the magician

Mae had looked like she was recovering but on a trail past her field, we set her, Lilly and Bond off into a wild frenzy and she gaited then cantered and was limping within a couple of strides. Soo, she came in and went back on stall rest for the night and next day. I took her for a little walk and a bit of a graze in hand and then she was going to be seen by the magical osteopath. He's from France and studied in the UK and I've never seen someone have such a positive reaction on a horse just from touching them. For example he worked on Maverik when he had a sore back and Mav would never touch his salt lick, it was in his stall, pristine for months. As Steve worked on him, Mav searched out the salt lick and began chewing on it. He'd have a little go on it every day after that. Plus his back was much improved, as was the tightness under his chest.

Anyway, he got to work on Mae who wouldn't stop fussing, trying to roam around her stall, chew on me, curl round to watch him work. At a couple of points, she'd freeze and focus on what he was doing, but then go back to fussing. At one point, she stopped, put her ears back and let out an audible grunt on an exhale. Apparently her humerus had been out of whack and that moment it had gone back in. This was on the other side to which she'd been showing lameness as well. So, she's out with her best pal, Mommy-to-be Gracie, and tomorrow I'll try walking her out again and see what happens.

I had another two sessions each with Lilly and Stormy, working on the longe. Stormy is still terrified every time I ask her to move away with a rope and she throws herself out of the way like I'm about to beat the crap out of her, snorting and rolling her eyes. It's going to be a long road to get her to the point of realising no one here is going to beat her more than a quick smack to tell her to get out of the way or a brush with a rope if she hasn't responded to the visual.

Lilly is of a better mind set, only a little freaky, and so we moved on to walk and woah being quite regular, and even tried a little trot which startle d her at first when I asked, but she produced a few calm strides so I let her quit there and we went back to the barn. Lilly posing for a photo at sunset, showing her funky Grulla legs.