March on into spring (March/April goals)

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Exvet, what a hilarious thing to find with your horses! Goofballs

Chisamba, I also agree that laughing helps. I need to force that response more too. I envy people that actually do find those moments funny. I don't find them funny but right now usually shrug them off. The good thing about having a horse that is spooky is you get kind of desensitized to it in a way. But laughing would be better.

Blob-thinking of you and your surgery. I hope it's one and done.

As far as cost, I'm trying to just take it as it goes. It's scary, honestly. The new barn grows their own hay and has their own water rights and water reserves I guess so I'm hoping that helps.

Lynx had zero coughing on Thursday so fingers crossed that continues. I did email CSU. I'm going to give him a little time on the omegas but plan to get him up there for a more official diagnosis eventually.

My daughter went and rode the gypsy today and they just looked so cute. She's learning shoulder in on him and having a ball. Gearing up for show season. Although with the price hikes on everything it may just be 2 or 3 schooling shows for the whole season.

[khall]

Blob jingles for a successful surgery and a swift full recovery but also don’t do too much too soon!

Exvet silly cob lets! Lani would have good fun with your boys. She’s a curious youngster too. Sounds like continuing progress with Junior hoping Troy settles with his growth spurts soon! How tall do you think he will finish?

Chisamba you are Wonder Woman to be able to ride as much as you do run the barn teach and work an outside job. Do you get to sleep?? Glad though your recovery has gone well. Good luck showing this year.

Lsp sounds very positive on Lynx with his breathing. Have you seen a change in his stifles strength after the move? Joplin just now is showing some weakness after spending 6 months stalled and limited work. But we are back in the equi band with a plan from my holistic vet

SF glad the US showed positive progress and T is handling her stall rest hand walking well.

Ponichiwa sure hope Queso's lameness was nothing serious!! Update when you can.

I had my holistic vet who does rehab work too to come look at Joplin. Her diagnosis was Joplin is not using her obliques well enough to do trot lateral work yet or canter. So back in the equi band using it for all walk lateral work and 4 laps of trot in my covered. Also get out on the slopes in my pastures to work her. No canter quite yet she’s just not strong enough

I’d rather take it slow and make sure we don’t reinjure it. Still no turnout but I am hand grazing her some.


In other news please jingle for Henry the coonhound. He woke us up 146 am Thursday morning having a full on foaming at the mouth seizure. He’s really too old for it to be epilepsy. He’s 8 or 9. If he has another seizure then I’m looking at cancer probably. Ugh. Last dog I dealt with seizures was Gracie but she was 15 and aging Henry is still full of life being the big goofy hound he is.

I love my animals but boy they can break your heart. That coupled with Joplin colicing a week ago Saturday (thankfully not uga trip) was stressful week

I did get to ride Chex the pony. He was a good boy!

Edited to add: costs. Yeah have no idea what fertilizer for our hay fields will run this year. I’ve got lots of hay from 2025 still and I’m glad!! Diesel is so expensive and my truck is my daily driver. Hanging onto it even though it’s 19 years old.

Happy spring all and good riding!

[exvet]

We got another notch in our belt for big boy Troy's accomplishments. I hauled both Junior and Troy over to my instructor's house one hour away. Junior's been there plenty of times but it was Troy's first. I put Troy in a stall and he settled like it was all part of the routine while I rode Junior in my first lesson. My instructor was really surprised at how much we've improved in just one week. Junior was far more forward, willing and had really nice jump in the canter and stayed round. My instructor observed that Junior seems to have no problem staying soft, round without ever going to his under neck at the walk. He was also really good in the contact..............which he's always that way. At the trot and the canter we seem to lose it but of course it's harder work which is what I believe is his issue; however, I did more riding with my seat and going back and forth between collection and working gaits that he had some really good moments. I did try some flying changes and they were very much improved. His canter pirouettes are also improving significantly. I'm starting to think we may actually be getting somewhere.

I lunged Troy before I rode him. My instructor has chickens, geese, cats and dogs - large numbers that are everywhere. Troy just took it all in stride. His canter looked good on the lunge but I only walked and trotted under saddle throwing in some turns on the forehand, rein back and leg yield at the walk. He was great and my instructor really loves his gaits and cadence. She also gave me a thumbs up for getting a cob with a longer back and neck to match. This is the first time she's every seen him. She was impressed with how level headed he is and not prone to real panic attacks. He mildly scared himself with one canter depart but nothing big and no cross cantering or wrong leads today! This was also the first time Troy ever rode in or has seen a true dressage court as well. Trying to keep myself contained and not get too hopeful or ambitious. The boys loaded like champs to head home despite their new found friends. It was so nice to have two good solid lessons back-to-back.

khall, Troy is 15 hands now. I suspect he'll finish at 15.1 since his sire is only 14.3. He is very wide (post on each corner) but he is no where close to being filled out yet. I strongly expect he'll end up much like one of my former stallions (an imported section D chestnut we called Fred which I acquired as a weanling) who was a tank but still very nimble on his feet.

