Another Good Ride

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. 

Early Morning Ride - OTTB

I was at the farm bright and early at 8 AM, which was not to Bouffe's liking. He was very stubborn and lazy because he didn't get his hay before we rode. I'm sure that's what it was, because as soon as he saw Leslie giving hay to all the other horses Bouffe acted like a spoiled brat and refused to do anything I asked without me making him, which in a way was good exercise for my legs, even though they got tired. 

The new saddle was still a pleasure to ride in and once he stopped pouting, Bouffe did jog well for me again today too. Bouffe looks good an is getting fit along with his rider, who is dreaming of riding the range in South Dakota. 

Yes, South Dakota. I am going to visit Dale Simanton on his ranch and learn how to work cattle. If you remember the Thoroughbred Makeover from my post of October of last year, you have met Dale. We are also going to be riding through the Black Hills and enjoying the beauty of the West. Bouffe is invited to go along but it is just too expensive. I know it is going to be a spiritual experience and I am confident Bouffe will be able to feel the Power of what I learn as we ride together when I get back.

Another Good Ride - OTTB - Multiple Sclerosis

I had another good ride today on Bouffe; in fact, it was better than the one last Friday. The reason being, a new, at least for Bouffe and me, saddle. 

Last week I purchased this older all leather saddle on eBay with the intention of reselling it. It doesn't have a manufactures name and is well worn, but still a beautiful saddle that is in good condition. I noticed when I took it out of the box that the gullet was narrow. Upon measuring it I found it has standard quarter horse bars, which is what fits Bouffe. The only draw back was that is was only a 15" saddle. But I figured what the heck, I would try it out anyway. Ends up a 15" saddle fits me better than the 16," plus it also gave Bouffe more room between the pommel and his withers. The Abetta saddle I have been using lays right on the saddle pad and directly on top of Bouffe's withers. I can fit my finger between the pommel and the pad on this new saddle.

There was definitely a difference in the way Bouffe moved today also. His shoulders seemed freer and he jogged around the ring without constant encouragement like he was feeling much better. The same held true when we did figure eights and serpentines and he never acted lazy as he has before. My conclusion was the Abetta was hurting him. I know it made a big difference in mine and most likely his experience while we were riding for a half and hour. I am anxious to show Eileen next week when she is back from vacation how much better Bouffe and I are both doing. Weather and my health permitting I hope to ride again on Friday.    

OTTB, Multiple Sclerosis - A Really Good Day

Riding Bouffe this morning was the most enjoyable it has been in quite awhile. The biggest factor being that we both felt good. Bouffe had a quickness to his step I haven't experienced lately and even though it was only in the upper thirties, I felt good also, a lot of that having to do with the new saddle.

I thought the Billy Cook was the most comfortable saddle I had ever ridden in, but this Abetta is even better. It gave me the kind of ride I could sit in all day. I rode Bouffe today for at least thirty minutes and my legs never got tight or felt tired. Plus, the Abetta has a close contact feel and my leg commands came through much better than they did when I rode on the Billy Cook. The Abetta also seems to be more flexible, which also increased my comfort level.  Now there is nothing wrong with the Billy Cook, it is a fine saddle, just more saddle than I need at this time.

Now even though Bouffe was feeling good I took it easy because the ring was deep and not good footing for a horse with an old bowed tendon. We practiced neck reining, which Bouffe is getting better at, as we did figure eights and serpintines between our clockwise and counter-clockwise laps around the ring.

Bouffe coat continues to look good, even with the long hair, it glistens in the sunlight. I am very pleased with how things went today and hope it will continue as Bouffe and I get ready for that first April show, which will be here before we know it.

OTTB - New Saddle

I made a special Saturday trip to the farm this morning because the new saddle arrived yeaterday and I was anxious to try it on Bouffe. Besides for grooming Bouffe and feeding him his carrots, trying the saddle on him was all that I was able to accomplish. Saturday is lesson day at the farm and they were all in the indoor ring, which I wouldn't have ridden in anyway, but the outdoor ring was frozen.

The saddle did fit Bouffe well and I will hopefully be able to ride in it next week. Bouffe enjoyed all the attention and was his usual calm, peaceful self, who as always, is a pleasure to be around. I love this horse more than any horse I have ever owned, regardless of how many races they won, or well they jumped.

