New Technology

As fellow BB's I'm absolutely positive that you'all are all up to date on all the fancy ways of learning/exploring/obsessing about/and keeping in touch with the newest developments of the horse industry.

 

And because I know ALL of US have a GAZILLION hours a day to devote to all things horsey….I present even more ways to spend even more time immersed in all things horsey. 

 

Blogs – I'm assuming we all know about blogs.  Because you are reading one….great.  Shall we move on?

 

E-mail lists –

• Ridecamp – by far the most prolific of the e-mail lists I belong to.  My advice – definitely go with the digest version unless you have a gazillion hours to go through all the e-mails.  The new version that John Teeter has switched to is great.  It sorts the topics so all e-mails pertaining to the same topic are together, making for a much better reading experience.  Feathers are easily ruffled here it helps to have a sense of humor if you post.  Lots of dissenting views, but overall a good-hearted group even if we go stir crazy every winter.  I've learned many many new tricks and as a newbie, this was a very useful resource.
• New 100 milers yahoo group.  This is my favorite e-mail list.  If you are only going to join one, join this one!  Good advice and very friendly.  It has experienced 100 milers on it and people who have never done a 100, but hope to some day.  Very friendly people who give good, useful advice.
• Barefoot horse yahoo group.  This is a mixed group of e-riders and recreational trail riders.  It's a good e-mail list to have on the roster if you have a barefoot horse and are considering boots.  There's a lot of feedback on different types of boots, and if you are having problems, lots of ideas for trouble shooting and solving the problem. 
• Hoof Boot exchange yahoo group.  This groups is set up much like a freecycle group, but for selling hoof boots.  It's fairly new, but already has lots and lots of members.  I love the concept an it's a great forum to get connected to other boot users and either get rid of a boot that isn't working for you, or to pick up another set of boots at an affordable price.  If you are selling your boots, it's also a nice place to see what other people are getting for their boots. 

 

Podcasts-

You don't have to have an ipod to enjoy a podcast.  Set up like recorded radio shows, podcasts are a great way of learning about different topics for free!  Here's a few of my favorites.  (Sorry I don't have links to the podcasts.  All of them are available through iTunes, and most of them have their own websites that should be Google-able)

• Horse radio network.  This network publishes several weekly podcasts, as well as a daily podcast.  Their flagship for the network is "The Stable Scoop" which is very entertaining and very informative.  I've listened to its inception and while it has gotten more professional-sounding, it's still a fun listen because it's obvious these are people who are doing this for the love of the industry and their passion for the subject – not because they are making $$ off of this thing…If you only have time for one, listen to "The Stable Scoop".  If you can't get enough, then add the Eventing Radio Show, Dressage Radio Show, Horse Tip Daily, and the Jumping Radio Show.  Whew.  Don't you wish you had a longer commute so you could listen to all this?
• Horse Girl TV.  HGTV has a few different shows but they overlap to some extent.  While these are classified as "podcasts" they are different.  Each are 10 minutes long (or shorter!) and pack a lot information into a beautifully produced miniature tv show!  Angela Walkup has won an award(s) for the production of these fabulous tidbits.  Definitely worth checking out.
• Non-horse related podcasts.  I listen to a few other pod casts, that while non-horsey, deserve a mention because they are so gosh darn entertaining.
• Vital Signs
• WNYC's radiolab
• This American Life
• The Naked Scientist
• Stuff you Missed in History Class
• NPR: Car Talk
• Dan Carlin's Hardcore Hisotry
• A Byzantine history podcast whose name can't remember (darn it!).  The series ended a few years ago, but it's absolutely wonderful.  Google "Byzantine" in itunes and it should pop up as one of the high rated shows.  If you click on it and it isn't entertaining….than that isn't the one!
• Anyone else have any favorite podcasts that deserve a mention?

 

Industry Magazines/newletters (e-mail)

I only have one in this category – thehorse.com.  I recommend going to the thehorse.com website and signing up for their newsletters.  Every single one.  They are sent weekly and every week I click on almost every one of their article links.  It is informative and cutting edge.  This is a good way of doing a survey of what's happening in the horse industry every week.

 

Forums

Forums can be a bit difficult.  The information is sketchy and definitely to be taken with a grain of salt….Posters mean well, but I swear if I hear one more person say that MTG is the miracle stuff that will cause your horses hair to drag the ground….I will probably scream (scaring the 2 kitty cats currently nestled around me in my recliner).  Still, there is some good information and it is a way to reach out to other people just starting out in endurance.  Often people trying to find out more about endurance start at forums and don't know where to go next.  It's a great opportunity to direct them to more comprehensive sites and mentors.  Here's the two I frequent most often (plus a newbie).  In all my user name is "AHorseOffCourse":

• Horse Grooming Supplies Forums
• Chronicle of the Horse forums
• Endurance Riding Forums.  
• This is a newbie – just started this week!  I've gone over and registered, but haven't really perused it yet.  I'm thinking positively that it will be a place where good information will be exchanged so I include it here.

 

Any more suggestions?  Anyone's favorite lists that I have left out?  Someone I forgot to mention?

Heart Rate Monitors

After waxing eloquently in previous posts and comments about the advantages of using available technology to improve and give relief to our hard-working horses, I come to the topic of heart rate monitors (HRM) and promptly contradict myself.

 

I hate contradictions.

 

It comes very close to being a hypocrite. 

 

When it comes to HRM, I believe there are two camps of people.

 

Camp #1 doesn't use HRM and believes people who do aren't in tune enough with their horses.

 

Camp #2 uses HRM and believes people who don't are old fogies stuck in the dark ages.

 

I am, of course, exaggerating for comedic effect but you get the idea. 

 

I used to use a HRM, but now I don't. 

 

HRM, in theory, give you another training tool to monitor a horse's fitness progress through a conditioning program.  Along with other information, it can help you determine correct pacing.  It is an essential tool if you choose to do certain workouts such as precisely calculated intervals.  It also can help identify problems due to fatigue or micro injuries if you are astute enough to realize that the heart rate is higher during a certain workload than usual.  

 

"This sounds great!", you say.  "I don't see how this isn't a good thing!". 

 

Hold your horses!  Whoa nelly! 

 

As a former user of a HRM, I'm going to go through each of the assumed benefits and explain why, after I accidentally lost the heart rate monitor at the vet check of Farley's first LD, I didn't bother replacing it. 

 

Idea #1:  Pacing and monitoring horse's fitness

Practically:  I bought a HRM when I had Minx, and then also used it on Farley when I got her.  The most interesting thing was realizing that all around, Farley had a much lower heart rate than Minx, even though Minx had the benefit of almost a year of conditioning.  Farley ambled around on the trail in the 40's, while Minx would be in the 60's doing the same work.  That was the ONLY "new" thing I learned while using the HRM.  Other things that the HRM told me were……

• When the heart rate increased to a certain high level, my horses wanted to walk. So if we were trotting a hill and they wanted to walk than…..the HRM confirmed that they should walk.  If we were cantering along and my horse wanted to slow down….the HRM confirmed that yes, it was time to slow down.
• When they walked for a while and then my horses wanted to trot……my HRM confirmed that the heart rate had dropped enough that my horses should trot.

 

So, in reality, my HRM told me that I had very honest horses and I should listen to them. 

 

My alternative:  As a better gauge of fitness I like to do pulse down on the trails.  I'll get to my turn around point, or I'll get to a good grazing/watering hole and get off.  Then, I will count the minutes that it takes for the horse to pulse down below 60.  I find this is a much better gauge of how much work the horse is performing than the HRM, which half the time showed me faulty readings or didn't work at all. 

 

I would go back to a HRM if:  ….I had a horse that had a problem pulsing down, or if I had a horse that wasn't honest about how hard they were working.  Metabolic issues would be another indicator to me that at least in the short term, I needed to use a HRM to try and figure out what was going on.  Neither one of my horses had/has a problem pulsing down.  I can actually trot or canter into a vet check with Farley and by the time I dismount and get my ride card out, she's under sixty.  She has never taken more than 60-90 seconds off the trail to pulse down to criteria, even during Tevis.  Both of my horses are very honest about their fatigue and effort level.  When Farley and I have our speed discussions, it's not because she can't go faster and be perfectly fine…..it's because I'm trying to minimize wear and tear on her body by going a reasonable speed.   I don't have lazy horses.  If they want to walk, it's because they need to walk.