As for costs, I haven't seen too much of a rise in my costs with the exception of diesel, yikes! My groceries are skyrocketing but hay and grain along with supplements all seem to be about the same in cost but I'm sure that won't last for much longer. Since I just own the 4 and one is living off of someone else's wallet I'm okay for now just sucking it up. I have to get the trailer in for some work and my truck is due for service. I've saved specifically for these two projects but we'll see whether or not I planned wisely after I get the estimates next week.

[StraightForward]

Sounds like great progress, Exvet! Do you think you might get Jr. out at PSG this year? I'm very happy for you that you were able to find instructors that are helping you out and maintaining positivity!

Khall, jingles for Henry! So nice to see you back in the driver's seat with Joplin. I hope to be there by mid-summer, but we'll see.

This morning I went and checked out the available spots at the barn where Obie is on pasture board. It's a much more "rustic" type of place, but there is a nice stall/run available that will work nicely for T. Cheaper than our current barn and just three miles from home. I hate to move, but need to maintain my sanity, and she will hold it for me for a very reasonable price. Letting my current BO know I was letting my stall go ended in both of us crying, but she understands completely. Re: costs - I did see her post on FB about the open space, and saw that the monthly price had increased by about 10%. Plans firmed up to take T to rehab on Wednesday; it is going to be weird not having a horse to go tend to every day, but I have to admit I'm kind of looking forward to the break.

[exvet]

SF, I'm kind of afraid to say it out loud. I'm southern so superstition and all. My plan is to show 4-3 at the upcoming schooling show. The great thing about our schooling show series is that we use rated USEF/USDF judges. If I get a decent score I'll show 4-3 at the June recognized show in Scottsdale. If that goes reasonably well, I will plan on PSG at the November recognized show. We may have a recognized show just 1 mile down the road from me in August. If we do I'll show PSG there (if all the rest falls into place). Honestly if I can get Junior's flying changes consistently honest, tempis are a shoe in. He has the talent for canter pirouettes. It really all comes down to the FC.

[mari]

Exvet, that's so funny, think you should probably install some sprinklers for them!

Chisamba - the increases even here in South Africa... The yard is 35km away, and combined with the imminent hike in boarding costs I just have anxiety.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

SF- the move makes sense right now. Such a tough decision but seems like the right move.

Khall- jingles for your dog! As far as Lynx and his stifles being out 24/7 I think there is perhaps a bit of an improvement. I think the biggest improvement is he doesn't have the hardcore zoomies like he did when he was out for just 7 hours a day. He was really burning and turning before but I think he dispenses his energy more in little doses and less insanity. I am wanting to add the equiband back in as I did find it very helpful in the past. I just kind of get lazy and stop using it...

Exvet - those plans sound pretty exciting!! I personally love reading along on this ride with you.

Lynx was very good yesterday. It was hot, 80 degrees in the morning. I thought lynx probably needed a lunge after two days off but decided not to with that heat. He was surprisingly spicy but not naughty. We just needed a lot of half halts lol. I did a ride IQ lesson focused on leg yields and shoulder in which was good. He had one cough but again, it wasn't that same panicky super stuck feeling that he had before. We are still waiting on the omegas. It is smokey here from the big Nebraska fires though and because the new barn is more rural, there is the occasional neighbor burning a ditch or wood pile. So I figure one cough at the beginning of the ride with that smoke isn't horrible given what we got going on.

[Ponichiwa]

Queso is sound again!!!! I can finally take breaths that go deeper than about collarbone-level. The air is clearer. Grass is greener. Birds are chirping with joyous song. The world is healing. I am relieved, is what I'm trying to say.

Dijon aka The Deej is now slightly off the hook, which is good because his hip shot up what feels like 2" and all of my bending disappeared. Blown away into the ether. Baby horses, man.

Great progress from exvet and aileronx! And get well soon for all the horses and humans who need it. Midway through this challenge is a marathon.

[Moutaineer]

Really good ride today, even though we had to be inside as its rainy and chilly here for the next couple of days. Ive had a couple of lightbulb moments recently and I can pretty much hear Potters going "Oh Thank God, woman!"

Potters is raring to go in the fresher weather. Justin took him through the PSG test yesterday, and its pretty obvious he can do it standing on his head (so to speak--we'd rather didnt...) The grin on Justin's face at the end was priceless

[StraightForward]

Yay for Queso being sound! Glad Potters is feeling good too!

