tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133924448591638432024-03-26T22:14:23.457-07:00Things EquestrianCruz Bay and I are back on track at last!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-39325302194261570062016-05-30T08:15:00.003-07:002016-05-30T08:15:56.123-07:00Update on Cruz After His Swimming Pool Accident<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpRNY9zSIhInleToNGdpqdsvVTN1JZm9b9J8VJVg0AkE7pNXZ7i3FRlS_6LoYB9V9BPjOlxu2A62WS8sYnuCUmUyo4yvwN2v4Zrl_N3CAw_g0juakyEbBwhgIkMWrU02nOa-Id9rBxipi/s1600/Cruz+Posing+at+Home+April+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpRNY9zSIhInleToNGdpqdsvVTN1JZm9b9J8VJVg0AkE7pNXZ7i3FRlS_6LoYB9V9BPjOlxu2A62WS8sYnuCUmUyo4yvwN2v4Zrl_N3CAw_g0juakyEbBwhgIkMWrU02nOa-Id9rBxipi/s640/Cruz+Posing+at+Home+April+2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Take a look at those clean knees, fetlock joints and left stifle</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>(Not to mention what a handsome boy he is!)</b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Since it's been a few months since my last post, I wanted to update you on where we are today, in case you and your horse have a bad incident and worry that you'll not get over it.<br />
<br />
<b>You Can Take Your Horse to Water .....</b><br />
<br />
Last month I took him with a friend and her mare to a local equestrian park which has access to the Potomac River.<br />
<br />
It was a big test for Cruz and me. My friend told me that her horse likes water, so I assumed she meant that her mare happily walks in without a lead.<br />
<br />
We reached the top of the sand slope leading down to the shore, and my friend said, "My mare needs a lead into the water."<br />
<br />
To which I replied, "So does Cruz!"<br />
<br />
The weather was very windy, and loud waves were crashing onto the beach. Our wimpy steeds tried to hide behind each other, saying 'You go first,' 'No, you go first.'<br />
<br />
<b>... But Who Knows What Will Happen?</b><br />
<br />
Well, we were here, and I didn't want Cruz to know he could back out of this. Plus he had been in the water before, albeit with his big Clydesdale buddy, Gabe leading the way. It was a test of my ability to give Cruz the courage he needed.<br />
<br />
As you can imagine, I was working hard to push his swimming pool accident out of my mind as I urged him forwards!<br />
<br />
He was reluctant, but early on in the trail ride he'd tried to weasel out of going past a particular bush (heaven knows why!) and I'd won that battle. So it was fresh in his mind that I wasn't in the mood to take 'No' for an answer. ;)<br />
<br />
<b>You Cannot Be a Hero Without Being a Coward</b><br />
(George Bernard Shaw)<br />
<br />
After some backing uphill into the mare, and evasive sideways movements, he finally marched bravely forwards. The soft sand gave under his hooves and he hesitated a moment, but was easily persuaded to keep going.<br />
<br />
Hurray!<br />
<br />
I walked him on the white stuff beside the noisy waves for a minute or two, so he could get used to them before walking into the water. I inched in slowly until he was knee deep. Soon he forgot to be worried and stretched down to drink.<br />
<br />
He was a little surprised when the waves hit his nose, but each time regained his composure and drank some more.<br />
<br />
Then he walked deeper into the rolling river and pawed in it enthusiastically.<br />
<br />
I was thrilled. He'd not suffered any long-term effects from his December experience with our swimming pool: he was back to the horse I had last year!<br />
<br />
And not only that, but he was brave enough to walk into scary waves <u><i>without a lead.</i></u><br />
<br />
It was a double win for us.<br />
<br />
On seeing that all was safe, my friend's mare joined us in the water, and soon we were splashing around together.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Takeaway</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
You know that saying about getting back on the horse as soon as you fall off?<br />
<br />
I've learned through this experience that the sooner I face the situation that scared me and/or my horse, the faster we can put it behind us.<br />
<br />
<b>P.S. </b>Cruz is also back to jumping over creeks again. See photo below, taken in April by Christina Dale whose brilliant work you can see at <a href="http://www.phyxiusphotos.com/" target="_blank">http://www.phyxiusphotos.com/ </a><br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoJazRhsUnBoxE-xnogOzzCENVs09PgQ7vIO3nhCfmKsrNU2Ckwdbp1H1SBfxnizun3stpa6nLOIjwex47yKuBrxY1g6YwhYxrjDkyN9WIIIcc-qFCq7y02s8ixeRQ7x3rOKVAvePHPR0/s1600/Cruz+leaping+another+creek+front+view+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoJazRhsUnBoxE-xnogOzzCENVs09PgQ7vIO3nhCfmKsrNU2Ckwdbp1H1SBfxnizun3stpa6nLOIjwex47yKuBrxY1g6YwhYxrjDkyN9WIIIcc-qFCq7y02s8ixeRQ7x3rOKVAvePHPR0/s320/Cruz+leaping+another+creek+front+view+cropped.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-58333639247918216152016-02-11T08:58:00.000-08:002016-02-11T08:58:04.271-08:00The Night My Horse Fell Into Our Swimming Pool<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.poolcenter.com/designdocuments/looploc3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.poolcenter.com/designdocuments/looploc3.gif" height="197" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Have you seen this photo advert for a pool cover?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.poolcenter.com/designdocuments/dura-mesh-pool-safety-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.poolcenter.com/designdocuments/dura-mesh-pool-safety-cover.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Or perhaps this one?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They are very impressive advertisements for the mesh type of
pool cover and look indestructible, don’t they?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So when my horse showed an interest in it and raised a front
hoof to walk on it, I wasn’t too concerned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>He’ll be a bit
surprised, </i>I thought, <i>and he won’t
like the feel of the cover sagging underneath him, but at least he’ll be able
to get off it without going through the material into the water.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Boy, was I wrong!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Irony<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">During 2015 I had worked very hard with Cruz to get him to trust
me when I asked him to walk on ‘strange’ surfaces.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Following his adventurous pasture buddy, Gabe, the 18 hand
Clydesdale/Thoroughbred cross who belongs to my friend, Christina Dale, he had
become very brave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">By the end of the year he was walking fearlessly across
bridges, through streams and into water with the waves lapping around him. He
finally believed he wouldn’t die if he trod on pallets with rubber on them for
the trail class at our OPRC rally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was so proud of him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I paid for all that hard work on Tuesday, 16<sup>th</sup>
December last year, when a gate blew open and the three horses wandered into
the back yard.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">Setting the Scene<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dusk was descending when I happened to look out of the back
window and see equine forms drifting past the bushes around the pool. I did a
double take: they weren’t supposed to be there! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">The dogs were
outside and had given me no indication that anything was amiss.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But sure enough, Cruz, Gabe and CD were happily grazing on the
much nicer grass of our four acre lawn. Mercifully, the dogs came when called
and I walked outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The horses were close to the pool at that point, which has
happened before without mishap. Normally they
give it a wide berth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cruz raised his head as I came out of the back door and I
said “Hi, there. What are you doing, buddy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">He took a few steps forward onto the brick area by the pool, and </span><span style="font-size: large;">for some bizarre reason, was fascinated by the cover. He stretched out his neck to smell the edge, then inched forwards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Amazed at his boldness, I decided he was close enough and
should back away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“No, Cruz!” I shouted.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elephants and Cars <o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I could only watch helplessly as he strode confidently
onto the pool cover.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of all the times for him to show such bravery!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">At first I wasn’t too concerned, for the reasons I stated above.
If this cover could hold a baby elephant or a large car, surely it could hold a
horse? The worst that could happen was that Cruz would be frightened and would
<i>never </i>again walk onto a pool cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not so. His front hooves went straight through the mesh and
the rest of him followed.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">He immediately started thrashing about, and turned around to
get out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Mercifully, he fell in at the shallow end. It is
still several feet deep, but I shudder to think what would have happened if
he’d chosen the seriously deep end to plunge into…</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bg8wyfksVAHYf-WH1n0X7gITGFu7ls-vN8zPch1y5xEKR-7y-CWiAWid3FYkS1uNoF8Yc28lLYVgm-G8ZWjFe9Vg1US0xbbUW4QlxzkWiqy8tbE05dCyZS-yGYsXeyGAsneMFMBN7qJA/s1600/Swimiming+Pool+Cover+Hole+2015+12+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bg8wyfksVAHYf-WH1n0X7gITGFu7ls-vN8zPch1y5xEKR-7y-CWiAWid3FYkS1uNoF8Yc28lLYVgm-G8ZWjFe9Vg1US0xbbUW4QlxzkWiqy8tbE05dCyZS-yGYsXeyGAsneMFMBN7qJA/s320/Swimiming+Pool+Cover+Hole+2015+12+17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the photo of the hole I posted on Facebook the next morning!!</span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">To Exit Or Not to Exit?<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">People often ask me how I pulled him out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are my answers: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">1) </span><span style="font-size: large;">It never occurred to me that my athletic horse couldn’t get himself out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">and </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">2) Anyway, how could I get a horse out of a pool with his legs
flailing in all directions?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">He got his front hooves onto the pavement and
almost heaved himself out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then sparks flew off his metal shoes as they scraped on
the cement and he came crashing down on his knees and slid back into the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now I started to panic. Supposing he <i>couldn’t</i> get out by himself? What then?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But he gave a huge lunge and sprang out of the water before
I had to put a plan together to assist him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Blasé Fellow<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is where the change in his feed and our work during the year had<i> some</i>
benefit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cruz shook the water off his body then put his head down to graze as
though nothing had happened!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">By now it was dark, so I couldn’t see how badly hurt he was.
In the light from the house he looked sound in walk, but that was no guarantee
of anything. I wanted to check him for injuries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">He was very easy to catch (what a star!) although it took
some clever thinking to get the other two to abandon their new-found lush
grass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Eventually I had everyone back in the barn, and
was able to examine the damage to my poor guy.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLLOlV5tSAPdwRpawaqdcgEZvzeEfiq4oKH1p1fdacNmVLkDiRqCNoFnAOYmUtZW0RYLHyvJJuOIm4cG9rn44wNJGe8YtcyB6UgOrpglaqjGiut0iKny4nagIuQDj_Og2jtyVEkOWcAF5/s1600/Cruz%2527s+Knee+Wounds+20151216_161015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLLOlV5tSAPdwRpawaqdcgEZvzeEfiq4oKH1p1fdacNmVLkDiRqCNoFnAOYmUtZW0RYLHyvJJuOIm4cG9rn44wNJGe8YtcyB6UgOrpglaqjGiut0iKny4nagIuQDj_Og2jtyVEkOWcAF5/s320/Cruz%2527s+Knee+Wounds+20151216_161015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The left knee had a much deeper gash than the left one</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNd-i7smXFieoca_9PDtUe4gaRRGe-X5xHY9Vq2rgaplB9mumwW-Q6LdJZhSIJeUv7SLqRyeLcT1yJfyPl2VP-dMP8arxYf2e-ilys3l2Gv-aiEcsoDORq36iv_J2GCnhrv_SL00tKV64/s1600/Cruz%2527s+Stifle+Wound+20151216_161040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNd-i7smXFieoca_9PDtUe4gaRRGe-X5xHY9Vq2rgaplB9mumwW-Q6LdJZhSIJeUv7SLqRyeLcT1yJfyPl2VP-dMP8arxYf2e-ilys3l2Gv-aiEcsoDORq36iv_J2GCnhrv_SL00tKV64/s320/Cruz%2527s+Stifle+Wound+20151216_161040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There was some concern about serious stifle injury</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioscFT7VNyrip6V5yxV9a0YTjSWNB1PnGLeiMD1Bf_b4GVJN8EgOoHbngfU9tpcTTZpVGi6RDFSoUeXurC0lCI9XPbOEpjFv-_a8pQjJqdjmVSuwOFMT53_Fwi1H7W-avyFVnhI_WibEif/s1600/Cruz%2527s+Fetlock+Wound+20151216_161046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioscFT7VNyrip6V5yxV9a0YTjSWNB1PnGLeiMD1Bf_b4GVJN8EgOoHbngfU9tpcTTZpVGi6RDFSoUeXurC0lCI9XPbOEpjFv-_a8pQjJqdjmVSuwOFMT53_Fwi1H7W-avyFVnhI_WibEif/s320/Cruz%2527s+Fetlock+Wound+20151216_161046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">These scrapes were not too bad</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">Battle Scars<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">His front knees were pretty scuffed up, and he
had a small gash on his left stifle, as well as a long cannon bone graze on the
left hind and a few fetlock grazes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I cleaned the wounds with iodine in warm water and spread
triple ant-biotic ointment on them. I also gave him 15 SMZs and prayed he’d be
sound in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">On Wednesday I gave him 15 more SMZs. I washed the wounds
again and reapplied the triple antibiotic cream. Nothing had swollen overnight, which was a good sign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The question then became: should I, or should I not, call
the vet?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The injuries seemed superficial, with the possible exception
of the one on his left knee. Better to be safe than sorry, I thought, and rang
for a veterinarian’s opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Prognosis<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The main vet was busy, so a new lady came who was possibly not long out of vet school. </span><span style="font-size: large;">She was very nice, but unfortunately began with the worst
case scenario.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Being: broken left stifle bone and knees that would remain
swollen and become arthritic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">On top of that, Cruz was to go on stable rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I explained that Cruz – in the immortal words of this vet's boss –
‘is not a candidate for stable rest.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">He appeared a little stiff in trot, unwilling to
completely bend that left stifle joint. But that was to be expected, since it
had taken a bit of a bruising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I then asked for the best possible scenario?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This was: a bit of bruising round the stifle joint and no riding to let the wounds heal. I assured her that I had no intention of
riding him until he was fully recovered!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So she shaved around the wounds and cleaned them off, before
applying generous dollops of antiseptic cream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was to do this every day for five days, and give him 13
SMZs twice a day, as well as 2 bute for five days, and one daily for the next
five days. She would check him in a week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">What I Actually Did<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">I explained that I would hope for the best and not change his daily routine. He would continue to wander in and out of
his stall at will with the others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The vet was fine with this when I explained that Cruz would
go ballistic inside his stall and do more damage to himself than good. I am a
great believer in allowing a horse to maintain his habits, if at all possible, to
prevent inhibiting his recovery through </span><span style="font-size: large;">becoming stressed</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">If in seven days he appeared lame, I would reconsider his
treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The thought of his being on bute for 10 days bothered me a
lot, so I consulted another vet. He said that I should give my horse UlcerGuard
or the equivalent if I really wanted him on bute for that length of time.
