Helter Swelter -- July and August Goals and Progress

[blob]

Since no one else has started it first, here goes, July and August!

Trying to be realistic this time!

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
Continue to enjoy her

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

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Nice and simple, I like it Blob.

For me: strengthen my left side
Lose a few lbs

Lynx: work on leg yields and pole work

[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

[Flight]

It's thermals and ski jacket weather for me!
But I will make some goals this time.

Compete in 2 comps with Norsey at the next level up. And hopefully be happy with how we go!

[Aleuronx]

I took this holiday week off so just had second lesson yesterday with another round later today. We are upping the anti on the trot, more suspension in the collected but thoroughness first and foremost. There is much grunting. Using the trot- short walk - trot transitions with added reinback to keep her to the rein, over the back. As well as traver/renver back and forth to keep the neck/shoulder connection from locking up. Like I said, much grunting from both parties but all good.

Section Goals:
2 scores at 65%+ 3rd Freestyle to finish out our Bronze Freestyle Bar
Control over the changes to add an uncounted tempi
Improved collected trot with more expression
Complete 5k running program and not die, sub-32 minute??

[Chisamba]

I'm going to bite the bullet and,

Schooling show with Aletta!

Develop canter with Flei.

Kimba and Saiph. Really improve rear to front connection to being out the best of their gaits for the FEI levels. " gaits" includes uphill flying changes and balanced 1/2 piro in canter.

Oh, tone up esp my floppy skin and lean muscle

[Moutaineer]

Well, who knows?

Depends how long it's going to be until I can get a boot on. If I can, I'd like to make it to a show in mid August. We'll see. It's looking more like a toe now, at any rate. Healing, but still sore. I'd like to get a good night's sleep, too.

Potters is in full training, so he's covered. DH took me down to the barn yesterday so I could watch him go. He looks terrific.  

Sigh. I'm just going to have to live vicariously through all of you for a few weeks.

[khall]

Swelter is right! Blob I don’t know how you can face showing in our heat and humidity. It’s miserable. Can’t imagine putting on show clothes! Do you show at the horse park? Good luck if you do. How is RP with rear shoes?

Chisamba fun!! Can’t wait to see Aletta go in the show arena. Such a nice mare!! Love your updates on your other ones as well. Fun to see your progress.

SF you deserve all the accolades with T for sure. She’s not been an easy road but you certainly have peeled that onion well. Congratulations

Mountaineer I hate you are on the injury list but at least Potters is still in work. Hopefully you can make your August show!

Absolutely no show for me until fall. It’s just too hot here for me. But I’m still plugging away at it! WE clinic was fun. Good for the horses and good for me training wise. Short clip not nearly the level of flight and excuse the bad toh I forgot to set Joplin up better got hung upon riding the obstacle not the horse. But the garrocha is getting better! Joplin is completely unfazed by any of the obstacles so far. Though I do need to make the “ bull” not just the spear ring see what she thinks of it.
https://youtu.be/MrE8b2kTvUk?feature=shared

We also played with changes in the field today. Got clean L to R gorgeous big jumping change. Joplin is a star with changes. They improve her canter so much and she’s just good at them. Will be interesting to see how she handles tempi changes.


Flight hope you post some WE videos! Such good inspiration! I play with it at very low level. Struggle with riding dressage first then the obstacles. The work the horse does in between gives better obstacle correctness. I do think it’s helpful to our training for sure. Riding one handed for garrocha yikes shows you some stuff!

Al love your progress with Kora. Good luck showing! Post videos please!!


Stay cool for all who are dealing with summer and happy riding and a safe 4 th

[StraightForward]

Well my plans have already changed. T is getting her sarcoid removed on the 23rd so we can do another round of Torigen, so I doubt I'll be showing 10 days later. There is the Dressage Festival in early September, so we'll aim for that. Yes, maybe it won't be so stinkin' hot by then. Maybe I'll even learn one of the other second level tests by then.

