Making progress!

Although I have to admit this summer is not going as I planned, I'm staying optimistic.  Copper isn't limping anymore, and I'm looking forward to starting her on light work to get her ready for lessons.  I don't know when that will be, but as long as she's okay, I'll be okay.  Phoenix has had his back adjusted and I'm figuring out what kind of saddle he needs.  This has been soooo educational!  I feel pretty sorry for him that it's taken me this long to figure it out, but luckily for me he's pretty forgiving.

I'm currently trying out a Western Rawhide Barrel Racing saddle.  It's kind of funny, because Phoenix is not naturally a speed horse!  However, there's a good chance he'd move better if he's comfortable!  I really like this saddle.  It's lightweight, nice looking, and fits him the best of the seven saddles I've tried out so far!!  He is moving so much more nicely with it.  On our last right I had him loping off from a standstill, on both leads, which he hasn't done in… well, I can't remember if I've ever been able to get him to lope from a halt on the left lead.  So there's definitely an improvement!! There's still a problem though.  After a half hour of riding, the saddle has slipped back about a hand-width from where it was when I cinched him up.  I'm not sure if it's settling into where it should be, because it doesn't feel right from where I'm sitting, and it doesn't look right either.  But then, at this point, I'm doubting everything!  My next step is to try different saddle pads and cinches, because those things all can make a difference too.  I figured out years ago that he's got a short back compared to the rest of his proportions. Phoenix is a very unique shape!

I'm grateful to all the help I'm getting from Dennis Ropp at Sprucewood Tack Shop.  He's been here to check the fit and give advice and it's been valuable, especially with them being just down the road from me.


As a result of being sore, he's developed some cranky habits while being ridden.  Right now I'm sorting out what's actual discomfort and what's attitude.  I can tell he's slowly dropping his sourness as he figures out that he's not hurting.  Horses are creatures of habit and if they get used to pain, they react, they expect to feel pain, and that reaction becomes behaviour.  Luckily for us, that can be reversed if we can prove to them that they're ok!

So there hasn't been much action out here, and yes that is worrisome when I've got bills to pay and less income!!  But I thank you all for your patience!

I didn't think I needed  so much time off this summer, but apparently my horses decided otherwise.

I hope to be getting back to lessons next week (august 18th) and have a few booked.  Remember, if you need a horse fix, just give me a call and see if I'm home.  The horses and I would always like to see you!

UPDATES: Saddle fitting, and how Copper is doing

Good news first - The vet has given the go ahead for Copper to start ground work, and light riding next week, or when I feel she's ready.  The swelling in her leg has completely cleared up and she's walking normally.  There is still a lump in the front of her cannon bone but there's a chance that might not go away.  As much as I dislike seeing a blemish like that, if it doesn't affect her soundness, I consider myself lucky.  I'll be keeping a close eye on her to see how she's progressing for the next few weeks.  She won't be up for any hard work for at least a few more weeks and possibly for the rest of the summer, but at least she can do a few beginner walk lessons and participate in Farm Days.

She has handled all of this beautifully.  I had to hose her leg with cold water for 20 minutes, twice a day, for a week and a half.  Can you imagine standing there that long with cold water blasting at your legs?  And then she had to stand there a little longer for me to wrap her leg.  And for four days I was shooting medicine into her mouth.  She's been so patient.  Of course, being Copper, I can tell she's eager to get out there and do stuff instead of standing tied in the shed watching Phoenix have all the work fun!

And in other news - Our appointment with Todd Bailey was very interesting and educational!  I have to admit, my head was very full after an hour and a half of learning more about how the shape of a saddle works with the shape of a horse.

The results are that two of my saddles do not fit either of my stocky little horses.  So, if you're thinking of buying a saddle for a slim horse with narrow withers, give me a call!

Copper was a little easier to fit, with her classic stock horse shape.  So she's good to go.  I understand better now which ones fit best and what kind of saddle pad will keep her more comfortable.  All of my suspicions were correct.  I might get an eye for this after all...

I knew that Phoenix was not comfortable.  You learn to recognize the signs, and after seven years with this horse, I know when he's not happy.  I also know that he is very wide in the shoulders, and his saddle usually moves around a lot, no matter how hard I cinch it down.  Can't be good, right?  Well as it turns out, he needs an extra wide saddle. Mr Bailey even suggested that I look into draft saddles.   Out of the eight we tried on both horses, only one fit him decently.  And here's the bad news: that saddle, known as "Oak Leaf," which has been in my life for well over thirty years, is broken!!  At least I can measure it up and use what I've learned to find something to replace it.  The only other saddle that fit him decently, "Bloomington" has a few problems too though.  The rigging, (cinch attachment) isn't quite in the right place for him, which puts too much pressure on his back once it's cinched down and carrying a rider.


So basically, I'm making do with that one until I can save up to buy something else for him.   In the meantime, he continues to do his job because he's such a good horse. He totally deserves to be comfortable.

Next - I'll tell you how my summer is going and who's been out to ride!

SADDLE FITTING DAY

Here's an opportunity to learn from a professional about correctly fitting a saddle to a horse:

Monday July 14

11:00 am

Here at my place


TODD BAILEY

from Bailey Saddlery in Ridgetown Ontario 



Since my knowledge of saddle fit is far from expert, and I have a horse with a sensitive back, I'm really looking forward to this.  My horses carry around a lot of different riders and therefore different saddles, and I want to do all I can to keep them comfortable.

Would you like to join us that day?  The cost will be the regular group rate of $30 which will go directly to Todd Bailey.  I expect it will take about an hour and a half.  You can let me know any time.

