Helter Swelter -- July and August Goals and Progress

[StraightForward]

Glad to read more good news about Lynx!

ExVet - wow, 40 horses to look at. At least you'll get to do some serious one-stop shopping. Maybe you will find that needle in the haystack - have fun!

Khall, sorry to hear you are going through so much all at once. Jingles for Henry, your mom, and Rip!

I had good lessons the last two mornings. Today especially I tried to button up my position after reviewing yesterday's video and comparing to the third level riders. I mentioned to my instructor that I'm not keeping my seat quite as plugged in as it could be in canter, but she felt that I'm sitting about the right amount for now. It's about getting her to flex her hinds and give in the back more, and I should get a better place to sit. We worked on doing very shallow loops of the long side to work on CC (like 2 strides in, then right back out) as well as being more picky with alignment in the W/C and C/T transitions. I liked what I saw of the C/T transitions, staying much more together into an elegant trot, not just falling on the forehand and running. T did prove that she's still capable of little tantrums when we worked on halting on the bit, so we have some homework to do there.

I finally have a tracking # for the saddle, hopefully it will be here soon! I've decided to do 1-2 and 2-1 at the smaller recognized show the first Sunday of August, and then I can delete 1-2 from my head and install 2-3 with the plan to ride both the second level tests at the Dressage Festival in September. So I have about 8 weeks to clean up our ToH, CC and simple changes. They're all there, but can definitely be better. Oh, and those tantrum-free halts. I'm hoping there will be a test of choice opportunity before that so I can have a go at 2-3.

[Moutaineer]

Goodness, Khall! Sending you and yours many good wishes! That's a lot to deal with never mind all at once.

I'm so glad Lynx is going well, LSP!

Hah, Exvet, I understand what you mean about getting into trouble when you aren't riding.

SF, I've had to be much more disciplined about my position for 3rd. It makes a difference.

Potters was Mr. Cranky Pants this morning, so I did not end up getting on. Looking back, he hasn't had his hocks injected for over a year and he looked kind of stabby and flat behind. So, I came home and made an appointment for the vet for next week. He'll probably be fine tomorrow...

[Moutaineer]

Perfect Potters was Perfect today. Though having said that, I can still see that he's not pushing off quite as well with the RH, so the vet's appointment still stands. Especially as I remember that he was a bit grumbly about flexing that hock for the farrier last week.

So, I did get on and had a very nice, easy, non-hock or toe challenging ride.

Trainer's current thing is making sure you are sitting evenly on both seat bones. She's just finished a virtual lesson with Charlotte Bredahl when I got there so I think it was being channeled from her. But, whatever, it's right and the focus does help quite a bit with straightness, and as she said, "your butt is a long way from your toe, so no excuses there!"

Still beastly hot and scarily dry here, with no respite in sight. As the lady in the feed store said to me the other day, "January and July, the months we must endure."

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Mountaineer, I Loled at your trainers comment about your butt being far from toes! Too funny. Glad Potters is still his wonderful self and hopefully you both are 100% soon!

Yesterday I did a short little ride focusing on transitions. We have been focusing a little more on lateral work lately so I thought I should give that a rest and laser in on something else. He was again a great boy, very relaxed and behaved. Unfortunately I did feel my left calf later on in the evening. It's not severe but gosh those damage from the car accident sure is hanging on forever. It's not going to stop me for riding though lol

I'm going to go out and work him again today. My husband is taking my daughter and some friends to the pool so it's a perfect opportunity. I'll either do groundwork today or maybe just a walk only ride. Maybe walk over some poles or something. Maybe work on serpentines.

Still waiting to hear back from my vet so I have dropped the canter for now but he has felt good in the walk and trot lately.

[exvet]

LSP, sounds like you're getting it sorted out with Lynx. I'm getting very excited for you two.

It was HOT! at the schooling show today. Even better, there was a rodeo event going on immediately next door. I was a little worried that my guys might not take it well; but, fortunately I saw improvement in Junior's stamina and strength. He was a bit on the muscle so with the loss of keeping him through he was late in one change and did the almost a skip a change in the four tempis after the first change in fourth level test 2. His trot work and walk pirouettes were spot on. We ended on a score of 63.5 and won the pony championship. Brandon, well what can I say, he rocked it. We rode basic level test 1 and level 1 test 1 earning a 74.8 and 72.9, winning the small horse championship for the show. He didn't try anything naughty even with the roping and steer wrestling going on within 25 yards of coming towards C. I felt bad for several who didn't have the same experience. I had someone come look at him and of course I got the 'he's a really cute horse, but I'm looking for something older and safe". I offered to let the prospective buyer come ride him the weekend after I get back from Colorado. She stated that she would definitely take me up on the offer but that she had no idea what I wanted and we could talk price then. I said, no, all of his ads are clear and those who encouraged her to come look at him (I know her trainer) are well aware of the asking price. I made it clear that especially after today's rides at a venue he's NEVER been to before and taking on the rodeo as the vista......I wasn't in the mood for dickering or wasting time if she's considering him more of a 'if I can't find anything else.......I'll see if I can get him at a low ball price just because I've been looking for so long.' Geez I hate selling horses. I have yet to look at the videos. I'll work on getting them posted later this weekend.

