The Long Road

In the last month or so, that I've gone without contact to this blog, a lot has changed...The last time I wrote anything on here, it was pretty sucky news to fill in on. Well, today, I come bearing some much happier news about Mate's recovery and the long road. 

Shorty after the sucky post filler, Mate was visited by a highly recommended osteopath. It cost a ridiculous amount of money to get him out on a day that he wasn't working, but it was totally worth it!! He used loads of jargon, that was very confusing, but all in all, Mate was pretty broken. His sacroiliac joint was all out of wack, an abnormally rotated pelvis and a torn pectoral muscle. We suspect this all this damage had occurred waaaaaaay before I got him, with eleven years of ill fitting saddles. As for the torn peck, that probably happeded in all of Mate's paddock shenanigans...

*rolls eyes* 

Along with a very pricey bill, Mate was on strict bed rest - or more just being fed everyday with crazy supplements and all the stretches (that Mate reeeeeeeaally enjoyed...not). A cool mix and a relief mix that did absolute wonders! Within four weeks, Mate was better than ever. But more on that later. 

bonus: Sandy pony 

His first ride back was about two weeks after Grant the osteopath came out and it was hilarious. He was a hot mess and his legs went in all directions. There was no walking or trotting to be had - it was either galloping or rearing. 

Note: the first ride was definitely meant to only be walk and trot...

It's nice to know he's literally forgotten everything ever. But it's the best to know he's feeling to much better - so loose and free. 

The journey: 2 (to be continued) 

The Nitty Gritty

In a follow-up from my last post, we've officially found the cause of Mate's lameness/unsoundness. And it's not good...

Even before I bought him, I knew that he was damaged - possibly, beyond my repair. But the sale went through anyway. 

After a second Bute trial, the vet concluded his back was reason. Rats...

Treatment? Pretty much just another waiting game. 

We've got a highly reguarded massage/chiro therapist coming out to evaluate Mate for a schedule of treatment every week for a month. After that, he'll have to be spelled for three months if he's still lame. 

I just want him to be as happy and comfortable as possible - I'm staying positive and we're not giving up without a fight!! 

Hard Times

Along with being so terrible with updating this blog, I've also failed to mention for the past ten weeks Mate has had some soundness issues - I think the cold nights are the only thing keeping him from exploding. Boy, I'm so glad I have an easy keeper!!!

We're still totally stumped as to what is causing such a solid horse to be this lame for so long - it's consistent and equal and (not to mention) annoying.

We've had:

• Massage - who said that his back, hind and shoulder was out. Things I already knew and changed nothing. She came out again and was stumped.
• Chiropractic - who said pretty much the same things and that is it were his horse, he'd put shoes on. Also changed nothing.
• Corrective shoeing - Mate's due again this week, but so far changed nothing about our problem. We also had a run in with a farrier that thought his wall separation was the cause. Treatment for that changed nothing. And another farrier had absolutely no clue...
• Rest - I don't know exactly how many weeks it was rest, but (as you can probably guess) no change.
• Bute - this was something that the vet had done. A week of Bute everyday at 10mls. Nada.

Not that Mate really minds a whole lot - the most work he's done lately was the 10 minute flexion test the vet did last week.

paddock shenanigans has pretty much made up our time together since he can't be ridden... 

It was also our one year anniversary the other week!! There wasn't much celebration or cause for a fuss - other than a few annoying hours of love, says Mate.

The vet and farrier is coming out again this week, with some new ideas that I'm hoping will give us some much needed answers!

 

WEC Dressage Show 2015

There's SO many good things to say about our second show with Watagan Equestrian Club, I almost don't know where to start.

(Possibly my favourite photo ever)

We woke up at the ridiculous hour of 5am to drive allllll the way up the hill (thank you camping) in the pitch black to find Mate had escaped his over-night yard. Note: finding a dark coloured horse in the dark is very hard.

After finally spotting him in the far corner in extremely long grass, we loaded him up into the float in under five minutes - he may as well of walked straight on! I was very worried the floating thing. He lived the first 11 years of his life never even laying eyes on a float. Almost ten months on and two outings and he walks straight on?!? I had to second guess I had the right horse.