Also not going to do the H/J show as I will probably be trying out a new dressage saddle that is $$$$, and will need to pinch pennies for a while if I buy it.

WE has picked up steam around here. There is a whole group doing it at the barn where Obie is boarded. Maybe one of these days I'll crash one of their clinics or practice days.

[blob]

Swelter is right! Blob I don’t know how you can face showing in our heat and humidity. It’s miserable. Can’t imagine putting on show clothes! Do you show at the horse park? Good luck if you do. How is RP with rear shoes?

I show at the horse park, chatt hills, or poplar. All are within a 90 minutes from the barn I board at. The heat has been really tough the last few weeks and honestly, with any other horse, i would not be showing at all. But RP does so well with the heat and for some weird reason there are so many GA shows in the summer and so few in early spring, fall, or winter. So, alas.

Hind shoes seem to be less of an adjustment than the front shoes were, which took him several days to get used to. But we've only had a couple of rides with the hinds in and I haven't really asked for anything difficult. One thing I noticed when i put the front shoes on is that he started to feel a bit more on the forehand than he used to, so I"m hoping the hinds will make it easier for him to sit back on his hiney again.

LYs and lateral work remain a real tricky spot with him, and I'm wondering if the hinds might help with that as he often gets choppy behind when asked to go sideways. I don't think it's primarily a foot issue--it comes from him not wanting to engage his lumbar and swing under. But a little hind support might help, let's see.

I will say his canter has felt really powerful lately. I need to bring some adjustability back to it and help him balance himself, rather than turn to me for balance, but I am optimistic.

[Chisamba]

I might regret saying this, but i love the swelter. I hobestbto goodness just have to many horses to ride. 3 now in full training, 3 in 3x a week, and 4 of my own. i am up to 8 horses a day, and occasionally 9. Monday i do the barn solo, but fortunately on all the other days is the week i have help. Also unfortunately we are very short staffed at my night job, so Wednesdays i do a double shift, thursday and friday 10 hours overnight and saturday i teach all day. This has meant i have to give up my gym time. I'm considering an app i can do on my lunch break in the middle of the night.

I can go back to normal as soon as they hire one more staff.

So , straightforward, when i had Kea i found jumping really helped her improve her canter.

Blob, RP looks so smart but i have to admit, Eman though i love sweltering u probably would not wera a jacket to show!

Flight, was ir Norsey who isn't fond of bridges? Does he go over then at the shows?

Khall, Joplin is so cute and you looked so calm and accomplished in your WE.

Moutaineer, hiw is the toe, can you wear a show and walk?

Exvet, the smaller of the two Gaudi offspring is a filly, 15.3 i do not recall you riding a mare? Do you? Have you?

Lsp, Any thoughts on the zycosan yet?

Mari, hoe gaan dit daar ?

Heddy, have you recovered from your trip?

Tanga, how are your girls?

[Tanga]

Chisamba--Can you PLEASE share with me your secret sauce for all of your energy? How can you even do that?

Ugh. HOT. No AC at home. Literally hosing down the house ten times a day and using fans to cool off at night. And it's only day TWO.

Had a show Sunday and I was feeling it was a bit much, and that was before it got warm, and my rides were before noon. I'm getting old. I'm really have a hard time even riding one horse two rides now! I was super happy with Quinn. She was pretty relaxed and didn't get all tense. Been too hot to look at videos, but I thought her p/p was super consistent, we just missed a two and got the ones, and I thought her freestyle was great. Had two judges (because we lost 7 shows here, so all of them are slammed now, so they hired a second for this show) so was lucky to get Renee Johnson for the GP and got a solid 62%. Pavlich gave me a 60% on the GP freestyle, and that was about her average score for the whole day at all levels, training -GP. My leasor did fine on Quilla and got two scores over 60% at 3rd and one at 55% from Pavlich, which was complete BS. She completely lost her ability to do renvers, but solid. She's super happy to be learning so much even though it's overfacing her to do 3rd. (3rd show on Quilla, never competed above 1st before.)

