On Monday afternoon, all the stars aligned and I didn't need to get home for anything, meaning more time at the barn. When I got there, Kate was saddling up Spot for a ride so I asked if I could go along with her. It ended up being us and Farrah on Jackson.
We rode out through the field toward the outdoor ring. It's so pretty this time of year, with a million shades of green as the trees leaf out. The grass is so high, it's unbelievable. The horses were dying to stop and graze. We rode all the way to the field boundary where there's an open section to access the road. We then turned left on the road to head back toward the barn. Traffic wasn't too bad and there were only a couple speeders. Most people slowed down as they approached us. There were quite a few motorcycles and one cyclist.
All three horses were great, looking around curiously as they walked and unfazed by the intermittent traffic. It was Dude's first time out on the roads this spring; I think Katie may have ridden him out once this winter. He was so relaxed, I had the reins loose and swinging. All three horses kept shifting positions in the line-up, but in a calm way, and none of them seemed to mind when they got another horse's nose in their tail. They all seemed perfectly happy to plod along, and it was really pleasant.
When we got back to the intersection by the barn, we decided to go down Chapin Road. The intersection by the barn is a little bit hairy. The main road, Old Stage, is paved and people tend to fly up the hill that is right before the intersection, and many take a quick right onto the dirt road the barn is on. Off that road is a hairpin right onto Chapin. It's definitely a good spot to by hyper-aware of oncoming traffic and to be completely sure the coast is clear before making a move.
The ride down Chapin was nice also. That road doesn't get much traffic at all. When we turned and headed back to the barn we were on a slight uphill grade, and I could feel Dude really working his hind end. When I took the saddle off back at the barn, he was sweaty under the saddle pad, so it was a good workout for him. I think we were gone close to an hour.
On Friday, Dude has an appointment with a holistic vet that we've seen before. She flies in from Utah 2-3 times a year to meet with clients. We haven't seen her in about 3 years, both as a cost-cutting measure and because we haven't had much need. I'd like to talk with her about Dude's winter weight loss and how best to handle it going forward, and a couple of other minor things. He'll also have a chiropractic treatment -- his saddle is so heavy and I feel like I drag it across his back, which isn't good. I've always enjoyed our appointments with her and I'm looking forward to this one. Looks like it will be a late arrival to work after a couple morning hours at the barn!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Back in business
Spent some quality time at the barn today which was good, because this past week was rush-rush-rush. Had given Dude the previous week off because of his little wall-kicking lameness episode, then I was so busy I didn't have a chance to do anything with him during week #2 after the wall kicking. I lunged Bestie about a week ago, and then she also got to have a week of leisure.
It was great today to go to the barn and not feel rushed. Yay for weekends! Dude and his buddies have been switched to a back pasture; they're rotating other horses through the lovely grassy paddock where he was last week. The field he's in now is kind of a mess because it has woods all around the perimeter and doesn't seem to get a lot of sun to dry it out (not that we've had a lot of sun). So it's quite soupy along the lower fenceline and the back corner that adjoins Bestie's field. I now know his field well because I had to walk it today to find his fly mask.
I got him all cleaned up and saddled up and then we headed to the outdoor ring. He was peppy, which was nice, and I took it as an indication that he was feeling pretty good. He just seemed to be happy to be out and about. One thing about Dude, no matter how much time he has off, you can jump right on him with no repercussions.
We got out to the ring and it was great, just damp enough to not be dusty. Trotted him a little bit and did circles around the jumps that were set up, then went out and around the perimeter of the ring to head back to the barn. The dark clouds rolled in all day, but it never did rain. The temperature was slightly cool but pleasant, and there were no bugs. All in all, a nice day for a ride.
Once we got back, I untacked him and then took him to the wash stall to scrub his legs. I noticed last week that the creeping crud that we usually encounter on his back legs is on his front lower legs also, so I've been scrubbing with Betadine whenever the weather permits a moment in the outdoor wash stall. I think they're looking better. Will probably scrub again tomorrow. I just did a search on it (which would've been quicker if I hadn't gotten mixed up about pasterns vs. cannons), and it seems like "gelding crud" is a pretty common thing that people battle with everything from Betadine to MTG to Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo). Plus he's got a couple nicks on his lower back left leg that I've been cleaning off and putting ointment on.
Looking forward to going to the barn tomorrow ... it's supposed to be in the upper 60s and sunny!
It was great today to go to the barn and not feel rushed. Yay for weekends! Dude and his buddies have been switched to a back pasture; they're rotating other horses through the lovely grassy paddock where he was last week. The field he's in now is kind of a mess because it has woods all around the perimeter and doesn't seem to get a lot of sun to dry it out (not that we've had a lot of sun). So it's quite soupy along the lower fenceline and the back corner that adjoins Bestie's field. I now know his field well because I had to walk it today to find his fly mask.
