Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Put The Left Hip In

My last lesson was really focused on getting my body in order yet again, but rather than focus on my wonky hips I want to talk about how we are utilizing lateral work.  Very early on we started using leg yields and shoulder in to slow Stinker's feet down.


He is quite good at the sideways, but it used to require enough concentration that his feet slowed down.  Now he is stronger and it isn't as taxing and he knows the game he can zip sideways and it isn't as effective at slowing his feet down anymore.  So trainer has started having us working on haunches in and out.  I am not bending him enough that it is true, but it is more the thought and feeling and balance we are going for.


So far it is working quite well.  Obviously my hip problems tie back into this.  Since I tend to drop my right hip I am always pushing his haunches to the left.  Which works great for haunches out while tracking right and haunches in tracking to the left, but the opposites are a struggle.  The great thing about Stinker is he is so sensitive.  Any little movement from me results in a change from him.  For better or worse he immediately shows what I am doing.

His hips used to trail right all the time

When I get it right it is super easy, when I am struggling he giraffes and wonders what the fuck is happening up there.  Luckily he is a game little horse and keeps on trying while I fumble around.  When we get it right a little praise goes along way and we keep getting it quicker.

13 comments:

  1. Every time I see that before/after of his back I am just in awe! You have done such an amazing job with him.

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    1. The change is so crazy. I can’t believe it when I look at it

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  2. That change in his back is incredible. You should be very proud.

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  3. The back transformation looks great. You're also totally winning in the between the ears vistas department.

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  4. Rio got crooked like that from the EPM. He never straightened out fully, but Stinker sure did!
    It's both wonderful and not when they're sensitive like that... but he sure is a great teacher! Now that you're aware though, I'm sure you'll BOTH be nice and straight in no time.

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    1. I didn’t realize that Rio had EPM. It’s crazy what it will do to their bodies.

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    2. He did! I didn't think he was going to get through it, but he's a tough dude. He spent almost three weeks at Cornell trying to figure it out and waiting for the treatment to kick in. He couldn't even walk if he wasn't near a wall. It left him with no muscle tone on one side of his head, so he's a little weird looking still. But he's pretty good otherwise!

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    3. That is crazy. Luckily the vet I was using decided to treat for it when Stinker was only slightly off. The conversation went something like
      Me: something isn’t right he wants to walk
      Vet: ummm he looks pretty normal (looks over at the trainer)
      Trainer: no this behavior isn’t normal
      Vet: (does some tail tugs and what not) ok I think we should treat for EPM. He should bounce back in a week because I think it’s pretty mild

      Vet: (before I moved almost 2 years after the diagnosis) I didn’t think he was going to recover. He was in much worse shape than I thought based on evaluation. I was really worried when it took him so long to respond to the treatment.

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    4. It's such a weird disease. Rio didn't show any symptoms at all and then one day wasn't really eating his hay. I thought he was colicky, vet agreed. But within one day(!) he went downhill really fast. It was nuts. They actually teach his case at Cornell now. So I guess he's famous?

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  5. Yeah another for the mind blowing transformation there.

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    1. 0/10 recommend EPM as a method of getting mind blowing transformations 😉

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