Off to Baraboo

Sparkler seems to have recovered from Ehrlichiosis. I guess I should be guarded, though, since Dawna has had trouble with the powdered antibiotic not working as well as the IV form. She also mentioned that you can have a flare-up without being bitten again, similar to the way Lymes disease behaves.

So, with some trepidation, Bob and I delivered Sparkler and Banjo to a new trainer, Heather Dix, in Baraboo, a week and a half later than originally planned. I was very happy with setup. Heather couldn't be there, but Lisa and her daughter, Jenna, the other two women in the training team were there to show me the premises, the tack, the work out spaces and outline the process.

Heather starts each horse with groundwork using Parelli, Anderson and other techniques that work for her. She then passes the horse to Lisa, who starts work in the saddle. Once she is sure the horse is sound, won't rear or buck, etc., she passes the horse to Jenna, who does the trail work. I was so impressed with their enthusiasm. They said they've been waiting anxiously to try the Walking horses. Lisa rode a gaited horse recently and found it more comfortable on her knees. Jenna has just taken in a Fox Trotter in trade for training and loves him.

We put the horses in a holding pen to get them acquainted with the rest of the gang--about a dozen boarded and under training horses. Banjo began acting studly, posturing to keep Sparkler away from the herd and the herd away from her. He'd stomp his front feet, blow, arch his neck and make noises. I think he is about to get taken down a notch, never a bad thing. I was warned they might come home a bit nicked up.

Baraboo is a long way to travel, but I had read good things about Heather and they seem to be well founded. If I get back a couple of trail-ready horses, I will be ecstatic. Travel time was long due to the recent flooding in the area. Highway 12 was only 2 lane. One half had been washed out and was under repair. We saw railroad tracks washed out and creek bed walls washed away.