Dressage Training Update

I've been so caught up in posting about my horse management issues and our showing adventures (4 shows over 5 weeks!) that I realize I haven't spent as much time on our actual training progress.

In a nutshell, Hemie continues to impress me with how fast he learns and how much genuine enjoyment he seems to get from our lessons. He likes to figure out the puzzles and he's a very engaged partner. Laurie, as always, continues to raise the bar for what she expects from both Hemie and myself at every. single. lesson. She does not allow me to get comfortable with wherever we are - she pushes for more from us. For as fast as I feel we're moving forward she always seems to have more for us to learn and do!

Once we're warmed up and in work, Hemie has been showing that he's got the long-and-low concept down pat. He loves to stretch forward and downward into the contact and in another stride or two he really lifts his back way up - I seem to grow a few inches taller when he does it! We occasionally get a behind-the-bit situation, but I'm learning to catch that quicker and push him forward out of it.

I've been consistently including at one bit-up (longing with side reins) per week, normally before a dressage practice ride or lesson, and I think its been helpful for both of us. Hemie gets to have super constant consistent contact, and I am translating feel for visual on the ground and seeing how much I really need to encourage forward in both situations.

Hemie is doing great with connecting to the bit and staying on it for good long periods of time, but we are still working on me asking him to take the bit downward into a rounder neck shape earlier and earlier in the ride. Laurie is having me be more proactive with half-halts - using them before he pops his head up to look around at the outside world.

Laurie'g been giving us exercises that are melting my brain. Example: tracking right in a 20 meter circle. Now add haunches out and shoulder in. Now add head/neck out. Poor Hemie and I are both like:  0.0   But its helping Hemie's balance and leg awareness/control, as well as my ability to have independent aids.

We got a lesson the other week that was quite amazing: it was a dressage equitation lesson. The cool thing was not so much the content of the lesson (although its always good to get pointers about my position and work on it - longer legs, stronger calves, better ankle angles, sitting deeper, shoulders back more, etc) - the interesting thing is that it means Laurie is impressed enough with Hemie's progress that she was willing to give him the day off, so to speak, and really focus on me. Laurie is a firm believer in form fits function, and generally doesn't care how the rider looks as long as its effective in getting the horse to do what we need. So it is a rare lesson where we are working on me, and its good for me.

Last but not least, with Laurie's help I now know that when Hemie is having an A.D.D. day, the solution is to work, work, WORK! (whereas I had been trying just work). Turn, bend, counter-bend, extend, collect, counter-bend, true bend, turn again, straight, turn again, work, WORK!  It works. Isn't it amazing how so much of riding better is not learning what to do, but learning to what extent to do it. Its a recurring theme in lessons that I'm asking for the right thing but not strong enough, or fast enough, or long enough.

I'm in the Working Age stage.

I discovered the secret to braiding

3 yard needles

Its a yarn needle.

Seriously, this 50¢ item improved my braids like 500%.

How did I ever get by without one these last few years? It made it so much easier to get the braids into a tight ball and they felt much more secure in place. Best of all, they are cheap! It's 99¢ for a 2-pack at any craft store. I bought several since I figure they break and I'd rather have a few extras.

The below picture is from our dressage show on May 19th and it was the 3rd time I braided Hemie. So far, its by and away our best attempt. I did the braids the morning of the show, around 6 am or so. The braids a a tad lumpy and uneven, but at least they are actually round balls rather than squished folded things.

And for those who don't braid, or are newbs like moi, the yarn needle comes into play after you have braided yarn into a section of mane, then used a pull-through to loop the braid underneath. At this point, instead of using your fingers (and sometimes teeth), to try and tie the braid loop into as much of a "button" as you can using the yarn at the end of the braid, you simply feed the yarn through the large eye of the needle and then fold the braid over itself again, pinning the needle through the braid to secure it into a tight little ball. Brilliant.

B-day & Hubby ride!

Firstly, I'm a tad embarrassed to admit that I forgot my horse's birthday.  Bohemian turned 8 years old ~2 weeks ago on May 20th!!

He got lots of carrots and cookies and pats the day before since we did the dressage show, but still.  It's also somewhat confusing since I've been calling him 8 since the beginning of the year...and now he really is.





Anyway, in other fun news, I finally got my husband to ride Hemie! And I have proof!

