Today I got antsy... Originally I had planned to stay out of the saddle until at least Friday night, but I jumped the gun. Alex was in a decent mood (chillaxed) when I got to the barn, it was relatively quiet around the farm, so I started thinking maybe tonight was the night. I figured I'd dress the part, lunge him and see how I felt. I'm not going to lie... just thinking about riding for the first time in about two months I was nervous. I am not my mother (who is absolutely fearless with horses), I do occasionally get scared and considering the very real attempt Alex made to unload me during our last ride, this is one of those times. The difference for me, is that as I've grown up and expanded my riding skills/knowledge, I've also been able to kick myself in the ass and face my fears.
So, I lunged Alex and thought to myself, "I'm glad I didn't Ace him, because if I had, he might just lie down and go to sleep," he was SO lazy. The pessimist in me said "he's just saving up till you're in the saddle." Finally I decided it was now or never, Alex was super relaxed and the farm was quiet. With my heart beating a little faster than normal, I sat down in the saddle and told myself to breathe. Off we went at a walk. Alex was looking around but agreeable. We walked both directions for a few minutes and then trotted both directions for another few minutes. Tracking left, he was very good, stretching down and bouncing along. Tracking right, he was not as agreeable to consistently bending and stretching down, but still did well. I didn't ask too much out of him and definitely didn't ask for the canter. I think we will wait a while for the canter, until I'm confident that Alex knows his hocks/back are not going to hurt. He felt great and I didn't detect any of the pain I'd felt from our last disaster ride. I'm not quite ready to exhale yet, but I'm encouraged. It seems he's happier in the Stubben, so we will use that until I can get with a saddle fitter and see if we need something new.
We'll try again tomorrow, which given Alex's propensity for throwing the curve ball the second time you do anything, could be interesting.
That's so interesting. I have totally missed the last month or so of your blog and it turns out you are having loads of the issues we have been having!
ReplyDeleteI have a real issue with narrow saddles. There are some saddlers who always want to put a narrow saddle on Echo to raise it up at the front- but this just ends up restricting her in front and putting too much pressure on her back at the back of the saddle. She is so much happier in a wider saddle despite the fact that another saddler will tell me that it's too wide for her. You just have to listen to your horse. Echo used to get grouchy and anxious about putting the saddle on when it was too narrow. That does last for a while after and can become a learnt behaviour.
Interestingly, my vet also thought about injecting Echo's lower hocks just above the suspensories that she had operated on. He said that with allthe flexion tests he did, he was expecting to see more pain in the hocks but couldn't find any. It's all such a fine art getting to the bottom of lameness.
I think you we're right to stay out of the saddle for a while. My vet said they can be sore from bak injections for up to 10 days afterwards while they get used to te effect of the drugs in their back. He also recommended walking for the first week after.
Hope you start to feel some significant improvement soon. Has your vet looked into the sacroiliac area? I know it can be a common problem with OTTBs.
Yes, he's had the full once over a couple times and my vet felt that his stifles and SI region were all fine. He seems to be feeling pretty good now, so hopefully we've found the bottom of these issues. Fingers crossed. If we go backward again, I may have him reevaluate the SI. Good luck with Echo!
DeleteGlad he's feeling good! Slow and steady is the path back when rehabbing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, that's the plan, we'll see how it goes :-)
DeleteSo happy that Alex is doing better! Fingers crossed that he continues to feel good and improve!
ReplyDeleteThank you! We need all the good vibes we can get ;-)
DeleteGreat to hear that things are going better with Alex. Saddle fit can be such a fine art, I got it wrong a few years back - well the saddle fitter i used got it wrong and it had a disastrous affect on my relationship with my mare & my confidence in riding her. Thankfully a change of saddle & a good friend's help has *knock-on-wood* seen us come out the otherside a happier & better partnership.
ReplyDeleteGo with your gutt when it comes to riding, listen to your horse & listen to your own body - if either of you aren't feeling it on any given day, it's no biggie take the night off and re-group the next day. Slow & steady is the best way forward and gives you both plenty of time to really get to know & trust each other. :)
Sorry - don't mean to get all preachy or pretend like I know much about anything! :/
Glad you are back in the saddle. Saddle fit is a PITA, literally. hope it all goes well.
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