The Ham..Again & More Horses

The barn neighbor asked me to ride her horse, I wrote about this a few weeks ago.  So tomorrow is my first day.  I’ve never met this mare but it will be exciting to work with a new horse.  All I know is she is bold at xc and is rusty on Dressage.  Primarily this will be just exercise for the horse but I think the goals are to focus on her Dressage and work in that department to better round her out as an eventer.  She has some problems with stadium, but I need to talk more with the owner to determine what and why that is.  I’ll be updating on that as well here on the blog and maybe some pictures?  Mom the photographer has some new assignments :).

So the ham has this burn on the inside of his right hind hock.  It’s a hard area to keep clean and to help heal.  I’m usually anal about keeping hind boots on him to help the process, but he keeps opening the scab up when he’s turned out.  The other day I was free lunging him over a gymnastic and he clipped the pole with that hind hoof and somehow opened up the burn, again.  But when he did that it started to swell and so I cold hosed it, cleaned it and put that bright yellow stuff on it to help it heal and wrapped it.  The swelling went down afterwards but that area is being such a booger to heal.  It’s now started to scab over a little bit, I guess I’m just going to have to watch it day by day.   

Errika!

 Wow I had such a great ride today on Errika!  I got to ride her beautiful canter =).  She’s such a forward horse that it’s hard to get her to just do a nice, relaxed canter.  Even when I would ask her to slow down she would kind of get freaked out because I would pull and then she’d get frustrated and speed up so usually our rides would be constantly working on getting her to relax just so I could ask her for a nice canter.  But today it came so nicely.  We were working at her “normal” pace canter when she slowed down, because she was going to trot, and I asked her just a tiny bit to keep her canter and she gave me this very nice, relaxed, fluid, easy-to-sit canter.  I was utterly delighted so the whole time I was just re-enforcing this excellent job she did.  And as soon as Errika realized I was so pleased, she kept trying to do it over and over again.  And it made her happy that I was happpy, the right kind of circle you want to be in.  I was so proud of her! 

Ink was looking pretty off today.  Matt lunged him while I rode Errika and he wasn’t looking his best.  Meghan says to put back shoes on him as well. 

That’s it for now!

Simply Speaking

I’ve personally noticed that I talk occasionally about people disliking me for whatever reason, horse people that is. I might assume that some people read this and wonder; “what is wrong with this girl that make people dislike her?” Well if people have some problem with me, it must be because I cannot control it, or they don’t educate themselves before or during the fact. I hardly talk to horse people, I mean every now and then, like that trainer and those two other people (who think they know everything between the sun and the earth) and the lady I board with. But that’s about it. I love my EE family, but I don’t talk to them face to face.

That family suggested I call the vet, which I planned on doing, but I thought I’d wait to see if there was any change after the chiro. Poor Ink. All I can think about is how young he is, how much he deserves. He shouldn’t be lame like this at 8 (I just verified the letter on his tattoo). Errika is 23 and she’s in prime condition. It’s all thanks to appropriate training, riding, matainence, general care, and dedication. She wouldn’t be looking and feeling this good without proper care. If she was raced as a 2 year old, I doubt she’d even be ridable now. She’s a tough little thing, but really it’s just horrible how young they start putting these horses under that kind of stress. I never liked horse racing. When I was younger (before I even got into horses) I always spoke of how abusive it was. Regardless of actually knowing anything about horses, I just never agreed with it. As youngster I was absolutely appauld by the whip idea, I thought that was the real abuse. It never crossed my mind that the actual abuse laid somewhere else, just that I saw those whips flying around I thought about how bad it looked and was. Being more educated now on horse racing my views have shifted some. But it doesn’t take an educated horse person or not to see that it just isn’t right. Now that I own an OTTB, I see the pain and the heartbreak behind the scenes. This is what happens after the lights go down. Girls and guys like me take in these horses and have to re-build them the best they possibly can to make up for the stupidity and ridiculous selfishness behind this equally ridiculous sport. And before anyone has some remark to make about “oh horses running is natural! they love it! this or that..” No I am not talking about those who train or race these horses, I’m talking about the fans, the people who go “oooo, ahhh, wow” as they see one of these great horses gallop by. It just makes me sick that anyone who is a ‘horse-lover’ supports this sport as a whole. Yes, horses running is beautiful, completely, but it’s not once you see what happens afterwards.

