MRI results: Two compression fractures that are healed. Around the breakages are what might be osteophytes, or bone spurs, abnormal bone growths that appeared when my spine was healing. My dad had bone spurs which turned into spinal stenosis, which effectively crippled him. He waited too long to get surgery to fix it, and now has long-lasting nerve damage. Not to mention the surgery was incredibly painful to recover from. Hopefully, none of those things are in my future. I'm in physical therapy now, and probably will be for a while. I also have a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon next week, and hopefully he can ease some of my worries. I have been riding minimally. By that I mean about 5 times since I re-injured my back in June. The most I can tolerate is about 30 minutes, then I have to stop. Half-halts and cantering are murder.
I can't really complain too much about my back. Kandice is very sick. Stage IV cancer sick. I'm very heartbroken for her. I wish I was a doctor and could fix her, but I can't. We're very all being very hopeful, but the possibilities are very scary. I talked to her yesterday, and she brought up how her mom had someone who was willing to take Callie out on trial as a lesson horse, but Kandice was worried because Callie has too many issues to go to most people. I told her that if it came down to it, Callie would have a home with me forever. And she will, but I'm praying it doesn't come to that. This isn't about me, but Kandice is very dear to me, and I would give anything to make sure she is okay.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Andy had his month at boot camp, which went fabulously. He now knows how to stand in cross ties without being a ninny, and is much more accepting of contact. I love him again.
Unfortunately, I am forbidden from riding until further notice. I did something to hurt my back on Monday. Maybe it was when I was riding, maybe it was when I was barbecuing. Who really knows. So I was pretty much bedridden, with this sharp shooting pain on one side of my lower back. I ended up going to the doctor on Thursday, in hopes of maybe getting some muscle relaxers and the reassurance that I hadn't slipped a disc. I had x-rays done, because a spot in my spine was tender. The doctor called me back today to tell me that the tender spot is actually a compression fracture of my T11 vertebrae. Suck. The question is whether it is new or old. If it's old, then I can ride pretty soon and maybe do some physical therapy to prevent future problems. If it is new, then no riding for weeks and weeks, and there's the possibility of surgery (injecting medical cement into the vertebrae, yuck!), which I don't even want to think about. So let's hope that it's old. I have an MRI on Thursday, and a bone density test on Friday, because normal 24 year-olds don't get compression fractures of the spine. My suspicion is that it was broken in my nasty fall, and the 4 other falls I've had since then haven't done any good for healing. I am super bummed, because I was supposed to be riding every dad this summer.
Unfortunately, I am forbidden from riding until further notice. I did something to hurt my back on Monday. Maybe it was when I was riding, maybe it was when I was barbecuing. Who really knows. So I was pretty much bedridden, with this sharp shooting pain on one side of my lower back. I ended up going to the doctor on Thursday, in hopes of maybe getting some muscle relaxers and the reassurance that I hadn't slipped a disc. I had x-rays done, because a spot in my spine was tender. The doctor called me back today to tell me that the tender spot is actually a compression fracture of my T11 vertebrae. Suck. The question is whether it is new or old. If it's old, then I can ride pretty soon and maybe do some physical therapy to prevent future problems. If it is new, then no riding for weeks and weeks, and there's the possibility of surgery (injecting medical cement into the vertebrae, yuck!), which I don't even want to think about. So let's hope that it's old. I have an MRI on Thursday, and a bone density test on Friday, because normal 24 year-olds don't get compression fractures of the spine. My suspicion is that it was broken in my nasty fall, and the 4 other falls I've had since then haven't done any good for healing. I am super bummed, because I was supposed to be riding every dad this summer.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Killing Andrew with Kindness
Okay, I didn't actually kill Andy with kindness. But I did do something that I thought was nice that actually ended up being not so nice. I got one of those Redmond Rock salt rocks that they advertise on RFD-TV. I figured that he needed a salt lick, and those looked like the Cadillac of salt blocks. I put in in his feeder, because he needs rocks in there to slow down his eating. Otherwise, the dumbey chokes. So I put it in there on Friday night, and came out after dinner time the next day. To my concern, Andy had left a lot of food uneaten. This is really odd for him. Normally he wolfs his feed down like it's his last meal. Of course, I started worrying about horse herpes (Okay, EHV-1, but I like saying horse herpes better), colic, and other assorted things that would put him off his feed. Then I took a look at his food, and it looked a little odd, like the consistency was off. So I tasted it (sidenote- I taste most everything my horse eats, minus hay, because that might just kill me.), and it was incredibly salty. The soaked beetpulp must have leeched the salt out of the salt lick. Poor pony. I gave him some more grain in my blue feed tub, and he nommed it up, then I took him outside to eat some grass to apologize. The salt rock is now on the ground, and I cleaned all the salty mush out of his feeder. Sorry Drew-Face. Sometimes when I try to be so nice I end up being so stupid.
Of course I have a lot to tell. So much that the thought of posting it all is so overwhelming that I don't really want to, but I will. I've done three shows with Andy. The first one went well, minus me stressing and freaking out. My dad has an intervention with me, and I admitted that I am an obsessive perfectionist when it comes to riding. I resolved to have fun riding and showing after that. Then I went to the ODS adult team show in April, which was great. It was at the state fairgrounds in Salem, a big, scary new place with lots of horses, riders, and scary things. Andy was a total rockstar from Mars. Literally cool as a cucumber. I couldn't believe he was my Andy. In the warm-up arena there were horses spooking and bolting, and old ladies falling all over the place, and MY horse was the calmest one there. Really surreal. We didn't score that well (57% and 58%, 7th place, bleck), but he went so well, and I rode the tests so much better than the last show that I was thrilled nonetheless.
The last show? Well...it was ugly. Andy was behind my leg and would not accept the bit whatsoever (no wonder; without forward there's no way to get a horse on the bit and round). I in turn got stressed out and grabby on the reins, when I should have been busy getting him in front of my leg. Lots of hollowness and head-tossing ensued. Intro B was absolutely awful. To make matters worse. I went to the judge after my salute to say thank you, and that bitch had the gall to roll her eyes at me and say in a really sT. Boy was I pissed (after I stopped crying). 1) it was a schooling show. 2) Like she's never seen a horse melt down, and flub a test? 3) It was not a good test, but I completed all the moments at the correct gaits. I've seen worse. That was not a good show, and I think a lot of it had to do with me being so stressed about my dad, who had just gotten out of the hospital two days before.
After that I had a minor (okay, major) meltdown concerning Andy. I just was so tired of always fighting with him. He's also been been nutty on the ground. We had an incident in the crossties in March, when he almost flipped over after spooking at a blanket, and since then I haven't been able to cross tie him. He's also been very spooky and reactive. The week after the show I was warming him up for a lesson with Sara, and when she drove up he spooked so big that he dumped. She walked in on me sitting on my butt in the arena, crying, while he stood there trying to look innocent. A few days after that I had him at Kandice's for a lesson, and he pulled back in the crossties (I had the ties clipped to bailing twine tied to the halter, so it broke easily), and ran me over in the process. I was fine, just shook up, so poor Kandice had to deal with me sobbing and my spooky, crazy-ass horse. I love Andy, and I am committed to him. I will never sell him, and I want to ride him. Therefore, I am sending him off to Sara for a month of full training. Sara and I had a long talk, and while we both agree that I could continue to ride him and progress his dressage training, I am in sore need of a mental break from him.
So he will be in boot camp during June. Hahaha, that sucker won't know what hit him. I'll be there for most of his training sessions, and will probably be taking 2 lessons a week on him. Sara will be doing a lot of desensitization/sacking out with him, since we figure when he should have had that done he was busy racing. He'll be staying at Horsin' Around, which isn't my favorite barn but I know they'll take good care of him. He is going to miss LB so bad. I am glad to be breaking up that bad romance. Somehow they've gotten a little too bonded. When I brought Andy back from his weekend in Salem he screamed in delight when he saw LB. I even caught him grooming her last week. So cute. What was not so cute was when I tried to bring him from the pasture he flipped shit, crawled in my lap, ran circles around him, and was such a monster that I had to bring Love Bug in too. Who was also a screaming, circling monster when I brought her in. PONIES MAKE ME SO MAD SOMETIMES.
