Journey through horsemanship

Sure, it's been awhile

2011-10-13T09:58:00.006-04:00

Fourth Jumping School

2011-03-05T11:48:00.004-05:00

Another good jumping school- Drifter and I jumped a great course. We had a little mishap on the second time around... I let her get wide on a jump with a tighter turn and at the last minute she attempted to run out, but ended up jumping (and knocking down) the standard. I almost came off and this scared her too- which meant she bolted with me with almost no stirrups and minimal control. I gave a "heads up" holler and careened her back into control. She went back around and jumped nicely- actually very nicely. Here are our new pics.

Improving jumping

2011-02-25T19:32:00.001-05:00

Slip.fall

2011-01-26T09:00:00.002-05:00

This time of year is best for sitting back and looking at the spring/summer show schedules! It is great thinking of clinics and nicer weather. Riding in the indoor area is great (I know many of you do not have an indoor), but sometimes you want to get out.

Yesterday was one of those days. It was a heat wave of 40 degrees. Drifter and I went out to the dressage ring; which is covered in snow. I planned to lunge - just to allow her to move and stretch her back. She is turned out 24/7 but the horses don't move at speed much and have been gingerly picking their way around the paddock. Drifter was very cute, realizing that she was able to move a bit on the lunge. She did a few small prop and bucks, but nothing too naughty. She picked up a great little canter and cantered around a few times. THEN we found out there was ice under the snow. WHOOPS. Her hind end slid out from under her and she fell and slid about 6-8 feet. She didn't fall hard or struggle and was calm overall. I did have her lunge in the other direction (cautiously) just to end on a good note.

We went to the indoor and it was EMPTY. That is very rare this time of year. So she was able to move on the lunge and was very happy about it. She cantered nicely on both leads and just seemed happy to work. I got on her to cool her out. Her ride was her easy part today. I love my horsey!

Jump School

2011-01-17T19:49:00.001-05:00

Drifter did so much better at jump school this year. We attended our first jump school this past Friday and she was great. She was more forward and straight then last year. The only thing I wished was that she put in more effort over the cross rails we were working on. When we moved it up to a vertical she actually jumped over it, but only as much as needed. She wasn't expending any more effort then necessary. It's great that she doesn't get worked up or overly anxious about jumping, but sometimes I little effort would be nice too. Jump school was really fun and hopefully we will have pictures or video soon.

Barrel Jumpin'

2010-11-07T10:01:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we had a great little ride. I had been doing some suppling work with Drifter and a few sessions working on lateral work. She was very easy going when I introduced the dressage whip to help cue her to move her haunches over more in the leg-yield.

We hadn't jumped in awhile, but the jumps were pretty low in the outdoor arena and she warmed up real nice- so why not? We jumped over the simple cross rail first and then over a few small verticals. She was barely trotting them and totally relaxed. We did a line of three fences- small cross rail to large cross rail to one stride vertical which she did very nicely. The next time around we aimed for the two barrel jump and she went right over. I supported her nicely with my leg, but she didn't even waiver like she used to at each fence. I trotted her down over a panel fence and she did fine, but when coming back over it she plowed into it. This panel fence is pretty heavy and she must of felt it because after hopping off and re-setting it she snapped her back and jumped way over it. This is one reason I still feel that schooling cross country will help her be more tidy with her legs. It was a really fun ride and I was very happy with her!

Hooray for autumn

2010-10-27T22:36:00.002-04:00

Things have been going well with Drifter and she has been so much fun to ride. Even when she has a week off of work- she comes right back and tries hard. She is such a great horse. Can't wait to keep moving her forward.

Unstuck and moving forward

2010-10-03T13:54:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the long delay... we're unstuck and things are going well for Drifter and I.

Her cantering is better- we now have a galloping track at our barn and it's been a lot of fun.

I was at WEG yesterday! I will have cross country pictures to post soon.

All is well.

Stuck

2010-07-28T11:37:00.004-04:00

Do you ever feel stuck?

I feel like Drifter and I are stuck- we're working on the same things and not getting anywhere. I don't know if it's just the level of training that she is at where no big discoveries are going to happen, but a lot of fine tuning instead. I just feel like I am getting frustrated working on the same basic concepts and if I miss a day or week then we're even further behind.

She seems pretty stiff and tight right now and I don't think I am riding enough to rebuild that flexibility, so therefore we can't progress. We're still having issues picking up the right lead (unless we're jumping) and therefore we can't progress.

I hate feeling stuck.

Almost a month

2010-07-18T15:01:00.002-04:00

It's been almost a month since I have posted an update. Mostly because it's been very hot and I have been very busy and hadn't ridden in two weeks. Yes, Drifter got a two week vacation in the middle of summer and show season. I am hoping to get her back to the Thursday Evening show this week.

After having two weeks off I figured it would be better to start back a few steps and establish our working relationship again. On Thursday, she came right out to see me and I lunged her for 20-30 minutes. She was very forward at first, but amazingly cantered on her right lead for several times around without breaking. I was wondering if I had gotten the correct horse from the field or if I was having trouble telling my left from my right.

Friday was a second lunge day with improvised vienna side reins. This was also good, although she had some more trouble with the right lead this time. She was forward and mostly responsive to voice commands. It was very hot and she got a bit of a hose off at the end.

Saturday was our first ride day and she was super good. No issues during the first few minutes after mounting. She was certainly stiff when asked to bend and a little more above the bit. We got both leads correct the first time and cantered about half way around the arena. She was very good and I kept it a short ride.

I expect to ride again on Tuesday and pack for the show on Thursday.

Jumped a course

2010-06-22T17:43:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the delays in posting- it's been a tough and busy month!

I lunged Drifter on Sunday- it was really hot and she still had some issues getting the right lead. I have to find/buy a nice pair of side reins again. She got a quick bath after lunging so the flies didn't try to eat her sweaty butt. Here are some pictures of her from Sunday.

Tonight I got a ride in before it was supposed to rain. She was a little nappy when I first got on, not sure if she didn't want to leave the barn, was sore from lunging or had a horse fly. She kicked/bucked on the way out to the outdoor and I was wondering what kind of ride we were going to have. Once in the outdoor ring, I dismounted to check for flies (I forgot to spray her) or other obvious issues. None seen, so I remounted (working hard to have her stand quietly beside the block) and went on with our ride. I took a few trot laps, popped over a few of the little jumps and then needed a breather break. While resting I created a jumping course out of the smaller jumps available. It was a downhill vertical to a left turn over the white jumping blocks jump to a left curve over the palm tree jump to a broken line over the red jump with a tight turn back to a blue cross rain with a sweeping turn between two other jumps to a straight line of flower boxes. The last jump we hadn't jumped today and was the largest. She trotted and cantered the little course and went around really nicely. It was a great ride and a great highlight to my week.

Horse personality

2010-06-06T19:53:00.001-04:00

Drifter is a ... SLAF - The Wall Flower

Wrap these sweet, kind, gentle horses up and keep them safe. They are not very brave and tend to internalize their worries. They want to please and will try very hard for you, but they can be pushed too fast very easily. They make few demands of you and are quite content to perform the same tasks repeatedly as long as you are pleased with them and the jobs are not to strenuous. Quiet enough for the beginner once they understand what is expected of them.

Find out about your horse at:
http://www.horsepersonality.com/quiz.html

69.5% a huge success

2010-06-03T22:30:00.003-04:00

Now I just need help figuring out how to keep her white... suggestions?

She loaded up pretty well, but when I arrived she was dripping sweat- not sure if all the windows in the trailer should have been open (might have helped) or it was just nerves. She unloaded pretty well and stood to have her soaked shipping boots removed. She was alert, but calm.

I walked her around the grounds and she was looking around, but quiet and well behaved. We came back to the trailer and I tied her up with her hay net. I didn't have a lot of time, so I started to tack her up. I also sprayed her with Skin So Soft- mistake! It kept off the flies and green heads- but we looked SO DIRTY by the time we got to the ring! I am showing alone- so no one to wipe down or brush off my horse for me.

She was great going into the new ring and trotting by the judges booth. She was so good for the test. She was calm, straight and forward. The judge commented that she needs more impulsion in her medium and free walk. Our lowest score- a 6- was on one of our medium walks.

After the test we hung out, she grazed, I watched a few other people from our barn ride. She trailered home like a dream without sweating too- I opened a few more windows. I am so proud of her!

Horse Show

2010-06-02T23:03:00.001-04:00

Hopefully tomorrow will be our first horse show. I had to give her a bath on Tuesday and hope that it held out pretty well for tomorrow. It is a dressage show and if I can get an evening time slot we'll be doing the walk-trot test.

