Yesterday we did some flatwork - he wasn't overly up for it - suspect a bit tired after his running round the ranges the day before! Kept it fairly basic - just a stretchy session really.
Today I set up some exercises in the school - had some trot poles raised at one end, had 2 canter poles followed by a raised canter pole. And I had a tiny x-pole made out of planks on a 20m circle at X.
We started with some work on direct transitions, halt to trot and walk to canter then canter to walk - getting him sharper off my leg. Then we did the trot poles - he is prone to hopping over the first one which gets quite frustrating and he likes to go all giraffy over them - might try putting more than 3 out to try and get him to lower his head and look more. Then we moved on and trotted over the canter poles/raised 3rd pole just to make sure he was happy before cantering it - the distance was a little short and at one point he managed to jump the pole and the raised pole in one - oops! Generally he did it nicely though.
So then moved on to trot over the x-pole on the L rein - came round on the 20m circle and he threw a big tantrum - leapt in the air, spun to the left and reared. Naughty horse! Think being faced with a jump just took him by surprise. Walked him up to it and he was really looky at it. Turned round and came at it on the right rein as the plank are plain wood not painted on that side. He launched over it huuuuuge! Did it a few times from trot and canter on both reins and he was pinging! Thought that was quite enough for his first time jumping again!
Will do another little session of the same sort of thing next weekend and keep building on that. Aiming to do 2ft6 clear round in 2.5wks time.
Sunday 30 December 2012
Friday 28 December 2012
Falling off - ouch!
Bastard orange horse.
Was having a nice hack - it was a bit blustery but not that bad. Had a nice canter around the ranges but he is just so mental out there and it's my fault for letting him canter everywhere but he needs to canter lots to be fit enough. Cantered up to the top and then set off along the top. Suddenly he jinxed at a puddle - it wasn't even anything massive but just got me off balance and then the bastard set off on a rodeo display. I would have stayed on no probs if it wasn't for that. I hung on for ages but just couldn't get back in the plate well enough to pull the bugger up. He was getting faster and faster and I just knew it wasn't going to end well. In the end just let go as it was gonna hurt more the longer I hung on. Hit the ground with quite a thud and my head hit the ground pretty hard too. My lovely Champion Ventair has a big hole in the cover and no doubt is crushed inside too given the impact. £90 down the drain - grrrr.
So, had the pleasure of watching my horse gallop off into the sunset, literally. No point running after him - he's well faster than me. Caught sight of fluorescent up by the gate so thought he had stopped with the other horses I'd met earlier. Got closer and the lady comes towards me calling my name (no idea who she is!) and my heart sinks into my boots - I thought if she doesn't have him he must be stuck in the cattle grid :( But nope - thank god he wasn't. Turns out she had him for a while but he wouldn't wait - why she didn't get off and lead him around I dont know but I bet he pulled back and he hates pressure on his poll so would have taken off after that. She said initially he went left but then guess he figured that wasn't the way home - apparently he then turned around, measured up the cattle grid and then galloped at it and flew it taking off from 3ft out. Never again shall I doubt his scope!
He then galloped flat out down the hill and then I guess he got stuck at the bottom as he knew the way home was left but there was a large fence in his way. Thank god he didn't attempt to jump it as he is quite capable and then he would have crossed that main road by himself which doesn't bare thinking about. I saw his reflectives from halfway down the hill so started calling him and could see his ears go up and him start trotting around. He wouldn't let any of the dog walkers catch him but I called him and he came to me - silly horse. They had called the police as guess he'd been down there a while and no sign of me. Got them to call again pretty quick - I'm not meant to be on the ranges! Checked him over and seemed ok so got back on him and then had to get him home asap as was pretty much dark. He was wired. He was a right sweaty mess when we got back so left him in for a couple of hours to cool down. Went back to check on him, brushed off the mud and no sign of any swelling on his dodgy tendon thank bloody god. His monster windgall on his right fore had swollen up again but hardly surprising given his galloping on the gravel road.
Fingers crossed he is still ok tomorrow. Fecking horse. He's so nearly had me off so many times over the last few months I suppose I should be greatful it was at least on the right side of the fenceline. He's just so flipping sharp. I think I'm going back to hating hacking and avoiding it at all costs from now on.
Was having a nice hack - it was a bit blustery but not that bad. Had a nice canter around the ranges but he is just so mental out there and it's my fault for letting him canter everywhere but he needs to canter lots to be fit enough. Cantered up to the top and then set off along the top. Suddenly he jinxed at a puddle - it wasn't even anything massive but just got me off balance and then the bastard set off on a rodeo display. I would have stayed on no probs if it wasn't for that. I hung on for ages but just couldn't get back in the plate well enough to pull the bugger up. He was getting faster and faster and I just knew it wasn't going to end well. In the end just let go as it was gonna hurt more the longer I hung on. Hit the ground with quite a thud and my head hit the ground pretty hard too. My lovely Champion Ventair has a big hole in the cover and no doubt is crushed inside too given the impact. £90 down the drain - grrrr.
So, had the pleasure of watching my horse gallop off into the sunset, literally. No point running after him - he's well faster than me. Caught sight of fluorescent up by the gate so thought he had stopped with the other horses I'd met earlier. Got closer and the lady comes towards me calling my name (no idea who she is!) and my heart sinks into my boots - I thought if she doesn't have him he must be stuck in the cattle grid :( But nope - thank god he wasn't. Turns out she had him for a while but he wouldn't wait - why she didn't get off and lead him around I dont know but I bet he pulled back and he hates pressure on his poll so would have taken off after that. She said initially he went left but then guess he figured that wasn't the way home - apparently he then turned around, measured up the cattle grid and then galloped at it and flew it taking off from 3ft out. Never again shall I doubt his scope!
He then galloped flat out down the hill and then I guess he got stuck at the bottom as he knew the way home was left but there was a large fence in his way. Thank god he didn't attempt to jump it as he is quite capable and then he would have crossed that main road by himself which doesn't bare thinking about. I saw his reflectives from halfway down the hill so started calling him and could see his ears go up and him start trotting around. He wouldn't let any of the dog walkers catch him but I called him and he came to me - silly horse. They had called the police as guess he'd been down there a while and no sign of me. Got them to call again pretty quick - I'm not meant to be on the ranges! Checked him over and seemed ok so got back on him and then had to get him home asap as was pretty much dark. He was wired. He was a right sweaty mess when we got back so left him in for a couple of hours to cool down. Went back to check on him, brushed off the mud and no sign of any swelling on his dodgy tendon thank bloody god. His monster windgall on his right fore had swollen up again but hardly surprising given his galloping on the gravel road.
Fingers crossed he is still ok tomorrow. Fecking horse. He's so nearly had me off so many times over the last few months I suppose I should be greatful it was at least on the right side of the fenceline. He's just so flipping sharp. I think I'm going back to hating hacking and avoiding it at all costs from now on.
Thursday 27 December 2012
Schooling at Merrist Wood 27-12-12
Monday - did a lunging session
Tue - good old leg stretch up the ranges - did about 7mins of cantering in total with one 4.5min canter which got rather fast and out of control - was too weak from hunting Llewi on Sunday to argue! Considering we've still got a couple of months before eventing starts he is plenty fit enough already!
Wed - Boxing Day - shite weather - day off
Today - off to Merrist Wood to use the school.
Warmup in trot/canter
Then moved on to some walk-sitting trot-walk followed by some trot-halt-trot transitions on the centre line. Also some trot-walk-halt to keep the back legs stepping under into halt. Did some nice halts in front but always leaving a back leg behind. Not overly bothered about that for now though - straight and square in front is good enough with one judge! He was moving forwards into the trot quite nicely - occasional head toss but generally going straight into trot, forwards and straight so that was nice..
Did some LY and SI in sitting and rising trot and was really pleased given we hardly ever attempt lateral work due to shite school he did some really passable attempts.
Medium trot - hmmm, Not as good as it was last week. Need to work out what I was doing then to make it so good! Definitely need to make sure he is straight before asking for medium and must must keep him round and connected. Need to work more on the on and back in the trot to get this sorted.
Canter work - left rein - spiral in to small circle then leg yield out to large circle then move on into medium canter. careful to keep him up in the medium, not let him bare down on hands and run onto forehand. right rein - oh, so much tougher! He really wants to swing quarters in and even more so as circle gets smaller. When try to straighten him with shoulder in he really backs off.
Did some nice counter canter both reins. Totally rubbish at G&R on the short diagonal though - that is not going to go well! Nose poking all the way. Can get it on a circle these days but not quite progressed to diagonals yet!
So, back up there again next Wed then it's test time on Thursday - should be erm, interesting - these 2 tests (N35/37) are a bit of a step up from prelims!
Tue - good old leg stretch up the ranges - did about 7mins of cantering in total with one 4.5min canter which got rather fast and out of control - was too weak from hunting Llewi on Sunday to argue! Considering we've still got a couple of months before eventing starts he is plenty fit enough already!
Wed - Boxing Day - shite weather - day off
Today - off to Merrist Wood to use the school.
Warmup in trot/canter
Then moved on to some walk-sitting trot-walk followed by some trot-halt-trot transitions on the centre line. Also some trot-walk-halt to keep the back legs stepping under into halt. Did some nice halts in front but always leaving a back leg behind. Not overly bothered about that for now though - straight and square in front is good enough with one judge! He was moving forwards into the trot quite nicely - occasional head toss but generally going straight into trot, forwards and straight so that was nice..
Did some LY and SI in sitting and rising trot and was really pleased given we hardly ever attempt lateral work due to shite school he did some really passable attempts.
Medium trot - hmmm, Not as good as it was last week. Need to work out what I was doing then to make it so good! Definitely need to make sure he is straight before asking for medium and must must keep him round and connected. Need to work more on the on and back in the trot to get this sorted.
Canter work - left rein - spiral in to small circle then leg yield out to large circle then move on into medium canter. careful to keep him up in the medium, not let him bare down on hands and run onto forehand. right rein - oh, so much tougher! He really wants to swing quarters in and even more so as circle gets smaller. When try to straighten him with shoulder in he really backs off.
Did some nice counter canter both reins. Totally rubbish at G&R on the short diagonal though - that is not going to go well! Nose poking all the way. Can get it on a circle these days but not quite progressed to diagonals yet!
So, back up there again next Wed then it's test time on Thursday - should be erm, interesting - these 2 tests (N35/37) are a bit of a step up from prelims!
Sunday 23 December 2012
Llewi goes hunting 23-12-12
woohoo! He had such a fab time. We went with the RMA to Stockbridge Pond, Tilford. Great sandy going, went over Tilford and Hankley common - lovely long sandy tracks where you can gallop forever and perfect little Llewi jumps - will have to go for a hack up there and try and find them again! He was great - towing me into all the jumps and having a strop when I pulled him out from some bigger ones. Jumped everything great and even stood off from a few rather than his default getting in deep. He seemed to absolutely love it. Hope he likes Boxing Day just as much!
End of the week, whatever week of canter work we've got to now
Have blogged about most of the week already.
Yesterday went up the ranges for a bit of canter work. Probably did about 7mins of him pulling my arms out wanting to gallop flat out - pesky fit beast. Not allowed to do fast work until January!
Schooled him this morning before hunting Llewi. He was good - we did lots of round and deep in trot and canter, then some transitions and some on and back in the canter. He can really motor in the medium canter on a circle - hoping that movement goes well in our Novice BD in a couple of wks. Counted strides and he does about 10 in half a 20m circle in medium canter and 14-15 in a slightly collected working canter. 4-5 strides difference in half a circle is quite good I think. Managed a walk to canter on each rein without him blowing up. Have been getting some better trot to canter on the right rein with really thinking about sliding my outside leg back like I do on the left rein so he gets a nice warning that I'm going to give a canter aid - he seems to like a bit of warning!
Really need to work on the halts on the centre line - need to do lots of nearly halts and some trot-walk-trot work I think. He is terrible at just falling into a sudden halt as soon as he thinks I want halt. He just backs off, comes above the bit then yaws into it - horrible! Not a nice lasting impression for the judge!
Got Merrist Wood booked on Thursday so will be really nice to work him in their lovely big arena and do some counter canter and lateral work.
Yesterday went up the ranges for a bit of canter work. Probably did about 7mins of him pulling my arms out wanting to gallop flat out - pesky fit beast. Not allowed to do fast work until January!
