Heart of Gold!

 Despite the crankies ;) 

We got up early this morning. Me, earlier than Dan. ;) 

Our lesson was at 7:45, which... oooof, early, but... helps get us done before it gets too hot and lets me lesson two and ride a third. And... apparently, bush hog too. He was filthy as of last night, and still filthy this morning so I knew he would need a quick rinse off, so we did that and then headed to Ashland. Unfortunately I didn't have time to go for a warm up hack so we just went to the upper arena and warmed up there. I adjusted him last night and put butacort on his stifle, so I was hoping he was going to feel better today. And he did. I didn't feel that uneven feeling. So yay!

 

Kelly asked how things were going and I ... kinda slumped and sighed. She said I looked so defeated. I told her.. no, actually, but I was worried that he was hurting more than he was letting on. She gave me an awesome pep talk and basically said that I would know when he was done. He would tell me. And that while he didn't look super buff like he did 3 years ago.. neither did she. And she said he didn't look as bad as I thought. His hind end wasn't undermuscled compared to his front end. His gaskins weren't huge and his forearms weren't huge from dragging himself along. And while his upper neck was puny, his lower neck wasn't horrible. She said she would watch him go and tell me the truth, but she suspected that he was doing okay and since he was game and having fun, enjoy the ride. He'll tell me. So that helped alot! And he felt pretty darn good. There were a few steps here and there, and he obviously wasn't a fan of loading that right hind and tried to not do it, but he didn't get naughty or even try too hard to not do it when I insisted. The big thing I noticed though was that he fatigued. Towards the end of my lesson, he was requiring a lot more help from me. And Kelly saw a few funky steps here and there... she saw that he needed my help more. And then, after my lesson, I tried to go for a hack and he just... didn't want to. He kept stopping. And after a few minutes, he was fine and carried on but he was definitely not speed walking and was slow. We did just a very short hack and by the end he was much more like his usual self, although still slow. So, I think I just need to recognize that he may need some rest after he works and that my hacks probably need to be before my arena rides or on separate days. And Kelly pointed out too... don't back off on what I ask, but give him lots of rests and breaks to recover from the fatigue. So... we'll do that and see if that helps him out. 

 

Anyways, back to our lesson. He was really good. He was much happier to stay rounder today and had some nice balance. We worked on really getting him round and stretching so he was stepping up and under with the hind end. Kelly pointed out that it is hard for him but to think of it as a stretch more than loading. Because while he is loading that right hind, he's more stretching the hip and lower back and he needs to do that. So get it.. and then let him have a break, but don't let him cheat because I'm worried about him. Tracking right he wants to fall in, so I have to almost ride him haunches out. And keep a steady connection with my outside rein so he can have the support. He got quite nice! Tracking left he bulges that right shoulder so I have to ride shoulder in. But both ways we got some lovely bend. I need to make sure that when I'm posting, my elbows remain mine but also that I don't "bounce" out of the contact by being too soft with my elbows. Because when I do that, I lose the elasticity and just bounce in and out of the contact and that makes him look lame. 

 

We played with the serpentine and he gets quick instead of bending, so... I had to make sure that I ask for bend, but keep his tempo the same. And it works, when I can coordinate my aids. Then we played with leg yields and he sort of cheats. Kelly said he gets nice and floaty but he's on the verge on not leg yielding... more of a diagonal line. His body is positioned correctly but he's not really crossing over. Ahhhh... So at home, I need to practice keeping him moving sideways and not getting quick but not letting him get hollow and shut down. So, if I need to bring him down to walk and really insist he go sideways, then go back into the trot, do it. (At home while schooling.. not in the show!). And I should aim for more steep lines to make sure we're going sideways. 

 

We did a tiny bit of canter but were running out of time. But, Kelly said the canter looked quite nice anyways, so yay! Our upwards are still a bit of him slinging himself into it with his front end, but his downward was better. And his canter felt quite nice today.. very round. I still have to ride his shoulder in going left and ride his haunches out going right, but he was quite nice today. 

 

So yay! He felt good and looked and felt happy. He was a tiny bit funky here and there but usually only one or two steps and then back to good. Kelly said she saw nothing other than a little bit of fatigue at the end. And she said he looked happy and willing. So yay! But yeah... then we went for a hack and he was like "I'm done mom..... I'm tired!". So.. we sat for a minute... then we walked.. then we grazed.. then we walked.. and then we were walking okay again. But I kept it short. Later today though he was cantering around in the field when I was bush hogging... and I think he started it! So.. he can't feel too horrible. Although I am going to surpass his stifle for a few weeks I think... and hopefully the osphos will arrive soon. I'll call tomorrow. And then I'm going to call and schedule Dr. Barrow for an appointment soo to see. Maybe he needs double dose noltrex... or maybe he needs steroids.. or maybe it's not the stifle (Although I can't imagine it's not not the stifle). Unfortunately I think the earliest she has available is mid July... but hopefully we can sneak in before we go to the beach so he can recover while I'm at the beach. And maybe... it's nothing... or just a little foot sore and needs shoes... or ??? I don't know. But I'll do my best to find out and make him happier. Because... he is trying his heart out and I am grateful but also don't want to take advantage!