On a happy note, I had such a good ride on Callie today. I got her to be so soft and round right at the beginning of my ride. I had an aha moment in my lesson last week in term of my hands and maintaining contact, and I guess it was the key to getting her into a frame. Kandice is also bringing a few horses here from her mom's farm. One is this hunter school-master that she's going to give me free reign to ride whenever to get him back in shape. Another is this 7 year old TB mare that she has had since it was a weanling. She's green-broke and has been started over fences on the ground, and apparently has a great aptitude for jumping. And I just might have enough $$ to bankroll another pony. Life is good :)
Ooooh, I also got to ride a nice horse named Pickle, who is currently schooling 2nd level. So much fun! I actually got to ride him in a schooling show last week, and got a 71% in Intro c, and a 70% in Training 1! So I can ride training level well! It's not just me! Andy's just a jerk sometimes.
Of course I have a lot to tell. So much that the thought of posting it all is so overwhelming that I don't really want to, but I will. I've done three shows with Andy. The first one went well, minus me stressing and freaking out. My dad has an intervention with me, and I admitted that I am an obsessive perfectionist when it comes to riding. I resolved to have fun riding and showing after that. Then I went to the ODS adult team show in April, which was great. It was at the state fairgrounds in Salem, a big, scary new place with lots of horses, riders, and scary things. Andy was a total rockstar from Mars. Literally cool as a cucumber. I couldn't believe he was my Andy. In the warm-up arena there were horses spooking and bolting, and old ladies falling all over the place, and MY horse was the calmest one there. Really surreal. We didn't score that well (57% and 58%, 7th place, bleck), but he went so well, and I rode the tests so much better than the last show that I was thrilled nonetheless.
The last show? Well...it was ugly. Andy was behind my leg and would not accept the bit whatsoever (no wonder; without forward there's no way to get a horse on the bit and round). I in turn got stressed out and grabby on the reins, when I should have been busy getting him in front of my leg. Lots of hollowness and head-tossing ensued. Intro B was absolutely awful. To make matters worse. I went to the judge after my salute to say thank you, and that bitch had the gall to roll her eyes at me and say in a really sT. Boy was I pissed (after I stopped crying). 1) it was a schooling show. 2) Like she's never seen a horse melt down, and flub a test? 3) It was not a good test, but I completed all the moments at the correct gaits. I've seen worse. That was not a good show, and I think a lot of it had to do with me being so stressed about my dad, who had just gotten out of the hospital two days before.
After that I had a minor (okay, major) meltdown concerning Andy. I just was so tired of always fighting with him. He's also been been nutty on the ground. We had an incident in the crossties in March, when he almost flipped over after spooking at a blanket, and since then I haven't been able to cross tie him. He's also been very spooky and reactive. The week after the show I was warming him up for a lesson with Sara, and when she drove up he spooked so big that he dumped. She walked in on me sitting on my butt in the arena, crying, while he stood there trying to look innocent. A few days after that I had him at Kandice's for a lesson, and he pulled back in the crossties (I had the ties clipped to bailing twine tied to the halter, so it broke easily), and ran me over in the process. I was fine, just shook up, so poor Kandice had to deal with me sobbing and my spooky, crazy-ass horse. I love Andy, and I am committed to him. I will never sell him, and I want to ride him. Therefore, I am sending him off to Sara for a month of full training. Sara and I had a long talk, and while we both agree that I could continue to ride him and progress his dressage training, I am in sore need of a mental break from him.
So he will be in boot camp during June. Hahaha, that sucker won't know what hit him. I'll be there for most of his training sessions, and will probably be taking 2 lessons a week on him. Sara will be doing a lot of desensitization/sacking out with him, since we figure when he should have had that done he was busy racing. He'll be staying at Horsin' Around, which isn't my favorite barn but I know they'll take good care of him. He is going to miss LB so bad. I am glad to be breaking up that bad romance. Somehow they've gotten a little too bonded. When I brought Andy back from his weekend in Salem he screamed in delight when he saw LB. I even caught him grooming her last week. So cute. What was not so cute was when I tried to bring him from the pasture he flipped shit, crawled in my lap, ran circles around him, and was such a monster that I had to bring Love Bug in too. Who was also a screaming, circling monster when I brought her in. PONIES MAKE ME SO MAD SOMETIMES.
On a happy note, I had such a good ride on Callie today. I got her to be so soft and round right at the beginning of my ride. I had an aha moment in my lesson last week in term of my hands and maintaining contact, and I guess it was the key to getting her into a frame. Kandice is also bringing a few horses here from her mom's farm. One is this hunter school-master that she's going to give me free reign to ride whenever to get him back in shape. Another is this 7 year old TB mare that she has had since it was a weanling. She's green-broke and has been started over fences on the ground, and apparently has a great aptitude for jumping. And I just might have enough $$ to bankroll another pony. Life is good :)
Ooooh, I also got to ride a nice horse named Pickle, who is currently schooling 2nd level. So much fun! I actually got to ride him in a schooling show last week, and got a 71% in Intro c, and a 70% in Training 1! So I can ride training level well! It's not just me! Andy's just a jerk sometimes.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
News
I haven't updated in forever! I plan to change a few things on this bad boy, then use it more religiously as a training journal. But life just kinda got too busy for blogging. It's a catch-22. When I have things to write about, I don't have any time to write about them. Anyways, here is what is going on in Megan-Andy-Love Bug-And-Sometimes-Callie Land:
- Andy and I are going to our first dressage show the weekend after next! We're doing Intro B an C with all the other 11 year olds. We have 6 more shows during the season to make it to training level.
- Andy actually did break my foot when he stomped it.
- I found out that I had the old break when I got my foot re-xrayed after it got hurt when Andy BUCKED ME OFF! Straight up broncoed me off, in front of Katie. It was the third bucking fit he had during that ride. It turned out to be caused by pent up energy due to little turnout, but we had a very hairy few weeks.
- Andy and I JUMPED! I hauled him to Kandice's barn for a jumping lesson, and he did fabulous. Of course, they were only 12 inch verticals, but he stayed so calm the whole time, and rated his speed so nicely. He really missed his calling as a hunter/jumper or eventer.
- LB got her foot caught in her paddock fence kicking at the adorable pony, scrapping off a lot of skin and causing a $200 emergency vet bill. She's perfectly fine now, and regrowing hair on the wound.
- I had a lesson with Sara on LB, and we got her to pick up the left lead canter! Multiple times. I have since repeated this feat, and on Sunday I caught Love Bug willingly cantering on the left lead when she was loose in the arena. She even did a flying lead change to get on the left lead.
- I ordered a new dressage saddle! It's being made in England right now. It's worth waaay more than Andy or LB put together.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
I bought the most comfortable breeches ever. They are black, lined with fleece, and I got them on sale for $30. I have been wearing them since I was at the barn at 3:00. I think I will even sleep in them! I also bought a nice, fluffly fleece girth for Andy, since his leather 50" one is too long. Since the one I have now is way long, I got a 46". I ripped the tags off and went to put it on and...Too short! Arg! I am such an idiot. I thought for sure that 4" shorter would be perfect. Nope. I can't return a dirty, tagless piece of tack, but fortunately it will fit LB. Right now she has a crummy, dirty string girth. I checked, and it is a 46". This actually isn't too bad, because the polo team recently asked me if I had LB's tack. hahah, what space cases. Where else would it be? So I think they'll be wanting it back, so she does need a new girth. But if the polo club wants her stuff back, they gotta work for it. If they want it, they can come to Hillsboro and get it from me.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
My foot is interesting colors. Thanks a lot Andy!
I realized on Sunday that I had brought Andy home exactly a year ago. To celebrate, I brought him a delicious, expensive honeycrisp apple. Apparently, he does not like that particular type of apple, and he spit it out. What a diva. I guess his name is Prince Hellstrom, so he's pretty stuck up. I fed the rest to LB, who was sort of on the fence about it, but she is a food vacuum, so she ended up eating it all.
When I went out I was going to long-line him and work on some softening from the ground, as stirrups + my purple foot = ouch. When I got to the barn one of the little girls, Grace, was riding her pony in the arena, so I decided not to. Sometimes he does buck and screw around on the long line, so I figured I wouldn't. Mel told me how Grace wanted to fall off of her horse so she wouldn't have to canter on her lesson on Friday. Poor girl! I've been there before, when I wanted to fall off and get hurt to get out of playing in a polo match that was totally above my head. I did end up falling off, but not getting hurt enough to get out of playing. But good for Grace, she got the rhythm of cantering during her lesson and I saw her canter when I was riding in there. Hahah, ponies. She rides the cutest little black pony, jazz, and she had to kick it so hard to get it to trot. That makes me appreciate having a really forward, sensitive horse. If I kicked Andy like that he would be in the next county over before I could blink.
