Spring Tune Up

I was told when I purchased Zoe that at one time she had actually competed in dressage events along the West coast. For the last few years, however, she has been packing beginners like myself around, never being asked to use those skills learned oh-so-long-ago.

I decided a little while back that I'd like to make sure Zoe doesn't completely devolve to my level. It would just be a big shame, really. So I'm supporting a local teenager, paying her ride and exercise Zoe this spring. Teenagers always need a little cash (so do adults!) and my horse really does need to remember that she does indeed know how to look beautiful under saddle.

G had her first ride on Zoe yesterday. The arenas - even the round pen - are terribly wet again, so she was limited to a few grassy areas at the barn. Zoe wasn't too sure about this new person on her back, but she was relatively well behaved. The challenge for G is to learn Zoe's cues; G has learned her considerable skills from Western trainers predominantly. I don't think Zoe is drastically different, but there are still some differences. Like asking for a canter - and unfortunately, I'm not much help in telling G how to get the response she seeks from my horse.

In the end, though, I think this will be a good experience for both rider and horse. :)

Slow ride

I've been sick for the past week (flu bug) and am still feeling bone-weary most days. Decided I needed some horse-hugs on Sunday though.

Zoe must have sensed my low energy. She was (surprisingly) cooperative and sweet while I groomed her and again when I lunged her. And when I finally started riding, she calmly walked, never spooking.

As I finished up, I asked E if she wanted to take a quick ride since Zoe was all saddled up and ready to go. What's funny, though, is that once E and Zoe went out into the arena, my calm little pony was seen no more. I guess she figured E wasn't sick and didn't need the coddling that I had required. :)

The Present Truck Arrived!

And it brought my new saddle! WoooHooo! We were in the midst of preparations for the monthly neighborhood soup night we host at our house when it arrived but I didn't care - I immediately ripped off all the wrappings to see my new treasure. I was so excited.

I was on cloud 9 all day after riding my pony!
Note the tag still hanging from the girth. :)

I tried it out yesterday and I love it. I bought a Wintec Isabell dressage saddle with the CAIR system. It was so comfy and soft, I think I could ride all day. Before purchasing this saddle I agonized over what type to get. I've really only ever ridden Western and like the safe, surrounded feeling I get when sitting in those saddles. I was afraid that I would feel like I was precariously perched on top of my horse in any type of English saddle, but I discovered that this dressage saddle (all dressage saddles?) gave me a sense of security similar to the Western saddles.

Zoe was a bit of a pill when I pulled her out of the field. She kicked out at me so closely that her back hooves tangled in the lead rope I was twirling and pulled it out of my hands. Rather scary - so I made her REALLY work before letting her rest. Bucking and general silliness are allowed in the warm-up pen before I get on - seriously threatening me is not!

She was also terrified of a shavings bag that blew past her during grooming. So I gathered up the plastic bag and set it at her feet to help desensitize her (couldn't touch her with it, she was so terrified). Another boarder, A, placed some carrots on the bag for Zoe. It was funny to watch the battle between fear and desire for carrots. Desire for carrots won out. But just barely!

Happily, Zoe totally settled down once I got in the saddle. She really does garner courage from her rider - which means I need to become confident and skilled in my riding before tackling a trail or open area with this horse.

Riding past the scary, cougar-hiding woodpiles...and staying calm. :)

I asked E to help me figure out how to post. I just can't seem to figure out which leg is moving on my horse to get the correct rhythm going, though. E also points out that I also haven't learned to get an even, steady trot yet. So perhaps I need to accomplish that feat first. :)

Hoping I can squeeze in a short ride this morning before Pony Club.

Sharing the fun

E's boyfriend is a very sweet young man....who also happens to be terrified of horses. (He also seems to be terrified of me, but that's a posting for a different blog! I'm told by my daughter that I can be rather intimidating. A bad thing? Probably not.....)

N joined us for E's barn chores today, happily mucking stalls right along with her. After they were done, E asked if she could ride Monte bareback. N thinks we are rather crazy to be riding these large animals (he may be somewhat right on that), but when E asked him to try riding Monte with her, he didn't seem to hesitate.

What a tolerant, patient pony!

I did notice, however, that N didn't ask us to start giving him lessons on the ponies. :)

Taking it easy

The barn owner's geldings have the cutest habit of standing nose to tail when waiting at the pasture gate. Just before I snapped this pic, all three were standing lined up like this, heads resting on the rump in front of them. Made me smile.

