Dec 19- recovery time, ride #83

Sherlock has been improving steadily with his cut legs, and has been sound for light lunging and extreme rampaging about at dinnertime. We don't remember very well how to lunge with the rope on, must practice.

I find myself saying he doesn't remember how to do things, but then I realize I am not holding up my part of the bargain- by not giving him the cues he understands. Lunging is tough for him, and if I don't move my feet to make some noise he has to keep looking for me when I am on his blind side. So it's both of us who need to practice.

12/11 Massage/chiropractor came and worked on a bunch of horses. She used a massager-machine that is put on like a saddle. Sherlock was a bit twitchy but settled into it. His back was sore and some ribs out on the right side.
After massage I let Sherlock eat a little bit and grabbed out both my new saddle and Amy's. I have purchased the wrong saddle model. Mine has the deeper seat, with a stronger cantle angle. Which makes the cantle higher. Still it seems to fit the same- if I can just balance it.

Busy week with a big blizzard. Not much turnout. Backing off meds to 1g Bute every other day. I can give more grain on days with no Bute. If he has a whole scoop of grain with Bute in it, he skips the bad-tasting part. If he has a half-scoop he eats it all no matter what's in it.

12/19 ride #83 Rode 30 minutes mostly walking. New saddle and reverse-wedge pad, rope halter. Mounting tough with saddle slipping around- pad compresses once weight hits it, and that makes the girth very loose when I try to get on. Might cut it back off the withers. Sherlock did stop to have the pad adjusted once- will need more duct tape to secure pad. Better with pad adjusted, trotted well. A bit stiff for sure. Neck stretches, turns on forehand, shallow serpentines.
Good ride, willing if a bit creaky. Nice ride to end the year on!

Dec 10- saddle woes, ride #82

OK!  November checkin!

After the lovely Halloween party, the weather changed and Sherlock was keen never to have his belly touched again.  Ride #79 November 6th I rode and practiced doing the usual walk/trot workout with voice and weight cues ONLY, almost no leg. Nice to build those skills for the days when he has bad-weather-belly.

Snowed- blanket bingo.

November 14th Ride #80. walk/trot, stretches, lots of transitions, shallow serpentines NO LEG. Sherlock is looking for a cookie whenever we go to the mounting block. Offering to bow instead of stand for mounting. No cookies in pocket during rides. He knows how to stand well now, he can take it.



November 22 Ride #81. Got new Wintec saddle just like Amy's, changed black Medium gullet to red Wide gullet with an hour of cursing and whining. Yes, it's easier than having the whole saddle re-flocked or buying yet another saddle. (I have 5 saddles now. Where is my brain?) BUT the screws were rusted in and stripped, got all 4 screws out and went to Ace Hardware. At some point in the endless parade of screws I mentioned these saddles are made in Australia and we finally found the METRIC screws for the outer slots. The inner ones are by inches. The outer ones are metric. WHAT!?
Anyway, I put my new pride and joy up on my horse and it's very cantle-high. Severely downhill. Just walked Sherlock a  little to stretch out my back, but couldn't really work with the saddle fitting so poorly. Ordered a reverse-wedge pad to lift the front of the saddle.

November 28th I opened up Amy's saddle a bit and her gullet is white- Extra Wide. Ordered white gullet. Maybe I will send the pad back. Accidentlly walked Sherlock into the barn door instead of the doorway. I think in the snowbright, he couldn't see which dark shape was the doorway.  Pay attention, Cooper.

December 2nd I got a call at 4:00- Sherlock cut his leg. Went straight out, RF knee very swollen, 2 cuts. One deep, one long across the inside of the knee. No sign of joint fluid. Knee very stiff. Mud all down R side. Gave small amount of PM grain with Banamine. Barn management walked the entire fenceline and made minor repairs.

Ouchie.

December 3rd Cleaned and rewrapped, Banamine in grain. R hock also swollen today, 1 cut and some surface scrapes. Did he fall off the little bridge in the pasture?  Hock was too sore and swollen to wrap. Turnout in small Doves paddock with Prince and Dusty and Vern.

