Just Some Random Stuff

Tobias - the first round of IV fluids didn't go so well.  I bawled and sobbed and he screamed and howled.  It was the worst thing I've ever had to do to an animal.  Hubby was so supportive during my meltdown.  He just kept reassuring me that I could do it.  Afterwards he kept telling me what a good job I'd done and that it would get easier.  What a great guy.  I called the vet tech later that day and she offered some excellent advice on how to get the fluid to flow more readily.  Every dose since that call has gone very smoothly with no tears or yelping.  He's definitely still sick, but he had several days of looking 100%.  He was rather lethargic on Saturday, but he's only vomited twice (several days apart) and has had no diarrhea, the number one symptom of the Parvovirus.  He's not well yet, but we're encouraged.

I finally rode on Saturday which was the first time since getting dumped last Saturday.  It wasn't fear that kept me out of the saddle, but to admit that I wasn't nervous would be a lie.  I actually didn't ride for many reasons: 1) I was really sore, 2) Tobi was very sick, and 3) I had a work function until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. And since there was no way to ride that late, I went out for ice cream with Cha Ching's mom on her birthday.

My plan for Saturday was to get on Speedy G, rebuild a little confidence, walk around for 5 - 10 minutes, and then be done.  When I got on, I discovered that riding hurt less than driving my car.  My confidence came flooding back.  Sitting in the car, or in a chair, puts me in a chair position which put a lot of pressure on my seat bone.  OUCH.  When I sat in the saddle, I realized that my legs hung beneath me which put my pelvic bone in a different position which turned out to be almost painless.  Woohoo!  I ended up riding Speedy G at walk, trot, and canter and was pleased with how quickly he got on the bit.  Frankly, I made the ride all business and didn't give him time to screw around.  After 15 minutes, I pat him on the neck with a good boy!, and put him away.

My confidence was good, but I was still nervous about riding Sydney.  While he had been turned out over the last week, it had been eights days since he's been under saddle.  While I wasn't in actual pain while riding Speedy G, I knew that my seat wasn't back to normal.  Even so, I saddled up and hopped on.  Piece of cake. Sydney was relaxed and happy to be working.  We did some walking on the buckle, and then I asked him for a relaxed stretchy trot.  It took a while to get some reach, but we did.  I gave him some good boy pats, and then I put him away.  There didn't seem to be any reason to tempt fate by over-working my own body.  I fed both boys, skipped the stall cleaning, and went home for a well-deserved nap.

My new helmet finally arrived.  After hitting the ground so hard last Saturday, I felt it was safest to just replace the helmet.  For schooling I wear the Ovation Sync, which I love, love, love.  I ordered the Ovation Competitor helmet which fits really well.  Click photos for larger views and captions.

Buck Brannaman - I forgot to tell you that I finished his second book, Believe, last week.  I really enjoyed it and recommend it as much as his first book, The Faraway Horses. 

I've also sent in my next show entry, but that deserves it's own blog post!