I rode Bouffe again yesterday and had a great time. It was my first time riding in my new saddle a Passier Comet Franke Sloothaak. It's meant to be a grand prix jumping saddle but was very comfortable for me and held my legs in the correct position with its knee roll and calf block.
I rode with Zoe for almost an hour and the saddle remained comfortable. Bouffe was his usual mellow self, but his ankles seemed to be bothering him after being ridden on the frozen ground. I'm going to have to be careful in riding him during the winter without having the benefit of a ring with the soft sand footing. All and all it was a great experience being back in the saddle again.
I rode Bouffe yesterday for the first time in three years. It's been a long road back, with lots of physical therapy along the way, but I finally made it! When I get up on Bouffe's back I am an entirely different person; I have my legs back.
Bouffe stands quietly, always taking care of me, as I put my left foot in the stirrup and drag my right leg over his back. We ride quietly away, with Zoe behind us on her horse Onyx. Once out in the field both horses walk along, but Bouffe is his usual lazy easy going self and needs some encouragement from my legs to pick up the pace. I do a two point stance, but not for long as my legs are still weak. I sit down and pretend to race ride, which even though Boufee ignored me, still brought back those memories that felt so good. It's nothing like it.
All and all yesterday was wonderful. I got my life back!
At Shady Spring Farm the property is divided into four twenty acre fields and today it was time to move Bouffe and Onyx to another of those fields. I have never boarded a horse who has had so much lush green grass to graze on, which is a credit to the Seitz's, who carefully laid out the fields before any livestock was purchased. When you see the horses in the pictures below you know they are getting only the best of care!
These are some photos Zoe took of Bouffe and her horse Onyx just being horses.
In reading the title of this blog it says a man's journey with Multiple Sclerosis and an old bay horse. Since I have been back posting it has only been about Bouffe; so, I need to fill you in about me.
This time last year I was just getting home from spending eight weeks in the hospital after getting a very serious infection that the doctors, to this day, still cannot identify. The infection did affect my MS, making all of the symptoms worse. I am still trying to get back to where I was before getting sick. Riding Bouffe again is my goal, which I am working towards very slowly with PT, exercise and music therapy.
I wrote while I was in there and this what I transcribed after being brought back to life on April 28, 2016 at 8pm.
April 28, 2016 8pm
BLACK, black as a night lacking a moon or any stars.
Black was something my mother never liked;
for, it was evil, the devil, hell.
But I felt a sense of peace,
until the pounding began on my chest.
A beating as if administered with a brick
that was crumbling with every blow.
Each clubbing more intense
until a flash of light broke the darkness
and I heard the screaming
WAYNE, WAYNE.
***
Performing music both vocally and with my guitar is a creative process that I find very spiritual.
That Light
The show is just over
You’ve been with God for the last two hours.
There is nothing any better.
You get ready for bed and light a candle.
Everything you need is in that Light.
You fall asleep and do it all over again
tomorrow.
***
Finally, here are some more photos Zoe took of Bouffe:
Here are some recent photos Zoe sent me of her quarter-horse Onyx and Bouffe. They both enjoy being a horse and having Zoe to care for them.
I know it's been awhile since my last post and things have changed. Last October I had to move Bouffe to a different farm and it has been the best thing that has happened in quite awhile.
Bouffe's new home is Shady Springs Farm in Parkton, MD. The farm belongs the the Seitz family who are friends of mine. They had just gotten a quarterhorse mare and I suggested Bouffe as a companion. The whole thing has worked out great and both horses bonded to each other immediately. Bouffe now roams through 80 acres of rolling hills of grass.
I have to mention another important member of this new home-base and that is Zoe the Seitz's oldest daughter who taken over for me as Bouffe's main caretaker.
Zoe is a pre-vet student at the University of Delaware and has used all of her knowledge to provide Bouffe with the upmost care and affection. Bouffe and I will both miss her when she goes back to school next month, but I know the other members of this great family will be able to take care of things.
I still haven't been able to ride Bouffe, but he is enjoying just being a horse!
It has been four months since I last posted to this blog and there are several things I should have written about.
Soon after my last post Leslie became certified as an equine massage therapist and performed massage therapy on Bouffe, which was a success. But, on the other hand, I started feeling worse as the cold weather set in.
