What a difference a few days can make!  The weather here in Phoenix has warmed up a bit and my arthritis is doing a lot better.  I was able to run around the arena when Brenda turned me out and I even kicked up my heels a few times....course that was cause I heard them start feeding my barnmates and I HATE being late for meals.  Brenda was nice and made sure I was back in time and she seemed really happy that I felt well enough to run.

Brenda hand feeds me my supplements every day, which has been helping a lot too.  She uses one that looks like mini pellets and has stuff called MSM, Glucosomine and Chondroitin.  She says they help my knees and hocks, but I just think they're tasty!  Now that she adds a bit of corn oil, I even lick her fingers clean.  She said something about "keeping the engine flushed", whatever that means, and that I'll absorb nutrients better 'cuz of it.  Us older guys don't absorb them as well.

My pastern still bothes me although it's picked up a bit the more I move around.  Our trainer, Sam, is going to do laser therapy on it.  Brenda said she had it done when she'd hurt her elbow. It's kinda funny how humans often have the same treatments horses do.  She even takes chondroitin for her knees sometimes!  Weird.  The next time the farrier comes (right before Scottsdale), he's gonna see about making me a special shoe.

I'm getting a bit of a belly, cuz I'd lost weight and they've been giving me extra feed.  Once my foot is feeling better, I know I'm gonna get worked harder so I'll slim back down and my muscle tone will come back.  At my age, it's a bit of a juggle to keep muscle over my croup, hips, and withers without getting tubby or slimming down too much.  I haven't been getting longed to keep from straining that pastern. It sucks, 'cuz other than that, I feel great for a 23 year old.

I never expected to be gone so long, but I've been so busy!  It's quite hectic moving a barn.  First, all the humans were running around like crazy unpacking things, throwing things away, packing things...Jeez!  I guess they aren't smart like us horses and learn to do without 'things.'  During the barn move was the Saguaro Classic.  My friend Sparky (CF Musical Spark) was the champion sport horse!  We were all so proud of him.  Then they moved us all to the new location -- all 30 us!  Beon Farm and Carousel-Farms combined into one place.  I've been able to make all sorts of new friends...except the colt that ate part of my tail.  I still have a nice one left, but it doesn't touch the ground anymore.

Right after the barn moved, my human went to visit her parents for Christmas.  I wasn't happy and lost weight.  Us old guys don't always take upsets so well.  Now she's back and spoiling me again, so the weight's coming back on.  The cold has also been bothering my arthritis, so she's been really good about hand walking me up and down the roads to help loosen my joints back up.  I just wish she'd stop calling me "Creaky" and "Old Man"...So I'm 23 -- I bet she won't look as good as I do when she's the equivalent in human years.  She is going to be getting me a special shoe for my one foot 'cuz the pastern's getting a little flat now that I'm old (don't tell her I admitted to it!)  She's always really good at taking care of me -- gives me supplements that have MSM, Chondroitin, and Glucosomine, and a bit of corn oil every day.  Now that I'm in a sandier place, she's also going to start giving me psyllium.

I do get jealous when she starts working with some of the babies.  They are friends of mine, but I don't like to share my human.  She added their pictures to the gallery for me.  They are really pretty girls and sweet (and they don't eat tails!)  Hope's a two year old, so I guess she's not really a baby, but she's so much younger than I am I just think of her that way.  Desire is a year - at least according to the AHA - but her birthday isn't really for a few months.  They are going to be shown at the March Carousel show at WestWorld, so Brenda's starting to work with them to help them get ready.  I may go to some shows later in the year but it depends on how my leg is doing.  If I can't compete, I may go to some of the small ones to cheer on my friends. 

Brenda said she's actually taking off of work all of the Scottsdale Arabian Show next month so she won't miss anything.  A few of my friends are going, especially Beon Eternety.  He did really well at the annual SAAHA Charity Show in Tucson.  He got a bunch of ribbons (a first, 2 seconds, a third) and came in fourth in the championship.  Considering he just officially turned six and has only be showing in western pleasure for a few months, that's awesome!