Winter Music

  Ooof... I think I'm hormonal! I was extra sad about Flecky today. And... spiraling about the horses. I'm trying not to, but... I am. She didn't run from me when I caught her, even after I had to throw the halter at Dan because he was being an ass about the cookies. But then on the whole trailer ride to Ashland she  I rode Funny this morning and then when I got home, Mike was about to take a nap so I took the opportunity to turn back around and go back to Ashland with Lyric. I really wanted to ride her but felt like a nice hack was our best choice since we lunged yesterday and I didn't want to push her. So that's what I did.  She didn't run from me when I caught her, even after I had to throw the halter at Dan because he was being an ass about the cookies. But then on the whole trailer ride to Ashland she was biting at the chest bar and then licking and chewing. Sigh.. I don't know what that means?? It looks like a self mutilation thing...maybe it's cri...

  At least on the lunge... on previcox.  Today I finally had time to get Lyric lunged. We hiked up to the arena and I noticed that she was forging hard core walking. And I think mostly only one foot, but I didn't think to look and figure out which foot. Doh! So, we got to the arena, which was emptied (thanks Anderson and Jean's other intern!) and did a lap or two of pillar work. Then we did some leg yields in hand. Then I put her on the circle and lunged her. She was a bit of a slowpoke.  She wants to just putz around like a western pleasure horse. I was able to encourage her to move out a little bit without having to work too hard, but I was definitely working harder than I should have. Although she also really didn't want to do her downwards either. We played with it and I did a few trot walk trot transitions and some trot almost walk trot transitions. And then I got after her a bit and made her move out a little bit more. I didn't notice any lameness either way. And ...

 Now we wait. and hope. and pray

Ooof... what an emotional lesson... but I didn't let myself really dwell on it, because... no crying!! There's no crying in horseback riding. Sigh... ha!  I knew she might be lame but... Jacel is so good at "investigations" and working around things that it was worth a try. Like Liz.. maybe we could ride her sound. So... I tacked her up and we headed to the arena. We got on and started walking around and she was a slug. Like... She was not wanting to go. I should have grabbed my whip. Jacel showed up pretty quickly and we were chatting but Lyric was just dragging. I told Jacel that she had been lame and what my thoughts on the matter were. I mentioned that I really didn't think it was foot and thought it was her cervicothoracic area but you know.. who am I to think I'm right and two really smart vets are wrong. Although Jacel made a good point... they can only see what is right in front of them... I've got the whole story. So... we figured we'd see wha...

  Noooooo. :( Sadness. She's lame again.    The weather was crappy today. It was that misting rain all morning.... and cold. It finally quit enough and the radar looked like my best option was to ride at Ashland after lunch. The big giant radar cloud looked like it was going to be skirting around the house but was too far south to be at Ashland. Then it looked like later in the afternoon, it would be much more likely to be dryer at home. So... I opted to take Lyric to Ashland. She's next in line for a hack again. Plus... as sassy as she was yesterday I figured a nice long hack warm up would be smart before we did some ring work.    So we headed out and braved the cold. And Brrrr.. it was cold. I felt bad pulling her blanket. She got a good rigorous currying and then we tacked up quick. And her bridle was in the truck so her bit wasn't cold. Cause I'm a nice mom. :) We headed out and hit the trails and it wasn't too bad once we got going. I was glad I kept my jac...

  Perhaps she was a bit chilly, because.... SASS! I had taken her blanket off around 2 pm because the sun had come out, the wind was gone, and it was quite pleasant in the sun. Of course I was also wearing fleece pants and a fleece shirt and a vest and a hat, but... still.. she has a coat! Not a thick coat, but she does have hair.    I got home from riding Funny and it was about 4:45, so I grabbed her real quick and tacked up. She got the back  on track saddle pad and I got on and we headed up the drive to the arena. When we got there one of Jean's interns (I can't remember her name now!) was riding so I asked if I could join her. She said she was almost done and didn't mind so we headed in and did a walk warm up. I did haunches in and shoulder in and... it was better! Still not great haunches in left but better. Shortly after that they left and it was just us but Dan and Funny were up by the arena and Jean's other horses were up by the gate too.    We did ...

  Today was a work day but I had a 2 hour break in between patients due to a last minute cancellation. Instead of being annoyed, I was grateful that I could sneak home and do whatever. I was tempted to rest because I think I'm still a bit flu-ish, but..I was feeling pretty good at the moment and had been lazy most of the weekend, so... I opted to go do something with the ponies. I wasn't committed enough to try to sneak in a ride, but... I decided to do groundwork.  Lyric was grazing close to the barn so I planned to snag her. But then by the time I got the halter and snacks, she had migrated up by the arena with the others. Oh well.. we'll be better off in the arena anyways. I still haltered Lyric first. I set up some fun pole thing and then we got started.  We did a lap of pillar work and she was good. I tried to get her to rock back and engage her pecs but stay relaxed in her body. She was good. We did a bunch of pole things... the raised end poles... the fan of poles....