"Horse, Follow Closely"

Ok, so I nicked the title from here but it sums up how I feel about todays session with Anky.

I took her up to the school for our 5 minutes each way lungeing session, which was ok, she is definately looser than she was, more relaxed. After the session, I let her loose in the school to see how focussed she was on me. She followed me, changing direction, halting etc. I then walked out of the school across the grass track and into the field, down to the stables. I wondered if she would get distracted and either stop to eat grass or just leg it down the field to the yard, but she didn't. She followed me all the way down the field, I halted, changed directions and she just followed me. I do love this horse.

I took Remy into the picadero. I want to start lungeing him, so today we worked on him moving off from a signal, rather than just following, me walking more to the side. He seems to be getting the hang of it. He doesn't seem to worry about anything I ask him, if anything he's a little too laid back and easily loses focus. That's to be expected though. I've noticed a change in his attitude since I started work with him, he is growing up, less babyish, he's very calm now in most aspects of his training.

Corky's swelling is going down and she looks more level, I'm hoping that when the osteo sees her it won't be too serious.
It's been a good morning. I'm off this afternoon to a friends house to play piano, sax and hopefully a girly afternoon by the pool!!

Anky in the school.

I took Anky up to the school today and she is definately moving more freely. She is far less tight over her back. As she's improved her belly has become less bloated and she is softer from her loins down to her belly. Now that we have an idea of what's going on I can start to build her up slowly and I'll go back to my lungeing and stretching program.

Anky, Remy and Corky

I could really see today, how much better Anky's feeling. She has a calm look in her eye, she's not gassy or stretching and she's moving around much easier. Also she's put on a bit of condition and started to get a shine on her coat. It's only now when I see her start to look much better that I realise how miserable she must have been feeling. I feel guilty about it, have I been looking at her with my eyes closed? I think the biggest red herring along the way was thinking that it was a problem with her seasons, because that was when she was the most uncomfortable. But what about the in-between times? I dread to think what kind of discomfort she has been living with. She's on the Gastrogard now though so I'm really hoping all will be well.

Continued the same with Remy over the last few days. He's very well behaved on the lead rope and fairly focussed for most of the time. He's happy with the bit, mouthing nicely, happy and relaxed in the school and I think he's ready to start some lungeing and in-hand work.

Corky's been on bute for the last couple of days. She has a swelling over her croup, along the sacral area. The swelling's on the near side and watching her walk away, she looks to be dropping her offside hip. Now, I don't know if she's actually dropping her offside hip or not using her nearside hip properly. The bute has reduced the swelling, but she's still unlevel behind, though not as much as before. So, I think a visit from the osteo is in order. I'll ask Lucinda to come along with her osteo and he can look at both Anky and Corky.

Vogue

Had a lovely day today with Claire (here) and Alison. They came over to see us. We played with Corky in the school and I got the opportunity to try out the Heather Moffett Vogue Dressage saddle. I was pleasantly surprised, too much so, I don't think my bank balance can stand it. LOL

Anky seems a little better today, a little stiff but quite bright, I really do hope the treatment is working.
I may get Lucinda (equine masseuse) over to give her a massage and also liaise with the osteo as we noticed that Corky wasn't quite level on her hips today :-(

A brighter horse.

Anky was a little colicky yesterday afternoon. Hardly surprising after the night she'd had. I think (as Kate commented) she was in shock. Really not herself at all. They stayed out last night, it was forecast localised storms, but she needed to be out and moving around.
Anyway, I don't think the weather was too bad, it rained and hailed a little, but it was very warm. This morning Anky looked a little brighter, moving easier and was ready for her breakfast. I gave her a massage which she seemed to enjoy, and she certainly felt more relaxed. We'll see how she goes.

With Remy this morning, we had a bitting session. He's quite happy with the bit, I put his bridle on and then groomed him. He gets a little worried when I try to touch the bit rings and tries to pull his head away. But he's getting more relaxed and today I held the bit rings lightly and he kept his head nice and still. So, his education with the bit progresses.

