Recovery update 4 - Getting reacquainted with the outside world

I spent much of April re-introducing 'Mr F' to the outside world.

The stable was a safe place, warm, dry, food, water, comfort, entertainment.

Outside of course evil lurks behind everything. I got the 'OK' from 'Suzie' after I asked her if I could start taking 'Mr F' for very short outings to start building up his muscles and to get him used to being outdoors again. He has had his minimum of 2 moths box rest and will still be on box rest for another month but a little bit of change of scenery will be good.

I begin our outings by letting him into the yard. To occupy him I place his hay bag near him. 'Mr F' isn't quite so sure about being outside at first but soon relaxes and munches his hay while I muck out.

'Mr F' first time out in the yard after 2 months indoors.

You can see the changed shape of his hip on the left side - also note the 'lump' on his thigh which is the displaced muscle.

I repeat the above for a little over a week. He is still quite unsteady on his legs.

There way out of the yard goes up a slope and at first it was a bit tricky for us to navigate over it but it went better by the day. We didn't go out for long, just some 10 minutes of so.

After a while we slowly increased the distance and length of our outings. It was most interesting to observe. It was quite clear that 'Mr F's body was adjusting, he struggled for some time to have stability with his legs. Putting down his neck all the way to the ground to eat some grass was quite challenging at first.

'Mr F's  companion, the 'Buttercup Farm' beast, is never far away.

This cat has always followed me around and has been with 'Mr F' for most of the day when he is in the stable. 

As his movement improved we spent longer time outside. It all was new to him. After having been inside the stable 'Mr F' was spooking at things that didn't bother him before. It was like at the very beginning when we met ... and he relied heavily upon me. There was one occasion when he spooked at a bush with white blossom, it was a windy day and somehow, even though this same bush was there the previous days, today it was very scary. He looked at it and made a big leap towards me and remaining very close, snorting like a dragon. I burst out laughing; all I had in my mind was this big horse wanting to hop into my arms!

The weather had been rather mild and the grass was already growing nicely. 'Mr F' was most pleased to finally be able to eat some grass again.

Another month or so and he will be able to go out into the small padock ... calmly ... hopefully ...