Discretion is the Better Part of Valor

And Tuck Takes Off

I had decided to lunge Tucker, mostly to see how sound he was. As it turned out, it was the wiser choice.

First, he looked fine. Maybe a little step or two not quite right, but mostly a good sound, striding out trot. That is, until Toby and Chance decided to some storming in from the pasture. Top speed, they charged through the other side of the arena, then to the paddock, leaping and careening madly.

Thank heavens I wasn't in the saddle. Even on his best days, Tucker could not have ignored the rioting pair. He leaped, bucked, galloped, and generally ripped around me--remarkably not pulling the line out of my hands. The nonsense continued for about five minutes with a few later episodes when Chance decided to leap about some more.

It was cool and windy, so I suppose there was some excuse. The good news is that Tucker did look good.

At that point I decided not to ride anybody but to rather spend the rest of my time lunging. Both Toby and Chance were good boys, I am happy to report, although Chance was kind of excited to start off with and cantered off instead of trotting to the right. At least he took the proper lead.

All in all, everyone, including me, got a good exercise session.

Erratic weather is here today (Tuesday) so I may be stuck, and the rest of the week does not bode much better.

I'll do what I can, but being soggy, cold, and miserable is not my idea of a fine Spring riding session.

Missed the Window

And So Came the Rain

It was lovely this morning, but I had to go to church. On the way home, I had to stop at the feed store to stock up.

Came home, unloaded some 700 lbs. of grain and went into the house to recover a little.

In the meantime, the skies darkened, and within an hour or so, it started to rain--hard.

Tucker was turned out with the others, but when I looked out, everyone was settled in under the run in, so I didn't bother putting him in.

I think the showers will be off and on the rest of the night and, apparently well through tomorrow. Prospects look bleak for much riding.

Had to laugh about Caroline's comment about the border collies. Jack, when he was younger, never did wear out. Now, at 15, he has finally slowed down. But the pup, Mic, just kept going and going like a little windup toy. Scott is great with them, though, and when the dogs travel with him, they usually have the run of the farms where he shoes. Jack was always very well behaved and I am sure Mic will be no exception.

Shoe On Tuck Off

But on the Mend

Scott came late this morning to shoe Tucker. He carved a chunk out of his toe and told me to pack it with epson salts and Betadine. He will be back at the end of the week to do the other Boys and check on him again.

Mic, the little border collie puppy is adorable!! And old Jack has really been revitalized by the kid. They are so cute together. I will post some more pics tomorrow. I do love border collies, but their endless energy wears me out. When Jack was young, he would play "fetch" the whole time Scott was here to shoe three horses. I can see why these dogs are so valuable to the shepherds. I love watching them work the sheep. My friends have a flock of sheep at their house just for training herding dogs. (Not much real sheep herding around here so they compete on special flocks.) It was so much fun watching the dogs work. Honestly, it is absolutely beautiful to see a good herding dog doing his job. Totally awesome.

It appears Tuck's trouble did start in the toe. I don't know if Scott had come sooner if it could have been carved out and treated or if it was already to far gone by the time Tucker became lame. Scott did tell me to call him first if I did have a hoof problem, but I don't know if that would have made a difference in this case. Regardless, Tucker is in good hands now.

He is, though, not 100% sound. He trots sound to the left (the injured hoof is the right front) but going to the right, he is very slightly off. I let him graze on the lawn for the afternoon as his limited turnout. Tomorrow I will put him out with his buddies for a short afternoon if he still looks sound. If not, he will have to stay in.

Because I'd had a chiropractic adjustment after Scott left, I opted out of riding. (It was my neck again.) Instead, I decided to lunge Chance and just catch Toby at least three times. The idea is to catch him and not do anything with him so he doesn't think running off the always the best option.

Chance was lovely on the line. The more I work with him, the more I like him. He really does have nice gaits and carries himself well. He is quite and impressive little horse...who by average horse standards is really not so little at a bit over 15.2 h. I think is will make, should I decide to do it, a really nice dressage horse--perhaps the best I've had. Three solid gaits make the difference here. Toby has three solid gaits but is not physically balanced enough--his neck is set level. Tucker has good balance, a super canter and walk, but a more limited, flatter trot. That will improve, but it will require training rather than capitalize on his natural ability. Chance has an "elevated" front end, a nice neck, good haunches, and those three good gaits. I am really getting enthusiastic about his potential.

Toby was caught as planned, cuddled and carroted. I am sure he is quite pleased with himself.

No Report

Rain and More Rain

Miserable day. Rainy and chilly. Definitely stayed indoors.

Scott is coming to put Tucker's shoe on tomorrow. I am excited not only to have Tucker back in action, but also to see Scott's new puppy!! (Scott with pups. He sent me these pics)I will have my camera in tow if it is dry enough out there and the rain stops. When Scott called tonight, he said little Mic, the pup, was a muddy mess. Apparently old Jack is showing the kid the ropes. Jack is deaf and has some really bad arthritis, but he loves the puppy and, I hope, is teaching him all he knows.

Soggy day off for the clinic boys.

OK, So I Don't Know How to Ride

Clinic Report

Riding with Patrice is a certain ego leveler. Think you know what you're doing? Take a lesson and learn you actually don't.

Because Chance is a "tabula rasa," (blank slate) the goal today was to ride him absolutely correctly so he doesn't learn any bad habits. Think that's easy???

Well, did you know your leg is pretty darn irrelevant in keeping the horse straight? Did you know it's all a matter of your seat and balance? No fidgeting, now, no correcting, just ride right and he will relax and walk straight. Easier said than done.

And then, keeping your elbow down by gravity, under your control, and maintaining an absolutely even, steady contact on the right rein while on a left circle ought to be a cinch too, right? No pulling the left rein to stay on the circle...nope...just the right rein contact and sort of an "expectation" to turn left. Hard to explain, but it does work, after a fashion. The trick is trying to keep the contact correct with a green horse quick to escape or bounce off the bit if my balance or his goes even slightly astray.

If I sound somewhat frustrated, I am, but not necessarily in a bad way. Patrice's meticulous approach to getting a horse straight simply by being totally straight and correct in your own riding, including your seat, leg and the hand is exhausting mental and physical work, but it produces a "correct" horse.

Since I have already trained two crooked horses she's seen, she was particularly hard on me when I rode Chance. He was, by the way, a good boy. A little tense to start off which is where the kind of "dead or super soft leg" approach started off. The idea was for me to be very nonchalant and relaxed whenever he tried to trot off. It really did work, but it was a lot harder than you might expect.

The steering work focused on Chance's tendancy to bulge himself out to the right, so that was really useful. But again, not correcting him with the rein, seat or leg with also a lot harder than it sounds.

Stacie was at least as frustrated. I didn't watch her whole lesson, but again, working to get Toby straight is not necessarily easy either. And, she had some position problems beyond that due to all the time off from riding and practice she's had since Lucky became unsound.

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for her. She has ambitions to become a really good competitive rider--something I really don't care so much about as the journey of training a horse is what I'm about--and not having a horse of her own to ride is no way to get there. What she would like would be a solid, straightforward schoolmaster she could ride and just concentrate on her own position and being absolutely correct. At least, I think that's what she wants.

Wish I had a million dollars so I could find her that horse. I don't need one myself, but I would love to be able to see her with one.

Think I need to buy another lottery ticket.

Another Good Day

Tuck on the Trot

I trotted Tucker for a few strides around me on the lawn and he looked sound. As he still is unshod, I am not planning on riding him, and he will have to stay in his little pen. He is not particularly happy about that, but is also not behaving badly.

Tomorrow morning, Dr. Klayman is coming to do the second round of annual vaccines. I had a call from Dr. Dante on my answering system asking how Tuck was and telling me Dr. Klayman would look him over when he was here so Dr. Dante would get the report that way. What a great veterinary group they are! They really do care about both patient and owner. I have already written a note to leave since I will be at school when the vet comes. I need to add to it that if Dr. Klayman wants to take off the wrap and look at his hoof, that's fine, especially because I will be home before one since we are going to the Patrice Edwards clinic in the afternoon. I can easily rebandage it then.

With Tuck happily mowing my back lawn, I rode Chance. He is progressing rapidly with the basics of "on the bit." The head tossing is decreasing and today, for the first time, when I asked for canter, he actually managed most of the work with his head down to the bit. His right lead is still a little quick but even than is really improving. The left lead has a soft, relaxed feel to it that tells me he is going to have really good canter work as time goes on.

I have to wonder if the man who started him as a three year old might have done some canter schooling. Otherwise, I am truly an amazing trainer myself, because already Chance is taking both the gait and the lead from a very light, single leg cue. He needs a little help in positioning to take the right lead, but it really is no problem at all. I have never really had a problem getting the horses I have trained or ridden to take the correct leads, so it might just be my understanding of the aids and the way the horse needs to be going to take the asked for lead.

I did not work Toby because Stacie came over after work to ride him. When I spoke to her tonight she said she had a good ride. The right lead canter was much better for her, so that's a big plus. Tomorrow's work with Patrice should be a great help.