So I wound up riding with my newly acquired bareback pad. I love it! It made his narrow back so much more comfortable, and the oh-shit handle made me much less worried about rough stops. I am happy to report that I have now cantered Andy bareback! So exciting. Three years ago I could not canter LB without stirrups. Now I can canter on Andy bareback. We've come a long way baby.
I realized on Sunday that I had brought Andy home exactly a year ago. To celebrate, I brought him a delicious, expensive honeycrisp apple. Apparently, he does not like that particular type of apple, and he spit it out. What a diva. I guess his name is Prince Hellstrom, so he's pretty stuck up. I fed the rest to LB, who was sort of on the fence about it, but she is a food vacuum, so she ended up eating it all.
When I went out I was going to long-line him and work on some softening from the ground, as stirrups + my purple foot = ouch. When I got to the barn one of the little girls, Grace, was riding her pony in the arena, so I decided not to. Sometimes he does buck and screw around on the long line, so I figured I wouldn't. Mel told me how Grace wanted to fall off of her horse so she wouldn't have to canter on her lesson on Friday. Poor girl! I've been there before, when I wanted to fall off and get hurt to get out of playing in a polo match that was totally above my head. I did end up falling off, but not getting hurt enough to get out of playing. But good for Grace, she got the rhythm of cantering during her lesson and I saw her canter when I was riding in there. Hahah, ponies. She rides the cutest little black pony, jazz, and she had to kick it so hard to get it to trot. That makes me appreciate having a really forward, sensitive horse. If I kicked Andy like that he would be in the next county over before I could blink.
So I wound up riding with my newly acquired bareback pad. I love it! It made his narrow back so much more comfortable, and the oh-shit handle made me much less worried about rough stops. I am happy to report that I have now cantered Andy bareback! So exciting. Three years ago I could not canter LB without stirrups. Now I can canter on Andy bareback. We've come a long way baby.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
This just in- I have bones of steel! My foot is not broken, thank God, because the doctor would have put it in a cast for weeks if it was! I was pretty worried, as it was an ugly shade of purple and huge this morning. My mom, dad, and the doctor I saw at Urgent Care thought that there was a fracture, seeing how ugly it looked, but the doctor didn't see anything on the X-ray, so I am good to go! Well, unless the radiologist sees something, but cross my fingers that won't happen. As it is, I'm suppose to be on crutches til Saturday, but I hate crutches and the only ones I have are way too big for me and hurt my arm pits, so I am just hobbling along. I'm probably not suppose to ride for a while, but I have a ton of homework for Kandice and Sara, so I think I'll get back on Saturday with my stiff calf boots. I recited the whole RICE acronym to the doctor (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) and told her that I am rider, so I have plenty of experience. She got a kick out of that.
On the subject of my bones made of steel, I seriously think that they are infused with adamantium, a la Wolverine. This is like the third time when I've gotten hurt and the doctors told me they thought I had a fracture, but I X-rayed clear. Most curious, especially seeing as how I don't drink milk unless it's in coffee, and my vitamin D levels are always low. I must just have a great skeletal system. Not to worry, my crappy tendons make up for it!
On the subject of my bones made of steel, I seriously think that they are infused with adamantium, a la Wolverine. This is like the third time when I've gotten hurt and the doctors told me they thought I had a fracture, but I X-rayed clear. Most curious, especially seeing as how I don't drink milk unless it's in coffee, and my vitamin D levels are always low. I must just have a great skeletal system. Not to worry, my crappy tendons make up for it!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
At my lesson today Sara said that Andy is looking really good. He's building muscles in his butt and topline, gaining weight, and looking nice and shiny. His trot and canter have also really improved. She asked me if I was interested in showing, to which I said "Hell yes!" So I'm going to a schooling at her barn during winter (February I think). Her goal for me is to make it to the ODS Adult Team Show in May. YAY! I was going to broach the topic of showing with her this lesson anyways, and get her opinion on whether or not we'd be ready this year. She thinks it's a great idea. So now I have trainer approval. I am dressage-show bound! I'm not so sure about jumping shows though. That might have to wait a year or so! I am so thrilled that I started working with Sara. Andy and I needed it. She's very focused on turning Andy in a dressage horse, and a little less focused on my riding, which is great. It's what we really need. We'll learn together.
I had a really good lesson on Callie on Tuesday. We spent the whole lesson refining my jumping position. Kandice had me subtly adjusting my two-point at w/t/c, and doing transitions in half-seat as well. Freaking tough work! Can I just say that I need some serious core muscles? She told me that when I go from posting to two-point, my shoulders should be in the same position. Holy abs/back muscles Batman! I am the queen of slumping my shoulders forward. It's probably from years of poor posture. Will work on that. Callie was being really responsive, so Kandice had me work on extending and lengthening at the trot, then collecting back up again. It was so cool how I could really feel the difference!
In other news, a sweaty and displeased Andy completely stomped my foot after my lesson today. I was picking his back hoof when he jerked it out of my hands and slammed it back down to the ground- right onto my foot. It hurt so bad that I couldn't even discipline him- I just had to hobble over the bench and sit down. Naughty pony- he knows better that to do that shit. I really think he was grouchy after working so hard. My foot does not look pretty. It's got a nasty, huge bruise and it and is all swollen. I think I'll have it x-rayed tomorrow, just to make sure there's no break. You can actually see the curved line of Andy's shoe. That little fucker. This is just not my month. I will, however, take this as an opportunity to get new boots. If it had been wearing my stiff calf-length boots my foot wouldn't be nearly as hurt. Those crappy fake leather tall boots have no strength and just let Andy annhilate my foot. No more of that!
I had a really good lesson on Callie on Tuesday. We spent the whole lesson refining my jumping position. Kandice had me subtly adjusting my two-point at w/t/c, and doing transitions in half-seat as well. Freaking tough work! Can I just say that I need some serious core muscles? She told me that when I go from posting to two-point, my shoulders should be in the same position. Holy abs/back muscles Batman! I am the queen of slumping my shoulders forward. It's probably from years of poor posture. Will work on that. Callie was being really responsive, so Kandice had me work on extending and lengthening at the trot, then collecting back up again. It was so cool how I could really feel the difference!
In other news, a sweaty and displeased Andy completely stomped my foot after my lesson today. I was picking his back hoof when he jerked it out of my hands and slammed it back down to the ground- right onto my foot. It hurt so bad that I couldn't even discipline him- I just had to hobble over the bench and sit down. Naughty pony- he knows better that to do that shit. I really think he was grouchy after working so hard. My foot does not look pretty. It's got a nasty, huge bruise and it and is all swollen. I think I'll have it x-rayed tomorrow, just to make sure there's no break. You can actually see the curved line of Andy's shoe. That little fucker. This is just not my month. I will, however, take this as an opportunity to get new boots. If it had been wearing my stiff calf-length boots my foot wouldn't be nearly as hurt. Those crappy fake leather tall boots have no strength and just let Andy annhilate my foot. No more of that!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Much to talk about! In the past couple weeks I have jumped my first real jump, taken both horses to the beach for my birthday, and long-lined Andy myself.
Jumping is hard! The first lesson with an actual jump was just a cross rail, and I felt so floppity and all over the place. The second had an actual vertical and I felt just as goofy and off. Finally at this last lesson I felt how to do it right. It's funny, I've always pictured jumping as a very active thing for the rider- you have to rise up over the jump with the horse. But I've come to learn that you really just need to get out of the horse's way. Get in to 2-point, tighten your core, sink into your heels, and let the horse close your hip angles. I realized that I had been tightening my hands and letting my body flop around, so I focuses on engaging my core and relaxing my hands, and I had two jumps where everything clicked and I landed smoothly. My trainer told me that Callie and I are really trusting each other. She told me that her other student that rides her is a very strong and forceful with her, which is good for when Callie is lazy and behind your leg, but the way I ride Callie really seems to trust me and let my mistakes over jumps slide. Yay! For once my too kind style of riding is to my benefit.
Andy did not know what to think about the beach. He would NOT let the waves touch him (he would seriously deep hop away from them). He spooked at seashells and he didn't really like the sand. When I first tried to canter him on the packed sand he took about one stride then stopped dead on the forehand, like he couldn't figure out how to canter on the sand. Ow. Pommel, meet crotch. I had to take him to some softer sand to get him to actually go, but he did canter. There is nothing better than cantering your horse on the beach. Love Bug and mom just farted around by the shore. I expected Andy to play crazy race horse like he did on the trails, but he was Mr. Cool. And then when we were cantering I half-halted to bring him to the trot and he completely stopped, and flung his head down. I somersaulted over his ears and landed on my back, looking up at him, reins in hand. Owww, back injury fail! But I'm okay now- I think my back in finally back to normal.