December 4 Cleaned and rewrapped, Sherlock is walking well. Swelling much reduced, Grain with Buteless. Turnout in Doves.

December 5 Whole leg swollen again and knee stiffened up. Should have stuck with meds. Bute in grain, rewrapped knee, hand-grazed. Turnout in Doves.

December 6 Walking well- AM rewrapped, Bute. Walking very well. Trotted after haycart for dinner! Got wrap off, rewrapped for the night.Turnout in Doves.

December 7 AM grain with Bute. Turnout in Doves. Galloping and playing in turnout. Removed wrap PM.

December 8 AM grain with Bute. Turnout in Doves. Walking great, swelling nearly gone- only localized to front of knee. Deep knee cut closing, long one making some efforts, hock cut weepy. Reportedly showing off some flying changes in the paddock!

December 9 AM grain with Bute. Walking well, all cuts closing up, long knee cut making a scab at last. Turnout into pasture.

December 10 Ride #82. So I got both the reverse-wedge pad and the gullet. Haven't unpacked the pad since I think I won't need it once I have the right gullet plate in. I changed the gullet with less cursing this time but the gullet set came with only 3 screws. So I still have one of my Ace Hardware best-matches in. Very happy, all set. Sherlock walking great, all cuts scabbing up. AM grain with a bit less Bute today. Saddled up and it looked downhill. Got on and it felt downhill. Should have brought the pad. Mounted fine with minimal cookie-begging, walked a just a few minutes since the saddle was not right.
Now Amy's saddle fits perfect with no extra pads. Maybe I need to change the flocking- this is an air-flocked saddle. Instead of wool between the tree and the horse, it's basically a balloon, or 4. More research needed. Will ask Amy to help me out. There must be a solution.

Getting ready for the holidays- tons of chores, shopping, and work to be done before I can leave!

Enjoying the sunny day

Nov 2- Halloween party, ride 78

SO Busy! Working really hard on new Sounds True project and doing a huge warehouse re-arrange at Serenity Tibet with new helper Eric.

Have had a couple excellent riding lessons with A! Working on transitions and lateral movement, and keeping my hands in the middle instead of crossing over the horse's neck. Rode Sirah mostly Western so getting back to English Equitation is a challenge...

Sherlock in his hat

Sherlock has been very game in the lessons, he does get tired and has to be convinced to try once more, but he tries hard. I've been riding in A's Wintec saddle that fits Sherlock well, and finally have a winning bid on one just the same off eBay! Saddle that fits. Finally. It's a WIDE gullet, I really didn't think he was that wide but A has a Wintec gullet-measure-er like I have been trying to find ALL summer. And Sherlock should be wearing a Wide.

Rode bareback outdoor one day and Sherlock was happy and eager to go forward, with no pinching saddle- very sore the next day but it was fun.

One day of cold rain the 22nd, had to use Sirah's wool-lined blanket that is a little small but warm.

Halloween Party was great! Had a lesson beforehand so got Sherlock and me all dressed up at about 11:30, rode over poles and moving away from leg, soft serpentines on weight, rode her horse Hope a little bit as well when Sherlock got tired. Then the party! I gave Sherlock a break in between since everyone but me was running late (What? Again? Always!). Drink of water and some hay. Then back to a very busy arena full of little kids on hippety-hops!

Sherlock and Watson!

Sherlock drank from the bobbing for apples bucket but didn't try for an apple. We won the egg-and-spoon race on a good length of trot- even with a jerky transition, he maintained it well. He was a bit treat-happy but overall really excellent. We were supposed to play horse soccer with the big ball, but some horses were scared of it- esp. Hope! Sherlock was casual about the ball rolling at him and bouncing off, and even pushed it and played a bit.

SUPER proud of my easygoing and brave boy!

Yesterday I rode outside- having trouble reconciling aids that Sherlock thinks are working against each other. Back, then stop- is very difficult but we broke through some of that and backed out of an L! Introduced the vacuum, good on R but more anxious on L side- looking at cord. Needed it again today, but I just turned him out to get dusty again. Turnout in Meadow pasture again, he is very comfortable there and is making friends with a new horse Scout.