This was right after a jump lesson, while Laurie was around to supervise and give him a micro-lesson.

Rick is actually a natural at riding, but it's been 3 years since he has been on a horse, and even then his rides have mostly been on bomb-proof packer trail horses. It took him a few minutes to find his seat (and I really should have lowered his stirrups much more than I did!), but then he did quite well.

Hemie was a very good boy. Like, amazingly tolerant. He was trying very hard to figure out what Rick was asking him to do, and he was just a trooper the whole time. 

We did about 5 to 10 minutes of walking with a little bit of trotting and Laurie said that she had to go to another appointment, ending the ride. She suggested that future rides with Rick be done in a roundpen for safety until he gets his seat back a little more. I walked her to the gate, then turned back to see Rick cantering down at the other end of the arena.  Husband BUSTED!  Men, they just do not listen, do they?! Rick had wanted to trot over a pole and clearly he and Hemie has a miscommunication. Luckily they both seemed to be laughing through it, as Hemie came right back down to a walk and Rick stayed in the tack. Overall I'm pretty proud of both my boys. =)

60 Equestrian Questions

From Viva Carlos

1. dish face or roman nose? why?
No thanks on either.

2. mares or geldings? why?
Both! I've only owned geldings but I've been auntie to mares and love 'em too!

3. Do you think warmbloods are over-rated?
No, I'd certainly be open to having one.

4. Describe your dream horse.
Dark liver chestnut with flaxen mane and tale. Willing, athletic, young. Refined, snuggly.

5. What kind of bit do you use and why?
French-link snaffles because they are very soft in the horse's mouth. My jumping bit is an eggbut with copper metal blend that horses love the taste of. Dressage is a D-ring, sterling silver, for a tad more lateral leverage (D-ring wasn't available in mixed metal. someone needs to invent that).

6. Stock horses or sport horses?
Sport horses

7. Favorite horse color?
Liver

8. Least favorite horse color?
Perlino

9. Dressage or Jumping?
Both!

10. Favorite stock horse breed?
Paint.

11. Favorite Hot-blooded breed?
American Saddlebred....with Thoroughbred as a second.

12. Favorite cold-blooded breed?
Friesian. They sure are pretty.

13. Dapple grey or Fleabitten grey?
Dapple.

14. Most expensive piece of tack you own?
Stubben Roxanne saddle. (Worth every penny!)

15. When did you start riding?
6 years old. I was in 1st grade.

16. Leather or Nylon halters?
Leather for safety.

17. Apples or Carrots?
Carrots...Hemie hasn't quite caught on to apples...

18. Chestnut or bay?
Bay!

19. Palomino or Buckskin?
Palomino.  (<3 miss you Storm!)

20. Lazy horse or Hot horse?
Hot!

21. Have you ever been trail riding?
Oh yes. Love trails.

22. Have you ever had to put down a horse that you loved?
No.

23. How many saddlepads do you have?
10, give or take.

24. How many bridles do you have?
3.5

25. Favorite saddle brand?
Uh...well I ride in a Stubben...so I guess I'll go with that.

26. Beige or White Breeches?
Beige. White is not flattering.

27. Least favorite discipline?
Tough one, since I love riding every which way. Maybe bronc riding since that is not partnership based.

28. Do you own a horse?
Yes

29. Do you collect breyer horses?
No, but that brings back great memories.

30. Favorite color of saddle pad?
Black.

31.Private barn or Boarding stable?
Private barn...in my dream home/property/farm. I've always had horses and boarding stables.

32. Opinion on spoiled riders?
Spoiled people can be annoying to deal with, but secretly I'm jealous of their cute stuff.

Myself aboard Miss Paint in Santa Barbara, CA.
Don't worry, I now use a helmet.

33. Have you ever ridden tackless?
Well, the one time I rode sans any tack at all I was promptly tossed off!  Since then I ride with at least a rope around the neck. I ride bareback all the time.

34. Have you ever stood up on a horse?
Maybe when I was a kid. Seems dangerous now!

35. Overo, Tobiano, or Tovero?
There's lovely examples of all 3, hard to choose a favorite. Probably tobiano.

36. Favorite face markings(s)?
No face marking, or small symmetrical markings. I don't care for medicine cap.

37. Why you started riding?
I wanted to since I was born.

38. Does anyone in your family ride?
Only my husband when I force him to once a year or so.

39. Have you ever owned a horse?
Currently do and have in the past.

40. Something you want to improve on?
Everything for riding effectively for dressage and jumping! Right now working on leg position.

41. A bad habit you have?
Long reins.

42. A bad habit your horse has?
Getting stuck and going up-and-down instead of forward. Also, not bending right.

big jump!

43. How high have you jumped?
3'6"

44. Have you ever had a dressage lesson?
Weekly, in fact.

45. What really makes your horse spook?
Horse-eating infants in neon colored onesies.

46. Trail riding or ring work?
Ring work.

47. Indoor or Outdoor arena?
Oh if only there were more indoors in So Cal...

48. Colorful or plain saddle pads?
Ironically I own mostly colorful, but nowadays I like the more plain ones.

49. Do you like horses with blue eyes?
Yep - they're lucky! Especially with "eyeliner" black markings.

50. Have you ever gotten into a fight with your trainer?
Define fight. But I'd say no.

51. Light bay or Dark bay horses?
I vote blood bay, since that's what Hemie is!

52. What is your equestrian dream?
Finish a 3-part horse trial on my (good) dressage score.

53. Long mane or Pulled mane?
 Depends on the horse!

54. Opinion on fake tails?

Excellent barn lights at Castle Rock Farms!

I'm fine with them, if its appropriate for your discipline.

55. Least favorite thing about your barn?
They close the rings at any miniscule chance of rain.

56. Favorite thing about your barn?
Lights! I can see!

57. Have you ever ridden a stallion?
A few times, under trainer supervision. My favorite was the lovely Harvest Commander aka Gem, when I was about 12.

58. socks or no socks on a horse?
No preference.

59. Favorite horse names?
Welcome Challenge was my first horse's registered name, and it's still one of my favorites. Other than that, I like names that reference the color blue and sports-car/motorcycle names.

60. If you could ride any horse in the world, which one would it be? why?
Hmmm. Tough question. I'm thinking one of these three:
A) Cuna - He's a cool cat who has been there, done that, safe dependable, and so cute!
B) Henny - Run Henny Run! Love watching their helmet cams, would love to tackle a (smaller) course on him.
C) Casey's Final Countdown - Would love to rack on this handsome boy!

WGC CH SV Casey's Final Countdown
5-gaited ASB, 2007 World's Grand Champion
ridden by Michelle Macfarlane

X-rays

April 28 2012. Not my best hair day.

Just over a year ago, I signed my name on the dotted line to take responsibility for a 7-year old OTTB whom I met just a few minutes prior, standing in a box stall.

I did not test ride him. We did not even trot him out.

So it may not shock you to learn that I did not get a PPE (pre-purchase exam).

I was told that he had vetted with clean x-rays, but wasn't provided copies. Later I found out that with racehorses they only tend to x-ray the ankles (fetlocks). I got pricing on PPEs from a vet I like, but decided to wait and see since there was the possibility of him not working out.

Clearly, at some point, I'd waited-and-seen long enough. He's a keeper.

For the last several months I've been ruminating on what exactly I would want to get done. Basic body exam? Flexions? Radiographs? Neurological exam? Airway scope? Blood test? Urine test?

Of course, what you get done depends on (a) purpose for the horse and (b) purpose of the exam. The purpose of the horse is simple - tote me around several times a week and be able to do low-level dressage and jumping. I do not have Rolex aspirations here.

As to purpose of the exam, it's not a pre-purchase since he's already been adopted. So we're calling it a baseline exam. Basically I'd like to know if he is at risk for any conditions that I could help prevent or address proactively. And its good to have baseline medical info in case an issue does arise - then there's something to compare against. Finally, its simply a good practice (for your safety and for the horse's) to have a vet approve a horse that you are riding, especially when asking them carry you over jumps (and the kind that don't fall down!).

So, finally, I had our vet come out on Saturday to give Hemie a thorough once-over. Dr. Liskey used to work at the so cal racetracks, then over the last few decades he has been doing primarily eventing and endurance horses. So, I trust his experience in evaluating ex-racehorses, especially for suitability in eventing.

Let me cut to the chase: Hemie's exam went fabulous - much better than I had expected.

We did a solid round of x-rays - all 4 fetlocks, front hooves, front naviculars, and hocks. We did flexion testing of all 4 legs (fetlocks) as well as head/neck. He did an eye exam and respiratory evaluation. He inspected his gaits. We did preliminary neuro testing, and hoof testing. We also did back and hip/rump palpation. And most importantly, I discussed all of the various quirks and concerns I have with my vet to see if they added up to something I couldn't identify.

(Brief aside: I find it quite funny that we have all these scientific names for what is basically poking and prodding the horse to see if he goes "ouch!"  Oh, modern science. Mostly a bunch of fancy names.)

The results? Much less wear and tear than I'd have expected. No arthritis. Zero! Very even and symmetrical cartilage. One bone spur in right hock, but not a concern. No "ankle jewelry" in the x-rays - very clean bones everywhere. Normal neuro parameters. Good eyes, good respiratory, great hooves, etc.

The only concerning issue was some soreness in his back, on the left as it leads to the rump. Based on the entire exam, Dr. Liskey surmised that his back muscles are still figuring out their new job and until they are more solidly developed there will be some soreness there, but that I can help increase blood flow by using liniment after rides. Considering Hemie's long-and-low rides lately with his super duper back lifting, I'd say he sure is developing those back muscles!

And, to boot, Hemie was a perfect patient, especially for having not been ridden for 2 days.

The feeling of relief that I've carried since Saturday afternoon says that I was more nervous about this exam than I had realized. I'm just so happy that Hemie's body is completely capable of doing what I want him to do.

You know how some people (intentionally or unintentionally) downplay their purpose for the horse at their PPE exam, with the idea that lower expectations will increase the chance of vet approving suitability? Well, I specifically tried to take the opposite approach. I told Dr. Liskey that I wanted to be able to go Training or Prelim on Hemie when, truth be told, I don't know if I'll ever care to go beyond Novice. Well, from a physical standpoint, Hemie has no upper limitation. This could be a Rolex horse. The Dr.'s exact words were "this horse will do whatever you want." Of course, he agreed that the key ingredient is heart, but apparently during the 1.5 hour exam he picked up on our special emotional connection because he commented a few times that "this horse really cares about you."  <3

The Plunge into Probiotics

Okay, it has been over a year now. And he is still skinny.

Here's photos from April 2012:

And here's photos from the last several weeks:

Too many ribs showing for my liking. While he has certainly put on muscle (especially those shoulders!), I would be much happier if a little more flesh covered his middle. In fact, I like my animals a tad plump.

Since moving to Castle Rock in early February, Hemie has been getting AM feedings of  1 flake oat hay + 1 flake alfalfa hay, and PM feedings of 1 flake of either oat hay or alfalfa +1 flake grass hay (his menu card says PM alfalfa, but I've seen oat being fed multiple times). Additionally he's been getting supplemented with beet pulp and rice bran most nights per week.

I've decided to make 2 changes to his feed in order to help put on weight:

1) Change hay feedings to be AM & PM: 1 flake oat hay + 1 flake alfalfa hay. He doesn't really like the grass hay, and its the least caloric. Therefore I'm swapping it for hay he will eat and offers more calories.
2) Add FastTrack Probiotic to his supplemental feed most nights per week.

I used FastTrack many years ago on my very lean American Saddlebred, Bo. He was a hard keeper, and a barn manager bullied me into buying FastTrack from her when I was young. I have to say, good thing she did that because it worked! Within just a few months Bo was putting on weight like never before. So that product is something I've been ruminating on for a while.

An unplanned #3 is that we inherited a bag of EQUUS feed from Pixie. Not something I'd have paid money for, but free feed is always welcome! I'll be adding a dash of that too.

No Worms!

Image from google search that led here.

First of all...ALERT! There is a gross picture of an actual worm in my horse's poop down below. You have been warned.  

Following Hemie's positive fecal test for worms in April, I gave him one tube of the double-dose fenbendazole. And the next day I did what only strange horse bloggy gals would do: get up close and personal with my horse's poop to inspect for worms, and document via iphone camera.

10 points if you can find the worms within 5 seconds.

They are small and red. One on each side of the poop - left and right (the one on the left is hard to see at this angle). According to intensive googling, these are small strongyles aka small redworms, not the roundworms that he also tested positive for. 

The good news is that 3 weeks later we re-tested, and happily the results came back negative. I pre-paid for a few more fecal tests, and we'll continue to recheck every quarter.