Here's my view of the beach:
Here is mom and LB:
There are no pictures of me and Andy because my mom is too uncoordinated to take a picture and ride. Lucky me- my cell phone was in my back pocket when I fell. I thought I might have crushed it, but I just got in thoroughly sandy. I was a bit disappointed in Love Bug. She was a pain to load in the trailer. It took me about 10 minutes to load her this time, without Katie's help. Andy of course, was a dream. He tried to load himself, when my dad was holding him and I was locking the divider behind Love Bug. He did through his hay net through the window when he was out of hay though. Naught pony. I had to run out on the shoulder of 101 to fix that dumb hay net.
This Wednesday my trainer had me long-line Andy all by myself. It was easier than the time before, but still complicated! She said I'm ready to do it on my own this week, so I'll probably try it tomorrow. He was doing really well- dropping down onto the bit, then staying in a relaxed frame. After 30 minutes of long lining she had me hop on and working on softening him. He did NOT like that. In fact, he was pretty sneaky and would lower his head to trick me, then grab the reins away from me. Sara called him devious, and told me that he was knowingly trying to trick me. Finally she had me get off and did it herself. Once again, Megan is too nice to her horses, allowing them to misbehave. I really need to work on being nastier when it's warranted. Kandice always tells me to GET MAD at Callie. Mostly I just feel tired. But this week I have to work with Andy on softening, cause he just didn't get it. Which leaves me with this list of misperceptions that I've had about (my) riding:
Jumping is hard! The first lesson with an actual jump was just a cross rail, and I felt so floppity and all over the place. The second had an actual vertical and I felt just as goofy and off. Finally at this last lesson I felt how to do it right. It's funny, I've always pictured jumping as a very active thing for the rider- you have to rise up over the jump with the horse. But I've come to learn that you really just need to get out of the horse's way. Get in to 2-point, tighten your core, sink into your heels, and let the horse close your hip angles. I realized that I had been tightening my hands and letting my body flop around, so I focuses on engaging my core and relaxing my hands, and I had two jumps where everything clicked and I landed smoothly. My trainer told me that Callie and I are really trusting each other. She told me that her other student that rides her is a very strong and forceful with her, which is good for when Callie is lazy and behind your leg, but the way I ride Callie really seems to trust me and let my mistakes over jumps slide. Yay! For once my too kind style of riding is to my benefit.
Andy did not know what to think about the beach. He would NOT let the waves touch him (he would seriously deep hop away from them). He spooked at seashells and he didn't really like the sand. When I first tried to canter him on the packed sand he took about one stride then stopped dead on the forehand, like he couldn't figure out how to canter on the sand. Ow. Pommel, meet crotch. I had to take him to some softer sand to get him to actually go, but he did canter. There is nothing better than cantering your horse on the beach. Love Bug and mom just farted around by the shore. I expected Andy to play crazy race horse like he did on the trails, but he was Mr. Cool. And then when we were cantering I half-halted to bring him to the trot and he completely stopped, and flung his head down. I somersaulted over his ears and landed on my back, looking up at him, reins in hand. Owww, back injury fail! But I'm okay now- I think my back in finally back to normal.
Here's my view of the beach:
Here is mom and LB:
There are no pictures of me and Andy because my mom is too uncoordinated to take a picture and ride. Lucky me- my cell phone was in my back pocket when I fell. I thought I might have crushed it, but I just got in thoroughly sandy. I was a bit disappointed in Love Bug. She was a pain to load in the trailer. It took me about 10 minutes to load her this time, without Katie's help. Andy of course, was a dream. He tried to load himself, when my dad was holding him and I was locking the divider behind Love Bug. He did through his hay net through the window when he was out of hay though. Naught pony. I had to run out on the shoulder of 101 to fix that dumb hay net.This Wednesday my trainer had me long-line Andy all by myself. It was easier than the time before, but still complicated! She said I'm ready to do it on my own this week, so I'll probably try it tomorrow. He was doing really well- dropping down onto the bit, then staying in a relaxed frame. After 30 minutes of long lining she had me hop on and working on softening him. He did NOT like that. In fact, he was pretty sneaky and would lower his head to trick me, then grab the reins away from me. Sara called him devious, and told me that he was knowingly trying to trick me. Finally she had me get off and did it herself. Once again, Megan is too nice to her horses, allowing them to misbehave. I really need to work on being nastier when it's warranted. Kandice always tells me to GET MAD at Callie. Mostly I just feel tired. But this week I have to work with Andy on softening, cause he just didn't get it. Which leaves me with this list of misperceptions that I've had about (my) riding:
- Strong contact with a horses mouth is bad. I think this comes from polo, where you neck rein with some pretty strong bits. Lara explained this to me well: the reins are like a telephone line to your horse, and when there are loops (looseness) in the line, the call isn't getting through.
- Strong aids are mean and wrong! Sometimes a big kick is needed. Sara booted Andy hard in the ribs, which made me realize that I've been, well, a pussy a lot of time. Of course, I'll kick LB that hard when she goes into her nutty back-up-in-circles fit. Sometimes you have to get mad and mean, especially when your horse is being purposely defiant.
- Jumping is a lot of work by the ride. Nope, the horse is the one jumping so mostly it's staying out of the horse's way.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Andy is not pleased
Poor sweet Andy. Today, during my lesson with my dressage trainer she wanted to work on long lining with Andy, which I have never done before. He was not at all pleased! I generally don't use a lot of lunging, ground driving, or long lining working with him, not that I have issues with it. Of course, I think some people over lunge, and I'd much rather have a horse I can hope on and ride and not have to lunge for 30 minutes before because they're so bat shit nutty. But I know that these things can have a purpose, and I could definitely see how long lining helped get Andy into frame. By the time he understood what was being asked his trot looked so good, and his canter looked great. To me, anyways. Of course, I know him so well that I could tell he didn't like it. He just had this ticked look on his face, and made very excuse to stop. And then he even bucked twice on the line! The second time he threw enough of a hissy fit to rip both lines out of my trainer's hands, and then run around like a darned fool because they were chasing him. But then he did the cutest thing ever. As he was galloping around the arena, all spooked, he ran in my direction. I got in his line of sight and said "Come here you big goofball." He stopped right in front of me, shaking with fear and gave me the most pitiful look. Aww, he loves me. So I fixed the lines, handed him back to Sara and he gave this look like "WTF? I thought I got out of this!" Silly pony.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Back in the Saddle
I have officially ridden, post injury! Today was my first day back in the saddle. It was kind of against what my mom said I should do, and even my own good senses, but dammit, I had to. My back in generally felt really good throughout the lesson. It felt great to actually use my muscles again, like I was sweating out all the impurities and pain from the past 11 days.
I had a 30 minute lesson with the Sara, the dressage trainer that comes to my barn, and I really like her. She's much more intense that my jumping trainer (or really any other trainer I've worked with), in that she really pushes her students to ride well, and I love that. I need a trainer to push my hard. Of course, I felt all kinds of flobbity and out of sorts during the ride, seeing as how it's been 11 days since I rode last, and my back is still wonky. But she was able to see Andy in full force, see me react to him and ride him, and point me in the right direction for practice.
I told Sara in the beginning that Andy would be slow, relaxed, and difficult to get in front of my leg until I cantered. Then, after cantering his mind would switch gears, and he would start his hollowed out, head high in sky running trot, or his running walk that is one step away from a trot. She told me she saw him rushing forward, hollowing out, and evading the bit. She agreed with me that he has one frame of mind at any time: either slow and lazy, or FUCKING GO! And he'll switch between them instantaneously. My other trainer told me a great saying: When you are riding a Thoroughbred, sometimes you are riding a horse, and sometimes you are riding a Thoroughbred, and they are completely different.
She first of all made the point to me that I am allowing him to rush forward. The longer I allow him to rush the walk, break into trot, rush the trot, the worse it becomes and the harder it is to stop. I need to prevent this before he ever gets to act on it. The question becomes, how do I stop him? My method in the past has been pretty much sitting deep, and using the reins, sometimes alternating rein pressure, usually a quick check and release. I generally just timidly fight with him, as I don't want to be heavy-handed. Sara had me half-halting immediately when he began to speed up, and when he refused to listen, halting and backing him up. I totally see how the more I let it go, the more tense and hyped-up he gets, and the harder it is to bring it down.
