Let’s Discuss: Horses and Potato Chips

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Britt

Horses are like potato chips – you can’t only have one. Or can you?

Right now I’m a single horse mother (for lack of another word), but that hasn’t always been the case. In high school I competed both Merry and Mac in eventing, and so had the responsibility of keeping both in shape, training, taking lessons, and generally keeping both in show-ready condition. It was frequently exhausting, but the completely different rides (Merry being hot, well schooled jumping, but prone to ultra sensitive antics, and Mac being quiet, but opinionated and green, as well as being a pony) kept things really interesting and exciting.

Merry going Novice @ The Fork

Mac

But for the last ten years, my attentions have always been dedicated to one horse at a time. This meant that my relationship with that horse was always a lot more close and my investment in the journey that much more.

Cuddles with Ivan

But there are times, like now, when having two horses doesn’t sound like that bad of an idea again. Having a second horse would allow me to continue an active riding career while I figured out what is going on with Foster. Foster on the other hand, would absolutely hate this scenario, as I learned how jealous he is when I was briefly riding Bob a while back. He’d nicker to me every time I walked away from his stall, watching and making pathetic noises while I groomed and worked with the other horse. It sounds silly, but Foster enjoys being a pampered single [horse] child.

Plenty of personality to go around

Of course having two horses is a logistical pipe dream for me anyways, financially and regarding time. But as I watch friends go through the adventures of working two horses, or seeking out their second steed, it does make you wonder.

What about you? Do you have one horse? Two horses? What do you feel is the right mix for you? If you have two (or more) horses, how do you handle the balance of attending to both/all? In a perfect world, what would you do?

A is for Answers

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Britt

If you’ve been reading this for any amount of time, you’ve probably realized that I really like answers. Having a NQR issue without resolution is like a carrot on a string, and drives me bonkers. Oh yeah, and you’ve probably also notice that I may or may not be ~~a crazy passionate horsewoman~~ Type A. It’s a lost cause.

So when the farrier came out, put the hoof testers on Foster and got nothing, I was frankly pretty disappointed. I really wanted just one little flinch that would indicate the sore spot and then we could fix it and get on our merry way. Instead, we had a very long conversation about next steps. Between farrier and vet (thank you for working together, I love you forever), these are:

Continue with normal plan for hind feet – rocker shoes, short toe, packed with magic cushion every other cycle
Change front feet- bring breakover point back with shorter toe and half-round shoes
Add leather pads and magic cushion temporarily to front feet to alleviate any soreness
Get a chiropractor out
After his session, begin trotting again
Wait 2 weeks and re-evaluate

Sigh.

I’ll be working with a new chiropractor that the vet recommends, because at this point I feel like I’m still forming my A team and I want everyone to communicate well- so she can fill the chiropractor in regarding all the nonsense of the last several months before coming.

Here’s officially hoping they never find my blog.

So anyways. I suppose we’ll be just walking for a little while longer, instead of cantering as we were supposed to do this week. Chiropractor to the rescue?

2015 Goal Review

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Britt

It’s almost the end of the year, which means that it’s time to look back at the goals I made in January and see how we’ve done!

Horse Goals

Here’s the big one! Move up to Training!
Increase strength in haunches through cavaletti work (2-3x/week)
Walk-Canter-Walk transitions
- Lead changes
Completing a Second Level dressage test with a score over 63%
~~Get a 7 on a lengthening~~ completed 2/11/15

Bahahahahahahahaha…. goals. Ulcers knocked us out from February until about April. The only silver lining is that prior to this we did complete a winter clinic at the Carolina Horse Park, where you could say we moved up to Training, except that it didn’t include cross country- so I’m going to call that goal incomplete. We did however make great new contacts in Mr. Robert Costello, trainer extraodinaire, and also got a 7 in our first attempt at a judged lengthening, all at that outing.

In the short time between April and July when we were in full work, I can proudly say that Foster’s booty was strong. While some of this was cavaletti/ground pole related, a lot of it probably had to do with the more intense collected work we did, including starting to teach piaffe. I’m going to call that one a win.

The rest, as you all know, is a wash. After a lesson at the end of June with Bobby C, Foster became NQR to downright lame. After throwing all kind of diagnostic tests at him we eventually discovered negative palmar angles and a bone chip in his front right stifle. Everything post August has been about recovering from surgery.