But 5 days would be better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I gave him 2 bute for two days, and 1 a day for the next
three days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I cleaned is wounds daily and plastered on the goop until
Saturday, when I had to drive down to Florida. Gabe’s owner, Christina, then
had to take over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">She did a wonderful job, and switched to <a href="http://www.equaide.com/images/Equaide_box.jpg" target="_blank">Equaide</a> a fantastic cream that prevents proud flesh (another concern I had) and
brought down the swelling around the wounds – a big worry especially for that left knee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">She sent me photo updates to reassure me that he was healing
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last Call<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A week later two other friends, Kelli and Joan, were kind
enough to be there for the vet when she finally arrived at 6:30 p.m. in the
pouring rain. Joan had to trot Cruz up and down my barn aisle with most of the
lights not working!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cruz was pronounced sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The winter weather is hampering my efforts, but I am now
working him again in walk. He is trotting and cantering just fine in his field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Conclusion...<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When something like this happens to your horse, you think: <i>This will make a good story if, and only if,
it has a happy ending.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, it has.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And now I’ve tied rope around the gates which lead into the
pool area for added security. Not that I expect Cruz to wander over the pool
cover again. Actually, it’s currently being repaired and the pool has turned
into one huge ice block. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2qlS0tB0qZqGa2RDoshIT8fwYBbsi8CNPZSTYDzt1SzvR5LOy2ovzBlxSjOXhV4ub1jA4OWAimCEhyMbdPyAHMn5GSCXB90DR1PN_L2T37WcUhg0LI5M484h1JgKfd_8B-OkKhmTskX9/s1600/Frozen+Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2qlS0tB0qZqGa2RDoshIT8fwYBbsi8CNPZSTYDzt1SzvR5LOy2ovzBlxSjOXhV4ub1jA4OWAimCEhyMbdPyAHMn5GSCXB90DR1PN_L2T37WcUhg0LI5M484h1JgKfd_8B-OkKhmTskX9/s320/Frozen+Pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I don’t want him walking on that, either!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-40190191104037919522013-10-10T10:54:00.000-07:002014-03-17T07:51:00.700-07:00Finding Your Horse's Song<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz4Ey31JPOALdDu2gHkkOQV-5K9muCqEv_zeXO7A42t2One3vi3ehU7svLxoBN2IW6rOK3ynB_l0xlApChoxf51RY3cOqzO_llRRXXXCcVcBnR93Xb3ZuWuHM7j4YEAKb-1bLYZ2GShCT/s1600/Cruz+Musical+Forelock+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz4Ey31JPOALdDu2gHkkOQV-5K9muCqEv_zeXO7A42t2One3vi3ehU7svLxoBN2IW6rOK3ynB_l0xlApChoxf51RY3cOqzO_llRRXXXCcVcBnR93Xb3ZuWuHM7j4YEAKb-1bLYZ2GShCT/s1600/Cruz+Musical+Forelock+Photo.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever thought about riding to music? When you watch
freestyle tests, do you ever think, wow! that looks like fun.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is, and you can easily do it, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
</div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Enter <a href="http://www.equimusic.com/about_us.php" target="_blank">Michael Matson</a></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can do this without the clinic, but I think you'll find the following information useful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
(If you disagree, go to The Takeaway section:) )<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A friend of mine organized a clinic with Michael Matson, an
equine music man with a database of over 1400 songs to choose fr</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">om. Intrigued, I signed up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael asked me to walk, trot and canter Cruz so he could
determine the gelding's beats per minute (BPM) in each gait. Asked
what kind of music I like, I answered "classical."</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is my genuine preference, but <a href="http://petslady.com/articles/stable_talk_what_kind_music_do_horses_prefer_61513" target="_blank">research at Hartpury College</a> in England has determined that horses respond positively to classical or country
music! So I'm on the right track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(I remember my heavy horse van sinking into the
mud while I was competing in a one day event at Hartpury. It
had to be towed out by a tractor. My life is never simple!) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<h3>
Letting the Horse
Decide<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael said Cruz would let me know when we found
the right melody. I thought this was pretty far-fetched, but rather than argue I
carried on trotting while he searched for music to fit Cruz’s
BPM in that gait. A few songs came and went, with no approval from my bay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then, <em>bingo</em>! he suddenly began to swing to the rhythm of the
next tune, with new energy, cadence and lift. It was just as Michael
had said: Cruz was loudly pronouncing "this is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em>the</em></b>
track, Mum!" It was astounding. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was so into the beat that I relaxed and ‘rode
with the flow.’ We were - at last - a dancing partnership, moving
in sync and enjoying the music. I had a silly grin on my face: Cruz tends to be the exception
which proves the rule and I had worried that we would never find ‘our song.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was pickier about the right tunes for walk and canter, but he did discover them. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was exciting to watch for those aha! moments with my friends' horses, too. We had a terrific time at the clinic. Michael is great fun to work with and patiently takes as long as necessary to find the perfect melodies for each animal.</span></div>
<br />
<h3>
The Takeaway</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He concluded our session by giving me a CD with my three tracks on it, plus
information on how to find local experts on putting a freestyle test together. But he also included a
link to free software - called Audacity - to download and use for producing my
own freestyle test CD. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Although I thoroughly recommend putting one together, you don’t need a clinic to get this information. Michael has an awesome <a href="http://www.equimusic.com/instructions.php" target="_blank">website</a> where you can learn
how to determine your horse’s beats per minute and find music to match his walk, trot and canter. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael's <a href="http://www.equimusic.com/resources.php" target="_blank">resources page</a> gives the link for the Audacity software
plus the Freestyle webpage at USDF where you’ll find instructions for creating your own freestyle test at every level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Next Step<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I immediately put Cruz's music on my iPod. At Walmart, for less than $10, you can purchase a small <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/HMDX-HX-GO4PU-Go-Xl-Portable-Speaker-Purple/24838813" target="_blank">portable‘boombox’</a> for iPhones and iPods. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Attach it securely to your belt (you’ll need to use more
than the original clip to keep it from moving) then you and your horse can both hear the
music while you ride: it’s way more beneficial than just listening to it by
yourself.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At home I’ve been playing the music during my regular riding
sessions and it has hugely improved my sense of rhythm, as well as relaxing both of us. We keep in sync when we hear our songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using the Audacity software and the USDF instructions, I've
put together a First Level Freestyle Test to use for my team ride at the PVDA Chapter
Challenge in November. We need<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> lots</i>
of practice before then, but it’s gonna be fun, and I will update you on how
our competition ride goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile, how about finding that special song in walk, trot
and canter for you and your horse?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are those links again:</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.equimusic.com/instructions.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.equimusic.com/instructions.php</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.equimusic.com/resources.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.equimusic.com/resources.php</span></a><br />
<br />
I promised an update on our results at the show: we got 70%!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-15374152386495543172013-08-18T07:37:00.004-07:002013-08-18T08:23:18.655-07:00Is It Time to Use a Horse Communicator?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz4q3-0wL4m-kFLc3cExVkZL4btEXsYZjqKuyH3n6dCqTOay9LLYuKUFet-8-8MMH_pFjIf9NVySNzyFXTT4vdngPG0tLrekNZNuaoUOjmm4TJXHZwL_SNOjLAi9r5BjoZilWFt8Z_GG_/s1600/Cruz+Bay+-+professional+photo+to+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz4q3-0wL4m-kFLc3cExVkZL4btEXsYZjqKuyH3n6dCqTOay9LLYuKUFet-8-8MMH_pFjIf9NVySNzyFXTT4vdngPG0tLrekNZNuaoUOjmm4TJXHZwL_SNOjLAi9r5BjoZilWFt8Z_GG_/s1600/Cruz+Bay+-+professional+photo+to+edit.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dana, a beautiful black mare, was clearly unhappy. My friend
Cheryl had tried everything to make her comfortable – changing her feed, adding
supplements, checking the saddle, the bit, her teeth, getting the chiropractor,
special shoeing – you name it, she’d done it.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Or so she thought.</span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But her efforts were to no avail. The horse was antsy and
disobedient under saddle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another friend suggested she get in touch with
Mary Long, an animal communicator. Why not let the mare herself explain what
was bugging her?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary doesn't have to be physically with your horse: you simply phone her up.</span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fee was $50 to ‘chat’ with her horse through Mary for 30
minutes, so what did Cheryl have to lose? </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<h2 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Can We Talk?</span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All Mary Long needs to know about your horse is the gender,
height, breed, color and name. She doesn’t try to weasel extra information out
of you as clues about your horse. She simply requests the most basic details in
order to locate your horse and tune into him/her.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cheryl gave Mary that bare minimum and waited to see what
her horse had to say.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The results astonished her. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dana told Mary that her front left leg ‘felt funny’ all the
time. (The mare has a problem with the hoof on that leg which impacts her
movement. Mary couldn't have known about it. Dana explained how best to ride her through this.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If Cheryl were more assertive when riding, Dana wouldn’t
feel the need to act up. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mare’s jaw was out of alignment, which is why she couldn’t
soften to one side. (Cheryl called in a specialist, who discovered that jaw was
indeed ‘twisted.’ She straightened it out and now Dana flexes equally well on
both sides.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her back teeth were hurting. (A new horse dentist was called
in, who found sharp edges on the back teeth. Together with having the jaw
adjustment above, Dana’s head stays quiet and steady.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to addressing the physical problems, Cheryl has
shown more leadership in her riding style.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The upshot? A happy mare and a happy owner.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<h2 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">May I Talk, Too?
</span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></h2>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Inspired by this story, I decided to call Mary about my
gelding, Cruz Bay. You know, the horse I’ve had so many ‘interesting’ episodes
with!</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary loves owners who have specific questions for their
horses. Your horse will be chatting continually with Mary throughout the
session, with many fascinating and helpful facts to convey to you. But this is
also a valuable opportunity to let your horse help you with any problems you
may have with him/her –usually why we call Mary in the first place.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is my half hour session, divided into two sections:
Cruz Communication (stuff he wanted me to know) and Mom’s Questions (stuff I wanted to
know).</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My reactions are in parentheses.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Cruz Communication</span></span></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love dressage and like to feel ‘floaty.’ (Hurray! That's great news.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I watch other horses and think ‘I wish I could do that.’</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I admit that I hang on the bit and like to change sides.
(Little rogue!)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I see the bit as a toy to play and distract myself with. (At
least this bodes well for the double bridle! You’ll have twice the fun </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I try hard, but I don’t always understand what you want. I
make myself sore with misunderstanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Oops, Mom’s fault!)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I want synchronicity with you so much that it hurts.