 

Oh how I love him!

Well that was fun! Todays weather turned out to not be that bad either! I mean.. it was hot, and poor Dan was literally dripping sweat, but.. it wasn't that miserable I didn't think. Maybe because I wasn't working as hard as Dan. 

 

This morning we had the farrier and poor Dan was struggling when he picked up his left hind to trim. I couldn't decide if he just wasn't balanced.. if he didn't want to lift the left hind because it hurt the left hind, or if he didn't want to stand on the right hind. He wasn't ugly about it but couldn't get settled and was wiggling and pulling on Patrick. And he's still got those significant toe drag marks, and much worse on the right hind. And he's been walking super slow recently on the trails and not doing as much shenanigans out in the field. It worries me. But I've ordered the osphos so maybe that will help. 

 

After I got back from my chiropractor, we loaded up to meet Sharon and Baylor at Ashland. We hacked around the little lake (heron lake) and then headed to the arenas to play. Dan was a really good boy and seemed much more happy to go round for me today. He didn't feel as braced. And he felt very willing but he felt like he was coming down harder on one leg more than the others. I couldn't quite tell if it was a front leg or a hind leg and I think it was only noticable tracking left. Sharon watched and said she didn't see anything. So.. that's good I guess. He kind of sort of warmed out of it, but then I'd feel a twinge of it every time we changed direction again. But, he did everything I asked willingly and happily. Even turn on the haunches and reinback. Although our reinback is still a bit inverted. 

 

We watched Sharon canter and did some videos for her and then she offered to video us. I wanted to try to run through the Western Dressage test but wasn't sure I remembered the test correctly. I did NOT. ha ha. But oh well. I remembered most of the pieces so we practiced it out of order. He's getting good at those darn serpentines.. the ones that took me about 6 rides to figure out. And his canters felt pretty good today. Although his left lead wanted to swing a little wide. (The left lead... I think!). So I played a few more minutes and did all the movements. He had some nice stretchy trot, some nice baby lengthens, some nice canters (even 15 meter circles) and nice leg yields. Oh, and he was even super round feeling in his canters! We even got a decent halt without him trying to lengthen through it. Really, the only thing that was really not up to par today was the reinback. So... good pony!

After that we went back to the trailers and untacked and I took off my boots and socks and Sharon put on shorts. We hopped back on bareback and headed to the lake. Poor Dan was literally dripping sweat. I'm sorry dude! We walked through the woods to the lake and poor Dan was a slug. I don't know if he was just tired... his feet were tender because of the fresh trim... or most likely.. his stifle hurts. I'm so sorry buddy... I felt so awful. But, he never said no... or even "I don't want to". I don't deserve him. He really does have a big ol' heart!

 

He got a little more pep to his step as we got closer and then they had a great time splashing and pawing and snorkeling in the lake. I was trying to get Dan to swim out and he kept wanting to just splash instead. And then Baylor just... went in and did a little swim! Fun! So then I convinced Dan to go out. He never swam, but he went deep and snorkeled with his nose. Hee hee. He sounds like a hippo or the loch ness monster. We splashed a bit more and then hacked home. Good pony!

  

On the way home I swung by Dr. Barrow's clinic and drew his blood for a chemistry. His numbers were all normal other than his globulins being slightly high. But his kidneys and liver all looked good, so.. once I get the osphos, I can give it. But I did ask about a lameness exam. Unfortunately Dr. Barrow is out of town til July 6th week, booked solid that entire week, and then gone the week after too. So then I called UGA to see if Dr. Ellis was available and she's gone til mid July too! Well drats! So... I think I'll adjust him hopefully tomorrow... hopefully acupuncture him too and do some myofascial work.. and then k[-tape too, and see. I may also call Kim and see if I could sweettalk her into seeing him. Just because I'm not entirely sure it's his stifle. I would assume... based on his history and the toe drag and the resting of the right hind, but... maybe it's the left hind that's bothering him again. Or his sacroiliac joints. Or his neck. Or maybe he's unhappy in the 3D pads up front and needs the frog support pads because of his pedal osteitis tendencies. I don't know. It's hard because he looks like he doesn't feel great but then he moves decently and is happy to work. Thanks bubs... You're the best! I hope I don't take advantage of your big ol' heart.

Gorgeous day for an Ashland day

 The ponies got their coggins drawn this morning so they were a little cranky at having to stay in for an extra 20 minutes or so. But I turned them out after and let them meander for a bit. Just a bit though because then I went and got Dan to go to Ashland for a nice ride. 

