Saturday, October 21, 2017

your eyes donut deceive you

This is not a drill. We are talking escape from alcatraz levels of excitement, guys!

oh captive, my captive!
Charlie has been on stall rest for a few weeks now - first for the acute injury and then for recovery from surgery.

ugh but that left hind sympathetic support limb tho :(
It's been mostly ok for him. He was a hot goddamn mess coming home from New Bolton but has mostly settled.

eager beaver!
He gets his hay and his water and his meals and his snax and is basically like "Well I kinda hate you but we cool."

hard to tell who is more excited
That is, haha. That is, until recently. Sir got his stitches out this week -- ushering in a whole new era in his rehab!

ok it's definitely charlie. charlie is very excited haha
We're still on a strict no-turnout protocol, but the big guy has been cleared for hand- and tack-walking to our heart's utter delight. As much as we want - no limit!

excited for #datgrass
Which, as far as I'm concerned, couldn't come a day too early given how some of his legs have fared with the prolonged sedentary lifestyle.

walking like it's the best thing in the world
And naturally we set off at the earliest vet-approved hour. And Charlie was SASSY OMG haha.

tho actually honestly he got quite sassy pants about some horses playing in turnout
He was shaking his head - grunting and snaking his neck while trying to spin (lol) and trying to get all feisty (lol) and trying to jig (lolol) as we wound our way around the driveway and pasture lines.

really tho <3
On one hand..... I kinda forgot how big he was after riding Velvet for the past couple of weeks and somewhat deeply regretted not putting a neck strap on the big guy.

baa baa black sheep!
Butttttttt, on the other hand. It's Charlie. He's my guy. He's the best guy. I luffs him. And he's a good boy. So we were fine. #stillquieterthanvelvet

yes charles, this is not a dream. life is getting better!
I just..... Can't quite explain what it felt like to get back on him again. Like obviously the whole "wow he's giant" thing had to be reestablished bc.... yea.

but #datgrass tho. also these climate control polos with the built in liners will be my go-to wraps for those fronts for the foreseeable future
But even with that, and even with his sassy pants, I was cheesin' like a goddamn fool.

into the wilderness
I just miss riding him. Miss working on what we had been working on. And am still sad that this season closed for us with loose ends.

charlie goes a little #meta looking into his own stall
It's cool tho. Well. I'm pretty sure it's cool. All four of his legs are a bit of a horror show right now after all the stall rest, and the horse is basically covered in a thick sticky urine-soaked dust (baths are frowned upon when surgical incisions are present, but stall rest = sleeping in pee sooo yea).

his long term rehab neighbor was a tad jealous
But we are arriving at the light at the end of this particular tunnel. Still a little bit further to go. But. We are going. And for that, I am grateful.

37 comments:

  1. I know what you mean- there's this feeling when you swing up into the saddle after being away for a bit. For me I feel like 'ah, that's better'. Charlie looks good and I love that even sassy Charlie will still walk. Heaven help me if I have to rehab Carmen!

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    1. Definitely - life absolutely got better just from sitting on him, "sassy pants" and all. Bc even a sassy Charlie is still just a solid good boy!

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  2. One step at a time and what a great step for both of you to be able to take. I remember the feeling of coming home when a Gem was rideable again after two months off from her injury. It’s a wonderful feeling

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    1. So wonderful! And we haven't even had to go nearly as long as two months! But really any time off feels like too much haha

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  3. SO EXCITING!! Love that feeling of “coming home” when you finally get to be back on your trusty steed!

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    1. It's definitely high on my favorites list!! (Aside from the feeling of never having to step away in the first place!)

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  4. Aaagghhh! I'm a little teary eyed! So happy you are back on the big Sir and everything is healing. And he looks just so excited to be out!

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    1. Omg Big Sir.... Like big sur haha, a whole new naming opportunity! And yes there is much excitement and happiness happening over here. I'm trying not to get too ahead of ourselves bc there's still a lot of healing that needs to happen.... But still :D

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  5. Yay so glad you're able to get out again!! There's nothing quite like that "my horse" feeling with an established partner. :-)

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    1. agreed completely - i just freakin love spending time with this horse and am so glad we've got a little more freedom to move about the cabin, so to speak

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  6. Yay Charlie's back, yay charrrrliiieee

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  7. I'm so happy for you guys!!! Yay for an amazing first ride (or rides) back :)

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    1. i might not always be this excited about tack walking.... but right now i'm pretty excited haha

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  8. Yay! Happy post. Glad he is able to get out and do some ... Purposeful walking you called it?

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    1. yup yup!! purposeful walking sure beats "no walking allowed"!!

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  9. I'm so happy things are moving forward for you! You must be thrilled to be back on him! Fingers crossed that everything loves in a forward direction for you both:)

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    1. thanks! i'm really hopeful that he just continues to heal fully too!

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  10. Yay! Exciting day for both of you! I certainly remember the first ride back after injury feeling! Here's hoping he continues to improve :)

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  11. Yay for unlimited walking!! ❤️

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  12. Yay Charlie!! I totally understand about feeling like you're coming home when you hop on YOUR pony! The feels ❤ so glad you can now go on unlimited walkies!

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  13. Yay Charlie!! I totally understand about feeling like you're coming home when you hop on YOUR pony! The feels ❤ so glad you can now go on unlimited walkies!

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  14. Getting back on your heart horse after time off is the greatest feeling ❤❤

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  15. Being able to walk as much as possible means you get to do so much more than when they are confined to stall rest! I know it's boring but it's a huge step forwards! He looks so happy to be out and about, I'm so pleased for you ❤️

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  16. This is SO exciting! Glad you are back on his back and enjoying your number one horse!!!

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  17. So exciting Charlie's free!

    My 2pt time this week was 11:01

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  18. YAY!! I'm excited for you!! Enjoy those walks!!

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  19. I haven't been online much, but so glad Charlie is FINALLY able to walk around under saddle! Congrats on progress!

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  20. So exciting! Congrats! Sitting in the saddle on your own horse again after a long break feels like coming home <3 Enjoy!

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  21. Great news!! I totally know that feeling of no neck strap regret lol

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