OH- and I heard the Cs lost their lease. About time. I hope someone cool will buy the place and board horses there again.

Oct 3- Busy-ness and rides 70,71,72

Wow- I have been working a lot! Another trade show and desperately working on finishing one Sounds True project so I can get going on the next one! Still, I've been at the stable almost every morning to give Sherlock his grain and turn him out. The geldings have been out in the Meadow pasture for several weeks, which has been great for Sherlock. Meadow is closer to the barn and very comfortable for him.

Anyway, I've been riding Sherlock just a little bit, getting him used to the indoor arena, building fitness for both of us. I started longing him lightly every morning last week to get some muscle building. He's gaining weight and remembering some things about being a riding horse.


This week Sherlock had dewormer, vaccinations and started going to the West Pasture. First day I walked him out to the waterer and when I let him go he galloped off with the other horse, and raced them around. So glad to see him happy and having some fun. Later in the day he came up the breezeway for water and had trouble figuring out how to get back- they thought he was going to bust the gate to Meadow- but he settled once his name was called and they took him back down.

Yesterday no drama going down to West pasture, I hope he is settling there.

New trainer A has arrived and I'm going to take a lesson tomorrow, wish us luck!

Looks like most of my pics from last week are of our super-adorable new kitten, Kaylee!
Here she is for your viewing pleasure. It's tiring but super-amusing to have a kitten around again...

Sept 8- The In Crowd, Ride #69

So Sherlock is still working on fitting in with the larger herd of geldings at Heart&Soul. He's willing to go out in the large East Pasture but he comes in again shortly, all the way up the breezeway and stands as close to the barn as he can get. He has been in the smaller Meadow Pasture and liked that better, but it was rotated out of use for 2 weeks.

Sherlock in the East Pasture

Next week we'll introduce him to the West Pasture, also a big pasture facing the road. This one has its own water and does not usually connect with the breezeway. So he will be stuck there, though there should be plenty of distance to be had between him and the herd if he wants to stay away from them.  I sure do miss Sebastian.

It's frustrating to walk all the way down to the pasture and leave him with the quietest friendliest horses and have him still follow me all the way back to the barn, or even have to follow him back there if he doesn't feel like waiting for me or listening to my protests that he should like it here.

Anyway, I go out pretty much every morning or evening and give him grain and love. He's such a sweet-natured horse, he always seems to be getting petted by someone.  I moved him here so he would be happy and healthy. He's not happy yet. He's gaining weight, though he is getting bitten by someone.



I rode on September 9th, just saddled up Western and made a short introduction to both arenas. He was very calm in both, actually. I am very pleased with that.

I bought a half-blind horse. That's my reality. Really, I have a wonderful horse. He just needs some extra time to fit into this herd, and lots of space.

Sherlock hiding behind the halter rack. Note the VERY long walk downhill to the pasture.

August 30 More moving

So, on 8-21 we moved Sherlock to Heart and Soul. I am so happy. He did gain weight at Kiowa Creek and I was sad to leave super-cute mustang Sebastian behind.

Sherlock and his little friend Sebastian

Sebastian hiding behind Sherlock

But Heart and Soul was one of my top choices -just on the edge of my acceptable price and distance range. Sherlock is doing well there and starting to learn to go out to pasture with a whole herd!

Sherlock in the round pen at Heart&Soul

Sherlock eating hay like it was his job

More pictures later as Sherlock learns how he fits into the herd and we get to use our arena!

July 4th- Today

And today, Sherlock is in his new home! It's a bit further East but not too much further to drive.

Sherlock grazing under the cottonwood tree.

I watched Max pass his pre-purchase exam, and then loaded Sherlock to be Liz's first horse move of the day! She took Max to his new home in Colorado Springs and then moved her own 2 horses and Clover and the foal. Yikes! What a day!
Sherlock loaded very nicely, waited for me to get out and close the door, and came to the window to have his halter off. Perfect. Could not ask for more. When we arrived I stepped back in, put the halter on, and he stepped carefully out. He was so excited! We went in and started walking the fenceline, but anytime the little mustang Sebastian cam close Sherlock get very nervous. We circled back to the trees where there was a shady spot to graze, then tried the other side of the pasture, working back towards the gate to the water tank. He looked at the next-door horses a bit then we went back to the gate and I let him go. I got my white duct tape and watched sherlock run away from Sebastian for a few tense minutes.
"Pay attention!" I kept shouting as he neared the fence- and he'd put his head down and look, and turn. No mishaps. He followed me all the way out to the South end of the pasture along the fence before fleeing Sebastian again. Sherlock outruns him easily, and after a couple of laps settled again under the trees.

