What's Up Wednesday

 

We're currently enjoying some easy rides around here for various reasons. Thursday we had a rain day, and then Friday our body worker came. So you know, stretchy rides for all! We seem to regularly take a little step back this time of year. I think it's the change of season. 

Despite our easy rides, we still have lots happening! We'll start with Eros because he's the only one with kind of meh news to report. I think I made a mistake with him last week when I got back from the wedding. I rode him in his bands the first day back and I think I made him a little sore behind. I should have eased him into things a little more softly. I don't think he's lame, but he is feeling a little nqr. We've just been doing light stretchy rides since. The body worker didn't find anything alarming, and his legs are all tight, so whatever it is I think is just a little tweak or soreness. He's not going to jump for another week or so though just in case. 

We are continuing our experimentation with Al. My vet has had me trying different nsaids to determine if his behavior is pain related. I had a good response with Naproxen but less good with Etodolac. When doc was here last he wanted to try Al on Gabapentin to see if we're having a nerve problem. I waited to start him on it though, because we were stepping down the Esopmerazole and I didn't want too many changes at once. Plus I was going away for that wedding and I didn't want to start a new med like that when I couldn't monitor him. 

The body worker was interested to hear how the experiment would go because she did note some sciatic pain when she worked on him this time. That was the push I needed to get moving with it though. We finally started it Friday evening and I didn't see much difference over the weekend, but I did see SOME difference. While he was still spooky on the long side by the neighbor, I was able to get some real work done in other parts of the ring. Sunday he had a moment where he really started to lose his potato. Like it was in my best interest to hop off he was escalating so rapidly. But after I hopped off, I just stood with him for a bit until he came back to planet earth, and then I was able to get on and ride on the less terrifying parts of the ring. So that's an improvement, albeit minor. 

Then Tuesday happened. All of the stars aligned for this ride. The neighbor wasn't home. It was warm out. And there was NO wind. All things that set Al up for a good day. I got on, and he just walked right over to the scary part of the ring. Like it hasn't been a thing for the last however many years. He just went around the ring like a normal horse. For the ENTIRE ride. Both directions, all three gaits. He wasn't particularly forward, which is a constant battle, but he was completely relaxed. I really feel like we need to find that relaxation and only then can we really work on fixing the forward button. So this seemed like a positive step. I was really excited to get on him today and see if it was a fluke. And honestly I'm not sure if it was or not. Today was the opposite of yesterday. Pretty windy, temps dropped 20 degrees, and the neighbor was LOUD today. Like throwing metal poles around, dropping stuff, driving around in circles with his lawn tractor. All of it. Of course, not until after I was on Al and ready to start working... So the first couple of walk laps before the neighbor started his bullshit, Al was just as good as yesterday. Walked all the way around the arena, both directions. Even the scary long side. Once the neighbor started in with his nonsense, I opted to stay on a circle closer to the barn. We're making such good strides, I'd hate to have a set back just because the neighbor sucks. I will say, that even though Al was definitely aware of the chaos over there, he wasn't wrecked by it. He was distracted, and I was not very successful in getting him to work, but he wasn't spooking and the dragon sounds were minimal. Now is this because he has nerve pain that the gaba is helping? Or is it because the gaba makes them quiet? I'm not sure. I shall discuss with doc once he's been on it a week and get his thoughts. Gabapentin isn't the answer long term as it's not show legal and not really something I want to keep him on, but it may help us get some answers. And maybe if he can learn to feel like this while on it, he'll be less likely to go back to his stuck in flight mode feelings? I dunno. All speculation at this point. But I am enjoying my horse feeling safe for the time being. 

Shiny has the most exciting news! I finally got her a saddle! I think anyway. I have it on trial for a few days. Funny story. I missed the boat on the one that was close to perfect for her. And I feared it would be a long while before I found another one. I had commented for a photo of a stamp on one that I saw on Marketplace and a saddle resaler messaged me asking what I was looking for. And lo and behold she actually had it. Like pretty much the EXACT specs I was looking for. Only problem was, it was listed on their website for $5000. Way out of budget. She asked if I wanted to make an offer, and I said to her honestly, I needed to be under $3000 and I didn't want to insult her. Well she came back and offered it to me at 3250. Which, that's pretty close to where I wanted to be. Plus they offer free shipping. That made it right around the same price as the one I missed out on. Dad was on board to let me finance it through him, so it arrived today! 

Seems like a nearly custom fit! There's no bridging at all, plenty of wither clearance (though that photo may not show that so well), nothing feels tight, and when I rode her in it, she felt great! I popped a handful of jumps just to see, and she jumped better than she has in a long time. 

I do think there's something out of the ordinary happening with the panels. It seems like they might have been converted to wool. There are slits that are definitely intentional and what looks like flocking in there. They are also much softer than my other Butet panels. But the fit is really good, and she seems happy, so I'm not sure it matters? I figure too, the tree is exactly the specs I needed for her per my Butet rep who saw her when we were working with Eros and his saddle. So worst case, I can always replace the panels to literally her exact specs if that seems to be necessary down the road. I'm going to ride in it a couple more times to make sure we love it, but I do think it's going to be a keeper. Fingers crossed, because I don't want to keep looking for a saddle.

In other news, I got to do some braiding over the weekend for a really cool show that I hope happens again next year so maybe I can go. There used to be a horse show every summer called Children's Services that took place at the Farmington Polo Club. It was a pretty well attended show back in the 80's and 90's but by the later 90's it wasn't doing as well. There was a show stable on the property as well at the time. But the owner eventually grew elderly and his kids moved on to other barns, so it was sold. The horse show had ended by then too. It's recently been resurrected as an event venue (weddings, etc) and they do have polo matches there in the summer. But it's not a show barn anymore and they haven't had horse shows. Until this past weekend that is! It wasn't a regular show, it was actually just a day of hunter derbies. From 2' up to 3'. So nothing super high level, but it looks the courses were beautiful and everyone who attended had a great time. I'd love to go next year. Maybe with Shiny for the 2'. Or maybe if the stars align with Al in the 3'. You just never know!

This adorable guy on the bottom won his derby. He has one low hanging ear which reminded me of Rio. And he was the sweetest little dude! I haven't braided him before, but he's now my favorite client. Don't tell the others.

It's been kind of an exciting week around here, despite our easier rides. I'm hopeful relaxed Al sticks around, Eros feels better asap, and Shiny continues to love her new saddle. Fingers crossed!