My back has been aching for a while. It started way back when I first got Willig and rode him a couple times before his hives got so bad I basically didn't ride him again for two months. And then when I started riding him again, the back pain came back. At the time, Bob said it was because he's such a big mover, and I hold myself pretty rigid, so it was jarring my back.
It actually doesn't hurt so much when I ride him now, but sometimes it does, and sometimes it hurts when I ride Mercury. Willig's little tantrum on Saturday, combined with that first day of holding his leg for 20 minutes bent over the bucket, has made my back hurt pretty bad the last week.
So today I went to the chiropractor. He said that the muscles are like rebar - they're totally inflamed and knotted up, and he can't do anything until they relax some. I have to stop jogging (the jarring), and I'm supposed to take it easy on other activities. He said he wasn't going to ban riding yet, but it will depend on if I can get the muscles to relax. Worst of all, I have to wear this dorky back brace, which granted, feels pretty nice, but makes me look like a little old lady.
I haven't decided if I'm going to ride the rest of this week or just take it off. Since Willig isn't rideable and Mercury does ok with breaks, maybe I should give my back a break and hope I can ride again next week once Willig gets his shoe back on.
And great news! Sam is going to do a partial lease on Mercury. I am so happy. She loves him, he loves her, and I love that I can relax a little about the amount of attention I'm giving him.
Charlie with the long sought after cooler
Spring NWEC 2013 Novice
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Next saddle sizes
I need a 17" dressage. The 17" xc is pretty comfortable, but Bob told me to get jumping a 1/2" bigger, so I guess I need a 17 1/2" xc.
I took my old saddles to be sold at Tack Room Too, and the xc was 18" (whoa!) and the dressage was 17 1/2". That's quite possibly why my new jumping is so comfortable - it's the only one that actually fits me.
I got a 16 1/2" dressage as my new saddle, and when I do my hand behind my butt, it's just a little bit too small.
Both Willig and Mercury were very good today. Maybe I just need to do Willig on even (or odd) days.
I took my old saddles to be sold at Tack Room Too, and the xc was 18" (whoa!) and the dressage was 17 1/2". That's quite possibly why my new jumping is so comfortable - it's the only one that actually fits me.
I got a 16 1/2" dressage as my new saddle, and when I do my hand behind my butt, it's just a little bit too small.
Both Willig and Mercury were very good today. Maybe I just need to do Willig on even (or odd) days.
Willig's lameness was (is) an abscess
That makes two for Mercury this year and one for Willig, while my prior almost 20 years of horse history includes 0.
It was under his shoe, sort of on his toe, and fairly deep. And it was the left leg, which he was pointing with (but also pawing with), and it was not easy to detect.
He was terrible though, the day the vet was out. He had been in the stall almost a week by then, and wanted one thing and one thing only: to be out with his friends. We had to use a stud chain on him, which he respected immediately, which was weird because I've never used a stud chain before. So it was either his old home or Bob that taught him.
That day, his first day soaking, was a bit of an adventure. Mostly, I hung onto his leg with my left arm and the bucket with my right arm, and bent over for 20 minutes, mostly with his foot in the water. It wasn't until the very end (when his other three legs got tired) that he finally set it down in the bucket.
The next day he didn't get soaked because I spent my entire barn time hanging up one of those "pas-i-fiers" (the rolling thing that mounts in the corner) and this treat ball that hangs up high. He loves the treat ball, and sportingly licked the pas-i-fier before going back to the treat ball.
Day three (but really like day 10), I took him out to the grass turn out, and let him eat grass and walk around until the other horses started to go in, at which point he finally started running around. The soaking that day was not easy (like Mercury), but not so bad.
Day 4 - yesterday - bad, bad day. We had divine weather, so I went out around lunch, put him out in the grass turn out again, and then rode Mercury. Then I switched him and Mercury, and about half way back, he realized he was going back into the barn and did not want to go. Honestly, I don't blame him, but the vet said stall rest. So we inched our way back to the barn, he'd walk a few steps, stop and put his head in the air, I'd make him step sideways, he'd walk a few steps. When we got to the barn, I took him into the grassy area and had him walk over the "bridge" a couple times, then let him eat grass again for a few more minutes. My thinking was it was at least a small reward for actually making it to the barn. Because ... the barn staff told me on Day 2 that he had "broken out" of his stall each time they put the hay in. He does stand there with his head at the door (because there are bars so he can't hang it out), but I was like "oh dear" ... I've been thinking some about barn staff - who might mean well - but the effects it can have on a younger, willful, opinionated horse and that horse's owner when she gets out at night.
