WW: PONIES!!

I've had a lot of shifts the past few weeks, but fortunately Charlie's farm is on the way to work. So it's pretty easy to stop in and see him for a couple of minutes. He's getting so bold that it's become much harder to get far away pics of him. 

Don't worry, there is a Foal Friday post coming with more of an update and many more pictures. 

Starting to shed out

Following me

Not a view I'll get in a year or two, savoring it now. Now I know how parents feel with their infants. 

Hi

Probably his first time eating from a hand? 

Everyone taking advantage as I went out the gate 

Butterball has not been forgotten either, enjoy this series of his levels of alertness as he ate some hay and waited for his trimmer and observed floor construction in the feed room

My heart 

Wednesday Wisdom

This week I've discovered there is a HUGE learning curve to foals. And I suffered from a bit of the Dunning-Kruger effect for sure. Asking Amanda for help AFTER Charlie took a romp around his field with a long rope attached was not one of my more shining moments, but no one was injured in the process, thank goodness. 

Doing it right, clearly 

So while there is no substitution for in-person hands-on training and advice, I would like to ask for advice re Charlie. What things are essential to know when you raise a baby? Dos and don'ts, mistakes you've made that you're willing to share in hopes that I won't repeat them etc

Currently my response to his nibbles is to squeak and jump a bit. He's a very sensitive soul so this seems to be working to teach him he can explore with lips but not teeth. This was his face in response to my squeak. Everything he does is SO CUTE. 

Strolling Butters

Butterball had his ultrasound recheck yesterday morning, almost 4 weeks after his initial diagnosis and was pronounced "as good as we could possibly expect". There was a 40-50% improvement from the initial lesion. No need for Renovo injection at this time since he seems to be doing an excellent job of healing on his own. This means we got the go ahead to start tack walking for 30 minutes every other day on good footing, avoiding small circles. We also are allowed to do "small amounts" of trotting in straight lines only. 

Thank goodness! Pony is ROUND. It's also five million degrees so putting his grazing muzzle on seems rude. Hopefully the walking will help stabilize his weight if not lead to a bit of weight loss. 

Walking in hand along the uneven dirt road where things are most likely to be spooky 

To then get on to walk the paved road to see his moo friends 

Promised Charlie picture 

We'll do this for roughly three weeks and then recheck the ultrasound again. If there is continued healing, canter work will be added in. Theoretically by the fall (I didn't ask which fall month he meant although I desperately wanted to) he will be back in full work. 

It's odd, this may end up being the longest time I've had a horse out of work. But unlike Ben's various amorphous lamenesses (that in hindsight were almost always feet induced), this feels manageable with much less of an emotional spiral (we're just gonna ignore the baby pony purchase). I think having a set timeline and a very concrete way to show that things are getting better is VERY helpful. It did sting to hear that horses who have had this type of injury have a 30-40% higher risk of re-injury. But, y'know, we're doing everything we can. 

Henry Adventures

The 👑deserves his own post after two awesome cross country adventures in the past week. 

Saturday we went to the horse park. I had taken Henry XC once before, and it is always a joy. I really hope everyone gets to ride a Henry cross country at some point in their life. He is so straight forward and is also obviously having a great time. At the end I thought the gallop over the bridge to the cabin looked fun. When I believed in it, he was delighted to do it. A few times when there were no fences in sight he did a tiny bit of his trademark porpoising, which is hilarious. Also, this is all done in the side pull hackamore. Perfect boy. 

Then yesterday we went to Sweet Dixie to play. We got a bit of a later start and it was toasty, so we didn't do much, but as usual he was perfect. He's very helpful for continuing to develop the feel of NOT changing the pace the last few strides. Don't push, don't pull, just keep the stride length the same and it all works out. 

As a thank you for continuing to put up with my sometimes questionable choices, I took him to get his hocks done after we left Sweet Dixie. 

Is he not the absolute cutest? 

And since he's probably going to sneak into every single post for a good long while... another Charlie tidbit. After tucking Henny away in his stall, I hung out with Charlie for a few. We did a few "real" things like picking up feet and moving away from pressure. He is just so stinking cute. His muzzle is the perfect size and softness to smooch on. 