   

We got there and tacked up and went for a spin around the little lake while we waited on Kelli. Then she decided that she wanted to do an arena ride instead of a trail ride, so we did that. (I was going to do both.. it just didn't matter which I did first). 

 

Dan warmed up with some walking and lateral work and then we started trotting. He felt pretty decent but took a few lame steps here and there. After about 15 minutes or so, Kelli wanted some help so we stopped and watched her and Marvin go. Then when she was done, she watched us. Dan had been sitting for a good ten minutes so I had to pick him back up and put him back to work, and he wasn't quite as soft. I was telling Kelli that he feels like he's going well under saddle but his neck tells a different story. And I wasn't sure if I was just not getting him like I thought I was... or if it was his saddle... or just his poor stifle couldn't hold up.... or ??? So she watched us go a bit and said that he is just a bit too long and he's bracing in his jaw. He's nice and forward and out but he's not quite loose. He's holding himself up with his underneck and bracing. So, I asked him to go a bit more round, and he got better. She said he let go and started swinging. And I could feel it. But then he'd curl behind the vertical and/or shut down some. So it was a delicate balance. But I managed to get him in the nice swinging spot a good bit of the time. I picked up the canter and he was much rounder in the canter, even his hard way. However, he couldn't turn very tight to the left and we kept spiraling out of the arena. I'm not sure he could have pulled off a 15 meter circle. So we'll definitely have to figure out which tests we are going to do at the July horse show. Anyways... I was able to get him fairly consistently round in the trot without curling and Kelli said that he was using his neck correctly then and lifting his back and his footfalls got lighter. So yay. Maybe if  I can remember to keep this up, his neck will start changing. I think I need the eyes on the ground to help me develop my feel better. Because while he feels good, he's not always as good as he can be. So, maybe I'll start doing pivo rides again.. if i can keep my phone from overheating!.

   

After that we chatted for a bit longer and then I took Dan on a cool down hack to the lake. He splashed around a little bit and then we headed back home. We passed a lovely black snake on our way. I'm not sure Dan even saw him. But we didn't step on him so that was good. And he was quite polite to let us pass without getting all angry. 

 

So all in all, a good day and a good ride!

 

Oh, and I forgot this gem from last night. Ha ha...  But then tonight he was silly and making faces at me when I was sitting there on my phone while they finished eating... okay fine... you earned cookies :) 

Quick Ride at home

 It was Lyrics turn to go hack, so she went this morning. Then I had my chiropractic appointment. Hopefully I'll be straighter now! I definitely have a shorter left leg. (Which is confusing as to why I want to shorten my right stirrup, but... who knows!). Anyways, when I got home I was debating on going to Ashland or just staying at home. I was leaning towards staying at home but... Kelli wanted company if she went and she wasn't sure if she could go or not. She was almost ready to go but then the weather showed some storms popping up and the kids came home and wanted dinner at the usual time, so.. .she bailed. Which was great because I was already on Funny at home. ;) My plan was to sneak in as quick of a ride as I could and then if and when she was ready, get off and swap out for Dan and meet her at Ashland. But I'm kind of glad she stayed home because I'm tired and it was much quicker to ride both at home than to haul to Ashland again. And then Mike and I got to go to dinner. 

 

So anyways.... I rode Dan at home. I almost didn't, because it's hot and ... it's hot. But I wanted to check the fit on a potential new breastcollar that one of my clients made. Sadly, it's a bit too snug and not quite the right color turquoise, but it was pretty! And then since I had him tacked up already, I figured I might as well ride. Even if it was a short one. So we did. We headed up to the arena and played a bit. He was a good boy. We worked on our downwards and using his core. We got a really really nice round canter too!! Especially to the left. The right canter wasn't bad, but wasn't exactly super round. But it wasn't bad. We ran through the first level dressage test too. And then we finished with the gate. We did the reverse gate... which took my brain a minute to figure out. So then we went back to the regular gate and then did the reverse gate again and he nailed it!! He's really getting the hang of the gates. And not touching them. I am trying to let him "close it" at my arena gates so maybe he learns the difference. Kind of like "free horse" in the water. :) He's smart.. I bet he figures it out. 

 

We hacked back and he got a nice long rinse because ... dude, it's hot!! No issues from the bridge incident. But he does seem a little more ouchy on his stifle today, so... I should have shockwaved him tonight but I was starving and Mike was waiting so I'll do it tomorrow after I volunteer at the show. And then it'll be perfect because he'll get his last one two weeks later, which will be good timing for the "maintenance" quarterly shockwave for Lyric and then I'll go ahead and do Funny's stifles too and they'll all be on the same page to go to quarterly shockwaves.