Poor T was not so happy today when I came to pick her up. I gave her her 3-way on Monday evening, but with all the chaos of moving out of the barn and my dad being in the ER (he's OK and home now), I forgot her banamine. I didn't go out last night since it was raining and I was exhausted. Today she was walking really short and had a small welt around the injection site, but she started walking better after getting out of her stall for a minute, so we loaded up and headed out to the rehab area, about an hour away. She could really not care less when we arrived. Went in her pen and started munching away. Did not give a fig when I went to say good bye, lol. They usually have cow and barrel horses out there, so she was quite the outlier, lol. I'll go out and see her next week, then I'm off to World Cup.

[Chisamba]

Hello everyone. I refuse to believe in jinxes but it has been a good week. I had one rather dramatic lesson where on owner on one of the youngsters had a reallly difficult ride, ( piaffe into rear type difficult) so i had to ask them to get off and ride the chap myself. Its takes a bit of gumption shall we say, to get on a young horse that is endangering their rider, but we managed to get through it ( obviously since this is not my ghost typing) once i was on his back and riding my eyes were at a higher level and i was able to see that it was a sun reflection that was making him think death was in his pathway. once it realized it was a fear response rather than a pain or pressure response i was able to disengage his flight and get him to relax before dismounting. of course the next two rides i had small concerns but he was able to be quite quiet and relaxed though both.

is that why we love riding horses. there is always something to learn, something to work out, something to achieve and all while building a relationship? Anxiety is such a huge influence on these big ol flight animals we spend our time with. The bottom line for me is that i will not get on a horse that would react so fearfully that they would hurt themself. i feel if the horse has enough self preservation to keep themself safe all I have to do is stay with them and they will keep me safe too.

Kimba is getting strong and sassy, ( getting, i say, as if she has not been so for 17 years, thirteen of which in my heart.
Pauletta really does seem to be wearing maturity well. she will still pop a buck into the canter. ( anyone got some easy fixes .

i had to back off of riding a bit. turns out riding a lot, then sleeping a little and then being on my feet a lot was a bit hard on the recovery of a knee replacement. silly body! i feel so much better than before the surgery that i find myself chugging along up and down hills, lifting and even running, ( only to get away from a bear, not for exercise as suggested by my ortho) so i am attempting to remind myself that I am still in the window of recovery.

i spent about four hours digging rhizomes of the invasive yellow lily out of our waterways, because, they are invasive and also because they are very poisonous. Nature just wants to kill us, doesn't it!

Blob, best of wishes with our surgery. i hope it delivers your recovery and without changing any goals or dreams.
Ponichiwa are you going to make your shows, now that your boy is sound?
moutaineer, I hope your and potters continue with your happy progress
LSP i use a lot of zyrtec and flax to help care for the horses with allergies. having said that my coughers i wet their hay to reduce dust inhalation when eating.
exvet, it took me a sad three years to get my good quality ( 8) flying changes on Kea. I had all the best intentions of at great PSG show year once i got them. having said that a friend of mine is chewing up the FEI levels with no piaffe and an uneven passage because she is blessed with installing fabulous flying changes. good luck with your goals, that are not jinxes if they are goals, you have at aim to progress.

khall, how is Henry?

[exvet]

Glad to read of the good week you've had chisamba and yes, I do think what you describe is the reason why i love riding my horses.

I had another lesson that solidified the progress Junior and I have been making. I tell everyone he is the safest darn horse I've ever had, which he is but he's also the hardest darn horse in terms of training. I scratch my head because he's also one of the best put together beasts, could use a touch longer neck but overall he very well proportioned. He compact real estate though does put the onus on me to aid and weight 100% perfectly in order to achieve the appropriate response and understanding. This instructor is so very observant and explains exactly what she is seeing Junior do with his facial expressions and body placement that she's a far more effective mirror for me. Together we're leaning what works and confirming what doesn't with Junior. I've been doing hundreds (it feels like) walk to canter transitions, flying change set ups in terms of suppling and riding Junior into the 'new outside rein' without letting him change, and tons of collected canter (walk pirouette to canter pirouette) and it seems to be making the right difference. Though I wouldn't brag about our flying changes today in regards to scoring well, they were all clean and in the air, reliably. This is huge for us. We also had some progress with Junior's half-steps in terms of engagement and good rhythm - even, proper tempo, all moving in the right direction. Kristy left saying she's already excited for our next lesson scheduled for next weekend. For me it's definitely learning how to listen to my horse, communicating with him and seeing that we are on the same page and knowing that he's getting stronger and more confident as well as trusting me again. I spent so long just hearing - get him rounder, he needs better and more contact that I was riding far too much front to back. Now with the emphasis more on 'not going to worry about the contact' and just ride with my seat, having patience in him developing his self-carriage through suppling and using specific exercises he likes in order to 'soften' his neck, I have a much happier partner and surprise, surprise a partner who is starting show his true abilities.

chisamba I don't know how you do it. I'm good riding 3 horses and can't really remember the days of riding/training 4-6 of them with a full-time job that required much more of my time then than it does now and kids. You have always had my respect but you simply blow me away now.

ponichiwa, so glad Queso is sound and thrilled for you moutaineer and Potters. Blob I hope your procedures and time off have you better than ever when you get back in the saddle. LSP, we need more daughter pictures. Hope all is going well khall with your mending and SF and mari, keeping fingers crossed for both Odin and Tesla. Aleuronx, I have a feeling we're going to be seeing some impressive stuff from you in the near future. To those I've left out and those I've mentioned I hope spring is being good to y'all.