No riding!

2010-05-26T21:17:00.002-04:00

What?

No riding... I have been sick since last weekend and haven't been out to the barn to ride. I can't wait until Friday.

Remember this from last year?
Oh, how far we've come!

Lunging did the trick

2010-05-18T17:44:00.003-04:00

I lunged on Sunday. I was perfect for Drifter to break up the riding boredom. It was great to work on cantering on the right lead on the lunge. Having to canter over a pole helped her to change to an keep her right lead. It was very successful break in our normal routine.

I skipped riding today, due to the heavy rain- we do have an indoor, but Drifter is outside and in her fly sheet and probably very wet today. I am aiming for Friday.

Almost back

2010-05-11T18:38:00.002-04:00

to where we were two weeks ago.

We had a shorter ride today. Worked on getting both leads, cantered over a small jump and went on a trail ride. Great day.

Trail ride and a few steps back

2010-05-04T21:17:00.003-04:00

A week ago Drifter and I had a good, but really intense ride. We worked on walk/canter transitions and simple change of lead. She still has trouble with her right lead, but I wanted to get in several good canter departs. The first right lead depart was probably her best ever. I thought about quitting with that perfect depart, but I didn't. I pushed. She did several nice left and right departs. She began to fatigue and began stopping in the middle of the ring. We finished with one more good one to the left and called it a day.

On Friday she had her feet trimmed before our ride. I started with a new saddle pad and new footing in the arena. As soon as a got on Drifter she stopped and planted her feet. I got off and trotted her in hand and she looked sound. I changed her saddle pad. I got back on and as soon as she felt my leg aids she stopped and balked- no backwards, but no forward either. It took the "pony club kick" to get her to walk and she stopped several times in the first 10 minutes. We finally got some forward at walk and trot to the left. When ever I changed to the right bend she would stop. Wash, rinse, repeat until she will trot a circle to the right. I wonder if she is body sore from the cantering on Tuesday or if it really just overwhelmed her. We trotted in the outdoor ring and the dressage ring to reinstall forward in all three riding areas. To end I figured we would walk out to the field/trail and back. She was totally relaxed and forward when walking out to the trail, so we just kept walking. We did our first trail ride, alone, around the field/trail that's closest to the barn. She was so brave and good. She did one little spook in place, but then moved right along. I didn't know whether to focus on the ring issues or the trail success.

Today we just continued to focus on trotting forward in both directions. I started her on the lunge line and she was unable to pick up the right canter lead on the lunge, but I didn't drill her about it. I got on and rode and only one or two little hesitations at the trot when I put my leg on.

I learned an important lesson about how hard/far I can push her.

Drifter turned 9

2010-04-23T21:49:00.002-04:00

Drifter turned nine the day of her "field trip". I was excited to be allowed to bring her to my work for a group "mock lesson". It's a place that I feel confident and would be able to pass that along to her. She wore "big girl" shipping boots and a sheet for the 1hr drive. She was a little nervous in the trailer, evidenced by the runny poops when we got there. She loaded nicely and snacked on her breakfast before we took off. On arrival she waited for me to back her out of the trailer and was alert, but well behaved at the farm. I walked her into the barn and around the indoor before undressing her and putting her in an empty stall for a little while. She was happily eating hay and the rest of her breakfast within 20 minutes. After a few hours we tacked up for our "lesson". I walked her (on the ground) up to the outdoor ring because it was along a field and tree line following two new horses. She was really good on the way out and that helped my confidence before mounting. She didn't stand so well for mounting, but was calm once I was aboard. She was very distracted by the horses turned out in the field by the outdoor arena, but was able to be redirected to focus on leg yields and bending. It probably took her 20 minutes to begin to really focus on me. We even cantered!

She was great for untacking and then went back into the stall for the afternoon while I worked. She was less happy about that and managed to nick her fetlock and cause some minor bleeding. She whinnied each time she saw me, as if asking "can we go home now?" Finally, I put her on the cross ties, dressed her up again and cleaned out her stall. While cleaning her stall she managed to pull the velcro cross ties loose and started to walk away, but was brought back and made to stand while I finished cleaning the stall. She loaded nicely back into the trailer and rode quietly back to her farm. She was a very good girl for her birthday.

The trip must have tired her out because the barn staff said she has spent most of the day laying down and sleeping. She was still sleeping when I arrived at the barn this afternoon.

She clips

2010-04-20T21:46:00.002-04:00

Drifter allowed me to clip her today. I just did a little bit on her face, bridle path and feet. She stood very quietly for all of it and just moved her head a little bit during the bridle path clipping.

Riding went really well. Walk, trot and canter in the outdoor ring. I got stung in the eye while beginning my ride and remembered how important teaching voice commands are. She was a very good girl today.

Thursday she goes on her first fieldtrip....

We JUMPED

2010-04-16T21:20:00.002-04:00

Drifter now JUMPS. She really JUMPS, like all feet up and over the jump. She felt much more coordinated tonight. We started trotting through 3-4 trot poles. She was straight and forward. Then added a cross rail, which she took beautifully. After a few times through it was bumped up to a vertical. She hesitated, but stayed straight and went right over with a jump. Then a few more times though we added a second vertical about 4-5 strides out. She was also cantering away from the fence for several strides and then just relaxing into the trot. We ended trotting several fences in a course type experience. She was really great and only sucked back once. She took a few jumps where she was taking me to the jump and a few where I had to ride with leg on. We had a few rough turns AFTER the jump, but she really jumped so nicely tonight.

I gave her a really good rub down, curry, a little mane pulling and a good brushing. She really enjoyed the curry and massage and I hope she is ready to go tomorrow again. Also, going to pick up my trailer this weekend!

Still getting better

2010-04-06T19:28:00.002-04:00

It's been almost a year since Drifter had her foal. She has come so far. We worked in the dressage ring (no fence) and focused on being straight. She still bulges a little towards the barn, but I am able to rider her through the twists and turns and keep her straight. We took a short jaunt over to the jump ring (fence) to work on our canter. She departs so nicely to the left now with a great canter. She still gets a little deep, but she is balanced and responsive. To the right, she is now getting the right lead 75% of the time and I can actually feel her bending and working to pick up the right lead. It's awesome. She will do a few flying lead changes from right to left, but actually changed back from left to right today. What a good girl.

Lastly, we are working on pre-trail riding skills. I walk her to the back of the property alone after our rides. I am working on walking on a loose rein. She stops a few times and looks and I wait for her to feel confident to walk forward with minimal leg aids. I don't want her to feel pressured, but rather to feel interested about exploring new areas.

I am so impressed at how well she is doing and just a bit proud of the fact that I have helped her learn it all.

Updated lunging

2010-04-05T21:27:00.002-04:00

So happy with my mare!

2010-03-30T22:05:00.002-04:00

This weekend we had another good session on Saturday. I didn't get to lunge her over the jumps outside as the ring was too busy, but I did get to start with some lunging. I asked her to come back from the wrong lead canter on the lunge and would then ask for canter again. She was able to get and maintain the right lead several times on the lunge. Under saddle, she was really good too! She was able to stay focused despite another horse calling from the barn. It took a few times to get the right lead under saddle, but finally we did and ended with that. It was a good day.

Today was also a good day at the barn. Drifter was soaked through her sheet- apparently it isn't rainproof anymore! So, she was more then willing to come to the gate to get inside. She was wet and probably a bit cranky. She seemed a little cranky when I got on her. She relaxed pretty quickly though. Her trotting was nice and her shouler fore/in is coming along nicely. I can also now do a turn on the forehand with her in the middle of the ring, not just when she is facing a wall. The two biggest accomplishments for today were:

pooped at the trot!
Cantered in both directions on both correct leads in a circle with two other horses in the ring, like a really big, grown up and trained horsey!

Two great days.

2010-03-20T17:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I was able to lunge Drifter over a small jump for the first time. She was really good overall with this exercise. She ran out the first time I presented her to it, but I didn't line her up very well and was too far away from the jump to prevent the run out. She figured out pretty quickly that cantering the jump was easier then trying to jump from a trot. She did not get wound up when cantering the jump and showed a lot more enthusiasm on her own. She cantered in both directions on both leads. I took the cross rail up to a vertical and had another little run-out, but again pilot error played a part in that. She then took it several times in each direction. She wasn't too careful and knocked the rail several times. I let her continue a few times when the rails weren't too spread out to make her look at the "new jump" and where the poles were. After lunging, I rode her WTC. She stayed more calm and didn't rush into the canter as much. She continued to have difficulty getting the correct lead, but took both leads- just in the wrong directions. I am now using my jump saddle and am able to get up into a forward or half seat when she is cantering, which seems to be helpful for her.