Previous efforts included:

Seeing as it didn't take as long as expected to head off, we were the first ones there and had a heap of time before our first test. I took Mate out onto the showground to show him around, hopefully desensitizing him from the "scary" stuff and tell him some things to do/what not to do. Example: do not jump these...these will not eat you...put your head down here...

These... do not jump these.

I managed to show him around to everything that looked scary, and even gave him a bit of a lunge around. He seemed pretty G with everything at that point but was missing his equine buddy that we came with, so we went back to eat breakfast.

After our first show, by the time my test came around, it felt like I had left everything to the last minute. And I probably did.
This time, Mate was tacked up and ready to ride by about nine. If he was good the day before, I probably wouldn't of gotten on him until 9:45... but I decided to give him an extra long warm up to let everything settle.

I put him through his complete paces - every exercise I could think of to try and get him to loosen up. He's been strangely stiff at the start of every ride recently and it takes up a good part of our lesson for him to come out it. And sometimes he doesn't come out of it at all. Whether it's a physical issue or he's just going through a phase... I have no idea. Thankfully, the excitement of being in a new environment, gets his butt moving without too much hassle from me.

Mother, who had the camera, didn't really manage to get any pictures that do our warm-up justice, but Mate was super nice!! Putting his head down and in a consistent frame, actually using his hind and was really relaxed and rhythmic.

They were running a bit behind, so Mate had a good nap for twenty minutes while he thought about his life and our pep talk earlier.

"I beg of you... please do not jump these."

Skip ahead a while and we were up!!
The judge let me do a lap around the arena before I talked to her. He flipped his lid about the floating letters, which I couldn't help but giggle at. Not matter how many times I show this horse something that is potentially scary, he'll spook at it five minutes later... At this point, his head was nearing outer space (which was annoying - he warmed up so well) but I convinced myself that I didn't care. My only goal was to actually get a score this time.

We entered at A in working trot, head in the air and suuuuper rushed. He collapsed his inside shoulder tracking left and did I mention his head was up ridiculously high?!

Enter A

It was a prep test, so cantering wasn't really meant to be a part of the test. I think Mate had other ideas...

"Let me canter, woman"

The rest of the test went much the same. But I didn't care - there were no tears and he didn't jump out. All was good with the world!!!

Unfortunately the rest of the day was called off on accounts of bad weather. I was bumbed I didn't get to do my second test that I had planned because I reckon it would of been better, but I was happy either way.

I was quite surprised when I got my score sheet back - from what I can actually read (her hand writing is extremely messy, filled with shapes I can't make out and lines I swear aren't meant to be there), we need to work a lot more on relaxation and rhythm. I think if Mate was any more relaxed at home, he wouldn't move.. but I wasn't surprised she made that comment; I was the one that was nervous. She gave us a 7 for the halt at the end:

 

The rest of the scores where between 5.5-6. The grand score was 50.789%!!!!

Getting him back on the float to come home, which I was expecting to be another world war, only took 10 minutes or something ridiculously good for Mate.I can't wait for our third show and to see how much he'll improve if he keeps this up. 

Take Two - Plus Some Show Photos

Next weekend Mate and I will be heading to Morriset show ground (approx 40 minute drive - give or take) for another show experience. 

This time, I'm going to be prepared. Maybe. 

My goal will be not to cry this time. And if he steps out again? I'll call it another lesson and try and agin next time. Thinking back, there was really no need for the tears - it just made me look and feel ungrateful. He was trying and did give everything a go! 

This time, we're doing two tests. So if he were to do badly in the first one, I'll be able to have a feel of what to do better in the second one. 

Preparatory B is the one I had chosen. And gee, I really wish I had looked at it before I put my name down because it's more difficult than the Preliminary (in my opinion.) 

When I rode it in my lesson today for the first time, I did leave feeling a little bit better about it. But still extremely worried I'll forget everything ever. 

As for the Preliminary, it's burnt into my brain - so hopefully I'll at least get a score this time and he won't just randomly canter because that seems like a cool thing to do, like he was doing our whole lesson today...