OTTB - Rained Out

I did get to the farm yesterday and saw Bouffe, but it was raining so hard I wasn't even able to get him out of his stall. I did talk to him while I feed him his carrots and he seemed to listen just like his always does. There is just something about him that makes him seem to be more than just your average horse. I still consider him a gift directly from God.

I did purchase another saddle, which should be here soon. It is made by Abetta, which is a well known brand of synthetic saddles and I am looking forward to getting it, hopefully before I try to get back to the farm on Friday.

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.

OTTB - Saddle For Sale

The new saddle did arrive on Monday afternoon and I took it to the farm this morning, with the intention of having a pleasurable experience, since the saddle was so much lighter and I wouldn't have to struggle to put it on Bouffe - but that wasn't the case. It was lighter and is a good looking saddle, especially with the matching bridle and breast plate, but it wasn't the size in the original listing. It has full quarter horse bars, which is considered a wide saddle and much too big for Bouffe.

I wanted so much for the saddle to fit that I put it on Bouffe anyway hoping maybe it wasn't as wide as it looked. After I tightened the rigging it did appear to fit, but once I mounted, after getting over the very high cantle, the saddle sunk down and was resting on Bouffe's withers, which wasn't going to work. So after fifteen minutes I got off and put the saddle back in my car. The saddle is now for sale and will be listed on eBay as soon as I finish the listing, which will have the correct information about the saddle. I will be asking $150.00 or best offer for the saddle, a string girth, the bridle and the breast plate.

Enough about the saddle. Bouffe was really looking good today and seemed anxious to do some work. But of course that never happened, which I think was alright with him, because the saddle seemed to be bothering him and he walked like he was tying up. He was fine once the saddle was off his back and enjoyed his carrots. When I put him back in his stall he acted differently and followed me to the door, instead of eating his hay. He stood their with that look in his eye, like he was telling me everything would be alright and he was there when ever I wanted to ride. I know it might sound ridiculous to some of you, but I am certain this horse is a gift from God, who was definitely there today, in that look in Bouffe's eyes. 

OTTB - Wintertime Is Here

I couldn't ride today because the outdoor ring was frozen and when and if it thawed out it would be a bog. I did manage to groom Bouffe and of course feed him his carrots. His coat looks good and shone in the sunlight, even though it is starting to grow out. He seems to be very content having a few weeks off. I am trying not to be upset about the ring conditions. I know Leslie is doing her best and this is only the beginning of the winter weather. There will be many more days like today in the coming months.

Even if the weather gets better, I am probably not going to ride until later on next week, after my new saddle arrives. Yes, I bought another saddle. I plan on keeping the Billy Cook, but it is just too heavy for me to use on a regular basis; so, it will be my show saddle.

 I bought a synthetic saddle which only weighs fifteen pounds instead of the thirty-five the Billy Cook weighs. It should be here Monday or Tuesday and I am anxiously waiting its arrival. 

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 - Learning To Neck Rein

Even with the first signs of winter hair, Bouffe's coat shone brightly after I groomed him, which is a good sign of how much better he is doing and feeling. After all the rain we have had, the sun is still a rare sight in the sky and today was no different with overcast skies and a cool breeze. But it was still good to get back in the western saddle, which my body still seems to appreciate when I throw my right leg over the cantle and ease down into the seat.

In our session today I had two things I wanted to accomplish : practice neck reining and sit to the trot. The last time I rode, Bouffe and I worked for almost the entire thirty minutes on neck reining and I expected to practice some more today. Wrong! Bouffe remembered. He wasn't perfect but still showed that in just one session he had learned the basics. With just a little snag of the direct rein first I then placed the neck rein over his opposite shoulder and he turned. After several times I stopped using the direct rein and he had gotten the hang of it, much better to the right than the left, but still a big improvement from last week. Bouffe continues to amaze me. He is an excellent example of how smart OTTBS are and how willing they are to learn. 