Today I set up a cross fail over a flower box. I lunged her over this, which went well, but there wasn't quite enough room for a lunging circle. She jumped all times but once and only took out the vertical. She was much more careful with the cross rail. Another ride after lunging, including jumping over a cross rail under saddle. We made continued progress on the ease of cantering, including cantering a large circle. I was able to force the right lead- tracking right today and save the left lead for tracking left more often. I had very little rushing at the trot, but she was very deep and going behind the bit when cantering at times. I worked on sending her forward, giving my hands and "bumping" her up when needed. She was so very good for all our work today I am so excited to ride again. I may try to get some updated videos tomorrow.

Here is a video from our last jump school:

Progress

2010-03-17T21:28:00.000-04:00

I've gotten several rides in since our jump school, but no chance to lunge her over a jump yet. We cantered a few times with improvement on the left lead. I found that she is much better about cantering after doing some lateral work.

This week she is a bit stocked up with all the mud we have here, so I chose to lunge instead of ride on Tuesday. She cantered beautifully on the lunge to the LEFT and on the LEFT lead only. After lunging I did a few stretches to the right and found that she has adequate range of motion to get the right lead. She will also do a flying lead change when cantering left onto the right lead if she is off balance. However, she is very reluctant to pick up the right lead. I have a little more luck under saddle.

I know most horses have one lead that is difficult, especially green horses, but when do you worry about missing the lead or start correcting for the wrong lead?

Bellydancing

2010-03-05T17:50:00.000-05:00

Yeah, bellydancing. It's great for building core muscles and helps me figure out where I am uneven or stiff. I really like the class and it's great to know that it will also help improve my riding.

Time off and on

2010-03-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

Now I am down to only having Drifter in NJ. Fritz has moved to PA for "retirement"! It's weird knowing that if I want to ride I only have one choice now- so no more "bad days" for Drifter. She was really tense/stiff starting off yesterday- it was wet and rainy and I hadn't been out in a week to ride! It took me almost an hour ride just to get her moving forward. We only worked in walk and trot. She also pooped four times, which meant four dismounts for clean-up. I think she's figured that little trick out. We have a jump school on Sunday. I am planning to ride Saturday and Sunday.

What schooling exercises do you use for getting a horse relaxed, but forward?

Cantering again

2010-02-19T22:34:00.000-05:00

We cantered again today. Drifter was good on the lunge line with her cantering- much better then under saddle. Under saddle was better then previously. Some rushing still, but less fussing with her head and no bucks going into the canter. Hoping to have her work on the canter on the lunge more and S L O W L Y incorporate it back into our under saddle work. So, no cantering tomorrow under saddle, just going back to reinforcing calm, quiet and forward.

Turn on the forehand

2010-02-16T22:12:00.000-05:00

Drifter learned turn on the forehand today. It was much easier for her to do a turn on the haunches. I attribute this to her Quarter Horse bloodlines- that girl can spin. However, asking her to keep her shoulders stationary and move her haunches was a total enigma for her. I ended up dismounting and doing a little ground work. I used a dressage whip to apply an aid where my leg would be and backed it up with a tap on the hock. When she was reliably moving off the whip aid on the ground I remounted and worked on it from "up top". She still had trouble with the concept and it required several tries in both directions. I stood her facing the arena wall and asked for a 90 degree turn on the forehand. When she moved her haunches at all I stopped the aid. We repeated both left and right sides. She had more trouble moving off my left leg and often stepped into the leg aid the first three or four attempts. Once it clicked it really seemed to made sense to her.

I also lunged her before riding and she had a nice canter on the lunge. I think I will have her canter on the lunge again a few more times before reintroducing it under saddle. She has been so much more relaxed since I have backed off on cantering under saddle. Today was a really good schooling ride!

Negative

2010-02-15T22:01:00.000-05:00

Results came back today- negative n/n for PSSM type one.

Now the question is, what to do next.

continue to go slowly with training, but do no further medical testing
do blood tests for Lyme and mineral levels (low E and selenium)
add supplements, such as magnesium, to deal with muscle tightness and tenseness
other... what to do now

Two rides, two days

2010-02-13T17:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we rode outside in the snow. I focused on

getting relaxation and figured she couldn't go anywhere to quickly with the deep snow. This worked out pretty well. We did 20 minutes in the snow at the walk, 10-15 minutes in the indoor at the trot and another 5 minutes walking around the barn. She's been a bit barn sour and tense walking around the barn, so we practiced walking calmly. In the indoor she was moving so nicely. She was forward and really able to move.

Today, she was much more stiff. It was too windy to ride outside at all. She was very short strided behind and I had to work hard to get her to move out at all. She seemed like she wanted to go forward, but just couldn't extend or stretch at all. We did some lateral work at the walk and some trotting. I rode about 45 minutes total. We had several stops at the trot and I wonder if it's training or muscles. Guess we'll find out soon. Her left hip was really tight after riding and she really leaned into a little massage over the hip after riding. She's been much more relaxed since we haven't cantered in a few weeks. With improved trot and lateral work we should be cantering again soon.

Still waiting

2010-02-10T10:55:00.000-05:00

Still waiting for Drifter's results from the PSSM DNA test.

On Friday we were able to work outside a litle bit. Kim (barn staff) told me that she looked really stiff in the field and was reluctant to go though the gate near the other horses. When I brought her in, she was reluctant to walk up to the gate, but I wasn't sure if it was stiffness or leaving the other horses. I noticed that her ilicus muscle was taut and hard. I figured I would start with lunging and take it easy. We did 15-20 minutes of walking on the lunge with a few half circles of trotting. I got on and rode after she relaxed and lengthened her stride and rode for 20 minutes, also mostly at the walk. She stayed nicely relaxed during our time outside.

On Tuesday, I rode her for another 20 minutes. She was mostly willing and relaxed. She handled the snow falling off the roof and the dogs playing in the indoor with a slow down or a stop. She was soft through her neck and willing to bend in both directions. She got her rabies vaccination and a coggins drawn, so I wasn't sure how she would be. I wanted her to stay relaxed and go forward. We accomplished most of this and looking in the mirror at the end of the ride, she looked good. She was up in front, round and tracking up. Great way to end our session before the snow!

The horseman and the trainer...

2010-02-02T19:43:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I am conflicted by which role I am playing. Right now, while awaiting Drifter's PSSM tests I am reluctant to push her under saddle at all. The trainer in me screams at each resistance Drifter shows. The horsewoman says give her a chance, she might be cramping, she might be stiff, she feels like she is trying.

I took it really easy tonight a few minutes on the lunge line at walk and trot and 15 minutes under saddle. At the trot she was reluctant to go forward under saddle. She broke to walk a few times and then she would offer up the trot again- hard to figure it out. However, overall she was more calm at the end of our ride then the beginning. She had a "happier face" on by the end of our ride. It was like she knew that I understood that she wasn't trying to be "bad".

Even if she is negative for PSSM I want to investigate further what could have been increasing her anxiety and tightness through her neck, back and hips.

PSSM test is in the mail

2010-01-31T11:09:00.002-05:00

I sent out the hair sample for Drifters' PSSM test. This will be a starting place for us, whether it comes back positive, carrier or negative. I have researched the two feeds at the barn (Horsemans Edge at 35% and Legends Legacy at 19%). I have researched vitamins, minerals, supplements and fats that may need to make up her new diet in a feeder friendly form for the barn staff.

Currently I have backed off pushing her under saddle until the results come back. If they come back negative I will get blood work done. This cold weather is also not very motivating. I did lunge her and ride at the walk the other day. She seemed pretty tense most of the time and I just wanted her to get back to the relaxed place she was earlier in training.

With this new event on the horizon this might really be a journey through horsemanship and not in the vein that I intended. I intended this to be about her training and how we got to lower level eventing- we might still get there, but it might be a bit more of a journey if PSSM is involved.

Nature or Nurture?

2010-01-25T08:43:00.001-05:00

After our last few rides being more challenging I have been thinking of testing Drifter for PSSM. It is the Quarter Horse version of EPSM- which is a metabolic disorder and causes cramping, muscle atrophy, back soreness and other symptoms.

After reading about PSSM it may explain some of Drifters' NQR symptoms in the hind legs in the past as well as the increasing difficulty with the level of work we are doing. There is a DNA test that would rule in/out Type 1 PSSM. Type 2 can only be diagnosed with a muscle biopsy.

