jolly ball beatdown

What a seriously fabulous day at the barn! Except for maybe the Jolly Ball beatdown. But I can look past that in light of how great today was.

I did my usual spiral lunging with Shyloh. She looked better to me and was really forward. No problems there. But the best part. . .when I ask Shy to stop she normal turns in to me. The other day she took a step forward to me, but stepped on the lunge line and stopped herself. Today, she walked all the way in to me! She has never done that before! And it wasn't a fluke, she did this more than once. 

I think we have reached another new level in our relationship. The last significant level up was in December of last year. . .almost a whole year! Now, Shy is letting me catch her in the pasture without treats (as long as she was not just let out) and it just seems we have morphed into something new and better. 

We lunged, mostly at a trot in both directions. I used the timer feature on my phone to time us, just to make sure I am lunging both sides evenly. Then we went through our stretching routine and I lunged her once more for less time. Great results again!

Shoulder release down and back

Bringing the  hind legs forward

The chiropractor was scheduled to come out today, so I kept Shy busy by working on some clicker training with the mat. I used a new mat and not a piece of wood. Now she does not tap dance on it. 

What a cutie!

Then I tried something new. I moved Shy a few feet from the mat and told her to go to it. She did! I was stunned! We did it a few more times, clicking and treating each time. It was really cool to see her do that!

We were still waiting on Dr. Dave, so I put Shy back in her stall. The Jolly Ball, which I have never seen her interested in, except when I introduced it to her as a click and treat exercise, was not the object of her affection. All on her own, she kept picking the ball up and swinging it around. Then she got me. . .right in the nose on one of those swings! Ouch!! She got me again in the chest. I was stunned! Beat up by my own horse! I was still awestruck by how she was all about the Jolly Ball!

Finally, Dr. Dave got to the barn. Shy was dropping her right shoulder kind of hard, which crosses over to that darn left hip. Shy got her adjustment and was very well behaved for Dr. Dave. He said the lunging, backing, hills, and stretching were the best thing for her. He also said to add stretches where she bends between her front legs (like practicing for bowing), and this will stretch her withers. And then he said to add a saddle to the work. This way, she gets used to the saddle and will have a little extra weight on her. He even said eventually to put sand bags around the horn to add even more weight. The saddle and no rider should also help with her breathing. Shy will learn to breathe, since she trends to hold her breath for a while when we start working. Then she does a series of blows and starts breathing. 

Overall it was a great night! Shy is doing well with her chiro work and her strengthening exercises. And she seems to be connecting with me on a new level. Happy dance!!

Super relaxed pony

monday musings by shyloh #52

Dr. Dave, the chiropractor came today. He had terrible news. Horrible! It was awful, I tell ya, just awful. 

He said. . .

Super sad face

He said. . .

He said basically that I was fine and I needed more work (!) to strengthen my muscles, especially my rear end muscles. They were very, very tight. More work! Riding work! Trot poles! And a massage to boot.  He told Allie that I was passively using my rear end, but not actively. So I was always prepared for it to be painful and expecting pain, even when there was none. He sure figured me out. He had not one good bit on news for me, except the massage part. 

My back is fine and I won't be seeing Dr. Dave for six weeks. Good, I say! He brings me bad news!

Bad news all around today. Allie kept talking about a fun and special trip we were going to go on today. At first she wouldn't say where, but she did say my buddy Casi was coming, too. Then it rained all day and we didn't go anywhere. Allie told me that we were gonna go to the lake nearby, where they have this bay and we were gonna try to swim! But this was the closest we got to swimming today. . .

Puddle at the barn

Oh well. I also got to work on standing on my mat. I got a ton of treats for that! I am so good at it.

Looking for dropped pieces of grain

So I guess I need to come up with more ways to get out of work. I have a feeling I will be getting into shape in no time. I am open to any ideas to not work! Poor poor pony, I am.

~Shyloh

monday musings by shyloh #49

Things that I enjoy besides eating: the chiropractor! Once he gets to crack-a-lacking, I am all like mmmmmmmmm. . . .

We are going to say that the whole tire incident got my withers and back all out of whack. I mean, I was running around with that thing attached to one side!

So after Beth noticed I was off at my trot, Allie skipped her swimnastics class one day and had me see both the vet (yuck!) and the chiropractor (yay!).

Dr. Romine took a look at me first. I had no problem trotting away from him, but to trot back. . .no way. I refused. He kept trying to get near me, but I kept moving away. Eventually, I let him touch me, but I was not happy about it. He told Allie that I was sore in three spots: right at the withers (left side), the hips (right side), and some swelling in her left front fetlock. He also said that I had short splint bones, but that it should not affect me in any way, it is just a part of my awesome anatomy. 

