Unfortunately Stinker does not have one, but I have been working really hard to give Stinker a big butt. I feel like something is missing from my routine. As a review, he has poor hind end conformation, EPM basically removed all muscle from his hind (that might be a smidge dramatic but that is what it felt like), and I am still figuring out how to ride him correctly.
This year is on top and last year is on the bottom
As you can see from the picture, I have made progress not only with his weight, but also with his muscling. He looked like shit last year after he lost weight and muscle from the EPM. I am concerned about how he has a dip in his butt. I have read that this goes along with a weak stifle (which also goes along with what my vet has said).
I don't have an old butt shot to compare it too, but you can see how flat his bum is on the sides. The right is worse than the left, which correlates with his right hind being weaker than his left hind. I have been doing all the things I know to strengthen them, but I am not making the progress that I want. I could just be being impatient (no surprise there...I want muscle NOW!)
Who doesn't want a horse that stands like a ballerina?
Right now, we walk on hills, play with poles, some backing exercises, leg yields on a circle, turns on the forehand. That basically covers the majority of exercises that I have found. I really wish that I could do trot on the hill, but he made that very apparent he isn't ready for it yet. I am questioning if I could just do one or two and then stop, because he was ok with that. But I am also terrified I will push too hard and have a huge set back. The backing is slowly improving, but we have two problems with it. One, he doesn't back straight (I can't use a whip to keep him straight because he loses his mind at sight of a whip), so I have to use a fence or something to keep him straight. Also, he doesn't take the clear step necessary to really engage things. He does more of the only if I have to shuffle. I am really not sure how to get this crisp.
So are there any other exercises I am missing? General thoughts?
We lost a little bit of ground this month. Stinker had almost two weeks off because of his feet, but I am hoping that he will gain it all back this month. Feel free to weigh in on his progress. I am always curious about other people's opinions even if I don't agree with them.
Left side. The neck is still giving me fits.
I am pretty sure the ground is sloped here, but I can't figure out a better place to take the picture.
His shoulders are so uneven, but I think his top line is improving.
Now for the comparison shots. This month I am still going to compare back to January, but I think I will be dropping that and proceeding with just using February as my baseline. I can't handle the scraggly mane and inconsistent location I did in January.
I think he looks way better in April (bottom), but January is a terrible picture to start.
He was trying to chew on his lead rope and looks a little drugged...
His neck looks better in February (top), but that was a lucky shot.
I seriously can not wait for him to shed out and be one color.
His back has more muscle, but he is still horribly uneven.
I have mixed feelings about the way Stinker looks. Does he look fantastic compared to EPM Stinker? Yes. But he isn't where I want him to be. He is filling out and gaining muscle in the correct places, so I just need to be patient.
I really dislike how he looks from this angle. He is very crooked and uneven. I have been working on straightness, but you can easily tell how crooked he is and has been. This is a problem he has from the beginning, but the EPM weakness has highlighted the problem.
In the pictures below, March is on top followed by February and finally January on the bottom. I think that I got lucky with how his neck was being held in February.
I think I have stared at these pictures too much, because I am starting to question what I see. All of the pictures on top are from the beginning of January. The ones on the bottom are the pictures taken February 9th.
I think I am seeing a change in his neck. He is starting lose the bulging under neck and it looks like it is starting to fill in up higher. There is still a dip in front of the withers that needs to be filled, but that won't happen until I get his hind end lined out. I also think that his butt is starting to fill out and he might be building up his top line. The top line is super subtle and might just exist in my dreams.
This side is pretty similar to the other side. His neck wasn't a large on this side to start with and it is hard to see with the angle. I am also not sure what is up with the bottom picture. I really thought he was standing level, so I either took the picture crooked (quite likely) or he wasn't actually on level ground like I thought.
I am making myself crazy with this one, because he almost looks narrower. I think that is a product of angle, lighting, and distance. He still looks uneven, but I don't think I will be able to address that until I A) get him to accept my leg and B) address some of his crookedness before there will be any changes in that. My goal is to not let it get worse, before I have the tools to fix it.
I was actually really pleased with the differences in the pictures. I am really happy that I started doing this, so thank you blogger land for the idea (I stole it from Emma who had stolen it from someone else that I can't currently remember who. Sorry.)
The vet did have good news. Sadly it wasn't that I had racked up enough frequent flyer miles and this one was free... A girl can dream. I would be there if vets did this program, and I really think they should.
