I grabbed Romeo after a fairly stressful day, running errands, gathering grain, and even going to work. Yup, work, on the weekend. I saddled Romeo up, got him to the arena, and hopped on. Ransom found a loose spot in the arena fencing, and wandered into the arena. I hopped down off Romeo, laid the reins over the fenceline, and told him, “Whoa”. Normally, this works. (who else is laughing now, and saying to themselves “She said normally, uh oh!”) Romeo and Ransom quickly took off, at a gallop, running, bucking, farting, kicking, all around the arena. I couldn’t catch either of them.
After about ten minutes of complete chaos, I finally got Romeo’s attention with a sharp “Whoa!” I grabbed the reins, and took Romeo to his own pasture.
Romeo had plenty of git’up&go, too. For well over 45 minutes, we got walk/trot/canter, goofiness. I got some bending at trot work in, nice tight circles, a few turns, and a handful of rollbacks & side passing. I finally got the canter down to something I could easily ride & manage.
Took Romeo back to the trailer to unsaddle, and I saw Ransom pawing & laying down squirming a fit. Got Romeo to his stall, and apologized for not hosing him off. I looked across at Ransom, who was standing up, in his stall, pawing and pawing more. I quickly took Ransom to the round pen, and got him trotting & cantering. He had his tail up almost the whole time, I can hope he was passing gas. After about ten minutes of that, I started hand walking him down the road. Part way down the road, he started grazing, grabbing up huge mouthfuls of grass. I locked him up in the paddock, gave him water only, and supervised. Finally, I found a pile of pretty solid poop. His supper portion Saturday night, and breakfast Sunday morning were both reduced just in case.
What I think happened --- Ransom is used to a work schedule. He normally poops right after I turn him out after work. Without the work, he wasn’t on an exercise schedule. Without the work, he wasn’t sweating, so he wasn’t drinking as much. Change the schedule of work, and we apparently directly impact Ransom’s digestive system.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
05/06/10 Vet Update & Mo’s Turn
I checked Ransom’s hocks straightaway when I got home, and found them warm on the inside – expected.
Grabbed Romeo, got him dressed Western saddle, French link bit. His rear pasterns looked a little swollen, but sometimes this eases when he works.
Walking out to the arena, Ransom followed along quietly. I turned my back to them to walk in the arena, grab the gate tape, and when I looked up, whoosh! Romeo was pinning his ears, Ransom had turned a 180, and lifted up to threaten-kick Mo. What the heck?! I don’t know who angered who, and that has NEVER happened before with these two. They’ve bickered over fence line with ears, but never kicked out at each other. Goodness Gracious!
I got Romeo in the arena, Ransom settled on the rail, walked up & down a little, then proceeded to graze calmly. Romeo and I enjoyed about 35 minutes, warmed up on all three gaits, argued a little about leads, and then settled down for some trot bending work. I bent him solidly one way or the other on a tight circle, and, when he gave & bent nicely, I’d let him travel straight a while. This went on for about ten minutes, with a few solid stops and backups.
We did a few rollbacks, some ugly, some nice. Side passing was beautiful, turns on forehand were nice, too.
I found Ransom’s inside hocks still a little toasty this morning. I’m avoiding giving him anything for pain, because I’d like to monitor symptoms to know how to best treat and deal with him. As long as he’s still out, walking around, and grazing, the pain must be minimal.
Grabbed Romeo, got him dressed Western saddle, French link bit. His rear pasterns looked a little swollen, but sometimes this eases when he works.
Walking out to the arena, Ransom followed along quietly. I turned my back to them to walk in the arena, grab the gate tape, and when I looked up, whoosh! Romeo was pinning his ears, Ransom had turned a 180, and lifted up to threaten-kick Mo. What the heck?! I don’t know who angered who, and that has NEVER happened before with these two. They’ve bickered over fence line with ears, but never kicked out at each other. Goodness Gracious!
I got Romeo in the arena, Ransom settled on the rail, walked up & down a little, then proceeded to graze calmly. Romeo and I enjoyed about 35 minutes, warmed up on all three gaits, argued a little about leads, and then settled down for some trot bending work. I bent him solidly one way or the other on a tight circle, and, when he gave & bent nicely, I’d let him travel straight a while. This went on for about ten minutes, with a few solid stops and backups.
We did a few rollbacks, some ugly, some nice. Side passing was beautiful, turns on forehand were nice, too.
