Helter Swelter -- July and August Goals and Progress

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Except, we all wish Brandon a great life with his new partner!

I agree with Chisamba, Mountaineer and SF. With animals I feel it pays to be open-minded and not get stuck too much on just one ideology or theory. I myself strive to be more open and open but for Lynx right now a lower neck (wither height) feels like it's working best. If anything though, I focus on a longer neck right now with him.

On that note, we didn't have the best ride yesterday. But it ended on a much better note than it started and I couldn't blame him anyway.

There was a lot going on right outside the arena, with someone loading a horse in a trailer and their dog running around both sides of the trailer. As I was mounting my (jump) saddle definitely slipped to the left. Like a lot. My trainer tightened my girth ( Even though we both checked it before I mounted and swore that it was tight enough.) In hind sight, I obviously should have just gotten off to double check everything.

He definitely was a bit tense but I also had been out of his vitamin E for a few days and it always seems to make a huge difference. He was actually calling for a horse that left the arena which is so unusual!! I don't think he's ever called out for another horse in his life. But we put him right to work.

He tried to be a bit bulky in the trot but half heartedly. To be fair I think it was because the saddle was off-center on him .He felt fine after that and we ended on a nice long and relaxed rein with licking and chewing. But when I got off I realized just how to the left the saddle was!! Poor guy, It's actually a wonder that he didn't buck me off. Lol.

Obviously I'm really anxious for the saddlefitter to come. I don't know if he's just changed shape or what but it seems like both saddles want to roll around a little. I've always been kind of guilty of riding with a girth on the more loose side but it's never been an issue until lately.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

On a positive note, for whatever reason I feel like my riding just keeps improving which is great. Hopefully that's reality

I just feel very very aware of my body (Maybe it's the saddle issues making me more hyper aware of where the heck I am on him and what everything else in my body and his body are doing .) my leg yields have improved so much, keeping him much more straight and not going to the rein too much. Same with my shoulder in. I feel like I'm getting the positioning so much more off my seat and easily catch if I'm going to my inside rein.

Lynx is very smart though so sometimes if he thinks you will repeat a movement on one side and then the other, he will start to position himself before you ask. He's definitely very responsive to the seat and loves lateral work in short sessions.

[StraightForward]

I hope the fitter can get your saddle sorted out. It's great that you're making progress with your riding even if things are a little bumpy with Lynx!

Yesterday afternoon we hauled over to my saddler's (she is the main US rep for Lovatt & Ricketts and will tell you she's not a fitter). She was working on an emergency repair, so we went down and did a little ride in her spooky arena. T was being the queen of holding her breath, but was an all-around good girl; we were having a little play with canter HP and got a couple steps of piri canter. Not something she's really ready for, but a couple steps here and there seem to be good for getting her to take weight behind and adjust more in the canter. After about 20 minutes, one of the wind storms we get came charging in from the west, so I dismounted, but T handled it pretty well. Adrienne came down to make sure I wasn't dead and we proceeded to look at my current saddle vs. her demo saddles. She said she has been trying to work with the company on making more legroom on the dressage saddles, so she is basically going to have them Frankenstein a demo saddle for me (she had a sample flap with a shorter block set more forward), and when that comes, if I like it, I can order another exactly as I want it with serge panels, bling and whatnot. I said they could send me to England if they'd like to study my apparently freakish conformation and figure out how to build a saddle around it. So I'm grateful for my trusty old Black Country, and glad I'm not in a rush to get something. The struggle is real!

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Well, yesterday I rode and switched up how I girthed my saddle (jump saddle.) that seemed to help but the biggest help was me noticing how freaking uneven my stirrups were. Like 3 holes worth. Sooooo that certainly wasn't helping me. So I had a MUCH better ride yesterday mostly working on transitions and leg yielding on a circle.

SF, I hope they get you the saddle of your dreams!!

[Moutaineer]

LSP, evening up those stirrups should make a huge difference, certainly to Lynx's comfort. (I bought new leathers a couple of months ago because mine were ancient and stretched out and who knew if they were level or not any longer.)

In the same vein, we are still diligently working on sitting centered in the saddle with even weight on both seat bones and at neutral, even contact through both legs. Looking at the wear pattern on my boots over the years, it is evident that no matter what horse I am riding I'm not symetrical. So how can I expect my horse to be?

More pilates, I guess!

Potters is having some down time as I've got a major house upheaval going on. My basement level flooded in a huge rainstorm last week. It's a terrible mess. I've got area rugs and furniture drying out in the driveway and garage, huge fans and dehumidifiers running down there Everything stinks. They start ripping out the wood floors and the drywall on Monday. Happy days.

