A certified massage therapist made a visit to the barn this morning...and he ranked Monte's pain level within the top 10 of his experience. Mike has been doing equine massage for 6 or 7 years and he said he could recall only 2 or 3 other horses who he deemed to be in worse pain than Monte was in this morning. (Hearing this made me admire our little man even more...he really has a great heart and so wants to please his young rider. Plus, even when he's in extreme pain, he has trusted us and has not struck out or bit at anyone. I couldn't ask for more in a horse!)
At first Monte did not like having Mike touch him, let alone massage his sore body, but gradually the horse understood that relief could be found in Mike's hands and by the end of the session Monte was actually leaning into the pressure.
Monte is still sore - but he is soooo much better than before. He will have the weekend off, just relaxing in the field. Mike will come out to reassess him on either Sunday or Monday.
We all think that most of this was caused by poor saddle fit. It was okay when E was going at a walk/trot but the addition of cantering - and hard turns - did some damage. So, we need a new saddle. And preferably before fair.....because we are NOT putting the old saddle back on him.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Beyond plain muscle soreness
Monte is a true trooper. Despite severe back pain, he tried to please his rider during the local schooling show tonight. We knew he wasn't in top form - each time a hand was run down his spine his whole body would twitch - but he didn't balk at going into the ring for the showmanship and English classes.
E could tell that he was sore while she was riding, too, but we didn't realize how much until she tried to mount him for the Western classes. The saddle hit him so that he almost fell over in pain. It was horrible to watch. We immediately took his tack off and a friend gave him a quick massage to try to relieve some of his agony. As she worked on his back we could see him relaxing, licking his lips and finally closing his eyes.
Back at the barn E gave him another liniment bath. I will call someone for an equine massage tomorrow.
E was so happy with Monte's performance. He really showed that he wants to give his best to her and she knows that with time and practice, they are going to be an awesome team.
E could tell that he was sore while she was riding, too, but we didn't realize how much until she tried to mount him for the Western classes. The saddle hit him so that he almost fell over in pain. It was horrible to watch. We immediately took his tack off and a friend gave him a quick massage to try to relieve some of his agony. As she worked on his back we could see him relaxing, licking his lips and finally closing his eyes.
Back at the barn E gave him another liniment bath. I will call someone for an equine massage tomorrow.
E was so happy with Monte's performance. He really showed that he wants to give his best to her and she knows that with time and practice, they are going to be an awesome team.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sore muscles
No riding today - both horse and rider are sore after yesterday's workout.
E spent 30 to 40 minutes giving Monte a massage this evening, and then washed him down with a solution of water and liniment to help relieve any lingering aches. He wasn't too sure about the whole process (It's those scary buckets full of water! We all know they eat horses!) but he definitely seemed looser after she was done.
They did take a moment to practice some halter skills before we left. E was happy with Monte's performance and hopes he can do as well in the show ring.
Curly has also been getting a workout these past few days. He has taken to standing at one end of the field he is in, looking forlornly out towards Monte. The other two horses in his pasture want him to join them in the main part of the field and routinely chase him out of the corner. So he's been doing quite a bit of running. Hopefully he'll fall in with his new "herd" soon and all will settle down. I hate to see him being chased about and bullied. And honestly, I don't know why he's missing Monte so much. Heaven knows Monte bullied him and pushed him around all the time, and even bit him last week!
E spent 30 to 40 minutes giving Monte a massage this evening, and then washed him down with a solution of water and liniment to help relieve any lingering aches. He wasn't too sure about the whole process (It's those scary buckets full of water! We all know they eat horses!) but he definitely seemed looser after she was done.
They did take a moment to practice some halter skills before we left. E was happy with Monte's performance and hopes he can do as well in the show ring.
Curly has also been getting a workout these past few days. He has taken to standing at one end of the field he is in, looking forlornly out towards Monte. The other two horses in his pasture want him to join them in the main part of the field and routinely chase him out of the corner. So he's been doing quite a bit of running. Hopefully he'll fall in with his new "herd" soon and all will settle down. I hate to see him being chased about and bullied. And honestly, I don't know why he's missing Monte so much. Heaven knows Monte bullied him and pushed him around all the time, and even bit him last week!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
A pink horse
E and I gave Monte a good wash today. He wasn't too happy about it, but boy did he need it. We mostly focussed on his body, knowing that one day soon we will have to do a thorough job on his legs - and oh, what a job that will be! We used several different products in an attempt to whiten some of the stains he has acquired, but a few were stubborn and will have to be tackled again. And his legs are even more stained than the areas we washed today...
So, even though we didn't get him completely spic-n-span, his coat was clean enough that several of E's 4-H friends told her that she now has a "pink horse." And he really did look pink in the sunlight! His skin shows through the clean, white fur. It's kinda cute, actually.
On top of our cleaning session, E had a lesson with Ruben out at our new barn plus it was a 4-H ride night out at the fairgrounds. Ruben had her cantering and doing very quick turns for a good 20 to 30 minutes; both she and Monte were tuckered out when they finished. But Ruben was satisfied with their progress and told her that since she now appears to have pretty good control over her horse, the real work can begin.
She then hosed Monte down to cool him off, loaded up the trailer and we were off to the fair grounds where they worked on equitation patterns with the 4-H trainer, which involved even more cantering.
By the end of the evening both horse and rider were completely pooped.
So, even though we didn't get him completely spic-n-span, his coat was clean enough that several of E's 4-H friends told her that she now has a "pink horse." And he really did look pink in the sunlight! His skin shows through the clean, white fur. It's kinda cute, actually.
On top of our cleaning session, E had a lesson with Ruben out at our new barn plus it was a 4-H ride night out at the fairgrounds. Ruben had her cantering and doing very quick turns for a good 20 to 30 minutes; both she and Monte were tuckered out when they finished. But Ruben was satisfied with their progress and told her that since she now appears to have pretty good control over her horse, the real work can begin.
She then hosed Monte down to cool him off, loaded up the trailer and we were off to the fair grounds where they worked on equitation patterns with the 4-H trainer, which involved even more cantering.
By the end of the evening both horse and rider were completely pooped.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Unrealistic comparisons
E did not have a good ride yesterday. She tried to perfect the skills Ruben taught her the night before but was soon frustrated by what she deemed to be unsatisfactory results. After a hour of tears, anger, disappointment, etc., she untacked the horse, sat in the trailer and had a good cry.
Unhappy rider, heading back to the barn...
Later, she told me that she wasn't a good rider and didn't think she'd be able to ever get it right. I asked her who she compared her riding to and she told me it was her friend G. I then asked her how long G and her horse had been riding together. The answer: "About 4 years." And how long have E and Monte been riding together? "About 4 months." Hmmmmm, something for E to think about.
Unhappy rider, heading back to the barn...Later, she told me that she wasn't a good rider and didn't think she'd be able to ever get it right. I asked her who she compared her riding to and she told me it was her friend G. I then asked her how long G and her horse had been riding together. The answer: "About 4 years." And how long have E and Monte been riding together? "About 4 months." Hmmmmm, something for E to think about.
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