Wizard Session 454: Nerve Endings

Tuesday, 3/26/13

Spring is really, really here. Wizard has been shedding for a few weeks already, and tonight, I heard the frogs screaming in the park. And the horses are nibble-nibbling at the new spring grass.

We took a hand walk in the park before it got dark. I tried out the Rambo Micklem Competition Bridle. Here’s a great review of it: http://www.teamflyingsolo.com/2012/12/a-skeptic-takes-on-micklem.html

On our walk, Wizard encountered a group of about 10-12 horses picketed in the parking area, on some sort of overnight campout. He was astounded to see all these horses, and gawked and craned his neck like a giraffe, but he behaved himself while he stared. The horses were all very well trained, and just watched him with quiet curiosity.

When we returned to the barn and after he had a pick of grass, I longed Wizard in the indoor arena for a little while. So far, I really like the bridle. Wizard was much less fussy in it, with less chomping and no curling behind the bit. We just did a quick session, warming up at the walk and trot with one spiral in each direction and 2-3 laps at the canter each way. I really wanted to ride, but I want to make sure he does not get sore with all his new work and the new saddle. His gaits were good- I wonder if the Pentosan has having any effect yet. I gave Wizard his snack, turned him out, and enjoyed the bright moon and sounds of the frogs. Ahhhh, springtime.

I Wanna Be Sedated: Wizard’s Veterinary Appointment

After a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend in Georgia, it was time to get back to business with Wizard. Yesterday, the veterinarian did a lameness exam and floated his teeth.

The exam began by watching Wizard trot on a longe line. I probably should have anticipated that Wizard would be a little fresh since he is fit and has had so much time off, but instead I was surprised when he came close to pulling me off my feet as soon as we began longeing! The halter with the longe line snapped to the chin ring is normally just fine for control but he was feeling his oats yesterday. The vet pronounced him sound in both directions. I asked her about his high action and she said it’s likely a combination of animation and a loose, flexible way of going.

She performed flexion tests on all four legs and the prognosis was good. She heard a little creakiness in the right front knee when she folded it, but it is probably a touch of arthritis and nothing that should keep him from the level of work we’re doing. His left hip is dropped a bit, which is in line with what the chiropractor mentioned about the tight muscle tissue in his hamstring and pelvis. I’ve known horses whose hips are dropped far more than his and they have gone on to perform well with correct strengthening work. The vet recommended more work with ground poles to help Wizard’s topline and hind end strength. His right hind leg also showed a little stiffness with one of the flex tests, but nothing that caused concern for his current workload. Wizard quite enjoyed the jogs on the dirt road and was arching his neck and throwing his head playfully.

The vet examined his back and carefully went over his acupressure points. No back pain and just a little tightness in his pelvis. She evaluated my saddle fit and said it looks good.

The veterinarian’s advice? Get back on Wizard and try riding again. If he still is showing signs of distress under saddle, treat or test for Lyme Disease. She also suggested doing another 4-day bute test (as a diagnostic tool, not as a treatment). If both fail, further evaluations will be needed, like x-rays or blood tests. But so far, everything looks good.

Wizard also had his teeth floated. All of the hooks have been fixed and more corrections were done to his wave mouth. She was pleased with the way his mouth looks and said he can have his teeth floated next in a year- hooray!

While Wizard was under sedation, I cleaned his sheath, clipped his bridle path, and pulled his mane. I LOVE how he looks with the pulled mane- it does my hunter/jumper heart good :^) I did a combination of traditional mane pulling and a little thinning with scissors by teasing the mane up and cutting the excess vertically with scissors. I did not want to subject the poor guy to an entire mane pulling- he had almost a foot of hair and now it’s the length of a pulling comb.

Thursday, Wizard has a farrier appointment. I hope to be back in the saddle very soon.

JR Ride 8; Wizard Ride 51: Heels Down!

Wednesday, 2/25/09

I lost Alibar in September 2008 but I still see reminders of him all the time. I bought a bag of hay cubes for Wizard and I just about started bawling when I started making them. We made hay cubes for Alibar for over a decade- it was a signature Alibar dish.