But this afternoon I am escaping and going to our assistant trainer Justin's wedding celebration, which should be fun!

[exvet]

SF I hope you end up with a perfect fit for both you and T and will be interested in finding out what works.

LSP it sounds like you're most likely really are making progress. In the end we all are responsible for listening to the feedback our horses are giving us, do our research, and based on our horse's feedback find the right solutions for them. There is never a one size fits all in anything.

Well Junior and I made it through western dressage. He didn't earn the fantastic scores that Brandon did (higher level tests) but we won a second place in Level 1 test 2 with a 67 and change and first with a 65 at Level 2 test 1. We would have been a little higher in both tests but my accuracy was a wee bit off - couldn't hear my reader very well and no, I didn't memorize the tests. The issues we had though in terms of constructive criticism were typical of what I hear in classical - needs to be better balanced and engaged at the canter/lope. While we had fun I don't think I'll be going back and forth between western and classical dressage with Junior. He got too comfy with jog and lope................ponies .

Our next schooling show is in 2 weeks and we'll be riding fourth level test 2. I'm hoping to improve my scores from the last schooling show with another recognized/rated judge. Then it's the next recognized show in November, again riding fourth level. In between all that I hope to bring home my next project, if all goes well, a 2 year old section D Welsh Cob gelding. More to come............

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Mountaineer- these leathers are older although well maintained and look to be in good condition but definitely look to have stretched so I will look into a replacement! I'm so sorry about your basement, that sounds like such a pain. My goodness.

Exvet, lots of exciting stuff on your horizon. Fingers crossed for the show and hopefully the 2 year old!

On the Lynx front, he was exceptionally relaxed today (I swear the vitamin E makes such a big difference in him.) Maybe a bit too relaxed but I was feeling very fatigued myself too ( I don't know what's going on with me.) we had a nice little ride in the Dressage saddle. First time since I got it back from the fitter. I definitely felt straighter on him.

But my trainer got on to try to get the canter for diagnostic reasons. He picked up the wrong lead once then picked up the correct one. He looked good and she was kind of just letting him go however he chose... And then he tripped behind pretty badly. I think he lost his left stifle. He seemed fine and she cantered on the other lead no issues. Going back to left he definitely had some anxiety about the canter but she did get it...he was a little tense though. Just like 4 strides and we called it a day.

This horse!! Im making an appointment to see about injecting his SI, since that's really been an on and off thing. I am contemplating asking the vet about Estrone. I have the feeling I'll be laughed out of the office but from my reading there doesn't seem to be any harm in trying it... Seems like a can't hurt might help type thing.

Because I do feel like he's been losing his stifle more at just random times. Like maybe it's locking for a second or something.

As always it's frustrating because the ride was great otherwise. He seemed happy got lucky and looked like he was moving good. Just feels like we're taking tiny steps forward but not quite where I want him yet either.

[StraightForward]

Today found us back at the vet as well.

Saturday evening I went out to get Tesla trimmed and shoes glued on all around. I managed to trim her left front and hind, and about half of what I wanted to do on the RF. She was absolutely refusing to hold her RH up for me, and acting like her left leg was going to break off if she tried to stand on it. I gave her some Previcox, and went home. Sunday morning, she looked like she was taking short steps in the trot. Rolled normally in the roundpen. I gave her another half tab of Previcox. Sunday night, she was almost doing a bunny hop thing like her LH was mechanically not functioning correctly. She spent a long time thinking about rolling, then then nearly committed - all the way down on her knees, but seemed to struggle with operating her hind end, and she decided to abort mission and get back up. Last night, I left her in the roundpen for awhile and she seemed interested in rolling, but never really tried. Her trot looked better if not perfect. With the weirdness with rolling, I was thinking stifle or SI, and that is where the vet went as well, but he couldn't find anything. He eventually blocked her LH above the fetlock and she started going better, so he concluded sore feet, but left moreso than right. Even getting the poultice on her RH while she was sedated was a struggle, but the vet interns got it done with me pushing into her other side so she couldn't hop to the left.

So she'll be on Previcox for the rest of the week and I'm hoping I can finish trimming and get her into shoes. He thinks I should be able to ride in the clinic this weekend, but I'm skeptical. On the up side, this coincided with pasture irrigation, so she isn't having a cow about being locked up while her buddies are turned out.

[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 shift weight onto to the right front, which I suspect is the most painful foot.

