Vogue

Photo by Lisa Dean

Hampton was chosen as a lucky model for a local equine photography clinic recently and he did not disappoint.

He may not the world's most fancy dressage horse, but he can pose with the best of them! He needs a modeling contract. He will stand all day and look like he owns the place. 

Photo: Kristen Young

We did a lot of black background shots, and then I climbed on bareback and did some romping around the fields and through a water complex. This old lady is not used to riding bareback so I was definitely hurting the next day lol! But this is exactly why I continue to pay Hampton's bills. He can be an I-1 horse one day, and then turn around and canter pack me around like a school horse the next. 

Not pictured: Me saying "Oh shit don't fall off"

Photos by Kristen Young

And I have plenty of fresh media for the blog now - woohoo! 

Finally, competitive prancing!

Geez I have some catching up to do! Sorry! lol

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A couple of weeks ago, we finally made it to a horse show! It was a one-day USDF rated show, hosted in Lexington on a random Wednesday. I was curious as to how things would roll with all these new covid requirements, but I'm happy to report that at this particular show people were very compliant, no one complained and the show ran smoothly. 

Hamp and Shiloh

Because horses are horses, I went to pick Hampton's feet before getting on the trailer and discovered that part of his left front shoe was missing. He wears a bar shoe and the bar part was just ... gone. And that's his bad foot because OF COURSE. I jogged him and he was sound so off we went and he did fine but JEEZ.

At the show, I think pretty much everyone just hauled in for the day and showed out of their trailer, although the show did offer stalls.

I did an equitation class which was a non-event, just to warm up Hampton's muscles and then we did our I-1 about an hour later.

PC: Lisa Dean

I was pretty show-ring rusty and made quite a few mistakes including forgetting to count my tempi changes and did too many. Ooops. Those mistakes were expensive. C'mon Karen!

Hampton got a little behind the leg and stopped in one pirouette (but I caught it quick and recovered). I had to float his teeth is one corner because he started to just run and haul on me. But other than those things it was an ok test for not showing in about a year. 

We got a respectable 61% and some change. Which is one score for regionals, and now I am half way done with my gold medal. Mostly I just needed to get in the ring and knock the rust off.

The last time we showed at this facility, we were a sketchy first/second level pair. It was really neat to be back here as an legit FEI pair. He has come so far.

We looked like this the last time we showed at
this facility. Totally different - both of us!

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Getting back out there made me super motivated for the rest of the year (as long as the pandemic doesn't shut things back down). 

Hampton has had a slightly lighter work load lately because of this oppressive heat but we are aiming for two shows in August.

And lastly, WEAR A MASK!! 

Hi. My name is __________

Talk less. Listen more. That’s good advice for journalists, life partners, and especially those who live life with privileges and want to understand a hurt that is not only of this moment but is systemic and centuries in the making.  -- Dan Rather

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Recent trail ride at Deam Lake

I have been quiet on recent events. Partly because of my job (I have to be careful what I post on social media sites), but mostly because I am listening. 

It has been very telling, and alarming, to read what friends and even family have to say about racism, and Black Lives Matter. 

I come from privilege. I have recognized that for a long time.

FFS my name is literally Karen, and I grew up in one of the most affluent, white suburbs in Indiana. It's so white, in fact, that the mayor recently made national news. Carmel is a nice place to grow up, but I long quit telling people I was from there. Because it's embarrassing.

Privilege doesn't mean you have not had struggles. It doesn't mean I am rich. It doesn't mean I have never been discriminated against for anything. It's astounding what people truly cannot see and fail to grasp. Even more alarming is watching folks turn racism into a political stunt. 

Loving the ShooFly boots

Here's what else makes me privileged:

• My parents were never divorced
• I grew up with a father figure in the home
• I had a private grade school education
• I never had to help my parents with the bills
• I didn't have to pay for college
• I never wondered where my next meal would come from (but I have as an adult)

I have been handed opportunity after opportunity. Those are just the basics. Let's not forget growing up showing horses. I mean geez. Yes, I have worked my ass off to have a horse. Made sacrifices, struggled. Worked some more. Still privileged. Those who suggest people "get a job" or "work harder" are so tone deaf and missing the point entirely. 

While I struggle as an adult, I do still consider myself privileged. I ride my horse in the rolling hills of Kentucky people. If you get to do that, YOU ARE PRIVILEGED.

I mean ....

So in a sense, I have felt like I don't get an opinion on racism. My job is to listen, learn, check myself. You know it's a problem when you suggest to a friend that maybe they are tone deaf, and I get called a libtard.

It runs so much deeper than we know.

I was going to spout off some more about the newest pedophile to be banned from Safe Sport but I think I'll sign off for today.

Peace.

Tildren, tempis, TRT

Who doesn't like a man in blue?!

