ReCap of the week, while not 100% horse-related, still relevant.
Monday - mild chest pain. Rained hard at my house (yay!), so I figured it was weather-related.
Tuesday - it happened again. Only it hurt even more. I ate lunch at work, then went to help a co-worker with a computer program question. I leaned over, and briefly felt like somebody knocked the wind out of me. Ouch. Stood back up, and that got better. It also started to feel like I had run a marathon. Chest pain, tightness, midget sitting on my chest. Heart pounding, like it would at the end of a hard canter-set.
Went back to my desk and sat down to call the doctor. Answering service, "No, they're at lunch honey. Call back in a half hour." Crap, I wonder if I have a half hour.. Went with a co-worker to the work medical dept. BP 158/88, pulse 98. EKG at work (per nurse practitioner) "worse than it was last time". Nurses at my plant panicked. "Off to the ambulance she goes." Loaded up and hauled to the hospital ER. (Fortunately, the same one that handled the kick initially.)
Spent about 7 hours in the ER. Conclusion? "It's not a heart attack. Blood work is okay, EKGs are okay, aspirin, nitro, and toradol. Go home, rest, see your doctor tomorrow."
Wednesday - chillin' and relaxin', dr 2:00 pm. BP 128/78, pulse 81. He gave it a listen. Yep, the tricuspid valve is still leaking, he can hear it. Ordered and Echocardiogram, and a CT/contrast. Cardio doc said, "All things considered, I'm in very good health. Heart is strong, I'm in good shape. Keep exercising, keep eating really well, and be very attentive. There is very little chance this valve will kill me, but we need to determine what's next."
Thursday - Went to work in the am, BP at work medical 120/80, pulse 69. Echo - technician acted normal. He told me he can still see the leak, it's still there, things don't look 100% normal, but he doesn't know how bad it is. "Looks a lot like the last time, but I'm not the doc." CT for next Tuesday.
Friday, today.. I will ride. In about a half an hour, I'm going out there. It's humid, but in the 70s for temps (yeah, upper 70s. yuck). I will wear my cool vest, I'll take the ice water jug out there, and Harley will longe in side reins before I hop on. Dressage, and I'll take it easy. Enough ride to work on one thing, but not multiples like we've been doing. I haven't checked BP/pulse yet this morning, but I suspect it's like it's been. "Normal" BP for me is 110/70, pulse 70 or lower.
I haven't really changed my diet. I'm still riding, though not as much due to the heat. Work hasn't been anymore stressful than normal, and I might even be brave to say things have been less stressful lately. Just as busy, but not as emotionally stressful.
I was hoping to kick off our formal jump training very soon with Harley. Now, it's a big "pause" until 9/18 and the doctor decides what to do. There are a few treatment options, so we wait and see.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
8-25-13
Harley dressage. Started out in his show bit (we've been going in the Myler 04 combo, middle ring) on the side reins. He settled into it nicely, so I crawled on top.
Nice ride. He was sticky halt/walk/halt, not wanting to walk off. A few moderate dressage whip taps, and he got the idea. Things improved gradually from there. Saturday, I found him very stiff on his circles, more left than right. Sunday, things were better. He had a better bend, and seemed more alert.
Rode through TL#1 to see how it'd go. Both canters, both directions, 3/4 into the first circle, he broke to trot. Easy enough back to canter, and he held it better on the long sides than he did in the circles. Monster. Later rode some more canter on circles, and he had his mind in the game. He's not as "put together" as I'd like in the test - probably because I'm focusing so much on "what's next", rather than riding the movement in front of us. Things to work on for sure. His stretch trot and free walk were much improved over what they've been.
Long walk break, followed by a few brief trots asking for shoulder-in. That's a long ways away, I fear. He's barely getting it now, and it's usually with a LOT of protest in his face and neck. Baby steps, Harley.. Baby steps
Nice ride. He was sticky halt/walk/halt, not wanting to walk off. A few moderate dressage whip taps, and he got the idea. Things improved gradually from there. Saturday, I found him very stiff on his circles, more left than right. Sunday, things were better. He had a better bend, and seemed more alert.
Rode through TL#1 to see how it'd go. Both canters, both directions, 3/4 into the first circle, he broke to trot. Easy enough back to canter, and he held it better on the long sides than he did in the circles. Monster. Later rode some more canter on circles, and he had his mind in the game. He's not as "put together" as I'd like in the test - probably because I'm focusing so much on "what's next", rather than riding the movement in front of us. Things to work on for sure. His stretch trot and free walk were much improved over what they've been.