I found Ransom’s inside hocks still a little toasty this morning. I’m avoiding giving him anything for pain, because I’d like to monitor symptoms to know how to best treat and deal with him. As long as he’s still out, walking around, and grazing, the pain must be minimal.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
05/06/10 National Day of Prayer
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/05/despite-controversies-national-day-prayer-proceeds/?test=latestnews
And the show must go on, even if it’s in a legal debate right now.
And, for once, the President got it right.. I’m almost shocked.
President Obama issued a proclamation last Friday as his Justice Department appeals a federal judge's ruling last month that the day of prayer is unconstitutional.
"Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation," Obama said in the proclamation.
Prayers continue for our country, our leaders, our military, and the unbelief.
And the show must go on, even if it’s in a legal debate right now.
And, for once, the President got it right.. I’m almost shocked.
President Obama issued a proclamation last Friday as his Justice Department appeals a federal judge's ruling last month that the day of prayer is unconstitutional.
"Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation," Obama said in the proclamation.
Prayers continue for our country, our leaders, our military, and the unbelief.
05/06/10 Patient Update
UPDATED INFORMATION!!
Dr.Sam got busy with an emergency colic call in the afternoon and got started on Ransom late. Deanna called around 6:30, “Your Little boy is ready to pick up.” “Little?! You mean my big monster?” I arrived about fifteen minutes later, and found him standing in the tie stocks, hocks wrapped neatly. Dr. Sam rattled off the drugs & quantities, and I tried to pay attention. Ended up having to call the vet this morning for the details again.
He received
40mg Hyaluronate Sodium (HA)
6mg Triamcinalone (Corticosteroid)
125mg Amikacin Sulfate (Antibiotic)
Ransom cheerfully loaded in the trailer, I stopped off for some quick groceries, and headed on our way home. That was the slowest drive down the dirt road to my house, EVER. I snailed along down the road, paranoid I’d injure his freshly injected joints.
When we got home, I clipped on the lead rope, and left the trailer, holding the lead rope, encouraging Ransom to exit the trailer. He bent his head back towards me, with a worried face. “You can come out any way you want to, today, Mister Man. I leave it entirely up to you.” He moved his front end just a little, still staring at me with a worried face. “It’s okay, Buddy. If you’re too sore to back out, back legs first stepping down, come out head-first. I’m okay with it. Aren’t you hungry? Don’t you want out of there?” I tugged ever so gently on the lead rope. He came out, head first, and very delicately stepped down off the trailer on his back legs.
We carefully walked to the paddock, and I let him stay there for his supper. Remembering what Dr. Sam said, “You can take those wraps off in a little while, and he can have turnout for his rest”, I opened the paddock and took the bandages off. Ransom walked very slowly out of his paddock, drank water from the big tank, and began grazing.
I found him this morning cheerfully walking his fence line towards the barn, looking for breakfast. I didn’t feel any heat in his hocks, and when I applied a little pressure, he looked back at me, but didn’t pin ears, and didn’t stomp, swish tail, or fuss. I will be watching with great intent for the days to come. Dr. Sam told me I may see some swelling, but that’s a normal part of healing and adjusting to the meds. If it lasts more than 4 days, give him a call.
Dr.Sam got busy with an emergency colic call in the afternoon and got started on Ransom late. Deanna called around 6:30, “Your Little boy is ready to pick up.” “Little?! You mean my big monster?” I arrived about fifteen minutes later, and found him standing in the tie stocks, hocks wrapped neatly. Dr. Sam rattled off the drugs & quantities, and I tried to pay attention. Ended up having to call the vet this morning for the details again.
He received
40mg Hyaluronate Sodium (HA)
6mg Triamcinalone (Corticosteroid)
125mg Amikacin Sulfate (Antibiotic)
Ransom cheerfully loaded in the trailer, I stopped off for some quick groceries, and headed on our way home. That was the slowest drive down the dirt road to my house, EVER. I snailed along down the road, paranoid I’d injure his freshly injected joints.
When we got home, I clipped on the lead rope, and left the trailer, holding the lead rope, encouraging Ransom to exit the trailer. He bent his head back towards me, with a worried face. “You can come out any way you want to, today, Mister Man. I leave it entirely up to you.” He moved his front end just a little, still staring at me with a worried face. “It’s okay, Buddy. If you’re too sore to back out, back legs first stepping down, come out head-first. I’m okay with it. Aren’t you hungry? Don’t you want out of there?” I tugged ever so gently on the lead rope. He came out, head first, and very delicately stepped down off the trailer on his back legs.
