DefinitelyDressage.com

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I am also chipping away at things big and basic. I've had a lot of work and travel interruptions to normal riding since mid-august. MM has had a lot of inconsistent work, enough just to keep her from forgetting everything, but I'd really like to get our work back to normal, esp as we head into fall ...

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Set up a tiny obstacle course -- I don't mean things he necessarily has to go over, but things he has to go through and between and work on sending him. Meaning--don't lead him through, but send him through via a line. I also teach all my horses to stop when I stop, no pressure on the lead and back ...

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Thanks, Tanga. Part of the reason I want to do the first level freestyle is I figure this is a good way for me to learn how to do it, when it's a bit less overwhelming--fewer movements, etc. I hope some day I am doing upper level freestyles and if I get there, it'll be nice to have some freestyle ex...

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Goldhorse--glad you were able to find a good farrier and get shoes on Piggy that make him happy. Sorry to hear about the colic problems, the end of summer often seems to be so brutal. Glad he seems to be out of the worst of it. When it's really hot I end up just soaking everyone's food, I'm not sure...

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I'm debating putting together a first level freestyle for RP next year. I've never done one before, so I thought it might be a nice challenge to play around with one now at the lower levels so that I can gain some experience while at a level I still have some confidence with generally speaking. So, ...

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Ryeissa wrote:anyone know when the new tests will be released?

I believe last time they were released in December. But it poses an interesting question because regional championships usually have open shows alongside that are qualifiers for the following years regionals.

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Me: Exercise outside of riding, even if just walking Eat healthy/cook more Keep trailer practicing! RP: Go to regionals in Oct(?): I haven't shown since Nov, so this might be a mess, but also we've qualified and it's fairly local, so may as well? Continue strength training with hill work and poles ...

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Me: Continue to eat healthy Drink water Do something physical on days I can't ride Practice hauling once trailer arrives MM Start doing work in the arena Continue trot and canter, working towards a 40 minute riding session Bring in poles and small jumps to keep interest up RP 2nd clinic with Heidma...

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thank you, Chisamba!

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I agree with Chisamba that with a mare it's likely to be hormonally linked. Is it a lot of pee or smaller amounts? Having said that, my gelding--RP--frequently does the same thing pees like crazy the minute I get off, even sometimes when I've seen him pee not too long before I got on. I would encour...

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Oh, LSP so sorry to hear this news. But having some answers might also help you get Lynx on the right track. There are many imperfections that are very manageable once you know what you're dealing with and sounds like you and the vet have talked through a lot of really good options. IRAP and PRP tre...

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looks beautiful! What a great update! Also a timely revival of this thread as I'm back on the trailer training track--this time trying to get MM to remember her good progress and apply it to my new trailer, which once she gets comfortable with, will be her usual/reliable ride. Right now it smells ne...

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great pic, Chisamba--blue looks great on all three of you! Demi--I hope you are starting to feel better and get your energy back. Khall--keep us posted on Chex's updates, he sure is a cutie. SF--thanks for sharing the great ride on Tesla. She is looking stronger and stronger! Piedmontfields--jingles...

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The second one in the first post and the first one in the second post are my favorites

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:D ok so maybe my flying change was a bit too expressive. Half pass to fc to halp pass :lol: https://galleries.page.link/cYAvt Credit Michele Morgenstern photography looks like the gallery is locked so only someone with a specific email address/password can view it. If you have a long list you're t...

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Chex is very cute! I've been reading along and am glad to see many are making good progress or at least having fun despite summer heat and COVID on the rise. I've been in a real funk/mess when it comes to riding. It feels like I cannot make my body do what I want it to do and any time I try to focus...

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Do you ride with a whip? Sometimes! Most of my rides on RP are without whip or spur. But I have used whip with him plenty and he understands it. Having said that, at first he did not do well with the whip so I spent a long time getting him used to that as well. it's important to me that he tolerate...

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Then put them on at the end of your ride. Touch him with them and when he tolerates it get off. I if I have a horse that over reacts to the leg I use it more not less. If you had a horse that over reacted to being girthed would you ride it without a girth? Or take the time to get it comfortable wit...

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Thanks for the suggestions, Chisamba and Exvet. yes, I definitely don't need the spur for the forward, but it is a tool he should be tolerant of, esp as lateral work becomes more sophisticated. Exvet--I do in hand work with him, but I usually do not need to hold the whip on him. But it's a good sugg...

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I'm really struggling to get RP used to spurs. If I use the spur even once he gets super tense--chomping on the bit, dropping his back, losing his rhythm, swapping leads in canter if I use my leg at all. It becomes a total mess. At first I thought maybe I was using the spur too much by accident, but...

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Demi--I am so sorry to hear this update. I have been thinking of you. Grateful you have Besa.

I've been following everyone else's updates. Jingles to horses and humans that need them. And congrats Chisamba and Aleuronx for some show successes.

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I don't disagree with the notion that sometimes you need your hands to be side reins--still and consistent and perhaps even a bit wide for the horse to find a steady place. But that also requires moving the horse forward and doesn't require leaning back or sitting heavy. Keeping your position, sure,...

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Would copra (Coolstance) be an option as a carrier? Many horses find that pretty delicious. I've considered coolstance as something to feed RP since he's off grain and I know a lot of people feed it. Honestly, though beet pulp is so easy and cheap that for now I'm inclined to stick with it. I know ...

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Ryeissa wrote:Do you still need help Blob?

I ended up just mixing in some alfalfa pellets with his beet pulp mix to make it more palatable.

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oh no, Demi, so sorry. Thank you for the update. Thinking of you and DH and so glad to hear prognosis is good for the long term.