Long walk break, followed by a few brief trots asking for shoulder-in. That's a long ways away, I fear. He's barely getting it now, and it's usually with a LOT of protest in his face and neck. Baby steps, Harley.. Baby steps
Monday, August 26, 2013
8-24-13
Gathered Harley up, and, after spending nearly a half hour combing the dead grass clumps out of his tail, and removing all the tangles, I dressed him hunter, and headed to the arena.
No longe again. I felt good, he seemed quiet enough. And he was. Walk, trot, canter all on the flat.
Then we headed towards the trot poles. MUCH improved over the night before, of course at the trot. No stumbles, no poles kicked. Relaxed, but steady to and during and from the poles. I tried very hard to look at tree tops over the poles. If I don't focus, I end up looking at nothing still. My brain focuses so hard on his legs over the poles, I stop seeing. Very strange stuff.
Canter poles - improved. First over - trot. Second - Canter. Third - huge stumble in the middle (his own four legs, not the poles). Changed direction, all three were spot-on. Back original direction - first - canter, second - canter. Called it quits right there.
Finished up the ride trying to work on my hunt saddle sitting trot - a serious challenge. I can't seem to find where to put my butt or my legs for that to allow my hips the freedom they need to sit that big new trot in the hunt saddle.
No longe again. I felt good, he seemed quiet enough. And he was. Walk, trot, canter all on the flat.
Then we headed towards the trot poles. MUCH improved over the night before, of course at the trot. No stumbles, no poles kicked. Relaxed, but steady to and during and from the poles. I tried very hard to look at tree tops over the poles. If I don't focus, I end up looking at nothing still. My brain focuses so hard on his legs over the poles, I stop seeing. Very strange stuff.
Canter poles - improved. First over - trot. Second - Canter. Third - huge stumble in the middle (his own four legs, not the poles). Changed direction, all three were spot-on. Back original direction - first - canter, second - canter. Called it quits right there.
Finished up the ride trying to work on my hunt saddle sitting trot - a serious challenge. I can't seem to find where to put my butt or my legs for that to allow my hips the freedom they need to sit that big new trot in the hunt saddle.
Monkey Mondays August 26, 2013
MoJo started complaining about the same old, same old. He didn't want to see the same places he's been. Things here in South Texas are stagnant in the summertime.
Why, you ask??
Because it's blood boilin' HOT here in the summer. June, July, August, and some of September. We just don't get out much. Air Conditioning, Popsicles, and cold drinks.
So, I sent MoJo on a road trip. But where did he go? You'll have to wait on September to see!
Why, you ask??
Because it's blood boilin' HOT here in the summer. June, July, August, and some of September. We just don't get out much. Air Conditioning, Popsicles, and cold drinks.
So, I sent MoJo on a road trip. But where did he go? You'll have to wait on September to see!
TX issued interstate travel passport. Be sure to click on that one, and read the fine print.
MoJo's travel supplies. Soap, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, toothpick, squirt gun. Why squirt gun? Because it's a little hard to carry a real gun and ammo across state lines.
MoJo, in his wrapping gear, preparing for the trip.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
8/23/13
I figured out a way to get Harley to ONLY walk.
Take the saddle and longeline completely out of the equation.
To accomplish such a task, I went out to the pasture holding the bridle and my helmet. I bridled him in the pasture, walked him over to the mounting block, clipped my helmet, and crawled on him.
We walked for 40 minutes. Some around the pasture, but a lot of focused walking in the arena. I thought going over the trot-distance (4'6") poles at walk would be easy. HAH. Not even close. He stumbled, fumbled, tripped, even stepped ON them a few times.
When he finally cleared the poles in both directions, I checked my watch. Yeah, that's 40 minutes, and a good place to stop. I took the bridle off, and proceeded to the pasture gate. Harley followed. :)
So I put on his halter, walked him to the wash rack, and hosed him off. too bad I couldn't have done the same to me. My jeans were wet, YUCK!
Take the saddle and longeline completely out of the equation.
To accomplish such a task, I went out to the pasture holding the bridle and my helmet. I bridled him in the pasture, walked him over to the mounting block, clipped my helmet, and crawled on him.
We walked for 40 minutes. Some around the pasture, but a lot of focused walking in the arena. I thought going over the trot-distance (4'6") poles at walk would be easy. HAH. Not even close. He stumbled, fumbled, tripped, even stepped ON them a few times.
When he finally cleared the poles in both directions, I checked my watch. Yeah, that's 40 minutes, and a good place to stop. I took the bridle off, and proceeded to the pasture gate. Harley followed. :)
So I put on his halter, walked him to the wash rack, and hosed him off. too bad I couldn't have done the same to me. My jeans were wet, YUCK!