I will also be discussing with the barn the possibility of changing her diet to a more PSSM friendly diet. I didn't see my horses all last week, so I am looking forward to going out to see her on Tuesday.

Horribly good!

2010-01-16T10:52:00.002-05:00

We haven't had any more opportunities to jump and even some times cantering has been limited depending how busy it is in the indoor. A rash of cold weather slowed down my desire to ride.

Yesterday was the first nice day in a few weeks and riding was fun.

Drifter started out a bit tense, but I couldn't figure out why. She's been a bit testy and I've figured it's mostly from the cold. However, I am beginning to suspect we're having our first rebellion against work.

When I asked for my first canter she jumped into it with a few crop hops for good measure. I got her back and had her trot a few rounds. I got off and lunged her at the canter for 2-3 minutes in each direction waiting to see if there were any big bucks in her. She was fine on the lunge- so then to see if she would be okay with me on her. If not, maybe it was a saddle fit or pain issue. Nope, she was fine with me on her and we had some of our best cantering to date. We cantered in one direction until she broke gait, trotted across the diagonal and then picked up the canter in the other direction. She stayed way more calm, less behind the bit and got the correct lead most of the time. I didn't focus on the lead, just on cantering, staying calm and no bucking. It was a horribly good ride. Horrible for the bucking, but good for the rest of the cantering. Back to the barn today!

First jumping lesson

2009-12-30T20:11:00.002-05:00

Today was our first jumping lesson. We were in a group with four other horses, two OTTB's, one pony and one other whom I am not sure of his breed. Drifter has only trotted over ground poles a few times and she needed to be ridden straight and with leg through them.

Nothing was different today. She was very calm and sensible about trotting a variety of poles. When we set up a little 12inch vertical she wanted to stop or run-out but some guidance and strong leg aids helped to send her over it. At the same time she was challenging me about the vertical she was trotting through a set of alternately raised poles without issue. She finally figured it out- trot over the raised pole/vertical. We ended with jumping over a small 18" vertical without issue. She just didn't pick up her feet much or put much effort into it. I would like to have her do some jumping on the lunge line and do some exercises with her to increase her awareness of her legs.

What exercises are helpful in getting a horse to be a bit more careful about hitting the pole- these are heavy wooden poles- not PVC. I am hoping with with more exposure that she will figure it out and that maybe it was greenie lack of confidence- rather then laziness or carelessness.

This is my 100th post!

2009-12-21T19:41:00.002-05:00

Drifter has been doing well, although we are still working on 100% resolution of the scratches. She has remained sound despite the swelling. I have been focusing on cantering and her canter depart (or lack thereof). We cantered for the first time with another horse in the ring the other day.

As she moves a bit further along under saddle she is trying some evasions. Her favorite one after cantering is to go behind the vertical. This is a very bad fault and I have been working on bending her and using leg to send her forward at the walk after cantering. This helps her stay in front of the vertical, but hasn't solved the issue. She gets very tense about the canter depart, so I think there is some connection between her tenseness and her going BTV. Every now and then she will come above the bit, but it's minimal and easily fixed with bending. She continues to fall in to the right, but only on one side of the arena, so I don't think it's structural, more a habit or a combination of my left sided tightness and her drifting to the middle. Overall, things are going well and I can easily pass 45 minutes riding and working on straightness, forwardness and getting that canter depart.

Hopefully, we'll take part in the upcoming jump schools! Also, AQHA has made dressage an official sport for points.

Thankful for freezing weather

2009-12-11T18:01:00.002-05:00

Drifter was a bit stocked up on Tuesday and will all the mud I figured she had a bit of scratches brewing. I treated with Gold Bond and Prep H on 2 legs (one front and one back) and just with Gold Bond on the other two. I did ride on Tuesday- walked for 20 minutes and trotted just a few minutes. Her hind legs looked better (right was down 75% and left down 50%). However, she went right back out into the mud!

I got a call this morning that she looked really bad and was stocked up again. When I went out to see her she was standing on one spot and didn't look like she had moved much. When I asked her to move her pogo stick hopped on her right leg and refused to put down her left. I thought that she was "broken", but within a few steps she was hobbling like normal.

In the barn I cleaned her legs and examined the left hind. There were several crusts and some started bleeding when being cleaned. I cleaned her up and when she was mostly dry we went for a 20 minute hand walk. This helped to reduce the swelling. After walking I brushed off the arena dust and completed MTG treatments on both front pasterns (few crusts and minimal stocking up) and Prep H on both hind pasterns (more crusts). I have a feeling that the stocking up is a combination immune response in addition to decreased movement due to the recently frozen mud pit. I'll do another check tomorrow and hopefully I can do 20-30 minutes of mounted walking.

Have I mentioned lately...

2009-12-02T08:06:00.001-05:00

that I love my horse?

She is so fantastic. We cantered yesterday for the first time since the move. She was very gracious about it. I have to do some body work on her to help her with the right lead- that's her hard side. Her left lead was quite nice and she has a fabulous canter. It's great that she is getting back into work again- now I just have to stay consistent.

New Video

2009-11-24T20:32:00.003-05:00

Drifter had off the last two weeks while I was in Texas. I figured that I would lunge her today after being out of work for that amount of time. She was very good being lunged and I was able to take this video while lungeing her.

Good news update

2009-11-04T22:07:00.003-05:00

Drifter was awesome yesterday. She was sound and moving well. It took her a little while to warm-up and relax, but she came a long way yesterday. She was able to do a zig-zag leg yield that I was super impressed with. I hope to get back on a regular schedule with her as I have a meeting and conference that I have to attend this month, so irregular riding and working for Drifter.

I've owner her for over a year and a half and sometime I feel like we're getting nowhere.

Vet care

2009-10-25T18:16:00.002-04:00

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.

Mystery

2009-10-19T20:16:00.000-04:00

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.

Drifter is lame

2009-10-13T22:30:00.002-04:00

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.

Riding outdoors

2009-10-07T17:46:00.002-04:00

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.

Moving Success!

2009-10-04T09:42:00.005-04:00

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.

Zee went to her new home

2009-09-29T20:36:00.001-04:00

Our little girl got on the big girl trailer and is on the way to Maryland. I have some pictures taken today, but forgot my camera at the barn.

I rode Drifter before Zee's new owner arrived. She was very good and we worked on leg yielding. She has more trouble moving off the left leg to the right. I have tried the suggested spiral exercise with her with moderate success. We are able to "fall in" well and have more control on the spiral out part. It's been super windy here, so I've not bee doing as much at canter. Focusing more on this type of lateral exercise and transitions.

Drifter was totally cool that Zee was gone and walked off with Charlie to graze tonight. Back to two horses!

Canter work

2009-09-21T22:07:00.004-04:00

Alright gentle readers... I need your advice from greenie land.

We have been working on the canter and the left lead is coming along nicely. The right lead is still a big challenge. Even with an inside leg aid, Drifter still falls to the inside and falls into the canter. I am working hard on my position to stay back and balanced, but she usually ends up four inches to the right of my seat by the time she is actually cantering. She gets 5-7 strides, pops the left shoulder and breaks to the trot. We need help...

This is a picture of newly weaned Zee with her buddy Charlie- thanks Kim for the great picture.

We cantered!

2009-09-07T15:37:00.000-04:00

After seven months, we cantered again today. Drifter was great. I am picturing the baroque horses with their upright canter- that's our goal. Hope to get some video again soon.

Vacation Motivation

2009-09-02T21:17:00.002-04:00

The long absence from posting was due to my vacation. I was able to visit my friend in MD who is currently eventing her paint horse. This was very motivating and it gave me something to look forward to. If she can do it, so can Drifter and me!

I noticed Drifter being in heat for the first time since foaling. I know she's been in heat before, but it's hard to notice. This time she was "flirting" with the new mare at the farm. She was extra slow under saddle as well. She was good despite numerous distractions. We continued to work at walk and trot, leaving cantering on the lunge line. I want to work on canter so that we can do ground pole/cross rail jump school this fall. There is also a schooling dressage show in November that might be nice to take her to. I forgot that there were walk/trot tests. It's sort of a goal now.

Zee is doing good and is a REGISTERED AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE!! Now I just need to find her a new home. She is listed on Dreamhorse and Equine.com. I have a flier that I have printed out that I probably should take by the tack stores and whatnot. I am moving Drifter back to Toy Box at the end of September and I don't want to pay board on three horses.