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Sounds like the auditing experience was more valuable than a riding experience would have been, LSP--that's good to know! Pole lesson sounds really fun! Chisamba--excited to hear how the show goes! Kyras_mom--cantering poles really can be so dramatic for some horses. Back when I was jumping in my te...

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I think it can be misleading to think "i'm going to just learn from the horse" because like Chisamba said, every ride trains the horse and because ultimately the rider is still the one guiding the horse. However, I personally find that it is helpful to approach riding a school master with ...

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great update! Come on, skinny piggy!

just curious--what is his current diet?

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Over the weekend had put ice boots out in a bucket of ice so they'd be ready to go when I got done riding, but I guess I underestimated the amount of time I'd be riding and how fast the ice would melt because when I got back I had a bucket of ice water. As soon I took MM's bridle off, she put her he...

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CH and CD are not the only international riders who turn out their horses and hack out, etc. It feels strange to me that they are so often singularly singled out as doing something so exceptional.

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I agree. But I also think the sport is encouraging it, not just through breeding, but also by FEI. Let's say we go with the often stated sentiment that a horse should go up one level a year. If a 4 year old is doing training level, then that same horse would be doing 12 at GP and that's with no set ...

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Gosh, what a horrible and terrible thing to witness, Chisamba. I used to ride a horse with anhidrosis and we kept a bucket with water by the arena gate and we would just toss water on him every 15 minutes or so in the summer. Even with horses that sweat on hot days, I often hose off before I get on,...

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Gosh, Mountaineer, how scary--glad everything turned out ok and that you have such a wonderful BO! I am finally feeling much better, post-COVID, but work is looking very busy this week and then this coming weekend we are supposed to go out of town. So, I'm not sure much riding will get done, which i...

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It's worth also assessing if he was breathing hard because he was overheated or because of asthma.

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Board is being raised substantially at Obie (my retired guy)'s barn, so I am looking to either move him to my main barn, since the cost will now be the same, or try pasture board for half the cost about 15 minutes away. I'm unsure about that though, since he lost condition winter before last and I'...

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I have a big trip in August, so this will be a bit of a slower period in terms of goal, trying not to be too ambitious! Me: Continue to eat healthy Drink water Do something physical on days I can't ride Practice hauling once trailer arrives MM Start doing work in the arena Continue trot and canter, ...

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Oh gosh, Aleuronx, what a stressful situation. Keeping fingers crossed that you get resolution soon. I'm finally testing negative for COVID so made it out the barn after 1.5 weeks, but still very much feeling the fatigue. Here's the closeout: Me: Eat healthier Find time to exercise outside of riding...

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Susan, I've found that the kind without ears stay on much better than the ones with ears. Also I don't know if Kyra also wears a fly sheets but some fly sheet neck attachments have a little velcro loop that you can slip through the forelock hole or the ear hole on a fly mask and that really helps ke...

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that's a nice clip, LSP even if the bit was on backwards--lynx looks like a good boy and is steady and straight in his work. Kyra's_mom what a scary episode, glad it has a good conclusion. I'm going on day 7 of fever. I do feel better than I did last Tu-Thu (the worst days), but I cannot seem to sha...

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Khall--keeping fingers crossed for your mother. I too have Covid, despite being vaccinated and boosted. It seems numbers in GA are on the rise. I've been sick since Tuesday with no signs of slowing down, sigh. Fever is a bit lower today after several days of high fever, but cough has really picked u...

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Hurrrah, Heddy! Glad you guys had a good trip and arrived safe and sound. Congrats, Chisamba and Aleuronx on some great show results. LSP, sounds like a productive clinic despite the uncharacteristic spook. Lynx looks lovely in that first picture. Re: lateral canter: Aleuronx, I recall you sharing a...

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great update! and thank you for keeping us posted.

Are there specific surfaces you're supposed to walk him on?

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So glad you found a solution that works, Khall! Brown tack is so beautiful! Demi--will also jump on the train encouraging the clinic! I think riding in a clinic that your instructor is also riding in/watching is ESPECIALLY valuable because it's likely a philosophy your trainer follows and she can he...

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Interestingly, MM had the best spring shots she's ever had in terms of reaction. Maybe I've just really got the forumla down on how to minimize reaction

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Try soaked hay pellets first, without any supplement, to see if they'd be palatable. I wouldn't rule out beet pulp products with molasses, if you're only using the foodstuff to deliver supplements, since the molasses content overall is not going to be a huge component of the daily diet. Also, what ...

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Srhorselady wrote:Have you tried beet pulp pellets? I soak those and use them as the transfer element for my picky eater. They don’t take long to soak.

the beet pulp is what he's been getting but has decided he no longer wants to eat

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Josette wrote:
Have you tried any probiotics in the past?

They make things worse, sadly. I worked with a nutritionist because he was so difficult and the take away was forage only + Vermont blend is really all he can have. It's just trying to find another vehicle for that Vermont blend since he's off his bp

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What about a ration balancer? He might take a bit less than a pound (1lb per 1000 lbs). My ration balancer has 500 IU of Vitamin E/lb and I just throw in 3-400 IU capsules of natural E to increase the dose. Kyra’s RB has flax. She is pretty sparkly and she gobbles it right up. Hers is a west coast ...

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Ugh, sorry, Josette. Mine always gets reactions despite NSAIDs but she doesn't get the stocking up in the legs. However, I always ride her after she gets her shots to get her body moving. Vaccine reactions usually are worse if there isn't movement and so I do a light ride to get her to move her full...

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He won't eat aloe vera unless it's mixed in with like a pound of molasses, lol.

I can do hay pellets was just curious if there were other options. It's hard to have a combo of both limited in what he can eat and what he wants to eat

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