Friday, August 23, 2013
8/22/2013 Harley
Headed out to the arena last evening Harley dressed in his dressage garb. Didn't even longe him. Heck, I was in jeans.. and we were only going to walk.
A good ten minutes in, he tucked his head, lifted his back, and started a nice working walk. So I asked him to trot. Zooma Zoom! Forward, and while not bending on a single circle I sent him out on, he was forward and obedient. Lots of circles, serpentines, and general squiggly lines. I wasn't going to work him, only walk. Then, I had a solid, relaxed, bent around the circles horse. Hmm..
So we cantered a tiny bit. He started those stiff too, wanting to only barrel away down the long sides. NOT what I had in mind. Frustrating, in fact. That only lead to a little more canter until he was moderately bent, and I believed his mind was at least on the circles. Back to trot.
More good working trot circles, rounded and behaved. I sat a while, he gave lightly. I resumed posting, still quiet. A total 40 minutes of a submissive, quiet horse. Imagine my surprise when I dismounted and checked my time to see I'd been up there that long. Harley had more in him.. but my blue jean rubbed legs sure didn't.
A good ten minutes in, he tucked his head, lifted his back, and started a nice working walk. So I asked him to trot. Zooma Zoom! Forward, and while not bending on a single circle I sent him out on, he was forward and obedient. Lots of circles, serpentines, and general squiggly lines. I wasn't going to work him, only walk. Then, I had a solid, relaxed, bent around the circles horse. Hmm..
So we cantered a tiny bit. He started those stiff too, wanting to only barrel away down the long sides. NOT what I had in mind. Frustrating, in fact. That only lead to a little more canter until he was moderately bent, and I believed his mind was at least on the circles. Back to trot.
More good working trot circles, rounded and behaved. I sat a while, he gave lightly. I resumed posting, still quiet. A total 40 minutes of a submissive, quiet horse. Imagine my surprise when I dismounted and checked my time to see I'd been up there that long. Harley had more in him.. but my blue jean rubbed legs sure didn't.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
8/19/2013
Later in the evening, I was able to take Harley out to the arena. It was fairly warm, in the mid 90s, but we had a solid 15mph breeze, and shade on the lower half of the arena. Good enough for me!
Jump saddle, and about 45 minutes. He longed nicely, just lazy. I walked him out a bit, checking my body position. When I asked him to trot, he sprang forward, just like I've been asking him to. I started to curl my body up, and sit deep on my butt. Ahh, legs slipping all around the saddle. I sank down into my heels, leaned slightly forward, and viola! There it was! The body position I used to have.
Conclusion? Harley is giving a bigger trot than he previously was. This is terrific, and exactly what I want. My body just wasn't ready for it, apparently. I physically responded unconsciously by curling up into the "I'm going to fall off and die soon" posture, and thus my legs had no way of balancing and lengthening. It's not something that can be fixed by "dropping my stirrups" - that just sends me long & low like a dressage body position, heels down, legs around Harley's barrel, riding along perfectly find. Holding my heels down in the short stirrups and sitting slightly forward is a whole new lesson to learn.
On the upside? No spurs, and no dressage whip needed. I could simply tap him with my calves and he'd burst forward. Fantastic!
We got a bit of nice trot in 2point, but his canter is still weak once I left up out of the saddle. Something we need to work on, and other than audibly kissing to him, I'm not 100% sure how to stay in 2point and keep him moving forward.
Jump saddle, and about 45 minutes. He longed nicely, just lazy. I walked him out a bit, checking my body position. When I asked him to trot, he sprang forward, just like I've been asking him to. I started to curl my body up, and sit deep on my butt. Ahh, legs slipping all around the saddle. I sank down into my heels, leaned slightly forward, and viola! There it was! The body position I used to have.
Conclusion? Harley is giving a bigger trot than he previously was. This is terrific, and exactly what I want. My body just wasn't ready for it, apparently. I physically responded unconsciously by curling up into the "I'm going to fall off and die soon" posture, and thus my legs had no way of balancing and lengthening. It's not something that can be fixed by "dropping my stirrups" - that just sends me long & low like a dressage body position, heels down, legs around Harley's barrel, riding along perfectly find. Holding my heels down in the short stirrups and sitting slightly forward is a whole new lesson to learn.
On the upside? No spurs, and no dressage whip needed. I could simply tap him with my calves and he'd burst forward. Fantastic!
We got a bit of nice trot in 2point, but his canter is still weak once I left up out of the saddle. Something we need to work on, and other than audibly kissing to him, I'm not 100% sure how to stay in 2point and keep him moving forward.
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