I'm not even trying to ride this week because it's been unbelievably hot for here, and I have no AC in my car, so not trying to go out and check on them until I can get in it and not roast. Their pasture pretty much always has a nice breeze, so they're better off than the the stalled horses.

I'm back to I don't know my goals. We'll do one, maybe two more shows this year (if I can find any around!) and get some scores for year end awards and let Quinn feel solid at GP. And then, I don't know. I thought maybe I'd try to qualify and show both at I-2 and GP and fs and do champs next year, but I don't know anymore.

Honestly, I'm just trying to figure out WTF is going on with my body. I was thinking it was menopausal issues, and after trying all things for that over the last few years, thinking it may not be. I need to get some more things checked out. I have gone from being able to push through and deal with most things no matter what, to literally being exhausted and having no energy to the point where I can barely function. And if I push it and ride both horses, I sometimes need a couple of days of recovery of mostly sitting around. After champs. I slept 18 hours a day for over a week, and then it was a few more weeks where I could even visit the barn and be able to walk the horses in and not have to sit and rest before I took them back. In doing some reading, I'm wondering if it's stress/ cortisol related because of that, and since the whole nightmare with my mom at Xmas (which has not gotten better) I've had more just overall periods of time where the fatigue is overwhelming. Sigh.

I hope everyone is dealing with the heat, which I know is SO much worse than here, better than I am.

[mari]

Mari, hoe gaan dit daar ?

Jy laat my glimlag <3

The horrors persist, but yet, so do I I've had a very quiet time lately with riding. Part of it is work things, part of it is feeling a bit lacklustre and grey. A part is also due to the fact that my very very close friend isn't really riding anymore, due to her own life things, and I am a bit heartbroken about it. I don't love driving 35 mins one-way to the yard, and doing everything alone. Anyway, first-world problems I guess.

For now, you guys are going to have to buoy me up with your dedication and spirit and general awesomeness.

[exvet]

Chisamba, I have owned, shown and ridden mares. I backed Junior's dam and showed her before I bred her (produced two full siblings before Junior). My foundation mare I purchase as a 2 year old along with her sister which I backed, rode and showed before turning them into a baby machines. I backed and started my son's first mare he used for his competitive trail ventures before he outgrew her. His second horse was an Oldenburg mare I used to keep legged up while he was in high school. I backed and trained my daughter's Welsh cob mare and rode her in a USDF Adult Symposium with Charlotte Bredahl before turning her into a baby machine but you see that's the problem. I won't own mares anymore because if I like them, I will want to breed them. I can't go back, too old, too many other financial responsibilities. There's a yearling Welsh Cob colt currently available who's great grand dam is the full sister to my foundation mare. I'm wanting a two or three year old but I may have to compromise on this one. Brandon isn't sold yet so there's a higher likelihood the yearling will sell before I'm able to purchase. I love mares but this time around I'm really looking for a gelding or colt that I will geld myself.

[StraightForward]

Chisamba, I also don't know how you do it! I'm tired sitting in front of a computer and then riding one horse.

Tanga, you are still out there getting it done. I do hope you can find some answers to get back to where you want to be. It's going to hit triple digits here next week and I am NOT sad that I won't be showing. Yuck.

Some clips from my lesson on the first to use as baseline for this period:
Left lead canter: https://youtu.be/X6LW06O3wiI
Trot work (she spooked at the neighbor's sprinkler trying to start up): https://youtu.be/yGUPy28yY7c

She is a little stuck in her poll, the head tilt is kind of evident, and we got dinged for one of our LY's because of it. I have the bodyworker coming out tomorrow, so maybe she'll be able to get her freed up a little. Overall, I think her right lead is actually a bit better than the left now. Last night I put her back in hind shoes with a mild wedge. One more go at the superglue on the hinds, but I have VetTec SuperFast on order, so I'll try that if these don't make it at least three weeks.

