Panic over

We have now decided that we overreacted the other day worrying about laminitus. We have spoken with both vets and neither are concerned he will however be seem by the vet next week he is coming to the yard anyway. I think he is looking good now he is putting on weight nicely and is filling out a bit. A friend who met Rowan just after he arrived 3 weeks ago thinks that he looks taller but i'm not convinced but then I see him everyday so may not see the changes as dramatically as she does. 

He is generally much more confident coming up to us in the stable and investigating what we are doing. He has been a bit jumpy at points this week but it has been so windy here all of the horses seem to be a bit on edge and when it has been calmer he is definitely more relaxed and happy for us to be around. We are taking it all nice and slowly and we will get there in time.

Rowan is continuing to do well. I sat with him yesterday while he had his feed the bucket was next to me and he had no problems coming and eating right beside me. Occasionally he paused eating to investigate my feet and legs. He also started to take haylage from my hands. We seem to have got past his reluctance to be touched and everyday he comes further and further away from his corner while im with him. He has found a great way of amusing himself in the stable he has taken to chasing mice! We spent a good half an hour watching him over the door as he followed the poor mouse round and round the stable snorting and jumping everytime it changed direction and came towards him.
We are a little concerned about the white lines which have appeared around his hind hooves immediately  fearing lami but he seems fine in himself and not in any discomfort or pain. The vet is supposed to be calling me back but has of yet failed to do so. We suspect that we are overworrying about this as my mate lost her beloved first Icelandic to Lami less than 2 years ago and ever since we have become very very paranoid about it. In addition Rowan is the first youngster that either of us have had responsibility for in a few years so we are all on a bit of a learning curve at the moment. He has had ad-lib haylage since his arrival as he initially turned his nose up at the hay we had (which isn't of brilliant quality) we now think this was a mistake and he will be having soaked hay from now onwards. Any thoughts will be gratefully received as we tend to turn into a bunch of worriers when it comes to this type of thing

Going Well at the moment

Rowan is doing better everyday. Getting very very curious and is keen to know exactly what is going on and who is around. Hasn't really progressed with touching this week as he went backwards quite a bit after we cleaned his eyes last weekend but he is definitely getting much more confident everyday. Yesterday he was fully mucked out and was very interested in what I was doing sticking his nose in the wheelbarrow coming right up to investigate the holes in his bed. He is slowly meeting all the horses on the yard and seems to have taken a shine to Hector my mates Icelandic gelding. My mare continues to be horrid to him she is rather jealous of the amount of time I spend with him we are hoping this will improve as plan a is to turn the pair out together soon. Rowan is putting on weight well he has been wormed again and we are soon to do a worm count on all of our horses to see where we go from here. His eye infection seems to have cleared up and he is now looking much healthier and happier than he was a couple of weeks ago (can't believe he has been here almost 3 weeks already). Will try to remember to take some new photos of him too soon.

too damn cute

This is how i was greeted this morning

 This is now how I am greeted every morning by little man. His little ears come up over the door and as soon as he is sure it is me his nose comes over too. He gets bolder and cuter by the day. None of us get anything done up at the yard anymore we all just stand at the door talking to him. He is loving the attention coming right up to the door but not quite close enough to be touched over it but he so wants to.

Busy few days
I need not have worried bout going backwards with Rowan the next morning he was awaiting my arrival as usual his little nose sticking up over the top of the door. He has continued to get more and more curious over the week coming closer every day in fact he is now so close he could touch me with little effort but is still not keen on me touching him apart from when we are in his corner. I sat with him on Friday morning and he came up and was sniffing my boots and my legs quite happily and probably would have continued to do so had he not been spooked by my darling mare sticking her head over the door having untied herself and decided it was time I take her back to the field!
Unfortunately on Saturday the eye infection had just gotten over on his arrival looked like it was making a comeback and we had no choice today but to clean his eyes. I tried to get close enough to his head with advance and retreat but he was not having any of it so we were left with little option but to grab hold of him and do it as quickly and quietly as possible. He didn't like it and made a bit of noise about it while we were doing it but he then discovered he actually quite liked having his neck rubbed and stayed with us even once we had let him go. He settled quickly and then when I returned to his box about half an hour later he was fine letting me touch him again and did not seem overly panicked by what we had done to him.
Today his eyes looked miles better with much less gunk in them so we have left well alone. He was a little more unsure today but seems to be alright. It took longer for him to allow me in today but by the time I left he seemed pretty ok again.

two steps forward one back

Today was not so good. Rowan was very reluctant to come to the front of the stable this morning. Took his feed into him and most mornings he hears me coming and meets me at the door this morning he hid at the back of the box until i had turned round to leave the stable. Wasn't keen on being touched at all today went right back to the start with him though and within 10 minutes he was letting me touch him not quite up as far as his withers but not too far off. Left him for a while before coming back to him and he gradually let me in. Unfortunately it coincided with my birthday and the busiest day of the month at work so I couldn't get a third session in with him today. Hopefully he will be a bit more relaxed tomorrow. He is looking much brighter in himself every day though. Maybe mucking out was a step too far yesterday but then it has too be done.

Days Six and Seven

Things have gone well with Rowan the past couple of days. He has been much more confident being touched and has allowed me to approach him and touch him from both sides facing either his head or his bottom. He is still not keen on me touching him above his withers but is quite happy with the feather duster. Was so relaxed that i have now been able to muck out the front half of his stable without any dramas even coming up to investigate the wheelbarrow. He looks brighter every day and has met me at the stable door for the last three mornings. He will not take food directly from my hand yet however he is quite happy eating from the bucket when it is in my hand. 

not quite sure what to make of the wheelbarrow

Time to investigate.

 Loving his dinner!

Oska meets Rowan not too impressed that he has nice haylage and she doesn't.