Water-cooler conversations 

When I reached the water tank this time Sherlock came to meet the others. He sniffed noses politely then tried to bite. Every time. Sniff- Squeal of anger from other horse. Sniff-Squeal. He wasn't so sure about the new water but I used it to cool his sweaty neck and shoulders and nose, and soon he was drinking it. I left him under the trees, with water, grass and a large amount of hay.

Sherlock and Sebastian

The next day things were calmer. Sherlock came running when I called and we walked to the water tank, and I gave him more hay. Lots of petting and no pressure.

Yesterday when I went to check on Sherlock,  I whistled and called to no avail. I loaded up the hay feeder and got my brush box out, then started hiking out to get him. Suddenly he saw me and came running in, whinnying frantically. OK, that's better.  Was starting to think I was forgotten. He ate his hay while I gave him a good grooming and slathered him with just about every fly repellent that can be purchased in Colorado.  Sebastian was quite shocked that Sherlock allowed himself to be sprayed with smelly, scary hissy stuff.

So, I am very happy with the new place. I don't have a key yet for the tack room but fellow boarder D let me put my saddle in. Sherlock is gaining weight already and looks happy. I hope to walk sherlock from his pasture up to the tack area and introduce sheep and very large horses into his life experience.

July 4th- Yesterday

So we moved Sherlock! Thank you, Liz for the ride!

These are pics of the old stable, look back a few posts if you want the name but I'm not naming them here. There are still people I like there. But 12 boarding horses did leave June 31st, and A and her trainer are moving theirs as well. The stable owner sold one of their own horses to buy hay to last until the first cutting could be made on the back hayfield. I think maybe they will lose their lease, and I hope someone with more experience takes over. I love the facility when it is in good condition and would like to return there.

Max almost knee-deep in mud

Other TB almost knee-deep in mud

Sherlock's ribs showing. Time to GO!

June 19- Ride 65,66 Exodus

MUD MUD MUD

5/29 Farrier came and Sherlock was very good. I hand-walked him all week, doing sidepasses and hip stretches so he would not be so stiff and sore. He was excellent. The gate is disgustingly deep in mud, manager is feeding the horses at the gate so they are trampling the hay into the mud. Everyone is getting skinny. Complained to the owner.

5/30 Ride #65- Rinsed off the mud then rode Western 30-45 minutes outdoor arena. I fell trying to get on, stirrups were SO long. But Sherlock didn't move much and got on fine the second time. Walked with other horses, threatening to bite but didn't. Sore-footed but tried hard. Standing with others, was spooked by runaway horse from barn, jumped 2 strides then stopped to watch, settled back down well.

6/1 Bought bale of compressed alfalfa hay, fed in the only dry corner of the paddock. MUCH excitement and drama, long story short and not getting into the fuss- L is taking her horses away at end of month. I'm starting to look myself.

6/3 Fed alfalfa in dry corner of paddock. New horse red Tobiano Mustang very aggressive, ran him off with whip. Sherlock coated with mud on L side, looks like he fell in the slimy mud. Complained to owner about gate and problem horse. Rumor is that the gate solution will be to open up the gate between dominant and non-dominant pastures. That way we could use the gate in the other pasture to go in and out, and feed could be spread farther. But my horse is all beat up right now, so I am worried about even tougher horses moving in.




6/5 Checked on Sherlock in the morning after Tornado went through just a mile or two North of us. Still muddy, I was planning to bathe him but got caught up in caring for Clover and her brand-new foal, Fiero. Cute smoky-black colt. I hung out all morning pretty much, getting the placenta ready for the vet, talking to the vet, etc. I am surprised no one bedded the stall or took care of the placenta or caught the mare after they found the foal. A could not get out of work (what?) so I waited for the vet, L came and did some basic care and paid the vet.