Personal 2015 Goals

Be a better competitor
Stop over-thinking the distance
~~Stop overthinking people~~
~~Lose 10 lb~~

Well- the first 2 obviously being horse related didn’t happen. So let’s look at the last couple. A couple months ago I had some minor health issues that put my anxiety through the roof, and finding a solution to [all of that] has been a major life-changer for me. So win on the ‘not overthinking people’ goal. Then happily, as a result of starting to ride again, sticking to a pretty low-carb/non-starch ~~diet~~ change in my diet has allowed me to lose the 10 pounds as well. I feel a lot better and have way more energy to boot- no more 2pm caffeine crash! Win.

A photo from our Christmas party this weekend- gotta love being surrounded by such fun horsewomen!

House 2015 Goals

~~Granite kitchen countertop~~
~~Aerate + seed front and back yard~~
Paint upstairs hallway
Paint the NC State Room
~~Be better about blogging about the house!~~

Hey, look! Some big goals accomplished here- how about that. The kitchen finally got it’s complete makeover, in the form of both the granite countertops and something that wasn’t even on the list- painting the kitchen cabinets! All this has definitely provided some (in my mind) interesting house fodder for the blog- what do you guys think? The other painting projects got left behind as a result of focusing on the kitchen- but I see a roller in my future very soon!

Overall
If I were looking at my goals list alone, it looks like a total failure. Our success rate is 42% – not so hot by anyone’s standards. But, looking at the bigger picture, there are still some big accomplishments.

The silver lining of Foster’s situation is that I learned a lot more about what my horse takes to be healthy and happy (i.e, ulcer prevention techniques, icing after workouts, etc etc). By taking the time to really truly diagnose his NQR lameness, we discovered a bone chip, and by proactively doing surgery, are hopefully prolonging his career as a sporthorse. I can close 2015 by knowing I have done absolutely everything within my power to help him be successful in 2016 and years to come. And that’s a comforting feeling.

My sweet boy in his pre-surgery photoshoot

The house has undergone huge changes, and bar several small projects, feels done. The culmination of this was our Christmas Party this weekend, when everyone finally got to see the kitchen in all it’s madeover glory, and truthfully, it made me so proud to think of all the husband and I have accomplished. It’s been a wild 2.5 years, and the end is in sight!

A full before and after House post coming in 2016!

And then there’s those pesky personal goals. I didn’t get a chance to improve my overall competitor attitude, but the year’s challenges have (I think) made me a better horsewoman. Certainly someone more knowledgeable about little things like bone chips and ulcers, at the least. I’ve made changes in finding a better me as well, though that will certainly always be a work in progress.

2015- another year of changes, challenges, and a little cheer. 2016 – looking to you to be a year of happiness and success!

A speed bump in the road to recovery

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Britt

Ugh.

Let me repeat that.

UGHHHHHH.

Over the weekend, at the end of my ride, which included a little lateral work and a couple trot poles, I thought Foster felt a little off. Not lame per se, but just not 100%. Call it intuition.

So I gave him the next day off, and Monday went out to put him on the lunge and get some video to send to my vet.

Verdict? Slightly off right-hind.

UGHHHHHHH.

Thankfully, the thought is that he is due to be shod, and as such, those toes are a little long and his heels are a little low, which is causing a bit of ouchiness. Not much else has changed in his routine (pasture size, etc, remained same, just added a tish more trot into our work), so it seems like natural hoof growth could be to blame.

The farrier comes on Thursday, and so until then I’m giving him a few days off.

So, here’s hoping that my pony is feeling better by the weekend. Please.

Increasing the workload: Post OsPhos Injection

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Britt

Last week Foster had his OsPhos injection, which is a newish alternative to Tildren. The drug has the same effect as medicine given to treat Osteoporosis in humans, and therefore should help with Foster’s bone remodeling issues.