So anyway - that foot soaking was a disaster. We got in a huge fight - while he was more willing to plant his foot (so he could paw with the other foot) - he was also leaping around, and eventually spilled the bucket. I had his foot only partially wrapped (I don't like for him to put it down half way, because then it just gets gross and dirty under a layer of duct tape), and I got so mad at him that I put him in his stall and left. At the time, I was just pissed, but later, I realized it was an awful lot like a time-out for a kid.
I totally understand why he's acting up - he's not getting enough exercise, he's away from his herd (and is clearly a horse that has problems with that), I'm doing weird things with him, and he doesn't feel bad anymore, so he just wants to go out and run around. But this raises the old beast - is he too much horse for me or will I learn as I go along? The vet said that a 6 year old warmblood is the mental equivalent of a 3 year old quarter horse, and that he'll improve with age and training, but that his personality will always be a bit like this. And this is probably my absolute weakest area - I don't know how to train a baby. I don't know how to train ground manners.
He gets his shoe back on May 5th, but I'm turning him out again starting tomorrow. I'll just clean his foot and reapply his little bootie each night and hope it doesn't create another abscess.
I've noticed, even without riding him the past two weeks and only riding Mercury, my lower back is still killing me. And bending over with that bucket is not helping at all. My supervisor's wife just had to have neck surgery and has fused vertebrae in her lower back (she rides), and my trainer back in college had a fall and landed on a jump and broke her back and had fused vertebrae. I'm wondering if my back is just weak from the time off, and keeps getting sore instead of stronger, or if something could be going "wrong" with the way I ride that's messing up the vertebrae. I know I'm a bit of a hyopchondriac but I'm thinking of visiting the chiropractor just to make sure it's not something serious. Each week I tell myself I'm going to start doing pilates at home to strengthen it, then each week there's too much else to do.
It was under his shoe, sort of on his toe, and fairly deep. And it was the left leg, which he was pointing with (but also pawing with), and it was not easy to detect.
He was terrible though, the day the vet was out. He had been in the stall almost a week by then, and wanted one thing and one thing only: to be out with his friends. We had to use a stud chain on him, which he respected immediately, which was weird because I've never used a stud chain before. So it was either his old home or Bob that taught him.
That day, his first day soaking, was a bit of an adventure. Mostly, I hung onto his leg with my left arm and the bucket with my right arm, and bent over for 20 minutes, mostly with his foot in the water. It wasn't until the very end (when his other three legs got tired) that he finally set it down in the bucket.
The next day he didn't get soaked because I spent my entire barn time hanging up one of those "pas-i-fiers" (the rolling thing that mounts in the corner) and this treat ball that hangs up high. He loves the treat ball, and sportingly licked the pas-i-fier before going back to the treat ball.
Day three (but really like day 10), I took him out to the grass turn out, and let him eat grass and walk around until the other horses started to go in, at which point he finally started running around. The soaking that day was not easy (like Mercury), but not so bad.
Day 4 - yesterday - bad, bad day. We had divine weather, so I went out around lunch, put him out in the grass turn out again, and then rode Mercury. Then I switched him and Mercury, and about half way back, he realized he was going back into the barn and did not want to go. Honestly, I don't blame him, but the vet said stall rest. So we inched our way back to the barn, he'd walk a few steps, stop and put his head in the air, I'd make him step sideways, he'd walk a few steps. When we got to the barn, I took him into the grassy area and had him walk over the "bridge" a couple times, then let him eat grass again for a few more minutes. My thinking was it was at least a small reward for actually making it to the barn. Because ... the barn staff told me on Day 2 that he had "broken out" of his stall each time they put the hay in. He does stand there with his head at the door (because there are bars so he can't hang it out), but I was like "oh dear" ... I've been thinking some about barn staff - who might mean well - but the effects it can have on a younger, willful, opinionated horse and that horse's owner when she gets out at night.
