Dehydrated

When I pulled Hamps out of his stall today, I immediately knew something was not right.

He is quite tucked up in his flanks, and when I did the pinch test on some skin on his neck, there was definite tenting. Sure signs of dehydration.

When I rode him Friday I thought he felt weak behind as well. I wonder if the dehydration was already kicking in then. I watched him pee today as well and it was darker than usual.

My gut says he probably is not tying up. He shows no soreness at all. No relectance to move. No tying up symptoms really. However, our barn worker reported that Thursday evening the horses were running around like idiots (chilly, rain, wind, you know how it goes). And Friday I found Hampton's sheet out in the field - absolutely destroyed (straps ripped off, etc). Did he run around like an idiot that night and tie up? did he get stuck in his blanket and panic? So he COULD have had a mild episode, but honestly he has been moving great. He just felt ... weak... on Friday. I blamed it on too much playing in the field.

The horses just recently switched to night turn out. Has that triggered something? I went into mild paranoid mode. Did he get into a toxic plant? Is something else going on? He feed has not changed (other than the fact that he is now eating more grass since he is turned out longer), and he has access to salt blocks.

His vitals are all normal. He poo is very normal. He has a great appetite and is still a treat whore. His eyes are bright and glassy, gums normal. So I managed to talk myself off the ledge. I treated him with some electrolytes** and he did drink about half a bucket. yay!

He has gotten a bit dehydrated on me a couple of times before. Come to think of it, it has been this time of year. So if he does not show improvement tomorrow, I am going to call the vet and run fluids on him (IV saline probably). Maybe draw blood and see what he says.

Hoping he drinks a ton of water tonight and recovers. Don't really like to mess around with dehydration.


**I would ask your vet before giving just any dehydrated horse electrolytes as in certain situations (ie when the horse is not eating or drinking at all), it could make it worse.

New saddle!

When I first purchased Hampton, I promised myself that if I ever made it to Third Level with this horse, that I would buy myself a new NICE saddle.

I finally made that happen this weekend!

*dances around like a giddy fool*

I have been saddle shopping for a while. AKA, been in the depths of saddle shopping hell. I had a good idea of what I wanted, and knew what size Hampton needed but even so some saddles just did not fit him. He is just a little weird to fit because he gets considerably wider in the gusset area of the saddle. (He has some big old ribs)

My Wintec has been fine, but he has clearly outgrown it. When I lunge him, the back of the saddle actually rises up off his back. Even though the tree in front is the right size. Ugh. SO ... it was time.

I originally had a budget of $2500, PLENTY to buy me a super nice saddle. But I have been unable to save up that much over the past 8 months. So I knew that I could either 1) Keep riding in the Wintec and hope I had enough saved by next winter, or 2) Lower my price range and hope I get lucky. I really did not feel it was fair to make Hampton keep doing Third/Fourth level work in a saddle that didn't really fit.

This weekend a friend of mine had a saddle for sale. I cautiously tried it on Hampton.

It is an Amerigo, 17.5" seat. Medium tree.
Yes Big old Hampton wears a Medium!

It fit. Almost perfect (needs a little reflocking in front but it is do-able).

Then the moment of truth. Would I like riding in it?

So I rode in it Monday, and while it was different than my Wintec, I DID like it. It has a lovely narrow twist, is soft (no butt bruising, yay!), and Hampton worked really quite well in it! We even managed some sloppy 4-tempi changes.

Another bonus, long billets so I don't need to buy a new girth!

Had to creatively crop this because Hampton was exposing himself.
Inappropriate.

So I called up my friend and BONUS - she is letting me do time payments on the saddle! It is WAY less than what I had originally planned to spend anyway. So ... win-win! I mean money will be tight until I pay it off but I will manage. :) It is worth it. I couldn't keep making Hampton work in a saddle that did not fit. And I friggin deserve a nice saddle. So does Hampton for that matter.

Saddles are such a personal thing really. I mean my Wintec has outlasted several boyfriends, numerous moves, life changes, job changes, 2 horses. I mean what piece of equipment do you spend more time in? And is such an important part of riding? So the right match was very important to me.

Once I get the saddle fitter out to make little tweaks, we will be all set!

Boom.

Tools for your toolbox: Candy cane exercise

I'm starting a new series that will feature various exercises I have found on the internet.

 Try them as you see fit. :)

Candy Cane Exercise

Shoulder-In Moving Out also know as the Candy Cane exercise. If you are tracking right, you would ride a 15 meter (approximately) half circle right at H and then just before you complete the half circle, when the shoulders are pointed towards B, you ride a shoulder in on that diagonal line. It might SEEM like a leg yield but the main difference is that the horse is bent, not straight, the shoulders are leading, and the legs are crossing on 3 tracks. 

