I last updated you over a month ago. Stanley came home in He’s Home! but September FLEW by and got away from me.
The most important thing is Stanley is OKAY! I’ve been quiet mainly because I take on entirely too much, but that’s okay too! I just got very, very busy.
After Stanley came home he was allowed to go into a small turnout area. Stanley spent two weeks in the “medical pen” on him own. He wore a protective eye mask as well as a Cashel Fly Mask over the top of it.
A little over a week after he came home he began to get very head shy…not like him. I removed his eye mask and found a significant laceration on his ear…right around where his ear meets his poll. The protective mask was cutting into him and every time I removed it I ripped it open! OUCH!
I spoke with our ophthalmologist at Cornell and we both agreed that he’d had plenty of time in that mask and it would be better for him to go without. I spend 30 minutes convincing him to let me approach that area with a damp paper towel. I cleaned it the best I could and dressed it with silver honey. I was able to get his fly mask back on since it didn’t bother the cut.
After only a few days (and a couple reapplications of silver honey) he started to allow us to put his halter on normally. Today I can rub all over his face and ears and examine the area but there’s no trace of the cut.
After about 2 weeks of solitary in his medical paddock we decided it was time to give him friends back. He was turned out with both Tiger and another gelding, Rex. They initially had to work each other’s status (and Stanley had to RELEARN that Tiger hates being crowded). They now all get along just fine and enjoy the company.
One more step to getting my horse back.
During this time, I was given the green light to return Stanley to work slowly…but I was inundated with work and couldn’t possibly find the time. Instead, I allowed him some time to regain his weight and strength while at liberty in the field.
We also rechecked him with our vet here at home. She is thrilled with how he’s doing! What is important to know is that he will always have a scar. It’s a pale pink graft and it DOES affect some parts of his vision. Coming up from behind on the right side CAN startle him but what I have observed is that he is incredibly smart and incredibly adaptable. I have yet to see how he will be under saddle as sometimes that changes things, but I have no reason to believe he’s going to have any issues.
In the past few weeks my schedule has been easing up a bit. I have begun some in hand work. Groundwork. I use resistance bands for 4-5 minutes at a time with him after a thorough warmup.
He’s been SO QUIET during our work sessions it’s eerie. Like a true mature adult. I’m sure it won’t last but I am appreciating it.
This week I decided to celebrate one HUGE project finished and delivered with my woodworking business. I’ve been pretty pleased with the weight he’s put back on and I decided to get my western saddle out and hop on for a walking hack ride around the property.
The old experts would balk if I told them I took my thoroughbred out of the field after not working for 4 months, put a saddle on him, then hopped on with no arena, no lunging, and rode “on the buckle.” But I did.
Stanley walked with a neutral headset very happily around the property. I guided him with my legs and left his mouth alone. We stopped and talked with a friend for a few minutes but as normal his patience for standing at length is limited so we kept walking. It was only our first time back so I intended the ride to be short, slow, and happy. It was all of these things. At the end I popped him into a very relaxed jog and we made our way first away from the home barn and then back toward it. He was on a loose rein, relaxed and the feeling was bliss…I think for both of us. It felt like he hadn’t missed a day of work. He was balanced and had great rhythm.
What a phenomenal way to end a good day.
I’m still smiling.
I still have several important projects to finish…and I am going on a trip next week. The plan is to have him get some bodywork Tuesday and to get really going once we come home.
He’s ready.
I’m ready.
We’re ready.
The Green Horseman 
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