Wizard Session 372: Lake of Fire

Saturday, 6/23/12

After Friday’s thunderstorms, the heat wave cooled off and we had a really nice weekend here in New Jersey. I took Wizard out for a hike in the Assunpink and met up with some friends from another barn who were riding Zeke and Lily. We met up near the Horse Park and went out onto the trails. I was hand walking Wizard, and it’s easier to do so in open fields than it is on wooded trails. But when we got close to Stone Tavern Lake, I got curious and we ended up on a trail I had never been on before. The trail snaked alongside the lake, up and down little hills, and eventually led us to the lake. Wizard immediately stepped in the lake and began pawing and playing. We asked a fisherman which trails took us back out, and he pointed out a trail that ran alongside the wooded trail we took in, up on higher ground. We tried the trail, but it was super steep, and narrow, and a little slick from the rain. Wizard did a really good job of keeping his cool as we backed halfway back down it and then turned around as soon as we had the space.

We went up another trail (also steep!) and got back out to a clearing (whew!). Those steep trails are quite a workout on foot- I had to ask everyone to stop once so I could catch my breath. We winded our way back to the field with the big mulberry bush and then found the road and parted company. By the time I got back to the barn (video above of Wizard’s animated walk back home), I estimate that we hiked between 2 and 3 miles. I was really worried that I overdid it on my back. When I got home, I babied my back, stretching it carefully and giving it plenty of rest. When I woke up on Sunday, I was muscle sore, but I did not feel anything scary or painful. I must be getting stronger. My physical therapist gave me clearance to start riding a little bit this week. Hooray! She stressed that I need to keep the rides short and sweet and that I should not overdo it. As long as I’m back in the saddle, I’ll be happy!

Wizard was a bit of the turkey while we were grooming and on the way home on the trail hike. He was pretty focused on Sunny, his pasture buddy. Hopefully, the increase in work will give him something else to focus on next week.

Wizard Ride 301: I Feel Much Better

Friday, 10/21/11

Before making my final-final decision on the saddle I had on trial, I took one more ride in it. Wizard’s demeanor has improved. He’s still a little grouchy about grooming, but not as sore as he was. Every night, he gets his Back on Track sheet on him, and I longed him before I rode to let him loosen up on his own before riding. I did not put side reins on, just let him carry himself how he wanted to carry himself. They had just dragged the arena and the footing was really nice. He went both right and left on the longe really nicely. When I got in the saddle, there was much less fuss and pinned ears than in the past few rides. I got a few cranky faces and swishy tails, but there was a marked improvement. He trotted left and right, and as we did more work, he got better instead of worse. I kept the ride short and sweet, and checked the sweat marks after our ride. The sweat was perfect down each side of his spine, with great spine clearance. Wither tops are not getting pressed by the saddle. The hair looks different behind the withers, but I’ve heard mixed things about that. I made up my mind to keep the saddle (and sell all of my other ones that don’t fit him). Fingers crossed for more improvement. I could really use some nice October rides!

Wizard Session 296; Rides 297, 298: Under a Cloud

Friday, 10/14/11

After work, I longed Wizard in the indoor arena. Before he worked, my friend did a little massage work on him. She said he’s VERY body sore- still. It’s not just on the topline or on the saddle area, but extends all the way down the rump. When he longed, he was really good. He has gotten SO much better about going to the right. He used to be mentally incapable of walking to the right (always broke into a nervous trot), but now he can do all three gaits quite willingly. I put him through his paces, and he did some work in side reins as well.

Saturday, 10/15/11

I got two saddles from the tack shop on consignment. One is a Hampson & Scott Jimmy Wofford model, and the other is a Smith-Worthington Danzig. On the tack shop bucks, the Hampson & Scott felt much better to me as a rider. The twist was a little wider, and it had that flat seat that I really love. The Smith-Worthington has a lot more puff to it- it’s like a puffy cloud :^)

I brought the saddles to the barn and tried them on Wizard. The Hampson & Scott looked like it did not have enough withers clearance, so I rode in the Smith-Worthington. It took some getting used to for me, because I have ridden in simple, flat Stubbens forever and ever. The saddle is comfortable enough, and Wizard seemed better in it than he was in the County and my current saddle, the Stubben. He began the ride with his recent habit of ear-pinning and tail swishing and kicking up at his belly. But as we rode more and more, he stopped tensing up and snarling so much. The ride was not very long, and we just did a little cantering, but the saddle seems like a winner.