So once again, another good day at Follywoods.

A Really Good Day

Good News For All Three

First the Tucker report. Tuck continues to heal and looks sound at the walk. I did not trot him as he still has no shoe and I am leery that he might have developed the gravel/bruise when his shoe was off the last time. I may try a little trot test tomorrow if the bandage is still in one piece when I get home.

I turned him out on the lawn to graze for about an hour--after blocking off the carport with the feed in it--and he was really happy to be out and about. He is staying in the little run in shed/stall/pen thingie until he is back to 100%. His hoof and the crack on the coronary band looked good today. I called Scott last night and left a message filling him in on everything. Now it's just wait and see.

I lunged Chance after dinner and he has come along amazingly well since about a month ago when lunging was almost out of control. He did some excellent trot and canter on both hands and was completely under control. He was great!

I do have to admit I think he is quite pleased about his new role and the lessons. He is practically beaming with self-confidence and seems to be relating to me more and more each time I handle him. He comes willingly when I call and actually acts as if he wants to work. It's as if he knows he is a star and wants to bask in the accolades. He deserves it. He is one grand little horse.

Toby decided, after reading Caroline's blog, to play "Catch me if you can," all over the pasture when I went out to collect him. Chance did not help at all since he thought the game was "gallop to the far end as fast as you can." I just kept walking after them, pushing Chance aside every time he came to see what I wanted. After perhaps fifteen minutes of this, Toby decided all the effort just wasn't worth it and he let me walk right up to him and put on his halter.

I gave him a nice lunging session which was, as always, perfect. He is such a gentleman and so responsive, it's a pleasure to stand in the center of the circle and just watch him go.

Carrots all around finished up the evening. The weather was gorgeous. The day had warmed up to the 60's and there was a light breeze blowing. The only downside was that there were a few insects--maybe some kind of gnats--buzzing around to be annoying now and then if the breeze stilled. Those six legged critters are the big downside of the nice weather.

I am happy as can be with my Three Boys.

Blowout!!

At Last!

Tucker has a good sized crack about in inch or so long in his coronary band right in the front center of his hoof. The abscess/gravel has finally blown.

It was raining and really windy this morning, so I left the poultice on since it still looked nice and neat and there was plenty of cotton to absorb any discharge. Tonight, when I brought him out to change it and soak his foot, he was almost completely sound. I would suspect that a big opening in the coronary band might still be a little sore.

He was quite cheery and his eye was quietly content for the first time in days. He was also a very good boy about standing well with his soaking boot on, not really spilling too much of the soak tonight. I suspect it might have felt good to have that sore spot in the warm water.

I rebandaged the whole foot with lots of Ithammol on the coronary band. I don't want to take any chances of his doing damage to his unshod foot while the rest heals. I have him stalled in the side stall with the little pen set up under the run in roof where he will stay until he is fully healed and reshod.

The weather was really nasty today. Cold, rainy and windy. Suffice it to say that after shivering all day in school--guess the heat was off for the season since it had been hot last week--I did not even think about riding. I'm not sure it's going to dry out by tomorrow either. Hard to say how much work the two lesson horses are going to get before Thursday's clinic.

Still Tuck's almost smiling face made the sun shine on my day. What a relief.

Maybe???

Tucker May Be Better

I'm not sure yet, since I didn't take off the wrap I put on this morning, but Tucker was walking better.

I really had to convince him to come out of his stall this morning for his soaking. I checked on him several times during the day and finally, around 4, decided to drag him out to graze on the lawn for an hour or so.

As time wore on, he was walking better. Not sound, yet, but definitely not as three legged lame as he was yesterday. It could be the abscess is finally broken through, but I am not taking off the bandage yet. I wrapped the area with cotton and a really good layer of Icthammol so it should be fine until morning. I'll get up early and soak and rewrap. I'll keep my fingers crossed tonight.

I did have to laugh though. There is a lot of grass to eat in my unmown lawn, but when I went out to feed and put Tuck back in, he was in the carport where I store the hay. When he heard my voice, he backed out, looking a little....very little, sheepish. Why was he in the hay when there was all that grass to eat? Well, there was also a bag of feed in there. Sure enough, the bag has a Tucker sized mouth hole gnawed in it and he was having a snack. Clever boy.

Meantime, the two dressage lesson stars had the day off. Both of them worked exceptionally hard yesterday, so they deserved the vacation.

The downside is that is it supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow, so the vacation may be extended.

I have a clinic with Patrice Edwards on Thursday. That is generally not too stressful on the horses as she really makes the rider work. If Chance goes, I'm sure it will be an interesting and truly beneficial lesson. Stacie will be riding Toby, so I hope Patrice will help her sort out the right lead canter issue. As for Chance and me--since I really doubt Tucker will be sound enough and reshod to go--no reason to push him--anything we can learn together will be absolutely wonderful.

So perhaps the countdown to the big "pop" has finally begun.

Still Waiting

Lesson Success

Still waiting for the gravel to blow. Maybe tomorrow???

Meanwhile, Toby and Chance went for the lesson.

Chance was a bit "high" at the start, and I still a bit "low" from the after effects of my migraine. So, after a bit a lunging, Stacie got on him for me. Not that he's bad, but he was just a little excited and I am definitely getting older than I used to be.

May I say, she did a great job to riding him and, it was good for me to see as he really didn't do anything naughty. He was VERY forward, but that's about it. Gabriel liked him a lot. Said he put his hind end underneat himself, had three good gaits, had a really nice hind end, was cute, and he loved his markings.

When I got on, Chance really reached down for the bit, took it and worked in a really nice little frame for about 10 minutes, maybe longer. Then, after a short break, he started tossing his head up and getting fussy. Interesting as that seems to be his protest when he starts to get tired. He had, by that time, already worked longer than I ask for at home, so once I managed to get him to the bit again for a few strides, we called it a day. I was quite pleased.

Gabriel asked me if I'd like to take more of a lesson by riding Toby for a bit, but I said "no," as I was still not 100% after the migraine and this cold thing. To me, the lesson is more about the horse than about me anyhow and it was a totally positive experience for Chance, so that was what mattered.

While Stacie rode, I gave Chance a nice shower in the wash stall. He was really good for that, again a pleasure since he was afraid of the hose at home last summer. Then I loaded him up to wait in the trailer. Loading still requires a feed treat, but that is a good start, and I can manage by myself. What is funny though is that he managed twice (once at home) to get his head into the opposite stall and then he got got "stuck" with it there behind the front center upright bar. Both times I had to take down the back butt bar, and back him slightly out of the trailer to get his head back where it belonged as he simply could not do it as long as he was closed into his stall side. Strange, but curious that he could get himself in but not out of an awkward position. Once he is tied in his own stall side, he's fine.

Stacie had a super lesson on Toby and he looked GREAT while she was riding him. Again, though, her little right seat bone problem showed up again when she tried to canter on the right lead as Toby kept throwing in flying changes. She was really frustrated by it, but I think a lesson with Patrice will help out enormously. Gabriel and I could see she was putting her weight onto the left seat bone, which made Toby fly the change. One good thing was that she felt she had a solution by taking Toby's head to the left to push his body to the right to keep him on the lead. That totally confused him and he ended up simply taking the left lead and staying on it. It really is a simple fix, but in order to do it, Stacie needs to really figure out how to keep her seat to the right even if Toby tries to throw her to the left seat bone. I do know he can get a little twist in his canter if he's a little reluctant to use his hind end on one side, so that might be what's happening. Trouble is, I really can't recreate it when I ride him because I instinctively know how to correct it and just do it before things go haywire.

No biggie. I know Stacie was frustrated, but she rode everything else SO well this is just a little tiny glitch in the proceedings.

Good News

No X Rays Needed

Dr. Dante came today as scheduled and he didn't even have to take out the x ray equipment.

Tucker is about to pop a gravel right in the center of his coronary band on the lame foot. The abscess wasn't quite ready to pop, so the Dr. pressed on a it a bit, hoping he might urge it along.

Now I am back to the soaking and poulticing--not the whole foot, just the coronary band area. He said Tucker should be just fine by Wednesday.

Hard to say when it will blow, but it looks to be be soon. Good thing as Tucker is very sore. Every time the vet touched the spot, he flinched and pulled his foot away.

Never met Dr. Dante before and I liked him a lot. He is the newest member of the practice but worked with another vet I know as a partner. He has a really nice way with the horses and a really good manner with the owner. I am really pleased to have met him.

And relieved to find out that Tucker will be OK soon.

It's been raining all day, so no riding with the other Boys.

Lessons tomorrow, 4:30 and 5:30, so it will be later on when I post on Chance's first real outing. And, of course, Gabriel's assessment of my little man.

Waiting Mode

What's Going On?

Tucker is still very lame. It is worrying and my mind is imagining all kinds of bad things. It's Friday and the vet should be here later in the afternoon.

I was sick yesterday so I ended up staying home--either really bad allergies or the start of a nasty cold. I also had my knees injected in the afternoon.

