Define pasture sound

Note: This is not about Hampton - he is feeling good! This discussion came up last weekend and just thought I would bring it to my blogger friends. No one freak out this is NOT about Porkchop! Or any specific horse. :)

But that Porkchop topline tho

How do you define pasture sound?

Say you have a horse that has retired from work for whatever reason that may be. Their option now is to be a pasture friend, companion, pet, etc. 

What exactly does Pasture Sound mean?

For me, that means they are sound at the walk but probably not the trot. They are bright, alert, and eating. And maintaining acceptable weight. They may have aches and pains from aging, maybe an old injury. But their pain is not causing them suffering. I do not count aches as suffering, as we ALL have our stiffness and general days where we take a little longer to get going. So moving and creaking around in a stiff manner is pasture sound. Quality of life is still good, but maybe they move a little slower and don't run and buck with their friends. They can get up and down easily.

Hacking at Flying Cross Farm. What a pity it's so ugly

There is this grey area though between pasture sound and ... quality of life is not acceptable. I think this area probably differs from person to person. How and where to you draw the line?

Over the years there have been a (sad) number of horses I would not have classified as pasture sound.

A mini who had dwarfism and could not get up without assistance. She would thrash and hit her head trying to get up until someone came to help her.

A 30+ year old pony who became emaciated and had pressure sores all over his body.

An old navicular horse who stopped coming up for breakfast with his friends because his feet hurt.

I am sure everyone has stories like these.

What's your definition and criteria for a pasture sound companion horse?

Anhidrosis vs. A Karen

New browband made by a friend!
And you can also see some of his hair loss.

 I feel like it's late enough in the summer than I can write this post without jinxing myself?

Guess we will see.

Anyway, the battle with Hampton's anhidrosis has gone MUCH better than last year. Last year he completely shut down. Like he would be BONE DRY after a ride. Even under the saddle pad. It was scary and there really is no "cure."

This year, I was better prepared. While there have been days where he has not been sweating enough, he has not stopped. He still has symptoms of anhidrosis - such as  loss of hair on his face and chest - but thankfully he has continued to sweat and I have only found him once in the field where his respirations were slightly high. It was a 95 degree day, too. (He goes immediately under the cold hose when this happens). But nothing like last year.

Here is what worked for me. Every horse is different but figured I would share!

April: Started him on 1 scoop 1AC.

 

May: Increase to 2scoops 1AC. Increase Vit E supplement and electrolyte.

June: 3 scoops 1AC, and add in 1 scoop of Let Em Sweat (Maintain this through Sept I am thinking)

On 90+ degree days, I add in a beer. Mostly stuck to dark lagers but the other day I gave him a Fat Tire and he liked that too.

  On 90+ degree days & days he works hard, I also add in tube electrolytes.

So far, this regime seems to have worked pretty well! It also seems to help when temps drop below 70 at night. This seems to help "reset" him.

He has also been getting more frequent PEMF sessions. I am not sure if that has anything to do with his sweating, especially since a lot of it has been concentrated on his front feet but who knows?

He loves his PEMF!

Acupuncture is another option I have read. Hampton has some done last fall when it was cooler so I can't really speak on those results.

As far as his diet, he is pretty much grain free. The "grain" he does get is Hallway FibreEnergy which is a grain free, beet pulped based feed with low NSC.

Now if it would just RAIN FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY in Kentucky that would be great.

Stay hydrated everyone!

Make sure you bring champagne

I am SUPER ANNOYED that Blogger seems to have disabled its reading list. So I am trying to find other ways to read everyone's blog without manually scrolling through I dunno 30-40 of them. C'MON BLOGGER. Suggestions welcome.

--

Anyhoo.

Canter transition

I was lucky enough to ride in a LS clinic again here in town. Only had the funds for one day but honestly I get so much out of her lessons that's ok.

Hampton was a really good boy, and we touched on firing him up, turning in passage, working on a little bit of Spanish walk to help lift his shoulders, and then ran through the entire Grand Prix and picked a few weak spots and touched on those. 

She is just such an inspiring, no-nonsense coach. She makes me want to ride better. However, I think the big take away for riding a GP test in the ring is that I need to BREATHE and SLOW TIME DOWN. I paid for my time in the ring, so take it. Hampton and I both get to running and that is bad for business. 

oh look your knees CAN come up higher

Here are my notes from my lesson and a few others that I caught.

• Horses (and humans) don't tend to stretch well in the first 5 minutes. Unless they have a reason, don't start out long and low. Start picking them up and engaging their brain right away
• Keep horse short from tail to ears
• Even though rulebook says horse lengthens their frame in trot lengthening, they should not! That results in pulling with the front feet. Think power off the ground.
• "My grandmother could out trot you and my grandmother is dead."
• Build build build the trot, then canter
• "love him less"
• Accountability and honesty live in the transitions
• Let him live in fear of your leg
• Trot to rein back (for a horse who's legs are sticking to the ground in piaffe) Do a few of these then try piaffe

• When turning the passage, turn horse like a wheelbarrow. This really helped me!
• BREATHE
• Breathe in the corners. Take your time. Organize
• Try the one-tempis in medium canter
• Trot, then right into a 360 degree turn on forehand. Also unsticks the hind legs. Do these a few times, then piaffe
• Piaffe pirouettes help unstick the front legs
• Passage: Suck his withers up with your thighs 
• Passage lives in the ribs
• Transition in/out of passage is a dimmer switch. 3, 2, 1 .... not BAM
• Hands forward
• Think wheelbarrow a little bit in canter zigzag (for me and Hamp within the changes)
• Ride with my aids off. If I apply at a level 2, and he doesn't flinch then he gets hellfire
• BREATHE
• Don't support him so much in passage. Hampton relies on me too much
• BREATHE
• Bring champagne to my first GP. lol

When worlds collide

 I am writing a series of guest posts over at Virtual Brush Box.