So anyway - that foot soaking was a disaster. We got in a huge fight - while he was more willing to plant his foot (so he could paw with the other foot) - he was also leaping around, and eventually spilled the bucket. I had his foot only partially wrapped (I don't like for him to put it down half way, because then it just gets gross and dirty under a layer of duct tape), and I got so mad at him that I put him in his stall and left. At the time, I was just pissed, but later, I realized it was an awful lot like a time-out for a kid.
I totally understand why he's acting up - he's not getting enough exercise, he's away from his herd (and is clearly a horse that has problems with that), I'm doing weird things with him, and he doesn't feel bad anymore, so he just wants to go out and run around. But this raises the old beast - is he too much horse for me or will I learn as I go along? The vet said that a 6 year old warmblood is the mental equivalent of a 3 year old quarter horse, and that he'll improve with age and training, but that his personality will always be a bit like this. And this is probably my absolute weakest area - I don't know how to train a baby. I don't know how to train ground manners.
He gets his shoe back on May 5th, but I'm turning him out again starting tomorrow. I'll just clean his foot and reapply his little bootie each night and hope it doesn't create another abscess.
I've noticed, even without riding him the past two weeks and only riding Mercury, my lower back is still killing me. And bending over with that bucket is not helping at all. My supervisor's wife just had to have neck surgery and has fused vertebrae in her lower back (she rides), and my trainer back in college had a fall and landed on a jump and broke her back and had fused vertebrae. I'm wondering if my back is just weak from the time off, and keeps getting sore instead of stronger, or if something could be going "wrong" with the way I ride that's messing up the vertebrae. I know I'm a bit of a hyopchondriac but I'm thinking of visiting the chiropractor just to make sure it's not something serious. Each week I tell myself I'm going to start doing pilates at home to strengthen it, then each week there's too much else to do.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Lame Willig; Leased (?) Mercury
Willig went lame over the weekend. When I went out Saturday, he was a little off, but when I went back out Sunday he was a cripple. His right shoulder is knotted up pretty badly, but I can't find any warmth, swelling, or tender spots. And I've poked all around his feet and it doesn't seem to be coming from his feet. The lameness isn't the big problem though; it's the stall rest. Willig HATES being separated from the other horses when they get turned out. Even with all the activity Saturday with lessons all day, he was a total brat - in pain and pissed off makes for a hard to handle Willig. He did, after about an hour, settle down and be a sweet boy.
In the meantime, Mercury is on his way to a partial lease. The girl who is interested in him has had a couple lessons and is more comfortable with him being a good choice. She was out Saturday and asked if she could do anything and I said if she wanted, she could groom Mercury, and she groomed him for like an hour, and then took him out to eat grass. He was so shiny and clean. That's exactly what I was looking for - someone to dote on and love Mercury. So hopefully that will all work out.
But for today - another call to the vet, who is probably wondering if I fell off the face of the earth after my December-February earth shattering vet bills, and then nothing (thankfully) for March.
In the meantime, Mercury is on his way to a partial lease. The girl who is interested in him has had a couple lessons and is more comfortable with him being a good choice. She was out Saturday and asked if she could do anything and I said if she wanted, she could groom Mercury, and she groomed him for like an hour, and then took him out to eat grass. He was so shiny and clean. That's exactly what I was looking for - someone to dote on and love Mercury. So hopefully that will all work out.
But for today - another call to the vet, who is probably wondering if I fell off the face of the earth after my December-February earth shattering vet bills, and then nothing (thankfully) for March.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Willig has a funny quirk
I saw him doing this for the second time tonight (the first time I thought it was an accident). He likes to put hay in his mouth, dunk his mouth (and the hay) in his water bucket, then eat it. He does it with every single bite of hay. It's why his stall is always all wet when I get there at night. It's weird and kind of cute.
Good book on horse thinking
I've been reading "Think Like Your Horse" by Michael Peace and Lesley Bayley. I was looking for a book with tips on how to build a young horse's confidence, and came across this one at the library. So far it seems like common sense, which is why I like it - something so simple it seems like you should have known it all along. For example, Willig and I have had two battles about trail riding. The first was to go away from all the other horses across the bridge into the woods. He did it fine from the ground, so I didn't think it would be that big a deal riding him, but it was huge. And I refused to get off and we had this long stubborn battle of the wills that I eventually won. The next week I thought I'd make it easier, and we'd go across the huge pasture where he could still see the "herd". That was easier, until we came to this tiny drainage ditch. Then another huge stubborn battle ensued, which I also won, but it was ridiculous. Finally, they moved the jumps in the outdoor arena last week, and he was totally freaked out about it (not about the show on the grounds, which by the way, he treated as if it were no big thing). I made him go past them on the lunge line over and over.
