Hacking beautifully and a happy physio check.

Things are so so positive.

I haven't managed to get Adam out competing much recently. With my granny passing away and family to be around, he hasn't been the top of my priorities. But hopefully partying a little more from now on. My trailer test is also on the cards!

But....!

He is hacking like a complete beaut! 95% of the time he is a different horse. He still has his testing times but with my confidence now more so in clouds rather than the sand, I am able to cope with the other 5%!

He now hacks infront! Something I never ever thought I'd manage with him. He'd either plant, stick himself into reverse gear or spin. If I questioned any of these behaviour problems, it would result in him rearing and me crapping my pants...
Now if he does any of the above, the argument is much shorter, I am much firmer and I ALWAYS win. He very very rarely has another horse take the lead these days.

For those who have known Adam since he was 5-6 or maybe even before, you will probably remember that hacking has never been his strong point. Climbing hedges, sitting on bonnets, waving frantically at cars (him not me!) And using that trusty reverse gear given any opportunity! Funny how it took me years to teach him to rein back...

I'd love you guys to see him now. He's made me very proud! Even if he is 13...

He is also schooling brilliantly...
And I can feel such a difference from using his massage pad for 30 mins before schooling. His transitions are smoother, he's softer much quicker and seems generally happier in himself.
We even managed a counter canter last week which was a real achievement! :)

Our lateral work is still 'work in progress' but it is getting there slowly. Also teaching him to cross over behind from the floor after lunging him. He's getting much better at it!

Now onto the physio! - We had our 6 month check up 2 weeks ago.
She confirmed he has no spinal pain. Just the usual little bits where his muscle is developing and changing. She was really positive with how he is going and looking and said he looks like a different horse. Holding muscle in the right places and much more compact.

We are still using Cortaflex, GastriKalm and our equilibrium products, although it is a little toasty for his magnetic back pad at the moment, very very hot in Cornwall!

Something I am excited about is a product I have just won on Hay-Net blogging site.
All I'm mentioning is that its a calmer. Nothing that I have ever heard of before and something I'm looking forward to reviewing.

I will keep you updated on this!

Hope your kissing spine horses are coping in this heat! Keep positive :)

May - June 2014 - Muscle is appearing and competing!

Its been a while...!

First off - building up Adams top line and preparing him for the show ring...

Here are some photos of our problems following on from my last post!

He had a bump in the trailer 

And another bump in the trailer!

And not holding quite enough top line for the show ring.

So what did I do about it? 

I bought a fantastic product from Shiny Show Horse which encourages hair growth. I had read some good reviews on it online, and had already tried another product which I didn't find very helpful!

I used Shapleys Original MTG to get the face scrapes to grow back, and also put it on his sides where his hair had rubbed from my leg. If you're a regular reader, you will probably remember my gaiter zip rubbed and dug at him one day in the school, I think I have a uber sensitive horse. After all he is p/b Arab! Fine hair!

The Shapleys Original MTG is fantastic. Within a few days I could see new little hairs sprouting through his skin. It is oily so it didn't show up when I had applied it. It smells a bit funny but they do a version which has a more pleasant smell, but I am not too worried! It also bought back the hair on his neck where his reins had rubbed him (such a flower!) as well as having fleecy covers for his reins...so we have been supporting the race horse look! The rubs from where my leg sits is still work in progress, but it certainly looks better!

Then moving onto his weight and top line. 

He wasn't looking his best - He looked fantastic a few months back when he started to muscle up, but his work load increased and I didn't (at the time) feel the need to increase his food as he was on good grass and hay. I also tried and tested a few suppliments to see if I could make his  tummy a little more comfortable.

I genuinly believe that he has probably got ulcers. I wont get him scoped to be told if he has them or not, I just treat him as though he has them. Ever since he had his kissing spine oporation, he has coliced quite easily, especially when going onto new grass. He also used to get very gassy. He'd come in from being in the field puffing and almost burping. Sometimes I would be riding him and I could feel the burp passing through him underneath me - and voila! a horsey burp! very bizarre. He has also previously been very gassy.