Foster snuggles and very unflattering angles

Because the drug can cause some stomach cramping and colic-like symptoms (and sometimes colic itself), we sedated Foster prior to giving him the injection so in theory, he wouldn’t be as upset by any cramping or icky feelings. Then the injection itself was a simple intramuscular in the neck, which both Foster and I were pleased about, given that he’s gotten unsurprisingly wary of the vet handling his heavily-poked fetlock. This also means that the OsPhos will benefit any and all areas of the body and not just the fetlock joint for the year to 18 months that it remains active.

I sat and watched Foster for an hour, monitoring him for any signs of discomfort or colic, but he seemed pretty normal besides the glazed look in his eye. His neck got a little swollen at the injection site for a couple days after (if you saw how much fluid went into it you wouldn’t be surprised!) but he wasn’t tender to the touch, and it soon went down. He got several days off to recover while I stuffed myself on turkey and brussel sprouts.

Brussel Sprouts and Family- that’s what Thanksgiving is about

After reviewing his progress, the vet also gave me the thumbs up to start increasing the workload. We could jump to a whole minute of trotting at a time, and in two weeks start introducing canter. We’ll gradually increase the amount of time trotting and cantering (canter starting at 20-30 seconds).

Saying hello to Hudson, my family’s mini donk

Overall he’s continued to be the best of boys, and he’s definitely regaining his balance and some strength, but 20 seconds of trotting kind of limits what we could do- just think- we’ll be much more productive now with an extra 40 seconds!

Let’s Discuss: Thankful

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Britt

It’s time for this year’s Thanksgiving post, where we all try to take a moment to pause and count our blessings. fb_DSC8362

2015 has been a tough year at the barn. Foster was diagnosed with Grade 4 ulcers in the early spring, which started us on the 10-week-ulcergard-and-alfalfa-lined path to recovery before we could really get to work. Then of course we started having odd lameness issues at the end of June, which led us down the rabbit hole of hell as far as diagnostics and eventually culminated in 2 special hind shoes and 1 bone chip removal surgery. But even though this year and any goals for it was a wash, there are some silver linings. I’ve discovered a great vet who doggedly helped me get to the bottom of Foster’s problems. My horse made it through surgery and hopefully will now have many years ahead of him in his career. I’m truly thankful that Foster has not only come around to his normal goofy, cheeky self, but that he also has been an absolute saint throughout the recovery process. And considering I used up every single penny of my reimbursement money, I’m hella glad for equine insurance.

DSCF2050 copy

In the same line of thinking, I’m especially grateful for the horse community, and for those who have been supportive through Foster’s rough times. Thanks to all of you readers for your sweet comments and positive thoughts, and for providing me with an outlet for discussion and documentation of our journey. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- y’all are awesome.

Fair Hill

Thanks to the friends who have been there this year, and for the adventures we’ve had. Whether you gave me a place to stay, or shared Disney wine nights, or ran around Fair Hill stalking upper level eventing barns- these are the memories that will make 2015 worthwhile.

And lastly, I’m thankful for my family. Thanks to Tyler for being totally engaged and not only supporting me through this year’s craziness, but even defending my passion to those who think horsemanship a trivial thing. Bonus points for being patient and tackling all those house projects this year- the end is in sight! Thanks to my furbabies for keeping me sane, and praise be to God for the health of my loved ones- it’s been rocky at times but we’re trying.

What are you all thankful for this year?

Wasted Weekend

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Britt

I had every hope of doing exciting horsey things this weekend (as exciting as they could be given our restraint at walk and trot), namely pulling mane so my spotted creature looks less half-wild-cow-pony and more slightly-fuzzy-out-of-shape-warmblood. Or so was the plan.

Instead I got knocked out Friday night with a stomach affliction that made me really grateful I had scrubbed the toilets the week before, since I got many a closeup view of that particular porcelain throne. I was therefore barely able to tolerate being vertical for the next 36 hours, much less bouncing around in the saddle. Oh well, good intentions, and all that.

Since we’re (I’m) talking about my battered body, I thought I’d share how I came to receive the battle scars posted on instagram a couple weeks ago (picture below for those who didn’t see it).

A couple weekends ago the husband and I went to visit my parents, who traditionally keep a large number of dogs, these including a Yorkie and a German Shepherd that get to live inside. You might recognize Sampson from last year, when we did a fun puppy-shoot at the farm.