He really should have frequent flyer status.
There was absolutely no back soreness!!! Nor was he sore along the ribs where some horses can get sore due to poor saddle fit. This made me extremely happy because I love that saddle and I would have been crying in the corner if it was making him sore. The fact that the saddle has air flocking and a flex tree made me nervous. The only experience I have had with English saddles are the more traditional English/German made saddles. So this saddle was a bit of a stretch for me.
The vet also agreed with me about the ulcers, so we have started a 30 day treatment plan. Hopefully this will make Mr. Grouchy Pants go away. And maybe he will quit kicking his stall down. I'm so ashamed.
Less of this face please.
Another concern I have been having involved Stinker's teeth. He bites at another horse and bites wire which is wearing the left side of his teeth. I was worried that this might cause long term problems, but the vet assured me that this would not be the case.
The vet was also sure to reiterate that this is the best Stinker has looked. While I am not happy with his muscling, his coat looks great and his weight is still going up. So we are doing things right. It just is taking more time than Captain Impatient wants to put the muscle back on him. So I really need to take a chill pill and take my time. PS sorry for the lack of new media. My phone doesn't have a case and well I have a history of breaking them at the barn...
I really need to learn not to ask questions that I don't want the answer to. I am a very neurotic and goal oriented person and I have been having a bad gut feeling about my ultimate goals for Stinker. I decided it was time to face the music and ask the vet the tough questions.
I don't know what he does to make his hood so wonky.
My ultimate goals for Stinker have been to get my bronze medal in dressage and low level eventing at least publicly. I haven't admitted that I also was really hoping to get my silver medal and really go as high up in eventing as I can. Keep in mind I am currently a little terrified of BN cross country fences. Stadium doesn't really scare me because they fall down. Either way, I don't have high goals for eventing mainly because I am a chicken shit and I am ok with that. But the bronze medal is very reasonable and I think with the right coaching/horse combo silver is within my reach. Gold medal would be awesome but I feel like that is a stretch for me to even consider.
Ever since Stinker was treated for EPM, I have been struggling with his potential. Part of me says oh it will just take time and part of me says that he is permanently changed. I finally got the balls (ok well not really since I sent it in a text to S who passed it onto the vet) to ask the vet if 4th level/PSG was going to be too much for Stinker. Unfortunately, the vet gave me the answer I was expecting and didn't want to hear. He does not think that Stinker will be capable of that work. I didn't even ask about starting over fences.
So what does that mean long term? Nothing is changing. I have plenty of time to meet my goals, it isn't like my job in the future depends on my equine qualifications. I am going to do the best I can with Stinker and see where this journey leads us. He is happy and sound, which he wasn't the better part of last year. Once I actually see where he tops out, I will revisit things. Maybe I will be in a position to afford two horses. Maybe I will be so broke from paying his vet bills that I can't afford anything. Maybe I will have an awesome lower level horse and I can sell him to a good home.
I am just glad that I have the answers and while it wasn't the best answer, the reality of the situation is I am not any farther from my goals than I was before. I had a training level dressage horse before he had EMP and I still have a training level dressage horse. It isn't like I was almost there, so we are just going to keep on keeping on and see what happens.
I should add the vet wasn't all doom and gloom. He thinks that Stinker looks the best he has since the start of the lameness late last spring, so we are doing things right. He also stated that it was just his opinion and he could be wrong.
I am adjusting my goals a bit. Before I was talking about showing training dressage this spring. I am going to back off of that and shift it to the fall. I really want to take the time to get his top line back to where D had it pre EPM. I am hoping (it may be foolish but don't burst my bubble) that if I can get his top line back into working order, I can help strengthen his hind end up and hopefully extend his longevity.
I am a little surprised that D and S are still talking to me, because I feel like I am being totally nutty. My latest is that Stinker has ulcers. Its either that or my brand spanking new saddle doesn't fit. Thankfully, everyone is leaning towards ulcers, which while not great is the lesser of two evils.
Normal Stinker
There is actually some reasoning behind my madness. First, based on my reading it isn't uncommon to treat horses for ulcers after they have been treated for EPM. He has been on a gut supplement as a preventative measure since I started him on supplements (middle of last year). I think the stress of traveling to Florida was too much for him and it triggered a flair up of ulcers. Secondly, he has the majority of the symptoms. Changes in attitude, girthiness, and so on and so forth.