[Chisamba]

Tanga, so long as i sleep for about two hours or 3 hours, i do well. When i finally sleep for 8 i wake up tired, grumpy and cranky.

[Moutaineer]

Tanga, I read a nice article about you the other day!

I hesitate to say it, but the weather has been rather pleasant here for the last few days. Cool enough in the evening to need a sweater to eat outside on the evening. Very dry and very windy though. And due to get really hot next week so we will be punished.

Toe is healing. Black and still incredibly sore and sensitive to anything touching it, including the dressing, which is a bit problematic. But it has at least finally stopped bleeding and is more toe-shaped. I've got a doctors appointment on Tuesday to give it the once over and I guess I will need to make an appointment with a podiatrist to get an idea of what's going on with the nail.

So I'm a way off getting a real shoe or boot on yet. I'm hoping I might at least be able to drive sometime next week.

[Tanga]

Tanga, so long as i sleep for about two hours or 3 hours, i do well. When i finally sleep for 8 i wake up tired, grumpy and cranky.

I am SO jealous! Man. I am at the opposite end of the spectrum from you. I think IF I could sleep a sloid 8, I would be OK, but sometimes 10 s not ev enough.

Mountaineer--Which one? I basically wrote all of them and sent them in. I think the last one was about larger riders, I'm trying to make sure my leasor writes down her whole process of going from being a training level rider and being able to ride Quilla and Quinn and what she's learning for one of those. I think it would be so helpful. I know just helping her I have learned so much about how little we are taught or think about what we are really doing with our body, how to recognize it, and how to change it to help the horse.

[Chisamba]

Chisamba, I have owned, shown and ridden mares. I backed Junior's dam and showed her before I bred her (produced two full siblings before Junior). My foundation mare I purchase as a 2 year old along with her sister which I backed, rode and showed before turning them into a baby machines. I backed and started my son's first mare he used for his competitive trail ventures before he outgrew her. His second horse was an Oldenburg mare I used to keep legged up while he was in high school. I backed and trained my daughter's Welsh cob mare and rode her in a USDF Adult Symposium with Charlotte Bredahl before turning her into a baby machine but you see that's the problem. I love mares but this time around I'm really looking for a gelding or colt that I will geld myself.

I have morw often than not thought about being Saiph, even more so now that i have a promising prodigy

[khall]

Please jingle for Rip. Hes been lame for a week. Originally thought it was an abscesss but it’s not resolved. Hauling to the vet today for radiographs. I can count on just a few fingers how many times Rip has been lame. Airway issues yes but never leg issues

Update it’s laminitis and possibly sinking. Radiographs don’t look terrible yet. He’s now on ertugliflozin a new metabolic drug and equioxx. We will see. I will not put him through a long drawn out medical intervention

[Aleuronx]

Oh gosh khall, fiercely jingling for Rip. Was there a trigger for it?? Are they thinking metabolic? Fingers crossed no sinking and he stabilizes.

[texsuze]

More jingles for big improvement and complete bill of health for Rip.

[Moutaineer]

Khall, many jingles from me, too.

[exvet]

I'm sorry to read this khall. It's how I lost my Arabian who took me to my bronze. Jingling that Rip stabilizes.

[Srhorselady]

Jingles plus more jungles for your horse! Nasty nasty laminitis! Heat and humidity can bring on an attack. Living in Arizona with a couple of laminitis prone horses I’ve seen it several times. Ice leggings can help pull them through it. Good luck.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

We did three injections of Zycosan so far, can't say I see a huge difference but he's been less spooky lately? Or at least less tense even when he finds something to eye ball. So that's helpful.

[Josette]

Khall - sending more jingles for Rip. trivia - years ago I had a mild founder post dental surgery. I used plastic umbrella bags filled with ice tied around ankles. These ice ankle bracelets were well tolerated like wearing bell boots. I just kept replacing the melted ice. Best wishes for easy recovery.

https://www.amazon.com/Cosmos-Transluce ... 183&sr=8-5

[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.

