Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

And neither are great horses.

Let's put this in perspective.  A horse is pretty much a baby until about the age of 3.  Then they are a teenager.   Maybe they are mentally and physically able to start a job, but sometimes not.  Or they are  ready with one, not the other.   By 5 or 6 they are physically mature.  Usually around the age of 12 they are pretty settled in their jobs, and fairly well trained and experienced.   With luck and good health, they continue their jobs up until about the age of 20, or even past that, but in the late 20's certainly, it's time to slow it down or retire.   And it all depends on if they have good genetics and a good, healthy life.

Joker had some concerns about wearing blinders for the first day or so.

Most of you know that Joker went to training this fall to learn to pull a cart.  Well, my original goal was have him be cool with pulling something, while not being concerned about ropes and straps and such all over him.  The idea was it would make him easier to train to ride next spring if he had this experience.   Joker passed my goal within the first 2 weeks - he took to pulling things like he was born wearing harness (well, he is a Morgan!).  So we adjusted goals and said ok, can he pull a cart?  That's a hard thing for a horse to learn.  They are prey animals.  Carts are sometimes noisy, and heavy, and it's pretty much a predator chasing them that they can't get away from.  Not all horses can do that.  I know Deuce can't, and that horse will let me drag things from the saddle!  Driving horses need to be sensible so they aren't afraid of things, and also have good brakes.  Joker has both.   He pulled a tire without batting an eye.   Moved on to working in "shafts" made out of PVC pipe like it was the most normal thing we've done.   When we put a small cart behind him, but not actually connected to his harness, and let him feel what it was like to pull something with wheels, he yawned.   Now, Joker has had a lot of work from last year at training and here with me at home, and going to shows.   He's seen a lot of weird stuff.

Training isn't glamorous.   We started with pulling a tire.

Then moved on to PVC "shafts" to get ready for a cart.

First day pulling a small cart.  Like a boss.

And he was pulling a small cart by himself in 30 days.   That's NOT normal in any way.  I didn't intend to use him as a driving horse, but since he seemed like such a natural, we bought him a better fitting harness and I found a cart that would be suitable for training and low level showing.   We set yet another goal for him - he needed to be safe driving around the pastures at the walk and trot, and then he could come home.  He was doing so well I figured he'd be home just before Christmas - which would be fun because then on Christmas Day I'd hook him up to his cart with some bells and drive him all over and have a great time.

Joker, his trainer, and our new road cart.  What a lovely picture.

Then I got a text from the trainer, letting me know that Joker had started some naughty behavior when pulling his cart down a small hill - taking off a bit, throwing his head around, etc.  I figured it was just a teenage tantrum phase, he was due a little hiccup in training.   Well, it happened 3 sessions in a row.   Trainer said she was getting concerned that Joker was in physical discomfort - if his front legs or feet hurt, it would be likely he would complain about working down a hill.  So I watched him work, and I thought I saw a slight but inconsistent head bob to his movement - it meant that he was sore on one front leg.  Sent some video to the vet and to the farrier.  Farrier said possible abscess.  Vet said maybe an abscess, but also could be sore muscles from his new job and the new cart.  So we eased up on his workouts a bit, keeping him in the arena where the ground is level.  I thought I saw a head bob there, too.  Gave him time to let a possible abscess work its way to the surface and burst (which would give him instant relief).   Finally called the vet for an exam.

So the vet came out and watched Joker move, did some tests on his joints to find the problem area, nerve blocked him, and then did some x rays.  The bones in Joker's front fetlocks (ankles) are inflamed.   Little guy was hurting.  So it was decided that the best thing to do was let him rest for a while, reevaluate him in the spring for work.   The good old "rest and test".

The question now is why did this happen?    The vet saw Joker at the end of summer, approved driving training for him  - it's appropriate for his age and maturity level.    It wouldn't put weight on his back (which he isn't ready for) but would ask him to use his muscles and his brain.  The trainer doesn't work him hard - when he shows that he understands the day's lesson, he's done.   The faster he learns, the shorter his workouts are.   All very age appropriate.   He was given 2 or 3 days off a week to just be a horse, so his body could recover.  The vet said this is kinda unusual for a horse with Joker's build and his workload, and she's not going to guarantee he'll fully recover with rest.

I chatted with Joker's breeder - we've stayed in touch and she follows along with my updates on FaceBook, has watched Joker grow and learn to do things.  She let me know both of Joker's parents were late to mature - both didn't stop growing and fill out until 5 or 6, she didn't really ride them much until that age or after.   She said to her eye, Joker is still growing, it could simply be that his latest growth spurt happened while he was working, and it was just too much.  She's suggesting give him another year before I think about either riding or driving him.   And not to be surprised if he's not ready to ride until he's 5 or 6.  

General consensus among the horse people who have worked with youngsters is the same - he just needs time to grow.  Time to step back, let him have the winter to be a kid, next spring repeat what I did with him last year, maybe next fall send him back to work if he seems physically recovered and ready.  I respect and trust my vet, but boy I hope my equestrian friends are right.

I don't have answers.   I am disappointed, but we love Joker and will do what's right for him, and scrap the plans I had for next year.  Luckily, since the trainer let us know that he seemed uncomfortable, instead of assuming he was being naughty and working him harder, Joker's issue was caught very early.  

My first day driving Joker!

Joker is home now.   I had intended to keep him by himself for a few days while he settled back in, but all the horses settled so quickly we put him out with his buddies.   Willie is thrilled to have his best friend at home again - he followed Joker around for hours, always keeping his nose on Joker's neck, or back, or eating from the same hay pile.    Joker went right back into the home routine, going to his stall door at feeding time, following commands.   We have already settled into a routine of icing his front legs during meals, trying to help the inflammation go down.    He gets time to rest.   When I feel he's ready, I'll start taking him for walks on the trails, or leading him while I ride Deuce.   See how he feels.  The farrier is going to work with us to make sure Joker's feet are good and healthy and can support him properly.   Maybe we just do what we did last year - which is ok because he learned a lot and I had fun with him.  And we just hope whatever he has going on just needs time to settle.

Willie is thrilled that his buddy is home again.

Feeding time routine now includes icing front legs and nibbling hay.

Joker's Rome was in the early stages when it had an earthquake.   Now we start rebuilding, one brick at a time and hope it all stands strong for years to come.

Happy Trails!

-J.