Turns Out its My Fault As Usual

Sunday morning I finally got down to the sand arena with Dude. It was a wet, sloppy mess down there -- 5 inches of damp sand over slippery mud underneath. He kept his footing pretty well, considering. Saddling, we had our usual merry go round. He dumped the saddle a couple of times, but I finally got him. I used the mounting block to get on and he walked off a little.

Once I got going toward the arena gate he hopped a couple or three times. I'm not sure what that was about -- he may have been trying to shift me into a more comfortable position. My saddle was pretty far back because somebody won't stand still to get it on right.

I rode him around at a walk and trot for awhile and then got off and adjusted the saddle. He did not move at all for taking the saddle off and putting it back on. He stood for me to mount from the ground and get my stirrups.

I asked for canter on the right lead and he bucked about 5 times. My daughter was watching me and she said I was "kicking him" and that's why he bucked. I tried the left lead and tried to keep my legs off. No buck and he started out pretty fast, but petered out when we got to the big puddles down at the far end of the arena. He did not do the quick cut to the left. I cantered him several times in both directions and my daughter would yell at me when I was "kicking him." So, I need to work on my lower leg because it seems to be bouncing all over the place including against his sides.

Later, when she rode Matt, my daughter showed me what I was doing (banging) and what I should be doing instead (following, steady leg). Damn, she's got a great seat -- athletic little bugger. I take credit in that I "bred" to her father partially because of his athletic ability. I got the improvement in the filly. LOL.

Mostly, I had trouble getting Dude to pick up the canter at all, but I wasn't cuing him with leg after the first time. I was just letting the reins way out, using my seat and and the corners of the arena and giving the kissing sound. My biggest improvement is staying out of his face. He didn't toss his head at all. I trust him more not to run off (he can't run far in the arena). OTOH, he can really move out to a fast trot when he wants to. LOL. The moral to the story is: Have somebody watch you ride, especially if you are a spazz, like I am.

My plan is to put some more trotting miles on him and canter a little on trails for awhile to work on my riding and my legs. I'm going to use my English saddle and maybe try cantering in 2 point some to try to get stronger and not bang my damn legs. I don't really like that western saddle as much, but we're required to use it for the timed events in our club.

The next show we are shooting for is English. It has little cross rails and an 18" jump - trot in, canter out. My daughter says she doesn't want to jump, anymore, which is too bad. I think she'll change her mind when I start working on it again, but I told her we'll probably both just do the flat classes.

Now, I need to find a narrow gullet English saddle for Matt. He's really doing well in that narrow western.

And I need to get the big truck by then so we can take both horses at once.

ETA: When I was working Dude in the arena, my daughter offered to get on him and show me what I was doing wrong. She hasn't offered to ride Dude in a long time. Thus, I had forgotten my big idea that we would switch horses eventually, anyway. I figured that when she got her confidence on Matt and wanted something hotter that I'd have her switch to Dude since he's younger and more forward. Since she seems to want to go western she'd be better with Dude since has the headset for WP, too. I figured as I slowed down and my daughter sped up, she'd get the hotter horse and I could have old Matty who has the smoothest trot and canter ever.

ETA2: This is a good thread on a horse with similar canter issues. http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4132?page=2

