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…
Monday, 1/10/11
FINALLY! Back in the saddle! It was a bitterly cold night, but I headed out to the barn with a mission- my back was feeling better so I was determined to ride. I free longed Wizard, making sure he walked, trotted, and cantered in each direction and then I tacked him up. Our ride was pretty brief, about 25 minutes in the saddle, mostly walking. I trotted Wizard for about 5 minutes- I did not want to over-do things for my back or for Wizard. It’s amazing how quickly riding feels foreign- I forgot what girth hole we had been using and felt a little out of practice. I guess I’d better get back in practice!
After my ride, I sent a text message to a co-worker of a photo of Wizard that I took from the saddle.
She texted back: Did you keep a leg in each corner?
Thankfully, I did!
Thursday, 12/30/10
Wizard is recovering from a gimpy left front leg (he also banged up his left hind in the meantime, but that is all better now). I officially pronounced him sound on Sunday, Jan 2, but I want to give him a little more time to make sure whatever was bothering him is completely gone. We’re just doing some fun liberty work and clicker training in the meantime.
Meanwhile, at another barn, my friend is recovering from knee surgery. So since I’m horseless and my friend cannot ride her mare, my friend asked me to ride Miss Tuesday.
Miss Tuesday is an unraced Thoroughbred, foaled in 1998. Her registered name is Stormin Miss- here’s her pedigree (great name!).
My friend has been working with Miss Tuesday for a few years, and they have made great progress together. For groundwork, my friend has utilized Parelli Natural Horse Training. Since I do not “speak” Parelli, I had to learn how to communicate with Tuesday. I learned how to guide her front end and hindquarters, and how to ask her to move forward and back. I did some longeing (circling) to get acquainted with her, since she had a few weeks off from riding.
We kept our ride short, since my back felt a little sore from shoveling snow and since Tuesday was out of shape from the time off. We started with walk work, and did two sets of trotting. It took me a few minutes to get in sync with Tuesday- I take a little while to get used to horses. Tuesday rides in an eggbutt French link snaffle, and she has a wonderfully soft mouth. She seeks contact and stretches into the bit. She does not chomp on the bit like Wizard does, so she is excellent practice for me to work on my hands. She’s responsive to leg aids, too. I asked her for a leg yield, but she did not seem to understand, so I don’t know if she has learned it yet. Tuesday was honest, willing, and responsive- she’s a peach :^)
Another perk of riding Tuesday was enjoying her SADDLE, which was made by County Saddlery. I LOVED IT!!!
Sunday, 4/19/09
This was my last visit with the boys until I return from Kentucky. Not as much of a training session as it was playtime and an opportunity to make sure they both were ready for some time off. I’ve traveled many times during the years when I owned Alibar and it was a different feeling when I left- not as intense.
I made sure Wizard had plenty of Alfa Supreme and I made sure both horses were exercised, clean, and comfortable. Both horses had free-longeing sessions. JR kicked up his heels, bounced around when he saw deer in the woods, and played for a little bit, and then he was quite responsive. I’ve seen a nice change in his interaction with me- he is more attentive. I was able to get a trot and a canter in both directions in a HUGE arena, with JR stopping and walking toward me on command. When we were done, I cooled him out at a walk on the longe line- he gave me a really nice walk.
Wizard was also happy to get out and stretch his legs, run, and buck a little. He is so much fun to work at liberty. The combination of his desire to move out and his willingness to respond to me makes him a really cool horse. He’s also quite fit! Even after what I thought was a good workout, he had not broken a sweat and was not even breathing hard by the time I cooled him out. When I return from my trip, I will have the vet look at Wizard and hopefully we can move out of this holding pattern. In the meantime, the boys can kick back and relax.
Rock and Racehorses: Sarah K. Andrew 