Dickie isn't a mean kicker and he doesn't kick out every day. At the same time he is a very opinionated horse and sometimes he feels that a good hind leg flail puts just the right exclamation point to a statement. Usually he gives lots of warning and you can see him get progressively annoyed. Today was
an anomaly and my leg got in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It was a nice sunny day so I decided to take him for a walk up the road it is a short walk before you hit a busy road but there are lots of things to see on that short walk. He is getting better about the goats but thinks the llamas are evil. I totally agree with him so it is hard to fault him for all the snorting and prancing that happens. Then someone rode a really loud motorcycle by. It happened to be my farrier so he turned the bike off as he rode by. That helped but Dickie was sure the big black bike was going to eat him. I was impressed that he didn't rear, bolt, or kick out. He spun around me a few times but got his little self under control pretty quickly and willingly followed the motorcycle down the street.
After the motorcycle and evil llamas we ran into a terrifying water drain. He decided that the drain wasn't scary if I allowed him to eat grass right next to it. Food fixes everything, I know that feeling. Because Dickie was being so reasonable despite the myriad of terrors I decided to try walking him over the little water ditch by the side of the road. I know that he will wade in the creek in his pasture but wanted to see what he does when he has to hop over something. First we went over the spot where he could splash through. Then we went back and forth where he had to hop a little. We ended up back on the road and I thought he had earn the chance to graze in the big field on the other side of the ditch. So back across we went. He hopped across no problem but somehow he got ahead of me and went he let out a big happy kick I was in the way. He nailed me right in the thigh and I literally flew at least three feet backwards. After trotting a few feet away he stopped to eat and let me catch up easy as could be.
It was really my fault for getting lazy about watching his hind end. I had spent the morning taking care of the older horses so I was being less vigilant that usual. Dickie has also been so much better about where he throws his long legs that I haven't been as on guard. It was a good reminder that he is still a young TB and unpredictable. It is going to be a long time before I can treat him like Bre. Bre at his age made Dickie look like a 30 year old QH so there is hope for him.
A few hours later and slowly getting red......
One hour after the first photo....
I think I might be black and blue tomorrow.
Ouch!!!
ReplyDeleteBut good idea to expose Dickie to all that different stuff. It will make a difference for him when it comes time to ride :)
I hope that he is as easy going as Shyloh. Sometimes I think he is spookier than Bre was but then I remember how she sent someone to the hospital, flipped over backwards, and a myriad of other things. There is still hope for the big boy.
DeleteDickie told me he was terribly sorry this morning when I stopped in to get cuddles from my spotted Princess and give all three treat! He shook is head very vehemently too!
ReplyDeleteouch!!! Put some ice on that tonight and some Arnica (if you have it)
ReplyDeleteI need to get myself some arnica. I have a feeling there will be more bumps and bruises in my future. I did ice it and it looks pretty good today. I am actually suprised at how good it looks.
DeleteOuch!!! You bruise like I do... no fun! At least it was a happy kick and not a malicious kick. I can't stand horses who kick with the intent to hurt. Dickie is still very much a baby, as is Chrome. It's hard to remember that sometimes when they start looking and acting grown up. I hope you leg healed quickly.
ReplyDelete