DefinitelyDressage.com

heddylamar

@Mountaineer, I've always found a good sudsy bath will loosen the long hair. Speaking of crooked, Maia very much refuses to bend right :shock: We're working on it. She does bend now. But, wow. 12+ yo and we're still working on bending to the right! She's an entirely different horse to the right. Hop...

heddylamar

Maia and I had another very useful fruitful lesson this morning, continuing working on suppleness and throughness. We're really starting to understand all the bits and pieces, and it's really starting to come together. The wind was absolutely howling, and lifting the doors away from the barn 4-5', t...

heddylamar

Great lesson this morning! And I have video :) I need to edit that, and post a clip or two, maybe of us not doing weird things ;) We spent most of today working on incremental changes for me — shifting my weight to the left seat bone tracking left, moving my legs slightly forward so my heels aren't ...

heddylamar

They make a great pair, LSP! I hope everybody (including Ace) is feeling better. Maia and I have a lesson Friday morning. She's finally starting to grasp the concept of relaxation and self-carriage. I'm excited to see where we go next! As for goals: – Get these muscle spasms figured out (definitely ...

heddylamar

Riding: – Continue the regular lessons (today's was invaluable!) Add in working with the eventer, and Sundays afternoons for working equitation. Every other week, and it's been fantastic! I have a whole new horse :D I'm shelving jumping until I get the muscle spasms under control. – Get out to ride ...

heddylamar

We're in a constant state of angst. The DH's our main breadwinner, and a contractor for an agency that's not hit the chopping block yet. Frankly, I don't understand how. They're huge. Meanwhile, my main client is suffering a death of a thousand cuts. Two thirds of our funding is private, and I think...

heddylamar

My last lesson turned into 35 minutes of lunging, 10 minutes of riding. She was safe, and had finally learned to stretch down, when I finally got on. 50+ mph wind gusts make for an exciting mare!

heddylamar

That's rough, exvet. Skilled care is crazy expensive. I'm glad that it's available — we couldn't give my dad the care he needs at home — and I'm happy that the nursing staff at dad's home earn a decent wage, but it's painfully expensive and medicare doesn't cover much. He's in a skilled nursing unit...

heddylamar

Last time was relatively moderate, and it still took me 6+ weeks to kick covid. Paxlovid helped a ton, plus a combo of antibiotics and steroids. The first time, it was 6+ months.

heddylamar

I've somehow managed to drop a pesky 10 pounds since August. Only 10 more to go to get back to my pre-2018 weight, when I had to stop running 50+ miles/week. I'd be happy with 5-6 pounds. The only real change to my routine was adding B12, both oral and injections. I'm not really sure how to recreate...

heddylamar

Another great lesson on Friday! Mybtrainer asked what I wanted to work on, and despite not riding all week, Maia was super low-key (for her), so we tackled the disaster that is her canter. We're great on the straight away, or in a large field, but 20 meter circles are a hot mess. She wants to bulge ...

heddylamar

We had fabulous rides both Friday and Saturday, but now Maia's getting a few days off. Not because it's cold — it is and we both *love* the cold — but because there's no hot water at home. The 12yo hot water heater hit the end of it's lifespan with a bit of drama Friday night. I kinda like showering...

heddylamar

Maia is feeling sassy with all this cold weather and snow! Our ride yesterday was a bit exciting! Just above freezing temp-wise (though, that windchill), and snow sliding off the roof of the indoor ... plus people and cats leaping out in front of her :roll: I put a new skillset to work — my trainer ...

heddylamar

We're in the midst of a cold snap, so Maia's all bundled up and cozy in what I call her "NH blankie" — her grandma's old 400g fill turnout. She's finally changed shape enough that I may need to look into finding a new one.