Schooled him this morning before hunting Llewi. He was good - we did lots of round and deep in trot and canter, then some transitions and some on and back in the canter. He can really motor in the medium canter on a circle - hoping that movement goes well in our Novice BD in a couple of wks. Counted strides and he does about 10 in half a 20m circle in medium canter and 14-15 in a slightly collected working canter. 4-5 strides difference in half a circle is quite good I think. Managed a walk to canter on each rein without him blowing up. Have been getting some better trot to canter on the right rein with really thinking about sliding my outside leg back like I do on the left rein so he gets a nice warning that I'm going to give a canter aid - he seems to like a bit of warning!
Really need to work on the halts on the centre line - need to do lots of nearly halts and some trot-walk-trot work I think. He is terrible at just falling into a sudden halt as soon as he thinks I want halt. He just backs off, comes above the bit then yaws into it - horrible! Not a nice lasting impression for the judge!
Got Merrist Wood booked on Thursday so will be really nice to work him in their lovely big arena and do some counter canter and lateral work.
Friday 21 December 2012
Schooling 21-12-12
On a mission tonight. Cant decide if it's the new boots again or that he hasn't done much this week - had Mon/Thur off and only did short hacks on Tue/Wed.
So initially I felt he worked really well. We did a warmup in trot and canter on both reins. First left canter he pretended he didn't understand me so I made it really clear bringing my outside leg back and then he seemed to get it.
Then we worked on walk-sitting trot-walk followed by halt-sitting trot-halt and a rein back to trot on each rein. Am finding sitting trot much easier - think he is softer over his back so just need to gradually build up more of it as everything is so much easier in sitting trot if you're doing it well! Then we did some trot-canters and some canter-trot-canter on a 20m circle as that is in one of my Novices that I've entered BD for after New Yr. Established I am rubbish and cant do a few strides of sitting trot then back to canter with flailing all over the place so need to come back to rising trot then back to canter. Did some G&R in canter and all was good.
Gave him a walk break and then did some walk to canter and he just went la la. Had incorrect strike offs on both reins (normally only the right), couldn't cope with counter canter - got knickers in a right knot - definitely couldn't cope with canter to walk even though he did it quite nicely on both reins eventually. It was dark by this point and had no money on me for school lights so that might have been freaking him a bit.
Gave up in the end, settled him in a stretchy trot on both reins and ended it there. More work needed I think!
Lesson tomorrow cancelled as forecast is hideous - more and more bloody rain. Very frustrating as need lessons! Not got any planned at the moment :(
So initially I felt he worked really well. We did a warmup in trot and canter on both reins. First left canter he pretended he didn't understand me so I made it really clear bringing my outside leg back and then he seemed to get it.
Then we worked on walk-sitting trot-walk followed by halt-sitting trot-halt and a rein back to trot on each rein. Am finding sitting trot much easier - think he is softer over his back so just need to gradually build up more of it as everything is so much easier in sitting trot if you're doing it well! Then we did some trot-canters and some canter-trot-canter on a 20m circle as that is in one of my Novices that I've entered BD for after New Yr. Established I am rubbish and cant do a few strides of sitting trot then back to canter with flailing all over the place so need to come back to rising trot then back to canter. Did some G&R in canter and all was good.
Gave him a walk break and then did some walk to canter and he just went la la. Had incorrect strike offs on both reins (normally only the right), couldn't cope with counter canter - got knickers in a right knot - definitely couldn't cope with canter to walk even though he did it quite nicely on both reins eventually. It was dark by this point and had no money on me for school lights so that might have been freaking him a bit.
Gave up in the end, settled him in a stretchy trot on both reins and ended it there. More work needed I think!
Lesson tomorrow cancelled as forecast is hideous - more and more bloody rain. Very frustrating as need lessons! Not got any planned at the moment :(
Monday 17 December 2012
Something else to worry about
Monty has a monster tendinous windgall come up on his right fore lateral aspect just above fetlock. Noticed it last week then it went down but it was puffed up again today.
Farrier looked at his foot balance today - was happy with front feet - couldn't see why he would be sore on them. They look good to me - much better than when I got him. He does have road nails in at the moment though so this might be making him a bit more sensitive in terms of lunging him on the hard. They might also be increasing concussion a bit and causing the windgall.
He did say he's rubbing his toes behind esp the RH which I guess fits with that being his dodgy leg - nothing to do with his tendon injury I think, more likely the original problem flagged up in his vettings. I'm convinced it's some kind of mechanical restriction due to old injury as I really hope if it was anything more like spavin/suspensory it would have got significantly worse by now given all the work I've done with him. Anyway, he has shod him with some shoes which are rounded at the front in some way that he thought would be better - they basically look like shoes that have been worn for several weeks already to my eyes!
Farrier looked at his foot balance today - was happy with front feet - couldn't see why he would be sore on them. They look good to me - much better than when I got him. He does have road nails in at the moment though so this might be making him a bit more sensitive in terms of lunging him on the hard. They might also be increasing concussion a bit and causing the windgall.
He did say he's rubbing his toes behind esp the RH which I guess fits with that being his dodgy leg - nothing to do with his tendon injury I think, more likely the original problem flagged up in his vettings. I'm convinced it's some kind of mechanical restriction due to old injury as I really hope if it was anything more like spavin/suspensory it would have got significantly worse by now given all the work I've done with him. Anyway, he has shod him with some shoes which are rounded at the front in some way that he thought would be better - they basically look like shoes that have been worn for several weeks already to my eyes!
Sunday 16 December 2012
5th week of canter work
Now theoretically according to rehab plan we should be cantering for hours by now but it's just not practical with our hacking and also I dont think I want him racehorse fit so we're just gradually building up how much and how difficult his canter schooling work is but probably only ever doing about 5mins cantering out hacking at the moment. I think that is fine for now - once we get closer to the event season and I'm allowed to gallop him again then I'll get him down the gallops and for some longer hacks.
So, Tue we schooled which is in previous blog entry. Wed we hacked down the railway but it was very icy so couldn't do too much. Thur the world was frozen solid so day off. Friday just a quick lunging session in draw reins and he went nicely.
Sat - ridden schooling after work. First time in new boots for a few weeks and he was a bit mental - really reactive to my leg - over-reactive. Not recognising my canter transition aids, just trotting fast, taking off up the long side in canter with me - all just a bit rushed and silly. Ran through N28 perfectly acceptably but felt he wasn't quite happy so went back to the short boots and gaiters that we've worn for past 2 comps and will go back to boots this week and get him ok with them again. He's always been ok with them before so sure he will be again.
This week - hopefully get a lesson on Sat afternoon, otherwise it's just schooling and hacking. Few weeks before next dressage outing so time to work on the schooling now and really get him going well.
So, Tue we schooled which is in previous blog entry. Wed we hacked down the railway but it was very icy so couldn't do too much. Thur the world was frozen solid so day off. Friday just a quick lunging session in draw reins and he went nicely.
Sat - ridden schooling after work. First time in new boots for a few weeks and he was a bit mental - really reactive to my leg - over-reactive. Not recognising my canter transition aids, just trotting fast, taking off up the long side in canter with me - all just a bit rushed and silly. Ran through N28 perfectly acceptably but felt he wasn't quite happy so went back to the short boots and gaiters that we've worn for past 2 comps and will go back to boots this week and get him ok with them again. He's always been ok with them before so sure he will be again.
This week - hopefully get a lesson on Sat afternoon, otherwise it's just schooling and hacking. Few weeks before next dressage outing so time to work on the schooling now and really get him going well.
Tadley RC dressage - Fairoak Grange 16-12-12
We have been to Fairoak for a BE jump clinic before but not been in the indoor school so good chance to get him to cope with a spooky indoor with loads of mirrors. It was meant to be xmas dressage o I put his reindeer ears on and a bit of tinsel to make some kind of effort but was well outclassed by elves and santa clauses which had his eyes on stalks in the warmup!
We started with P14 which is the test he won at Merrist Wood 10days ago. Seems it must be our lucky test as he won again today! I think the judge had had a little too much mulled wine or something as probably got an extra mark for every movement compared to normal but so did everyone else from the scores and I'm going to frame the sheet anyway cause we got a 9 for a right canter circle. Previously I'd have been happy with a 7 for a right canter circle as it's always been his problem rein. So, even a generous 9 is well appreciated! The judge wasn't listed but is an Advanced rider. We got 76.25% and her comments at the end: 8778 "Fantastic horse! Kept rhythm and balance throughout. Lovely to judge" Bursting with pride at that - my fantastic orange horse!
Then came to our first Novice since coming back to work - N28. Seem to have found his medium trot in the last week and he did a stonking one in the warmup but not quite ready to produce it in the arena yet so dropped a mark there and a couple more due to him deciding I wanted another canter transition after coming back from counter canter to trot which cost him another win. Marks really close so he ended up 4th. Same judge still on the mulled wine - we got 74.58%. Collectives 7778 "Lovely test and well ridden!" Got another 8 for our centre line comments: "very straight" - never seen on any of our sheets prior to this break as we were like wiggly worms down the centre line. So many comments about good transitions which was always our weak point before. So proud of him!
We started with P14 which is the test he won at Merrist Wood 10days ago. Seems it must be our lucky test as he won again today! I think the judge had had a little too much mulled wine or something as probably got an extra mark for every movement compared to normal but so did everyone else from the scores and I'm going to frame the sheet anyway cause we got a 9 for a right canter circle. Previously I'd have been happy with a 7 for a right canter circle as it's always been his problem rein. So, even a generous 9 is well appreciated! The judge wasn't listed but is an Advanced rider. We got 76.25% and her comments at the end: 8778 "Fantastic horse! Kept rhythm and balance throughout. Lovely to judge" Bursting with pride at that - my fantastic orange horse!
Then came to our first Novice since coming back to work - N28. Seem to have found his medium trot in the last week and he did a stonking one in the warmup but not quite ready to produce it in the arena yet so dropped a mark there and a couple more due to him deciding I wanted another canter transition after coming back from counter canter to trot which cost him another win. Marks really close so he ended up 4th. Same judge still on the mulled wine - we got 74.58%. Collectives 7778 "Lovely test and well ridden!" Got another 8 for our centre line comments: "very straight" - never seen on any of our sheets prior to this break as we were like wiggly worms down the centre line. So many comments about good transitions which was always our weak point before. So proud of him!
Tuesday 11 December 2012
Schooling 11-12-12
Nipped down the yard at lunchtime for a quick schooling session in the sunshine. I cant bear the thought of taking his rugs off in the evenings and riding in minus 3 temperatures so it's lunchtime or nothing at the moment.
School was a bit crispy but ok once we'd stomped around on it for a bit.
We worked on trot-walk-trot transitions, then collecting the trot before moving it on. Did this on left rein then a walk break, quick bit of SI/travers/LY in walk then into trot on right rein and same stuff before trying a medium trot up the long side and by god he went for it - it needs refining, it could be a bit rounder but it feels very powerful. Another walk break then some canter work - some trot-canter transitions, couple of walk-canters, a 15m circle and return to track with some CC perfectly acceptable on both reins. G&R on both reins. Trot-canter on right rein still needs some work - I really seem to struggle to coordinate my aids and keep him round - it's very frustrating! Not asking him to collect the canter yet as bit soon. Been cantering a month now but he still needs to build up strength. Then we did some more medium trot which was fabulous and some centre lines getting him really powering forwards as got to sort this tendency to back off and die down the centre line. Need to work on the halts too - easy movement - ridiculous to throw away marks on it.
Very happy!
School was a bit crispy but ok once we'd stomped around on it for a bit.
We worked on trot-walk-trot transitions, then collecting the trot before moving it on. Did this on left rein then a walk break, quick bit of SI/travers/LY in walk then into trot on right rein and same stuff before trying a medium trot up the long side and by god he went for it - it needs refining, it could be a bit rounder but it feels very powerful. Another walk break then some canter work - some trot-canter transitions, couple of walk-canters, a 15m circle and return to track with some CC perfectly acceptable on both reins. G&R on both reins. Trot-canter on right rein still needs some work - I really seem to struggle to coordinate my aids and keep him round - it's very frustrating! Not asking him to collect the canter yet as bit soon. Been cantering a month now but he still needs to build up strength. Then we did some more medium trot which was fabulous and some centre lines getting him really powering forwards as got to sort this tendency to back off and die down the centre line. Need to work on the halts too - easy movement - ridiculous to throw away marks on it.