Is he even real? 

Starting a Collection

This is Charlie: 

Turns out going to ride Tully and Henry at a farm with a bunch of brand new, really freaking cute well bred foals when I was potentially a bit emotionally vulnerable was a poor plan. 

Because now I have a Charlie. 

In years past I had drooled over the Willow Tree Warmblood posts with their lovely foals, but had been pretty well able to make the financially wise choice and resist. However, see above about emotionally vulnerable. And now that I've entered the pony world with Butterball, I'm here to stay. They're just... sounder, cheaper, easier. And since I have zero upper level aspirations, ponies are pretty likely to be able to keep me happy doing the thing (learning and growing with a sound horse). 

I'll let Charlie's ad describe him, since Amanda writes far more eloquently than I do. Her description on her blog of "Anyone looking for a super fancy large pony sportscar? This kiddo is very athletic and a super mover, he’d be great for a petite adult." just... spoke to me. Thanks a lot. 

 Uncharted WTW "Charlie"

2026 bay sportpony colt by Fox Creek's Masterpiece out of Pheodora WTW (Usandro Tilia Derlenn)

Petite adults that are looking for a flashy and fun-sized sportscar, this is your guy! Charlie should mature to large pony size, and he is the total package. He has three very good gaits, is uphill and light on his feet, and incredibly athletic. His sire, Fox Creek's Masterpiece, has competed through FEI level dressage. His dam, Pheodora, is by the French stallion Usandro Tilia Derlenn (Sandro's Boy x Welcome Sympatico) who is mostly Hanoverian and was the #1 pony jumper sire in France for several years. Charlie should be suitable for just about anything, and he's very outgoing and friendly.

He has tiny pony ears

And the cutest spot on his lip

And like most babies, does an excellent llama impression when getting scritches

Looooong lip 

I am so excited for the journey with this kid. I'm going to be learning right along with him, with lots of help, and I can't wait. 

May 2026 Wrap Up

 

While this clearly wasn't our ideal month with a small swelling in BB's left front SDFT being diagnosed on ultrasound as a 3x4 mm lesion, things could be far worse. However, it still doesn't make for an exciting month wrap up. I am SO grateful pony pants has continued to be sound throughout and that he wasn't prescribed any stall rest. He had his second shockwave appointment yesterday and the vet felt like the swelling had improved. I was unsure on this point given the daily pouring over it I do both visually and palpably. We'll recheck the ultrasound on the 15th. 

I used the rest of his sedation for shockwaving to pull his mane. All dressed up and nowhere to go now. 

	Butterball
Training rides	1- Happily popped around a 1m course
Lessons	1
Hacks	2
Flat rides	1
Cavaletti or jumps @ home	0
Conditioning	2 – aquatred sessions
XC school	0
Shows	0

It's not a bad time of year to be taking it easy though, I travelled to the DC area and then Shenandoah valley with two childhood friends for five days at the end of May/start of June. It was an absolutely wonderful trip in every way. 

Our VRBO porch, absolutely amazing

Meanwhile, I didn't take updated hoof or conformation pics, those will come in June. 

Tully and co continue to be delightful

As far as looking ahead, I'm grateful to be able to continue to hop on friend's horses with some regularity. And if Butterball's recheck ultrasound on the 15th shows that he's healed, he'll hop back in to aquatredding and we'll gradually reintroduce under saddle work. In the mean time he's standing on the balance pads and doing some belly lifts daily. 

Luck of the Irish

Through some lovely, kind friends I've been having fun sitting on a variety of horses over the past couple of weeks. 

First up was my friend's jumper. She picked him out in Ireland as a six year old and imported him last spring. Since then they've been killing it in the jumper ring. She recently started bringing along a green OTTB for a new career and wanted company out cross country, so I got to ride her jumper and come along and play. Her guy was an absolute blast!!! There's a lot more HORSE there than Butterball, and his canter was sooooo different. Jumping him took me a minute, but she rides and trains with PW (and is the one who introduced me to him) so things ended up translating well once I, y'know, stopped marveling at riding a new horse and RODE him. He definitely did not have a care in the world out there and would have easily jumped whatever I pointed him at. But he was also responsive and listened - if I lengthened him towards the fence then went "Oh SHIT" he would lengthen then chip and pop on over. Exactly as asked. 