Current Stinker. So grumpy.
I feel so bad for him, he is terrible in the cross ties and his sweet attitude on the ground is gone. He is also super grouchy in his stall (kicking, lunging, trying to bite). He doesn't even want to be groomed and normally he loves it. I have gone over his back a million times to see if it is actually sore and he doesn't react to my hand, but the brush is another story. Right now the plan is to try a week of omeprazole and see if there is any change. Fingers crossed that it gets here soon.
Hopefully, we will be back to this soon.
In other news my jump saddle finally shipped. I should get it in the beginning of February. Hopefully I have all of this straightened out and can actually evaluate it durning the trial period. I am super excited for it, but I am also terrified that it isn't going to fit him.
Early last week I had a couple of terrible rides. I was attempting to follow the walk only program and Stinker was not on board with the plan. When we were in Florida he did two days of walk and was great. No trying to jig, or giraffe mode. That did not carry over to the home turf. In hindsight, he was either tired or withdrawn in Florida. When he first moved down here he was quiet, as he settled in he got a lot more sass. Either way we were in full sass mode.
He wasn't ever bad, but he made it clear he was not down with walking. We had jigging, we had inverted piaffe, we had his head in my face, and pretty much every other evasion he knows. The first day, I didn't handle it well. I got upset and bought into his BS. I ended up trotting him and making him give both ways and got off. I was pissed at myself for losing my cool. I was pissed at him, because he wouldn't freaking walk. I was also pissed at the world...and this pretty much summed things up (I am a little ashamed to admit it).
After getting the ok from the vet (and feeling ashamed for making mountains out of mole hills). I had a regular lesson with S. This was my first time really riding in my new saddle. All I had previously done was walk. And I loved it. I can feel everything. When he leaves his butt out behind, I can tell within the first few steps. When he is braced I can feel it so much easier. It is amazing how much more I could feel than in my previous saddles.
I would love to say that everything was kittens and rainbows and sunshine...But the part I am most excited about is that he let me put him together. Before, we always kind of stumbled into it, but I actually gave him the aids and he responded and brought his butt under and pushed. I was so proud of him. And he even had a bit of foam at the end of the ride.
We still have a long ways to go, but he gave me the ride I needed. I am paranoid that I am going to hurt him due to my ignorance when it comes to performance horses. What I was told, while I was in Florida, played directly into these fears. I am so thankful that I have people like D and S to bounce things off of and I am pretty sure they should get a bonus for putting up with my crazy.
The vet came out and checked Stinker out. He said that Stinker looked the best he had seen him (remember the vet really hadn't seen him pre EPM)...well I felt silly. The vet did say Stinker is weak in his stifles and a little sore in his hocks. I am going to keep working him and get him out on the hills more and hopefully get the hind built back up. The vet will be back in a couple weeks and he will recheck his hocks. Depending on how that goes Stinker may get his hocks injected.
In an effort to monitor his progress, I am going to start taking monthly confirmation pictures. I am stealing this from Emma and I regret not starting it back when I first started bringing him back. Oh well, you live and you learn. I think he looks a little goofy when he is just standing, but I love his movement.
So, I have been struggling to get this post written. I really don't know what to say and I am trying to keep things positive. I have written this a million times it feels like, so here it goes. When I was in Florida, the saddle fitter (who also does body work, works closely with a vet, and knows a lot about bio mechanics...so I don't think she is a total quack is the point) was very concerned about Stinker's feet and hind end.
The dip behind the saddle needs to go.
I will admit, I don't know much about feet. Growing up my dad (who is a vet) did the trims on our ranch horses. We never had shod horses, and they were all pretty basic quarter horses with good feet. Plus we were out west where things are wet and sandy. This year has been rough on the horses feet, we have been drowning in rain. I know that his hind is still weak from the EMP, but it has been getting stronger and I think I am on the right track with his training. That being said, I was basically told that I am running the risk of permanent damage if I don't do something quickly.
Stinker's heels have gotten low and the lady said that this is causing his fetlocks to over flex and is putting too much strain on his hind. He is too weak to support me and this is causing him to pull from the front since he can't push from his hind. She said I need to get him put in wedges ASAP and that I should only walk him for a month.
