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| Boone and Martina |
We are still working with Boone and Khyber on a regular basis. Both horses went to a trainer for a few weeks to settle them down and make them easier to work with. Khyber was the favorite of the trainer and was much easier to work with than Boone.
Boone had to leave training early due to a persistent lameness in his right hock which we finally assessed. He had some residual arthritis in the joint due to an injury he suffered getting out of the trailer when he arrived earlier in the year. He was given a steroid shot to ease the pain, but eventually we are hoping that the joint will fuse and he will no longer feel pain. If it doesn't fuse, we can help it along with another injection that will fuse it for him.
Both horses tend to buck when unhappy, but Boone was the more aggressive in this. Martina has been working with him very patiently for weeks and he is progressing well. Today, however, he resumed some of his bucking behavior, which may be a sign that the hock is hurting again or that he is just getting bored with the routine. Neither he or Khyber really didn't want to work today, so it may have just been a mood issue.
We will take our time with them and bring them on slowly. Neither are particularly concerned about obstacles or training pistols. Considering how spooky they were when they arrived, it is amazing to see how calm they are now. Much of the credit belongs to Martina, who's persistence and patience has helped both horses adapt to their new environment.