[StraightForward]

Geez I hate selling horses. I have yet to look at the videos. I'll work on getting them posted later this weekend.

It's an effing nightmare! I hope I never have to do it again.

I got the Aviar saddle a few days ago, and the block WILL NOT work for me, but T seems to like it. I dropped my stirrups an extra hole today and had a really good ride. We are thinking I'll need to have to go custom and get the company to shave the blocks down, because I apparently have thunder thighs Still thinking on it, and will do a few more rides to see if T continues to go well in it. It is very close contact and I think it enables some finer-tuned communication with the seat, which is a double-edged sword. It's $$$$, so I'm putting lots of thought into it because I'll need it to last through her show career. Luckily, there is nothing objectively wrong with my old faithful Black Country, so I'm not feeling the pressure to jump to something else.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Exvet, thank you! I'm getting excited too after another good ride on Lynx. He's just felt relaxed but not lazy. But not rushing and tense either. Big improvement and feels like my horse I know and love is back. Hopefully we can keep on those path. Congratulations on the good outing with Junior and Brandon! I agree that that sounded a bit like a tire kicker, which is super annoying. But he's a nice horse and you've done a really good job with him. So I have no doubt that you will find his person. Hopefully sooner than later. Good luck on your trip.

SF, I hate saddle shopping lol. I feel like it's such a big decision. Hopefully your decision will become clear in a few days after riding in it more

[Moutaineer]

I've had some very nice rides this week. So good to be back in the saddle again! This coming week will be a quiet one as P gets his hocks injected Tuesday, and I really have to work tomorrow. I'll get a ride in before the vet on Tuesday and maybe a tack walk on Friday.

Must get back to my personal exercise program. I'm stiff as a board today and need some flexibility back! I don't seem to have lost much stamina, at any rate.

Good show, exvet!

And I'm with you all on selling horses. People are so strange. When I'm buying i bend over backwards to be a reasonable human being and be cognizant of not wasting sellers time and energy. And I assume that their asking price is more or less what they plan to sell the horse for... But apparently not most people.

[Aleuronx]

It's been bloody hot. I don't know how you guys in triple digits do it, although the 90's temps plus 90% humidity is what gets us here. Finally broke a couple of days ago thankfully before our first freestyle comp.

It's been a good while since I last did a freestyle with my previous mare and I forgot about the typical drama. There was the standard technical issues with the music system the show was using, causing a rider a couple before us to have to restart their ride, then a significant delay while they shuffled speakers and wires around. Just kept Kora ticking over in the warmup without overdoing it as it was still ~85 and full sun afternoon. I was pleased enough with her during the test as the only 'mistakes' were from spooking at show workers moving around cabling during our ride. I rode our tail off otherwise and she kept coming back to me and refocusing. We've only had our music for a week so the choreo was a bit loose but nobody knows that but me. Highlights were 8's for both trot halfpass and canter halfpass right, 7's for the changes and 7.2 for artistic harmony score. We have the first of our remaining freestyle bronze scores in the bag with a 70.1%

Looking forward to next Saturday's crack at it to smooth out the edges! No video sorry, as rocking solo as I do but sounds like a barnmate might be coming up to the next one and would video for me. I did get a snap from a mate that was there showing as well, we were going for it in these halfpasses and it shows!

Halfpass trot.jpg (133.53 KiB) Viewed 26519 times

[Tanga]

NICE half pass, Aleuronx.

I forgot, a woman at the barn who has her horse in pasture in mine is a movie director with her husband. Friday we did a barn party and previewed it. SO good. Called Hoof Beats (the name is the worst thing.) It follows three women going for the 2020 Olympic eventing team. Good for horses, good for eventers, and good for women. You can stream it in Peacock. I'm getting Peacock for$8 for one month for the Olympics anyway, so you can see this.

[StraightForward]

Great job on the freestyle Aleuronx! I hope you're able to get video at some point!

Tanga, thanks for the heads up on the movie. I don't think we have Peacock, but I'll keep an eye out.

If anyone has a couple minutes, here is a video riding in the Aviar yesterday. I think she is going better in it, even though my leg is kind of jammed up. I'd be interested in opinions!
This was the end of the ride and she was a bit excitable, so I tried for a few half steps and then powered out.
https://youtu.be/rYusnYOW-x8?si=HO_ieSd5GGAM1Cgh

[blob]

what a great picture, Aleu! Looks super powerful with great alignment, bend, and crossing. Wow!

