Category: Books

Quickest Chiropractic Visit Ever

6/13/2019

For the last two years, Izzy has had body work about every three months. This year, I decided to see how he did by spacing the visits out on an "as needed" basis. He saw his chiropractor in early November, and hadn't needed him since.

On Saturday we did a technical trail ride that had a few dicey sections. There wasn't anything horrible, but Izzy did slip and slide a few times throwing his head and neck up to regain his balance. The next day all was well, but the day after that, he was pretty adamant that his neck was broken and no amount of suppling on my part was going to get it to bend.

It took me all of 20 minutes to realize that he needed an adjustment. In the past, it's taken me three rides to figure out that he's hurting. The first ride I always blame on poor riding. The second ride I blame on his sassy attitude. The third ride is usually when I start questioning what the heck is wrong with my horse. As soon as I ask what's wrong with you?, the lightbulb goes on. Not this time; I figured out within 20 minutes which saved us both a lot of frustration.

Houston, we've got a neck problem.

It took CC less than a minute to pinpoint where Izzy was hung up - the C7, the last cervical vertebra. Normally, the trouble originates in Izzy's poll. Once the C7 was dealt with, CC moved on to Izzy's rib heads. He was a little tender on the last couple, but a firm nudge had him feeling much better. And that was the extent of the adjustment - a single cervical vertebra and a couple of ribs.

Almost got it ...

CC has been doing my horses for a number of years now. After all of this time, I finally discovered the method(s) that he uses. CC combines traditional chiropractics with the Masterson Method, developed by Jim Masterson. Coincidently, my endurance pal Marci has used CC as well. After he mentioned the Masterson Method to her, she bought the book which she generously lent it to me. I have found it to be thoroughly interesting.

Beyond Horse Massage: A Breakthrough Interactive Method for Alleviating Soreness, Strain and Tension by Jim Masterson

Chapter 1 is titled, "What is the Masterson Method?" The first sentence offers a sort of explanation. "The Masterson Method - Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork - is a unique interactive method of equine bodywork in which you learn to recognize and use the responses of the horse to your touch to find and release accumulated tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance." It's a mouthful, I know.

CC explained that he takes many of Masterson's techniques for helping the horse to release tension and combines them with the traditional approach of manipulation, or adjustment, of an affected joint and tissues. This restores mobility, alleviating pain and muscle tightness, allowing tissues to heal.

I am sold. In my experience, CC has more than proven himself to be an excellent chiropractor/bodyworker and horseman. My horses love him, and they ALWAYS feel better once he's done. If there's a name for the method he employs, great. If not, I am not opposed to winging it.

I only wish he worked on people.

Another Monday

3/18/2019

I had a rough last week. Fortunately it wasn't because of horses; they've given me enough gray hairs this winter. On Thursday, a friend tagged me in a Facebook post that pretty much saved the rest of the world from total annihilation as I was very close to going postal - how much crap can one person take?

Dwight, the successful co-worker who lacks social skills and common sense.

It's Dwight's face that cracks me up the most. I know that's the look that Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, must have on her face when Izzy starts with his jackassery. I looked at that meme all weekend long, laughing harder each time. It's easy to get a little punchy though when you're on the edge.

Thankfully, while horses can drive us to the brink of insanity, they can also keep us standing squarely on our two feet. My own equine therapists, a Goddess and a Wild Card did their jobs well (sort of) over the weekend, leaving me mostly prepared to tackle Monday. My husband drew a name for last week's book give-away. Congrats to Mag for winning a copy of Is Your Horse a Rockstar.

Mag wrote, "I think mine would be the "mean girl" even though he's a gelding. He has to show everyone that he's in charge - pasture mates, stablehands, etc. I would love a copy to see if that's one of the choices!"

Mag's copy is in the mail, headed her way. And Mag, I'm wondering if your gelding might be The Macho Man, The Boss, or even The Prize Fighter. I hope you'll let me know!

Relationship Alert

3/11/2019

I am sure that all of us think that our own horses are more sensitive (meaning "special") than others, but I am here to tell you that Speedy wins the "snowflake" of the year award. Right now, he is in the midst of tantrum that's been going on for a good month. Which brings me yet again to Dessa Hockley's book, I s your horse a Rockstar?

If you haven't bought it yet, do it. I promise you won't be disappointed. I don't get anything if you buy the book, but it really is that good. In fact, I love the book so much that I am going to buy a copy for someone who wants one. If you want the book, leave a comment, but make sure to fill in your website or email address so I can get your snail mail address. I'll do a random drawing on Saturday (March 16).

The reason I bring up the book is that Speedy is having a pretty rough winter. He's abscessed several times, been diagnosed with Cushing's Disease, and torn open both front legs. All of that means he isn't getting very much positive attention. To him, it feels as though all I do is poke him in sore places or jam weird tasting stuff in his mouth.