(Awwww!)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I describe myself as light on my feet and powerful. (Boy,
ain’t that the truth!)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You’re a good rider. (I hope that wasn’t just flattery .)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You need to keep my face steadied. (Mary tells me that
you’re saying this a<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> lot</i>.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I won’t figure it out: I need instruction and I see you as
my trainer. (Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think your hands are wimpy. (Ouch!)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I feel your legs are nice and steady. (Thanks for that, at
least!)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t like you bracing your hands and pressing your
knuckles into my back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(I had no idea what you were talking about here. I NEVER
do that while riding. Then I rode another horse and suddenly realized what you
meant. When I lean down to tighten my dressage girth, I brace my hands and
press my knuckles into the withers! I hope you've noticed that I’m now very
careful not to do that.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I feel some achiness from overachieving. (I need to make it
easier for you to move correctly. Less is more.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I want you to cup my chin to steady it. I don’t know how
else to describe it. (I still don’t know what you mean by this, but I now
notice that you like to rest your chin in my hands or on my shoulder when I’m
on the ground. Not sure how to translate this into riding yet.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall I’m happy and I see this as my forever home. (Awwww!
again.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">See what I mean? Cruz was very chatty. After all, this was
his one chance to communicate with me </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<h2 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Mom’s Q & A Session</span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></h2>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q:</b> Why are you so
afraid of other horses in the warm-up?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A:</b> I’m not afraid
of the other horses, but of their riders. They power through and I want to stay
out of their way. They seem out of control. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I trust you, but not them. The warm-up ring is a combat
zone! I don’t want to run into anybody and you need to tell people to get out
of the way!</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q:</b> Have you ever
crashed into another horse?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A:</b> Yes. I was
being ridden by a tall man who was a very good rider. We were in the warm-up
and another horse cut in front from left to right just as I was jumping and I
hit the other horse on his right side. (This was a revelation – I knew who the
rider was. Cruz was in training and I had never been told about this incident.)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mary:</b> I will tell
Cruz to trust you that you’ll keep him out of trouble.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q:</b> Why did you
bolt on our last trail ride, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after </i>we’d
already gone past the scary section of our ride?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just being an idiot. The buck was ‘take
that, you scary situation!’ and after that I took control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Did he ever! Not sure how this makes me feel better about
his behavior, but at least that explains it!)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mary (at my request):
</b>Hilary wants you to be a ‘pony horse’ – i.e. quiet like the horses which
accompany the racehorses at the track to calm them down.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cruz:</b> I can do
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Note:</b> Inspired by this, I yesterday
went on my first trail ride after the above bolting incident. I took charge, stayed calm
and kept Cruz on a light but firm contact. I put him in travers or shoulder-in
whenever he got worried about something like the lapping lake water, plastic
Canadian geese, and big signs, etc.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He hates narrow spaces, but we had to ride through a small
gateway with a post in front of it to get into the equestrian park and back
out again. So I rode a line through it which gave him a clear view of the space
on the other side. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He responded instantly and quietly to all my aids during the
whole ride. Things are improving!</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cruz:</b> I like your
caramel coat: I feel you’re in charge when you wear it.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hilary to Mary:</b> I
have two of them, but can’t wear them all the time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mary: </b>If you
can’t wear them, you’ll need a token to show him to say ‘you can trust me,
because I’m wearing this.’ <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(I wear a crucifix all the time, and finally remembered to
show this to Cruz yesterday. I will make a point of showing it to him every
time I ride. What better protection could we have than Christ’s?)</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Using the Info<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s important to write copious notes while Mary is
communicating with your horse. Not everything she says will immediately mean
something to you or even make sense. But when you go back over what you’ve
written – not just once, but several times over the next few weeks and months – more bits of the puzzle will come together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I admit to having been rather skeptical about the whole process, both
before and during, especially when Cruz was apparently talking nonsense. But that’s
where having taken detailed notes was so vital, because I was later able to see
that it wasn’t nonsense at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My relationship with Cruz has hugely improved since my session
with Mary, and I thoroughly recommend you talk to her if you have any concerns
about your horse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She is not the only animal communicator available, and you
may want to try someone else. But she certainly worked for me and my horse so here are her contact details.</span></div>
<h1 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Mary Long’s Details<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.marylong.net/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.MaryLong.net</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phone: 302-239-6366<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cost of consultation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">$30 for 15 minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">$50 for 30 minutes (which I highly recommend – you’ll be
amazed at how much ground you cover in that time!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz4q3-0wL4m-kFLc3cExVkZL4btEXsYZjqKuyH3n6dCqTOay9LLYuKUFet-8-8MMH_pFjIf9NVySNzyFXTT4vdngPG0tLrekNZNuaoUOjmm4TJXHZwL_SNOjLAi9r5BjoZilWFt8Z_GG_/s1600/Cruz+Bay+-+professional+photo+to+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-16935697319723627162013-02-23T11:02:00.001-08:002013-02-23T11:04:02.989-08:00Pausing to Praise the Ex-Racehorse<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1WsFcAaTDwCwPqAKnMmMH7fEdIAot0a5YVm5oS1TjnKnthtJDho5K3lxEEPRZF4v30zFcO6OmzbtsIFUrPhGp37Fxw9qVnmvyzsNRV0SKRwH-HYKgHMawwuCx9S0TaYde4G03zFoGU6s/s1600/Kelly+posing+at+an+English+show+250+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1WsFcAaTDwCwPqAKnMmMH7fEdIAot0a5YVm5oS1TjnKnthtJDho5K3lxEEPRZF4v30zFcO6OmzbtsIFUrPhGp37Fxw9qVnmvyzsNRV0SKRwH-HYKgHMawwuCx9S0TaYde4G03zFoGU6s/s1600/Kelly+posing+at+an+English+show+250+cropped.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubesca - my beautiful ex-racehorse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I see <a href="http://www.paddypower.com/racing/future-racing" target="_blank">the 2013 Cheltenham Festival</a> is coming up next month, the prestigious jump racing event which includes the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This makes me feel nostalgic, as I used to live a mere thirty minutes away from that Prestbury venue in beautiful Gloucestershire, England.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And living next door to me lived a little ex-racing mare, who would eventually become one of the best horses I’ve ever owned and the reason why I strongly believe in the value of giving a home to an ex-racehorse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She also became Cruz Bay’s mum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why an Ex-Racehorse?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’ve ever thought of adopting an ex-racehorse, follow the action-packed calendar of the Cheltenham Festival for an example of the life your future horse considers normal, and why it makes him such a great riding prospect when he leaves the track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the four days of the Festival, hundreds of super-fit equines will be stabled in unfamiliar surroundings, bombarded by constant noise and paraded in front of almost a quarter of a million people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What better preparation can there be for a horse seeking a second career, especially as a competition animal?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kimberly Clark of Leighton Farm in Maryland, USA, who retrains retired Thoroughbred racehorses, writes in her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.goodhorse.org/uploads/RetrainingManualCurrent.pdf" target="_blank">Retraining Manual</a></i>: “Most (racehorses) have had exposure to cars, trucks and tractors. They have been around different people, and know how to be worked with and around other horses. You get a horse that’s already started and well-traveled.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whether you’re looking for a trail horse or a competition horse, you’ll find your ex-racehorse has ‘been there, done that’ when it comes to spooky sights and sounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ms. Clark adds: “I know of no other way to purchase a horse that's had access to daily medical care, consistent training and professionals for such a low price.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is why ex-racehorses are such great prospects in second careers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why Am I So Biased?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz’s mum was a chestnut mare – you know, the type we’re always told to stay away from! But her owner desperately needed a new home for her, and she was given to me for free. Little did I know at the time what an absolute gem I had acquired in that 15.3 hand Thoroughbred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her name was ‘Kelly.’ I felt this was uninspired, yet I believe changing a horse’s name is bad luck. So I decided to keep it as her stable name, but find something better for shows. Since she was chestnut, I looked through red wine types and found a ‘Rubesco.’ By changing the masculine <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">o </i>to the feminine <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a,</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">voilá!</i> she became ‘Rubesca.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That sounded so much better when, time and time again, her name was called over the loudspeaker as the winner of innumerable dressage, showjumping and one-day eventing competitions with me during the all too short eight years I owned her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For you see, Kelly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aka</i> Rubesca was already eighteen when she came into my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why an Ex-Racehorse Worked For Me and Why It Can Work For You<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thoroughly recommend you read Kimberly Clark’s manual to get an understanding of what to expect when you adopt an ex-racehorse. Race training is so different from that of ‘regular’ riding horses, and a lot of patience is needed from you to help him adapt to his new life. But he will get there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some examples of the challenges I faced with my ex-racer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mounting<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Racehorses are mounted while walking. Kelly would march off <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> quickly as soon as I put my foot in the stirrup. No one had taught her, in all the fifteen years since she stopped racing, how undesirable this is in a riding horse!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She wasn’t being naughty: she’d simply been trained this way. So I calmly practiced mounting and dismounting, over and over again. Once in the saddle, I would sit quietly, then dismount and start again. That would be our whole session – with no actual riding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soon she realized that I was never going to ask her to move off immediately I was in the saddle, and she stood still.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can </i>teach an old horse new tricks</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tongue Hanging<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is fairly common in racehorses and Kelly had been hanging out her tongue all her adult life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My answer was to treat her as if she didn’t do it. I also made sure her teeth were fine, that her mouth wasn’t sore and her bit fitted properly. I was careful not to haul on her mouth, and encouraged her to seek contact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over time she became relaxed and the habit went away – even after all those years. If you want more information go to my article <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Tongue-Hanging-in-Horses---Causes-and-Cure&id=2155572" target="_blank">Tongue Hanging in Horses: Causes and Cures</a></i></b> </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flatwork<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></o:p></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unless already rehabilitated, your ex-racehorse will have had no formal training under saddle. He’ll probably have learned to gallop in one direction only and find it hard to bend to the other side. He will also fall into gaits, rather than transition smoothly from one to the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kelly was used only intermittently as a trail horse for fifteen years, and might as well have just come off the track when it came to flatwork. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her head swung from side to side when she trotted, and she threw it up in my face when asked to canter or come down from canter. She was as stiff as a board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Patience was the key to retraining her. Regular work loosened her muscles and the variety in her work schedule kept her happy with her job. She was a phenomenal jumper and enjoyed soaring over fences. It was easy to incorporate flatwork, riding out on the trails and jumping into her working week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you keep your OTTB (Off Track Thoroughbred)’s workload fresh and interesting, his attitude to learning will remain positive. This breed is very intelligent and willing.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reasons for Retiring a Racehorse<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s important to realize that not all horses retire from racing because they are unsound. <a href="http://www.sourceanexracehorse.co.uk/index.php?page=general-sale-information" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Source an Ex-Racehorse</b> </a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">lists the following common reasons: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a lack of ability<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the horse is too slow<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the horse does not enjoy racing<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a owner may have a change of direction<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the death of an owner<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a syndicate may have disbanded<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, <em>always</em> have your horse vetted before purchase. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Success<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></o:p></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kelly was wonderful on the roads and on the trails, alone or with other horses and after six months together we went on to win many showjumping and eventing competitions. One memorable weekend, at the age of 25, she won her one-day-event on Saturday and her son, Cruz Bay, won his class on the Sunday!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She also became a superb dressage horse. In spring of her 26<sup>th</sup> year, she won a huge gold cup for achieving the highest dressage test scores over three consecutive shows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I proudly display it in my tack room. Sadly that was the last time we competed before her death from heart failure a few months later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So Go For It!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are a reasonably experienced and patient rider, I strongly urge you to consider adopting a Thoroughbred ex-racehorse. They come in so many different heights and areas of potential that you are sure to find one to suit you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Racing events like the Cheltenham Festival will help you to appreciate the vast experience your horse has already accumulated in his young life. With retraining, he can turn into your equine soulmate, the way Kelly did for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Resources:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some places to look for your new horse: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>USA<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.canterusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=94" target="_blank">Canter<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Serves Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Mid-Atlantic, New England, Ohio and Pennsylvania<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.lopetx.org/" target="_blank">Lope<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Texas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.thoroughbredadoption.com/" target="_blank">Thoroughbred Adoption Network<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Includes many organizations throughout the USA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>UK <o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.heroscharity.org/" target="_blank">Heros<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.thoroughbredrehabilitationcentre.co.uk/index.php" target="_blank">Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.sourceanexracehorse.co.uk/index.php?page=general-sale-information" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Source an Ex-Racehorse</b><o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-51931684001128507322012-10-31T08:48:00.000-07:002012-10-31T08:50:48.389-07:00Overcoming My Horse’s Fear of Other Horses: The Breakthrough Continues (Article 3)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQqAUq1976SFQh_XhR2dPmDFD5cyDpe9mYTN_14wP_uL7IaPiKUGWbLjVWJkDlbfOp4WyC7aoo0OIM-drwo4qEEqsfzmp4F9qNjxrg_mpHOV9OynwrGB9r0soeHmmSOh6NsPPHx5nClPi/s1600/Cruz+winter+2010+looking+quizzical+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQqAUq1976SFQh_XhR2dPmDFD5cyDpe9mYTN_14wP_uL7IaPiKUGWbLjVWJkDlbfOp4WyC7aoo0OIM-drwo4qEEqsfzmp4F9qNjxrg_mpHOV9OynwrGB9r0soeHmmSOh6NsPPHx5nClPi/s320/Cruz+winter+2010+looking+quizzical+200.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm trying my hardest, honest!</td></tr>