Very happy!
Sunday 9 December 2012
End of 4th week of cantering
Technically he is meant to be up to 10mins cantering now and moving on towards 15mins over next couple of weeks but even when he's fully event fit he only does three 5min canter sets once a week on the weeks he's not competing so I'm not sure he needs to be doing that much canter work just yet as eventing not till March. The programme is designed for racehorses and I dont think I want a racehorse fit Monty thanks so we'll just work on gradually increasing the difficulty of the school work and continue to do as much cantering in straight lines out hacking as possible but can really only manage 5mins max unless we box out somewhere.
Monday - day off after dressage Sunday
Tuesday - far too cold in the evening to whip his rugs off and ride - another day off
Wed - won P14 at Merrist Wood on 67.92% with 21 in the class
Thur - brisk hack round the railway line
Fri - schooling session at lunchtime - very pleased with how he is going. First bit of counter canter no probs and we did some pole work in trot and canter. Think the canter poles were a little far apart for him in a dressagey style canter - either need to get him a lot more forwards (generally our issue with SJ's anyway) or move poles closer together if doing this work in a normal canter. We did some G&R rein in canter on both reins and I just had that feeling he would do it before I gave the rein away - the feel he is giving me in the hand is totally different now and there we had it multiple times on both reins - didn't change his outline at all. Cant get it in trot but think it's more important in canter anyway.
Sat - first lesson since pre-injury. Tracey really pleased with how he is building up muscle in front of his withers - I thought he was looking a bit better there but pleased she noticed too. As soon as we trotted she was like wow what a difference. He feels amazing! She said she would buy him based on how he looked today. :) We did some work on finding out that I put more weight in the right stirrup and need to try and put more in left and lengthen the left leg as tends to creep up. Made me trot round on each rein without the outside stirrup and on left rein felt like I might fall off the outside! Then we did some canter work. Walk to canters were good. We even did one on the right rein on the 3/4 line and he stayed round, correct strike off and straight too - amazing! We worked on cantering down the 3/4 line making him super straight - need to shoulder-in slightly but then bring head back to the midline to get him 100% straight - almost thinking renvers - slightly more so on R rein, remember to still think it round the corners. Did some counter canter and he is almost straight but just tending to swing quarters in (or is it out - quarters are swinging towards the way he is bent) slightly as think I am using a bit too much outside (that's the leg on the inside of the school but outside to his bend) leg. Confusing or what! Finished with a bit of medium trot - careful not to let the frame lengthen - he is not ready for that yet as hindlegs need to push more. Last attempt I came round the corner and really felt him push for a couple of strides. Fab! Just need to build on that and we might actually have a medium trot worth talking about!
Sun - boxed over to Hankley common with Llewi. Covered 7.15miles in an hour and a half with plenty of trotting and cantering over the lovely sandy tracks. He nearly lost me once when I leant round to the right to talk to Becky and then he leapt to the left. We had a spinning fit at a log on the side of the track which took a couple of attempts to get him past and we had some close attempts to passage at some flapping tape - all typical for a Monty hack but it was good fun! Love having him fit again. Just cant wait to get cracking with some jumping again!
Feed wise he is now on half rations TopSpec balancer, big round scoop slightly heaped of Bailey's endurance mix, 1/2 scoop Dengie Happy Tummy (mostly alfalfa) a jug of Calm&Condition, 3/4 jug of Fast Fibre and 1/2 jug of Power&Performance. hoof supplement, salt and Supplease Gold. If he gets ridden any time other than the evening he gets a little extra feed with half scoop Happy Tummy and half scoop Endurance mix plus a blob of his soaked combination. He feels nice energy wise and is holding condition at one girth hole more than he was back in May fully eventing fit which is fine for now. Dont want him to lose anymore which is why I'm slowly swapping from Fast Fibre to Calm&Condition. Might also grab a bag of Bailey's Outshine next time I'm anywhere that stocks it. Clipped him blanket clip 3wks ago and he hasn't grown any of it back yet - still see the lines! Fine blades scalp him - must remember that! Still, at least means not too much clipping this year!
This week plans are just schooling and hacking at home, then riding club dressage on Sunday down at Fairoak - not competed there before, just been for jump clinic. Doing P14 again, plus N28 - first time doing 2 tests and first Novice. Hope he approves of the school as it is indoors, very smart and quite spooky and he's not been in there before so will be a mission to see if I can keep him connected when he wants to bring his head up and tighten.
Monday - day off after dressage Sunday
Tuesday - far too cold in the evening to whip his rugs off and ride - another day off
Wed - won P14 at Merrist Wood on 67.92% with 21 in the class
Thur - brisk hack round the railway line
Fri - schooling session at lunchtime - very pleased with how he is going. First bit of counter canter no probs and we did some pole work in trot and canter. Think the canter poles were a little far apart for him in a dressagey style canter - either need to get him a lot more forwards (generally our issue with SJ's anyway) or move poles closer together if doing this work in a normal canter. We did some G&R rein in canter on both reins and I just had that feeling he would do it before I gave the rein away - the feel he is giving me in the hand is totally different now and there we had it multiple times on both reins - didn't change his outline at all. Cant get it in trot but think it's more important in canter anyway.
Sat - first lesson since pre-injury. Tracey really pleased with how he is building up muscle in front of his withers - I thought he was looking a bit better there but pleased she noticed too. As soon as we trotted she was like wow what a difference. He feels amazing! She said she would buy him based on how he looked today. :) We did some work on finding out that I put more weight in the right stirrup and need to try and put more in left and lengthen the left leg as tends to creep up. Made me trot round on each rein without the outside stirrup and on left rein felt like I might fall off the outside! Then we did some canter work. Walk to canters were good. We even did one on the right rein on the 3/4 line and he stayed round, correct strike off and straight too - amazing! We worked on cantering down the 3/4 line making him super straight - need to shoulder-in slightly but then bring head back to the midline to get him 100% straight - almost thinking renvers - slightly more so on R rein, remember to still think it round the corners. Did some counter canter and he is almost straight but just tending to swing quarters in (or is it out - quarters are swinging towards the way he is bent) slightly as think I am using a bit too much outside (that's the leg on the inside of the school but outside to his bend) leg. Confusing or what! Finished with a bit of medium trot - careful not to let the frame lengthen - he is not ready for that yet as hindlegs need to push more. Last attempt I came round the corner and really felt him push for a couple of strides. Fab! Just need to build on that and we might actually have a medium trot worth talking about!
Sun - boxed over to Hankley common with Llewi. Covered 7.15miles in an hour and a half with plenty of trotting and cantering over the lovely sandy tracks. He nearly lost me once when I leant round to the right to talk to Becky and then he leapt to the left. We had a spinning fit at a log on the side of the track which took a couple of attempts to get him past and we had some close attempts to passage at some flapping tape - all typical for a Monty hack but it was good fun! Love having him fit again. Just cant wait to get cracking with some jumping again!
Feed wise he is now on half rations TopSpec balancer, big round scoop slightly heaped of Bailey's endurance mix, 1/2 scoop Dengie Happy Tummy (mostly alfalfa) a jug of Calm&Condition, 3/4 jug of Fast Fibre and 1/2 jug of Power&Performance. hoof supplement, salt and Supplease Gold. If he gets ridden any time other than the evening he gets a little extra feed with half scoop Happy Tummy and half scoop Endurance mix plus a blob of his soaked combination. He feels nice energy wise and is holding condition at one girth hole more than he was back in May fully eventing fit which is fine for now. Dont want him to lose anymore which is why I'm slowly swapping from Fast Fibre to Calm&Condition. Might also grab a bag of Bailey's Outshine next time I'm anywhere that stocks it. Clipped him blanket clip 3wks ago and he hasn't grown any of it back yet - still see the lines! Fine blades scalp him - must remember that! Still, at least means not too much clipping this year!
This week plans are just schooling and hacking at home, then riding club dressage on Sunday down at Fairoak - not competed there before, just been for jump clinic. Doing P14 again, plus N28 - first time doing 2 tests and first Novice. Hope he approves of the school as it is indoors, very smart and quite spooky and he's not been in there before so will be a mission to see if I can keep him connected when he wants to bring his head up and tighten.
Wednesday 5 December 2012
Merrist Wood 05-12-12
Didn't ride Monday as he competed Sunday.
Didn't ride yesterday as it was flipping freezing after work.
Merrist Wood this evening. On one in the car park due to some flapping plastic tape. Walked round to the warmup to get on! Warmed up sweetly. New routine is to do plenty of walk then some stretchy round trot with lots of changes of rein and then a little canter with some medium canter to wake him up. Walk break. Walk-sitting trot-walk transitions with changes of rein, perhaps a bit of leg yield and a little bit of canter followed by some rising trot. Walk break. Final pick up rising trot keeping it soft and forwards.
Short arena tonight - bit of tension about some stuff against the wall. Didn't feel as soft and relaxed into my contact as on Sunday. Doesn't look hideous from the video though. Canter work felt quite nice and got straight 7's. She said the trot-walk-trots were rushed so need to work on those. Only a 6 for his FWLR - chucked away some marks there, must get him to stretch down and round more. 8 for his first centre line - that's definitely a first! He feels really straight and connected on the first centre line at the moment. Shame same cant be said about the last one where he wants to grind to a halt from the start and then yaws into the halt and stands like a donkey. It's hideous - must be able to do something about that! Anyway, we won! 67.92%. Class of 20 or so. Won by about 2%. 7777 collectives. List 5 judge. All good!
Didn't ride yesterday as it was flipping freezing after work.
Merrist Wood this evening. On one in the car park due to some flapping plastic tape. Walked round to the warmup to get on! Warmed up sweetly. New routine is to do plenty of walk then some stretchy round trot with lots of changes of rein and then a little canter with some medium canter to wake him up. Walk break. Walk-sitting trot-walk transitions with changes of rein, perhaps a bit of leg yield and a little bit of canter followed by some rising trot. Walk break. Final pick up rising trot keeping it soft and forwards.
Short arena tonight - bit of tension about some stuff against the wall. Didn't feel as soft and relaxed into my contact as on Sunday. Doesn't look hideous from the video though. Canter work felt quite nice and got straight 7's. She said the trot-walk-trots were rushed so need to work on those. Only a 6 for his FWLR - chucked away some marks there, must get him to stretch down and round more. 8 for his first centre line - that's definitely a first! He feels really straight and connected on the first centre line at the moment. Shame same cant be said about the last one where he wants to grind to a halt from the start and then yaws into the halt and stands like a donkey. It's hideous - must be able to do something about that! Anyway, we won! 67.92%. Class of 20 or so. Won by about 2%. 7777 collectives. List 5 judge. All good!
Sunday 2 December 2012
Merrist Wood P19 02-12-12
First outing in the new horsebox which was as exciting as anything!
Last few days not gone exactly to plan with the zip on my new long boots going yesterday which meant I spent last night resurrecting my old joddy boots and gaiters and cleaning off year old mud. Lorry has gone and got a chip in its windscreen, every time I turn the fridge on it trips the fusebox switch (good thing it's cold enough not to need it) and various other problems so should have known today wouldn't go without a hitch either!
So, last few weeks I've been practising P15 with a vengeance so off we go down the centre line, turn left and beep goes the horn. Turns out I've learnt the wrong test! Should be P19 - luckily as it's unaff prelim and judge obviously feeling exceedingly kind she lets me start all over again with friend reading the correct test. Fortunately I also know P19 quite well so we had a good bash at it. Ended up on 67.73% and came 3rd out of 26. Monts has never been a dressage horse - it is what lets us down eventing - so pretty chuffed with that.
Going back there on Wednesday and have triple checked the test I'm riding!
Photos are just some stills from video I'm afraid:
And the video if you're bored enough to watch a prelim:
And my new horsebox as dont think I've showed it off yet and dont want it feeling left out!
[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/534546_10151332249520522_1040616208_n.jpg[/img]
Last few days not gone exactly to plan with the zip on my new long boots going yesterday which meant I spent last night resurrecting my old joddy boots and gaiters and cleaning off year old mud. Lorry has gone and got a chip in its windscreen, every time I turn the fridge on it trips the fusebox switch (good thing it's cold enough not to need it) and various other problems so should have known today wouldn't go without a hitch either!
