Making A Solid Citizen Blog Hop

Yesterday, Sprinkler Bandit posted about the mythological forever home and I started thinking about things (dangerous territory).  I know that in addition to my own goals for Sinker I want to make him a solid citizen.  He will always be quirky, but I think I can increase his odds in case something happens.

Gotta make this face the best he can be

First off, I have a plan in place in case I die suddenly.  Morbid I know, but it is also necessary.  He will go back to D and she has the means to find him a good home or the possibility to keep him if she so chooses.  Either way, he has a soft landing regardless of where his training stands.

This leads me into my actual question.  What skills would you want a horse to have to be a solid citizen?

He stands quietly now.

My criteria may or may not be the best one, because I like the weirdos and I have spent my whole life around horses, so there may be behaviors that don't bother me that are terrifying to others.  So help me identify the holes in my grand plan.

• Ground manners
• Leads next to you.  No dragging behind or in front (guess which one is Stinker's problem).
• Picks up feet easily
• No biting (Stinker is super mouthy so this is a constant battle.  He doesn't bite, but the licking proceeds to nibbles)
• Stands for grooming and washing
• No pawing in the cross ties (This is also a work in progress)
• Under Saddle
• Stands for mounting (this has improved greatly)
• Willing to stand and wait (this needs work)
• Prompt and forward (we have this down pat)
• Can be ridden alone or in groups (the alone part is good groups are hit or miss)
• Trail rides (still improving)
• I would love for him to be solid in dressage and maybe some little jumping but that is dreaming at the moment
• Personality (These aren't really trainable, but they are pluses that Stinker has)
• Lovable (Stinker is a favorite around the barn because he is so interactive)
• Smart (He picks up things so quickly.  I have been too lazy to do tricks with him, but with his stretches he basically does them himself)

He hasn't gotten tired of my shenanigans yet,

so he is basically tween girl proofed.

I really want him to become a solid citizen, so if the odds aren't in our favor he can find a soft landing.  He already has several strikes against him.  One he is a saddlebred which carries a lot of negative connotation for people.  Two he now has had health issues which may or may not continue to cause him problems.  Also, his conformation isn't the best.  Three, he had a rough start and has baggage from it.  Lucky for him I am not the three strikes you are out kind of girl.

I think I did things right to update this to a blog hop if you are interested.  If it isn't working please let me know and I will attempt to fix it.

An InLinkz Link-up

2016 Quarter 3 Goals

Time has flown by and I really haven't given my goals much thought since I wrote them.  I was pleasantly surprised that I have actually done fairly well with them.  Yay go me for setting reasonable goals for a change.  I tend to have high expectations that don't always align with reality.

The girls made us a sign.  Too bad he pulled it off in less than 30 seconds.

Year Goals

• Happy healthy Stinker (This is going well despite my many freak outs)
• Happy healthy human (The healthy part is still a work in progress but I am making steps in the right direction)
• Continue to get muscle in the right places (Yep this is happening)
• Continue to build up strength (This is happening also)
• Consistent walk trot with leg yields (All happening and we have added in the shoulder fore)

Quarter 2 Human Goals

• Eat more vegetables (Happening with much protesting and not giving myself other options)
• Exercise outside of riding (I have been running and doing a much better job about walking)

Quarter 2 Stinker Goals

• Get thrush cleared up and keep a better eye on things (check.  At least I learn from my mistakes?)
• Start phasing out draw reins (Done.  I basically went cold turkey and while they served their purpose I am happy to have them gone.)
• Keep building muscle (Apparently extra important because it is a double whammy.  We have been progressing)
• Transitions and leg yields (The leg yields have been going well, but I need to work more on transitions)

At least he has learned to stand quietly while I fiddle with the SoloShot

Quarter 3 Human Goals

• Continue to eat more vegetables
• Run two to three times a week (As it keeps getting hotter this may not happen, because I don't want to die, but if I am not running I need to walk)
• Yoga to keep hips limber

Quarter 3 Stinker Goals

• Keep building muscle and strength
• More trot work (This will be heat dependent.  I would rather hold off on the trot than stress him by increasing his work load mid summer)
• Transitions, leg yields, and shoulder fore

I have been really pleased with his progress and hopefully we can keep things on the right path.  I would love to have him strong enough to start cantering this winter, but I am hesitant to really put that as a goal.  I feel like if I make it a goal I am more likely to push him harder and right now he needs time and correct work more than anything.

All the Drama=Nada

Well Stinker made a liar out of me and I have never been so happy.  He was absolutely perfect this weekend.  Ok the perfect is a slight exaggeration, but he had his big boy pants on and was amazing.  I had a late lesson on Friday night and it ended up being even later since they were running a little behind.  I don't have media from it because it was getting dark.

