Bailey

So ... another new addition. My plan was to get an odler "been there, done that" kind of horse to get me that precious riding confidence back, so that I'm better able to handle Medina once she is started and then Magee and the others as they fall ready.

The day came when I took the float to collect bailey and we couldn't find him where he was meant to be! The owner came with me and we drove around and around a plantation looking, until finally we located him across the road at neighbours place with badly injured legs. He had been caught in wire, bandaged, then when the property owners were going away for their Xmas holiday they took the bandages off and left him.

Of course the wounds produced massive amounts of proud flesh, flies laid their lovely eggs in the wounds, and the legs were a mess! We put him carefully on the float and took him back to his owners grazing area for assessment and treatment.

They chose to treat him, and I chose to still take him. He was the same horse; just a little damaged for a while. I felt he would be perfect for my needs, and I was happy to look after him for as long as it took.

So I finally took delivery of him 3 weeks after we found him - near the end of January - and have been treating one leg in particular since then. It was really bad, and the wound is now gradually shrinking. I've been riding him a little, just gently, and he seems to enjoy it - I know I sure did!!!

Now we have Winter approaching and shorter daylight hours, so there isn't time to ride after work, but I'm so looking forward to having the chance to really spend some time in the saddle and get out and about again. It feels so good to be back up there!

This photo was taken on 15 May. It's still being bandaged daily and I'm sure some days Bailey is as "over it" as I am, but we're getting there gradually, and the wait will be worthwhile. At best it's giving us some great bonding time!!! :-)