Wednesday, April 28, 2021

What's Up Wednesday

 


It's been a good week around here! Most notable is that I got Pfizer shot #2 on Friday.

So in about a week and a half I will be done marinating and can maybe start getting back to normal life. Not that I want to really... The hermit life really does suit me. Either way, it's feels nice to be protected.  Thanks science! (Fun fact, Pfizer has a location here in CT, and one of my friends/barn mates actually worked on developing the vaccine. I think that's pretty awesome.)

I was fortunate to have pretty much no side effects after number two, though I prepared for the worst by stocking up on Tylenol and chicken soup. None of it was needed! My arm was sore the day I got it, but felt better the next day. I felt maybe a little achy, but not as bad as after a tough flat lesson.  Seriously, thank you science!

Okay, enough about vaccines, let's talk about horses! I decided to fit in a lesson for Eros on Friday. We were stuck indoors due to rain, which I think was helpful in him being less of a runaway train. He was actually quite good, and I was excited that maybe we were turning the corner... 

Something pretty great about a 
freshly dragged arena...

But alas. Tuesday's lesson was a hot mess. I really don't like jumping after a day off (barn is closed Mondays). Originally the Tuesday lesson was a flat lesson, but the instructor's switched schedules and it turned into a jumping one. I figured I'd stick it out until Eros comes home, but I probably shouldn't have. We're just both kind of a disaster in that time slot! Nothing terrible happened, he jumped everything, but I never found a rhythm and just had no idea where I was. Normally I can come through the corner and even if I don't see the spot right away, I have an inkling where it will turn up. But last night, I was like three strides out and still not sure. It was kind of unsettling. He still wanted to run away after the fences, but I had more bit so was able to shut that down sooner at least. Kind of a crummy last lesson with him, but I'm sure I can find someone to come help me at home this summer. I think what Eros really needs is to just start working jumps in here and there while we're flatting. Let it get a little boring for him. We can't jump outside of lessons at the boarding barn so I can't do that with him there. I'm not discouraged, just a little disappointed. But that's riding right? Always plenty to work on!


Pammony is still plugging along just doing flat work. He finally had his biopsy sample taken on Monday, so now I just have to wait for the results and then figure where we go from there. Fingers crossed it actually tells us something! I'm taking him off full board now that the other two are coming home. So I'm excited to spend more time with him. I feel like I don't know him quite as well as the others since I haven't been caring for him. 


And princess Shiny has been, well... herself! Haha! She's been great honestly, but there are days she really makes me work for her greatness. That's fine though, if she has to work hard, I suppose I should also. Fair is fair. We had our last Sunday lesson and she was fantastic. It wound up being a private so we got to do a lot of jumping. Our instructor even made my jump a long run oxer. Ew. Definitely chocolate chipped it the first time, but it was perfect the next time. When the vet was out Monday, I had him recheck that back leg of hers. We had though last time it was a little cellulitis, but once the swelling was gone, there was definitely a lump in the tendon area. Doc felt it and said "Yep. You have a lump on the tendon." Thanks Doc. Glad we agree. Ha! Anyway, we did an ultrasound to see what was going on (she's been completely sound so I wasn't freaking out, but definitely didn't want to keep pushing forward if there's a problem brewing.) Fortunately, the ultrasound showed it was a thickening of the fascia and not the tendon. So a little topical steroid and it should be good as new soon. No need for vacation. PHEW!

All in all, the horses had a mostly good week. I'm excited to have Shiny and Eros home, especially now that I get to ride during the day. Though it remains to be seen how that's going to go with the a-hole neighbor... Send good thoughts for that... Oye.

And in other non horse news, my niece had a google meet piano recital on Saturday morning. Which was nice because I got to "see" my dad and stepmom who are still in Florida. (And my mom too, but I just saw her the other weekend, she's up here.)

My brother (said niece's dad) runs a youtube channel that reviews tech items so this production was pretty legit. 
Several camera angles and everything. The best part was that it was a solo recital so I didn't have to hang around listening to stranger kids play. I know that sounds mean, but let's be real. That can make for a very long morning. 

And lastly, probably as payback for thinking things like that, I managed to absolutely cook my face yesterday morning because I was sitting outside without sunscreen. I always seem to forget early in the season...
ouch. Also, my hair is gray. #oldlady

And now we're all caught up! Anything exciting happen for you guys this week?




13 comments:

  1. Wow! A lot going on. I think your plans for Eros sound great. I have to say, what I did with Nay (when I actually rode this winter) were very similar. Flatwork with random jumps thrown in. So, most rides I set up small jumps (well, the course was set, but I picked 3-4 that I could make 2ft) and then when I was doing my flatwork, I'd randomly incorporate a jump throughout. So, sometimes on a circle, sometimes a figure 8, sometimes when changing direction, sometimes not at all. It made the flatwork interesting, but also, Nay Nay never knew what to expect. It also made the jumps fun, but no big deal because they were just part of our flat work (I'd also add in poles -- sometimes one sometimes multiple depending on my level of patience -- luckily I never had to reset jumps, but I did try and put poles back).

    I will say, I had my second lesson this year today and first where we actually jumped anything and my trainer commented on how relaxed he was with the actual jumps. He just didn't care in a way that he once did. He knew his job. I think our practice this winter making jumps part of flatwork paid off.

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    1. Yes! I had a horse that had kissing spine. Once we figured out that was our issue, and treated him, he still expected pain when he jumped. So I did the same thing. Just every flat ride we would work in a few jumps randomly until he realized it didn't hurt him anymore and it was no longer a big deal for him. Eros doesn't seem to be hurting, I really think he's just excited, but hopefully the outcome will be the same!

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  2. Hooray for being vaccinated!! And it'll be really nice for you to have the horses at home again, without some of the constraints that come with boarding :)

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    1. I'm so excited to be vaxxed! Actually saw my family indoors this weekend! It was great!
      And yes, I so love the freedom of having them here!

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  3. "not discouraged, just a little disappointed" kinda sums up my last jump school too, sigh. glad you didn't get any side effects from the second shot!! i'm hoping for a similar result but kinda planning for the worst lol

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    1. I think if you prepare for the worst, it won't be so bad? Hopefully! Good luck!

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  4. Congrats on all the vaccines! Hope you get good results form the biopsy.

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  5. congrats on the vaccine! It will be nice to have the horses at home soon to work on jumping a bit more with all of them!

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    1. Thanks! Yes, they're settling in well, and I can't wait to get back to work here!

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  6. Congratulations on the full install of your microchip. The nanobots are working away to turn you into a drone, lol.

    It will be nice to have the horses back home. I wonder if 'someone' could slip a flyer into his mailbox about how people are getting more for their houses when they sell these days?

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    1. I'm really disappointed my 5G hasn't been activated yet... Hahaha!
      Hahaha! Right?! Houses are selling over asking everywhere, I keep hoping he'll decide to sell. I keep asking my dad to go try and buy the house, but I haven't convinced him yet.

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