I also was at a show this past weekend, likely my last until regionals. We got lucky with weather, we had a cooling front come through putting temps in the mid-high 80s instead of the 90s. The front came with lots and lots of rain, but somehow the rain seemed to happen all around the show venue and not at the venue except for late saturday afternoon when the rides were done for the day. But humidity was THICK, so it was still a sweaty show. Stubbornly, I wore my jacket regardless!

Friday I had a really good warm-up at the show grounds with RP. But on Saturday i had a really hard time getting him in front of my leg and into the hand. He was reactive to my leg/hotter than he is at home, but I couldn't really channel that into productive energy. In the middle of our second test on saturday, he also decided the reins were lava, so that didn't help. Rides that day were 65 and 64. Sunday, I was able to get a bit of a better connection, but still not quite as into the hand as I would have liked. Scores reflected an improved connection and I got a 69 and a 69.3.

Biggest homework as I look ahead to regionals in september: getting a clearer come back from canter lengthening at the letter, rather than using the short side. Fix my leg yields (they are a mess!). Get trot lengthening more uphill (there were some comments about him getting wide behind in them, but I think that is coming from not sitting enough in the push). Work on a lot of variations of frame in our rides so that I have more tools in my toolbox for getting him into the hand when he's not wanting to get there.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Aleuronex- wow, what a photo of an awesome half pass!

Tanga, thanks for sharing I will have to book that up on peacock. Very cool.

Blob, Glad that the show went pretty good. It definitely sounds like things have improved over the last few months from what they were? I was going to actually PM you question about RP's SI stuff if that's okay.

My trainer rode Lynx today cuz I have like a sinus going on. But he was very well behaved. She played with the canter and rode it in two point. He did seem happier with that. The vet comes tomorrow so we will see what she finds / wants to do. It still feels like we are on a good path but I want to stay there!

[blob]

LSP--yes, please do! I'd say previous SI issues are 90% improved. So happy to share what we tried/did

[Aleuronx]

Those are some good scores blob, you are well set for regionals. For uphill lengthenings we’ve been working on half halting upwards with the hand on the first stride straight on the diagonal and then asking for the push. Keeps them more up through the shoulder and lengthen or extending into that feeling instead of pushing down. Worth a play in training.

SF, thanks and I do hope to get some video in either this round or the following weekend. I watched your video and wow T is really coming through the outside rein now. Looks way more steady and even in that arena, maybe the saddle helping that as well. She has improved so much, good for you for slowly putting in the effort. Can they build you a different block? I’m not familiar with how customizable Aviar saddles can be spec’d.

[Moutaineer]

Boy, that saddle looks uncomfortable, SF. There's just not enough in front of you. (She seems to like it though.)

I've had the same problem with N2 saddles. The whole seat pushing me forward. Thighs jammed up against the block and other parts jammed into the pommel. Ouch.

[StraightForward]

Thank you both for looking and the feedback. Yes, plot twist: I am harder to fit than the horse

I did ride in one demo saddle that had a block that worked but of course it was not a saddle T preferred. The rep says she will find out about getting one shaved down, and I think I'd go up half a seat size to make a little more room as well. Yeah, I rode in a friend's N2 on her very bouncy WB a few times. Was not a fan. I just saw an Aviar video ad on FB with a Dutch rider. She has quite a bit of angle for her thigh and it is sitting nicely behind the block. Yes, she has skinnier legs, but also more room in the seat. I do think I could ride well in this one if the block was out of my way, but also a firmer, more substantial block is on my wish list, so I don't want to end up with something so minimalist that it's no more supportive than my current saddle. I'm going to give it two more rides and then send it back and think on it.

[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 a half size larger in the same saddle. Or even a full size. If that's a closer fit, then you can work on modifying from there.

Love that movement, Aleuronx! Good luck next weekend.

[khall]

Awesome show results Exvet blob and aleuronx!! WTG!

SF i don’t not really like how T goes in the saddle. I’ve seen her canter better. I know saddle shopping is a PIA. Expensive too.

I’m not getting much done here. Trying to figure out all the issues between horses and mom. Henry is good after his vet episode. Costly but good.

Rip is the best I’ve seen him in 3 weeks today. He’s on 2 g of bute daily to get here and I dread putting him out for the first time. I’m not so sure this hasn’t been some sort of infectious issue. Let me run through timeline
End of June Rip went off RF only. Holistic vet out pulled shoe couldn’t find abscess but very localized sore lateral toe area. Inside second nail. Well inside. Farrier came out same thing. Said poultice keep turning out. No change and no shoe on that foot. Poulticed through the weekend nothing. Tried getting travel vet here but no one was out due to 4 th July. So made appointment for local vet on 5 th. Rip was lame both front that morning. Looked laminitic to me. Pulled LF shoe, rads all around. She felt he was foundering and sinking. Farrier bought cloud boots. Put them on Saturday 6 th. . Immediately happier. Still off turning L. Noticed leg swelling/filling. Next day 7 th swelling was worse vet had put him on previcox on 5 th. Swelling went away on his legs that week. July 12 lateral rads done by traveling vet. Farrier was there. Saw no indication of laminitis. Shod him. Swelling appeared on his sheath and midline. Still on his midline as of now. Pitting edema.
18th more rads vet exam. Still lame LF. Very localized lateral toe.
Today after 4.5 days on bute he’s finally almost sound. Never a fever. Never off feed

Now weird thing. Joplin also had pitting edema rh only. Never lame. Bute took swelling down. Took about a week. Wrapping did not help. Movement and bute.

