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?
Go spinning off... Not really I am being a bit dramatic, but I have gotten greedy with the fantastic rides that Stinker has been giving me. Apparently, we forgot how to walk again this weekend. And it wasn't the tense anxiousness that freaked me out the last time. It was I am being an asshole and don't feel like playing ball today.
Not an asshole face...but can be an asshole
After fighting about walking for the majority of the way back to the barn, I got to a hill and had the thought "If you want to trot you can trot up the hill on the bit." He did quite lovely and was sulky when I turned and walked him back down the hill. He decided to trot up it again (I was asking for the walk and not being neutral/encouraging the trot) and this was repeated a couple more times. Right as I was starting to think that maybe he is strong enough to add in some hill trot work his right hind went from fine to super gimpy. Like feels very lame gimpy.
I got my tack locker organized
Luckily, he is smart and finally decided that walking was good, so I was able to get him to stretch a bit and get off without feeling like I ended on a bad note. I gave him a bath (much to his dismay) and hosed his legs for longer than I usually do. He didn't seem any worse for the wear and was quite happy to kick his stall with that leg, so I decided I wasn't allowed to worry (until after I rode on Sunday).
I love this picture, post rain and the sun setting.
Sunday I gave him an extra long warm up and I had a really hard time getting him to slow his walk and soften. I could feel that he was a little quick with his right hind which was part of the struggle with asking for the slow walk. He was really tight in his poll (which D had previously said relates to his hind leg) and it took a solid 20 min or more of walk to get him feeling supple. I did some trot work and while it was pretty mediocre, he did give me some good moments.
It has been super hot. This is from 35 min of calm walking (aka not this weekend).
Overall, I am calling things a win. I kept my crazy in check for once (if I keep this up I might be mistaken for a sane horse owner). Stinker isn't any worse for the wear. And I know that he isn't ready for that much push yet. I am trying to figure out the best way to keep getting him stronger, but that is a post in itself.
I almost didn't post this considering it is nearly two months over due. But I really like these posts to keep track of our progress, so enjoy (or skip over it). It is also funny writing this up when we have progressed so much since then, but it is a good reminder.
05.09.16 Video Lesson
My Thoughts:
The trot work felt better than it looks. He felt like he was actually reaching for the contact instead of tucking into the false contact. At the end I did some turns on the forehand/haunches and leg yields. This is the first video where I really felt like I was struggling with my balance at the trot.
D's Thoughts:
I need to relax and ride my horse. I am locking in my lower back and regressing back to when I was first figuring out how to ride him and was super defensive. I need to remember to breathe and let go (true on so many levels).
The walk is looking really good and I am doing a good job of managing him in the walk, which is funny because D thought the walk is what we would struggle the most with. Now I just need to transfer that mindset to the trot because the walk is our happy place right now.
I am doing a better job with the trot (above). D thinks that the majority of our problems are because I am too tense and he is now in the neutral, so I need to meet him there. I need to get out of my head and stop worrying so much.
Our lateral work is improving, but I need to stop once I get the correct response and not push for more. I need to go for baby steps instead of trying to go for everything (29:07).
05.15.16 Video Lesson
My Thoughts:
I was fairly happy with this video. I felt like most of the issues were due to me. I was waiting for some new stirrup leathers to come in, so I could shorten them a hole. We had done a fair amount of walk before the video starts and I really think that helps him to loosen up and relax.
D's Thoughts:
Our first trot transition is one of the best we have done and the trot work is the best it has been since we removed the side reins. I was looking much more relaxed in the trot. We had a nice diagonal until I flubbed the corner (I remembered that there is a dip in that corner at the last minute and turned him abruptly). In general, I need to use my aids better in the corners.
I need to get him a touch lower in the trot work for now. He was working well and it was excellent work for us, but in general I need to work him a little lower. Overall, D thought this was one of our best rides since losing the draw reins.
05.24.16 Video Lesson
My Thoughts:
I was pretty happy with this video. It was after I had a couple lessons with my favorite dressage judge, so I was a bit disappointed that the leg yields weren't as good as they had been. I was having some trouble to the right, and I think it was because he was locking up in the poll and I couldn't quite get him to give and I think that is why he was twisting his nose.