 

Idea #2:  Using it to generate targeted workouts

Practically:  Since I'm not looking to get every ounce of performance out of my horse, I feel like we do "good enough" by focusing on LSD with some random Fartlek work outs here and there.  Having preplanned workouts with heart rates and precise distance/time calculations would drive my OCD into the realm of insanity.  I would worry more about hitting my workouts than just having fun with my horse and using common sense in my training. 

 

My Alternative:  I know that walk/trot will get the job done and I throw a canter in here and there just for fun.  It works.

 

I would go back to the HRM if:…I had a string of horses that I was trying to into shape all at the same time in the least amount of time possible.  Having HRM data means that each horse would have targeted training and there would be no "wasted" work outs.  If I had a business of conditioning endurance horses, both my own and other peoples.  If I was consulting on the topic of endurance horse conditioning.  In these cases, HRM data would be an extra layer of protection against not noticing a problem that gets buried under having many horses and many riders.  If I was serious about competing in endurance and campaigning myself.  If I had a horse that I felt had gone through an extensive conditioning problem, yet his performance wasn't up to par.  In the underlined scenarios I would give careful consideration to using a HRM.

 

Idea #3:  Identifying fatigue and micro injuries

Practically:  I don't put a lot of faith in heart rate for identifying injuries or illness any more.  When Minx was fatally colicking, her heart rate was in the 30's.  When she colicked the first time (non fatal) her heart rate was in the 30's.  When I rider optioned during a ride because midway through the vet check she had no gut sounds and wasn't eating, she had pulsed in within 30 seconds of leaving the trail and had passed the vet check with flying colors.  With double bowed tendons in both front legs, she was still trotting into vet checks and pulsing down immediately (and passing the CRIs).  When I pulled Farley for fatigue (and minor lameness) at Tevis, her heart rate recoveries were excellent.  While I think that heart rate is a useful tool, I find that it's a small part of the whole picture.   If something goes wrong, in most cases it will NOT just be the heart rate that goes haywire – there wil be other signs too.  In most cases when the HRM was giving me a weird reading- it was just that – a weird reading.  It didn't work well enough ALL the time to pick up any small subtleties that might have indicated fatigue or injury.

 

My alternative:  Observe the horse.  Don't rely on any one physical indicator, instead evaluate the whole picture.  Using just the heart rate can lull you into a false sense of security. 

 

I would go back to the HRM if:…I don't have a good answer for this one.  Although I would return to using a HRM for a variety of reasons, to identify fatigue and injuries would not be a reason.  One possibility is if I had a horse that wasn't honest about letting me know it was tired – then I might consider it (as described in the first section of this post).

 

Conclusion:  Overall I decided that a HRM for me, right now, with this horse was not necessary.  It was an additional piece of equipment I had to prep, worry about, and make sure it was not rubbing my horse.  Instead of enjoying the scenery and listening to my horse, I was looking at my HRM, tapping the receiving, wondering whether the reading on the receiver was "real", and generally annoying my horse.  Maybe it was Farley that took matters into her own hooves and "lost" the monitor at the vet check?  All I can say is that so far, both of us are better without this bit of technology. 

 

As always, would LOVE to hear your opinions in the comments.

 

 

In which events conspire to keep Mel from overriding her pony

Over the last couple of years I've learned that if all of my conditioning and training rides go according to schedule, I have an overridden horse.  That's the reason I don't stress when life goes haywire and I'm not able to follow my "plan".

 

Melinda's plan + life's mayhem = sound, happy, capable horse

 

Melinda's plan - life's mayhem = overriden, tired, not-so-happy horse

 

So I form my plans and schedules, tack them on the fridge, buy myself a package of gold stars to mark my progress and then wait for life to happen to see what parts of the plan get weeded out.

 

Shall we take this weekend as an example?

 

Plan:  2-3 hour conditioning ride in the hills of Livermore's Del Valle, after a 1 hour jump lesson (mostly poles).  Then 2 weeks of sulking around until American River.

 

Plan after mayhem gets done with it:  Arena schooling a 5-10 miles trot (maybe some canter) on the canal banks around the stable.  Continue for 2 weeks until American River. 

 

And you know what?  It's probably going to be OK.  Just like when it rained and rained and rained and rained and rained.......and rained and rained and rained here in January and February and I was only able to get 1-2 good rides in....that was probably perfect for bringing a fit, capable horse to the 100.  If I had my way she would have gotten at LEAST double that and probably would have been more tired and no more in shape.  For this 50 in 2 weeks, she probably doesn't NEED another heavy conditioning ride, but of course I WANT do one.  Good thing my decision was made for me.  Not to mention that you can't build fitness in the last 2 weeks before a ride anyways.....

 

(Truck should be out of the shop next week - waiting for parts.  As mentioned in a previous post, they were going to give me a truck without allowing me to pull anything, so I insisted on a good gas mileage car.  Boy is it zippy!  It will be a miracle if I escape this weekend without a speeding ticket!  The last time I drove a car this zippy I was in my teens driving a corolla - and this little thing is tinier AND zippier!)

 

BTW I am STRICTLY forbidding myself to post more than once a day.  Has anyone looked at my stats in Google Reader lately?  Over 11 posts a week average!!!!!  And that's without posting on the weekends (usually)!!!!  I feel the need to establish some rules:

 

Rule 1:  I shall exercise self control - not EVERY thing comes into my brain needs to be vomited onto a post. 

 

Rule 2:  I do not need to constantly pester my commenters with e-mails, even though I am in dire need of entertainment. 

Endurance ride = truck problems

I'm seeing a disturbing trend.

 

And it has nothing to do Farley, her hocks, or my current obsession of learning to vault into the saddle (look mom!  no stirrups!)

 

Thursday before a ride = truck problems

 

Let me take you back....way back.....to the Thursday before my 100.  (Because let's face it, anything that happened before my 100 was a LIFETIME ago....)  There was a small issue of my truck having transmission problems and (more serious in my mind) the cruise control not working.  They wanted to give me a loaner.....I shrieked something about leaving for a 100 miler that weekend and they managed to patch it up good enough to drive to Ridgecrest.  I was permenantly known as the crazy horse lady.

 

I brought the truck back in the next week and they "fixed" it, declared it good as new and sent me on my way.

 

Except......

 

Now there's a noise that wasn't there before that sorta whines over my transmission/engine noise.  And the orginal problem of NOT shifting when accelerating onto the freeway in tow mode still exists....but "differently". 

 

I gave it a chance.  After all, they did reprogram the transmission etc so I gave it a chance.  And then today, I took it back in.

 

"it makes a noise" (they look at me skeptically)

"it still doesn't shift right" (they look frusterated)

 

So they STILL can't make the transmission do the non-shifting thing (probably because it's not under load) but now they've found a more serious problem....apparently that noise was my rear end gears chewing themselves into pieces. 

 

I think the exact expression used was "frosted flakes".

 

See, I told you it was making a noise.

 

So now I have a rental car.  They tried to give me a truck (they give you something comperable to what you have) but I told them if I could pull a trailer with it, I wanted something with good gas mileage.  So now I'm getting something called a "Cobalt".  Whatever. 

 

So now I'm REALLY happy I'm not going to Buck meadows this weekend.  Can you imagine?  For the second time having to tell the shop that "this simply won't do!" (imagine my snooty nose in the air stamping my little foot), "I simply MUST have my truck this weekend". 

 

Ummm....sorry - not for a local 50 miler.  Nope nope nope.  Let's get that truck fixed!  However, the decision is definately easier to swallow as I already decided not to go!

 

If you really want to cry with me.....remember my truck is but a year old with 37,000 miles!  We aren't talking a clunker!

 

When do those lemon laws go into effect??????

 

On the other hand, I scheduled a jump lesson for Saturday.  I had to reschedule from last Saturday because of hocks......looks like I'm rescheduling this Saturday because of truck issues.  Ummmm....maybe God is trying to tell me that I shouldn't jump?

 

On the other hand, the ride from my stable to my trainers would be a nice conditioning ride! 

 

Just kidding, kinda

 

(btw - "jump" lesson, because it's my first is poles etc.  Nothing that will cause my pony's hind legs to fall off!)