I'm praying to the high heavens the floating won't be as much of a battle as last time. A friend has ever so generously offered her float for me to do some training in on Saturday, bless her, and I'll be cramming some last minute practice throughout the week and literally the last minute, so fingers crossed (!!) this'll be the one. 

Mate's First Show

The day started on a fantastic note; loaded in only half an hour (third time ever being in a float), and was surprisingly chilled once we got there in the early hours of the morning. 

Because we had soooo much time to kill, we wondered around watching other tests and watched our friend and her thoroughbred, Bently, and their tests. 

We managed to get him in and out of stables, and obviously scary-horse-eating  areas, without too much fight. 

 

At about 12:30, I started tacking up. 

We warmed up in the massive (and not to mention, beautiful!!) indoor arena and he was really good about it - calmer than what I thought he was going to be. 

He didn't like the idea of going along the long sides near the barriers or picking up the right canter lead, but I was still pretty happy about his behaviour while being in a completely new environment and having a truck load of horses cantering past him. 

A bit after that, it was time for our test; Preliminary 1.2. 

An easy first test, that Mate was more than capable of doing well in. 

But... Unfortunately, things didn't really go to plan. The arena was full of water from the bad weather all day, and had pools of water at every which step. I let every bad thing ever get to me and was more of a mess than he was - crying the duration of a dressage test was probably not a very good idea. 

Although the end of the test was better, I was still extremely disappointed about my efforts of the day. 

We got illuminated for stepping out. 

The float ride home, was another nightmare. It took a solid two hours to get him back on - another eye opener. 

For Mate's second ever time being on a float, in a new environment and away from Glenworth, and his first ever show experience, his behaviour was impeccable - even though I was disappointed, I was still proud of Mate for giving everything a go. 

Number one thing now, is to get him out as much as possible, and some serious float training. 

I'm thankful for everyone's support on the day and every other day! 

I do have one amazing horse and some amazing friends. 

The Countdown...

The official "first comp" countdown has begun. 

  

In two short days, there'll be an early (ish) wake up call of 5AM to load Mate up onto the float and head down the road to our first competition together. To say I'm excited is an understatement. 

Because we'll be getting there so early (and the fact that my test isn't actually until 1:00 in the afternoon) I'll have a heap of time to warm up and settle him, and me!!, down. 

I decided on Preliminary 1.2 - the test will forever be burnt into my brain - so it's not to difficult. 

He won't be "round" enough, but to be completely honest, I'll just be happy to actually get him there. 

My instructor has ever so graciously given up her time and work to come along and watch me and N (another one of her students, also competing) to call and help out on the day. 

We're aiming for an odd 30% - so fingers crossed! 

How exciting for a little valley pony. 

Another post coming soon!!

We're Going Big!

Well... As big as a small, local dressage comp goes. But I'm determined to get out of this "Glenworth" bubble we're both in.

*forces love*

This comp is so low profile that they're allowing the mo-hawk, crazy thing Mate's got going on. (Still deciding whether or not to cut it all off again or let it grow out)

They're also allowing a simple polo shirt (win) 

I don't knowwwwwwwww

 

So anyway, we've booked/trying to book (damn computer) a preliminary test to start out with. For Mate's first competition (and second ever time actually out of Glenworth) I don't wanna push it and have his poor little brain explode half way through a test. 

I had a lesson the other day to start practicing and running through tests - he bloody bombed it. 

The first one was a bit ehhh. But it was mostly my complete lack of support, circle knowledge and general geometry. God damn it. 

 

   

But, thankfully, with all this difficult collection stuff I've been doing the past six months, he breezes through it. Funnily enough, the thing I struggled with the most was not speaking. The world of dressage is a crazy place...

   

He's working a lot more consistently under saddle - changing frame on little request, keeping rhythm ect. But, they're (the judges) are still going to insist that he should be more round.

To be completely honest, I wouldn't be surprised if he llama-ed it the whole way through. I'm not about to try and jam his head in, so they can deal. 

Hopefully this time he'll be better with the float too. I'll probably still be stressing though. 

But yay for exciting things!!