Wednesday I lunged both Toby and Chance so they did get some work.

Had a migraine this morning as a result of the cold/allergy thing so I still felt rotten. Home again, but I went to the chiropractor in the early morning and am feeling much better at least with the headache. Still not sure about the whatever else I caught.

More later after the X rays.

No Resolution Yet

Still Limping

Despite Caroline's good prediction, Tucker is still lame. After staying in his stall all day, he was "marginally" better than yesterday when he was really sore.

So, I called my vet's office when I came home from school. The next step was to take x rays to rule out anything more serious. Looks like Dr. Perez, Dr. Klayman's associate may be able to come on Thursday. The problem is that I have a doctor's appointment for my own knees that day at about the time she can come here for Tucker. Apparently she travels with an assistant, so it is possible they can take the x rays even if I am not here. I am, meanwhile, waiting for Dr. Klayman to call me so I can update him and ask if there is anything else I need to do.

Tuck is just a little depressed and definitely feeling sorry for himself, as I can well understand. But he is a really good boy about being in his stall while the other two are outside. They have access to his door too, so that might instigate him to be naughty, but he just doesn't seem to get upset. I think he understands he needs to stay in so he will get better.

I opted to ride just Chance tonight, and we had a really good school. He is still unsteady with his head as his balance keeps shifting. But he is offering to drop down onto the bit more and more each time I ride. I am fairly sure now he will be my lesson horse when Gabriel comes on Saturday. It isn't exactly what I had hoped, but I am sure it will be a good lesson. Patrice Edwards will be here on Thursday next week too, so Chance my have to fill in there too.

Meanwhile, unless I am missing something, Toby does not seem to be cribbing at all. He has always cribbed while he eats, often leaving his stall and food to go out to crib on the fence instead of the edge of his stall. He would also crib after having a treat and just about any time in between. Tonight, I did not see him crib at all.

He does not seem distressed or upset at all. He is eating well, and appears, overall to be quite content. If what I am seeing is true, this new contraption is truly amazing. I have tried everything I could think of to keep him from cribbing in the past. He wore a muzzle at the last boarding barn to protect their fences and I put chicken wire up in his stall to keep him from ruining the edges there. I tried various cribbing straps with no luck and also had another kind of electric collar that just would not trigger with his technique.

This one, called the Barclay's collar, from Australia triggers only when he expands his throat to swallow the air. Then it delivers a static shock. Though it may sound cruel, when it did click on, Toby just flinched a little bit. Then he started to crib again, thought better of it and, over time, seems to have given it up.

Since I am sure his colics--gas colics--have been caused by his cribbing, I think a little shock is far kinder than a bad tummy ache with potentially life threatening consequences.

So, the stories continue to intrigue at Follywoods. I don't know how any of them will end, but I surely would be pleased with some "Happily Ever Afters" about now.

Ups and Downs

That Foot is Sore!!

Tucker was definitely more lame this morning and tonight when I got home from school.

Hard to say if that is good or bad. If he has a bruise, then the bute would make him sounder. But he had his bute this morning and he was not sounder tonight. Of course, he might have bounced around in the teeny tiny little paddock, but it couldn't have been much and last night he was confined in his stall.

So, is it an abscess brewing? I called Dr. Klayman and he said I should put him in the stall tomorrow and see how he is when I get home. If there is no improvement, he will come out to look at him again and take some x-rays.

I stripped two stalls tonight, so it took a good while and then I had to soak and wrap Tucker again.

By the time I finished up, I was too tired to ride.

I usually give them Monday off anyhow, so no great loss.

I need to get to bed early tonight so I can get up earlier than this morning to do the chores and bandaging. It took me just a little longer than I had expected to do Tucker this morning and was a little later getting off to school than I'd planned. I still made it on time, but the drive was a bit hectic as every traffic light seemed to stay red forever--as they always do when you are in a hurry.

Let us see what tomorrow brings.

Big Bird

Does Tuck Have Wings?

Al least he thinks he does. I put him out on the lawn to graze since the grass needs mowing and he was not likely to run around with the other horses in the paddocks instead of out with him.

He found the bird feeder with corn and seed in it. As you can see, he had a grand time playing Tuckbird at the feeder. What can I say? When you're cute, you're cute!!

Tucker is still lame but as you can see, quite willing to put weight on his right front--still wrapped in vetrap and duct tape here. That is far better than he was on Friday, but definitely not sound. I still did not see any sign of an abscess blowing out anywhere. I hope sooner than later.



I have a lesson upcoming with Gabriel on Saturday, so I am schooling Chance as replacement horse #1. Stacie will be riding Toby, so I need another option. It's actually OK as Gabriel really does want to see Chance. But disappointing as we did have plans for Gabriel to ride Tucker to start working on the flying change.



I also have a clinic with Patrice the week after, so Chance may have to step in there too. The "man" is going to get right into the swing of things. He was much better today, though still erratic with his head. I really need to keep my elbows close to my side when I ride him to give my arm a more "fixed" though not stiff or resistant contact. Once I did, it started to make a difference as to how he was carrying himself.



As yesterday, the trot and left lead canter were better than the right lead canter, but the right was not as rushy as it was either. I could work the rein a little on the left lead but on the right he was too unbalanced to really insist on much. Still, whenever he did raise his head, he would stiffen a little and be more likely to break gait back to the trot. As long as I could keep him a little supple on the right, the canter stayed. I've only ridden one or two horses like that before, so I know the feeling and once I develop a technique to keep him a little bent and a little "on the bit" the lead will come really quickly.



I do like the feel of his canter under saddle. It has a bit of a bounce and I think, with work and strength, it is going to be really nice. His trot is actually quite good as well and with work is going to develop nicely as well. He really is a good little horse--only little in comparison to Tuck who is at least 5 inches taller.



I rode Toby in the arena as well, just going through the basic exercises Gabriel had us do in the last lesson. Ten meter circles at the trot, shoulder in, half pass, canter ten meter circles, half pass, counter canter, and some really nice flying changes on the center line. He was so easy to ride it was just delightful. I didn't close him up into a really tight upper level frame and still every exercise was as easy as could be. Amazing what 16+ years of training can accomplish.


So, as much as I miss riding Tucker, I still have two great horses to occupy me on a Sunday afternoon.



Lucky me.

Small Sigh of Relief

Tucker and the Cribber

Tucker looked much better this morning. Either the Bute helped or his foot felt better. I soaked him again and put on the Icthammol poultice. When I went out later for evening feed, he was out in the pasture!! SOMEBODY had opened his door and let him out.

WHO, by Chance, could that be???

The good news is that Tuck didn't look any the worse for it and walked back in considerably sounder than he had been last night. I didn't see any evidence that an abscess had broken out anywhere, but the Ithammol is awfully messy. I will have a better look tomorrow and wash his foot throughly to see if I can find any discharge.

My other thought was that--something that happened years ago to Russell R.--somehow he may have given his foot a good whack and shifted a nail in his shoe into the quick of his foot. Taking the shoe off helped Russell, so it COULD help Tuck. We'll just have to wait and see.

I rode Chance for a nice schooling session. He was much improved, offering to go down to the bit more and more often. Again, it's not steady yet, but if he keeps up at this pace another week or so and he will be going really well. The big accomplishment was two really good canter tours on either lead. We went all the way round the arena and did several circles on each lead. The right was a bit quick--kind of like Caroline's early canters on George, though not quite as "motorbiking." The left lead was really nice aside from his head up position. Then, after a break, I tried the right lead again and it was much slower and far better balanced. Maybe I should start off on the left lead next time to see if the right lead is better after he has cantered some.

After the school, we went out for a nice hack in the woods.

I decided to just lunge Toby since I had a new cribbing collar to try on him afterwards.

This is a new shock collar that gives the horse a static shock when he tries to crib. I had an electric collar before but it didn't work. This one uses no battery and has and entirely different design.

Toby has colicked several times and I attribute it to his cribbing as the colics seem to have been caused by gas--swallowing air. I have tried just about every anti-cribbing device and treatment I could find, so if this works it will truly be a miracle. So far, after I adjusted the collar correctly, Toby cribbed a few times and I heard the collar "click" He quit the cribbing immediately. I will, though keep a close eye on him as not being able to crib might be traumatic. I just hope it doesn't cause some other bad habit to develop.

So far, I am pretty impressed with the collar after watching him for about a half hour. If it works, I will be one happy camper.

Panic Attack!!

Called the Vet

When I came home after successfully getting the truck inspected, I called the Boys in for supper and Tucker did not come.

I fed Chance and Toby and called Tuck again. His stomach finally won and he came hobbling, all twisted into horrible contortions, with his hind end totally uncoordinated. It was a really scary sight.

He made it to the stall and his feed, and I, after a quick exam of his hind legs, headed for the phone to call my vet. Luckily he was still on the road and not too far away so he said he'd come out tonight. I was not expecting that, but I was quite happy about it.