So, last few weeks I've been practising P15 with a vengeance so off we go down the centre line, turn left and beep goes the horn. Turns out I've learnt the wrong test! Should be P19 - luckily as it's unaff prelim and judge obviously feeling exceedingly kind she lets me start all over again with friend reading the correct test. Fortunately I also know P19 quite well so we had a good bash at it. Ended up on 67.73% and came 3rd out of 26. Monts has never been a dressage horse - it is what lets us down eventing - so pretty chuffed with that.
Going back there on Wednesday and have triple checked the test I'm riding!
Photos are just some stills from video I'm afraid:
And the video if you're bored enough to watch a prelim:
And my new horsebox as dont think I've showed it off yet and dont want it feeling left out!
[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/534546_10151332249520522_1040616208_n.jpg[/img]
3rd week of cantering
Monday was physio so had Tue off
Wed we braved the ranges - the flags were down so it was rude not to go over there. Picked a route that minimised misbehaviour and got back in one piece!
Thur and Fri we did some schooling (practising the wrong test for today lol!) and am really pleased with how he is going at the moment. Just need to get him more into my outside rein on the left rein now. He feels really secure on the right rein now which is a turnup for the books!
Yesterday took him and Llewi over to Hankley Common and went for a blast round Elstead common - great as he doesn't know the tracks so doesn't try to take over as much about when we canter so no loonyness!
Wed we braved the ranges - the flags were down so it was rude not to go over there. Picked a route that minimised misbehaviour and got back in one piece!
Thur and Fri we did some schooling (practising the wrong test for today lol!) and am really pleased with how he is going at the moment. Just need to get him more into my outside rein on the left rein now. He feels really secure on the right rein now which is a turnup for the books!
Yesterday took him and Llewi over to Hankley Common and went for a blast round Elstead common - great as he doesn't know the tracks so doesn't try to take over as much about when we canter so no loonyness!
Monday 26 November 2012
Physio visit
Walking in hand - slightly carrying quarters to the right
Trot in hand - less obvious deviation of the quarters
Trot on the lunge in school - intermittently hoppy in front esp on left rein LF
Trot on lunge in car park - left rein - intermittently lame LF. right rein - quite consistently lame RF. prob about 2-3/10 lame - definitely obvious.
Feet looking a bit short so wonder if farrier trying a bit hard to get his toes back. Also shoe on RF touching frog which must be a bit uncomfy.
He hasn't been hoppy to ride recently but I do remember him being occasionally hoppy in front on the right rein in trot back earlier this year when he was last in work.
He also has this splint on his RF which he threw when he was back in walk work but it doesn't seem painful on palpation and it's not hot and hasn't changed recently.
He was lame in front on a hard circle on his original vetting and it improved significantly by the 2nd vetting but he was still about 1/10 lame on the hard circle. Vet thought it was insignificant but seems like it might have got a bit worse again so will have a good chat with farrier next time he is out. Hopefully he is not developing anything horrific like navicular.
Physio was pleased with his neck mobility - carry on with his stretches, just need to hold his poll to make sure he doesn't cheat by tilting his head. Remember to do the one where he stretches between his front legs with nose up by his chest as well as down on the floor. She said she thought we might need to treat him under sedation again but after manipulating him thought he was ok.
There was lots of clicking and cracking going on as she manipulated his back and made him really flex it and he was tighter having to bend it to the left as meant he has to stretch his tight right side. Tight on his right gluteals as always.
Generally not too bad considering it's been just over 6mths since she last saw him.
Day off tomorrow, hack on Wed then back to normal and she'll see him again in 3mths.
Trot in hand - less obvious deviation of the quarters
Trot on the lunge in school - intermittently hoppy in front esp on left rein LF
Trot on lunge in car park - left rein - intermittently lame LF. right rein - quite consistently lame RF. prob about 2-3/10 lame - definitely obvious.
Feet looking a bit short so wonder if farrier trying a bit hard to get his toes back. Also shoe on RF touching frog which must be a bit uncomfy.
He hasn't been hoppy to ride recently but I do remember him being occasionally hoppy in front on the right rein in trot back earlier this year when he was last in work.
He also has this splint on his RF which he threw when he was back in walk work but it doesn't seem painful on palpation and it's not hot and hasn't changed recently.
He was lame in front on a hard circle on his original vetting and it improved significantly by the 2nd vetting but he was still about 1/10 lame on the hard circle. Vet thought it was insignificant but seems like it might have got a bit worse again so will have a good chat with farrier next time he is out. Hopefully he is not developing anything horrific like navicular.
Physio was pleased with his neck mobility - carry on with his stretches, just need to hold his poll to make sure he doesn't cheat by tilting his head. Remember to do the one where he stretches between his front legs with nose up by his chest as well as down on the floor. She said she thought we might need to treat him under sedation again but after manipulating him thought he was ok.
There was lots of clicking and cracking going on as she manipulated his back and made him really flex it and he was tighter having to bend it to the left as meant he has to stretch his tight right side. Tight on his right gluteals as always.
Generally not too bad considering it's been just over 6mths since she last saw him.
Day off tomorrow, hack on Wed then back to normal and she'll see him again in 3mths.
Sunday 25 November 2012
end of 2nd week of canter work
Bit of a washout of a week really. Schooled on Monday morning before farrier came. Got road nails in which has really helped with his slipping on the roads. Tuesday rained off. Wed and Thur it was blowing a gale so opted for lunging in draw reins. Thur he went really well in them - really stretching into them. When I lunged in them last week he kept going off disunited in right canter but this week he was fine. Friday finally got out for a hack at lunchtime and whizzed down the railway line but only time to do the main bit which is only 1.5mins cantering. Sat completely rained off. This morning nipped out for a hack before work in lovely sunshine and cantered the entire railway line and then halfway back which was about 4mins canter and topped that off with 16.5mins trot in a 55min hack - on a mission! On the way back had to trot through a flooded bit of road and for the first time ever he really rounded over his back and stepped up and under with his hindlegs - it felt amazing - I want trot like that all the time! We shall forget the bit after that where he decided to nap at the thought of going the long way back to the yard and try and nip round and dash down the footpath followed by a rearing tantrum when I said no - cheeky little sod.
He's feeling much fitter now, girth is going up an extra hole (still got one more to go to get him back to the weight he was in May but he is looking more like a competition horse again now all clipped and smart - gone is the furry pony of last week!)
He has physio tomorrow to make sure we stay on track after all this straight line work which has got him feeling so much more equal and straight.
Need to crack on with some schooling this week as we have our first dressage test on Sunday - woohoo!
He's feeling much fitter now, girth is going up an extra hole (still got one more to go to get him back to the weight he was in May but he is looking more like a competition horse again now all clipped and smart - gone is the furry pony of last week!)
He has physio tomorrow to make sure we stay on track after all this straight line work which has got him feeling so much more equal and straight.
Need to crack on with some schooling this week as we have our first dressage test on Sunday - woohoo!
Sunday 18 November 2012
End of first week of cantering
We're getting there now :)
Up to 2.5mins of cantering which is roughly what we'd do on our average hack anyway so it's really just the schoolwork that needs building up now.
Schooling this week has been good. He's been popping into canter nicely on both reins and sustaining it for a couple of circles. Doing some walk-sitting trot for a while then walk again transitions which are helping him connect from behind. Finding it much easier to get into canter nicely from a consistent sitting trot too. On Wed we ran through a basic prelim and it was perfectly acceptable so give us a couple more weeks and should be ready for our first show. He is much more accepting on the right rein so hoping the time off has done him some good. Friday I lunged him with the draw reins behind his elbows technique and he went really nicely.
Today we went for a trip in the horsebox with Llewi to Puttenham and had a great time round there. Disappointed to come across a lovely fallen tree and not be able to jump it though :(
Blanket clip this morning as now we're cantering he's been getting quite sweaty. Retrimmed his bridle patch and legs. Just his mane to tackle now and he'll look like a competition horse again instead of a hairy pony! Cant decide whether to re-pull his tail or leave it au naturel.
Up to 2.5mins of cantering which is roughly what we'd do on our average hack anyway so it's really just the schoolwork that needs building up now.
Schooling this week has been good. He's been popping into canter nicely on both reins and sustaining it for a couple of circles. Doing some walk-sitting trot for a while then walk again transitions which are helping him connect from behind. Finding it much easier to get into canter nicely from a consistent sitting trot too. On Wed we ran through a basic prelim and it was perfectly acceptable so give us a couple more weeks and should be ready for our first show. He is much more accepting on the right rein so hoping the time off has done him some good. Friday I lunged him with the draw reins behind his elbows technique and he went really nicely.
Today we went for a trip in the horsebox with Llewi to Puttenham and had a great time round there. Disappointed to come across a lovely fallen tree and not be able to jump it though :(
Blanket clip this morning as now we're cantering he's been getting quite sweaty. Retrimmed his bridle patch and legs. Just his mane to tackle now and he'll look like a competition horse again instead of a hairy pony! Cant decide whether to re-pull his tail or leave it au naturel.
Sunday 11 November 2012
Start of canter work
So, this weekend was the end of 6wks of trot work gradually building up to 15mins. All seems to be going well (cross fingers)
Yesterday I did a schooling session - first time back in his dressage saddle. Initial trot wasn't great due to me struggling with long stirrups, brand new riding boots and a dressage saddle. So then we did some walk, sitting trot, walk transitions which really helped get him connected. Then went on to do some really nice trot work and so we did a 20m circle in canter on each rein. Both reins he popped into canter really sweetly, staying nice and round, but clearly found it harder on the right rein so just concentrated on keeping him nice and forwards. Finished with nice stretchy trot on both reins. Actually finding him easier on the right rein at the moment - he feels more consistent in the contact and is equal in both reins. Never thought I'd say that but on the left he is not working into the contact but kind of sitting there roughly in the right place but I dont feel I've got him in my hands. He's got physio in 2wks time so will be good to get him checked over again now we're upping the workload again. 1st dressage lesson booked for early Dec.
Hacking today and let him canter for one minute down the railway line which he found a lot easier than a tiny bit of canter in the school.
Put him back on half rations TopSpec this week now Cool, Calm and Collected has all finished.
Farrier yet again tomorrow - going through shoes like they're going out of fashion!
Yesterday I did a schooling session - first time back in his dressage saddle. Initial trot wasn't great due to me struggling with long stirrups, brand new riding boots and a dressage saddle. So then we did some walk, sitting trot, walk transitions which really helped get him connected. Then went on to do some really nice trot work and so we did a 20m circle in canter on each rein. Both reins he popped into canter really sweetly, staying nice and round, but clearly found it harder on the right rein so just concentrated on keeping him nice and forwards. Finished with nice stretchy trot on both reins. Actually finding him easier on the right rein at the moment - he feels more consistent in the contact and is equal in both reins. Never thought I'd say that but on the left he is not working into the contact but kind of sitting there roughly in the right place but I dont feel I've got him in my hands. He's got physio in 2wks time so will be good to get him checked over again now we're upping the workload again. 1st dressage lesson booked for early Dec.
Hacking today and let him canter for one minute down the railway line which he found a lot easier than a tiny bit of canter in the school.
Put him back on half rations TopSpec this week now Cool, Calm and Collected has all finished.
Farrier yet again tomorrow - going through shoes like they're going out of fashion!
Sunday 4 November 2012
End of week 5 of trotting
More of the same this week really. Week was made by passing my HGV test on Wednesday - yay!
Last week on the Winning Edge Gold - dont feel it's made any difference to him at all. Full money back though so that's something. Started back on TopSpec this weekend - just half rations for now. Otherwise he is still on 1/3 scoop Bailey's Endurance Mix, big handful of Good Doer and 1.5scoops of Fast Fibre.
Schooling wise - he's finding it hard work. I'm finding it hard to get him between leg and hand in the jump saddle. Need to get my dressage saddle back and start riding in proper boots and spurs again. Start getting him a bit sharper off the leg again. Just booked first lesson for 5wks time. He seems to find it easy to go deep, not so easy to come up in front but then we're not doing much to activate the hindlegs yet - just started doing some trot-walk-trot transitions but he needs a lot more to get him working through from behind. He is being fairly soft in the hand though so that's something.
