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My Five Things: Random Ramblings

12/26/2015

4 Comments

 
I've got a bunch of little things to share that aren't enough to warrant their own blog posts, so I present 5 mini posts:

Number 1
Picture
Looking good
Speedy's eye has healed up quite nicely, although it took longer for the swelling to go down than I had thought it would. In all, it took almost two weeks to heal up completely. This photo was taken one week after he had banged it on something. I had just picked off the scab, but the swelling was almost entirely gone. 

Number 2
Picture
Izzy's Leg: Update 25
Izzy's wound is doing really great. After several applications of New Skin covered with two layers of loosely wrapped Vet Wrap, he is now going sans wrap. That wasn't my plan yet, but one day last week I forgot to wrap it when I left for the day.

I had been taking the bandage off when I arrived so that his leg would have several hours with no bandage. This was all done in an effort to reteach the leg's circulatory system to function without the pressure of a bandage. The last few times that I've removed the bandage too soon, the leg has filled, cracking the skin back open.

I am happy to report that when I showed up the next morning, the leg was clean and tight with no filling.  I will admit that my heart skipped a few beats when I first saw it unwrapped, but apparently, the time was right.

I know it looks a bit fugly right now, but that's just the New Skin you're seeing. It looks and smells exactly like clear nail polish, and it's super sticky. I am not sure how long it takes to wear off, but I've pretty much left it alone other than running a brush over it to knock off any flaking skin or dried on "stuff."  We might finally be getting to the end ...

Since I wrote this ... Izzy scraped the wound, but it's just minor. Sheesh!
​
Number 3
Picture
Not done by a professional
I detest dealing with my horses' manes. Tails I can do, manes I hate. Izzy's mane is particularly unruly because it won't stay on one side, and it's really thick. I hate pulling, and I don't think he's a fan of it either. I used the scissors.

Yes, I can see that it looks like crap, but I don't care. At least it's half as short as it was. Judge me if you'd like, but then come over and fix it. I like the taste of humble pie, and I'll even pay you to serve it up.

Number 4
Picture
It's WET!
I am not sure if you've heard the news, but it has started raining in California! It rained "so much" that I opted NOT to ride in the arena on Tuesday. It probably would have been okay, but it was an "Izzy Day" which means that things could have gotten wild and crazy, and I didn't want to tear up the footing.

It rained the night I dismantled my dressage court, but since it has been so dry, the footing was actually perfect the next day. I rode both horses and found that riding without the dressage court in place might be a good thing for a while. 

With Izzy, I had a lot more room to "fix" the canter before running into the fence. It's also easier for him to canter a 30-meter circle and then spiral down to 20-meters and even 15-meters. The same is true for Speedy. With so much room, I can leg yield as long as I need to before I feel it's good enough to change the bend and go the other way.

Normally, I can only water the area that is my dressage court, but since the rain is doing the whole space, I can now ride anywhere I want, dust free. It will also keep the footing from getting tore up by riding in a larger space.

Come on El Niño - let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

Number 5
Picture
Trail riding this summer
It's been at least a month since Izzy has been ridden out of the arena. Since the footing was questionable on Tuesday, I opted for a neighborhood hack. He was so good, mostly. The first obstacle is that little hill with the puddle in front of it that has given us trouble - no problem. And the puddle was even gigantic thanks to the rain.

He stepped into it without even hesitating. Once he was was in, he stopped, looked down, looked around, and then climbed up the hill without another thought. 

The second real obstacle is passing by our barn. Nothing. He stopped to poop (very loosely), but then he walked on. Most days I have to get after him with the whip. Nope.

The third obstacle is the stretch of dirt road behind Laurel's property. This was the only place he got naughty. He jigged, flung his head. danced, pranced, and basically acted like an idiot. I just kept changing the bend and pushing him up to the contact.  I thought passage the whole time. Not that he did, but if he wanted to be a jerk, I figured he could work hard.

Once we turned the corner, the tension started leaking out, and he relaxed much sooner than he usually does. I was so pleased with how much progress he has made over the past couple of months.

The Wrap-Up

So much is in the little things, isn't it? If I wait around for BIG changes, I'll always be disappointed. It's important to be grateful for all of the little battles we win.

My Five Things - small on their own, but put together, they show definite progress!
4 Comments
Teresa link
12/26/2015 03:33:12 pm

The little things add up quickly. I'm glad that things are going well. Irish hates to have his mane pulled so I bought a solo comb. it works great and he's happy.

Reply
Bakersfield Dressage link
12/26/2015 06:31:12 pm

I might have to investigate those, Teresa, thanks for teh tip!

Reply
emma link
12/29/2015 07:48:43 pm

i love the little things :)

Reply
Bakersfield Dressage link
12/30/2015 06:34:35 am

Little things add up to something big, don't they?! :0)

Reply



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    About the 
    Writer & Rider

    I am a lifetime rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.

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    Photo by Lori Ovanessian
    Email Karen

    About Speedy G

    Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse and occasional trail horse. He is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

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    July 2017 - Photo by Sue Dockweiler

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand Zweibrücker gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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    Second Show - July 2016

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!

    National Awards

    • USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    • USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    Stuff I'm Working On ...

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
    Second Level Scores:

    Score 1: 63.485%
    Score 2: 61.282%
    Score 3: 62.879%

    CDS Championship Qualifying 
    Second Level Scores:

    Score 1: 63.485%
    Score 2: 61.282%
    Score 3: 62.879%
    Score 4: 
    Score 5: 
    ​
    CDS Ruby Rider Award
    Training Level Scores:

    Score 1: 70.179%
    Score 2: 
    72.600%

    First Level Scores:
    Score 1: 
    66.093%
    Score 2: 
    68.750%

    Second Level Scores:
    Score 1: 63.485%
    Score 2: 62.879%


    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award
    Score 1 - 62.879%
    Score 2 - 
    Score 3 - 
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    2018 Pending …
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    5/27/18 Tehachapi (*)
    6/24/18 Tehachapi (*)
    7/22/18 Tehachapi (*)
    8/11-12/18 RAAC (Q ***)
    ​8/26/18 Tehachapi (*)

    ​2018 Completed …
    1/14/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
    2/10/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
    2/24/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
    3/17/18 Hurtado Clinic (t)
    3/18/18 GEAHS (*)
    3/31/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
    4/14-15/18 El Sueno (***)


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