Hampton has completed his round of Tildren and handled it like a champ. So the company recommends administering the drug via IV over a 90-minute period. However, our vet dilutes the solution 3 times and then gives an IV shot every other day for 3 days. He said he has had tremendous luck with this protocol and thankfully Hampton did not break his streak.

The most common reaction is colic and that's because the drug messes with their calcium pretty much immediately. Reactions are sometimes within 3 minutes but the website says to keep an eye on the horse for up to 4 hours. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this helps the Porkchop out. Sometimes it can take 2 months for results to really be noticed so we will see! 

In other news, Hamp is remaining sound (knocking on wood) and his back feels much better. He seems to have suddenly had a breakthrough and we can do 6 one-tempis! His piaffe and passage or almost show ring ready (I just have to smooth out the transitions), and we are starting to build the blocks for the GP zig-zag. (He is not the problem here, it is MOST DEF ME) 

I mean what?! How did this happen?? 

Since there aren't any shows on the immediate horizon, we just keep schooling as if we are going to do an I-2. My I-1 freestyle has been on the back burner. I kind of lost motivation to work on it. I'm not sure why. I just am not feeling it this year. 

I have also recently become rather addicted to the TRT method of training. So much so, that I have now designated Saturday's as our TRT day. Poor Hampton.

So far Hampton has learned Spanish walk which I think is really good for him. It's nice to have a day where his body can rest, but he still has to use his brain. muuwahahahaha. I am really enjoying how Tristen really understands the horse, and how they think and learn. Hampton responds really well, other than giving me looks of "WTAF now, lady." I know some people probably think of TRT as some glorified natural horsemanship, but it's really quite good.

We may go schooling of the property next week so maybe I'll have better media. haha!

Hoping everything is doing ok. Look at all of us - surviving a pandemic. Go us!! 

Tricky tricky tricky

Happy to be reporting back with GOOD news.

Hampton is sound after his injection, which I am seeing as a very good sign. I'm still going to do Tildren here in the next couple of weeks. I am so happy he is back to feeling ok!

He does have some lingering back soreness. I suspect from compensating from that painful foot. But, each day he gets better and better. Some massage, magnawave and stretchy, easy rides will hopefully resolve the back soreness.

On Monday, I tried the #toiletpaperchallenge that's been circulating lately.

After not really schooling for ... uh ... weeks ... I was like Hey Hamp, can you just do a canter pirouette and by the way I'm going to do it one handed while holding TP.

I challenge anyone to do a more slow, labored, rocking pirouette than this one! hahaha. Now you see why I am constantly working on adding RPMS in the collected canter.

But whatevs we got it done! Fun day to just have fun with my horse and friends. I've got mad respect for people who jump courses while balancing TP. This was difficult enough.

I plan to pick up Hampton a couple of times this week and see where the work is at, but other than  that it'll be stretching and a couple of hacks. He can tell me when his back feels totally better and then we can go from there.

In other news, Buckley is handling lock down well.

Porkchop sees the vet

I found the shoe! In his big ass field. Oh I was pretty proud of myself.

Hot Mess Express was out in full force for Hampton's vet appointment.

Not only was he off on that left front, but the day before the appointment he ripped off his right front shoe. Also did something to his face around his eye and had a couple of small scrapes.

JFC.

Horse is malfunctioning. Danger Danger.

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Anyway, even without the right front shoe he was still quite lame on the left front. It had gotten worse over the past few days even. I would monitor him by watching him trot up for breakfast in the morning and could tell right away. I'm really glad I had made the appointment when I did. In fact in hindsight I wish I had called sooner (then his appointment got pushed back 4 days because SOMEBODY had to have an emergency root canal. Not naming names but it's the bitch who rides Hampton)

I am SO lucky to be in an area with a world class vet. Possibly one of the best in the country. He works with Derby horses every year and is highly regarded in the sport horse world as well. (he is also an FEI vet).  I also have a top notch farrier who also knows his shit. Without them, I am not sure what I would do. Proper shoeing is so so important.

We went ahead and injected Hampton's coffin joint. And when he got the needle in, fluid squirted out like a fountain. Hampton was clearly in pain, even when drugged and twitched. He is normally a stoic guy, so I cannot imagine how much pain he was in.

After his injection, he didn't even want to put weight on his foot anymore. Yikes.

He definitely has a lovely case of distal interphalangeal joint synovitis. 
(Also called degenerative joint disease, or DJD. Aka osteoarthritis). Once the world gets back to "normal," my next plan is to take him to Lexington for updated rads and a look over from their lameness vets. It's a complicated disease and it's about protecting him from further damage at this point. According to this research, the most common DJD areas of dressage horses are the coffin joints, navicular bones, and hocks. So there we go.

