Dances With Horses

Meet Larry

2012-02-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

We worked out a satisfactory lease with his owner, and brought Larry home this evening. Larry is an eight-year-old Danish WB/Arabian cross, and has competed through First Level dressage. But it's been awhile since he's had any regular work, and it shows.

So we have our work cut out for us, but I'm looking forward to the challenge of getting him in shape and bringing him back up to - and beyond - his previous level of training. We'll start with lunging in side reins to start building up his topline and belly muscles, and go from there. I plan to take him to some schooling shows this season, and hopefully on some horse-camping trips as well!

Still looking

2012-02-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

I won't be picking up the possible lease on Sunday; we still haven't ironed out all the wrinkles in the lease agreement. Not that the owner is unreasonable; she has accepted the vast majority of our suggested changes. But my husband is an equine veterinarian, which means he knows all the worst-case scenarios and so will never be completely comfortable with the risks of leasing a horse. And truth be told, I would rather have a horse of my own if possible.

Rick thinks I should have kept Russell, but he doesn't understand that walking and jogging around the arena and infrequent easy trail rides, all while worrying that Russell might "break" again, is not the relationship I want to have with a horse. (And Russell never cared to interact much with humans on the ground.)

Enter a new possibility. My friend Laura is the Craigslist queen, and she has had her eye on a horse she found advertised there. We were chatting on the phone today about our horse-shopping woes, when she said, "YOU should go look at this mare!" Then she forwarded me the Craigslist ad link, and the owner's phone numbers. The mare, a rescued OTTB, looks nice and sounds nicer. I've talked to the owner on the phone, and she's sending me more photos and a couple videos. If I still like what I see, I'm hoping to go see her on Sunday. I know better than to get my hopes up, but it's too late....

Right on, Ralph!

2012-02-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

"Riding horses is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole, and once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed."

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, to have this kind of recognition!

2012-02-04T15:43:00.001-08:00

(For dressage in the U.S., not for me!)

The old man

2012-01-30T20:27:00.001-08:00

Docs Sam Peppy, otherwise known as Sammy (or Beans), is Rick's old cutting horse. He is looking pretty tough but is still alert and enjoys life, so who knows how long he'll be around.

My horse activities lately have consisted of . . . doing chores. Oh, and I did go look at a couple of fillies owned by the breeder of the Morgan I once owned. Too much doubt on my part to go there - doubt about how big they would get and their aptitude for dressage; whether I want to deal with a mare; whether I have the time to start a youngster when I'm homeschooling my own youngster. For now I'm pursuing the lease of the horse pictured here; if the owner and I can come up with a lease contract agreeable to us both, I'm hoping to pick him up on February 12. That would be my first opportunity, because my sister just had her first baby and I'm utilizing a free ticket we have to fly to Texas and meet my nephew!

Hopeful

2012-01-22T22:27:00.001-08:00

Sunset on my way home today

Today I met Larry, the horse pictured in my previous post. He doesn't look like that now; he's underweight, under-muscled, wet and muddy. Worse, his manners were seriously lacking. But as you might guess from my title, I see possibilities. Manners can be taught, weight can be gained, muscling can be developed. The gaits are there; he moves off the leg nicely. We need to fine-tune the lease agreement and I'm not going to do anything until after my sister has her baby and I make the trip so be with them for as long as I can manage. Then, we'll see!

Flurries

2012-01-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

We've been having snow flurries since Saturday night, to go with the flurry of horse-hunting activity. After Sunday's shopping, I was feeling pretty subdued about my prospects. Then today I stumbled upon some horse ads when placing an ad for sheep on a site I didn't even know had a place to advertise horses! I called about a broodmare (broke to ride) that is "very affordable to a good home," and learned about another horse the owner has which is available for lease - this handsome fellow:
He looks wonderful, sounds wonderful, and is even eliciting a somewhat positive reaction from the husband. I'm hoping to go meet him this Sunday!

Looking

2012-01-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

This morning I looked at a couple mares, a Paint and a Quarter Horse. Watched them move a bit; didn't bother to ride them. I knew they were not likely to be what I'm looking for going in, but hey, it never hurts to look!

This afternoon I drove in the other direction to look at a green, mostly Thoroughbred gelding. Given the weather the owner didn't want to haul him anywhere and only had a grassy/wet round pen in which he could walk and trot. He has a sweet personality, but several things about him give me pause.

My husband has warned me not to get something "just because it's a horse." Ha. Not likely. Horses are a considerable investment of money (even "free" ones), time and emotions; I want a partner I can enjoy and grow with for years. I may have to wait awhile, as hard as that is.

Waiting

2012-01-08T16:31:00.000-08:00

As soon as I hit "Publish Post" I'm headed out for a brisk walk in the cold fog and then I'll ride Breezy. I have to admit that seeing how big I looked on her in the New Year's Day photo uninspired me, but the desire to preserve riding-muscle memory overrides my lack of inspiration.

Today, I think my friend Laura found a dancing partner after a string of unsuitable horses. I am thrilled for her . . . and trying (not very successfully) to fight feeling sorry for myself. Patience is a virtue that I apparently need, because it is only developed by practicing it! I have spent some time perusing sales sites and exchanging emails on various horses, but am not at liberty to act on any interest I may have (for reasons I am not free to disclose). It's probably just as well. I have a very limited budget and cold feet about spending it. Things are tight enough right now that my "horse money" may need to be available as an emergency fund for something else.

BTW, I've added a link at right to an article I ran across that expresses many of my own thoughts on "Natural Horsemanship." Let's hear it for GOOD horsemanship!

Beware the idle trainer...

2012-01-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

...for she WILL find something to train!

With rain predicted for later in the morning, after chores I decided to make Oliver my ~~victim~~ subject of the day. Oliver is a 11-year-old reining-bred Quarter horse given to us by his owner after she decided he was never going to be an athlete. Rick has been his vet since birth, when Oliver got sepsis followed by several other problems; he was nicknamed Oliver from a bad bout of projectile diarrhea that got poop "all over." He's line-bred to Smart Little Lena on top and bottom, and (perhaps because of that) does not have the best mind. Rick thought he might make a good horse for Brian someday, but has realized since that he will never be a kid's horse. (After watching the movie Temple Grandin, it occurred to both of us that he might be autistic!) Still, with Rick's cutting horse getting old and decrepit, we keep Ollie around for Rick's trail horse. That means he rarely gets ridden. Enter the idle trainer - that would be me!

This morning I saddled him up and took him out to lunge some steam off. He had plenty of energy but didn't buck at all, a good sign. But it quickly became apparent that he was lame in the back end. We ended his exercise by leading him around at a walk with Brian on his back.

I turned my attention back to Breezy. Decided to lunge her to help build condition and muscle without my weight, so put on a snug halter and lunge line and took her to the arena. When I clucked to move her out, she kicked out at me and then bolted, head and shoulder thrown into the lunge line so that she had full advantage, ripping the line from my hand (and re-straining my tennis elbow, the little snot). Needless to say, that got her saucy little pony butt worked harder than was my original plan! First I chased her around until stopping and coming to me sounded like a dandy idea to her, then I bridled her and ran the lunge line through one bit ring, over her poll and clipped it to the off-side bit ring (what I did with Ollie, and should have done to start with on Breezy). When I clucked to put her on the circle she tried the bolting trick again, but hit the bit and decided very quickly that she could be a lady. Ponies!!!

Today I was offered the free lease of a five-year-old barely started Warmblood-cross mare if I wanted a project to work on. I've heard through the grapevine that the mare can be a bad actor, so I'm cautious. Can't quit (or take medical leave from) my day job of being Brian's homeschooling mother!

My New Year's tradition

2011-12-31T18:01:00.000-08:00

The one thing I try to do every year on New Year's Day - some way, somehow - is get on the back of a horse. With Russell gone, I took Brian's pony Breezy for a spin around the arena this morning, since she is the only one remaining who's been ridden English. I don't know that she was thrilled, but she was pretty good considering my size and the fact that Brian asks little-to-nothing of her in the way of correctness. Since Russell was the only one getting any regular attention, the three remaining equines are in much need of conditioning. Might as well address that as much as possible while I'm waiting to see if there is another dressage partner in my future!

"I could have missed the pain...

2011-12-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

...but I'd of had to miss the dance."

Our last dance - Tuesday morning before the rain set in.

The view out my east windows throughout Wednesday.

It was better after the sun set; out of sight, out of mind (or at least a little less ON my mind). Then, last night around choretime, I had something of an epiphany. I have been mourning not only the upcoming loss of my dancing partner, but also the end of the dance. I have really, deep down, been crying over the possibility that I may never have another dressage horse. No other riding I have done has developed the same kind of relationship with a horse, the subtle and nuanced level of communication and understanding. And when you get one with the right mind combined with physical ability, the results are almost magical.

Russell and I have had that kind of relationship for over eight years now. On top of that, he has been the horse to whom I could trust both my safety as a new mother and that of my son, just a toddling tot when Russell first joined us. There's a whole lot of special memories wrapped up in this horse; once-in-a-lifetime memories. (My dad said once, after watching Brian scale up the side of Russell like a mountain climber, "There's not a horse in 20,000 like that.")

God willing, I will be blessed with another dancing partner someday. Russell's dressage days are over, but he can continue to be a trusted babysitter and special memory-maker with his new family, just by being who he is - Special Majesty.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T15:23:00.000-08:00

Breezy demonstrates the horses' approval of their Christmas morning treats - apples from the neighbor:

Hope your Christmas was equally lip-smacking good!

Family portrait

2011-12-23T16:17:00.000-08:00

Russell met his new family yesterday (all except the husband/dad). Russell hadn't been out for over a week, so for them it was a good demonstration of his stellar nature and training. After all four of them took turns riding him around the arena, I got on and briefly "put him through his paces." With them he walked quietly and slowly; when I got on and gathered up the reins, he put on his "show face."