First I tried NAF hayledge ballencer which was reccomened to me by someone in a shop. I fed a tub of it and didn't see a huge difference. 

A friend who also has a horse with a sensitive stomach recommended Equus Health's GastroKalm.

Adam is almost like a new horse with this stuff! He is now on his second tub and allows me to brush him stomach, girth him up with minimal problems and seems generally happier and more coaperative to ride. And he doesn't get burpy and colicy!

Overal I am really pleased with the results, and it is well worth the money!

Incase your interested, this is the write up on their website-

Gastro-Kalm is the ultimate gut filter absorbing gasses and toxins within the stomach. It can help with diarrhoea, the build up of gasses, stress colic, gastric ulcers and laminitis. These issues affect 50% of foals, 58% of show horses, 67% of endurance horses, 75% of eventers and 93% of racehorses. 500g is enough for 1 months maintance supply.

I have also been feeding him Equi-Jewl. I have previously fed him this a few years ago when he was in hard work and wasn't quite holding what I wanted him to hold!

I've used three quarters of the bag, and the results are amazing! It is high in oil so makes his coat look super shiny and is a slow release energy feed so doesn't make him stupid. 

Before and after - 

After!

And as you can see from the photos above, we have been out competing a bit!

He came 2nd and 3rd at a riding club show. First show on grass for a long time! Was very forward going in the first class, and spent majority of the time attempting to wee in the second class. He was ridden by the judge and behaved beautifully. I was a very proud mother! 

2nd show was at Tall Trees again. He warmed up beautifully in the indoor arena. Didn't let me down yet again. Came home with 3 firsts in large hack, small riding horse and P/B arab. Qualified for Equifest, SPWA and Cricklands. What a super super boy I have. 

He is a true superstar!

19th - 30th April - Hair regrowth, building muscle and Squid arrives!

So I have a bald pony!

His hair has come through fine this year. I'm not really too sure why, he wasn't clipped late! Just a flower.

He has spent most of his week schooling. Keeping him under the thumb and behaving. Unfortunately the weather has been a bit pants, so there hasn't been many people to hack with. He needed the school :D

BUT - we are mastering turn on the forehand! I had one lesson pre op 'attempting' this tricky manover. It resulted in him bucking, leaping on the spot and then rearing vertically, so you can imagine how I felt giving this another go.
I had a lesson with Jo a few weeks ago, and she mentioned giving it a bash to get him listening to my leg and moving away from my leg a little more. She helped me on the ground by giving him a little more encouragemnt. He does it, and he doesn't kill me! Winner!
He has also been re-introduced to rein back (intentional I might add!) and he's coping with it well! So schooling wise, he has been going brilliantly.

Had a highly exciting hack with Jo last weekend, involved being chased by a bull, Adam going really quite crazy and then me VERY NEARLY dismounting. All caught on a GoPro.... super!

Bye bye Baxter :(

Some exciting news also... We have a new horse! We sadly had to say goodbye to Baxter. His tooth abscess wasn't clearing after 3 anti-biotic attempts and he just isn't right. He's gone to live out with Colin for 6 months to see if he comes right. Fingers crossed he does.
He did Lisa's confidence such good, and she's ready now to own her own again for the first time in 11 years.

He is called Calimero. I call him Squid because it sounds like Calimari.
Hes 12, 16hh and has mainly done dressage. We saw him in Southampton last weekend (after staying with the lovely Spider and Andy in Cambridgeshire) and Lisa fell in love. I also think he's quite nice ;)
I will be competing him this season, hopefully cracking on doing some dressage, then aiming to do some BE 90's with him once we have been XC schooling and show jumping a few times :) Lisa will be competing him also, in her own time doing what she fancies :)

EXCITING!

And of course... Adam will still be going to his parties, strutting his stuff.

Adam has lost some condition. So to get him looking his best, he is now having EquiJewl in his feed. Hopefully this will build him up for the showing season. 

Adams attempt at pulling his shoe off in the field. Fail.

Equilibrium Update

As promised - I'm writing my final post on Equilibrium's massage and magnetic pads.