Much different jump than Butters too, but so fun 

I'm told the banks in Ireland are MASSIVE, this was small potatoes for him 

I've also been able to hop on Hillary's lovely horse, also Irish, but a very different sort. We've just done a couple walk hacks so far to get some fitness back. Plus it is freaking hot, and he doesn't necessarily love that. On our first walk we stopped to chat with someone for a minute, and I have never felt more still or anchored to the ground than I did while halted. Very content. Most zen. 

Of course had to go visit last year's bebes 

I've also hopped on Amanda's perfect dude Henry a couple of times now. He is such a pleasure to ride, you just think trot and he's swinging along in a rhythmic lovely trot that he maintains with no input from you. It's kinda Henry's MO actually - he seems to want and need his rider to do very little because he knows best, k thx. Our second ride I asked him to help me with not overriding my canter transitions. He obliged by telling me exactly when I shoved with my seat instead of just brushing him with the inside leg. If I didn't SHOUT at him with my aids he would step right into it. Push too much and he looked incredibly cranky and would run in the trot. Excellent teaching. 

Yesterday, I had a long planned lake date with two friends and got to borrow an incredibly perfect pony for that. While I was definitely sad that Butterball wasn't getting to come participate in his fave activity, my friend offered up her pony who has done absolutely everything on the planet. She warned me that he has also been known to politely lay down in the lake, so I was excited to get to share in the joy of another pony who loves the water. 

That's pony and I off to the left there

He did not disappoint and swam himself around in the middle of the lake. We both had a blast. 

While I am definitely missing my best pony pants, it has been a ton of fun to play on some very different horses. I am quite grateful to my friends for their generosity with their horses/ponies. 

He'll Heal

Those are certainly reassuring words, thank you to the lovely vet who scanned the pony's leg. Since we were on roughly day 11 of this swelling, I was relatively certain it wasn't a nothing. And it in fact is not. Pony pants has a 3x4mm tear in his SDFT. An injury most common from either being a fool in the pasture or knocking themselves. Who knows which one and really it doesn't matter much. 

Proof he has muscle over the spine of his scapula

Close to the first words out of the vet's mouth were "he'll heal regardless". He said that on the track horses would just get turned out for 6-8 months then brought back into work. But given that he's my only horse, and I want him to heal as well as possible, we're doing three shockwave treatments 10-14 days apart and then we'll rescan him. If he hasn't healed at that point (June 15th, 36 days away, but who is counting...), we'll consider PRP or Renovo. If he has healed, we'll get him back aquatredding at that time. How fortuitous I bought that package... 

Now, for Butterball's perspective on the visit, stealing a page from Carmen and Quaid. He was cracking me up when we were waiting for the shockwave. He so clearly communicates his feelings, it is hilarious. 

I thought we were here for forced water splashing with the girl who tells me I'm perfect. But instead I got to EAT GOOD GRASS! IT WAS SO TASTY! I found some acorns but mom told me I wasn't a pig and they could make my belly hurt. Who would even think I'm a pig??? I HATE those things. BUT there was grass, so it was okay I didn't get many acorns. And then a cool guy came over who smelled reallllllly interesting (I'm told it was pla-cen-ta??? Smelled cool!!!). He talked some while I inspected him. 

Then I had to walk past a BIG fan. It was kinda scary at first, but I was really brave. Then they talked and a guy sat by my leg like mom has A LOT recently. I got to talk to my favorite tech though while he messed with my leg so it was fine. I tried to leave once but she told me I couldn't and then that I was GOOD. 

Afterwards everyone started standing around and thought I should too. But I really wanted to meet everyone else in the barn. There were nice horses and people who I COULD HAVE BEEN TALKING TO. And then the people started EATING! While I was standing there!! Can you believe that???? 

So I got my friend to come over and talk to me. Which was nice and all... but it wasn't FOOD! 