I gave her 1g bute at noon, and went back out at 4:30 to try and soak her feet in cold water again. A bit more success this time, but still super sore. So she's in overnight and dosed with the sedation the vet in Texas gave me for trailering. Because — of course — my girl does *not* stay in quietly. Nope. She was hollering and screaming her head off because she wasn't out.

I apologized to the gelding down the barn aisle who's on stall rest.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Wow something is definitely in the air! I hope both Tesla and Maia feel better soon!!

Lynx had the day off just in case (and I'm feeling really off I can't tell if I'm getting sick or what.) I did talk to my vet. She said Estrone is hard to get and to stick to a stifle strengthening program....

[khall]

Oh no mountaineer! What a PIA:(. My in laws just went through this due to busted hot water heater and we did here at my mom’s place after bad storm. Ugh takes forever these days for repair work

Exvet sounds like an interesting diversion with Junior but understand not going down that road again. Glad Brandon was a good boy for his ride. Hope you can keep us posted with his new owner and they have much success and yay for new young one!! Yours will be a bit older than Lani if I keep her the moose.

SF and heddy oh goodness what is going around? I still don’t have answers with Rip yet and his lameness was weird too. Ugh horses. Sorry the clinic may be out SF. I know that’s disappointing.

Lsp hopefully you will get Lynx more firmly on the right track. Sounds like progress even if not fully there. I have a friend with a neat QH going through similar issues. She’s trying one more time to see if the vet can give her answers to the canter problem.

Mom passed last Thursday at midnight after an a couple of weeks battle where she was mostly bed ridden. What a horrible thing to witness as we sat vigil at her bedside for hours on a roller coaster. We would scurry off to get stuff done or take a shower to run back and call the other family members thinking it was time. Her caregivers enabled us to be family though I did help with some of her needs. Was hard to watch when she became totally unresponsive and flaccid yet her body was refusing to stop. My sister and I and two of her caregivers and DH were there as she took her last breath. We’ve had the funeral and burial. I was so blessed to have great friends be there as well as all my family and DH for support. Mom was the heart of our family for so long of course the dementia had taken that away already. Now to finish cleaning out her apartment and figure out what we will do with it and settle the estate/ close conservatorship. I also have a clinic with Cedar next month and I take Rip Friday to hopefully get some answers. I’m not sure if he is still lame. I didn’t have time to deal with him because of mom so he has just continued to be on stall rest which he’s handled well. Pulling him out tomorrow and Thursday to see what he looks like and pulled him off bute. Who knows.
Will start back with Joplin soon. Not expecting much for our clinic. Just have not been able to do anything with her.
Need to find my new normal. Mom has been a constant in my life on a daily basis for over 5 years. Unless we were out of town. Will be much like empty nest

Hopefully our weather will break again! Back to hot/humid this week after gorgeous last week when I couldn’t do anything.

Happy riding!

[exvet]

I'm sorry but I have to say that estrone is NOT hard to get. It's imo actually one of the easier and readily available compounded products to get especially if you're getting the aqueous preparation which is what I've used. It doesn't sting and it doesn't cause muscle soreness. For Brandon it helped a ton but it does NOT help all horses.

I received a picture of the new owner on Brandon after her maiden voyage yesterday. He looked good. It sounds like her honeymoon with him continues. Obviously I hope it never ends but I feel that his personality not only has won her over but that she was looking for 'that' horse and his Morgan ways (her first Morgan) fits the bill. Thankfully her trainer is 'in the Morgan world' so I think his future is sealed from the smile I saw on her face.

[Josette]

khall - I'm very sorry for your loss. Sending you peace.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Khall- I'm so sorry for your loss. But I know your mom is at peace now ❤️

Exvet, I have to say I thought about that too and I was a bit irritated. In fact I have the feeling that it's going to be hard for ME to get because I feel it's really fallen out of favor here. So I felt my vet just doesn't feel its worth her time. I've used her for such a long time. And she's been there for me in ways that most vets aren't but she can be very set in her ways.

I am also working with another vet nearby (my own vet only has so many capabilities and doesn't meet all my needs.) So I'm going to ask the other vet who is much younger. She seems more open to other ideas although I know Estrone is an old school thing so we will see. I'm not saying it will cure everything but to me it really seems like it won't hurt to try it ... Like at all. So let's just try it! Goodness.

And yay, I'm glad Brandon is settling in

[Moutaineer]

I'm so sorry, Khall. It's such a hard thing to go through. Finding the new normal is difficult.

Potters had his Osphos shots yesterday and promptly colicked and scared me half to death. The vet was still there, so a spot of xylazine and torb. and 10 minutes later he was bright eyed and bushy tailed and looking for his dinner... horses, good grief.