Sampson

Sampson looks a bit different now, weighing in over 90 lbs and (in my personal opinion) wreaking havoc throughout the house. Even before this incident, he generally did not win my sympathies nearly as much as Roo, the sweet indoor cat.

So when Sampson went to chase the cat down the stairs, I grabbed his collar instinctively, naively assuming he’d stop.

I think we all know where this is going.

I was dragged halfway down the wooden stairs before the lug realized he had a human attached to him and I bumped to a stop. It all happened so fast, I don’t think I fully realized what happened, I only knew that I hurt. My shins, knees, thighs, and shoulder were all pretty banged up, but luckily nothing was broken, and bonus, the cat got away. You’re welcome, Roo.

I wonder if I wasn’t a rider if I would have let go- looking back I acted the same way I would have had I fallen off a horse. You know, when you pop off but every instinct screams “Keep hold of the reins!”, even if it means you get dragged and eat a little dirt as a result. In any case, I know because I’m a rider that my body is not new to all sorts of bruises, and even though these ones are still sticking with me two weeks later, I know eventually they’ll fade. I hope.

Still, next time, the cat can defend herself.

Let’s Discuss: Fellow Rider Feedback

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Britt

Riding can be a deeply personal venture, and most of us make calculated decisions about who we train with and receive instruction from. Not only does training cost money, but there are many other factors that go into why we chose who critiques us formally. But what about your average non-lesson ride?

Next time someone yell at me to put my hands down!

I tend to ride after work, and after spending so much time at the barn, I have definitely come to befriend certain riders who also ride at the same time as I do, and I respect what they do with their horses. So for me, it becomes a no brainer to invite them to call me out on certain issues. For instance, if you see my elbows leave my sides, yell at me- please! If I’m approaching the fence with not enough energy, holler out! Very rarely does it hurt my feelings, and having an extra set of eyeballs if someone happens to notice something is a valuable training tool to me.

It helps to have someone tell you to strap on a pair and jump the damn thing sometimes, too!

Conversely, I also try to give feedback if I see a glaring issue someone is working through. For the most part I remember to ask if they even want my two cents, but after being in the habit of having a few friends where back-and-forth feedback is the norm, I admit that sometimes I forget. For the most part though, these fellow amateurs appreciate the opportunity to tweak an issue that maybe they didn’t catch.

Impromtu feedback is awesome, even if your friend is in jeans and sneakers

It definitely requires a mutual respect and an empathetic perspective in order to have this kind of relationship with other amateurs, but for me, it’s a big part of building the horse community. I could understand, though, if either personal relationships, skill levels, or horsemanship were not optimal how this kind of rider-to-rider feedback would be unwelcome at best.

So I ask you all- do you provide or receive feedback from other riders? How has feedback of this type helped (or harmed) your riding? How do you approach starting this practice with new people?

Product Review: Evendura Ice Horse Boot

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Britt

Part of Foster’s rehab program includes icing. We started icing with the first handwalking sessions, and I continue to ice as much as possible after every ride. The theory behind icing is thus (and I hope I have this right): bone is constantly remodeling, degenerating and regenerating in tandem ideally at the same pace. In Foster, the degeneration happens a bit faster than the regeneration, which can make the joint weak and lends to the arthritis in his fetlock. The process is accelerated by concussion on the joint, such as exercise, but icing can slow the degeneration and therefore a helpful part of recovery.

Before starting to ice, my vet suggested I look into ice boots that specifically covered the fetlock joint. So I purchased the Ice Horse Evendura boots, which reach from knee to fetlock, of course also icing all the tendons/ligaments in between.

My first impression is that this thing seems durable and well-made. And for the $150 price, I wouldn’t expect any less. I wondered if the velcro and elastic straps would deteriorate with age, but after 2 months of using it, I have yet to notice any obvious stretching or lack of “stick”.

Showing the inner and outer sections, sans ice packs

The boots are handily labeled “L” and “R” and are composed of an inner section that the ice packs velcro to, and an outer section with straps for attaching to the leg. I must confess, when I first pulled this thing out of the box it wasn’t entirely obvious how it went on, but perhaps I was having a dumb moment. The boot came with 4 ice packs to each leg, and you could then configure them however you want inside each boot.