Such a handsome face

I started off telling my favorite dressage judge about all of the issues we had been having and I was worried about the saddle fit and possibly EPM.  She said to get on and let her see what was going on. I did and I had my horse back.  He stood like a rock at the mounting block, walked off calmly, was promptly stretching and flexing.  Of course the judge was wondering about my sanity.  We didn't do a lot on Friday, but we had some quality walk work and played with some baby leg yields.

Pongo's girl made him a stall sign and it made me so happy

Saturday, I had an early lesson.  We used the same exercises to get him to stretch and flex and added in the baby leg yields and shoulder fores as necessary.  We then moved onto playing with the trot.  The trot was pretty rough, but he hadn't trotted in a couple weeks.  It took some fiddling but we managed to get some ok work.  I was so pleased with him, because he didn't get super antsy and was trying the whole time.  The trot is hard for him because he is still learning how to carry himself and when things get hard his solution is to go faster.

I guess the golf cart has become a jump...

I am still flying high from the lesson Sunday morning.  I asked to squeeze one in early and we started at 7:15, which I am grateful for because we were both drenched in sweat.  We worked on transitioning from the medium walk to the free walk back to the medium walk.  My biggest thing is I need to remember that I have a horse that I can ride now.  When he starts to tense rather than redirect I get out of his way and let him do his stuff.  I can't do this anymore.  I need to start getting in his way more instead of letting him cruise so much.

Video from Saturday that has the trot work

As a high point, the judge said that she would have given us an 8 on our medium walk.  While, she does tend to be generous, it would probably translate to a 6.5-7 from a tougher judge.  That made me really happy considering how long it has taken to develop the walk.  We did more with the trot and managed to get the adjustable semi-stretchy trot back.

I love his face even if he does have a dinky forelock.

In the trot I tend to lock up my elbow (especially the right one) and it gives him something to brace against.  Once I got that under control and remembered to trust my half halt (I was hanging in it too long) his trot got so much better.  We worked on a 20 meter circle with a 10 or 15 meter circle at E.  The smaller circle forced him to slow down and balance and then he was able to really use his top line.  We actually had a sort of stretchy trot.  It was no where near a show ring one, but it was a major step in the right direction.  Of course since it was a 7:15 lesson there was no media.

Not the best but we aren't sticky anymore

As far as his health goes, I am leaning towards he was hurting and the five days off let him recover, but then he was a bit sticky for the next few rides.  I haven't taken him off the list for the vet (I am superstitious and scared I will jinx it) yet, but I don't think I will need to keep the appointment.  I am going to keep after the saddle fitter to get her to check the saddle because it is getting snug, but I think I still have a bit more time before it is truly a problem.

So much sweat

I am so relieved to have my horse back, because despite my best efforts I was firmly on the crazy train.  As D said it was a "learning experience".  Of course I asked if I could skip the learning part and go straight to the knowledge.  I am just thankful that I have a fantastic support team and that they are still talking to me.  And I also really appreciate all the well wishes from you guys, so thank you.

Houston We *Might* Have a Solution

I have come up with another possibility besides EPM (and I am desperately clinging to it) for why Stinker has had such a dramatic behavioral change under saddle.  It is possible that his saddle has gotten too small and he is reverting back to his OMG can't possibly walk in a saddle that doesn't fit perfectly ways.  Which honestly would be the best answer for my wallet.

Always wanting food.

Wednesday night after work, I decided to try an experiment.  I rode him bareback in the small ring with his bridle.  It has been awhile since I have ridden him bareback and I haven't ever really asked for anything when I have ridden him bareback (it has mostly been on the trails when I can't handle being an adult).

He didn't think much of wearing the hat.

There was obviously quite a bit of tension, because it was something different but he didn't have anxiety sweating.  We got some nice walk work at the end.  And as an added bonus I got one hell of a leg work out.  He is a really weird shape (or my legs no longer conform the way they did as a kid) and after my thighs, my legs don't really touch his sides.  As a side note I did discover I can touch my toes together under his belly (did I mention I have freaking long legs?).

I'm starving!

Anyway, I repeated the experiment with similar results last night.  I have a lesson tonight with my favorite dressage judge, so I will see what she thinks about things.  Overall, I am cautiously optimistic that it is the saddle and not EPM (please please please be the saddle).  If it is the saddle it should be a relatively simple fix (minus the part where I have to get my saddle fitter to do something quickly).  I shouldn't complain too much about her, but it is frustrating when you can't touch base easily.

Not Again

Finally, something besides tack posts.  I have been in Boston for a conference for the last week, which is why I haven't had any riding posts.  It was a very good trip, but now I am exhausted and looking at a full work week.  I was terrible and didn't do any sightseeing, but I did meet up with some friends from grad school.  I also saw Firebird (my one friend was playing) and it was really cool.

The weather was so nice!

