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Horse Lover retired racehorse Larry enjoying life
Retired Racehorse Larry: from Fuzzy to Fabulous

Retired Racehorse Larry: from Fuzzy to Fabulous

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I’m sure I’m not the only one breathing a sigh of relief that winter is over. Retired racehorse Larry certainly seems glad to see spring arrive too. Winter Larry: the retired racehorse in his scruffy outfit Despite being bundled into heavy turn-out blankets and coming in to a warm stall every night, my pretty ex-racehorse Larry turned into a bushy bear this past winter. His belly-hair got long and thick. His legs got shaggy. Even his ears got fuzzy.  …

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Year of Covid Larry stall
Horse Things I Learned during the Year of Covid

Horse Things I Learned during the Year of Covid

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As 2020 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on how my relationship with my horse Larry has changed during the Year of Covid. Early on was the Covid lockdown, which resulted in closure of Larry’s barn until we could all come to grips with what was happening, and figure out a way forward. When I was finally able to visit Larry, the barn and arena were off-limits, so my first encounter with him was in a paddock on…

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Masterson Method - working on poll
Larry’s Masterson Method® Body Worker

Larry’s Masterson Method® Body Worker

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Larry started his career under saddle as a two-year-old race horse. Now fifteen, he has spent many years carrying a rider on his back. It’s no surprise that he has suffered his share of injuries and discomfort as a result. In the four years that I’ve owned him, I’ve learned that many of his performance and behaviour issues – nipping at me in cross-ties, girthiness (fussing and pinning his ears when the girth is being tightened), leaning into the bit,…

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The ups and downs of a horse’s life

The ups and downs of a horse’s life

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It’s been a while since I last put out a Horse Lover post. Partly it’s because I’ve been working on other writing projects. Partly it’s because, measured against the usual ups and downs of a horse’s life, Larry has been through a tough few months. When Larry was diagnosed with kissing spine and neck arthritis a year and a half ago, I expected I would have to ride him on a long rein for the rest of his life. But…

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Larry in his cob-sized halter with breakaway crown piece
Halter Hazards, Horrors, and Hilarity

Halter Hazards, Horrors, and Hilarity

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Horses wear halters. We don’t even think about it, because a halter is such basic equipment. There is a size for every horse: foal, colt, filly, cob, full, horse, warmblood, XL, XLG, draft. The size names are brand-dependent, so it’s sometimes hard to know which will be the best fit your horse. When I bought him, Larry was wearing a “full”-size halter. Larry is a Thoroughbred with a short, refined face, and the halter looked baggy on him. I was…

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Rider's seat in saddle
A well-fitted saddle for Larry and his rider

A well-fitted saddle for Larry and his rider

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Every time I buy a new saddle, I think, This is the last one, I’ll never need another. I should know better. Sooner or later, I always seem to need another saddle. It’s not because I’m a shopaholic who always has to have the latest and greatest. It’s because a well-fitted saddle should be comfortable for both the horse and the rider. When my riding abilities change, a saddle that was comfortable before may not be comfortable anymore. Or when…

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Larry, Me, and the Cold Snap

Larry, Me, and the Cold Snap

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The first real cold snap of winter is here. The thermometer reads a steady -14°C (7°F), never budging throughout the short January day. The sky is white and flat, a featureless backdrop for the pine trees and bare-branched maples. Snow sifts down in a fine white powder that builds across the top of Larry’s heavy turnout blanket, and squeaks under my boots. It’s hibernation weather; instinct urges me to find a toasty corner, hunker down with a mug of hot…

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Horse Talk: photo by Seth Macey-396196- on Unsplash
Larry and the Animal Communicator

Larry and the Animal Communicator

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The first Christmas that I owned Larry, the owner of his boarding stable treated all the horses in the barn to a session with an animal communicator. Before I tell you what Larry had to say, I want to point out that my background is in the sciences. I worked in a laboratory for most of my adult life, and made decisions based on data, evidence, and rational thought. It doesn’t mean I’m closed-minded. Just because something isn’t explainable doesn’t…

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Kissing spine
Larry’s middle story: kissing spine and neck arthritis

Larry’s middle story: kissing spine and neck arthritis

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If you read my very first post, Life with Horses, you’ll remember that Larry made a trip to the Ontario Veterinary College in August. My vet had recently taken radiographs (X-rays) that showed that Larry had kissing spine in a couple of spots, as well as arthritic changes in his neck. We decided to send him to the OVC for a more thorough neurological workup. At the time, it seemed like the whole world knew about kissing spine except me….

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How fast can an ex-racehorse run?

How fast can an ex-racehorse run?

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How fast can an ex-racehorse run? Answering this question was never on my bucket list. When I bought Larry, my off-the-track Thoroughbred, the ‘off-the-track’ part – the fact that he was an ex-racehorse – never really registered. After all, he hadn’t been a racehorse for many years. He was a riding horse now, and he was going to be the perfect horse for a sedate, not very brave rider. Upon buying a new horse, there’s always an adjustment period –…

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