My Baby's Gaining!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Takoda has been here for 4 weeks and 2 days. The vet was out again this morning for Laramie and together we weighed Takoda (with a weight tape). Takoda is up to 1064 lbs. today! That's an 89 pound increase in the month he's been here, possibly a little less if you account for variations in weight tapes and people doing the measuring. She said she can see he is filling out behind his withers and in his flank, and he is much less "ribby" than the last time she was out. Another week or so of increasing his grain and we'll level him off there until he reaches a healthy weight.

I've been longeing him almost daily this week in the pasture, and Takoda's attitude and behavior are vastly improved. He longes to the left at a walk very nicely now, even if he does look thoroughly bored by it. I have not been able to get him to a trot myself, even tapping the longe whip on the ground behind him (he acts like he couldn't care less what that is). He has shown attempts to start trotting, so I praise him for trying, but soon I will just expect him to trot and will only praise for that. We have not longed to the right yet, but I'm planning to start that this week if the weather holds. Beauty is in season again and so he's easily distracted, but will return to paying attention when reminded. Beauty and Tonka are hopefully leaving for another farm on Thursday - and I cannot wait! Beauty is causing so many problems with wanting the boys to breed her!

I'm just so thrilled by his weight gain! The vet said he definitely looks SO much healthier than before, and that Beauty looks a hundred times more healthy since being here, too. Her words were the perfect medicine for me today - it helps balance out the daily frustrations caused by the ever-growing problems and vet bills for Laramie! (For those that don't know, she's been diagnosed with uveitis, and has lost about 90% of her vision and is in constant pain. Once we get this flare-up under control - and we're almost there!, she will likely have surgery to help combat her pain.) It's nice to know they thrive here even if we don't have as much room as they deserve! I will post a picture of Takoda's new "pysique" as soon as we have another sunny day.