[Chisamba]

Oh no. Sinking laminitis really sucks. Jingles. Rip.

[StraightForward]

Jingles for Rip!

[blob]

thinking of you and Rip, Khall.

[khall]

Thanks all! Got to love vets and multiple opinions. The vet who diagnosed Rip with laminitis and sinking is not my preferred lameness vet. Her specialty is breeding work. But because of the holiday my lameness vet was out of town. My farrier and my holistic vet (who’s married to my farrier) both got to see the radiographs and did not agree with original vet’s diagnosis. Thought Rip was just foot sore not true sinking founder. My farrier is extremely experienced journeyman and he bought him some cloud boots while in FL brought them to us yesterday evening and Rip is a much happier camper this morning. Still giving some when turned tight but strides out straight sound and stands square and even. We’ve had some very hard ground lately because of no rain though got good shower yesterday and more expected tonight and tomorrow.

Long story short Rip seems like we’ve dodged a bullet thank goodness. Not sure what the game plan forward will be waiting to hear back from my lameness vet. He and my farrier are great friends so they will put there heads together for treatment plan now that he has good cell reception after his holiday trip.

Appreciate the jingles! While horses are definitely a source of contentment and joy they can also be enough to make you want to pull your hair out! Rip would not handle extended stalling he may be 18 but he’s going on 2. He’s the only horse I routinely handle with a chain shank. Lol

[Tanga]

Yeah, Khall!

[Moutaineer]

Pleased to read this Khall. Fingers crossed for continued improvement!

[StraightForward]

Great news!

[exvet]

Yes! So glad it's not worse khall.

Today was hot for mountain Arizona standards. Temps hit 100 degrees. I had two lessons this morning, both short. Junior was the bomb. I didn't think I'd have enough pony but he really pulled out the stops and tried. We had clean changes. I still won't say they're confirmed but we're so close, so close. He's becoming more reliably supple too or I'm getting better about catching him before he turns into that dam straight broom. Either way a good lesson. Brandon did very well with his western dressage. He's actually doing better than the rider but I'm starting to get my inner kid back when I used to compete for highpoint trophies riding english, western, halter etc. and was much better at morphing my seat to the saddle and discipline. I just thank the powers that be that Brandon is so in tuned to the seat. NO real interest in him yet though I've had hundreds of tire kickers. Riding is going on the back burner for a bit. I have to pick up extra shifts at work and then will be hauling the boys down to the valley next weekend for farrier work and dental work. I'm hoping to get a lesson on Junior in with Molly too but we'll see. Much of the rest of my time will be taking my mother to her various medical appointments.
'

[mari]

Khall I'm so glad you got better news at a second look. Good heavens, what a scare.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Wow, thank goodness Khall. What a scare! Glad it seems like it's not nearly that scary. Goodness.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Just got home from the barn- today was the 4th injection of Zycosan and it was a great ride. There was a lot going on right outside the arena. Roofers on a house, partially visible and partially behind a tree. And on the other side someone on a riding lawn mower. Oh and someone playing in their yard with their dog (the yards are on hills, sloped down towards the arena. ) and a kid playing on the 2nd level patio. Lynx didn't bat one eye!! Totally relaxed and focused.

I did switch out some tack. I brought back out my total saddle fit girth, a foam Lemuix half pad instead of my sheepskin and a different saddle pad. I just wanted to see if there was more stability and it did seem like there was.

Way less head tossing in the canter, in fact he only fussed into the transition. He wants to run and throw himself into the canter but that could be a fitness thing. He gets it, it's just not how he wants to do it every time.

So it the Zycosan or the tack? Not 100% sure but he was very happy today.

[StraightForward]

Helter swelter is right. It's supposed to be 111 here tomorrow, and close to that through Saturday. No getting out of triple digits on the horizon, so I'm giving T a few days off. Not sure if lessons will be canceled this weekend, but if not, I'm first on the schedule at 6 am. Hoping the demo saddle ships tomorrow; it's been a bit of a process, so hopefully it will be worthwhile!