Dude has Improved after Chiro

I didn't get a chance to work with Dude on Saturday. We were dodging thunderstorms to get ready for the show. Lightening struck a tree in the horse pen!! Thank GOD the horses were in the front yard b/c I was trying to keep Matt clean after his bath. There were exploded pieces of tree everywhere. I've never been so close to such a thing! At the show, I have to mention that Matt has settled into the local show grounds with marked improvement. He was so quiet and docile I was afraid he was sick or something until I realized he was just calm. LOL. No ribbons, but fun was had!! I finally got around to riding Dude yesterday and was anxious to see whether he showed improvement. For saddling, he was wary as expected. I got him girthed on the first try and he stood pretty still for tightening. He continued to demand his carrot at intervals which I will phase out eventually. The best improvement was mounting. Usually, he starts walking as soon as you mount, but yesterday, he turned a little circle and stopped. I had to get off to open a gate and when I remounted he stood perfectly still. He has never done that before!! We walked and trotted around the back pasture, but I was too chicken to canter back there as the ground is brick hard. He seemed to me to be discovering that he was in less pain, although he kind of "bent" and tried to stop like he does at the canter sometimes. He probably needs to work on his flexibility. We went out on the road and made the block. He was moving more and more freely at the walk and trotted nice and straight. I didn't want to trot him too much on the pavement as its hard on the legs, I'm sure. My plan is to work him and myself into shape by riding more often. Hopefully, on Wednesday, I can take him to the sand arena and try the canter. I don't want to get dumped on the hard ground and I'm chicken to try the canter on the trail because if he IS feeling much better he might take off! I have a big phobia about being bolted with that comes from the horrible roan mare I had as a kid. I have made a point of unsaddling him in an open area that is unobstructed so if he does run, hopefully it will be to the open area and not under anything!!

Dude Went to the Chiro today!!

I'm excited and encouraged by the chiropractor's assessment and treatment! Dr. B. is a vet and chiropractor. It turns out he also does acupuncture!

Dr. B. had me move Dude out and watched him move. I told Dr. B about Dude's cinchiness and Dr. B showed me exactly where his ribs were locked up and causing a muscle spasm on the off side. Dr. B worked on his opposite shoulder and leg and then showed me how the spasms stopped! This may be the answer to the saddling/girthing problems!! Dr. B adjusted Dude's whole spine and worked a lot on his pelvic and croup area. He found an injury, probably from a kick, on the back of Dude's hip. I had noticed a strange bulge there and wondered what it was - tell the truth, I thought it was cellulite. Then, Dr. B went and prepared the acupuncture treatment. Meanwhile, Dude had gotten a very relaxed look in his eye -- I think he had gotten some relief already! For the acupuncture, Dr. B used injections of Vita. B12 ; the site of the injection acts like an acupuncture needle while the injection is being absorbed. Dr. B told me to give Dude today and tomorrow off and then he'll probably be able to move much better for a few weeks -- maybe from now on - but may need to be readjusted next time Dr. B comes to town at the end of July. If Dude is anything like I am, he'll need periodic adjustments! I love my chiropractor.

For those with anatomy knowledge, here's what the report said: Chiropractic: Both carpus posterior, right 1st rib posterior, sacral apex right, pelvis decrease motion left - adjusted. Acupuncture: pelvic trigger point bilaterally, GB 27 point on right. Injury to R biceps - appears to be kick that cut muscle/fascia.

This Vet/Chiro flies in from Colorado! I'm just thrilled that I got to get him to see Dude and so soon after I had decided the behavior problems must be a pain issue. I regret that I didn't get this done sooner, but I never could find any listings for an Equine Chiro around here. Now and again I would think about calling the vet school or the race track and ask about it, but I ended up finding one through a member of this board - so yay for FHOTD!!! I mean, every damn article you read about training says to rule out pain as an issue first, but I would think, that Dude has been doing this for as long as anyone (Katherine, Mar) can remember. I feel like a bad horse mom!! But now I feel great for getting this done!! I also suspect that it will be awhile before he gets out of the habits he acquired from having the pain. I don't expect an overnight change, but I look forward to improvement!! I was afraid the Vet would say there was nothing wrong. I'm sorry Dude has had to suffer for so long, but I'm glad he's not "crazy" and "bad!"

Equine Chiropractor Appointment!

found an Equine chiropractor who is also a vet. We've got an appointment for tomorrow at 1:00 so I will be be to find out if there is some kind of pain issue causing these problems with Dude at the canter! Wish me luck. This guy was recommended by an English riding instructor acquaintance of mine!