Lani who has been able to go out finally shows up Sunday rh swollen lame. Kept up yesterday red light treatment pitting edema slightly swollen LH kept up. Looks sounder today. Using arnica too. WTH?

Vets dismissed possible infectious issue. I’m finding it hard not to connect the two. So far neither Juliet nor Gaila has shown any issues with swelling or lameness.

It’s just weird.

[Moutaineer]

I'm glad you've checked in, Khall. Been concerned about you and yours!

Yes, I'd be with you that it was something going through the herd. It would be weirder if it weren't, unless it's something environmental? But that seems really random.

[StraightForward]

Dang Khall, that does seem like strange coincidences. I hope it's not something that's "going around" and that Rip continues to improve!

This saddle is going back tomorrow. It was a little better this morning with some front shims to balance it out a bit. There is another one available in Aiken with what should be a better block. I reached out to a local acquaintance who has two Aviars, and it turns out they have that same block, and she offered to let me ride in one. So that will be a lot cheaper than getting one sent across the country and the panels swapped out. What interested me in these saddles in the first place is that the panels can easily be swapped out, and the tree is flexible and does not have points, so I was hoping for more back and shoulder freedom. I wish I'd videoed my ride this morning because T gave me probably the best ever medium, and was forward and back into almost some baby passage. I was planning to video my ride tomorrow, but we got socked in with wildfire smoke and our air quality is now up in the Hazardous zone, so it might not happen. Fingers crossed for a break in the heat by the end of the week, and I hope it takes the smoke with it!

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Well I had my vet out. She found him pretty sore near his withers (like muscle) and a bit sore in his SI. There was some tightness in his back. But flexions were 100% sound (I think from Zycosan?)

Anyways I told my vet that I was a little suspect about my saddle since I had it refitted. She took a look at it and she wasn't really thrilled with how it fit. But more importantly she thought it looked like the tree could be twisted or obviously something is off with it. So I need to call the saddle fitter again. Thankfully I have a jump saddle hopefully still fits him too.

We did go ahead and just inject his back (Just the vertebrae where the kissing spine is) It had been 10 months since we had done it the first time. She said she was on the fence about whether the saddle was just causing everything or not. So we just went ahead and did it to make him feel even better.

Bless this horse. Such a sweet, sweet guy.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Khall-, how strange, I'm sorry that's happening at your farm. I agree with your theory , it sure seems like a that would be a weird coincidence... I hope you get it figured out and then everybody is 100% soon

[texsuze]

Gosh, Khall, what a nightmare. Has any bloodwork been done on any of the horses? Might be a shotgun approach but you never know. Could the lameness be just a symptom of a different issue? DH used to say, "True. True. But unrelated" --in that health problems occurring simultaneously can sometimes come from completely different sources. Best of luck with care and with sleuthing; jingles for a clear and complete recovery for all.

[khall]

Texsuze Rip had a metabolic panel done making sure he was not ppid or insulin resistant. One vet says he’s insulin resistant the other says he’s wnl. Sigh. I do think they ran chem and probably cbc but not 100%. If so all was fine.

I’m like can cellulitis be transmitted? I didn’t think so but this is very much like cellulitis. Lani was sound today though both hinds still showing a bit of swelling. Did not pull Rip out. It’s been a stormy day here so either was cleaning or racing to avoid the storms

I’ve been working Joplin just in hand some. Loving her piaffe work. Been playing with piaffe rotations and she’s a star at it. Need to get some video to share. Also playing with thought of passage in hand. She’s so much fun! In between rainstorms that is!

Mom has bounced back some physically but mentally she’s really just gone. Doesn’t know me asking for her mother who’s been dead for over 30 years asking for her son she has 2 daughters. We started Ativan to help with agitation at night. Dementia is terrible. And she’s so healthy otherwise.

Stay cool all of those here dealing with summer weather and happy riding!!

[Moutaineer]

Khall, I'm sorry about your mother. In some ways it is doubly difficult when the physical decline does not match the mental.

First ride back after hock injections yesterday so we kept it short and sweet. Once he worked out that he could now indeed bend those hocks, he was a happy camper and we had a lovely, if brief ride.

I never like to tempt fate, but my brain-fried, aloof and borderline sound little horse has truly blossomed into a happy and willing partner over the last couple of years. Thats more valuable than any Olympic medal to me.