Right now I'm on cloud nine simply with the riding progress but also had confirmation last night that my niece and daughter are coming for a visit. I miss both of them quite a bit. First thing on order when they get here I was informed is a Trail Ride on my three. I'm so looking forward to it.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Sadly I lost a whole huge response I had so this won't be as long as the first. Cheering everybody on that's having great rides and lessons or comebacks from lameness.

Mari- how's the sheath thing going?

Lynx is having it easy this week. My schedule is crazy with things with work and my daughter's schedule. Riding, volleyball, Improv club, choir concerts... getting ready for high school and drive! Once this month is over it will be a little bit quieter, but geez oh geez. I did get the omegas for Lynx, slowly adding it into his feed. He definitely noticed something was different but happily ate it. Fingers crossed that continues and fingers crossed that it helps keep his respiratory system happy. Unfortunately, soaking hay in his current situation would be impossible, so if it ends up being a necessity I will have to move him. I don't think we are there at the moment but we will see. I need to see how far CSU is scheduled out as far as getting a thorough work up for him. Just so I know exactly what's going on...

I'll add some photos of my daughter in another post. She's enjoying her dressage lessons and she still takes some more h/j themed lessons too but really it's dressage in between pole work or the occasional tiny crossrail.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

She's working on sitting in a little more at the canter but she's really doing well, his canter is not easy as it's that rocking horse type. She was trying out his curb but because sometimes the owner rides him in that for trail rides so wanted my daughter to be comfortable with it as well.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

So cute together!

[Lipsmackerpony88]

The mare she rides in weekend lessons. She's older, 17 and has a little hock arthritis but she's very sweet. She's extremely sensitive souled but my daughter gets along very good with her. They mostly do "flatwork" with poles but they are starting to add in tiny crossrails occasionally.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Well I added double of the same photo. This was her first canter in this mare, very opposite of the gypsy in every way. She's got a quick, flat canter and he has a slower, rocking horse type with lots of lift. She's not the bravest (She gets an honestly from me) But she loves working on all the details and she's having a blast again. These two are teaching her a lot about horsemanship. Her old lease horse was amazing at giving her confidence but she truly had outgrown him and these two push her in just enough way that I can see her growing.

[exvet]

LSP, your daughter looks she's developing a solid seat. Kuddos to all her hard work and your enabling Thank you for the pictures. I don't get to see a lot of young ones riding these days.

[mari]

Odin's sheath is still swollen but it's looking better. I'm hoping with less humidity and heat over the following weeks, as we go into autumn, it will also help to settle things down.

It's April already and my riding goals have not moved forward since last year November. Not because of the penis issue, because riding helps the inflammation, but because my instructor's and my schedules have not matched up this year so far. And also partly because I just feel very unmotivated about things and life in general.

I love all your progress pics, everyone! And your detailed training write-ups, this week especially Exvet and Chisamba. Part of my lack of motivation is that I feel a bit lonely in my training, and driving 40 minutes out to the yard to be the only one riding is very dispiriting for me at the moment.

[Aleuronx]

Circling to the costs comments, I feel it in my bones that our rates will go up when the owners come back from their vacation. Yes it's costs across the board for everything going up but I pay a lot for field board and do a lot of care in return. Case in point I purchased 6 stall mats to place around the drip edge of their shed where the hay nets are hung this fall so they weren't standing in muck/mud, that's made a huge difference of keeping their shed clean and dry. Anyway, not anywhere comparable to go so we'll grumble and pay it like we do every time. But be forewarned of a big grumble if I have to start paying 4 figures to clean my own shed daily.

LSP your daughter got tall my goodness. She's looking so good in the saddle.

Jingles to all those healing ponies and humans. Blob please check in post surgery when you can as you feel okay.

We finally got off the damn farm since January, a lesson with another pro that trains with my trainer so same vibe and eye style. Honestly was just nice for a field trip for us both. I lamented about the trot that I never get to work on in the winter so we played with that. Diagonal aids in a pushing trot, lifted outside hand to get her to rotate up and out with the front legs and make that bigger rounder collected trot. Tried in shoulder-in which was okay, leg yield not as good but shoulder fore on the circle was easiest to get the strides. It's the type of thing that you get 2-3 strides of at best and then it's gone. All that they can carry at the moment. Very cool feeling and definitely the direction the trot needs to go rather than the 'safe and boring'.

