Sit the Trot

Ok, I swear, I have no idea how it happened but it seems like I accidentally purchased a second pony! She is just wonderful! I won't bore you with the story of how I found her, but needless to say I kinda feel it was meant to be. She's a gorgeous Warmblood x TB mare, 18 years old and trained to PSG, she has the dance moves and is an amazing schoolmistress. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that yet again I brought a horse without riding it. Don't hate me! I have a gut feeling about these things and kinda go with it although I would never recommend this buying philosophy to anyone- it works for me... ok! She is teaching me so much. She has the most wonderfully trained and easiest changes but needs to be ridden properly through to get the best out of her and get her going uphill. I love riding her, she makes me smile every ride and challenges me in really good ways. I am so honored that her previous owner Janet trusted me to take care of her. What a lovely horse she is...

Willough! I found Willough a little by chance when I was actually looking for a temporary lease horse. At this time I wasn't sure how long Axel would be out for if at all but thought I might find a backup in case Axel is was off recovering from injury, surgery or anything. I heard about her and messaged her Mum. At first I wan't sure she'd be a match for me. She's a bit of a true mare and I love my gentle and human loving Axel. I waited, ummed and hawed and forgot about it for a short while. Then I got Axels diagnosis and knew he'd be off for a while. I had a chat with Sara and we talked about lease options etc. I mentioned this mare and Sara said that she thought it was worth pursuing. I got back in contact with her mum and then had Sara call her for an honest and truthful chat about the horse and my ability... after which Sara though it could be a really very good good match. Jump to this week and we had a superfast swing up North, to watch her lesson with Dol...

My lovely boy is now home and settling back in after his operation. Luckily the operation went really well, and the surrounding tissue and bone looks better than expected. He has had screws inserted into the stifles and now it's just giving him plenty of time for bone to grow over the area and the . body to repair itself. After much research I have an extensive R&R program for him. It starts with stall rest only for a few weeks followed by a few months stall rest with in hand walking and some passive flexions. After that he will start getting turned out and just being a horse for a while to allow that bone and stifle to strengthen without a riders weight and I am planning to be back in the saddle in May! Axel is doing really well so far and has settled in well to stall rest. I think he likes the gorgeous warmblood mare Dolly who lives next to him, which helps... He is also right next to the hay stall and can manage to grab little extra nibbles of hay which makes him very hap...

My lovely boy is stable... get it haha! Today was a day of dosing up on flu medications (the joy) and waiting for vets to call me to update me on Axel. The first call I had was an update from one of the students to let me know that all was fine and that he was awake and bright eyed. It was such a relief, now I just had to wait and hear how the surgery had gone! Finally in the evening I got a call. The surgery had gone extremely well. The cyst on the left stifle was completely enclosed within the bone, the surrounding bone, tissues and ligaments actually looked better than expected and it was fairly easy for the surgeon to put a screw through the cyst which should help stabilize it and keep it from causing pain. There was a little wear to the surrounding cartilage but nothing too terrifying. So, tomorrow he should be able to head home with me to his cushy stall in our lovely barn. He prefers to live out but I am hoping that he settles ok in the stall and he has some stable toys ...

This post has been a long time coming. With Axel still being lame and just not right we have had multiple vet visits and an awful lot of claims on his insurance policy. Finally, insurance getting exhausted and poor Axel being fed up with it all, we decided to send him up to CSU (Colorado State University) for some further diagnostics. One of the first things to do by this point was a bone scan to highlight problematic areas. I was a little panicked when the vet let me know how much had lit up but she assured me that it was not anything abnormal. Next they worked Axel in hand, on the lunge and as per normal he wasn't showing overt signs of lameness. The vet even went as far as to hook him up the their electronic lameness assessment unit. This is a cool setup with sensors on on their head, legs etc which feeds back to a computer to measure asymmetric gait etc. So the vet goes to me, something happened which has never happened before. The computer fed back that this horse is tot...

Today we had the gorgeous and clever Dr Christakos come out to us to investigate further into Axels discomfort under saddle. We started with a ridden assessment. I didn't have a crash test dummy for the first hour so it was up to me to hop up. Even though I knew it wouldn't be pretty, I was so happy to sit on my boy again. In walk he felt ok (as always) and then the moment I put my leg on to ask for trot I got all the unhappiness and resistance again every time I asked The next stage was nerve blocking the front feet, this made sense as he had a mild response to hoof testers on his frog, especially front left. So we went ahead and by this time my crash test dummy Bri had arrived. Off she went, and again, the resistance going into trot with no difference. Back to the grooming stall and this time hind feet were nerve blocked, this was where we weren't expecting to see much. Back into the arena again and Bri asks for trot, again that resistance, but then... a little chan...

