Yesterday Champagne and I had a very nice session. He still isn’t all that forward, but he has improved the cadence of his walk tremendously (though I have to remind him) and after about half an hour of warming up (trotting on a loose rein, leg yields, etc.) he will canter.
Lee, who apparently at one time owned Champagne, once said he has “the Cadillac of canters”. When she said it I wasn’t tremendously convinced. For one thing, I was still recovering from my cracked sacrum so cantering was painful, and for another thing I had been riding Fred, the big off-the-track thoroughbred, at my first barn. He truly did have a great canter, and more, he loved to canter, so much so that it was hard at times to get him to stop. (Trotting was something he didn’t like very much, but that’s another story.)
But now I see how nice Champagne’s canter is. Once he finds the rhythm, which doesn’t really come easily to him apparently, he rounds up without prompting. There isn’t much “hang time” in his canter (when all four feet are off the ground) and consequently there isn’t a lot of bounce for the rider. So in theory I should just be able to sit back and enjoy.
But now that we have established that he will canter, we have another issue: he drops out of the canter unexpectedly. Sometimes I can tell that he is going to do it and I can prompt him, but sometimes I miss the signal and suddenly we are just trotting. So that’s the next thing to work on, I guess.
Meanwhile yesterday was hot and muggy, with a gorgeous skyscape of towering clouds with sun-silvered edges. To combat my heat intolerance I have learned to douse myself with water before riding. That works well but results in my becoming very, very grubby while doing horse care. Champagne is looking glossy and elegant; I am looking like one of those third-world people who picks through trash for a living. Luckily Champagne doesn’t care as long as my pocket smells like carrots.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Trail tale
Four of us from the barn went on a nice long trail ride Sunday. It actually wasn’t raining, just overcast, cool and damp. Not buggy, oddly.
One reason I like this new barn so much is that there are lots of people around, and many of them want to “hack out” as some of my English contacts on http://www.trotontv.com say. So anyway, four of us, with big Friesian Thor in the lead, followed by Shea, a black appendix quarter horse, then Rocky, a roan quarter horse, and then Champagne. Mary, Thor’s mom, knows the park well, and led us to an area I’d never explored that’s across a street. It winds through a Christmas tree farm, and is fairly hilly.
Cath had said to try to ride on the buckle to see if Champagne would walk faster and keep up with the group. We’ve been practicing trotting on loose reins, and he sometimes puts his nose really close to the ground and gives a big trot. What I realized is that I have been keeping fairly short reins on the trail, partly because he has spooked from time to time from sudden bursts of rabbits or turkey poults scuttling out unexpectedly, and partly because of his habit of grabbing mouthfuls of leaves.
So I tried riding not exactly on the buckle, but with a much longer rein than usual, and at first he did keep up with the group. (You’d think he would want to!) As he got more tired, though, he began to lag again. Then we would have to trot to catch up every time the trail was root and rock-free enough to make speed safe.
I think I have pretty much convinced him that snacking as we go is not worth it, so the looser rein worked in that regard. His only real issue was when we passed a pen with both a GOAT and a DONKEY in it. Snort snort. Stepping sideways. Bounce bounce. It was (oh my) a ferocious goat. Might have eaten us up whole.
We went down some pretty steep rocky hills, and Champagne was careful and surefooted, though I notice the shod horses’ feet had some slips and slides. All that up-and-down is good to build the muscles in his back and rump, plus it is more fun than going around and around in the ring. We trotted up some pretty steep hills, and that was good for him as well. He sometimes wanted to trot downhill as well, but mostly that didn’t feel safe because there were too many rocks.
We were out about two hours, and today I feel fine. We’ll see how Champagne feels when I ride this evening (thunderstorms predicted). I wouldn’t be surprised if he felt a bit stiff. After all, he was the one doing all the work yesterday!
One reason I like this new barn so much is that there are lots of people around, and many of them want to “hack out” as some of my English contacts on http://www.trotontv.com say. So anyway, four of us, with big Friesian Thor in the lead, followed by Shea, a black appendix quarter horse, then Rocky, a roan quarter horse, and then Champagne. Mary, Thor’s mom, knows the park well, and led us to an area I’d never explored that’s across a street. It winds through a Christmas tree farm, and is fairly hilly.
