Friday, December 28, 2012
Poncho and his hostage!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
An interesting turn of events!`
On the day I clipped Poncho was his first day back from "vacation"! I was pumped! And to top it off we had a fantastic ride. He was like a freaking dream. On the bit. Forward. Supple. Everything I could have ever wanted in a ride.
Then on Thursday the wind picked up. Poncho lost his mind! We were just hacking around the field on a nice long loose rein, when out of no where...he throws a huge buck. Spins and bolts (and man can this horse bolt) across the field. While he's bolting we're bucking and hopping about. I somehow managed to stay on and got him back under control and listening. But clearly this was not our most productive ride.
Friday was even windier. I was delusional enough to think I could a productive ride in TODAY. However I had several clues on the way to the ring that should have told me to turn back. I did not though. So once we finally got to the ring I got on and didn't even last 5 minutes in the saddle. Not because I was thrown but because he lost his marbles completely and there was no way to turn it around. Even in hand he was bucking and rearing, just generally freaking out. So yet another failed attempt.
Saturday I couldn't get out to the barn and Sunday I managed. We headed down to the ring again to attempt to rectify our last ride. I only rode for 10 minutes and kept it at a walk. Mainly because he was still on edge but listening. So I wanted to make sure I got off before it all went south!
Today it's raining ALL day long. Boo. I did go out to the earlier today and change the ponies into their Medium blankies since it didn't warm up like it was supposed to. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
Then on Thursday the wind picked up. Poncho lost his mind! We were just hacking around the field on a nice long loose rein, when out of no where...he throws a huge buck. Spins and bolts (and man can this horse bolt) across the field. While he's bolting we're bucking and hopping about. I somehow managed to stay on and got him back under control and listening. But clearly this was not our most productive ride.
Friday was even windier. I was delusional enough to think I could a productive ride in TODAY. However I had several clues on the way to the ring that should have told me to turn back. I did not though. So once we finally got to the ring I got on and didn't even last 5 minutes in the saddle. Not because I was thrown but because he lost his marbles completely and there was no way to turn it around. Even in hand he was bucking and rearing, just generally freaking out. So yet another failed attempt.
Saturday I couldn't get out to the barn and Sunday I managed. We headed down to the ring again to attempt to rectify our last ride. I only rode for 10 minutes and kept it at a walk. Mainly because he was still on edge but listening. So I wanted to make sure I got off before it all went south!
Today it's raining ALL day long. Boo. I did go out to the earlier today and change the ponies into their Medium blankies since it didn't warm up like it was supposed to. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Second clip of the year. Was it another success?
Poncho got reclipped today. I wanted to get it out of the way before it got real cold or windy (a.k.a FRIDAY). I was sure he would have no excuse for any naughtiness. However I was wrong. This time clipping was a bit scarier, don't know why though.
Unfortunately my blade was really dull so it looks like poo. I was so, so, so embarrassed by it - but atleast I know why it looks so bad. Everyone else says it's not too bad though. Not the point, however. By the end of the clip Poncho was much calmer. But it took a lot to get there.
My plan was to do a more intense clip BUT that didn't happen. So the plan is to monitor how this clip goes and if he's still getting really hot by the time he gets his teeth done (in a month) I'll re-clip while he's a drunken fool! Muhaha
Unfortunately my blade was really dull so it looks like poo. I was so, so, so embarrassed by it - but atleast I know why it looks so bad. Everyone else says it's not too bad though. Not the point, however. By the end of the clip Poncho was much calmer. But it took a lot to get there.
My plan was to do a more intense clip BUT that didn't happen. So the plan is to monitor how this clip goes and if he's still getting really hot by the time he gets his teeth done (in a month) I'll re-clip while he's a drunken fool! Muhaha
Monday, December 17, 2012
Holiday Photoshoot!
I posted 1 picture yesterday as a mini-preview. Here are the rest. (Note my Mom took them not a professional. I did my best to coach her with my "fancy" camera I think she did a pretty good job!)
Poncho of course would not put his ears forward. He was to focused on the fact that there was something behind his ears!!!!!!!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Our vacation is coming to a close!
Thank goodness only one more week! Although I am thinking this Wednesday I'll go ahead and re-clip instead of the following.
