Myth busters Monday: The P stance

Oh boy I was a little scared of the hits I might get if I titled this The Pee Stance. 

Do you have to stand up in your stirrups when you horse pees? 

Hampton. Currently NOT peeing.

I know I was taught to do this because otherwise you hurt their kidneys. (I grew up with VERY old school saddleseat instructors)

False. BUNK.

1) the bladder does the peeing, not the kidneys. And I can't think of any saddles that sit anywhere near the bladder. 

2) The kidneys are really quite protected from even western saddles. They sit underneath thick muscle, fat, the spine and a couple of ribs. In fact your vet can feel the kidneys during a rectal exam. The kidneys sit pretty low. If it were true that a rider puts pressure on the horse's kidneys, then we would need to stand up ALL the time.

Source: https://equusmagazine.com/diagnosis/excessive-urination-in-horses/

You can of course stand in your stirrups if you feel like it might help you horse get out of that parked out stance a little easier. Especially if you have an older horse or something like that.

But do I stand in my stirrups for Hampton? No, I quit doing that years ago. He hasn't had a problem. Plus I am barely a flea to him. Maybe if I was riding a smaller, petite pony I would be courteous. 

Verdict: Do what you feel is best, but you aren't putting pressure on their kidneys. 

Myth busters Monday: Will I boil my horse?

In an effort to blog more often, I am going to try out this Myth busters Monday theme. Looking for myths, old horseman's tales, etc. to tackle so if you have one - comment!

First, a repost of mine from Aug. 2018.

To scrape or not to scrape?

Also known as, will I boil my horse if I leave him out in the sun soaking wet?

Since it's hot as balls a bit toasty again in KY and everyone is sweating, here's some science I thought I'd share.

Disclosure: I am outright stealing this from a post on FB. It is credited to Dr. David Marlin.*

After you hose your horse off, do you scrape the water off or no?

Hot and sweaty at Regionals 2017.

MYTHS

Myth 1 - “You should never put cold water on a hot horse"
Explanation - Ice-cold water(0-5°C) on hot horses does not cause shock, laminitis, kidney damage, muscle damage, tying-up or heart attacks!

Myth 2 - “Water left on a horse will heat up and insulate and make the horse hotter."
Explanation - Flawed physics! Water is a better conductor of heat than air. A wet horse will actually cool faster than a dry one, even if humidity is 100%.

Myth 3 - “Scraping is essential." Explanation - Scraping just wastes time that could be better used putting more water on to cool by conduction. Scraping also wastes water when water is in short supply. Water which could evaporate on the horse. Water evaporating on the ground doesn't cool horses down.

Myth 4 “Concentrate on large veins, arteries inside the back legs, large muscle groups"
Explanation - NO. Cooling by evaporation or conduction works by cooling the blood flowing through the small blood vessels in the skin. The more skin you cool, the quicker you cool the horse. Apply water all over.

I'll admit, I followed the old rule of always hose, scrape, hose, scrape for a long time until I read the actual science behind it. How would I have known any better? But now I just keep hosing Hampton, and then turn him right back out. In the sun! *gasp* No scraping anymore. Here's more:

Evaporation and conduction.

Ideally, I would hose Hampton and then let him sit under a fan for a while. I mean think about it - when it is 95 degrees, and you splash water on your face or over your head, do you get hotter or do you get a cooling effect? 

So there's no harm in the hose, scrape method. But it seems a little pointless.

(Edited to add: Sometimes I will go ahead and scrape off his belly in an effort not to totally soak the barn aisle after he is hosed)

What method do you follow?

----

* Dr. Marlin's credentials: 25 years working on equine thermoregulation. 20 plus scientific papers on equine thermoregulation. Working with endurance horses in the Gulf. Advising the racing industry on prevention and management of heat-stroke. Working with Governments on heat legislation. Working with charities on thermal stress. Working on the 1996 Atlanta, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Currently working on the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Author of the FEI Guidelines for National Federations on the management of horses in thermally challenging conditions.

Damn, it's 7 a.m.

This was 6:45 am haha

Meadowlake near Lexington has been hosting these one-day rated shows on a Wednesday and it is fabulous. I wish there were more shows like this.

Anyway, my barn friend K and I hauled down early (3 am wake up call), showed our horses and were back home by 11. Really not a bad way to spend a morning. And then have the afternoon to day drink. 

Put the boys on the trailer at 4:30 am. Wonder what they were talking about.

