It has been a long time since I updated Doc's website with the latest.
After his head injury three years ago, following a great trail ride with a friend, Doc had to take time to recover. At that time, any time
I showed him a bridle, saddle pad or saddle, he got extremely concerned. So, I began an experiment with clicker training.
I discovered that by using a click to mark when Doc did something I was going to reward with a treat, we could have a whole lot
of fun and build new associations for him. We clicked and treated our way to accepting a bit, saddle pad and saddle.
The truth was, however, I suspected that the bucking I had experienced on the trail might not just be about training...but about pain.
In December of 2006, I took Doc Tari to UC Davis veterinary school for evaluation. At that time, my worst fears were realized...
Radiographs of his hocks, when compared with the radiographs following his recovery from surgery in 2003, indicated that his hocks had
degenerated once again. This wasn't something that I was aware could happen. I remembered the surgeon telling me before the surgery, "You might have
one good year of riding after this. You might have ten." Somehow, though, I had buried that thought in the deep recesses of my mind
where denial lives! I had had ONE year of riding with my Doc Tari--the horse I would grow old with...now he plainly and simply begged to be retired...even as young as he is.
So, that is where we are now. Doc is retired. He hangs out and looks beautiful and is soooo sweet. He loves to be loved on...to allow anyone and everyone
to kiss his sweet nose. His is the most kissable nose on earth, too.
I hope upon hope to be able to get some flat land for him. We have investigated retirement homes where he can be turned out with other
horses and have access to grasses and cool, clear water and all the land he could want to roam on. But the thought of having him in
Kansas or Wyoming is very difficult for me. I believe that God wants us to keep him close. My husband and I are investigating the idea of
moving from our place here in Cool where we live on the side of a hill where Doc doesn't have much flat land to roam around. We hope to be able to
find a parcel close, but with more space that is a bit less challenging for a horse that has hind end problems to get around. Not only that, but
Doc now has difficulty and pain, I believe, throughout his body. Not just his hocks. In fact, his hocks may now be the least of his worries. But
I know that his back hurts and I think his shoulders are wearing out from carrying so much of the load of his rather large size for all of his 9 years (or
however long he has had difficulty with his hocks.)