Cath had said to try to ride on the buckle to see if Champagne would walk faster and keep up with the group. We’ve been practicing trotting on loose reins, and he sometimes puts his nose really close to the ground and gives a big trot. What I realized is that I have been keeping fairly short reins on the trail, partly because he has spooked from time to time from sudden bursts of rabbits or turkey poults scuttling out unexpectedly, and partly because of his habit of grabbing mouthfuls of leaves.
So I tried riding not exactly on the buckle, but with a much longer rein than usual, and at first he did keep up with the group. (You’d think he would want to!) As he got more tired, though, he began to lag again. Then we would have to trot to catch up every time the trail was root and rock-free enough to make speed safe.
I think I have pretty much convinced him that snacking as we go is not worth it, so the looser rein worked in that regard. His only real issue was when we passed a pen with both a GOAT and a DONKEY in it. Snort snort. Stepping sideways. Bounce bounce. It was (oh my) a ferocious goat. Might have eaten us up whole.
We went down some pretty steep rocky hills, and Champagne was careful and surefooted, though I notice the shod horses’ feet had some slips and slides. All that up-and-down is good to build the muscles in his back and rump, plus it is more fun than going around and around in the ring. We trotted up some pretty steep hills, and that was good for him as well. He sometimes wanted to trot downhill as well, but mostly that didn’t feel safe because there were too many rocks.
We were out about two hours, and today I feel fine. We’ll see how Champagne feels when I ride this evening (thunderstorms predicted). I wouldn’t be surprised if he felt a bit stiff. After all, he was the one doing all the work yesterday!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Lessony snicket
Ken and I had a great lesson last night. It works out very well when the timing is right. We’ve switched to Wednesday evening lessons so I can have both weekend days free to trail ride. When Ken can get to the barn by 6:00, he rides first for half an hour, and by the time I ride Champagne is all warmed up and moving nicely.
Ken is coming along very well. He has pretty much mastered the rising trot, and is beginning to work on his half seat. He is a fairly decent skier and I find that riding the half seat is a lot like skiing: you take the bouncing terrain using your ankle, knees and hips as shock absorbers while your upper body stays pretty quiet. Half seat is strenuous, but it is a lot of fun. Of course it would be easier on a forward seat saddle, but we can both manage in my dressage saddle.
He also wants to begin to canter so that when we have our dude ranch vacation this fall he’ll be able to join the canter rides. I think it is a bit early for him to do this, and in fact he nearly came off last night while Champagne cantered on the lunge line. I think he pulled a groin muscle and felt a sharp pain. He will have to work hard on softening in order to sit a canter.
When I mounted, Champagne was quite ready to walk forward with energy, and we trotted almost right away because he was warm. Lately we’ve been working on transitions. In this case, transitions between a big, energetic trot, and a teeny jog-trot. Last night Cath was teaching me to ask for the small trot by changing my posting . . . rhythm? Stiffness? . . . something to do with my seat that Champagne is supposed to learn to read and respond to. Since I’m not clear about what it is, it isn’t surprising that it didn’t go that well.
We also did a lot of work trotting on the buckle. Champagne puts his nose almost to the ground and gives a big swinging trot that is sooooo fun to ride. I just sit there (well, post) and I could hold both arms out like wings, flying through the air. I just hold the buckle enough to keep the reins from slipping down his neck. When he does that his back rises up under me, and it is a whole other feeling from the hammocky shape I’m used to.
Then we cantered, going for a huge canter down the long side. That was probably the fastest I’ve ever ridden him, not asking for collection, just asking for speed. Oh my, that’s fun too, but I still find that my feet slip forward in the stirrups. My heels don’t stay reliably down at that pace even though I’m doing better on that in the other gaits. Plus I have to learn to keep my hands really quiet when asking for the canter. Cath says the half-halt can be as subtle as just closing my hand on the outside rein.
I am well pleased with my shiny, shed-out, energetic horse.
Ken is coming along very well. He has pretty much mastered the rising trot, and is beginning to work on his half seat. He is a fairly decent skier and I find that riding the half seat is a lot like skiing: you take the bouncing terrain using your ankle, knees and hips as shock absorbers while your upper body stays pretty quiet. Half seat is strenuous, but it is a lot of fun. Of course it would be easier on a forward seat saddle, but we can both manage in my dressage saddle.