The BO asked if she could practice her photography on us during our jump schooling session a few days ago, and just sent me a bunch of pics. I told her feel free to use us for practice any time If you look closely at the first one, she'd nicked the top pole and it's actually flying through the air, ha. Too bad because otherwise I love the pic.

[blob]

SF: T looks great and I bet a very easy photoshop could fix that pole in the first picture--agree it's a great one!
Khall: how is Rip doing? glad to hear the second opinion was a more positive one.
Exvet: i expect Brandon will sell fast once someone comes to try him. Hopefully you get some real interest soon

It's also been extra hot here and after several very dry weeks, we are now in a daily afternoon thunderstorm cycle, which means that riding time is hard. Unless you go in the morning, it's either too hot or raining cats and dogs. Unfortunately I have clients in europe right now, so morning rides other than weekends are tough. Sigh. At least i have the weekends when i can get the early rides in.

I need to make a decision about the July show today.

[Moutaineer]

Rock solid position there, SF! And the pole is perfectly photographed!

I sometimes thing I'd like to play at jumping some small stuff again. Not going to happen with Potters of the delicate feet, however.

I'm making good healing progress. I went to the doctor yesterday and had new x-rays. She said to expect "elderly bone" to take 8 weeks to completely heal. I pointed out that it was mature bone, rather than elderly, thankyouverymuch! However, she's happy and released me to be able to drive and go about my business as normally as I can.

So of course, I immediately drove to the barn to see my horse and stood around for too long so I'm feeling sore today. My struggle is closed shoes and boots. I unearthed a pair of boots that area size too large for me so I am going to give that a go and see if I can get them on comfortably and ride for a bit on Friday. Farrier this afternoon, so I will drive down to the barn for that.

But, we have the same hideously hot and very dry weather here, so I don't know that much will be happening for a few days.

The next local show is in 10 days. I was lying there in bed last night wondering if I could do it, but my throbbing toe this morning is telling me I'm getting out over the front of my skis a bit and need to calm down!

[StraightForward]

Rock solid position there, SF! And the pole is perfectly photographed!

I sometimes thing I'd like to play at jumping some small stuff again. Not going to happen with Potters of the delicate feet, however.

I'm making good healing progress. I went to the doctor yesterday and had new x-rays. She said to expect "elderly bone" to take 8 weeks to completely heal. I pointed out that it was mature bone, rather than elderly, thankyouverymuch! However, she's happy and released me to be able to drive and go about my business as normally as I can.

Thanks, I really think the jumping is helping with my reflexes and managing complexity (I can see things with my position that I've been told, but forget in the moment; push hands forward, be a little less flat in my lower back). It is definitely helping T, especially the gridwork and circle of death. I think I need to suck it up and put the course jumps up to 3' to make T work for it a little more.

On the doc - My dad is 81, and will say he's old, but NOT elderly.

I bashed my little toe into the doorjam shuffling back from the bathroom in the middle of last night. Woke my husband up with my swearing. It hurts enough that I don't want to stuff it in a riding boot, so I can't imagine that yours is ready for it.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Super hot here too. It's going to be a high of 104 today, extreme for Colorado.
I had lesson yesterday, it was 95 degrees already so we did mostly walk work. Just really getting him to stretch down and out at the walk. He's sooooo much better about than he used to be. Then we did various lateral exercises at the walk, mostly shoulder in and a little leg yield. But we played with haunches in for a few steps as well. Then my trainer had me do this exercise of being in shoulder in but then bringing the haunches in (I guess like the start of half pass?) I'm not sure if I totally understand the goal of the exercise but she said we did it correctly. I'm such a visual person that I almost need to see something to fully get it lol.