Overall I'm very pleased with the outcome. His top-line has improved greatly. He's starting to really take shape and look like a horse who works correctly and you wouldn't of guessed he had kissing spine surgery 13 months ago unless I told you! He looks like a different horse.

His ridden work has improved also. He usually has it on for 30 mins before work, either ridden or lunged. If I'm fighting against day light (not easy this time of year) then I pop it on after he's worked whilst I muck out etc. Its fab because you can just leave them to it, its no extra effort to your daily routine. I have a busy lifestyle, and time with Adam is limited during the week because of commuting nearly an hour to work daily, so it really is perfect! Even if he is having the day off, he still has a 30 min massage before bedtime.

His transitions are a lot smoother. He used to hop upwards into the transitions (especially walk to trot, I almost used to dread the first few) because of the tightness over his back, but he seems to be so much more comfortable. That is the main difference I can feel. He's also had a few changes of bit and saddle flocking recently, so I think it's all making a difference.

The battery life is good. It says you should get around 6 full 30 min massages out of it - I think I'm actually managing more than that. Its really easy to charge and the battery lets you know its ready by switching the red light off.

The Magnetic Pad is also a fab product. He has it on over night whilst he is stabled - then has a break from it whilst he is out. I have the magnets placed down the front and back of the pad as that's usually where he gets a little sore. I'm very careful not to over rug him as the back pad seems to keep him really warm. The fit is perfect for him, really easy to adjust the straps and it doesn't allow you to tighten the breast strap too tight (could become tricky for him to eat off the floor with it too tight!)

For a horse who is rather sensitive in his back now, he familiarised with the sensation of the massage pad very quickly. By his 3rd massage, he was shutting his eyes and enjoying it. He was a little unsure to begin  with - but soon relaxed!
If anyone with a horse with kissing spine or rehabbing kissing spine horses is looking into buying either one of these products, I highly recommend both. They are good value for money, well manufactured and a well known brand.
The materials are fantastic, strong and durable. The surcingle clips are heavy duty, and unlikely to break unless you jump up and down on them.

I'm very impressed and glad I purchased such a fantastic product which is benefiting my boy.

March 22nd 2014. The start to our show season

Today was d-day for Adam - would he behave and cope with his first showing show post kissing spine op?

Well the answer was yes, and he returned to the show ring with a bang. 

The venue was Tall Trees Arena in Davidstow - Cornwall. They have a huge massive outdoor school, and two indoor schools. The showing classes where in the smaller of the two indoors and the show-jumping was next door. It wasn't quiet, but wasn't too busy. Perfect first party!

He travelled well with Colin and was very relaxed when we arrived. He had his Equilibrium massage pad on for 25mins whilst having a munch on his hay and he felt super when I hoped on!

His first class was Best Coloured. I used this as a warm up class - competed against piebalds and skewbalds (I look very silly on my dun but some shows allow it) and he behaved and worked beautifully. We won!

We then continued to win Best Arab/Part Bred/, and best Riding horse/Hunter and returned home with the Champion title. I've never ever felt so proud. 

I had to hold back my tears when the judge was so pleasant and lovely about him. She asked me why I was wearing a neck strap, and I explained briefly what he had been through and she congratulated me on our achievements. She actually asked me to put him in the boot of her BMW :)

She also asked me what my plans where - I was unsure at this point, as i wasn't sure how he was going to cope with a quiet show, let alone making any more plans. She encouraged me to push ourselves and show his ability as a show hack/riding horse. Thought he had real potential. So nice to hear after everything we have been through. 

So my plans now are -

• Continue working on my dressage tests and improve my marks.
• Hopefully affiliate him by the summer.
• Compete at Liskeard show.
• Qualify for a championship again.
• Looking for sponsorship to fund my fees.

Equilibriums products have made a huge difference to Adams way of going. He no longer goes a day without having his massage pad and magnetic pad on. I will be writing my full view and full review very soon. So for the people who have been following this - Its a positive outcome! 

March 20th - Preparing for our first proper showing show.

