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I agree, Exvet, or honestly it's probably as simple as 'if you have bad hands it impacts your score' but it doesn't really other than the rider score. If the horse goes around ok even if the rider is being clearly misusing the tool, often the score is good. That would be a really quick way to fix so...

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Oh no, Mountaineer--jingles for Potters! I am also in the 'my horse giving me grey hairs' category. MM is doing ok this week but the high heat last week was rough on her. She is sweating 0, not even a slight drip of it. So it's really just a dance of hosing her off enough to stay cool. RP was starti...

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Chisamba--i largely agree with you that I don't think snaffle bridles are necessarily kinder than double bridles. There is some murmuring of people jumping to third level prematurely because they can't make their horse appear on the bit without a double. But that will just have people jumping to 4th...

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Ponichiwa, that rationale makes sense and is something I'm aligned within the sense that I agree no horse under 6 should be in a double. Having said that, I think rule could have been simply that. No horses under 6 with double bridles. A large majority of third level horses are 6+ in the US. re: the...

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lung EQ and smartpak's spirulina come in a pelletted format that she ate fairly easily. But to be safe i would still try to get a very small container/amount at first!

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I think the move to make double bridle optional all through levels was a great one for all the reasons you shared, Exvet. I'm less certain this change is the right one. I do think bad hands and bad riding will be there regardless.

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Some of you may have heard the news that starting in 2027 in the US double bridles will no longer be allowed at third level and the first level to use them will be fourth. I don't have a strong perspective on this rule, but think it's interesting and have found the conversations on both sides of the...

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what a beautiful colt! and exciting news. He looks like a very big boy, Chisamba, excited to hear how he grows up :) now on to summer goals: Me: Try not to melt in the heat Make time to ride Try to eat healthier Build back strength and stamina MM: Keep her as comfortable as possible in the heat and ...

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Blob and Goldhorse- do you both soak your hay? Obviously this is recommended for both the asthma and the metabolic concerns. But I don't think it's feasible with his living situation at the moment. I might be able to get them to spray down the hay (for asthma) but soaking would require moving and h...

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i'm glad the clenbuterol is helping and hopefully the air quality improves. Clenbuterol opens up airways, but it doesn't actually bring down inflammation, so while it does absolutely provide relief, i do think you need something to also bring down inflammation. There are steroids and anti-inflammtio...

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LSP, if I could go back in time with MM's breathing stuff, I would have been more aggressive with dex in her early years of the issue. When they are coughing there is inflammation and that does damage over time. Once the damage is in, there is no repairing it. I wish I had been more aggressive earli...

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Oh, Ponichiwa, I'm so sorry to hear this news about Queso. Jingles for a speedy recovery. I think ultimately the weak behind feeling RP has is strength as it is showing up only after the time off. BUT that doesn't mean he may not need some support. He was in consistent work and had enough muscle to ...

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We went to a show last weekend, but only competed one day (Saturday). I don't regret that I went because it's the only recognized I can do before regionals and I did need another qualifying scare. That goal was accomplished. BUT overall the show felt disappointing and a harsh reality check that we a...

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I have signed up for a show next weekend, perhaps unwisely. But with my surgery and all our time off, I don't know that third level will happen until end of year/next year. The next recognized show I'm in town for is regionals in october. I have a qualifying score for second and regionals is in GA a...

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Yes, agree, Flight. It's part of the reason i' don't feel very effective using the double because the hold I use currently doesn't let me individualy use/influence the reins. So i just end up deciding how much tension i want on each and maintaining that, but i'm not really influencing one separate f...

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congrats, Chisamba, those are very nice scores and the video clip you shared also reflects really strong work! I don't have any tips for being less stressed about judging. It's a tough one. I think getting better about how I time and structure my warm-ups has helped some and i think also having a ne...

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I also do the crossed rein hold that seems to be the most common. I tried to do the fillis hold recently and I like that it makes it easier for me to influence/take a hold of just the curb or just the snaffle by which part of my hand/which fingers I squeeze. But it's something i'm not used to and so...