I'll go ride her fuzzy butt tomorrow morning.

heddylamar

Heddy, what is a tonal? It's a pretty neat, but $$$, home gym system . I've got everything I could need — mats, weighted balls, free weights, bands with a wall mounted rail system. Plus rower and treadmill. But the DH absolutely "needed" this thing, and as the one who exercises regularly,...

heddylamar

Riding: – Continue the regular lessons (today's was invaluable!) Add in working with the eventer, and Sundays afternoons for working equitation. – Get out to ride 3-4 times during the week ... that's complicated by work, light, and cold, but it's do-able. I just need to get over the fact it's dark a...

heddylamar

Maia and I rode alongside the Monday afternoon working eq group in the indoor. They were working around huge inflatables. And that damn tarp. Maia didn't even bat an eye at the inflatables, but that tarp got a good long look when they were folding it up at the end :lol: We're working on some of our ...

heddylamar

It's really disheartening riding with someone who can't see your or your horse's potential. My barn owner and one time trainer in Texas was great at making every horse and rider sound like they could be great ... but made sure that they knew they had no potential except in some unachievable situatio...

heddylamar

The first ride with the new trainer wsn't a fluke! Maia and I rode with her again yesterday morning, and since we'd mastered everything from the previous ride, we moved right along. Plus she got to see a teensy taste of spicy red head :lol: Colder temps, windy, morning ride ... Maia's always been a ...

heddylamar

I seriously contemplated doing it this weekend anyway — Maia will stand for a blow drier

But that would put a serious kink in her willingness to stand for the clippers! She's got a very short timer on how long she'll cooperate.

heddylamar

Maia needs to be clipped, but unless I somehow grow time between now and Friday, it's going to have to wait for the next warm spell.

heddylamar

@zybtfrm If it's not something that they can straighten, you should be able to find a fabricating shop to build a new fender for you.

heddylamar

That is absolutely terrifying, Aleuronx. Walking right back on? Kora is an absolute trooper. She needs extra carrots for a few weeks! What a fabulous girl <3 :lol: :lol: Chisamba :lol: :lol: I hate waste, but I'll toss brand new underwear immediately if they can't resist transforming into a thong. T...

heddylamar

Somewhere over the past 2+ years, I lost control of Maia's midsection, and she stopped fully engaging and we lost the explosive impulsion. Honestly, I wonder the long ass hot trailer ride to Texas took a bigger toll on her than was obvious, because when I first rode her there she was an entirely dif...

heddylamar

Moutaineer wrote:but no-one died.

This is my base line for every ride

And, honestly, obedient while tense? Potters deserves an extra carrot!

heddylamar

Maia and I rode with a new trainer this afternoon. She instantly honed in on one of my big obstacles and gave me a whole bag of tricks to address it. Another lesson next week, or three weeks from now — she's out at my barn nearly every Friday to work with one of my barn mates. The best part? She's a...

heddylamar

I get the travel/health certs just in case, but have never needed a brand inspection. No one has ever asked to see the travel cert, but I don't want to find out what happens when I don't have it in hand (or digitally, as is more likely with me). @SF — both of mine are microchipped. It was quick, eas...

heddylamar

It affects my work too. And to a much larger degree, DH’s work too. That’s an added stress we don’t need.

All these young guys for Trump are clearly choosing to forgo sex for the next four years — and beyond, because WTH is going to trust them now? I hope it’s worth it.

heddylamar

Maia is finally back to work! I'm really glad I just waited it out — at the end of September, she was walking and trotting sound in the field, but uncomfortable under saddle. Two weeks ago she was still a bit uncertain. And now, she's sitting, reaching, and back to her happy, bouncy, sassy self :) W...

heddylamar

Oh no, khall. Jingling for for Joplin!

heddylamar

Oof. That sounds miserable for Odin. Jingles that the antibiotics clear it up, and the vets find a cause.