My configuration (and after learning how to store them properly)

The ice packs are where my complaints are, mostly. They are advertised as being a formula that stays soft and pliable like snow, even after being in the freezer for some time. While this was true of the first two uses, thereafter they acted like any other ice pack- that is, like a damn rock when you pull it out of the freezer. After talking with an Ice Horse rep, she recommended leaving the ice packs out for roughly 2o minutes before putting them on (and allowing the valve in each pack to stay uncovered in the freezer- apparently that helps the special sauce in them). This works well for us at the moment, since my rides are about that long, so I pull the ice packs out just before I get on and then they are nice and pliable when I strap them on. However, I wonder how well they will work once we are back to 30 and 40 or more minute rides.

The ice packs after the first few uses and before I learned how to store them in the freezer

The other secret to the boot is in the directions- sponging. The first couple times I ignored the directions and put the boot on a dry leg, and after 30 minutes the leg was only fractionally cold. So after returning to the directions, I realized the error of my ways and applied the boot to a wet leg, and voila! After about 15-20 minutes I have a nice cold leg.

Foster relaxing in his stall wearing his Ice Boot

Overall, I would recommend these boots to someone in a position like myself, where icing is going to be a common part of your riding regimen. They are quick to put together, and if you follow directions, do efficiently apply cold therapy in a convenient manner- Foster wears his in his stall for about 20 minutes after each ride and when strapped on tight, it doesn’t seem to slip or move.

However, if you’re really only going to be icing occasionally, like at an event or for the rare ding, for the price you could apply cold therapy another way and probably be just as effective for a lot less money, if a little less convenient.

Photography Friday: Tricks and Tips

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Britt

Documenting Fair Hill | PC: JP

I’ve been doing portraiture for some years now, shortly after falling in love with photography in college as part of my design degree. But even though I’ve done it for many years, I continue to learn a lot with each session. Here are some of the tips and tricks, for both horse and human, that I use in my shoots.

Start with a clean slate
It probably goes without saying, but a clean horse is going to present itself better than a dirty one. Take an extra moment to brush that mane and tail, and remember to wipe down the eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul, and drawing attention in images as they do, it helps if there’s no eye funk present.

Know your limits
Though I’ve never photographed small children, I kind of imagine that photographing horses (or dogs, or insert animal here) is somewhat like that. There is a window of time when they will play the game, standing, walking, being loved on, before they just don’t want to play anymore. In order to extend that time, I try to take little breaks when I sense that the animal’s patience is running out. Take those moments to focus on the person, or the environment, or go for a cute grazing shot, but try to be understanding of your subjects- equine and otherwise!

Make a Plan
Before every shoot I come up with poses and ideas based on the subject I’m going to shoot. I then jot those ideas down on a piece of paper, stick-figure style, including any requests the client may have. That paper then comes in handy if ever I need inspiration onsite, and helps as a reminder for photos I specifically wanted to take. Similarly, I arrive to each location about 15-20 minutes early and figure out exactly what path we will take through the property. This can really make a big difference- for instance, if it’s overcast and you are shooting as the sun goes down (the “Golden Hours”), you should probably plan to visit the shadiest spot at the venue first, when you have the most light. Of course it’s always important to remain flexible, but having a well thought out plan helps make the most of everyone’s time!

Running out of light can of course lead to its own opportunities, but is maybe not ideal for portraits!

Be Patient
When one of your main subjects (the horse) has no concept of what you are after (i.e, the look of eagles/ears up/eyes open/no slobber/etc), it’s not their fault if they are not the perfect model. Staying calm and waiting for the right moment, and not rushing or forcing it to happen, is key. Save your ear-pricking antics (waving a plastic bag on a whip, rustling peppermint wrappers…) for when both models are in position and ready. If you keep up these tricks throughout the session, not only will they lose their novelty (and therefore decrease the likelihood of getting those ears forward), but you’ll also put a strain on everyone involved. Better to wait, and capture that perfect, and more natural, pose!

Have fun!
This probably goes without saying, but it’s no less important! No matter which side of the camera you’re on, remember that this is all about capturing good times. Find your sense of adventure and keep things lighthearted- not only will the animals sense your mood, but it will help everyone enjoy the experience even more! Besides, photography is fun!