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I do think just walking about is a great way to introduce the double. I've always introduced on walk only days at first and just holding snaffle reins, so the horse can just get used to 2 bits in the mouth without pressure from both. I think it's hard to know exactly what kind of bit combo the horse...

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LSP, could it be a reaction to the vaccines? That kind of lump doesn't look that different from what MM gets post vaccine--often the pain, stiffness, and swelling for her lasts 2 weeks if I don't do all the things I do now to prevent it. It's a bit of an overkill routine, but to prevent anything set...

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Oh, Exvet, my heart breaks for you. This was not at all what I was expecting to read. I very much understand and respect the choice not to have him live a compromised or painful life. I do agree with Chisamba though, that it does seem worth trying the drug. If it is causing extreme side effects you ...

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I've started riding some, which is good and hard, ha. RP has come back nicely in the contact, feeling straight and reasonably supple. So all of that has been nice. the thing we need to build back is that before the break he was much much more on his hind end, right now he feels like he is moving con...

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You listed many things, Chisamba, that are real reasons to be sad. But it's also relatable and understandable to be sad without any acute or specific cause. I feel that right now there is just so much. Some days I have to remind myself that it's enough to just get up and go about the basic needs of ...

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repeating most of my goals from last month, esp with RP, since must of March/April was lost to health things Me: Continue to eat at home/cook more than eat out/order in Walk 2-3 times a week Find time to ride with new work schedule Get trailer sorted Get bedroom sorted MM: Continue getting her back ...

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Closing out what feels like a not very productive monthlet! Me: Continue to eat at home/cook more than eat out/order in Walk 2-3 times a week Find a better daily cadence for work days Get trailer sorted Get bedroom sorted MM: Continue getting her back in shape Enjoy her Start pre-summer supplements ...

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Heddy, so sorry to hear about your father. This is never easy and a prolonged illness can be so challenging for everyone. Sending you hugs. I hope you are able to give yourself time to process in whichever way you need to.

Khall, sending jingles for Henry.

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Khall--we have a burn ban higher up here as well. And yesterday everything was very smokey from the south GA/north FL wildfires. I imagine it has been worse for you. We do have some forecast for possible rain this weekend. It's only 40% but I really do hope we get it and I hope you do as well. I can...

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LSP, glad Lynx is feeling good! I used the equiband when I was trying to fix RP's canter issues a couple years back and I really attribute it to being the critical piece of the puzzle that fixed things. I will say that I did feel that in order to get the benefit from it, I had to use it exactly by t...

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oh wow, 20 minutes from the barn, how nice Moutaineer! Gosh, snow in April--though it does seem like most of the country could use some perciptation in one way or the other! Aleuronx, congrats on what sounds like a successful show and some great feedback! re: shows: I am lucky to have 3 venues withi...

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great to see and hear everyone's updates! Re: riding with someone: For safety reasons, I like being at a boarding barn that always has someone around. But I am also glad not to be at a very busy barn. I will say, however, that I love being at a barn where there are a few people i've become quite clo...

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Jingles for all the horses and humans that are less than 100%! Exvet, that is hilarious--glad your boys are doing well! Chisamba, bareback hack definitely counts as a ride! And so impressed with all that you do in a day. Our board went up at the beginning of the year, so I think the owners will try ...

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Yes, that's the other issue with an oil is that not all boarding barns can do it and I understand because oil is a pain! I would think providing daily consistency is more important than the oil format. For allergies the other thing that I have found to be helpful is spirulina. You can find it in sev...

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LSP, I have been using the SmartPak Omega + E so I can get both vit E and high dose of omegas in one supplement rather than more than one. It's reasonably priced and palatable. Having said that best bioavailability usually comes from an oil format rather than a solid. So, if MM would eat it, I would...

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LSP i'm glad you got Lynx checked out early. If I could go back in time with MM, I wish had done more aggressive intervention for her asthma earlier. With her it sort of came out of nowhere. But I would have really loved to been more aggressive in that first year than I was. Hindsight is 20/20. But ...