The same thing happened when we worked on a sitting trot. It has been over a week since we practiced but from that session Bouffe  had gotten the idea that if he slows down his trot just a little I can sit comfortably on his back and stop bouncing up and down. I shouldn't have been surprised that he had figured this out. He is such a remarkable horse that I put nothing out of reach as to what he can learn. 

After many treatment of iodine wash and Furicin the cracked heel Bouffe has had for awhile is finally clearing up. I treated it one more time and fed Bouffe his carrots before putting him back in his stall. All is well.

OTTB - Training To Jog and Retired Racehorse Training Project

I rode Bouffe today for the first time in a week and he and I both enjoyed the session. Now that Bouffe is in a stall he has gained weight just in a few days, probably from the extra feed. He was on his toes, which was a good sign and I never had to ask him to walk on and not plod. 

Teaching Bouffe to do a slow trot (jog), so I can sit the trot, is going to be a long process, for Bouffe is a typical OTTB and only has two speeds - walk and gallop. The trot is just pass through on the way from the walk to a gallop. Even when I did tight circles and serpentines Bouffe kept up his fast trot and would have galloped if I just moved my hands up his neck. So, as much as I tried I could not sit, I just bounced if I didn't post, which you don't do when riding western.

Riding western is still very comfortable for me and doesn't irritate the tightness and numbness in my legs the way riding English did. I figured out a new way to get the saddle, which weighs thirty pounds, closure to where Bouffe is cross tied in the barn. The saddle stand is on wheels that make it easy to push closure to the tack room door right outside of where Bouffe is standing. It keeps me from struggling to carry the saddle the length of the tack room and makes it much easier to tack up and put away. 

Today's session started out good and ended good. A student of Leslie's, Monica, is going to groom, lunge, and ride Bouffe on Saturdays, starting tomorrow, with the goal of boosting his conditioning. If everything works as planned Bouffe and I should be all set for the show on the twenty-seventh.  

Tomorrow I am going to the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium sponsored by the Retire Racehorse Training Project. One of the makeovers was done by a western trainer, who taught his OTTB to be a cutting horse and compete in barrel racing. I am looking forward to tomorrow with hopes of picking up some pointers for training Bouffe.

OTTB - Longer Western Ride

Today was Bouffe's first day back since the show and he felt great. He was anxious to work and I rode him for about thirty minutes instead of the usual twenty.

I am teaching him how to jog (do a slow trot). He will go several strides jogging but then moves to what he is familiar with, the trot, and a quick trot at that.We also practiced tight circles around barrels at a walk. I've been watching some barrel racing on television and think it would be fun to try it with Bouffe. Switching to western tack has definitely been a good change for Bouffe and me.

OTTB - Western Makeover

I went to see Bouffe this morning and received reports of more praise for Bouffe and me from yesterday's show. The judge left a message that we should continue to compete western, for we were phenomenal and said I rode as well if not better than many of the able-bodied riders. I also found out the mystery person who greeted me leaving the ring yesterday, was a barn owner, who had brought her riders to participate in the show.

There was also talk of Bouffe and me participating in some other therapeutic classes in several other local shows.  Changing my riding style from English to western has had remarkable results and I am looking forward to Bouffe and my future in the show ring.

Bouffe was fine this morning and since I had hippotherapy he got a day off. Starting in October Bouffe will have a stall and no longer be on field board. This will make it much easier on him and me because the stall is next to his paddock and close to the tack room. I am anxious to get back on Bouffe on Wednesday.

OTTB - Three Blue Ribbons Again

Bouffe and I were in two western pleasure classes and one western trail class at the farm's schooling show. Again, we won all three classes. Bouffe did better going western than he did before in English tack and the western saddle is much more comfortable for me to ride in.

These were again all therapeutic riding classes and the judge told me Bouffe and I need to move up to the novice level, which was a complement and one I will follow. When we were leaving the ring a woman, I did not know, shook my hand and said she was very proud of me, which meant a lot to me since I still don't know who she was. We also receive congratulations from several other riders, including Leslie, who said our performance was awesome.

Another highlight was Bouffe going into the indoor ring without a problem for the trail class. He took the whole show scene in stride and happily went out in his paddock when we had finished.

