IT WORKED!!!!!!

IT WORKED!!!! I rode Sam on Tuesday and he felt so much softer, bendier, rounder. It is amazing!!!!! I on the other hand am still sore!

So that is the great news. Bad news is that I can't get the farrier out until hopefully Tuesday and his shoe is loose!!!!! I am contemplating buying some farrier tools on the weekend and taking it off and putting a boot on him.

I am also going to have a go at clipping on the weekend. He really needs a trace or blanket clip. He is just so hairy and I can't ride until the afternoons and it is getting darker earlier and earlier.

I'll be sure to take heaps of photos though!!!!

We are EXHAUSTED!!!!!!

What a huge weekend!!!!!!! This weekend was the Ron Paterson Clinic. On washed Sam and made him presentable on Friday arvo. Saturday morning I packed the float the car and headed off to the paddock. I was there by 11am thinking I may as well load up and head off even though my lesson wasn't until 2.15pm. I figured it would give us heaps of time to settle in and take it all in. I was convinced to wait as there is no shade etc. We decided to load up at 12.30pm. Sam finally got on the float at 2.30pm. Yep you read it right! We missed our lesson. I spent another hour just walking Sam on and off the float. He was buggered and so was I.

Sunday morning we were up bright and early to have another go. I didn't think it would take too long this time but I still allowed myself an extra 1.5 hrs just in case. We were on and off 4 times in 20min so I was happy with that. I towed the float out to where the clinic was happening. I need all the practice I can get. I get very nervous when towing a horse so I generally bring Scott along and he gives me guidance. Sam walked off the float happily had a look around and commenced eating. He was nice and relaxed. We wondered over to watch one of the other lessons for a bit . About 45min before our lesson I started to get ready. Sam was fine until Sarah rocked up with Benny. He is a vocal horse and once Sam heard him that was it! I decided to lunge him and he galloped around like a chook with his head cut off. That wasn't going to do him any good so I pulled him in and decided to just hop on!

He was tense but not silly. I walked over the warm up area and just walked him around. He looked at everything but wasn't too silly. Ron Paterson was running on time which was really good. I introduced myself and Sam, gave him a run down on both of us and off we went. Ron wastes no time and is very tough. He likes to yell and demands you to do what he has asked. Sam and I were shell shocked! We have never worked so hard in our lives! I got some really nice work out of Sam. He was tense but then he really has never done anything like that so that was too be expected. I had a few light bulb moments and I have learnt a lot to practice at home which is great.

He gave us breaks which we really needed and when we finished Sam didn't have a dry spot on him - neither did I! We hosed him off and loaded him up. No major hassles except he didn't want to stay on the float so we still took a few goes at loading. He is backing off nicely now - a few steps at a time.

Sam is going to be very sore and sorry for himself tomorrow - so am I! So now we have to work on flexion, coming back in the trot and then trotting out again, active walk, and lengthening my legs. I will give him tomorrow off and start again on Tuesday!

We're back in ths saddle!

Wow I didn't realise how long it had been since my last post. So much to report!

OK so we put the poultice on Saturday night. Sunday Sam was more than capable of having a good buck and pigroot in his yard so the poultice must have been working. Monday I decided to turn him out on a small paddock so at least he could have a good trot or canter if he felt like it. Monday night we took the poultice off - trotted out sound!!!!!! I tried not to get too excited so I went out early Tuesday morning to trot him out again - HE TROTTED OUT SOUND!!!!!!!!

Tuesday afternoon out I went for a ride. Walk and trotted in halter no problem. Put his bridle on and asked for a contact well that is when the fun started. I could feel him getting a little bouncy in the hind end. I really didn't want an argument and we have set up a dressage arena and how it is done has taken away the ability of being able to do a good canter around the riding area. I jumped off and put him on the lunge. Nope no lameness!!!!! He is really athletic! Sam gave some awesome bucks, pigroots and rears! He had a good canter and really enjoyed himself. I think he really misses his 15 acre paddock and his daily gallops. Anyway I jumped back on and he was good, forward but at least the hind end wasn't as bouncy! :)

Today I rode Sam again. This time I did a lot of ground work and I think that helped. I warmed up again in halter then put his bridle on. This time I didn't take a contact straight away i trotted out again and slowly took up a contact and worked him into a round frame. I think this works better for Sam - not as rude!