He also wants to begin to canter so that when we have our dude ranch vacation this fall he’ll be able to join the canter rides. I think it is a bit early for him to do this, and in fact he nearly came off last night while Champagne cantered on the lunge line. I think he pulled a groin muscle and felt a sharp pain. He will have to work hard on softening in order to sit a canter.
When I mounted, Champagne was quite ready to walk forward with energy, and we trotted almost right away because he was warm. Lately we’ve been working on transitions. In this case, transitions between a big, energetic trot, and a teeny jog-trot. Last night Cath was teaching me to ask for the small trot by changing my posting . . . rhythm? Stiffness? . . . something to do with my seat that Champagne is supposed to learn to read and respond to. Since I’m not clear about what it is, it isn’t surprising that it didn’t go that well.
We also did a lot of work trotting on the buckle. Champagne puts his nose almost to the ground and gives a big swinging trot that is sooooo fun to ride. I just sit there (well, post) and I could hold both arms out like wings, flying through the air. I just hold the buckle enough to keep the reins from slipping down his neck. When he does that his back rises up under me, and it is a whole other feeling from the hammocky shape I’m used to.
Then we cantered, going for a huge canter down the long side. That was probably the fastest I’ve ever ridden him, not asking for collection, just asking for speed. Oh my, that’s fun too, but I still find that my feet slip forward in the stirrups. My heels don’t stay reliably down at that pace even though I’m doing better on that in the other gaits. Plus I have to learn to keep my hands really quiet when asking for the canter. Cath says the half-halt can be as subtle as just closing my hand on the outside rein.
I am well pleased with my shiny, shed-out, energetic horse.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Changes in attitude
Well, sort of. Today is: cold and rainy. The temperature has been hovering in the 60s for a couple of weeks . . . low 60s at night, and up a couple of degrees during the day. But they are promising a change starting tomorrow. It will become hot and rainy. Variety is always good.
I rode in the indoor last night. Even though the outdoor is surfaced with sand it is a soggy mess right now, and besides it was spitting rain. I had planned to lunge Champagne to wake him up, but I didn’t have much energy and I was a bit nervous about breaking yet another finger (or the same one again, even worse) so I just saddled up.
Champagne was being his usual lethargic self. I’d prompt for energy, and then remind him to keep his back up and his neck arched, but as soon as he did that he’d slow down and get all limp again. He pretended he couldn’t even leg yield at the trot, and was doing the old “slow way down at the corners so she won’t ask for a canter” thing. I was getting pretty gloomy myself. Riding a dopey horse is a lot of work.
Finally I gave him a good honking crack with the crop on his side behind my leg. I know he felt it because he did kick out behind. But suddenly he was quite willing, much more on the bit, nice walking energy, pretty brisk trot, and canter either way I wanted. Now I know he was just gaming me with all that slow stuff. Sheesh. Out-gamed by a horse.
We ended the ride with some trotting on completely loose reins. He stretched his neck out so far his nose was six inches from the ground, his back came up, and it was kind of fun. These days I’m ending my rides by giving him the buckle but still asking for energy, and trying to steer, speed up, slow down, and stop just using my seat and legs. That’s good for both of us.
So my mood is considerably improved despite the atmospheric conditions. And I am so happy to have the indoor. If Champagne still lived at Anne’s I would not have been able to ride for most of June.
I rode in the indoor last night. Even though the outdoor is surfaced with sand it is a soggy mess right now, and besides it was spitting rain. I had planned to lunge Champagne to wake him up, but I didn’t have much energy and I was a bit nervous about breaking yet another finger (or the same one again, even worse) so I just saddled up.
Champagne was being his usual lethargic self. I’d prompt for energy, and then remind him to keep his back up and his neck arched, but as soon as he did that he’d slow down and get all limp again. He pretended he couldn’t even leg yield at the trot, and was doing the old “slow way down at the corners so she won’t ask for a canter” thing. I was getting pretty gloomy myself. Riding a dopey horse is a lot of work.