By then, whatever was going on with the rest of his body, Tucker seemed to have decided the pain was in the right front. He was pointing it seriously and really looked uncomfortable. His fetlock was hot and swollen, and I felt some heat in his foot. I was pretty suspicious it might be a hoof abscess but he was in such pain, I didn't call my vet back to cancel the visit.

Sure enough, thank goodness, Tuck seemed to test sound in his ankle and joints, and really reacted painfully to the hoof testers. Off came the shoe...Scott will love that...and Dr. Klayman did a bit of probing but didn't find a track, despite finding one very reactive spot near the inside of Tucker's toe. Whew!! Painful for sure, but a relief that it was not likely something more serious.

So, Tuck will stay in, have his hoof soaked, his front legs wrapped in standing bandages, an Icthammol poultice on his foot and bute for the pain.

I may have overreacted having Dr. Klayman out, but he said he was already kind of in the area. Still, I do feel bad since he was next heading out for a colic. Then again, Tuck was so lame, it might well have been something really critical.

Hopefully things will improve over the weekend. If not, Dr. Klayman will want to look at him again and x rays might be in order.

I've given Tuck his Bute and I'll be going back out shortly to soak and wrap.

Obviously, the riding was short circuited by the medical "emergency."

Oh Well

Too Worn Out

I have been playing "cart teacher" in school this week as my classroom is being used for testing. As a result, I have to take all the materials I need to teach class to another room on a cart. Inevitably, at some point I have forgotten something and then need to go back to my own classroom, a good hike away.

Then, the teachers (substitutes) running the testing programs do not have keys to my room ( a computer lab) or the lab next door, so I need to keep tabs on locking the doors when they are at lunch or done for the day.

My knees were not happy today and I was worn out by the time I got home.

Do you hear an excuse coming? Fact is, I didn't ride. Top it off that it was choir rehearsal night too so I would have been a little pressed for time.

The Boys didn't mind. When I came home from rehearsal, they were happily munching on the hay I'd left under the apple tree at the gate by the house. I gave them a fresh stock to keep them content along with some cuddles. I'll go out for late night feed a little earlier than usual, so I can get to bed.

Plan A is to get up an hour early so I can take my truck back to the inspection station as soon as it opens and hopefully get it passed. The battery had gone dead over the winter when I wasn't using the truck and the engine computer had gone "off line" so that it all failed the emissions testing. The inspectors could not get a reading. They told me to drive the truck for at least 150 miles to reset the computer system. Now that I have done that, I certainly hope all is well.

Now all I have to do is roll out of bed at the crack of dawn......If I don't make it, I will try to get there after school. Or Saturday.....or....next week.

Lots of Lines

The Good, the Bad and the Snuggly

I decided tonight was a long lining night. I'm not 100% sure which horse suits which of the top list best. However, all of them were snuggly.

Tucker was first and he was rip roaring ready to make his opinion about the restriction of the rein very obvious. He bucked, he bolted, he battled and in between, for the most part, he really worked his buns and rounded up into a super frame and looked great! He was on the snaffle, by the way, so the bit was not an issue. The biggest training problem is that he still wants to drop too low into the contact when he decides to escape it. When he doesn't do that and settles himself into the contact in a soft acceptance, he is super! He just needs to get in the right spot and stay there.

Which is exactly what Toby does, so I suppose it will happen with Tuck in time. Training, training, training. Need I say it? Toby was practically perfect....again.

Which led to Chance as the bad boy of the team. Well not actually bad, but definitely the most unsteady of the trio. My ultimate goal was to simply get one full circle on the left rein without his head bopping up or down or all around. Once I finally had that, I put him on the right rein and started all over again. It started off well and then went completely haywire with head tossing and rearing.

I finally stopped him, suspicious that he had gotten his tongue over the bit. Sure enough, he had. I took the bridle off, put it back on and shortened the cheekpiece by one hole so there was less room for his tongue to repeat the error, and then sent him back out on the circle. At that point, we had some simply lovely work at the trot and not too bad work at the canter.

I don't think Chance is really a bad boy, though. Some of it is habit, some of it is finding his balance, some of it is confidence and a small portion is attitude. Like so many horses, if it becomes difficult he will try an evasion, but he is really pretty easy to correct. He doesn't hold an argument very long and really seems quite pleased to be told he has done something right.

All in all, in the end, I had successful sessions with everyone. Carrots all around and a good look at the sky as it clouded over hinting of the possible rains to come.

Three for Three

And Every Ride a New Adventure

OK, so I had to match Caroline. Truth be told, the weather forecast for the next week plus is not looking too good, so I really needed some saddle time.

Toby was closest to the barn so I headed out for him, but when he saw me coming he trotted off, making it quite clear he wanted no part of me. I didn't help that I'd already fed supper so his tummy was full. I'd gone to the inspection station to get my car reinspected with its new windshield wipers and gotten stuck there when the computer system went down for about a half hour. So when I got back home, I really felt I needed to feed The Boys.

Instead of chasing Toby, I collected Chance who was quite delighted to come to me. I rode him for about 20-25 minutes in the arena, working on bending and trying to get him to stretch to the bit. He wasn't quite as good about the stretching as he has been, likely because he's had so many days off, but the bending is so much better and is definitely staying better each time I ride.

I finished up practicing halts on the center line. It took me about five before I figured out that I must have been weighting my right seat bone too much so that he was continually stepping to the right at the halt. Once I rebalanced myself and put some more weight on my left seatbone that he finally stopped pretty straight.

Toby reluctantly let me catch him finally so I rewarded him with a nice back massage and a 20 minute hack in the woods. He was as happy as could be stopping at nearly every little tree to grab huge mouthfuls of leaves and then, at the edge of the field, taking a nice graze on the lush grass out there.

Tucker didn't come when I called, but he stayed put to be easily caught. I had decided to try him in the double bridle. He really played with the two bits for quite a while, trying to figure out what the extra metal was all about. He was a little sticky to go at first, but not too much more than usual when he is uncertain. I first worked him exclusively on the bradoon (Snaffle) trying to encourage him to take hold of the bit as he was too light to the contact at first. It didn't take too long for him to settle in to that. He wasn't as good as he is on his snaffle alone, but he did start to work. I then picked up the curb with very light contact to see how he would react.

I am not too sure about the results. Sometimes Tuck softened to the touch of the curb, sometimes he flipped his head to escape the contact. He wasn't happy, but he wasn't cranky about it either. I think he was trying to figure things out and a little reluctant to take a little hold of the curb bit. Understandable, actually as it is an entirely new feeling for him. Once he figures out that if he softens his jaw and flexes his poll the bit will feel fine, he should get a little bolder in it. I don't plan to work him in it much yet as he really does need to be more confirmed in the snaffle, but if it helps him understand how to soften as a habit, then it will be a valuable tool.

What is interesting to me is that with Russell, PJ, and Toby the transition to the double was smooth and easy. Right now I suspect getting Tucker to accept it is going to be a bit of a challenge.

But then again, Tucker has been a challenge every step of the way. Why should this be any different?

All in all an interesting evening at Follywoods.

Sunday Off

Off to a Saddle Job

After church I drove on out to the Flemington area about an hour away to help a women with an Ansur saddle she had bought on eBay. She really did get a super bargain.

She has a really cute, round black and white pinto and the Ansur is the perfect saddle for him. What we did work on was some supplemental padding to lift the saddle slightly in front. This gave it better balance for his conformation and made the saddle fit the rider better. It was a fun afternoon but decidedly time consuming.

I had already decided to give Tucker and Toby the day off after the lessons, and might have ridden Chance, but I was kind of worn out by the time I got back home, so I let him go again.

At this rate, his training will progress very slowly. Still, I am not too worried about it. There's nothing at stake and he is proving a pretty easy train, so taking my time is not an issue.

Stacie went to the young horse auction at Rutgers University where the animal science students sell their project horses every year. She had her eye on one of the youngsters, but was outbid. Perhaps, as she said, just as well. The neat thing was that, according to the newspaper, two of the students managed to buy their project horses for themselves...the way the article worded it, it seems the auction has a built in understanding that if the students want to bid on a horse they've raised from a foal, then they will definitely win it. (This kind of rigged auction is absolutely fine with me and one of the students bought her "baby" for only $1000.) Great little article in the paper can be found here: http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage (Monday, April 28 issue if you look after today.)

It is pouring rain off and on today so I don't know what the riding will be like when I get home. I should do a little work with Chance, but if the ground is really muddy, then I need to set up the little pen again for Mr. Lose a Shoe Tucker....if the shoe is still on when I get home. *sigh*

Hard to tell, actually. It has been very, very dry for several weeks, so the water may just soak in and not create a quagmire.

More later.

And Even More Compliments

Tucker Must Really Be Coming Along

When Gabriel started my lesson today he said Tucker looked wonderful. He said when he first saw him he wasn't even sure he was the same horse. He was even more complimentary than Patrice, I think. Tuck and I just soaked it all up.