[StraightForward]

Khall, that sounds like a hard thing to go through. Glad you had family there through it all.

Bodyworker came out this morning and found T was all wonky in her body; thinks she fell in the pasture. She was pretty ticked at both of us, but after, she seemed happier and promptly rolled within a few minutes of being left in the roundpen. I'm going to try to get her shoes back on tonight, and we'll do another bodywork session tomorrow.

Hope Maia is feeling better today!

[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 into worse case scenarios — trimmed much too short. Fortunately, the pastures are thick and padded, so she's comfortable out. Bute and Venice turpentine now, and I'm trying to track down a farrier to glue on shoes for the next 6+ weeks. I'm just sick about this. Now I just need to get her through the next few days without further injury.

Here's hoping everyone else finds a solution.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Mountaineer- how scary!! Glad Potters is okay.

Glad to hear both T and Maia seem to be okay as well.

Well I talked to the other vet and she said she had never used a Estrone and would be more inclined to do strengthening work and injections in the joint (But he flexed negative all around a month ago.) She did however say she was happy to look into it more for me so at least she was slightly open to the idea.

How frustrating. Such a simple and easy thing to try. But I knew I would get a lot of pushback. It seems there's definitely certain veterinary trends in this area. I had the same issue years ago when I had a young thoroughbred on stall rest. Nobody wanted to give me anything for sedation... Either for on the stall rest or trying to bring him back into work. To me it was just kind of nutty.

[StraightForward]

Last night I managed to get T's front shoes reset, and put some Sole Guard in her LH. I was only able to get as far as picking out her RH. No chance of getting it trimmed or anything. Bodyworker is coming back out this afternoon. I am not optimistic that we'll make the clinic. Might be time to reach out to a few friends to see if they would be interested in taking my rides.

LSP, I don't know anything about Estrone but I hope the vet will agree to give it a try so you can see if it helps!

[blob]

Khall, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I know how hard all of this has been.

Jingles for everyone else dealing with sick, injured, NQR horses, animals, or humans. This past month sure has been a doozy for many of us.

My trip was wonderful--great weather, amazing hikes, and lots of just quiet time out in nature. Thankfully MM did very well while I was away on 8mg dex. Now that I'm back we will try weaning her to 4mg and then fade off of it entirely in the fall. Fingers crossed it's all successful. I'm also hoping to get her back into some work (even if just long hacks). When she's fit, she breathes better over all. but obviously unfair to have her do much when she's in a very bad state.

RP also got about 2 weeks off. I got on him yesterday and he felt like a horse who had forgotten to use his body, but he is not a horse who does great with time off and it usually takes a handful of rides to get him back on track after a long break. We head to regionals mid-september so that's primary goal right now.

Of course I woke up feeling sick this morning and heard some coworks have had COVID, so I' hope it's not that and just a bad cold. Test this mornign was negative, but I'll test again tomorrow.

[Aleuronx]

Peace to you Khall on the loss of your mom and re-adjusting to life from now on.

Echoing blob here for anyone that's been having a go of it lately. May this next season be a bit kinder to us all.

Closing out to enjoy the holiday weekend a bit. Feeling quite positive, and time to make some bigger goals. I did start a tailcoat fund in my savings...

Section Goals:
2 scores at 65%+ 3rd Freestyle to finish out our Bronze Freestyle Bar Complete and jacket has a shiny new pin
Control over the changes to add an uncounted tempi This is coming along. More changes are building better singles as she has to land and be ready for another. All good progression, it's added in as a work day.
Improved collected trot with more expression This is also added in as a work day and my inner thighs are screaming for it to fluff her up like riding in tall grass. Fun, but very taxing for us both!
Complete 5k running program and not die, sub-32 minute?? Mostly success, I followed until the last week and half when I was heavy competing and that took priority. Started a new program 2 weeks ago to build speed to support the sub-32 minute and the burn is good. Even though I hate running.

[Moutaineer]

Potters felt really good today. A bit too good, TBH. His ears are his big tell. You want them swivelling and listening to you, not forward and pricked and looking for trouble. However, he was soft and over his back and in front of my leg. I'm a bit stressed at the moment so I wasn't riding well. But no-one died, so I'll call that a,success...

[exvet]

khall, I am very sorry you had to go through what you did. I went through the same with my father. I expect I will also have to witness the same with my mother though perhaps the powers-that-be will make her passing quick when the time comes. As a veterinarian I feel blessed and privileged and believe that many of our pets get treated better than humans. Hugs to you and yours.