It has been really fun comparing dressage and the saddlehorse world. They are so different, and yet similar all at the same time. I do not consider one right or wrong, or better than the other. It is a different way to enjoy horses. And each industry has its practices I don't agree with.

Anyway, pop on over and check out my word vomit! 

Me and Wilson, a super cool Morgan my family owned 
in the early 2000s.

Fall forwards

 "Do you have the guts to fail? If you don't fail, you aren't even trying… To get something you never had, you have to do something you have never done… Don't be afraid to fall, but fall forwards, not backwards" -- Denzel Washington

Adventures in kittysitting

Wearing Uncle Buck's tie

I haven't felt totally ready to add another cat back into the household after the dramatic and heartbreaking losses of Hunter and Ralston, but I thought maybe I should give fostering a try. That way I can help a cat in need, get Buckley some exercise, but not be committed to vet bills.

My first resident was Willard - an ADORABLE grey floof. About a year old, with gorgeous green eyes and a huge personality.

Lap kitty while working

He made himself right at home straight away. Enjoyed all the toys I bought for Buckley but he never plays with. Ate everything in sight and quickly learned to be a lap kitten too.

I had him just 11 days and damn near kept him he was so cute. I do need to start seriously looking for a roommate though and I think it might be easier with just one cat. But I am sort of playing it by ear. I will foster again for sure! I loved having a kitten around. They are like squirrels on meth! haha

Uncle Buck and Willard

It was a really great experience through KY Humane Society. They checked up on him, gave me a bag of food and were super to work with. It was quite sad for me to drop him off but he will be ok. He is young and cute and healthy. He's not up on their site yet but I'm keeping an eye out. Unless he got adopted today which is totally possible. Looking forward to helping another furrball!

He actually fit in my cat condo! (unlike Buckley)

Among Us: The Imposter

 

Last week there was an imposter at a Kentucky saddlebred show.

There was a dressage rider in the hunter pleasure classes. 

(*gasping*)

I did wear my OneK helmet. One of very few approved helmets on the show grounds.

I took her out to hand graze in the mornings. She was happy to pose!

The Horse: This is Pippa. She is a 5 year old buckskin American Saddlebred mare.

Green, but kind and willing and a super good thinker.

Naps!

I had a friend call up and ask me to show her last week at a saddlebred show about 40 minutes from me. He is her usual trainer and rider but this show conflicted with his already booked vacation.

Um, when someone asked me to show a saddlebred I do not turn that down!

Tunnel into the show ring!

After riding her only 3 times, we headed to the show (after showing Hampton in the I-2 Wednesday morning haha! I am a masochist. Oh by the way I was also working my FULL TIME JOB concurrently so the exhaustion was real). I worked her briefly Thursday morning to make sure she wasn't going to be too frisky. She wasn't. 

Morning handgrazing

The saddlebred world is ... different. You can have a really great ride and not place well, and you can make all sorts of mistakes and even FALL OFF and still win the class. I have seen both extremes and everything in between. Pippa was great, sure we had some bobbles but I don't think she was what the judge wanted. She was simply too quiet compared to the others. Also, there is color bias in the saddlebred (And Morgan) show circuits. If your horse is not bay or chestnut, you are less likely to place well. Not saying it is impossible but that unfortunately exists. Her next show she may be rewarded for her quiet, steady nature. But just not as this show. 

Waiting on the warm up ring! We didn't show
until almost 9 pm Fri and Sat nights.

Even so, I made sure she had a positive, empathetic ride. She thinks she won every class. 

These saddlebreds are so kind and tolerant. The atmosphere would make most warmbloods poop themselves. It was in the middle of a county fair. And I do mean in the middle of it. At NIGHT. There are big noisy rides with lights, people everywhere, other horses, snapping whips, people shouting, all sorts of chaos. She never put a foot wrong.

Spot the imposter in the video!

It has been close to 20 years since I have shown in this world. I was reminded why I loved it, and also why I left. I know every industry has their issues, but this one is full of some particularly vile and skeevy people and practices. And the toxic man egos are something else. The elitism is disgusting. And the way people talk to their grooms makes me want to vomit. Not much has changed in 20 years in that respect. No one is "less than." 

And the horse comes first. Not your ego.

Rant over. I had a total blast with Pippa and her owners were the most kind, awesome people. They were so involved with her and were such a huge help to me with grooming and cooling her out. Most owners never touch their horses in this industry. Much less do any sort of work with them. 

Miss Pippa will continue on with her show season with her regular trainer and hopefully make it into the World Championship show in August. I'll be cheering for her!

She is a sporty thing. Even did an unauthorized flying change on me Saturday night.

Hmmmm ... perhaps a dressage future? :)