And we had a brilliant lesson. Tuck only pulled a few of his little quirky protests, mostly, I think because he was working hard for longer than I usually work him at home. This was a full hour lesson and here, I ride him for perhaps 30 minutes most of the time. As a Thoroughbred, he really doesn't need hours and hours of work to build up muscle and strength. (Something I will need to remember with Chance who is NOT a Thoroughbred.) So, short sessions of correct work are apparently very effective in developing him in the right way.

We focused mainly on keeping him correct to the bridle and through from behind so that his trot will start to gain more quality and strength. Lots of half halts with a driving aid to get him to elevate and step under, some lateral work, and suppling circles and serpentines.

At the end of the lesson, I asked Gabriel about the flying change prep. He said the simple changes should be confirmed first. (Canter/walk/canter new lead, no trot strides between.) Tucker has almost mastered that, with the transition to walk the harder part for him, so he is just about ready. By the next time Gabriel comes, we should be set to try the changes. Actually, Gabriel will be set to try the changes, as I will not mind at all if he starts Tucker off on them for me. I will still try on my own, but since Tucker is likely to buck into them--a common reaction--I will be delighted to have Gabriel ride them first. He said that he'd have no reservations at all considering how well Tucker was going today.

Another option is to try the double bridle. I will try it out during the next week or so, and use it on a trail ride, just using the snaffle rein. Once I am sure Tucker is comfortable with both bits in his mouth, I'll test the curb a little to see how he reacts. Sometimes it's an option for a horse that sets his jaw a little against the bit like Tuck will. But, of course there is also the possibility that he will back off the bit entirely and shut down. Usually I can feel that pretty quickly, which is a good thing because it can produce a rear. At any rate, the mere fact that the topic came up proves how radically and dramatically Tucker seems to have progressed over the last few months.

Stacie had a lesson on Toby and, while I didn't see the whole thing, what I did see was super! She had Toby going really well and did some really nice half passes, counter canter, and flying changes when I was in the arena watching. Apparently, the trot work had been great as well, because Gabriel was very pleased.

I am so glad Toby has proven to be such a good horse for Stacie to ride. He will do most of the more advanced exercises easily and correctly, provided his rider gives the right aids and sits correctly. A shift in weight to the wrong seat bone will make him do a flying change or lateral exercise instead of going straight. He does not take a lot of strength to ride, but he does require tact and determination. Until she finds a new horse of her own, he is a great alternative.

I really was proud of my Boys today. Chance was left out and stuck at home, but I hope he wasn't too miserable. When we pulled up with the trailer, he was happy to see us, but not particularly frantic about it.

Might rain tomorrow. We actually do need it too.

Clinic Report

Full of Pluses

Patrice Edwards was delighted with Tucker's progress. She said his whole musculature had changed and all that's left are two mucles at the base of his neck that should change as he learns to carry himself and his slightly sensitive sides--still some tightness there.

Evidently, I have been riding him right. Yea!

She was also pretty complimentary of my seat, posture, etc, although I need to learn to make my legs "softer" on the inside to accomodate my sensitive horse and to keep my elbow "heavy" and down to maintain the proper kind of contact. As well, with all of this, I have to put my seat where Tucker will have to carry me.

It's a lot to think about, but we're getting to the finer points of developing a horse here, so I can get a handle on it all.

We did a ton of shoulder-in work, getting me to position him correctly by positioning myself correctly so he had to carry me on his inside hind leg. One of the exercises consisted of shoulder-in, go straight in the direction of the shoulders, back to shoulder in, etc. doing only about three strides in each position.

We discussed Tucker's stopping, and Patrice said she has seen many horses like him. They are very sensitive souls, with a bit of "feral" blood in them which makes them very sure of themselves and not the kind of horses who can be forced into things. They will be willing partners as long as the rider is fair with them. They need to understand what the rider wants them to do and they need to be "asked" rather than "told." She said when you ride a horse like that you need to "prepare, prepare, prepare." When I told her that as a youngster, Tucker had reacted to my kicking him forward with an explosive buck and then told the animal communicator that it was because I had be "rude," she said, "Exactly. You can kick him when it's the right time, but not to force him to do something." Curious that when I spoke to Tucker the last time and said I might have to send him to another trainer, he insisted that force was not a good method of training.

Patrice thinks some of the stopping is due to that resentment--which I already figured out since it happens if I overcorrect--, some due to confusion on what he's supposed to do--in which case he kind of keeps moving but not in the right direction--, and some do to lingering physical tightness when he just can't seem to figure out how to move. I did note that sometimes I do just pick up the reins and put him in a frame and ask him to walk off because sooner or later he will have to understand that, and she agreed that it was an OK approach.

We also worked on developing the lengthened trot mostly with my seat working into that "You must carry my weight" position, so he had to engage his hind end correctly by flexing and rounding his back instead of just rushing.

On the left rein, Patrice had me hold the pommel of the saddle with my right hand to keep my "floating" elbow deep and establish a good steady contact.

She also wants me to carry my hands a little higher so I feel the rein contact on top of my fingers instead of under them, making a better line from the bit to also take the pressure off Tucker's bars.

We also lengthened my stirrups one hole and I will probably drop them again as I soften my leg more. Guess I need to ride without stirrups again for a while as that always helps.

So many little things go into training a horse. It is an endlessly fascinating experience. At least I know now that the last few months have been on the right track as far as Tucker is concerned. He is never going to be an easy ride, but he certainly is capable of good work.

I always have to laugh. Years ago, one of my trainers said, "I don't understand it. Every week you come for a lesson and your horse is always better trained and yet, you can't ride him right."

Oh well, there are "riders" and there are "trainers" and where I'm concerned, "Never the train shall meet....." *G* *sorry about that, couldn't resist.*

Birthday Pics

Toby and Tucker in the Pasture
It's My Birthday, So I Took Pictures of The Boys

Here is Chance. He has filled out considerably over the winter. A bit too much, I think, but he is a nice "chunk" of horse. He is just a fraction over 15.2 h.

And of course, Tucker is the bay. Not good conformation shots, but he sure does look shiny and muscly. And Toby, eating. Couldn't get him to look up at all.

Lunging Before My Birthday

And Why Didn't I Ride?

I have no idea. I put on my tall boots, headed out fully intending to ride.

Hiked out to the pasture with a pocket of "horse bait," and caught a chestnut ex-FEI horse. I can't say Toby was entirely pleased as I had been calling Tucker, but once I had him, I decided I'd better take advantage of it. I gave him a nice grooming and then took him out for a lunging session.

By then, I was on a roll. After working Toby, I collected Chance and put him on the lunge. What a good boy he was! No more of the pulling away on the right rein or refusing to take the right lead. He was edging towards rivaling Toby as Lungemaster of Follywoods.

Which left "Le Ruckster." (Where do all these nicknames come from?) Actually Tucker came to me at the barn door, quite interested to have some of my attention. He was not quite the lunging star mostly because once he started cantering on the right lead, he lost the "off" switch and just kept going, ignoring my commands to drop back to a trot. I had already done some trot/canter/trot transitions on the left rein--a good strength building exercise--and wanted to repeat it on the right. We finally got it nicely but Tuck's brain had definitely disconnected before that as he just kept cantering and cantering and....well, you get the picture.

I have a clinic with Patrice Edwards on Wednesday and a lesson with Gabriel on Saturday. I definitely need some saddle time.

Sunday Funday

And I Finally Got the Grain!

I feel much better now. I have eleven more bags of feed for the Boys. According to calculations, that should last about a month. However, I will be placing an order before it starts to run out so I don't have the same problem with the feed store's placing my order.

I rode later in the afternoon after the sun came back out and after I made my very first pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. I've just never been a soup maker, so I decided to use up the rest of the cooked chicken breast I had to make a nice pot of soup. Carrots, celery, onions, chicken broth, noodles and yummy spices simmered themselves into a delicious soup. I am so pleased with it. Now I have some tasty food for my lunch during the week.

Ok, that done, I finally saddled up Tucker and gave him a quick school in the arena. Mostly, I worked on just keeping him light to the bridle and nice and forward in all three gaits. I didn't wear the spurs but he still responded well to the leg. Once I was pretty sure he was settled despite the brisk wind, I took him out for a hack in the woods.

We had a lovely ride.

I rode Chance next, just sticking to the basics in the arena. I am very pleased with how quickly he is improving. He still is not steady, but he has passed the truly annoying green horse phase where he is all over the place and difficult to steer. Now it's more a matter of keeping his regular so he can find a consistent balance. His head still goes up a little, but nothing like before and more often than not he is starting to stretch into the contact.

The best part of the ride were the two canter departs. He took both leads on a cue and felt really able to keep his gait all the way around the circle.

Looking at Chance after I rode him, I realized he really has developed into a solid looking horse with good conformation. His neck has an elegant shape and line. While he is only 15.2 h, short compared to Toby and Tucker at 16.1h and 16.3h he has enough substance to make up for his height. He is shedding back to a beautiful golden chestnut and has plenty of white to make an impression.

As soon as I have an opportunity, I will take some new photos hoping to capture his good looks.