Well, the time has come. I have dug out the old show bridle and his pelham and he rode beautifully.
We have our first showing show on Sunday 23rd and I'm quite frankly shaking in my boots!
Our last 'showing' outing resulted in him rearing at the ring side and refusing the go in. He went home very promptly and I lost about 90% of my confidence (this was pre op and before he was diagnosed). Since then we have been to one away from home outing doing some dressage - had one at home outing (last weeks) and now we are really grabbing the bull by its horns!

So I am hoping we will come home with all smiles - even if we are not placed, as long as his behavior is acceptably - I am a happy mummy!

                                         

A few photos of him showing in 2011 - 

16th March - Hacking beautifully, cantering in fields and dressage.

Wow! What a weekend! I have finally sat down on the sofa for the first time... phew!

Things are going in the right direction. 

On saturday I met Jo again at the bottom of the bridle path and went for a hack with her. She took us for a good canter through a few fields which involved very narrow gates (I didn't canter through those!) and new unfamiliar fords. He didn't stick his head between his knees and fling me into space this time, just cantered happily up the hill.

Just before whizzing up the hill!

I then hacked with Baxter (our new boy) around the village today. He walked in front 99.9% of the way . We had a tractor moment going out of the drive, but nothing dramatic. 

Adam having his 30 min Equilibrium massage before his hack and dressage. 

Best wake up Adam! Work to do!

We then had our dressage test! This is our first party (although he was at home) since July 2013, and with my confidence issues it was a challenge for me. 

I rode Prelim 12 and Novice 27. I wouldn't of even dreamt of riding a Novice test 6 months ago but I do feel like we are getting somewhere. We managed 62.2% in the Prelim - finishing 3rd and 58.8 in the Novice - finishing joint 1st with Jo! 

Very pleased mother! I was nervous today, I haven't been put under pressure with him in this sort of situation for a while, so it was a good test for both of us.

Now to study my scores and comments and keep working hard! 

Hacking, Equilibrium and Adams new friend

This week has been an interesting one with Adam.
We went for another hack alone during the week, which didn't start off very well! We met a tractor at the top of the road which he really made an episode about. finally got him past it (at quite a high speed) after trying for 10 mins. Ruth-1 Adam -0....
He then had a 'moment' on one of the busier roads because there was a terrifying car in the field. Again after nearly loosing my temper, i won!
Although he wasn't perfect, he did the things I have been working on with Jo. Walked straight through the fords etc.

I hacked with Jo again yesterday, and he was nearly faultless. I had taught her a lesson before hand, so had to drag him in from the field and hop on.
He walked all the way down the bridle path in front, nearly walked all the way around the hack in front, and then came through the big ford in front again. woohooooo!

He's been schooling well too. I have been putting his Equilibrium pad on before I ride if I have the time and if not, he will always have it on afterwards.
He feels a lot more supple and 'warmed up' when I get on him now. So far, I'm really pleased with how he is responding. I am borrowing a camera next week so hopefully I'll manage to get some photos of him actually working. Unfortunately my little digital broke beards ago and I have never managed to get another!
We have our first Novice dressage test next week. Im still trying to learn it, but i have been teaching it to Jo (she is gonna kick my butt with Colin!).

Today I'm meeting Jo at the bottom of the bridle path and then we are riding on from there. So we shall see what todays hack brings!

Lisa had found her horse too! We had to return Zizzle to her owner as she just wasn't suitable for hacking with Adam. She was a little to handy with her hind legs and had a tendency to nap.
So the past few months we have been looking. First one we went to see didn't have a sound leg on it! Then the second, the owner failed to tell us until the last moment that it had COPD.  Of course we where just looking for a loan, and usually horses are up for loan for a reason!
BUT! Lisa has been friends with Jo's step sister for years. She had a few children and really lost her confidence so brought a lovely 16hh school master. He's called Baxter, and should be joining Adam very soon! Lisa loves him!

Schooling for the first time after using our Equilibrium massage and magnetic pads.

Adam having Equilibrium massage pad on for the first time. Video!

Adam having Equilibrium massage pad on for the first time. Video!

March 3rd - First play with our Equilibrium Massage Pad!

I nearly burst with excitement today when my Equilibrium bits arrived.
I literally couldn't wait to get back to the yard to try it. I charged it up at work ready too haha!

