OTTB - It Wasn't So Scary After All

This morning Eileen and I decided we needed to make Bouffe's experience in the indoor ring a pleasant one right from the beginning; so, today's lesson was just for Bouffe. I really didn't have to do a thing as I watched Eileen work Bouffe on the lunge line, first one direction, than the other, until in the end, he was completely relaxed and followed Eileen around the ring after she took the lung line off. It looked just like something from a Monti Roberts demonstration! I was extremely pleased.

Next week we want to do the same thing plus have me ride Bouffe in the outdoor ring before we end the session. The following week the entire session will be indoors. It all sounds like a great master plan.

Hopefully, if the weather continues to cooperate I want to ride Bouffe again on Friday in the outdoor ring.

Snow, Snow and More Snow

I didn't right anything yesterday, because I was spending most of my day digging out from the snow storm that hit Maryland Sunday and on in to Monday morning. There was no way I could have gotten to the farm anyway.

Well, it snowed again today, but not as much and everything is ready for tomorrow. I have hippotherapy, which was originally scheduled for Monday, at 10 am. I don't think I will be riding Bouffe anyway because of his dislike of the indoor arena, which right now, is the only place available to ride. I have to find someone to work with me and Bouffe in the indoor, so I won't loose anymore days where I could be riding.

Buy the way, I sold the saddle and plan to keep on using the Billy Cook until I am sure about a synthetic saddle.

Multiple Sclerosis - Playing Monti Roberts Took Its Toll

I made a big mistake on Monday, thinking I could stand for almost an hour while I used Monti Hall's training methods, along with the normal time I spend grooming Bouffe. My legs were swollen yesterday and this morning along with the swelling, I was having muscle spasms, both of which are attributed to my Multiple Sclerosis. 

The same thing happened this past summer, when I worked with Bouffe in the round pen and I was foolish to think it wouldn't this time. So, I am back to the drawing board in developing a training plan to help Bouffe get over his fear of the indoor arena.

OTTB - Trying Out Monti Roberts

I don't know how many of you have scene Monti Roberts work with horses. He takes and unbroken horse or a horse with some behavioral issues and turns them around in fifteen to twenty minutes. Now, Monti works in a large round pen,  but I saw no reason why the indoor arena, which is not that large, wouldn't work.

As I have written before Bouffe does not like being in the indoor arena; so, I thought I would try out Monti's techniques and see if they would work on Bouffe. I led Bouffe into the arena in just his halter and then turned him loose. He raced around, just like Monti says his horses do. I followed Monti's instruction and paid little attention to Bouffe as he jogged and galloped in one direction and then the other. I had looked at the time we started on my watch and after three minutes Bouffe showed no signs of stopping and I wondered if this was going to work since Monti is usually tacking the horse up by now. But I continued to wait: five minutes, ten minutes and finally after fifteen minutes, when I was getting ready to give up, Bouffe stopped, walked over to me, dropped his head and nuzzled me. Success!

I reattached the lead rope and walked Bouffe around the ring. He remained quiet, even when I opened the door so he could see outside. This was a wonder experience for both Bouffe and me, one that brought us closure together.

OTTB - Thanks To A Former Riding Instructor

On Monday when I had hippotherapy Robin's assistant was my former riding instructor Eileen. It was good to see her and I knew I needed to make amends for refusing to do several of her instructions that now, five years later, know how right she was. 

If I had listened to her, I would have been riding Western several years ago, instead of waiting until I was so sore, when I got off of Bouffe, I could barely walk.  Secondly, I refused to cross tie the former OTTB I had. At that time I believed TB were not crossed tied that was only for the "lesser breeds" - how wrong my snobbish attitude has become. Thank you Eileen, for all the basic dressage you taught me. I have used it over and over again on Bouffe.

Speaking of Bouffe, he again refused to be ridden in the indoor arena. Something in his past, probably the indoor paddocks at Pimlico and Charles Town, has made him very afraid of being in a closed in environment. Even though it was raining off and on, which was the reason I wanted to ride inside, we went to the outdoor ring and Bouffe was the perfect gentleman he always is and during the thirty minutes I rode him, we even leaned some more about neck reining and sitting to the trot. I felt good about all that happened today and am looking forward to riding Bouffe again on Friday.

