Maintenance

Well, I didn't make it to the barn today. Work sort of took over the better part of the day, as well as a very grumpy toddler. If I had left for the barn when I could have (4pm) it would have taken me 2+ hours to get up there...A reminder of how much I can't wait until Finn is closer to home and I can shoot up to see him whenever.
   These past fews weeks I've invested in a few maintenance things for Finn. Being an OTTB, and a highly stressed and clumsy one at that, he is very prone to stiffness, soreness, minor injuries, etc. Finn had chiro last week which helps him a TON. I also recently bought him an EcoGold Secure XC Saddle Pad:

While pricy, this saddle pad is AMAZING. I have at least fifteen other saddle pads and I'm pretty sure I won't ever use another pad again. I have a very forward cut jumping saddle and the normal, cheap, square pads I usually get don't fit my saddle at all. There's no padding on the flaps, so no bulk, and high density foam in the seat area to protect from impact= a comfy-backed horse. Even though Finn gets his saddle fitted regularly, the day I used this pad he moved much more freely than he normally does. I even like it better than his Back on Track saddle pad (and I'm the biggest BOT advocate). The material is also super breathable, and for a horse that normally sweats buckets, Finn was dry for the first time ever under this pad. I've also washed it once and it looks brand new. Definitely an awesome buy!

Today, I also ordered Finn an Equilibrium Massage Mitt: 

    While popular in the UK, these aren't as well known over here. The mitt has three settings and is supposed to help promote relaxation, improve flexibility, and improve muscle tone. When the chiro was here he did a bit of body work and said Finn was very tight through his neck and  hip areas, and that he would benefit from regular massage. While I don't think the massage mitt will be a substitute for regular massage, I'm hoping it will help work the kinks out a bit with regular use. This should be arriving at the end of the week and I'm excited to try it out.

    After a year with Finn and seeing what works, and what doesn't, I'm a firm believer that holistic treatment is very beneficial, along with the normal veterinary treatment. Anything I can do to make my boy more comfortable, I will. I know how much back pain he came with when I got him, and I never want to see him in that condition again. 

Love ya, buddy

Lessons

The past few weeks I've changed my work schedule around so I could take some dressage lessons with the barn's regular trainer. She normally teaches younger kids, and after watching some very basic walk/trot lessons, I wasn't sure if we were going to click. Holy crap...After two lessons, I've never been more sore or sweaty, and learned so much. I absolutely LOVE her and it makes me not want to move at the end of the month. I've never really understood what is an appropriate amount of contact to have. After growing up with drill sergeant instructors who repeated over and over the importance of "soft hands" I didn't realize until two weeks ago how my idea of soft hands is really NO contact...like not even a feel on Finn's mouth. Trainer emphasized that having weight in my hands is important, and letting Finn know I'm there to help him is important, until he's able/strong enough to carry himself correctly. When I lifted my hands, and really pushed him into my hands, it was like a whole different world. A forward, relaxed horse for all of five strides until we lost it. Our second lesson was better than our first, and trainer had to constantly remind me to scratch Finn on the neck when he was a good boy. Whenever I scratched Finn and whispered good boy, he'd try even harder. Trainer says Finn is not the type of horse that you can just "force" something onto him. He needs to think about it, process it, and try to execute it. If he doesn't execute correctly he gets frustrated. He thrives on positive reinforcement and really wants to do things right, he just doesn't have the training yet. When trainer asked us what our goals were I said I'd like to do a few BN schooling events this summer, and work on getting him collected, willing, and straight. We reviewed the dressage pyramid of training and I guess I didn't realize how high up actual straightness is:

I think we have made strides this past year in terms of rhythm, relaxation, and connection...but not so much in terms of impulsion. We'll also be taking a few jumping lessons in the next few weeks before we move with the other trainer at the barn. My friend Michelle, who was riding Finn a few times a week, recently moved her horse closer to home, so now it's all on me, and I haven't jumped him in nearly a month. I've been riding 4-5 times a week on the flat and I really feel like we're getting somewhere, but we definitely need to start jumping more. Tentative schedule for the week:

Monday- Flat school outside
Tuesday- Flat school, and popping over a few cross rails
Wednesday- Finn gets the day off, I'll probably take a yoga class
Thursday- Jumping lesson
Friday- Possible flat school or hack
Saturday- Dressage lesson
Sunday- Day off

In other news, Finn has been breaking out in hives due to bugs. He gets fly sprayed every day, and wears a fly mask but still has hives all over his neck and sides. They don't seem to bother him, and go right down when I put witch hazel on them, but they look horrible. I'm afraid to put him in a fly sheet because I've heard that flies can get under them and bug him even more...but I don't want him looking so horrible. I don't know if I should try a different fly spray (we currently use this) or what.