I don’t mean to be so harsh, but I just get angry over the whole thing.

I went over to give the horses their grain. I brought Sophie and my mom and her walked back to get the grain bowls. Ink was pacing for his grain and ran off Errika as I was walking back up to the gate with the bowl, in the field. He was really sweet otherwise, came right up to us as we walked up.

I want to call the vet tomorrow, but we’ll see what my mom has to say about it. I talked to her tonight with my concern, as she seemed to have not taken me seriously before, and I think she gets the point. If we get this worked out, see what is wrong with him, then we’ll be ready to go with training. I’m just dying to really start and get those goals in action, but again, we’ll have to see.

Lets Live For Today

In a way I think that it might benefit me in some ways to not be effected by all the negativity that the world can hold. I believe that people need negativity, but not all of it.

I think I have a strong sense of people, and I am always proved of it when I meet someone new. All vibes collaborate into an initial overview of what that person is, might be, could be, and will be. This lady, who is into horses is another one of those who looks at me with disapprovement. She’s never said anything directly, but the way she speaks to me, the way she chooses to word what she says, this bitter feeling I get inside, uncomfortable when I talk to her, makes me wonder what she says behind my back, how she really feels admist that weird conversation. Then there is this man, horse trainer, who I feel so comfortable with and I feel like I can tell him anything and not worry about being judged. He has an open mind with a strong sense of self. Just the other day, as Ink was turned out, I told him I was scared of him. Just like that. I am down to dirt honest with him, and it feels right. And even if he talks about things that I may not know of, I do know the way he lets his mind open like a huge couch, to let your thoughts fall on.

I felt actually, like I let myself misjudge what I had to this man. I ment to say he intimidates me at times. Because you watch him throw his head, buck to the sky, and be the little fire cracker he can be, and you wonder..’geesh I’m going in there with that?’ Haha, but this trainer told me to stick my ground and everything will be fine. I did, and Ink stood patiently while I put the halter on. I just needed that assurance from someone above me..and it helped a lot just to hear this man tell me that in such a calm, smart, and understanding voice.

This coming Thursday is Ink and Errika’s trimming. So Stanley will be able to tell me if he thinks Ink is ready for the chiro to come out or not. I want to save my money to get Errika fully pampered this year. A full body massage, chiropractic adjustment if necessary, and to do some trail riding, possibly some solo. Ink has been off and on. One day he feels great and others a little off.

Yesterday I had Matt walk him around while I sat on Errika instructing him. Matt learned about correct riding position, leg, seat and how to communicate with Ink through his seat. It went great and Ink enjoyed it too. I got on after about 15-20mins and asked for a little trot to see how he felt and looked, Matt said he looked ’so-so’ and he felt it too.

Errika wasn’t listening to well, but was very impulsive at the canter, which way a joy. My back didn’t feel well, so I couldn’t sit deep and comfortable which I know effected Errika and how she went. I swear me and Ink are so much a like! Maybe he’s going through the same thing as I am. The last few days I have been riding Errika bareback and in a halter (as I usually do) we were getting so well at collection and excellent communication, my back felt great and I really felt comfortable. I could sit deep and tall, driving her forward. But all of a sudden, yesterday I felt off. Just like Ink. Errika kept trying to come in on my inside leg and go to the center of the round pen. Maybe she knew it just wasn’t a good day and tried to tell me to not persist?

I finally figured out my wireless! Yay, now I can relax and sit back while I’m writing posts. My back just kills me in that chair in the kitchen..

Matt’s birthday is tomorrow. He’s having a party at his house and I’m dreading going. I feel like a bad friend and horrible person for not wanting too. But the fact is, I really do not want to hang around the people that are going to be there. More than likely the adults will divide just like last year. Women inside, men in the garage. It’s very uncomfortable. Not to mention they will be drinking giddy and I cannot stand that. The fact is Matts’ best friend’s mom is a camp-direction. I mean she has to be telling everybody what to do. The ‘kids’ (even though we are older) cannot go anywhere without a ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’, and a ‘why.’ Which I fine in my book. She is soo strict, but then when it comes to drinking, SURE! A 16 year old can drink alcohol whenever.. It’s just ridiculous I think.