I've been having cold feet about letting Russell go, but felt better after watching them and talking with the mom. The plan is that the mom will come back next Thursday morning when the farrier is here to get instruction on how Russell's feet have been managed, after which she will take him home. My stomach is in knots already, but I do think it's a good fit for them and for my wonderful "Muscle Man." Will there be another dancing partner for me in the near future? I hope and pray so. In the meantime, I'll throw my leg over Brian's pony or one of the little Quarter Horses in the barn so my muscles stay ready. As for my heart, it may be sore for awhile....

Emotional roller coaster

2011-12-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

That's what I've been experiencing since Saturday night. That night I attended a Christmas party for the ladies of our church. The hostess is one of Rick's clients and we've talked about getting together for a trail ride over the years, but we're both moms and have never made the time. As I was getting ready to leave, I asked casually, "So, do you still have horses?" She confirmed that she did, but none that she can ride. Two are boarders, and two are 30-year-old pensioners. I commiserated, and she told me of her experiences trying to find a suitable horse for her needs - a safe, well-trained trail horse for herself and a safe, well-trained horse who can occasionally give kids rides in the arena. As she talked, I realized with crystal clarity that she needs RUSSELL! So I asked two questions: would she be interested in giving him a home, and would she give him a forever home? With affirmative answers, my spirit soared.

Its flight lasted about as long as the Wright brothers' epic success 108 years ago. Then I seized up with the thought of letting Russell go. My head told me it was the best thing for both of us, but my heart started back-pedaling, then went into mourning.

As always, my head prevailed. This lady has the facilities (bigger acreage and barn; indoor arena) and means (she and her husband are both physicians) to care for my horse for the rest of his life, and needs a good boy like him for light riding. She is happy to sign a contract giving me first right of refusal in any unforeseen event that she can no longer keep him. Finding the perfect home for Russell - like this one - has been the elusive prerequisite to my getting any future dressage partner. I don't have one lined up, but with a stall vacant, I can act when the right one comes along.

She is going to come meet him the week before or after Christmas. That means Russell and I still have a few slow dances left....

A love story for the holidays

2011-12-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

On reopening U.S. slaughter plants to horses

2011-12-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I learned that our lawmakers recently passed Bill H2112, which re-legalizes the commercial slaughter of horses in the U.S. Horse lovers are rising up in outrage. How do you feel about it?

Being close to the "unwanted horse problem" (intensified by banning horses from U.S. slaughter houses), I know too much to have the luxury of a knee-jerk reaction. My husband is an equine veterinarian; he sees the good, the bad, and the ugly of horse ownership. We can testify to the horror stories that abound when people can no longer afford to care for their horses. Rescue facilities are full to overflowing and short on resources. Most vets will not euthanize healthy horses, and even if they were willing, often owners can't afford to pay for a backhoe to bury them or a rendering company to haul the body away if they live in an area with these options, or have them cremated if they do not. So horses too often suffer neglect and slow starvation or are turned loose to "fend for themselves" (in other words, starve, or get hit by vehicles, often killing people in the process). No one likes to think of horses hauled off to slaughter, but there ARE fates worse than death, and untold numbers have been suffering those fates with the closure of all U.S. slaughter houses to horses. The horses that are shipped to Mexico are enduring far more inhumane handling than they would receive here in the U.S. (as per undercover reporting), and even Canada is a long, exhausting haul that could be shortened by having slaughter houses open to horses within the U.S.

Personally, I'm a vegetarian in part because I can't stomach the thought of subjecting ANY animal to a slaughter house when I can be nourished less expensively and more healthfully on a plant-based diet. I've had pet cows, pet goats, and have pet sheep; horses aren't any more (or less) friendly, beautiful, or useful, so why do people get so much more up in arms over their slaughter? As long as people eat meat, animals will die at the hand of man, and as long as people have the freedom to breed animals indiscriminately, there will be more dogs, cats, horses and other animals than there are people with resources (owners, rescue facilities) to adequately care for them. As a result, many - too many - have to be destroyed.

One solution is for the government, in Big Brother fashion, to ban all animal breeding except for those with licenses to do so, and requiring the rest of us to spay/neuter everything, including horses, sheep, etc. Would you be for such legislation?

The bottom line for me is that opening U.S. slaughter houses to horses is a necessary evil given all other current realities.

On the line

2011-11-29T21:26:00.000-08:00

After several days of hectic preparation and nine days away, I'm home and exercising Russell again. I've just been lunging him for short periods since our return; I hope to get back in the saddle this week.

While we were at my sister's house in Texas, we watched the documentary Buck, on the life and work of Buck Brannaman, a real-life "horse whisperer." It's a compelling story and well-done film; I recommend watching it.

Tomorrow night we are going to see Cavalia in Portland with Rick's office manager and her husband; it is our Christmas gift to them and to ourselves. It should be a real treat!

Recalibrated and recharged

2011-11-07T09:59:00.000-08:00

This weekend the Oregon Dressage Society celebrated its 40th anniversary at its annual Fall Festival. I don't often go to the Fall Festival because of time, cost and/or distance, combined with the fact that it isn't Rick's "thing" and we try to do things together. But this year, when Rick heard from someone else that Olympian Steffen Peters was going to the featured speaker at the Saturday night banquet and the featured instructor at the Sunday educational event, he asked me if I was going - and urged me to do so!

I needed no further encouragement. Saturday night was spent enjoying the company of my fellow Chehalem Mt. Chapter members, eating good food, shopping the benefit silent auction, applauding award winners, and listening to a charming and engaging Mr. Peters:

On Sunday, the time change assisted me in getting up early to do chores so I could head out to DevonWood for a day of education and inspiration. Steffen worked with seven rider/horse pairs ranging from Training Level to Grand Prix, and his message was consistent with each one. The basics must always be correct; if they are, the movements will be easy. We must train our horses to be honest - teaching them to respond promptly to subtle aids, keeping them in front of the leg and in a soft connection with the bit. These things can - and should! - be executed every single time we ride, from warm up to cool down, no matter what level a horse is at. In fact, it can all be done at the walk! He demonstrated this while working with every single pair, and in riding himself the first horse of the day, a Training Level warmblood mare:

and the last horse of the day, a Grand Prix level Welsh Cob stallion:
(Sorry the last two photos are so dark - but you can still see Steffen's beaming smile in that last one; love it!)

As I listened and watched, my understanding of proper riding and properly ridden horses was confirmed. And I realized in the process that even though Russell is still in rehab mode, and may never be able to return to dressage competition except at the very lowest levels, I can still ride him properly and keep both our basics correct. Eager to solidify in my mind and muscles what I'd seen and heard, I drove home, changed clothes and tacked up my horse (all the while very thankful for cooperative weather). Surprise, surprise (not :-) - we had the best ride we've had in recent memory!

"Out, damned spot!"

2011-10-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

(I'm not using bad language, just quoting Shakespeare.)

Since his crash at the beginning of May, Russell has had a spot around his left stifle that sometimes gets sweaty. It comes and goes like a mirage, with no rhyme or reason; it doesn't correspond with weather, work or time of day. Rick thinks Russell might have some nerve damage from the wreck, although we have seen no other signs of such - besides this strange, sometimes-sweaty spot:

Not that I'll be noticing it as often; it is jacket season!

Actually, this is just a sheet; I've never blanketed Russell for warmth. I think keeping a sheet on him may reduce the amount of winter hair he grows, but my main objective is keeping him cleaner for faster grooming. Homeschooling Brian dominates my waking hours, so everything else has to be shoe-horned in here and there, and every way of economizing my time helps.

Sometimes when my time is especially limited, I lunge Russell with just a halter and lunge line; saves the time it takes to thoroughly groom, tack up, untack and groom again. It is reassuring to see him walking and trotting around with regular cadence and relaxed tail. This week I've even asked him for a round of canter here and there, which he readily picks up. Last night he was feeling downright frisky and took off leaping and plunging when I first asked him to canter, and moved out in a beautiful forward trot much of the time. He really looked good - more like my dressage partner of the past than he has for a long time!

Scenes from the saddle

2011-10-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Since the beginning of October, my saddle time has been curtailed by the weather, our homeschool schedule, and a house guest. But I keep plugging away, squeezing in rides whenever possible for both Russell's and my sakes. Since we still aren't cleared for anything other than walking and jogging, I don't need the singular focus used when schooling dressage. So I look around, and sometimes stop and try to capture what I see from the saddle. Here are a couple recent images. Looking west toward the house:

Looking east at the Hunter Moon:

Underneath it all, my horse and I, going round and round in the sand....

Wet and worth it

2011-10-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

A couple hours ago it looked like it had stopped raining, so I grabbed a jacket and headed to the barn. Before I could get Russell saddled up it started raining again, but after seeing that his rear fetlocks were slightly stocked up and determining that it was really only sprinkling, I decided a short ride was in order. I whisked off his head and saddle area, threw on my old Wintec all-purpose sport saddle, and off we went to get the mail. It was only a 15-minute walk, but it got rid of the swelling in his hind legs and seemed to perk him up. And we didn't get that wet. Yep, totally worth it. (-:

I waited too long

2011-10-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

After our strenuous-for-us trail ride yesterday, I thought it would be good to take Russell for a short ride today to loosen up any sore muscles. Rick came home for lunch and took Brian with him when he left, giving me the perfect opportunity to ride off-property. I thought we'd play Pony Express and go get the mail that arrives in the afternoon. Well, I waited too long. The day has gone from overcast but dry to gloomy-grey and very wet, and neither of us like to be out in the rain. Obviously, the early bird gets the ride. )-:

Over the hills and through the woods

2011-10-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful ride we had today! Rain threatened, but held off until we got back, put up our horses, and went to the covered arena for a potluck picnic and meeting of the Chehalem Mountain Chapter of the Oregon Dressage Society. My husband and son even came along for the ride and picnic, so it couldn't have been any better. All three of our horses worked up a sweat going up and down the hills, but we took it easy and weren't out much more than an hour. Sigh; it was just perfect.

