friend from another life, who owns a tack shop, appears. I can go back with her and get a helmet.

I wake up.

The mind is weird.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Ninth week post surgery
Two weeks at clinic DONE
Four weeks of at-home stall rest DONE
Two weeks of paddock rest DONE
Starting week 3 of four weeks of paddock rest
Still to go, four weeks pasture rest

Fans?

In February?!

Had to turn on the stall fan. Not quite as bad as it sounds. Stall is better at keeping inhabitant warm in winter than cool in summer – glad we are not doing this in July – and Milton will start sweating on days that don’t seem all that hot to me. Milton is not the heat-loving lizard that Rodney is. Or that I am.

Still.

This has me concerned about summer, which already gets ridiculously hot.

Plus, once it is hot enough for fans, then flies and fleas are not far behind. #animallife

Onwards!
Katherine

My step-niece went on a camel ride in Dubai. Photo credits, all but one by Kelly Mellon.

Notice the hand in the lower left of the ears photo. I asked about tack. She said, “Yes, there was a ‘saddle’ but I’m not sure if that’s what you call it. Just a firm handle really to hang onto for dear life! Especially when they stand up and sit down, it’s needed!”

I assumed that the snoot guards were due to the camel reputation as a snarky bastards. Kelly was told the muzzles were to keep the camels from eating the bushes.

Taken by Kelly’s tour guide, S., with Get Your Guide: Al Khayma Desert Camp.

No reins! For the dude in the back, not even a person leading your camel. That would make me nervous.

Thank you Kelly! Vicarious travel for the win!

Kelly online. Instagram, @thisisnotafacade: Dubai pics. Blog, This Is Not A Facade. Mentioned previously [Pondering The Past, Wondering If It Ever Even Happened]

All photos supplied by Kelly. I added watermarks & borders. I blurred the faces of the other riders, since I haven’t talked to them, and I overcompensate on privacy issues.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Finishing week 8 post surgery
Finishing week 2 of paddock rest

Everyone doing well.

Same shit, different day. When we are dealing with two horses pooping inside 23 hours of the day, I’m being accurate when I say shit. So. Much. Shit.

A few days ago, Milton wanted to be helpful. He put his belly on display so that his minion could check the progress without having to bend over. So, yeah, he’s feeling good.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Week 8 post surgery
Week 2 of paddock rest

What is up with blog horses?

We’ve already heard about Charlie’s abscess and how he doesn’t like to be stuck inside. “He’s a good dog, but….. a little bit of a terrorist on stall rest.” FCE: mud – 1; emma – 0. [1 Feb]

Dylan has an injured right hind, Ctrl+hAlt+Del: Stall Rest Continues….

Quaid is objecting to confinement & small paddock turnout, Journey with a Dancing Horse: About That Light at the End of the Tunnel.

Tristan just got home from surgery. I see stall rest in his future. Bel Joeor: Keratoma Surgery Updates: Returning Home & Rehab.

Wishing healing to the horses and fortitude for their owners.

To prove that it’s not all bad news out there.

“That is the exact moment I learned I had achieved my first score toward my Gold medal.” Contact: Man in the Arena. This is the kind person who contributed the saddle seat vs dressage posts. [Part I, Part II]

“Flora’s training, experience, and attitude are all exceptional and training level is clearly super easy for her, so I guess it probably isn’t that surprising we won.” That Horse Force: An English Weekend at Pine Top. Finding the amazing horse, THF: The Merry-Go-Round Life of Horses.

Wishing for posts like this someday. Meanwhile, I’m glad nice things are happening to somebody.

Onwards!
Katherine