So the Stinker front isn't looking so great.  The wheels started to come off before I left.  I wrote about the one ride, but it went downhill from there.  He was a tense anxious mess.  He was trying, but I could tell something wasn't right.  So I decided to give him time off while I was out of town and see if that took care of things.

Proof I actually did something.

I am reserving full judgement, since I have only had one ride back and I already know he is a little funky after having time off.  But my gut is saying something isn't right.  I lunged him and he was not off, but at the same time he wasn't quite right.  He wasn't zippy and he wasn't wanting to bend.  I decided to get on him and walk to see if I could get him stretching and unlocked.  While we did get some nice moments he wasn't normal.  He got spooky in one corner and was tense and anxious (the anxiety sweats are back).

I had to try a lobster roll.

Right now my plan is to do my best to keep my sanity.  The last time something wasn't quite right was last summer when he had EPM.  I am wondering if he is having a relapse, which isn't uncommon.  Besides that the vet is going to look at him when he comes (fingers crossed that I will be able to get that day off), but it won't be for another nine days.  I am going to keep trying to walk him and see if it is the general stickiness that will work out in a few days.  My favorite dressage judge is in town and I am going to see what she thinks.

I don't know if he missed me, but I missed him.

Saddle Update

I first talked about my saddle (a WOW saddle) way back in January after I had first gotten it and it was basically an OMG I love this saddle post.  Which I am still totally in love with it.  It is my magical unicorn.  But I thought I would be able to go into a little more detail, because I have actually used it for awhile not and also because the company has also updated their website.  It has tons of information if you are curious.  I am mainly doing this because I really like this brand and it isn't very popular in the US, plus the concept is pretty magical.

His second favorite thing (Timothy is number one!)

My favorite part about this saddle is that it is totally modular.  If I got a few screw drivers I could take my saddle totally apart (I am not ever going to do this because I would end up with that one extra bolt...).  The company has been using the exact same layout since they started.  That doesn't mean that they haven't made changes, it just means that you can still have parts swapped on the old saddles with new parts.  For example, I think that Stinker has put on enough weight/muscle that he needs to go up a size in the head plate.  I don't need to have the saddle put on a tree press or order a new saddle while trying sell my old one.  I contact the rep, she is sending me an equiform, I will make a model of his back, and send it back to her.  She will look at the model of his back and say yes you are right here is the piece you need to change or not you aren't right you need to do X.  This makes me supremely happy.

Love this thing!

The next thing I like about this saddle are the flaps.  I have long legs, like should have been a super model long legs (too bad I like food).  They have a special flap that is cut for long legs and it is perfect.  My knee finally has a place to go that isn't over the block.  This is the first saddle that I have been in that I haven't had to fight and it is an amazing thing.  I am pretty sure they have short people flaps too for those of you that aren't giant, but I am a giant and love my flaps.

My third favorite thing (who am I kidding this is probably my true favorite because it is Stinker's favorite and he controls my life) are the panels.  I have the flair panels and I was initially nervous about this because they aren't wool.  I know the ones that love French saddles are laughing at me and the ones that love English made saddle are probably having the same thoughts as I did.  I actually made the vet check his back multiple times after I got this saddle because I was so paranoid (he was already seeing Stinker so if I was paying a bill I was getting his back checked).  Stinker loves these panels.  He seriously hates any wool flocked saddle and all half pads now.  That made me a believer.

They are so soft and squishy!

Finally, the change in Stinker's behavior under saddle was astounding.  Pre EPM, his Albion fit him fairly well and he still didn't like to walk.  Post EPM it was a hot mess, so I will ignore that for now.  He was so so in the various County saddles that I tried, but as soon as we started with the WOWs he was more than happy to walk.  Sure he would still get tense and jig, but we at least had a walk.

If you are looking for a saddle (mine was $4000 but with some swapping I should be able to continue for my lifetime and you can find them used in the UK if you know what you are looking for) and want adjustability I highly recommend looking into these saddles.

To Show or Not

It is not a secret that I want to show.  My original plan was to start showing dressage when we were ready for first level and 18" for the eventing side of things.  Unfortunately,  neither of these are going to happen any time soon.  If I am lucky I hope to be cantering by the beginning of next year.  But that will still put us at training level.  I also want to make sure our basics are really solid before we start trying to jump, assuming the vet doesn't think it is a terrible idea.  I haven't gotten brave enough to ask him his opinion on that.

Adorable but show ring ready?

I also want to start getting him off property and schooling him.  If I can get him comfortable with traveling and being chill in new places that will help us no be a hot mess (who am I kidding we will still be a hot mess) when we start showing.  This leads me to start thinking about doing some intro dressage tests.  We can easily do Intro A and B.  Well easily is relative...but we could muddle our way through.  There is a dressage schooling show in July that S wants to hit up.  I am trying to decide if I want to A) go and just school B) go and do intro A and/or B or C) stay home and keep putting the money towards more lessons because you need it.  What are your thoughts?