On April 26th I go in for my driving test, woohoo! I hope I pass. I’m a good driver, really. Matt and I have been driving around together for the past few days because he’s 18 now and now I can ride with him (while I drive). Yesterday we stopped at his house briefly to get some things, and his mom thought I was driving without a licensed driver, illegally! I’m a stickler for going exactly the speed limit (which I get a lot of crud for) and giving the police a reason to relax over teen drivers, so why would I EVER, ever think about doing that?! Gah. I can’t believe she would actually think that? : (

Waiting..

I tried my close contact on Errika. It’s Ink’s saddle, I do like it. It’s just not the most comfy thing you’ve ever ridden in. I fit OK on her. I won’t be using it regularly or anything like that, probably not at all. But I was thinking of using it for the Easter day, since I need a new girth for her saddle. I had my shoes on, and some kind of short jeans on, so my leg was getting rubbed to death by the jeans’ friction against the saddle. Err, not the best situation. I didn’t plan on riding, or even trying the saddle, it was a spur of the moment type thing.

My mom, Matt and I went to Petsmart. The shelves weren’t as stocked up as usual, but I did find some bargains. I found a nice durable material fly sheet in the blanket bin, for $30. It has 3 rips, so I got it at almost 60% off the sale price. I was looking at tall boots, and saw new ones for $70, I really liked them. But they were too long. Pooh, they were pretty nice too. Oh well, my hole-soled boots are the best, and will do me fine until a new pair comes along. I needed new riding pants. My full-seat breeches have a tear (that grows every ride) in the under area. I bought a pair of the X-Wear Devon-Aire’s Hipsters. That was the most expensive item! There goes my helmet fund. Trying to save for a GPA helmet.. But I think that savings just went crashing down ;).

The Ink was great today. This would be our year.. But he’s still not sound. When Stanley comes over next for their trimming, I’ll have him evaluate his ground manners to see if he is ready for the chiropractor to come over. I think he’s ready. You can tell Ink’s back is out of whack. The croup area is raised a little bit and not completely aligned. Poor guy. He moves beautifully, can’t imagine what he’ll look like once he gets adjusted.

The two horses got a good grooming today, and then I turned Errika out with him. Tomorrow she’ll go back in.

Positive Outlook

A lot has happened since my last update, with the horses. Over the weekend, (was it sunday?) Ink fell in the barn. It was very scary, and I was so upset with myself that it happened. He was really excited, and there were a few guys building a overhang carport thing for the owner of the barn, and the noise didn’t help much. He was excited but acting responsive, but I wanted to test him and see how he reacted. We’ve been working on the coming-out-of-stall manners, and it was going pretty well. I had Matt bring him out while I stood there, seeing how he would behave. But he didn’t do good, and I took the lead. He made a quick turn while spooking and fell to his side. I was so scared he might have broken a rib, or something. But he got up and stayed close to me. I think it scared him too.. Poor guy, I was so nervous the rest of the day. I jump to conclusions, to the worst, when something like that happens. But I turned him out in the arena, and he ran and bucked as usual. I’m always worrying about him. He means so much to me and I just don’t know his ways yet, not his behavioral ways, but his health ways. Of course I think about Errika, but I don’t worry like I do with Ink.

I’ve been over with them everyday and making sure they get fulfilling days. And good news…Ink was turned out! The field is fairly dried up, and it’s been rather warm, so out he went. He’s been much easier to handle, work with, and as expected he is happy and positive. The morning after he was turned out with Errika, the owner of the barn called to say the gate between the two fields (one field is occupied by a pregnant mare) was broken (off the latches rather) and the horses were to together. Ink quickly bonded with the pregnant mare and stood close to her, as if he was protecting her. He’s such a love. The pregnant mare was acting really unpredictable and weird, so we didn’t attempt to halter her. We separated them with grain and got both Ink and Errika out, and then lured the mare back to her field with some more grain. I placed Ink in another small field while Matt fixed the gate. That field is right next to the cows’ pasture.. That ought to be interesting.. And it was! The herd came right over to Ink, and one cow in particular walked right up to the fence and the two smelled noses. Ink is skeptical of cows anyway, but once they quickly became buddies, Ink stood right next to the fence with that cow.