OTTB - Going Western

All of the western tack I ordered arrived yesterday and I didn't sleep too well last night thinking about all of the logistics. First off the saddle weighs thirty pounds; it not that I can't lift it, it is just that because of the weight it is easy for me to loose my balance when I carry it, which means I was going to the farm early so I can drive in front of the barn. There is no way I could carry this saddle down the hill from my normal parking spot. Then after I get there, the saddle has to fit Bouffe and since this is my first western saddle, Leslie will need to check the rigging to make sure I have it on right and show me again how to adjust the length of the stirrups.

Well, to make a long story short I got the saddle to the farm, into the barn, it fit Bouffe and I rode him for about thirty minutes. Bouffe jogged better than he ever has since I have owned him; to the point, that I had to ask him to walk after we jogged two complete turns of the ring. I didn't want to do a whole lot with Bouffe, because he was a little foot sore from the farrier trimming him yesterday. The Billy Cook western saddle fit me better than any English saddle I have ever ridden in. It was amazing that the more I rode the better my legs felt. Plus I could walk with out any pain when I got off. I was a little stiff but it was nothing compared to riding English. I am riding western from now on.

The next show is Sunday and I plan to show Bouffe western in the walk, halt, the walk jog halt and the trail class. These are all therapeutic riding classes and I hope I have some competition. Stay tuned for an update on Sunday.

OTTB - No Saddle

I didn't ride Bouffe today because I bought a western saddle yesterday and it won't be here until next week. After riding in a western saddle last week I decided going western was what I should do. Yesterday, after hours of research I bought a used Billy Cook barrel racing saddle.
I am anxious to ride in it.

For the meantime I am working on Bouffe's crack heel after I groom him. He is really starting to look better. He is such a pleasure to work with and I know I am extremely lucky to have found him.

OTTB - I Went Western

In my last post I talked about riding in something different than an English saddle - today I did. There happens to be several saddles in the farm's tack room that are for sale, including a Circle Y western saddle, which is the saddle I rode in today. 

The saddle fit Bouffe and was a comfortable ride as we did figure eights and serpentines - it also saved my butt. The temperature has gotten much cooler and there was a breeze this morning, which made even Bouffe act like a two year old, when he bolted and took off like he was coming out of the starting gate. I felt very secure, as he galloped a few strides until I got him back to a walk. But, I am still planning to buy the Australian saddle tomorrow. Western saddles, even the used ones, cost more than the new Australian saddle.  

I felt better today, MS wise, than I had after using the English saddle, which really finalized my decision to stop using English tack. I am anxious to see what the coming weeks bring.

OTTB - No Riding Again

Bouffe and I both got another day off. Him because his ankle was still a little swollen and me because I would be too uncomfortable on my present saddle.

Bouffe's ankle was much better and I think the swelling was coming from cracked heels on that foot. After Bouffe got his bath I scrubbed the heel with an iodine solution and applied some furicin. Again, he wasn't sore and riding would have been OK if it wasn't for me.

I am getting tired of being sore while I ride. I've finally realized I can't ride in the same type of saddle I used in the past. The saddle now has to fit me along with Bouffe. A way of thinking that is all new to me. When I rode at the racetrack and schooled horses at the farm I used what ever tack I had, without complaint. But now my MS has won and it is controlling the type of saddle I use. I have told Leslie and numerous others that an Australian saddle is the most comfortable and secure saddle I have ever ridden in. It is time to stop the talk and buy the saddle, which I hope to this weekend.  

OTTB - Another Good Session

The fly sheet made it through forty-eight hours without being ripped or torn but it sure was dirty. When I took it off of Bouffe I noticed two things: Bouffe's coat was hot and sweaty and the sheet had rubbed a place raw on his hip. No more fly sheet...

I rode Bouffe in the unknown model Crosby and again he seemed comfortable, but was lazy. After the first trip around the ring I had to use my leg aids to keep him from doing anything but a slow walk. Surprisingly he wanted to travel in a clockwise direction on his own and felt much better under me doing the serpentines and small circles. It gives me some hope that this training method is working. We worked in both directions for twenty minutes, which was enough for both of us.

Bouffe got his bath and his carrots and happily went out in his paddock. I really hope Bouffe's performance today is a sign of things to come.