Finally I gave him a good honking crack with the crop on his side behind my leg. I know he felt it because he did kick out behind. But suddenly he was quite willing, much more on the bit, nice walking energy, pretty brisk trot, and canter either way I wanted. Now I know he was just gaming me with all that slow stuff. Sheesh. Out-gamed by a horse.
We ended the ride with some trotting on completely loose reins. He stretched his neck out so far his nose was six inches from the ground, his back came up, and it was kind of fun. These days I’m ending my rides by giving him the buckle but still asking for energy, and trying to steer, speed up, slow down, and stop just using my seat and legs. That’s good for both of us.
So my mood is considerably improved despite the atmospheric conditions. And I am so happy to have the indoor. If Champagne still lived at Anne’s I would not have been able to ride for most of June.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Gloom-grrrr-gloom
The weather is pretty dim. Grim. Dim. Yesterday we actually had a Nor’easter, usually a winter weather pattern here. Not as much rain as usual for that kind of storm, but plenty of wind. My tomato plants blew over. Of course.
We are currently having the second most overcast June in the history of record keeping, and it is getting to everyone. The lawns are green as the sod of Ireland, and I expect a core sample of trees would show a nice wide growth ring for this year. But I still haven’t turned the heat off in our back room for the season, and the space heater under my desk at work has been in use daily. Last night we even used the electric blanket to take some of the dankness out of the bed. I feel as if the mold is growing mold.
To boot, Champagne and I are back to the canter issue again. When I rode Sunday (in the indoor) he only very grudgingly gave me a canter, and kept dropping out of it before being asked to. He has actually learned that I’ll ask for the canter as we enter the turn going into corner to help him pick up the correct lead, and he slows down his trot a few paces before the corner as if to say, “I’m not trotting fast enough to pick up a canter, so don’t ask.” Tonight I plan to lunge him with side reins to get him nice and loosened up before I ride, hoping that will boost his energy. I know I can get a canter on the lunge line. I just hope he doesn’t break my finger again by bolting. (That’s why I’m using the side reins, for that added bit of control. Plus I have seen Cath string the line through the bit on the near side, over the head behind the ears, and clipped to the bit on the other side, which she says gives more control, so I’ll try that too.)
What with the weather, I haven’t flown, either. Both recent lessons were canceled. Now I’m all tense about that again, too. For a cynical pessimist I usually have a quite cheery, involved take on life. But now my inner curmudgeon is showing through.
We are currently having the second most overcast June in the history of record keeping, and it is getting to everyone. The lawns are green as the sod of Ireland, and I expect a core sample of trees would show a nice wide growth ring for this year. But I still haven’t turned the heat off in our back room for the season, and the space heater under my desk at work has been in use daily. Last night we even used the electric blanket to take some of the dankness out of the bed. I feel as if the mold is growing mold.
To boot, Champagne and I are back to the canter issue again. When I rode Sunday (in the indoor) he only very grudgingly gave me a canter, and kept dropping out of it before being asked to. He has actually learned that I’ll ask for the canter as we enter the turn going into corner to help him pick up the correct lead, and he slows down his trot a few paces before the corner as if to say, “I’m not trotting fast enough to pick up a canter, so don’t ask.” Tonight I plan to lunge him with side reins to get him nice and loosened up before I ride, hoping that will boost his energy. I know I can get a canter on the lunge line. I just hope he doesn’t break my finger again by bolting. (That’s why I’m using the side reins, for that added bit of control. Plus I have seen Cath string the line through the bit on the near side, over the head behind the ears, and clipped to the bit on the other side, which she says gives more control, so I’ll try that too.)
What with the weather, I haven’t flown, either. Both recent lessons were canceled. Now I’m all tense about that again, too. For a cynical pessimist I usually have a quite cheery, involved take on life. But now my inner curmudgeon is showing through.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Bling
Anyone who knows me knows I’m all about the bling. Ever since I was a little girl I was into personal adornment. I used to wear three belts at once: one to hold my pants up, one to hold my gun and holster, and one for good luck. That one was brown leather with colored sparkly stones attached. (The rest of the outfit included: jeans, red faux cowboy boots, a bandanna, red cowboy hat, and a flannel shirt. My Mom finally stopped me wearing it in July during a 90 plus degree day. I claimed it made me feel cooler; she claimed I would die of heat stroke.)
