Oh Ivan

This is Ivan, sometimes known as Ivan hoe.

Ivan is my nine year old quarter horse gelding I bought last summer, even though he hadn't been ridden in two years, and they said he reared a little. But he was so gentle and sweet, I thought it would be a cinch retraining him.

Well he still rears when he doesn't want to do something or when he gets scared. Sometimes it not even a rear, its more like flying, and sometimes he just runs on his hind legs. So I have decided I have to really work him everyday, no more little missy nice girl, letting him have his way if he fusses long enough. And I've told myself I am not allowed to go to bed at night without doing so.

But that's only half of it, he also has problems with his hooves. As you can see in the pic above, he has cracks in his hoof wall. And that can become a serious problem, so I have been putting some stuff, HoofFlex, on them and I have to wait and see if it works.

And every once in awhile he limps, I'm not sure why. We have treated him for thrush although I don't think that's what it is, there is no distinct thrushy odor and there is no black and slimy tissue. But it doesn't hurt to treat for it, he could have super early stages of it. He does seem to be super sensitive in his feet. Which is a real switch around here as my folks' horses could be missing their feet and not limp. I think Ivan is just a big weeny, a crabby naughty weeny. More stubborn than a mule. At this point I'd rather ride a mule.

Well my brain is hurting from thinking about naughty Ivan, maybe he thinks life is like basketball and a ref will call foul on someone if he just acts hurt. See these are the things he makes me think of, no wonder my brain hurts.

So I will inform you on how it goes, wish me luck.

Now that I look at this picture of his hindend, I see that his tail is still very short, the former owners dogs used to hang from it and tear it. Maybe he is like Samson, and when his dorky tail finally grows out he will be a good horse and not a weeny, a rebellious cantankerous weeny. Here's hoping.