So, off to the vets we went last week. We shipped him to Littleton Equine to meet with Dr Christakos. I had hummed and hawed about where to take him as many of my friends had different suggestions but on advice of my trainer and vet we stuck with Littleton, at least for now. He shipped well as ever and we arrived on a swelteringly hot afternoon ready for some tests! Dr Christakos began with some palpitations and then trotting him up on the hard surface. Following on he was lunged in the round pen to watch him moving freely. After that we went to some pretty extensive flexions, he was pulled pushed and trotted. All followed by back XRays, all of which showed, well not a lot. Nothing substantial came up. So, onto the next things. We are going to Nerve Block and try riding and seeing what we get... watch this space my darling friends! Littleton Equine Axel pretty pissed about waiting in the pen Lunging like a good boy! Flexions!

Sometimes life feels like it just keeps throwing you too many lemons, you make your lemonade, then your lemon meringue pie, then your lemon drizzle cake then more lemonade... you eventually realize you just have too many lemons. The last few months have definitely been filled with a few too many lemons for us. We've had to say a goodbye to my soul dog Boo, been battling taxes, new school year stress, finance stuff, US Visa issues and Axels soundness... so many damn lemons. Axel, my sweet boy is really not right. He qualified for regional championships with some really good scores and I was so excited to have a solid five or six weeks to really crack our test riding symmetry ready for the champs. Alas, as seems the theme, it was not to be. Ulcers now pretty much cracked, he isn't even rideable and we don't know why. It could be neck again, or something in his back. He looks good on the lunge but cant even trot under saddle. It makes me so sad for him. He looks better tha...

After last weekends show I went home and as we probably all do, spent some of the evening looking back and our performance, and what we can improve upon for next time. I know Axel wasn't right this last weekend and whether it was behavioral or physical I needed to find a way to help us improve moving forwards. So begins a process of elimination with horses, rule out pain before considering behavior. So, where to start. Firstly the horse looks sound, no lameness at all. Secondly he has recently had a lot of time spent on saddle fit and thirdly he has recently had his neck injections. So that at least rules a few things out. Next I looked at what I have been feeling on my boy. Slight balking every now and again at going forwards under saddle at home but usually worked out of. He is so much worse at shows or in stressful environments.  In the back of my mind I started to wonder if his ulcers had returned, or never really healed in the first place and the more I thought about i...

So, there has been a delay in postings due to us taking off to sunny Mehico and drinking our bodyweight in Pina Coladas. It was tough but someone had to do it... On our return I had a few rides on my ginger one before heading off to a show an hour into the Mountains in Pine, Colorado. The weather was warm but not boiling hot and we had a chance to warm up in the little indoor before we went in, he warmed up great and we headed off to the beautiful outdoor in the middle of the forest glade! As soon as we got near the arena I could feel he was really worried, the flies were crazy and he felt pretty tense. Regardless we went in and rode the test as best we could. He tried his little heart out but really felt tight and I didn't feel that I got him to relax at all through the test, he wanted to be with me and wanted to listen, but he struggled with the atmosphere and ended up side stepping out the arena oops! Our second test and he was still dealing with some tension and nerves. Oh,...

Last weekend we headed off to Boulder Valley dressage show with a small team of Saras students. The show was around an hour and forty five mins away with a trailer so we decided to stay over, as driving back and forth was going to end up pretty exhausting! The initial plan was to head up on Friday afternoon so that we were ready for Saturday mornings competing. However mid week we got ride times, and I found out that Axels was competing Saturday evening, like 7.30 & 8.30pm! After I got over the initial shock of such late rides, I chatted with Sara and we decided we would head up Saturday morning instead, her first student wasn't riding until around 10:30am so we had plenty of time to get up there before she had to coach. It was my first experience of Axel going in the trailer alone and he was as always, good as gold. We loaded the huge amounts of luggage: rolling tack box, chairs, boots, saddles, overnight bags, snacks, fans, hay, feed, water buckets and so forth and set of...

As riders we all have parts of our body that don't work as well as we would like them too. When we are beginner or newer riders, it feels like none of the parts of our body work very well. Our balance is all off, our legs and hands have a mind of their own and we even find things like our butt and shoulder muscles randomly chipping in when they aren't really needed! Then we progress, over the years we find more control, we learn to balance our own bodies and stop veering backwards and forwards, and side to side. We learn how to take our legs on and off, even one at a time if needed. Our hands begin to have an independence that is needed to have (and keep) a horse properly on the bit. Our hips learn to move a little more freely, following the horses bouncing motions. This post isn't about learning how to ride, it isn't about learning how to use your body in the right places to sit to the trot (riding is so damn hard), it is about another component, the athletic side of...