This scenario continued through this past winter as Bouffe seemed to thrive in all of the cold and snow and my legs became tighter. But I continued with hippotheraphy and with Robin's help I was able to get through the winter and am again starting to get more strength in my legs.
I took this photo today of Bouffe who really seemed to know I was feeling better.
Well, the first day of training for Bouffe and me went pretty well for Bouffe, but I was pretty much not a player. After Elsa, who works for Robin and is my assistant in training Bouffe, brought him in my wife Barbara and I groomed him and were told Bouffe's back was sore and riding was not a good idea. Evidently, from lack of exercise Bouffe's top line muscles have sunken to the point he can not bear any weight on his back and lounging was all he can do, which is a similar scenario to Bouffe's condition when I first got him. His top line was weak then and became stronger with light work.
Now, I was not having a good day physically (you people with MS no exactly what I mean) so, Elsa lunged Bouffe, whose stride was very short and choppy. After about a ten minute session Barbara walked Bouffe around the ring for another five minutes. Bouffe was his gentle kind self and never thought of taking advantage of Barbara who was a first time hot walker.
The highlight of the day for me was when Bouffe, who is usually anxious to get back to his friends in the field, lead Elsa over to where I was standing and spent a few minutes with me as he nuzzled my hands as if to tell me everything will be alright. He is quite a horse who again made a point to continue or spiritual connection.
It has been a year since I last rode Bouffe and he was not looking good, so I called my vet, Dr. Tanner to have a look. Dr. Tanner performed a physical on Bouffe and drew some blood. Everything was normal, so we talked about Bouffe's past and my health. When I told Dr. Tanner Bouffe had been on the racetrack until he was twelve the problem was solved. "The horse needs a job. It will be good for him and you." So, on Monday morning Bouffe and I go back into training.
I know it has been awhile since I have written and I was surprised at the many followers of this blog I still have after all this time of no post. Thank you all for your interest.
I still have Bouffe who is now and has been on field board for the last few months. I was worried about him during all the snow, but he loved it and the horse who was the odd man out originally has become the alpha male of the group of geldings he is turned out with. J haven't ridden him since last October, but he is doing well in his twentieth year.
I finally went to the farm today but didn't ride Bouffe. Ever since the weather changed a couple of weeks ago I have been experiencing many of the MS symptoms that are typically brought on by hot weather not the cold. But my MS has always been much more sensitive to the cold than the heat, which is what is happening now.
I did do hippotherapy today but knew I was not walking well enough to get Bouffe out of his stall, groom him and put his tack on. He did enjoy the carrots I brought and seemed to understand as he always does that I was just not strong enough to ride him today. I saw him watching me riding one of Robin's horses as Eileen led me around and Robin walked beside me. It was only for a few minutes and then he seemed to be satisfied that I was alright and went back to eating his hay. Our spiritual relationship is still very strong!
I have written over an over again what an unshakeable horse Bouffe is. Well, there is a first time for everything and yesterday Bouffe threw me off. He wheeled and dropped his shoulder and off I came. The cause for his action was a piece of plywood that is used to teach horses to walk on a wooden surface, such as a bridge. Yesterday it was windy and the plywood being warped was an easy target for a strong gust that lifted the elevated corner as we walked by doing a serpentine. I had held on to the reins when I came off and after getting up I led Bouffe over to the plywood. He snorted while looking at it carefully. After a minute or so he decided the plywood was not a threat and nuzzled my arm. When I looked at him those kind eyes were saying, "I'm sorry."
I was going to get back on, but as we walked to the mounting block I started to feel a little sore. I felt a sense of peace about what had just transpired and knew this was a good time to stop. We walked calmly back to the barn. Bouffe was quiet as I untacked him and fed him his carrots. He seemed so appreciative that I hadn't yelled at him or snatched the reins when he threw me. We have a relationship that is something special and one I hope to continue for many years to come.
I rode Bouffe again today and was pleasantly surprised when I tried some figure eights and serpentines not using any direct rein but only my legs and neck reining. Bouffe did great!!! Just like with everything else he is much stronger going to his left than his right, something that is to be expected of a horse who spent ten years on the racetrack where everything is done counterclockwise.