I think what I got the most out of today was the lesson on how to ride a half-halt effectively. Half-halts always kind of confound me. I know that they are a combination of driving legs, sitting deep, and checking with the reins. They're a way to re-balance the horse and make him think. But how do you ride one effectively? I had one awesome one on Callie (Evil mareface who bucked me off) as I transitioned from a canter to a trot, and I could feel that it was awesome, but I couldn't quite put together in my mind what I did to make it work. With Andy, Sara could easily telling me what I wasn't doing right. As I checked him, I was falling forward, giving him a cue with my seat to go faster. So she had me really sit back and deepen my seat, as I added the restraining aid of my hand.
Another thing that I was doing wrong was fighting Andy by holding my half-halts waaaaay too long. I know that a half-halt is a very quick action, but when I try and get Andy to slow and relax I try gentle steady restraint. Not effective. He just fights it and gets frustrated. I need to think less about slowing him, and instead make him respond to half-halts. She had me give incredibly brief half-halts, then instant release, to allow him to respond. If he didn't, then it was on to another half-halt until he did. I had this one perfect one, when he cocked one ear back to pay attention to me, then instantly slowed and dropped his head. Ah, bliss! We then saw Andy switch from FUCKING GO to lazy instantaneously, as I half-halted to transition from the canter to the trot, and he dropped down to a plodding walk. Seriously, I have Jekyll and Hide Pony.
My perpetual riding pitfall is leaning forward. My tendency to lean forward comes from riding certain polo horses, where when going from basically a halt to a canter you need to lean forward. My jumping trainer, Kandice, has drilled into me that I need to sit back when asking for and riding the canter, and I've improved a lot. Sara had me lean back even further, and incorporated leaning back and lifting my collarbone into the trot as well, as well as sitting back in my half-halts. On the right lead I also curl my left shoulder in...I guess we all have weird little quirks in our riding.
So I am pretty stiff and sore tonight, although I was stiff and sore before I rode because of preschool and the chiropractor. I am dying to ride again soon though, and practice what I worked on. I guess I'm more excited to ride when I feel like my back problems aren't preventing from riding to my true potential.
I had a 30 minute lesson with the Sara, the dressage trainer that comes to my barn, and I really like her. She's much more intense that my jumping trainer (or really any other trainer I've worked with), in that she really pushes her students to ride well, and I love that. I need a trainer to push my hard. Of course, I felt all kinds of flobbity and out of sorts during the ride, seeing as how it's been 11 days since I rode last, and my back is still wonky. But she was able to see Andy in full force, see me react to him and ride him, and point me in the right direction for practice.
I told Sara in the beginning that Andy would be slow, relaxed, and difficult to get in front of my leg until I cantered. Then, after cantering his mind would switch gears, and he would start his hollowed out, head high in sky running trot, or his running walk that is one step away from a trot. She told me she saw him rushing forward, hollowing out, and evading the bit. She agreed with me that he has one frame of mind at any time: either slow and lazy, or FUCKING GO! And he'll switch between them instantaneously. My other trainer told me a great saying: When you are riding a Thoroughbred, sometimes you are riding a horse, and sometimes you are riding a Thoroughbred, and they are completely different.
She first of all made the point to me that I am allowing him to rush forward. The longer I allow him to rush the walk, break into trot, rush the trot, the worse it becomes and the harder it is to stop. I need to prevent this before he ever gets to act on it. The question becomes, how do I stop him? My method in the past has been pretty much sitting deep, and using the reins, sometimes alternating rein pressure, usually a quick check and release. I generally just timidly fight with him, as I don't want to be heavy-handed. Sara had me half-halting immediately when he began to speed up, and when he refused to listen, halting and backing him up. I totally see how the more I let it go, the more tense and hyped-up he gets, and the harder it is to bring it down.
I think what I got the most out of today was the lesson on how to ride a half-halt effectively. Half-halts always kind of confound me. I know that they are a combination of driving legs, sitting deep, and checking with the reins. They're a way to re-balance the horse and make him think. But how do you ride one effectively? I had one awesome one on Callie (Evil mareface who bucked me off) as I transitioned from a canter to a trot, and I could feel that it was awesome, but I couldn't quite put together in my mind what I did to make it work. With Andy, Sara could easily telling me what I wasn't doing right. As I checked him, I was falling forward, giving him a cue with my seat to go faster. So she had me really sit back and deepen my seat, as I added the restraining aid of my hand.
Another thing that I was doing wrong was fighting Andy by holding my half-halts waaaaay too long. I know that a half-halt is a very quick action, but when I try and get Andy to slow and relax I try gentle steady restraint. Not effective. He just fights it and gets frustrated. I need to think less about slowing him, and instead make him respond to half-halts. She had me give incredibly brief half-halts, then instant release, to allow him to respond. If he didn't, then it was on to another half-halt until he did. I had this one perfect one, when he cocked one ear back to pay attention to me, then instantly slowed and dropped his head. Ah, bliss! We then saw Andy switch from FUCKING GO to lazy instantaneously, as I half-halted to transition from the canter to the trot, and he dropped down to a plodding walk. Seriously, I have Jekyll and Hide Pony.
My perpetual riding pitfall is leaning forward. My tendency to lean forward comes from riding certain polo horses, where when going from basically a halt to a canter you need to lean forward. My jumping trainer, Kandice, has drilled into me that I need to sit back when asking for and riding the canter, and I've improved a lot. Sara had me lean back even further, and incorporated leaning back and lifting my collarbone into the trot as well, as well as sitting back in my half-halts. On the right lead I also curl my left shoulder in...I guess we all have weird little quirks in our riding.
So I am pretty stiff and sore tonight, although I was stiff and sore before I rode because of preschool and the chiropractor. I am dying to ride again soon though, and practice what I worked on. I guess I'm more excited to ride when I feel like my back problems aren't preventing from riding to my true potential.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Riding Break
I miss my ponies. I haven't rode in a week. Which isn't that crazy, seeing as how I rode maybe once a week, for 10 minutes at a walk when Andy was lame (a good 8 weeks before he was completely sound again). And when I was working 80 hours a week I could only see Andy once a week, and went a few weeks without riding. So one measly week is not that long, but I am spoiled from riding 5+ times a week, sometimes on more than one horse. But a week+ off is not a good thing. Katie and I have often discussed this. You lose a lot in one week of not riding. We'd go maybe 4 or 5 days on a long weekend without riding, then go out and ride polo ponies together, and we'd be huffing and puffing, and sore the next day. Who knows how out of shape I'll be when I ride. Not only have I not been riding, I've not been doing ANYTHING at all. Even sitting at a desk for 4 hours makes my back hurt. Weaksauce.
My doctor said I could start riding again as soon as I felt ready...Does my staggering impatience count as "ready?" I actually feel really good when I wake up in the mornings, pretty much back-spasm free. Of course, by the time I go to bed my back hurts, and is stiff and spasming. So I guess that means ride early? I don't want to ride too hard too soon, but I don't want to lose too much muscle tone either. That being said, I'm going to try to ride tomorrow! I don't really plan on trotting or cantering. I just want to evaluate how it effects my back. Not to mention, I'm supposed to have a dressage lesson on Friday with a new dressage trainer. I planned it weeks ago, for the first opening she had, and I really want to do it. I figured that I would be sufficiently recovered 10 days after falling, so I didn't cancel it. I figured if I still felt awful Tuesday or today, I could cancel...and I don't feel awful. I feel on the fence. So it's kind of too late to cancel now, so I'm just gonna go for it. I'll pay for the lesson, even if I can only walk and have to end things early!
This whole situation is just lame. I knew my luck was running out, and that sooner or later I would have a bad fall and get hurt. I just thought it would be off of Andy, and thought that maybe I'd get a broken arm or hand or something cool, get a cast, and still ride. But backs are important. You kind of need them to do, oh, anything. And I don't want to have to do physical therapy- been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I spent 3 months in PT for a silly knee injury (thank you crazy TB mare), and don't really want to go back for my back. If there was one thing I learned in PT for my knee, it was that I made everything worse by inactivity and guarding that knee. My quad completely atrophied and started pulling my kneecap out of alignment, causing most of my pain. My pt was pretty much just targeted strength training. I don't know how back PT would be different. I'm also trying to keep the medical treatments to a minimum and keep everything hush-hush, because the fall happened on my trainer's horse, during the course of a lesson. I signed the release and take full responsibility for what happened, but I know how insurance companies work and if they knew the real circumstances of the accident I worry about them going after my trainer to pay for medical expenses. So I've been lying about which horse I came off of to any and all medical professionals. She did tell me that there wasn't much I could do to prevent the fall, or stay on once it the horse bolted, but I am of the opinion that if I were a better rider that had better control, then it wouldn't have happened.