6/10 Gave Sherlock a bath and grazing today, I've been giving grain all week. Several shallow scrapes on L side under the mud- he definitely fell. Bite marks as well. Gave my notice that I'm moving Sherlock. What else can I do? He is dropping weight and getting bitten up. Owner refuses to believe there is anything wrong with the gate, even though I can smell the foul mud from yards away.



6/14 Feeding Sherlock and Beatrice extra alfalfa all week. Gate open and both herds have both pastures, but no real fighting thank goodness. Aggressive red Mustang has bonded with Sherlock and Bea after Max moved to 2-horse pen. Only treats today, as I had to run home for G to go to the Urgent Care! Spent all afternoon at Urgent Care waiting for kidney stone to pass.

Trail rides are not so scary when there's fresh grass

6/17 Ride #66- Trail ride with L and Tchai around back of property. Sticky, backed up into mud and stepped on LF, slight cut. I got down then and led him up the hill, got back on. Walked along back fenceline with only one other really bad stoppage. Walked and ate and relaxed a lot, Came back into arena no argument where I dismounted and gave treats. Big breakthrough.

Checking Sherlock's cut and giving grain last 2 days, doing well and not sore. I've decided to save money next month and take Sherlock to Kiowa Creek for his transition to good grassy pasture, then perhaps move somewhere with fancier facilities like Blue Cloud. Anyway, VERY stressful month so far, with driving to stables, trying to get weight on Sherlock, following Gray like a hawk in case he feels unwell, and working as much as I can at Sounds True trying to figure out a very troublesome web interface for the databases that will carry downloadables to the Amazon stores.


My recent talks with the other boarders have revealed that at least 12 horses are leaving this month. A's trainer did bring 2 of her horses into the stalls with runs- those horses and the barn horses are decently fed and cared for. The gate area is still deep in mud, even with no one using it, and filthy smelly. Owner said "what gate?" when I mentioned it again. I hope someone tracks that mud into her house.

SO! Big changes underway with the horse. Everyone is well and holding up despite challenges, and I hope Sherlock's new home will be a great relaxing place to do some very mild riding and get him to gain some weight.

May 24- More MUD +bits Ride 62,63,64

My training journal says:
MUD MUD MUD MUD Beer grain MUD

Cleaning up the grain bucket.

5/16 Ride 62. Rinsed him off decently. Very sloppy everywhere. Finally got the Courbette saddle from Hawaii. Tried it on him and walked without stirrups (I had left them on the old saddle) in the indoor arena. OK fit but pinching withers if he raised his head.


5/17 Ride 63. Outdoor arena with Courbette with homemade tester half-pad (memory foam bath mat cut in half lengthwise). Walk/trot, walk over poles. Sore-footed, definitely from standing in mud so much. Good-natured. Refresher in standing for mounting, turn on forehand, back, whoa. Today preferred front of arena and wouldn't approach the back corner nearest the pasture which is usually a favorite place to stop and watch Beatrice throw a fit that he's gone.


5/19 fed grain in pasture. MUD MUD MUD

5/24 Ride 64. Rinsed legs again, better manners this time. VERY stiff picking up both hind feet, wanted to stretch forward instead. Slipped in the mud? Seems likely. I don't think I can get the horse chiropractor out before the farrier comes on next Friday. Very short easy ride in half-flooded round pen (I will take a shovel to it next time I swear) with bareback pad and new Western bit. Trying to introduce leverage bit but he hated the single-joint mouthpiece and he hated the double-joint copper mouthpiece one today. I should sell them both and buy a Myler... Very fussy and easily distracted, but he has not had a lot of exercise lately with the footing being so awful.

At least the grass is growing nicely, and Sherlock gets to enjoy some hand-grazing as we walk to the barn and back. This picture as about as clean as he ever got this month. And still had mud in his mane.

The best part of the day- snack time

May 9- MUD

We returned from a wonderful but exhausting trip to LA, we drove this time and spent a day in BC with Mom and Mike.