[StraightForward]

I'm so happy that all your care and attention is bringing out the best in Potters!

Tesla's right lead started to deteriorate over the last week. I didn't think it was related to the saddle, but I got an appt with the bodyworker yesterday morning. I rode right before and was going to work on my 15m circles, since we lost points on circle size at the last show. Poor T could not LY left in the canter, and could not canter the 15m circle right. The bodyworker was surprised at how twisted up she was in her spine. Shoulder also stuck, which was affecting her around the poll, and locked up in her left stifle. The weird thing was that her back muscles felt really good, but she said the saddle had done T no favors, even if it seemed like she was liking it. So that one is crossed off the list for sure. I taped her last night and she did some big yawns as soon as I taped right down her spine. This weekend we have homework to do trot cavaletti and just try getting her lifting her feet and reaching her shoulders. She'll be out again on Monday, and hopefully she'll be able to put her right so we can show next weekend!

We are getting a break from the heat here, but it is smoky as hell. It was just as well that we're limited to W/T for the weekend because the air quality is pretty bad.

[Tanga]

khall--So sorry about your mom. I feel for you. I'm back to nightmares almost nightly about mom since she's basically been kidnapped and isolated again. I have a feeling she's dead.

I'm mostly focused on health trying to deal with massive fatigue. Some days I feel OK, and some days I do a little work and I can barely function for days. I rode both horses lightly yesterday (Quinn was wonderful and ready for the show next weekend) and went to bed early and slept for 12 hours. Spent a few years trying to see if HRT would help. It did not. Got a full testing thing and my iron came back normal, but my ferriton is little low--the cells where the iron is stored. My doc wants me to get an iron infusion, which I couldn't get at appt. for until another two weeks. I'll see her next week. I've been taking iron since finding out, and it's doing nothing. Sigh.

Good news is, Peacock actually came through! You can pay $8 a month for and cancel any time, and they have ALL the Equestrian and ALL I can watch on replay! The Olympic only eventing dressage test is really interesting. A bit step up.

[blob]

MM has been having a rough couple of weeks with her breathing without any real obvious trigger, which worries me a lot.

Normally she will have a 'bad day' every 3-5 weeks and then we will hit her with clenbuteral and/or dex depending on whether it's more of a wheeze or a heavy breath and that's it, we can go back to maintaining with the apoquel. However, in the last month or so, she's had many many bad days in short succession.

The vet has us doing 5 weeks of predisnalone to try to really bring inflammation down and then hopefully taper off. Best case scenario is that there is a level of inflammation the built up this summer that we haven't knocked down and so it's not taking much to get her from 'ok' to 'bad day'. If this is the case after we bring things down and taper off we can go back to managing how we have. But there is a lot unknown and so it's possible her symptoms have just progressed enough that previous management plan won't work.

She's been on the pred now for 5 days and honestly, it doesn't seem to be doing a TON. No coughing or wheezing, but still a much heavier breath than she should be taking. If this approach doesn't start working, it might be time to take her to a university hospital (there are two within 2 hours of us). I love my local vet and love that she knows the history, knows MM well and values my perspective as the person who knows her best. But I might need a specialist to get involved.

The protocol is still that some exercise is better for her than not, but needs to be what is safe/kind for her. So, I have been taking her on 15-30 minute handwalks with some uphills and downhills. The silver lining is that the walks do not seem to make her breathing any more labored than she is that day.

[mari]

Sending lots of healing jingles for all the humans and horses who need it. Seems like a medically fraught Jul/Aug for our group.

To add a gross note, Odin's penis is swollen on and off every few days, and super gunky. Another sedation-cleaning combo is looming.

We have entered our first show of the year, in the middle of August. Going to try third level test 1. In some ways we are ready, in others not at all. I'm a good teacher/schooler of horses, but a terrible inadequate test rider, so I've already resigned myself to it going badly

[exvet]

Gosh, I'm sorry there are so many equine and human related health challenges. I too am sending jingles to all who need them. Our trip to Colorado was a short albeit much needed and welcomed relief from real life. The weather was great and we had a lot of fun. The boys look like they enjoyed their brief vacation as well. It will be interesting to see if they're ready to work this morning. I have two people tentatively lined up to see Brandon next weekend. Keeping fingers crossed that they actually show up and one is his match. I, of course, did a thing. I can't post too much because it's not finalized but I did place a deposit on a 2 year old welsh cob gelding. It was and wasn't a hard decision. There was a yearling who I feel will make an absolutely stunning and successful dressage cob but an intact colt I don't need and I don't think this one should be gelded. I refused to look at fillies/mares (well not in a prospect way) but I was like a kid in a candy store. Hopefully I can juggle the sales and purchase without too much heart ache and time wasted. If all goes well and according to plan I'll be driving back to pick up the addition to our herd in September. I prefer not to bring a horse into Arizona before October but I have to get this one before the first snow there so September it will be.

