Speaking of Rico, he's doing great! That's the update. He's doing wonderfully on TC's fitness plan, which is basically just that Rico follows TC around and TC moves around a TON. I need to grab updated photos of him, his topline looks really good, his legs are cool and tight, and he doesn't have the ventral edema he used to have. Thank you, TC!
I love their relationship so much, Rico is very attached to TC and apparently has looked for him when TC is off the property for shows or clinics. TC loves Rico but in a little brother type way, where he wants to harass him a bit. But TC is honestly really gentle with Rico, they played a lot harder a couple years ago when Rico was more spry.
Not the worst place to live out your older years
But honestly, he's still pretty spry. I stare aggressively at him whenever he gets up from laying down, and he's in that age range where when you see them lying down, you rudely interrupt them to make sure they're okay. But he's pretty sound and comfortable as he walks around, and the few times I've seen him play this year at trot and canter, he's looked fairly coordinated too.
The only major change this year was starting on prascend because he was diagnosed with cushings this spring. He had a couple of quiet days adjusting to the medication, but now he's doing well on it and is back to normal.
This is a picture of Rico when he justmoved to the ranch back in 2011 beforeall the fencing was put up on the road!
My mom is also convinced he is carrying his neck lower, and when you go to give him chest scratches (his favorite), you can hear his neck popping as he lifts it up so you can get to the right spot. I'm considering getting someone out for bodywork at some point. I want to probably first bring them out for TC and see how gentle they are and just talk about Rico and then maybe bring them back for Rico.
The reason being that I'm mostly looking for him to get more comfortable, not to address any major asymmetries or compensations. However his body is compensating right now is probably for the better. I would hate to release something and then have him crumble because that one part of him being tight was preventing the rest of him from falling apart. I basically want someone who kind of specializes in bodywork for older horses, or just some kind of bodywork that is pretty low manipulation.
I super trust my acupuncturist with Rico, she has a ton of experience with older horses and knows Rico well, so hopefully she can come out at some point. I'm also considering PEMF or something along those lines. Or maybe finding someone who does massage and can work with him really gently.
Out in TC's pasture
Honestly, someone could really take me for a ride here, literally if the person just runs their hands over him and tells me how wonderful he is and how he'll feel better now, I'd be sending them money and asking them to come back every week LOL I mean, we all knew I'd get to this point, this should come as no surprise.
If anyone has any advice on how to find someone to do very older-horse-safe bodywork, that'd be great! I just want him to feel good and be happy in retirement. If that means letting him be, that's also fine!