And it was raining. And it has continued to rain all week. And it's likely to snow tonight. Crazy.

galoshgalosh

5/5 Sherlock was allowing the other horses to share the shelter until he saw I had carrots, then he drove everyone off. Lots of grumpy faces but he didn't actually bite or kick anyone. I cannot find my jelly-scrubber mitt. It's a soft rubber grooming mitt that Sherlock loves- I can even get mud off his face with it.  Went to Murdoch's to get a new one and they didn't have any. Went to Saddle Up and they didn't have any. Oh well. Plenty of time.

5/7 Early to work, so went to Foxcreek to get a jelly-scrubber. They were out of them, despite the owner and the clerk and me all staring at the wall of grooming tools willing it to appear. I don't know why we insist on continuing to search when we have looked at every single thing five times already and determined the needed thing is not there.






5/8 Day off work. SO I went to Colorado Tack to get a jelly-scrubber. YES! They had two left in stock and I got them both, so now I have a backup. $4 item and I drove all over the county to get it. Planned to buy some sandbags to improve the pasture drainage, groom and feed. Took one look at the hardware store lines and went home, drank tea and finished reading both Small Favor and The Third Man Factor.

Bea, Max and Sherlock demand carrots

5/9 Bought my first-ever pair of galoshes and went out to the stable with my new jelly-scrubber. Drainage has actually improved, it has cut a channel now and is running off instead of standing water at the gate. Mud at gate might be shovel-able tomorrow. Sherlock was ruling the shelter as usual, but he, Bea and Max all emerged for some carrots.

I got him cleaned up a bit with the awesome powers of the jelly-scrubber, he rubs his face on it quite happily. Still a lot of mud but cleaned up his topline where he's most likely to get rainrot. He really needs his legs rinsed and dried. I hope early next week it will clear a few days and give me a chance to get him totally dry.

A river runs through it today

April 17- Ride #59, 60, Spring in Colorado

Where does the time go?

March 28th Ride#59- Sherlock and I took to the indoor ring again. I lunged him over the trot poles until he was calm about them, then mounted up, warmed up and trotted the poles several times very nicely. No leaping, no trouble. A bit stiff picking up hind feet, BL Solution in grain.

Protecting my herd. 

March 30- Cat, Liz's OTTB in re-training, added to pasture. Lots of galloping and chasing. Sherlock and Max guarded Beatrice and stayed mostly out of the way.

March 31- Excellent for farrier! Really perfect. Much praise.

April 2- Snowing. BL Solution and Banamine in grain.

April 4- Shedding Season begins in earnest. Groomed, tight belly due to weather.

April 6- fed grain

April 8-Tried hangs-on-the-fence feeder but Sherlock was very flinchy about it. Worried about the electric wire probably even though I hung the feeder far away from the wire. Had to hold the feeder for him and groomed some afterwards.

April 11- Small birthday celebration. I brought 2 balloons to torment Sherlock with and cupcakes and apples. He wouldn't try a cupcake- sticky! And rubbed the purple icing all over my shirt.

April 12- Sherlock was grazing at the very back fence of the pasture and couldn't hear me calling him over the wind, or was obsessed with the tiny bit of grass available. He seemed quite startled when I appeared 10 feet away. Caught him up easily and took him over the the broken waterer, got on bareback and rode back to the gate. SO I guess that's ride #60 even though it was just a minute. He did fine, a bit nervous in just the halter but did fine. Beer grain and his usual.

Sherlock ruling his little herd of Beatrice and Max. 

April 14- Happy Birthday, Sherlock! Mints and grooming.

April 15- Snowing. Grain with Banamine and offered blanket but he was too busy claiming piles of hay from the other horses. I know once the hay is gone he'll hog the shelter all day, so didn't push him to take the blanket.

March 27- Spring arrives, Rides #55-58

Early March was snowy, rainy and muddy.
March 8 Ride #55 I brought Sherlock up to the roundpen, which was half-flooded but still better footing than the arenas. He had a good time splashing, and then I rode for a few minutes. Not as confident going through the water with me on his back. I think that's a balance issue.