OTTB - Going To Try Reiki

I had my physical therapy appointment this morning and Mike did a good job stretching my legs. I felt as good as I can, all things considered, and was ready to ride Bouffe, but it didn't happen. His back was very sore.

Since the saddle fits him perfectly (I fitted it again today) there is no reason for the saddle to be making his back sore. I wasn't sure what to do and was giving Bouffe a bath when Colleen, who does Reiki, showed up. Her Reiki treatments, had been recommended by Leslie and several others, as a possible solution for Bouffe back problem and his reluctance to be indoors. She did a preliminary exam on Bouffe and could feel tension and other issues going on in several of his Chakras. I set up an appointment with her to do a complete treatment on Bouffe over the weekend and meet with her on Monday to get the results. I am looking forward to hearing what she finds.

OTTB - He's Such A Good Mover

As the title of this post says, I got several complements on the way Bouffe moves and looks overall. Robin had a hippotherapy session going in the outdoor ring at the same time I was riding Bouffe. Her patient, who is a fairly experience horse person complemented me on Bouffe appearance calling him a "good looking horse." Then Robin's assistant, who is very experienced in many aspects of equitation and had never seen me ride Bouffe before, told me what a good mover he is and how much better I am doing with my posting when Bouffe trotted. I have to attribute this improvement on the fact that Bouffe again wasn't wearing a noseband; therefore, he kept his head down and the fact that I had gotten him a breastplate, which insured the saddle wouldn't slip and also because of its design, gave me something to hold on to when I posted. 

One thing I wasn't wearing were my spurs and also didn't have my crop, which made getting Bouffe to do anything but walk more challenging for me, but I did alright. All and all we had a good session but Bouffe, back was a little tender right in back of his withers when we were finished. I rubbed it down with Bigeloil again after I gave Bouffe his bath and hope it will be alright on Friday. If not I have to refit the saddle again and make sure it isn't too narrow and pinching his back. I will have that answer before I leave the farm on Friday.

I also found out today that Bouffe doesn't like being cross tied in the barn area used for tacking up and also by the farrier and vet. I think it reminded him of being saddled for a race in the paddock at Pimlico - I sure felt it did. He still isn't quiet enough to mount him in the indoor. I tried today and he didn't seem as fearful as before but just fidgeted too much to get on him using the mounting block; someone has to hold his head. 

OTTB, Multiple Sclerosis - The Ups and Downs

On Monday I was bragging about how well Bouffe and I were both doing. Well, forty-eight hours sure did change that. It is something I am used to and have experienced hundreds of times, but it is still a disappointment when it happens: My MS is acting up and Bouffe is not doing a well as he was on Monday. Typical examples of the ups and downs of horse training and Multiple Sclerosis.

First lets talk about Bouffe. His back is sore by his withers and his coat looks terrible again. The only explanation I have for the back issue is the fleece saddle pad, which I used on Monday instead of the usual quilted one. I did this expecting the added padding to help his back that has a tendency to be tender. But of course just the opposite happened. I imagine that along with the wither pad the fleece was too much padding and it all got bunched up. I did rub Bouffe's back down with Bigeloil and it was better almost immediately. 

As far as Bouffe's coat goes it was cloudy today and there was no sunlight shining off of it like there was on Monday, but it still looked rough. After doing some research I plan on taking Robins suggestion and have vegetable oil added to Bouffe grain everyday. It will help him gain some much needed weight and provide nutrients for a better coat. Since it is so high in fat it will also help Bouffe's energy level, but I hope not too much. 

As far as I go, my energy level had been depleted by the time I finished grooming and putting the Bigeloil on Bouffe. But still I walked him up the hill to the indoor arena and while still holding him with the shank I let him walk around in there. The highlight of the day was he wasn't afraid this time! I then took him to the round pen and free longed him both directions at a trot. He was sound and traveled better than last week, even though he didn't want to go in a clockwise direction without me making him, which was the finally to my energy. From there I limped back down the hill and turned Bouffe back out. I was so exhausted that I had to sit for five minuets before I could put the grooming supplies and the saddle (which I had gotten out expecting to ride) away. I then drug my exhausted body back up the hill and got in my car. 