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This is the third in a series of articles about implementing the suggestions in <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?4-Steps-for-Overcoming-Your-Horses-Fear-of-Other-Horses&id=6064564" target="_blank">4 Steps For Overcoming Your Horse’s Fear of Other Horses </a>which I originally wrote for ezinearticles.com.<br />
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In the previous article I'd ended the training session with the scary horse trotting towards Cruz while he was on the inside track.<br />
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It was now time to take Cruz on the outside track, where he easily feels trapped.<br />
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<strong>A Bold Plan</strong><br />
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Mindful that I increase Cruz’s anxiety by anticipating his, I decided to get more courageous in this next session. I wanted to learn just how much braver my horse and I had become after the exercises we’d already carried out.<br />
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When my friends - Julie, on ‘scary’ Cayenne, and Kelli, on friendly Pippi - entered the arena I told them: “Let’s just pretend Cruz has no problems, and ride around each other like normal horsewomen!”<br />
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<strong>Acting Normally</strong><br />
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And that’s just what we did. We rode around like sensible riders, trotting and cantering towards each other on both the inside and outside tracks, following ring etiquette.<br />
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Cruz didn’t bat an eyelid! He’d become so used to working with these horses that even when friendly Pippi nearly ran into him, he wasn’t bothered. I’m not sure how he'd have reacted if ‘scary’ Cayenne had done that, but I was thrilled he stayed so calm when the hotter chestnut came towards him in every gait.<br />
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This was a major breakthrough! And just in time, too, as I had an upcoming competition on the weekend where I would have to warm up with other horses.<br />
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<strong>Showtime!</strong><br />
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This particular show venue was perfect for our stage of ‘fear training.’ The warm-up area is very large, and familiar to Cruz.<br />
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Although there were only three other horses in there with us, one of them was a youngster and not totally under his rider’s control. So I was glad of the space to get out of his way!<br />
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Unlike previous times when I’ve tended to ‘hope for the best’ and not take charge of my horse, I was careful to ‘ride every stride’ in that warm-up. I let Cruz know that I was in command, and would keep him safe. “Just pay attention to me, and you’ll be fine.” <br />
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I was proud of him. One horse was performing lateral work, and moving sideways into our line of travel. I quietly turned Cruz away from the ‘threat’ and continued working him. Even when a horse was cantering towards him on a circle, and appeared ready to collide with our canter circle, Cruz kept his cool.<br />
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Yet another horse was coming into the warm-up. Since it was nearly my ride time, I decided to take Cruz out now and cash in on his calmness. It was making me feel calm, too, and I wanted to keep it that way.<br />
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<strong>Entering the Ring</strong><br />
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The judge was having a short break. Just as I was about to go in and settle Cruz down before she returned, the rider of the hot young horse came out and asked to join us in the ring for a while.<br />
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She obviously thought my amazingly calm Cruz would be a soothing influence! I felt a heel, but had to say ‘no.’ I explained why, and she understood perfectly. Later when she rode her test her horse bucked several times and I knew I’d made a good decision.<br />
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Our two tests had some 7s and 8s mixed in with our not-so-good movements. We got 63% in our second showing, and won both Second Level classes. Don't tell anyone that we were the only partnership riding in them! But it was nice to have two blue ribbons (however dubiously come by) to celebrate our successful return to a warm-up arena.<br />
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It was an important first step in Cruz’s rehabilitation.<br />
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<strong>Coming Up</strong><br />
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I have another show this weekend, after a two week break and a hurricane. However, the warm-up will be smaller and more crowded, and it may be too soon for Cruz to go in there. I will ride him at the venue on the day before, and see how he copes with the other horses before I decide whether to try the warm-up on the day.<br />
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I’ll be reporting back!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-17699795033396864012012-10-11T08:24:00.000-07:002012-10-31T08:49:03.260-07:00Overcoming My Horse’s Fear of Other Horses: The Breakthrough Continues (Article 2)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm really trying my best to get over my fears, Mum!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the second in a series of posts about implementing my own suggestions in the article </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?4-Steps-for-Overcoming-Your-Horses-Fear-of-Other-Horses&id=6064564" target="_blank"> 4 Steps For Overcoming Your Horse’s Fear of Other Horses</a> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> which I originally wrote for ezinearticles.com.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is an ongoing exercise in putting my money where my mouth is</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Julie brought her ‘scary’ mare, Cayenne, over for our next session in getting Cruz over his fear of other horses in general, and this one in particular.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d already exercised Cruz for thirty minutes before her arrival, and decided to skip the initial ground work which began our previous sessions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead, Julie and I immediately rode in opposite directions from each other in walk, with only a small gap between the two horses. This meant Cruz had no time to get used to Cayenne's presence before having her walk 'at him.' </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I purposely placed Cruz on the outside track, as he tends to feel ‘hemmed in’ between a moving horse and the perimeter fence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it was wonderful when he calmly accepted Cayenne walking towards him on both reins!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blown away with elation, we decided to move up to trot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During our last session Cruz walked while the other horses trotted towards him on either side. This time, with only one other horse in the arena, we transitioned into trot together. Again, we immediately rode in opposite directions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not wanting to destroy what we had so carefully built, I trotted Cruz on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inside</i> track, so he wouldn’t feel claustrophobic. Julie and I rode several circuits of the arena on both reins, while I moved Cruz closer to the oncoming ‘scary’ chestnut mare.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Desperate for this exercise to succeed, I think I was more anxious than my horse! It cost me a lot to sit quietly, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with my hands firmly in front of the saddle</i> to encourage forward movement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was only one anxious tremor from Cruz. I immediately pushed my hands a little further along his crest, with a slight closing of my leg, to encourage him without bullying.</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It worked. The tremor subsided almost as soon as it had begun and we rode smoothly past. WooHoo!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p>A</o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">fter three quiet trot loops on each rein it was time to walk our horses, give Cruz a huge pat and thank Julie and Cayenne for their tremendous help.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This afternoon we will trot Cruz <em>between</em> the mare and the outside railing. Here’s hoping for another big step forwards in his rehabilitation!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-63019304784260284672012-10-05T11:51:00.000-07:002012-10-31T08:48:50.567-07:00Overcoming My Horse's Fear of Other Horses: a Breakthrough! (Article 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is a great day! Read on…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Problem <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been plagued for a long time by Cruz’s fear of other horses in the arena at shows, but also at home. This problem has forced me to choose show venues with an alternative warm-up area where we can work alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week I went online, looking to see if anyone else’s horse has this problem, and what they do about it. Many riders have posted on forums that their horses are scared of being ridden around their own kind, and I searched for meaningful answers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Looking For Help<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was very excited when my search revealed <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?4-Steps-for-Overcoming-Your-Horses-Fear-of-Other-Horses&id=6064564" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">4 Steps For Overcoming Your Horse’s</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fear of Other Horses</i></b> </a></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">although the title sounded eerily familiar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Aha!</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I thought – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I need to read this</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine my surprise when I found myself reading my own article! I wrote it a while ago for ezinearticles.com, but am also billed as a guest blogger on Richard Beal’s blog. He writes on Western riding, and I was flattered that he felt my advice worth repeating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using the system, Cruz had got better, then regressed when a horse bucked next to him at a show warm-up. After that, I had not been working consistently to regain his trust, as I should have. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since mine appears to be the only step by step program for eliminating a horse’s fear of other horses, it was high time I carried it out properly! (Please let me know if you find another program.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Start with Fantastic Friends</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am blessed with amazing friends, who are committed to helping me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz feels safe around Kelli’s quiet mare, Pippi. She is his comfort zone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Julie has an energetic mare, Cayenne, of whom Cruz is deadly scared as soon as she even walks towards him, or dares to step sideways in his direction. He sucks back and half-rears in fear. She is a very useful 'threat.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting a horse over this fear takes as long as it takes: days, weeks or months. Each horse is different. Patience is key. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I suggest riding the frightened animal with one calm horse to begin with, until he is completely comfortable. Then bring in a second horse. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If your horse is truly frightened (and maybe scaring you, as Cruz had started to do with me), start with either you or a strong and calm horse person on foot. Stand beside the horse at the arena entrance and let the other(s) walk, trot and canter past.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once he stays calm, lead him into the arena and have him stand in the middle while the others ‘do their thing.’ Then walk him between the other horses as they walk - then trot - towards him, and up from behind him on either side. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When he is calm about this, get on him (or have a competent, calm rider mount up for a while) and walk him between the oncoming horses as they walk and trot towards him/from behind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next step is to trot your horse among the two others, followed by everyone cantering.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz is afraid of horses coming towards him, but some horses are more worried about horses coming up from behind. Adjust the exercises for your equine buddy’s particular issue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carrying Out My Own Advice</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Day One</u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday a calm, strong and competent friend (thank you, Christina!) led Cruz into the arena while Pippi and Cayenne worked around him. Then yours truly had the guts to lead her own horse :) while the others walked and trotted towards us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz stayed calm and I finished there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Day Two<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I worked him under saddle for 30 minutes until the others arrived, then dismounted and led him among the other horses again. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Julie’s daughter, Ashley, had brought her cute and calm young gelding, Teddy, into the mix. Three other horses in all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz was great on the ground, so I mounted and walked him between the two mares as they walked and trotted towards him on either side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We only had one ‘iffy’ moment when Cruz thought about sucking back. I realized that I pull on the reins when that happens, making it worse. The second time around I kept my hands steady, in front of the saddle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cruz breezed between the two mares without a hitch, in both directions!!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">YoooHoooooo! This is HUGE! Cruz enjoyed the big pats and hugs. He, too, felt the enormity of what he'd accomplished and snorted happily back to the barn.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you so much, Kelli, Julie and Ashley!! They are very kindly coming back tomorrow, so we can build on today’s success.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I aim to trot him between the oncoming horses and will keep you posted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-8254306299654789162012-07-25T07:45:00.003-07:002012-07-27T06:02:53.942-07:00After Five Years We Make It to the Ride For Life! (And How 13 Was My Lucky Number)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9bTmVXTnz7XODDwJL1RBTCp9ZLCKlJrH0iVTYzsvnthQZXdO3Ov8_YMAhauYBlxfb_M5XuApcOygP5gudhjiU66k5tG6aNQJ2x1mg3Cqp-Mb6mVe8VrYxAIDvZsUS2a1VMcOPJiYGUI6/s1600/Cruz+Bay+-+Julio+Clinic+June+1st+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9bTmVXTnz7XODDwJL1RBTCp9ZLCKlJrH0iVTYzsvnthQZXdO3Ov8_YMAhauYBlxfb_M5XuApcOygP5gudhjiU66k5tG6aNQJ2x1mg3Cqp-Mb6mVe8VrYxAIDvZsUS2a1VMcOPJiYGUI6/s400/Cruz+Bay+-+Julio+Clinic+June+1st+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting comfortable together again</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In 2008 I entered Cruz in the PVDA Ride For Life, a huge two day, breast cancer benefit show at the Equestrian Center in Prince George’s County, Maryland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">But a month before we had our <a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/03/overcoming-my-horses-fear-and-mine-part.html" target="_blank">terrifying incident</a> at the New Jersey Horse Park. So I switched horses, and took my husband’s grey Irish Sport horse instead. Thanks to sweet C.D. I was able to compete, and some of my self-confidence returned.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.tcvm.com/successstory/shencalmer.htm" target="_blank">Shen-Calmer</a> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My goal continued to be to take Cruz to the Ride For Life, but for the next four years I was too chicken to even try. Licensed shows had always ended badly for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then, this year, a friend recommended <a href="http://www.tcvm.com/successstory/shencalmer.htm" target="_blank">Shen-Calmer</a> to me. It is perfectly legal for horse shows, and ‘takes the edge off.’ I ordered some and entered Cruz in the competition, at First Level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">You cannot buy Shen-Calmer in stores or online. You need to find a TCVM practitioner to order it for you. TCVM stands for Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and you can find a list of practitioners <a href="http://www.tcvm.com/successstory/shencalmer.htm" target="_blank">online</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It turned out that my horse chiropractor, <a href="http://www.preciouspetservices.com/RUTH-M-STOKES-DVM_Veterinary-Services-UPPER-MARLBORO-MD_P36925.html" target="_blank">Dr. Ruth Stokes</a>, is on the list, and she was able to get the powder to me within 24 hours!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Shen-Calmer is not cheap, and I would recommend it only for situations where other herbs are ‘illegal.’ You also cannot keep your horse on it indefinitely, which is another reason for using some other calmer as long-term help for your horse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I use <a href="http://www.springtimeinc.com/product/daily-calm%20" target="_blank">Daily Calm</a> from Springtime Inc.</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">if Cruz ever needs help in other situations. It contains the ‘forbidden’ herb ginseng, so I have to stop using it at least 7 days before a licensed show.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Pre-Show Stress</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The ride times were published a week before the show, and I discovered that I would have to ride in Ring 1, the huge indoor arena.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The problem was not the actual arena, it was getting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">into</i> it. You have to walk down a long ramp, and through a short tunnel between the roar of massive air conditioning machines to reach the cool interior. Cruz was gonna freak!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Just to make matters worse, he was in stall number 13....</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Big Day</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It was now Saturday, and time to ride him in that inside arena. I am ashamed to say that I was crying as I put on his bridle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here’s the sequence of events:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Friend (poking head over stall door): “What’s wrong?!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Me: “I don’t know how Cruz is going to behave, and I’m so scared!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Friend: “You don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i> to ride in there, you know.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Me: “Yes, I do. I’m in a team competition here in two weeks. What if I have to ride in the indoor again, and I didn’t use this opportunity to get him used to it? I’ll have let my team down.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">By now other friends were gathering round and witnessing my meltdown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Them: “Group hug?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Me (sniveling): “Yes, please!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Group hug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Now I’m sitting in the saddle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">All my friends: “Group hug again?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Me (still sniveling): “Yes, please!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Group hug (including the horse).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then Hallie Ahrnsbrak offered to lead me into the arena. Hallie is a member of our local PVDA chapter, and rides Grand Prix on the stallion Feintsje, aka Emmitt, the only Baroque Friesian competing at the top FEI levels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She is wonderfully calm and talked sense into me as I warmed Cruz up. Afterwards she walked beside me down the ramp and through the scary tunnel between the monster AC units. Cruz was totally unconcerned, even when we had to wait by all that noise for the previous competitor to exit the ring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hallie kindly read my test for me. Cruz behaved like a pro, and when we left the arena, I was hugging and patting his neck like crazy.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Results Are In</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I felt like a million dollars. I had faced my fears head-on, and come through triumphant. I was also in love with my horse again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">P.S. We won the class!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-21660973633587595062012-06-26T07:25:00.000-07:002012-07-27T06:07:43.913-07:00What a Difference a Julio Mendoza Clinic Makes!<br />
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After getting 57% at the Fix-A-Test, I took Cruz to a local schooling show for our first outing at Second Level test.</div>
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I <i>really</i> wanted to improve our score by at least two percentage points.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Show Number One</b></div>
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We just squeezed into the 60% bracket with our Second Level 1 test – my shoulder-ins were too much like shoulder-fores and received 5s. Then I dipped below that magic 60% in Second Level 2: my sad attempts at travers both received 4s, with the comments ‘not succeeded.’</div>
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Ouch!</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Then Along Came Julio</b></div>
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However, I was booked into a two day clinic with <a href="http://mendozadressage.com/About_Julio.html" target="_blank">Julio Mendoza,</a> who’d been invited by a fellow PVDA Calvert Chapter member to visit our humble Southern Maryland area. I am so glad he did. He is a very upbeat, courteous and fun guy who wants riders and their horses to enjoy themselves. </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Quick Background</i></div>
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Two days earlier I’d had a second lesson with a new instructor, as my former trainer was getting too busy with her competition circuit to devote regular time to teaching. </div>
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We were to ride shoulder-in and travers at walk on a 20 meter circle, punctuating the movements with halts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This enabled me to concentrate on bending Cruz around my inside leg for the travers, and keeping a strong outside rein for the shoulder-in.</div>
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We then graduated to trotting the same exercise, alternating between compressing Cruz and releasing him forwards. His trot improved 1000%.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Back to Julio</i></div>
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So I warmed Cruz up in the same fashion at the clinic, and was thrilled when Julio continued during our session with the same exercises. But he did add some changes.</div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><u>Bit Placement</u></li>
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First, he lowered the bit one hole in my gelding’s mouth. He explained to me that the area of the bar immediately in front of the horse’s teeth is very sensitive. By placing the bit further down, it was now resting on a less touchy part of his jaw.</div>
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Cruz immediately began to chew happily (and at our last show was actually foaming at the mouth!).</div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><u>Hand Placement & Rein Function</u></li>
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Julio told me that I keep my hands too far apart. My outside hand should come almost to my horse’s mane and my inside hand should be close to it. The reins should also be held a little in front of the saddle.</div>
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One function of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">outside rein</b> is to lift the horse - together with the rider’s shoulders, core and lower back. This rein ‘belongs to the rider.’</div>
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The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inside rein</b> ‘belongs to the horse’ and one of its uses is to relax his top line.</div>
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Keeping my hands more together maintains the horse in a more condensed ‘packet.’ Julio had to constantly remind me to do this during the two days of the clinic, but I could feel a huge difference in my horse when I did as I was told.</div>
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Julio says the inside rein ‘belongs to the horse’ while the outside rein ‘belongs to the rider.’</div>
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The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">outside rein</b> stays constant, supporting - but not holding - the horse. Since the aim is to get the horse to lighten up in front, any time he leans on either rein, release that rein a tiny bit before resuming contact. This takes away the horse’s prop so he has to carry himself.</div>
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The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inside rein</b> is the more playful rein, which releases as a reward to the horse when he bends, gives, etc. This doesn’t mean constantly messing about with it: just let it be softer/squeezed more than the outside rein so the horse gives to it and bends laterally. </div>
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At the same time the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inside leg</b> needs to urge the horse forwards and into the outside rein, while the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">outside leg</b> supports him.</div>
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In the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">shoulder-in,</b> I learned to maintain my inside leg behind the girth to keep the horse’s haunches out on the track, while my strong outside rein brought his shoulders in for enough angle. I also learned that I need more forward impulsion to perform a good shoulder-in.</div>
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For <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">travers </b>my horse needs to be properly bent around my inside leg, yet not over bent, laterally or horizontally. Again, with correct impulsion, Cruz found it easy to perform a correct travers.</div>
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I needed a sharp reminder that ‘collected’ trot does not mean ‘slower’ trot! </div>
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My clue to having achieved collected trot was when Cruz moved forwards in a controlled fashion with so much bounce I could hardly sit it out! He became lighter in front, and moved laterally with ease. It was a great feeling. This trot also segued effortlessly into a spectacular medium trot.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Second Show</b></div>
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Thanks to that clinic, at the following show I got 6s for my shoulder-ins (no more shoulder-fores) and 6.5 for my travers (goodbye to those 4s!). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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With expert guidance from Julio and my current instructor, Cruz and I are on truly en route to becoming a genuine Second Level partnership!</div>
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<b>P.S. </b>On the second day of the clinic, before our session began, a clap of thunder and instant downpour of rain on the indoor arena’s roof freaked Cruz out, and he took off!</div>
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When I finally brought him to a standstill, I leaped off and stood shaking while trying to reassure Cruz that all was well.</div>
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Julio gave me a kind hug, then hopped on Cruz for a while. It was lovely to see the horse go so well with a great rider! Julio was so calm that Cruz settled straight down to work and I was soon able to resume my lesson on him.</div>
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It drummed into me how staying calm oneself is vital to convincing the horse that there is nothing to worry about.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-74461448405987382542012-03-28T09:28:00.001-07:002012-03-28T10:28:10.101-07:00We're Riding Second Level!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, folks, it’s official, Cruz is a Second Level horse now!<o:p></o:p> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The winter here in Maryland was so mild that I was able to continue with a reasonably regular riding routine throughout. But I ride Cruz very differently from before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He’s gone from being argumentative, head-in-the-air, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">won’t</i>-go-round and I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">won’t</i>-listen-to-you to ‘O.K. Mom, what do you want from me today?’<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m so excited about this that I want to share with you how this came about!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forward<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steuart Pittman, the eventer, told me not to force Cruz to bend to the left, his bad side. ‘Just ride him forward and keep his head straight.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This took the fight out of our sessions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because I was thinking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">forward</i> while I rode, my hands came forward. Cruz was very thankful for this. He responded by becoming relaxed and softer in the mouth, jaw and neck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My instructor added, ‘Use more left leg.’ This, plus short intervals of lateral flexion to the outside (right) encouraged Cruz to give to the left ‘by himself.’ As long as I continue to ask for forward motion and carry my hands over his withers, I have a co-operative horse.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s also important for me to keep my hands ‘alive’ - constantly talking gently to him with the ring fingers on both hands, but not nagging. I have a tendency to lock my left arm and hand, which adds to his left side resistance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Bit of Foam<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another suggestion from my instructor made a huge difference. Cruz’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cavesson noseband comes with a leather pad under the chin. But my trainer recommended putting a strip of foam between Cruz’s jaw and the pad to further soften the impact of the noseband.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a foam mattress cover from Walmart, and have been chopping up for all sorts of things, such as extra girth protection. So I cut a strip from this and placed it under Cruz’s jaw.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He felt the extra comfort immediately and gave me no grief when asked for vertical flexion. This of course made me feel terrible that I hadn’t thought of doing this before! I’m not suggesting that a piece of foam is a cure-all for flexion issues, but it certainly helped in this case.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Counter Canter<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that my horse was listening I could attempt counter-canter again, which had been such a disaster previously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was very careful to sit as tall and balanced as possible in the saddle as we negotiated the half circles and three loop serpentines. This time he stayed quiet and rhythmic, without breaking stride.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simple Changes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because Cruz is so ‘right-handed’ I was demanding too much left flexion in the simple change from right lead to left lead canter. I felt the need to exaggerate my request for left lead canter out of the walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I achieved instead was another right lead canter depart (and an upset, confused horse).<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As soon as I kept his body and neck straight while giving the left canter aids, Cruz quietly moved into a smooth left canter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Putting It All to the Test<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past weekend I was lucky enough to find a Fix-A-Test locally. I could ride my first time at Second Level in front of a judge, have her comment on it, and help me improve without the stress of competition.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cruz was an angel, and did everything I asked. We were awarded 57% - a great start to our season!<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">However</i>: the judge commented that Cruz travels with his hind quarters to the right. He is not straight and this detracted from every single movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She offered me a choice: go through the test again, or work on straightness? I chose the latter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two Exercises for Straightness<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trot:</b> Because Cruz carries his haunches to the right, riding haunches in (or travers) on the left rein trains him to move those haunches to the left.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></ol><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Afterwards, in regular trot, his hindquarters are directly behind his shoulders and his ‘engine’ is pushing him evenly into both my hands. This has the effect of making him more ‘up’ in front, adding bounce and energy to his gaits. He feels as if he is moving without effort.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trot and Canter:</b> Ride on the quarter line so the horse doesn’t follow the boundary fence. This makes it obvious to the rider if the horse isn’t traveling straight.<o:p> </o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></ol><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Channel the horse between your knees, and place the reins where the horse’s shoulders should be if they were directly in front of the horse’s haunches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example: Cruz carries his shoulders to the left of his haunches. My job is to align his shoulders <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in front</i> of his haunches with my knees and the reins. After a while he starts to ‘fill up’ my slightly open right rein, as his shoulders come in front of his hindquarters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Driving the horse forwards into the contact helps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once Cruz is moving straight, I can feel the power that gets wasted when he’s going all over the place instead of forwards!