After our ride, my equine massage friend was doing a little evaluation on Wizard, and while she had her hands on him, I heard the loudest C-R-U-N-C-H! I assumed it was one hoof stepping on the other, but my friend said it came from high up in his pelvis. It was SO loud. But Wizard barely batted an eye. I wonder if something was out of alignment?

Sunday, 10/16/11

I tried the Hampson & Scott saddle, just in case it suddenly fit Wizard better once it was on his back. Boy, oh boy, do I LOVE that saddle. SO, SO, SO comfortable. And Wizard rode pretty nicely in it. He snarled again, with kicking and pinned ears when we were walking, but then really stretched nicely at the trot. But when I checked the gullet, I could only get one finger in the front, and then it stopped where the top of the saddle was crushing his withers. The panels looked good, but without that clear channel down his spine, the saddle was not going to work. What a shame. Someone is going to get a really nice saddle.

I put the Smith-Worthington back on Wizard, and we rode for a while. It was not a ride with a plan, more of a test drive. He was pretty good, but got really wound up by the end of the ride. He threw a few kicks at the canter, and pinned his ears during a few trot exercises. The reason I kept riding was to check the sweat pattern on his back from the saddle. There was no bridging, which is wonderful- there were two perfect strips of sweat down the panels on the sides on his spine. There were dry spots on the sides of his withers, but I’ve read so many different opinions of that. I think the saddle fits better than any other saddle I can currently find, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to keep it. And once I’m comfortable with the saddle I have, I can go back to slowly bringing him back from whatever is causing this body soreness.

I have been putting his Back on Track sheet on him overnight for the past three days. Sunday was Day 6 of his magnesium. Sunday was Day 11 of his Omeprazole treatment. I wish I could have isolated each treatment to see which were working and which were not, but at this point, I really want SOMETHING to work.

Wizard Ride 223: Shake the Disease

Wednesday, 4/13/11

Ride? Did I say “ride”? Yes, I did!!! It’s been way too long- over a month, to be precise. I turned Wizard loose in the indoor arena to let him stretch his legs since he’s been stalled quite a bit due to rain recently. I then tacked him up and longed him indoors. He was a star. He WALKED and trotted like a pro in both directions. I noticed him stretching down into the bit more than he has in the last- it looks like he’s losing some of the tension about longeing to the right. Maybe his brain has successfully rewired itself again about longeing.

After he longed about 20 minutes at a walk and trot, I got on and cooled him out at a walk. He barely broke into a sweat, so it seems like he is getting fitter. It was SO NICE to be back in the saddle. I was dying to trot, but I knew I should take it easy. Dismounting was the toughest part. I did not want to jar my back by landing on my feet with a hop, so I slid down from the saddle as slowly as I could. My barn friend called it “the dangle”.

Wizard had just a little bit of nasal discharge, and I’m watching to see if he has a cold. His temperature is normal. Hopefully it’s nothing- his appetite is good and he is acting like his usual quirky self.

Intermission…

So I got x-rays and an MRI of my back. I’ve got a herniated disc, among other things. Next week, I’ll talk with the doctor about a treatment plan. No riding for now, and limited photo work.

In the meantime, I’m visiting Wizard and making sure he’s happy and getting the proper amount of Wizzy Buns.

While we wait, check out some of my recent favorite videos…

Wizard Ride 147: Glutton for Punishment

Tuesday, 5/25/10

Wizard is fine- the glutton would be your fearless narrator. So even though I threw out my back and it was just starting to feel better, I foolishly rode two days in a row. My back was fine after Monday’s ride (long trail walk with a little trot work at the end), but it was quite sore after Tuesday’s ride.