This is a good exercise to help teach shoulder-in, especially for a young horse who may have a tendency to hit the rail/boards when you try to teach SI along the rail.

By riding the Candy Cane, you cash in on the horse’s desire to get to the rail, since he already wants to move in that direction, you get to simply shape how he moves there. So with a very green or stiff horse, you might even start with an 18 meter circle, so you do just a few simple steps of the Shoulder in moving out. 

As the horse understands the exercise, and develops his muscles, you can do a 12 meter half circle, and eventually even a 10 meter half circle.

It is important to ride this pattern correctly. You do not ride the complete half circle, because then you would break the line of travel. You come out of it early, so the horse can move on one steady bend. It is also important that the riders sit towards the line of travel. 

Too often a rider over works the inside leg and gets their body folded with their shoulders leaning away from where they want the horse to go. It is also important that the inside leg be applied AT the girth. If the leg is placed further back, you move the hind quarters. 

Some horses already naturally run quicker in the back, so letting the leg slip back only worsens that. The hands lead the motion. For a shoulder in traveling to the left, as in the example above- the hands shift so that the right hand is near the withers, the right leg is close to the girth, and the riders body weight is to the left. As you finish the movement the rider should soften their hands and look for the horse to offer to stretch down and out – opening the topline as you come onto a straight line making sure your hands are even and looking straight ahead.

It is extremely important that as the horse reaches the track the rider STRAIGHTEN THEMSELVES and the horse and rides the horse straight forward equally in two reins, encouraging the horse to lengthen and stretch its topline.

The most common mistake with this exercise is the rider forgetting to straighten themselves and the horse, and riding the shoulder in with too much contact so that the horse gets crooked instead of bent.

Source: A Manolo Mendez Clinic Report

The Great Breeches Debate

Several other bloggers have done breeches reviews, so here is mine. I love breeches and probably would be a breeches snob if I could afford to. However, I am a difficult fit because I have no waist, no hips and no butt to speak of. I'm picking my "best" breeches to review.

So here goes.

Breeches: SmartPak Piper Full seat (navy/brown)

How they look on the model:

How they look on me:

They look fine when I am riding, but ....

WAY too baggy. Crotch sags. Ugh.
However, in the winter they DO fit great when I layer fleece
tights under them. 

Verdict:

I like these breeches, but I think I may be in between sizes. I am afraid if I go a size down, that the waist will be too small. And I CANNOT. STAND. anything tight around my stomach or waist. (I have a nasty case of chronic acid reflux disease and tight clothing actually triggers it. TMI)
However, these breeches do stay really clean through barn chores. And so far have not ripped or torn, and I do still wear them often. I like the blue with brown full seat, too. They have the "socks" around your ankles which I love. But I probably will not buy another pair.
 I give them a B-

Breeches: Kingsland Jessica knee patch

How they look on the model:

How they look on me:

filthy barn mirror is filthy. But hey, no saggy sag.

Cute butt logo showing

Verdict: I guess it pays to compulsively check glance over at SmartPak's sale page. These breeches were originally listed at close to $300. WAY out of my price range, but the sale bin had them for $72!! And in my size! What?! I thought if I hated them I could probably sell them for a profit on eBay. I love the cute pocket linings, and on one butt cheek it does have the Kingsland logo. But in my opinion it is cute and is flattering on me considering I have no butt to speak of. The khaki color is also a bit darker than what it appears in this photo. They fit me nicely - OF COURSE, since now I want another pair and cannot afford it. They do not have the velcro at the ankles, which is another plus in my book. They are comfy to ride in and hay/dirt/slobber does not stick to them. I just wish they were a full seat because they are somewhat slick to ride in. They are just a tad tight around my belly, but not too bad. I think going a size up would make them too big on me. I give them an A.

Breeches: Tuff Rider Bamboo plaid full seats

How they look on the model:

How they look on me:

Verdict: These are naturally wrinkle-resistent since the fabric is made from bamboo. This is a good thing for lazy people like me who rarely, if ever, iron. I have had this pair of breeches for several years and there is not a tear in them. Granted, they have gotten just a bit smaller from me running them in the dryer (either that or I have gotten taller?) but not to the point where they do not fit me anymore. They don't sag anywhere, which I like. But also are not too tight. They have survived many rides, washes and barn chores. The plaid is cute and not too loud; and while they are probably not suitable for the true breeches snob, they are super breeches for everyday work. They also stay quite cool in the summer. The belt loops are sort of small/narrow for my preference. And there is velcro around your ankles. Boo. They run about $85-$90.
I give them a B+.