Hacking - made the mistake of going up the ranges with Jo yesterday. Unexploded bomb that very nearly exploded. Not so bad on the way across the top track, few little leaps and mini bucks but nothing major. The further we went the more I had the feeling that turning around wasn't going to go well. Couldn't take him off the main track as knew if his feet touched heather he'd loose the plot so we went through some woods and back onto the main track but Sox knew we were on the way home and started jogging which set Monty off snorting and prancing which wound Sox up even more. Monty started leaping and bucking and thank god Jo managed to keep hold of Sox and keep him back from me so we just walked the entire length of the long track back with occasional mini explosions. Wont be repeating that in a hurry!
Hunted a new horse today. Ex-NH racehorse. Generally controllable but just wasn't too happy about being held near the back and occasionally planted and refused to go forwards then ran backwards, span, leapt and tanked off - that bit wasn't so fun! Otherwise pretty good though and we did a bit of jumping on the last line which was great fun as not jumped for more than a month apart from one on Llewi at opening meet.
Last week of trotting this week - start canter after next weekend. Pick up my horsebox next Saturday and hunting another unknown horse next Sunday. All good fun!
Last week on the Winning Edge Gold - dont feel it's made any difference to him at all. Full money back though so that's something. Started back on TopSpec this weekend - just half rations for now. Otherwise he is still on 1/3 scoop Bailey's Endurance Mix, big handful of Good Doer and 1.5scoops of Fast Fibre.
Schooling wise - he's finding it hard work. I'm finding it hard to get him between leg and hand in the jump saddle. Need to get my dressage saddle back and start riding in proper boots and spurs again. Start getting him a bit sharper off the leg again. Just booked first lesson for 5wks time. He seems to find it easy to go deep, not so easy to come up in front but then we're not doing much to activate the hindlegs yet - just started doing some trot-walk-trot transitions but he needs a lot more to get him working through from behind. He is being fairly soft in the hand though so that's something.
Hacking - made the mistake of going up the ranges with Jo yesterday. Unexploded bomb that very nearly exploded. Not so bad on the way across the top track, few little leaps and mini bucks but nothing major. The further we went the more I had the feeling that turning around wasn't going to go well. Couldn't take him off the main track as knew if his feet touched heather he'd loose the plot so we went through some woods and back onto the main track but Sox knew we were on the way home and started jogging which set Monty off snorting and prancing which wound Sox up even more. Monty started leaping and bucking and thank god Jo managed to keep hold of Sox and keep him back from me so we just walked the entire length of the long track back with occasional mini explosions. Wont be repeating that in a hurry!
Hunted a new horse today. Ex-NH racehorse. Generally controllable but just wasn't too happy about being held near the back and occasionally planted and refused to go forwards then ran backwards, span, leapt and tanked off - that bit wasn't so fun! Otherwise pretty good though and we did a bit of jumping on the last line which was great fun as not jumped for more than a month apart from one on Llewi at opening meet.
Last week of trotting this week - start canter after next weekend. Pick up my horsebox next Saturday and hunting another unknown horse next Sunday. All good fun!
Sunday 28 October 2012
End of week 4 trot work
Another week gone.
Schooled Mon/Tue. Worked on moving his head around, keeping him soft and forwards.
Friday off
Up to 10.5mins trotting today.
All good so far :)
Schooled Mon/Tue. Worked on moving his head around, keeping him soft and forwards.
Friday off
Up to 10.5mins trotting today.
All good so far :)
Sunday 21 October 2012
End of week 3 of trotting
This week has been a bit rubbishy weather wise so missed Friday evening as cold and chucking it down and he had Monday off due to farrier taking up my spare time before work.
Tuesday schooled - very pleased with how he is going - soft and forwards but needs lots of help to stay balanced on the downhill short side at the moment. Still trying to hop into his upwards transitions so now starting to insist we get a nice one rather than letting him get on with it.
Wed, Thur, Sat and Sun went for an hour's hack gradually increasing trot work. Now up to 7.5mins.
That's us halfway through trot work now - canter countdown starts now!
Tuesday schooled - very pleased with how he is going - soft and forwards but needs lots of help to stay balanced on the downhill short side at the moment. Still trying to hop into his upwards transitions so now starting to insist we get a nice one rather than letting him get on with it.
Wed, Thur, Sat and Sun went for an hour's hack gradually increasing trot work. Now up to 7.5mins.
That's us halfway through trot work now - canter countdown starts now!
Sunday 14 October 2012
End of 2nd week of trotting and Llewi hunting
Up to 5mins trotting by the end of this week. Increased by 30secs each ride until we got to 5mins then stuck at that.
Not a great week though as due to being back and work and dark evenings have had to do 4 schooling sessions and one short-ish hack so only done one decent length hack.
Schooling sessions have been ok though - he has been soft and willing. He still does rein back better than any horse I've seen recently whilst writing for BD Elem/Med! We are just trotting large round the edge of the school and walking over some poles. Not asking for anything great in the trot, just forwards and soft and he seems happy.
End of the week started on Equifeast Ulcer Supplement. Still on Winning Edge Gold as well.
Took Llewi hunting today - SC&RMA opening meet at 4 seasons hotel. Stuck with 2nd fieldmaster and had my eyes opened to what it is like at the back of the field. First line horse dropped dead in front of me trapping his rider underneath. Had to roll horse off her but he was dead by the time I got to him. Rider was ok but in total shock - tried to reassure her that nothing she could have done but it was so emotionally draining. What a horrific thing to happen :( He died doing what he loved but god what a shock.
2nd line was a bit nothingy as just stood and watched others jump the hedges at Swans Farm.
3rd line horse put foot down rabbit hole behind me and catapaulted his rider headfirst into the ground and knocked her out cold. Cue call to ambulance and then heard air ambulance was coming. Road ambulance went past us so ended up doing lots of cantering around the stubble field and trotting up the road whilst on the phone to 999 trying to get them to send ambulance back. Then helicopter came so we had to make a quick exit - flew low over us and Llewi didn't bat an eyelid. He wasn't too happy about being made to wait with injured rider whilst rest of field moved off though - proper temper tantrums. That was the end of our line and just walked onto start of 4th line.
4th line back round the hotel grounds and let him jump the final fence and he flew it.
Generally pleased with him but he wasn't easy. If I tried to steady him whilst galloping he just stuck his head on the floor and tanked. Didn't want to stand still unless it suited him, throwing himself around and having huge temper tantrums. He is such a stroppy bugger!
Not a great week though as due to being back and work and dark evenings have had to do 4 schooling sessions and one short-ish hack so only done one decent length hack.
Schooling sessions have been ok though - he has been soft and willing. He still does rein back better than any horse I've seen recently whilst writing for BD Elem/Med! We are just trotting large round the edge of the school and walking over some poles. Not asking for anything great in the trot, just forwards and soft and he seems happy.
End of the week started on Equifeast Ulcer Supplement. Still on Winning Edge Gold as well.
Took Llewi hunting today - SC&RMA opening meet at 4 seasons hotel. Stuck with 2nd fieldmaster and had my eyes opened to what it is like at the back of the field. First line horse dropped dead in front of me trapping his rider underneath. Had to roll horse off her but he was dead by the time I got to him. Rider was ok but in total shock - tried to reassure her that nothing she could have done but it was so emotionally draining. What a horrific thing to happen :( He died doing what he loved but god what a shock.
2nd line was a bit nothingy as just stood and watched others jump the hedges at Swans Farm.
3rd line horse put foot down rabbit hole behind me and catapaulted his rider headfirst into the ground and knocked her out cold. Cue call to ambulance and then heard air ambulance was coming. Road ambulance went past us so ended up doing lots of cantering around the stubble field and trotting up the road whilst on the phone to 999 trying to get them to send ambulance back. Then helicopter came so we had to make a quick exit - flew low over us and Llewi didn't bat an eyelid. He wasn't too happy about being made to wait with injured rider whilst rest of field moved off though - proper temper tantrums. That was the end of our line and just walked onto start of 4th line.
4th line back round the hotel grounds and let him jump the final fence and he flew it.
Generally pleased with him but he wasn't easy. If I tried to steady him whilst galloping he just stuck his head on the floor and tanked. Didn't want to stand still unless it suited him, throwing himself around and having huge temper tantrums. He is such a stroppy bugger!
Sunday 7 October 2012
End of first week of trot work
All going smoothly thankfully. Leg has shown no signs of any kind of puffiness or swelling. We have built up the trot work from 30secs on Mon to 3mins30secs today and all is good. Monty is enjoying himself muchly and thinks he can trot everywhere now. Pulls my arms out in trot but feels amazing - really powerful and pingy - lovely!
So good to be getting going on him again. This week will see us continue to gradually build up towards 5mins at the end of the week. I am back to work though and it's now too dark to hack in the evenings so we'll start some low key school work. Might set out some poles so we can do some walking over poles as something different to do or it's going to get a bit dull walking for an hour with only 5mins trotting!
He is still out in his small square and I dont plan on increasing that until he is back in canter work so a few more weeks yet. I know he is miserable sectioned off from his friend but I dont trust him not to have a hooley and set us right back to square one.
Still on Cool, Calm and Condition with extra Mg but cant say I think it's makes any difference to him. He's still sharp as anything and is testing out my stickability multiple times every ride.
So far though, very happy :)
So good to be getting going on him again. This week will see us continue to gradually build up towards 5mins at the end of the week. I am back to work though and it's now too dark to hack in the evenings so we'll start some low key school work. Might set out some poles so we can do some walking over poles as something different to do or it's going to get a bit dull walking for an hour with only 5mins trotting!
He is still out in his small square and I dont plan on increasing that until he is back in canter work so a few more weeks yet. I know he is miserable sectioned off from his friend but I dont trust him not to have a hooley and set us right back to square one.
Still on Cool, Calm and Condition with extra Mg but cant say I think it's makes any difference to him. He's still sharp as anything and is testing out my stickability multiple times every ride.
So far though, very happy :)
Tuesday 2 October 2012
Start of trot work
End of last week let him have a 15sec trot on each ride. Yesterday we did 2x 15sec trots and today we did 2x 30sec trots. Will continue to build up by 30secs each ride now until we are up to 20mins then we can start canter work. He feels very well and leg all looks fine so far.
Wednesday 26 September 2012
end of week 8
Fairly uneventful week I think. Done around an hour and 10mins walking each day and he's been back to what he would normally be like to hack - nicely forwards and far too jumpy but not completely mental.
Is now being fed 3kg hay a night as grass has really stopped growing and wearing 100g rug. Rest of feed/supplement regime the same.
Finally start trot work next week!
Is now being fed 3kg hay a night as grass has really stopped growing and wearing 100g rug. Rest of feed/supplement regime the same.
Finally start trot work next week!
Tuesday 18 September 2012
End of week 7
Trot work is getting closer! I did let him trot a few strides today as he felt like he might explode otherwise and he felt ok so that is good :)
So we have done another week of walk work - this time at an hour a day. He has been very sparky and spooky and full of himself.
Still 2 wks to go before trot work starts - will try and do 1hr15mins of walk this week.
Still out 24/7. Have made his fields slightly bigger but the grass is getting quite eaten down now so will be needing hay soon.
So we have done another week of walk work - this time at an hour a day. He has been very sparky and spooky and full of himself.
Still 2 wks to go before trot work starts - will try and do 1hr15mins of walk this week.
Still out 24/7. Have made his fields slightly bigger but the grass is getting quite eaten down now so will be needing hay soon.
Tuesday 11 September 2012
End of week 6
Not a lot to report!
A very boring week of 45mins walking on the road every day. Moved from CCC back to Winning Edge at the weekend. Yest and today he has been very sparky - typical spooky sharpness though rather than complete mentalness and better than complete deadness that we had last week. Still out 24/7. Still on extra Mg and Optimax. No ACP.
Move up to an hours walking from tomorrow then only 3wks to go before we can introduce some trot - yay!
A very boring week of 45mins walking on the road every day. Moved from CCC back to Winning Edge at the weekend. Yest and today he has been very sparky - typical spooky sharpness though rather than complete mentalness and better than complete deadness that we had last week. Still out 24/7. Still on extra Mg and Optimax. No ACP.
Move up to an hours walking from tomorrow then only 3wks to go before we can introduce some trot - yay!
