Looking Back, Milton 2016

Double sigh.

Everything I said about Rodney [2016] holds true for Milton:
Activity, but no progress.
Easy on the eyes.
Entertaining to have around.
Personality to spare.

Sure the driving training is going well, but what good does that do ME?

The biggest change in Milton has been from the feed [Adventures]. Grey horses get bumps. It happens. He has a particularly large, ugly one on the inside of his right thigh. The swelling of this lump was one of the indicators that sparked the recent feed change. On the new feed, the lump is gradually shrinking. Yay! It is also falling apart. I have been in the habit of cleaning and medicating it. Lump is benign, but bad. Therefore, anything that annoys lump is good. Recently, a small part of it fell off during cleaning. Gross, but yay.

Was he having a low-grade inflammatory reaction to something? Now that his system is not under seige, it can address lump management? Or do I have no grasp of equine anatomy? Whatever the reason, the lump is smaller. This is a demonstrable physical change. We are not imagining it. We also think we see a change in his outlook. We might be imaging this.

Have we been making him NQR all this time? Have we finally gotten back to the horse he was in Canada? OTOH, I have made similar statements after changing feed, instituting naptime, etc. [Did not search for past posts. I don’t wanna know how often I’ve said this. Too depressing.] Have we turned a corner, or are we turning in circles?

Onwards!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Looking Back, Rodney 2016

Sigh. What can I say that I didn’t say 3 years ago [Zeno’s Horse Training]? Rodney makes progress, but gets nowhere.

As I said earlier this month [Meanwhile], Rodney has been working on long-lining and field walks. Both slowly improve. He’s stands quietly, playing couch, while Milton works. He’s wearing a bit instead of a hackamore [Or Not]. I can use the reins without having him curl his neck up like a shrimp, at least at the walk.

And yet.

We not an inch closer to any of my competition goals than we were at the beginning of the year.

On The Upside
It’s not all bad news. As pasture decoration, Rodney is outstanding (not just out. standing.). He’s pretty to look at. He’s gorgeous when he moves. He’s low maintenance: lives out, doesn’t wear a blanket, gets 2 front keg shoes. For a 17-hand horse with Thoroughbred feet, two simple front shoes count as low maintenance.

He’s a kind horse. He likes to be with his people, and appreciates when we minister to his various – thankfully minor – ailments.

He has a huge personality. He provides us with endless amusement. I often sit at the barn simply to watch and listen.

Plus, the feed change has been good for Rodney as well as for Milton [Feed Adventures]. Rodney has always been good about putting on weight. Now he’s filling out over the ribs as well. He has abundant energy without having it bubble out his ears.

So that was 2016. As far as Rodney Progess goes, not much different from 2015, or 2014, or … nevermind. Onwards!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Five Years Ago Today

first-post-screenshot

Today is the fifth blogaversary for Rodney’s Saga. [We begin. Again.] I wish I had something deep and life-changing to share with you. Mostly, it’s been me yapping into the void, telling the universe that I exist.

Bottom Line
My blog has a purpose – to keep me from going batshit crazy.
[I’m Baaaaaack … With Camera]

It may not be a high purpose, but it’s been a successful one. What more can I ask from a handful of electrons?

Five For The Blog
In honor of the occasion, I dug up five things that I did as a blogger. All the posts on riding, showing, horse shopping, whining, & celebrating don’t count. I would have done those anyway. These I would not have done without the blog.

Attended a model horse show. [What Happens at a Model Horse Show?]

Wrote a song parody. [When I Was a Colt I Served a Term]

Wrote poems.
[Peregrinatio in Stabilitate], reposted by Horse Nation, Horse Haiku: Eventing
[Placeholder Haiku]
[Armchair Athlete]

Got naked.
[Do I Dare?]
[The Naked Challenge]
[My Thoughts On Posing Naked]
[Rodney’s Thoughts on My Posing Naked]
[7 Answers]

Asked for guest posts. Too many to list. Huge thanks to everyone who took photos, wrote about their projects, and/or shared their lives. I love to hear other people’s stories. If you are interested, put “guest post” in the sidebar search widget. If you are interested in guest posting, let’s talk.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Show Photos, NACHS 2015

Saddle Seat Wednesday

 

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naf15-059-056__1-8x10-katherine-walcott-wi

naf15-can-112__group-shot-2-5x10-signed

 

The rest of the photos [Happy] from Nationals 2015 [Show Report Sorta]. Purchased from Sandra Hall Photography.

As you can see, I was very, very happy to place second in the Pleasure Final. I’m not in the group shot. I was hanging around the office waiting to see the judges’ cards from the Equitation Final.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

#1800