Toby decided he didn't want to do any work today, so I let him be. Instead I went out and picked some nice tasty grass for everyone as the pasture is still pretty sparse. Then I fed them dinner and mowed a bit of the lawn.

I just ate another bowl of my soup for supper and that is the perfect end to a pretty fun Sunday.

Off to See The Lady

All on An April Morn

After an aggravating morning of trying to find out whether or not the feed store had ordered my grain, I called Stacie and asked her to pick up four bags at her local feed store on the way up here. I had called that store yesterday and found out they had some in stock.

Stacie was coming up so I could go with her to look at a mare she might be interested in buying. After we unloaded the feed, we headed off out near where I used to go for some lessons and shows. The mare in question is a lovely Hanovarian, 5 years old, 15.3, so she may yet grow a little. She is a nice mover, well balanced, good conformation and seems to have a really nice attitude. Stacie fits her really well but did discover the mare is fairly green, though definitely not spoiled or badly trained. She really is a nice horse at a good price.

But Stacie has at least one other horse to look at and doesn't want to jump into buying anything unless she is pretty darn confident it will be the right horse for her. Our trainer is coming next weekend and he is willing to look at any horses with Stacie, so that's a good thing. If this mare is sold before then, we've decided it was just not fated to be, so we'll just have to wait and see.

When we got back to my house, we saddled up the Boys--Stacie on Toby and me on Tucker for a quick school. I decided to put my spurs on for the first time since October and I must say, they made quite an impression. As soon as I picked up the reins, Tucker threw a striking out tantrum with both front feet and then pulled a mini-rear in protest--While I did NOT touch him with the spur, he felt the metal on my boot and really reacted. THEN he started going FORWARD! Perhaps a little too aggressively forward, but forward nonetheless, so ultimately it was a good thing. I was very careful not to be strong with the spur but just to touch him with it if I needed to reinforce a leg aid. They really worked well and aside from a kick out or two, he stayed ahead of my leg.

I didn't school for too long. Tucker did everything I asked including some half pass in each direction at the walk and canter, some pretty good canter/walk/canter transitions, some nice reinback, some shoulder-ins and some nice bouncy canter. By then he was lathered under the saddle and between his hind legs and I still had to ride Chance. (Ah....it was kind of warm today....)

While I trotted Chance in the arena to settle him down, Stacie took Toby out to ride around the pasture. That set Tucker to whinnying to him and a little frantic trotting. That unsettled Chance enough that he forgot how to drop his head and he developed a decided "drift" towards the pasture gate. It didn't precisely settle him down, but we went out for a hack in the woods and field.

For the first part of the ride, Chance insisted on being in front, jogging everytime Toby moved up behind him. While I do find the jogging off annoying, he was easy to bring back to a walk and never really did fuss about it. When we reached a section of trail he had never been on before, he settled down and, still in front, behaved nicely all the way home.

Back in the barn, I could swear Toby was smiling. I really think he enjoys the work. I know he loves the hacks and today he had some of each.

All is well at Follywoods.

Another Shoe In

And Tucker Works His Buns

Scott was here when I got home from school.

So, some momentum lost.

He thought I came home earlier than I do, so he thought he might catch me here so I could bring the horses in since he hadn't called to say he was coming. 'Twas not to be. Instead, he had to collect Toby and Chance for their shoeing and trim. Fortunately, they were both cooperative gentlemen, so by the time I got here he was already packing up his tools to go home.

I did give him some Cosequin for Jack (glucosamine/joint supplement) and reaffirmed my belief that the holistic/acupuncture vet would be a really good option. So he may try it.

Since the Boys had been good, I fed them as soon as he left, opting to go out to do some work after dinner was digested.

I had already decided to do some in hand work, and since it is a choir night, my time was a bit limited. I put the surcingle and bridle on Tucker and took him out for a long lining session.

I started him on a small circle, close up to me, using the whip to tap his hind legs to step forward and under while he was in a short frame. He protested a little with a few bucks and at least one threatening kick, but I managed to keep out of trouble and worked him along. Then I sent him out on the large circle and really asked him to move forward in a long frame. He did some very energetic trot and canter on the left, so I brought him back into tight quarters and asked for more collected, energetic trot and canter. He looked pretty good and really had some nice carriage.

Then I swapped to the right rein and repeated the exercises. While he seems to be able to carry himself better in front on the right, I don't think he engages his right hind as easily. (That's the hock that was sore.) Still, I wouldn't say he has trouble, it's just not as easy for him. Again, he stayed very forward and energetic on the large circle and was pretty willing to work in close quarters as well.

I was pretty happy with the results but certainly do wish I were more mobile on the ground so I could do some real driving from behind on the lines. But it is not to be and I have to be content with the circle work where I can more or less stay in one place. I really think the long lining is a benefit to him and it gives me a chance to see how he is using himself.

Hate to say it again, but it was warm enough for a t-shirt again and Tuck was so lathered I had to sponge him off.

I keep pushing the weather front east across the ocean, but why it's not getting there I just can't figure.

Maybe I need to push harder.

Caught the Momentum

Everybody Had A Ride

To answer Caroline, I think Scott kind of lost heart about giving Jack anything except Bufferin...a buffered aspirin. I am hoping he may try the acupuncture vet who would, I am sure, recommend the glucosamine. I take it myself and Tucker is on it as well.

Quick Glucosamine tale. My Russell was on it years before it was even recognized by the veterinary community. Then it was known as a green mussel supplement, which was imported from Australia. The old fisherman there would clean the green mussels off the bottoms of boats and eat them. They discovered their arthritis improving and eventually a supplement was made from those shellfish. This was all back in the 1970's. Gradually glucosamine caught on for horses and now, some 40 years later is finally recognized as an effective supplement for humans.

OK, to the rides. I saddled up Tucker first. He had the usual "I can't possibly go forward," reaction to being on the bit, so I rode him a few times around in the tight frame, then let him go long to stretch out to just go forward. Then we went back to the frame. I still haven't decided how he works best. However, I am pleased to report that we suddenly had some pretty good efforts at half pass to the left at both the trot and canter. The third canter attempt came pretty quickly after I had ridden the one before almost as a leg yield. It was as if he finally understood how to move laterally at the canter.

OR....the adjustment Dr. Klayman gave him for his sacroilliac changed something. Sorry to say I didn't ride for a really long session because it was so warm that Tuck was lathered up pretty quickly. (Upper 60's)

Chance was a very interesting ride. The big surprise was that today, he was more supple on the right rein than on the left. Now, the left rein is his "falling in on the shoulder" rein and the right is the "OK, I can go round" rein. I have always found that the training process seems to shift a horse's "stiff" side from one to the other, but I've never had it change this quickly. He also took the right lead immediately and we managed three full twenty meter circles. We repeated the canter of three circles on the left as well, then ended up with some more nice trot work.

I took Toby into the arena for a short exercise session of some trot and canter. I finished each canter set with some counter canter. I found it quite easy to keep him on the lead I wanted, so I can't quite figure out what is happening when Stacie rides him, since he is very quick to offer her a flying change. She must be shifting her weight ever so slightly or giving an aid she may not be aware of. We'll figure it out. She is a good rider and more than capable.

After I rode Toby in the arena, I took him out for a hack in the woods. He was delighted because that meant he could browse on all the trees' new leaves. I indulged him and he was a happy camper.

All in all, it was another good day at Follywoods.

Lost Momentum

And the Shoe Goes On!
It was another nice day as I left school. I was a bit later than usual and I checked my phone messages before I left the parking lot. (It is illegal to use a cell phone while driving in New Jersey.)

Lo and behold, Scott, my farrier, had called to tell me he'd be there between 4:30 and 5:00 to shoe Tucker. I pulled into my driveway before 4:30, and was signing a card for a registered letter when a car horn beeped behind me. It was Scott.

I drove on up out of his way, then leaped out of the car to collect Tucker from the paddock. Fortunately he was right near the barn and quite happy to let me put a halter on to take him in for his shoeing.

I had a good visit with Scott, his assistant Kyle, and Scott's beloved Border Collie, Jack. It is so sad seeing Jack now as he is 15 years old and definitely not the young, vibrant dog he once was. He is now deaf and has some serious arthritic problems in his hind end. He used to love to play fetch when he came to my house and I have toys here for him. This time, though, he had no enthusiasm. But he did sit at my back step waiting for me to come back out of the house when I went in to change my clothes. Scott told me he is getting a new puppy once it's ready to leave its mom--a nephew of Jack, but we both know the rest of the story is still sad. Jack is a very special dog. I have sent Scott information about a really good acupuncture vet I know in the area just in case he wants to try to make Jack more comfortable with that kind of treatment. Fifteen years is a good long life for a Border Collie, and Jack has had a wonderful life visiting all kinds of farms with Scott. I'm sure he will be able to teach the new puppy all the important duties of being a farrier's dog.

After Scott left, I fed the Boys, but then I had to go vote in the local school board election.

By the time I got back home, I had lost all my "horse momentum," and didn't manage to ride.