<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The straightness makes collection easier, and he is ‘up’ in front for the transitions from canter to walk and up again. He listens to my seat and is lighter in the hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Encouragement for the Future<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Less than a year ago I was being strongly advised to sell Cruz. His canter was lateral and he refused to submit to the bridle. I am now riding Second Level with that same horse, thanks to a different training system and his CoolStance feed, plus supplementary Quiessence with chelated magnesium, to counteract the effects of the sugar in the spring grass.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I look forward to the new season with a transformed (and straight) horse!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-74484891336418264452011-06-29T08:04:00.000-07:002011-06-29T08:12:49.097-07:00A Crossroads in Our Relationship<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently my horse life has been intensely emotional.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Problem</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz made it painfully clear that he wasn’t enjoying the life of a dressage horse. He didn’t want to go round and his canter was getting four beat/lateral and flat. At our last show he threw his head in the air, his equine equivalent of flipping me the bird.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This caused me to indulge in much weeping and gnashing of teeth while I considered whether we had a future together.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taking Action</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I decided to practice cutting the umbilical cord (remember, I bred, backed and trained this horse) and get used to the idea of saying goodbye to Cruz by trying out new horses for sale.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While I did this, at the suggestion of my trainer I sent Cruz to Steuart Pittman, brilliant local event rider, for a month’s training to re-establish my gelding in his old career as a one-day eventer. And find him a new owner.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz’s Reaction</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The very tall Steuart made my 16.2 gelding look like a little pony as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched him ask Cruz to walk over a teeny-weeny ditch. My previously brave eventer looked at it in horror as Steuart told him to stop being such a woosy dressage horse. Eventually I walked in front to show him it was safe, and Cruz took the exact same route over it as I had done.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After some flat work and a few jumps (which Cruz attacked with gusto) Steuart rode him back to the barn. Cruz was then washed off and put in a stall.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I drove away, listening to his pitiful whinnies but sure I’d done the right thing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the next few days Steuart got him jumping quietly, going on trail rides and being turned out in a big field with ten geldings he’d never met before. In short, Cruz went from spoiled brat to being just another horse. He was treated well, but not as anything special. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Feelings…. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sound of violins</i>)</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I felt uncomfortable on all the horses for sale I tried out, ended up taking an off the track Thoroughbred to an OTTB rescue center instead (more about that in another post) and only felt at home when I got back on Cruz for a couple of lessons with Steuart. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz has become humble: he doesn’t want to be sold. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Progress</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After three weeks I brought him home to enter a local dressage show. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the first time in four years I gave him <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no calming supplements</i>. Although he whinnied for his buddy CD who was also there, he didn’t do anything naughty. He was a superstar in the warm-up, even when a horse came and kicked out next to him.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His three beat canter was back (he got 7 for his gaits) and despite our recent lack of dressage work, we still came in second!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The CoolStance Feed Factor</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The CoolStance feed is a big reason for this. Cruz has quietened down so much that I sometimes take his temperature to make sure he’s not coming down with anything! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He hasn’t become a zombie by any means, but he’s calmer and happier. He’s putting on weight and doesn’t spook at everything. I’m no longer afraid to take him out on trail rides, in company or alone, and I jump him for fun, to vary his work.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What Next?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz was getting bored with pure dressage, and it adversely changed his way of going under saddle. He returns to Steuart next week for his final six days of training, and I’ll have some jumping lessons, too. This will keep him interested in his work.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve changed the way I ride dressage with him with positive results. I'll write more about that next time.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m more relaxed on him because I’m having fun with him, rather than only concentrating on riding perfectly. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a result we’re both enjoying a better relationship.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe there’s hope for us yet.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-47953768189039280082011-04-25T16:17:00.000-07:002011-04-25T16:31:55.115-07:00Clinic Notes: Cesar Parra<a href="http://www.piaffe-performance.com/">Cesar Parra</a> came to Sharon Myers’ barn, <a href="http://www.chimneyhillfarm.com/aboutus.htm">Chimney Hill</a>, in Upper Marlboro for a clinic on 20th and 21st April. Unfortunately I was only able to watch three horses’ rides. But, as always, I learned a lot in that short time.<br />
<br />
Here are my notes - I hope some you find some of them useful.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Specific Issues</u></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>First Horse</strong><br />
<br />
This was a young horse with lovely movement in walk and trot, but a weak canter.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Improving the Canter</strong></em><br />
<br />
• Cesar told the rider to work on her horse's trot for several months, to strengthen the horse before asking for canter again.<br />
<br />
• For homework he told her to work the horse in shoulder-in away from and facing the wall to change his muscle memory. This would enable him to approach canter work afresh. <br />
<br />
• He also suggested lungeing the horse before riding.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Second Horse</strong></em><br />
<br />
An established Third Level gelding,<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Bending and ‘Giving’</strong></em><br />
<br />
• When bending the horse, the outside rein must remain in strong, steady contact – without moving the hand forward – otherwise the horse won't give into that rein. <br />
<br />
• The horse’s head must remain straight in the bend, not tipped to one side. Otherwise it is an evasion and not true acceptance of the outside rein.<br />
<br />
• When the horse gives to the outside rein, the rider can give, too. But we need to appreciate the big difference between ‘giving’ and ‘throwing away the contact’. Giving with the hands is a slight easing of rein tension, not a loose rein.<br />
<br />
• We should give with our hands every chance we get. When the horse learns to relax - without taking hold - he also learns to accept the giving as a reward.<br />
<br />
<strong>Third Horse</strong><br />
<br />
Working at Prix St. George level.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Canter Pirouettes</strong></em><br />
<br />
The rider was having problems getting her horse to submit to the right outside rein in canter pirouettes. <br />
<br />
Cesar had her walk the horse in a 10 meter circle with haunches in, then go into canter from walk, still keeping the haunches in WITH LOTS OF OUTSIDE REIN on the ten meter circle.<br />
<br />
(I've watched Cesar giving lessons at his New Jersey barn, and his <em>big</em> issue with canter pirouettes is frequently the rider's insufficient outside rein.)<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Tempi</strong></em><br />
<br />
For the flying changes the rider’s legs should move ‘like windshield wipers’ in the moment of change, rather than the huge leg and body movements one sees in some riders.<br />
<br />
<u><strong>General Themes/Observations</strong></u><br />
<br />
<em><strong>Emotions</strong></em><br />
<br />
• Don’t take it personally when the horse doesn’t do as you ask.<br />
<br />
• Don’t hold a grudge against the horse after corrections. Quickly regain your calm.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Quickness</em></strong><br />
<br />
A theme throughout was that we riders are too slow to react to the horse and make things happen. We need to be much more alert and reactive, without being hurried. <br />
<br />
<em><strong>Work Less for More Results</strong></em><br />
<br />
The aim is to work less as a rider for more reaction from the horse.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Forward, Forward, Forward!</strong></em><br />
<br />
This was another constant theme running through the clinic. <br />
<br />
• If the horse is sluggish off the leg, take both legs away and kick. Keep doing this until the horse reacts as soon as you simply take your legs off.<br />
<br />
• Get the horse moving forward before all else. There is nothing to work with until the horse is doing this.<br />
<br />
• Get the horse moving from freer shoulders.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Half-Halts</strong></em><br />
<br />
Get the horse sensitive to the half-halts: be dramatic with them if the horse doesn’t listen. <em><strong>The half-halts must come through! </strong></em><br />
<br />
<em><strong>The Whip</strong></em><br />
<br />
Get the horse to react to a touch of the whip. This way we can use it as an aid, not as a punishment, with just a light request.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Reins First</strong></em><br />
<br />
This is a difficult concept for those of us who were trained in the German fashion which dictates ‘applying as much or more leg as we hold with our hands.’ But most of us aren’t strong enough to do this.<br />
<br />
So Cesar advocates getting the horse to come back ONLY WITH THE REINS. Then, when he is light in front, ask him to go forwards off the leg and seat.<br />
<br />
This makes the horse much easier to ride.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Constantly Adjust</strong></em><br />
<br />
Keep making little adjustments while riding, testing the horse’s flexibility in the head and neck, or rebalancing him. <br />
<br />
<em><strong>Lateral Flexion</strong></em><br />
<br />
Continually test the left and right lateral flexion in the horse, in all three gaits. Make sure the horse is supple and ready for any new movement.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLm3tsED5XergVxEkOZv2ycKv-ETCnNkvz0syzgs7wDAznGoBb0pp3iXtTVRW0CoxLUSM4vBj7fW0z4htEQDi_8KbVqJKf43fgWniO_B1Lgqq9PKT8fwsHEEcRTvcZkq9wJ8QO-TLpjuUM/s1600/Cruz+Bay+grazing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLm3tsED5XergVxEkOZv2ycKv-ETCnNkvz0syzgs7wDAznGoBb0pp3iXtTVRW0CoxLUSM4vBj7fW0z4htEQDi_8KbVqJKf43fgWniO_B1Lgqq9PKT8fwsHEEcRTvcZkq9wJ8QO-TLpjuUM/s320/Cruz+Bay+grazing.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruz Bay still looking supple today after working hard! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-47829495006584426192011-04-12T06:49:00.000-07:002011-04-12T06:49:12.716-07:00Exercise for Developing Counter Canter<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What is Counter Canter?</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">'Counter canter' means cantering on the lead counter to the direction in which you are traveling. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For example, if you're cantering clockwise round the arena, but are deliberately on the left canter lead, this is 'counter canter.' </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Among other things, it's a test of the horse's balance and obedience under saddle, and is introduced in the Second Level dressage tests. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Learning Counter Canter</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here’s a useful exercise for developing counter canter. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Start with your horse’s easier canter lead as it will help him perform better.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s say it's the left lead.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Develop a rhythmic, active left lead canter on a 20 meter circle at one end of the arena.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Once your canter is established, ride across the diagonal, maintaining a consistent tempo.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t go deep into the corner. Instead, turn your horse to the right in a shallow arc and begin a 20 meter circle at that end of the arena, maintaining the left lead. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Continue riding in counter canter on the 20 meter circle (or larger, if necessary).</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If your horse has trouble believing you're really serious about this ‘wrong lead’ business, exaggerate your canter aids to convince him. E.g. more inside bend, stronger outside leg behind the girth, stronger driving inside leg. But remain centered in the saddle, otherwise your horse will feel he’s losing his balance.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Stay relaxed throughout, so this exercise doesn’t become a big deal for either of you.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Once you’ve completed a circle, ride back across the diagonal and canter on the ‘correct lead’ for one circle.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ride as if counter canter is the most normal thing in the world and you’ll stop yourself from stiffening in the saddle, making it harder on the horse.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Once in each direction is probably sufficient for your first attempt, as it’s physically and mentally tiring.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Make This a Daily Routine</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Incorporate this exercise into your riding routine until it becomes second nature. Then you can start working on the Second Level three loop serpentines. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Another Use for this Exercise</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My instructor originally gave me this exercise for Cruz because he wouldn’t bend to the left in left-lead canter. Not only did I have to ride him in counter canter, but I also had to counter-bend him to the right.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After a circle of this, it was a huge relief for him to bend correctly to the left! </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-61380523000347177342011-03-31T06:07:00.000-07:002014-05-06T07:33:40.586-07:00Is Your Horse High on Spring Grass? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqfHa0Rrqq3hsrxIviFq_Uk9A2P4ZFSyEvVWv0YDZ5-NLoaUmxvOVb2mUEAyEDrgOYg7DayOWmDXxG2BspDi6DF5IoGZxRKlF_yKRZCI0JCSVPPKzp7XqPd6XhNyMZrlMPloRGn4RId8R/s1600/Kelly+grazing+frontal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqfHa0Rrqq3hsrxIviFq_Uk9A2P4ZFSyEvVWv0YDZ5-NLoaUmxvOVb2mUEAyEDrgOYg7DayOWmDXxG2BspDi6DF5IoGZxRKlF_yKRZCI0JCSVPPKzp7XqPd6XhNyMZrlMPloRGn4RId8R/s320/Kelly+grazing+frontal.jpg" height="320" r6="true" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruz Bay's mom, Kelly at age 25</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that Cruz and I were supposed to attend a bomb-proofing clinic last weekend, which was to be the ultimate proof of how well the CoolStance was working.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thankfully, it snowed and the event is now set for May 7<sup>th</sup>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Spring Has Sprung and So Has Cruz</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I say ‘thankfully’ because, after the remarkable way he calmed down since being on CoolStance, the spring grass has shot up and so have Cruz's spookiness levels! He declines to listen to yours truly and every riding session is currently a ‘back to basics’ ordeal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It took a few bad rides for me to put two and two together and come up with four. But I did finally make the connection between his being on more lush pasture and his new, bolshy attitude.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He’s gone from virtually no NSC starch in his diet to way too much from the grass. (Although the CoolStance <em>is </em>keeping him from being borderline dangerous, which is what he was last year before I changed his feed.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">What to Do?</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So last night I researched online to see what I could do to mitigate the effects of the grass, until its high sugar levels die down again and I get my pre-spring horse back. I found some really useful information on an Australian website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If your horse is being a butthead ‘cos of the new spring grass you may find this helpful:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.naturalhorseworld.com/Articles-Nutrition.htm#magnesium"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.naturalhorseworld.com/Articles-Nutrition.htm#magnesium</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The article recommends chelated magnesium. I have noticed that Cruz is showing a new interest in his mineral block, which tells me he’s missing something in his diet. So I actually went so far as to order the site's chelated magnesium product, called Alleviate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since it’s not going to arrive from the Antipodes any time soon, I researched chelated magnesium products closer to home and found SmartPak’s <a href="http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=17&cm_vc=Search">Quiessence. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since no expense is ever spared when it comes to the horse, I ordered a month’s supply based on the product’s 37 testimonials. Most of them were very positive re: calming effects - among other good results like loss of excess fat (not a problem with Cruz!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you Google ‘chelated magnesium for horses’ you’ll find other products out there, too. I just happen to like SmartPak as I use their <a href="http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=7185&cm_vc=Search">SmartFlex</a> joint supplement </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">with great success on our twenty year old Irish Draft cross C.D. as well as Cruz.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So I’m hoping that chelated magnesium will give me back my well-behaved CoolStance horse in time for his first competition on 1<sup>st</sup> May and that bomb proofing clinic the following weekend!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I shall keep you updated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Update:</b> I have been giving Cruz Quiessence in the spring for four years now, and highly recommend it. It really does counteract the effects of the sugar in the spring grass for him and keeps him on an even keel through those dangerous months. Not to mention fending off the dangers of laminitis aka founder.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-39232809702624069262011-03-21T15:08:00.000-07:002011-03-21T15:08:20.948-07:00The Warm-Up: Part III - Exercises for the Athletic/Easily Distracted Horse<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I wrote in <a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/03/warm-up-part-i-two-styles-for-two.html">Part I</a> that the warm-up phase for Cruz, my athletic and easily distracted horse requires more contact than for my husband's older and calmer horse.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Not only must I keep Cruz on a shorter rein, but I also need to keep his brain busy. Rather than riding large circles and asking for bend and stretch, I have to sneak up on him with more subtle suppling exercises.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To be honest, they keep <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> brain busy, too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Walk Work is Under-rated!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I have a tendency to overuse my hands, which Cruz understandably resents. So I devised a sequence of movements to loosen his shoulders and neck without him getting bored. The advantage to me is that I must keep my hands quiet and be effective with my seat and leg. All my aids must be communicated to Cruz in a clear and unhurried way, so he can understand and obey them without resistance. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Harry Boldt’s fantastic, but wildly expensive book “Das Dressur Pferd” explains how useful lateral walk work is for suppling the horse.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Exercises</span></b></div></div><ol><li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I walk a<em> few</em> large circles before asking for leg yield on both reins - on a 'Training Level' contact. I try hard to keep my hands quiet and slightly in front of the saddle, so I’m not ‘in his face’ when I ask for the lateral movement. By asking for only <em>slight </em>inside flexion I avoid blocking his shoulder with a too tight inside rein.</span> </div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I then ask for shoulder-in on the long sides, in both directions.</span> </div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now comes</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> shoulder-in till the half-way point of the long sides (E/B) then an unhurried switch to travers (haunches-in). When</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Cruz is happy with this, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I switch a couple of times between shoulder-in and travers on the long sides.</span> </div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">As soon as </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cruz is giving nicely to my quiet hands and listening to my leg and seat aids, I ride him down the center line in shoulder-in, then change to renvers (haunches-out) to make sure he’s supple in his neck and through his ribcage. I switch back and forth every few strides. (I got this idea from this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unjOZ7qGNDc&feature=related">YouTube video of Bent Branderup</a>.)</span> </div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Once Cruz is bending without any resistance, I go down the</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> center line again. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This time I ask for </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">shoulder-in followed by half-pass in walk to the right (his better </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">side).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> I then come round and ask for </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">half-pass to the left.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My gelding is now supple and willing to work long and low in all three gaits with a soft, round contact. Best of all, we’ve achieved our goal without a fight. </span><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This may seem a somewhat back to front approach, but it works very well for us. Maybe it could help your horse and make the warm-up walk phase more interesting for you both?</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-18750903023757221272011-03-15T08:11:00.000-07:002011-03-15T08:38:22.540-07:00The Warm-Up: Part II - Warm-Up Exercises for the Older/Arthritic Horse<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In <u><strong>Pa</strong></u><a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/03/warm-up-part-i-two-styles-for-two.html"><strong>rt I</strong></a> we met C.D. who is an older, slightly arthritic horse. He needs a long, loose rein for the first ten minutes of his warm-up and after that he’s willing to listen to his rider.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, he still has days when he’d rather <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not </i>bend, thank you very much! </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A friend of mine who is now his regular rider was away for a week and asked me to keep him going in her absence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day I didn’t have time to tack him up and ride him, so I put on his bridle and took him down to the arena for some short-reining.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An Exercise on the Ground</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m no expert at this. What I know about short-reining comes from the fantastic book <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Horse Training in Hand” by Ellen Schuthof Lesmeister, available from amazon.com.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1702676911"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Training--Hand-Modern-Working/dp/1570764093/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300203470&sr=1-1"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGSLhyphenhyphen27rcu8HgJN4_pWJRn9fdPuW9Fww-3iewdXJ4Ww3EwhhvYjyn-QEjTK0xJPuXgqqZdzMpiD3tdTqYQ1SvYeiDlNGo2OCjR32m9LEiMV_tzzb8xDA7d9YNTbeCGu6VIFJaUcEbbGM/s1600/Horse+Training+in+Hand+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She explains (and illustrates in great photos) how to ask the horse to bend while you walk next to him, holding the regular reins. It is a wonderful way to encourage the horse to work long and low without you on his back, and loosens him up before you get in the saddle. (There is also <em>way more</em> valuable information in this book on what you can accomplish through long-reining and other work in hand.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I short-reined C.D on both reins, working him in walk on circles and figures of eight. It didn’t take him long to become soft in my hand, and I rewarded him by finishing for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my friend rode him two days later, she was amazed at how supple C.D. was.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Short-Reining Before Mounting</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a week of being ridden, C.D. became a little resistant again. So my friend decided to short-rein him before her ride. It was her first time doing this, but she’d read the book and watched me. She soon felt comfortable with it and so did C.D., so she trotted him for a few half-circles, too. (This is a great fitness exercise!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">C.D. was now supple. The question was, would he remain so under saddle?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">so</b> supple and obedient that she only needed to ride for fifteen minutes to achieve what it normally takes twice that time to accomplish! She was thrilled, and C.D. was relaxed and happy. End of session and lots of pats.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another Use for Short-Reining</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Short-reining is really useful if you have a horse which can’t be ridden but is still able to work. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As an example, I used this method to exercise Cruz Bay when he had a sarcoid on his girth area, but was otherwise perfectly healthy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-14534292687716669652011-03-08T19:05:00.000-08:002011-03-08T19:05:58.236-08:00The Warm-Up: Part I - Two Styles for Two Different Horses<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We know that t</span>he warm-up for a dressage horse (or any horse for that matter) should be for 'as long as necessary and as short a time as possible.’ In my experience, depending on the type of horse, not only is the length of the warm-up going to vary, but also the method.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cruz Bay is an 11 year old, athletic ¾ Thoroughbred. He often acts like a child with ADD and needs his attention focused quickly, and his energy channeled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8orplJ4K0ZRegmFvPZSnA3N9yhRTug8-WML7KCu4cN_wW626P-9EY7Rs4gnzq3Z8iWSglKrEVN6hElzY0Sv6z0hdDm19LfD5w6ycZxXkDDevov7VEP3qIbNvQJjJhaMpIvimfVVZ9Nok/s1600/CD+walk+relaxed+240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8orplJ4K0ZRegmFvPZSnA3N9yhRTug8-WML7KCu4cN_wW626P-9EY7Rs4gnzq3Z8iWSglKrEVN6hElzY0Sv6z0hdDm19LfD5w6ycZxXkDDevov7VEP3qIbNvQJjJhaMpIvimfVVZ9Nok/s320/CD+walk+relaxed+240.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Callow Double Clover (aka CD) is my husband’s 17.2 hh Irish Draft/Thoroughbred cross. He’s 21 years old and very even-tempered with a touch of arthritis.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The two horses require very different warm-up approaches.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Older/Calmer Horse</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You can enjoy relaxing with a horse like CD at the beginning of each riding session.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But the big gray takes this one step further: unless you allow<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>him to walk on a long rein for at least ten minutes, he’ll fight against any real contact. He can resist for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hours </i>without giving in! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But after you walk him on a light, almost non-existent contact for those ten minutes, he’ll accept a long and low frame, allow you to bend him left and right, and soon start to carry himself. He always honors his end of the deal if the rider does, too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The More Athletic/Easily Distracted Horse</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cruz Bay is a more challenging animal. If I lead him down to the arena in just a halter, he’ll behave much better than if he’s bridled. He’s no dummy, and knows when Work is about to happen!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He’s not a good candidate for doodling at the start of a warm-up because he’s too likely to ‘spook’ at the trees swaying at one end, or imaginary deer rustling behind the bushes at the other. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cruz needs stronger contact with shorter reins than CD as soon as I’m mounted. It’s almost as if he feels more secure when I use a more masterful approach right from the get-go.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He’ll allow me to perform a series of warm-up exercises with him in a shorter frame, although I keep his poll below his withers at this stage. He needs the opposite of the light loose contact to relax him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After five minutes or so of this he is more settled and focused, stretching down into a nice long frame on a lighter contact. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s been interesting to understand that although following the German Training Scale is a must when riding dressage, there are various ways to achieve each stage, depending on the temperament and athleticism of the horse.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-86713328187738620332011-03-04T07:46:00.000-08:002011-06-13T07:09:17.561-07:00Overcoming My Horse's Fear (and Mine!): Final Part: Completing the Cure<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/03/overcoming-my-horses-fear-and-mine-part.html">Part I</a> and <a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/03/overcoming-my-horses-fear-and-mine-part_03.html">Part II</a> explored why my horse and I are afraid, and the first steps I need to take to overcome the problem. But there are other methods I can adopt.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Besides changing my attitude, here some more practical things I'm doing to help Cruz and me work through our fear.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><strong>Desensitization</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’ve read my previous blog on <a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/02/results-of-new-feed-plus.html">desensitizing Cruz</a>, you’ll already know that I’m throwing nerf balls at him: opening and shutting umbrellas next to him, holding them over his head and waving seven balloons round his body and between his ears. He is coping magnificently – if not actually happily! – with this.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the end of this month we’re going to a Rick Pelicano bomb proofing clinic. It’ll be with eleven other horses, so I hope to (a) get through it with flying colors and (b) have lots of photos to prove I did!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><strong>Change of Nutrition</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve <a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-years-resolution-create-calm-horse.html">changed his feed</a> to CoolStance, which is a starch reduced feed deriving ‘cool’ energy for horses through coconut oil and fiber. It seems to be having a very positive effect on him: he is much less spooky and anxious after only a short time on the feed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><strong>Reintroduction of Cruz to Other Horses in the Ring</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll be taking Cruz to a local “horse whisperer” who trains difficult horses. He’ll help me build up Cruz’s confidence around other horses in the ring.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve also extended an open invitation to my riding friends to bring their horses to ride with us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday a friend brought her horse and rode with me in my arena. Cruz gave one small sideways shy, but quickly got over it and concentrated on his job. When another friend brought Cruz's stable mate in as a second horse, I rode Cruz between both animals as they walked towards me. Cruz coped well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next time we'll do the same thing in trot and canter. I expect to report good results! <strong></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Why Bother Doing This Myself?</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why don’t I just hand Cruz over to a professional and be done with it? </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because I’m his Mum! I bred him - from a mare who was a complete basket case when she first came to me, and ended up being the best and most reliable horse I’ve ever owned to date. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With TLC, professional guidance and determination/grit/guts I hope to turn this talented, athletic gelding into the horse that he was born to be. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-62172149402346246352011-03-03T07:23:00.000-08:002011-06-13T07:12:28.169-07:00Overcoming My Horse's Fear (and Mine!): Part II: Where Do We Go From Here?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You now know where our fears originated (see <a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/03/overcoming-my-horses-fear-and-mine-part.html"><span id="goog_308721575"></span>previous post<span id="goog_308721576"></span></a>) but what can I do to remove them?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Stop Anticipating Bad Stuff!</strong></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every time I mount Cruz now – and I mean <u>every</u> time – visions of him rearing/bucking/bolting go through my head. I have to remind myself that he has never done any of those things without cause, and certainly not while being mounted! He is not a rearer/bucker/bolter. I take a deep breath and remind myself to act like a confident leader.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Be Cruz’s Comfort Zone</strong></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I wrote in a previous blog about <a href="http://equestrianlady.blogspot.com/2011/02/is-my-horse-really-afraid-when-he.html">spooking</a> I need to take charge and ride Cruz with quiet but determined purpose. Whether he pretends to be afraid or is truly worried, it’s my job to steer him through that anxiety/naughtiness. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I must be careful not to increase or cause fear in him by anticipating a bad reaction. Instead I have to ride as if I expect everything to turn out well. If I do this, Cruz will worry less and concentrate on his job.