Camp Day 1: Meltdowns

I am finally getting my thoughts together about dressage camp. It was awesome as I expected, but it did leave me physically and mentally exhausted.

The good news is that Hampton is quite fit and he bounced right back! Prancing around and full of energy the next day. I rode him today and he was full of it - in a good way - and no hints of soreness.

But ...

Our first full day of camp did not go as I expected.

Friday morning selfie. Mirrors in the arena! Oh how I miss you!

Our first lesson was ok. We worked quite a bit on cleaning up our half passes, lateral energy and adjustability. But Hampton was snarky and anytime I would tickle him with the whip he could pig root and offer to buck. This is not unusual for him, especially since we haven't been off the property for several months.

We focused on opening up his shoulders through leg yields, and making him super obedient to my legs. I wouldn't say he was bad, but there was some tension there.

Several hours later we had our afternoon lesson. I chose to ride him in the double bridle this time. As soon as I got on I knew he was in a mood. When we started trotting I said "oh shit" to myself because he was SOOOOOOOOOOOO behind the leg and so uptight. He was behind the contact, fussy, tight in the back. When I asked him to go forward, he would pull his "hop up and down and threaten to launch" antic. I tried getting a little mad and booting him around, leg yielding on the circle (anything to keep his feet moving). He just kept getting nastier. He was totally unrideable, My coach suggested it might be the double bridle. I'm not so sure, but I guess it's a possibility. Eventually I got him to trot somewhat civil and we ended the lesson. We could not canter a circle without bucking, threatening to launch. At one point I thought he was going to do one of his mega bucks and I was grabbing mane. We would not have been able to complete a training level test. I started to wonder if he was in pain.

I'll admit I had a mild meltdown on the walk back to his stall. What if he was trying to tell me that he has reached a limit? Was he in pain? Maybe he is not mentally capable of the work? Did he strain something in the morning lesson? Maybe it's too much and I need to sell him. Hampton can be snarky and cop an attitude, but this was beyond his normal antics.

So I gave him some bute that night and some time in a paddock hoping he would feel better the next day.

If not, this was going to be a rough weekend.

WW: Sit, horse. Good boy

Just my horse. Being a total dweeb.

Nothing new.

But I promise to have better posts next week! We are off to dressage boot camp this weekend so I will hopefully have some worthwhile posts.

Trail ride

The Porkchop and I are slowly getting back into shape. He is much more fit than his rider, but I will get there haha.

Gorgeous trail system

We took a hack day on Tuesday and explored the large trail system that connects to the farm. I don't usually go out exploring alone, but I let the Boy know I was heading out and if I did not text him in two hours to call me and see if I was ok.

So we headed out.

The trails are in great shape, not too muddy. We only explored a few miles and there were not any challenging parts of the trail. To do the entire loop would probably take half a day. We have much more to explore! We crossed two small creeks and found a big creek with water that went up to Hampton's knees. SO fun. I bet it will be so gorgeous when everything greens up!

We even passed two fields of bloodthirsty, murderous cows without drama.

I don't think I wrote about the last time we tried to pass the cows. It was before winter really hit, and upon seeing said cows Hampton began shaking, snorting and threatening to have a total meltdown. So, I hopped off. When my feet hit the ground, he LEFT. Left me a mile from home, on the side of the road. And ran home. He was unhurt, but I was annoyed to say the least.

None of that crap this time though! Woot.

The barn with the track is way out in the distance

He did get a bit wound up when we found ourselves in an open field that was next to a busy road and another horse farm with a race track. I think he heard the other horses, and was startled by all the traffic. He started jigging and yanking the reins from me. This is the behavior that preceded the explosive black stallion move at the hunter pace last year. So, I did my best to sit heavy, guide him sideways but try not to block the forward. We were yards away from the big creek so I directed him back in there and said "There ya go, NOW you can go forward in this deep water you little shit!" ... and he indeed slowed down and was respectful again. We made it back home without incident.

I think next time we will take another route that doesn't go near the road. He has really turned into a lovely trail horse. He will go anywhere I point him!

He has been lovely in the arena, too. We have been focused on suppleness and getting a reaction. Many rubber band exercises, transitions and lateral work. This spring won't be as busy as last year. But we have some things planned!

P.S. Lady is starting to gain weight!!

Lady's story: Part 3 (Who is she?)

Lady is hanging in there! 

She is perky and bright, and does not seem to realize how skinny she is. 

She is now enjoying all-day turnout in a paddock that doesn't have very much grass yet so she does not over do it.

They did another blood draw and her live enzymes are better, but still not great. She is still drinking and peeing like an elephant. The vet said that this drinking is a symptom of her liver problems, and that her body is trying to flush out toxins. I still think Cushings, but I'm no vet. She is eating pretty well, and pooping great. She is currently on antibiotics to address a snotty nose and some fungus she has going on.

Her recovery is just going to take time. And a lot of it.

I've also noticed that she most likely has had a few foals in her time. Her female anatomy will be need to be addressed in the future. When she poops, there is some manure that is getting into her lady parts. So she probably has a uterine infection on top of everything else. She will need a caslick's procedure sometime down the line. But, one thing at a time.

Sorry she is so muddy. I just do not have the heart to take even a soft curry comb to her.
Maybe a bath in the future!

And here's the big news.

We now know who she is (and we have sent in a DNA sample to be sure, but we are pretty confident).

Her registered name is LADY SNUFFLEUPAGUS.

She is a 1999 foal and ROYALLY bred. She is Reg. # 133163 with ASHA.

