Summer Work

Demetrias' favorite thing in the world is sun baking in the sand. I've mentioned this before. Last week I was out of town for several days and so our routine was thrown off and he has yet to recover. Now I am VERY aware that we had a full moon, 2 eclipses and a lot of storms. The ground feels different to him right now and all of the above things affect him. But this has been a rather ridiculous riding week. Monday I came off because he bucked or something without any warning. If I could fall off that way every time I would be happy to fall off routinely. There were no flips involved and I landed lightly on my feet and then fell onto my butt. He proceeded to trot away towards the gate (rather than run) and I called to him "gate" inside the ring he can't do much damage, out of the ring there are many things to run into which naturally, stresses him and I out. As soon as his dangling reins touched the braided twine gate, he stopped- good boy!
Tuesday he got off easily since a friend came to visit him so he mostly followed me around the ring. Wed he totally got the day off because of the storm that blew in. And Thursday and Friday were 2 of the most unbalanced and unfocused rides, ever!!!
Friday he got his butt kicked on the lunge line because it was either slow walk or buck... sheesh. Hoping today will be better. I know he is bound to have these days and that we are dealing with a learning process but somedays its super frustrating.

Where did the month of May go??

I am not entirely sure where the month of May went??? BUT it is the ending of school is always extremely insane and so I guess that's where all the time went...
Demetrias is doing really well as of late. We're dealing with the insane heat and Kim has been patiently working me through all the basics things that he needs. My goal has been to ride him about 5 times a week even if its only 15-20 minutes. He has been doing well however I think one of the biggest things that has changed is my outlook.
Three weeks ago I was an overwhelmed owner of a blind horse. Two weeks ago Kim put me on a different horse because D hadn't been worked in 4 days because I was out of town... something in my brain clicked. I was able to view my horse not as his caregiver but as his rider. It sounds dumb and extremely simple but its exactly what I have been waiting for I just didn't know it. He is blind and needs special care but he is willing and able to work for which I am grateful.
Today we worked on canter transitions quite a bit and because I have spent a lot of time observing my horse I was able to remind myself that although his left canter feels HUGE it isn't really and D will in fact stop when asked.
This is short and random but this is where the month of May and beginning of June has taken D and I...

Spring Break

I am on Spring Break this week and let me tell you I have never looked so forward to it. I am sad to say that it is already Thursday evening but I love teaching so this too shall pass. On Monday D and I had our lesson with Kim which went very well and he was decent despite his lack of focus and the windy conditions. At one point he had an in place bucking temper tantrum which decided we would wait on canter. However, we did some decent (Kim said) figure 8's and I felt good about his energy and ride-ability level. Tuesday I came out to ride and timed it perfectly with camp girls coming out of the arena. D and I essentially had it to ourselves and with the jumps being mostly out it seemed we had TONS of room. D was happy and attentive and willing to move and so, we cantered. Just on the left lead, just for a few strides, just asked him on two occasions but he did it without an explosion, without bucking me off, without being able to see, really... that's the first time under saddle in several (dare I say 6) months.
I felt like my face was going to split in two.
Baby steps, learning everything new. So grateful that my big, huge, blind thoroughbred is willing to move forward... I remembered how much I loved cantering and can't wait for more...
We haven't had a chance yet, he was too unfocused yesterday and today he had spring shots and his feet trimmed so I didn't bother, but I feel certain we are just beginning and that is indeed exciting!!
I've included a picture of D's delight in the new sand. :)

Its been a year...

A year ago, April 5th, it was a Monday D and I made our way, accompanied by the Sayer family, to NC State to figure out what exactly was going on with him. I remember riding the day before not sure when I would ride again and feeling hope that maybe they wouldn't find anything or find something easy. Roger generously drove and Shady helped me keep my head. Jacob didn't have much choice :) but was a trooper napping whenever he could.
We have made it through the year with quite a few bumps and bruises and many tears on my part, but D is whole and healthy and adjusting to life without site relatively well for an 11 year old thoroughbred with excess energy. :) Just this week D was cast in his stall and scraped up his right front leg and above his left eye which is essentially dead anyways. As is usual for my horse, treating his leg was extremely stressful for him but his eyes were no big deal at all. Try putting medicine on his leg and he panics, above his eye, all is well- what a goober. :)He likes to nap during the day and doesn't usually get cast but he is large, cannot see and has Grace to think about. We're not sure if its Gracie's fault or not, we'll see...
I am grateful for his health and all the people who add to his longevity. We shall see what this next year holds...