Vacation does not, I repeat does not agree with Poncho in the slightest! He has been the biggest meanie head since his vacation started. He's still been getting "worked". A.K.A. short little hacks maybe once or twice a week. We've gone to the ring 2x this month, last Wednesday and yesterday. Wednesday was an epic failure on so many levels. I will not go into detail like I said I was. Too long. Friday was a short hack with his hackamore on. He was coughing sooo much (BO put his hay in the run-in, dust = death) but he was getting quite cranky once he realized I wasn't getting him tacked up. So I gave-in. Luckily he didn't cough with the hackamore.
Yesterday we went to the ring. I put his bit back on since he wasn't coughing prior to my tacking him up. I did however take the noseband off. So incase he did start to cough his face wasn't constrained. We mainly walked. Did a little trotting but that brought on a little cough spell. So back to the walk we went. His supplement should come in tomorrow or Tuesday. Yipppe. So we will slowly be starting to work back into the old swing of things. Thank goodness!
Vacation does not, I repeat does not agree with Poncho in the slightest! He has been the biggest meanie head since his vacation started. He's still been getting "worked". A.K.A. short little hacks maybe once or twice a week. We've gone to the ring 2x this month, last Wednesday and yesterday. Wednesday was an epic failure on so many levels. I will not go into detail like I said I was. Too long. Friday was a short hack with his hackamore on. He was coughing sooo much (BO put his hay in the run-in, dust = death) but he was getting quite cranky once he realized I wasn't getting him tacked up. So I gave-in. Luckily he didn't cough with the hackamore.
Yesterday we went to the ring. I put his bit back on since he wasn't coughing prior to my tacking him up. I did however take the noseband off. So incase he did start to cough his face wasn't constrained. We mainly walked. Did a little trotting but that brought on a little cough spell. So back to the walk we went. His supplement should come in tomorrow or Tuesday. Yipppe. So we will slowly be starting to work back into the old swing of things. Thank goodness!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Battling "the cough" - EDITED
Not so much of a battle per-say though. Immediately after removing hay from his diet. The cough ceased. Not a huge surprise to me however.
He hates, hates, hates the cough free. SOOOO I got a free sample of the smart breathe pellets in hopes to coax him. My "plan" is to either soak his hay (not super practical for BO) or get a slow feeder for him so that he can't shove his face all in the hay dust. We'll see how this all goes.
FINGERS CROSSED!
---------------------------------------------------
12/11 Ponchoman ate the supplement. Now hopefully it works!
He hates, hates, hates the cough free. SOOOO I got a free sample of the smart breathe pellets in hopes to coax him. My "plan" is to either soak his hay (not super practical for BO) or get a slow feeder for him so that he can't shove his face all in the hay dust. We'll see how this all goes.
FINGERS CROSSED!
---------------------------------------------------
12/11 Ponchoman ate the supplement. Now hopefully it works!
Friday, December 7, 2012
2012 in review
This has been one roller-coaster of a year. I started the year off with so much hope in all aspects of my life. However with the year winding down I am slam full of anxiety and uncertainty. Such is life I suppose. But more or less let's get down to the nitty gritty of 2012.
I started off last January taking a temporary job at my vets office. I didn't have to much time to ride productively during those 3 months but made due with what I could. I had bought a new saddle before Christmas, finally one that Mr. Ponyface was pleased with. I got a hackamore for Christmas so we were switching between that and his bit. (We were still in a place where bit = tense,mean pony.) We had lots of leisurely rides to help keep him calm. Our ring work was inconsistent. So back and forth on his canter work (when has it not been though?)
As the months were progressing I was feeling on top of the world. Ponchers was moving fantastically after we squared away our hock pain (adequan 2X a year). He was moving like a freaking machine. Our jumping however was nonexistent still at this point. After failed attempt after failed attempt in October 2011 I gave up for a long while. We were still iffy with the contact but he had his days.
Once spring was rolling around I was debating putting some shoes back on him because the barn we were at had shit footing. (It didn't start out that way but it was never maintained properly - in my opinion.) I had already put him on the Farriers Formula Double Strength. So I took the plunge and threw those bad boys back on him - fronts only though! Immediate difference he was more than willing to start jumping again. Of course only in the hackamore for the first few sessions. I kept it super easy and barely did anything.