Jingles for me as I enter our toughest to get into recognized show tonight. It's so popular (they give out killer prizes, see our neck ribbons from last year) that they put an opening TIME on Horse Show Office and it fills within MINUTES. Last year the August show was completely full in 6 minutes, the May show crashed the app.

[StraightForward]

Alx, good luck getting into all the shows you want! That usually isn't an issue here, but then, we don't have access to a ton of shows either.

LSP, nice pics of the kiddo. She sure is getting tall, and it sounds like a great experience to be riding to very different types of horses.

Here is a little clip of Tesla's first swim: https://youtu.be/PP1CyLHCar0

She said they always take them through about three times to get them used to it. It took some encouragement with the butt rope the first time, but the second time she went right in, so I'm glad she got with the program quickly. I went out yesterday morning and she seemed to be doing well. Should have brought brushes because she was shedding buckets. Friday she'll go in for her second shockwave. Tomorrow I get up at O'dark thirty to fly to DFW, TSA gods willing. I shall report back from World Cup, though I'm fairly disappointed that Lottie and Justin V won't be there. It seems lots of combos are dropping out and being replaced this year, but it should be fun hanging with a friend I've known since we were teenage barn rats, but haven't seen much in the last 15 years.

[Chisamba]

Exvet, it really sounds like you have made progress with your current instructor in a very positive way. I hope it continues. enjoy your trail riding with daughter and niece and how lovely it sounds to have that to look forward to.

Alx, plotting out the show season is some how that kick in the rear to get show ready. I think you seem to be very focused and ready so wishing you luck.

LSP i totally agree that your daughter had become so tall and is developing into a lovely rider.

i got a message out of the blue from my niece, ( who i gave pony rides to and started in the saddle) who was excited to share with me that she has got back into riding and has leased a horse ( she lives in England). she has a chubby little cob type and now i have to go to England to see her ride

Mari, it is definitely more fun to have some one to ride with. i could very easily just keep my horses home and ride, which exvet and khall do with aplomb, but all the extra work that goes into riding and training for others does add to the social aspect and enjoyment of it all. You need a riding buddy. can you find yourself a riding buddy?

Straighforward, i really do not agree with the voice on the video, tesla is not liking it, however, physiotherapy is not always the most agreeable thing but it can be the most important thing. i hope it works for her

[Moutaineer]

Hang in there, Tesla! It sometimes takes a butt rope to get me out to physical therapy in the mornings, too. But I know its good for me, so off I go 3 mornings a week. (Well, this morning I must admit I revolted. My body said it really needed a day off from physical exertion.I've had some very intense rides, and I've been working in the yard, as well.)

I still dont have a lot of strength in my legs and the neural pathways seem a bit messed up still, so getting on and off is still interesting. For the last couple of weeks I have been riding with 2 whips to back up my rather sad leg aids so I can actually ride him forward into contact rather than getting too handsy.. Its had the interesting side effect of really stabilizing my hand position. Along with my back brace keeping me level and centered and upright, I'm actually managing quite well, and my position has improved quite a lot.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

We played with canter pirouettes and half steps/piaffe/canter departs yesterday. Amazing what my not leaning and collapsing will do for us.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

My daughter is as tall as me now! Which isn't tall actually, plus she's riding ponies or small horses anyway. That being said her legs are very long for her size and her leg length is longer than mine. She's definitely going through a growth spurt.

Chisamba - I think a trip to England is in order!

Exvet- enjoy the trail rides with the family!

Aleuronx- rooting for you and your fancy gal as always! It's so fun hearing about your journey.

SF - I've always heard the water treadmill is so good for rehab. Keep us posted on how she's doing!

Mountaineer-sounds like your progress is going great. I know it's tough, but you are an inspiration too! Exciting stuff ahead for you!

I'm adding in the equiband again. I know not everybody is a fan but I do think I saw a big difference with even just light use of it when I used it before. I am in the middle of zycosan injections and again, I always see a big difference with Lynx. That being said, I think it helps the stifles but I want the equiband for back building muscles. I think with the whole allergies/cough, we lost some fitness (definitely glad he's out 24/7.)

I think that's getting better so I'm hoping to build him back up a tad. He's not sore in the back but he's not as supple and strong as he was previously.

I really wish I could figure out how to post photos without ruining the quality..

[mari]

Mari, it is definitely more fun to have some one to ride with. i could very easily just keep my horses home and ride, which exvet and khall do with aplomb, but all the extra work that goes into riding and training for others does add to the social aspect and enjoyment of it all. You need a riding buddy. can you find yourself a riding buddy?

