crossing your fingers works sometimes!

Lucas is doing much better today. C and D took his wraps off this morning and left his foot open after they washed it out. I went out tonight and the more he walked (to the wash stall and back) the better he walked. C and D gave him a bit of bute last night but none today so I think it's not hurting nearly as much tonight. He let me clean out his left front foot with no complaints either.

I got the chance to flush it out on my own tonight and its not very deep at all, so keep crossing your fingers! D thinks that hes going to be fine, just needs his foot trimed up and a new shoe on (and he is a part time farrier when he's not broken). We dont have another show for a month or so, lots of time to heal from a minor accident, if it turns out to be more serious we'll deal with it when that happens...

Thanks for all the well wishes, they are helping me!

And Lucas gets hurt again...

Some how between 8 am when C and D turned him out and 10:30am when they got home, Lucas managed to particaly tear off his right front shoe (yup the same foot we had all of the problems with last winter). Only problem is that when he tore off the one side it managed to stay stuck propperly on the outside of his hoof. Thanks to the clip (he has clips on both front shoes)... but that was the issue with the other side, the clip didnt go back to its spot on the outside of the hoof, it dug into his hoof.

It's seems to only have dug into the edge of his hoof wall, right where the crack is that we've been trying to heal for about 6 months (its growing out but slowly) And only gone in about 1/8th of an inch. We've flushed it out several times and have a wrap over the hoof just to make sure that no more dirt gets in it, but it isnt very deap at all. D wasnt too concerned about the depth of it, but thought that the sooner we could get shoes back on him the better to avoid more cracking from the pressure of being suddenly barefoot

Lu is weight bearing and eating well, just tender footed, like he is any time he pulls a shoe off... cross your fingers that he can get over this without any further issues...

Thoughts on the show

So after having a day or two to think about the show on the weekend I have a couple of ideas on how to improve for the next show. So I'm thinking that Lucas and I still need some work on the canter transitions up and down, as well as some work on the patterns. I'm sure that I'm throwing around my body too much in anticipation of the lead so its going to come down to keeping my ass in the saddle and my head UP. And the patterns just need work to make them flow better. We have accuracy we just loose the pretty sometimes in the effort to get the pattern correct.

Our showmanship is right where I want it, so I guess I just need to put as much effort into our riding over the next couple of weeks as I put into our showmanship work.

At this last show Lucas needed to relax from the withers more, although this isn't usually an issue at home so I think it came down to his tension at the show.

And as for the show, we were in an extremely small pen (bigger than our indoor but about 1/2 the size of our outdoor) We only warmed up with 3-5 horses in the ring at a time, but the day of the show and the mass entry of horses just showing off the trailers we ended up with 20 horses in our first class. Not what Lucas or I was expecting. They were also a lower quality than what we have been used to... Not that its always a bad thing, but when horses are lapping Lucas at a trot its really bad!

Back from the show

We had a good day, Ill do a more detailed post tomorrow, but we did very well in some classes and did ok in others. We won halter and showmanship, had a disappointing run in the HUS stake class (too many horses, and a bunch of horses freaked out which caused a chain reaction which Lucas was part of). We did a decent pattern in the hunt seat equation (my first equation pattern in 6 years in an english saddle) and got a 3rd in decent company. We got 3rd in the Sr HUS but he was worried the entire class about several of the horses flying by him. I love the cost of the open shows but the behaviour of some of the other horses is questionable.

He's ok in a good group, that is well behaved but cant seem to handle other horses being out of controle. And we need to work on our canter transitions as he was raising his head during most of them... more than likely due to my new habbit of looking down to check his leads. However this weekend we got all of them right! Silly of both of us really, I should have known how I was asking incorrectly, and he knows how to get the right lead most of the time on his own.

How unbroke is my horse making me?

So I had a bit of a light bulb moment the other night. During my schooling session with Lu yesterday (in our english saddle but in the indoor!, more on our workout tonight in the outdoor later) I was asking him to side pass and at first he kept backing up.... One leg off one leg on and asking him to step over and he would just back up... I knew it was something I was doing, and eventually I got him to side pass by opening up my rein in the direction I wanted him to go in, but it got me thinking.

If Lucas is backing up with just one leg pressure, how often do I ride without even leg pressure? He was obvously thinking that I wanted him to back up like I do when I apply both spurs at the same time at the halt. Thankfully he's adapted to me and my differences, and I know that other people can ride him without issue but what will it be like if I ride a different horse? I realize that my right leg is always a bit further back and it has significantly less pressure with it but Lucas and I just deal with it. What would another horse do with me on its back?

