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 :)

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 - 

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!

Well, Yesterday was certainly a challenge! It was a lovely day,

Official Pessoa Training Aid Video

I am quite lucky, as I always had someone to help me with starting out with a pessoa. I lunged Adam in one for years before his op, so he was already used to the 'evil' contraption.

I know alot of people find them confusing things to even look at/put on, i often find myself getting in a tangle if i put it away in a mess. So i just take it all to bits and start again. Somehow i really do wonder how it manages to get in such a state.

I found this video on Youtube when having a little browse and thought it may be of some use. It stresses the importance of making sure all your runners are in the correct places so the horse works evenly on both sides.

Equilibrium

Some exciting news!....
I will be reviewing and writing a running blog post on Equilibrium's massage pad and magnetic pad.
There have been a lot of questions raised as to whether these products will actually benefit our horses.
When I receive my bits in the post, I will keep a diary as to whether I can feel much difference in Adams performance and mentality.

Some people seem to think they help with girthing issues, I can update you on where we are at with that issue!

One thing I'm excited about is if they do really make him feel more comfortable. He is a very sensitive horse who likes to pretend that everything offends him, especially with people he doesn't know. If you have been reading my blog right from the very start (I like to think some of you do) then you will also know that Adam had and sometimes still does have behavioral issues. If you wanted a sensitive horse to try these products on, then he is your man!

So we shall see, and I promise to keep you all updated :)


I've spent so much time on their website!

http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/

Massage Pad -http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/equilibrium_therapy/massage_therapy_massage_pad/

• Clinically proven to promote relaxation and improve back flexibility.
• Can help to increase stride length.
• Each massage session lasts for 30 minutes; it strokes, vibrates and oscillates, stimulating the muscles.
• There are three different settings:
• Low - To cool down after exercise
• Medium - To warm muscles prior to exercise
• High - To help alleviate back problems.
• The battery lasts for at least six sessions and recharges in a few hours, using the portable charger.
• DID YOU KNOW? MAGNETIC THERAPY can help to increase the speed of healing when treating specific back conditions. Combined use of the Equilibrium Therapy Magnetic Back Pad overnight and the Massage Pad once a day can help to maintain a healthy back.

Magnetic back pad -http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/equilibrium_therapy/magnetic_therapy_magnetic_back_pad/

• Strong, circular, permanent magnetic fields of alternating pole sequences
• Alternate poles increase electric charge in cell membrane improving the cell's ability to regenerate
• 700 Gauss strength to penetrate tissue
• Flat, slim and flexible to avoid pressure sores
• Protected inside waterproof pillow packs for easy washing

• Magnets stick easily to any part of the inner lining

18th - 28th February - Hacking is finally getting better!

WOOHOOO!
We have now managed a hack on our own! Trotted straight to the main road, crossed twice with passing traffic.
Rode through two fords which he didnt argue about AT ALL! To be completely honest, he was a total angel! I came down the drive beaming from ear to ear! So thats my hightlight of this week :)

We have our dressage test coming up fairly soon. We are attempting our first ever Novice test so should be interesting!

Our first hack alone (successful one) since I moved to Cornwall.

Very tired pony after hacking!

Sandy nose after a roll in the school!

Looking very cute as usual.

Also, i have ditched the devils claw for the moment. He has been bare foot behind for most of the winter as his turnout and exercise has been limited. He is having a full set put back on today now i'm managing to hack a little more, but hes not comfortable somedays on his hocks.  So we are now trialing Cortaflex. I'm sure he will also feel more comfortable hacking when he's fully shod :)

A Case of Dorsal Spinal Process Impingement in a Horse - Treatment of ki...

Standing Equine Surgery - DSP Resection ( Kissing Spines Surgery)

Something that I still find very hard to watch. Well done if you manage it!

14th - 18th February - A positive outcome!

FINALLY! the penny is dropping with our hacking.
Unfortunately for both of us, the past few months have been tough. The weather has been pants, no day light and had some family issues along the way. So in more ways than one things have gone down hill.

BUT! I am still hacking out with Jo and he fabulous stallion Colin during the weekends. We have been out 3 times now and its starting to really help him!
On Sunday the sun was shining, there was minimal wind (about ruddy time) and I had schooled him the day before.

I literally hopped on, put him into a contact and rode him forward out of the drive in front the whole way. Jo looked somewhat surprised! He then continued to walk/trot infront majority of the way. We had a few blips (usually concerning nothing)...we are currently trying a new trick with him.
If he stops and refuses to move forward, he is now span tightly until he feels as if he wants to move forward and then pushed on straight. Dare i say...it did work! sometimes took a few attempts, but it just gets him moving and not backwards or up! He did do some random leap in the in once which we both found rather amusing. Luckily I fell back into the right place!
He led the way all the way up the bridle path, I had to jump off once to get under a fallen tree (jumping it may of been a little adventurous at this point and I didn't fancy snapping my back in half underneath it!)
He stood nicely for me to get on, whilst Colin climbed up the bank and back down to get past it. He then proceeded to walk infront until we got to a little streamy area. I could call it a ford but i'd be lying!
He was infront at this point, he stopped and just refused to move. He was using Colin as an excuse so we moved Colin to the side of the stream. After a few pirouettes and alot of vocal encouragement - he jumped it! and continued to walk infront! BIG PATS FOR PONY!

To some this may seem like such little steps, but that is such a massive step for my lad. He's never found hacking the easier option, and I've never found it the most relaxing of past times. But he MUST learn to get over it and start to enjoy it. He cannot school and lunge for the rest of his life!
We even managed a bit of his hack allowing him to relax on a long rein and enjoy himself. He even randomly trotted off on a few occasions. Yet again another surprised face by Jo!

I'm dead pleased, and I'm glad that I'm persisting with the problem. I don't expect it to be a quick fix at all, and we have a long road ahead of us, but he's currently moving in the right direction!

He also even managed to get out on Sunday morning for a sunbathe in his field :)

Adam. Post kissing spine, first jump.

Adam jumping post kissing spine.

Here's the little monster jumping a few fences, finally learning where to put his feet!