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 - 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.

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 - 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 - 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.

OTTB: Bouffe's Back Is Better

I made to the farm again today, but the Crosby Mark VI saddle was not ready to use, so I rode in the Crosby saddle I had at the farm, which I thought originally was a Prix des Nations, but after riding in it I'm not sure. It has a high cantle, pencil knee rolls and thigh blocks, which makes me think it is a Prix St. George. I have to look more carefully at what is left of the Crosby stamp.

But the big news was that Bouffe's back was not sore after I rode him for twenty minutes at a walk in both directions. At first his gate was not as free going in a clockwise direction, but did loosen up towards the end of our ride. He walked freely counterclockwise, which was encouraging, since I always had to encourage him to walk in either direction before. I felt the session was successful.  

OTTB - I Finally Made It

At last, I finally made it to the farm. Bouffe seemed glad to see me and came right to the gate for me to bring him out. Surprisingly, his coat wasn't to bad and had a nice shine when I finished grooming him. 

I tried Bouffe's fly sheet on him and wasn't sure it fit; so, I brought it back home. By looking at the photos of it on Horse Lover, which I should have done in the first place, it fit him just the way it should.

I took the Crosby saddle I just got with me today. I think it might be too wide but I was going to try it on Friday until I started looking more carefully at the Crosby Mark VI that I got yesterday. First off it is a 17 1/2 which is the proper length for me and it also has a spring tree, which might be exactly what Bouffe needs, since the solid front polls of the Passier tree seemed to be what was making his back sore. The Mark VI has several good reviews on the Internet, both of them saying it is a good saddle for high withered horses, which Bouffe certainly is. I'll take the Mark VI with me on Friday and see how it fits Bouffe and me. 

Even though I didn't ride I felt it was a productive day for Bouffe and me. It was just enough for my first day back.

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. 

OTTB - No Nose Band

As disappointing as I was on Wednesday, that was how satisfied I am with today's session. Bouffe looked good today. His coat shone in the sunlight, and he had a great attitude about working.

I did have my spurs on, but I have worn them before and never got this type of response to my aids. The Passier saddle I didn't like on Wednesday, fit me perfectly today,  just by raising my stirrups two holes. My knees then fit into the knee pads, which gave me more support when Bouffe trotted. With a thicker saddle pad, along with the wither pad, the saddle fit Bouffe perfect too. But as crazy as this might sound, I don't think any of these were the reason Bouffe was more responsive today. It was the nose band, or lack there of. When I was putting the bridle on, Bouffe fought me, until I took the nose band off the bridle. He then opened his mouth and accepted the bit and bridle with  no resistance. Going without a nose band is learned behavior from the racetrack, where horses typically go out for their daily gallop without one and Bouffe showed me today that's the way he wants it to be.

I have to find out if I can show without one. The USEF says in equitation a nose and is recommended. That leaves a lot of room for interpretation, but I think Leslie will know for sure.

All an all, this was the best training session I have had with Bouffe since I owned him!

OTTB - Discouraging Day

I really don't know what to do with Bouffe. When I went to the farm yesterday he looked terrible. He had rain rot on his back, which was also sore when I used the curry comb to loosen up the dead hair. There was also a spot on his shoulder where all the hair was rubbed off and a couple of bite marks. He is only turned out with other geldings at night and is obviously the low man on the totem pole, just like he was at Gunpowder. Now, I am wondering if turning him out 24/7 is the right thing.

I rode Bouffe in the outdoor ring for about thirty minutes. He felt sound under me, but was not eager to even walk, which makes me think he is body sore. I am discouraged to the point that I wonder if he is going to be anything other than an occasional hack mount, without a daily dose of bute.

I didn't like the Passier saddle. It fits me alright but has forward flaps and knee rolls that would only be of any use if I jacked my stirrups up three or four holes. I got another Crosby Prix de Nations yesterday and it appears by the measurement it will fit both Bouffe and me. I am still having trouble posting and I just want a saddle that I feel secure in. The only time that has happened since I had MS is with an Australian saddle and the Stubben with the big knee rolls. I am bidding on an Australian saddle on eBay and am really considering chucking the whole English saddle and trying to ride pre-MS idea. It is not any fum when all I can do is walk around the ring and I can't afford another dressage saddle and have it not fit.

OTTB - Good News and Bad News

The Passier saddle fits Bouffe great, but that was the extent of the good news from today's visit. It was very hot today, even at 9 am; so, I wasn't planning on riding even if the saddle fit like it did. 

After fitting the saddle I put the longe line on Bouffe and longed him as Leslie suggested. Going in a counter-clockwise direction, like at the racetrack, he was sound when he jogged and even cantered a little. But as soon as I had him change directions he balked, and not only didn't want to trot he wouldn't even walk without encouragement from the longe whip. When I finally got him to jog he was off again in his right hind and I stopped. 

I have been reading articles and books this afternoon about lameness in OTTB's and they all pretty much say the same thing... left front causes lameness in right hind and vice versa. If you look at Bouffe's photographs, you will see the osselets on both ankles along with white hair on his left front, which isn't an identifying mark on his Jockey Club papers. The hair on the left front turned white because somewhere along the way someone did something (blister, surgery, or the likes) to his ankle that killed the pigment in the hair. 

Where do we go from here? I'm not sure. The first thing I want to do is longe Bouffe in a bigger paddock so I can make the circle larger, which may help him move easier in both directions. Steuart  Pittman from the Retired Racehorse Training Project says, that continuing to lunge horses with problems behind helps, along with an equine chiropractor and massage therapist. I will start with the longing on Friday.

Hippotherapy - OTTB - Me & Bouffe

In the last post I talked about physical therapy and how important it was; in addition, if you are serious about riding with a disability you also need hippotherapy.

I am sure many of you are like I was and don't feel you need all that extra help in riding a horse. The first thing you have to do is get over that idea. You will be surprised how much the exercises you do on and off the horse will help you with the symptoms of your disability. With me it has been balance and flexibility. 

As I said at the beginning of this blog I thought I didn't need hippotherapy; after all, I had ridden some very difficult horses on the racetrack, how bad could my balance be. SURPRISE !!!!! It stunk. In addition my legs were so tight I could barely lift the right up far enough to get on. Getting off was an experience all it own. Once I got my right leg over the horses back I flew off the horse because I had lost that much strength in my arms I couldn't hold myself back. I know Robin dreaded it and if it wasn't for her overall physical fitness I would have been lying flat on my back. 

But Robin has stuck with me for the last five years and I can honestly say the she and her program have been one of the most important aspects of my desire to ride independently again. This is Robin program: Robin Korotki, Back To Fitness Hippotherapy, 410-825-0650. 

Leslie did trim Bouffe and did some work on tight muscles in his back. He was also off in his right hind, which could have been from his feet. We will find out in the next few days. She also noticed that the saddle is rubbing him on his shoulders. The Passier Willi Schultheis dressage saddle arrived today, so the old saddle is history as far as Bouffe is concerned. I'm going to the farm again on Wednesday and I'll see how it fits him then.

OTTB - Waiting For A Trim and A Saddle That Fits

Bouffe is scheduled to have his feet trimmed and his gait analyzed by Leslie tomorrow. He and I also need a saddle that fits. My present Smith Worthington is too big for me and too wide for him. I am hoping to get the Passier Willi Schultheiss that I bought on eBay soon. I am very optimistic that it will fit both Bouffe and me. Until the saddle arrives and I hear from Leslie about Bouffe's feet and his gait, I am not sure what we are doing. 

The opening for the art show was this evening. It was well attended. The photograph is displayed very well and I received several compliments from other artist.