Proof that I do NOT OCD about everything

Is it the season for hind limb lameness?  A couple of days ago Behind the Bit had a very useful post on the 3 main medicines used in hock injections (and gave me a cheat sheet that made me sound brilliant at the vet, and now she has another great post on hock versus stifle soreness here.

 

I must say this would have been very useful for during the armchair diagnosis that went on before my vet appointment.

 

Looking at the check list, Farley had most of the classical signs of hock pain.  She DID bunny hop into the canter once on the lunge, but not consistently and not other signs....so the vets opinion was IF there was pain in the stifle, it was probably compensation, or it was because she was/is an awful canter-er

 

I've never noticed all the posting that went on about this issue....but then I tend to be a bit oblivious to issues that don't concern me.

 

Here's a list of topics that I think people probably post on fairly often that are totally off my radar screen because I have no experience and/or not currently dealing with the issue.  Just goes to show I'm not OCD about EVERYTHING (or another way of looking at the list - see everything I COULD be OCDing about that I'm not?  I'm such a good girl):

• Cribbing
• Ulcers
• Hoof absesses
• Blindness
• Laminitis/founder (although I do OCD about sugar in her diet.....)
• Tying up (only know enough about it to try and prevent it from happening to my horse!)
• Headshaking Syndrome (rode a horse with it once...that's the extent that I know)
• Cushings
• Heaves/Allergies
• Ring bone

Until 2 weeks ago, arthritic hocks would have been on this list....

A most unwitty post in which Melinda muses about various things

I have ZERO funny stuff to say.

 

Absolutely nothing witty, entertaining, or remotely humorous. 

 

Sorry. 

 

Work is sucking the creative juices out of my brain, which you can actually SEE - if you look really really hard I'm sure there's a blue, viscous substance pouring out my eyes and into my computer screen, taking with it my creative juices and all energy.

 

*sigh*

 

Update on Farley -

 

Today is her last day of bute.  I was reserving judgement on the injection treatment, and was too chicken to do anything but walk on a loose rein under saddle until my lesson yesterday.  She felt good and the trainer said she's moving a LOT better.  Whoo hoo! 

 

I think the trick is going to be staying on top of any inflammation, which means I'm not going to be shy about using bute if I think she needs it for a day here and there.  Of course I will be evaluating my program to try and prevent inflammation in the first place!  But - I think her longevity hinges on keeping inflammation at very low levels if she shows any sign of discomfort I'm going to be on top of it IMMEDIATELY and do whatever is necessary, whether that's an NSAID, vet evaluation/injections, Adequan, or time off. 

 

I've had 2 readers bring up very good points in the course of this situation. 

 

(sorry - this is the point I muse about various things and generally turn this short, quick post into a long rambling diary entry with no real organization.... and yes, when I talk about various groups of people I realize I am generalizing)

 

"You have to pay to play"

***I understand better now what it means to be a "good" owner of a performance horse.  This of course is open to interpretation, but how I understand it at this point in time, is that if I'm asking my horse to perform at a high level (like 100's) than it is my responsibility to make the horse as comfortable as possible, and for a hardworking horse this is *probably* going to mean some sort of "maintenance" program to deal with inflammation.  And that means spending the $$ that is necessary.  Kind of like making sure you have a well fitting saddle.  It's important and you may have to spend the $$, but it's unfair to the horse to compete any other way. 

 

I think that endurance could learn a lot from the eventing world.  Eventing horses compete at a very high level with stresses that are similar to endurance horses.  Eventers (I'm generalizing here) understand the benefits of a "maintenance" program and using the latest technologies to keep their horses comfortable and competing, and sometimes, just because something is invasive, doesn't make it wrong.  Sometimes invasive procedure (like hock injections) that won't make anything worse, just allow the horse to be comfortable is the right thing to do.  (For example, the hocks are going to fuse whether I do the injections or not, I'm not causing more harm, just alleviating pain).   Eventers are very open about whether they do joint injections and the different sorts of "maintenance" things they do.  When I asked for feedback of injecting joints in endurance, I was shocked at how many people in endurance do injections - it just isn't talked about and as a result I think many newbies in my position don't know what to do because there isn't the discussion that there should be on this.  Endurance people are more likely to "sweep it under the rug", than eventers in the same position.

 

Of course, I think the reverse is true as well - eventers probably could learn something from endurance - the philosophy of rest and time off, general management of horses (pasture, barefoot), and looking for alternatives for invasive procedures that work as well and keep the horse happy and healthy. 

 

I had a very interesting conversation with my trainer yesterday.  She has had several endurance riders come through her program to take dressage lessons and she admitted that she wasn't very impressed with their knowledge regarding conditioning and well being of their horse.  One thing eventers do is have a well structured conditioning program for fitting their horses.  Just take a look at Andrea's blog - eventing a go go.  She followed a very specific program founded on sound principles, to condition her horse.  We might argue that eventers need more rest in their programs and eventers will argue that endurance riders don't do enough intervals and speed work.  Both of us are probably right.  There seems to be a lot more resources in the eventing world - trainers, books, organizations etc. I understand that the endurance "atmosphere" is a bit different and the people making up the organization on a whole want to be left alone with their horses and their training methods, but until we start making some solid resources available to people, we are going to continue to struggle with our image to the outsiders.  I understand that places like "ridecamp" do not represent ENDURANCE, however they are among the most active and vocal and so one cannot help but form opinions of the organization based on comments there.  No one doubts our dedication to the welfare of the horse, however (in my opinion) our organization/sport on a whole doesn't have the proper resources and sometimes sends the wrong message to newbies on using the technologies available to assure the well being of our horses. 

 

I understand that the endurance sport is relatively new sport and we are constantly changing and trying to make the right decisions to keep up with the changing climate of culture, society, and our world.  What worked when this was a small, localized club must change as we add members - especially as we add members from other sports.  What works for a smaller group of people doesn't work well for a larger, more global community.  We need to get to the point where people like my trainer are not surprised when she gets an endurance student (me) whose horse is sound, and seems to have a basic knowledge of conditioning and exercise stress. 

 

Obviously this is a subject that I'm probably going to evolve as time goes on....but that's where my thoughts are at the moment.  I LOVE this sport, and I am dedicated to being a good ambassador and help out however I can.

 

"This type of situation helps clarify what really matters"

So very true.  I can play with the idea of speeding my rides up and possibly being a top 10 competitor.  I can pretend to care about awards, points, and rides....BUT when my horse goes lame or has a problem, it becomes obvious I only care about one thing.  A SOUND HAPPY HORSE WHO LOVES HER JOB.  That puts everything in perspective and makes it very easy to do the right thing - skip a ride, rider option, pay for medical care, etc.  It also helps with the difficult decision of when to retire a horse.  In my case, when I cannot keep her sound and painfree, when utilizing the technologies that are in my budget, it's time to retire her.  Any technologies I use, cannot have a significant risk of making matters worse in the long run.  If I'm in vet school and I can't afford joint injections, and she's not comfortable doing endurance or dressage without them, then we don't do endurance or dressage when she doesn't feel good, even if that means we do trail rides at a walk on a loose rein for 4 years. 

Dear Mr. Kitty (and an update)

Dear Mr. Kitty -

 

My apologies for using you as my clipping guinea pig.  You see, I found a pair of cheap very *old* clippers and wanted to see if they were a waste of my money, like my last *very old* ones were that I purchased.  Right on the box it said "small animal" clippers, and even though you are very fat.....I mean "substantial" you are still technically a small animal and there you were just staring at me sitting on your stool. 

 

Please accept my deepest apologies and please to not feel like you need to retaliate by destroying yet another part of my apartment.

 

Sincerely,

 

Melinda

 

***UPDATE***

 

I jogged with Farley ~30 minutes last night and she looked good.  And strong.  I'm starting to think the only reason we used to go the same pace was because she was sore.....Maybe I should invest in a pair of roller blades and just ski behind her?  I tacked her up and rode for ~10 minutes at a walk in the arena afterwards and BOY does she feel GOOD.  What a difference!  Back a'swinging, light, responsive, and REALLY moving off that hind end. 

 

Regarding the wither soreness - It was present on Tuesday morning, with the right side being more sore.  Tuesday evening it was completely gone.  I checked my saddle fit and the saddle appears to still be fitting properly.  I have a couple of thoughts.