Wednesday 5 September 2012
End of week 5
Wed and Thur - 45mins round the roads all ok.
Been out 24/7 since Thur evening and is visibly piling on the pounds but seems much happier.
Had Fri/Sat off as was at Burghley.
Had 10 ACP BID Thur/Fri/Sat - not had any since.
Started equifeast optimax and extra Mg on Thur. No supplements Mon/Tue.
Hack with Sox Sunday evening - behaved like a donkey whole way round.
Hack by himself Mon/Tue/Wed - considering no ACP is behaving much better - more like his normal self - jumpy/spooky but not wired. Went in the riding field last night as too dark to go out - did some large circles, bit of leg yield and otherwise just plodded round the edge of the field - super boring stuff.
Feedwise is getting handful of D&H Convalescence Mix, handful of Good Doer and handful of Fast Fibre BID to mix supplements with.
Did 55mins hack today and all was fine. This is our last week at 45mins so going to aim to do more like 50mins then we're ready to move up to an hour from next Wed.
Wednesday 29 August 2012
End of week 4
Have mostly managed roughly 45mins walking every day this week. Mon and Tue did 30mins round the block then 15mins in the school as was losing the light - he didn't feel like he was liking the school surface very much - really ploddy. All hacks have been good though - all solo but back on 15 ACP a day and happy ploddy hacks with no explosions. Sunday he had 10 ACP and I rode him 2hrs later and that was a bit scary as he was rather drunk and nearly tripped over at one point so lesson learnt there.
Today I gave him 10 ACP as was planning on riding at lunchtime as on half day but had to wait until nearly 5pm due to torrential rain. He was full of it all the way round the hack, really marching forwards which is how I like him except when we got back to joining the main road and I could just feel he wasn't in the mood for standing still and because we'd had to wait till that time it was really busy. Turned him round and walked back the wrong way for a bit and then tried again but still constant traffic. He wouldn't stand at all, reared up and just leapt sideways straight into the traffic and only just missing a bicycle :(
Stupid me forgot to give him his 2days off the Cool, Calm and Collected both weekends so he had Mon/Tue off instead and went back on it this morning. Not sure if that will have had any effect or not. Spoke to Equifeast and they said maybe he needs more Mg, not less so sent me extra to try and also Optimax which is l-tryptophan so will start him on them tomorrow and see what happens!
He has been pretty calm to turn out and bring in this week since back on ACP even though it's not actually working by time he is turned out. Think just one morning where he had a bit of a leap but nothing major.
Leg still looking fine - cross fingers.
Another week of 45mins daily planned although he will miss Friday as I'm away at Burghley and he is also gonna stay out Thur/Fri night so will be interesting to see what his behaviour is like on Sat evening when I come back. Hopefully better for being out and having the extra Mg.
Today I gave him 10 ACP as was planning on riding at lunchtime as on half day but had to wait until nearly 5pm due to torrential rain. He was full of it all the way round the hack, really marching forwards which is how I like him except when we got back to joining the main road and I could just feel he wasn't in the mood for standing still and because we'd had to wait till that time it was really busy. Turned him round and walked back the wrong way for a bit and then tried again but still constant traffic. He wouldn't stand at all, reared up and just leapt sideways straight into the traffic and only just missing a bicycle :(
Stupid me forgot to give him his 2days off the Cool, Calm and Collected both weekends so he had Mon/Tue off instead and went back on it this morning. Not sure if that will have had any effect or not. Spoke to Equifeast and they said maybe he needs more Mg, not less so sent me extra to try and also Optimax which is l-tryptophan so will start him on them tomorrow and see what happens!
He has been pretty calm to turn out and bring in this week since back on ACP even though it's not actually working by time he is turned out. Think just one morning where he had a bit of a leap but nothing major.
Leg still looking fine - cross fingers.
Another week of 45mins daily planned although he will miss Friday as I'm away at Burghley and he is also gonna stay out Thur/Fri night so will be interesting to see what his behaviour is like on Sat evening when I come back. Hopefully better for being out and having the extra Mg.
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Made it to the end of week 3
Well, another interesting week in the world of the orange horse.
Monday was 2nd week of being on mag free version of CCC. If anything think his general behaviour has deteriorated. He has been utterly wild to lead out to the field in the morning snaking head and threatening to try and piss off. On Monday after having the farrier and being back to the annoying, impatient, rude horse I bought I turned him out and he leapt in the airs and turned himself inside out - fortunately just that and didn't then go mental. He was also awful to bring in that night, rearing then fly bucking :(
Put him back on 200mg ACP yesterday and have had 2 lovely calm rides. Actually he was also calm on Sunday because he had Sox with him and Sat because he had Winnie with him but last Fri/Thur on his own teetering on a knife edge. Pesky horse - cant keep him on bloody ACP forever! We ended up out for 50mins on Sunday as normal route blocked. Tried to get round and ended up going down the muddiest byway which has been totally wrecked by 4x4's using it for green-laning. Had to go so slow to try and pick through best of the ground - wont be going down there again in a hurry. Hopefully not done him any harm as due to go up to 45mins today anyway.
So, here we start week 4 and up to 45mins of walking although this week I might alternate 30 with 45 and then 45 every day from next week. Good news is the leg still looks all ok - cross fingers it stays that way.
Monday was 2nd week of being on mag free version of CCC. If anything think his general behaviour has deteriorated. He has been utterly wild to lead out to the field in the morning snaking head and threatening to try and piss off. On Monday after having the farrier and being back to the annoying, impatient, rude horse I bought I turned him out and he leapt in the airs and turned himself inside out - fortunately just that and didn't then go mental. He was also awful to bring in that night, rearing then fly bucking :(
Put him back on 200mg ACP yesterday and have had 2 lovely calm rides. Actually he was also calm on Sunday because he had Sox with him and Sat because he had Winnie with him but last Fri/Thur on his own teetering on a knife edge. Pesky horse - cant keep him on bloody ACP forever! We ended up out for 50mins on Sunday as normal route blocked. Tried to get round and ended up going down the muddiest byway which has been totally wrecked by 4x4's using it for green-laning. Had to go so slow to try and pick through best of the ground - wont be going down there again in a hurry. Hopefully not done him any harm as due to go up to 45mins today anyway.
So, here we start week 4 and up to 45mins of walking although this week I might alternate 30 with 45 and then 45 every day from next week. Good news is the leg still looks all ok - cross fingers it stays that way.
Wednesday 15 August 2012
Eventful second week at home
Another week been and gone - thank god!
Managed 30mins walk every day this week, although hasn't always been walk - fair bit of jogging, piaffe, passage and a few pirouettes thrown in for good measure.
He had ACP until last Friday but not had any since - not sure not having it has made a huge difference as he was still quite mad last week on it. He is now out all day and behaving very well in the field as far as I know - no sign of skid marks anyway! Still in at night.
Has been having 3kg haylage and 3kg soaked hay at night so planning on cutting out the haylage. Food wise is on handful on high fibre nuggets, big handful of good doer and a small scoop of Fast Fibre - think that should all be pretty low energy. He's also on Cool, Calm and Collected, plus chammomile and Valerian. He started CCC mag free on Monday having had Winning Edge Gold all last week (full mag version) and before that was on full mag loading version of CCC for 5wks. They sent me 5wks free CCC mag free to see if that improves his behaviour - not so far lol!
Riding wise he has lost the plot - unless he's with a friend in which case he's happy to plod along behind - but if he's on his own he's a liability. Spooking at everything and as soon as we pass the furthest point of the ride he's jogging and pratting around. God forbid we have to stop at the junction onto the main road because patience is very limited and before long he will just launch into the main road regardless of what is coming. Monday morning there was a lorry blocking the route and instead of just standing and waiting he leapt up onto a bank and then plunged into the main road - twice. He is trying to kill us both :(
Yesterday he kicked me because he is just so bloody wired at the moment. Followed Sox up from the field, went to put him in the stable, for whatever reason he pulled back and said no, pulling lead rope out of my hand. I went to bend down and grab it, for some reason changed my mind and just stepped forward to put my foot on it and he just let rip with a hindfoot catching me square on the hip. Thank god I didn't bend down to get it or that might have been my head :( He's always getting loose and I always just grab the rope or step on it to stop him so nothing unusual. Cant believe he actually aimed and kicked me like that. Not like him at all. Not sure why he has had such a personality transplant. He was better behaved when just on 100% box rest.
Managed 30mins walk every day this week, although hasn't always been walk - fair bit of jogging, piaffe, passage and a few pirouettes thrown in for good measure.
He had ACP until last Friday but not had any since - not sure not having it has made a huge difference as he was still quite mad last week on it. He is now out all day and behaving very well in the field as far as I know - no sign of skid marks anyway! Still in at night.
Has been having 3kg haylage and 3kg soaked hay at night so planning on cutting out the haylage. Food wise is on handful on high fibre nuggets, big handful of good doer and a small scoop of Fast Fibre - think that should all be pretty low energy. He's also on Cool, Calm and Collected, plus chammomile and Valerian. He started CCC mag free on Monday having had Winning Edge Gold all last week (full mag version) and before that was on full mag loading version of CCC for 5wks. They sent me 5wks free CCC mag free to see if that improves his behaviour - not so far lol!
Riding wise he has lost the plot - unless he's with a friend in which case he's happy to plod along behind - but if he's on his own he's a liability. Spooking at everything and as soon as we pass the furthest point of the ride he's jogging and pratting around. God forbid we have to stop at the junction onto the main road because patience is very limited and before long he will just launch into the main road regardless of what is coming. Monday morning there was a lorry blocking the route and instead of just standing and waiting he leapt up onto a bank and then plunged into the main road - twice. He is trying to kill us both :(
Yesterday he kicked me because he is just so bloody wired at the moment. Followed Sox up from the field, went to put him in the stable, for whatever reason he pulled back and said no, pulling lead rope out of my hand. I went to bend down and grab it, for some reason changed my mind and just stepped forward to put my foot on it and he just let rip with a hindfoot catching me square on the hip. Thank god I didn't bend down to get it or that might have been my head :( He's always getting loose and I always just grab the rope or step on it to stop him so nothing unusual. Cant believe he actually aimed and kicked me like that. Not like him at all. Not sure why he has had such a personality transplant. He was better behaved when just on 100% box rest.
Tuesday 7 August 2012
End of week1 at home.
So he has been home a week now and we have settled into a routine.
ACP every morning - 150mg
Has managed around 7hrs in the field each day. Day 3 he had about 9hrs and discovered a complete wreck when I got there in the evening - fencing everywhere, snapped plastic post with the bottom half nowhere to be seen and nearly uprooted 2 wooden posts. He must have got a leg stuck which is exactly how he did the original injury so not quite what we had planned in recovery. I thought by electrifying the fence we would avoid this but sadly not. Fortunately he is booted up to the nth degree and appears not to have done himself any damage - thankfully the fence did snap eventually but shouldn't have thought it came easily. So since that day have been making sure he gets his ACP in the morning then doesn't go out until 2-3hrs later and just spends the afternoon in the field before coming back in again. Cant really imagine this routine changing much until he is doing some trot work and I can risk opening up his field a bit bigger. Cant really expect him not to get bored when he's out in a field the size of a couple of stables. Fortunately lots of grass at the moment to keep him busy. Have got a snack ball for him for when he's eaten the grass down a bit.
Have ridden for 30mins in walk every day except yesterday and been very calm, not even a hint of badness. Been alternating walking round the block on the roads with a little loop on the ranges. Today however, complete nightmare - went on the ranges and he felt on edge from the word go. Remember thinking that he felt a bit like he might just let rip but I knew if I turned him round he surely would so wanted to get to where I could do a little loop round rather than just turn on the spot and go home but we did our little loop and as soon as we turned back towards home he completely let rip - was terrified of getting fly bucked off like Llewi did to me when he was coming back into work. Fortunately he didn't actually buck, just coiled up and leapt around like a total lunatic. I was shouting at him so much to get him to stop and then curled him round my inside leg and did shoulder in all the way home but he escaped from me a few times and leapt around a bit more. Not what his leg needs. Hope it is still looking ok tomorrow. Stupid bloody horse. I hate hacking him at the best of times and only do it because I feel I should.
