Vet Checks

So Ivy had her first vet check.  I wasn't worried, but you never know.  In September I had my vet do some flexions just in case.  Nothing, not even a one on anything.  Here come this gal, very nice and I never judge by how someone looks.  They do a once over visual, then they take a pen and drag down her back and take notes.  Simple flexion and the run up and down the driveway.  I walk away and by the time I get back they are all standing around talking.  They tell me she has swollen stifles, maybe a one on the front and she has atrophy in her neck.  The vet also tells me she's unsafe because Ivy tried to kick her.  I take my horse and call the whole thing off.  The trainer states that they will give me a call in a month if nothing comes up.  I laugh and said no thank you.

I freak that there is something wrong w/ my horse.  She has never been lame or had a fall.  Atrophy in the neck?  What is that?  I was really worried about the stifles.  I call my vet and have another check.  Now this is a different vet then my dentist vet and has never done flexions on her.  He works on her for 40 min.  He finds nothing and laughs at the atrophy and scratches his head on the stifles.  He tells me that the other vet must have been afraid of my mare or something.  He then asked who was the vet and I told him.  He stated that she has missed colic on a horse.  Great.  He did find some soreness in her lower back over the kidneys.  Could be the saddle?  I just spent 4 grand for a custom?  We are going to try Mesotherapy and time off.  Her joints are great.

The good news is that my horse is very sound and will be ready to show in Jan..  The bad, I might not find a horse as sound as her that jumps.

Looking for Event Horse

I know I should not be looking yet, but I am.  There is a lot for sale and I am limited in my choices.  I need to find a horse that can compete in dressage and jump on the side.  I find the judges in my area are pretty picky about what they like.  I think a nice Irish cross would do.  There is a nice sale going on in Ireland (Goresbridge) and they have very nice horses.  I would take any one of them but lack the funds.  I love to dream. 

Trials of Selling

So I have decided to sell my horse.  I must be going through a mid life crisis.  Instead of nice red four wheeled car, I want a nice red four legged eventer.  Now it seems like all the nut jobs who are looking for horses,want to look at mine.  I am realistic about my mare and very straight forward.  I have nothing to hide, nor would I.  My first potential buyer asks if she's had natural horsemanship training.  Um, no and it's really not my thing.  They felt she was too tall.  She wanted a 15.0 hand warmblood.  Good luck!

 Second potential buyer is 72 and her trainer is 78.  We start off OK, but I knew my mare was not happy about a second ride in the day during feeding hour.  She was tight and cranky so I just hacked her long and low.  The woman wanted to trail ride and do dressage a few days a week since she's just learning the basics.  She had no interest in showing.  Her trainer states my horse has the worst movement he has seen and good luck moving up to second.  I state that I was selling her as a low level horse and you can leave now!  I would pay money to see her ride a big mover on the trail or even in a lesson.  The saga will continue, but I plan on showing next month.

Changes

Well it has been a month, and I am going to sell my horse.  I am not rushing the sale, and plan on showing next season.  She really hasn't the heart for jumping.  She will do it, but then she might not.  I think she is happy just popping over little things and going to shows.  I just took a video of my dressage lesson.  All I can say is YUK!  Why my left elbow does what it does I don't know.  And that left leg!  Why is it moving!  Now I have not ridden her for a month, so I was a little weak.  Lots to work on for now. Oh, and keep those thumbs up already.  Arms to my side too! And........

Lesson Friday

Jumping 3'!

We had an OK lesson.  Warm-up went well and she was forward to the aids on the flat.  Then the jumping.  First set were great, but then she started stopping.  It was 93 out and she just shut down.  On a good note, we jumped all required jumps in lesson after stopping.  Lesson to take home was that I stop riding 2 strides out.  I need to ride her all the way to the base.  She leaves this week for 30 days :(.  Major boot camp for both of us!

Lesson Friday and Training News

We are going for a lesson on Friday.  Not sure if we are going to jump since I have decided to send her out for the month of August.  This was a very hard decision, but I really need some polishing.  She needs to be forward to the aids and leg yields are shoulder leading.  Since she has never had formal training, it will be interesting to see how bad or good she'll be.  I'm sure I've created many of her issues.  The best part is that she'll be part of a jumping program and it includes one trip to a horse park.  I will also get one or two lessons a week. 

At home I've only been working on small planks, poles and X's.  Pole work has been great.  I set them about 45' apart and work on 3 strides, 4's and then 5's back to 3's.  She's flat w/ the 3's but at least she's willing to give it to me.  Now, I'm working on canter to walk and about a million trot to walk transitions w/ a couple of halts.  We actually had a clean change last week!  Since she's going out, I have put shows on the back burner. 

Can't wait for the Olympics! 

The July Show!

T3 Test

The stress of showing is over.  The outcome was great!  This was the first rated show where I thought the cool misty weather would be good for forward.  We arrive 40 min. before my class starts.  I tack her up and go to the warm up arena.  She was willing but needed more engagement.  I work on down transitions back to forward again.  Did a few trot to halts and two steps back.  First class was T3 and I only messed up one shallow loop.  Ended w/ a 66% and off we went to First level.  I think we were tired by the time I walked into that class.  We ended up with a 63% and now I am moving into first.  I was very nervous and conservative on trot lengthening.  Got 6 and 6.5 for those.  7s on halts and stretchy trot.  All in all I am very happy and really don't care if she ever jumps again.  OK, not true.  Cross rails would be fine :)