LSP, I would say it's my age but I had a sport medicine specialist recommend the estrone (and she's got to be at least 20 years younger than I). I'm happy she did. I assumed it had fallen out of favor and knew/know it doesn't work for all. One of my close friends is using it now on her horse and she isn't seeing any benefits; so, again it's results vary from individual to individual. What I will say again is that if you see a change in behavior (usually for the better) then there's a much higher likelihood you're going to see benefits on the orthopedic front. Brandon's demeanor mellowed significantly while on the estrone and his stifle improved but I also did and continued the PT.

Aleruonx congrats. I would love to see more video. As for my running aspirations, my knees can't take it anymore. I'm good for 6-8 miles but really pay for it if I push it farther (running). We do have plans and arrangements for at least one more rim to rim hike in the grand canyon in October. We're doing North to South rim this time (have always gone South to North, 4 times now) which is farther but supposedly easier. My niece is going to come with me again along with a couple of colleagues and my SO. This will likely be my last time so I'm going to take lots and lots of pics and enjoy every agonizing elevation gaining step on my way out. There's really nothing like it.

I have a lesson on Junior on Sunday so my closeout will be a bit delayed.

[blob]

Time to close out it seems!

Me
Exercise when not riding
Eat healthy on the road
Work on position when riding

MM
Ensure she gets ridden even when i'm traveling/not able to flare in breathing meant she got true time off, but this was the right decision
Continue to enjoy her

RP
Show in July?
Get in a lesson
Focus on LYs
Focus on trot lengthening with more push and sit

[StraightForward]

Love the title, Blob!

*Show either hunters or eq in two weeks (I have a question in on which would be better for us as they're different days)
*Try to get in a cross-country school?
*Keep developing T's canter
*Figure out how to keep her shoes on
*Ride her like she's a third level horse
*Get the rest of the 1st and 2nd scores towards my bronze
*Build more core strength, there is never enough!
*Get out on the trails at least 2x

Well this period went a little pear-shaped, but nothing horrible. It was bloody hot in July, then T ended up needing hock injections, plus we were dabbling with trying new saddles. Just when she started feeling good after the injections, she did *something* and it's taken a week to get her back together.

We did have some days of riding like a third level horse, and I've continued to work on my core strength, so that's something. On the last round of shoes, one stayed on for my goal of 4 weeks, and the other I just had to re-set due to my faulty welds. The corrugations in the pasture have started to even out, so I'm hopeful that shoe retention will be easier going forward. I've certainly learned a lot on this glue-shoe adventure! The sarcoid on her chest really blew up over the past month, so that is coming off on Wednesday, so she's getting an unscheduled break. Hopefully by mid-September we'll have things sorted out and continue on.

[Chisamba]

I am sorry your mother's passing took so long Khall. I am sorry for your loss. It's one of those combinations of relief that it's over and sadness for what once was. Wishing you peace.

[Srhorselady]

To Kahil. I can’t say it any better than Chisamba. I also lived through it with my Mom! Remember her as the person she used to be.

[Tanga]

Just, hugs, khall. I won't be allowed to even do that, if I even learn if my mom is gone. Hugs.

[Moutaineer]

Rounding out this couple of months, I've got a lot more done than I thought I might. I'm healed up pretty well, Potters has had some maintenance, but otherwise has been a good solid schoolmaster. I got a clinic in, I had some solid learning moments throughout the period and I had a lot of fun with my horse. Sad not to show, but accepting of the fact that I've been physically limited.

Onwards and upwards!

I audited a clinic with Jan Ebeling yesterday. I was suprised by how much I like him as a teacher. Very thoughtful and on point. A lot of emphasis on more up and open (there were a couple of natural curlers and a couple of riders who needed to ease up on the curb.) I came away with some nuggets that i think will be very helpful in my own riding.

[exvet]

Moutaineer, Jan Ebling is one who I haven't had a chance to audit or ride with and would truly love to have that opportunity. Glad to read that you got some good information out of it.

Well I had my lesson this morning and I was waiting to be sure that Junior and I had made the progress I felt over the last few weeks before making unsubstantiated claims LOL. I had a great lesson to say the least. Junior's understanding of the passage is really gaining momentum. I was better able to get him supple and keep him there from beginning to end. The best part is that every single one of our flying changes were clean and in the air including our tempis.....................I know that there is still a lot to work on but I really feel like we've gotten rid of that damn monkey on our back. I feel that the lesson really sealed up the deal on our progress and focus the last two months. I still need to work on Junior's confidence and continue our stretches and under saddle exercises to loosen Junior's back, work on keeping him supple and continue the work on his stamina; but, at least I feel like we have gotten closer to having a solid foundation.