Then things got iffy. It had gone to his head riding out in the fields, letting him canter and gallop around some. So in the ring he went completely bonkers. We could not get our left lead (which used to be our great one). We couldn't even canter a lap around the ring without him flinging himself against the fence. It was ridiculous. However during this period he was jumping like a star. Going nice and round of the jumps and you bet he could canter calmly away from them. What the difference was I'll never know. We moved to a different barn before I resolved the issue. Once at the new barn it was gone though!?
We took things fairly easy at first once we moved, of course we felt like melting for the first several weeks. We did lots of new things. Rode out on the trail in company and alone (before hunting started). Had an interesting ride in a downpour once. Pole work whilst cantering (easy stuff I know). Of course we've still had some bumps in the road where spurs came back out. One ride where the was constant rooting and bucking! But we made it through. And most importantly here lately....
WE'RE GOING ON THE BIT CONSISTENTLY. I have finally found the equation that works for him. On the buckle warm-up. Slowly shorten reins. Ask for some suppling. And BOOM on the bit. Rinse and repeat several times throughout the ride. Currently we are still in our "vacation" but we'll be back in business soon.
I started off last January taking a temporary job at my vets office. I didn't have to much time to ride productively during those 3 months but made due with what I could. I had bought a new saddle before Christmas, finally one that Mr. Ponyface was pleased with. I got a hackamore for Christmas so we were switching between that and his bit. (We were still in a place where bit = tense,mean pony.) We had lots of leisurely rides to help keep him calm. Our ring work was inconsistent. So back and forth on his canter work (when has it not been though?)
As the months were progressing I was feeling on top of the world. Ponchers was moving fantastically after we squared away our hock pain (adequan 2X a year). He was moving like a freaking machine. Our jumping however was nonexistent still at this point. After failed attempt after failed attempt in October 2011 I gave up for a long while. We were still iffy with the contact but he had his days.
Once spring was rolling around I was debating putting some shoes back on him because the barn we were at had shit footing. (It didn't start out that way but it was never maintained properly - in my opinion.) I had already put him on the Farriers Formula Double Strength. So I took the plunge and threw those bad boys back on him - fronts only though! Immediate difference he was more than willing to start jumping again. Of course only in the hackamore for the first few sessions. I kept it super easy and barely did anything.
Then things got iffy. It had gone to his head riding out in the fields, letting him canter and gallop around some. So in the ring he went completely bonkers. We could not get our left lead (which used to be our great one). We couldn't even canter a lap around the ring without him flinging himself against the fence. It was ridiculous. However during this period he was jumping like a star. Going nice and round of the jumps and you bet he could canter calmly away from them. What the difference was I'll never know. We moved to a different barn before I resolved the issue. Once at the new barn it was gone though!?
We took things fairly easy at first once we moved, of course we felt like melting for the first several weeks. We did lots of new things. Rode out on the trail in company and alone (before hunting started). Had an interesting ride in a downpour once. Pole work whilst cantering (easy stuff I know). Of course we've still had some bumps in the road where spurs came back out. One ride where the was constant rooting and bucking! But we made it through. And most importantly here lately....
WE'RE GOING ON THE BIT CONSISTENTLY. I have finally found the equation that works for him. On the buckle warm-up. Slowly shorten reins. Ask for some suppling. And BOOM on the bit. Rinse and repeat several times throughout the ride. Currently we are still in our "vacation" but we'll be back in business soon.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Pony Problems!
Ohno! Mr. Poncho has a bit of a cough. Since he has not been exposed to any new horses or anything of the like in 3 months. We are all leaning toward hay allergies. Since the barn has just started giving hay in the evening. And the cough is identical to the last time he had hay problems.
So as of now we are soaking hay and for the next week I am stuffing "cough free" muffins down his throat. (He loathes the cough free supplement.) If things to do not improve dramatically with this new protocol by the end of the week a call will be placed into the vet.
Fingers Crossed!
So as of now we are soaking hay and for the next week I am stuffing "cough free" muffins down his throat. (He loathes the cough free supplement.) If things to do not improve dramatically with this new protocol by the end of the week a call will be placed into the vet.
Fingers Crossed!
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