I have been working with Bouffe off and on for the last year to teach him this and he did so well today I wish I had spent more time teaching and practicing than I had. With as well as he did today I feel confident we will be ready for the novice Western classes in the Spring. We did some jogging again today and Bouffe was great, no more lazy-bones.
Even though he had been on the racetrack all of those years, I don't think he had ever seen a wheel chair until today. Robin's patient finished her hippotherapy session while Bouffe and I were still in the ring and when she dismounted she got into a wheel-chair. Bouffe seemed very interested in what that contraption was, so I stopped and let him watch. He paid close attention but never took a false step. I was so proud of the way he handled himself again today! He is truly a very special horse.
I don't know whether it was the cool Fall breeze or that he getting fit, but Bouffe was better behaved today then he has ever been since I have owned him. Of course better behaved for him is much different than a lot of horses. Better behaved was the fact that he didn't plod along and strode out both at a walk and a trot, which was much better for me because I didn't have to tired my legs pushing him to go along. In fact he actually cantered for a few strides today, which was a first.
We did our usual figure eights and serpentines under Eileen's watchful eye and completed them without too much difficulty (Bouffe did fine but I was slouching some and dropped my shoulder on the turns). But all and all it was the best lesson I have had. Bouffe did well and I still had some strength in my legs when we were finished.
I had another lesson yesterday with Eileen. As soon as I got Bouffe out of his stall I knew he was going to be a good ride. After I finished grooming him he was antsy and had a look of anticipation as I put his tack on.
Bouffe usually stands at the mounting block and waits for as long as it takes me to get on, but yesterday he was anxious to get started and moved twice before I got on his back. Once I was on Bouffe walked along striding out, instead of his usual plodding. When Eileen asks us to trot we made it all the way around the ring, which brought a round of applause form Eileen and Robin, who was watching. We continued doing well as we completed figure eights and serpentines along with some more trotting. Eileen said it was the best she has seen me ride and was pleased with Bouffe also, saying he was amazing, which was direct reference to how he bucks and runs when he is first turned out and then is so quiet when I am on his back.
I told her Bouffe and I have a spiritual relationship and yesterday was a prime example. Because of the pain I has been in recently, I was not looking forward to the lesson and thought maybe I wouldn't even be able to get Bouffe out of the stall without help. But, there is just something about Four Quarters Farm that lifts my spirit when I arrive and carries over to my relationship with this wonderful horse.
Because of health issues that the doctors aren't really sure what is wrong, other than to blame it on my Multiple Sclerosis, I haven't ridden Bouffe up until today when I had another lesson with Eileen. What ever was and still is wrong with me physically went away once I was on Bouffe's back.
Now, Bouffe was his usual lazy self and was barely walking around the ring until I showed him the split reins in my hand that were ready to smack him on the shoulder. No other action was needed, as I am sure he remembered all of the times he had been hit with a whip during a race. He jogged beautifully, which gave me a chance to work on my posting. We also practiced three loop serpentines and figure eights, which took some effort on both our parts to complete. But all and all it was a good lesson and I wish I could feel as good all the time as I do when I am riding Bouffe. It was another spiritual experience!
After about six weeks I finally rode Bouffe today for a lesson with Eileen. Even though I was told Bouffe had been a handful to bring in and out of the field I got right on him after tacking up and never had a problem. If Bouffe wasn't a thoroughbred nothing would have been said, but he again showed the breeds naysayers that thoroughbreds are not hot uncontrollable horses that can only be ridden by those who are unconcerned with their own personal safety. Strong words, but I am tired of hearing the negative thoroughbred comments. For more information on retraining the thoroughbred and what this wonderful breed can do please see this website:
http://www.retiredracehorseproject.org/
Bouffe and I walked and jogged, did serpentines and figure eights, which all met Eileen's approval. All and all it was a very good lesson.
The doctors still do not know what is wrong with me but are leaning towards it being an exacerbation of my MS. I am feeling a little better and went to see Bouffe and had hippotherapy yesterday. Today I am sore again and am not sure if will get to the farm tomorrow, which was my original plan.
While I have been gone Bouffe has not been happy and was causing trouble when being led in and out of the field. But he sure was glad to see me yesterday and was very well behaved while being groomed and eating his carrots. As I have written before there is a spiritual connection between the two of us. One which I want to keep for a very long time.
