In which Gene Autry sings my new theme song, and the sun shines on our trails

Spay Day + 17, and I'm back in the saddle again!

Incision isn't very obvious anymore

Our ride wasn't fast, or far, or strenuous.  Patty's young horse Rocky led the way, and Fiddle and I took the caboose position most of the day.  

Rocky leads the group past a stickley branch.  NBD.

Rocky is still learning how to work his feet, so we kept the pace slow and relaxed...a perfect back-to-work ride for Fiddle.  About 9 miles in a little more than 2 hours.  Given Fee's level of fitness before the surgery, this ride was easy, which is what we wanted.

When we got to "Fiddle's Hill", she took the lead, but rather than jetting up it as we usually do, we trotted up at a nice, easy 7mph jog.

blue sky above and ears at the bottom of the picture = happiness

 Here's how the surgery has changed (or not changed) Fiddle's behavior so far, on a scale of 1 to 5:

Eagerness to work under saddle:
*  when in season:   -1  (can't move, must stand and pee)
*  on Regumate:  5  (get out of the way, trotting machine coming through!)
*  post-spay:  5   (happy ears when leading the pack)


Showing discomfort while working:
*  when in season:  5 (obviously uncomfortable and unwilling to move) 
*  on Regumate:  1  (no observable discomfort)
*  post-spay:  1  (no observable discomfort)


Behavior in groups of horses:
*  when in season:  4/1   (really friendly until suddenly she is NOT friendly at all)
*  on Regumate:  3   (doesn't enjoy being in a group, but can handle herself mostly)
*  post-spay:  3   (still doesn't enjoy being in a group)


"marish" behaviors:
*  when in season:  5   (pees on the farrier, the dog, and anyone else dumb enough to get within a mile of her backside, squealing, stomping, lots of tantrums)
*  on Regumate:  3  (can pee seductively at an 8mph trot, tantrums probably related to discomfort)
*  post-spay:  1  (no inappropriate urination or flirting.  no tantrums...so far...)

 Willingness to move out solo:
*  when in season:  1  (Can't. Move. Must. Pee.)
*  on Regumate:  5
*  post-spay:  5


Willingness to EDPP (Eat-Drink-Pee-Poop)
*  when in season:  4  (sometimes distracted by other horses)
*  on Regumate:  5  ("FOOOOOOOOD!")

"FOOOOOOOooooooooooOOOD!"

*  post-spay:  5  ("FOOOOOOOOD!")

post-ride bath at the trailer

Spirit, animation, gumption, and general stubbornness
*  when in season:  5
*  on Regumate:  5
*  post-spay:  5   (STB stands for stubborn!)


The major change I see so far is Fiddle's level of comfort while moving and working.  She is at least as comfortable as she was while being dosed with Regumate, and shows no marish behaviors.


She hasn't lost an ounce of "gumption", as stallions are wont to do when subjected to brain surgery.  She will still happily stomp any dog dumb enough to get under her feet, and will probably kick the face off of any horse foolish enough to crowd her rear cannons.    She doesn't blindly obey me if she thinks that I'm wrong (or if she thinks she can convince me that I'm wrong).


She is, in other words, still a Dragon.  


The hormones aren't completely dissipated yet, of course, and there's still healing going on internally.  

Left side incision site, Spay Day + 17

Right side incision site, Spay Day + 17

My hope is that, with the hormone problem out of the way, her training can move forward again, and we can get out of the "stuck" pattern we've been experiencing.  

Her task, for now, is to heal up and gradually get back into shape for endurance.  If today is an indication, the trails ahead are bright and full of promise. 

Good Dragon!

Life. Is. GOOD!