What does all this mean - We can do the clinic this weekend!!!!!!! Times are 2.15pm on Saturday and 11.15am on Sunday. I can't wait! So exciting!

Still Lame

Sam was lame at walk again this afternoon. On went aonther poultice. I will leave it until Monday or Tuesday and then call the vet I think. Poor little Sam!!!! Going to watch the dressage comp tomorrow. I hope to see some good riding to inspire me!!!!!!

Will he be ok?

Sam has had a poultice on for 24 hrs now. The farrier came out this morning and had a look. He is thinking it might be more of a stone bruise than an abscess. He was walking fine on it this morning. I will trot him out this arvo and have a look. If he is coming good and still slightly sore on Thursday I will give him some bute for the weekend - I really don;t want to do that but I don't want to waste $150 and the opportunity of two lessons with Ron Paterson. He only comes up here 4 times a year and it is hard to get good instruction up here.

Sarah has been great letting me stable Sam and letting me have the pony in with him for company. He is now out in the steel yards and I will leave him there for a few days I think until his paddock is dry.

I have also decided to go back to Sam's original diet. I just don't like how much weight he has lost and he is getting really picky about his food. That isn't like him so I will put him back on what we know!

Last night I tied up his mane so he looks a little more like a dressage pony. Poor bugger is so bored being locked up! I am going to try and find a toy of some sort. A new mare is going next to him this arvo so hopefully she is a little playful - he will like that!

I will keep you updated on his progress!

Poor Sam!

Well we haven't been able to get into the training and riding due to the rain and this afternoon it had stopped raining long enough to go for a walk down the road. When I pulled into the driveway and looked over to Sam I wondered if maybe the mud had just impacted in his hooves too much. I cleaned them out and he seemed ok. We went for a walk down the road and then we tried a trot. That was a disaster! Poor little boy was very sore.

I did a little testing and I am wondering if it is a hoof abscess due to the wet weather. I rang Lew and he doesn't think it is because he saw me out riding but last time he had this it started slowly and took about a week to really come to head. I think Sam has a very low pain thresh hold.

I have just paid for the Ron Paterson clinic - $150 down the drain. I wanted to do a comp on the 9th of May but I guess we won't be doing that either. Never mind as long as he gets better! June so maybe a comp in July or August! Just had a look, 19th July. That means we will miss Townsville Show. He might be ok to take in led - hope so I was trying for that this year.

I just feel bad for Sam - I hate seeing him in pain. Then I wonder if it is his joints. He ran out of joint food about 4 weeks ago. I will order some more tomorrow and hopefully I will get that by the end of the week. I will keep you posted!

Bloody Rain!!!!!!!

I know I shouldn't complain but I am sick of the rain!!!!! It is just enough to make the riding area unusable. We don't want to chop it up and I don't want to take him straight out onto the road so I am hand walking him every afternoon. This afternoon we went for about a 4km walk. I think he enjoys getting out and about and seeing new things. We went for a trot and also stopped and ate grass!

Yesterday afternoon I gave him a really good groom and trimmed around his head so he is starting to look a bit better. We have the Ron Paterson clinic in two weeks and I would like him looking good for that. I really want it to stop raining so I can get a little more fitness into him before the clinic because I can imagine we are going to be worked hard!

Because of the rain I have had the time to spend on the computer and I have down loaded a video onto you tube of Sam and I. The first one I have downloaded is of Sam in halter only. I compared it to the video we took of Sam when we were looking at buying him. His movement has really improved. He is more flowing in all gaits. I was very surprised. Now he even reaches down sometimes instead of throwing his head up in the air. I will download the other video of him in a bridle soon but for now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8bWJa4oO70

I hope the link works!!!!!!