I watched the little video on how to use it first in my lunch brake so i knew how to put it all on -

http://youtu.be/lLeyoRvUpN4

I didn't tie him up, just looped his lead rope through the string so if he panicked, it would slip through.
I couldn't quite manage the straps and holding him all at the same time!

He wasn't really fussed, made a few confused faces but with some reassurance he soon got used to it.
Seemed a little tense in the neck to begin with, gave him a sweetie and he really started to just chill :)

Very clever boy! 

He then had it turned on (low setting) and he had a worried face. Didn't fidget, stood very still but felt a little tense.

He did alot of this..."what is that?"

All fixed in and happy! 

I have some videos to upload also, which I will do tomorrow. You can then see how he really reacted. Overall very impressed!

Finished the evening with his magnetic back pad on for the night under his rug :)

Equilibrium stuff is here!

EEEEEEEK!

Its arrived! very VERY excited! 

Equilibrium 

 

2nd February - Tackling the big ford alone!

Well, Yesterday was certainly a challenge! It was a lovely day, I was expecting to have a fairly relaxed hack with Jo and Colin...

How wrong I was!
He is fine to walk out the drive, I met Jo at the top of the road and we rode on together from there. He used to be very very nappy to go out of any drive, especially when it involved going down hill (as you can imagine, this wasn't very comfortable for him) but ever since his op, he has happily walked/trotted out the drive without any arguments. He is definitely more comfortable there! BUT...

We have to walk down a fairly steep hill to the first ford. He has napped a few times going down there with me before, but i have always won. In company he is a total turd and wants to walk behind Colin. he knows whats at the bottom of the hill, and uses Colin as an excuse to be a twit!
He plants himself to the floor and refuses to move forward. If i put my leg on at the wrong moment, he will back up and back up and back up. At one point I actually waved goodbye to Jo!
He napped badly walking down the hill yesterday, then got his knickers in such a twist that he started to bunny hop which then resulted in him rearing. Finally managed to get him going forward again....then we have the ford to contend with.
He quite frankly was not keen on giving up. Our aims at the moment are getting Adam to walk in front out hacking, which includes leading through the ford. Yesterday was a 'Im not going to play your game day' and he really really pushed me. He reared, backup up, pranced about like a total turd. Colin was stood on the side of the ford, he just had to move forward on his own without having Colin to follow. I eventually won, but boy he really did push me and tried to scare me. At one moment i felt myself getting very frustrated...took a deep breath and cracked on again. I think he thought i was going to give in. Sorry mate, I'm stubborn.

Lisa and I went to watch Colin have a show jumping lesson with Richard Waygood at Barguse riding centre. Really good lesson, and Colin jumped brilliantly.
She then boxed back to my yard and I tacked up and hopped on. I left the yard before her, and trotted his little bleddy heart out until we got to the downward nappy hill. He walked down sensibly, i picked up a little trot just as i approached the bottom of the hill and wrapped my short ol legs around him. flapped like a pony club kid and he went through! So i then turned him around, and made him go in and out of the ford a few times. He then proceeded to walk to the top of the hill and through the scary farm to wait for Colin to catch up with us. We hacked through the village, and then came back through the ford on the way home....which he also went through first time in front with no arguments.

So although he was a total turd yesterday and I quite frankly felt a bit pants about it all. He really did redeem himself today. Trotting to things that i know he's going to be a monkey about seems to really work....Massive pats for pony and i think he deserves a carrot in his tea tonight :)

It really does make a difference to your riding when you don't need to worry about the other rider. Colin is terrified of Adam, he's a right softy for a stallion! Jo is a qualified equine behaviourist, and has helped my confidence boom through the roof in the past month or so. Its not the kissing spines you have to deal with, its the pain memory and attitude it leaves you with thats the biggest hurdle to cross.
Especially after Adam being so unrideable just before his op. Even bending right was a mission.
If i hadn't asked for help a few months back, i'd still be shaking in my boots.

Cross country schooling has been briefly mentioned in passing. So watch this space. He's never been before, so should be interesting!