Good Boy

I have been out of control busy lately. Whether its painting commissions, wedding planning or whatever else. Being busy makes it so easy to run to the barn twice a day, feed the horses, check them over quickly and head out to complete my to-do list for the day. Yesterday I decided to work a bit with Draggo. We have been through SO much with him and his soundness issues. Long story, but the Cliffs Notes version goes something like this: bar shoes with pads, glue-on acrylic shoes, specialists from NC State and Georgia, x-rays, radiographs, wooden clogs (yes, you read that correctly...they check in at $850 a pair...uh huh....let that one sink in...) and finally no turnout for 3 months. God bless this sweet horse. He is now out of the wooden clogs (which were truly amazing) and in just a simple shoe. He goes out all day and all night as long as the weather is nice. He gets a very expensive hoof supplement and gets Keratex painted on his hooves 3 times a week. I list all of these things like I am sacrificing a lot for him. In a way, I guess I am. But I just love him. Even with all the tears I shed, the pain he was in and the absolute distress my checkbook has been in Draggo has never once given up. When they were drilling screws into his feet for the wooden shoes, he stood quietly and didnt bat an eye. I was a wreck, true to overbearing motherly form. Even when we had to keep him in for 3 months, he was so great. A bit frisky on our handwalks, but geez, hes a baby OTTB! When I list all of these things in my head, I can lie to myself and say that I am giving Baby D all the things he needs. But really, other than health, all he wants from me is attention and love. So, yesterday I spent about 3 hours working with him. Ground work, natural horsemanship and a grooming session that lasted over an hour. By the end of the day, he was following me around with my shirt hem in his lips. He truly is a remarkable fellow. Goofy, silly, handsome and hilarious...but yes, remarkable. Horses in general are just amazing animals. They are a lot smarter than most people give them credit for. And unusually good natured when you look at the cards that they are dealt throughout their lives. How lucky I am to be around them every day of my life. To have Draggo in our lives is a true blessing. I know after reading everything I posted about his feet, that may seem like a silly statement. But truly, he is a blessing. I love him very much and have high hopes for our future together. As someone very very special said recently (referring to Baby D) "...you're going to need to take it very slow with the new black horse. He tries his hardest and is a good boy. Give him all you can for about 2 years, and then he's going to give you everything you've ever wanted." He already gives me everything right now. Good boy, Draggo. Good boy.