I got him all cleaned up and saddled up and then we headed to the outdoor ring. He was peppy, which was nice, and I took it as an indication that he was feeling pretty good. He just seemed to be happy to be out and about. One thing about Dude, no matter how much time he has off, you can jump right on him with no repercussions.
We got out to the ring and it was great, just damp enough to not be dusty. Trotted him a little bit and did circles around the jumps that were set up, then went out and around the perimeter of the ring to head back to the barn. The dark clouds rolled in all day, but it never did rain. The temperature was slightly cool but pleasant, and there were no bugs. All in all, a nice day for a ride.
Once we got back, I untacked him and then took him to the wash stall to scrub his legs. I noticed last week that the creeping crud that we usually encounter on his back legs is on his front lower legs also, so I've been scrubbing with Betadine whenever the weather permits a moment in the outdoor wash stall. I think they're looking better. Will probably scrub again tomorrow. I just did a search on it (which would've been quicker if I hadn't gotten mixed up about pasterns vs. cannons), and it seems like "gelding crud" is a pretty common thing that people battle with everything from Betadine to MTG to Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo). Plus he's got a couple nicks on his lower back left leg that I've been cleaning off and putting ointment on.
Looking forward to going to the barn tomorrow ... it's supposed to be in the upper 60s and sunny!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
More issues with Dude
Dude just appears determined to cause trouble. His old neighbor Jonah moved back into the stall next door after time away training in the South, and they shared a few ugly faces through the chicken wire before settling down. During one of the ugly face-making sessions, I happened to be across the aisle in Bestie's stall when I heard a crash, like a kick, against the wooden wall. I didn't really think too much of it until I went over to Dude's stall to groom him and noticed he was favoring his back right foot.
I got him out and walked him and the strange thing was that he would walk a few steps and then go gimpy, walk a few steps, then go gimpy. It wasn't consistent at all. I hosed his back leg down, which he didn't like, and after debating with myself, told Larry to go ahead and turn him out in the morning since I figured he would NOT be happy and would likely cause more trouble for himself stewing inside. I gave him bute.
The next day I called in to see if I should come by the barn, and Larry said he looked better. And was behaving outside; always nice to hear. So I waited until after work to go by, and he did look fine. Granted he had two doses of bute since it had occurred, but I expected to see at least a little limp given how bad he had been the previous evening when he went "off."
The kick happened on Saturday. It's now Wednesday and I'm considering taking him off the bute to see how he does. He's apparently had a pretty quiet few days outside, and I haven't ridden him. So we'll see.
I got him out and walked him and the strange thing was that he would walk a few steps and then go gimpy, walk a few steps, then go gimpy. It wasn't consistent at all. I hosed his back leg down, which he didn't like, and after debating with myself, told Larry to go ahead and turn him out in the morning since I figured he would NOT be happy and would likely cause more trouble for himself stewing inside. I gave him bute.
The next day I called in to see if I should come by the barn, and Larry said he looked better. And was behaving outside; always nice to hear. So I waited until after work to go by, and he did look fine. Granted he had two doses of bute since it had occurred, but I expected to see at least a little limp given how bad he had been the previous evening when he went "off."
The kick happened on Saturday. It's now Wednesday and I'm considering taking him off the bute to see how he does. He's apparently had a pretty quiet few days outside, and I haven't ridden him. So we'll see.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
If you don't like the weather...
wait (fill in short time period of choice), it'll change. The old saw about Vermont's weather held true this week. On Monday I rode Bestie on a nice leisurely stroll out to the ring and around it a couple of times, both of us just enjoying the sunshine and warm temperatures and taking in the welcome sights of trees leafing out (me) and grass greening (Bestie). On Tuesday I got up and by 8:30 am it was snowing, hard. And it snowed and it snowed and it snowed right through until about 2 pm today, Wednesday. I think here at home we got about ten inches. I never did measure, but it was over my snow boots and not quite up to the top of Maddie's tall rain boots. It was a lot of snow. Especially for April. LATE April, aaaarrrgh.
The horses did not go out during the storm. That was certainly fine, it was pretty crazy; not very good visibility and lots of wind. When I got to the barn yesterday, Dude was crazy to get out. There wasn't really anywhere to go except to trek across the driveway to the indoor and walk him around in there. He rolled, and that made him happy.
Same story today, except that we had the indoor to ourselves for a period of time and I let him off the lead and let him run around. Not that he ran much, he was more intent on prancing up to me and snorting, like he wanted to play. I ran backwards and he ran along behind me, snorting and hopping. When he'd get too close, I'd get nervous and make him stop. He has no concept of personal space, so I do get a little nervous when he's hopping around right next to me. Then we pushed the giant exercise ball around for a bit. I really wished I had my camera. The first time I kicked it to him, he stood there, with his ears all cock-eyed, staring kind of perplexedly at it. I'd kick it at him, and he'd push it with his nose. Never back to me, oh no. Usually in some completely random direction and then he'd look at it and then at me like "Huh. Why is it going THAT way??"