I will be sure to update with whatever happens during my ride tomorrow! I haven't decided whether or ride Andy or LB. LB's a steady-eddy that would probably be easier to ride, but Andy is my pony and I adore him, not to mention that with me out of commission there is no one to ride him.
My doctor said I could start riding again as soon as I felt ready...Does my staggering impatience count as "ready?" I actually feel really good when I wake up in the mornings, pretty much back-spasm free. Of course, by the time I go to bed my back hurts, and is stiff and spasming. So I guess that means ride early? I don't want to ride too hard too soon, but I don't want to lose too much muscle tone either. That being said, I'm going to try to ride tomorrow! I don't really plan on trotting or cantering. I just want to evaluate how it effects my back. Not to mention, I'm supposed to have a dressage lesson on Friday with a new dressage trainer. I planned it weeks ago, for the first opening she had, and I really want to do it. I figured that I would be sufficiently recovered 10 days after falling, so I didn't cancel it. I figured if I still felt awful Tuesday or today, I could cancel...and I don't feel awful. I feel on the fence. So it's kind of too late to cancel now, so I'm just gonna go for it. I'll pay for the lesson, even if I can only walk and have to end things early!
This whole situation is just lame. I knew my luck was running out, and that sooner or later I would have a bad fall and get hurt. I just thought it would be off of Andy, and thought that maybe I'd get a broken arm or hand or something cool, get a cast, and still ride. But backs are important. You kind of need them to do, oh, anything. And I don't want to have to do physical therapy- been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I spent 3 months in PT for a silly knee injury (thank you crazy TB mare), and don't really want to go back for my back. If there was one thing I learned in PT for my knee, it was that I made everything worse by inactivity and guarding that knee. My quad completely atrophied and started pulling my kneecap out of alignment, causing most of my pain. My pt was pretty much just targeted strength training. I don't know how back PT would be different. I'm also trying to keep the medical treatments to a minimum and keep everything hush-hush, because the fall happened on my trainer's horse, during the course of a lesson. I signed the release and take full responsibility for what happened, but I know how insurance companies work and if they knew the real circumstances of the accident I worry about them going after my trainer to pay for medical expenses. So I've been lying about which horse I came off of to any and all medical professionals. She did tell me that there wasn't much I could do to prevent the fall, or stay on once it the horse bolted, but I am of the opinion that if I were a better rider that had better control, then it wouldn't have happened.
I will be sure to update with whatever happens during my ride tomorrow! I haven't decided whether or ride Andy or LB. LB's a steady-eddy that would probably be easier to ride, but Andy is my pony and I adore him, not to mention that with me out of commission there is no one to ride him.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Mares= the devil
Every horse I get from now to ever will be a gelding. I do not like dealing with mares! A mare screwed up my knee throwing a bitch fit. A mare bucked me off on Tuesday. And my own mare caused me a mess of trouble today.
I went out to the barn today to try a saddle on LB, with my mom. I am still crippled, and can't lift anything, lead a horse, ride, or pretty much do anything. My mom brought out Love Bug, and she was being a pain- calling to Andy, dancing around, being pushy. I had my mom do so ground work in the arena, and she started behaving again. She put her back in the cross ties, and LB was being okay, until one of the barn cats came screaming out of the bushes into the barn, making a racket, which spooked the horse. In a panic, LB turned herself around in the crossties, and before my mom or I could undo the quick-release latches Love Bug somehow completely slipped the halter.
So off she went through the aisle, and out the back off the barn, to the pasture. Unfortunately, at the same time one of the little girls that has a horse out at the barn was leading him (Mo) out to his pasture. She still had him in hand when Love Bug came tearing out like a demon from the barn, and he started freaking out to, so we yelled at her just to let him go, and shut herself in the paddock, which she did. Poor little think was completely terrified and was crying hysterically by the time I hobbled out there.
So Love Bug, and Mo went up to each other. Mo is 15, and was a stallion until just about a year ago, and he still things that he is. So he was thinking about getting busy. They did the typical horsey-meet each other thing, where she squealed and struck at him. After a minute she walked away and he followed, and I realized, horror of all horrors, that she was in heat and she wanted him. She led him to the fence of the paddock she has with Andy, they started flirting. Poor Andy came over to the fence and was horrified to see his girlfriend with another guy, being all slutty. She was letting Mo sniff her all over, and groom her, and she was holding her tail up and "winking." I was pretty sure that we were going to get a lesson in biology real quick. Poor, poor, Andy. He was so upset watching all this go down mere inches away from him.
Fortunately for us, horses are dumb and like food more than sex, so we got a bag of treats and they both went for it, meaning that Mo was easily grabbed and Love Bug was easily haltered. Crisis, averted, and the 10 year old girl will have to figure out how foals are made some other day.
So, in conclusion, I WILL ALWAYS BUY GELDINGS! Andy might be a goofball, but he's a consistent goofball.
I went out to the barn today to try a saddle on LB, with my mom. I am still crippled, and can't lift anything, lead a horse, ride, or pretty much do anything. My mom brought out Love Bug, and she was being a pain- calling to Andy, dancing around, being pushy. I had my mom do so ground work in the arena, and she started behaving again. She put her back in the cross ties, and LB was being okay, until one of the barn cats came screaming out of the bushes into the barn, making a racket, which spooked the horse. In a panic, LB turned herself around in the crossties, and before my mom or I could undo the quick-release latches Love Bug somehow completely slipped the halter.
So off she went through the aisle, and out the back off the barn, to the pasture. Unfortunately, at the same time one of the little girls that has a horse out at the barn was leading him (Mo) out to his pasture. She still had him in hand when Love Bug came tearing out like a demon from the barn, and he started freaking out to, so we yelled at her just to let him go, and shut herself in the paddock, which she did. Poor little think was completely terrified and was crying hysterically by the time I hobbled out there.
So Love Bug, and Mo went up to each other. Mo is 15, and was a stallion until just about a year ago, and he still things that he is. So he was thinking about getting busy. They did the typical horsey-meet each other thing, where she squealed and struck at him. After a minute she walked away and he followed, and I realized, horror of all horrors, that she was in heat and she wanted him. She led him to the fence of the paddock she has with Andy, they started flirting. Poor Andy came over to the fence and was horrified to see his girlfriend with another guy, being all slutty. She was letting Mo sniff her all over, and groom her, and she was holding her tail up and "winking." I was pretty sure that we were going to get a lesson in biology real quick. Poor, poor, Andy. He was so upset watching all this go down mere inches away from him.
Fortunately for us, horses are dumb and like food more than sex, so we got a bag of treats and they both went for it, meaning that Mo was easily grabbed and Love Bug was easily haltered. Crisis, averted, and the 10 year old girl will have to figure out how foals are made some other day.
So, in conclusion, I WILL ALWAYS BUY GELDINGS! Andy might be a goofball, but he's a consistent goofball.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Colic
Worst day ever! The day that I was going back to work, today, my barn owner, Mel called at told me that Andy was showing symptoms of colic- not finishing his grain and laying down. Holy crap! So I rushed my crippled self out to the barn, and by the time I got there he was happy-go-lucky pooping, drinking and eating. So I calmed down and went to work.
When I was at work, Mel called again and said he found him lying down in his paddock, and when she went to walk him he kicked at his gut twice. I was at work, in the middle of urgent projects, and couldn't do anything except get mildly hysterical. By the time I got to the barn a second time, he was up, had pooped, drank, and wanted hay. He had gut sounds, normal respiration and heart rate, pink gums, and good capillary refill. And he wanted his dinner grain badly. Sign. Way to put me through the ringer, Andrew. So he is fine as of now. BO's daughter (Launa, who's kind of the barn manager, and also a vet tech) checked him before bed time, and he was his normal goofy self, so I'm not worried.
I'm just grateful that I have my horses in such a great, caring barn, where they get looked after so closely. I've never actually had a horse colic on me before, so I was incredibly panicky having it happen, even though he was fine both times I checked on him. I'm glad I had Mel and Launa, who have seen many horses through colic and know what is an emergency and what is a watch and wait situation. Not that I would ever hesitate to call the vet when needed, but the vet isn't always needed, and sometimes I get over anxious.
Horses have caused me so much trouble this week! Sheesh!