So this was more than just typical navicular heel pain. And I promptly felt like a total asshole for putting off an injection in hopes a simple shoeing change would help. This also explains why Previcox was also no longer doing shit. It was so bad, that the vet could actually feel effusion in his coffin joint just by palpating it.

We also discussed giving him a treatment of Tildren. Once I get my stimulus check, I will be moving forward with this. I'll have to do a more detailed post, but my vet has a method of administering this drug that gives great results and also minimizes the chance of colic. I think it's a good idea for Hampton, and he deserves it. Did you know Tildren used to cost $12,000 for a treatment over in Europe? Fun fact of the day. 

Spotted this blue heron in Hampton's field while our searching for the shoe.

To complete Hampton's day, my awesome farrier came out and tacked on the other shoe. Hopefully my humpty dumpty horse will be put back together again.

Hampton will do 3 days of doxy (vet does this for all coffin injections), and some bute again tomorrow. He also has a massage and magnawave scheduled for Thursday. I think Friday (That'll be 4 days post injection) I might tack walk him and go from there. There is no rush on anything. I just don't like my dude being in pain.

I also have a guardian angel to thank. You know who you are. :)

And I hope everyone is doing ok. My cats are close to filing harassment charges against me.

Finally, Carole FUCKEN Baskin. :) 

Stay the path

When you are lame on the left front, but lost your shoe on the right front - you might
get excused from work but you are NOT excused from photos.

Right before the shit really hit the fan (back in March), I took a virtual lesson with an instructor who had a long and impressive list of credentials. I was really hoping to keep the momentum going from Aiken and the instruction I got there (plus my fabulous coach at home).

So my barn buddy and I took a lesson right after one another and were able to video each other.

The whole virtual lesson thing worked out great I thought. The only thing is that our indoor has crappy lighting so sometimes it was hard to see the rider, but we made it work.

Unfortunately, this instructor was not at all what I expected or hoped for. She was a huge disappointment to be honest. I won't name any names but she just did not work for me.

I think everyone is going to encounter this in their dressage journey. There are hundreds (millions?) of roads on this path up the levels.

What I have learned is that the most important thing is that you stick to one path. Yes, take tidbits and tools from various teachers and programs, but in general stick to one road. If not, you and your horse will end up confused, frustrated, lose confidence and possibly regress.

For example, one of the huge takeaways I have been working on is to GIVE my reins. Lauren really got after me about this, and that theory continued on with Jeremy and Sarah in Aiken. Since I have become more diligent about this, Hampton has developed better self carriage, is lighter in the bridle, more supple in the neck, and his back end comes through to the bit so much better than it ever has. He poll stays up much more reliably now, too.

Pretty much how I feel right now

Well. This instructor - we will call her M - right out of the gate tells me to shorten Hampton's neck at the walk and do not give with my hands. I have NEVER in my life been told to shorten Hampton's neck. FFS I have always thought that I already ride him too short in the neck. BUT, I am a good student and willing to try.

He got wiggly. He tried piaffe. He got lateral. She said he was "figuring it out." But my gut said ... ah, well this is how you make a horse's walk lateral.

Sometime during our trot work, she got rather snarly with me that I was "throwing him away" all the time and that by doing so, I am driving him down on the forehand even more. I got defensive and said, "Well, I've been told to do this so yes it is a habit." Which M answered with, "Well how's THAT workin' for ya??" ...


.... actually lady I thought it was working well for me.

Old photo

But like I said, I continued to try what she said. Eventually, he started getting irregular (rein lame) at the medium trot which he has NEVER DONE NOT ONCE IN HIS LIFE  At this point I knew this was not the instructor for me.

She did have some good pointers that DID align with my road:

Bounce with your seat like you are on a ball into and out of collected canter
Ride canter piros like a half pass
More inside leg int he half pass (someday I this will get into my brain)

But for the most part it was the complete opposite of what I had been told from my own home coach, Lauren, Jeremy, and Sarah (plus a number of other clinicians over the years).

Is she wrong?

I don't k now. I think there's different theories and ideas and programs. Her basic concept of keeping a rather firm contact at all times probably works for a lot of horses. But I can tell you that Hampton is more than happy to  lean on your hands all the live long day. He gives zero shits. He will lean on side reins FFS.

Selfie time! Sorry Hamp that is what you get.

It's the giving that makes him light and "uphill" (he's never uphill and won't ever be but you get my point). I have to give his hind end somewhere to power to and if I have a hold of his mouth, it will drive his front end down. Maybe I am wrong. She has much better credentials than I do. I'm just an average AA dressage rider with a grade horse.

But I think I'll stay the path.

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Monday (today) Hampton sees our top lameness vet to see if we can help him be comfy again. Fingers crossed.