And so it goes...

I've been meaning to blog for several days however life is busy and so it goes. :) Nothing terribly earth shattering to report other than the fact that D and I are in rather regular training and somedays it goes well and other days are a bit more
interesting. :) On Wednesday there was a lot going on and D expressed his concern with a pretty good buck but thankfully my
heels were down and I was sitting up straight so I mostly looked cool. :) When he reacted a second time I moved to the other end of the arena.
D and Gracie have been hanging out a lot. She hangs out in the stall with him and runs all around without affecting him a whole lot. I am hoping her antics will start to de-sensitize himto some of the random noises that occur around in the barn. We shall see...
Once we get fencing figured out she'll spend time outside with him as well which I'm hoping will help with her energy level- we've created a bit of a monster- she is SUCH a happy goat. So that I don't bore anyone I will end here since I don't really have anything relevant to say. Enjoy the photos.

Demetrias' Gracie

My mind is a muddy mess of thoughts. The weather is completely messing up my plan for this week, sigh... It seems as soon as I get back into a routine the weather gets bad or my schedule explodes. Such is life... tonight is one such occasion.

Gracie is getting bigger and much more comfortable around the horses. We have not solved the coyote problem so for now she stays in and is not with Demetrias which is sad but cannot be avoided. I wish I had a picture of them interacting but instead I will include a few of her. She knows her name now and has become hard to photograph, she'll do about anything for a piece of granola bar. :)
I let Gracie loose on Sunday and had D out for her to interact with. She doesn't like to be by herself and so letting her loose went just fine. As she and D were hanging out she stood on her hind legs, tail wagging, to touch his nose, wish I'd had my camera. D thinks she is wonderful and she is wise but extremely comfortable around him. I need to attach a bell to her harness so that he can keep track of her.

D learned quite clearly why it is important to listen when on the longe line. We've had a lot of rain as of late and he completely wiped out on Saturday. I was just getting ready to stop because he wasn't listening and was in such a small circle he was either going to kick me, bow a tendon or, well, fall. If a horse can look mortified my horse personified it. I hated to see it but at the same time it was going to happen eventually.

On Monday after 4 days off due to weather and life we had a pretty successful lesson and I finally know how to do a turn on the forehand which is rather exciting. He was relaxed and patient and never once tossed his head in frustration which was encouraging.

In short, our journey continues. Some days are bumpier than others but we now have a year under our belt. March 4, 2010 was the day D received stitches for an accident in the field and the cloudiness in his eyes was noticed. He is a year older and we are both getting wiser in handling his impairment. He is healthy and happy and those are things we wish for any horse not just one who has to see with his skin and ears rather than his eyes...

D got his goat

Doesn't that sounds funny? I really wanted to say she got his goat, but that really doesn't make any sense. Last Sunday Demetrias got Gracie. She is about 2 months and hasn't been introduced to her entire role as of yet but she is settling in well. The teens at the barn are helping to acclimate her and all of us are playing w/her. I am picking everyone's brains on how best to teach her to lead. The best suggestion seems to be food. :) Rachel taught a pig to lead this way and so I feel its plausible.
Last night D and I had our first lesson with Kim in several months and ya know what? It went alright. I really hit a wall about a week ago. Now that he is essentially okay I have "time" to process what it is exactly we're doing and the horse I have been essentially saddled with. Now that I'm not worrying about every move he makes I can't believe everything we went through the past year and while D doesn't require my attention every day he does need to be worked.
Now that my schedule has chilled a bit and the weather isn't quite so horrific we're back into a routine which often involved longing so that he can get his energy out. Just like a kid if he has too much energy he can't really focus which makes for a frustrating and sometimes dangerous ride for me. So, my horse gets really sweaty running. "like a racehorse" on the longe line several times a week. This energy out allows a successful ride to happen despite how inadequate I feel (finally admitted to Kim). Sigh....
We worked on a circle, so I am in pain because anyone who knows, knows that circle work is HARD. Its just a circle, yes but have you ever tried to do a really great circle? Its challenging. However, for the first time ever I was able to put my legs in front and behind the girth (like you're supposed to) but stay up and actually feel my horse respond to it. When his hips unlocked- I FELT it.
Are we ready for a 4th level dressage test- NOPE, not even close, but my essentially blind horse is moving forward with an ease that I thought we lost 2 months ago. We have a lot of work ahead but as Kim said, "This is the good part, he has a lot of life a head of him, don't panic when its the easy/good part." I have an amazing trainer!!