Getting back to riding

2009-08-13T18:50:00.001-04:00

Things are getting back to where they were pre-Zee days. It's nice to almost have my horse back again. It will be nice to work on a relationship between her and I without having her attention split between me and Zee. I think it will help her undersaddle work. Drifter is doing well being ridden in the big ring at the walk and the trot. I worked on cantering her on the lunge on Tuesday as well. We are still not back to where we were in Nov/Dec, but we are getting back to riding.

Great riding in ring

2009-08-01T21:52:00.005-04:00

We rode in the big ring today and Drifter was very good. We're finally out of the round pen and back to working on riding skills. She did well on the lunge and good under saddle. Hooray.

Here are new picture of Zee. These were used for her sale ad.

Missing my horses

2009-07-27T22:34:00.000-04:00

I was out of town this weekend and didn't get to see Drifter and Zee. I will be going out tomorrow with my camera and Drifter's new herbal supplements. Hopefully the herbal supplement will help keep the bugs away and soothe her skin.

I will be aggressively marketing Zee this month.

Good days

2009-07-23T22:10:00.000-04:00

Drifter and I have been having good days. She is coming along under saddle again. She seems to be remembering her earlier training. Zee is staying calm in the front of the stall without getting too upset. Drifter did a great job when the other horses came running down by the round pen-she did a little spook to the side, but then stopped dead. I petted her and waited for her to relax before asking her to walk.

I have to say sometimes the best part is after riding when I get to hang out with Drifter and Zee. I untack Drifter without a halter or tying her up and she just stands there. I let Zee out and open the gate to their field and they hang out with me. Zee sniffs me all over- Drifter lets me run her neck and sing songs from the radio to her. They both stay right by me. I usually walk them out to their field- no halter, no leadrope, not even touching them- just inviting them to go with me. This seems to make them even happier to see me the next time. This mare who was supposed to be "hard to catch" now comes running to my voice and whistle when I come to the barn!!

Hooray

2009-07-15T22:39:00.004-04:00

We're trotting. Drifter was a bit fresh on Tuesday when working in the round pen, she was hopping/bucking into the canter. I did NOT take this as a sign of her playing or being happy. It seemed like something was bothering her. I really don't know what it could have been, but she was fine under saddle. After the fact she looked sun burnt between her hind legs, so maybe that was uncomfortable. I just hope it's not a trend or something physically serious.

After trotting and untacking Drifter just hung out with me near the barn. Zee was investigating me and the cat. Zee decided to lay down and take a nap. She was too funny laying there snoring. I sat down in the hay with her while Drifter watched over us. Zee is three months already. I got the results back from Zee's DNA tests, she is a Perlino and will have buckskin babies. She is EE/AA/CrCr. This means she will not have a palomino no matter who the stud is, she will always give an Agouti gene (which is dominant) and one cream gene. So, I think she would always have buckskin or perlino offspring.

I hope to start riding Drifter in the ring (outside the round pen) soon.

We trotted

2009-07-12T12:52:00.005-04:00

Trotted on Drifter for the first time since the birth of Zee. What progress we're making.

Good girl

2009-07-09T21:26:00.002-04:00

Drifter seems to be settling back into mounted work. She has been enthusiastic about work and coming running to the gate with Zee when I pull into the barn. She hasn't been too good for the farrier, but apparently he is not the patient type and that doesn't help her too much. I am working on bringing her legs forward to rest on the rasping stand for him. She has been really good with me for hoof picking, standing tied, fly spray and even worming!

She usually stands free (no halter) after work while I untack her and groom her. Our rides are still short. I rode her out of the round pen by Zee, but that didn't work as well as I would have liked. She's doing better in the round pen. I have a few new ground work exercises that I would like to try in addition to her mounted work. She's a real delight to work with. She seems to love following me around the round pen- I just haven't figured out how to get her to trot with me at liberty.

Zee is still being a good girl and got her first foot trim last week. Her toes were getting a little long and she really needed it. She is good for hoof picking, brushing, fly spray and even worming too! I send out her papers and hairs for DNA testing. I am hoping to do a great sale flyer this weekend or next.

Even the young know loss

2009-06-29T22:03:00.004-04:00

This is Zee by the grave of her friend and affectionately named "Uncle"

update for end of june

2009-06-27T15:36:00.001-04:00

I have been riding Drifter in the round pen almost every time I visit. It's usually just for a few minutes at a time. Just asking her to be relaxed and go forward. She has so many different behaviors under saddle then before she had Zee. She now tries to snatch the reins, stops and stands, backs when asked to go forward, gets easily distracted and is generally tense. She tolerates the short rides, but it feels so far from the ability to walk trot and canter we were doing in the fall.

Zee continues to grow, but is more mannerly when on lead. She picks up her feet nicely and loves to be groomed. She is worse about being separated from Drifter, even when she can still see her. Uncle Gamby recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge and she does not currently have another adult horse companion. She threw a big fit yesterday while I worked Drifter. I am not looking forward to weaning and hope to sell her before moving Drifter.

Continuing education

2009-06-14T11:49:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I went out to work with Drifter and Zee. It was gray and cloudy and rumbling, but it wasn't DOING anything. Do I tacked up Drifter and as soon as I got her in the round pen it began to rain. I ran her quickly into the barn and as soon as we got under it began to pour. Zee was left out in the rain with Uncle Gamby. They called to each other a few times, but both stayed calm.

While I had some alone time with Drifter I began to run my hands over her body. I was feeling for tight spots, tense spots and remembering how much she loved massage before Zee- I began to massage her. She had a quite look on her face and when I stopped, she turned to look at me. As I stopped to look over the door to check on Zee I noticed that my hands where tingling. It was a strong energy through my hands. It made me reflect that motherhood is a magical and strong energy. I began to think that instead of being frustrated and impatient about the "time I was losing" with Drifter and Zee; that instead I should acknowledge and honor her power as mother, bringing and nurturing new life.

So, I began to look online for some guidance and inspiration. I found a good site for natural treats and feeding herbal teas and variety in treats. I also found a site with some good rituals for bonding and greeting your horses. I am always looking for inspiration and ways to add to my skills and experiences with Drifter.

Measuring up

2009-06-09T20:14:00.002-04:00

Zee is 11.1 hands as of today
Drifter is 15.1 1/2

I did a bit of pampering on Drifter; brushing out her tail and mane. Her cut is looking really good. I didn't work her due to the wet footing and wet weather we've been having.

Zee lead nicely from the field to the stall. She's as friendly as ever and loves to be right in your face. She loves to harass Uncle Gamby when she isn't bugging her mama.

We're mobile again!

2009-06-07T18:53:00.002-04:00

Making my way

2009-06-03T21:23:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I tried a new tactic. I left Zee in the field with her uncle Gamby while I worked Drifter in the round pen. Zee was much more calm and Drifter was too!

Drifter's leg is looking really good and should be healed in another week or so.

A nice day

2009-06-01T21:45:00.003-04:00

I have been reflecting on Drifter's explosion under saddle. One person was very surprised that I was riding her after six weeks. I thought a little more about it and decided to give her some more time in work. I rode her the Saturday after her explosion and she was good, but tense. We did a lot of little circles. I still plan on working on, but focusing more on building muscle and having her be more comfortable working away from Zee.

Zee continues to get pretty worked up when Drifter is working. She is getting really big already and is now wearing her halter full time. She's getting too pushy and fresh to be "free" forever. She is growing very nicely and is well built, but I am looking forward to finding her a new owner who will have lots of time to spend with her.

I am also looking forward to getting back to working and focusing on Drifter. I feel bad that I have totally given up on some of the other goals that I had/have for working with her- not just riding. So, in a effort to move out of my comfort zone (ie- training) I am planning on doing more ground work and Ttouch again with her. I might ride her again in the next week or so, but with a different focus then "getting her back under saddle". It's really hard to do differently what I do pretty comfortably and get good results with. On Sunday we had a good day working in the round pen, walking around the arena without Zee and fixing up her leg- which is looking really good.

Rode E Oh

2009-05-22T21:28:00.003-04:00

I really need to post some updated pictures. Zee is so big now. She is doing so many big girl things too! She has learned to target my hand and her halter and fly mask for scratches. I learned this technique from watching a YouTube video. It works really well. She is willing to follow my hand (as the target) around the arena for scratches. She thinks it's the neatest thing to do something and get a click and a reward. Hopefully, I will remember the camera for tomorrow!

