It's all coming to an end!

Well, now where do i start.....

I think i've finally worked out what's wrong with Banjo. He could have 'big head', which is what horses get when there pasture has too much oxalate(i think that's the word), which is in buffalo grass and some other tropical grasses. So now he's back in the yards eating hay, and he's loving it. His symptoms are sort of coming and going at the moment. His jaws are swollen (only gotten bad in the last week), but the weird thing is he is walking normal again.

I went down and caught him this afternoon and he was easy to lead, pick up his feet (only the front though, not game to do the back) and HQ yield. He was perfect. I was mucking around and trying to get him to step backwards when i did, without any pressure or anything. It worked a couple of times, some how. Then i had to stop because he was starting to bored.

The worst part is...... since the paddocks that Banjo can go in both have buffalo grass in them, Dad said once Banjo is better and i find him a new home, i won't be able to get another horse, since there isn't anywhere for him/her to go. I couldn't believe it! I still can't, luckily i have 6 months to work on him. Lol.

Lily.

This is so confusing!!!

I locked Banjo in the yard earlier this morning, since he was in there getting a drink. I just got back and he is the most weirdest horse ever, and totally confusing me!!!!

I checked him all over and he was fine. I tried to lead him forward, we went a couple of steps and he stopped, so i back him by the nose (so far that's the only good thing i've taught him). He went backwards fine, then i tried forwards again, same thing, so back we went again. It took him a couple of goes before he realized it was easier to go forwards the first time. We walked around the yard for 5 minutes or so, then i opened the gate. 5 step past the gate and he stopped! I don't get it, one minute he's fine, the next he won't move!! He is such as a pain! Backing up didn't work, we just ended up closer to the yard. So a tried a little bribery, that worked. We happily walked all the way down the lane way to his paddock. Now i'm thinking i should of went back into the yard instead of using treats, i'll have to remember that next time.

As i walking back to the shed i realized, maybe he's depressed or something, because this not walking thing has only started since he moved paddocks. And it only happens when he walks away from his old paddock. HAHA, that couldn't be true, could it??

Lily.

I think i broke him! again!

I don't know what's going on with Banjo. Lately he just stands there, he won't move. I can get the halter on and then go to lead him and he just plants his feet firmly on the ground!! But at the same time he is completely relaxed, way more then he use to be. Could he be in pain and i haven't noticed, or is he just being plain old stubborn??

Lily.

TOTALLY Awesome! But What Changed?

I just finished spending some time with Banjo. I took a brush with me, so i could stay down the paddock with him. Catching him was easy, the handful of hay won him over pretty quick. lol. I found some flat ground and started rubbing him, he didn't move. I then got the brush, he had a stiff and didn't seem to care about it. It suddenly seemed like it wasn't a monster after all. I brushed him and he again didn't move.I thought 2 good things, now some thing bad should happen. And it did..... I tried to led him down the laneway and like normal he wouldn't budge!! I tried to lead him in a circle and then go forwards. It worked.... After about 5 goes. The same spot he kept stopping, so i kept going until he would walk past/though 'the spot'. He soon worked out that he wouldn't have to go in circles if he kept working, so i guess it worked. Until next time.... I sort of pushed my luck a little, by trying a few HQ yields. They didn't work out to well, but he tried for me so that's all i can ask for.

Now for the AWESOME bit!! i took the halter off and got the brush that was laying on the ground a few metres away. Banjo actually followed me. I walked up to the yards, i was half up the hill and i stopped and looked behind me, there was Banjo only a few metres away. I kept going, he didn't move. I got to the top of the hill, and he had only moved a few steps. Then he started cantering towards me, i was scared for a second because he never moves faster then a walk when i'm around. I thought he must of wanted a drink or some hay. But i was wrong, he came to me!!!! I pat him, and promised him some hay. I quickly went and got him some, when i came back he was already rolling in the dirt!!! GRRR. He always does it, now he's dusty and fluffy!

It was totally awesome, and i didn't give up straight away when it gets hard. I know i'll probably never ride him again, but that doesn't mean i can't do stuff with him. I don't even know how i ended up going to him, it's not like he was in the yard or close to the house. I found some motivation, now i just got to work out where from!!!!

Lily n Banjo.

Where do i start?

Well......

Banjo's battle wounds are healing nicely, you can't see them(unless you look really(really) closely). His winter is getting pretty thick and fuzzy!!

My poor boy has been kidded out of his paddock, and now has to find a new tree to sleep under in the back paddock. Now i can't watch him when i walk to the bus in the morning!

He's sort of started going back to his old self, sort of. He's started to come up to me now, he use to just stand there and look at me. BUT the bad part is he is fearful of so much stuff. Just a few examples the mitt thingy i use to put his fly repellent stuff on with and grooming brushes(Can't wait for worming!). Ohh and the gate. There's this thing he has going with the gate way. He'll walk through the gate and then stop. He won't budge! He'll go in circles, both ways, and back into the yard, but no further. Then Dad comes and he behaves perfectly.

I know Banjo needs to learn some manners, and i want to help him. Help him doesn't really seem to fit. Lol. I just don't seem to be motivated enough! I think what's the point of doing anything with him if i'm never going to ride him. That and the fact that as soon as we start to get somewhere something happens and we get knocked 2 steps. I hate not doing anything with him, but i don't find it fun being with him. I know it wasn't going to be easy and straight forward, but i seriously never seem to get anywhere!

I'll start advertising him again soon, once the wounds have gone completely. And hopefully by then i'll have been motivated to work with him.

Goodnight,
Lily.