He couldn't get away from me fast enough.

"Speedy is what Dessa Hockley refers to as The Goddess (Submissive, Energetic, Curious, Friendly). If he were a bit more dominate, he would be a Rock Star, and frankly, there are days when he does fall into that category. For The Goddess, the relationship is everything. Right now, Speedy's a bit pissed at me because he's not getting the saddle time he thinks he deserves. The ear pinning and tail swishing are dead give-aways that he's feeling slighted.

Speedy's mission in life is to be adored by me, and anyone else in his vicinity is welcome to jump on that band wagon as well. It doesn't matter what we do; he's happy to please as long as accolades and adoration are his reward. Cookies and candies are also expected. As The Goddess, he is, after all, a divinity."

I wrote that in January of 2017 - probably in the midst of some other injury. It is just as true today as it was two years ago. Speedy is so unhappy right now. Everything in his life sucks a big fat lemon. He now has to take a Prascend pill every morning which he hates. He hasn't been turned out in at least a month because I don't want him to re-injure his front legs or cause some new injury. And the worst thing to him is that he's no longer in regular work. I rode him last weekend, but then it rained all week, so I didn't get to ride again until this weekend.

He was so happy to be out of his paddock.

While Speedy was happy to be out and being ridden, he was so resentful that everything I asked of him turned into a chore. Bandaging his legs caused drama. He didn't want to be bridled. He refused his peppermint candies. I was frustrated, and he was frustrated.

It's going to take some time to rebuild our relationship, and I have a feeling that I am going to be doing a lot of butt kissing over the next few weeks. And if Speedy has anything to say about it, there had better be some better treats involved.

Like I said, he's a Goddess. And a big fat "snowflake!"

Book Review: The Scorpio Races

9/20/2017

Speaking of books ...

Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Read it!!!!

How could that blurb not suck you right in?!?! Many thanks to Cheryl for recommending this book to me. I haven't read anything this unique and heart pounding in a long time.

Because I liked Deerskin so much (a book I read over the summer), both Cheryl and Amanda recommended another title by Robin McKinley, The Hero and the Crown. They were right, it was also a great read. While it's not about horses, they do play an integral part to the story. And besides that, the horses are so well written about that they become characters just as important as the "hero."

The Scorpio Races is done very similarly. Again, the story isn't about the horses, but they are characters just as lifelike as Sean and Puck are. I did have a few issues with the story as I read, but they resolved themselves by the end. Even now, a week after finishing it, I still think about Puck and Sean and their horses and wonder what they're doing.

If you're looking for something well written that features our favorite equine friends, this book won't disappoint.

Apparently, some of you have a secret connection to some really awesome books. Please share more!

Blog Hop: Equestrian Book Collection

9/19/2017

I've already mentioned how much I love to read. A few weeks ago, I shared my summer reading list with you, and I have yet another sensational book to add to it. I'll get to that one in a later post. While I don't spend my evenings poring over horse books, I do occasionally dig one out to reference for specific issues.

Last week, the $900 Facebook pony shared her collection of horse books. I scanned each book cover and was a bit surprised that I have not one of the titles she shared. Weird, huh? Just how many different horse books can there be?

So, here's what I keep at home (I have a mound of others at school, but they're mostly kids' fiction).

This first pile includes all of my vet books.The one in the top right hand corner first belonged to my stepmother before she handed it over to me in the mid-1980s. It was published in 1973. It's astonishing that I've owned it for at least 30 years.

The next stack contains all of my dressage books. The Practical Dressage Manual by Bengt Ljungquist is my favorite for being the most reader friendly, but The Complete Training of Horse and Rider is my sentimental favorite. If I remember correctly, it was a Christmas gift when I was 15. It was only just a handful of years ago that I even knew who Alois Podhajsky was. I've owned that book for more than 30 years as well.

Next comes my collection of memoirs and biographies. Two in the top row were written by endurance riders, one of whom I was very lucky to meet in person, the legendary Julie Suhr. Google her. You won't be disappointed. She rode in the 2016 Rose Parade at 91 years of age. The lady has kicked some serious butt in her lifetime.

This next pile is an assortment of random books, several of which get regular use. Not the endurance book, obviously, but back in the day, it was one of the few endurance books out there. I've written plenty of posts about the bit books and the rock star book, so you know those get read regularly.

And finally, there are my "I love horses" books. That pony book has also been with me for 30 years. I am pretty sure it came from a friend of my step mom's. My copy is an American edition publish in 1982, but it was first published in 1979 in Great Britain. The others are your run of the mill coffee table books, but I enjoy having them.