Over flexed hind fetlock
There are multiple reasons I don't agree with her. One, I think that his confirmation is such that the wedges would create other problems. He is a saddlebred not a warmblood. Two he is building strength and improving in the current program. We started doing the video lessons at the beginning of August. Since then, we have been steadily progressing. I monitor him closely and he has not been lame at all and I think he has been getting stronger.
I feel like I have him more put together and it would be
better for building strength than the walk picture above.
My problem is S is firmly on board, and the dressage judge also agreed with the lady's plan. D agrees with me, but she only sees video and there is a lot you can miss in video. The farrier agrees with me on both the wedges being bad (thankfully) and the walking isn't the best way to build the strength. I am getting the vet's opinion, but it is all making me crazy.
I don't know if I am in denial as to where my horse is at or if other people are over reacting. He is not a warmblood and will never move like a warmblood, so I don't know if they are misunderstanding things. I trust my gut and I don't think I am in total denial (if I am please tell me...maybe if I hear it enough I will believe it). But it stresses me out not to agree with educated people who I trust and makes me question my judgement. The last thing I want to do is hurt my horse.
New shoes (he was hot shod and didn't even blink!!!)
In other news, Stinker got shoes. I put bell boots on, but they have velcro, so he ditched them in the pasture and then stepped on his heel. He isn't off, but yeah... I am trying to duct tape the boots until I can get pull on bell boots (arriving Tuesday). My first attempt didn't work well...
I put the #%$#$ Bell Boots on for a reason Stinker!!!!
That lasted well...Fricken mouthy horse LEAVE them ON!!!
Well this is the one where I am idiot and did not get my girth tight. So the weird cut out around 6:15 is due to cutting out all the fixing and what not. I was so proud of him for not dumping me. He was obviously confused, but stopped and stood there like a champ.
My Initial Thoughts:
Right from the beginning something felt funny with the saddle and it should have clicked in my brain. I wanted to start off in the walk and try to get him thinking about stretching down and out instead of his typical up and curled. The squeaking you hear is the new bit which drives me crazy, so if you have suggestions on how to make a bit stop squeaking please let me know. He wasn't really getting what I wanted, so I decided to move on and come back to it later.
I still need to slow the trot down a hair and I stayed on the circle for too long. I should have swapped directions earlier. I do feel like he is letting me put my leg on more without getting over reactive to it. I can really use it to ask for some bend without having a rocket launch forward. He felt really locked to the left. I think that instead of giving in the shoulder he is bracing it and then doing weird things with his neck to bring his head inside.
I was a little discombobulated by the whole saddle sliding thing and I wasn't as focused after that. I honestly had no idea how much I had cantered or what exercises I had or hadn't done when I was done with the ride. I need to remember to bring my focus back with me.
Also, in the canter I felt something funny with his hind end a few times. I am not sure if he slipped or if he was trying to trot behind and canter in the front or what. One of these is at 7:11, his inside hind does something funny. The more I stare at it, the more I get all weird about the way his left hind looks in the canter. Maybe I just need to get him standing up straighter, instead of the wheelbarrow look we have now.
At 12:13 I didn't realize he had picked up the incorrect lead. It felt funny, but I thought it was because he was bracing. After that we were a bit of a mess. He was wanting to canter and I was wanting him to trot and give in the right side.
I popped the draw reins off at 26:24, because I wanted to try to do some bending at the walk to help him cool out a bit. I am really not sure what that thing he is doing with his leg is, but he does it on the lunge line too. I was happy that he is letting me have more control over things. I still need to be faster on the give and take.
I did try some turn on the forehand to see how he would react to moving off my leg. The first one is at 33:20. He got a little tense and confused at first, but then I think he got the hang of it. I thought that if I got him used to moving off my leg this way it would help with the leg yields.
Towards the end, I probably should have gone back to trot, but I was really trying to let him cool out and be done. He was getting a little frustrated with me, since he wasn't sure what I wanted and if he was doing the right thing.
I am seeing places where I am not sitting square and what not, so I will try to keep that in mind. Hopefully the four days in Florida with eyes on the ground will help nip some of those habits. Also, I have really high hopes that the saddle issues will finally be straightened out.
D's Thoughts:
D was really happy with this video. I actually got him on the bit and she was so excited she called me and left me a message. It made me laugh because she sent me a message saying she was trying to talk calmly. Overall, she said I need to memorize this video because it is my best one. Even without the draw reins, I was getting him to give and made the correct decisions. He was a little too forward, but we were working together and I was getting him to a good place.
