Another New Horse - It's Bo!

[Heinz_57]

I am certain he’s probably out of whack in all sorts of places, so that’s definitely on the radar.

And it’s Monday again, so here’s the official 9 week picture update. Also, I am happy to report that I have finally been able to schedule the dentist to see everybody on Feb 1. So, we will have a second opinion on his age next week and I am also going to see if I can get one of the vets to do a basic exam on him, and pull blood for some follow up bloodwork since we will already be at the clinic. If I can get the other vet clinic to send me the results of his initial bloodwork in a timely manner, we can compare.

And a few extras - shedding season has officially BEGUN! At least for Bo. His face looks terribly patchy and molt-y, poor dude, but hopefully the hair will grow in soon. Once it warms up today I might lunge him and then give him a good curry, he looks itchy.

[starsandsun]

He is just not even the same horse! You’ve done an amazing job in helping him heal.

[atr]

He does look so much better! It will be so interesting to see what the dentist has to report.

[Spudsmyguy]

Hard to believe this is the same horse you brought home! He looks fantastic! Nice job. His summer coat will be beautiful now that he’s healthy. I had an emaciated rescue horse that I got in early spring some years ago. Her coat was extremely scruffy, long and dirty. As soon as she started to regain some health, she started shedding out that old dull coat by the handful. She was partly bald while her body built a new, healthy coat. She was gorgeous when she finally had her full summer coat, dark, almost liver and dapples!

[Heinz_57]

I am still mind-boggled that he’s packed on the weight SO easily. He eats like a trooper now, has even allowed me to add ground flax to his grain and in between meals he’s out there mowing the grass (and mostly spitting it out) like it’s his job. I’m so excited to see the last remnants of his sad chapter starting to disappear with all that dull winter hair.

@atr I will definitely be giving COTH a full report, post-visit with the dentist. Thankfully we only have to wait another week or so!

[2bayboys]

Wow, I wouldn’t even call him thin now. Great job!!

[floppyammy]

Thank you @Heinz_57 for documenting and sharing Bo’s journey with us all! You have done such an amazing job with him. It is such a pleasure to be able to follow along and I always look forward to your updates!

[Bluey]

He looks so good, comparing …

A gentle shed-n-blade go over first on skinny shedders some times works better than rubber currycombs, since he may still have some sore spots.
Currycombs are better where there are some fat muscles.

Will be interesting to see what dentist and vet think of him now.

[JBCool]

He looks almost “normal” (lack of a better term)! I agree, I wish I could come help scrape some of that blech coat off him. Can’t wait until his new “clothes” come in. I have to admit, the pic of his face makes me laugh a bit. With his eyes closed, sunshine & food in front of him, it’s like he’s going “Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh…this is the life.” We know he knows it!

[hoopoe]

I don’t remember what kind of fecal parasite result he had. Such amazing results. I hope your dentist will be helpful. So much of what he needs now is body conditioning and athletic work. His butt is almost completely rounded.

Thank you for sharing his journey. His rock saga, alone, was a huge learning lesson

[Heinz_57]

For your enjoyment, I dragged the Pivo out for lunging because I had a hunch that Mr. Bo would have some woohoos to let out and I might get some canter video.

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Watching the video, it doesn’t really capture the quality of the canter I can see in person. Once I can get his mouth thoroughly examined and his teeth sorted out, I don’t see any reason we can’t start light under saddle work in a few more weeks.

@floppyammy I am so happy Bo has an army of COTH cheerleaders behind him, and sharing the documenting of his progress helps me keep things straight in my ‘files’ too.

@Bluey fortunately/unfortunately this appointment is with the other clinic I have used, not the same one he saw before. So this will be fresh sets of eyes, new to him.

@JBCool @2bayboys he is very much into the “normal” weight range now, I’m holding out for a bit more filling in of his back around his spine but otherwise he’s pretty close to “there”!

@hoopoe Bo’s got some BOOTY now and I agree, he needs lots of long, slow conditioning work at this point. Once I can evaluate his training under saddle, we’ve got 10 acres to hack around. As far as the parasites, I haven’t tested him yet - there were some hiccups with USPS when I ordered my kits and the packages were “lost” for a while, so they just arrived a couple weeks ago. I haven’t yet had time to sit out and watch all 3 horses for fresh poops, but it’s on my must-do list this week. And if I don’t get it done by then, I will just have the vet clinic pull samples when we’re there on the 1st.

[jvanrens]

You can soon change his name to Big Booty Bo! He’s come a long way! Makes me so happy to see.

[JBCool]

Oh, wow! He has a great rhythm and it looks like he’s more than happy to step up underneath himself. Bo, you just keep impressing us!

[2bayboys]

Bo’s got some Big Moves!!!

[Renn_aissance]

That’s gonna be some engine with a little bit of fitness. He wants to be nice and uphill, and it seems like he also knows how to go about it once he gets enough muscle to support that way of moving.

And all he needed was for someone to just feed him. The people who had him really suck.

[skydy]

Remember to take your photos of him to the appointment. They need to see what he looked like when you bought him, and of course tell them about the rocks.

Well done you! You’re a peach @Heinz_57
He looks great.

[Heinz_57]

Yes, I am going to include pictures when I copy his “book” (I keep binders for each horse) to provide them with his records. Hopefully the first vet clinic he went to will be cooperative about emailing me a visit summary and bloodwork results from that appointment, all they gave me at the time was a receipt.

@Renn_aissance the eventer in me has been taking a siesta for the last 5 years since I lost my TB, but that canter makes me want to run and jump again.

[skydy]

Good about the photos. He’s made such progress and the vets might think that you are exaggerating about the rocks and sand if you didn’t have the pictures to show them. That was a really incredible amount of rock and sand that he passed.

He has a lovely canter.

[JBCool]

@Heinz_57

@Renn_aissance the eventer in me has been taking a siesta for the last 5 years since I lost my TB, but that canter makes me want to run and jump again.

Maybe that’s how he’ll repay the kindness! He’s already exceeded expectations, so what’s one more surprise?

[Heinz_57]

No expectations here! He is free to be whatever he is capable of being, and I’ll be pleased with that. I’ve got 2 other able-bodied horses (including a youngster that I need to start next fall), so I don’t really need him to be anything, but I would be thrilled if he turned out to at least be husband-safe for weekend hacks. If I keep collecting horses that only I can ride, DH is going to stage an intervention

I would be over the moon if he wants to gallop around and jump things someday. Even small things. I no longer own a jump saddle (how did THAT even happen?!) and I don’t have any jumps, but given enough time and money…