In other news we had a mini showmanship lesson tonight with C, Lu was an idiot on the lungline, I really think he's bored going outside only with him self, and he had lots of energy to burn tonight so he ran a fair bit on the lunge line, he really needs a good rip every now and again!

Showmanship was good, hes being an occaional ass about the grass still but he needs to learn his lesson that he cant have it whenever he wants. And we kind of attempted the bridge, (which he refuses to walk on) even attempted to walk him over the narrow part, just to put one foot on it (its about 4 feet long and 3 feet wide so we attempted to go over the 3' part) And Lucas just decided to 'slow motion' jump the bridge! Very low and slow over it but extreamly funny because he was NOT touching the bridge!

Were off to an App and open show on the weekend that the Ex boyfriend is running with his sister. Should be an intresting weekend!

2x national champ!

Well thanks to the official re-count from ApHCC (appaloosa horse club of Canada) it turns out that Sassy and I were national champs 2 years in a row! In 2008 we won open yearling mares, and in 2009 we won open 2 year old mares! I'm a little up-set that it took them this long to get it figured out, but very happy with the results :) :) :)

AND Lucas was fantastic tonight! I lunged him every day this week except for when I was having a sick day from my IV. I figured we should work on his standing still at the mounting block as that is usually our biggest issue. So I took him over to the block and tried to get on, then we do the dance.

Hes not horrible but he always takes a step back when I get to the top of the mounting block. So we tried twice and the 3rd time he escalated it and started swinging his hip around. So I got down from the block and backed him the length of the indoor. He was a brat the first 10 steps or so but was backing nicer by the time we got to the end of the arena. So I walked him back to the block, put a little tension on the outside rein and got up on the mounting block.... and got on! No issues what so ever!

So we had a very nice 'dressagey' (is that even a word?) ride, lots of change in directions, change of gaits and speeds within the trot and walk. (we stuck to a walk and trot because the footing in the indoor is as hard as a rock). We did some leg yielding across the arena and he was very good. We only rode for about 20 min but it was good. Once I got done, I got off and I took him over to the block and got back on him just to reinforce the good stuff, we then walked a circle and then got off him.

Video!

This is the better video, we've come a long way in a year and 1/2. He almost tossed me today for no reason what so ever (he wanted to test out my helmet?) but the ride was good before and after that.

Video!

Video of Lucas and I from today! This was when he was decently good, before he had a spaz and almost threw me off :P I wish my appendix didnt have TB moments!

Wear a helmet!

Its International Helmet Awareness Day 2011!

I have to admit other than this year I did always wear my helmet at home when schooling, but at the shows changed into my western hat or hunt cap. This year Im sticking with my helmet. I figure that they can replace all of my joints, but they cant replace my head. And since I do have some balance issues occasionaly, everything I can do to make things safer I try and do it.

I grew up in a barn that no matter who you were you wore a helmet. The trainer relaxed the rules for shows, but for lessons everyone wore one. It was the same in most of the Hunter/Jumper barns that I worked in.

Not so much in any of the Qh barns that Ive been in. Most barns insist on helmets at home for the kids due to insurance reasons but those same kids will ride at the shows with nothing on. Out of 40 some horses at a QH show there will be 2 or 3 of us in the warm up pens in helmets. Most of the kids at C & D's wear helmets but the 16+ age group doesnt. And there parents dont think its a big deal, and neither do C &D.

And yes I have had judges tell me that in a western class it makes the judges doupt the horse, or the riders ability when the riding comes in wearing a helmet instead of a proper western hat.

Hopefully with increased awarness we can start to change peoples minds.

We did the western thing!

And we survived! He was a bit fussy becuase they were fencing in the feild next to the outdoor but he settled down after a bit. The one handed thing isnt fantastic, I mean I can stear him and do transitions but its not too smooth. But I guess that its taken us over a year to get the engligh thing down, it will take us a while to do the western thing really good as well.

I did forget how much I need to ride off my legs when I cant rely on my hands to help my stearing! Wow did I pay for it today! If nothing else it will make me a stonger rider yet again.

We had an easy night tonight, just a good brush because I've been slacking off with the brushing trying to get some more riding time in. Then he got wormed (which he really liked!) and then went out to the arena to eat grass and take picures.