The next day my car broke down on the way home from work. This made it hard to visit the stable. Not only was I dropping Gray off at work before going to work and then picking him up in the evening, but his little car did not do well in the very muddy barn parking lot.

March 14 I brought Sherlock up to the barn for grooming and grain, and free-longed in the indoor arena. Lots of bird sounds, and he was a bit spooky. Had trouble turning left.

Setting up the jumps. Not too daring today.

March 15 Ride #56 Sherlock was a bit grumpy and tight-bellied from the weather changes, I rode Western about 30 minutes in the outdoor arena, mostly just walking with a little bit of trot. Very "poppy" trot transitions, stiff. Walked and trotted both single poles and crossrails, calmly very nice. Good forward walk today, practicing some gate skills. Whoa does happen but not very exact, same with backing up. A bit sticky in the corner closest to pasture- Bea was crying the whole time.




March 17 Ride #57 Tried out a used Borelli saddle, really a better fit even though it seemed very wide. Walk/trot a little nervous about work noise outside the arena. More willing at trot today in different saddle. Back/trot transition improved the trot transition. Sidepassed nicely.

March 19 Free-lunged walk/trot/canter until he got sweaty.

What's with this "bit" thing again?

March 20 Vaccination clinic. I free-lunged Sherlock a few minutes then brought him up to the barn to wait with a dozen other horses.A bit fussy with so many horses around, some throwing fits about the shots, but did well. Excellent for shots, even let them check his teeth after one nervous head toss. Vet would like to see him gain some more weight.

March 21 Grain in pasture. Looks good, no reaction at injection sites.

March 24 Ride #58 Rode about an hour indoors (needed the shade today). Fussy for cinching, tight-bellied. Used bit for first time this year. Lots of bird noise in rafters, he was nervous at first but settled a bit. Wanted to look out the door facing pasture, but went past well enough. Rode well, poppy trot transitions but good strong trot and maintained pace in turns much better. Desperately need to put stirrup straighteners back on this saddle, my feet were cramped up after riding. Grain.

March 2 - snow and Ride #54

As expected, large blizzard 2/21. His leg looked good, no swelling after the stoppage of Banamine.
My friend T moved her horse to another barn. She was really getting treated pretty poorly. Boarder wars. Gotta stay out of them. Enough people left recently that I moved my tack into the main tack room for more space. Did like having the locked door, but I needed more room.

2/22 Still snowing. Here's a link to the horses running at mealtime. Sherlock is one of the blue blanketed dark horses. Likely the one that gets run at my the guys feeding. If you see a group that 3 dark horses, 2 blue blankets and a purple, that's Bea in purple and Sherlock and Max.

2/24 Weather warmed up- lots of snowmelt, pulled blanket off.

2/25 Rushed out early from work when it started snowing again. Sherlock was hogging the entire shelter and was barely even wet. Quick brushdown and blanket back on.

2/28 Ride #54 A little warmer weather and some sun. Good day to ride a little. Sherlock was a bit fussy about me cleaning his cut, just high energy. Free-lunged a few minutes to get his attention then saddled up. Just walking with a bit of trot, we worked on figure 8s, steering, stop and back. Good effort continuing to back up on cue "more", made it easy to start again without having to give the rein cue when he is getting grumpy. Good ride- he did want a carrot for every single thing a horse achieved, but I think me getting down is reward enough at the end of a ride. Grain afterwards and blanket back on!

Why not stay all day and hand out carrots?

Feb 23- catching up, Ride #53

My new saddlepad! He does look good in turquoise.

Jan 25- ride #53. After the saddle and pad experiments I found a used gel pad on eBay. It's Western and nice-looking. I could show in it if I want to later. So we tried the new pad with the English saddle- Sherlock was much more willing and eager to walk over a little pile of poles and trot nicely.  Still very poppy coming into the trot, not using his back well. Practiced braiding, he was great for mane and for tail, but very fussy about his forelock. Pleased his tail has really grown and gotten long and pretty.