I have a lovely friend at the yard who I can hack with on weekends, but our weekday schedules don't line up, unfortunately. My best friend stopped riding about 2 years ago, and we used to make each other accountable for showing up and schooling together. I miss that so much, and haven't managed to find someone else to fill her shoes (riding-wise, we're still close friends). Lessons help, and I'm fortunate that I can do 2 a week when work allows.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

So funny enough one the things I'm enjoying at the new barn, is the time alone ha ha. The barn we boarded at before it was very busy and occasionally you might happen to be the only one there but very rarely. At the new barn, evenings and weekends can be busier but right now I ride two mornings a week and I just love how peaceful and quiet it can be sometimes.

[exvet]

So funny enough one the things I'm enjoying at the new barn, is the time alone ha ha. The barn we boarded at before it was very busy and occasionally you might happen to be the only one there but very rarely. At the new barn, evenings and weekends can be busier but right now I ride two mornings a week and I just love how peaceful and quiet it can be sometimes.

While I enjoy company on trail rides, I'm always been the lone ranger so riding out alone doesn't keep me away. Fortunately I can just walk out my backyard to my horses but riding alone is my preference if I'm schooling one of the horses whether it's conditioning work or work in the dressage court. It's my only time to truly decompress and not hear a human voice. Conversations with my horses tend to be more satisfying lol and they're not always polite or kind in their feedback.

[exvet]

Took Junior and Troy over to a friend's place to use her dressage arena and take a couple of lessons with Kristy. We were all amazed that Junior had found his forward, not without some tension but true honest to goodness forward. It was a good lesson. Junior's canter keeps getting better in terms of its quality and the transitions are also becoming much better coming from behind. It was so nice to get some real power from him in his mediums without sucking down that darn broom. Next Saturday is our schooling show. We will see if we can keep the progress up in competition.

Troy willingly put on his big boy pants again today. My friend's arena has mirrors and it was the first time he saw his cute self. He didn't spook at it but did call to it a few times lol. I had Kristy lunge me in order to try to get a canter on the 20 meter circle. I've been able to get him to canter in mostly straight lines out on our lot but my attempts to get him to canter on a circle just resulted in chasing him and developing too much tension. It has been repeatedly clear though that he has a medium and extended trot to die for which reminds me more and more of my deceased stallion Resolute. It is Troy's natural inclination to sit and push off/lift up in the upward transitions which is so nice. Because I lunged him before getting on and he cross cantered once going to the right, I decided to just try cantering to the left on the lunge line with Kristy at the center, me on top. We were successful getting a very nice balanced canter to the left a few times in a row. I then practiced one of our intro tests we'll be doing next Saturday. It wasn't too shabby for a just turned four year old who was fresh off the trailer at a strange place. I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up with this guy and just take things as they come but he's so darn nice it's hard to curb my enthusiasm.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Good progress Exvet!

Anyone watched the World Cup? Becky Moody and Jagerbomb looked amazing in the videos I've seen. I truly love that pair.

[exvet]

I watched some of the rides at the World Cup. I have several friends there and have been receiving all sorts of clips. Becky and her horse certainly rocked it.

I just received this video from Kristy and thought I'd share the nuts and bolts of what I do.

https://youtu.be/MU1B8zcPV7Q

[StraightForward]

Good progress Exvet!

Anyone watched the World Cup? Becky Moody and Jagerbomb looked amazing in the videos I've seen. I truly love that pair.

Yes, we were there an Becky was great. Inspiring to see a less extravagant mover crush it. Christian Simonson and Indian Rock were amazing and have a bright future. The Polish rider and her mare were also a standout. Patrick Kittels horse goes really wide behind in the piaffe.

[blob]

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 close with. It's nice to have friends you can talk to about horse stuff, obsess about weird bumps/poops/ailments/challenges, and who can help check in on your horse when you're out of town. With MM, I do wish there was someone else who was on a the 'long hack' protocol to ride with because aiming for 45-60 minutes of hacking about is nice with company. But when it comes to training rides, I am very happy to be the only one in the arena/only one riding.

Surgery was successful a couple weeks ago. On Thursday I have my 2 week post-op to make sure everything is healing right and discuss next steps. I did not get fully clear margins, but close enough that it does seem like we will not immdiately run into another surgery, so I am glad for that. Recovery has been slower than I had hoped. Not in terms of there being any complicaitons, but I really thought that after a week I would be on my feet walking around a lot and would be spending a lot of time at the barn. That hasn't been the case, I still get pretty tired easily and too much time on my feet does make the pain go up. I took MM for a tiny handwalk the other day and realized I'm walking so slow that even MM's preferred slow amble was too quick. She is so good and attentive that she slowed down for me, but normally I have to speed her up! Today I think I will try to lunge RP. I don't want him to lose too much muscle and lunging in tack with side reins will hopefully keep him in some kind of condition. Let's see how that goes. I have one more week off from work and 2 more before I'm allowed to try riding, though I def don't feel like I could ride even if I had been cleared by the doctor, so while I'm mentally eager to get back in the saddle, the temptation to actually try it isn't there.