I have been working Drifter in the round pen, despite the large cut on her leg. She has been sound on it the whole time- she's a tough girl. I have worked her with and without saddle, with bridle and the Shrake Rhythm Collector- to help her balance and rebuild those back muscles. She's been pretty good about staying focused on work and not on Zee. Today was the first ride on her since the foal. She started out really good-standing still for a ground mount. Then walking several times around the round pen quietly. One our fourth or so time around she stopped to look at Zee and I urged her on with my legs- she EXPLODED into a bucking fit around the round pen. I was so shocked and startled the most I could do was focus to keep my seat. After the first three bucks I remembered that I didn't have to steer much, just keep her head up and get her stopped. She did stop and I worked her on some very small turns and circles for a few minutes. We did go back to walking in both directions around the round pen, but with me in a very defensive riding position. I dismounted and then worked her at trot and canter from the ground. Naughty mamma.

I plan to ride again tomorrow, just to reinforce the "back to work" time.

These pictures are from 5/9/09. She still looks little in these. These are of the girls with their fly masks on to protect their pink little noses!

Updates on Drifter and Zee

2009-05-08T09:35:00.002-04:00

Zee first: She is doing better with wearing her halter and fly mask- although she has also learned to take off her fly mask. I have started teaching her to give to pressure using a lead rope around her body (NOT on the halter). She got the concept really quickly as I paired it with a tongue click and scratches. I just need a longer rope to do some more refined work. She is still spunky and really enjoys turnout time.

Drifter: I separated her from Zee for the first time on Tuesday to work her in the round pen. She did pretty well after being a bit upset at first. After 10 minutes she began to settle and listen to voice commands for walk, trot and halt. It's a bit like starting over in a way :-(
On Thursday, she somehow got her hind legs hung up on the stall door and ripped a whole into her left hind- so we are now treating that with cleaning, dressing and wrapping it. Hopefully, this will not delay her return to "work".

Last time I had a mare with foal at side I was not concerned about training or getting them back into a training routine. I also had all my horses right at home, so a lot of training happened naturally. Now, I have to schedule time to go to the barn and it's a lot harder then I expected to do all I want to do. I am trying to keep an open perspective on the whole thing, but like many people I feel I am always looking for a few more hours in the day.

Quick update

2009-04-29T22:28:00.003-04:00

This week Zee got her first halter and fly mask. She was less then keen about learning to wear the halter and was a bit frightened that I intended to put something over her head. She was more tolerant of the fly mask, but had trouble figuring out how to walk and nurse with it on.

Drifter- ever the good mother- was tied while I messed with Zee. She got a little upset when Zee got to crashing around, but she did not break free from being tied. She also kept her head when Zee and I shot past her hind end a few times. I am hoping to start Drifter back into light work next week- still working on the logistics, but hopeful.

Mama's doing fine

2009-04-24T19:46:00.003-04:00

Drifter is handling motherhood very well. She is loosing the baby weight and will be started back in light work next week (beginning of May). She keeps a good eye on Z, but is allowing her to roam further away each day. Z is also doing well and growing! She is very curious about people and loves to be scratched.

It's hard work being cute!

2009-04-18T12:05:00.002-04:00

First Outing

2009-04-12T20:35:00.005-04:00

Our little girl and her mamma went out for the first time today. Below are videos and some more first day pictures.

Exhale!

2009-04-11T11:11:00.009-04:00

Drifter foaled a beautiful smokey cream filly this morning at 5am.

I went by for our testing and grooming and to re-wrap her tail last night around 7pm. Thursday night (full moon night) she laid down for over an hour laying sternal then recumbent. We really thought she would go, but then she got up to eat. Wanting to be prepared, I packed overnight clothes and fed the dogs before heading out to the barn. After riding Fritz it was time to check Drifter.

She looked similar to the last time I saw her. Maybe a little more swollen behind and her bag was still big. No wax was apparent. BUT as soon as I milked her for testing I thought- we're close. Thick, white, and like a milkshake it was. It tested between 250/500 on calcium and 6.8 or slightly lower for pH. There was a big change in the color of the pH reading. So, I set up camp for a long night ahead.

I was tired from being up on Thursday and fell asleep after reading for awhile. Drifter was pawing a lot, but not doing much else. She even kept going back to eat some hay. Finally, I just went to a deep sleep! I set my alarm for 2:50am, since she laid down around that time yesterday. Alarm went off and I awoke for a moment, she was still eating and pawing and not much else. Back to sleep and I had a dream about her having a colt. As I was dreaming, Kim was calling me from the house to tell me she REALLY was having a foal. I slept through the call. I slept through the water breaking. I slept through the loud crash into a water bucket. This prompted Kim to come down to the barn to see if I was even still there. I didn't even hear her come into the barn. I finally heard, "gina, gina are you here? There's a foot sticking out" me- "a foot? what?" Kim- "Drifter's in labor- having a baby, there's a foot coming out, now another foot, she was down and up and crashed into the water bucket!" I think I fully woke up then. It was 4:57am. I put on my shoes, Drifter laid down and pushed a few times. I could see two feet and a nose. She pushed a few more times without much progress. Kim grabbed the foaling towels and I grabbed the little ones legs for traction when Drifter pushed. This prevented the foal from sliding back in between pushes. It worked beautifully and she easily pushed the foal out in three pushes.

I began to dry the foal off. I reached under the sack and believed we had a filly. She had a deep nicker and rested along side her mother. Before she was completely delivered she began to pass the meconium. It took her about 20 minutes before attempting to stand. We buffed her from crashing into the walls too much. She pooped three more times while learning to stand. She stood by the wall while learning to get her feet under her.

After about an hour and a half she began to look for somewhere to nurse. She didn't seem to notice Mom much and with some guidance she began to look in the right place. She finally nursed around 7 or 7:30am. Once she found the milk bar she went back again and again getting better and better at finding the right spot and nursing fully. It seemed she might have had a little trouble with suck, swallow, breathe at first as I heard some gurgling as she breathed after she nursed. It seemed to clear up by the time I left for the morning at 9:30.

She laid down for a well deserved nap.

Don't hold your breath

2009-04-09T23:00:00.003-04:00

Drifter has been a little less friendly this week, preferring to be left alone. I rebraided her tail this week and hope to remember to bring the tail wrap back out.

I started clicker training with her to give her brain something to focus on while her body is preoccupied. Her first introduction was to go, come when I whistle (which she already does), halt when asked and lower her head when asked. I worked her in the round pen at the new barn for the first time. She went from me, came to me and stopped when asked. She got an apple/alfalfa treat after the click each time. She slowly started to catch onto the lower head cue (hand on poll). I was surprised to see that she wasn't very food motivated. I repeated the clicker session on Tuesday in her stall. We focused on come and lower head. This time I used pieces of carrot. She started to associate the click sound with a action/treat. This is the beginning of learning/training through clicker training. I saw her ears flick forward after hearing the click- therefore indicating that she understood that the click meant "YES" -food coming. She tried a bit harder with the lower head cue after that. I plan on contining clicker training for ground skills and later to shape some movement/style concepts with her. I think it's a nice adjunct to traditional training and I think Drifter would agree.

Code Orange

2009-04-03T20:02:00.003-04:00

We've made progress again. Nice full udder and sweeter milk. Very nice- hopefully there will be foal pictures soon! Outdoor pictures are from Tuesday and indoor pictures are from today.

Holding steady

2009-03-26T19:59:00.004-04:00

Drifter appears to have put the breaks on having this baby and is holding steady. Here are some pictures from this week. We're hoping she doesn't make us wait until next year!

Enjoying a roll in the field- who knew she could still even do this!

Looking very drafty here.

Side to side comparison.

Pregnancy update- NOT foaling update

2009-03-20T18:41:00.009-04:00

This means that Drifter is indeed still pregnant. She is very uncomfortable, full udder and swollen vulva. She gave us quite a "scare" on St. Paddy's day- false labor. She laid down at least 8 times between 7am and 11am. When Kim came home around 11 she was laying down in the field. She then laid out flat and began to grunt. They called me, "Drifter is foaling". She had a few contractions, pushed a few times, then got up and started eating again- like nothing was going on!
I was so glad to get there and she certainly looked like she was going to go that night. Her milk did not test on the chart for calcium or pH. I stayed at the barn until 2am- tested her milk again and she looked to be at 100ppm for Calcium and 8+pH.

Came back out today, the foal was kicking a lot. I was able to get some of the movement on video. Milk testing today resulted in the same- calcium at 100 and pH 8, but starting to change.

Slowly Creeping Closer

2009-03-12T18:44:00.003-04:00

Milk testing is underway and we still have a few days to go. She is not testing on the charts yet. The milk testing is about 95% accurate within 24 hours. She is starting to bag up more and is very uncomfortable and also very snuggly. Here are updated pics.

