Since nothing is happening on the Ernie and riding front, I thought I would share some updates on the boys at Morstone Acres.
First up, the original, Mr. P
Phoenix is loving having grass again. His digestive system just works so much better and he move around more as pastures open. He and Vinny usually have at least one little happy ponies running around moment a day and I love when I get to see it. Being at home meant that I could adjust the horses to the grass very gradually so P hasn’t had to wear his grazing muzzle at all which I’m sure he appreciates.
P has continued to have some weird issues with chewing, so I had the vet look at him a bit when he was out last week for shots. This vet is from the same practice as the one who floated P’s teeth earlier this year. He didn’t think it was a tooth issue at this point (I agree) and possibly a TMJ issue. I have been doing a test of putting surpass on his TMJ twice daily with good results. I’m nervous about injecting his TMJ, so I started him back on Adequan (stopped it when he retired from riding) to see if maybe that will be helpful. He has looked a bit more stiff getting up and down anyways so at the very least it should help that. We will see! I know he’s 31 but I still want him to have the best comfort and quality of life that I can offer.
Next up, Vinny
Wow, the ways this pony has changed in our two months together. He is now pretty reliable about picking up his feet for cleaning and I had my husband do it for the first time earlier this week and he was successful. He nickers to me all the time and often comes running over to me which is just so endearing. He remains quite scared of noises at times. We are about 90% there with the sound of dropping cross ties, but something like the sound of rain on the roof overnight upsets him.
Vinny got his first vaccination with me last week and while he was nervous about the vet he was a very good boy. The vet also thinks his age is closer to 20 than the 25+ the rescue advertised.
The photo below is a month old, and he looks completely different again. I need to get a new side photo of him soon!
I finally got him a turnout sheet since we keep having these random cold snaps along with rain where he ends up wet and cold. It arrived yesterday and I didn’t think I would be able to get it on him completely but his level of terrified was worse than I expected. I had gotten to putting it folded up across his back and when I went to pull it off to finish he freaked out and broke one of my cross ties in the process. I have many safety features to my cross ties for a reason so I’m glad it broke but I feel bad that he is so fearful. I will be adding nightly sessions with a towel to desensitize him to the touch of something on his back (which I have done some previously) and sessions of listening to the sound of his sheet as it moves around as well as touching it with his nose.
I really love that Vinny has that same happy attitude Phoenix does, it is a bit contagious when you are around them. Just what I need these days.
Lastly, here is some media of the boys together enjoying life.
First up, an open gate to their favorite pasture.
Then, being sweet boys leaving the grass to come to me and head in for the night.
I hope everyone is finding ways to reduce anxiety and see the positives in a difficult time in life. These boys really help me with that!
so glad you got Vinny and he and P are bonding so well. Sorry about the sheet. UGH but hey at least you can catch Vinny! (Unlike my damn donkeys still hahahah)
I definitely had a few will I catch Vinny tonight moments when he first came. Helps that P will always come though. Vinny was head shy and wore his halter for turnout for a while there. Those donkeys are ridiculously adorable even if they are wild, lol.
There’s something so comforting about those little routines we have with them at home <3 I'm so happy Vinny is coming out of his shell and blossoming under your good care!
Yes, nice to at least have something stay the same!
Wow, Vinny is living the life with you and Phoenix! I personally find it so interesting to watch new-to-me horses change, grow, blossom. Fun to read this update.
I’ve never started with a horse from a rescue before so it has been super interesting to me as well. I’m excited to see what he will be like just a couple months from now.
They both look so amazing! 😀 Vinny has quite a fancy trot on him!
Thanks. I wish I knew what he is. He definitely has some arab in him, but he’s not that refined and I always see something else when he trots too.
They both look great! Sorry poor Vinny is afraid of his blanket. Hopefully he’ll adjust soon. Ducky was afraid of them being put on and taken off when I first got him, but he didn’t mind it actually being on. Just the process. He did get better with time.
I’m sorry you’re missing Ernie but I’m so glad you have P and V to keep you sane!
Thank you. He’s also afraid of being hoses off, that or my water was too cold, lol. He had already let me use spray bottles on him so I thought he would be fine but no dice. We will keep working on it!
Awwww, Vinny is so lucky to have you and Mr. P!
Vinny is learning all about the spoiled life, lol.
Ugh I love them. they reignite all those feelings when you were 12 and just wanted to have ponies your backyard <3
I sometimes think about how in my teens I wished Phoenix lived in the backyard (we got him when I was 13). Definitely a dream come true! Vinny is like the little pony I never had because I was pretty much always too tall to ride one, lol.