Twenty One

Yesterday Rico turned 21 years old! Unfortunately for him, we couldn't go out drinking due to the terrifying growth on his liver. And come on, Rico, it was a Sunday night, girl's gotta work. He's a party animal.

As of January this year, I've had Rico for twelve years. There was a point in December where I was really hoping we'd make it to these anniversaries, and here we are!

Rico remains the most amazing horse I've had the privilege of working with and learning from and I'm so glad that he's getting the retirement he deserves, even if he was trying to die on us.

Some memories...

The first time I took Rico to the beach in like.. 2009ish. He was
kind of a crazy horse.

Smiling while cantering around the arena before going into the
ring at GP for the first time with him. Also riding crooked so he
will stop doing tempi changes down the long side. 

Jumping in a Bernie Traurig clinic

My first ride on him after I started bringing him back from
surgery on his DDFT

Whoa there wild stallion

I laughed about this with Rico, if TC ever did this to me I'd
probably cry lol 

I taught him to beg

All I want to do is put my shadbelly on one night and drink wine

As for an update, Rico is actually doing much better! No more fever, he's eating well and putting on weight, and he's very perky, I've even ridden him a few times (just at a walk). But we took him down to the hospital for an ultrasound to look at the infected lymph node on his liver and it still isn't down. More antibiotics for him. Vet said that it probably wouldn't be totally over with until April or May. I have a trail trials in early June that I want to take him to, so fingers crossed it's April and not May so I can actually get him fit for that. Or poor innocent Riot may be subjected to it.