But it was a great ride! I rode in the large outdoor arena after dark under the lights. The weather was warm and heavy and Wizard was a little slow to get going, but still responsive to the aids. We worked on some simple bending exercises as well as transitions within the gaits (small trot, big trot, small trot). Wizard always perks up and really seems to get into that exercise, snorting and throwing his ears around.

Once he was responding well to my leg and hand, we worked at the canter. I rode him on a half circle and we did about 5 or 6 rotations in each direction. His right lead was a little sticky and it took a few tries to get it, but he held it once he got it. He starts out a little tense and unbalanced with each trot/canter transition, but the softer I ride, the softer he gets. I usually like transitions for rebalancing, but right now I am just doing half halts since his trot-to-canter is still awkward. As he continued in the canter, I was able to soften my hands and give, give, give with my hands. I was able to sit a little deeper and use my seat. It was a lot of work, but it felt great. And my aching back reminded me exactly how much work it was. Argh. More time off until I am 100%. At least the horse is going nicely.

Wizard Ride 146: Wizzy Pulitzer

Monday, 5/24/10

Fashion icon Lilly Pulitzer has partnered with Animal Crackers to produce a limited edition box for charity. I should have known Wizard would love them- he’s a preppy guy.

He polished off his adorable treat, and then we went on a trail ride with two boarders. We rode almost 5 miles, and rotated leaders. Wizard was the leader past the pig pen (in which there are no pigs), and was happy to be in the middle on the last leg of the journey. That’s progress! There was a time last summer when he’d fuss and fret if he was behind another horse.

After our trail ride (which used to be our entire ride), Wizard was nicely warmed up so we did about 10 minutes of trot work in the arena. It was dark and the moon was rising. I did not turn on the arena lights since I could see just fine with the barn lights and moonlight. We both enjoy riding in the dark. Wizard’s trot work was superb, elastic, supple, and forward. We worked on a loose rein, stretching into the bit and maintaining rhythm around the arena. I threw out my back and had to rest it over the weekend so Wizard had a week off- he was a perfect gentleman after the layoff.

He was such a good horse- the whole ride felt like I was playing with house money. I’m really enjoying my time with Wizard.

Selena Ride 50; Wizard Ride 120: Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut…

Tuesday, 11/17/09

On Monday night, I lightly longed Selena for about 10 minutes, mostly as a refresher for her. She tends to rush a little on the longe so I encouraged her to do a relaxed trot. She was great!

The weather was so spectacular today (Tuesday) that I took a vacation day and spent some quality time at the barn.

I rode Selena in the outdoor arena. The footing was still wet from the rain but the base was solid enough for some easy walk-trot work. We rode for about 30 minutes and my mom took pictures so I could track our progress and position. Selena was focused and very willing to work. We warmed up with about 10 minutes of walking, followed by walk-trot-walk-halt transitions. I threw in a few shoulder in exercises toward the end of the ride. Selena accepted contact willingly and we had a really nice ride.

Wizard and I rode for about 30 minutes on the trails and Mom hiked with us. He felt a little stiff throughout the ride and his right hind leg/hip was hitching just a bit. He also blew up for a minute on the final leg of the trail. He eventually relaxed, but my concerns are growing about his comfort. When we got back to the barn, a friend ran her fingers down his back and rump to check for soreness. He is not backsore at all but he is very tender all along his hip and croup on both sides. My hopes were that this trail walking regimen (1-2 days of walking on trails and light groundwork on other nights) would build muscle without too much wear and tear, but he is still not as comfortable as he should be. My friend has a therapeutic magnetic horse blanket and she put it on his back for a few hours. It will be interesting to see if it has any good results.

My mom was snacking on almonds while I tacked up. Selena seemed fascinated by the almonds so Mom gave her two. She loved them! She fed two to Wizard and he enjoyed them as well. Due to them not being part of a horse’s naturally digested food, we did not feed any more, but it was amusing to see them enjoying an unusual treat. Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.