She's teasing

2009-03-08T16:06:00.003-04:00

Drifter is keeping me up at night, she was very restless on Friday after one Nanny goat had triplet kids. Last night, she was also restless, pacing, pawing, looking at her sides and being generally uncomfortable. Here are pics from today and Friday.
Friday- Drifter's upset

Udder shots

The big move

2009-02-28T19:33:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was the big move from my boarding barn to the "maternity ward". The stall was bedding in straw and waiting for Drifter's arrival. She got on the trailer nicely- front feet first and a little break- then she hefted her back end in. She stood very quietly eating her dinner while the door was closed. I let her eat a bit before jumping in the trunk and getting rolling. As soon as we started to leave the farm- she got pretty excited and upset. I could hear her calling and tossing her head. I could feel the trailer shaking as she was carrying on. As soon as we hit about 35mph she calmed down and relaxed a bit- she is a good loader- but maybe not the best hauler. The last time she was on a trailer it was a five day cross country ride- so maybe she had a reason to be anxious.

Luckily the ride to the new farm is only 15 minutes. When we got there she was dripping in sweat and clearly nervous. I again entered the trailer and offered her dinner. She started to eat and relax within a few minutes. I wanted the last thing she remembered on the trailer to be her standing calmly eating some yummy grain. She backed off very calmly with only a little stumble as her weight landed on her hind end. I was expecting her to be very pushy after unloading in a new place. As soon as she stepped off the trailer the FedEx trunk arrived and the chickens started clucking. She looked around, alert, but not upset and walked with me down to the barn. When she realized there were horses at this barn she started walking faster, but was never pushy or out of control. She only took a momentary glance at the chickens. She sniffed at the goats that are living beside her, but she took everything in stride. She settled into her stall and munched some hay and peed. All was well.

Today I went to check on her, see how she settled in and how she got along with her new turnout buddy. All was well and she was tucked in for the night. I checked her over and WHOA she is starting to bag up! She enjoyed a brief massage and I snapped some new pictures.

Moving Day Nears

2009-02-25T22:34:00.003-05:00

Drifter will be moving to her new home on Friday. There is a large foaling stall that is already deeply bedded in straw that is ready for her. I think she will be really happy to have someplace to lie down and rest at night. The farm is super nice with goats and chickens as well as the horses.

Here is the pictures for this week.

Weekly update

2009-02-19T20:23:00.005-05:00

Not much change this week- still no udder and I find it's very hard to tell if her rump shape is changing. Do quarter horse rumps change all that much?

She loves to come in and be groomed at this point. The web cam is working at the barn she will be moving to. I will be able to check on her from home. Once she gets very close to foaling I will be right there with her.

Can you believe?

2009-02-14T19:17:00.002-05:00

That this is the same horse?

I love the light in her eyes in the recent picture. The other picture is from her first day in NJ.

Mamma Pics

2009-02-12T21:07:00.007-05:00

From last week

Happy and Pregnant

2009-02-07T17:56:00.004-05:00

Drifter is doing well and on full maternity leave now.

Does this camera make my butt look big?

Belly with baby

Almost time

2009-02-04T21:05:00.002-05:00

Drifter is letting me know that it is almost time to stop this riding business. He gave me a little crow hop when I got on last week. Just a little curl of the neck and all four feet off the ground. I really think this little hop was all about the fact that it was feeding time and she felt she was going to get left out! Hell, do not get between any pregnant female and her food in the last trimester.

Today I rode little Miss Mama again and she was just slow. Her lateral work is coming along nicely. However, I noticed that she was not able to maintain abdominal flexion during halt transitions. She was compliant, but I think my weight and the baby weight is probably not helping her back anymore- we outweigh what she can carry.

The foal is moving a lot. Today her tail head was softer then last week. Her thighs have relaxed as well. She will be moving at the end of the month.

Looking good

2009-01-26T21:03:00.002-05:00

Drifter is 8mos in foal now. She's been under saddle for four months.

My dad came out to meet her for the first time and took some pictures while I was riding her on Sunday. Her "rides" are only about 20 minutes now. She is still able to do 5-10 minutes of trotting before she seems to get tired. I think that the quarter sheet hides her belly pretty well.

Fresh girl

2009-01-16T21:42:00.003-05:00

I finally got out to the barn today after getting out of class a little bit early. It's so cold, so I wanted to check on the big belly girl.

I took my gelding out first and he was very fresh after not getting much turnout. He actually got his workout on the lunge and I rode him for his cool-down. Not my plan, but I was taking it easy since I still don't feel 100%.

Drifter is funny. She recognizes me when I come out to pasture board. I have trained her to recognize a certain whistle, which she gets a treat if she comes to me when she hears that whistle. She does some days and not others, but most days it at least makes her stop while I walk up to her. But I do notice that she watches me take Fritz out and seems to notice when I am around the barn in general. We was relatively pleasant about coming in today. I checked her warmth under her blanket and would have liked her to be warmer, so I think I might look for a liner for her at work on Monday in case the cold weather continues. I just park her in the aisle and groom and tack her. I rarely cross-tie her because the cross ties are usually occupied and she just stands there. Mind you, she stands on the cross ties well, so I think it's a good skill to stand without being tied- just the leadrope over her neck. Her legs were pretty dirty and I can tell she is laying down a lot in the shed with the dirt on her belly. She seemed a bit surprised to see the saddle coming out today.

When I took her into the indoor I was still alone and thought that lunging her might be a good idea after Fritz' silliness. So I hooked her up and sent her out at a walk and she puffed right up and began trotting without me asking. She gave a little hop and buck and threatened to take off. I "twirred" to her and she came to a slammed down walk, but still had a mischievous look in her eye. She was moving nicely forward and doing a great extended trot at times. I kissed to her and she broke into a lovely canter and cantered around me several times. This was the nicest canter she has ever done on the lunge. I think that because she had so much self carriage she was able to pull it off. Her canter is still more difficult to the right then the left. After switching directions she was less fresh, but still moving out at a brisk trot. I didn't want her to overdo it, so I asked for several transitions and then got her ready for a light ride.

She was good for mounting and very good under saddle. I wish she was normally that forward on most of our rides because it was so easy to get her organized and through. We did a few figure eights at the trot and then walked to help cool her out. Yep, she's still got it.

In four days she will be 8 months along. I think she was so fresh today because the horses aren't getting to move out and stretch with the cold weather and frozen ground. I think that the soft footing in the indoor and the lack of her blanket had her feeling good. She certainly seemed happy and just a little fresh!

Cold

2009-01-15T18:50:00.002-05:00

It's been cold and I got food poisoning this week. So not much has been done with Drifter this week. I am very happy to be heading out to the barn tomorrow after class to check in on her with the brutal cold we are having here on the east coast.

Holidays

2009-01-03T18:14:00.005-05:00

I have been sick and nursing Drifters scratches as well. She is mostly better and was sound on the leg the whole time. I had my mom out today and she took these videos. You can see Drifters big tummy under saddle now.
Just a nice relaxed trot

Posting trot

Trotting down to the camera!

Lazy rider, loose rein, relaxed horse.

weather problems

2008-12-21T21:17:00.002-05:00

The weather has been horrible here with ice, rain and more ice. The pasture board horses have been stuck in the big shed, refusing to leave and go out. When I went to change Drifter's blanket I noticed that she had significant swelling in both hind legs, especially the left hind. She was swelled up to her hocks. The swelling was warm with pitting edema. Massage helped. So did hand walking.

I figure that she is retaining some water from the pregnancy, she is not walking, she may have a mild case of scratches.

So again today I doctored her legs, hand-walked and lunged her some, attempted to dry her pasterns thoroughly. She is pleasant about the whole thing, allowing me to massage her swollen legs, clean her pasterns and apply more goop to them. I am hoping the weather improves so that everyone moves away from the shed and starts walking some more. Let's hope for better weather.

Great day

2008-12-12T19:59:00.002-05:00

It's been raining and flooding here! The pastures are super wet and when I went to get Drifter, she took one look at me and headed the other way. After walking across the wet, muddy, boot stealing field I went up to her and slipped on the halter, She was a good girl and followed me back in.

I took her right to the wash stall to hose off her muddy legs, feet and blanket. Luckily I remembered to bring along a clean and dry blanket for her last week. She was a good girl and stood to be hosed off. She almost seemed to be happy to be getting cleaned up. I worry about all the mud making her feet soft and her getting another stone bruise.

I gave her a really good grooming to removed the wet spots. I only groomed her above the knees, because she was wet from her mini-bath. She was good for tacking up and is starting to lower her head for bridling.