Good english ride.

We had a good ride tonight, for not riding in a while. He was extremely forward tonight, but I guess that can only be expected. C and D both said that he looked fantastic which was good because it didn't feel so hot every once and a while. He was fighting against the bit a bit but he was driving from behind really really well!

We tried out a new western saddle on last night, the tree itself fit him but the gullet was too low for his big wither. No luck with that one, guess I just have to wait until I can save the money until I can afford a new Hubbards.

We did some trail stuff, but he gets really frustrated with the back thoughts L's and ends up rushing though them. We do it for practice and patience, but he'll never be a trail horse, he HATES the bridge. He will do everything but walk over it. Hes not scared of it, just doesn't like it.

Bad news is that I am apparently extremely allergic to dogs now :( The Nedi-pot has been keeping my nose and sinus clear, but this weekend hanging out with the barn dogs was too much. I'm feeling better now but for 2 days I had an awful runny nose.

Long day at the barn

Got all the stalls done, horses turned out and even got Lucas lunged in side reins and the 3yo stud worked! I then cuddled on the barn couch with the jack russels for the afternoon. I also managed to wash Lucas' show tail too.

I might try to drive out to the show tomorrow that the kids are at but we'll see how I feel then.

So I started taking the new drugs last night and Im feeling it today, a bit of a upset tummy, and a bit dizzy. Good news is that I am now protected from malaria :P Lets hope this helps and I dont have to get on a new IV drug, I dont think I could go though the waiting game again...

Now C is hurt!

C fell off of her Appaloosa filly last night and cracked a vertebrae. Good news is that in a couple of weeks she will be back to normal but she is very sore and on a vacation from heaving lifting and riding. Good thing most of the training horses have gone back home!

Shes off with the kids to a fun show this weekend so Im at home with a couple of horses the mare and foal and the two studs, should be an intresting weekend!

Patterns from the weekend

Horsemanship pattern:

Lucas was very good. I went up and waited at the cone to go first. We had a good right lead canter, a good stop. The turn was OK, but a bit rough as I was trying to prep him for the left lead canter, which we got! That was the same one that we've had trouble with! He got his head up in the air at the end of the circle but came back for the extended jog transitions. Our transitions were correct and at the cones, but we lacked the smothness that the top 2 riders had.

Showmanship:

This pattern was tricky because of the right turn at the second cone with a trot transition just as you round the corner. I did the first 2 steps of the corner than picked up the trot. You also had to be looking around the corner to line up with the judge correctly. Lucas did his usual perfect pivot which allowed me to look for the judge as we were finishing the pivot to line up perfectly. We had a quick set-up (only had to move 2 feet) and a good inspection. (it helped that Lucas was shed out and clipped correctly, which some of the horses weren't!) Crisp 90 degree turn and a trot off into the line up.

And the only picture of us that I have so far (the photographer hasn't uploaded any yet) of me and Lucas waiting for our turn in horsemanship. As you can see we weren't quite turned out to show, in my showmanship jacket, blue jeans and helmet!

I do have to say that I did wear my approved helmet all weekend and it didn't seem to affect my placings in anything so I'm going to stick with it for all of the shows this summer. Its no hotter than my hunt cap, but a lot safer. My biggest head gear problem is my western hats, they all fit good for showing halter but are a bit too lose to ride in! I guess that's what happens when you pick out showing gear when you are only showing halter!

I also had an appointment with my RA doctor. Shes happy that Im happy, but she isn't impressed with my blood work or the swelling in my fingers. Thankfully she's giving me the summer without changing too many meds, just adding a new one that I have been on before (it didn't do much before, but I took it very early on in my illness).

She's not too worried about my lack of fine moter skills in my right leg, she thinks it may be a muscle issue due to the swelling more than just excessive swelling. She advised on doing some physio but its hard to find a sports oriented physiotherapist around here.

I think that the truth of the matter is that its the same leg that I broke 6 years ago and it just didn't heal right. (Its always never twisted right, I cant pick up my right struipp when riding if my foot slips off, I have to stop and replace.) Meanwhile its a good opportunity to see how much we can adjust Lucas to me. Thankfully he is very good with voice commands already, I told him he was going to have to work with me, that my body doesn't always work right, and he has so far. Hes good with all of the Velcro of my braces, canes, and huge mounting blocks already. I just thought I would have a little longer to be normal.