A Special Day for Rio

Today was a special day for Rio and I. It was eight months ago that Rio was severely injured in a trailer accident. He has been healing slowly, just turned out for the winter. His knee is still mending but is completely skin covered. I saddled Rio today for the first time since the injury and rode him around the arena for 30 minutes. This might not seem like much, but for me, it was just amazing to be back astride him again. He is sound and we will be proceeding slowly building strength in that leg, but Rio is ready to get back to work.

Rio's knee today:


A few weeks after the accident:



Next week, Rio goes to Texas with me to spend a week with the chiropractor, Larry "Thumper" Jones. Thumper works at the NFR, race horses and is the best in the business. I talked to Thumper about Rio last fall after the accident and he told me when Rio was healed, to bring him down. While in Texas, Rio is also going to be using an AquaTread to strengthen his leg, then swim for a week or two to build up the muscles in his knee. We will get back in training again soon after that.

A few weeks ago, I was in Winnemucca, Nevada, showing Hank in the Stock Horse Challenge. It was a long trip out there but great show. I had hopes of earning a top 5 spot but had to settle for a top 10 finish which was still very respectable. I was proud of Hank and he is getting better and better at each show we enter. His next show is in May at the Ranch Horse Triple Crown.