OTTB - He's Such A Good Mover

As the title of this post says, I got several complements on the way Bouffe moves and looks overall. Robin had a hippotherapy session going in the outdoor ring at the same time I was riding Bouffe. Her patient, who is a fairly experience horse person complemented me on Bouffe appearance calling him a "good looking horse." Then Robin's assistant, who is very experienced in many aspects of equitation and had never seen me ride Bouffe before, told me what a good mover he is and how much better I am doing with my posting when Bouffe trotted. I have to attribute this improvement on the fact that Bouffe again wasn't wearing a noseband; therefore, he kept his head down and the fact that I had gotten him a breastplate, which insured the saddle wouldn't slip and also because of its design, gave me something to hold on to when I posted. 

One thing I wasn't wearing were my spurs and also didn't have my crop, which made getting Bouffe to do anything but walk more challenging for me, but I did alright. All and all we had a good session but Bouffe, back was a little tender right in back of his withers when we were finished. I rubbed it down with Bigeloil again after I gave Bouffe his bath and hope it will be alright on Friday. If not I have to refit the saddle again and make sure it isn't too narrow and pinching his back. I will have that answer before I leave the farm on Friday.

I also found out today that Bouffe doesn't like being cross tied in the barn area used for tacking up and also by the farrier and vet. I think it reminded him of being saddled for a race in the paddock at Pimlico - I sure felt it did. He still isn't quiet enough to mount him in the indoor. I tried today and he didn't seem as fearful as before but just fidgeted too much to get on him using the mounting block; someone has to hold his head. 

Hippotherapy

I woke up this morning very sore with numbness and tightness in both legs, but I still went to my hippotherapy appointment, which if you remember is at the same farm where Bouffe is boarded. 

The first thing I did was to check Bouffe's back - it was fine. To bad I couldn't ride him this morning. Hopefully, when I have my next hippotherapy session, I will able to ride Bouffe, instead of one of Robin's horses. Robin is going to practice a session with Bouffe riderless and make sure he leads properly, something I know he can do.

The hippotherapy session went fine but my legs were very sore and weak when I finished. Too weak to ride Bouffe. Hopefully I will be able to ride on Wednesday.

OTTB, Multiple Sclerosis - A Day of Rest

My MS has been acting up to the point that I think I may be having an exacerbation, only time will tell. But I still felt well enough to go to the farm and visit Bouffe. It was just as well that I wasn't going to ride because Bouffe's back was still sore. 

I had Leslie look at Bouffe's back and she thought it was arthritic caused by him trying to get off where ever the real problem is. She was going to look at him further today. She also suggested that I try Reiki on Bouffe. One of the boarders is certified in giving Reiki treatments and I should talk to her.

So, Bouffe got a bath and ate hay until he was dry. I also bought some corn oil, which Leslie is going to put in Bouffe's grain to help  him gain weight and his coat to shine. 

The next show is two weeks from this Sunday. I hope we will be ready.

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 - 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. 
  

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.