(That's poison oak, easy to see - and avoid - in its autumnal colors.)

Another outing planned

2011-09-27T13:18:00.001-07:00

This Sunday, my local chapter of the Oregon Dressage Society is meeting for a trail ride, picnic and officer elections at a member's acreage. With Russell out of commission for so much of the last few years I've been feeling "on the fringe" even though I go to meetings when I can; I am really looking forward to riding Russell with the group. Rick and Brian might even come along on their mounts! Hopefully we won't get rained out . . . .

Almost normal

2011-09-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Who knew that getting turned out into the arena could be so momentous? The last time Russell had this much freedom to move was the night of May 1, when he escaped his stall during chores and fractured a pelvic bone. And before that, it had been since February 20, when Russell came up lame and Rick diagnosed the worst torn suspensory he'd ever seen.

Today Rick gave the go-ahead to turn Russell into the arena, where he has been happily hangin' near the other horses and nibbling on stray bits of hay from the rams' feeder and weeds that have taken advantage of the reduced foot traffic. In other words, he has enjoyed just being a horse, instead of a patient.

Amen!

Plodding perfection

2011-09-14T11:53:00.001-07:00

Yesterday a friend joined me for a ride on the beach - the first I've enjoyed in a coon's age! Given Russell's stage of rehabilitation, it was out of necessity also the most sedate beach ride I've ever been on; no cantering or galloping allowed. Even so, it was wonderful. The Oregon coast is one of my favorite places to be; to be there on the back of my horse with a good friend along for company made it perfect. We were even spared the ubiquitous ocean "breeze" - that's right; it wasn't windy!

The tide was coming in, so the firmest footing was at - or in - water's edge. Russell acted like he'd never seen waves before; it took persistent coaxing to get his feet wet. Once he did, though, he relaxed and splashed along.

My friend rode Breezy, my son's pony, who is at least three hands shorter than Russell. Fortunately, Wanda is shorter than me and fit Breezy well.

Wanda took the last two photos; I love them!

Scarce rides

2011-09-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday's ride through the harvested oat field nearby

This week has seen little riding because we spent two days at the State Fair, which crammed everything else into fewer days. Too bad, too, because it's been deliciously cool this week; next week is supposed to be a scorcher. Still, it will probably cool off in the evenings, and Russell and I most often get our ride in after evening chores.

Looking forward to a beach ride in just a week and a half!

Hold onto your hats!

2011-08-24T15:29:00.001-07:00

Brian rode his pony two days in a row this week, and yesterday he rode with me!

2011-08-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

The days are getting shorter. Russell's brain takes note; his body responds. He is shedding his summer coat, which means that winter hair is starting to grow. Grooming creates flurries of short hairs, in contrast to the furry blizzard of the spring shedding season.

There is little daylight left after chores to ride by. No worries; Russell and I can do our thing in the arena in the dark. We have spots that shine out into the arena but I don't like their glare.

This is a hairy week around here schedule-wise, too. Riding time is going to be hard to come by, even the short rides of Russell's rehab. But we can ride in the dark.

A date to look forward to

2011-08-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

This week Rick cleared Russell for longer walks, and a bit of jogging (yeah, I was already doing some of that). Russell's still slightly "off" on his left hind; hopefully that will go away as he continues to heal and get stronger.

In the meantime, I made a date with a friend for a beach ride! In a month when Brian and Rick take a trip to Minnesota, Wanda and I are going to take Russell and Breezy (Brian's pony) to Lincoln City. WooHoo! Riding on the beach was one of the dreams I got to live when we moved to Oregon but Wanda hasn't ever gotten to experience it - and I can't remember when I've gotten a chance in the last decade since having Brian. There's going to be a whole lot of anticipation between the two of us - and good motivation to keep taking those baby steps with Russell.

Baby steps

2011-07-29T20:36:00.000-07:00

It's been three months since Russell's wreck with the tree, so we celebrated by adding a wee bit of jogging and lateral work (at the walk) to our daily 15-minute ride. Adding in some variety was nice!

Recruiting help

2011-07-24T16:49:00.001-07:00

It's been a busy few days here with my MIL visiting and cherry/raspberry harvest in full swing. I was busy and Brian was "bored" Friday, so I sent him down to give Russell his daily walk. Brian wasn't happy about it, but Russell was his usual upstanding self!

Proceeding with uncertainty

2011-07-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

Today I talked to the Morgan's owner. She is no longer interested in a trade, as she would like to reduce her total number of horses (she has two old horses and a herd of miniature horses besides Ritz) rather than maintaining the number. She would consider selling Ritz, but her price is more than I can afford and probably more than the current market would bear.

So I proceeded with Plan B. I called a woman who I think would appreciate Russell and give him a wonderful home for the rest of his life. She owned the stable where Russell was boarded most of his life before I got him, and helped Russell's owner train and show him in OHSET (Oregon High School Equestrian Team). She is now a grandma with an old equine partner who isn't really sound but is safe for her and her baby granddaughter to putz around on. Russell is ten years her horse's junior, more sound, and every bit as safe; a match made in heaven? She seemed pleasantly surprised by my call and offer, and will get back to me after some consideration.

Being poised to rehome Russell with no future dressage partner in sight gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don't want to be horseless; the other three equines here aren't mine, or what I want to work with. And when Brian heard that Russell may be leaving, he actually cried; that didn't help. He's like his dad; he may not USE something, but he can't bear to part with it. I had hoped that Russell might become Brian's mount, but Brian doesn't choose to ride more than once or twice a year. I'm of a mind that horses should be used for optimum mental and physical health. They take considerable resources to keep as well, an investment we can't make lightly.

As long as I have him, Russell and I will continue our daily walks. When I have time I tack him up, as I think a rider's weight is more comfortably distributed by a well-fitted saddle than concentrated on two human seat bones.

Easy to take it easy

2011-07-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

Russell is cleared for 15 minutes of walking a day, but no work. So the easiest way to give him his daily constitutional is to put a halter on him, throw a saddle blanket over his back (cuts down on laundry), and walk around the arena. I don't even tie the lead rope into a loop; there's no need with this upstanding citizen.

His reward? Some green grass!

Two-timing

2011-07-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

Since I had some free time yesterday, I decided to go visit the Morgan. I've held off going again because with Russell's most injury, I didn't know if there was still a chance of a trade. No point in getting attached, right? But now that I am s-l-o-w-l-y beginning to recondition Russell, hope sprang up again. Plus, a few weeks ago I had a conversation with a Morgan breeder. She cautioned that Ritz's sire is known for throwing "tough" horses; not mean, just not very trainable. Although that has not been my impression at all with Ritz, I wanted to interact with him again with that information in mind.

It's been almost three months since I've seen him; he's shed out and gained some needed weight. I interacted with him loose in his stall and paddock, as well as in the cross-ties and out and about on a lead. (I really wanted to ride him, but that would have been foolish with no one around. I don't think he's been ridden in many months, maybe a year.) It was a pleasant visit, and I did not see any hint of the temperament I was warned about.

Now to call Ritz' owner a call to see out if she's still open to considering a trade . . . eventually.

The sign of a happy woman

2011-06-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

This weekend Rick gave the okay to start hand-walking Russell again. But after stacking six tons of local grass hay in the barn yesterday afternoon/evening and doing chores, my knees were too achy to face it. Rick told me to get on, and he watched how Russell moved. The verdict? He is moving normally, so I can RIDE Russell for his short daily constitutional!

Onward and forward (at a slow walk, loose rein :-)

I've grown accustomed to his face...

2011-06-03T23:14:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Rick ultrasounded Russell to see how he is healing. He showed me the normal right tuber coxae images he took right after Russell's injury, and then showed me how his left looks now. The fracture is easy to see even for me, but also visible is some calcification in the void. It is healing. Of course, I assumed as much by how comfortable Russell is acting. When I take him out to hand-graze him I am really hand-walking him, because I criss-cross the pasture looking for and pulling up thistles. He moves freely and comfortably, and seems none the worse later for the activity.

Rick continues to think it likely that Russell will be able to be someone's trail horse when all is said and done. Whose, I don't know. My head says, "Not mine. I can't use 'just a trail horse,' because I can't go on trail rides. With Brian here and not wanting to ride, I am restricted to our home arena. That's perfect for schooling, but boring if you can't do more than walk and jog around and around." But my heart hears Higgins' voice, and I can't deny how much I like this horse. This horse. "I've grown accustomed to his face...."

Multi-tasking

2011-05-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hand-grazing Russell:

Pulling thistles:

Enjoying beauty:

Recovery road

2011-05-14T19:14:00.000-07:00

This afternoon Rick wanted to get the other three horses out on pasture for a little while before the rain starts again tonight, so I haltered Russell to keep him from moving around too much and led him out for some grazing as well.
Things were tense at first; he was being a bit of a horse kite until he realized he wasn't going to be separated from his buddies and he was going to get to stuff his face. No evidence of discomfort, even though I cut his banamine dose in half again this morning. If he stays comfortable at the 250 lb. dose, we'll wean him off completely in a few days. I think that's pretty fantastic, considering it's been less than two weeks since his wreck.

Happy horse, happy owner. Praise God for answered prayers! :-)

Progress report

2011-05-10T11:23:00.001-07:00

Russell continues to be stable on (reduced) twice-daily banamine and a morning dose of GastroGard for safe measure. By last weekend we had opened access to his covered paddock again; it has a threshold and step-down, so we didn't want him attempting that when he was still unstable. The swelling in both hind legs is gone, and he feels good enough now that when he sees me coming with the tubes of medication, he heads for his paddock to avoid me. :-) His gait in the left hind leg is slightly different; he's learned to compensate for the muscles attached to the broken portion of his tuber coxae. You can also see a subtle difference between his two "hips" if you know where to look; evidence of the broken bone. But it's not the noticeable "dropped hip" you see when the entire TC has fractured off.