FINALLY! I was two seconds away from getting WATERMELON in this picture. I tried making cute faces and then I tried pawing to tell them how much I wanted some. Gosh people are dumb. Finally this girl brought me a few pieces though and it was AMAZING. She didn't bring me the whole bowl though. That was kinda rude. I'm really cute, I deserve it. 

Then I got poked in the neck. There seems to be a lot of that going on lately. I don't know what everyone's deal is. Let's just stab the pony for fun! But then I got really, really, really sleepy. The guy went back to my leg again... I think... I don't really remember... and something was kinda loud. But mostly I was napping. He said I was a "lightweight??" I knew mom should be feeding me more!!! 

When I woke up I was standing in a stall and suuuuppppper hungry. Mom said it was time to go home, so we did. I peed right when we went outside. Waking up from those naps I always reallllly need to pee. And I hate peeing inside where it splashes my legs, that is gross. 

 

Scoot Booting Straight to a Halt

Butterball recently "outgrew" his Scoot Boots. We use them for hacks off property where we spend time on lime rock and paved roads. He's also worn the hinds out cross country schooling both times we've gone since I pulled his shoes. I *know* he has more traction barefoot than with shoes, but since I've been studding him for cross country the whole time I've had him, I had a bit of a hang up about going barefoot. This may be incorrect and the scoots may in fact be slipperier than barefoot. But he's felt quite secure in them, so it seems to be working.

I had thought that perhaps his feet would get bigger as he adapted to the barefoot lifestyle. But the opposite has occurred. While his frogs have increased in size, see below pictures for that comparison, the overall hoof size has actually decreased. 

January right front

May right front

January right hind

May right hind

This led to a slightly frustrating hack in April where we could NOT trot or canter without having the front boots going flying. I opened up the trusty Scoot Boot app. This time it didn't work quite as smoothly, the pics didn't want to upload on my cell service at the barn and would just flash an error when I tried later on wifi. Third time is the charm though and eventually we got there. The fitter responded asking if I had ever tried the 2 slims up front and the 1 regulars behind. I told her I had and shared that the hinds were still staying on, but the fronts were flying. I had trialed the 1s up front and felt like they worked well, but wanted to see if I should just order a second pair of those or shift the hinds to the fronts and get a different size for the hinds. 

She requested pics of the 1's on both the fronts and hinds. 

Front, absolutely perfect

Hind, not so much 

After those pictures she recommended the 1s for the fronts and 0s behind. Excellent. Still for less than the cost of a full set of shoes + front pads, I ordered a pair of 0s. 

Scoot boot set + pony = perfection

On the road again... just can't wait to get on the road again...

If you zoom in real, real close in the cross tie picture, you might be able to see the cause of a bit of panic on Saturday. 

WTF Sir 

Not lame, not painful, not hot. But a swelling on the lateral aspect of his left front, mid to distal SDFT area. I was told, by one of my ever patient equine vet friends, that the SDFT sheath begins around that area. Or that maybe he just banged himself there. No one seemed to think this was a cause for panic, least of all the pony himself who was delighted to hang out, ice, and receive some e-stim. Although e-stim on the leg itself isn't his favorite, but since the pens end in a small metal point, who could really blame him. 

Patient pony objected way less to the boot than I thought he might 

I couldn't find a picture of Ben in these boots, but this was a bit comical 

My friend kindly offered her ultrasound to me, but since I ultrasound chests and abdomens of small animals and RARELY musculoskeletal things in small animal, I was pretty sure that me using it on my beloved, perfect, flawless pony would not go well. Manufactured lesions and all that. 

Yesterday when she had time, Butterball and I headed over. Friend confirmed he was sound. And also verified that what I was feeling was correct, SDFT mildly enlarged on the lateral aspect. 

He ended up getting some drugs since alcohol made him want to pick up his foot. And the ultrasound probe made him want to pick up his foot. So he got drugs and let the cross ties hold his head. 

From what we could tell without a stand off, everything looked good. There was potentially a bit of edema in the fibers when we viewed them longitudinally. Since he's been getting turned out since he's been sound, she said I could tack walk him. 

I've got him scheduled for another ultrasound on Monday since the area we were concerned about would've benefited from the stand off. Hopefully they verify what we saw, or more accurately, didn't see. Cross all the things for us.