When I was at work, Mel called again and said he found him lying down in his paddock, and when she went to walk him he kicked at his gut twice. I was at work, in the middle of urgent projects, and couldn't do anything except get mildly hysterical. By the time I got to the barn a second time, he was up, had pooped, drank, and wanted hay. He had gut sounds, normal respiration and heart rate, pink gums, and good capillary refill. And he wanted his dinner grain badly. Sign. Way to put me through the ringer, Andrew. So he is fine as of now. BO's daughter (Launa, who's kind of the barn manager, and also a vet tech) checked him before bed time, and he was his normal goofy self, so I'm not worried.
I'm just grateful that I have my horses in such a great, caring barn, where they get looked after so closely. I've never actually had a horse colic on me before, so I was incredibly panicky having it happen, even though he was fine both times I checked on him. I'm glad I had Mel and Launa, who have seen many horses through colic and know what is an emergency and what is a watch and wait situation. Not that I would ever hesitate to call the vet when needed, but the vet isn't always needed, and sometimes I get over anxious.
Horses have caused me so much trouble this week! Sheesh!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sometimes Ponies are Jerks
Seriously. Not my two ponies, because I give them Sleezies and Jolly-Balls and Show-Sheen and they love me. But other jerk ponies. Namely the silly mare I ride during my jumping lessons. She gets points for being a bay thoroughbred (my favorite!), but loses points for making evil snake faces when she gets brushed. Today, Snake-Face decided to throw a hissy fit as a cantered her over two trot polls. As we were going over the second, I released her head with my hands, and before I could even half-halt she exploded into a gallop. I wasn't really scared, because I've been run away with before. Out of control galloping doesn't scare me too much. I was just surprised, because earlier in my lesson the horse was being sluggish, lazy, and completely dead to my leg, and we'd done the gymnastics course a few times before with no huge issues.
So I was furiously trying to check her up, while my trainer was yelling "PULL BACK! PULL BACK!" when she started bucking. I lasted about .5 bucks until I went flying off. If there's one thing I consistently think as I fall, it's "KICK YOUR FEET OUT OF THE STIRRUPS NOW!" Every time I fall it's the one thought that blares through my head. I remember thinking it, and trying frantically to make sure my left foot came out as I rotated around, cause my toe was still in. Fortunately, my foot did not get caught. I would've been pissed if it had, because my knee is finally better from the last time I got caught in the stirrups (thanks to another cranky-pant thoroughbred mare). I fell off to the left, and rotated completely around, so I landed flat on my back.
I hit hard. Because I have a ghetto booty, my ass broke my fall. Holy crap, it hurt so bad! My tailbone felt like it was on fire. This is gross, but I was afraid for a little while that blood was going to start leaking out of my butt. That painful. It was the first fall where I couldn't immediately spring up after hitting the dirt. Usually I just pop up and grab my horse. I couldn't even sit up for a few seconds. I laughed at the absurdity of falling off, smack dab in front of my trainer (we were like 10 feet away from her) and another boarder, and having my first real fall in almost two years. My last "fall" was July, off of Andy, and I landed on my feet, so it was really more of an unscheduled dismount. The time before that was January of 2009, when Love Bug tripped at the canter and I fell over her shoulder, in an epic-ly lame fall. I just couldn't believe that that had happened, and that Andy wasn't the cause of it!
So I felt things out, and determined that I wasn't too badly hurt, and finally sat up and assured my trainer that I was ok (I had to tell her several times, as she didn't believe me, heck I didn't even believe me at first). After a minute or two I could get it. My tailbone hurt like a mother, and I was completely shook up. Of course, I HAD to get back on. I was sufficiently freaked out that I really needed to get back of Callie, the mare, and canter her again over poles, or I might never be able to do it again without having serious fear issues. And I think I was so pumped full of adrenaline from the fall that I wasn't in too much pain. So I got back on, and she was still being a jacked-up butt head but I got her to listen to me, got her brakes working again, then cantered successfully over some more poles. Score 1 me.
Of course, then I went home and the pain started kicking in. My tailbone was radiated pain, and my back was starting to stiffen up and become unbearably painful, so I went to the doctor, got some X-rays (I didn't fracture my tailbone! yay!), some vicodin, and some muscle relaxers. Thank goodness, because I can't really walk (I do this awkward shuffling crab walk), or sit, or do anything except lie down. But the drugs make me at least comfortable, which is good, because ibuprofen does nothing.
Sadly, I can't ride for a while. According to my doctor, I need to take a "long time" off and take recovery slowly. heheh, to me, a long time is a week. I honestly have no idea how long it will take to feel better, or how long it will take for my tailbone to be okay. I've bruised it before, and it took about two months to get completely better. And it hurt a lot when I was riding after I feel. Right now there is no way I can sit a canter on it. So I'm taking things slow. My goal is to be able to ride on my lesson a week from today. Suck. I hate not being able to ride. I probably need to be able to walk before I can ride.
In conclusion, some horses are assholes. Fortunately, I have nerves of steel and have dealt with a lot of jerk ponies. My trainer actually told me she was surprised I stayed on for as long as I did, and I did it because I had my heels down. Go me! I am going to go to the barn to see Andy and LB soon, and give them a hug and a kiss, because they are nice ponies who don't buck me off. Although I did forgive Callie, because she's a TB, and I like crazy TBs.
So I was furiously trying to check her up, while my trainer was yelling "PULL BACK! PULL BACK!" when she started bucking. I lasted about .5 bucks until I went flying off. If there's one thing I consistently think as I fall, it's "KICK YOUR FEET OUT OF THE STIRRUPS NOW!" Every time I fall it's the one thought that blares through my head. I remember thinking it, and trying frantically to make sure my left foot came out as I rotated around, cause my toe was still in. Fortunately, my foot did not get caught. I would've been pissed if it had, because my knee is finally better from the last time I got caught in the stirrups (thanks to another cranky-pant thoroughbred mare). I fell off to the left, and rotated completely around, so I landed flat on my back.
I hit hard. Because I have a ghetto booty, my ass broke my fall. Holy crap, it hurt so bad! My tailbone felt like it was on fire. This is gross, but I was afraid for a little while that blood was going to start leaking out of my butt. That painful. It was the first fall where I couldn't immediately spring up after hitting the dirt. Usually I just pop up and grab my horse. I couldn't even sit up for a few seconds. I laughed at the absurdity of falling off, smack dab in front of my trainer (we were like 10 feet away from her) and another boarder, and having my first real fall in almost two years. My last "fall" was July, off of Andy, and I landed on my feet, so it was really more of an unscheduled dismount. The time before that was January of 2009, when Love Bug tripped at the canter and I fell over her shoulder, in an epic-ly lame fall. I just couldn't believe that that had happened, and that Andy wasn't the cause of it!
So I felt things out, and determined that I wasn't too badly hurt, and finally sat up and assured my trainer that I was ok (I had to tell her several times, as she didn't believe me, heck I didn't even believe me at first). After a minute or two I could get it. My tailbone hurt like a mother, and I was completely shook up. Of course, I HAD to get back on. I was sufficiently freaked out that I really needed to get back of Callie, the mare, and canter her again over poles, or I might never be able to do it again without having serious fear issues. And I think I was so pumped full of adrenaline from the fall that I wasn't in too much pain. So I got back on, and she was still being a jacked-up butt head but I got her to listen to me, got her brakes working again, then cantered successfully over some more poles. Score 1 me.
Of course, then I went home and the pain started kicking in. My tailbone was radiated pain, and my back was starting to stiffen up and become unbearably painful, so I went to the doctor, got some X-rays (I didn't fracture my tailbone! yay!), some vicodin, and some muscle relaxers. Thank goodness, because I can't really walk (I do this awkward shuffling crab walk), or sit, or do anything except lie down. But the drugs make me at least comfortable, which is good, because ibuprofen does nothing.
Sadly, I can't ride for a while. According to my doctor, I need to take a "long time" off and take recovery slowly. heheh, to me, a long time is a week. I honestly have no idea how long it will take to feel better, or how long it will take for my tailbone to be okay. I've bruised it before, and it took about two months to get completely better. And it hurt a lot when I was riding after I feel. Right now there is no way I can sit a canter on it. So I'm taking things slow. My goal is to be able to ride on my lesson a week from today. Suck. I hate not being able to ride. I probably need to be able to walk before I can ride.
In conclusion, some horses are assholes. Fortunately, I have nerves of steel and have dealt with a lot of jerk ponies. My trainer actually told me she was surprised I stayed on for as long as I did, and I did it because I had my heels down. Go me! I am going to go to the barn to see Andy and LB soon, and give them a hug and a kiss, because they are nice ponies who don't buck me off. Although I did forgive Callie, because she's a TB, and I like crazy TBs.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Riding Success
My goal, as a rider, is to be able to make every horse that I ride better. My philosophy is that ever ride (heck, every interaction with a horse) is a training situation. You are either training them to do well, or untraining the previous good that has been accomplished.