Worked out his recovery plan last night and he wont start trotting till early October, cantering end of November and no schooling until end of December. That's 5 months of hacking every day which will be about 5 times more than I've hacked him out in the entire 2yrs I've had him. That horse is not a happy hacker - it's why I got him cheap - he is a total liability and has ditched plenty of people. He is currently on loading doses of Cool, Calm and Collected, Valerian liquid, Chammomile and the ACP - I cant give him any more calmers! Be lucky if we both survive this. Petrified of him getting me off and galloping home across the main road :( Cant walk him in the school - has to be flat, level surface so hacking it is and think we're in need of more ACP.
ACP every morning - 150mg
Has managed around 7hrs in the field each day. Day 3 he had about 9hrs and discovered a complete wreck when I got there in the evening - fencing everywhere, snapped plastic post with the bottom half nowhere to be seen and nearly uprooted 2 wooden posts. He must have got a leg stuck which is exactly how he did the original injury so not quite what we had planned in recovery. I thought by electrifying the fence we would avoid this but sadly not. Fortunately he is booted up to the nth degree and appears not to have done himself any damage - thankfully the fence did snap eventually but shouldn't have thought it came easily. So since that day have been making sure he gets his ACP in the morning then doesn't go out until 2-3hrs later and just spends the afternoon in the field before coming back in again. Cant really imagine this routine changing much until he is doing some trot work and I can risk opening up his field a bit bigger. Cant really expect him not to get bored when he's out in a field the size of a couple of stables. Fortunately lots of grass at the moment to keep him busy. Have got a snack ball for him for when he's eaten the grass down a bit.
Have ridden for 30mins in walk every day except yesterday and been very calm, not even a hint of badness. Been alternating walking round the block on the roads with a little loop on the ranges. Today however, complete nightmare - went on the ranges and he felt on edge from the word go. Remember thinking that he felt a bit like he might just let rip but I knew if I turned him round he surely would so wanted to get to where I could do a little loop round rather than just turn on the spot and go home but we did our little loop and as soon as we turned back towards home he completely let rip - was terrified of getting fly bucked off like Llewi did to me when he was coming back into work. Fortunately he didn't actually buck, just coiled up and leapt around like a total lunatic. I was shouting at him so much to get him to stop and then curled him round my inside leg and did shoulder in all the way home but he escaped from me a few times and leapt around a bit more. Not what his leg needs. Hope it is still looking ok tomorrow. Stupid bloody horse. I hate hacking him at the best of times and only do it because I feel I should.
Worked out his recovery plan last night and he wont start trotting till early October, cantering end of November and no schooling until end of December. That's 5 months of hacking every day which will be about 5 times more than I've hacked him out in the entire 2yrs I've had him. That horse is not a happy hacker - it's why I got him cheap - he is a total liability and has ditched plenty of people. He is currently on loading doses of Cool, Calm and Collected, Valerian liquid, Chammomile and the ACP - I cant give him any more calmers! Be lucky if we both survive this. Petrified of him getting me off and galloping home across the main road :( Cant walk him in the school - has to be flat, level surface so hacking it is and think we're in need of more ACP.
Wednesday 1 August 2012
Day one back at home. 2nd scan.
Scan showed not much change. Possibly a few new fibres but still looking pretty black in the tiny area that is damaged. Vet wasn't too surprised - said it was good it wasn't any worse, that he was still sound on trot up and swelling had gone. Said not much justification for doing anything other than try and bring him back to work and see what the leg does. So, 3wks of 30mins walking under saddle, then 3wks of 45mins then if all ok continue to bring back into work over next 3mths or so. No jumping till after xmas.
Took him home, gave him some ACP and then 2hrs later turned him out and he was fine. Had 3.5hrs out in the field and behaved himself. Then did 30mins round the roads and he was still half asleep so it was very uneventful thank god! Good to have him back :)
In the field:
Took him home, gave him some ACP and then 2hrs later turned him out and he was fine. Had 3.5hrs out in the field and behaved himself. Then did 30mins round the roads and he was still half asleep so it was very uneventful thank god! Good to have him back :)
In the field:
Saturday 28 July 2012
DDFT injury - week 7 at the spa
Leg looks the same - think there is a very slight thickening of the tendon in that area but not an obvious lump like before. Laser for 7mins. In-hand grazing in the sunshine. Moulting loads at the moment!
Did a load more fencing of his field but still loads to do tomorrow to make it Monty proof! Coming home in 4days!
Wednesday 25 July 2012
DDFT injury - halfway through 7th week at spa
not much to report. Another 7mins laser - no obvious swelling after but hair grown back now and all 4 legs slightly filled as so unbelievably hot.
Saturday 21 July 2012
DDFT injury - week 6 at the spa
Nothing much to report. Leg still looking good, hair grown back now and cant see anything abnormal. Still swelling slightly after laser treatment though. Will cont on 15mins walker BID next week and do 2 more laser treatments then it will be time to take him for his scan!
Wednesday 18 July 2012
DDFT injury - Half-way through 6th week at spa
Walker was upped to 15mins BID from Mon morning.
5th laser treatment today - 7mins. Leg looked same before and after. Can just about tell where the injury is still but the bump is tiny.
No piccies as leg looks same as last 2 visits and it was peeing it down with rain!
Repeat scan booked for 2wks today. Hope the weather dries up so he can come home then.
5th laser treatment today - 7mins. Leg looked same before and after. Can just about tell where the injury is still but the bump is tiny.
No piccies as leg looks same as last 2 visits and it was peeing it down with rain!
Repeat scan booked for 2wks today. Hope the weather dries up so he can come home then.
Friday 13 July 2012
DDFT injury - week 5 at the spa
Looking good :)
Left hind back to normal now and right hind looking pretty much normal too. Tried really hard to see a swelling today but none found - yay!
Here is the nice, normal looking leg:
10days ago:
Did 7mins laser again and afterwards it was definitely feeling a bit warm and more noticeably swollen but it is normal to react to the laser like that as it's increasing the blood flow to the damage tendon which should be beneficial.
Planning on increasing his walker to 15mins twice daily from Monday and will be back down on Wed to see how it's all going.
Praying for the weather to dry up so we can get him home as planned in 2.5wks time. At the moment ground is way too slippery to risk turning out a horse who's had 8wks of box rest :(
Other piccies from today:
Left hind back to normal now and right hind looking pretty much normal too. Tried really hard to see a swelling today but none found - yay!
Here is the nice, normal looking leg:
10days ago:
Did 7mins laser again and afterwards it was definitely feeling a bit warm and more noticeably swollen but it is normal to react to the laser like that as it's increasing the blood flow to the damage tendon which should be beneficial.
Planning on increasing his walker to 15mins twice daily from Monday and will be back down on Wed to see how it's all going.
Praying for the weather to dry up so we can get him home as planned in 2.5wks time. At the moment ground is way too slippery to risk turning out a horse who's had 8wks of box rest :(
Other piccies from today:
Sunday 8 July 2012
DDFT injury - week 4 at the spa
All 4 legs looking a bit puffy today. It's quite muggy and hot. Yard report swelling goes down with exercise.
Gave him a good groom. He is becoming unkempt - he has whiskers and his bridle path and pulled tail are growing out, he's even growing feathers!
Laser 7mins on LH and 7mins on RH.
15mins grazing in hand
10mins on walker
Legs then all looked completely normal. No photos today as no point taking photos of normal legs! :)
That's 5 wks of box rest done now. Think I'll book his next scan in 3wks time. Got the bill for the first one today - £185 and £38 consult so pretty reasonable really.
Gave him a good groom. He is becoming unkempt - he has whiskers and his bridle path and pulled tail are growing out, he's even growing feathers!
Laser 7mins on LH and 7mins on RH.
15mins grazing in hand
10mins on walker
Legs then all looked completely normal. No photos today as no point taking photos of normal legs! :)
That's 5 wks of box rest done now. Think I'll book his next scan in 3wks time. Got the bill for the first one today - £185 and £38 consult so pretty reasonable really.
Wednesday 4 July 2012
DDFT injury - half way through 4th week at the spa
Not had spa since Saturday. Horse walker was upped to 10mins twice daily on Monday. Today is Wednesday - leg looks same - slight bump over damaged bit of tendon still visible :( Lasered full 7mins.
Left hind fetlock quite swollen and whole leg filled. Yard not sure why - was like that when they got there that morning, not gone down with horse walker today. Swelling not hot or painful. Put ice wrap on for 20mins then lasered for 5mins but he was really fidgety - not sure if didn't like sensation of laser on it or just bored as had lasered other leg for 7mins, back for 12mins and persistent withers wound for 1.5mins by then.
Took him out to graze in hand for about 30mins which he really enjoyed. Leapt in the air at a dog at one point but looked a lot more comfy on his hind legs on landing. By time put him back swelling on left hind definitely reduced and had some definition to the back of the leg again.
Have asked them to repeat ice pack and put on some magnetic wraps tomorrow if still a bit puffy. If very filled in the morning then said he could have a spa treatment. Weird - no idea how he's done it or what he's done. Didn't look sore on it walking out thankfully. Fingers crossed it will go away as quickly as it arrived. Pesky self harming horse.
Left hind fetlock quite swollen and whole leg filled. Yard not sure why - was like that when they got there that morning, not gone down with horse walker today. Swelling not hot or painful. Put ice wrap on for 20mins then lasered for 5mins but he was really fidgety - not sure if didn't like sensation of laser on it or just bored as had lasered other leg for 7mins, back for 12mins and persistent withers wound for 1.5mins by then.
Took him out to graze in hand for about 30mins which he really enjoyed. Leapt in the air at a dog at one point but looked a lot more comfy on his hind legs on landing. By time put him back swelling on left hind definitely reduced and had some definition to the back of the leg again.
Have asked them to repeat ice pack and put on some magnetic wraps tomorrow if still a bit puffy. If very filled in the morning then said he could have a spa treatment. Weird - no idea how he's done it or what he's done. Didn't look sore on it walking out thankfully. Fingers crossed it will go away as quickly as it arrived. Pesky self harming horse.
Sunday 1 July 2012
DDFT injury - week 3 at the spa
Arrived on Saturday in time to see Monty have his last spa session. He's been on every other day this week and will now stop as I think it's had it's chance to do some good now. The bump on the tendon is barely palpable now - you really need prior knowledge of the injury to know it's there. He has been on 5mins horse walker twice daily as per fast few weeks.
Have been lent a Class IV laser by Kruuse to try and use on his tendon now. Aim is to treat every 4-5 days for 8-10 treatments.
Gave him a while for his leg to warm up from the spa then did a half treatment with the laser. He didn't seem to mind it and leg looked fine after. Will be upping his horse walker to 10mins twice daily this week as he's now been on box rest for 4weeks so will be keeping a careful eye on the leg this week. Planning on another visit on Wednesday and a full laser treatment.
last week, day 30:
this week, day 37:
not much difference really.
Have been lent a Class IV laser by Kruuse to try and use on his tendon now. Aim is to treat every 4-5 days for 8-10 treatments.
Gave him a while for his leg to warm up from the spa then did a half treatment with the laser. He didn't seem to mind it and leg looked fine after. Will be upping his horse walker to 10mins twice daily this week as he's now been on box rest for 4weeks so will be keeping a careful eye on the leg this week. Planning on another visit on Wednesday and a full laser treatment.
last week, day 30:
this week, day 37:
not much difference really.
Saturday 23 June 2012
DDFT injury - week 2 at the spa
Monty has been at the spa all this week having full spa on his leg once daily for ten mins and going on the horse walker twice daily for 5mins. He was also reshod on Tuesday.
Went to visit him today. His leg looks much the same as last week. There is still a small bump over the damaged area of the DDFT. It's not really visible on the photos but is palpable. I suppose this is an improvement from it being overtly visible on the photos and I guess I'm probably being impatient expecting it to have gone away completely.
Next week he will reduce spa treatment down to every other day and will keep going on the walker for 5mins twice daily.
this was day10 - swelling obvious on photo:
day14: not really any swelling evident now
day30: no obvious swelling but still palpable
other piccies:
resting his good leg:
Went to visit him today. His leg looks much the same as last week. There is still a small bump over the damaged area of the DDFT. It's not really visible on the photos but is palpable. I suppose this is an improvement from it being overtly visible on the photos and I guess I'm probably being impatient expecting it to have gone away completely.