Yesterday morning while doing chores I noticed a new development; he had developed a fluid pocket that looked at first glance like a second sheath!

Rick said it's probably a seroma; no big deal. His body will resorb the fluid eventually.

The sky is grey, but things look brighter

2011-05-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Russell went from bad to worse before we got the pain under some control by evening choretime. This morning he was acting SO much more comfortable, moving slowly but steadily around his stall instead of careening and crashing against walls. I am so thankful for answered prayers, mine and those from so many of you and others.

Russell in his corner yesterday morning.

Russell at his feeder this morning.

Rick reminded me that years ago one of his patients had a similar injury. After months of stall rest, Lean With Me went on to win multiple championships. Here's his story:

Known as one of the most natural and truly blessed Reining Horses within the Quarter Horse breed, Lean With Me is a champion of champions. Shortly after being titled the 1993 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Reserve Champion, Lean With Me suffered a near fatal injury of a fractured pelvis that almost ended his career. With God's blessings, a great trainer (Bob Avila), and the love and prayers of his owners and admirers, Lean With Me beat all the odds and went from being a cripple to a champion making his mark in the AQHA industry. In 1994 he returned to the show ring, competing in the Bruce Gilcrest Memorial Futurity and winning the OQHA Reining Championship. From there it was on to the AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, where he earned his first "AQHA World Championship in Junior Working Cow Horse." But Lean With Me was not through winning. In 1995, he returned - once again - to win the OQHA Reining Championship; earned an AQHA Superior in Reining; won the prestigious NRHA Derby (for $20,000); and returned to the AQHA World Show to gain another title as the "1995 AQHA World Champion Senior Reining Horse." Sired by Smart Little Lena, he is out of one of the best mares in the U.S., Chexy Lady. She is the producer of 10 AQHA World Championship titles. Now retired, Lean With Me is standing in Texas. His offspring are following in their sire's footsteps. His first foal crop included: NRHA, NWCHA, and NRBC Futurity Finalist, NRHA Derby Finalist, NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Finalist, NCHA Money Earners, AQHA World Show Qualifiers, and AQHA & APHA ROM and Point Earners. To date, Lean With Me's offspring have won or been finalists at the Congress Reining Futurity, and many NRHA Reining and NRCHA Cow Horse Futurities and shows across the United States and Canada.

THAT'S inspiration!

Good news/bad news

2011-05-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Rick examined Russell to see what damage he did during his Monday night escapade. The good news is that his healing suspensory ligament still looks good, so he didn't re-injure it. The bad news is that he fractured the left tuber coxae of his pelvis when he hit the tree, and not in the usual place one sees these types of injuries. Rick said the prognosis is usually good with sufficient stall rest, but Russell will undoubtedly be sore for awhile.

That summary did not prepare me for what I found this morning. Russell was standing in the corner of his stall, and didn't move when I served hay. He obviously wanted to eat, but when he thought about moving, the pain in his left hindquarter was clearly incapacitating. He had been standing there awhile, as evidenced by both stool and urine. I ran back to the house to report this to Rick, and he kicked himself for not giving Russell more banamine last night. I put hay on the stall floor in front of Russell along with a bucket of water, so he would have something in his stomach before I gave him a dose. Russell eagerly ate when he didn't have to move to do it, so that was one good thing. Rick came down and did a rectal exam just in case he had missed a central pelvic fracture the day before, but said everything seemed to be intact. Unfortunately, the exam was uncomfortable for Russell so he tried to move away, and nearly fell down in the process. He is not stable or comfortable standing or eliminating, cannot lie down, and is at risk of crashing and falling every time he tries to move. If he does fall down, I'm not sure we'll be able to get him back up. It is extremely upsetting to watch when he starts scrambling; I can only imagine how frightening it must be for him. We are trying to get the pain back under control, and pray he doesn't founder with the added strain to his other three feet.

Two steps forward, ten steps back (or more)

2011-05-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Since Friday I've been taking Russell on daily walks. Just ten minutes a day, baby steps to build up his strength again. Rick gave the go-ahead when Russell's post-treatment ultrasound showed "remarkable" healing, but cautioned me against doing too much. I was thinking about calling the Morgan's owner to give her an update.

Last night while I was doing chores, Russell squeezed by the manure cart in his stall door while I was in his paddock. I think the tastes of spring grass I've been letting him have on our walks were irresistible, because the escape was out of character for him. He was gobbling grass just as fast as he could at the edge of the nearest pasture when I walked out of the barn, but wasn't so focused on it that he let me walk up to him. Oh no; he charged off with his tail in the air without regard for his still fragile ligament, while my gut twisted inside me. I walked after him in the dark, feeling the uneven, still muddy ground under my boots, knowing how much damage he could do with a slip or scramble. I broke down in tears as he kept charging away from me from one end of the pasture to the other. Rick got home in the midst of this and tried to help, but only caused a bigger rodeo. In one wild sprint from us, he ran between the fence and the only tree in the pasture, hitting the tree first with his shoulder, then his hip, ripping off his sheet and leaving hair and hide behind.
That apparently hurt enough to sober him up, as he let Rick walk up and halter him, then lead him, limping, back to his stall. I'm still shedding tears.

Ritz

2011-04-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

This is the young Morgan I hauled last week. I went to visit him today, and take some photos. I'm surprised I held out this long. I'll admit it; I've been smitten with this horse since meeting him over a year ago. But after racking my brain for options, praying, dropping a huge hint in my Christmas card to his owner, I had resigned myself to unrequited love. Then I got that call last week, and ever since I've been fighting the rising hope that he might yet become mine.

It's too early to know yet if Russell is healing up sound enough to be Ritz' owner's trail partner, so that we could trade horses. That hasn't stopped me from thinking of all the back-strengthening exercises I would do with this boy to get him fit to carry a saddle again. I mean, this back
is clearly in need of some serious muscle-building! And this brain
needs confidence-building. But I've been there, done that with Axel (my first Morgan), and we developed the most wonderful relationship. Granted, I got Axel as a yearling and Ritzy is seven years old; I would not be starting at ground zero with Ritz and the relationship would be different. But he has that keen Morgan mind, and those breathtaking Morgan looks....

Flitterpated

2011-03-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

I've agreed to help someone get their horse loaded in a trailer tomorrow. The horse, a young Morgan I met and rode once a year ago, is too green and skittish for his owner's experience and comfort level, so she is moving him from the stable where she never rides him to her mom's acreage. The Morgan's owner wants a quiet, dependable horse for occasional trail rides; I found her young Morgan to be very much like Axel, my old Morgan dancing partner. It is too early to know what will come of this, but a possible trade has been discussed. The lady is coming tomorrow morning to meet Russell before we move her horse. Gulp.

The view is better from here

2011-03-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

Rick stripped and rebedded the sheep fold and all the horse stalls today (yes, it is totally appropriate to applaud right now!). When he was ready to do Russell's stall, he suggested I hand-walk him and let him eat some grass. After a bit Rick called out that Russell's stall was ready, so we headed back to the barn. But Rick met us on the driveway and said he wanted to look at Russell. I was mystified when he tied the end of Russell's lead rope to his halter ring - then he offered to give me a leg up! He said I could sit on him and let him eat some more grass, and even walk him around in the arena 5-10 minutes. I don't have to tell you how wonderful it was to be astride, even for just a few minutes. The view is just better from the back of a horse!

Still here

2011-03-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Last night Rick gave Russell his second (of three) extracorporeal shockwave treatments. Russell has been moving around comfortably on his left hind in his stall and paddock, but we won't know how it's healing until ultrasounding it after his third treatment.

It's a good time for Russell to be laid up. We've gotten twice the average precipitation for March so far, so the arena is swamped and there have been very few breaks in the rain when we could have saddled up. Trying to look on the bright side here!

At the show

2011-03-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

Although Russell and I couldn't go to the ball, my friend Debbie represented Third Level well, showing Test 1 Saturday and Sunday. I was there to coach her on Sunday (thank goodness she did a little better that day, or I'd sure look bad as a coach!) and put in some hours volunteering. Being an early-season league show (named "Bears Above the Ground" for the woolly horses), most of the riders there were showing at Intro, Training and First levels. There was a delightful assortment of dancing partners; besides warmbloods and thoroughbreds there were Morgans, Paints, Arabs, Friesian crosses, two mules and a Percheron named T. Rex - hee!

I took a few photos while Debbie warmed up her lovely little TB mare Ivy; enjoy.

He will dance no more

2011-02-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

Last night Rick examined Russell thoroughly with digital x-ray and ultrasound. I was praying that he would be able to provide a clear diagnosis, and while my prayers were answered, the answer was devastating. Somehow, in his stall/paddock, Russell managed to tear his left rear suspensory ligament so severely that it pulled a 1.7-cm chunk off his cannon bone; Rick said he's never seen a lesion that bad before. Russell's days as an athlete and my dancing partner are over; with treatment and time he may heal enough for gentle trail riding. I am typing through my tears.

Figures

2011-02-21T09:32:00.000-08:00

I'm less than two weeks out from my first show in nearly two years, and Russell is lame. I rode him yesterday, and noticed that he was off then. Since I can find no heat or swelling anywhere on the leg and he was just trimmed and reshod on Friday, a hot nail in that left rear shoe seemed the logical culprit - especially since that foot is warmer than the right. Good; easy fix! Except that when Rick used the hoof testers this morning to figure out which nail to pull, he came up with nothing. Rick had to go to work, Russell is more lame than he was yesterday, and today is the only dry day in the forecast (we could get 6" of snow or more this Wednesday and Thursday!). This is not looking good; not good at all.

