So this isn't exactly a bullet work, or a race entry, just a minor victory.
Willfulness, who fractured a sesamoid in Florida last December, traveled all the way across the country to retire with me in Seattle. In April he had arthroscopic surgery to remove a big P-1 chip and clean up the sesamoid. He had his first trip back under saddle yesterday.
It feels like we have won a race, even if it was all at the walk. He was calm, supple and striding out, accepting of seat and leg aids. He didn't even bat an eyelash when a dog chased the barn goat into the arena.
Later in the day, I got to ride a 21 year-old OTTB foxhunter at a good gallop. Wow, what a rush. I hope Willy continues his rehab successfully so that one day I can let him run a bit. His surgeon said galloping will be fine, just no racing or eventing.
Willfulness rides again
Moderators: Roguelet, WaveMaster, Diane, K~2
Go Willfulness!
Monica, I had no idea he'd been hurt. I'm so happy for you that you have him with you, and that he'll move on to a new career as a pleasure horse.
Post pictures of you up when you can.
Denise
Post pictures of you up when you can.
Denise
Alright, I am ashamed to say it has taken this long for me to force someone to take a picture of me on my horse! The antlers and the snowy backdrop are phony, but the attitude is genuine.
He was actually being rather good about having to trot up the road about ten times just to get one passable picture. I guess in the old days he had to work a lot harder to get his picture taken.
It is a year now since his injury and you'd never know from looking at his ankle. Of course he has had two stone bruises when the ground was hard in the summer, and his club foot can be a bit tweaky when he is due for a trim, and we are still working on bending, but overall I am extremely proud of his progress.
I miss going to the races and follow mainly online now. Willy has a half-sister, Bidonmebaby, who is running at Hawthorne, in maiden claimers. She is interesting primarily for being very inbred - by Spectacular Bid out of Awareness, whose damsire he was also. I wish she would break her maiden so that I could see a picture of her! The race replays are too tiny to tell much except that she is grey.
He was actually being rather good about having to trot up the road about ten times just to get one passable picture. I guess in the old days he had to work a lot harder to get his picture taken.
It is a year now since his injury and you'd never know from looking at his ankle. Of course he has had two stone bruises when the ground was hard in the summer, and his club foot can be a bit tweaky when he is due for a trim, and we are still working on bending, but overall I am extremely proud of his progress.
I miss going to the races and follow mainly online now. Willy has a half-sister, Bidonmebaby, who is running at Hawthorne, in maiden claimers. She is interesting primarily for being very inbred - by Spectacular Bid out of Awareness, whose damsire he was also. I wish she would break her maiden so that I could see a picture of her! The race replays are too tiny to tell much except that she is grey.
-
geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA