Week ???

Sorry I've not been posting on this! Been busy with this booger lately. So, I decided it was best if I drop all the way down to basics. I went to a Cow Clinic about two weeks ago and it went super well (he follows them so wel!) but I was less than impressed when it came to his fore/haunch turns and backing. Turns out, I'm really glad I did. It was like he was never taught to yield his shoulders or haunches. I have a feeling that this is where many of my issues have been stemming from, so hopefully things will get better once we get a nice solid foundation!

I'm back!

Hehehe....Ummm. It's been a hot minute since I've posted. And there's been lots and lots and lots of progress!

For one: My attitude is now in check! I've learned how to deal with my frustrations and anger without ripping on Kelly's face! :D I even got off the other day in the middle of a ride to calm myself.

Two: I've learned how to actually ride! Now, I feel like I have total control over this mans and we can ride as a team! I have never ridden as a team before, a horse and I. So this is huge!

Also, I believe I wrote about how all he'd do was charge ahead, well he lopes now! It was because I wasn't using leg, and on top of me being a potato on his back, it was actually scaring him to run XD So now, we can lope patterns and everything inbetween.

And, I got a private trainer who's been helping me learn all of his buttons! Who knew he could sidepass!? I can get him to move off my legs with a tiny bit of pressure, two-track, counter-arch, roll back decently quick, back up nicely (still working on keeping balanced reins when I stop/back him). We've not been fighting and it's so nice!

Now, for the past couple of weeks, I've been working on getting him stronger in the hind end with loping/trotting spirals and I've been patterning him on Birangle and especially Figure-Eight. Why? There's a jackpot I'm training him up for! :D It's on March 20th so I don't have a whole too much of time. But, I'm hoping with daily spiral sessions and trotting and becoming consistent with the patterns will help us be ready. It's not an absolute guarantee I'll even be able to go, but it's a goal at least!

My private trainer is also helping me out in this! She said she'd be coming to the jackpot to help me out with my first competition! X3 I'm beyond excited! PB's here I come! XD

Oh! And I had a falling out with my equestrian team. I was told at the start of the year my coach was tough on her athletes...she's not tough on them, she's an absolute bitch. LOL So, last Monday when she was being all bitchy and bossy, I took and got off Kelly cause I was majorly frustrated and she just kept hounding me. Basically, I was told that if I didn't get back on my horse I needed to go home. Teehee. Guess what motherfucker? I'm going home! So we left. ^^ I don't know what I'm going to do with the team now. I was supposed to talk to the Assistant Coach yesterday, but our clinic was cancelled. :p

Other than that....everything's been going good! I'll probably update next Saturday, let you guys know where I'm at (if I remember X3) and I'll definitely let you guys know how the jackpot goes if I enter!

And, here's a couple pics of us at my last lesson. ^^

We competed in the Single Birangle event and did really well; got an 18.99. And then we competed in the Figure-8 event which didn't go as well. I confused him and wasn't able to refocus him until our very last turn. XD We got a 30.12. There are a lot of things him and I need to work on - my hands, being lighter.

I need to get his bit switched to something softer and get him lighter through the head and such. Not sure how I;m going to do it yet, but I'll keep y'all posted! ^^

Shingashina said:

It's good to hear you had a good run on your first time out. I can definitely imagine figure 8s being confusing the first time. My horse know poles, and the first time we tried stakes was interesting. They didn't know why we were turning around on the second pole lol

Well.... *sigh*. I don't know if I'm going to be able to compete with him anymore. It's hitting a very fine line until we're able to get some x-rays done.

Basically, when we first got him, I immediately noticed what appeared to be stiffness in his hind after working with him. I put it off, believing he was just sore like how we get sore because he's weak in the hind. He's been weak in the hind since we got him. But, after fixing the issue of weakness in the hind....I don't know, he's been overcompensating and not feeling comfortable with work. He's lost a lot of muscle on his croup (I figured it was just from losing his winter coat, and that's just how he looks) and my PT has confirmed it. The past week or so, he's been stretching his hinds out by himself, been really high-headed (more than usual even for him!), hollow backed, speeding up on his own and basically trying to run away from himself.

I let my PT observe today and she see''s him being very stiff and short in the left hind and it was recommended to me that we take him in to a reputable vet to get radiographs and a good affordable treatment plan in place and solid (if at all able). She's suspecting possible arthritis or bone spurs and it's really breaking my heart right now.

Since beginning with Kelly, it has been my biggest dream right now to bring him into the big leagues and compete in High School Rodeo with 1D times. Give him what he couldn't when he was on the track for a short time. But, now, that goal seems like there's an impassable chasm.

I'll keep you guys updated. Mostly for my own sanity XD.

~~ I might go have a good cry tho. :')

Okie doke. Got the vet check done.

We went through a lameness exam. We were told he was very slightly lame in the front, with a bit more in the rear. After palpating the spine and withers, he was confirmed to have extremely sore withers....like "Don't you fucking poke me there" sore. He was sore enough where I can't believe I never noticed. The vet told me that my saddle fit it relatively good, but because he hollows himself out and is clenching in the back due to the lameness, he's basically just jamming the gullet into his own withers.

After the general lameness exam, he got his hooves percussed and we were told the insides are extremely sore and that his right front is bruised. He will be getting front shoes at his next farrier appointment.

Instead of recieving hock and stifle x-rays, we were instead recommended back x-rays as our vet doesn't believe anything seriously wrong is going on with the legs (he said he's an excellent mover but just with very slight lameness). His x-rays revealed nothing wrong in the back except for the very most tiniest beginning of kissing spines which we are all assuming is due to his hollowing out.

I was prescribed an 8 day dose of Bute for his pain, and to not ride with a saddle for upwards of a month or more. But, fitness is absolutely key, so I was told bareback riding is good!

The vet was saying the source of his lameness may very well be due to muscle soreness and he's now beginning to compensate for it and it's turning into a bigger issue, so Kelly has had his blood drawn and will be checked for selenium deficiency.

Hoping all goes well in the next month!

Since having Bute and time off from the saddle, Kelly is doing extremely well! He's no longer sore in the withers, and tomorrow he'll be getting his shoes on!

No, I'm still not in the saddle. My trainer has told me it's best to work him from the ground up before getting back on, and I'm waiting on a clear from the vet (have yet to make a follow-up). However, my trainer has given me the best tool I think I've ever used to help my horse. Side reins. I'm using them to teach Kelly collection and how to properly align, balance, and hold his head. He's built up so much muscle on his topline and his hindquarters are looking thicc. His "Hunter's Bump" is beginning to soften and dissipate and the hind where he was missing muscle is filling in. He's so floaty on the lunge (with the side reins of course) and just so pretty! His back is round!

I've also shimmed his saddle (as he had muscle strophy on his left wither. It's filling in now!) and switched to a thinner saddle pad as the one I was using has too much buildup nearest the cantle and was causing it to lift and rock the saddle into his wither. I don't have any problems now!

Behavior-wise, he's almost a completely different horse! I thought he talked a lot before, he talks so much now and it is so cute! He's been greeting me at the gate even when I have a halter in my hand! Overall, he's just more relaxed, more willing. I'm so happy! I have a guaranteed competition through my school this July and I was told he'll be 100% ready to go by the time it rolls around!

And, even more news! I'm getting into the English discipline! I'd really like to try some basic dressage and get into show jumping (especially show jumping XD) and I'm pretty excited, because tonight I'll be purchasing my first ever English saddle (there was a time when I swore I'd never ride English at all). It's a really good-looking Collegiate and is coming with a pad, cinch, and the irons and a bridle (that likely won't fit) for only $250! I'm not sure what kind of saddle (AP or Jumping) it is due to the way the pictures were taken (not badly, just she didn't know what to take pics of as she doesn't know much about saddles). I'm debating on a Collegiate RD Almnus, but again, it's tough to tell! I'll take some pictures of it when I get it tonight, and get some pictures of Kelly being all relaxed!

Overall, his rehab is going super duper great, and our future together is still appearing bright! :D