• I saw the same study as AareneX and as a result I do 90% of my mounting from a mounting block, fence, pickup truck etc.  Don't want to tweak her little back (or mine)!  The 10% I do mount from the ground I do equally from both sides.  I also don't require her to stand still while I mount.  I feel like she can use her motion to help balance my mounting, which causes less strain, so I let her.  So....based on all this I'm thinking mounting is not the major factor in this.
• My saddle may need to be reflocked.  I have to have it shipped out to do it and I keep putting it off because of my competition schedule.  I don't have a second saddle that fits Farley and I can't afford another used Solstice (~$1200 average) right now.  I've been looking for a used broadback thorowgood dressage saddle because I think it might work in the interm while I send this off for reflocking etc....but haven't found one used for a good price.  Txtrigger had a very good suggestion of contacting the dealer for the ACS and seeing if they might rent or loan me a replacement while I have the work done on it. 
• It might be my riding.  I rode ATROCIOUSLY at the end of the 100.  And I mean atrociously.  I was embarrassed.  However, it's been almost 6 weeks....so maybe, maybe not?  My centered riding lesson was very good at identifying the crookedness in my riding and I've really been working on it.  I may start asking for feedback with people I ride with on what looks uneven while we trail ride.
• It might be compensation pain.  The fact that it dissapeared 36 hours after the hock injections seems to support this.  I'll have to see if it reappears as we return to regular work.

So there's my ideas.  Got any other theories?  It's gone for now and I'll be watching carefully for it's return.  It will be interesting to see if that particular pain returns at exactly the same time her hocks need to be reinjected....also if anyone local wants to let me use their solstice wide while I get my reflocked....I'm all ears!  (I know - yeah right!)

1000 miles

I'm half way to my goal of 1000 miles and what an adventure so far!

 

Why is the 1000 mile point important?  I've *heard* that the steepest learning curve is in the first 1000 miles.  Although you keep learning after that, you don't get quite the same "curve balls" and you are better able to deal with the curve balls.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll start to become more confident that I'm actually qualified to do this.....

 

Yep....90% of indecisiveness and agonizing over (perhaps) trivial decisions is the fact I look around and realize I have so few miles.  And so few years doing this.  And everyone around me *knows* better because they have more experience.  So I try to listen to their advice, but I have my OWN opinions on what works to, and integrating my opinions and their opinions and trying not to make too many mistakes makes for a very crowded party in my brain.  When I first started I didn't care what anyone thought and got myself in trouble because I didn't listen enough.  Now, I'm too far on the other side of the pendulum and I probably care TOO MUCH what others think.  Hopefully this next season brings a healthy balance!

 

Let's look at the numbers!  (and let's hope that my next 500 miles - 425 miles to be exact - do NOT simple double these numbers....)

 

3 years (first ride was April 2007)

3 horses (in a little known fact, I conditioned my Dad's Morab for an LD after Minx got hurt during my first season)

3 bowed tendons

1 colic death

1 Hock injections

16 sets of shoes and 1 set of pads

16 total boots (2-size 2, 7-size 1, 7-size 0)

2 pulled shoes

2 boot failures

4 boot colors (yellow, black, burgundy, bronze)

4 DNS (Did not start) rides

5 ride pulls

10 endurance completions

90 hours of trail time during endurance completions

6 LD completions (LD mileage is not counted towards my 1000 mile mark BTW)

22 hours of trail time during LD completions (very approximate)

4 saddles (Mclellen, Thorowgood, Duett, Arabian Company)

4 saddle pads (army blanket, skito, woolback, Haf)

3 Helmets (not counting my dressage helmet, which I will NOT be wearing on the trail)

15 falls from horse back (all in the first 18 months)

0 broken bones

0 concussions

380 blog posts

 

Sometimes I minimize my accomplishments so far because it seems so insignificant.  The number of competition miles doesn't give credit to the many many conditioning hours, pain, joy, and tears that it took to get there.  This list makes me feel a bit better.  Wow!  look at all that!  Maybe I'm a *real* endurance rider after all!

 

BTW - advice heeded:  Farley and I will be gallivanting off to the AR 50 as long as all goes well in the next 1-2 weeks.  And yes Zach - we can definitely ride together as long as the pacing is good and the horses stay happy.  Who's sponsoring you for that ride?  It's a bummer that overnights are not allowed Saturday night, so I'll make sure I catch up with you Friday night!

 

Farley update - Farley looks like she's doing just fine.  She's on bute for the next 3-4 days so it's tough to tell, but I think I notice a different in how she moves and stands.  :)  I rechecked the sides of her withers and she's definitely a bit sensitive so I'll keep an eye on it and see if it resolves itself now that the hock pain is (*crosses fingers*) is gone.  It's not really where the saddle rests so I'm thinking it's compensation pain. 

 

Buck Meadows

I have officially made the decision that I knew I would be making since last week....

 

I am not going to Buck Meadows.

• A bad feeling in my gut for doing it so close to her first set of hock injections
• A not so good feeling as I looked up withdrawal times for the various drugs she's had injected into her
• AND (this was the clincher) forecasts of snow flurries.

I don't own chains.  I've never driven in the snow.  Driving up a winding mounting high way with a horse trailer is not a good time to learn.

 

Time to wuss out.

 

Sure, I forfeit the $90 entry fee.  But, chains OR a tow bill OR a broken horse OR a positive drug test would all cost more. 

 

Sooooo.......it looks like I'm headed to face down my nemesis - American River - at the end of this month. 

 

Sooooo.....I have a question for my dear BB's -

 

What distance?  50 or 75 miles? 

 

For you penny savvy folks:

50=$2/mile

75=$1.80/mile

 

For you lazy folks:

75=5:30am start

50=6:30am start

 

And for everyone else:

# of weeks AFTER 20MT 100:  8 weeks

# of weeks BEFORE the 155 mile 3 day Wild West Ride:  5 weeks

 

I have a dressage show May 9th, so maybe better to do the 50 so I can start schooling again on May 3?  (one week is a bit soon after a 75 I think....)

 

I'm definately looking for opinions here.  Please post in the comments!!!!!!!

Miss Dandelion goes poof

Farley started shedding ~a month ago, but decided to do her annual hair dump starting on Friday.

 

This means she goes "poof" like a dandelion and goes semi nude for a week, while her summer coat desperately tries to catch up.

 

Great - just what I wanted to show this fancy lameness vet - a naked dandelion. 

 

Sixty minutes of pre-vet grooming made her more naked (and here's the magically part) and no less hairier. 

 

Oh well.  I tried. 

 

"Get on with it!", you say, "I didn't come here to read about a shedding update!"

 

So, part of my hesitation is I don't know whether I have good news or bad news.

 

I'll just tell the story and let you guys tell me, alright?

 

The good thing about endurance horses?  They do really good trot outs.  While the other exams had screaming, clapping people - our exam had an energetic, forward trotting horse, who trotted in a straight line without running over the handler. 

 

Good girl.

 

The muscle-skeletal exam was fairly straight forward. In a straight line she looked serviceably sound.  On the lunge she was clearly (at least to me.  Probably a grade .5-1) landing toe first and short striding on her LH (both when it was on the outside, and on the inside).  For some reason she always gets very very tense while lunging or in the round pen.  She's gotten better at the trot....but the canter is a joke.   You ask for a canter on the lunge and you get a very tense horse with her head in the air that rushes and trips into the canter at top speed, holds it for a couple of strides, and then goes back to power trotting.  She's gotten a bit better when it's just her and me, but the new atmosphere and handler seemed to make her regress back to her old habits.  Which makes it very difficult to conclusively say whether stifles were involved.

 

Negative flexion test on her right hind.

 

Slight positive flexion test on her left hind.

 

Vet said he was comfortable in assuming it is entirely hocks at this time....that her canter issues could be related to the fact she's a really GOOD trotter.  I told him that her canter IS affected when she's lame, but the trot is always lamer.  The canter seems secondary and he agreed that there could be secondary inflammation, being caused by the hocks.   

 

We decided on radiographs.  Vet said it wouldn't change what he wanted to do (injections), but I felt better having a baseline in case I have problems in the future. 

 

We did the left hind only.

 

Here's when we get to the part that I'm not sure is good/bad/doesn't matter.  Her x-rays were clear. 

 

Like, pre-purchase exam passing clear. 