Cantering and Bucking Woes

4H, Thanks so much for all of your thoughts!! (She had a well-thought out comment t the previous post)

To explain about Miss Dee, she's in her 70's and she is Texas ranch bred. She's done it all including TB racing (she's tiny). I know the best riders aren't necessarily the best teachers. I know nothing about formal western riding and Miss Dee is the only game in town (except Russ Mixon - evil yelling man), so I started my daughter going to Miss Dee. Previously, my daughter has only had hunt seat lessons her whole riding life. My daughter got interested in speed classes and then so did I since it is way more relaxed and fun than the rail classes at our local club show.

However, on the way home from Miss Dee's on Wednesday, my daughter and I decided we're going to buy our own poles and barrels since we're really just paying Miss Dee the money to use her arena and equipment for an hour.

Miss Dee wasn't telling me to make him canter, I took that upon myself. I just wanted to try to make Dude canter because I wanted to "get back in the saddle" after Saturday's highjinnx at the show.

Miss Dee saw his head tossing (She said to bump him in the mouth when he shakes his head) and bucking (She said "You're just going to have to get after him").

What do I do to prevent/stop the bucking?

Okay, here's the scenario: Sometimes he takes off just fine, no buck, no problem and behaves fine, especially on his left lead canter. Sometimes on the right lead canter, throws his head down and shakes it and bucks a couple of times and then goes fine. Sometimes he gives one or two bucks and then he's fine. Sometimes he departs fine and canters a good ways, acting like all is well and then does the quick cut to the left. Sometimes, after he bucks a couple of times he starts running really fast and scares me. When I pull him in he stops completely. When we were practicing, he quit the bucking after he did one or two in each direction and proceeded to evade the bit (hackamore) and sometimes refuse to steer. He can canter indefinitely with his nose on my boot although it slows him down, some.


At the show he just kept on bucking and not just for a couple of strides. If I pull his head up hard, he just stops and there's no forward momentum at all OR like the other night, he begins to buck harder while moving out or moving sideways.

The only time I had trouble staying on was in the warmup - and then I started holding the horn (which gives me only 1 hand to control with = problem).

What could a good rider do that I can't do? A good rider would have enough coordination and skill to keep him moving forward while making him slow down. A good rider would let him run fast for awhile and not be afraid. A good rider would be ready and be able to prevent the bucking and the quick cut to the side. I felt like Charlie Brown when Lucy pulls the ball away -- I took it personally when he did the quick cut on me at the show. He hadn't done it in practice. I guess I could practice cantering on Matty, regulating speed at the canter.


As to the speed work, believe me, I'm not entering it to try to go fast. Its a very laid back local show. I'd be happy with a well-behaved pattern maintaining a canter. I was getting that about 50% of the time practicing alone, so I thought I'd go down there and give it a try at the actual show since they have poles and barrels and other people to hang out with. They do have exhibition rounds which I guess I should have entered, but I kind of wanted to put the pressure on myself to make him canter to see what he would do. I was feeling much braver before the show than I am now. I'm also going to call the University Vet School and see if they know of any Horse Chiropractors to get Dude checked because he really behaves so well at the walk and the trot. I never have any real trouble steering him or regulating speed at walk and trot. So maybe the canter is causing him pain. Its worth checking on.

Dude has a Lesson at Ride a Horse Arena

I just love that name for a barn. LOL. Anyway, I took Dude out to Miss Dee's and took a lesson.