He was wanting to head tilt a bit going to the left. We have a chiropractor appointment today so hopefully that helps.otherwise he felt good and was a good boy in this heat.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

SF, I'm just in awe on how much progress you and T have made lately. She seems like she's really matured the last year. Good job, you have worked hard (You are a wonderful rider) and it seems like all that hard work is really paying off!

[Moutaineer]

I drove to the barn and rode my horse. WTC in both directions.

It wasn't perfectly comfortable, but it was do-able. Pressure on the ball of my foot causes the top of my big toe knuckle to protest a bit. So, reality check. No show for me next weekend.

I am wearing an ancient pair of boots that are 2 sizes too big for me and soft leather. It makes me realize how very much easier it is to ride in stiff dressage boots that fit!

[StraightForward]

LSP, thank you, and good to hear that Lynx is continuing to improve. I would guess that the HI exercise is to fine tune control of the haunches and play with different weight distribution onto the hind legs.

Moutaineer, yeah for riding! Good to have some extra roomy boots around.

Well T had 4-5 days off, but the heat just is not abating. I was out late last night and she had not been sweating during the day, so I think she's doing alright. She gets the turnout that is shaded by huge cottonwood trees, and it always seems to be about 5 degrees cooler at the barn, since it's down near the river. I went out and had a pretty good ride this morning, but didn't want to overdo it with the heat plus smoke. However, remembering Lauren Spreiser's sitting trot tips, I got some nice energetic trot HP, and then we would do a half volte and really rocket off into some medium trot. I think that will be a good exercise to get her coiling her hind legs more. After that I swung by the swanky barn, which is hosting a recognized show, and watched the 3-3 rides. Feeling like if we don't get hung up on getting our changes, this will be really doable next year. And the rides were scoring well - I think the lowest was 65, and went up to 77. I guess I got inspired because I just ordered myself a new pair of white breeches (Halter Egos with a navy seat).

Lessons will go on the next two days. No idea where my demo saddle is. Long term forecast is rotten but we'll make the best of it unless the air quality gets worse.

[exvet]

Gosh SF you and Tesla are looking very strong (in a good way) and supple with your over fences work. Nice job!

Moutaineer, glad to read that you're on the mend. I actually have a pair of tall boots that are a half size larger than what I normally wear because of my many mishaps over the years and the extreme heat causing edema in my legs especially after riding so many horses in a day. They are a life saver when I need them.

LSP, sounds like progress. I like it

Sounds like everyone else is progressing despite all the weather challenges we've been facing - perseverance, a needed trait of those who wish to get somewhere in dressage. Kudos to all.

So I haven't done much riding. First I had to pick up extra shifts this past week at work for a co-worker who needed some personal time. Thursday was my last shift. I ran to the dressage board meeting after work then loaded the horses since I had to haul down to the ungodly hot valley to take care of my mother. I was nerve racked hauling from the high 70s/low 80s to 110 degrees when I hit Phoenix, then it 'cooled' down to 99 when I rolled into our driveway. The boys took it in stride but you could tell that they, like me, are anxious to get back to higher elevation, especially since downtown Phoenix hit 118 on Friday. My awesome farrier agreed to meet me at 6 am Friday to do all 3 boys (one week early but I didn't want to haul back down the following week) and get me back out the door to pick up my mother at 9 am in order to get her to three separate medical appointments. Though that already constituted a jam packed day, I tried to get my colleague to come out to go through all three for dentals but she insisted the only time she could accommodate me would be this Monday morning which I can't blame her. I can't say I was "really wanting" to float teeth Friday afternoon with it being 112 in my barn. The three boys have been doing their best to stay cool while we sizzle in the desert through the weekend. I'll have to wait until Monday evening after their dentals to safely haul back up to Prescott. I did manage two short rides starting at 5:30 am this morning. Junior wasn't all that inspired. Brandon did great but he's always handled the heat easier than the rest. I hope to ride tomorrow morning before my colleagues gets here to float teeth but we'll see.