Storms

We kept the horses in last night as we had storms. I think it was going for most of the night.

This morning when we went into the barn to feed we found that Anky had been cast in the night. She was up and ready for her breakfast, but she was covered in dry sweat and had a few scrapes here and there. Aaaggghh. We didn't hear anything, I dread to think how long she was cast, her bed was a real mess and there are scrapes and gouges on the walls of her stable.

After their breakfast we put them straight in the field and she looks tired and a little stiff, but, I hope, OK.

Remy in the School

Took Remy up the field and into the school today, he was a very good boy. He's very interested in his surroundings, but sensible and fairly focussed and relaxed.
Led him around the school, halting and changes of direction.

Anky and Remy

Second day of medication for Anky, she really has perked up. I hope it's for real.

Lead Remy out with with his bridle on, line attached to a lungeing cavesson, just a short walk around the field. He was stirred up by a dog walker on the chemin (green lane) at the top of the field, but he wasn't silly and stayed quite focussed on me.

I'm looking forward to starting with some in hand and lungeing in the school pretty soon.

Lovely Afternoon Out.

Went over to Trudis this afternoon and met Claire (here) and Alison. We had a lovely time chatting about horses, a lovely lunch provided by Trudi and we were entertained by Trudi's very charming daughter Lydia.

We started Anky on the ulcer treatment this morning. When I returned tonight, OH said that she had been skipping around with the others in the field. The vet said that we would see improvement very quickly if, in fact, she has ulcers, so we are cautiously optimistic that maybe we can move forward with a definate diagnosis.

A day of two halves.

Today started off well with Anky in the school, she seemed perkier this morning. Then I took Remy out, led him up through the field and into the school. The first time in there and he was a little surprised, had a good look at the pallet lying at the entrance that we use for levelling the school and then just walked in. He was a star, a little excited and distracted but then focussed on me and we had a walk around on a loose line, did a few halts and changes of direction. Then back down the field all very relaxed and calm. Great.

This afternoon, the masseuse was due so went to get them in and Anky was showing signs of Colic, stretching, pawing lying down, just very restless. She wasn't sweating and her temperature was normal. I brought her in and she lied down, obviously very tired. Her breathing was slightly fast, but her heart rate was normal. After lying down for about 15 minutes she got up and started eating.
Her droppings were soft and I found some intestinal lining in there. ( I know, YUK)

The vet seems to think that she has an intestinal infection which we will treat with a five day course of antibiotics, and it is highly possible that she has ulcers.
I find this hard, because she has always been well wormed, is on a high fibre diet, good grass and hay and has almost 24/7 turnout. She has never been in hard work and although the vet says it has nothing to do with my management I feel responsible.

Anyway if it is ulcers, we can treat it.

So, a day of two halves. Remy makes me really happy, Anky gives me great cause for concern.

Holiday Neighbours

I picked up the stuff for Anky, it's called Sedochol and we have a course for 6 days. I started the probiotics 3 days ago, and I don't know if its wishful thinking, but Anky seems a little less tired and uncomfortable, I've only seen her stretch a couple of times since her massage and she looks much better in her eye. So, usual routine, lungeing, then stretching, I do think she's looking easier on the lunge. I'm sure the stretching exercises are much harder for me than Anky!! Today she pulled her leg back and I fell over. Ridiculous, I think I'm the one in need of a suppling and fittening routine.
Walked Remy around the field, he doesn't seem to mind, he's relaxed and interested. He's a lovely chap. I may introduce him to the school this week.

Our neighbours have arrived for their annual summer holiday. They are an Irish family and bought the house from an elderly french couple 2 years ago. It is their holiday home. We were very sorry to lose our french neighbours and it is a great shame that the house is empty most of the year, but over the last couple of years we have become used to the peace and quiet. We still have our privacy, and they are a lovely family but the thought of someone just being there............
Oh what a horrible, unsociable person I am!!!!!