ETA: Rick was able to come home over the noon hour to do more of a lameness evaluation. After watching Russell move and doing a flexion test, followed by palpation, the problem is definitely in the hock area and not in the foot. We'll have to wait until tonight to do ultrasound and/or x-rays. All I know is that in the nearly eight years I've owned him, Russell has never been this lame. :-(

2011-02-17T18:21:00.000-08:00

It's been a wet week until today. I managed to get in a ride Sunday night after chores when the rain stopped for awhile, and then got in ride #2 for the week this afternoon. The sand in the arena is pretty sloppy, and Russell doesn't like that, but "oh well."

Russell's blaze is shedding; it's always the first area to start. After grooming his face, I decided to take a photo of his forehead whorls. I know some people put great stock in "reading" a horse's whorls; me, I just enjoy them - along with all the other little things that make each horse unique!

Channeling James Brown

2011-02-10T22:59:00.000-08:00

"I feel good!"

A week ago tonight I tripped and landed on my side against the tractor hitch while showing someone what to do for weekend chores. I had just mailed off my show entry, and wondered if my injury (instead of Russell's for a change) would keep us from showing this time! We spent the weekend at a church snow camp, sleeping on summer camp bunks in sleeping bags, and my ribs were so uncomfortable I was sure I'd cracked one or two. When we got back Sunday I saddled up Russell just to see if I could, and managed to ride awhile at the walk and rising trot with tolerable discomfort; canter and sitting trot were definitely out. But Monday morning, after a night in my own comfy bed, I awoke feeling considerably better, so I decided to wait and see before bowing out of the show. I rode again Tuesday, and was able to canter. I rode tonight, and was able to sit the trot! Not only that, Russell felt good tonight and really good Tuesday, "uphill" and forward. So James Brown is grooving on my mental record player (yes, I'm that old) while we dance: "We feel good!"

Do you see what I see?

2011-02-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday while I was readying Russell for a ride, he was watching something intently. (ACK! Had a beautiful photo of him staring off into the distance and didn't save it from my camera card!)

I don't think he was admiring the subtle evening colors or the neighbor's house - but what is that dark shape low in the photo?

Ah-ha! Meadow rats.

Our ride started out rather rough but got better when I realized he needed more support from my right thigh/leg. I know he has physical issues to deal with, but much of the time the difficulties we face are caused by what I'm doing or not doing. It's usually us riders, isn't it? :-)

New duds, good buds

2011-01-31T12:09:00.000-08:00

I got Russell a new sheet (I keep him covered to reduce grooming time) from HorseLoverz.com. It was on sale, and has really nice features!

Yesterday my friend Laura hauled in to use my arena for her maiden voyage on her new mare Kiri. It's always nice to have someone on stand-by, footing that isn't slippery, and an enclosed area for such occasions. Laura and I share a love of horses and dressage, sheep and fiber, spinning and knitting - in other words, she's an extra-special friend!

After Laura left I turned Russell out for a bit of play time before riding him. I just love the shot I got of him - I think this is my new favorite photo of my favorite horse!

Playing hooky

2011-01-28T16:46:00.000-08:00

I got in rides yesterday (in the fog) and today (in light showers). This afternoon after our ride I was grooming Russell while he stood loose in his stall. He got spooked just a bit by something Brian was doing, and did a slow-mo escape out his open stall door before I could move to block him. He made a beeline for the green grass and, exhilarated by his sudden freedom, would have stuck his tail in the air and skidded around in the mud if I'd pursued him too quickly. So I pulled out my camera and took a few photos while slowly approaching him. Then he stuck his head in his halter and let me lead him quietly back to his stall. He's such a good boy....

I have our entry filled out for a league show the first Sunday in March; I just need to make a copy of my Oregon Dressage Society membership card and mail it in. No pressure; it's close and casual, and we're riding Third Level Test One which we've done several times before at recognized shows. I'm just looking forward to the feedback!

Proof

2011-01-20T17:52:00.000-08:00

I'm still riding; see our tracks?

Russell and I got in three rides last week because the weather ended up less wet than forecast, and then didn't manage to dance again until today. It was cold, damp and grey and all I wanted to do was huddle up inside, but Debbie's lessons have moved to Thursday so I had to face the chill. Knowing that once I got out and moving it would be easier to STAY out, I donned my polarfleece breeches and paddock boots, headband and warm coat, and when I got home after Debbie's lesson I went straight to the barn to tack up Russell. Debbie and I are both thinking about riding Third Level tests at our local dressage chapter's show the first weekend in March, so I worked with Debbie on various movements. That inspired me to come home and work on some specific things myself, along with the general strengthening and conditioning we always do.

The view from the arena, looking east. I do have an audience; see them? Here; let me zoom in on one for you:
Too bad the deer don't have opposable thumbs; it would be nice to have photos of Russell and me to post more often!

Riding while the sun shines

2011-01-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today I got in good schooling rides. Last week I rode on Sunday and Monday, too - and that was it, thanks to the weather and other demands on my time. Things may go the same way this week; tomorrow we are supposed to go skiing with friends (I'd rather ride), and a "pineapple express" - a warm, WET front - is forecast for rest of the week and next weekend. Oh well, two rides per week are better than none, and Russell felt good today. I think I've got my dressage horse back!

Riding in the new year

2011-01-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

I have long mandated to myself that each new year start out on the back of my horse, even if it's only a bareback walk up and down the driveway. This year didn't begin that way, but I'm finding that I'm okay with that. I got to ride on Friday (when I zoomed in on Mt. Hood, above) and am going out again this afternoon, have clinics and maybe even a few small shows to look forward to this year, so I didn't have to be horseback on January 1 to symbolize anything to myself.

The clear(ish), cold, dry weather we currently experiencing is limiting Russell and I to walking on the relatively even gravel road; everywhere else is frozen into a broken-concrete-like state. But while walking we work on shoulder-in, renvers, travers, leg yield and half-pass to supply and gymnasticize, so I feel we are still progressing. And it feels good. :-)

WooHoo - TWO in 2010!

2010-12-28T17:19:00.000-08:00

Lessons, that is. Today my friend Debbie drove us and our horses through torrential rain to our second clinic with Julie Ronning (the first was in October). We both really enjoy Julie's manner and method, and she's reasonable, too. Knowing she was coming back to Oregon to see her parents for the holidays and give lessons again has kept me committed to riding as much as possible. Not that 2-3 times a week is anything to brag about, but both Russell and I were in better shape for this clinic than we were in October, so I'm happy. We've also made progress in some of the areas we worked on last time. This time we worked quite a bit in counter-canter; it obviously needed work! Straightness is key to getting the most out of Russell (as it is with any horse), and counter-canter really addresses that. We're hoping it also helps strengthen his left hind and cleans up his flying change from left to right lead.

Julie is planning on returning in a couple months; there's my motivation for winter riding! Hopefully the weather will cooperate more than it has this week; it has been very wet, even by western Oregon standards.

Happy New Year!

For once, the perfect test result!

2010-12-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about a dressage test.

You're a Horse!

Versatile, powerful, and true, you have quite a reputation for hard
work and a certain unbridled spirit. Many look up to you as an example of what
people can really become, though somewhere deep down, you admit to feeling a little
bit broken. You hate racing, but are still exceptionally good at it. Beware broken
legs, dog food, and glue. If your name is Ed, you do a surprising amount of
talking.

Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

This will come as no surprise to my mom, who used to worry that I would ruin my young knees with all the galloping and bucking I did while pretending to be my favorite animal.

Saddle up!

2010-12-08T14:43:00.000-08:00

In the midst of the holidays and well into the rainy season, I am still getting in 2-3 rides a week (except for just one ride during the week of Thanksgiving) and am pretty happy with that. With our weather and my responsibilities (including being a homeschooling mom and part-time home business owner), that is probably the most I can hope for.

I rode on Monday, but the rest of the week looked like a wash according to the weatherman. Still, sometimes we get breaks between showers, and today we got a nice, long one. I jumped at the chance. Since the arena was too sloppy to use, I suggested to Brian that he ride with me so I could head down the road. When he declined I turned it into a mandate. After all, his pony needs exercise and a reason to justify all the care and expense involved in having her. He ended up having a great time, even though she sent him tumbling over her head early in the ride. That's what the helmet is for....
We really do live in a scenic area, built up as it has gotten to be. I love our green winters, too. I remember how brown and barren the Midwest was in the winter (except when covered with snow), and I definitely prefer green.
(You know it's wet when both moss and ferns grow in the trees!)

Russell says the best part of the ride was the apple at the end. ;-)

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T11:23:00.000-08:00

My mother-in-law is here and Thanksgiving Day was busy with lots of things, but I managed to squeeze in the one thing I really wanted to do yesterday - ride my horse. Russell and I had a great jaunt around the "neighborhood," and said hi to the thoroughbreds down the road. They've never come up to the fence before; isn't the young chestnut's head beautiful? And when they decided to turn tail and thunder back to the safety of their stable, Russell probably looked pretty impressive himself. He got on the muscle and contemplated trying some airs above the ground, but stuck to some fancy prancing down the road.

Today it is "blowing spit in the wind" (Oregonians will know what I mean), so I am doubly thankful for the chance to ride yesterday!

Wet feet

2010-11-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

I was determined to ride today because the rest of the week is supposed to be really wet. Today was just "off and on" wet. But wouldn't you know that the one window of time I had was during one of the wet periods? But I played along, grooming and saddling Russell in his stall while the rain rattled down on the corrugated roofing then going up to the house to check on Brian's school project. After half an hour, another break in the rain rolled over the coast range and I got in a short schooling session in the arena. I try not to ride in there when it's this wet, but with Brian home I didn't have the option of riding up and down the road. The sand cleaned up Russell's hooves nicely, at any rate. He's been stocking up in his back legs every day, so working the edema out is an added motivation to get regular rides in. That, and being ready for another clinic around Christmas!

This week

2010-11-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

On Monday I gave friend Debbie a dressage lesson. She lives just up the road from the barn and arena where she keeps her horse, so her husband brought over their newest furbaby to visit while I was there. Murphy is a Cairn Terrier, and about as cute as they come!

