So I know I've been MIA lately, but I have been out to the barn. I lunged Pro on Thursday and did a lot of transition work. He's still being a good boy about stretching down over his back when I increase pressure on the lunge line and then release it. I'm proud of him for understanding that the lunge line really is the inside rein, just without me on his back. So smart! It was windy but despite a few scoots and a buck, he mainly paid attention to me. We even mixed in walk-trot transitions since he doesn't like to walk on the lunge line.
Gayle was out to trim Pro yesterday...back on a short cycle for his feet since he had some not-great growth for the few months that he was without his Mg (which Gayle said is instrumental in helping him regulate sugar and develop proper hoof growth). He's not insulin-resistant, he just needs the Mg to keep things running smoothly. Thankfully it's quite cheap! So we're dealing with some hoof wall separation in his club foot. Gayle also noticed that he's starting to revert back to some of his "old" muscling in his back. I'll take pictures of it tomorrow so that I can explain it better. Mainly, he's bracing right behind his withers instead of LIFTING behind his withers, so he's getting extra bulk there, and starting to lose muscling further back on his actual back. She made him do some belly lifts with her hoof rasp (and WOW did he lift!!) so that I could feel the difference in muscling. So we need to focus a LOT more on really getting him to lift his back. I guess I'd been so focused on him to relax his neck and stretch that I wasn't paying enough attention to really getting after his back.
...which has probably stemmed from the fact that due to the cold winter weather, we haven't had lessons in a few months. Thankfully Gayle gets to devote March 100% to lessons and clinics, so Andrea and I are booking her up! ;) And then we'll get him back on track and back on a regular lesson schedule. Needless to say, I got pretty frustrated/overwhelmed with the constant learning process that horse ownership is, so Gayle had to slip in some therapy while she trimmed. :) She reminded me that Andrea and I have gotten Pro to overcome a giant chunk of his problem - the psychological/behavioral issue. Now we just need to refocus on 100% correct riding to get him to remuscle properly. Gayle also reminded me that even the professionals always have eyes on the ground, and some regression is to be expected when we take a hiatus from lessons.
So, back to work we go! I'm sure Pro will be shocked when he sees Gayle again and again in March... ;)
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6 comments:
its awesome that you get to take so many lessons in March. Pro wont know what to think!
I have a tendency to get focused on the front end. I think, in my case, its easier to control that and see immediate results, unlike the lifting of the back.
Knowing all those lessons are coming up in the near future feels great, I bet. Time to fix the winter-induced issues!
My legs already hurt thinking about these lessons, but mentally I'm totally psyched. :)
I think that for just over a year's worth of work Pro is an entirely different horse. This time last year you would not have been able to worry about if his back was lifting properly or not.
Don't beat yourself up. Look at it this way......at least you are making an effort for your horse. You are doing everything you know how to be the best owner for him.....that is all you can do. You should pat yourself on the back!
Yay for the lessons coming up! I have been frustrated lately trying to get one myself. You definitely should pat yourself on the back, too. Pro has made great strides just since this blog was started, too!
Thanks for the encouragement. :) I'm excited for the lessons!
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