Next week he will reduce spa treatment down to every other day and will keep going on the walker for 5mins twice daily.
this was day10 - swelling obvious on photo:
day14: not really any swelling evident now
day30: no obvious swelling but still palpable
other piccies:
Sunday 17 June 2012
DDFT injury - chapter one
Figured I ought to start writing this, as depressing as it is given this is meant to be my competition diary but I want to keep a thorough track of everything we have done so I can look back in the future.
Friday 25th May - got Monty in from the field to ride and was brushing his tail when I noticed his right hind tendon sheath looked very swollen. On closer inspection he had score marks across the front of his cannon bone which looked like they were from electric fencing. There was no pain on palpation of the swollen area, his tendons seemed fine and it just looked like a swelling in the tendon sheath. I trotted him up and lunged him and he seemed ok so I jumped on and did a quick session in the school as thought I'd be able to feel any lameness easier than I could see it and as he is a horse who swells quite easily and it just looked like a big windgall figured proibably wouldn't do any harm. He felt fine so cold hosed, applied witch hazel and arnica gel and put him back out. No bute as was secretly hoping he's be ok to event on the Sunday given he was sound.
Sat 26th May - Initial swelling was much improved, just a slight general puffyness to the tendon sheath. Cold hosed in the morning and at lunchtime then took him for a hack which was mostly walk with just one little trot and a few strides of canter and he felt fine and when we got back the leg looked almost normal. Cold hosed again. Arnica gel again.
Sun 27th May - due to run at Borde Hill BE100 but tendon sheath puffy again - diffuse swelling over entire back of leg behind suspensory. Odd as tendon sheath only goes halfway up the metatarsal. More cold hosing and arnica gel morning and evening.
Mon 28th May - leg 75% back to normal, just slight bump over DDFT approx halfway down metatarsal. All swelling in tendon sheath gone. More cold hosing and arnica gel in the morning.
Tue 29th May - 95% back to normal, just tiny tiny bump over the DDFT remaining - cold hosing and arnica gel morning and evening.
Wed 30th May - as per Tuesday in the morning so in the evening took him out for a hack up the ranges. Let him have a canter along the top on the way back but kept to the soft heather and kept it steady. Cold hosed morning and evening and arnica gel again.
Thur 31st May - cold hosed in the morning - all looking good. No change since Tuesday. Schooled him at lunchtime. Worked well - no concerns. Actually worked really nicely on the right rein and got some great walk to canters into the outside rein. Went back down in the evening to get him ready for event next day and tendon sheath was slightly puffy again - back to how it was on the Sunday (day3). Cold hosed again.
Fri 1st June - slightly worse than the night before. Whole back of leg behind suspensory puffy again. Cold hosed and scratched from Eridge BE90 plus the RC CT Champs meant to go to on 3rd June. Started Danilon 2 sachets twice daily. Cold hosed again in the evening.
Sat 2nd June - swelling gone right down again except the tiny bump over the DDFT. Cold hosed twice again. 2 sachets Danilon twice daily. Made Llewi's small paddock back up again and put him and his friend in there.
Sun 3rd June - bump over the DDFT still there. Cold hosed twice. 1 sachet Danilon twice daily.
Mon 4th June - leg filled up again. Cold hosed twice. 1 sachet Danilon twice daily. Swelling worse in the evening and had reports he'd been charging round the field so brought him in onto box rest with stable bandages. Did notice that when cold hosing if he was being a prat and jumping around he seemed to jump with both back legs together and not look very comfy.
Tue 5th June - leg back down again. 1 sachet Danilon twice daily. 5mins in-hand walking twice daily. Bandages on at night.
Wed 6th June - stop bute. leg almost normal, just the tiniest of bumps over the DDFT. 5mins in-hand walking in the morning. Arranged tendon scan at Liphook for 4.30pm with Sarah Taylor (locum replacing Jane Boswell). Trot up in straight line - sound although she did comment he moves slightly wide behind which I think is normal for him? Sound after flexion. Slightly irritating as he's meant to be lame after flexion and that's why that poxy leg isn't insured! Palpation - no pain but slight thickening in the DDFT halfway down metatarsal over the bump that I could see/feel. Scan showed hypoechoic area dorsal border DDFT exactly where the bump was. So subtle that she got Tom Hughes in for a 2nd opinion as there is a normal artefact in that region that causes a slight blackening of the tendon on scan. But they both felt there was a slight lesion there and despite being sound he needed extended rest if it were to heal properly. Both said very unusual area for an injury - trust my bloody horse. She recommended 3mths field rest - restricted area where he couldn't canter around. Ride him for 10mins in walk for first month, 20mins 2nd month, 30mins 3rd month then re-scan. Not to worry about stable bandaging and cold hosing.
Thur 7th June - leg looks amazing - hardly see the bump at all. 5mins in-hand walking twice daily. No riding today as weather awful.
Fri 8th June - leg still looking good. 5mins in-hand walking in the morning. 10mins ridden walking up and down the drive in the evening.
Sat 9th June - leg slightly puffy again. Repeated same as Friday but went further up the road and just turned round after 5mins which caused a bit of bouncing but nothing awful.
Sun 10th June - still slightly puffy in the morning - nothing huge but worse than it was the day after the scan. Tried letting him loose in the field at the top of the yard. Dog barked at him, he spun round, cantered about 3 strides with both back legs landing together looking very uncomfy, then came to a halt and held the right hind up before carefully putting it down. It obviously hurts him. Made the decision to send him to rehab. In the evening, leg was slight warm and more puffy. Took him here:
http://horserehab.co.uk/livery.html
Thur 14th June - update from spa. Been gradually working up to it but today got full bubbles and full height water over his tendon. Been going on horsewalker for 5mins twice daily from Mon morning and been very good about it.
Sun 17th June - went to visit at the spa. Leg looked really really good before the spa session - barely able to discern any lump at all over the tendon. After the 10mins in the spa there was definitely a tiny bump again. Not sure if this was due to the tendon reacting to the cold water - increased blood supply maybe? or any residual other soft tissue swelling disappearing so making the tendon bump more obvious. Difficult to know. Cant imagine spa doing any harm though - it's bloody cold water at 2 degrees C so tendon prob just reacting to that. Took him for a little nibble of grass although not overly interested. Leg did seem to buckle underneath him at one stage - not sure if he just trod on slightly awkward piece of ground - could do without that happening. Plan for this week - continue horsewalker 5mins twice daily and 10mins spa every day. Arrange farrier.
Friday 25th May - got Monty in from the field to ride and was brushing his tail when I noticed his right hind tendon sheath looked very swollen. On closer inspection he had score marks across the front of his cannon bone which looked like they were from electric fencing. There was no pain on palpation of the swollen area, his tendons seemed fine and it just looked like a swelling in the tendon sheath. I trotted him up and lunged him and he seemed ok so I jumped on and did a quick session in the school as thought I'd be able to feel any lameness easier than I could see it and as he is a horse who swells quite easily and it just looked like a big windgall figured proibably wouldn't do any harm. He felt fine so cold hosed, applied witch hazel and arnica gel and put him back out. No bute as was secretly hoping he's be ok to event on the Sunday given he was sound.
Sat 26th May - Initial swelling was much improved, just a slight general puffyness to the tendon sheath. Cold hosed in the morning and at lunchtime then took him for a hack which was mostly walk with just one little trot and a few strides of canter and he felt fine and when we got back the leg looked almost normal. Cold hosed again. Arnica gel again.
Sun 27th May - due to run at Borde Hill BE100 but tendon sheath puffy again - diffuse swelling over entire back of leg behind suspensory. Odd as tendon sheath only goes halfway up the metatarsal. More cold hosing and arnica gel morning and evening.
Mon 28th May - leg 75% back to normal, just slight bump over DDFT approx halfway down metatarsal. All swelling in tendon sheath gone. More cold hosing and arnica gel in the morning.
Tue 29th May - 95% back to normal, just tiny tiny bump over the DDFT remaining - cold hosing and arnica gel morning and evening.
Wed 30th May - as per Tuesday in the morning so in the evening took him out for a hack up the ranges. Let him have a canter along the top on the way back but kept to the soft heather and kept it steady. Cold hosed morning and evening and arnica gel again.
Thur 31st May - cold hosed in the morning - all looking good. No change since Tuesday. Schooled him at lunchtime. Worked well - no concerns. Actually worked really nicely on the right rein and got some great walk to canters into the outside rein. Went back down in the evening to get him ready for event next day and tendon sheath was slightly puffy again - back to how it was on the Sunday (day3). Cold hosed again.
Fri 1st June - slightly worse than the night before. Whole back of leg behind suspensory puffy again. Cold hosed and scratched from Eridge BE90 plus the RC CT Champs meant to go to on 3rd June. Started Danilon 2 sachets twice daily. Cold hosed again in the evening.
Sat 2nd June - swelling gone right down again except the tiny bump over the DDFT. Cold hosed twice again. 2 sachets Danilon twice daily. Made Llewi's small paddock back up again and put him and his friend in there.
Sun 3rd June - bump over the DDFT still there. Cold hosed twice. 1 sachet Danilon twice daily.
Mon 4th June - leg filled up again. Cold hosed twice. 1 sachet Danilon twice daily. Swelling worse in the evening and had reports he'd been charging round the field so brought him in onto box rest with stable bandages. Did notice that when cold hosing if he was being a prat and jumping around he seemed to jump with both back legs together and not look very comfy.
Tue 5th June - leg back down again. 1 sachet Danilon twice daily. 5mins in-hand walking twice daily. Bandages on at night.
Wed 6th June - stop bute. leg almost normal, just the tiniest of bumps over the DDFT. 5mins in-hand walking in the morning. Arranged tendon scan at Liphook for 4.30pm with Sarah Taylor (locum replacing Jane Boswell). Trot up in straight line - sound although she did comment he moves slightly wide behind which I think is normal for him? Sound after flexion. Slightly irritating as he's meant to be lame after flexion and that's why that poxy leg isn't insured! Palpation - no pain but slight thickening in the DDFT halfway down metatarsal over the bump that I could see/feel. Scan showed hypoechoic area dorsal border DDFT exactly where the bump was. So subtle that she got Tom Hughes in for a 2nd opinion as there is a normal artefact in that region that causes a slight blackening of the tendon on scan. But they both felt there was a slight lesion there and despite being sound he needed extended rest if it were to heal properly. Both said very unusual area for an injury - trust my bloody horse. She recommended 3mths field rest - restricted area where he couldn't canter around. Ride him for 10mins in walk for first month, 20mins 2nd month, 30mins 3rd month then re-scan. Not to worry about stable bandaging and cold hosing.
Thur 7th June - leg looks amazing - hardly see the bump at all. 5mins in-hand walking twice daily. No riding today as weather awful.
Fri 8th June - leg still looking good. 5mins in-hand walking in the morning. 10mins ridden walking up and down the drive in the evening.
Sat 9th June - leg slightly puffy again. Repeated same as Friday but went further up the road and just turned round after 5mins which caused a bit of bouncing but nothing awful.
Sun 10th June - still slightly puffy in the morning - nothing huge but worse than it was the day after the scan. Tried letting him loose in the field at the top of the yard. Dog barked at him, he spun round, cantered about 3 strides with both back legs landing together looking very uncomfy, then came to a halt and held the right hind up before carefully putting it down. It obviously hurts him. Made the decision to send him to rehab. In the evening, leg was slight warm and more puffy. Took him here:
http://horserehab.co.uk/livery.html
Thur 14th June - update from spa. Been gradually working up to it but today got full bubbles and full height water over his tendon. Been going on horsewalker for 5mins twice daily from Mon morning and been very good about it.
Sun 17th June - went to visit at the spa. Leg looked really really good before the spa session - barely able to discern any lump at all over the tendon. After the 10mins in the spa there was definitely a tiny bump again. Not sure if this was due to the tendon reacting to the cold water - increased blood supply maybe? or any residual other soft tissue swelling disappearing so making the tendon bump more obvious. Difficult to know. Cant imagine spa doing any harm though - it's bloody cold water at 2 degrees C so tendon prob just reacting to that. Took him for a little nibble of grass although not overly interested. Leg did seem to buckle underneath him at one stage - not sure if he just trod on slightly awkward piece of ground - could do without that happening. Plan for this week - continue horsewalker 5mins twice daily and 10mins spa every day. Arrange farrier.
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