I did the I-1 this time, again in the snaffle. And once again, Hampton was really quite nice. No diving, no shutting down, no getting stuck. Ears up, no grinding teeth. Out test was smooth and organized. I did screw up the start of the two-tempis, but that doesn't bother me. It was just a minor bobble.

Decent line of 3s in this video. I think he looks higher in the poll than in the double. And he did a weird stutter step in the last change. Also, had I been more anal I would have started the changes a little later so that the third change was right over X. 

Sidenote: I was suffering from a VERY poorly located abscess that hindered by ability to really sit and anchor in the saddle so I am super proud of Hampton who went into school master mode when I couldn't be 100%.  (no, I'm not posting a photo. But it's on my bikini line. My crotch, if you will. From a stupid ingrown hair.)

Post-ride grazing time!

Here's a video of the canter zig zag. The GP Zigzag is what started the entire meltdown back in May. So I was like whaaaaaat is ganna happen here. Nothing. Nothing happened. He did it very nicely.

The judge rewarded us with a solid 64.2%. Nothing lower than a 6! Of course Hampton needs to be more uphill, and have more engagement. Which will forever be my struggle. But I had a willing, happy horse and I think it boosted his confidence and definitely mine. Showing in the snaffle seems to be working.

Winner!

I'm not sure what to do now. Do we try an I-2? I am scared to death of another GP test like we had in May. Should I work my way back up? Or just stay at I-1 where Hampton is quite happy? Lots to think about. 

Horse show mornings are the best.
Especially when you are done before 8 am lol

He has also been sweating really great lately! My combination of OneAC, SweatWell, and Beer seems to be working for the moment. Plus electrolytes. *knocks on wood*

And in other news, Buckley got a summer hair cut and it really highlightsh his fupa.

Frayed on both ends

Kentucky is currently hotter than satan's buttcrack at the moment. Swamp-ass weather. Swamp boobs. You name it.

Hampton's symptoms of anhidrosis started early this year. We tried two more Grand Prix's in May but ... it was a massive, massive failure. One go resulted in the worst score of my life. And the other I retired when he quit at the start of the canter zig zag. I mean buried his poll and shoulders, stopped and grew roots. Completely offline to any aids. Total 404 error shutdown. Normally a happy worker, his face looked almost catatonic in photos. With cranky ears and grinding his teeth. He was back to normal thankfully when we returned home but gave ulcer meds anyway.

Stepbrother Royale is a newly minted Second Level horse now by the way!

I am not sure if this was a result of lack of energy due to the anhidrosis, some training issue I have created in the show ring, ulcers, me just sucking at riding, or something else. But the Grand Prix is on hold. Maybe temporarily, or we may never return to showing that level. I have always said I would stop pushing when he said no. He has already gone FAR beyond what his confirmation is really appropriate for. 

We still school all the GP at home (and wonderfully, he doesn't shut down ever at home). But as far as showing, I am going to enjoy my absolute bomb PSG/I-1 schoolmaster I have produced. And while we are at it, I'm trying things like showing in the snaffle. 

Drove up to Hoosier Horse park at 5 am. Showed the PSG at 8:30 am, home in Louisville
by 11 am. That is how you horse show!

We tried a PSG last week in the snaffle and I wasn't sure exactly how it would go. He can be a bit of a monster at home in it. To my surprise, he was ... lovely. Up in the poll, no diving, no teeth grinding, no shutting down. Just an organized, mistake free PSG. (and won the class!) Still kind of lethargic, but smooth and obedient. And much happier. We will try an I-1 in another week or so and see how that goes in the snaffle. Maybe he is just a snaffle horse and it simply has taken me 10 years to figure it out. ha.

He is still sweating but it's wimpy and patchy and just not enough. He is currently getting One AC, a beer, the new Finish Line sweat supplement and cold showers.

It was 97 here. Some sweat on neck and shoulders, but he was
puffing. Nostrils flared.

He is also dealing with that old huge hoof abscess that blew out in October. It's finally just about at the bottom of the hoof and while I don't think it hurts him, I wonder if his foot feels weird or unstable as now the crack grew.

yikes?

Otherwise he is wonderful happy Hampton. And my only concern is to keep him that way. If this heat ever breaks we will be back out on trail rides and finding other trouble to get into. For now, it's 15-20 min rides in the mornings.

Hamp: Is you real duck?
Me: No.

Results are in! I am a mutant.

My genetic test results came in!

I got a hefty 6-page report with quite a bit of detailed, science-y language that flies right over my little pea brain but I managed to summarize.

I have a mutation in the CHEK2 gene which is "likely pathogenic" - so likely to cause disease.