All of this was an experience I wasn't expecting when I left to go to the farm this morning. Maybe Friday will be better. 

Multiple Sclerosis - Session Canceled, Too Sore To Ride

I made an attempt to go to the farm this morning, but once I got there, my legs were tight and my balance wasn't good - typical MS stuff. In addition, I forgot Leslie was having camp this week for the riders she coaches and they were using the outdoor ring. The thought of trying to ride Bouffe in the indoor, was something I didn't want to do with my legs and balance the way they were.

My legs and balance had been off all weekend. I think all the ground work I did with Bouffe last week was the reason. It has happened two other times, with other horses, and I know now for sure, I can't do ground work! I also think that the Devon Aire britches I was wearing were making the tightness worse buy clinging to my legs, which is what they are supposed to do. I am not going to wear them if I am not wearing boots. I was wearing paddock boots today so there was no need for the britches, khakis would have been better and I intend on wearing them when ever possible from now on. 

I am going to try to ride either tomorrow or Wednesday depending on how I feel, the weather (it is suppose to rain) and what ring Leslie and Robin (on Wednesday) are using. 

OTTB - The Indoor Arena

Bouffe spent about thirty minutes loose in the indoor arena this morning. His anxiety level was high, as he did an extended trot, one direction and then the other, around and around the perimeter of the indoor space for ten to fifteen minutes, before finally settling down to working trot and then a walk. Eventually he did get down and roll in the sand, which I was glad to see him do. 

The weather has been hot, so after today's session, the next time I go to the farm I plan on riding Bouffe outside, with no trips to the indoor.

I got the feeling today that from being turned out for so long before I got him, with little or no human interaction that Bouffe is herd bound. I need to talk to Leslie and see what she has planned for a field mate for Bouffe, which I'm not sure would help or make worse his behavior in the indoor arena. 

I wore myself out pretty good today supervising Bouffe's "playtime" and I will have to see in the morning if I go to the farm tomorrow, or wait until the weekend. I did swim a few laps when I got home to keep with the exercise program, which includes a regiment of stretching exercises every morning for my back, which I broke twelve years ago, and my legs for the MS; in addition, I also have dressage exercises I found on the Internet http://dressageridertraining.com/ I do feel so much better now that I am getting fit!

OTTB - Stamped His Progeny

It has been pouring off and on all day and the indoor arena was in use when I was at the farm; so, the training will have to wait until maybe tomorrow.

I happen to see a replay today of the 1992 Kentucky Derby that was won by Bouffe's sire Lil E. Tee. After doing some research I found this photo of Lil E. Tee that certainly shows he stamped his progeny with his looks and conformation, including the problematic ankles, which from looking at Bouffe's, he certainly had during his racing career. 

OTTB - Afraid of Indoor Arena

Bouffe seemed to have settled in to his knew surroundings and was his usual relaxed self while I groomed him and put his saddle on, until... We walked up the road from the main barn to the indoor arena and Bouffe was on edge as soon as he saw where we were going. 

The day of the show the trail class was in this arena and Bouffe wasn't to crazy about being in there. But today, I wasn't on his back, which made it easier for him to go into his flight mode, which he did. This is the first thing he has ever been afraid of; so, I decided to ride him outside instead and he was his usual well behaved self. We rode in the outdoor ring, which has a sand base, but was still wet from all of the rain. I have learned that the wet going is not Bouffe's favorite type of footing and I had him do some figure eights and serpentines at a walk, which he did like a champ. But I was disappointed about the indoor arena. So, tomorrow I plan on working with Bouffe on the ground, with a longe line and possibly turning him loose in the indoor arena.

I took a few pictures while I was there today. The first is Bouffe's private paddock and run in shed. The others are of him just being a horse without having to defend himself against the attack herd of grade geldings that ruled the field at Gunpowder.