About Farah~

Farah enjoying pasture time at the GFTF

I haven't written anything about Farah for a long while now.  I've not been able to ride her either - so maybe that's why...  Dean has recommended no riding until the leg is completely covered with new hair - no bald patches, no scabs etc.  

At this point - all seems to be good news.  There are only four dime sized scabs left, all toward the top of the white sock.  The rest have fallen off & new hair is finally growing! There's no heat or swelling either - a welcome improvement.

Since rumor had it that my little "sweetheart" had become something of a witch with a "B"- & - we actually had enough dry weather that things outside weren't soaking wet - she has been allowed time in the pasture!   Polito is careful to lightly wrap the leg to keep it completely dry.  If she could talk - she would tell you how happy she is!

When I arrived today, her tail was up over her back & she was prancing & talking to the horses on the other side of the fence.  She saw me pull up & how nice to have her come over to say "Hi"!  She's such a "people" horse & I love it when she wraps her neck around me & gives me a big horsey "hug" :-)   She consumed the dandelions I pulled for her faster than I could pull them :-)

Winter's light gold coat has almost completely disappeared, with the dark golden brown taking over.  Soon, soon now - I might be back to re-conditioning my "retirement" ride!  :-)

Riding & Farah's Scratches~

15-mi. Route at Kathryn Taylor Park

We've still been battling scratches on Farah's high white hind sock.  After months of keeping her stalled & dry - she would have a "relapse".   I'd called Diane & asked her if she had any ideas...  She did!  Penaten baby cream.  With a quick search, I found it at Amazon.com & ordered two tins.  Monday it was in the mail, so Butch & I headed over to the farm.  I washed down Farah's leg with Castile soap, rinsed, then dried & dried & dried.  Next - applied the cream & wrapped the leg with cotton & a bandage.  By the next morning - the leg looked the best it has in months!  

Since Ms. Farah was going nutty with her short daily rides on the farm - I loaded her in the trailer & we headed to Redmond to meet up with our new Saddle-Up friends!  Such a perfect day, hazy sunshine, warm breeze.   Farah decided to become her own worst enemy...  fighting the bit, trying to gallop, refusing to "listen" to me, making my life miserable.  I was hoping that the six-mile mark would bring a return of her brain...  but no... this time it took ten-miles!   Three riders headed back to the trailers, but Amanda & I decided to add a few miles.  Once the other horses were gone - Farah settled in, started paying attention, giving to the bit, collecting & moving out the way only she can. 

Once we were back at the trailers, I stripped her saddle & looked for a place she could roll.  Found a nice grassy area - but - faster than I could move her - she found the only clay - muddy spot & dropped into it, grinding her withers back/forth - having a horsy good time!  That set her up for a badly needed bath back at the farm.  Keep your fingers crossed that the improvement to her leg continues!  

When the rain comes...

A year ago today - Mt. Pilhuck under clouds

The ride I'd so looked forward to for today with Joyce - was cancelled due to rain...  After getting somewhat used to riding in the sunshine - gray skies & rain was not what I was hoping for!   Caught up at home yesterday, cleaned the house, did the laundry, sorted through the "in" basket & baked some yummy oatmeal/choc. chip cookies!   Janelle stopped by with an amazingly nice slow-feeder box that she picked up for a great price.  That was yesterday...  Today - the motivation bug just has not made his appearance!  

Part of my lack of ambition stems from hearing that Farah's scratches have taken a turn for the worse again...  Dean thinks due to my riding her through some mud on Sunday.   Her legs were clean when we got back to the trailers, I toweled her down, an hour in the trailer home - so the leg was well dried - but it wasn't enough to stop the bumps from returning.  I was Goggling this morning & found this article by Heather Smith Thomas;  that shows almost exactly what Farah's leg looks like.  http://www.anvilmag.com/farrier/101f5.htm.  I like the idea of the DMSO carrying the treatment deep into the leg.   