Now on to real training plans, Brandon's preparation for Level 2 western dressage. I received some rather back handed compliments on my scores at this last show telling me that I need to move him up so we'll see how he does in September at the next show. I plan to continue his training and showing at WD until he sells. Of course my plans with Junior continue to revolve around improving the quality of the canter. My goals with with him are to enter the November recognized show and try Fourth level Test 2.

[Aleuronx]

Loud jingles for all horses and humans physically and emotionally.

Mari, go for it!! You only get better by doing and going around the test.

Exvet, can't wait to see your new guy if all settles out on the up and up. I won't turn down seeing you work your magic on another lovely Cob.

Pleased to report we are a newly minted Bronze Freestyle Bar medalist, on a score of ~68% from 2 judges. It was a glorious day in Vermont and while we steered back on track from one big spook at the audience on the hill watching the freestyles, I was quite enjoying her and smiling through the rest of the ride. Kora has really come into her own this season and well, the last 18 months. I can finally see the PSG in the far distance, maybe, I hope.

Unfortunately my trainer had to scoot to another ring to warmup a rider on one of her homebreds so no video, again. I will appease you all by throwing myself to the wolves with a clip from this morning. We're just playing and I have admittedly no idea what I am doing but like my trainer said she will just do it for me.

https://youtu.be/yYNjmce4o4k?si=USRedIXUnZTGWVjp

[exvet]

Congratulations Aleuronx!

I too am setting my sights on PSG. Honestly if I can get the changes solidified, Junior is ready.

I will share that my (hopefully) soon to be next project is a black section D Welsh Cob. He's expected to be bigger, like Monty and my last stallion, Resi. He has chrome too. The best part about him is that he's is so sweet and not that reactive. I dare say that at least on the ground he seems to be the most chill welsh cob next to Junior. He, however like Junior, also moves his furniture, puts everything in his mouth, open gates and latches...........a TRUE Welsh Cob.

[mari]

Congratulations Aleuronx you are a star!

Exvet, congrats on your new prospect! It is so exciting. If I could, I would get another in a heartbeat.

[Chisamba]

Congratulations Aleuronx!

I too am setting my sights on PSG. Honestly if I can get the changes solidified, Junior is ready.

I will share that my (hopefully) soon to be next project is a black section D Welsh Cob. He's expected to be bigger, like Monty and my last stallion, Resi. He has chrome too. The best part about him is that he's is so sweet and not that reactive. I dare say that at least on the ground he seems to be the most chill welsh cob next to Junior. He, however like Junior, also moves his furniture, puts everything in his mouth, open gates and latches...........a TRUE Welsh Cob.

Saiph scored >60 in psg in hat schooling shows but I still don't think I'm ready for it for real. Good luck you two

Exvet, will be very excited to see your prospect

[StraightForward]

Congratulations Aleuronx! Kora certainly is stepping up, and it's a testament to you putting in the work.

Exvet, excited to hear about your new prospect, and of course see pics when you're ready.

T was still having trouble holding her right lead in back this morning, so we're going to the vet tomorrow. Now I'm guessing it's hocks. They were injected about nine months ago, so I won't be surprised. This time I'll ask about PRP or PAAG instead of regular corticosteroids. Bummed that we'll probably not be showing this weekend, but what can you do. I had thought about doing Adequan earlier this year, but didn't get around to it. I'm signed up to ride with Leslie Morse again first weekend in September, and then there is one more recognized show the following weekend, so hopefully we can get it together. This morning, despite the canter issues, or maybe because of, I got more focused on the details of straightness, especially making sure she regained and maintained shoulder/hip alignment after each corner, so another step up on the straightness ladder. She was not a fan, but started to get with the program

[StraightForward]

Yep hocks, so we got injections. I had her back x-rayed while I was there, and it's nice to know all is normal. She has a couple processes around T16 that are a bit close, but not remodeling. The vet said there was no reason to do it, but I said avoiding a lecture from Leslie was well worth it. She goes back to work on Sunday, but had to scratch the show, so I that only leaves one recognized show for the year unless I want to haul over to eastern Idaho in a couple weeks.

[Aleuronx]

Ugh with the timing SF to miss the show but horse welfare comes first. What did you end doing for the hock injections? Steroid or something else?

I had a great working ride on Monday and now we are swinging back into humid and hot 90's temps so will just be ticking along. Saddle fitter is coming by for a check today. I didn't feel things are out of sorts but as Kora is going so well I'd rather keep it that way and fitter was going to be in the area. It's only money right? Other than that we'll give Saturday another go at freestyle, hot temps and thunderstorms in the forecast so hard to tell how the day will shake out.

[StraightForward]

Yes, we just did steroid. We talked about PRP and Noltex, but vet felt the water soluble steroid he uses is best for low motion joints and doesn't wear the joint surface the way the standard corticosteroid can, due to leaving crystals behind.

