Honey the ASB update and progress thread!

Pictures 2 and 4 here. In 2 she has struck the pose and 4 looks like shes wondering where the heck the celebrity photographer has gone… :sunglasses:

You are, of course, merely her minion serving as agent, esthetician, nutritionist and personal trainer.

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Haha, I will be all of those things for her

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Honey saw the farrier yesterday and was a total angel. In trying to ride today, we learned some lessons. I got on and she immediately started spinning and getting anxious. So after she settled we walked and halted a while, then just went to focus on mounting block stress and standing still. She did a great job with it. I’ll keep doing the same thing for a few days until she feels ok to get on.

I was reminded it was her first ride after her teeth were done. But she was licking and chewing and not as giraffe like with the Mullen mouth, like many of you recommended.

Also—I got a nicker for food! So now she’s a hungry hippo.

Trying to look at the positives of today. Oof.

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Welp, today was supposed to be more mounting block work, but when I got to the barn I saw a swollen eye that was runny. So, we instead had a day with the emergency vet :upside_down_face:

She stood like an angel. Such a sweetie. Turns out there’s a tiny little ulcer we need to treat for a few days, but I’m glad I saw the eye and made that call.

She loooooved being groomed for an hour before the vet came. Enjoy some droopy lip.

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Today her eye looked much better, but she was unhappy with her medicine, lol

We worked at the mounting block and she was such a good, relaxed girl. Maybe mounting tomorrow? I’ll keep you posted!
Here’s some pics of her being so cute it kills me.

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She really does have such a sweet face

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You found yourself a keeper! Love her!

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Dont rush the mounting block. Take your time, shes gotten away with that for some time, possibly along with heave up, slam into the saddle, grab up the reins, jerk and kick on. So it will take some time to erase it. She has been taught to be scared of being mounted.

Suggest tacking up, lunging, maybe hand walk…quiet work. Tack means work but not necessarily with you in the tack. Teach her what others did not choosing to punish her every time they slammed aboard.

Many do get intimidated by that runway model pose interpreting it as threatening so ride defensively. Most common mistake I’ve seen with ASBs and bigger Arabs.

Please note the expression her eyes when she strikes the pose. Her eyes are SOFT as a doe’s.

When you work around the mounting block, watch her eyes. The minute they change, slow down. If they stay soft, go slowly but keep going. You will get better at reading her over time.

IMO this not going to take very long. Lots of good girls and scritches in itchy places. Not a fan of treats here with her, IMO this is more annoying then anything serious. She wants to be good and is telling you what she needs.

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This last photo says “America’s Next Top Model” all over it.

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Haha!

Thank you! She’s trying so hard and I’m trying to take it nice and slow. She gets groomed for a while, she absolutely loves her mane being done. Then I’ve tacked, slowly, followed by a lunge until she’s licking, chewing and stretching a bit. Then I do a massage type thing. I don’t know what it’s called but I do it 3x on both sides just starting at about her swirl, rubbing down her ear, neck, back, butt, legs and then grounding her. She seems to love it! Then we walk around the ring just leading and halting. Then we walk to the block and I make her stand square. So much praise and pets. No treats at all. Then I wiggle the saddle. More praise and pets. Than pressure on the stirrup. Praise and pets. Then go up the block. Praise and pets. Than pressure on the saddle. Praise and pets. Then a walk.

We go through that twice. She seems very calm the whole time but I’m watching for her signals.

Thank you for your help and insight! :heart:

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Honeys nose is flaking today. I have a long fly mask with the nose, but any ideas of something I can do to make this maybe itchy/maybe painful process more comfy for her? And ideas for what it may be? Sunburn maybe?

Sunburn

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Diaper cream is my go-to for lots of summer itches and sores.

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Yeah, Zinc Oxide, keeps it dry and blocks the sun. Found in diaper rash cream and sunscreen.

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I had to double check the pictures, because I could have sworn her nose is black and I was right! Usually black noses don’t sunburn, though I’ve learned with horses to never say never. I’d invest in a bottle of aloe vera gel to sooth her poor nose. I use it myself (well I actually have a plant in my kitchen) for burns from cooking. My oven and I are not always friends. Best thing ever!! A good cover of zinc oxide for turn out is a good thing.

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Me too…perhaps its from a weed or something? Zinc oxide is still great protection for protecting noses from exposure to all things bright and/or prickly.

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You’re being so sweet and taking such good care of her, it makes me smile to read your updates. I’m happy for you both!

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Thank you! Honestly I’m glad you said that because I wasn’t thinking about her nose at all because it’s black and her skin is dark and not pink. I’m guessing it’s sunburn too, but as some people said I guess it could be anything.

When she came In from turnout her nose peelings were gone but there was one little sore. So I did try the aloe but she didn’t seem to be a fan. Maybe it had a smell to it, who knows. I did put an antiseptic type gel on the open sore and will keep trying things.
Looks like my lesson this week is that the nose and eyes could have been avoided if I was making her go out with her fly mask. That’s on me. :heartpulse:

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This is so kind, thank you!