Lesson Learned - Multiple Sclerosis

After five minutes, my lesson today with Eileen was rained out. It was just as well, because Bouffe was not too happy being ridden in the rain, with thunder rumbling off in the distance. But, in just that five minute time I learned a very important lesson : I wanted my western saddle back.

Even though it was for a very short period of time I did not feel secure or comfortable in by beloved Passier. It is the finest saddle I have ever owned, but when Bouffe didn't particularly like doing figure eights with the upcoming storm off in the distance, I tightened up and really missed the deep seat and especially the horn of my Abetta. 

Since I attribute my Multiple Sclerosis and the poor balance it caused with breaking my arm, I have finally realized how seriously I can get hurt and now the person who rode horses no one else would, has a fear of falling off. As I said almost a year ago in this blog I am going western and this time I plan on staying there. 

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 - 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 - Spurs, No Nose Band and Counterclockwise

Today, Bouffe went the best he ever has since I have owned him. But three things had to be happening: I had to be wearing spurs, Bouffe was not wearing a nose band and we were traveling counterclockwise around the ring. Three things that are learned behavior from ten years on the racetrack. 

Now the spurs, no, not all exercise riders wear them and Bouffe could still be testing me on that one. But on the racetrack itself and even walking around the shed row everything is always done in a counterclockwise direction and Bouffe would be very happy if it stayed that way. But one thing Bouffe is going to have to learn to like is traveling clockwise in the ring. We worked on that today and even trotted but he wasn't happy and we changed to a counterclockwise direction to end the session on a positive note.

I know Bouffe wore a shadow roll when he raced, but from his high head carriage in this win picture, it wasn't doing much good.

That is also the way he carried his head when I first started riding him. And of course my first reaction was to use a martingale to help keep it down. WRONG! It was just amazing how, as soon as I stopped using a nose band his head went down to the proper level. If I hadn't paid attention to the fighting he was doing when the bridle with a nose band was put on, his head would still be up in my lap.

Bouffe did excellent in a counterclockwise direction completing one full turn of the ring at a trot without me asking him to do it. I also put a makeshift yoke on Bouffe, which because I could hold on to it, made all the difference in me being able to post and be on the right diagonal.

We also did our usual figure eights and bends in both directions. I have to say today was a very successful session.