We carefully walked to the paddock, and I let him stay there for his supper. Remembering what Dr. Sam said, “You can take those wraps off in a little while, and he can have turnout for his rest”, I opened the paddock and took the bandages off. Ransom walked very slowly out of his paddock, drank water from the big tank, and began grazing.
I found him this morning cheerfully walking his fence line towards the barn, looking for breakfast. I didn’t feel any heat in his hocks, and when I applied a little pressure, he looked back at me, but didn’t pin ears, and didn’t stomp, swish tail, or fuss. I will be watching with great intent for the days to come. Dr. Sam told me I may see some swelling, but that’s a normal part of healing and adjusting to the meds. If it lasts more than 4 days, give him a call.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
05-05-10 Vet Call
Ransom and I arrived at the vet’s office promptly, and the work began.
Dr Sam watched him trot down & back, then performed flexion tests on all four legs. Here’s what he found:
Slight head bobble when flexed on the pasterns up front – both legs. It is only visible for the first 3-4 strides away.
Stiff and uncomfortable when flexed on the hocks – both legs.
So I agreed to a bunch of xrays.
Front pasterns
Front left knee (there’s a “bump” on the inside of his knee, either from whacking something, or otherwise)
Back hocks
And here’s what he found…
Front pasterns look good for his age – a little wear & tear, but nothing dramatic. Some “rough edges” on the bones, but away from the joints enough to not be causing a problem.
Front left knee – has one spot on it, just on the outside front of the joint. It’s either calcification or a bone chip buried in soft tissue, or a floater. He’s thinking buried in soft tissue, as Ransom didn’t fight flexion or the trot-offs enough for it to be a floater.
Back hocks – Congenitive Bone Disease in the joints. Left moreso than right. There’s very little space in the joint on the left, and a little more space on the right, but still not pretty. “Much better than Dr Sam expected, for his age and use.”
The treatment? Inject the hocks with medicines (cortico steriods and HA). We could inject from top & bottom, but Dr Sam suggested we inject from top only, and pray it seeps down into the joint. After the injection, he asks that Ransom have three full days off work, and “then he can go back to full work.” I may go easy to start. “Full Work”, also includes he’s allowed to go back to jumping. *whew* Glad to hear that!
He’s getting done this afternoon, and I can pick him up later today. He was a good patient for all the exam work, stood steady, and generally cooperated with Dr Sam and Deanna. I’m grateful they did such a thorough job, and explained everything to me so I understood.
Dr Sam watched him trot down & back, then performed flexion tests on all four legs. Here’s what he found:
Slight head bobble when flexed on the pasterns up front – both legs. It is only visible for the first 3-4 strides away.
Stiff and uncomfortable when flexed on the hocks – both legs.
So I agreed to a bunch of xrays.
Front pasterns
Front left knee (there’s a “bump” on the inside of his knee, either from whacking something, or otherwise)
Back hocks
And here’s what he found…
Front pasterns look good for his age – a little wear & tear, but nothing dramatic. Some “rough edges” on the bones, but away from the joints enough to not be causing a problem.
Front left knee – has one spot on it, just on the outside front of the joint. It’s either calcification or a bone chip buried in soft tissue, or a floater. He’s thinking buried in soft tissue, as Ransom didn’t fight flexion or the trot-offs enough for it to be a floater.
Back hocks – Congenitive Bone Disease in the joints. Left moreso than right. There’s very little space in the joint on the left, and a little more space on the right, but still not pretty. “Much better than Dr Sam expected, for his age and use.”
The treatment? Inject the hocks with medicines (cortico steriods and HA). We could inject from top & bottom, but Dr Sam suggested we inject from top only, and pray it seeps down into the joint. After the injection, he asks that Ransom have three full days off work, and “then he can go back to full work.” I may go easy to start. “Full Work”, also includes he’s allowed to go back to jumping. *whew* Glad to hear that!
He’s getting done this afternoon, and I can pick him up later today. He was a good patient for all the exam work, stood steady, and generally cooperated with Dr Sam and Deanna. I’m grateful they did such a thorough job, and explained everything to me so I understood.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
05/01/10 BRM Lesson
I arrived nice & early to Blue Ribbon, and due to a cancellation, got my lesson started at 10:30 rather than 11:00.