To school I’d wear crystal necklaces all a-glitter from my Grammy’s jewel box, or flashy scatter pins. I remember one dress in particular that Grammy made me that was turquoise in color with a pattern of bumblebees. She bought two bumblebee pins with amber-colored stones to wear with it. I felt like the Queen Bee.
Unfortunately, horses and bling don’t go well together. Horses are just such grubby creatures: rolling, as they do, in the dirt; eating, as they do, off the ground; and pooping, as they do, where they are most likely to step in it. I have a very nice T-shirt with the American flag picked out in crystals on the front, but I wore it one Memorial Day for a ride and of course it got permanently stained. I can still wear it for riding, but not out in polite company.
But now I have found a perfect way to include bling in my equine world. I’ve sent for one of those tasseled crocheted fly things that fit over the ears and forehead of a horse. Champagne loves them; he puts his head way down so I can easily slip it on. The new one will be black in honor of his coloring.
I went bead shopping Monday, and I have a plan to attach beads and bells between each tassel. The bells are little gold jingle bells. I rattled them to be sure that they had a tiny little sound so as not to drive both of us crazy. The rest of the beads are black and/or gold. I also got a slightly larger jet pendant for the middle of his forehead. I’ll string them on flexible beading wire to be durable.
I expect Champagne will have an Arabian harem look with bling on his brow. Photos will be supplied when the project is complete.
To school I’d wear crystal necklaces all a-glitter from my Grammy’s jewel box, or flashy scatter pins. I remember one dress in particular that Grammy made me that was turquoise in color with a pattern of bumblebees. She bought two bumblebee pins with amber-colored stones to wear with it. I felt like the Queen Bee.
Unfortunately, horses and bling don’t go well together. Horses are just such grubby creatures: rolling, as they do, in the dirt; eating, as they do, off the ground; and pooping, as they do, where they are most likely to step in it. I have a very nice T-shirt with the American flag picked out in crystals on the front, but I wore it one Memorial Day for a ride and of course it got permanently stained. I can still wear it for riding, but not out in polite company.
But now I have found a perfect way to include bling in my equine world. I’ve sent for one of those tasseled crocheted fly things that fit over the ears and forehead of a horse. Champagne loves them; he puts his head way down so I can easily slip it on. The new one will be black in honor of his coloring.
I went bead shopping Monday, and I have a plan to attach beads and bells between each tassel. The bells are little gold jingle bells. I rattled them to be sure that they had a tiny little sound so as not to drive both of us crazy. The rest of the beads are black and/or gold. I also got a slightly larger jet pendant for the middle of his forehead. I’ll string them on flexible beading wire to be durable.
I expect Champagne will have an Arabian harem look with bling on his brow. Photos will be supplied when the project is complete.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Breathing deeply
Yesterday started off like all the days lately: cold foggy drizzle. This spell of weather has really weighed on me, like a scuba weight belt dragging down all my buoyancy. But by afternoon the sky was blue and the sun was out (What is that bright thing up there?) and there was a fresh, cool breeze blowing.
I had a very nice ride. Champagne is finally completely shed out and sleek and shiny. His lip sarcoid seems to have been completely defeated by the chemotherapy cream, and you can’t even see where it was any more. He seems to be accustomed to his new hoof trim, and willing to walk, trot and canter with a bit of energy. Well, if I insist.
He is bird-proof. Sparrows, starlings, barn swallows swooping around, not even a consideration. I think living with chickens helped him in that regard. He is also pretty dog-proof. Yesterday someone’s very energetic German Shepherd puppy came barreling up to him, and no spook. I guess in earlier days he actually charged the dogs at his former barn, but having lived with the four of them for years, he disregards dogs now.
Yesterday I had Champagne stopped by the mirror in the outdoor so I could tend to the vine. It is all in flower, with orange tubular blossoms that shade to yellow at their throat. It is an enthusiastic climber, and I was reaching up to bend some of the tendrils back because they are encroaching on the track at head level when I startled a hummingbird which had come to sample the nectar. That startled me, but not Champagne. Maybe he is just in a phlegmatic mood.
Anyway, the glory of the sun, the cool fresh breeze, the rain water spangling everything, and my good boy all pretty and shiny reminded me how lifting riding can be.
