Belle

My husband is the proud new owner of a Tennessee Walking Horse.   This spring his mare was consistently low grade lame -  fine in the pasture but after a couple of miles of riding she had a head bob.  We have been treating her for Navicular and assumed it had progressed.  Many vet bills later - we find that it is an old shoulder injury-  one the vet said could have caused what we thought was Navicular.  She still wants to go and wants to please but it breaks our heart to see her start to limp.  Last vet felt that her age (18) has caused the injury to be more evident, we were told to ride her if we want but she will always be lame.  Devastating news for us as we lost Steve in March and I just purchased another horse (Skye) and hubby had not been able to ride with us.


And whether you believe in a higher power or not fortune smiled on us.   I am an avid ad watcher - and saw an ad on a local Facebook group for a horse for sale that had been mildly foundered.  The horse was literally 15 minutes away.   Talked to my husband and daughter and we thought what the heck the price was low ($500) and the horse looked good in the pics.   We went to see her and talked with the owner - a really nice lady who purchased this mare in 2007 and never rode her after that - she was too forward for her so she just let others ride her occasionally and other than that let her sit in a 10 acre pasture.   This spring the green grass caused her to founder - that and really really long hooves!   She had the vet out who told her no more all you can eat grass.  Had her farrier out who told her - you have to have this mare trimmed more than 2 x per year.  All things this woman did not think she could do.


We went to see her and Belle came right up to us and let us go over her with a fine toothed comb.  My daughter even jumped on her bareback and I led her around - the owner was amazed!  We asked if she would consider a trial lease and to our surprise she agreed.  She had a lot of internet interest in this horse - a registered TWH that the owner had paid $4K for for next to nothing.    After a 2 hour loading session we brought her home.  I trimmed her hooves the next day and the following week my husband trailered her to the barn he takes lessons at and had his first lesson on her.   She was simply fantastic - loaded in the trailer with just a little prompting.  Took to an indoor arena like she had done it her whole life.  Green and confused but really trying.  I trimmed her feet again (just taking small amts off) and we went on our first trail ride - and again this mare stunned us all - she wanted to lead - she crossed water- she shied at a deer (and hubby stayed on!) and then stood tied at the trailer.   Another lesson and she is still doing great - another trail ride and more improvement - not sure how to handle her feet but a lot of try there.


Our lease is due on July 21 and today my husband went and paid for her.   Her feet will be a work in progress - she has no concavity in her soles due to poor hoof care - minor rotation due to the founder but our vet and farrier gave us the thumbs up.    So today we officially welcome to our family Belle's Miss Independent or Belle.  We are so excited - she fits in so well in our little herd.   Hubby's other horse has become the main ride for my daughters friend.  they ride around our pastures and hay field.  Nothing to hilly and the girl weighs 120lbs so not too much weight for her.


So here is a pic of my hubby and his new horse