And another variant "of unknown significance" was detected in BARD1. So basically, there isn't enough science yet to determine what this means, if anything.

What does this mean?

Well, my risk of breast and colon cancer could be increased by as much as 40%. My risk of literally ANY other cancer might also be increased because CHEK2 functions as a tumor-suppressing gene. That is bare bones but click here for more detailed information for you science nerds.

I am heterozygous for R117G variant. The 1100delC variant is the most studied and implicated with breast and other cancers.

A lazy Buckley photo

About CHEK2

The name CHEK2 stands for Checkpoint Kinase 2. The gene is located on chromosome 22. CHEK2 helps control how cells divide. It can protect cells from becoming cancerous.

So everyone has two copies of CHEK2, one from each parent. Mutations in one copy can increase your cancer risk.

What the hell is BARD1?

The name BARD1 stands for BRCA1 Associated Ring Domain 1. BARD1 is located on chromosome 2. The BARD1  gene works with BRCA1 to repair damaged DNA. Although the two genes work together, the effects of a mutation are different; people with a BARD1 mutation do not have the same cancer risk as people with a BRCA1 mutation.

And since my test came back as a variant of unknown significance. Well, uhhh, not sure?

Squinty bareback rides are good for the soul lol

What I am going to do

I still have to go back to my regular doctor, but the genetic counselor recommended breast cancer screening every 6 months, alternating between breast MRI and regular mammogram. And to get a colonoscopy somewhat soon. There was no talk of mastectomy or any other radical procedures. That is still on the table, but for right now I don't feel it is urgent. (I might if I had a BRCA mutation though)

I am unsure about how much anxiety to assign to this bit of news.

Do I freak out? Become a hypochondriac? I'm just not sure.

Interestingly, my sister has the same mutations I do. She is the one with ovarian cancer and the reason I did this. (But she is doing really well!). 

I guess my plan is to keep on living life. L-I-V-I-N. 

Aiken 2022: Closing time

 

Friday we took the entire herd to Hitchcock woods! This is the first time we have been able to go as a big group. The energy was definitely higher but everyone stayed on and had fun.

There was a moment of impending doom scooting when a big branch broke in the woods, sending horses scattering every direction. Hampton thankfully just went sideways and I was able to wrangle him fairly quickly. 

Other than that it was a lovely ride.

Most of the crew!

Yes, we wore our Aiken 2022 T-shirts. #nerds #not ashamed

If you turn right here, there is quicksand especially after heavy rains. 

Also, if anyone has a Vampire Penguin in their town I will literally move in with you because this was the BEST thing I ate the entire week. It's just shaved ice but holy smokes AMAZING.

I literally never take photos of food but PRAISE BABY JESUS

After packing up for the haul back home the next morning, we went out to a nice dinner and hit the sack. 

Very thankful we had easy, uneventful trips there and back. No bodies in the road this year. All humans healthy and happy. I even got a little relaxation time in the Airbnb hammock this year.

 

I miss Aiken already!

Back to reality and maybe plan a 2022 show season?

Aiken 2022: Lessons

 

Mirror selfie haha

My favorite thing about Aiken is the quality of instruction you can get within a 5-10 mile radius.

This year I decided to stick with just one instructor, the S judge, and really crack down on show ring problems.

At the beginning of our first lesson, she actually got on him for a few minutes! So many instructors won't get on horses (and for good reason), so I was really impressed. She was able to feel what I was feeling. And she said "Yup, he's tough". I was sort of hoping she would get on and be like "Oh you idiot this is your problem" but no, it seems he really is tough to ride in an uphill balance.

My green bean arse watching someone who knows what they are doing.

But not impossible.

We worked hard for two days on respecting the rein aids, suppleness, piaffe, passage, half passes and LETTING GO of the reins more than I think is necessary. 

Man this horse is teaching me a lot! It really takes instructors like this who have ridden and coached many MANY different types of horses. It takes some unconventional tools and tricks. There is no magical "fix", no magical way of riding. This is horse training.

It was 80+ degrees too which was faaaaaabulous

I think we may have had a breakthrough and I am keeping at it. Whether I can carry it over to the show ring ... well that's yet to be seen.

I also had my saddle reflocked on Tuesday of the week. Another great thing about Aiken is that there is a Custom rep in the area and she scooted over, relfocked my saddle a bit to make some adjustments and off I went down the road for a lesson. Done and done!

Friday was our last day and that was Hitchcock woods day! Coming up!

Such a lovely farm to ride at

Also got this really cute halter!