I had a very nice ride. Champagne is finally completely shed out and sleek and shiny. His lip sarcoid seems to have been completely defeated by the chemotherapy cream, and you can’t even see where it was any more. He seems to be accustomed to his new hoof trim, and willing to walk, trot and canter with a bit of energy. Well, if I insist.
He is bird-proof. Sparrows, starlings, barn swallows swooping around, not even a consideration. I think living with chickens helped him in that regard. He is also pretty dog-proof. Yesterday someone’s very energetic German Shepherd puppy came barreling up to him, and no spook. I guess in earlier days he actually charged the dogs at his former barn, but having lived with the four of them for years, he disregards dogs now.
Yesterday I had Champagne stopped by the mirror in the outdoor so I could tend to the vine. It is all in flower, with orange tubular blossoms that shade to yellow at their throat. It is an enthusiastic climber, and I was reaching up to bend some of the tendrils back because they are encroaching on the track at head level when I startled a hummingbird which had come to sample the nectar. That startled me, but not Champagne. Maybe he is just in a phlegmatic mood.
Anyway, the glory of the sun, the cool fresh breeze, the rain water spangling everything, and my good boy all pretty and shiny reminded me how lifting riding can be.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
He's baaack . . .
My good responsive, energetic horse is back.
It is now one week after his hoof trimming, and he seems to have adjusted; no more Mr. Tenderfoot. Last night’s ride was full of very nice energetic walking, and lovely trot transitions. Willing to back up, very nice turns on the forehand, and medium good leg yields. Plus we worked on softening in the poll, and he is doing well.
We did canter, although there was less willingness to make a canter transition and less willingness to keep cantering, but I think I know how to fix that on tonight’s ride. He hadn’t cantered for a whole week, so naturally we are set back. Still, a big improvement.
Plus, he is so very cute. For a non-personcentric horse, he can be very engaging. He no longer roughly butts me with his head, but he has taken to giving a little bump with his nose which I find quite cute. He also understands when he will get a carrot chunk, so he is definitely looking for one at those times, like after he has stood still for me to dismount. He’s polite, but looks quite charming as he cranes his neck to look at my pocket.
A schooling ride this evening will be followed (I really hope . . . weather, weather) by two glorious days of trail rides. Couldn’t be a nicer prospect.
It is now one week after his hoof trimming, and he seems to have adjusted; no more Mr. Tenderfoot. Last night’s ride was full of very nice energetic walking, and lovely trot transitions. Willing to back up, very nice turns on the forehand, and medium good leg yields. Plus we worked on softening in the poll, and he is doing well.
We did canter, although there was less willingness to make a canter transition and less willingness to keep cantering, but I think I know how to fix that on tonight’s ride. He hadn’t cantered for a whole week, so naturally we are set back. Still, a big improvement.
Plus, he is so very cute. For a non-personcentric horse, he can be very engaging. He no longer roughly butts me with his head, but he has taken to giving a little bump with his nose which I find quite cute. He also understands when he will get a carrot chunk, so he is definitely looking for one at those times, like after he has stood still for me to dismount. He’s polite, but looks quite charming as he cranes his neck to look at my pocket.
A schooling ride this evening will be followed (I really hope . . . weather, weather) by two glorious days of trail rides. Couldn’t be a nicer prospect.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Horse of lead
All the images that express the delight of riding depict lightness, wind, wings, uplift, the universal sense of flying that harmonious riding brings.
Well, yesterday my ride was the complete opposite. Champagne felt as if he were wearing ankle weights.
Usually when I am leading him he is barging ahead, looking around, trying to influence where we will go, and it is sometimes not even clear who is leading whom. But yesterday he lagged, and I felt as if I had to pull him along.
When I got on, instead of the new swinging walk he has developed, we plodded like an old draft horse. I doubted that I’d get a trot. Eventually I did get one, but such a small one that I didn’t even bother to post, and he stopped at the least suggestion that I was asking for a halt.
I tried backing up, something that has become pretty much free, easy, and second nature, and he did back a few steps, but then just stood there stolidly like a lump (this was an issue a year ago but we had licked in back in December!)
And there was no canter in him at all. Just none.