This week I noticed a few scabby areas on the back on Axels hind heels. Nothing much, but enough to be aware of the suggestion of scratches. I have seen some pretty bad cases over the years so I wanted to get on top of it asap. The first thing I did, was check in with my amazing vet 'Dr Tom Walters'. He was headed up to our barn in a few days time anyway as he was seeing another horse so I asked him to peek at Axels scratches (mud fever) whilst there. (He did, and giggled at how almost non existent Axels case is hehe). In the meantime I investigated treatment. Thankfully his turnout is now bone dry so I needn't worry about keeping him in a stall until it has gone (mud fever tends to need keeping dry to get better). After much googling I found an approach I liked and began treatment. It meant I had to go shop. Bring it on local Pharmacy. Swaggering down the aisle of Walgreens I knew what I was looking for, a tantalizing basket: full of Hibiclens (antiseptic wash), Vagi...

Today my friend Angela and I headed off with our horses and children an hour and a half north to see Philip Himanka, our equine barefoot specialist. Now of course, not in a million years would I be traveling that far for a mani for myself, but for Axel (and Lola) we gladly made the road trip. It is school holidays here now, so that meant that Ethan and Sam (Angelas little boy) had to join us too. Before we set off, we knew that Thunderstorms were forecast for the afternoon but wanting to make the trip a little more worthwhile we planned to stop on the way back and take the boys for a trail ride at Barr Lake (a Bald Eagle nesting ground and bird spotting area). It was great to get Philips expert eye on Axel and Lola again, he truly knows his craft, science and biomechanics and I feel he is key to keeping Axel barefoot in such a tricky climate as Colorado. He was really happy with how Axels feet looked and it even seems he has managed to help Angels rid Lola of white line disease t...

My wonderful boy continues to improve all the time! The last few weeks have been a little more intense on his training as he is now feeling fit and strong enough to do a little more in the school. We seem to have got a little stuck with our canter leads. When he arrived it really didn't seem to be an issue but as his muscling and responsiveness have changed, as did quite a few things under saddle. Firstly when he arrived he seemed to have a weakness or asymmetry that was quite obvious under saddle but not so much to the eye. On the left rein he would dive a little on the inside shoulder and you had to work to keep him straight especially on a change of rein. Since his neck injections, magnawave from Tina and some good work under saddle he has started to even out, I have almost forgotten about the diving in. But the connection into the bridle and the canter leads have also changed. So, next is connection. He has a tendency to sit behind the vertical. For anyone not boring enou...

This week has been a great one. Axel had three days off, and he definitely needed it. He spent his time shoving his whole head in the round bale and sleeping. Thursday we went straight back to work and started to really look at our weaknesses for test riding. We played with freewalk and his stretchy trot as this seems to get lost when he is a little tight so I need to find ways of helping him through it. He still felt a little too tight through his back so it is something else we have to help him with. Friday morning arrived, beautiful and sunny and we managed to get back in the outdoor arena. I wore a little spur as we want him a little sharper off my leg both laterally and a bit hotter with his forward too. We had a really, really great lesson. He got to play over trot poles today to help lift his back a bit more and played with canter in half seat to get him going a little more freely. He tried so hard as he always does. I think that is one of the things I find so appealing abou...

Our first show is over and done with and it was quite the introduction to competing for us both! I am absolutely over the moon with my boy. He loaded perfectly as always and we trailered to the Horse Park venue. The show management had some issues with stalls so we had been put in temporary stabling under a large tent. Both Axel and his friend Ira settled into their stalls whilst we dragged hay feeders, tack trunks and more across the muddy car parks and venue! It wasn't the easiest setup of a show ever but we got it done whilst Axel assessed his digs for the weekend. It was a lot to deal with for his first show, the wind was flapping the tent and spooking all the horses in there including Axel, so each time the wind gushed through they all ran round in circles a few times then settled until the next gust hit. The venue had construction, golf carts, multiple jumping rings, and horses everywhere, so much for them to deal with! We spent the day washing them, grazing them, hand wa...

Is honesty always the best policy? Do blog readers really want to hear moaning, grumping and feeling low? I am not sure. I like an uplifting blog, a motivational verse. Something that makes me grin or shake my head in agreement and mirth. However when I started this blog I made a promise to myself to be honest and true. Hopefully with a grin and a shrug but not to try to sugercoat life either. The truth is, that it's been a tough few weeks. Our family are going through some stuff. Visas, work, legal crap, stuff I can't go into here right now, but stuff we are just about surviving as a family. Axel is my escape, my breath when my chest feels heavy, my laugh when the giggles are sinking. No matter what I adore this horse. This week however I logged my first bad ride on him. He was of course wonderful as always, I don't blame him for a thing and any failures always will stem from me always. This ride was to be our last before the show. Of course, as per the law of sod, w...