Ordered a Dresch Verdades for trial last night, so hopefully it will be here next week and work better than the Aviar. Over 3k cheaper so that's nice too.

[Moutaineer]

Potters is MUCH happier after having his hocks done, SF. we just did simple steroid, too. His hocks have fused quite significantly in the past couple of years so we could only do the inner spaces. I wonder if it's the Osphos laying down bone? I just hope it's doing it in his feet, too. I'll admit I'm a bit in denial about x-raying those as long as we are keeping him sound and happy.

Still easing back into it, but the canter is so much better already. He's a bit behind my leg at the trot, but that's me not him, as Justin has him going forward very nicely. I just need to get my stuff together again physically. I tried a couple of days of Pilates but my toe let me know in no uncertain terms that it isn't ready yet. Amazing how much we rely on that big toe for all kinds of balance and push things. (And if you try and baby it, you end up making yourself sore everywhere else.)

Hot and smoky here today and hotter tomorrow. No riding today but I will go early tomorrow and try to beat the worst of it, I think. We are just noodling around at the moment anyway.

I've given up on the thought of showing again this summer. If I had someone who would hand me my horse at a show, I could do it, but all the driving, loading, unloading, handling high horses and interminable walking that goes with a horse show just isn't on the cards for me at the moment. We are talking about maybe going to Thermal in November, which would be a fun "girls and horses" trip.

[Flight]

So I managed to do my 2 competitions, so goal achieved for once!
Norsey was good, we didn't get eliminated.There's always stuff to work on and they had a different obstacle "varied terrain" which meant i was supposed to canter over some industrial fake turf. One patch coloured black and then the other near white.
I knew if I tried to canter he'd stop and probably fall off onto the bloody stuff! So I walked from a bit out and he still had a refusal, but luckily went over the second time. I find these type of obstacles annoying and a bit mean to horses.
I know it shows trust and obedience if they go straight over whatever you point them at, but even out on a trail I would give my horse some time to look at it and walk over.
I"m struggling with the 2 horses losing condition. I'm not used to having to feed much to my horses, the tend to be butterballs. The grass here has died down over winter and while the friesians will eat anything, Norsey wont. So I'm playing catch up big time.

Here's our speed round
https://youtu.be/CLH1Gqji09k

Had someone tell me that Ding is looking old. He looks rough in winter because he's hairy and due to work I haven't clipped or rugged much. But he has lost his topline. Then I realised that he's rising 15. So, while not 'old' he's no spring chicken anymore. I'm thinking I should start him on some pentosan or something like that.

[exvet]

I had two fantastic lessons today. Junior is really starting to understand what we're trying to do with passage/piaffe under saddle. Of course he needs much more work but the light bulb is coming on. Brandon is really loving western dressage and as an added bonus, as we keep peeling the onion, it appears that if I go back and forth between the bosal and the high ported mylar snaffle we have a horse that ain't so fussy. I entered my first 'total' western dressage show in a couple of weeks. We're going to take a turn at Level 2 as well as Level 1. Then in September I'll be showing Junior again at fourth level and Brandon will be showing both classical and western dressage.

Now to the PITA part. Oh and let me get this vent out first, I HATE SELLING HORSES. No-shows are a part of the experience which is bad enough but those self-proclaimed dressage divas of specific breeds who feel that they have the right to try to price fix and bully you into taking their help to get your horse sold and when you politely tell them "No" go and trash you and your horse on line (never having met or seen you ride in person, let alone the horse) really gets my blood boiling. I dealt with this in the Welsh world and now it seems to exist in the Morgan world. When I was selling broodmares and young stock I was being told that my prices were too low and ended up getting hammered by one individual who had previously tried to strip me of my silver and other USDF/USEF awards and then dictate who and how much I was to sell specific beasts for........ now I'm being told (different individual) that my pricing is too high and without this individual's gracious matchmaking service will be rendered unable to move the horse. I didn't reach out for help in either case but these gifted aficionado's, experts, Breed Dressage Queens are just too much. Okay I'm ready to behave like a well mannered adult again.

[StraightForward]

Wow, ExVet, apparently some people have a lot of time on their hands to worry about other people's business. Sheesh!

Tesla was supposed to be back to work today, and looked good on the lunge. She felt uneven under saddle though, and was clearly unsound when we circled left at the trot. I did trim and put shoes back on her hinds, and she promptly lost one (new glue fail), so she might just be a little sore. What was weird though, was that she would not hold her RH up even long enough for me to apply some Hoof Armor. Fingers crossed she was just a little foot sore and will be better tomorrow morning. I think temperature was a factor with the glue failure, so I'll try it again mid-week when it's supposed to be cooler. Hoping we can get it together as the next trial saddle arrives on Tuesday.