For a long time, especially when I was doing polo, I was just a passenger rider. I exercised horses, I played polo, I got them to at least listen to basic commands (stop, go, turn, etc) but that was about it.
Finally now I feel like I'm finally learning how to improve each horse I ride. I'm learning things like getting my horse collected, with proper head carriage, versus being hollow with a jacked-up head. I'm learning the basics of lateral, and how to introduce it to my horses to work on flexibility and suppleness. Recently I've been focusing on transitions, and how to get correct transitions that aren't heavy on the forehand.
I feel like I could be learning how to ride for the rest of my life, and I still would not be able to learn all there is to know. That's what I love about riding. There is always something to learn; always new disciplines to explore, and you find a lot of really successful riders are quite a bit older than what many other professional athletes (Ie, in their 40s and 50s). This gives me a lot of hope. I don't ever plan on being a professional rider, but if I want to get really good then I have a lot of time to do so!
For a long time, especially when I was doing polo, I was just a passenger rider. I exercised horses, I played polo, I got them to at least listen to basic commands (stop, go, turn, etc) but that was about it.
Finally now I feel like I'm finally learning how to improve each horse I ride. I'm learning things like getting my horse collected, with proper head carriage, versus being hollow with a jacked-up head. I'm learning the basics of lateral, and how to introduce it to my horses to work on flexibility and suppleness. Recently I've been focusing on transitions, and how to get correct transitions that aren't heavy on the forehand.
I feel like I could be learning how to ride for the rest of my life, and I still would not be able to learn all there is to know. That's what I love about riding. There is always something to learn; always new disciplines to explore, and you find a lot of really successful riders are quite a bit older than what many other professional athletes (Ie, in their 40s and 50s). This gives me a lot of hope. I don't ever plan on being a professional rider, but if I want to get really good then I have a lot of time to do so!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Trail Riding
I went on a trail ride today, and my horses were absolute angels! It was also the first time we hauled them in the new trailer, and everything went fine. I was sooo stressed out and nervous though.
The horses loaded fairly easily. I put Love Bug in first, and she got upset when I shut her in, trying to see Andy. I really think she thought that she was leaving to go back to the polo team. But she calmed down as soon as Andy got in with her. Then Andy got pissed because he couldn't get the hay from his hay net easily, so he was throwing a small hissy fit trying to get his head in the top of the bag. Love Bug pooped within thirty seconds of putting her in the trailer. We latched the door and were off!
We made one small wrong turn, which resulted in going 7 miles out of our way, then doubling back. Whoopsie. Then we made it to Stubbs Stewart State Park. What a great place to ride! They have a huge horse staging area, not to mention it's free to us because my dad gets free access and camping in state parka. So we tacked up, and then headed out. My friend Katie, who taught me everything about horses, came with. She and I took off by ourselves while my mom and dad relaxed and destressed sitting in the shade of the trailer.
The trail system at Stubbs Stewart is gorgeous! It was like riding through the forest described in Twilight (nerdy, I know). Not to mention that there were some gorgeous viewpoints of the coast range. The footing was also really good too. Lots of hills, but nothing too steep.
Most importantly, the horses were absolute angels! Andy did not try to break into a trot by himself once! We were even able to canter for a little bit, with no running away! I am so happy that he is safe to take on the trails now. Love Bug was a steady eddy, as was expected. After Katie and I rode awhile, I got off Andy and let Katie ride him, while my mom rode LB. We got her to go on a trail loop no problem. I am so proud of both of them, and really happy with Andy's behavior as well, although I think he was a bit distracted by all the yummy looking foliage that was on both sides of the trail. He snuck several mouthfuls, despite my best efforts.
We untacked, and loaded without any problems, then made it back to the barn safely. Then it was time to clean the poop-filled trailer out. It was such a fun trip! I've wanted to trail ride at Stubbs since I bought Andy. Now that I have a trailer I'm going to be up there all the time in the summer.
This is Katie and I ready to hit the trails!
The horses loaded fairly easily. I put Love Bug in first, and she got upset when I shut her in, trying to see Andy. I really think she thought that she was leaving to go back to the polo team. But she calmed down as soon as Andy got in with her. Then Andy got pissed because he couldn't get the hay from his hay net easily, so he was throwing a small hissy fit trying to get his head in the top of the bag. Love Bug pooped within thirty seconds of putting her in the trailer. We latched the door and were off!
We made one small wrong turn, which resulted in going 7 miles out of our way, then doubling back. Whoopsie. Then we made it to Stubbs Stewart State Park. What a great place to ride! They have a huge horse staging area, not to mention it's free to us because my dad gets free access and camping in state parka. So we tacked up, and then headed out. My friend Katie, who taught me everything about horses, came with. She and I took off by ourselves while my mom and dad relaxed and destressed sitting in the shade of the trailer.
The trail system at Stubbs Stewart is gorgeous! It was like riding through the forest described in Twilight (nerdy, I know). Not to mention that there were some gorgeous viewpoints of the coast range. The footing was also really good too. Lots of hills, but nothing too steep.
Most importantly, the horses were absolute angels! Andy did not try to break into a trot by himself once! We were even able to canter for a little bit, with no running away! I am so happy that he is safe to take on the trails now. Love Bug was a steady eddy, as was expected. After Katie and I rode awhile, I got off Andy and let Katie ride him, while my mom rode LB. We got her to go on a trail loop no problem. I am so proud of both of them, and really happy with Andy's behavior as well, although I think he was a bit distracted by all the yummy looking foliage that was on both sides of the trail. He snuck several mouthfuls, despite my best efforts.
We untacked, and loaded without any problems, then made it back to the barn safely. Then it was time to clean the poop-filled trailer out. It was such a fun trip! I've wanted to trail ride at Stubbs since I bought Andy. Now that I have a trailer I'm going to be up there all the time in the summer.
This is Katie and I ready to hit the trails!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Setting Goals
Since I've bought Andy, I've been pretty much just riding aimlessly. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I think it's high time that I set some goals and begin to ride with a purpose. I have the entry form for a nearby dressage schooling show in November that I am about to send it. That gives me a pretty good goal- being ready to ride a training level test by mid-November. So now, instead of just 1 hour of walk/trot/canter when I ride, it's an hour of w/t/c AND schooling- halts, transitions, bending, straightness, collection, being on frame, etc. This is hard work! But I'm really committed to riding this test well.
I've been taking hunt seat lessons with a new trainer for the past month, which is helping me tremendously with my own riding and eventual goal of eventing, but it hasn't helped me so much in my Andy issues- mainly rushing through the bit in a choppy, fast gate. I've decided to start training with the dressage trainer that comes to my barn twice a week. Which means that I will be spending a lot of money on lessons this year, but I feel that it is such a good investment in the rest of my life and riding, that I will gladly pay $300 a month for lessons. Ack, writing it out makes is sound like so much!
In other news, I GOT A TRAILER! Hallelujah! Now I never have to depend on anyone to move my horses. What a load off my shoulders. Not to mention, hello beach rides, trail rides, and lots of shows!
I've been taking hunt seat lessons with a new trainer for the past month, which is helping me tremendously with my own riding and eventual goal of eventing, but it hasn't helped me so much in my Andy issues- mainly rushing through the bit in a choppy, fast gate. I've decided to start training with the dressage trainer that comes to my barn twice a week. Which means that I will be spending a lot of money on lessons this year, but I feel that it is such a good investment in the rest of my life and riding, that I will gladly pay $300 a month for lessons. Ack, writing it out makes is sound like so much!
In other news, I GOT A TRAILER! Hallelujah! Now I never have to depend on anyone to move my horses. What a load off my shoulders. Not to mention, hello beach rides, trail rides, and lots of shows!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Andy is a Little Shit
Andy bucked for the first time under saddle yesterday! Hahaha, naughty pony. Although, in his defense, I think it was because he was mad at me for making too sharp of a turn going too fast. I usually try very hard to collect and balance him around the end of the arena, but I was being lazy and mom was slugging around directly in my way on LB, so I had to divide the end from a 20 meter circle into a 10 meter circle, and as we straightened up he totally bucked. Of course, it was a tiny buck, and I much prefer bucks to rearing and bolting, so I just laughed and called him an asshole. Silly Pony.
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