Lovely photos, Chantal!

heddylamar

I've got the Hawk 2H bumper pull + tack. Like SF, I'm not sure I'd haul it with a half-ton. But, as you all know, I've spent a ton of miles on interstates. Hilly fast-moving interstates that are a challenge with a gas 3/4 ton engine. With the equalizer weight distribution hitch, it's like hauling th...

heddylamar

Glad you have a good GP! I am finding out how we mostly don't get blood tests that test what we need, and the test results don't show what we really need! If it's not on the regular CBC, most docs don't think to test for it. I'm perpetually low on iron, magnesium, and D3, and I always have to remin...

heddylamar

My new primary care physician took one look at my long list of weird, seemingly unrelated, problems that have been increasing over the last 5 years, and asked if anyone's ever tested my B12 levels. I was low. So low that I'm on my third month of weekly shots. I don't know if there's a correlation, b...

heddylamar

That's pretty pricey, LSP! I was looking at $100/foot for glue-on shoes with Maia's latest adventures. Does Lynx need extra special shoes??

heddylamar

Smartpak is having a 20% off sale on helmets right now.

heddylamar

Maia is sound-ish? Or at least I'm no longer feeling ill? In the past few days, she's turned a corner. We were on bute 2x a day for a week, spent 5-6 hours inside in Easy Boot Clouds, then Venice turpentine when I took the boots off and turned her back out. Much to my abject horror and joy, Maia sta...

heddylamar

I have really narrow feet, and find Ariat's paddock boots to be fairly narrow. Mountain Horse and Ovation tall boots are far too wide.

As for helmets, get something with MIPS. And get something that is comfortable, doesn't shift, and doesn't have hot spots. That's sooo individual.

heddylamar

I'm so sorry for your loss, Khall. Maia greeted me at her stall door, walked around a bit, and actually walked for the vet. 100% more comfortable on grass than the concrete aisle, or asphalt. The vet ruled out laminitis and PHF, phew. He agreed with my initial assessment — before I started spiraling...

heddylamar

Is it something we did? I just had to call the vet for Maia too. Trimmer was out yesterday, and Maia walked off a bit tender. Today she refused to move at all. No heat. No fever. No parking out or shifting her weight, nothing particularly odd beyond refusing to pick up the left front which would shi...

heddylamar

I think all these exercises would work but I can't do them in the middle of a dressage test :lol: she can turn on the tension at a moment's notice! To your second point, I am close to trying some chemical assistance to calm ME down. I have NO doubt I'm adding to this.... I do breathing exercises an...

heddylamar

I've had three gens of tense and forward, and very little crossover in what works best to disarm their often explosive tension. Some of things that have worked: – Warm up with counter canter (literally walk to the arena, immediately start cantering, and after 5-10 minutes we could warm up properly) ...

heddylamar

Integrating critical thinking into the curriculum needs to be a top priority for the US Department of Education.

heddylamar

Those flaps aren't forward enough for you, StraightForward, and the cantle looks like it's shoving you forward. Maybe a different configuration would work, but I wouldn't go through the hassle — and expense — of custom making it if it's not at least close. And it isn't. If they make it, I would try ...

heddylamar

I'm so sorry, goldhorse.

heddylamar

And that, right there ...

Biden needs to go enjoy hanging out with his great grandkids in retirement. And we need an age limit on who can run for office.

heddylamar

Oh no khall, that's terrible news. Many jingles for Rip.

Maia's laminitis stall mate in Texas got through the triple digit summers with AC, alcohol baths, and ice baths.

heddylamar

This week's SCOTUS ruling is terrifying. And as someone who works politics-adjacent (campaign fundraising), I cannot get away from it. Everyone outside work wants me to weigh in, and I just want to go for a long run and bury my head in the sand. Fortunately, DH recognizes I need downtime, and refuse...

heddylamar

Get something that works for both of you. If it fits both of you, but doesn't meet your needs (e.g. lower cantle), keep searching. There will be something out there! I was going to suggest Stubben, but the cantle is higher than I recall. I ride in an older Laser 747 with has a medium deep seat. It's...

heddylamar

We've made zero progress the past two months ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I did ride a good bit before leaving San Antonio. Then Maia was a giant, explosive nutball during our two-week layover at Mom's farm, so we just did some groundwork. The second half of trailering went much smoother with five new trailer tires, n...

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