My sassy girl is back!

It's been daily trips out to the barn this week, giving Zoe doses of pro-biotics and generally making sure she was okay. She was back to eating a regular amount on Wednesday but still picked at her food and was pretty lethargic for most of the week. On Thursday she wouldn't even eat the handful of alfalfa E tried to give her. What healthy horse turns down candy like that????

But yesterday I was greeted by my normally sassy girl - Yippee! When I pulled her from the field she was walking quickly and was actively reaching for more and more and more grass to graze. (She's never terrible when I hand graze her but she does test to see just how far and how much she can get.) And when I went to put her back in the field, I took her halter off just outside the gate (didn't want to walk in the mucky-yucky mud) and instead of docilely walking through and into the field, she backed up and started grazing again. Naughty girl! Once I got her to go through the gate (no real challenge, actually) she took off galloping down the fence line, tail raised high.

I loved it.

Tummy Troubles

Sad Zoe, confined to a stall

What a roller coaster weekend! I went from a fabulous Saturday ride to a colicky Zoe on Sunday.

Barn owner C called Sunday around dinner time to tell me that Zoe was laying down in the mud - even though it was feeding time and all the other horses were waiting at the gate. I rushed out to the barn, we administered Banamine (a horsey NSAID) and began watching her closely. She was confined to an interior stall - which she found terribly upsetting since it meant she had to be separated from her pasture buddy, Toika.

The colic did not appear to be life threatening, and after a call to the vet I decided to just keep her in overnight so that we could monitor her water intake and BMs closely. (I swear it was just like having a sick baby; I've become obsessed with the contents of Zoe's stall just as we were with our babies' diapers!) I could see that she was in pain (high respiration rate - around 90/min. at one point!) but she had calmed some by the time I left (respiration rate down to around 40-50/min. - keep in mind that 15 to 20 is more normal!)

I went out early Monday morning and Zoe appeared to be much, much better so I decided to let her go on out to the field to join her buddies. As I was closing the gate behind her I told C that I would hold off calling the vet unless Zoe laid down....which she immediately proceeded to do. It became immediately obvious that Zoe was still suffering so the call to the vet was made and she came out to the barn within the hour.

When Dr. Adams arrived she didn't think Zoe was the sick horse. She appeared to be calm and relatively happy walking around with me. But upon examination Dr. Adams could tell that Zoe was indeed off; her heart rate was over 50 (normal is usually 30ish to 40) and there were no gut sounds at all. We all suspected an impaction.

But an examination showed no impaction, only a slightly enlarged right ovary. Huh? So what was going on? We decided to draw some blood to see if there were any kidney or liver problems. During all of this, it was discovered that Zoe has a huge fear of needles and requires a twitch to keep her calm-ish and still-ish and that she reacts to one of the sedatives in a not-so-great way. She began breathing super-fast just after it was administered - kinda scary, actually. The blood tests showed us that Zoe is very anemic - but why? Possible causes include tapeworms, ulcers or an internal melanoma tumor. I'm leaning towards the ulcers, myself, and will begin treating her with appropriate supplements once we get this current colic stuff under control.

Zoe was kept in her stall another night and fed small amounts of hay. When I arrived this morning she appeared to be her old self, although there still was almost no poop in her stall. As I was standing there, wondering what to do she proceeded to poop, pee and pass gas. Hallelujah! I decided to let her go out to the field where she would be happier. I talked to the vet at 8:30 and told her the good news and we laid out a plan of action for the anemia. I was so relieved to have survived our first colic episode so easily.

And then not 15 minutes later C calls to tell me that Zoe is laying down and getting up repeatedly in the field again.

Another call to the vet, I leave work, meet her at the barn and another examination. But all vitals are normal. Gut sounds could be heard in all 4 quadrants. We have no idea what is causing Zoe to colic.

We will continue to watch her closely, but have decided against stalling her any further - it just upsets Zoe too much. (We'll work on breaking her emotional dependence on Toika later!) I got some more Banamine to help make her more comfortable and also purchased some pro-biotics to help with any imbalance she might have in her stomach juices. I'll start her on something to guard against ulcers and too much stomach acid soon (Uguard, perhaps) - Zoe appears to be one of those high strung horses that may be prone to these problems. Not surprising considering her history and her breed (cougar attack, 1/2 Arab). I also picked up a tube of wormer to get rid of any possible tape worms - although I really don't think that's the issue here.

Right now, I'm just tired. I'm looking forward to not being constantly worried about my pony.