Extreme Makeover, Appaloosa Edition

Here's yesterday's photo of Mister (click to enlarge), the yearling Appaloosa who's at our place for a spruce-up before becoming the summer live exhibit at the Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center in my hometown of Moscow, Idaho. He's come a long way in about 15 days!

* First and foremost, he's now a gelding--with no complications from last week's surgery. He's also gotten all his needed shots.

* He's learned to be tied, to be free-longed in a round-pen-type setting, and to have his legs and feet handled. He's gotten a good start on knowing what "whoa" means.

* He's been exposed to all kinds of new stimuli, including being blanketed (handy for keeping clean that white blanket of his own).

* Cosmetically, he's been clipped from head to toe, and has had enough daily grooming to get all his "dingleberries" removed--those caked-on balls of dried mud 'n' crud that accumulate on a horse who lives outdoors in a Northwest winter. He's had his mane and tail conditioned. Next up: His first bath (if we ever get a day warm enough to do it!)

For comparison's sake, I'll also include a "before" photo (again, click to enlarge). Let's hear it for elbow grease!