While G and I were in LA for Wedding #1, I got a text that they'd like to move Sherlock into the big pasture after he'd been threatening a new boarder. Well, I thought the King of the Wusses was probably ready to move up. So Feb 2 I moved him. He latched on to the horses he knew- Max and Bea.
He has done well there, he was pretty hard on the new group of horses but he's risen to a high status without getting in too much trouble.

2/13 I went out to the pasture with grain and a small dose of Banamine in prep for weather change so he wouldn't feel colicky the day I was planing to go to our first schooling show out at Plane View. And  he had a cut. A pretty good one high up on the inside of his front leg. Took me a while to clean it and get a little ointment on it.  Came back at 4:30 pm to check it, more swollen and sore, limping. Cold hosed and more meds- B-L Solution in grain.
All that week cold-sponging when possible (it being like 25 degrees), walking and Banamine. Checking his temp everyday was good training.

2/20 Stopped meds,  swelling seems done. Blanketed in prep for snow. Started snowing overnight.
A day or two of good weather and more snow forecasted.

Snowy Day in big pasture. Sherlock, Bea and Max sprt-of sharing.

January 20- Ride #52 & padding

Saturday first day of saddle experiments. Very windy. Rode 1 hour in indoor walking, small amount trot and working on remembering what to do. Whoa a bit rusty, backing very crooked but improved, lateral work good. Stiff transitioning up into trot, "poppy" front end trying hard. Walk over poles good, wouldn't try them at trot. Steering NICE when I remember to look where I want to go. Mounting needs work.
Rode in Western saddle with new Gel pad, he did well in it once I realized the pad had compressed quite a lot, leaving the cinch very loose.
Also tried E's Stubben just like the one for sale. Seemed a decent fit.

Monday back for more experiments. Sherlock was for the most part grumpy and unwilling, weather changing often makes him a bit colicky. Really, he handled being cinched up 3 times pretty well, but did stop outright today when asked to trot so I had to get down and free-longe until he settled down.
Rode in the sale Stubben with a baby pad and these experiments:
1. Homemade cutback half pad by E. slippery, not long enough to pad the full length of bars of saddle. Saddle stayed VERY high, little compression but not much contact.
2. Memory-foam bath mat pad with cutout for withers- still not long enough, compressed maybe too much, saddle very close to withers. Sherlock quit with this pad on.
3. Gel shoe pads along bars. Not enough padding, Sherlock was uncomfortable and I stopped immediately.

I didn't like the sale saddle. Both of them seemed too big for me- I've been riding the same saddle so long I may just have to learn to deal with the difference. But it looked like it was heading for the same split at the cantle that I already have on my old saddle, and the billets were very weak and dry.
I'm going to have to get a back tracing made and start driving around to tack shops. There are a lot of consignment saddle places locally, and a good one in Colorado Springs, so I should be able to find something nice enough to do local shows for a few years.

Jan 17- Back in the saddle ride #50

Another super-busy month, December always is.
Tons of work for Ziji and Serenity Tibet and Sounds True. Which means $ for gifts and travel
(2 weddings in LA in 2015) and horse stuff.

SO- TIP classes in Colorado this year! Thoroughbred Incentive Program holds special TB-only classes for TB-only year-end awards, and we finally have 2 in Colorado in 2015. One in March, probably too soon unless I just do walk/trot. And one in August, which could be quite doable.

SO- new saddle or repairs for old saddle. L has a Stubben Siegfried just like my old one for cheap, going to try it today I hope. Decent breeches, a show shirt. Find helmet cover, gloves, boots, hairnets. Rejoin CHJA. Am I sure I want to do this?

Post-canter

In the meantime, in December I rode pretty minimally but we did canter, twice to the left, didn't manage it to the right this first time. Sherlock was a little confused at first but tried really hard. He was excellent for the farrier and his feet continue to improve.

When I got back from vacation I rode a little in the indoor, just walking and remembering steering, whoa, back. Practiced my emergency dismounts (since we are cantering now I'd better), asking him to come back to me while I'm sitting or lying down.

 I'm trying new padding theories to get my saddles fitting right while his back fills in. It is actually quite a bit better, muscles starting to build. I bought a super-fancy gel Western pad (used on eBay!) that I hope to try today.

Sherlock "I made my own blanket out of mud and hay."