DefinitelyDressage.com

heddylamar

Quelah wrote:Don't have to bother scraping if you can keep pouring the cold water on (this has also been established through studies).

I'm at a new barn, and they don't know the — now decades old — science behind this

heddylamar

I hope you find the right spot for Obie. If you were near west TN, I could point you to my equine retirement resort — Mom

heddylamar

Before hosing, did she check the temp of his feet? And take his body temp? If hand walking and cold hosing his chest don't drop the temp, try an ice bath for his front feet. You'll need to start with room temp water, and slowly add ice once he's standing with his foot in the bucket. Shallow ground f...

heddylamar

I have nothing to close out other than I actually managed to ride!

And I've even ridden in Texas! After Maia got herself cast, and tried to black her own eye

heddylamar

Maia’s now a Texas horse

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So far she hasn’t demanded AC! There is a gelding at her new barn with his own minisplit. On the new BO’s advice, I’m leaving her on electrolytes.

heddylamar

We're hitting the road Wednesday for mom's farm in TN, then on to TX on Sunday. Poor Maia is going to melt. Fortunately, it's all interstate, so she'll have some AC by way of wind. I've already started her on electrolytes and probiotics. I may shave her (non-existent coat) during our 3-day stopover...

heddylamar

We're hitting the road Wednesday for mom's farm in TN, then on to TX on Sunday. Poor Maia is going to melt. Fortunately, it's all interstate, so she'll have some AC by way of wind. I've already started her on electrolytes and probiotics. I may shave her (non-existent coat) during our 3-day stopover ...

heddylamar

Since we're moving to a new barn in less than a week(!), Maia got all her vaccines in one go this year and had no reaction

I gave Anz her vaccines in pieces — she's ensconced at mom's farm through at least fall.

heddylamar

Sometimes I just don't know why my students horse is not giving the correct response. I get on and they give it. It makes me feel less adequate as a teacher. Why the heck can't I tell the rider how to produce the response the horse knows how to give. It's so often in the canter transition too. As a...

heddylamar

You're bringing all five home, right?!

heddylamar

I’ve ridden Maia several days in a row again :D And we have a signed lease in Texas! Yesterday’s ride was entertaining. After I took case of all her itchy spots, Maia was nearly comatose tacking up. Then we went outside, the head went up, and my sleepy mare suddenly resembled a giraffe on speed :lol...

heddylamar

I have news: our house is SOLD!!! Closing is June 17, but we signed the paperwork today that essentially signs the ownership of the house over to the DH's company's relocation service. They do all the rest of closing. Movers will be here in 13 days, and us, the piggies, and Maia get on the road in 1...

heddylamar

Oy. Ignore their manipulation! Yes, some horses do better when occupied. I have two of those mares. But just because they need to be mentally busy doesn't mean they're not prone to burnout too. I give them time off interspersed with regular work, plus frequent excursions. Even just a walk down the d...

heddylamar

There's no reason you'd need to curtail your riding post-op, Chisamba. My mom has been riding more since getting the new hip, even though she had to give up running marathons. To replace the running, she picked up weight training and started backpacking again.

heddylamar

I gave myself road rash riding in full seat tights in the summer. Tried them a second time — after a very generous application of body glide — with the same result and concluded sticky full seats are not for me.

heddylamar

Ouch, blob!! Get your finger checked out. The last time I broke a finger it was a compound fracture (I will spare you the second finger fracture details). Other than a slight funkiness when folding the finger down, it is fully functional. That functionality is all due to my frequent flyer miles with...

heddylamar

Take yourself out for a celebratory drink with Miss A!

heddylamar

I'll just be happy if I get to ride these two months!! I kept Maia in MD (v. dropping her off with my mom too) because "of course I'll have time to ride" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I want to know what my past self was smoking because I desperately need that happy juice right now! Between new ...

heddylamar

Chisamba wrote:Still too anxious about flying changed.

Are you breathing through the changes? Being very deliberate about my breaths works wonders if I'm trying to work Anz out of being anxious. Works great for my mom too.

heddylamar

Anz and I drove through the rain, hail, sleet/graupel, snow, sleet/graupel, snow, sleet, rain, and finally some dry pavement yesterday to get to our overnight accommodations. I am disappointed we didn't get locusts too! After that hairy start — and some white-knuckled "wtF are you driving so fa...

heddylamar

Do it, Chisamba!! If something happens and you're not up to riding the baby, you've got students. I've ridden Maia four times this week! She's been a lunatic, running hollering to the fence when I yell for her :lol: and strangely sedate under saddle. She's got a week off because I'm hauling her momm...

heddylamar

I find it absolutely terrifying that people use guns to settle arguments.

heddylamar

I'm feeling much better, and have been doing daily groundwork with a very bouncy energetic Maia since Wednesday. Today was the first day she was semi-sane, but I had no time to ride between clients and Maia's bodywork appointment. She got her bum (and shoulders, face, legs ... everything) stuck full...

heddylamar

Does he toss his head on the lunge line?

heddylamar

Some day I will ride again /sigh I had surgery on March 15 that was supposed to finally resolve a congenital defect (40+ years later :roll: ), and am now dealing with unexpected repercussions that may result in further surgery /sigh AND we're in the midst of moving, putting the house on the market, ...

heddylamar

OMG. I am so sorry.

heddylamar

I'm so sorry, Texsuze.