Nothing to Report

Shoeless Still Shoeless

Scott did not come, but I really didn't expect him as the promise was made by his replacement farrier. So Tucker is still shoeless.

Monday is my traditional day off for horses anyhow, so it really doesn't matter at the moment.

Besides, I have Chance to train and Toby to hack.

It's not like I am horseless despite shoeless.

With a Little Bit of Luck

Taking a Bit of a Chance

Excuse the pun, but the straight bar bit does still seem to Chance's liking. I rode him today in it and he dropped his head from the start. His trot work was pretty consistent, and more often than not, he reached for the bit in a rounding frame.

Of course that was in between his dives away from the paddock side of the arena fence where Tucker was galloping about, bucking, and then diving at us as we passed. I had to put Tuck in his stall so I could ride safely. (Now, mind you, this was exactly what Chance had done last week--minus the dive at the fence--while Stacie and I were riding Tuck and Toby.) Today, Stacie was on Toby, who was fine, while the "shoeless wonder" threw a tantrum on the outside. Chance was not getting riled up at all by Tuckers shenanigans, but the attacks when I rode past were causing some pretty ugly swerves.

Once Tucker was nestled in his stall with some alfalfa cubes, I could settle down to some serious riding.

Meanwhile, Stacie was having a bit of an issue with Toby who kept trying to do flying changes instead of keeping the canter lead she wanted. She made a couple sharp and appropriate corrections, and Toby started to lose it. I do have to admit she did have a nice series of one tempis going along the rail, but that was not what she wanted. I told her to just relax for a bit because I could see in his eye that Toby was frazzled. What he does then is just offer his rider absolutely every exercise he can possibly think of with no sense to it at all. Unlike Tucker, who stops, he just keeps going--doing everything.

Stacie did a super job of calming him back down. Then when she asked for the counter canter again on the right lead, there it was, nicely done. Riding Toby is a challenge. It is a balance between being strong and being subtle. I only know all this from having trained him since he was two, so "I've been there, done that." Stacie did a great job.

I am happy to report that I wasn't so bad myself with Chance. After some pretty good trot work with some fairly accurate steering, I decided to canter. Well, we managed several full circles on the left lead just fine! Then we took a break and managed two good circles on the right rein. But, he broke back to a trot before I wanted him to, so I decided to try another circle on the right. Error!! I should have stopped on the better note. We had two or three strike offs on the left lead before I managed to get him on the right and complete a circle with an extra lot of effort on my part. Stacie kept reminding me to sit up, which was good advice as I tend to kind of get up a little out of the saddle when I am encouraging a green horse like Chance to GO at the canter. Essentially, we finished on a good note.

I tried putting the boots on Tucker, but the one would not fit over his shoe, so I just gave up the idea of riding him. He was kind of cute and snuggly after we were done riding, so I think he felt a little left out. Hopefully the shoe will be back on tomorrow and I can give him his just due.

To you weather watchers, it is chilling off a little here--into the 40's with the forecast of rain. April still has her fickle side, even here in New Jersey, USA.

He's a Shoe In or Out

Rode the Fat Horse First

Don't yell at me, but it was almost too warm to ride today. Short sleeved shirt and over 70 F, with a touch of humidity because it kept threatening to rain.

I had a lot of errands to do in the morning, including going for some feed, but before I left I took the rain sheets off the Boys, as even if it did rain they would definitely not get chilled.

Surprisingly enough, they were not too dirty when I finally went out to ride.

I started off with Chance. I switched to the straight bar bit to see if it made any difference to him. The jury is still out, but he did seem far less fussy in it. He was turning well, not quite so stiff on the right rein, and by the middle of the session, he was putting his head down and offering to go on the bit a little. I didn't try any canter today as the arena had some mud puddles in some strategic places and I wasn't quite confident I'd be able to steer if he decided to dive around them. At the end, I stopped him, worked the bit until he was in a lower level frame, then trotted off for one circuit on each rein, quite pleased to find he kept his head down.

Was it the bit? Only time and more rides will tell.

I rode Toby next after a little "catch me if you can" game. I didn't ride him too hard or too long in the arena because I didn't want him to sweat up too much. (Honest, it was THAT warm.) He really does have nice gaits, with a little natural "bounce" in his canter. Then, we walked around the fenceline of the pasture to cool off.

Then, I went out to get Tucker. "Warning, Will Rogers...." (That's a line from an old TV show.) I looked down at his right front hoof and....no shoe. Phooey.

I knew the Boys were due for shoeing/trimming, but when I called my farrier, I found out he was on vacation until tomorrow night--Sunday. So that was a lost cause. I thought Tucker would hold out until he could come, but no dice. Scott's (My farrier) stand in farrier lives up in Sussex--a good hour and more from here. He said if it was an emergency he'd come down, but I just don't think it's fair to drag him all the way down here. He said Scott could probably come on Monday to put the shoe on, so I guess Tuck has another day off. I may try to ride him with the boots but I don't know if he will go evenly with one boot on a shod foot and one on an unshod one. I do know it didn't work last time with one boot and one shod hoof without a boot.

Well, I certainly can't say I lack a horse to ride in the meantime, so all is well.

Oh, yes, Caroline, apparently the warmbloods do put on weight faster than the Thoroughbreds---that is unless the Thoroughbred happens to be Tucker the Tank!

Teeth Done

Long Vet Session

My vet was late getting here. That is a bit unusual as he is almost always on time. But apparently he was waylaid by, of all things, a computer glitch in a new digital x ray program he was using.

At any rate, the deal was Coggins tests, flu vaccines, tetanus, etc, sheath cleaning and teeth floating for everyone.

I am pleased to report all three Boys were good. Dr. Klayman knew Chance had been difficult the last time, so he gave him an extra dose of tranquilizer. It worked. Chance was well behaved for his teeth. It was a basic float and he didn't find anything serious to worry about. He did say Chance was a little heavy and he didn't want to see him get any fatter.

Included in Tucker's session was an acupuncture/chiropractic check. Apparently Tuck's sacroilliac was out but it was a simple adjustment, so that too was good. Again, Tucker was good for the floating and didn't fuss at all. Oh, yes, he could be a bit thinner too. *G* (Am I surprised??? No.)

Toby is always good for the vet, so there was no issue there either. Toby's weight was just right. Cool. One out of three isn't bad. I'll just have to watch everyone if I ever do get grass for them to eat. My pasture is pretty sparse, but the right combination of rain and sunshine could change that.

Still, everything did take time. It was over 2 1/2 hours with everything.

Dr. Klayman's assistant, Mary is wonderful and she held the horses, so all I had to do was just stand around having a nice visit.

With everyone having had tranquilzers, I decided not to ride--which is just as well as I will be going to the school tonight for the play.

Put the Boys' rainsheets back on. Nothing falling yet, but from the looks of the sky we will have at least some showers.

The Heat is On

Lunging in the Dark

I was up in the 70's today and when I got hom from school, I had no enthusiasm for anything.

So, I waited until after choir rehearsal to work the Boys.

It was a lunging night. (The new ring lights work well, by the way.)

First Toby. What is there ever to say? He is wonderful on the lunge line. Except when something rustled through the woods and he took off in a bucking gallop--for about one circle.

Tucker was watching from the paddock for the whole session, and when he came in to the arena, it was pretty clear he intended to show off. His trot was nice and forward. He is not the greatest mover in the world, but he can cover the ground, so he did some good work. He was a little silly in the canter, changing pace and circle shape, but it was still a good physical workout for him.

Chance was waiting at the gate for his turn. He came out with attitude and really wanted to go. I let him start off at the canter on the right lead and he really did keep a nice pace for the entire session. He was equally good on the left and I was really pleased with his forward attitude and cooperation. I think, perhaps, that he doesn't like to be left out and really was trying to please me so I will work him more regularly.

Of the three, Toby has the best gaits, but his neck is set on too level for him to be the ideal dressage mount. Tucker has a short back which limits his suppleness and looseness. His gaits are not as good as Toby's but he has much better balance and will probably be able to collect really well. Chance has a short back, but is a better mover than Tuck. He also has a well set on neck. His limiting factor is his size since he does not have the presence Tucker has. However, as I watch him go, I really think he has a lot of dressage "possibility."

What I have is a nice little herd of horses with interesting training challenges.

My vet is coming tomorrow to do Spring vaccinations and teeth.

Off to the Theater

All the World's a Stage

Went to chiro after school to get a tune up before my neck or back got bad.

Came home, fed the Boys, caught up on some phone calls and then, headed off to the George Street Playhouse to see the premiere of a new comedy/drama by Elaine May. The show called, "Roger is Dead" is a Broadway prospect and Marlo Thomas, of US TV fame as "That Girl" was one of the leading actors.

Fun time with a very clever plot revolving around some interesting characters. I really had a good time, but as you can tell, I didn't ride.

Friday night I will be going to the school's performing arts department's annual main stage production, "Anton in Show Business." The students are headed for professional careers and the teacher is a master, so that should be a good show too.

