Day 33

Trailer loading day 5:

Ta da!!!!!!!!!

 It didn't take long to coax Doc into the trailer today.  He got plenty of carrots and alfalfa once inside, and I let him hang out there for about 10 minutes before asking him to back out.  I did it very gently, and rewarded each step in hopes of having a very calm, controlled back up... and that's what I got!  After a short rest outside the trailer, I offered for him to go back in, and he took me up on it.  After one small hesitation halfway inside, he went right in and started munching away.  I gave him a good rub-down and did lots of scratching and pressure around his hind end.  Then I took the butt chain (I don't know what you call it), and just held it around his back end.  He didn't seem to mind at all, so I continued that will a little pressure while he ate his alfalfa.
 

Getting lots of carrots for being such a good boy!

I also did some shaking and bouncing around in the trailer to see how he tolerated the racket...  he didn't mind that at all!  Tomorrow I will practice loading, unloading, closing, and opening the back gate.

Oh yes, and look who is progressing nicely on standing tied!

This is what his left hind leg looked like tonight before I took away all of the goo.  Do you see all of the black stuff just below the pink stuff?  That is one giant glob of scabby, goey tissue.  Underneath that is fresh, pink, healthy proud flesh.  Each day I take a layer off the top, and each day I think it is a little smaller.  What do you think?

Finally, I wanted to say a big "thank you!" to Maryann at http://www.horsenheart.com/ for helping me get Doc set up with his very own halter and lead rope.  She is going to custom make him a rope halter that fits.  Hooray!  If you are ever in the market for high quality, custom made, affordable halters, lead ropes, reins, hackamores, etc., this is the place to go!   
(And no, this is not a paid advertisement... I just really like her!)

:)

~Jackie