I rode with two other horses in the ring today. It was super windy and it felt like the roof would be blown off the indoor. Drifter was forward, light and happy. It was a great ride. She was back to her November attitude without reluctance to go forward. This could be because:
- the foal was sleeping and not kicking ehr
- it wasn't feeding time
- she wasn't wearing a quarter sheet (maybe the static shocks her)
- it was windy, maybe this is her "up" mood

We worked on lateral work (leg yield) at walk and trot and walk/trot transitions. She was very willing and listening to my leg aids. I kept noticing how she was trying to cut into the left and bending a bit to the right. Then I noticed that my right leg was internally rotated and my knee was pinching into her. When I consciously changed my leg position to be even, she went straight. I was accidentally bending her and moving her off my right leg. She is so finely tuned into me that I notice these little things. When I rode my gelding, Fritz, after riding her I kept my right leg externally rotated and he also went much better. He maintained his roundness and didn't lose his balance at the canter. This mare teaches me so much.

More momy then ever

2008-12-10T20:17:00.000-05:00

Yesterday our ride was average for December. She continue to be less forward and thrilled with work, but overall still willing and responsive. We are only working at walk and trot now, but I am hoping to be able to maintain her fitness throughout the rest of her pregnancy. I am not so sure that she agrees with me.

After our short ride, I stopped a moment before throwing her blanket back on her and noticed the activity going on inside. I placed my hands on her- one on her flank and one on her midline. I sweat that foal was tap dancing on her insides- no wonder she doesn't want to trot around!

Dressage ring

2008-12-06T15:36:00.003-05:00

Today we worked in the dressage ring for the first time. The dressage ring has no real fence and is closer to the road/driveway and other distractions.

First, I addressed Drifter standing at the mounting block, which she has not been fond of lately. We did a lot of walk and some trot for our session today. I focused on correct bending and ended with some leg-yielding and an attempt to introduce shoulder-fore. I needed to remind her to remain rhythmical and not speed up facing the barn. We practiced circles that were round with good bend in both directions. She was mostly compliant, but seemed a little foot sore. We just had our first good freeze here and the pastures are pitted with muddy frozen horse hoof holes now. Overall, she was very good in a new work environment.

Drifter is approximately 204 days in foal. She is due April 10-24, since we don't know her true breeding date. The foal is the size of a beagle and growing into a goat sized fetus with fuzzy whiskers. The pregnancy is taking more out of her and she appears hungry all the time. We have stopped all cantering and are focusing on quality trot and walk work. Drifter is very friendly right now and has even been coming up to the fence for me when I call her.

Wondering about tomorrow

2008-12-04T23:44:00.002-05:00

Our Tuesday ride was less then impressive. When I went to get Drifter out of the field she looked very tired. She was fine for grooming and tacking. Our whole ride was at the walk working on halting. She was forward on the forehand and ignoring my aids to halt.

It could have been any number of factors:
1. she was tired and cranky
2. she was uncomfortable
3. the bit was not adjusted properly
4. my pants smelled like smoke and she was "getting away" from them
5. unknown, unrelated factors
6. it was feeding time and she is/was starving

Her appetite has increased a lot lately. Otherwise she was good and maybe she would have been better if I did some trotting and asked her to move out and then went back to halting- who knows. She appears to enjoy lateral work. I hope tomorrow is a better day, better ride.

Cantering again

2008-11-25T21:17:00.002-05:00

Classical dressage methods prove true.

Classical dressage training indicated that transitions and lateral work improve the canter.

The last two weeks I have been focusing on teaching the leg yield and doing lots of walk/trot transitions. The transitions were used to lighten her up to the seat and the leg again. She is moving along nice from the seat and can do all her downward transitions (walk and whoa) from the seat and voice. Ditto for up to trot, no real leg aid needed. She is moving more forward and active now. For the lateral work I have just been teaching the seat and leg aid the means move sideways. She is picking up on this quickly and seems to enjoy the lateral work.

Today I went back to ask for canter. I warmed up with walk/trot transitions and then asked for the canter from the walk. She gave me only a few steps of trot before picking up the canter. I did notice that I am throwing my body around more then I should and made a good attempt at sitting back and giving her the clear aids. She showed a great improvement from our last attempts at canter transitions. We also maintained the canter for a longer period of time. There is still hope to teach the canter to the pregnant mare!

Drifter is now heading into her 7th month. Horses are pregnant for 11 months. I think the foal has moved because she seems more comfortable, but I can still feel the foal flutter. I hope that this means I will be able to continue her training for a few more months. Her progress is so great I don't want to quit now!

Tonight

2008-11-23T18:27:00.003-05:00

Went out and rode Drifter tonight. I wasn't really enthusiastic because it was really cold out. She seemed game to go and was cooperative and forward. She is really getting the lateral work thing, which is a blessing and a trick, because she tried it as an evasion a few time tonight. She really engages herself when asked to do lateral work (leg-yield and turn on haunches) at this point. We did some walk/trot transitions on a loose rein and asked for a few trot lengthenings. She is really progressing in her trot work and hopefully we will get some more canter work in again soon.

Tonight, I really felt the baby flutter after we did our work. I was rubbing her belly and could really feel the foal moving. It was so cool. I think it is the size of a beagle right now- moving quickly towards the size of a goat. Drifter seems to have accommodated to the riding and foal now or the baby has moved, because she doesn't need to stop and pee so much and she looks like she is carrying it differently. I was almost worried until I felt the activity in there tonight. We are just past the half way point in her pregnancy.

Progress

2008-11-19T12:50:00.002-05:00

I got one ride over the weekend, which went well. We continued to work on grading the speed and step length at walk and trot. She has been very slow at the walk without impulsion. She also gets to a point where she likes to stop (after about 30 minutes), which generally means she has to pee!

Last night, we had a great ride! We didn't do any more cantering. We spent 20 minutes at the walk. I introduced some lateral work- asking her to do a simple leg yield. She had nice engagement and impulsion. By the time we got to the trot, she was working nicely and ready to go. Her trot was very nice and forward for the first time in awhile. He leg yield at the trot was a bit rushed and unbalanced, but I could really feel her engage her engine a few time. When she got "sloggy" around the time she generally has to pee I switched to walk/trot transitions. This went really well and her transitions were often forward and light. She is a real joy to ride.

Over worked

2008-11-14T22:20:00.003-05:00

This week I had a class in Morristown from 8am to 5pm. By the time we got out of class it was dark and it's over an hour drive from there to the barn. So, I missed my normal Tuesday ride. I really needed to get away from class mode and get to the barn, so I went after class today.

This was a really nice evening to go ride as the weather was mild and the farm was virtually deserted. Drifter needed only a quick clean up (from the knees up anyway) and we were tacked up and ready to go. She did a really cool thing today and opened her mouth and lipped the bit into her mouth all by herself today. She still raises her head when it is time to put on her halter or bridle, but we are still working on this. I was really impressed that she willingly took the bit though.

Our ride was nice and she was a bit more forward then our previous two rides. We worked on posting trot, took a break for a pee, then worked on canter when no one was in the ring. Still trying to get that canter depart. She tried really hard and only shut down once on me. Her trot work was pretty nice too and I started to ask for some variation in her trot stride length.

After her ride, when we slowed down to a walk, steam started to roll off her. She was really hot. So, I walked her out a bit, threw a cooler on her and left her in Fritz' stall while I rode him. When he was all done she was mostly dried out and ready to get her sheet on and go back outside.

She is a wonderful mare with a lot of "try" in her.

Reciprocity

2008-11-07T16:09:00.002-05:00

Life continues to be challenging and I am not always in the most "fit" form to ride. I know that Drifter is sensitive and tuned into me, so since I was not feeling well I choose not to ride today.

Instead, we did a little lungeing with side reins. She is doing well, but it was hard for her to balance outside with a little slope to the ring and the footing being very soupy. She tried hard to please. She also trotted a few caveletti by accident in our lungeing. It was nice to see her make a correction after hitting them the first time. I think she will be a fine jumper.

After lungeing, I did some ground work with her getting her to understand turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches from a hand or whip aid. She seemed very interested in learning what I was asking.

To end the day I thought I would give her a bit of a massage. As soon as I started rubbing my hands over her barrel, she stretched down her head and stretched out her lips. I began to itch her back and whithers and she reached around and began to rub my back with her nose. I think I will reward this behavior. I discouraged her from using her teeth with a verbal "uh-uh" and she went back to rubbing me with her nose while I scratched her back. She seemed to really enjoy the massage and scratching. I also found that she really enjoyed me massaging right behind her scapula and shoulder along a thick muscle there. I ended with a few belly lifts to ease the weight on her topline. This was a good way to brighten my day.