All that play time took the edge off, somewhat. He was still pretty antsy as I brushed him on the cross ties, but settled down once I put him back in his stall with a flake of hay.
After I got him taken care of I mucked out Bestie's stall and took her into the indoor. I could tell she really wanted to roll, but there was a jumping lesson going on and we just couldn't get the roll timed with when the other horse wouldn't be coming around headed toward a jump. All in all, she was really good as I walked her around and pulled her over a couple times so as not to be in the way of the lesson. She's much more accepting of confinement than Dude is. Even if they don't go out tomorrow, I think I'll be able to graze them as the snow is melting pretty quickly. And with yoga cancelled for tomorrow, I'll have more time than I usually do on my typically rushed Thursdays.
The horses did not go out during the storm. That was certainly fine, it was pretty crazy; not very good visibility and lots of wind. When I got to the barn yesterday, Dude was crazy to get out. There wasn't really anywhere to go except to trek across the driveway to the indoor and walk him around in there. He rolled, and that made him happy.
Same story today, except that we had the indoor to ourselves for a period of time and I let him off the lead and let him run around. Not that he ran much, he was more intent on prancing up to me and snorting, like he wanted to play. I ran backwards and he ran along behind me, snorting and hopping. When he'd get too close, I'd get nervous and make him stop. He has no concept of personal space, so I do get a little nervous when he's hopping around right next to me. Then we pushed the giant exercise ball around for a bit. I really wished I had my camera. The first time I kicked it to him, he stood there, with his ears all cock-eyed, staring kind of perplexedly at it. I'd kick it at him, and he'd push it with his nose. Never back to me, oh no. Usually in some completely random direction and then he'd look at it and then at me like "Huh. Why is it going THAT way??"
All that play time took the edge off, somewhat. He was still pretty antsy as I brushed him on the cross ties, but settled down once I put him back in his stall with a flake of hay.
After I got him taken care of I mucked out Bestie's stall and took her into the indoor. I could tell she really wanted to roll, but there was a jumping lesson going on and we just couldn't get the roll timed with when the other horse wouldn't be coming around headed toward a jump. All in all, she was really good as I walked her around and pulled her over a couple times so as not to be in the way of the lesson. She's much more accepting of confinement than Dude is. Even if they don't go out tomorrow, I think I'll be able to graze them as the snow is melting pretty quickly. And with yoga cancelled for tomorrow, I'll have more time than I usually do on my typically rushed Thursdays.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Not enough hours in the day
So my first week of being back at work full-time is almost over, and I'm surviving. I haven't worked full-time since 1993 when I quit the government to stay home with the kids--hey, it's been a nice long stretch. Someone said to me today, "You've had it pretty good for way too long." Ha. I know I'm lucky that it's all worked out this way.
The only thing about going full-time that bothers me is cutting into the pony time. I'm trying not to let it cut into barn hours, but I think it's inevitable that it's going to happen. There's a constant feeling of being rushed that I'm not sure is going to play out well over the long term. Tonight I zoomed from work to the barn to yoga, where I ran in like a crazy woman at the last minute and someone kindly made room for me.
Last night I rode Bestie out and around the outdoor ring. I got on her in the indoor and did a couple laps, but then had to get off of her to get the door open, and she took that to mean we were done. So she was then a little uncooperative once I tried to get back on again outside, but I made it--third try, I think. We rode out with another horse. She was good, and you could tell it was pretty darn exciting to be out on the "open range." Head up, lots of deep snuffly breaths. Once we got to the back 40 beyond the ring, the other rider went on and I turned around to head back. Very unexciting for the first time out there since the one winter ride I did. Pretty darn good for Ms. Excitable.
Afterwards I took Dude out to graze him for a few minutes and promptly discovered that his right front leg was swollen along the outside of his cannon bone from just above the fetlock to the knee. Great. It was pretty soft-feeling. After grazing him I brought him in and rubbed him down with liniment, then gave him a tiny bit more grain with some bute. Discussed with another boarder the merits of wrapping him, and decided against it since the swelling was actually up into his knee. Left a note for the barn folk to check him out in the morning and call me if he looked bad so that I could phone the vet.
When I got to the barn today it looked pretty much the same. I took him out to graze him again and he trotted out enthusiastically and with no lameness. Wierd. I hosed him and doused him with liniment again, and he had more bute in his grain. Barn manager Emma checked him out and said it seemed like a lot of fluid from a bruise most likely concentrated on his knee. Of course it is that leg he bangs the door with. He's apparently one of the first to go out, so I don't know what he is getting so angry about. Crazy horse. I don't know what to do except maybe buy a bunch of Mellow Out and start dosing him in his water bucket to maybe take the edge off.