I started the night with JR. First, I turned him out in the indoor arena to let him blow off a little steam and stretch his legs. We worked on some clicker training at liberty. Although JR was a little slow out of the gate with clicker training, he has caught up really quickly. I rewarded him for circling around me and also for approaching me on command. I think that a moderate amount of liberty training really strengthens the bond between horse and rider. I’ve never used round pens- I find a big arena to be just fine for what I need.

I tacked up JR and Sarah rode him first. She rode for about 10 minutes. She worked on adjusting his stride- forward trot, working trot, sitting trot. She also cantered him. For a green horse who has been out of work for more than a year, he was quite balanced. JR has a really nice inner balance and rhythm and I think he has the ability to go really far as a riding horse. JR just barely broke a sweat by the time she was done.

Then it was my turn. JR and I had a workout! Sarah really put us through our paces. We trotted figure 8s, serpentines, and figure 8s down the long side (really skinny figure 8s). Sarah asked us for three trots: forward trot, posting trot, and sitting trot. JR has a remarkable forward trot! He never feels like he is going to break into a canter and he sort of floats along. His natural ability to adjust his gaits will be an asset if he ends up doing any dressage. We rode for about 20 or 25 minutes. By the time we were done, I was sweating! I’ve ridden all my life but since Alibar got sick and before that hurt his leg, I barely rode in 2008. In the beginning of the lesson, JR did a lot of adjusting his head, sometimes up, sometimes out, sometimes down. At the end of the lesson, I could feel JR stretching into the bit and accepting contact. His trot became more rhythmical and easy to ride. I cooled him out, groomed him, and moved onto the next victim :^)

I let Wizard spend about 10 minutes loose in the arena to stretch his legs and so I could see how he was feeling on the new shoes. He looks more comfortable. I tacked him up and Sarah rode him for about 10 minutes. A lot of the relaxation and schooling we did in January has regressed. He was back to being tense and anticipating the trot. Sarah was very patient with him and worked on asking for a quiet trot on a large circle. He did relax a bit after a few rounds. Then, I rode him for about 10 minutes. I think that it will not take as long to get him settled this time around as it did last month. Even though he had a layoff, I find that horses pick up training quickly once they have already learned it at some point. We did a few quiet walk/trot transitions and then walked some more, working on getting him to his “happy place”. Wizard simply needs more physical care and work than JR. I love working with them both and I am beginning to appreciate their differences.

It’s also really nice to be doing actual riding lessons. It feels good to have somebody tell me to put my heels down :^) Part of the comfort of a lesson is that I can allow somebody else to pilot the ride while I work on myself. I can focus more and we both improve. I’m really impressed with the progress we made. Can’t wait for the next lesson!

Wizard: The Equine Dental Report

Not a photo of Wizard, but it is one of my favorite photos of horse teeth.

Wizard had his teeth floated by our local veterinarian last Thursday.

This was my first time seeing a horse’s teeth floated with power tools. I found it to be a positive experience since it was faster than the traditional filing method, plus there is less wear and tear on the horse’s mouth. Wizard was sedated quite a bit in order to keep him still while his teeth were worked on. His head was held in a sling/halter and I stood with him to keep his head straight.

He had: hooks on his back molars, sharp edges, and a wave mouth. The wave mouth will need more sessions since it cannot be fixed in one floating.

Later that afternoon, Wizard had his feet trimmed by my farrier. It looks like he will be able to stay barefoot for a while.

Chiropractic adjustment… check.
Acupuncture treatment… check.
Teeth floating… check.
Hoof trimming… check.

Ready to ride again!

Wizard: Show Me Those Pearly Whites!

Wizard had his first chiropractic treatment on Oct 29. It was bittersweet to have the equine chiropractor out to the barn since I associate her with all of the great work she did for Alibar. But I was happy to have her treat Wizard.

The good news: she felt no new soreness or stiffness, which made me feel way better about his recent girthiness. She said that he adjusted remarkably well and has a lovely limber neck. I told her that he does yoga in his paddock- I’ve seen him do a perfect circus pony bow to grab a blade of grass under the fence.

The bad news: she feels that his teeth most likely need a lot of work. Then get his feet trimmed. Then get back to riding him ;^)

So Wizard will be getting his teeth floated this week. Will report back with the results!