In the days after Jig got his new home, it was a mix of challenge and fun. I immediately had a blast getting to know him by grooming and walking him around the pasture. I gave him treats and tried to just spend time with him. He seemed to enjoy the grooming and even let my kids pet him as well. He was eating well, but the worrisome thing was his pacing. He would spend most of the day pacing up and down the fence. From what I could gather, that was normal for a horse in a new environment. One day, he eventually stopped pacing and I was glad for that! He did create a nice path for water to flow down the hill in a big rain storm, though. Silver lining!
One thing to note was that Jig came to me a bit skinny. I also had chosen to forego a vet check before I bought him because a few were not available to go to see him and I felt comfortable letting it go considering he had been living with our farrier. I had a vet come out about a month after he had been with us. He checked Jig out and said he seemed in good health and gave him his annual shots. I also wormed him. He did say he (and I) could use some training and said he felt that Jig had gotten away with quite a lot, but seemed like a good horse. He also asked how much I paid for him and said I got what I paid for..hmm..I don’t think that was a compliment because I didn’t pay that much in the world of horse buying! For full transparency in case it helps anyone, I paid 1200 and that included the transport to my house which was about an hour and half. He said he seemed like he might be a little lame and had a trainer that could confirm or deny and that I should reach out. That in itself will be another post! Overall, he said I should ride him and enjoy and see him next year.
Here is Jig within the month that I got him:
For feeding the vet said he was a bit thin and suggested a feeding regimen of alfalfa, senior stable mix, and wet cobb.
Here is Jig 9 months later after that diet:
At that time he got 2 to 3 flakes of alfalfa a day, a low starch/sugar stable mix with glucosamine and chondritin, wet cob, and sometimes I added Bute-less or MSM if the mix didn’t have it.
9 months later and not without our share of issues along the way, but I do believe we have forged a bond and I’m very thankful for this horse. In many ways he is a dream come true!
Jenny and Jig 