More Time Off

Somewhere before my last post, Curtis went to the track for the day to get his tendon checked. As of September, he had a 75% tear in the right front. This month has been 9 months  on stall rest and limited turn out and his tendon looks pretty awesome. But you never judge a book by its cover.

Curtis is going to need another 6 months. It's healing but the vet said after the ultrasound that he would not train him on that leg yet. And because 6 months means January, it will really be more like another 9 before we have him checked and hopefully back to work. 

I have a bestie who worked for a trainer in PA that said you don't want to start those horses back in a deep track. Pavement or hard ground. Jogging forever. So probably my person will have to ride while I pony them down the road. Because in March ground is mush. Unlike right now which would be perfect.......

My person isn't even sure he wants to keep waiting for him and said maybe he should just give him to our neighbor and ex partner in the horse as a lawn ornament. But he also said when SJ gets to riding solo he wants Twister back and I can go horse shopping. Well we have a perfect horse for me sitting in the stall! I want him even if he can never jump. Which probably after another year he could do low stuff which is all my chicken ads will do anyways. And I can always jump on Twister because really, how much does my person actually ride? 

I'd love to see Curtis make an epic come back. It was one year ago yesterday he won his 2nd at Indiana Grand. But I also want him as my new loyal steed.  And there is always a chance of losing him, if he was entered for a tag. 

How can such a big gorgeous boy look so awkward?

But whether or not I get him or he goes back to racing, it's still 9 more freaking months. Good things come to those who wait, right?

We Need Lessons

I've been making Twister work when I ride him. Making us both work. And dropping my irons once a ride for as long as I can, which isn't very long before I feel like I'm falling off and dying. He spends half the ride leaning on my leg, avoiding my hands, dragging me on the forehand very fast. I get some good movements. Moments where he's round and in front of my leg. But we are both out of shape so it takes a whole ride before we get anywhere.

I know I need to not be so hard on either of us. We've basically done nothing for nearly 2 years. I can't expect us to pull out 30 minutes of decent work. I need to just be thrilled with my moments and build on them. And get my damn legs back. And believe me, I'm working on it. I hate the damn floating legs. My left leg is really bad. It has been for a long time. I will think I have my legs solid on Twister's side and next thing I know my left leg will be up on his shoulder. My chiropractor said this has something to do in part with my back problems and extra weakness on that side. That's why that leg floats so bad.

I've been working on transitions. Walk to trot, trot to walk, in a circle. He just gets so hardheaded sometimes. Just whoa already! And cantering is basically just a way to let him blow off steam. He thinks he's a racehorse. How is it my 4 year old WTC with better transitions than my 13 year old who has been ridden 9345093809 times?! Twister and I need a lesson with Silke big time. It might kill us.... we're so out of shape! Next time mom comes to visit so someone can wrangler the child while I ride.

E and I went out Sunday morning with Rascal and a 3 year old pony. Rascal was super awesome. He stop drop and rolled on me because the flies were eating him up and he was a bit of a stubborn ass about going in the pond. But once he was in he was fine and we walked through the pond over and over. He went through the ditches and the creek. We even had a full grown deer jump up out of the grass and both horses jumped but by the time I realized what was happening Rascal was already over it.

I've literally been riding my ass off. I've lost 6 lbs in the last few weeks. I'm 4 lbs away from pre pregnancy weight. And my favorite green breeches fit! I never thought I'd wear them again!

LOVE these breeches!!

Do You Even Realize I'm Up Here???

Yesterday morning I rode Twister while SJ and my person rode Rascal. But last night I decided to ride Twister again. He was in total racehorse mode.

about the only nice moment we had

I forgot to put spurs on and he was leaning on my leg/completely ignoring my leg. I didn't have my dressage whip just a jump bat which I kept smacking him behind my leg with. That made him even more beastly. I don't even know if I can all it 'forward' because while he was speeding right along, he was anything but round for most of the time and dragging me around and forgetting he had any breaks whatsoever.

I kept trying to spiral him in each direction but he was completely oblivious. Usually that helps control his speed, get him in front of my leg and being round and stop dragging me off. But not this time. We popped over a x-rail twice and after he landed he'd canter and I couldn't bring him back to a trot. Just a total nutjob thinking he was a racehorse thanks to the cooler day and low humidity.

So today I put the bevel back on the Micklem. And if tonight, that doesn't help me out any I'll put the 3-ring on. I hate having to bit up. But sometimes my middle- aged horse needs a reminder of how to respect the rider on his back. And sometimes a ride or 2 in a stronger bit does just that.

E did his feet for me Monday night. And I'm so happy to say that the White Lightning Gel is really making a difference on his cracks and white line disease. Everything is growing out nicely. He's been back on his Essential K supplement for a month now. Yesterday I couldn't find my bottle of Farrier Barrier so I started using Karatex Hoof Hardener. I did find the Farrier Barrier this morning. But maybe it's time to use something else. I'll use it daily for a couple weeks then 2-3x a week after that and hope it toughens up his feet. Unfortunately summer grass has made both his feet and Rascal's usually tough feet pretty soft.

at least this saddle puts me in a good position to hang the frig on!

Cowboy Up and Ride

Being a stay at home mom can make me go a little crazy. I like working. I like having a job. And just like any human ever, I like having some time to myself. Saturday I had to turn down a chance to ride. But Sunday when I was invited again I was all over that. I needed some adult interactions and baby free time.

Twister's feet were a total mess. And I wanted to take Rascal off the farm.

Well I almost came off in the front yard. 4 horses joined Rascal and I at the farm. They splashed through the ditch. I was too relaxed on little baby horse and he spooked and I nearly came off. After I got him standing still, I got off shaking. I wanted to thrown the towel in right then and there. But it was ride Rascal or don't ride at all.

I dusted off my XC vest, put it on and got back on the horse. After that he was pretty good for a 4 year old that hasn't been off the farm since September 2015. We had one more big spook. And because I'm still lacking in leg strength, I got off at a couple of bigger ditches and one steep bank. And I'm glad I did. The bank he wasn't doo bad at. Took a few minutes for him to be led down it but he didn't leap. The one big bank he jumped like he was in a 4 star event. So the next time through I led him again but this time he slid down in and lept up it. Next time I'll ride through it. And with a little encouragement he walked through the creek too.

He's so good. He wants to please. But he does wear me out. He has to be ridden every step of the way. Not like Twister is nicely clears trees instead of rubbing so close to them that I could break my leg. Leg and 2 reins constantly all the time. After 2 hours I was exhausted. But so proud of how I, a known chicken shit, cowboyed up and rode the damn horse. And I can't wait for the next time we go out.

As much as I love riding Twister, I need to ride Rascal as much as possible when we go off the farm. SJ will be riding solo before I know it (2 years probably) so I want him unflappable.