Off to see Dr. Dave I went! Which was just across the arena, so it was not too far. He checked me out and said the exact same thing as Dr. Romine, which was cool since neither two legger were near each other when they told Allie. But Dr. Dave said my left front knee was slightly out of place. Then he did some adjusting and I got to trot. At first I was like whoa!, what are you doing. Then I was like whoa. . .yeah, I like you. Then he adjusted me again and talked to Dr. Romine. And I had to trot some more. They said I looked better already!

Dr. Dave is so tall, he make me look so small!

Dr. Dave came out again another day. I had to trot around the arena and he said I was showing significant improvement. Yay! I rule! He did some more adjusting and his wife (also a chiropractor) took photos. They might use me in a promotional poster! Clearly because I am so beautiful and such a well behaved patient. 

Feeling my back

Not sure, but I liked it!

Adjusting my hip

I got the all clear for five to ten minute rides. Boo.

My most recent visit caught me in a bad mood. I didn't want Dr. Dave to touch me and I kept moving away. But he did say I was much better and looking good! Next appointment is three weeks out. I guess I am healing. 

~Shyloh

what i've learned so far

What I have learned in a year of Haflinger horse ownership is really that I have learned nothing at all and a ton at the same time! Crazy, right? Anything I think will happen, won't; any way that I think Shy will act, she won't, and visa versa.

Today, Shy's offness was really concerning me, so I skipped my swimnastics class and made it to the barn for margaritas, the vet, and the chiropractor. More on that later.
Treatment plan: give Shy a few days off, then very light riding for a few days. Chiropractor will come back Monday for a recheck.  

Prognosis: Good. 

So to start with what I learned today: Shy loves tequila and she really is a good horse. Even though she was in pain when Beth was riding her, she worked through it and did not act out. That makes me happy!

Other things I have learned:

• I have learned that all my strengths will be tested: physical, mental, emotional.
• I have learned that a Haflinger is always hungry. No matter what.
• I have learned that the ground really hurts.
• I have learned that hard work really pays off.
• I have learned how good it feels to see your horse "get" something.
• I have learned how disappointing it is when your horse refuses to do something you know she knows.
• I have learned that draft horse people are awesome!
• I have learned that bloggers are amazing and supportive people.
• I have learned horse shows are fun!
• I have learned so much about Shy: her likes, dislikes, her personality. . .
• I have learned that dressage can be useful (sorry dressage people, I was not a fan!)
• I have learned where my weaknesses lie.

There is a whole lot more, I'm sure! But most of all I have learned that I love this horse like crazy! Even if her ways of showing that she even tolerates me are less than noticeable. . . but she is getting better at showing it!

shyloh's busy day

Shyloh had a very busy day today! I had been looking for a vet that I like for her. The first vet I used that did her fall shots was okay, but I was still looking for something else. The vet I had come out for fall shots was awful! He did not have a good "stall-side" manner and when I asked for a well-check his reply was that he does not do those. What? 

I have been observing this other vet come out to the barn in the past few weeks. He is a quiet man, but patient and very thorough. He had to come out again today, so I asked him to do a well check on Shy. Part of the reason for this is that he did exams and spring shots for a bunch of other horses at the barn and we found that the equine dentist we had out did all the teeth wrong! What? That guy was pretty highly recommended and travels all over the country to do teeth. We were pretty upset and Beth had called him and did not get a positive response from him. 

Unfortunately, the only time this vet could come out was in the morning and I was unable to take the day off of work to be there. Beth and Robin helped with Shy for me. She had some hooks on her way back teeth (ugh) and sore withers and a sore back. The soreness was probably from playing outside in the mud and ice over the winter. And it also explains the reason the the more Beth rides her during a session, the harder she becomes on the left side. So, now we need a chiropractor. 

Luckily, we have one coming out Wednesday and he has done wonders for some of the horses on the barn. Shy will be added to his roster. But the report was that she was a perfect patient for the new doc!

By the time I got to the barn, it was time for the farrier. I asked all my questions, which he patiently answered. He said Shy's feet look good. The stress marks are probably from a change in diet about four to five months ago (coincidentally, I took her off her small ration of grain around that time). But, she does not have white line issues (there is no separation or crumbly-ness) and he trimmed her up. She was great for the farrier.

Shy was probably thinking if she was done for the day. Nope! In preparation for the show me most likely will be going to, I decided to try and trim up her whiskers. This kinda made me sad, because I like her whiskers! But I did it. I was shocked with how good she was! She let me trim her whiskers off and even let me trim her ears. She hates her ears being touched! I think it was a little ticklish on her chin because that was the only part she tried to move her head from. 

Clip clip, no more whiskers :(

Last, I wanted to try and do a mane roll in her mane. We missed the braiding class at the clinic, but I Googled it and thought I had a good grasp on the concept. Mares do not need a mane roll for draft class, but I want one for her. The grasp I had did not translate to my hands and it was a mess. Robin's friend Dawn helped me braid Shy's hair, without the ribbon, and it turned out really pretty! I have a lot of work ahead of me if I want to get this braiding thing down. . .

Hopefully it will stay!

Whew! What a day: vet, feet, clip, and braid!