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Thanks, Exvet, and yes I think regaining some lost fitness will be much easier than rebuilding trust and confidence. So, seems like the better choice all things considered. It's been so nice to hear the recent updates from you on Jr and how far he's come. At 12 he likely has many great years ahead a...

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sigh sigh, this month off to a tough start. I have not been well enough to ride much this march. And now I have surgery scheduled for April 2nd. The doctor is anticipating 4 weeks at least out of saddle. And I've decided not to try to find someone to ride RP, i am worried the switch up will stress h...

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welp, my plans might get drastically changed. I may need to have surgery in coming weeks. If i do, that will of course change everything and I'll need to decide what to do with RP while I heal. 2 weeks no riding would be no problem, but 4 weeks might be not so ideal for him, we've built up so much s...

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Looks like it's time for a new thread! Some of my goals are carried over from last time! Me: Continue to eat at home/cook more than eat out/order in Walk 2-3 times a week Find a better daily cadence for work days Get trailer sorted Get bedroom sorted MM: Continue getting her back in shape Enjoy her ...

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great notes, Mountaineer! And how exciting for the Assist. Trainer to get such incredible feedback! Interesting re: the clucking. I used voice in all my ground work which means my horses know the difference between 'trot' v. 'canter' v. 'walk' when i'm lunging them either on the line or free. But wh...

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Somehow it's already time for close out! Me: Continue to eat at home/cook more than eat out/order in Walk 2-3 times a week Find a better daily cadence for work days Get trailer sorted Get bedroom sorted MM: Continue getting her back in shape Enjoy her Start realistically exploring options for summer...

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fwiw: i've actually found that using this CC method for training the flying changes has helped me maintain the counter canter better than when i tried the change over the diagonal. Over the diagonal, the idea of CC went out the window for RP. But when I asked for the change from the CC, waiting for ...

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SF--RP kicks up a lot in changes too, not out so much as needing to hop up and back behind to coordinate his legs. But also it does feel like it happens more when he anticipates and gets a bit behind the leg and hoppy. The exercise pattern that has helped the most is actually counter cantering aroun...

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SF--good luck on the saddle search, it's the worst. Fingers crossed for your Veritas Eximo. Sounds like your changes are coming along well. I don't know that RP and I are further along on them. I think probably around the same--where the idea of the change is there but the comfort in the mechanics i...

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MM had a bad asthma episode over the weekend, that I'm still trying to sort out and she's still recovering from. On Saturday she was great and normal and we went for a nice hack about (walk only, but about 40 minutes) with a friend. She was totally fine after and she went back out like normal. Sunda...

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thank you for sharing, lots of helpful tips in here!

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Exvet--glad you're having luck with new trainer and that you have a good, supportive path with Junior at the moment LSP--leaving and moving barns is always a hard decision, but it sounds like you have made the right one. My two are at a place they are out 24/7 unless weather is extreme and they are ...

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Sounds like you have a good system, Khall. It's so tough when they're out of work and in restricted movement healing. I hope everyone healiing from surgeries, Khall, Chisamba, Tanga is doing well! Hopefully i'm not missing anyone. We had ice on saturday, but thankfully kept power. Since then we've h...

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I have a dentist/vet who i really really love and trust. When I had a sr. horse in my care, I had her check him 2x a year, but she only intervened as needed. So it was higher frequency evaluation/checking in but less frequent floating, etc.

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Khall, so sorry Joplin's insulin numbers were not great. Hope the E drug kicks in and hopefully the increased work will also help. I'm guessing she hardly eats much, but are there any calorie reductions you can do? Last summer I realized most balancers aren't that low calorie, you just only need to ...

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LSP, it's good that changes are of high quality. But it's still stressful! Hopefully in the next few weeks you'll have a better sense of whether this is an ok set up for you, Lynx, and your daughter. SF, I'm sure you shared it earlier, but T's trace clip is so sharp looking! I love the clean points ...

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ugh, LSP, what a nightmare. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Barn changes are so stressful and these seems especially unideal. It might make sense to start exploring what other options there are out there, just in case? Not sure how it works in your area. But around here, there are a lot of ba...

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