All of those are the same example, which this book says the horse needs to trust you (the leader) and if you make a big deal out of it, he'll make a big deal out of it. So I went back into the woods on a walk. Easy. We walked back and forth past the scary jump standards. Easy. I just need to be more patient with young, inexperienced Willig. What stops me is when I think he's doing it on purpose - he's big, he doesn't want to do it. That's what I think first, not that he's inexperienced and needs a crutch for now.
My new goal for this year, since it looks like we'll be postponing the truck and trailer purchase, is to work on confidence and trust, so that next summer we can start with him trusting me, being in new scary places, and by the end of the summer, he'll have learned that he can trust me no matter where we are and do whatever I ask because I've never let him down.
What helped me get that was that Mercury was just as scared of those jumps being moved. It was just easier for me to see with Mercury because I've known him longer.
All of those are the same example, which this book says the horse needs to trust you (the leader) and if you make a big deal out of it, he'll make a big deal out of it. So I went back into the woods on a walk. Easy. We walked back and forth past the scary jump standards. Easy. I just need to be more patient with young, inexperienced Willig. What stops me is when I think he's doing it on purpose - he's big, he doesn't want to do it. That's what I think first, not that he's inexperienced and needs a crutch for now.
My new goal for this year, since it looks like we'll be postponing the truck and trailer purchase, is to work on confidence and trust, so that next summer we can start with him trusting me, being in new scary places, and by the end of the summer, he'll have learned that he can trust me no matter where we are and do whatever I ask because I've never let him down.
What helped me get that was that Mercury was just as scared of those jumps being moved. It was just easier for me to see with Mercury because I've known him longer.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Truck & Trailer Hunting
I am looking for a used truck and trailer to haul Willig (and Mercury!) around in. If any of you who read this have recommendations or warnings on years/models to avoid, I would love to hear about it.
What I'm looking for right now is a 1999-2000 F250. Ideally it will have less than 150,000 miles, be a diesel, V8 7.3L engine, 4x4, extended or super cab, and have a tow package (though I think I can get that installed). I'd also like for it to have a short bed, but there's already not many trucks in Washington that meet the former criteria, and I haven't found any that meet all that and have a short bed.
The trailer is 2-3 horse, at least 7' tall, extra long, and less than $3,000 (unless I have to reevaluate). I found a web page that suggested 7'6" for a 17h horse, but I think that's asking too much. I don't care about slant or straight load, but I'd prefer a ramp to a step up. And I'd like it to have a separate tack room (not one that is under the hay manger, but one I can stand up in to change clothes). The trailer appears to be the more difficult of the two, though there aren't trucks all over the place like I thought there'd be (what with gas prices and all).
I've been monitoring TackTrader.com (the best resource for used trailers I've found) and Craig's List, and every time there's a tall trailer listed, it gets snapped up.
One of my friends suggested that I avoid Charmac trailers, and any F-250 older than 1998, so if anyone has similar (or different) advice, I would really appreciate it.
What I'm looking for right now is a 1999-2000 F250. Ideally it will have less than 150,000 miles, be a diesel, V8 7.3L engine, 4x4, extended or super cab, and have a tow package (though I think I can get that installed). I'd also like for it to have a short bed, but there's already not many trucks in Washington that meet the former criteria, and I haven't found any that meet all that and have a short bed.
The trailer is 2-3 horse, at least 7' tall, extra long, and less than $3,000 (unless I have to reevaluate). I found a web page that suggested 7'6" for a 17h horse, but I think that's asking too much. I don't care about slant or straight load, but I'd prefer a ramp to a step up. And I'd like it to have a separate tack room (not one that is under the hay manger, but one I can stand up in to change clothes). The trailer appears to be the more difficult of the two, though there aren't trucks all over the place like I thought there'd be (what with gas prices and all).
I've been monitoring TackTrader.com (the best resource for used trailers I've found) and Craig's List, and every time there's a tall trailer listed, it gets snapped up.
One of my friends suggested that I avoid Charmac trailers, and any F-250 older than 1998, so if anyone has similar (or different) advice, I would really appreciate it.
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