I'm lucky that my boys are the same characters whether or not they've had a few days off. Next weekend is the dressage schooling show. I'll be riding Junior in Fourth level test 2 (no, I haven't ridden the whole test yet) and Brandon will be doing WD Basic Level Test 1 and Level 1 Test 1. I do have one person coming out to the show to look at Brandon (so keeping fingers crossed that not only do I get decent video of him in competition but also that perhaps I won't need to post the video if she likes him).

Of course during my down time I've been scouring the internet and watching videos of the three tests that I'm going to ride to help memorize them and then I did a thing...................I get myself into trouble when I'm not in the saddle. I won't go into too much detail since I'm not exactly sure how things will go but I scheduled a time to visit a friend's ranch in Colorado (since we're going to visit family there in 2 weeks) to look at her 45 Welsh Cobs, well actually 40 since she just sold a few in the past week. You know how things go. You get to females on the phone, both enamored with Welsh Cobs for several decades..........she needs to downsize..............I'm looking for a project.........

[khall]

Well sitting at the ER vet with Henry. Extreme nausea but no vomiting so was worried about flipping stomach. Better safe than not with this deep chested dog. Jingles appreciated

Rip is still lame LF only. Started on the RF. Was shod Friday with pads and magic cushion so trip to my lameness vet this week. Original vet still thinks he is sinking saw her last night when she came to see Juliet for colic. This after last week mom slept for 3 days straight. Not eating much. Woke up but is unable to walk now. Dementia sucks. Weird vitals with elevated HR.

Between all the medical issues going on and extreme heat no riding has been happening. I did work Joplin in hand yesterday evening. It was so hot. DH and I took a quick weekend trip to the beach for my birthday which was already scheduled and paid for before the medical issues arose. Ate seafood and got to play in the ocean then came back to Juliet colicing dealing with her owner Rip a bit worse LF and now Henry.

Mountaineer glad you were able to ride ouch though!

Exvet good luck at the show! Wow some extreme heat.

SF fun pics! I’ve been surprised at how easy Joplin has found changes and that they improve her canter. Rip never got the idea.

Lsp glad Lynx is coming back for you.

Flight hope your comp with Norsey went well! Would love to see some videos.

Blob I wished we were getting some of your rain. We are so dry. Hard ground not helping either Rip or Lani. Often those storms just make it like a steam bath instead of cooling it off.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Thanks for the well wishes for Lynx! He had a chiropractic appointment on Friday and I was so impressed with him. He's never been naughty for bodywork or anything but he's always been a little bit of a wiggle worm and at times a little bit worried about it. On Friday he was totally perfect. The chiropractor wrote on her paperwork that he was exceptionally quiet and sweet. Easy to get releases from and relaxed. Soft supple muscles. She thought his back felt and looked good but she did wonder if his at illiopsoas muscle was sore as he was a bit tight on the right hind. She actually recommended I see about getting his back injected again. Because she said that could contribute to that muscle being sore and tight as it's where it starts. She said that even though his back muscles had made a lot of progress and he could still be feeling a little inflammation and discomfort his actual spine, that she said could be causing the canter issues.

He also was sore in his right TMJ which is the way he has been tilted in his head occasionally.

Today is though he felt FANTASTIC. I rode him in longer almost stretchy frame and he just felt so much more loose and supple. He was forward without being rushy. Only trouble spot I had was a little bit of head tilt in the leg yield going to the right at the trot. But I was able to get one decent leg yield to the right. To the left is great. But we also did some shoulder in at the walk and also did it at the trot. He felt very easy in the shoulder in, both directions. And haunches in we got a few good steps too. We didn't mess with the canter today, I want to call my vet and see when she can come out.

I'm not sure if it's the Zycosan, the chiropractic or the changes to my tack but man today was a ride full of hope and progress

Exvet, Good luck with your show and I hope Brandon finds his person! And your little teaser about what might happen is exciting!

Khall- sending well wishes for many in your camp right now!!

SF, yes haunches in definitely feels like it might be good for him now in small doses.