He's a COMPLETE Legend!

I had planned another post for today but that will have to wait till tomorrow because today has to be Legend's blog.

He is famous on here for having really bizarre feet. They completely freaked out many of us due to his unique combo of navicular and laminitis  - this had left him with super weird feet, not only weak behind but with a long, stretched distorted toe and thin soles. He was VERY lame when he arrived - and he struggled on anything except the softest surface.

But compare how fab he looks today! I explained on here why I didn't trim his toe back and - as predicted (I'm glad to say!) the new growth has smoothly continued without being in any way compromised by the old, laminitic wall.

Lucy took him home in August but had lots of obstacles to overcome back at home - not least having to change yards several times, deal with overly good grazing and an unlucky abscess that developed soon after Legend arrived home. So this update is a testament to her hard work and perseverance as much as to Legend's!

"Hi Nic,

Legend's been home for 5 and a half weeks now! I've finally stopped worrying and we've settled into a routine and are having lots of fun so I thought I would give you a quick update on what we've been up to. I took Hannah to the farm with me today to take some photos of his feet which I've attached.

He has been improving on a pretty much daily basis since I was able to ride him again after the abscess.

I had been hacking him out in walk every other day for about 30-40 minutes but last week I realised he was capable of doing more - he was feeling fab, stomping down the round and even happily going over some stony ground - so last Thursday Hannah borrowed a horse and we went on one of the slightly longer rides. We were out riding for about an hour and a half over a number of different surfaces including some very stony bits on one of the tracks and unlike the other horse Legend didn't struggle one bit! Hannah even made me swap half way as I don't think she quite believed how good I said Legend felt.

Yesterday I rode out with a group from the yard to one of the only decent canter tracks near us so he could get rid of a bit of energy. We ended up visiting a yard at the end of the track to watch some working hunter so only had one canter but Legend was great, although a bit tired by the time we got home as we were out for about 2 and a half hours which is the longest ride we've been on in 2 years! I had planned to give him a rest today but as it's meant to rain all day tomorrow I decided he could have tomorrow off and I'd school him today. 

This was the 3rd time I've schooled him since he's been home and I still can't get over how amazing he feels, I don't know if I mentioned before but I used to have a lot of trouble getting him to bend (despite his saddle being checked and his back being checked several times) but although he hasn't been schooled properly for the best part of a year he is bending easily both ways and I can barely remember him going better. I've attched some photos from today though they aren't the best example as he was in what I can only describe as a 'Legend mood' though he looked after Hannah and she's not schooled for a long time.

I only have one week left before I go to uni but hopefully we'll fit in some more good rides before I leave him with Hannah. If he keeps going how he is we are hoping to take him to one of the local farm rides before christmas, though we aren't planning anything in advance because something always goes wrong! 

I feel so much more positive about his future than I ever did when he was remedially shod. When he was remedially shod our vet told me not to trot him on the roads because of the concussion yet without shoes I don't think twice if I have to trot on the road and he has been fine doing little bits. I also said I would never jump him again but i'm now reconsidering that and will hopefully do a bit with him when he comes to Nottingham with me after christmas.

So yeh another happy rehab here, thankyou for giving me my horse back

Lucy"