 

Vet said he could get really picky about one little area that might be a little dark.  That one of the the joint spaces might be a tad bit narrower....but really they look pretty good. 

 

This is what I know about Farley.

 

She is an honest horse.

 

Some (less kind) people might call her a wimp. :)

 

I think this is a good thing.  Minx was a very very tough horse.  If she showed a little pain it was time to write the obituary, or at least the retirement notice because something was WRONG.  Farley is the complete opposite.  If something is wrong - even just a little she'll let you know.  She doesn't overreact, but she doesn't ignore it either. 

 

In this case, she has shown intermittent lameness about once a month.  Not-heading-bobbing-OMG-what-have-I-done, but just "something is a little wrong" lameness.  So it makes sense to me that the xrays don't show a LOT of damage.

 

However....I do wish they had been a little bit more conclusive.  Something we could point to and say "Aha!  There is it!"  Instead she got injected and we'll have to wait and see. 

 

Vet seemed unconcerned so I'm going to be optimistic, yet watchful.  Sound like a good plan?

 

She was injected with Legend and Methylprednisolone acetate (Depo-Medrol).  (Here's a good post with some basic information) A bit of banamine and bute to help out with any discomfort from the injections, and off we went with instructions to exercise lightly for a couple of days (dressage lesson on Wednesday is fine) and back to regular work (including an endurance ride if I want) this weekend. 

 

He let me know that doing a round of Adequan in early July before Tevis and Virgina City is an option, but I'm taking the wait and see approach.  Get through the next 4-6 weeks and see how she is. 

 

I do want to say that going to the best of the best in the area was worth every single extra dollar (and really it was minimal - maybe an extra $80 of a $650 bill?).  This vet oozes confidence and professionalism.  He's also a surgeon.  He does joint injections every day of the week and is known in the area for being really good at it. 

 

I talked to my Mom this morning and once again was reminded that horse people sometimes talk a different language.  She thought it odd that I hadn't done my minute by minute posts, detailing the accident that led to the lameness.  So for all you non-horsey people......The hock issue is an arthritic change of a joint that is fairly static (not high motion), that leads to chronic inflammation.  Repetitive motion and wear and tear is the major cause, which means there's no magical moment I can point to, to say "that's what caused it". 

 

Another odd bit of information....

During the exam, the vet pointed out that the sides of her withers are sore (the right side more-so)....but it was kind of hard to tell as she was playing jumper-hypersensitive- arab.  *sigh*.  Not a concern right now, but something to keep an eye on.  Depending on whether I get the same soreness response at home I'll decide how much to OCD about it.  I don't feel my new Haf pad is the same quality as my older one, so I might look at going back to a woolback. 

Is your Horse IDed?

I'm in a surprisingly good mood, even though every time I look at the title of this post, I see "Has your Horse Died?" *shudder*

My to-do list falls into 2 categories:

A. Was put on the list an hour ago and is already done.

B. Was put on the list 3 years ago and it's still there.

So, today I am proud to announce that an item from category B is done!

Farley now has an ID tag.

I saw this idea a few years ago when I first started endurance and always meant to get around to getting a pet tag engraved to tie in her mane during trail rides.

Her name, my last name, my AERC ID#, and my phone number is engraved on a black, round pet tag.

Now I just need to get one engraved to put on my running shoes. That, unfortunately, has been on the to-do list for almost 10 years......

Cat Poems

I'm not sure who the author is of these oh so cute cat Haikus but I thought everyone (including myself could use a break from the Farley lameness drama). These Haikus pair nicely with my "Dear Mr. Kitty" letter post of a few days back.

Sent to my Mom from Rick C.

You never feed me.
Perhaps I'll sleep on your face.
That will sure show you.

You must scratch me there!
Yes, above my tail!
Behold, elevator butt.

The rule for today
Touch my tail, I shred your hand.
New rule tomorrow.

In deep sleep hear sound
cat vomit hairball somewhere
will find in morning.


Grace personified.
I leap into the window.
I meant to do that.


Blur of motion, then-
silence, me, a paper bag.
What is so funny?

The mighty hunter
Returns with gifts of plump birds-
your foot just squashed one.

You're always typing.
Well, let's see you ignore my
sitting on your hands.

My small cardboard box.
You cannot see me if I
can just hide my head.

Terrible battle.
I fought for hours. Come and see!
What's a 'term paper'?

Kitty likes plastic
Confuses for litter box
Don't leave tarp around

Small brave carnivores
Kill pine cones and mosquitoes
Fear vacuum cleaner

I want to be close
to you. Can I fit my head
inside your armpit?

Wanna go outside.
Oh, crud! Help! I got outside!
Let me back inside!


Oh no! Big One
has been trapped by newspaper!
cat to the rescue!

Humans are so strange.
Mine lies still in bed, then screams
My claws are not that sharp.

Cats meow out of angst
"Thumbs! If only we had thumbs!
We could break so much!"

Litter box not here
You must have moved it again
I'll crap in the sink

The Big Ones snore now
Every room is dark and cold
Time for "Cup Hockey"

We're almost equals
I purr to show I love you
Want to smell my butt?

Minx's anniversary is tomorrow....

....and I'm trying to decide a suitable way of paying my respects.

Options:

A: Sob at inoppertune times so that everyone around you views you as a maniac until you make up some suitable excuse (my contacts.....cutting onions.....)

B: Light a candle and read Walter Farley's "The Black Stallion's Filly" (for whom she was named).....and probably cry (the book made me cry BEFORE she died)

C: Pretend it's just any other day and then at some awkward time, become so overwelmed with emotion......and cry

D: Ride my lame horse (I'm kidding). Really a shame as a nice little trail ride this weekend probably would have done me good - but riding is OUT until I here the vet's verdict.

E: Obsessively talk about Minx. After all, everyone thinks you are a weirdo anyways - you cry over a horse.

My decision:

Ummm....do any of the options leave out the crying part? I really hate that. I really want a non-crying option.

*sigh*

Really, I'm do OK. It's just been tough dealing with Farley's unknown "thing", and I put in a very long day at work today after very little sleep. A recipie for disaster. AND I'm almost out of my Guinness Beer Bread. Tragedy.

P-E-R-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E

Yep, a little perspective never hurt.

In the realm of things (still assuming this is hocks. Won't it be "funny" if after all these posts about hocks, it ends up being something else? Like, *shudder* stifle problems? Bad Melinda! think positive!) this is fairly minor.

Two weeks after I purchased Farley, she bowed her tendon (it was a minor bow, but still!) when her brain briefly left her body during a trail ride. Just like that I was faced with a 3 month rehab (I know - insignificant in comparison to a "real" bow). I completely OCD'ed about it. Would she ever be completely sound? How well would it heal? Could she still do endurance? 100 milers? Of course, now it seems silly. It was a minor setback, although at the time it felt like my world was ending amongst the doom and gloom (non-vet) advice being given in the endurance community when I asked....In hindsight, because of that bow I was extra careful bringing Farley along and I took longer to get to the LD and 50 mile distance than I might have, so it was probably a good thing in the long run!

Then some time after that, Farley got a sore splint as a result of me pushing too hard to get to my 65 last year (big lesson - after a gradual year of legging up, do NOT GET IMPATIENT!!!). Again, most of the feedback I got (non-vet) was doom and gloom. "She'll need surgery", "she'll never be the same", "she's probably going to end up with tendon problems"....I agonized over whether to take her to the vet. Again - the issue resolved itself with a couple weeks of easy work and some time off from rides.

Based on my history of giving myself needless ulcers every time something goes wrong, I need a 48 hour rule for these kind of situations.

Melinda's 48 hour rule
(to be followed henceforth and enforced by her BB's if necessary)

• I am allowed to OCD about a potential Farley problem for exactly 48 hours (for major issues. For minor issues I give myself an hour and for potential major issues I give myself 24 hours) in which I imagine worse case scenarios, lament the end to all my endurance dreams and hopes and vow I shall apply 40 lashes to myself to in order to punish myself for such ignorance that let this happen. You may or may not chose to read my blog during this period. I understand.
• After the 48 hour grace period reason shall prevail and I shall have decided either to wait and see, or schedule an vet appointment. In this time I am not allowed to either assign blame to myself OR make dire predictions for the future. After all, I'm going to pay the vet for their professional opinion so my time is better spent developing the questions I want them to address during the appointment.
• AFTER the vet appointment, armed with his advice, I am allowed to dissect that last 20 years of my life and lament my inadequacies that led to this condition ONLY if I also develop a plan for preventing it in the future. So far I have good luck with this - I rarely have the same injury twice if it was preventable by some extra effort on my part.