Then Saturday I was trimming Obie and he spooked while standing on his bad front leg and went down on both knees. Luckily he popped back up seemingly unperturbed, and I didn't get smooshed in the process. He is getting markedly more creaky but still seems content enough. He'll probably need his knee injected here soon though.

[mari]

Exvet good luck! People are asshats...

Flight - loved your video. Norsey has such a lovely floaty canter.

Guys, these medium canters in 3-1 are going to be the death of me. Wrestling my dragon back under control in preparation for 10m circles and FCs is not happening. Medium on a circle? Super okay with that. But powering off down a straight is just too much. Uuuuuuuurgh.

[StraightForward]

T was fine this morning. It took her a bit to realize she wasn't hock sore any more, but we got an easy canter LY on the right lead, which was the most obvious problem before the injections.

Mari, I don't remember the exact exercise, but there was an Emile Fauri video I can no longer find, in which he would do medium down centerline out of CC. I think it can be helpful for getting control of the power. You can always bring it back after a few strides and then either do a half circle back to the wall on true lead or CC, depending on how intense you want to make it.

[exvet]

Alternating back-and-forth between the bosal and the Mylar snaffle seems to really be working. I schooled Brandon today in the snaffle and he was willingly and pleasantly giving me the 2nd level counter canter loop, canter-walk-canter transitions, turn on the haunches and turn on the forehand (have to do those in western dressage). He was soft and not fussy. I rode a stallion decades ago that literally required the lightest of contact. I think he has been reincarnated

Junior was really trying hard with schooling the tempis - 3's and 4's. He was obedient but a bit croup high until I rode him home. Then since he was headed home and I had the forward unquestionably there, we tried the 3's and they were clean!!!!

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Yay Exvet!!! Glad both boys are doing well!

Lynx had almost two weeks off besides some light groundwork here and there. We had horrible wildfires so it was so smokey and then it has been 100° almost everyday. On top of that my daughter had a show one weekend and then the weekend after was the county fair. Which was her first time showing at and was a lot of work. She did great!

So today I tried my jump saddle back on him again... To my eye it looks like it fits fine and seems more "stable" than the dressage saddle. I lunged him for a minute and he seemed good. I got on walked for a little did a little bit of leg yields. Picked up the trot going left and he was good. As I was getting ready to go to the right a dog ran into the ring. Lynx is scared of dogs from past experiences but he kept it together. But then when I went to go ask him to trot on he threw a fit , balked and was throwing his head. Quite unusual for him. I can't say that he's ever said acted this way to that extent. I will admit I think I backed off a little too much. Because I wasn't sure if it was the saddle. I tried a few more transitions but he was just fussy. Sounded up getting off thinking that it was the saddle or something.

But right as I hopped off, He started to pee and quite a lot of it! I thought oh my goodness if that's what the real problem was how ridiculous. So I hopped back on. At first he tried to pull the head tossing thing but I got after him a little bit more now and we were able to get a civilized trot going both directions.

Could happen to pee really make a horse that upset?? I do have a faint memory of maybe him doing this more than a year ago... Getting fussy and us being like oh my gosh maybe he just had to pee??

He has a chiropractic appointment tomorrow. And I'm calling the saddle fitter either way. He got his feet done after I ride and was wonderful, No issues there.

That's also a little frustrating because just two weeks ago I had some of the best rides in my life on him lol. But maybe it was just a bad day? It seemed like a lot of people were having extreme issues with their horses. Lots of big feelings at the barn today!

[exvet]

LSP, all I can say is when Junior has to go, he gets quite cranky. I started getting stalls even if I was just there for the day in order to give him a place where he could go. He's got things pretty well figured out now that he usually makes an effort to pee before I get on him if he has to go. Fortunately he has also readily accepted and will go when under saddle if I give him the opportunity. So the antics you describe fall right in Junior's wheel house.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Exvet, that very well may be the issue. Mentally he seemed fine at first but just got pissy. I hope so... Lol

[Moutaineer]

ExVet, that's way odd. I'd be inclined to tell her to ef off and mind her own business.

SF, I'm a week ahead of you on the hock injections, I think, and Potters felt really good this morning right off the bat, as opposed to having to be persuaded that behind my leg was not the place to hide on Friday. I think it does take them a few days/a week to get back into the groove.

LSP, Potters goes straight in a stall to pee as soon as I bring him in and before I tack him up. He's with the program now and it saves a lot of issues!

A nice half hour largely focused on very clear and accurate transitions on a circle in and out of all gaits this morning. I had a lovely soft and squishy horse at the end of it!

Mari, yeah. Those extensions followed by having to do stuff have taken me a while to get to grips with. The 10 meter circle is your friend. We work on extended canter for half the long side, 10 meter circle, back to extended canter, 10 meter circle at the end of the long side, rinse and repeat. It's more about developing and containing the power all the way through rather than going flat out and then having to reef it in at the end.