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Dwell on Victories, Not Defeats!</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There have been many occasions when Cruz has acted up yet I’ve managed to ride him through it and perform a good test.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This includes our last show of the 2010 season, when he panicked and bolted in the warm-up because an empty trailer rattled noisily past. He followed this with a series of half-rears round the dressage arena because he suddenly developed separation anxiety from Double Clover, my husband's horse who was competing at the same show.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am encouraged by the video of my two rides that day. Although I felt terrified inside, I was determined to make my talented bay do the tests! Onlookers remarked on how calm I appeared throughout – and I hope I fooled Cruz, too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He tried to duck out a couple of times, then buckled down to work (albeit resentfully) and we missed first place (to my friend on my husband’s horse!) by half a point, with marks in the mid-60s.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So: I need to stop focusing on the bad times and remind myself that I’m perfectly capable of riding Cruz through his fears as long as I don’t allow myself to be afraid.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next: <strong>Completing the Cure</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-37593273886306249902011-03-02T07:19:00.000-08:002011-06-13T07:12:02.366-07:00Overcoming My Horse's Fear (and Mine!): Part I: Where It All Went Wrong<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over his eleven years of life since I bred him, Cruz Bay has had a lot of accidents. Not all of them have involved me, but a good many of them have!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some examples of what I’m talking about.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Accident One</strong></span></span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">When I took him to his first show, the four year old panicked and jumped over the breast bar of the trailer. He squashed me onto the floor where moments earlier I’d been standing and trying to calm him down (big mistake!).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He scrambled to his feet, then dived out through the jockey door on the side of the trailer. This exit is designed for humans, not horses, but somehow he survived the narrow squeeze with only a few scratches.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I, on the other hand, needed months before I could use my left shoulder again!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><strong>Accident Two</strong></span></span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Another time he panicked on tarmac between a stationary truck and a trailer. He slipped and fell, throwing me to the ground with him, then kicked me under the trailer as he scrabbled to get up and flee for home.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few more scratches for him and several weeks' recuperation for his owner! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><strong>Accident Three</strong></span></span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">This is </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">the accident which scared him and me the most. We were at a huge licensed show in New Jersey and had no business being there. I didn't realize that we would be warming up for First Level together with Grand Prix horses coming at us from all directions and performing 'menacing' half-passes and canter pirouettes.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cruz freaked and reared vertically. I survived the rear but ricocheted off him on landing. Upshot: he was terrified of other horses in the warm-up and I was terrified of my horse. ( While hobbling with the help of two walking sticks for three weeks!)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Blame Game</span></span></b><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It took me a long, long time to stop blaming Cruz for what happened and take responsibility for having put him in that situation. Oh, how I wish I could take back that day!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead of thinking we were ready for the Big Time, I should have swallowed my pride and taken it slowly at more schooling shows. </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It now takes one small thing to ‘go wrong’ in the warm-up at even local schooling shows for Cruz to go ballistic. Mea culpa, mea culpa!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next: <strong>Where Do We Go From Here?</strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyone else have horse accident stories? Let me know what happened and how you and your horse coped afterwards.</span></strong></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-4800003449901933722011-02-28T13:29:00.000-08:002011-06-13T07:11:39.185-07:00Is My Horse Really Afraid When He Spooks?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does your horse have favorite ‘spook spots’? Mine does!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every time I lead him down to the arena he hopes that deer will rustle in the woods, to justify him giving a big leap. When that doesn’t work, he waits until I’m in the saddle, then keeps an eye out for any kind of movement at either end of the sand school.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How much of this is real fear, and how much is just putting it on?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I understand that horses are prey animals and watch out for predators (you know, like deer and the barn cat), but I have noticed that Cruz’s ‘fear’ depends a great deal on how he feels on any given day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, I once rode him in the arena with the entrance gate open. The one thing I promised Cruz would never happen, happened. A stag ran into the middle.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unbelievably, Cruz didn’t bat an eyelid. Turned out he had a respiratory infection (from weed killer spray): he had no energy left over to be upset by the intruder.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB78iv3_aPg9UcHtOZxkdC23SOlDSfomBfpiyH2ols_xhn72rIcP6i1FHQQv_7cRSVW35kV_w1sjLhfadydl9-JuAezaGy005jHu-Ebs4IKp7DNbJRQKMciaJii_MXJrutABGDWZ6aDqp/s1600/Cruz+Bay+at+Bluebird+sharpened+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB78iv3_aPg9UcHtOZxkdC23SOlDSfomBfpiyH2ols_xhn72rIcP6i1FHQQv_7cRSVW35kV_w1sjLhfadydl9-JuAezaGy005jHu-Ebs4IKp7DNbJRQKMciaJii_MXJrutABGDWZ6aDqp/s1600/Cruz+Bay+at+Bluebird+sharpened+200.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve noticed that my gelding’s level of spookiness increases in direct proportion to the intensity of his work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’ll seem relaxed at the beginning of our riding sessions, even walking quietly past the short side of the arena where the vicious deer, squirrels and barn cat hang out </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But when I ask for true bend in trot and canter, it becomes Work with a capital W. Suddenly he just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knows </i>those varmints are out to get him and leaps sideways. (So much for my outside rein.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hmmmm…. Interesting!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’m using this evasive behavior as practice for later, when I’m at a show. He’s a strong horse, and it takes a lot of effort and energy to combat his naughtiness, but I have to prove that I can thwart his attempts to avoid work and frighten me. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I drive him powerfully forwards - past the area where he acts up - over and over again, from both directions and in different gaits. Additionally I ask for extra inside bend before, during <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> after the ‘scary’ spot (he tries to scoot off when we’re past it).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We often have to go through this charade. But on his new CoolStance feed I’ve noticed a considerable increase in his willingness to give in and get down to work.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Translating this into preparation for shows this season, I know I have to ride him this way whether he’s acting out of fear or just misbehaving to avoid work. </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-90023068368093297962011-02-23T17:02:00.000-08:002011-06-13T07:10:37.744-07:00Results of the New Feed Plus the Desensitization ProcessIn addition to changing Cruz Bay’s feed, (see previous post) I’ve also set about desensitizing my big bay. I purchased a copy of Rick Pelicano’s book <i>Bombproof Your Horse </i>and began using some of his techniques. <br />
<br />
A set of twelve nerf balls from Walmart began my sessions. At first I showed one to Cruz in his stall then bounced it gently off his neck and gave him a treat. I continued to throw them at his neck, his back, his rump.....you get the picture. <br />
<br />
Cruz's eyes bulged and he shied away, but then understood the balls weren’t going to hurt him and allowed them to come at him.<br />
<br />
Eventually my son could throw them at him while I was mounted - still offering treats, of course!<br />
<br />
Now part of my after-ride routine is to throw nerf balls at him in his stall – from the front, on his head, from behind. He doesn’t enjoy it, but he lets me do it. I can now throw four or five at him before giving him a treat.<br />
<br />
He's also learning not to be afraid of umbrellas. I open and close two different sizes and colors of umbrella on either side of him, and hold them over his head. Treats are liberally dispensed and he is being very brave.<br />
<br />
In the arena I’ve placed a tarp, which he walks over with no problem now.<br />
<br />
<b>Is the Combination Working?</b><br />
Yesterday I took Cruz down to my arena to ride. I deliberately had a friend drag a noisy chain behind my tractor in the field next to the sand school, with the front bucket raised menacingly high in the air.<br />
<br />
The tractor came very close while I was leading him down to the arena. He saw it and raised his head, ready to take off. I offered him a treat and his fear immediately subsided. That has never happened before!<br />
<br />
The tractor came full frontal towards us and close to the boundary fence many times while I rode in the arena. A cyclist came past on the other side. But Cruz remained unperturbed by any of it. He listened to me, and performed his walk work in shoulder-in, renvers, tranvers and half-pass as though nothing else were going on.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
The feed and the desensitization seem to be working. For the first time in three years I am hopeful that Cruz can become a confident horse who trusts me.<br />
<br />
And I have just received information that Rick Pelicano is giving a bombproofing clinic in March at the farm next to me. What a stroke of luck!<br />
<br />
I’ve signed up for it so watch this space.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-22429147979717008392011-02-22T10:26:00.000-08:002011-06-13T07:11:02.928-07:00New Year's Resolution: Create a Calm Horse!<b>The Mistake</b><br />
This year I'm going to turn Cruz Bay, my three-quarters Thoroughbred gelding, into a calm horse. I only have myself to blame for my ten year old's problem: he’s terrified of other horses in the warm-up arena at shows. <br />
<br />
The year 2007 was a wonderfully successful dressage season for us. We won all our local schooling shows at Training Level, and when I moved up to First Level we won those classes, too.<br />
<br />
Then I made a huge mistake in 2008 by taking him to a massive licensed show at the New Jersey Horse Park for our first competition of the season. I didn’t realize that all dressage levels - including Grand Prix - warm up together in one not-so-large ring. <br />
<br />
Cruz became anxious about the high-stepping horse traffic as soon as I entered that arena. <br />
Within seconds he was pinned against the boundary fence with a huge black horse cantering diagonally towards him in half-pass. He panicked and reared vertically. I stayed on for the rear, but he landed with such a thud that I was unseated and lifted up into the air. I fell with a thump onto the ground.<br />
<br />
Upshot: me hobbling around with two canes, terrified of Cruz, and Cruz with a deep phobia of other horses.<br />
<br />
In the last three years I’ve annually - with a lot of hard work - managed to persuade him that the other horses in the warm-up are not out to get him. He has never had a horse actually run into him, yet that seems not to impress him.<br />
<br />
Every year something happens to upset him in the warm-up. Another horse acts up or a loud trailer/car drives by and he becomes a basket case again.<br />
<br />
<b>The Mission</b><br />
<br />
So, this year will be devoted to getting Cruz over his anxiety. Until I get past this stumbling block, we shan’t be able to compete at the higher levels in licensed shows.<br />
<br />
<b>The First Strategy - Change of Feed</b><br />
Cruz has been on Ultium for the last three years, but now I was looking for something to calm him down while still providing the energy and nutrients he needs.<br />
<br />
After researching the internet and reading horse owners’ feedback on various feeds, I became interested in an Australian product called <a href="http://stanceequine.com/horsefeedproducts.php?CoolStance-Copra-2">CoolStance</a><br />
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It is made from coconut, and is low on non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). High NSC diets increase the horse’s blood glucose levels which in turn increase the horse’s blood insulin levels. One of the many negative effects of this is hyperactivity. <br />
<br />
In a low NSC diet, the horse’s necessary calories have to come from fat and fiber. CoolStance is ‘packed with ‘cool’ energy from coconut oil and fibre from copra meal.’ Online you will find some bad press about copra, but the makers of CoolStance are fastidious about their preparation process. <br />
<br />
CoolStance has been fed to horses for over 20 years. The less than 2% starch doesn’t cause hot or fizzy behavior, and the coconut oil is easily digested and absorbed by the horse.<br />
<br />
According to the information from http://stanceequine.com ‘CoolStance and hay will provide the required amounts of minerals and vitamins’ for most horses. <br />
<br />
I contacted the only person selling this feed on the east coast, Paul Christy, at paul@stanceglobal.com (Tel: 610-247-7584). He visited me from his home in Pennsylvania and left three bags of CoolStance for me to try. I immediately started feeding Cruz with it.<br />
<br />
Here are some <a href="http://stanceequine.com/testimonials.php?product_for=CoolStance Copra">testimonials</a> <br />
<br />
P.S. No, I’m not a paid representative: I’m simply trying out a new feed for my hot horse!<br />
<br />
<b>Next: Working to desensitize Cruz, and the results of the new feed</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713392444859163843.post-76184934158626918882010-02-27T13:36:00.000-08:002010-02-28T11:06:56.468-08:00Horse Skin Fungus - A Fast CureIf Snowmaggedon rapidly followed by The Ultimate Blizzard of 2010 hadn't hit my corner of Maryland, I might have noticed the terrible yet hidden condition of the mare's tail earlier.<br />
<br />
I feel awful about not noticing the problem sooner. The first indication of anything amiss was a small tangle at the base of Gigi's tail. It proved to be a piece of skin. This was not good news, although her tail looked fine - until closer inspection.<br />
<br />
Underneath her long and bushy top bristles, the skin on the middle third of her tail bone was sloughing off in big scaly chunks, like a shedding snake. It was horrifying! I hadn't ever seen her rub her tail nor were there any broken hairs to indicate that she had. She let me touch the area without flinching. It didn't seem to bother her when I gently teased the dead skin off and handfuls of hair come out with it. I decided instead to clean the area off with betadine solution.<br />
<br />
In the interests of honesty I rang the friend who had left her horse to my tender care and is very proud of her mare's tail. I was worried that the condition would spead and Gigi's entire tail would fall out. Luckily her owner was great about it and agreed that I should contact the vet.<br />
<br />
Three feet of snow made the path down to my barn impassable by vehicle. The vet would not have been able to drive here to check Gigi: so she and I consulted over the phone. She determined that it was a fungus, and suggested I wash Gigi's tail in Selsun Blue.<br />
<br />
Since the temperatures were in the teens and low 20s I didn't think Gigi would be keen to have me wash her tail, especially as I've had to shut off the hot water in the barn for now (long story). However, I went to the store to buy the shampoo.<br />
<br />
I noticed there were two types: one had sulphur in it, the other had zinc. Just the day before I'd bought a product at my local feed merchant which contained both ingredients as well as mineral oil. It advertises itself as 'the single solution for' a host of horse fungal problems. I decided to try that first. All I had to do was wash off the betadine and apply the new solution daily.<br />
<br />
Within two days the problem was already clearing up. The mineral oil was softening the dead skin and causing it to slide down the tail in smaller pieces instead of big chunks, without taking nearly so many hairs with it. What a relief! <br />
<br />
Only six days into the treatment healthy pink skin is forming and new hairs are already growing. I'm hopeful that by the time my friend visits us on her annual trip from Florida to New Jersey, Gigi will have a full tail again. <br />
<br />
I cannot recommend this product highly enough. It's called <b>Shapley's </b><b>Original M-T-G (Mane Tail Groom)</b>. Its other uses are mane and tail detangling and conditioning. It's not expensive - I paid $12.99 for a 32 fluid ounce bottle. I thoroughly checked my geldings for fungus and one of them had a tiny itchy patch on the top of his tail which cleared after one application.<br />
<br />
If your horse gets fungus, rain rot, girth itch, scratches, sweet itch or dry skin M-T-G is the product for you! Check out www.shapleys.com if you're interested. And no, I have absolutely no connection with the company - I'm just grateful it exists. <br />
<br />
You may also find my article on <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-4391-DC-Equestrian-Examiner~y2010m1d15-Horse-ailments-ringworm">ringworm</a> useful. Life is never dull around horses - I discovered the hard way that humans can get ringworm, too.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00720603188218099177noreply@blogger.com14