We started out at a long stretchy walk, and Ransom didn't even pause to look around. He was ready for action. Barb told me, "Warm him up like you normally do." So I stuck him out at the trot on a loose rein, barely guiding his body, and as I slowly started shortening the reins, she said...
"He's off behind. Slow him down, it looks stiff & painful the more he goes. Don't push for that big trot - it just gets fast & ugly." We worked on shortening the stride back to a reasonable trot, and Ransom was bending nice left, but ugly right.
Did a bunch of trot circles right, a few volte's at walk (that's new!), and I learned how to push him out on the circle, bending in, and transition to a nice forward walk, make a smaller circle, and right back up to trot. He was very stiff, very lazy, and it took quite a while to get a nice bend going right.
I rode through TL #1, and Barb watched. We fixed a few small things. #1 Coming down centerline, only look AT the Judge. Nothing Else. Don't look too far above C, but don't look down if she's sitting just behind it at ground level, either. Look straight dead ahead, don't even shift my eyes to E & B to find X. He halted square & beautiful whenever I did that, and moved muck straighter down center, so that was cool. #2 Smooth transitions, think about them ahead of time, and give him time to prepare for a smooth transition. #3 Bend low at the poll, keep my hands active & keep his head down.
Then she called TL #2 and we rode through that. Many improvements from TL #1, all from the previous reminders. I was super satisfied that it was going to go well.
Barb cautioned - "He's going to probably get some lower marks for his trot. Just prepare for it now in your mind. His walk is good, his canter's a 9 if you bend him well. But I know the judge, and she'll want his head low. Keep his head low, keep the transitions nice & smooth, and enjoy the ride. You'll do great."
For the stiffness, the soreness, and the general lack of forward from behind, she suggested Joint Injections in his hocks. We're guessing, based on everything we've seen so far, Ransom has had very little maintenance. Barb asked that we make a vet appointment and get his back legs looked at, and injections done. So tomorrow, at 10:15 or so, we're meeting with Dr. Sam and Deanna. I'm going to get a lameness evaluation done, that will probably involve flexion, maybe xrays, and a long discussion.
Yes, I know he's older. At 20, Ransom's done a lot, seen a lot, and he's still got "go" in him. Barb even commented, "He's working very hard for you, and for his age, doing very well. He's got more life left competing, he just needs some lube in his joints." I've thought about it ... Ransom and I worked from 4/22 all the way through 5/2 with one day off, 4/28. That was it. He had one day off in 11 days of work. Wow! That's a lot! I also was doing a lot of hunter work, ground poles, cavaletti at trot & canter, and even those few 8" "jumps at canter", and the crossrails at trot before the dressage was serious again. He's working really hard - and so it's only expected he'll be stiff & sore.
Tomorrow's the big day! I don't think it'll be super serious or disastrous news. But I need to take care of him, since he's taking such good care of me.
We started out at a long stretchy walk, and Ransom didn't even pause to look around. He was ready for action. Barb told me, "Warm him up like you normally do." So I stuck him out at the trot on a loose rein, barely guiding his body, and as I slowly started shortening the reins, she said...
"He's off behind. Slow him down, it looks stiff & painful the more he goes. Don't push for that big trot - it just gets fast & ugly." We worked on shortening the stride back to a reasonable trot, and Ransom was bending nice left, but ugly right.
Did a bunch of trot circles right, a few volte's at walk (that's new!), and I learned how to push him out on the circle, bending in, and transition to a nice forward walk, make a smaller circle, and right back up to trot. He was very stiff, very lazy, and it took quite a while to get a nice bend going right.
I rode through TL #1, and Barb watched. We fixed a few small things. #1 Coming down centerline, only look AT the Judge. Nothing Else. Don't look too far above C, but don't look down if she's sitting just behind it at ground level, either. Look straight dead ahead, don't even shift my eyes to E & B to find X. He halted square & beautiful whenever I did that, and moved muck straighter down center, so that was cool. #2 Smooth transitions, think about them ahead of time, and give him time to prepare for a smooth transition. #3 Bend low at the poll, keep my hands active & keep his head down.
Then she called TL #2 and we rode through that. Many improvements from TL #1, all from the previous reminders. I was super satisfied that it was going to go well.
Barb cautioned - "He's going to probably get some lower marks for his trot. Just prepare for it now in your mind. His walk is good, his canter's a 9 if you bend him well. But I know the judge, and she'll want his head low. Keep his head low, keep the transitions nice & smooth, and enjoy the ride. You'll do great."