First of all: Quads: "Yer doin it wrong." I was criss-crossing between the poles instead of 2 right turns and 2 left turns, so that, in and of itself, was worth the lesson. Perhaps Dude had been aggravated with me because I was making him do it wrong? He seemed to kind of recognize the work when I started doing it right. The best part is he got to see-n-sniff poles and barrels and get more accustomed to them. He wouldn't pick up a canter for anything, though. Just plain wouldn't do it and threw his head down and bucked when I made him. I didn't have time to really school him while also trying to learn the patterns, so he got away with it. Miss Dee's husband, Mr. Tutti (I kid you not) said Dude has my number. He's right. Dude keeps trying me and keeps getting away with it. I'm getting pretty discouraged about my ability to correct him. I'm going to give it one more try down at the sand arena on Saturday, though. If I fall there the sand is really deep and I'll wear my helmet. Maybe he knows when its a show he's not going to get schooled and corrected? I don't know. My back up plan is to send him to a trainer, Miss Dee's grandson, who seems nice and gentle with his horses at shows and stuff. It wouldn't take much, from a good rider, to correct Dude. Its just I'm not that rider, yet. I better start saving my money up for the trainer!

First Show!!!

Dude and I made it to the show. We got there in time for me to ride around and introduce him to everyone and tell about E's broken arm.

In the Warmup: Dude picked up his left lead canter fine and loped with everyone going in circles. Right lead, not so good. He hopped and pulled me over almost onto the watering hose that we were not supposed to get on. He also pulled over almost onto another horse, but stopped in time. I almost came off at one point. I mean I was seriously coming out of the saddle. If I hadn't grabbed the thing that holds up the horn I'd have been gone. All I could think was I couldn't fall in front of everyone!! I stayed in the warmup, though and didn't quit.


Round 1: Quad poles: Oh, my god, was my heart pounding in my throat as we headed in. If you could die of being nervous, I would have died. Of course he picked up on that, although I don't think I was shaking, much. Beth had to walk us in on her little Paint. Everyone was pulling for me. So nice! Dude picked up the right lead canter fine and headed for the pole, rounded it okay and was rounding the second pole when I relaxed, thinking okay, he's going to do this! Wrong-o, after he rounded the second pole, he started pulling sideways. I made it back between the cones, barely, got him straight and thought okay, straight canter, no problem. He thought no problem, too and began to haul ass. Oo! As we approached the 3rd pole I first thought, "uh-oh, he's not going to turn," which rapidly turned into "uh-oh, he's not going to STOP!" He finally stopped almost at the fence - he freaking KNEW where the gate was and he was heading for it. Bastard. I was all discombobulated and let him quit. If I had to do it over again I would have made him finish, but I was so nervous and embarrassed I just wanted OUT of there!


Round 2: Stake race: Okay, we practiced this so no problem, right? I can't remember much about this one except we did canter, we did make it around the first pole and back through the cones and then he ran for the gate again. Bastard. This time I made him go back, though. Embarrassingly enough, the announcer told me, over the loud speaker that if I had turned him the other way I would have gotten a time. I smiled, but I was mortified!


Round 3: Pole Bending. Its a straight run down to the end of the arena before you turn back and start weaving poles. Here we go, not too fast canter, doing fine and HE DOES THE QUICK CUT TO THE LEFT trick on me right before the last pole. If only he had done it after the last pole! I didn't come off and I got him straight again. Rounded the last pole and trotted back through them, turned and trotted back again. Dude was snorting at the poles the whole time, but I tried to ignore it. We cantered home, but I don't remember it. I got a time, but I didn't hear what it was. I was disappointed because I thought we had that quick cut to the left trick behind us. I was preoccupied thinking about it for the rest of that run. But we did complete a pattern, so Yay.


Round 4: Novice Barrels. It was starting to get dark by then. Since I planned it as a practice run for senior barrels, I just planned to trot. Some man was standing by the fence kissing at my horse. I didn't like that. I didn't want to run. Just as we rounded the first barrel there was also the first big shadow of himself that Dude could see Dude snorted, hesitated and backed up a little, but went around the barrel. I tried to shush the kissing sound man by getting my hand up to make the SHHH signal. We got around the second and third barrels, I think I cantered to the third barrel, I'm not sure. I remember thinking, "You're going to have to canter home, you can't trot that, its too easy." So, I kissed for the canter and Dude started bucking to the left. I tried to pull up. I should have pushed him forward, but I didn't want to come unglued. I felt so exposed out in the middle with everyone watching! We got a time, 70 something seconds. LOL. My daughter's little friend said, "You're doing awful! That was more than a minute!" Which made me laugh! I told her I was just trying to let the other novices win, since I'm a grown-up. I GOT A RIBBON FOR 5TH (out of 6 people!).