So, my 48 hour period for this problem is officially over. Not a peep about it until after my Monday 9am appointment.

Endurance News Articles of Note

If you have gotten you EN for the month, check out the article on joint therapy by Melissa Ribley (DVM). Probably not very interesting for someone not agonizing over what to do, but I thought it was great timing for me! I thought it was interesting how she categorized arthritis in the hocks/joints as being acute from overuse, or chronic from wear and tear. Maybe fusing of the hocks isn't the inevitable thing I've been reading about? Definitely something I need to think about and consider. Makes me very very glad I decided to stay a mid-pack rider. I mentioned picking up the speed this year and a very well done comment by Karen C. made me reconsider. Glad I don't have to add THAT to my guilt load right now!

Also, there's a decent article on preparing for a 100 or moving up distance. It covered many of the things that I have thought about (I was preparing a similar article for the blog but scrapped it since this article in EN basically covered the same material), including that I thought what prepared me the most for riding 100 was a mid "step-up" distance of 65-75 miles, and a 2 day 100 (2 50's in 2 days). In my opinion, I don't think riding progressively faster 50's would have done a whole lot for me - the challenge of a 100 is how long you have to spend on the trail and the step up distance and the 2 day 100 both helped me with that.

Friday's OCD post

Less OCD, more contemplative.  I promise

 

I'm really glad I have a couple of days to think this over.  Yes, I wish I knew RIGHT now what's wrong, but at least it's giving me time to think and decide and evaluate the "why" behind my decision.

 

First an update on Farley.  Yesterday she was either the same, worse, or better.  I really don't know.  I was so tense and unhappy I don't know how much of what I was feeling was her and what was me.  It mostly feels wrong.  After not-so-good-under-saddle time, I put her on the lunge and she looks fine, but she's tense (but that's normal while lunging....) and I just get a feeling of wrongness.  So handwalks (possible jog if she offers) only until I see the vet.  I left her tied while I did some chores and watched her.  She is resting the left hind more than the right, but she does alternate back and forth, so I think it's a good sign.  She's standing under herself, but that's "normal" for her.  I have a feeling that when I go into the vet, I'm going to find out that my view of normal is skewed.  Just like when I got Farley I found out how "abnormal" Minx was. 

 

She pulled back yesterday when tied.  :(  Second time in ~ a week.  She hadn't done it for ~ a year and now TWICE in a week.  *sigh*.  I guess it never ever COMPLETELY goes away?

 

I have some random thoughts running through the brain right now.  Writing this down really helps deal with the stress, so please forgive yet another post on this subject with no new information.

 

 

 The Question:  Did I override Farley?  And did that cause hock problems?

I thought about overriding, pushing a horse too fast a LOT last night.  Especially with a 100 so recently and drawing some criticism of how chose to rest and bring Farley back to work.

 

Farley had a solid 8 months of LSD before her first LD.  We did a couple of LD's, then a 50 after a total of ~10 months of LSD.  So far so good.  I didn't ask for speed, was conservative during rides, gave her plenty of time off (I still had Minx so I didn't have to time to ride her as regularly as I do now.)

 

Last year in Feb I pushed too hard to get my 65 miler.  However, after that race she got almost 3 months of being off/light work.  

 

Since last February I feel like I've done a good job of not pushing too hard.  I admit I've overridden horses (primarily Minx).  Farley hasn't acted like she was overriden (except for that dang 65 miler Feb 2009.....).  I really feel like our riding/rest/mileage was appropriate to her level of fitness over the last year. 

 

The 100 (February of this year) was the first time I tried "active rest" after a race - the rest of her races she's gotten 2-4 weeks off afterwards (2 for a 50, longer for a longer ride).  This issue didn't develop overnight so I highly doubt that because I tried "active rest" after the 100 that now she has problems in her hocks - especially as this seems to be a progressive problem (since at least January), more associated with the dressage work.

 

The Question:  Am I asking a horse that is unsuitable for endurance, to do endurance?

 

It's said that a perfect endurance horse has 3 things - mind, metabolics, and soundness.  There are no perfect endurance horses, so you have a great endurance horse if you can meet 2 out of the 3 and manage the third.

 

Farley's hind end conformation is not the best.  I know that.  Sickle and cow hocked and stands underneath of herself. 

 

Does her confo predispose her to develop hock problems?  Maybe.  Maybe I could have done more to prevent it - maybe not. 

 

She has such a solid mind, metabolitics, AND a heart for this sport.  I feel like if I can manage her hocks - even if that means injections then I will do this sport with her as long as she's happy and pain free doing it. 

 

The Dilemma

I think e-riders hold themselves to a higher standard when it comes to horse management and welfare.  In most things I think this is a good thing. 

 

If I was in another sport I probably wouldn't think twice about injecting her hocks.  It happens, it needs to be done, so do it.  As an e-rider though, I feel there's a stigma against doing anything as "invasive" as hock injections.  Yes it works, but if you've done everything right AND your mount is suitable then there shouldn't be a need for such things. 

 

I'm on the fence. 

 

I'm GLAD that I'm concerned enough to consider the questions such as - is there something I could do differently?  Does my horse enjoy her job?  Could this have been prevented?  Are there alternatives to an invasive treatment?  Maybe I wouldn't be so diligent if not surrounded the e-culture. 

 

However, I wish there wasn't such a stigma against treating a horse.  Most of us are going to make mistakes as we go through this sport.  Yes, we can listen to you "ole'timers" and try to learn through your example, but at some point you just have to go out and DO IT - and at some point you are going to make mistakes.  It's just the way the world works.  So yep - sometimes fluids are justified, sometimes you have to get a treatment you could have avoided.....but if it's in the best interest of the horse to have that treatment once "the damage is done", then I think it ought to be done.  Retiring a horse at 11 (in my opinion) is not the best option if there's a treatment that will allow the horse to continue to do something it enjoys doing painfree AND if the treatment won't make the condition worse as the horse continues to work "through it". 

 

Right now, crowded next to the other "real concerns" in my mind (is this the best thing for Farley, what is the humane thing to do, is she going to be OK, etc.) are concerns that I really shouldn't be thinking of:  What will the endurance community think?  How will I be judged?  Are people going to think I value Farley less for deciding to inject?

 

*sigh*

 

Would I be in any better (mental) shape if this wasn't so close to Minx's one year anniversary?  Maybe, maybe not.  I tend to be a mess whenever one of my horses is hurting.  :(

 

 

 

 

 

This is NOT an OCD post

In an effort to NOT continue posting a gazillion OCD posts today, I thought I would share my favorite recipie for "OCD times" (such as this). 

 

Last night I made my secret comfort food and watched Torchwood season 2 in (almost) its entirety. 

 

Drinking copious amount of alcohol, by myself, in an OCD state of mind is a BAD THING.  Instead I cook with it.  I might make a bit of Chicken Marsala or Coq a vin (I most certaintly spelled that wrong).  And....for dessert....I make THE comfort food:

 

Guinness Beer Bread

 

(BTW - this recipe is shamelessly stolen from "Simply Recipes")

 

3 cups of self rising flour (or, 3 cups of flour and 3 3/4 tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt)

1/2 c. sugar

1/3 c. molasses (I go light on the sugar and molasses because I'm not a fan of really sweet stuff)

1 bottle or can (12 oz) of Guinness.  Fizzier is better.  I used Guinness draft in a bottle

 

Pour mixture in a buttered loaf pan and bake at 350F until done (about 40 minutes).  Loaf will get quite brown because of all the sugar in it so don't panic. 

 

Melt butter over the top and slice.  Top with more butter if you are feeling REALLY depressed.  Go watch your favorite movie/tv show.  Maybe knit a pair of socks.

 

If you are adventurous, toast it under the broiler in the morning for breakfast. 

Part 3 of Melinda OCDing

I SWEAR this is my last word on this subject (today).

 

Just did a quick search of the ridecamp archives and I'm alternating between panic and hope and have settled on "neutral" (assuming the issue is hocks...).