So I am thinking that he may have sore legs from his hoof trim. His feet weren’t hot on the bottom, and looked quite nice, but the farrier did lower his heels a bit. I imagine that all the tendons in the backs of his legs may be sore and stiff from this new angle. It would be like someone who wears 4” Jimmy Choos all the time suddenly putting on running shoes. It would be normal to expect some stiffness in adapting.
Champagne’s legs aren’t hot, and I’m really hoping that he’ll spring back to normal in a few days. I’m hoping I didn’t make a mistake in allowing this new hoof trim. I won’t be riding today, but plan a trail ride for Saturday, and I’ll see how he is then. In the meantime my Pegasus seems to have become a sinker.
Well, yesterday my ride was the complete opposite. Champagne felt as if he were wearing ankle weights.
Usually when I am leading him he is barging ahead, looking around, trying to influence where we will go, and it is sometimes not even clear who is leading whom. But yesterday he lagged, and I felt as if I had to pull him along.
When I got on, instead of the new swinging walk he has developed, we plodded like an old draft horse. I doubted that I’d get a trot. Eventually I did get one, but such a small one that I didn’t even bother to post, and he stopped at the least suggestion that I was asking for a halt.
I tried backing up, something that has become pretty much free, easy, and second nature, and he did back a few steps, but then just stood there stolidly like a lump (this was an issue a year ago but we had licked in back in December!)
And there was no canter in him at all. Just none.
So I am thinking that he may have sore legs from his hoof trim. His feet weren’t hot on the bottom, and looked quite nice, but the farrier did lower his heels a bit. I imagine that all the tendons in the backs of his legs may be sore and stiff from this new angle. It would be like someone who wears 4” Jimmy Choos all the time suddenly putting on running shoes. It would be normal to expect some stiffness in adapting.
Champagne’s legs aren’t hot, and I’m really hoping that he’ll spring back to normal in a few days. I’m hoping I didn’t make a mistake in allowing this new hoof trim. I won’t be riding today, but plan a trail ride for Saturday, and I’ll see how he is then. In the meantime my Pegasus seems to have become a sinker.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Hooves
Champagne has a new farrier. She saw him for the first time today, and I learned a lot about hooves.
Champagne has been barefoot for several years, so his hoof walls are nice and thick, but she noticed some things she wants to change.
She said his gait is a little uneven (which I certainly have noticed riding him) and that he is high on the right side. That makes sense: he always wants to bend toward the right even when going straight, and has had a hard time picking up a canter left, probably due to the same thing. She thinks she can even him out a bit with his hooves.
Also, she said his heels are too high. (I picture him clomping about in stilettos, but maybe not . . .) She explained that because his heels are so high, he is landing too flat on his feet, which makes it hard for him to get any extension in his gait. As his hooves grow out and get trimmed again, she said the “bars” of the hoof will become more prominent, enabling him to stop better, and the lower heel will let him step out further. This would be a big help as I work on his impulsion.
She saw no sign of thrush, but a little separation of one of the hoof walls, which she said was due to his heel issue, putting more stress on the front. She trimmed most of the separation away, but I need to be careful to pick it out until his next trim.
I felt as if she really understood Champagne’s body mechanics, and I think the change to this farrier will be a good one.
Champagne has been barefoot for several years, so his hoof walls are nice and thick, but she noticed some things she wants to change.
She said his gait is a little uneven (which I certainly have noticed riding him) and that he is high on the right side. That makes sense: he always wants to bend toward the right even when going straight, and has had a hard time picking up a canter left, probably due to the same thing. She thinks she can even him out a bit with his hooves.
Also, she said his heels are too high. (I picture him clomping about in stilettos, but maybe not . . .) She explained that because his heels are so high, he is landing too flat on his feet, which makes it hard for him to get any extension in his gait. As his hooves grow out and get trimmed again, she said the “bars” of the hoof will become more prominent, enabling him to stop better, and the lower heel will let him step out further. This would be a big help as I work on his impulsion.
She saw no sign of thrush, but a little separation of one of the hoof walls, which she said was due to his heel issue, putting more stress on the front. She trimmed most of the separation away, but I need to be careful to pick it out until his next trim.
I felt as if she really understood Champagne’s body mechanics, and I think the change to this farrier will be a good one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