For the stiffness, the soreness, and the general lack of forward from behind, she suggested Joint Injections in his hocks. We're guessing, based on everything we've seen so far, Ransom has had very little maintenance. Barb asked that we make a vet appointment and get his back legs looked at, and injections done. So tomorrow, at 10:15 or so, we're meeting with Dr. Sam and Deanna. I'm going to get a lameness evaluation done, that will probably involve flexion, maybe xrays, and a long discussion.
Yes, I know he's older. At 20, Ransom's done a lot, seen a lot, and he's still got "go" in him. Barb even commented, "He's working very hard for you, and for his age, doing very well. He's got more life left competing, he just needs some lube in his joints." I've thought about it ... Ransom and I worked from 4/22 all the way through 5/2 with one day off, 4/28. That was it. He had one day off in 11 days of work. Wow! That's a lot! I also was doing a lot of hunter work, ground poles, cavaletti at trot & canter, and even those few 8" "jumps at canter", and the crossrails at trot before the dressage was serious again. He's working really hard - and so it's only expected he'll be stiff & sore.
Tomorrow's the big day! I don't think it'll be super serious or disastrous news. But I need to take care of him, since he's taking such good care of me.
Show Results 05/02/10 Freestyle Farms
You'll see sometime in the coming days why these scores are adequate for the conditions...
The show was nice. Full! The tests were ridden in the indoor covered arena, which turned out to be for the best. The outdoor arena had incredibly uneven footing. Fortunately, when I prepared to warmup, there was a crowd in the outdoor. The grassy tree field beside the outdoor looked beautiful. I warmed Ransom up out there, weaving in and out of trees, and generally enjoying the day. When I did find a break in the outdoor, he was irregular and yuckie. Poor guy was going from loose soft sand to rock-hard sand. Hard to perform his best in that. The indoor footing was nice, soft, and even. Judge sat inside a pick up truck, with tinted windows, so I couldn't see her nod and acknowledge my salutes, but oh well.
Anyways, if anybody's interested, I can post up judge's comments tomorrow or Thursday. Comment appropriately if that's what ya'll would like me to do. Here's the skinny..
Test #1 Ransom felt great. He was soft on the aids, listening to me, and I had really nice up transitions. A couple stickie down transitions, but square halts, and nice round circles.
63.043%
Test #2 Ridden spectacular. I was all smiles, and even laughed a few times to myself at how hard he was trying. The trots felt really good, and the canters even better. He tugged hard at the transition to free walk, and I tugged back. Paid for that.. along with some other things I can get to later.
62.857%
Placings weren't the best. Second in Test #1, last in Test #2. That's okay. I don't ride dressage for placings - I ride for scores & comments.
As for Ransom, he's on a break until we can get to see our vet Wednesday morning. I'll explain why in another post, but he's showing his age. Poor guy, he's trying so hard!
The show was nice. Full! The tests were ridden in the indoor covered arena, which turned out to be for the best. The outdoor arena had incredibly uneven footing. Fortunately, when I prepared to warmup, there was a crowd in the outdoor. The grassy tree field beside the outdoor looked beautiful. I warmed Ransom up out there, weaving in and out of trees, and generally enjoying the day. When I did find a break in the outdoor, he was irregular and yuckie. Poor guy was going from loose soft sand to rock-hard sand. Hard to perform his best in that. The indoor footing was nice, soft, and even. Judge sat inside a pick up truck, with tinted windows, so I couldn't see her nod and acknowledge my salutes, but oh well.
Anyways, if anybody's interested, I can post up judge's comments tomorrow or Thursday. Comment appropriately if that's what ya'll would like me to do. Here's the skinny..
Test #1 Ransom felt great. He was soft on the aids, listening to me, and I had really nice up transitions. A couple stickie down transitions, but square halts, and nice round circles.
63.043%
Test #2 Ridden spectacular. I was all smiles, and even laughed a few times to myself at how hard he was trying. The trots felt really good, and the canters even better. He tugged hard at the transition to free walk, and I tugged back. Paid for that.. along with some other things I can get to later.
62.857%
Placings weren't the best. Second in Test #1, last in Test #2. That's okay. I don't ride dressage for placings - I ride for scores & comments.
As for Ransom, he's on a break until we can get to see our vet Wednesday morning. I'll explain why in another post, but he's showing his age. Poor guy, he's trying so hard!
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