She has Supreme Sultan on both sides. (Supreme Sultan was the sire of my old Saddlebred mare, Queen. You can read more about Queen through the link on the side of my blog. Lady and Queen look very much alike!) Her pedigree also features such greats like Talent Town, Wing Commander, Yorktown and Valley View Supreme. If was a Saddlebred breeder I most certainly would never let this mare go.

She is listed on the All Breed Pedigree website, so at some point someone cared enough about her to submit her name and pedigree.

In fact the website lists her as having 5 babies. The most recent being foaled in 2010. 

At one point, she lived in Iowa and is listed on www.asha.net/asha/mareharmony.php as being available for breeding lease from January 2014 through weaning 2015. It does list an owner, too. I wonder if he knows the path she took. 

She is also closely related to the famous Saddlebred CH Mr. Snuffleupagus who won many world titles and was a much-loved school horse at a farm in Shelbyville, KY.

CH Mr. Snuffleupagus

It will be pretty easy to track down former owners. I may do that to see if they have more information on her, or even just some photos. I am sure they will be heartbroken to see the condition she is in.

For now she is taking it one day at a time. She is such a sweet girl, but not out of the woods yet!

Lady's Story Part 2: Health problems

Lady is hanging in there.

She is now eating free choice grass hay, and has had some alfalfa cubes and Nutrena Safe Choice grain added to her diet. She seems to have a good appetite.

She has really been enjoying her hand walks as well. Yesterday she really perked up and started to drag me around a bit! She even wanted to do some prancy trot steps. I took this as a good sign. She is totally sound at the walk, even after getting her Amish shoes removed.

However, she is not out of the woods.

When the vet pulled blood, it was found that she has elevated liver enzymes. This could be a number of things. She could make a recovery, or she could go into liver failure in which case her prognosis would be poor.

In addition, I have noticed that she drinks and EXCESSIVE amount of water. And pees a LOT. Her stall is soaked in the morning. If a little saddlebred mare is able to soak her stall more than big old Hampton, then I think that is a problem. My friend suggested that it is a symptom of her liver problem, but to me those symptoms are classic Cushings. Plus, she is a saddlebred and Cushings seems to be more common in saddlebreds than some other breeds.

I'm not sure if she was tested for that or not, but I'm going to ask. It could also be kidney failure, but she is eating and is alert and does not seem lethargic. She is pooping great and has not shown signs of any distress. I am hoping she pulls through.

I will keep updating on her condition. But she does remain bright-eyed and friendly. :)

Ears through the years

Focus.

Sometimes I get a little toooooo focused on all things dressage. And shows. And scores, and working up the levels. Goals are not bad, and striving to work up the levels is not bad either.

But it's good to step back and remember why you really do this.

From today (that's the farm on top of the hill)

Like today, I hopped on Hampton after he has had nearly 3 weeks off and went out back in the big, hilly field covered in snow. It's warming up and our hack was downright heavenly. We both enjoyed it. He was perfectly behaved and had a wonderful pep in his step for a while. Until walking up and down the hills in the snow started to tire him out. haha. 

It was just me and him. Like it always has been. 

Life is so short. Appreciate these moments with your horses. In the end, the scores don't matter.

I don't want a horse that gets big scores in the ring. I want a horse who I can jump on after 3 weeks of a nasty winter and enjoy a relaxing ride in the snow and not fear for my life. 

I want a horse I can trust. And who I enjoy being around.

Here are some photos of "ear shots" throughout the years. We have done so much together and experienced some really cool (and a few terrifying) adventures. 

Whatta guy.

His first jump lolz

I think this may be the first ear shot of Hampton I took. When I was finally brave
enough to take both hands off the reins. ha.

Long-time readers may remember that when we switched barns in 2010, I did
not have a trailer. So I RODE Hampton (3 years old at the time) from one barn to another taking
back roads. About 6 or 7 miles.

Another snow ride

Hanging out at a 4-H show. 

Trail riding

Indiana corn fields and windmills

Checking for gators

Fall trail ride

We moved to Kentucky in 2012

Trail riding with friends.

Um, gorgeous

Kentucky horse park

More Kentucky Horse Park

"Oh hey Davey I likes your bridles. Can I eats it?"

Lady's story: Part 1 (Introduction)

So this is Lady.

She is an American Saddlebred mare who found herself in a pretty awful situation.

A few of us pooled some money together and were able to rescue her. So now she at the farm resting and recovering. I'm not sure of the exact details of her story, but I do know this:

- She has been shod, and her feet actually look pretty good. She has amish-type shoes on.

-She has a raw spot on her chest. Probably from a chest collar.

She was clearly an Amish cart horse. And I'm not saying all Amish treat their horses this way, but there is no excuse to ever let a horse get into this condition. 

She is easily the most emaciated horse I have ever seen. Dead or alive. We all see photos of these types of horses on the internet, but seeing a horse in this state was shocking to me in person. 

She has a thick coat of fur, so that makes her look better than she is. 

She is a sweet girl, but sometimes skeptical if you enter her stall too quickly.

Yesterday I offered her a treat (Mrs Pastures cookies) and she snorted at me as I held out my hand.

She sniffed. Snorted. Gave me the bug eye.

Then finally took a bite. Yay! Success!

No horse can resist Mrs Pastures.

The next time I walked by her stall, she nickered at me! 

In spite of her condition, she seems alert, friendly, and bright. So I think she will pull through. She is on the proper feeding protocol for rehabbing horses in this state. She will probably need her teeth done, but that may have to wait because she is in no condition to be sedated if that would be needed.

I took her on a walk this morning and she was foot perfect. So someone halter broke her well. Plus Saddlebreds are generally easy to deal with on the ground if you ignore the snorting.

She looks like my old ASB mare, Queen, which is why I took a liking to her.

I'll keep posting updates on her progress. She sure is sweet and deserves a second chance.