Sit the Trot

 So this past Christmas week has not only been about family, food and gifts, but it has also seen some extra care for both Willough and Axel. Willough has needed a little extra maintenance, at almost 21 years old and still working at PSG level that is pretty expected! I try to give her regular, maintenance care with bodywork, Back On Track gear etc, but we decided it was time to inject her neck. She has arthritis in her neck (not unusual, especially for a dressage horse) and had it done before but not since I have owned her so it was about time. She had a few days off over Christmas, then has some light work days then back to usual work. I am super excited to see if it helps her! Axel had a few super balky days again and my gut told me it might be his gut... So, we did the famous Pepto trial and he seemed so much happier! I ordered ulcer treatment and am waiting for it to come through but luckily had a little stocked up and have started him on Ablers ulcer treatment. Willough is on...

Oh gosh, has it really been that long since I last blogged. I am red faced and embarrassed that so much time has gone by. I could come up with a million excuses but I simply didn't make time, however new starts and BIG CHANGES are ahead! And by big changes I mean FLYING CHANGES- not the kind that you ride, this time it is all about making flying changes in myself. 2021 is looking to be the most exciting year for me. I have joined the High Plains RMDS board as vice president which will allow me to help give back to the local dressage community. I also have two fantastic horses in Willough and Axel that I am hoping to show and clinic on throughout the year. Now usually the thought of showing would be slightly terrifying, and don't get me wrong; it still is, but I have an ace in my hand. Yep, lucky old me: I am going to be working with Jenni Winter-Leach of #FlyingChangesCoaching and finally adding that much neglected 'mental' aspect of riding and competing. Jenni works wi...

While the world is obsessing over Corona Virus I spent the day obsessing about my horses... well a little about Corona Virus but mostly about ponies... Axel was first up and we spent some time with him doing lameness evaluations first. We really didn't see anything here, however remembering how he was before the stifle operation we didn't really see lameness then either. The next thing I wanted to do was take some X-Rays of the stifle to check how the screw was seated and if there was any problems with it. We took a few films and it all looked good down there, of course the arthritis hasn't magically gone, but it looks just how it should. So the choice was made to get him back under saddle and walking then review again before we start trot work. So of course, I saddled up and hopped on my slightly wobbly, weak pony. He is such a doll, and of course behaved perfectly. So happy to be back on board. Hacking fitness begins now! So, Miss Willough. A friend kindly walked her ...

Tomorrow is the day. After many months Axel has a recheck and I am scared. I have no idea how its going to go but am hopeful that I can get back on top of my ginger Friesian again. I so miss cantering up the field with him and I am nervous and excited for what the lovely Dr Christakos has to say. Willough has had a few days off after stifle injections so will be back under saddle properly tomorrow, I am hopeful she thinks it has helped her- fingers crossed! On the subject of Miss W, she is a total weirdo. I have been working on turnout for her since she arrived, each time I try her out, she survives for a tiny length of time before running at the fence line, bucking, rearing and freaking out until I bring her back into one of the stalls with runs (which are a mere twenty feet from the turn out pens) at which time she settles back to her usual self. What horse doesn't do turnout?!? On the plus side, now she trusts me she doesn't try to run me down as I bring her  in... freakin...

During the clinic with Christian he picked up on some right hind 'something' with Willough. I chatted to Sara and we decided to get the vet out for some flexions and to take a peek. One of our barn girls was already having Dr French from Littleton out for her horse, so she kindly booked him to come take a look at Willough too. I had a chat with him, so we could decide if we did lameness exam/ flexions, shockwave or where we aimed for. His suggestion was to start with some flexions and go from there. Dr French is really quite talented and has a great eye for these sports horses, I trust his opinion totally. He checked her neck- (which we know has some arthritis) and found her ability to flex to her left was WAY harder than to the right. He lunged, trotted up and then he did a fair few flexions. He found the most notable reaction came from her stifles. Even though, he only saw a 1/5 which isn't bad at all. Oh and I forgot to say, he knows Willough already. He has treated ...

It has been quite a winter. Admittedly December was rather devoid of snow. January saw a little and February has snowed, upon snow, upon snow. The indoor arena is quite a blessing and we haven't actually dropped below about 30f (-1c) in the indoor so we can still ride. The horses are pretty happy and well blanketed and fed. Best news first. Axel is back living out again! I am a huge proponent for horses living out 24/7 when possible and he is so much happier when he is. He went out at the end of January and is just so much more relaxed and happy, it's like night and day for him. He is still handwalking- now for about 20 mins at a time and will just keep on handwalking as much as we can until March/ April when he can come back to hacking and start to get fit again. He's his usual, sweet, funny self and is more than happy with just grooming and walking with me. He is such a darling! Right now he is in the smaller of the turnout pens but next week I am planning to move him...