I spoke with the vet today and we are going to do antibiotics and dry cow to fix what appears to be a mild mastitis infection in the right udder. I will be treating her with dry cow over the next few days. Hopefully this will make her appear sound again. It seemed that lameness was coming from a tender and sore udder.
Has anyone used the "Active your horse's core" book and DVD with their horse? If so, what results did you get? I am thinking of ordering the book to supplement our winter riding.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Mystery
On Friday Drifter was sound again. She seemed a bit sore AFTER I rode her, but did very well under saddle at walk and trot. I am still not sure what's going on with her on/off lameness. I will be out tomorrow to re-assess the situation.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Drifter is lame
Drifter is lame behind, seems like the right hind. I think she may have a stone bruise that happened soon after she moved back to Toy Box. I thought I felt something slight last week, but she was noticeably lame today. I think I will try soaking on Friday and see if we turn up anything.
On the good side, she was super quiet and willing despite not being ridden in a week and having pain somewhere. She was willing to do more under saddle and the "lameness" did not get better or worse with work. She seems to really miss the daily contact with people (other then getting fed). I think I'll need to do a bath and beauty day if we get another warm day this fall.
On the good side, she was super quiet and willing despite not being ridden in a week and having pain somewhere. She was willing to do more under saddle and the "lameness" did not get better or worse with work. She seems to really miss the daily contact with people (other then getting fed). I think I'll need to do a bath and beauty day if we get another warm day this fall.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Riding outdoors
Rode Drifter in the outdoor ring this week. She was good. A little more forward, but she relaxed pretty quickly. She was anticipating cantering. She did canter, but missed her right lead for the first time ever. Her canter was much more balanced and it's helpful to allow her to canter up the one side of the arena on her right lead and bring her back to the trot on the "downhill" side. She tries so hard I just need her to relax while trying. It's so cool that she has come so far in just a few weeks from weaning Zee.
I am still looking for a good opportunity to work on the spiral exercise suggested by a reader. I need to look for a quiet time in the indoor or try the dressage ring. She is quite responsive to my seat, but it requires me to be 100% all the time. Drifter certainly challenges me to be a better rider and it's cool to know that I've taught her what she knows and yet she is still teaching me!
Keep reading for video or pictures from the new barn.
I am still looking for a good opportunity to work on the spiral exercise suggested by a reader. I need to look for a quiet time in the indoor or try the dressage ring. She is quite responsive to my seat, but it requires me to be 100% all the time. Drifter certainly challenges me to be a better rider and it's cool to know that I've taught her what she knows and yet she is still teaching me!
Keep reading for video or pictures from the new barn.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Moving Success!
Drifter was a rockstar!
She loaded up in the trailer after stepping up and down about 12 times. This was the first time loading in my newer two horse straight load. It's pretty roomy with a bright white interior, but it had a metal floor. I think she was trying to figure out if the floor was solid and safe for her. Once she loaded she stood rock solid while I put up the butt bar and closed the door. She gets a bit antsy when she is first loaded. but was calm by the time we arrived at Toy Box.
I will be traveling mostly by myself, so I need Drifter to behave well while I open the back door to get her out of the trailer. I didn't want her to fly out backwards. No fear in that. She stood perfectly while I went up with her and asked her to back out. She stepped out with one foot and thought I was backing her over a cliff. I let her regain her composure and then asked a few more times. She backed out and stood there sniffing. It was like she was trying to remember.
I put her inside Fritz' stall and went to clean and park the trailer. She ate most of his hay by the time I got back. I groomed her and tacked her up- she seemed fine with it, but I felt a bit anxious. I walked her over to the indoor (which has been expanded by 33% and updated). I walked her around once on the ground to let her see it and tighten up her girth. Mounted at the block and went in with two unknown horses and riders.
Drifter was so good! She will need a long warm-up at shows. She was a little inverted, but her gait and body was calm. We walked, trotted and did some leg yielding with the two other horses in the ring and she was soo good. She was calm, attentive and cooperative. I couldn't have asked for more.
I am so happy to have my horse back.
She loaded up in the trailer after stepping up and down about 12 times. This was the first time loading in my newer two horse straight load. It's pretty roomy with a bright white interior, but it had a metal floor. I think she was trying to figure out if the floor was solid and safe for her. Once she loaded she stood rock solid while I put up the butt bar and closed the door. She gets a bit antsy when she is first loaded. but was calm by the time we arrived at Toy Box.
I will be traveling mostly by myself, so I need Drifter to behave well while I open the back door to get her out of the trailer. I didn't want her to fly out backwards. No fear in that. She stood perfectly while I went up with her and asked her to back out. She stepped out with one foot and thought I was backing her over a cliff. I let her regain her composure and then asked a few more times. She backed out and stood there sniffing. It was like she was trying to remember.
I put her inside Fritz' stall and went to clean and park the trailer. She ate most of his hay by the time I got back. I groomed her and tacked her up- she seemed fine with it, but I felt a bit anxious. I walked her over to the indoor (which has been expanded by 33% and updated). I walked her around once on the ground to let her see it and tighten up her girth. Mounted at the block and went in with two unknown horses and riders.
Drifter was so good! She will need a long warm-up at shows. She was a little inverted, but her gait and body was calm. We walked, trotted and did some leg yielding with the two other horses in the ring and she was soo good. She was calm, attentive and cooperative. I couldn't have asked for more.
I am so happy to have my horse back.
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