[exvet]

Take care of yourself Blob. Remember taking baby steps will actually lead to getting you back in the saddle faster than a set back because of doing too much too soon; but, I feel for you. I'm glad you're listening to your body. I'd be going bonkers if I were in your shoes. I have never been and never will be a good patient. Jingling for pictures of you back in the saddle when it's the right time

[Aleuronx]

Glad to hear from your blob. Echoing what is said, as is with horses slow is fast.

Good news is I click slammed my way into the horse show, bad news is it did not fill as it historically has. This is a show that is FULL both days within ~10mins of opening, crashes HorseShowOffice entry system etc. First show of the year just sent out times, it's only running 2 rings 9am to 3pm, second ring on Sunday only 11am to 3pm. While I am curious to see how the rest of season goes in terms of entries and competition health but these two early markers are not good at all. How are things shaping up in your guys area?

We had a great ride with S judge Lori Barnard over the weekend. Small improvements that made big impact, such as not holding her up on the right side with the right rein but instead bumping at the girth/front rip cage with the right foot. Once we sorted that and the brain fight of not going to the right rein first it was like the heaven's opened. It made the piro prep so much easier and the steps more active behind. Felt really exciting and Lori was super complementary that she thought we could get to GP.

[exvet]

Congratulations on the vote of confidence Aleuronx and the progress. We are losing so many of our shows in the area. Many have to drive further and further if they're seeking points. The flavor of the day are barns holding recognized but 'private' shows because they simply don't have the parking requirements. Their stabling and grounds fees are astronomical so it keeps anyone not regularly associated with the barn (boarding, hauling in for lessons) away. We're seeing if we can pull off a local one day recognized show in later summer but that remains to be seen.

[Moutaineer]

It is snowing hard here. Ugh.

We actually have a new venue this year, a May show and an October one. A one ring, 2 day show, nice place with lovely footing. 20 minutes from the barn. Justin is taking Potter to have a bash at 4th and PSG.

It will be interesting to see what it does to the early June show at the dirty, trashy barn with dreadful footing.

[blob]

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 within 90 min from the barn. But entries do seem to be dwindling. One of the venues was sold to developers a few years back and every year there is it will be the last time holding shows. So i suppose once that one inevitably closes entries might pick up at the other two. Based on how many folks were at regionals, I do think plenty of people are still showing, just maybe not as frequently? It doesnt' seem like a bad financial choice to do recognized shows just enough to meet goals and spend the rest of the time at schooling shows. However, in my area the schooling shows never utilize R or S judges and as a result the feedback you get at schooling shows is often really different from a recognized show, so in that sense they don't feel like good practice. So, i usually don't even bother. I would still go if I had a horse who needed exposure to the buzz of a show or if there was something I really need to practice off property before spending big bucks.

[khall]

Blob glad your surgery went well. Definitely listen to your body and not do too much!

Exvet Troy is lovely and a chunk! I think we e flipped our horses and their builds though. Where Junior is compact Joplin is long and Troy stands over more ground Lani is very short backed! Both have their strengths and weaknesses for sure.
Glad your are getting some good help with Junior and making progress.
Lsp I was a bit skeptical of the equi band and I didn’t see as much help when I just used the HQ band but my vet has me using the belly band to help Joplin remember her abs/obliques especially and I am definitely seeing some tightening of the obliques! As you said before there is science behind the use of the equi band. I feel it riding too.

Mountaineer what fun to get to see Potter go under Justin! Hope you can get some video. Sounds like you are having good rides too!

Al how exciting to get confirmation of your work and Kora’s talent! As for shows here I know the venue I usually go to their schooling shows are pretty well attended. They host recognized dressage and 3 phase events but not sure how well they are attended or not. I do know Robert Dover was speaking about the crowds at the World Cup compared to the cutting show across the way. Facts are recognized shows are pricey and yes while we may get better eyes on our work with better judges compared to schooling shows it still doesn’t at this point for me make it worth the while to dive into recognized shows. I like going over and back same day. I couldn’t do that for most of the Ga shows. And it’s hot here for a good 4/6 months. We are hitting almost 90 right now. Not showing in that heat and swampy humidity here.

I have an old friend who took the plunge and went to FL for the season this year end of last year. Showing 3 rd I think for the first time. I can’t imagine what kind of money she spent to stay down there for several weeks or months. I just can’t do that at this time. If ever.