This handsome boy belongs to the barn owner. I couldn't resist this photo op, and would find it hard to resist the horse himself if he was available and I had room in my barn. Debbie says he's a nice mover to boot, even though he's a halter-bred Quarter horse.

Yesterday afternoon I got an unexpected chance to ride, in unexpectedly nice weather. (I knew today was supposed to be nice, but also knew that getting a ride in today would be impossible.) I took the photo below at the north end of our road (it dead-ends at both ends, intersecting a paved road in the middle).

On the horizon I could see Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood. My new camera has more zoom power than my previous point-and-shoot digitals, so I decided to see how well I could capture one of them.
Mt. St. Helens: the volcano who blew her top the day I graduated from high school!

Russell seemed to enjoy the weather as much as I did. We won't have many more days like this!

Morning turnout

2010-11-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

A very wet storm is blowing in today. The rain hasn't started and I would have loved to have gotten in a ride while I had the chance, but didn't have time. But I did turn Russell out to blow off steam, and snapped some shots of the action. They are over on my Boulderneigh blog.

Dodging raindrops

2010-10-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

Still here; still riding - although it's gotten tougher to find dry-weather windows to ride in. (That mushroom above is growing in our sand arena!) Saturday afternoon I took Russell down the gravel road for a short, stretch-your-legs jaunt and we were wet and windblown by the time we got home (fortunately, the downpour waited until we were back in the barn). Yesterday was dry, so I prioritized my day to fit in a schooling session in the arena while we had the chance. Today, the hoofprints Russell made look like this:
But tomorrow is supposed to be dry again, so you can be sure I'll take advantage of that!

We're BACK!

2010-10-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Russell and I simply participated in a dressage clinic today after a lo-o-o-ong dry spell of no lessons, no clinics, no shows. But it was fun, we didn't embarrass ourselves, and I plan to do it again, so it really does feel like . . . WE'RE BACK!

Some notes to remember when we school:
• Slow his front legs down at the walk; he tends to pop his knees. Remember to relax my thighs and make my legs long to encourage this.
• Keep the trot "innocent," and "fade" into transitions within the gate. His response will tell me if he's got enough impulsion or too much tension.
• Ask for more hindquarter activity at the canter, so he lifts his back behind the saddle.
• At all gaits, shorten my reins and encourage him to go to the bit, engaging his nuchal ligament.

Thought for the day

2010-10-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

Taken from Jane Savoie's e-zine: "Action always generates inspiration. Don't wait any longer. Just do SOMETHING. You may have to force yourself. You may have to push through your inner resistance. But DO SOMETHING." ~Kris Garrett

There are days I stay off my horse because he doesn't deserve my frame of mind. But a lot of other times I need to read today's thought, pull on my breeches, and saddle up. How 'bout you?

Still on track

2010-10-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

We got a lot of rain this weekend. It was still raining this morning when I snapped this shot from the deck; the arena is saturated. But the rain stopped this afternoon, so Russell and I went up and down the gravel road to condition and school. Gotta keep at it; our clinic is a week from today!

Rain

2010-10-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays and Thursdays are busy days. Brian and I have homeschooling co-op Wednesday afternoons, and a biology class for homeschoolers at George Fox University and violin lesson on Thursday afternoons, so those mornings are full of getting through our regular homeschooling and violin practice. The meteorologist warned that rain - not just showers - would be here by Friday's commute, so I was going to ride tonight in the dark, just to get some time in the saddle before the rain came. Unfortunately, it came early. :-(

Addendum: By the time we finished chores it was no longer raining, so I got to ride after all. Hurray!

Motivation

2010-10-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

I need scheduled events like shows, clinics, and horse-camping trips to give me the motivation to work my horse regularly. Don't get me wrong; I love to ride for the sheer joy of being horseback, but it has gotten really hard to eke out the time (and energy) to ride with everything else on my plate. So I signed up for a dressage clinic on Oct. 17! Pretty audacious, given Russell's and my woeful lack of time together this summer, but it's free to our Oregon Dressage Society chapter members so I won't feel bad if all we can manage is a lot of work at the walk. I rode Russell through the woods this weekend for a half-hour at a walk, and could tell I've really lost riding-muscle tone. When I rode again today (in the arena), my pelvic bones felt bruised. I've always said I want to ride until I die, so I better get myself back in riding shape so I can! Russell will be healthier and happier in riding trim, too. So. Back in the saddle again. What motivates YOU to ride?

Pressure distribution among saddle tree types

2010-09-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

No news to report on the Russell/Michelle front (except that Russell is working on a winter coat), but I did run across a noteworthy article today.

I've had my share of saddle-fitting issues with my horses, and have had to work hard to find the right solution for each one. Treeless saddles have never made sense to me, because I know how much pressure a seated person's "seat bones" exert in a very small area. Saddle trees aren't ideal, but at least they spread the pressure over a broader area. This research proves that point; I hope the word gets out.

On a related issue, I never mount from the ground if there is anything within walking distance to stand on, because I have seen the kind of punishing, uneven pressure a saddle tree exerts on a horse's back when one mounts from the ground using a stirrup (as documented by a pressure-sensitive device placed under the saddle). My horses have all been trained to stand still next to anything I lead them up to - fence, stump, rock, trailer - so I can simply place my leg over the saddle and ease onto it.

Horses are so very forgiving of discomfort, but my goal is to eliminate or minimize any discomfort I, as the rider, cause.

Where we've been

2010-08-12T18:06:00.000-07:00

Russell and I aren't getting a lot of time to dance - and I must admit that not having a show in our sights takes away the urgency to school, or even get in proper condition to school. But I do ride when I can, and since conditioning is the main name of the game right now (and the sand arena is SO dusty in the summer), most of our riding is out and about on our hill.

This morning we rode through the neighboring vineyard (straight rows make good places to practice shoulder-in, renvers and travers):
and checked on the local peaches (they'll be ready to put in our freezer soon - yum!):
Sometimes we stay on the roads - of course we always watch for traffic:
It has been "the year of the snake" around here!

We have a horse-camping trip coming up the weekend of August 21 & 22. This will likely be our last one of the year, since the next one is scheduled for the same weekend as my grandma's 100th birthday celebration. My grandma and I have always shared a love of horses; her father was a horse trainer and she was quite the horsewoman herself.

A good ride is like a drug

2010-07-22T12:55:00.001-07:00

Had a great short schooling session with Russell in the arena before the farrier arrived this morning. I felt like I was remembering to do all the right stuff (an easy self delusion to have when it's been ages since I've had a lesson) so that Russell could give me his best stuff, like lifting his back and shoulders and stretching over the topline and bending correctly. We got really nice trot and canter departs and downward transitions, lovely lateral work, and eager stretches when he got a free rein. I even had the passing thought that if there was a Third Level scratch at Dressage at DevonWood this weekend, we could probably go in and look presentable! (The rational part of my brain SO knows that's not true; see what I mean about a drug?)

Friend Debbie and I do plan to pop over to DevonWood tomorrow to visit the vendors and take in a bit of the show. This is the second year in a row I'll not be there with a horse; all the showing I used to do is starting to feel like a lifetime ago. You'd think with all the money I haven't been spending on lessons and show fees that I'd see a difference in my bank account!

I was gonna ride but my horse died

2010-07-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

Just kidding on the dying part.

Yesterday started out cool and cloudy AND Brian went to work with his dad, so I had every opportunity and intention to ride Russell. But I had this little addiction thing going that I found hard to put down, and when I finally did, I saw Russell lay down flat out for a nap. It's a well-documented fact that horses need sufficient time to sleep like that or they can actually get sleep deprivation, so of course I couldn't disrupt his beauty rest. I started spinning again, and then it got hotter, and there went my riding time.

I have been getting in some conditioning rides every week since getting back from Cowboy Campmeeting. He got shoes all around for that, so we have been riding around the one-lane gravel roads in the area. Schooling in the arena is very unappealing when it is this dry, as it gets so very dusty. But one hardly needs an arena to school dressage! We incorporate good connection over the topline, lateral work, a bit of collection and extension, and lots of flexion wherever we ride, and I think doing these things outside an arena keeps a horse from getting ho-hum about his work.

Trot on!

2010-06-13T15:36:00.001-07:00

Russell has taken two steps forward this weekend.

1) Rick said we can add (a little) trotting to our short rides.

2) Russell got to go out on pasture today. Rick led him up to the section closest the other three horses in their separate pasture so he didn't have an excuse to tear around, and he's happily - quietly! - grazing away.

I'm ridiculously excited over these baby steps!

Arena argyle

2010-06-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

We are having an unusually wet June, so I ride Russell when I can - like yesterday. We're still walking for 15 minutes at a time, but I do throw in some lateral work (shoulder-in, travers, renvers, leg yield, half-pass) to keep it interesting and increase the required effort slightly. When I was finished, I noticed our tracks in the rain-smoothed sand made a rather nice pattern!

A good sign

2010-05-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

A foamy mouth is a good sign. It usually indicates a horse that is relaxed in its jaw and poll, giving to the bit. Even though we're still limited to 15 minutes at the walk, we did do a little lateral work for stretching and suppleness today. I was pleased to see this result!

No foot, no horse

2010-05-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Russell got new shoes on his front feet yesterday; his right one grows wonky if we don't keep it supported. Our farrier has done some inventive things to keep his feet optimal, and yesterday was no exception. But Russell's feet weren't nearly the adventure that Ollie's were; he's been digging holes in his graveled paddock to the point that his soles are thin and one has an abscess. So Troy had to build two custom shoes for Ollie; one with a hospital plate so the abscess can be treated but also protected from the gravel, and the other, with a regular pad to protect the foot, to match the first in thickness. As I was watching the craftsman work, I thought "I should be taking pictures!" Fortunately I had my camera with me; below are some of the results I liked:

If I spent as much on my own feet as we do on the horses, I'd be another Imelda Marcos!

