My horse is an idiot and other tales


After being wracked with guilt for a week and thinking that I broke my horse, the vet examined and x-rayed him with the following result: everyone stop feeling bad for him immediately.  He deserves none of your pity.  The bone formations that we’ve been feeling in his feet have actually been caused by him kicking the walls of his stall when he’s inside, so hard that he had fractured a bone in his leg at one point.

After the typical jaw drop I get as a reaction, the most common question I’m asked is: why is Ryon kicking the walls?  The short answer is because he’s a jerk and hates his horse neighbors on all three sides.  He actually dislikes most horses, grey ones particularly; I honestly think he sees them as competition for his food.  I also think the reason why he was 200 pounds overweight when I first got him was because he bullied the other horses he was pastured with and ate all of their food.

Although there is no cure for the current formations in his feet, luckily there are preventative measures we can take.  The current proposed solution to curbing his kicking habit is by hobbling him when he’s inside to prevent him from kicking more (or until he learns that kicking causes negative consequences for him).  So even though it seems cruel and unusual to restrain his feet when he’s in his stall, the alternative is for him to continue breaking off pieces of his bone and developing arthritis at the ripe old age of nine.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been easing him back into a light workload, riding him bareback and generally letting him relax and chill out a little bit.  This week, I should be able to ride him normally, although a bareback ride might become part of our regular routine now.  I’ve bought aforementioned hobbles from Amazon (where else?) and hopefully no one will confuse them for S&M props, having suffered enough embarrassment at the hooves of this animal already.


Comments

  1. wow, I have no experience with horses but they are a big animal to have to get control of! My friend has a horse and she just got a stubborn naughty little pony for her Niece. The other day the pony 'went for' her husband as he was out there with them and the horse came over and told the pony off haha this made me laugh as they really are like naughty children!

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  2. I'm sorry I'm still going to feel bad for Ryon because it's hard to be that grumpy! I think horsey zanax might be in order. And I love it that you can get literally EVERYTHING on Amazon. Quick! Go write a review! ;)

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  3. You don't have much choice on the hobbling. Under the circumstances it is the kind thing to do--not at all like that crazy Kathy Bates breaking ankles. Could he be claustrophobic? I guess you would know that as soon as you put the hobbles on him--he'd probably go wacky on the spot.

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  4. Animals are just so weird sometimes, aren't they? Take whatever measures you have to in order to keep Ryon healthy and living longer. It's for his benefit! And the risk confusing your purchases with S&M accoutrements is just something you'll have to take for the team ;) xo

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  5. hahaha. What age do horses normally live to? Is he going through a teenager phase? I can't blame the guy...maybe his neighbors are douche bags :)

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  6. lol, you two are too funny :)

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  7. Glad it's nothing that can't be resolved but aren't kids always doing what they're not supposed to do even if it causes them harm?? Be strong! You can help Ryon resolve this issue even if it's hard to implement.

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  8. Wow, Ryon is living the good life and is still trying to cause problems? I don't think hobbling is cruel if it helps him stop hurting himself. I hobble my cat in a way with my hands when she drags herself around the carpet with her claws, and she thinks it's a game. I wish we could stick the two of them together to see if they'd tire each other out.

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  9. Ryon needs to find some other way to channel his annoyance at neighbors - perhaps knitting or a good Netflix marathon? Hobbling seems like a great solution to keep him from hurting himself any further - you're an awesome horse mom!

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  10. Oh! Ryon! This paints such a vivid picture (and it gave me a good chuckle). I can, however, sympathize with his annoyance of neighbors. Sometimes they make you want to kick the walls ;)

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  11. Too funny!! I am sure it's the other horses that give him valid reasons not to be liked! Either way, I hope that he feels better real soon.

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  12. He hates his horse neighbors on all three sides? Hmmmmm he's a bit like me then. I hate all of my neighbors. H.A.T.E. That's right.

    But not you. You I like. Don't kick me.

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  13. Oh, Ryon! Of course, I might be the same if I thought others were competition for my food. Ha! :)

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  14. Oh dear! Actually Ryon sounds a lot like my dog. She hates other dogs and will happily eat herself to oblivion

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  15. oh wow! Well, that must be a relief though! Now he just needs to learn to play nice, or at least nicer, so he doesn't hurt himself (horse karma?) So glad to hear that it's not as bad as it seemed!

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  16. Oh my goodness! I'm going to have to agree with Lauren on this one. I can't help but feel sorry for Ryon... hopefully he's stopped kicking the walls!

    ps. I just love Amazon!
    pps. Hope all is well!

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  17. ... Awww. I have never ever heard of a horsie having so many idiosyncrasies.

    7% Solution

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  18. Somehow I still feel bad for him. And the other horses that may have been bullied for their food. Geez, who knew horses' social lives were like middle school? ;)

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  19. Somehow I still feel bad for him. And the other horses that may have been bullied for their food. Geez, who knew horses' social lives were like middle school? ;)

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