Well, I received Ankys blood tests in the post yesterday. I spoke to the vet and she wasn't too concerned, they seemed ok but her liver levels were higher than normal.
She said that in a seemingly healthy horse she would be happy with the tests, but as Anky is showing some discomfort we will give her a course of something (?) to be sure.
So, does that make any sense? I don't know!! I'm going the collect the whatever it is today.

Same routine again today, she seems ok, not brilliant and she does seem tired, but ok. She's eating and grooming with Bonbon doing normal things...... it's really difficult not to over analyse things!

I took Remy out again, leading, halting etc, he seems to be getting it. He was relaxed, less distracted so I took him into the field and walked him around in there. All on a loose line and he followed me willingly, lots of changes of direction and halts. I'm very pleased with him.

I had an email from Tara (here) yesterday, she told me that Tia is doing really well, sent me some lovely pics and told me that her Mum had passed away, and that "she's going to try and make her really proud". Apparently it was very sudden and now they are left to try and carry on with their lives. She was the driving force in the family and after a very bad prognosis for Taras future, she made it her life to give Tara the best possible chance she could.
It's a great sadness.

Connection.

Well, I haven't heard from the vet. I hope that's a good thing as she said she would contact me immediately if the tests showed up anything serious.
The probiotics arrived today so we'll see over the next week if there is any improvement. Another couple of days gone by and I haven't seen her stretching.

Usual routine today, up to the school, she was reluctant to go, I could almost hear her sayin, oh no, not again Mum.
Anyway we got in the school and I led her around the perimeter, she was very calm. I started to lunge her, walk and a little trot, came to change the rein and she walked right up to me and stood quietly. I asked her to walk on, but she seemed reluctant, I walked at the side of her, holding her on a loose rein, she was very focussed on me so I moved around the arena, circles, changes of direction, I walked a small circle, crossing my legs over and she mirrored my movements one way and then the other , she halted as I halted and when I moved backwards , so did she. I don't know if it was, but it felt very special. I've never felt as connected to a horse before.
Back in the stable, stretches and then I massaged her. By the time I'd finished she was very relaxed , I sroked all around her head and face and she was falling sleep with her head in my hands.
Same again with Remy today, leading work in the garden, he was really good, less distracted than yesterday, apart from when he discovered the apple tree in the corner of the garden and tried to pull the apples off.

Corky's been on duty all day eyeing up the gateway into our front field. She loves that field, she knows when the hay's been cut, when it's been baled and, best of all, when it's gone into the barn!! This means that, finally, she gets to go in there!! Changing fields is always a big event for the horses, so , camcorder at the ready I thought I'd get some action shots of all the joyous chasing around and kicking up of heels!!!

Huh, what a let down, Greedy Pigs!!!!! LOL

L'Analyse de Sang

Blood tests that is , for Anky. I need to know if there is an underlying problem that could be connected with the stretching and the gassiness, or causing problems in the back. The vet came out today so we should have a better idea in a couple of days.
The vet pointed out the obvious to me that Anky appears to be well, but the blood tests will tell us if there is a problem.
The probiotics haven't arrived yet. I continue to Lunge, stretch and massage her, Lucinda (masseuse) is coming back next week.

I took Remy into the picadero ( hee hee, there I go again - bottom of the garden!!) for the first time. He was really good. We did some leading / halt work, trying to get him to focus on me. He was a little distracted at first, he had a little skip round whinnying to the others in the barn, but he soon settled to some nice halts and following on a loose line with lots of changes of direction. I am very pleased with him.

Oooh, Look at this!

Just noticed on Anja Berans website she's bringing out two new DVDs. I am quite excited. (does that make me a really sad person?)

Hay's in the Barn!!