The only thing about going full-time that bothers me is cutting into the pony time. I'm trying not to let it cut into barn hours, but I think it's inevitable that it's going to happen. There's a constant feeling of being rushed that I'm not sure is going to play out well over the long term. Tonight I zoomed from work to the barn to yoga, where I ran in like a crazy woman at the last minute and someone kindly made room for me.
Last night I rode Bestie out and around the outdoor ring. I got on her in the indoor and did a couple laps, but then had to get off of her to get the door open, and she took that to mean we were done. So she was then a little uncooperative once I tried to get back on again outside, but I made it--third try, I think. We rode out with another horse. She was good, and you could tell it was pretty darn exciting to be out on the "open range." Head up, lots of deep snuffly breaths. Once we got to the back 40 beyond the ring, the other rider went on and I turned around to head back. Very unexciting for the first time out there since the one winter ride I did. Pretty darn good for Ms. Excitable.
Afterwards I took Dude out to graze him for a few minutes and promptly discovered that his right front leg was swollen along the outside of his cannon bone from just above the fetlock to the knee. Great. It was pretty soft-feeling. After grazing him I brought him in and rubbed him down with liniment, then gave him a tiny bit more grain with some bute. Discussed with another boarder the merits of wrapping him, and decided against it since the swelling was actually up into his knee. Left a note for the barn folk to check him out in the morning and call me if he looked bad so that I could phone the vet.
When I got to the barn today it looked pretty much the same. I took him out to graze him again and he trotted out enthusiastically and with no lameness. Wierd. I hosed him and doused him with liniment again, and he had more bute in his grain. Barn manager Emma checked him out and said it seemed like a lot of fluid from a bruise most likely concentrated on his knee. Of course it is that leg he bangs the door with. He's apparently one of the first to go out, so I don't know what he is getting so angry about. Crazy horse. I don't know what to do except maybe buy a bunch of Mellow Out and start dosing him in his water bucket to maybe take the edge off.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Good reading
I know I've written before about articles I've read in the Holistic Horse newsletter I get; it seems there's always at least one article that interests me. Although our show season days are well behind us (except for helping out with the occasional 4H show), I thought this article on holistichorse.com -- Seven Tips to Prepare Your Horse for Show Season Travel -- had some good points to think about when preparing for show season and how travel can affect things like immunity, stress, digestive health and more, with suggestions for possible products to use in each category. Certainly stress related to new surroundings and a different routine have been things we've had to deal with at horse shows (drops of Mellow Out flower essence in their water and on treats), as well as improper hydration due to overly chlorinated water (apple juice in the water didn't work; ended up buying gallons and gallons of spring water!). It always seems like no matter how much you prepare, there are always some things, like the chlorinated water, that you don't discover until you arrive at the show.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The light bulb goes on
Recently Dude has done this strange thing where after standing for a while in one place, like on cross ties, he puts his right front foot out ahead of his left. Now, the last time he did that (back in December) he was really lame on that foot, and I soaked and soaked it, assuming an abscess to be the culprit, and one day it was better even though I never saw an abscess come through.
This time he doesn't appear lame at all; in fact, I was just telling Emma about it during my lesson on Friday and she remarked that he didn't look off. The only odd thing is the placement of the right foot, and an occasional unwillingness to pick up his left front foot and place total weight on the right.
I've been thinking about it, and I think it's from kicking his door. They've mentioned a couple times at the barn that he gets really impatient when he doesn't get right out, and I know that I've caught him kicking his door when I've arrived on days when there hasn't been turnout. When I've seen him do it, it's always been with his right foot. He's doing it enough that the door doesn't slide easily on its track any more. What I can't figure out is why he wouldn't show signs of lameness when he's being ridden, if it is bothering him enough to shift his weight when standing. Hmmmn. And I definitely would like to have some sort of solution to the door kicking.
This time he doesn't appear lame at all; in fact, I was just telling Emma about it during my lesson on Friday and she remarked that he didn't look off. The only odd thing is the placement of the right foot, and an occasional unwillingness to pick up his left front foot and place total weight on the right.
I've been thinking about it, and I think it's from kicking his door. They've mentioned a couple times at the barn that he gets really impatient when he doesn't get right out, and I know that I've caught him kicking his door when I've arrived on days when there hasn't been turnout. When I've seen him do it, it's always been with his right foot. He's doing it enough that the door doesn't slide easily on its track any more. What I can't figure out is why he wouldn't show signs of lameness when he's being ridden, if it is bothering him enough to shift his weight when standing. Hmmmn. And I definitely would like to have some sort of solution to the door kicking.
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