We'll just have to see how the timing works out with the riding. The weather was certainly nice enough, so I didn't have an excuse from that end. Just a busy schedule and a clock that seems to work against me.

Riding, Riding, Over the Bounding Main

Or At Least Over the Budding Trails

Rode Tucker for a short school in the arena, again beginning with him on the bit, fully flexed. Though he did stand there at first, it didn't take a long to get him going this time.

The trot wasn't too bad and I was able to get some more forward strides rather quickly, but I moved right into the canter soon after. Typically Thoroughbred, canter is his easier gait to work and fairly soon he was offering some really good work.

He is definitely better balanced on the left rein and wants to bear down a little more on the right rein. Still, everything is improving and I think if I keep riding him this way he will figure it out, gain some good strength and find it much easier to carry himself as he needs to.

After the school we went out for a lovely hack in the woods.

I just took Toby on the hack part and he was delighted to stop about five times along the way to eat the new spring grass along the way and some tasty greening tree branches. I am quite naughty for indulging him in this bad trail etiquette, but I figure since he is semi-retired, he can have a few bad habits.

I didn't work Chance. Instead, I poo picked the arena and paddock area with him at my side, every ready to tip the wheelbarrow should I turn my back for too long. He did seem to want some special attention, but I didn't quite have the energy to work him, so the "helping me with the chores" had to suffice.

And he got a bonus of some fresh picked grass without the other, bigger boys chasing him away.

Everybody, Saddle Up!

Sunday Stacie

My friend Stacie came over to ride Sunday, yesterday. She and Toby really do get on well. Or let's put it this way, as Stacie says, Toby really does tell her how he wants to be ridden!

She had been having trouble riding his right lead canter as any shift in her body weight would make him do a flying change. With a horse as quick and sensitive as he is to the aids, the rider really needs to make clear exactly what she wants and then be careful not to change course too much along the way.

Stacie not only worked out the lead issue but also managed some really nice counter canter work on the right lead as well. Counter canter is a great exercise for both horse and rider and it focuses on the holding the correct lead with the correct aids even though you are going in the opposite direction. She really did a lovely job of riding him.

Meanwhile, I was "discussing" with Tucker the concept of really being able to go forward while on the bit. I still think this is the best approach for getting him correct. If he warms up on a long rein, perfectly happy to go forward, then, when I try to put him in the frame, he tries to drop to his forehand or tries to drag out of the contact. If he starts off in the frame, he is not happy about using his back, but the later work, once he figures it out, is better. This is, as Muriel has pointed out, more the French school than the German, but it does seem to suit Tucker better.

When my trainer, Gabriel, rode him, he adopted the slower gait cadence and worked Tucker in balance rather than forward, so perhaps it is the training method I need to work on for a while.

After the two big boys were done, I "volunteered" Stacie to ride Chance. She did so readily, though I am hoping she won't be too sore today. She spent the whole session just insisting he go forward, as he does tend to be lazy. Again, she did a super job of riding him, so I hope some of the lessons she taught stick.

Her boy, Lucky, is still lame and right now the prognosis is not good that he will ever be a riding horse again. His ankle, where the dead bone was removed, has chronic inflammation and he has developed other body issues as a result of both the lameness and the long layoff. However, she is working with a top notch acupunture/chiropractic vet who has all kinds of alternative remedies and great hopes that he can get Lucky pasture sound so he may retire in the love and luxury Stacie will give him. He really is a sweet horse who deserves it.

Meanwhile, Stacie is welcome to ride Toby whenever she wants. She may also be in the market for a new horse of her own, but she needs to take her time. She is a good rider who should have a nice horse to show. For now, "The Tobester" can fill in just fine until she is able to find something suitable and within her budget.

Head's Up

And Another Lost Day

I had a horrible migraine on Friday. Chiropractor fixed my neck and the headache started to go away, but it ended up taking until almost midnight. Yeech. Haven't had one like that in a long time.

Well, that made Friday a washout, but it was raining, so it wasn't too much of a loss.

Today, I went back for some acupunture and another adjustment so I'm fine. But I decided to just lunge the Boys.

What fun!! I set up two trotting poles and a small jump--about 2 feet high for Toby. After a flat session, I headed him for the trotting poles. He jumped them, lept into the air and bucked. After several more such crossings, I set him at the jump. Whee!! He took off like a rocket and leaped it in grand style. All I could do was laugh and keep him on the circle. He was having a rolicking good time. He would have had an inspiring career as a jumper but for his terrible tendancy to shy at new things. I suppose I could have gotten him over it, but by the time I bought him I was fairly well over the urge to jump. I did a few clinics with him and one or two shows with jumping classes, but I just didn't want to spend the time getting him over his spooks. I'm kind of glad, actually, as Russell R. suffered from front end lameness as he aged and I'm pretty sure it was a consequence of his jumping career.

Tucker moved right on out on the lunge for me. He had watched Toby's entire session with great interest--or jealousy--and apparently had decided he was going to do his best to impress me. He was lovely over the trot poles. I had lowered the jump to about 1 1/2 feet for him as I haven't done much free jumping with him. His approach is entirely different. He simply trots up to the obstacle and pops over it. His calm attitude is great. When I urged him into a canter, he cleared the jump with a good bascule and a really nice flow. I have jumped him a bit under saddle and he is far more like Russell as he is easy to sit. Toby really can pop me out of the saddle, but Tucker is smooth. Watching him, it looks as if he too would be a super jumping competitor should I ever decide to resume that kind of foolishness. (Sorry, Caroline. Sometimes one does get too old to think a lot about it, even if it is FUN!!!)

Chance was a 90% good boy as well. The 10% not so good was one rather wild pull off the right rein with a spin back to the left trying to escape. While he is definitely improving on the right rein, it is clearly not as comfortable to him as his left. He took about three tries to manage a depart on the right lead, but once he did, he was fine. He was super over the trot poles, handling the distance with ease. And, over the little jump he was relaxed and forward. It's hard to tell over such a little fence whether he had good form like his daddy does, but again, since his career is not as a jumper it really doesn't matter. I did, though, like his willing, quiet attitude about the whole thing.

I do feel it is important for my horses to know the jumping basics. To me, it is an essential part of training, and years ago, it was a requirement in dressage tests. (Bet that would separate the "men from the boys" in American dressage shows today....*G*) I do like to pop over logs and things when I am on hacks too.

However, I am not inclined to jump much anymore myself. Not only have a lost a lot of the skill I used to have, but I am not as confident in the strength of my seat and balance, especially with my bad knees. Dressage certainly has enough fascination to keep me occupied.

But every now and then, it's fun to bounce over something......*S*

Ouchers....

Still Sore

My chiropractor adjusted my shoulder blade and it felt better, but the muscle is still in a knot. I may ride today anyhow and it doesn't seem to make much difference how much I use the arm.

This feels like it did when I fell with Chance and landed on my right shoulder, but this time it's the left and I certainly cannot remember doing anything dramatic to injure it.

To answer Claire, the neck issue is secondary to the shoulder as the shoulder muscle is definitely pulling on my neck.

More later.

I rode Tucker this afternoon.

I am currently asking him to move right off on the bit and in a frame (French style) instead of getting him going forward first on a looser rein. (more German)

While the longer rein does encourage him to go, I am not sure it encourages him to round and lift his back. The downside of putting him into the frame to start off is that he is reluctant to go forward and feels a bit like a car with the handbrake on.

He is a challenging ride, and I have to work VERY hard to convince him to put some energy into his gaits. Since he does have a good canter, I moved into it rather quickly, pushing him with my seat, legs and taps of the whip to get him going. It took a lot of effort, but finally he began to stride off with some engagement which then carried back down into the trot.

Part of his difficulty is that he has a very short back and is very tight coupled. Thus, the muscles of his back that need to lengthen and stretch are physcially short and "loosening up" is not the easiest thing for him.

I think, that as time goes on and he gets stronger, collection will be fairly easy for him, but extensions will be difficult. He will also find flying changes easy once he figures them out.

His brain is both an asset and a fault. He is very clever about figuring out both how to do things and how to evade doing things. And, he gets very quickly frustrated when he doesn't understand something or feels I have been too "hard" in asking. He also needs to be kept busy as he can very quickly fall into a "static state" if we keep doing the same exercises over and over.

To put it simply, riding Tucker requires about as much riding with your head and with your body.

Nothing New

Shoulder Still Sore

I went for acupuncture and another adjustment today.

Didn't do anything with the Boys.

They do look awfully cute in their orange rain sheets. I rained most of the day off and on, but the sun is out now and it is close to 70 F. Maybe too hot to ride? *G*

The temps are supposed to drop to the 50's as the week progresses. But along with that will be more rain.

Meantime, I am putting heat on my shoulder and hoping it will feel better soon. I must have done something to injure it, but I have no idea what. My chiropractor worked on my shoulder blade today as well--Carolinitis?????--and that may well do the trick. It was actually more sore after the adjustment, but in a different way, so perhaps we are on to something.

That's OK. It's nice to have three horses in the backyard to just look at. *lol*