Pining

2010-05-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

I've been getting Russell out every other day for a short ride or hand-walking, as per our vet's orders. But the other horses are now getting out for a couple hours of grazing every afternoon, which Russell is NOT allowed to do, as per our vet's orders. Too much risk of re-injury at this point, if he busts some moves in the pasture. So he stays in, pining for his stablemates - and all that green grass.

Back in the saddle again

2010-05-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

Last night, two months to the day from when I noticed that Russell was short-striding with his left hind, I got back on my horse with my vet's permission. Granted, we only walked around the arena for ten minutes, but we were still "together again." It seems like so much longer than two months, but I remind myself that it would be much longer if I didn't have a vet with an extracorporeal shock wave machine for a husband! There isn't a faster way to heal up soft-tissue injuries than this therapy, and Rick combined it with an IWRAP treatment as well, so we've given Russell every advantage in becoming sound again. Well, except for that day recently when Brian left Russell's stall door open and Russell cavorted around in the lawn and pasture; I am praying he didn't damage something else in that escapade!

Anyway, Russell was a perfect gentleman on our short ride in spite of being cooped up for two months. That's one of the many things I love about this horse; he's no dead-head, but he's about as steady as they come. Our first scheduled horse-camping trip of the year is over Memorial Day weekend, so I plan to talk a lot of those (very short at first) walks to get us both back in riding shape!

More time for "lamb watch"

2010-03-16T16:35:00.000-07:00

A week ago Saturday, March 6, Brian had a friend over after church who wanted to ride horses. So Breezy and Russell graciously gave "pony rides" in our arena. I observed out loud, "Russell is short-striding on his left hind." Rick said, "I see that." Sigh.

So a week ago Rick had some time and started his investigation. Although Russell was short-striding with his left hind, he was positive on the flexion test to his right hind, so Rick started there. He had time to do a six-point nerve block (blocks the foot and pastern) and a suspensory nerve block; neither changed Russell's way of going. Rick didn't have time to do more until today. Since nerve blocks interfere with a good ultrasound image, Rick shaved Russell's suspensory and stifle areas on his left hind and ultrasounded them first. His stifle looks good; his suspensories, not so much. So Rick did the same nerve blocks on the left hind and as we suspected, the lower block didn't change anything, but the suspensory block did. Rick checked his records and confirmed this was the same area Russell injured two years ago and Rick treated with extracorporeal shock wave. He treated it again with shock wave, but is thinking of using IRAP as well. It is not reassuring that Russell has injured it again, especially since he has not been worked hard in the last two years. Indeed, I can't seem to keep him sound long enough to get him fit for hard work!

Right now we have two lame horses and two old horses; you'd think we ran a home for the aged and infirm here....

A three-horse day, not a three-dog night

2010-03-02T22:02:00.001-08:00

I've been on three horses today, the most "horsing around" that I've done in I don't know how long!

First I got on Breezy, Brian's pony. The last couple times Brian has ridden her, she's bucked at the canter - getting him off once. Since we got her to build Brian's confidence, this was a big step backward and not welcome. Rick felt that some remedial training was in order and I was the obvious choice to do it. After re-establishing law and order, Brian and I headed out on a road ride. (I rode Russell; mount #2.) Happily, Breezy behaved like a perfect little lady for Brian, and he had a great time.

This evening I felt like I entered a time machine. Last Sunday I had a completely unexpected phone conversation with the lady we bought this place from 15 years ago. She asked about us and our animals, and I asked about her and hers. That's how I learned she has a tall six-year-old Morgan she got as a weanling and who isn't really suited to her, and, well, I got curious. So tonight I met up with her at the barn where this Morgan boy is stabled, and got to ride him, too.

So why did that feel like a time machine? Because my very best dancing partner was a Morgan gelding that I bought as a long weanling and trained through the levels, hitting the top spot in the USDF All-Breed Awards from First Level through Prix St. George. Axel (Rogue Hills Galaxy) was my first and only Morgan, and a real departure mentally, emotionally and physically from any other horse I've ridden. By the time I reluctantly parted with him almost eight years ago, I had come to love and appreciate that horse like no other, and the horse I rode tonight reminded me of Axel in so many ways. Is there a second Morgan in my future? I don't know; I really don't know.

Occupational hazard

2010-02-25T21:28:00.000-08:00

Rick's work is slow, slow, slow right now, so he's taking advantage of it by practicing his advanced lameness diagnostic techniques. Oliver has been the ultrasound guinea pig:That's what happens when you're the vet's horse!

February update

2010-02-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

Apparently February didn't get the memo - you know, the one that stated my order for dry Mondays and Thursdays so I can work my horse twice a week and oh yeah, add a third dry day each week of this month because I want to up my conditioning schedule.

I'm trying to be thankful that January cooperated perfectly and grab schooling/conditioning opportunities when I can this month. Rick's mom and rain were here at the beginning of the month. I finally got in a long-lining session last Friday, then rode Russell in the arena Monday and long-lined him again yesterday. This morning, days of rain moved in and my sister and her husband are arriving on Friday. Such is life; I will persevere in finding time for Russell and me when I can. He's starting to shed; spring is coming!

Still on track

2010-01-28T21:24:00.000-08:00

I was planning on long-lining today (amazing how every Thursday this month has been dry!), but Brian wanted to go on a long bike ride so Russell got another road ride/schooling session instead. We went about three and a half miles, most of it up and down hills. We did lateral work, a wee bit of passage, some trot and canter (got a perfect flying change each way!), and lots of walking. This was the biggest workout Russell has gotten this year - even his "eyes" got sweaty
Now that we've managed two workouts a week for a month, I'm going to shoot for three per week in February. I'm not sure how, but there it is. I'll keep track of how we do here....

Rainy days and Mondays

2010-01-25T15:32:00.001-08:00

No, I'm not "down." In spite of today's threatening clouds, Brian and I managed to get in a ride down the road before it started sprinkling. I couldn't get Russell to think "forward" and Breezy was a naughty pony (she crow-hopped a little and Brian came off), but every day can't be a vision of perfect oneness like a championship ballroom dance. I am just thankful for a long-enough break in the weather to continue our slow conditioning process!

So far, so good!

2010-01-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day, so in spite of a full schedule that included giving my friend her weekly lesson, I squeezed in a long-lining session with Russell. So far this year (I know - it's only JANUARY), I've managed to get in a long-lining session and a ride each week - a modest start to be sure, and a far cry from when I was training and competing TWO horses - one at Third Level and one at Prix St. George! Ah, those were the days I could crack walnuts with my inner thighs....

Seizing the day dry

2010-01-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

I persevere in reconditioning Russell, even though my always-long to-do list and the weather keep interfering. We had another long-lining session last Thursday that went even better than the one before. Since then it's been pretty wet. We had quite the wind and rain storm last night, as predicted, with another one coming in this afternoon. But this morning was dry and partly sunny, so Brian and I went for a road ride. Usually when I suggest a ride and offer to get his pony ready, he turns me down. This time it wasn't optional. I will get my horse ridden!

Welcome to my world; this is the view from the lane that leads to our house (click to biggify):That's Mt. Hood due east, the clouds streaming from its south side looking almost like an eruption. Between us, the lovely Willamette Valley, the "Eden at the end of the trail" to the weary settlers who came west. On our hill, acres of wine grapes have replaced many other crops like prunes, cherries, hazelnuts and timber.

We had a lovely ride. I worked on suppling Russell, and Brian wanted to know how I got him to move sideways. After a short lesson, he was able to leg-yield Breezy, much to his delight.

Home again, home again, and back inside to finishing homeschooling and violin practice and bread-making and blog-posting....

Breaking in new equipment

2010-01-08T19:13:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that the pristine long lines purchased last year are now used and soiled! Yesterday was the one dry day in the forecast - well, other than Sunday, but we will be spending that day hopefully finishing up a building project for the sheep. Anyway. So. I got Russell brushed off and tacked up, free-lunged for a bit to warm him up,and then put him to work. Not for too long, as I want to carefully recondition him, but enough to just break a sweat and get some nice results. Long lines allow you to flex your horse left and right, apply half-halts, encourage stretching - generally just about everything you can do under saddle without adding the burden of the extra weight and balance issues of the rider. I was very pleased with how he went, especially considering we have had a couple less positive experiences with long lines in the past. When Russell is fit enough to handle it, I will schedule a long-lining lesson with Suzan so she can help me be more correct and effective with these wonderful tools.

My New Year's Day tradition

2010-01-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

The first morning of the new year, I headed down in the rain to do chores. As I finished up, the sun broke out. I didn't think twice about seizing the moment for the one New Year's tradition I have. Ever since I was a teenager in Texas, I've tried to start each new year on horseback, and I've rarely missed out. I was afraid that this year I'd have to settle for sitting on Russell's back in his stall, because it has been raining a LOT. Instead I was blessed, just long enough for a short ride down our road and back, with this:
As the saying goes, the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a (wo)man. The way a good ride can make your whole day better doesn't make sense, but I'm okay with that. I didn't ask Russell for anything fancy - he's not in shape for that; we mostly walked with just enough trot and canter to say we did it. But it felt good, and gave me hope that Russell and I can spend more time dancing together this year than we did last year, and have a good time doing it.Amen.

Christmas Eve Dressage Poem

2009-12-24T03:41:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the farm,
Only one horse was stirring, the brown one in the barn,
The only one to hang a stocking from his feed dish that night,
Hoping that Santa would come, and fill it just right.

The other horses were settled quietly in their stalls,
While their dreams were of horse treats, candy canes and riding halls,
And the cat in the hay barn and the dog on his mat,
Had just snuggled in for a long winter's nap.

When out in the dressage ring there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the arena I flew like a flash,
Pulling on my boots and jacket in my mad dash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to the dressage letters below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But eight little elves riding eight tiny reindeer.

A small round man, dressed in red and white, looked just like Santa,
And called out to the reindeer, as an instructor might.
His shiny black boots reached up to his knees,
His pants looked like breeches and even had a full leather seat!

"Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen, come Comet and Cupid,
more forward Donner and Blitzen,
Keep the voltes round, elves ride those reindeer through,"
It was Christmas Eve reindeer dressage,
Under the moonlight in the snow so blue.

by Mary L. Brennan, DVM

A modest wish fulfilled and more

2009-11-21T21:58:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile! I did order those long lines from Dover, and they arrived. Russell was cleared to start work again, but I didn't get in too many work-outs with him before we were sidelined again. No, not another injury; leaves! Rick spent one long Sunday in October cleaning leaves out of the arena; because of the uneven surface they wouldn't "blow," so he had to rake them all. Then he dragged the arena smooth and instructed me to keep the horses out until the trees had shed all their leaves and he could do a final clean-up.That lovely expanse of sand, and I can't ride in it! Reminds me of the saying, "Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink."

Brian and I did go on one "road ride" together this month. Russell only has front shoes and Brian's pony is barefoot, so we have to be careful how much we do that. I also used Russell in the "Hippology" class I taught during the fall term for the homeschooling co-op; I led him and gave all the kids the opportunity to ride at a walk and a trot. Then the rains started and life got even busier than usual, and Russell has been just hanging out, turning into a big fuzzy marshmallow. When we got back from our recent trip to Kentucky (check out my Boulderneigh blog for photos of some fine horseflesh!) the leaves were finally all down, but it has been raining like crazy and now Rick is laid up for awhile after a hernia repair, so he won't be blowing leaves any time soon.

So my wish for today was very modest. After church and lunch, all I wanted was to go to the barn and give Russell a thorough grooming; you know, spend some quality time with my horse. It was brisk outside, but dry. Dry! Hmm, wouldn't it be nice to go for a mosey down the road and into the woods? Rick was amenable to the idea and Brian wanted to hang out with dad, so off Russell and I went! It was wonderful to be in the saddle again, and enjoy the world from my favorite vantage point. Russell is very soft indeed; it will take much time to get him back into working shape. With the weather and my crazy life, it will take even longer, but the journey is more important than the destination. Right?

Inspiration going nowhere - for now

2009-10-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last night our local dressage chapter's meeting was a demo by my friend and wonderful instructor Suzan on long-lining. She has worked a bit with me and Russell on long-lining, and last night served to inspire me to do more of it - once Russell is done healing from his splint. I need to get some of Dover's long-lines, which Suzan recommends for their quality, design, length and price.

When I first arrived at the venue there was still enough daylight to capture a couple scenic images. I thought the groom (holding up a broom; how appropriate) was picturesque. This sheep really drew my eye, though; such a pretty thing! Later, I found out he's going to be dinner.... :-(

Out of the saddle and into the classroom

2009-09-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

The local Christian homeschool cooperative that we are involved in starts Wednesday. I signed up to teach "Hippology" to two different groups, 15 3rd and 4th graders (combined class) and 16 5th and 6th graders (combined class). I plan to take Breezy (Brian's pony) and/or Russell as often as weather and time permits, because things like conformation, gaits, color and markings are ever so much more interesting to learn on a real, live horse. (The church where we hold the co-op has a large grassy area beside the back parting lot; I have permission to use that area for the "real horse" parts of class.) Since Russell is so good on the lunge line, I had planned to use him to show the kids walk, trot and canter, but I'm going to see how Breezy lunges and use her if possible. If she's not sharp to voice commands, I'll put Professional's Choice Sports Medicine Boots on Russell's front legs and use him.

I know I'll have some students with horse experience, and a lot with NO experience. I hope I can make it fun and interesting for all!

The sun has set on our show

2009-09-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

Actually, this was sunrise. This morning. My camera washed out the colors; the sun was really blood-red. Maybe it was a sign.

Russell and I were headed out for our very first lesson of the year. First thing this morning was the only time my instructor and I could coordinate our schedules, so off we went.

When she arrived while we were warming up, Suzan asked me to continue circling at the rising trot so she could see how Russell was moving. She asked how he felt. I mentioned that he had been tenderfooted last weekend on his bare left front foot. She noted that it was the opposite front that seemed a bit off. I stopped him, and she asked about a little bump on that leg, high on the inside. I had noticed it, but since it was small and he didn't seem off, I hadn't given it much thought.

I need to insert here that my instructor, Suzan Davis Atkinson, has the most amazing eye on the planet. Not only can she see and relate what a rider needs to do to get the optimum performance from her horse, no matter the breed or ability, that woman can spot any discomfort or unsoundness in a horse, and usually where it originates from, better than anyone else I know. My husband, an equine vet with extensive training in advanced lameness work, has brought her in to consult on cases.

We worked a little longer in both directions so she could confirm that Russell was indeed slightly off on the right front, although she could also tell he was a bit tenderfooted in the left. Since I was fairly certain the little splint had just recently "sprouted," she told me to have Rick check it, and pressure wrap it to keep it from getting bigger. And definitely stay off him, and don't show.
Rick doesn't believe in the benefits of pressure wrapping but humored me after injecting the site with steroid to help calm it down. To keep the pressure where it needs to be, he had to wrap the entire lower leg; looks like Russell tried to sever it or something!

So last weekend on our horse-camping trip, when these shots were taken, is the last time Russell will be tacked up for awhile. As often as this has happened with this horse, you'd think I'd get used to it.

Not....

He just got sexier in my eyes....

2009-09-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

Patrick Swayze, a passionate and valued member of the Arabian horse community died from pancreatic cancer complications at the age of 57.

Swayze was known to most as a dancer and actor in films such as “Dirty Dancing,” “Roadhouse” and “Ghost.” To the Arabian horse community he was an accomplished and giving horseman. An active participant at Arabian shows throughout the late '80s and early '90s, Swayze’s star power helped bring attention to the Arabian breed. Swayze’s true passion for the horse earned him utmost respect in the horse community.

Although Swayze’s bond with horses started as a child, he claimed he did not fully realize the potential relationship with a horse until later. “When you get a bond happening with a horse, it’s interesting. I was raised a cowboy and did some rodeo and stuff and thought I was a horseman. Found out I knew nothing. As I have gotten into these horses, [Arabians] I have realized how far you can go with them,” said Swayze in a 1994 video interview.

In 1991, the same year Swayze was named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, he bought the stallion Tammen from Tom McNair and during the next year the stallion was honored with several halter championships. “Over the years it’s happened—people gradually started seeing that I am serious about this and I care more about the horses than my little image. I am accepted now, so going grand champion there was like a big event for me,” said Swayze.

Swayze owned more than a dozen purebred Arabians and became an active breeder. Tammen, Swayze’s 1982 Champion stallion, sired 175 foals. A photograph of Swayze with Tammen was made into a poster and established as a youth fundraiser during the early '90s. The poster, now in limited supply, continues to help fund Arabian Horse Association Youth Programs.
— from the United States Equestrian Federation

I should've ridden this morning...

2009-09-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

...because now it's raining. The meteorologist said it would. Said it would be dry in the morning and raining by noon. It's not that I didn't listen. But I had two buckets of pears, a big bowl of tomatoes, and a small tree full of prunes that must be put up or thrown out. Don't you just hate it when responsibilities horn in on your riding time?

I have been riding regularly; a good thing since my entry for the October 11 league show has been mailed. Third Level Tests 1 and 2, here we come again. I want to be prepared, but I don't want to get so focused on doing well that I drill things and make Russell sore (don't ask me how I know this can happen).

This coming weekend is our last horse-camping trip of the year. Our Christian trail-riding club is trying out a new campground; let's hope the trails aren't too rocky! All our horses are barefoot; Russell because of white line disease and the others because it is just not worth the cost of shoes for the one weekend of riding they'd get.

Russell before the rain started today. After he eats his breakfast, he gets turned out in the arena, since his pasture is out of circulation for the year. (Rick took the fence down and spread manure on it and the empty upper pasture on Sunday.)

Some of those pears turning into pear butter

Maybe I'll be rewarded for my domestic diligence by a dry evening and time to ride....

The call of the show ring

2009-09-08T16:09:00.001-07:00

I recently got an email about some changes to an upcoming League show (less expensive than USEF/USDF approved). The date has been changed to October 11 from the following Saturday, and the location has been moved to the Oregon State Fairgrounds from farther away. Furthermore, unlike a lot of League shows that only go to First or Second Level, this one has a class for Second Level and above. All of this adds up to a tempting outing to shoot for!

I don't know that I need to enter as a schooling motivation since I've been doing pretty well since starting this blog, but it would get Russell out where he can be seen by prospective buyers. I don't know that I've mentioned it here yet, but I do have Russell for sale.

Russell is not built ideally for dressage, having a long back and a rump that is higher than his withers. One of the goals of dressage is to develop a horse's "carrying power," gradually getting them to shift their natural forehand-heavy balance backwards and learn to carry more of their weight on their hindquarters, which frees up their shoulders and allows them to move more expressively. With his long back and "downhill" balance, Russell has to work much harder than some to cantilever his front end up. We have worked our way up to Third Level and keep stalling out there, when Russell shows signs of being less than comfortable in his work. He does have some arthritis in his neck (confirmed by x-rays and ultrasound-guided steriod injections), so it's not like he doesn't have reasons. After a successful outing at Third Level this spring, his neck started bothering him again. Since I love the training process and taking a young horse from knowing nothing all the way up the levels, dropping back to Second Level and coasting along indefinitely was not an option for me. I decided to try and find my dance partner a new home where he could be a low-level, level-headed schoolmaster for someone who would appreciate him, and then get a new prospect. That hasn't happened yet, obviously, and I couldn't just let him morph into an out-of-shape marshmellow. So I spurred myself to get back in the saddle for both our sakes. Of course, now that we're going out dancing regularly again I am enjoying our rides immensely, and it would be very hard to let him go. Plus, I'm not sure I have the time it takes to start a young horse right. I guess I'll keep riding, pray about it and leave it in the Lord's hands!