This all started November 14th, when she stepped into a hole when we were trying to get to the Wetland.  It was shortly after that ride that the bumps appeared on her high white rear sock - then developed into scratches.  We've been fighting them since.  She's been on the farm since the 25th.  I miss having her at home with us.  (Don't think Khari does :-)  She's receiving the very best of care, a huge nice stall, bedded & dry.  Riding two to three times a day to keep the swelling down & out of the lower leg.  Her front legs had the scratches too, but they were under control & gone in a few days, no high white in the front.  I should be grateful that it's just the one leg - but would be ecstatic to have it All gone!  If you have any miracle cures... let me know!

Sunshine Day!

Road to the Farm

Friday the sun appeared!  Since Farah is spending a few days on Dean's farm, I decided to ride Khari down to visit her.  Khari was happy to be going & doing - set her usual unmotivated walk pace of about 3.5 mph.  Our route isn't the safest.  It's a narrow rode with several blind curves & no shoulder in many places - guard rail too.  Butch insists that I wear a bright green safety vest - so most cars that come by slow down.

Once on the farm, we have all the space in the world to ride!  Polito saddled Farah & for the first time I had both mares under saddle together!  What fun to see Farah with a rider & riding Khari along side :-)  When we arrived at the small pasture on the hill, it was dry enough for Polito to show me what he'd been working on with Farah.  Mexican's ride differently- they like the horses head up!  Oh No!  Farah - did her best - as usual to accommodate those raised reins & higher hands.  

Farah & Polito

She did some beautiful side-passing, Polito has also taught her to slide up to heavy rod-iron farm gate, so that he can open & close it from the saddle!  The scratches on her high hind sock were still not under control, so she's staying stalled & getting ridden a couple times a day until Dean has her at 100%.  His stalls are so much bigger than ours, she's certainly more comfortable & her leg can stay dry long enough to heal.  (Farah had her vaccinations over a week ago, Khari now has hers.)

Both mares seemed to enjoy the ride, Khari didn't mind a bit when we left Farah & headed home.  Since Farah has been gone - Khari is as sweet as can be!  Go figure!  First she HAD to have company, we brought Farah home - Khari was thrilled - for about two-weeks.  Then she decided to pull the "boss-mare" thing & has tried to make Farah miserable.  Farah really doesn't care much for Khari now either - after all who wants a "witch with a B" for a friend? 


I'm trying to assess just what my future horse plans might be.  I really would like to do trail classes with Farah.  Having a trainer like Mark Bolender in our state makes it tempting, too bad he's so far away...  Don't know how much more endurance I really want to do...  Starting to get that "been there, done that" feel when I think of continuing with the sport.  Have Home On the Range on my radar again - then will see how I feel.  

Of Days & Horses~

View from my Kitchen Window~

Yesterday was a special day - special you ask?  Why?  Because I knew, both from the feel of the day & the weather report, it would be the last of the amazingly gorgeous sunshine days we have enjoyed so far this month!  Perfection from the brisk, crisp start - to the warm glowing afternoon, then the frosting on the cake... picture perfect moonrise.

Good news for me, when I unwrapped Farah's leg, the swelling was gone!  Once at Dean's, after two trot-outs on the hill with Manuel, my favorite horse handler on the lead - it was obvious not only was she sound, but she is amazingly light on her feet for a mare of her size.  I've always admired horses who are light moving but hadn't owned one until now.  Time will tell if it makes a difference with her long-term soundness.  

When I reiterated how much in enjoy riding this mare, Dean went into gales of laughter!  He reminded me the reason humankind worked to produce so many varied breeds of horses - was to suit the horse to the task.  
To be competitive at Endurance, we need those tough, high strung, fly along types that are usually found in Arabians.  But, when it comes to other work, we ask horses to do for us, we can find a breed suited for the work at hand.  Good at that task, suited for it, but not necessarily what we consider an "all-round" animal.  

After coffee, I went out to the stable to collect Farah.  Manuel was with her, (Top groom award at the track last season.) on his knees, at her rear legs, rubbing a salve into her scratches.  He had removed all the scuff, washed her scabs with Castile soap & rubbed in a salve used at the track.  All of this while whispering sweet nothings to her - no fuss, no muss & Ms. Farah standing through it all like an angel!   I think the "blond" girl has a new convert :-)

At this point in my life, trying to let the competitive spirit bank down a little, I've managed to find a mare that is smart, quick, swift, willing & Fun!