Another couple of days lungeing, stretching exercises and massaging Anky. I still haven't seen her stretching her back, she seems better in herself and a little looser on the lunge.
I am really enjoying giving her the massage, it's something I'd like to explore further. I know of a couple of courses not too far from me so I think I'll book one and see how far I can take it.

The farmer Pascal came this morning and brought our hay into the barn. It is lovely, nice and sweet and not been touched by a drop of rain. We are happy bunnies.

I groomed, massaged and did some leading work with Remy. Lots of distractions, Jim making a gate and Pascals very large red trailer in the field, but he was a very good boy. He feels very big now, he's the gawkiest ( I'm sure that's not a real word!) he's ever been, tall, all frame and no body. I'm hoping he'll start to fill out soon.

Up, up and Away..........

Second day of lungeing Anky today. Yesterday she was quite lethargic, today she was totally on her toes. When I went to bring them in this morning they were snorting in the corner of our top field. As I looked down towards the bottom field I saw a hot air balloon and I could hear them firing it up!!
The horses all thought it was the biggest most frightening monster they'd ever seen.
They wouldn't come up to the gate so I walked half way down and Corky came up to meet me. She wasn't so worried she was going to miss out on breakfast! As I brought Corky in, Anky legged it back down so that she could keep an eye on the monster.
They all came in fine eventually, but were still a bit edgy in the stable.

Told you it was frightening!!
No, really, it wasn't Darth Vader!!!!

An hour later when I wanted to lunge Anky, she was still on the lookout for the balloon and was distracted and on her toes in the school. Having said that she looked ok and I haven't seen her stretching ( of course she could have been stretching and I haven't seen her) since her massage on Thursday.

After lungeing I did the stretching exercises and she was a lot more willing and relaxed today.
I wanted to lead Remy out, but thought I'd give it a miss as he was VERY frightened of the monster and kept looking out of his window to see if he was safe!!!

I've got a couple of dvd's and books on massage and also Lucinda (masseuse) took me through a basic relaxation routine so this afternoon before they went back out in the field I gave Anky a massage. I think she enjoyed it.

Oh Dear.

Anky had a massage yesterday and the upshot is that her pelvis is slightly twisted. It has done this before and the osteo corrected it. It is very slight but it is probable that the osteo will have to come and correct it agan. This time we will work together with the masseuse to make sure that the muscles are also attended to. The muscles on her back are tight and have gone into spasm on one side from the point of hip to the back and going down the stomach. So we have an exercise plan for the next two weeks which is lungeing at walk and trot each day, starting five minutes each rein building up to 10-15 minutes, followed by some specific stretching exercises. She will liaise with the osteo for a second appointment in two weeks.
When she's around season time Anky is gassy and stretches (I mean really stretches) but she's been doing it more often recently nowhere near her season which was part of the reason for making the appointment. I showed her a pic of Anky stretching and described how she gets uncomfortable and gassy, and she said she had seen exactly the same thing in her friends mare who had something called "Leaky Gut", i've never heard of it, but it's a deficiency in the digestive process and she said perhaps I should try some probiotics as it had really helped her friends mare. It would be interesting to see if she improves with the probiotic. I've had a recommendation from the vet as to which I should buy and it's on it's way.
This is Anky stretching.

Playing in the Sunshine

I had a lovely morning today, Trudi came over and we took Anky into the school.
I had some very much needed (and appreciated) instruction on the in-hand work, which is relatively new to me. It was very helpful to see Anky being worked this way and has given me the motivation to continue.
After a very short sit-on, Trudi got on and I had a chance to see Anky being ridden. It was great to see someone else riding her, and her responses. She was a very good girl, and Trudi made her look good. Why didn't I take some pics?????

We then had a little bitting session with Remy in the stable. I've done very little with him recently but I'd like to start some basic in-hand work with him. I'll just practice my technique on Anky first!! Oh, sorry, did I say that out loud!!



Thanks for coming over Trudi.