During one of the hot days last week, I have Ink and Errika a quick bath. Ink loved it, as he usually does, and you wouldn’t believe all the clumps of hair that came off of him.. It was gross.. The next day I came to find him looking ragity, because I didn’t have time to groom him well when he dried. So I spent the next day grooming him. It took about a good hour to get him grooming well. We worked on his biting, moving and kicking during grooming. He’s really funny because I will say, “NO!” stomp my foot, and stiffen my body and he will pin his ears and act, ‘grrr, fine…’ He just can’t stand being told what to do. Then he will put his ears forward, act happy, and look into the distance, and sometimes he will look up at the barn..laaadeeda.. Haha, it’s really funny to see him acting like that. Such a character. He really doesn’t want to be mean, but he never was given a reason not to be before he came to me. I’m teaching him, well hoping, the good in life. No need to be defensive or grumpy, life can be good with the good from each-other in everyday life.

His ground manners are improving so much. I love my Ink, he’s too sweet for words. I can just see him now, trotting around like a gentlemen with a bouncing six year old with a huge smile on his back. I couldn’t imagine what this horse would be like if he didn’t have the racing background, sure there are some benefits, but Ink would be one amazing horse. Of course he is now! But he wouldn’t have a negative background and outlook, nor the aches and pains from the track. He’s always been the underdog, and he will get there one day, standing above the rest. I know we boast about our horses, all are amazing, but he just gives me this crazy feeling inside. There is a hidden beauty, a legend, a soul that only comes around once in a while.

I am though happy that he does need work. It makes it all the better, what would be horses without the hard work? What would be the glory of every moment without achieving something together?

**
In preparing for Easter, I put Errika in Ink’s stall. I’m going to be moving her around randomly to get her used to difference in situation. I wonder what it’s going to be like on Easter.. Errika really looks to me, but it will be interesting to see how she acts. I still want to bring Ink.. That would be loads of fun! But not sure yet. My mom talked to my other aunt today and she said she and her family were going as well. I wasn’t expecting that, but it makes it all the better!! I’m going to see if we can bring Ink… I’ll need to go see the property first, if it’s adequate. I don’t know how he’ll act though. He might be cool as a cucumber. He was pretty well behaved the first day I brought him to the barn, still being high from the track.
**

My brothers’ birthday is coming up, and I decided to get him a banner done for his racing. A banner he can hang in his race trailer at the races. I have to come up with a logo and everything.. Today we went to the place that makes them (the lady was so nice and helpful!) and I got an idea as to what I’m going to do. We’re going tomorrow to go over the initial logo and see what we can do. His birthday is on Sunday, and then Saturday we will be racing somewhere. You’d think horses keep me busy enough, but lately it’s been days with the horses, nights at the race shop.

Finding Answers

Yesterday Matt and I went over to see the horses. We both planned to ride for a short while. Both of the horses seemed fine but when we brought them up to the barn and I was checking Ink’s legs I noticed a growth on th side of his right knee. I’m not sure what it is, but it just appereard between Monday and yesterday because I didn’t notice it Monday. I’m doing my research but haven’t found anything I am sure of. Our farrier/horseman is coming Friday and he is already planning on looking over Ink so I’ll point it out and ask, but I would like to know some more now. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeeders Association has a page of unsoundness issues. The “Splint” illustration caught my eye, because that’s exactly what this thing looks like except it’s at the inside of the knee.

Splint - (See illustration.) A calcification or bony growth, usually occurring on the inside of the cannon bone or splint bone. It typically results from a tear of the interosseous ligament that binds the splint bone to the cannon bone, but can result from any inflammation of the periosteum (thin sheathing that covers the bone). They are the result of trauma, but can be caused by slipping, running, jumping or as a result of some other concussion injury such as a kick. The location of the splint will determine if one calls it an unsoundness or a blemish. Blistering, surgery and rest are all treatments. Poor nutrition and faulty conformation (over at the knees or offset knees) can be predisposing factors

Ink is lame. But he shows no sign of discomfort with that leg. He was putting weight on it fine yesterday. However he is still “head bobbing” somewhat (not serverly) so I believe that’s some indecation of unsoundness. If you can give me any advice/help on this that would be great! I am not going to attempt to ride him because I feel it not right, but is there anything I can do for him while he’s on a resting period?

So we will have to see what is wrong with the big guy. :/ I wish I knew myself.