Copper needs time off again

Sadly, Copper will not be in lessons for the next month or so.  She has injured her hind leg.  The vet has advised a treatment routine involving as much rest as possible, cold hosing twice daily, and bandaging.  Basically we're trying to get it healed and avoid scar tissue, which would probably limit her mobility.  She's not limping and seems fine otherwise, so that's good at least.  I'd like to be optimistic that she'll be able to do a few walk-only lessons in a couple weeks, but realistically, it's best not to push my luck.  We want her to heal up nicely!

This little horse has been through so much, but she always bounces back!

So as for lessons…

This week we'll be getting creative.  Phoenix will take as many lessons as he can, and anybody with a semiprivate lesson can choose to keep the date and we'll do some mounted/ unmounted games.  I'm in the process of looking for a horse to lease for the summer.  Even when Copper has the go-ahead I won't be pushing her hard physically, so this might be time for me to bring in a third horse.  I'll keep you updated.

Who's ready to ride?

Oh my gosh, it's the middle of June and I'm finally convinced that winter is over and we can get on with it!  The horses are sleek and muscular and, considering how the pasture grew with all the rain last month, getting quite fat as well!  The barn isn't as clean and tidy as I like to have it, and I'm still wrestling with what's left of the manure pile, but otherwise the place is looking pretty okay.

It was not easy getting back to work after taking five months off.  Copper especially had a hard time adjusting.  Well, I did too, to be honest!  But now I'm getting two or three rides a week and it's going well.  I'm so thankful to Phoenix for being such an easy-going horse!

My lesson schedule isn't quite back up to where it was a year ago at this time, but I've got enough riders to keep me busy (and still get enough rest!)  Those of you who've claimed a regular time slot can keep that time as long as you wish, and anybody else can contact me anytime to see when I've got lessons available.  Short notice is fine; if I can get you in, I will!

In the last couple weeks, Phoenix and Copper have both gotten hoof trims, a dose of dewormer, and chiropractic adjustments!  Next up, a checkup with the vet.  Horse care is pricey but these two work for a living and I figure they deserve and need good care.

PLANS IN THE WORKS:

- Anybody up for a tack cleaning day?  I'm thinking of two separate Saturday mornings.  Let me know if you're willing to lend a hand!  I will keep you updated.


- It's almost Farm Day season… got a sibling or friend you'd like to bring out for a day?


- I'll be hiring a saddle fitter to come out sometime in July.  I'm really excited about this, since my knowledge of how saddles fit horses is very basic, and I suspect my horses could feel a lot better and perform better if I always saddled them up in something comfortable.  And of course, anything I learn will benefit my students.


- Stratford District Saddle Club shows this summer are taking place June 22, July 6, July 20, August 3. I won't be taking horses there (that would require a trailer, a truck that doesn't have anything wrong with it, and me to be less lazy!) but if you drop by there's a chance you could catch me there helping out and visiting my horse friends.  I used to show here and love this club.  Check out their website for more information!


- The New Hamburg Fall Fair held a Western show in 2013, for the first time in about fifteen years.  I volunteered to help plan and act as ring steward on show day.  It was such a good experience I'm back for more in 2014.  More details will follow (and if you live near NH the fair booklets will be available soon.)


Other than that, I will actually be working on that trailer situation soon, when I borrow a nice stock trailer for a day and practice loading.  Copper hasn't been on a trailer in probably ten years, and Phoenix hasn't left the farm since he got here seven years ago.  It'll be a challenge, but even if we don't end up going anywhere, it's a skill I believe a good horse should have.  Wish us luck!


And finally, somebody around here will figure out why my gadget-phone-camera and my computer aren't agreeing on the subject of putting pictures from one to the other, and when that gets figured out, I'll be back to posting pretty pictures here for your enjoyment.

Alright.  I'm going to go sit on a horse for a few minutes...

Spring 2014 - Off to a slow start.

The good news first:

All of the snow has melted, the corral is drying up, the grass is starting to turn green, and the horses are getting to the end of the shedding phase.

And now the not so great news:

The corral is still in need of a tractor and bucket to clear out the manure, there's even more yard work than usual after this harsh winter, and the horses are acting a little silly (as they usually do this time of year). And of course, they're still shedding, which means horse hair everywhere!

The biggest difficulty this year, however, is with me.  I've been really struggling to stay healthy for the last few months.  I blamed that harsh winter for wearing me out, but I'm having a hard time shaking it, and feel like I'm constantly fighting off a bug of some kind.  I can get the barn chores done, and I've been able to pull it together for the two - three lessons a week that I've been doing, but I feel pretty worn out on a regular basis.  As a result, I haven't been getting any rides on my horses, which is a problem because that's a very important part of my work.  I need to spend that time with them to work out any lazy or bad habits they might have picked up, see how they're doing in general, and get them physically conditioned for the upcoming season. We are very far behind, unfortunately.

I know a lot of you are wanting to get back in the saddle.  I expected to be totally ready to get back at it by now.  I apologize for the delay, and I ask that you please bear with me as I sort everything out.  I haven't forgotten about you!!!

I'm trying to gradually fill out my schedule in a way that won't tire me out, or ask too much of Copper and Phoenix, since they've spent a long time off as well.

All of you riders are valuable to me.  I am looking forward to a productive and fun-filled summer riding season.  It will happen.

Please feel free to contact me, about lessons or even just to say hello!

I'm still here!

I've been starting to hear from riders who are getting ready to saddle up again.  It's taking a very long time to recover from winter this year, and as much as I'd like to get riding, it'll be a few more weeks before we're back in business.

There's a lot of work to do yet to get the corral cleaned up, specifically the manure pile, which normally would have been on the other side of the fence.  Once that's done, the yard will dry up better.

I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle too!  The horses are handling this with a pretty good amount of patience.  Imagine that - they might be better at being patient than we are.

There will be updates as to what my schedule will look like.  Stay tuned, and we'll be riding soon!