shekaberry
SAFE Volunteer
SAFE Volunteer Coordinator
Posts: 1,521
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Post by shekaberry on Apr 15, 2009 11:02:29 GMT -5
I noticed on the financials that Lexi had a vet call in March. What happened?
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Post by schwung on Apr 15, 2009 12:04:31 GMT -5
She had a minor cut over her eye...no stitches needed, all healed now.
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Post by schwung on May 16, 2009 11:18:21 GMT -5
It is time for Lexi to start a new adventure in her life. Despite her weirdly-conformed feet she has remained sound so we are going to get her started under saddle and see how she does. Wish her luck!
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Post by schwung on May 29, 2009 17:24:49 GMT -5
Lexi is doing well in her first couple of weeks in training. She has learned to cross-tie, lunge, get baths, and is wearing a saddle and bridle. She wasn't thrilled with the bit at first (was trying to spit it out) and bucked the second time she was saddled but has otherwise been very good. She is also now great about being caught (an issue at first) and walks right up to you to be caught.
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Post by schwung on Jun 3, 2009 19:09:45 GMT -5
Lexi has also progressed to having a rider leaning over her back at a walk. She's a little more nervous with Rhythm and hence a little behind him but coming along nicely as well.
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Post by schwung on Jun 25, 2009 10:20:46 GMT -5
Lexi's training is coming along very well. Like Rhythm, she is also now walking and trotting around the big arena under saddle. We also, after much discussion and getting Dr. Hannah's blessing, put front shoes on Lexi as she seemed like she was getting footsore. She walked off immediately more comfortable with the shoes on. It's a bit scary making *any* changes with her feet but my farrier felt confident she could help her without making her sore, so we are giving it a try.
I am planning on going up there on Saturday to get some video of both of them.
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Post by schwung on Jun 28, 2009 2:16:40 GMT -5
Well today was the big video day for Lexi. And wow! I know its always exciting seeing these horses under saddle for the first time, but with Lexi it was even cooler, because the change to her FEET with the shoes has been amazing! She almost looks normal! Just that little bit of support from the shoes has not only made her more comfortable, but she is straighter in her entire leg and her front feet are no longer rolling inwards. You can see that it has given her relief - the tendons in her front pasterns that always looked stretched and bulgy are now normal looking as well. Our shoer spent a long time with her - looking at her, watching her move, reshaping the shoes, and did a really nice job. I am stunned at how much straighter she looks! And then under saddle, wow! They have been working only in the indoor arena, but they are in the middle of redoing the footing in the indoor so Lexi went in the outdoor for the first time today. Andrea started out with long lining her as she has been doing instead of lunging, so that Lexi does not do a lot of extra circles and does frequent changes of direction interspersed with straight lines so that again, she doesn't get a lot of strain on her front legs. After that Sharon, her working student got on Lexi and Andrea was on Sharon's trusty steed Dakota whom you have seen in some of the other videos being a lead horse. Lexi had a few issues at the start as she was insecure in the outdoor arena but just getting her front end moving got her unstuck and once she started going forward she was really super good. She's still a little fussy in the bridle - less at the trot then at the walk. She likes to express herself by shaking her head. But she looks so amazing under saddle and is SUCH a cute mover! I mean, really nice! So without further ado, here she is! The lovely, completely transformed ex-slaughter-bound pony with the screwed up feet, turned fancy dressage horse with almost straight feet! Conformation photo: And the feet!!! Let's take another look at those, wow! Getting tacked up: Long-lining, the little pony with the big trot! ] Under saddle: And video: Lexi measures 13.3 1/2 hands with shoes.
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Post by Sara on Jun 28, 2009 12:21:59 GMT -5
Wow Jaime! Where have you been hiding this little beauty? What a cool ugly duckling story!
As always- a HUGE kudos needs to go to SAFE for getting these kids a great foundation of professional training and also to Andrea and crew for giving the discount that makes this possible.
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Post by hooti4me on Jun 28, 2009 12:45:22 GMT -5
Ditto what sara said! She is adorable. What a trot. I could so see her being ridden by an a young rider doing great thing. Her feet look great!!! I can't believe its the same pony with bad feet.
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Post by cat67 on Jun 28, 2009 15:45:03 GMT -5
I have always believed this mare could stay sound if she was conditioned properly...I have seen many horses with crooked legs or poor feet playing polo and staying sound because that level of fitness provided the muscle support their imperfect bone structure needed.
She looks absolutely fabulous and like she has a future in the show ring!
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shekaberry
SAFE Volunteer
SAFE Volunteer Coordinator
Posts: 1,521
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Post by shekaberry on Jul 1, 2009 12:07:19 GMT -5
I was shocked at how straight her legs looked compared to when she was barefoot. Andrea has kept her training sessions short enough to keep from stressing the tendons and ground driving is such a great tool for Lexi to learn. She could be a cart horse (pony?) someday! Imagine if she had been endlessly roundpenned - she would be dead-lame.
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Post by cat67 on Jul 1, 2009 17:29:33 GMT -5
I believe I have posted this before but this is one of my old polo ponies...never took a lame step in front, and actually came back from a very severe stifle tear and played more polo. And that was before the days of good corrective shoeing. This is a horse who stayed sound for very hard work due solely to good conditioning.
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Post by schwung on Jul 10, 2009 11:28:09 GMT -5
Lexi is doing fabulous with her training. Training sessions are still being kept short but she has remained completely sound even with a consistent 4-5 days a week of work. She has now done some short canter sessions under saddle as well. She is described as very smooth to ride and is going fairly consistently on the bit now. She will still flip her head a little at the very beginning of a work out but it goes away as soon as she starts work. She is very willing and responsive, easy to train. She is very confident and not spooky at all, she is going to be a wonderful amateur or kid's horse. She will be going out on the trails soon with Rhythm.
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Post by jaybird on Jul 10, 2009 14:42:45 GMT -5
This is so amazing to me -- and I think, to anyone who has been with SAFE for as long as we've had Lexi. The progress that this little mare has made is astounding. It's so great to see her doing so well. She would not have had this kind of opportunity if it weren't for this rescue group of ours. I think we all have a lot to be proud of here. Go Lexi!
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Post by hooti4me on Jul 10, 2009 15:35:28 GMT -5
Ditto everything you said Bonnie!
I remember when this little mare was on the feedlot. (I was following CBER then) She has come ALONG way, thanks to everyone along the way. I just went back thru her thread, and looked at photos of her feet before, and just amazing transformation with Lexi.
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