Week Fourteen - Chiropractic

Yesterday, our favorite Chiropractor (for both humans and horses!), Dr. Mike Welker, was in Great Falls for several appointments.  He is based out of Butte, Mont. but travels this way about once per month to service clients.  Rooster has always exhibited a funky head position while lunging clockwise, so I decided to take him down for Mike to take a look at.  Mike saw it right away and suggested the condition had been with him almost his entire life.  It doesn't seem to effect every-day riding and is really only noticeable while lunging.  He flexes right and left just fine under saddle, but I will say he doesn't love working circles.  Mike said this should improve over time now that he's been adjusted, but it may never completely go away.  I think Rooster already feels better, though.

After the chiropractor appointment, I decided to take advantage of open riding hours at a local arena called The King's Arena while we were in town.  Stella's sorting competitions take place here and we'll be coming down again on Saturday with Rooster.  I thought it might be good for him to get introduced to the place before all the commotion of a big show arrives this weekend.  He took some time to check everything out like garbage cans, barrels, chairs and tables, etc. but settled right in.  It was great to have the entire place to ourselves.

We've been catching a few much-needed rain showers, but as usual, the ground has become slippery and dangerous!  The sun has been out all day, today, so I'm hoping things will have dried up a bit in time for some riding this afternoon.

Hard to believe Rooster and I will be departing for Nampa exactly two weeks from today!