 

• First of all, it looks like a LOT of horses (arabs doing endurance) are being diagnosised with hock issues (bone spavin, "arthritis" etc.) at 10 years old.  Farley just turned 11 in March, so it's not impossible that this has been a lowgrade issue over the last year.  I guess I was worried that Farley was so young....I don't think of a horse as "older" until they are in their 20's.  LOL.
• Farley is both sickle AND cow hocked which makes her more succeptible to hock issues. 
• Farley was bred to race and did go to the track for training as a 2 or 3 year old (can't remember exactly).  She was eventually sent out to pasture because she was too immature, but it's not hard to imagine that *some* damage resulted from her being ridden so young.
• For at least a year before I got her she was kept in a smallish stall/pen with limited exercise.  Again, not ideal.....

 

Treatment and it's response is variable....

• Some people retired their horses rather than do injections (this was my choice with Minx - semi-retirement)
• Some improved with injections, some didn't
• Everyone seems to agree that if you are going to give injections, go to the very best to do them (I am doing this)
• Some people give injections and call them "servicably sound" and retire them from enduance. 
• If it's hocks, the best thing to do is ride ride ride.  In fact people talk about their vets "ordering" them to continue to go to endurance rides.  LOL.  Obviously this depends on the treatment working well enough to make the horse comfy.
• The hocks can take a long time to fuse/not fuse at all/or fuse and still cause pain (not sure if the latter case is more likely with injections or not). 

Bottom line:  Every horse is different and treatment should be discussed between owner and vet.  There are no gaurentees, but it's also a common thing and chances are we will be able to find something that we are both comfortable with and will let her continue her job.  It's not necessarily anything I did or didn't do, especially if this problem has been brewing for the last year or so, although I'm DEFINATLY going to be asking the vet direct questions abot how my exercise and rest regieme influenced it!  (and learn and make adjustments accordingly).

 

I shall keep you posted! 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

I shall not post any more OCD posts today. 

 

The small things part 2

Totally OCDing about this. 

 

Starting thinking about something else - this horse has ALWAYS travelled really "strung" out with her hind legs - during the trot and canter her hinds are in the next county over.  She's travelled her entire life like that (at least since I've had her). 

 

Also, She's ALWAYS been more comfortable going down hill at a trot - has never wanted to walk down hills.  And when she trots down hills, she's not tucking her butt much so maybe trotting was a way of avoiding a lot of weight on her hindquarters?

 

AND she's never been entirely enthused about charging up hills unless she has a LOT of motivation (again, requires a lot of engaging of the hindquarters). 

 

AND the fact she never really engaged her hindquarters was obvious from the lack of muscling and condition in her hindquarters......Since starting dressage she's really put on muscle there so it's obvious she was NOT using her hindquarters until then.  It's been 6 months since starting dressage.  The first episode of weirdness started about 3-4 months into the dressage work.....

 

So it got me thinking....

 

I wonder how much of her "normal" (strung out) stride is because of an ongoing issue, which is only now being aggrevated because I'm asking her to move more correctly on a regular basis?  I did not get her vetted when I bought her for a myriad of reasons so I have no idea what preexisting issues there are.

 

So IF it IS hock problems and IF hock injections are recommended and IF they work.....

 

...it's going to be very interesting to see if her "normal" movement changes!

 

OK - now I'm totally excited about the fact that on Monday I may be able to make Farley COMFORTABLE if she has been experiencing low-grade pain over the last months/years!  Kind of like when I had her teeth done for the first time.  They needed to be done so bad and I was excited because I KNEW she was going to be so much more comfortable and would be able to enjoy life to the fullest. 

 

So if she has been hurting all this time, how exciting that she's going to get RELIEF!!!!!  :)

Clarification. Grrrrrr....

Obviously I shouldn't be posting today as I keep needing to revise posts and I CAN'T from work.

 

In the addendum....she was worked hard YESTERDAY, so I'm riding her today see how she responded to the hard work YESTERDAY.  I am NOT going to work her hard today....but I'm going to ask for enough (collected walk and canter) so I can let the vet know how she responded to hard work from the day BEFORE.

 

Whew.  Hopefully we are done with clarifications for the day.

Addendum

I wanted to stress that usually I would not ride a horse that was lame, or that I suspected was lame, but in this case, the reason I am considering continuing to lightly ride (and by "lightly" I mean walking 15-30 minutes with *possibly* some hand jogging etc.) is because the last time I dealt with this type of issue, I was told that keeping the horse lightly in work actually helps.  I'm fairly confident of the issue, but if I'm wrong, the level of activity planned should not exacerbate the problem.  :) 

 

(the exception to the "work lightly" plan being today, in which I plan to ask for a dressagey walk and trot to see if the issue is better or worse than yesterday as a diagnostic tool so I can let the vet know what happens when she's worked hard)

It's the small things

Remember when I was complaining that nothing blog worthy was happening?

 

Remember when I wasn't concerned about my 50 because it was *just* a 50?

 

*sigh*

 

Summary of the whole sordid tale:  Farley's lame but it's probably going to be OK.

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.

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At our lesson yesterday, Farley was fine in the warm up.  When we progressed to our lesson we started off with *really* hard half halts to the left (ie - we were *really* asking for her weight to shift to her hindquarters).  After one or two, she was lame on the Left Hind.  Identical to the issue at the end of January, but more consistent.  The issue dissapears when I go to the right (left hind on the outside), gets better on hard ground, gets better if I keep her moving and "warmed up", gets worse if she stands around or is working in deep footing.  Depending on what I'm asking her to do, it's a grade 1 to an inconsistent grade 1. 

 

Based on her age and clinical signs the trainer and I are thinking hocks. 

 

I should interject at this point that I was an emotional wreck at the lesson and spent a good 20 minutes bawling and sniffling.  You see....this week marks the one year anniversary of losing Minx.  This is my first significant vet issue since Minx.  I *know* that Farley is not going to drop dead because we going to see the vet and I *know* it's just a coincidence that it's the one year anniversary, but unfortunately my emotions are not logical and the only thing I could think of yesterday was Minx, how much I missed her etc.  As a non-emotional person (I don't cry over anything EXCEPT my horses) I (obviously) felt like a lunatic that I couldn't even speak Minx's name yesterday without turning into a fountain.  Ugggg....

 

BTW - it's worth mentioning that Farley is not a particularly "tough" horse.  If she's in pain, she'll let me know. 

 

Thought #1

I think it's unlikely that it's associated with the 100 miler we did in February.  In my experience, most injuries are going to show up within 2 weeks of the event if it is a tramatic injury related to an event.  As she was deemed *perfectly* sound by 2 competent people, one whom is a *very*experienced endurance person (Becky Hart) 3 weeks after the 100, I just think it's unlikely I'm looking at soft tissue damage. 

 

Thought #2

This is not a new issue.  In fact, this is the 3rd time I've seen it this year.  First time was late January.  It was cold and rainy and she wasn't being worked regularly because of the weather.  I took her to a reining clinic where we ran a cow down a fence and did some work that required some SERIOUS hind end work.  During the dressage lesson, going to the left, took a couple of "funny" steps.  There was speculation about stifles etc., The weather cleared up, I was able to work her regularly and we didn't see it again so I decided not to do any further diagnostics unless it showed up again.....Second time was during the 100 (late February).  Going into the 65 mile point she was jigging like a fool....so I made it a bit hard on her and asked for some dressagey collected walks and trots.  She stood at the trailer for awhile before vetting in.  The vet put a watch on the left hind.  Nothing concrete, nothing the vet was particular worried about, but he just thought he might have seen "something"....Coming into the 100 mile point I had let her do a walk and trot with no attempt at asking for a "frame" and I vetted straight off the trail - same vet vetted her and said that whatever he saw had completely disappeared.  Now, in late March, I see it again.  This week is the first "regular" schooling week since the 100 (got 5 weeks off/hand jogging/light riding) AND the weather has turned cold again.  We've been working our dressage canter and canter transitions *extensively*.  No problems during the schooling, but in the lesson during half halt schooling, we see it again, and this time it persists throughout the lesson. 

 

Thought #3

Of course, now that I *know* there is some kind of issue I can look back at some of her behaviors over the last 3-4 months and see the small things... 