heddylamar

@Blob Yes, we can ride out in the dressage fields! She doesn't have a ton, but she does have some. If I go that way, I'll also inquire about bringing in 4x rail-only jumps, so we can train. She seems open to the idea. I'm loving the vegan food scene here, @Demi ! We've got a friend who's a chef dow...

heddylamar

I'm in San Antonio for a few days checking out neighborhoods and barns. So far we have one barn that's fully dressage, but fairly flexible in terms of what each horse needs. So Maia requiring soaked grain didn't even get a raised brow. And the BO has another boarder who lives out 24/7, so Maia would...

heddylamar

Learning to back a gooseneck has been a whole 'nother learning curve and quite humbling. :lol: I'm trading rigs with my mom in a few weeks — we're moving, and my truck is not a fun drive on the interstate — and will be hauling her gooseneck. I've hauled her gooseneck several thousand miles, and tha...

heddylamar

Learn to park. You can't presume everywhere will have drive forward/through parking. Learn to back into a space, around things, much like backing a car into a parking spot. Empty parking lots with lines (and curbs, eventually) are perfect for practicing. It will teach the spacial awareness that you'...

heddylamar

Moutaineer wrote:I may end up in prison for Farriercide. Though I think my defense will be strong.

Of course, he may yet turn up.

I fired a farrier after two late shows. I do my best not to be late and call if I am — twice in 16 years with the current farrier — and expect the same in return.

heddylamar

For the shoulder, have you tried counter bend? Maia and I had a similar issue — fairly balanced on the lunge, then really struggling with opening up the left shoulder. When we canter right, I'd put her in a counter bend, then straight, then bend. It took forever, and I did this alongside canter leng...

heddylamar

Maia gave a hard no to half seat. And sitting too deeply would either have her flying forward or slamming on the brakes. So I rode in knee patch breeches, and, on the advice of my trainer, sat lightly until she was better balanced. Canter lengthenings and spiral in/out kept her moving forward, even ...

heddylamar

Congrats to @Chisamba and @Fzybtfrm!!

heddylamar

This is super helpful, thank you! I'm considering two places, and need to email them both. One looks like it has really high traffic, and is right up on the interstate. The other is a breeding operation (Belgians) two miles off the interstate. Both have good reviews. I'll be driving through on eithe...

heddylamar

Has anyone overnighted a horse somewhere while traveling? Anything I should be on the lookout for? The two places I'm considering both require proof of recent Coggins, and I'm vaccinating in the next few weeks. Both also have hookups for electric ... I'm going to ask about tents. Not that mine takes...

heddylamar

Walking in tight serpentines in a super exaggerated nose to horse's knee flexion worked great for my old eventer. We warmed up at the canter, counter canter, and quick canter-walk transitions. Then the walk serpentines. By then she was normally relaxed and attentive enough that her anxiety didn't ta...

heddylamar

Too many urls, so new post. If I had a chance to redo my pick for a barn trunk, think I would do this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-25-in-Cantilever-Rolling-Tool-Box-230380/207138341 I use this to hold the equine first aid kit in the horse trailer. That top level of little containers is perfec...

heddylamar

I would love tips too! My trailer has a built-in trunk at the front of the tack room. It's a black hole of long-forgotten stuff. I can't use boxes because of the shape (v-nose trailer), and the reusable shopping bag system I use in our chest freezer just doesn't work to contain larger bulkier items....

heddylamar

I don't know what I've done to Maia, but the BO's husband on the roof of the house with a leaf blower didn't even get a head twitch on Saturday. Then today she attempted to deposit me on my butt for squealing brakes on a car over a half-mile away. Maia also picked up the canter on the proper lead ea...

heddylamar

For my choker, the vets recommend slow-feeder hay nets and soaked grain, not soaked hay.

heddylamar

Oh no. I knew she was ill, but didn't expect this.

heddylamar

I am so lost with the patterns. Accent stripes and patterns aren't allowed. Then they are. But supposedly only if they're subtle? Yeah right. So many of the "allowed" were in no way subtle. And I won't even get into the "tasteful" and "discreet" accents :lol: You couldn...

heddylamar

I know it's not ideal, but could you move facilities with your barn mates if you don't find the perfect place by then, Blob?

heddylamar

I do a ton of groundwork with them before ever getting on their backs. Both on the ground and under saddle, Maia and Anz both know that shoulder- or haunches-in means business. It's awful hard to spook or misbehave while doing either, so if Anz is being skittish or Maia gathers herself in the "...

heddylamar

It was so unseasonably warm today that I rode in a tank top and summer breeches :shock: I don't know if it was the heat, or shock that I rode her four times this week, but Maia decided she was on vacation, and was not at all interested in working. Pushing Maia forward is counterproductive. That girl...

heddylamar

I've been working remotely with the personal trainer 3.5 months now. Up until omicron, then lameness I hadn't had any time off riding during that time. Then a month+ off. When I got back on today, I was pleased to find that my "Move now. No, NOW." muscles are all in very fine shape. Poor M...

heddylamar

Woot! Woot! Woot! Maia is back to her normal self, finally. And she's feeling great. No lameness, all the Pokey-ness (Gumby's sidekick). Riding this evening was entertaining. "Let's play!!" "No." "But, kitty, in a tree!" "No." Much to Maia's disappointment, we...

heddylamar

So when my saddle fitter tightens my girth as tight as she can. I lean down and loosen it. She held at me because she claims uf I wore a backpack I wouldn't want it bouncing in my back. I always back off on the girth too and buy the super stretchy double-ended elastic type. Can you imagine being co...

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