D's Thoughts:
Right from the beginning, I took his neck away. I did have a bobble and ask for too much when I did the turn on the forehand. I shouldn't be afraid to let him trot when he starts to get worked up (I don't totally agree with this, because I have a system that is working for us, but it is good to keep in mind).
In the second trot set, he is rushing a bit and I need to slow him down and rebalance, but I am catching him when he comes above the bit. On the plus side, the leg yields were good. At one point I even got him to drop his right hip and led with his hind end.
One interesting thing that D said was when I feel that tightness in the poll is it is actually his hind that is the problem. I need to really push the hind leg up under him and really emphasize the bend to get the release I want. She also feels that he tends to jam himself up in his shoulder, because he has really figured out how to bring the energy up from his hind.
Overall, D was really happy with how things are progressing.
05.29.16 Video Lesson
My Thoughts:
I kept this one short, because it was hot (little did I know that it was just getting started). I wasn't super happy with the trot work, because it felt like he was pulling with his front instead of pushing from behind. Also, he was blowing through my half halt attempts. I also played with the shoulder in (baby ones) and leg yields (they made him anxious, so I didn't do much). Overall, I was happy with the ride and he felt balanced and didn't take as long of a walk warm up to start stretching.
D's Thoughts:
D was happy with the shoulder in. The one to the right wasn't as good, but it was a good starting place. The trot work at 7:00 looked really good. When I am doing the turn on the forehand, I was trying to hold him in it too long and now I need to make sure his feet are planted. He is wiggling too much and I need to get him planted and then ask. I also figured out that I was cueing for the turn on the haunches incorrectly.
Overall, she thought this was one of the best rides we have had. Our trot work was inconsistent, but he would respond promptly when I asked him to stretch down again. The lateral work was some of our best.
When Teddy's Tack Trunk ran a sale over the 4th of July weekend, I was really excited. I had been dying to get their brushes after SprinkerBandits and $900 Facebook Pony (2nd and 3rd review) both said they were fantastic for their super sensitive horses. Plus these ladies have never steered me wrong with purchases (and yes there have been many), so I went all out and got the Leistner "Trophy" Brush Set (I did do the substitution for the Prinz brush).
All the pretty brushes
I was so excited when they shipped within hours of placing the order and when they arrived I skipped out on my adulating duties to go make my pony pretty. Who doesn't love to try new things? Stinker was not nearly as excited to be drug out of his pasture as I was to drag him. I figured I could bribe him with some food and he would forgive me.
Not the face I was getting.
He was less than thrilled. In fact he was grumpier than usual when it came to grooming. I was a little bummed but chalked it up to him being grouchy. I continued to use the brushes, but he doesn't seem to approve of them. In fact the softest face brush causes the most objection. WTF horse! I don't know if it is a smell thing, because he is weird about his face. Everything has to be sniffed and typically chewed before it can touch his face. I am trying to decide if I will keep torturing him with these brushes or go ahead and sell them. He doesn't appreciate them any more than the cheap brushes and objects more to some of them.
Really not sure about this.
That being said, I adore these brushes. They are everything that SprinkerBandits and $900 Facebook Pony said (minus the fact the my sensitive asshat doesn't appreciate them). Especially the Hoof Brush. That thing is staying no matter what. It is freaking amazing. We have super sandy soil and Stinker wears pull on bell boots and the sand is a pain to clean out. The hoof brush cuts that cleaning process in half at the very least.
So do I ignore my horse's objections and keep the brushes because I want them? Or do my best to recoup my money and go back to the cheapies because my horse has zero taste?
Yep. The little Stinker is a tattletale. First, I will back up a bit. I started playing sports when I was in middle school. I was terrible. That happens when you grow a lot and lose all coordination. I stopped growing in 8th grade, and once I started high school the coaches started being more interested in me as a player. That is what happens when you are a 6'0" tall girl. Anyway, I started focusing on basketball and had a coach that wanted to win at all costs. I was expected to play at all costs (I actually got yelled at for not playing with a sprained ankle). This basically taught me to ignore pain and push through it. This carried on through college (basketball again). I was basically a year round athlete plus working on my parents ranch, sometimes doing as many as three practices a day.
He was snorting at small children...