 

1.  At steep descent, she stops and asks me to get off (Has been doing this since May 2009).  I thought that it was because in training I get off a LOT and run or walk (especially down hills) and she knows that I will if she asks - but now I realize that she probably was experiencing some pain. 

 

2.  When plunking around her pasture she drags her hind toes (not sure when started this.  May have always done this?).  She doesn't do it under saddle, but it still makes sense if she's trying not to articulate the hocks.

 

3.  I've noticed that she's been resting the left hind more often than the right hind over the last week or 2.

 

4.  A reluctance to collect at the canter going left some day, even though that's her "good" side.

 

5.  The stiffness at the 100 miler in the LH that I and the vet discounted because she looked fine at the finish.  In retrospect it was the difference between asking for collection and letting her cool down before vetting....and not (see comments in above section)

 

6.  When turning to exit the trailer (which requires her to pivot sharply to the left) she alternates between calmly stepping and pivoting, and doing some sort of funny leap thing (I attributed it to relative exuberance in getting out of trailer...) over last couple of months. 

 

Conclusion #1

It's associated with work that requires her to activate her hocks and hind end (turning cows  (pivots), half halts, canter, trotting circles).  It's not showing up in regular "endurance" trail work where I'm not asking for collection.

 

Conclusion #2

It *may* be associated with the weather (ie when colder she's stiffer, experiencing more pain).

 

Conclusion #3

When worked every day (whether a little or a lot) it's not as noticeable.  After time off (standing in her pen) it's more visible. 

 

Conclusion #4

This seems to be an issue developing over time, unrelated to the day to day activities. 

 

Minx had (vet diagnosed) hock issues to the point where I was considering injections or some other type of maintenance.  So I'm not totally freaking out, but I know I have some decisions to make if that's the issue. 

 

As we have discussed, armchair lameness evaluations are not particularly valuable :) so I've made an appointment with a top lameness vet in the area (not my regular vet).  Monday at 9am and then hopefully I have some answers! 

 

OK - if it IS hocks....

 

I was planning on cancelling my endurance ride next Sunday and doing American River, BUT the vet over the phone today (while making appointment) said that it's really not necessary and from a soundness, drug withdrawal, and horse welfare point of view, she should be ready to go by the weekend (if it is hocks).  I'm reserving judgement - which means although I am not e-mailing the ride manager today to let her know I'm scratching, I'm perfectly ready to do it Monday after the appointment.  (I DID cancel the jump lesson this Saturday).

 

I think I've decided that if injections are recommended I'm going to do them.  I know there's some controversy and I'm really not a fan of medically inducing a horse to be able to perform in a sport they are not suited for, but in this case I think I'm willing to do the injections. 

 

I had decided with Minx NOT to do the injections, which is one reason we competed so little in endurance in 2008.  Her hocks were only on reason among many that made her unsuitable for endurance, and as she was comfortable doing non-endurance riding without treatment, I decided we would do endurance if/when she she felt better and *just* ride the rest of the time as her hocks allowed. 

 

Farley is different from Minx.  Farley loves endurance.  Truly loves it.  Farley won't be happy without a "job", and wants to be ridden/worked most days of the week.  Truthfully, it wasn't for dressage I might delay treatment for a while.  She seems comfortable doing endurance.  However, dressage is an important part of the routine, the dressage work I'm doing should be doable for *any* horse to do comfortably (ie we aren't doing ultra fancy dressage specific moves) so I feel like if she can't do dressage comfortably, it is NOT the answer to quit dressage - eventually the issue will start to affect our endurance riding.  Which means for this horse, I will probably at least try injections if that's the vet's recommendation.

 

If anyone has strong opinions or stories they don't want to share publicly in the comment section, feel free to e-mail me at mnfaubel@gmail.com

 

I would particular like to hear from those of you that have endurance horses that have been faced with this decision.

 

If it is hocks, I'm looking forward to talking to the vet about what (if anything) I did to cause this situation.  Overtraining?  Not enough rest?  Or is it just something that some horses end up dealing with?  My gut right now says that this is unrelated to the 100 miler and more related to activities (like dressage) where I'm asking her to carry her weight more on her hind end, but it will be nice to get a professional opinion. 

 

I'll keep you posted.  I know from dealing with this issue with Minx that it's not in the horse's best interest to have extended periods of time off, so the plan is to ride today for ~10-15 minutes and maybe go on a handwalk (to see if she's better or worse.  We rode hard enough yesterday that if something soft tissue was wrong, it should be worse today).  Tomorrow (Friday) I may lightly trail ride (walk on flat ground), Saturday will be light ground work, off on Sunday (I'm out of town) and then Monday off to the vet's!

 

I'm really really really hoping this is something routine and fixable/manageable.

Blog recommendation

It's going to be one of those days where I post a million different things.

 

Is it my fault that my fellow bloggers are putting together WONDERFUL posts today????? 

 

Here's one by "Now THAT'S a TROT" that made me feel so good to read this morning.

 

Fix-a-Test

 

It obviously wasn't a "good/wonderful" day for her, but it's a great post because it reminds me that:

• Other riders struggle with the SAME issues I do.  I'm not the only person that's having trouble with the canter at training level.  It's OK to make mistakes and learn from them, you aren't going to look perfect in the ring every time.  It's not the end of the world to have a bad day in the ring!  It happens!  Accept generous compliments, practice humility and humbleness, and let the horse keep its dignity.  I love how she strikes a balance between accepting what happened and although she's disappointed, she's not placing too much of the blame on herself OR the horse, just reasonably discussing what happened and even though it's not a "funny" post, I fancy I can sense a bit of humor coming through.  (BTW - I can't comment on her blog because I'm at work, so some of you should go over there on my behalf and tell her what a great post she wrote!  Go!  Do it!)
• This was good timing.  Yesterday, on the Chronicle of the Horse Forum, one of the threads was discussing how it is *some* people's opinion that intro should not be included in a recognized dressage show since if your canter is not show ready, you are not ready to show dressage.  (similar to the same beat-to-death topic of the endurance LD distance in my opinion....but I digress).  For some reason the thread really got to me.  I think intro is valuable for people like me - cross overs from other disciplines, whose horses aren't the most ideally suited for the dressage sport, but are interested in perhaps going further with it.  Who would like to pay a little money for an intro test and get some feedback before paying a lot of money for a training test.  Who aren't incapable of cantering in a safe manner at a show, but it's definitely not showable for a myriad of reasons.  Just like an endurance LD, I think intro level dressage tests are good "progress checks" to see if you are on the right track in your training.  I guess what really got to me what (at least in the thread) it seemed like a majority of people were against the intro tests.  It wasn't split 50/50 at ALL.  At least in the "are LDs endurance?" discussions there are enough people on each side to make a lively discussion! 

 

Announcement: Trainer

With the permission of my trainer, I am going to link her on my sidebar.  Until I can get around to doing that (e.g. until I have access to non-work internet) - here's the information if you're interested in checking her out.

 

I train with Janelle Dunn of Maxfield Equestrian Center (which is her facility).  She's passionate about what she does and dedicated to her students.  She CARES, but she's also direct, forthright, and honest - three traits I find invaluable.  Over the last 6 months I have come to trust her judgement (a HUGE thing as y'all know how opinionated I am) and I must say it is a RELIEF to have a sort of "horsey mentor" whom can help me make good decisions about training, tack, horse issues etc. 

 

She's good with adults and "non-traditional" dressage riders.  Which means when I show up in my bright blue tights, half chaps, ariat terrains and a rump rug she doesn't bat an eye.  (I will point out that in 6 months she has convinced me to switch to fillis irons and field boots without actually telling me to....which was quite a feat considering my hatred for both - but she's right, riding in the proper equipment DOES make a difference in dressage.). 

 

And lastly she gives good recommendations and her horses are happy.  :)

 

OK - back to regular programming with next post...which is some not-so-great-news. 

 

(God - do you remember when I told you my life was not blog worthy any more and was even kinda....boring?  I take it back, all of it back.  I liked not having a blog worthy life where I spent my time writing mundane, wordy, rambling posts.  Really) 

 

(BTW - I'm not being facitious here - me and God really do have these types of conversations)

Letter to Mr. Kitty

Dear Mr. Kitty -

Althought I appreciate your efforts to save my carpeting, in the future I would prefer you to puke on the carpeting as opposed to my favorite sweat shirt.

Sincerely,

Melinda