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 - Free Longing Success (Sort Of)

I knew Leslie had a round pen but I had never used it until today. I took the longe line and longe whip to the round pen before I got Bouffe. I was prepared for him to not know what to do; therefore, I might have to use the lounge line instead of free longeing him. But as has been the case so far Bouffe knew exactly what to do and trotted and walked on command while loose in the round pen. The only draw back being, he only wanted to go counterclockwise. I did get him to change direction for brief periods of time, but he was definitely telling me by his actions and his way of traveling that he preferred counterclockwise. I would say he wasn't lame or even sore behind. He just had a shorter stride in the clockwise direction. It was very hot, even early this morning, so our session only lasted fifteen minutes, which did at least give me a better idea of Bouffe's hind end problem. 

We are taking tomorrow and Sunday off, and I need to talk with Leslie first, but I hope to start back riding on Monday. 

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.

Physical Therapy - I Needed It Today

I really needed my physical therapy appointment this morning. I was very stiff in my joints and my leg muscles felt tight. I would be this way everyday, if it wasn't for Mike. 

He and I have been working together on my multiple sclerosis for a long time, and I know, Bouffe would not be a part of my life, if I hadn't taken Mike's direction in doing my daily stretching exercises. He has kept me out of a wheelchair, and I will always appreciate all the time he has spent helping me.

If you don't have a physical therapist, get one! They will keep you mobile, for as long as you have the desire. 

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.

OTTB - What Did The Farrier Do?

I learned my lesson today: Be there to meet the farrier. I was told last month that Bouffe had been trimmed by the barn farrier for Gunpowder Stables. But when I rode him today, even in what I would consider a very sandy, stone dust ring, he was foot sore. My riding was only for about ten minutes because Bouffe was reluctant to break out of a very slow walk and when he finally did, he stumbled and that's when I got off.

I had Amy, the farm manager, look at Bouffe. There was no heat in his ankles, pastern or hooves but as soon as she picked up his left front foot she saw the long toes and bars. She also noticed, when she put his foot back down, how uneven he was standing. We both agreed that there was no way Bouffe had been trimmed in the last month. 

I am planing to have Leslie or her son trim Bouffe. They are both trained in natural hoof care, which is what I want for Bouffe. I am hoping with proper farrier care he can remain barefoot.