February 21, 2010

Uh-Oh...

We went out for more snow riding. I only made it a half mile out and she took a couple really lame steps on her left front. Then one on her right. I dismounted and turned her around and hand walked her and it was okay. I got back on and rode her at the walk on a flat section and she was okay, and then suddenly dropped her head on the left. I radio'd Doug that we were going to come back home. The rest of the way back she was fine, and I trotted her some up the road and she showed no evidence of lameness there and she was barefoot on black top. So I think it is the melting situation...she not only sinks into the snow, but sinks into the mud way deep, and it was too much. Definitely NOT WORTH IT. I went ahead and untacked her, and Doug checked her legs and she seemed fine, not sensitive to pressure on her tendons or anything. So she's getting today off and if all is well ...maybe tomorrow after work I can boot her and do a little road work (which is what I should have done today).

Used the HRM on her today. Pre-ride pulse was 38, as we progressed up the driveway 78, and when she saw the road 92 bpm. Just looking at the road jumped her pulse up. Every time we go down the road she has some sort of minor melt down. Today she tried a spin back which would have taken her AWAY from home because something in the woods was going to eat her. NOT! The road continues to be a source of angst for me, as I so badly need to conquer it. It would open up a huge conditioning opportunity for me. If things ever thaw I'll need to beg Michelle for another session with her.

~E.G.

7 comments:

  1. I rode Doc for about 2 miles in the snow yesterday and the footing was very goosey. I think snow melt & pack were making for some very strang conditions. It was a really good work out though. I was hoping to get out there today too, but I've run out of time. Looks like our snow will be melted soon as the temps are warming up and rain is on the way.

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  2. Come on over! Laura and I rode today. I let her ride Stormy and I rode Shazam. We are going to let Jazz, semi-retire and be a backup.

    Already planning on doing a few different roads next weekend, if there is not too much snow. The gravel roads stay snow covered and icy more than the paved roads do and I don't like that so much!

    Had a super nice ride today and had to unzip the coat! Horses did well but were huffing it some because of the heat.

    I'm almost tempted to do a fifty on the horses at chicken chase. If only Shazam had did an LD this fall.

    Michelle

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  3. Was she in boots or completely barefoot? I am not sure what your roads are like but even when our gravel roads are muddy , there are little pieces of gravel that they can step on that are just irritable enough that they will short step.

    That is interesting to see the increase in pulse at the sight of the road.. that's how I feel when I hear a dirt bike or 4 wheeler going by.. it's amazing how our horses anxiety directly affects us, isn't it?

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  4. Jonna,

    Actually she was barefoot. We were on an old logging road with a down ill grade, very uneven terrain, rocks, and snow up to the knees. In hindsight she probably was coming down on a rock...we couldn't see the ground to pick our way through like we usually do. I've laid her off a few days just to be sure. Don't want to blow another ride season if I can help it.


    I watch her pulse monitor sometimes just to guage how she is feeling emotionally about something. It gives me a clue before a behavior sets in that she is unsettled before she has an explosive reaction. Her emotional reactiveness has been a struggle. In the pulse line if anyone walks by, touches her, whatever her pulse will jump straight up, and then we have to get it down again. Hoping that exposure will gradually change how she feels about things. ~E.G.

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  5. I love how our little endurance babies can be SUCH babies about the smallest things! I can picture her eyes now when she saw the road :)

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  6. I have alot of trouble with JB letting handlers touch him, like you do with Phebes. It's worse if I get a vet who JB perceives as being "sneaky"(the wild side of him!)and it's a job getting him to trust anyone other than "his" people. Every opportunity I get , I make stangers go over and handle him, which he hates! These darn sensitive horses...

    I am working with JB on the hydration test , CRT test and the needle thing as well. He has tensed so much with a needle going into him that he has bent it while it's inside his neck ... Oh I could tell you stories about the first 2 years of trying to get him vaccinated. He's improved but it's still a hairy ordeal when we need to get blood

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  7. Jonna what are you doing to get him a blood draw accomplished without too much drama?

    I'd rather wrestle an intact alley cat than get the vet out for a blood draw....

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