The horse flies were bad so I took Dude back to the trailer to find the fly spray. It was pitch dark in the parking lot by then with all kinds of funky shadows. I didn't notice it, but all of a sudden, Dude started getting freaky. When I jumped off to go get fly spray, he started circling and snorting and showing the whites of his eyes. He had not been bothered by the tractor doing the dragging before, but this time he just about panicked when he heard it running in the darkness. He had his head up and looked like he wanted to jump into my arms. He restrained himself from running over me, but he scared me. I petted him and gave him some carrots and fly sprayed him. He was happier hiding between the trailers. I tried leading him back to the arena. We got there, but when another horse was acting up about going into the arena, Dude started panicking again. Earlier, he hadn't reacted to these kinds of things. So, I don't know if it was an act or he was really freaking out, but I surely didn't feel like taking a chance on riding him when he was like that. If he had suddenly started doing that in daylight, I would have called his bluff, but I think he really was afraid of the dark.


Thank goodness there is a light inside the new trailer. I got him in with feed and he was happily munching when I went to tell the judges I was a scratch for the rest of the event. Besides, I had thought the ones with a mostly straight run, like straight away barrels and the arena race, would be a piece of cake, but after the quick cut to the left and the bucking, I didn't want to do it.

My feelings today are mixed. I'm aggravated and disappointed that Dude doesn't behave any better than he did almost a year ago. I wonder if more work will ever change him. Then, I think, it was a new situation for him, so he tried all his tricks to see if they would work. He's like a child in that if it's a new situation, he will check to see if the same old rules apply or not. I want a horse I can trust. I'm too old for his tricks. But, I'll keep trying and see what happens. I will definitely have to take him to Ms. Dee's for a lesson or 2 and see how he does. I'm wearing my damn helmet for that, though!

Working at the Sand Arena

Yesterday, I trailered Dude down to the sand arena again. The footing was deep, but not wet. We trotted a few times around and I thought, "Better go ahead and canter and get it over with. Started on a right lead this time, which is his bad side (I forgot). I got the full head shaking, head down, half-hearted buck that I've always gotten, but it didn't even phase me. I just rode it forward. Then I turned him on the rail at a trot and picked up the left lead going the other way. He did a little happy bucking on that one, too. Nothing major and it didn't scare me! We cantered a good bit in both directions. He and I sometimes "argue" about how much rein is too much rein. When I let him out, he wants to go too fast, in my opinion. Anyway, I got my cones (only have 2) and put them in the middle of the arena. I practiced stake race (a big figure , trying to change leads and such. He forgot to be a butt when starting on his right lead, but had trouble with a flying change from left lead to right lead. I tried to help, but we countercantered sideways a good ways with his nose practically smelling my boot. Some passes he had good steering and some passes he had none at all. I'm sure a great deal of it is me not having (regained) enough coordination yet to cue properly. I have to say this boy loves to canter. The slightest tip forward by me and I see his ear go up on that side. If I don't want it, he slows right back down. We also played WTC class, my daughter and her friend sat in the judge's box and called out changes. We're going to have to slow down that huge canter if we ever want to go in a western class. I like riding in the sand arena because he picks up his feet and collects much better. He knows he's there to work and he knows how. He needs work bending to the right. I may take him to Miss Dee's this week to a class although I can't afford it. I better do it now while we're both injury free and there are no life impediments in the way. Dude really enjoyed his hosing off afterwards. My daughter was on camera duty but forgot to take any pics until the hosing.

Will post those and will have to get pics at the show!!