Edited to add thanks Chisamba for asking about Henry so far he’s even just fine. This is him asking our pittie girl to get out of his bed. He’s a funny boy https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Hkz4S ... tid=wwXIfr
Anyway my update is Chex is back in worker bee ponyind set. He’s one that just needs consistent but not hard work regularly. He’s such a blast though!
I cantered Joplin!! She feels great but I’m trying hard not to over extend her yet. So wishing I had the water treadmill that SF has for T. Joplin is just so fat. Ugh. That would have made a difference in her recovery I’m sure. Monday is another US hopefully all will still be good and get the go ahead for more work. I’m going a good bit more with her as to days of doing stuff. Riding 3 xs a week and in hand 2 xs handwalking and grazing 2 xs so she’s out of her stall daily.

Gaila is doing well in hand. Starting double lunge again to see how she feels. She looks good on the line but not getting as much work as the other 2 right now.

Happy riding all!

[exvet]

Welp, it's a wrap. I took all three boys over to the schooling show today. Ace is always a wonderful baby sitter and since I was going all alone I figured I needed his help. I had the first ride of the day on Junior. I got there but had to help set up for the show, then walked Troy around (he was a little wary) and finally got on Junior but left myself only 10 minutes to warm up. He was all on the muscle because his pals were back at the trailer. Unfortunately his tension really affected our ride and score but we still earned a 7 on our medium trot, halt = rein back and SI left. We did get 5 -6.5 on our flying changes so there's been improvement (not enough but I'll take it). I made one error going off course (a test I've ridden for 4 years, geesh) and ended up with a 60.28. The judge is someone I've ridden with for a long time on and off (we honored the rule of 30 days) and she scores it like she sees it (large R judge) so I feel like we're turning a corner on our issues. Junior isn't so tense when he shows by himself which is the plan for the next recognized show.

Troy was scared. We didn't have a chance to ride in the show arena before doing our first test, Intro A. He was a wiggle worm giraffe combination but we did get a 7 on a couple of movements for a 63 and change. Then I just sat on him for the 50 minutes until our next test, right near the warm up area. He got to watch horses come and go. This time we were pretty much 6.5 and 7 throughout Intro B which went much, much better. He had more confidence and earned a 7 on gaits and a 7 on our geometry. True to my usual form/habits, I have not ridden that test with him until today; so, his scores were definitely based on his raw talent.

Not sure if I'll have pictures. Some people were taking some and also video; so, we'll see. I was really thrilled with Troy. I wore black and blue with him hoping I wouldn't be matching underneath my clothes but he was a super baby Cob. I was a little disappointed with Junior except I couldn't give him the time and consideration I knew he needed so all things considered I was pleased that we are improving even if it didn't all happen at this show. Next time Junior will be my total focus. I don't plan to show Troy again until we have another schooling show in July but I do plan to take him off property for more lessons.

[Ponichiwa]

Good progress from exvet, aleuronx, and khall! Love it when the show feedback clicks with the feelings at home. And how cool to be thinking about GP!

We are midway through our 2nd show of April and Queso is:
a) sound. I am so happy he's feeling good, that's almost good enough right there.
b) scoring super well. Took him out at 2nd level with scores of 68.0-68.6 (consistency is key). And scores on the western side to 76+ (not gonna lie, not anchoring to a gaits score helps us A TON).

He is my favorite and I am so happy he's back to feeling 100%.

[exvet]

Ponichiwa, so glad Queso is feeling better. Congratulations on a good show too.

Got pictures from the show today:







Both boys demonstrated true power, not always without tension but the ability is there.

[Srhorselady]

Really nice photos! Both boys looking good. It sounds like Spring is bringing progress for everyone! Blob, Mountaineer, and Khall remember slow and steady. Your health is the most important! Same with the horses needing TLC!

[Srhorselady]

And Chisamba! Too many have been out!

[Lipsmackerpony88]

So glad it's going relatively well for everyone!! That makes me smile.

Exvet that blue pad on Troy is STUNNING. And he looks so good! He's improving quickly.

Khall-I agree about the equiband. I stopped using it for a few months and have added it back in because I can tell the difference (especially after dealing with the respiratory stuff, I can tell it hurt his fitness a bit.) I'm super conservative with and am still actually just using the belly band. But this coming week I am going to add the hindquarter band back in too. I'm so glad Joplin is doing so well. It's truly amazing.

Lynx has been doing really good lately. I do think the being out 24/7 has helped him mentally for sure. He feels more settled and less spooky (I hardly want to put that out in the universe ha ha.) And he looks great. Respiratory wise he seems better. Not sure where the "bar is set" for that though. I need to reach out to my vet. Yesterday he had one cough but it was after we had been working and trotting for awhile. Then no more coughing. Today no coughing. So fingers crossed. My daughter wants to do working equitation with him by the fall as a goal... We will see.

[mari]

Exvet - Troy is such a lovely creature!