Very happy to be eating dinner inside with his Back on Track gear on!

This one loves ponies....we're in trouble

Also, be sure to check out the awesome, super cute, Happy Hound stationary giveaway on She Moved To Texas' blog! :)  http://www.shemovedtotexas.com/happy-hound-personalized-equestrian-stationary-giveaway/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SheMovedToTexas+%28She+Moved+to+Texas%29

The past month

    Yikes! It's been a month since I've blogged! I've been keeping up with reading everyone's blogs but just haven't had the time, or really, inspiration, to blog recently. It's been a long, LONG, winter here in the northeast. Going around and around in the indoor has gotten old fast. The trails and roads are still covered with ice, and I think everyone is ready for a good hack, especially me and Finn. Finn has been wonderful and uncomplicated. I haven't been getting to the barn as much as I like, but when I do, our rides are really good. I think the SI injections helped a bunch. He has been so much more supple. When the vet was out for Spring shots a few weeks ago she caught the end of our lesson and commented on how amazing he looked. Yay!
    Speaking of lessons...I've unfortunately had to stop taking them. My trainer has not yet renewed her off property insurance, and without it, she's not allowed to teach at the barn. Michelle has been riding him a few times a week and jumping him once a week, since her horse is currently laid up with an injury, and he is doing really well with her. She's been jumping baby courses with him, and he is really enjoying himself and doing great.
     I've been thinking more and more about moving him. I just can't see us preparing for a show with him an hour away from me. There also aren't any good trainers in that area, and all the good trainers won't travel that far. I found a barn literally 10 minutes from my house, that borders Water's Edge Farm, a very well known eventing barn with a great trainer. If I boarded at the barn next door I would be able to hack over to Water's Edge, take lessons, and use their indoor/outdoor/and jumps for a fee. It would cost about $400 more a month, with regular lessons, than I'm paying now, but I will be saving about $200 a month in gas alone, and be getting some quality training. The barn next door also has acres of grass turnout, big stalls, and miles and miles of trails (including the local hunt club's trails complete with x-country fences). The owner should have an opening on May 1st, and if she does, we will hopefully be moving.
       I just can't have my horse this far away from me anymore. Two weeks ago Finn was playing halter tag with his buddies, and one of the geldings got him right around the sensitive skin on his eye. He had a little cut, that I cleaned and put some antibiotic cream on, and it wasn't that bad even though his eye swelled a bit. He got some bute in his PM grain, and AM grain the next day. The next day the barn manager called me and said Finn's eye was really swelled, even though the cut looked fine. I got about 4 text messages, and two calls about how bad his eye was...until finally she called and said it looked like his eye was disappearing, it was so swollen. So, that Friday night me and Matt drove up to the barn after work in a panic, ready to call the vet. It took us almost 3 hours to get there in rush hour traffic. Matt literally ran up to his stall, threw the door open, and said "you've got to be kidding me". His eye was FINE. It was a little swollen, but no worse than it had been the day before. And that was when I learned that the barn manager exaggerates.
    I hate not being able to just pop up and check on him, or brush him. If I moved him to this new barn I won't even have to get on the highway. I really hope it works out.
    Oh, and we also got a truck!! A 2004 Ford F-150. It is so nice to be a two car family again!

Finn in his BOT sheet, which has made a BIG difference in warm up!

My cute little scarface.

Starting her early...Addie reading her horse book

The new truck!


Here's a video of Michelle and Finn jumping...sorry so blurry, our indoor is dark!

Also, be sure to check out the contest over at SprinklerBandits blog here, for Riding Ninja apparel. Super cute stuff!