Breeches: Tredstep Symphony Knee Patch

How they look on the model:

How they look on me (I chose the grey color):

Verdict:

These are by far my favorite breeches. I don't have a photo of me in them off a horse, but they fit quite nice. They are probably just a touch baggy, but not nearly as bad as the pipers. Plus, I like being able to move in them. And bend over without fear of crack showing. I do wish I had gotten the full seat, but these are great anyway. They have the socks around the ankles (yay!), big belt loops, and they do stay nice and clean through everyday chores. The only complaint I have is that they have started to fade a bit. They are comfy and look very nice. I am going to have to buy another pair, but they do run $100+. I give them an A.

___

I do own several other pairs, which are pretty crappy so I won't do a review on them. :) They are the breeches I wear when I am out of clean laundry, or when it's so cold at the barn I don't care what I look like. haha.

Anyone have any recommendations for brands for someone shaped like me? And by that I mean a girl who has no shape at all?

Out for a hack

Amazingly, spring did arrive. I was really beginning to think it was not going to bother showing up.

Hampton has picked up where he left off. Not really missing a beat, and his fitness has come back quickly. Today's bombdiggity whether prompted me to take him to the back part of the property for hacking and hill work. He loves trail riding, and knows that when we go back here that he is permitted to have a "brisk canter." I don't let him truly gallop because I don't trust him to stay on his feet. Especially on rolling terrain.

Here is how our hacks usually go out here.

When we head out there he is all like

" yay! no arena today!"

" oh goodie!!"

ears pricked.

snort.

... prance in his step.

Happy Hampton at the top of torture hill

There are a couple of hills that are pretty significant. I make him walk down and up two times. There was much grunting today (from Hampton). It made me laugh as I was enjoying the scenery and the fact that he was clearly working pretty hard.

Then we go out to the more rolling (less steep) hills and trot for a while and then canter - making sure each lead gets equal time. Then I stop at the bottom of one hill and ask him to canter (going uphill, I am so mean) and then get up in two point and let him go. He loves this and gets that "purring" breathing thing going. 

He is super good about slowing up when I ask and then promptly returns to walking like the good trail pony he is. 

By the time we are back at the barn, he looks like this:

"You slave-driving wench making me go up and down hills.
Now I am tired."

But then he perks up upon mention of cookies.

Will hopefully get a dressagin' update soon. We have some cool things coming up, including a clinic at the end of April with JJ Tate!

The story of Moses: Conclusion

I certainly had my doubts, but it seems that our little feral pony Moses has come around!

He went from not leading at all (and taking off as soon as you even thought about grabbing his catch rope), to leading politely around the farm by anyone ... to riding in the round pen ... to jumping cross rails in the wide open jump field. I will say that the "track cowboys" are very effective, and got the job done. Keep in mind they are track guys, and not McClay candidates. ;)

And even better news is that Moses found a new home with people who will continue his education. He is still a bit unsure, especially about his face and handling his feet, but he is sweet in nature. I personally cannot wait to see him all shed out.

And Moses lived happily ever after.

On the next episode of "Cheaters" ...

So Hampton's home is also home to a non-profit that rehomes OTTBs. Because of that, there is always a wonderful supply of OTTBs who need rides, attention, rest, etc.

I have been hopping aboard some of them lately. Don't tell Hampton. I'm a cheater.

I was loving this guy! He had the most impeccable ground manners ever.
Plus sweet under saddle, too!

I have been LOVING it.

Now I understand why so many people are such big fans of the OTTB. The majority of them seem almost relieved to be out of the track lifestyle, and are calm, sweet and well mannered. Yes, there are some that come in that are cray-cray, want to run over the top of you and in general are mules. But they are the minority.

I think riding some of these guys is good for my riding. Holy cow my body does not know what to do in a jump saddle though. Yikes.

This gelding was a kid safe guy. Really quiet and willing.

I was seriously having a blasty blast.

For the most part, these horses can range from well started to frankly uneducated. There is one guy who is a warhorse - one who has raced a lot and won quite a bit of money in graded stakes - and when you put your leg on him he ignores it. When you pony club kick the tar out of him - he ignores it. Has no clue that leg means forward.

Others will go on the bit and offer some bend. So, it depends where they came from I suppose.

Have I come across one that I would adopt for an upper level dressage prospect? Well, no. Not yet.

He was all sorts of upside down. But I didn't care.

But these horses fill a very important niche. As family horses. Trail horses. 4H. All around horses. Some of the nicer ones do great in the hunter/jumper ring, some are nice enough for eventing. Just because they are not upper level dressage material does not make them worthless.

There are all sorts of body types. Personalities. Ability.

Oh I love all of our dead DEAD grass. Thanks winter, you asshole.

They are a wonderful breed and type of horse.

Maybe someday Hampton can have a little brother or sister!