Oops, so I may have decided that two weeks of consistent riding is more than enough to enter our first show. I know, absolute idiot right! But, we are pitching ourselves at Training Level, which is really just walk, trot and canter. We can totally do a lovely test together and as he has this wonderful temperament I feel like we need to get out there and see what we have. It could of course, be a total crapshoot as we aren't exactly starting low key. We simply haven't been able to get a schooling show in before now so are heading straight off to the Colorado Horse Park and a USDF show. Sara and I have no idea how he is going to be. If he is going to cope ok or be really anxious. He's a dude, he tries his best always, and is generally very sensible about things, however he is also very sensitive and is not a deadhead old donkey sort. My barn friend Emma with her lovely horse Ira will head up to the Horse Park with Axel and I on the Friday, we can take some time to prep th...

Two Thirty time... No sorry Tooth Hurty time! Axel got to see the dentist this week, the lovely Dr. Dunbar from Littleton Equine. He behaved really well (of course) and got some little hooks etc rasped down. There was nothing major in there, just routine maintenance but I am sure he feels happier now that he has been seen to! Oh and he had his sheath cleaned too... a service that I believe is not offered by human dentist to their male patients (cue dirty giggle). Also this week, Axels travel/ show halter arrived. I don't like transporting horses in the Nylon halters as they cant break if they need to, the leather is preferable as if they do get into trouble they break more easily so it wasn't just for aesthetic reasons (well that is the excuse I came up with in any case, you buying it)? Anyhoooo, I ordered my halter from Gary Mundy who also had made my stamped and totally custom stirrup leathers a few years back. He is a true craftsman. He doesn't carry stock of any ite...

The day dawned again of the saddle fit, I was more than a little nervous that my pony would magically appear unsound again the very day of the fitting. Typically the weather was absolutely abysmal and went from 80 degrees one day to snow the next. Of course that meant all the horses were fairly nuts with the cold. Well, Axel doesn't actually do nuts but a little fresh for him. The lovely Jen from Happy Horse Tack came out again, armed with a load of saddles. This time we could actually play in all paces to see how he was. He started well but with a head swish going into canter, it made me a little worried as that is how the pain manifested itself before, but I ignored it for the time being and pushed on and actually, he got better and better so I think it was a yeehah rather than a ouchy. Jen started off with me riding in my current saddle so we could get a baseline of how he moves. We know it doesn't fit him so wasn't an option but Jen wanted to see how he moves in it. A...

A week and a half on and I am sure you are all on the edge of your seats, waiting for my post on how Axels doing... No? Oh well here it is anyhow. For right now, he's feeling well. With a few weeks of regular riding, he may regress, but if he does, we deal with it and start investigating the next possible cause. But, yay- right here, right now- we are pretty darn ok. So, it is so far, so good. Actually scrap that, so far, so damn brilliant! Now, before I get you all excited for us, I am well aware he could go downhill again in the next week or so. I am holding my horses, so to speak and not resting on any laurels. Boring you with all the metaphors yet? Sorry. I am a tad excited today. He has chilled and got a little fat in the turnout, lunged, and now has had two days of ridden work. Sara rode yesterday, as test pilot she has been navigating the muddy waters of riding whilst sore (to keep him feeling sore for the vet check) and now has been testing out the new, improved and f...

Layer by layer we are peeling away, trying to figure out what is going on with Axel and seeing if we can help him when we do. We started with a few days off his back to see if that would make any difference. The first real ride back was for his saddle fitting with Jen at Happy Horse . He sadly, was not a happy horse. Poor lad felt pretty uncomfortable in any trot work regardless of whichever saddle he was put in. Some were less bad than others, but still, not the easiest of times to be trying out various saddles. Jen however really was very good. I appreciated the time she took, her willingness to discuss and listen and as an independent fitter, she wasn't there with one brand to sell me. In the end it was impossible to properly choose a saddle. He wasn't going in any way that would enable me to get a feel for them but we did have some positives. One of which was to start to figure out his shape/ measurements and also what kind of saddles he seems to prefer. Even though we co...

So Axel had a bit of a step backwards last week. Everything had been going really well and then he had a bad day on Wednesday. We got the head swishing into trot and he was obviously uncomfortable again. My heart dropped a little as he had been doing brilliantly and then we went back to the ulcery behaviour. Friday was much of the same. So heres the issue, his saddle doesn't fit. In fact basically none of the saddles at the barn, or that I have borrowed to try on him, fit. When he arrived we knew he had a lot of muscling and fattening up to do, so we didn't want to crack straight on with getting a saddle. That means, we are in the slight conundrum of ulcers or saddle fit. He has been on some ulcer meds for the last (almost) six weeks now, so unless the compound isn't working properly, he should really be better. Now two and a half months on from his arrival, I think we need to attack saddle fit as the next priority. I had actually booked the saddle fitter over a month ago...