At the time I didn't realize I was destroying my hips and ankles. I knew my ankles were weak because I kept spraining them, but I wore braces (basically the air cast ones) and was careful outside of practice. They got taped a lot, but I never went to the doctor or did any rehab when I did injure them. It was ice and advil to numb the pain to play. I got really good at hiding limping. In college, I started having hip problems and this was more serious, but I was just taught to wrap them and mask the symptoms so I could play. Once I hit grad school my activity level dropped drastically and I started having back problems. I finally went to the doctor when I was having spasms that rendered me immobile and was having problems walking (super smart to wait that long I know).
Even still I am screwing up my ankles and getting booted (pic from last year).
A set of X-rays later, I was told, "wow you have a lot of wear on your hips even for an athlete." Super helpful dude, but they did send me to PT for a bit. There I learned that I am quad dominate and have weak hamstrings. This leads to my hip flexors being tight and when they get too tight they pull on my lower back causing the back issues. For the most part I am doing better about keeping things in balance, but I still have days where I sit too much and my hips start to tighten up.
He does not look like this when I have tight hips...
This is were Stinker comes into play. He does not appreciate it when I have tight hips. And now apparently he can tell my hips are tight before I can. I had an excellent ride on Saturday and Sunday was supposed to be a light day. He kept getting more and more anxious, so I decided to give him a timeout. I got off him and just let him chill for ten minutes. Typically this helps to reset his brain.
More yoga for you and cookies for me please.
When I got back on things were a bit better, but it took about 40 minutes to get him to where he was reaching and supple. I worked him a bit longer just to solidify that it was what I wanted and got off. I promptly started thinking back to last month when I had a tense anxious monster on my hands. Then did a few other errands and what not and a few hours later I noticed my hips were tight. I am willing to put money on Stinker's tenseness was due to my hips being tight.
I was actually a little bummed this month. Don't get me wrong, he is looking fantastic, but I really want his neck fixed already. It is slowly improving, but when I see that darn dip I get sad and think I am not doing something right. Basically, I have too much time to stare at the picture and fixate. I am very happy with his weight and how shiny he is.
When I compare back to January (bottom in the sets) he has a lot of improvement. I am just getting greedy and wanting more.
I want him to look like this when he is just standing, but I will just have to be patient.
I took Friday off and turned it into a pony day. I was suppose to adult and I did minimally, but it was a pretty awesome day.
First up I had a lesson and I got to ride S's mare. I adore this horse. She is a big (16.3) leggy OTTB. Last year they did a one star, but this year has been plagued with minor health issues that has kept them from being in top form. Not to mention she has anhidrosis so the summer is rough. Anyway, the point of the lesson was for me to loosen her up and for S to see her go. It was a really good ride and I got to ride a well trained horse for a change and fine tune my aids a bit. I also got a reminder of the go button. Stinker doesn't typically need that button so it gets a little rusty for me.
We took this quality video.
After my lesson, I did some ground work with Stinker. I wanted to lunge him to see how he was going (the vet was out today and I wanted to either increase or decrease my paranoia before he came). I also wanted to play with backing. D wants me to start working that under saddle but it tends to frazzle Stinker. My plan is to get him to back totally off voice commands then have him start to back under saddle when I have a ground person and progress from there.
This picture makes me giggle. Rosie is the evil mini and Paddy is an Irish Sport Horse.
The most amusing part of lunging was when he got sassy and tried to buck. I say tried, because he really doesn't know how to buck. After a few jumps, he trotted off and was so proud of himself, which made me laugh even harder. I really wish I had a video of it, because then I would shame on the internet. I did actually get some trot video (I lack skills to lunge and video very well but it exists).
I hung out at the barn most of the morning, but decided to leave before the vet arrived. My logic was that every time I see him my wallet empties itself, so I figured I would spare myself that pain. I then went home to "clean and work on job applications" and ended up sitting on my couch and playing on the internet. Oops...oh well. It was just what I needed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Since blogger decided to spare you my whining weekend update post by eating it. Here is a hastily written conformation picture update post. They aren't the greatest since he was extra wiggly.
The shoulders are starting to even out.
January is on the bottom.
His weight and his top line are looking much better.
His shoulders are improving (Jan on the bottom).
I still don't like how upside down his neck is but when he drops his head you can see where the muscles are starting to fill in.
I still need to get more lift to fill in the gap in front of the withers, but I don't think he has enough strength behind to really do that yet.
Overall, I am really happy with how he is looking and we have made some large strides in the right directions. Hopefully he can keep it up and look like a real sport horse by the end of the year.
