Test pilot flies Solo

Side reins and poles

Today I lunged Charlie in side-reins. I kept them quite long so there was just a gentle contact on the bit he was a lovely boy and did some nice work.

We had a little canter on both reins and it is abundantly clear that charlie thinks canter comes from thee front not is quarters.

I put some trot poles down while Charlie stood patiently waiting.

He worked quite nicely over them. 

This was part of my master plan. I got him to walk around for a circuit and then walked him backwards and forwards over the poles.

The return of the Saint

Anne popped in again and having stripped the side reins off and put on a hunting breastplate we played the mounting game again.

Charlie now recognises Anne as his friend and after she had led us around she left us and sat down. I thought I was going to ride Charlie around but he thougt he was going to sit with Anne and be fed carrots.

Solo Flight

We invoked the master plan and rode around the school a few times without a safety net (Anne) and walked over the poles. 

And so it continues.....

Tomorrow Pessoa and ridden work.

We did it again!

Boa Constrictor

Buoyed by the success with Charlie yesterday the school had carefully been booked for a slot prior to some helpful friends.

We lunged in the identical tack to yesterday using saddle bridle cavesson and reins. Charlie as ever was positively simpering to work as he realises that working in the school involves pockets and treats. He has also, so far, come to realise that a hand pushing those flapping lips away means not now.

He worked well on both reins just falling in a bit on the right again. I decided it wouldn't hurt him to have a little canter on each rein and this worked well however the canter on the right rein involved a very upward transition. Not sure about this but didn't over cook it and finished our flatwork by walking around a square shape asking him to move shoulders or quarters on turns and not getting trampled in the process or end up wearing him as a rather fetching stole.

The fetching stole impression has been developed by Charlie as an aid to getting his treats during baited stretches think big cuddly boa constrictor there is a lot of strength in that neck.

Saint Anne

True to her promise a head popped round the door as we finished and Anne the rescuer (she was there the day I got dumped and tried to force me into a wheelbarrow) came in ready for the vaulting session. As promised to Tori, Bill, the yard owner , his wife,the yard collie and every other livery I shall not be leaping on board unless accompanied by an adult :).

We did the standing on a block thump the saddle stuff I climbed on board and Anne duly walked me round the arena wearing her hard hat as advised by her sister just in case the snorting beast went a bit epic. Charlie in fact went to sleep.

So there we have it day 2 of ridden work or maybe that should be sitten work.

Tomorrow side reins trotting poles and a little more sitten work.

Sudden change of plans and a New Year Project

Today 28th December is exactly 10 weeks since Charlie had his KS op. That is week 6 of lungeing following 4 weeks box rest and working in hand.. I cannot believe how fast it has gone.

I have just looked at my last post 3 weeks ago how much has changed. The big lad continues to find me a source of entertainment and trot poles are easy peasy. He works well in the Pessoa and is starting to find is right bend as well as left.

Carrot stretches as recommended by his physio Grace Fairburn are getting easier and I still have my own fingers. The little bugger is now, however, begging to stretch if I adjust the girth strap on the Pessoa a head comes round attached to an enormous pair of flapping lips with a carrot glint in his eye. The stretches are definitely improving his flexibility.

You are double booked

It's lesson day groundwork has now been added to Charlie's lungeing for the last few weeks and Tori is teaching me to waltz with Charlie to attain shoulder in, leg yield and neck dislocation (mine) as I fumble around with bit rings and reins looking in the direction we are going not at his feet to ensure they are moving where I want them.

So Tori is coming today at 12 for our last lesson prior to Charlie's trip to vets for checkup on Monday.

Cue phone call as I leave yard at 9.30 from the vets to say they can no longer do us on Monday would wednesday be ok then swiftly follow up that Ian Camm (aka God) is coming out between 11 and 12 for another livery and could check Charlie as well.
 

This surprised me as I thought we had to go to the clinic but apparently not its because Ollie Crowe does surgery not yard visits. Pushing my luck I agreed hoping that my lesson and the vet check wouldn't run in parallel.

You can ride

Ian prodded and poked Charlie and announced "its all looking good you can put a saddle on him and he can start ridden work. Who is going to do it?"

Blimey I had never ever considered I wouldn't be first on so I said "ME".

Perfect planning
 

Anticipating the chance of a yes to ridden work I had arrived prepared with riding boots plus saddle in the boot and it was perfect timing for us. Tori and I spent his lesson lungeing him in his saddle and then did some groundwork with a recalcitrant bendy man indicating a lack of enthusiasm for moving his shoulders or quarters as indicated by us.

Finally the moment arrived the last 10 minutes of the lesson we did some hearty saddle thumping and patting and Tori gaily threw her mobile phone and gloves into the sand as she, somehow , considered this better then leaning over him with them in her pocket. 

Life being what it is, at just about the point we were going to get me on board, there was a horrendous crash above us an accident on the road outside and Charlie....... Did nothing just gawped. I gingerly got on board,my god it was a long way up and I forgot how wide he was. We had a lovely little walk around Tori advising me not to use any legs just treat him like a baby and sit still.

So that is the plan for January treat him like a baby just broken horse which I will do of course bbecause he is my baby. I am so pleased with him I may have to buy him more stuff so the search begins for Burgundy brushing  boots and maybe something in the bridle line as he only has one ;)

Week 7 ends - A Beautiful Day with Charlie

Well it is exactly 7 weeks since the op 4 weeks of box rest and 3 weeks of Pessoa. I cannot believe this is the same horse who exploded the first time I asked for trot.

What a beautiful day the sun is shining and whoop whoop no ice scraping. The combination of correct work in the pessoa from Tori and stretches from Grace seems to be suiting Charlie very well.

He worked beautifully today I even got a little bit of inside flexion in his neck I have been looking for. We have even braved the dreaded lunge whip.

No losing balance and charging off in canter.

Stayed out on both reins instead of falling in on right and out on left.

Did the NSEW trot poles without tripping and looking quite elegant.

Only one little problem.....

There he was trotting around elegantly head down using his bottom and his tail swishing nicely, a stupid droopy look to his lips I was just thinking how lovely he looked and asked him to walk the conversation went a little like this.

Me And Chaaarliiiiee Waaaaalk.

Charlie Trit trot trit trot watch the rope follow her lead trit trot trit trot

Me And Chaaaaaaaaarlllllliiiiiiieeee Waaaaaaaaaaaalk

Charlie Trit trot trit trot watch the rope follow her lead trit trot trit trot


Me And Chaaaaaaaaarlllllliiiiiiieeee Waaaaaaaaaaaalk

Charlie Oops she is moving trit trot trit trot follow the rope SHIIIIIT theres a wall in front of me aaaaaah!
I didnt hear you tell me to walk I wuss just doing my trit trot trit trot follow the rope thing!!!

Well at least it stopped him ;)

Week 3 complete - Charlie Builds his Fan base.

Circles and Lines

Charlies lunging continues to improve and we are now including a  bit of spiralling in and out. He no longer looks lameish and has a lovely lift in his trot and a very happy swishing tail.

Pole work

In this weeks lesson we introduced pole work. 4 poles at North South East West and asked himself to walk over them then commenced trotting over them. He tripped a few times and was a bit sloppy but then got the hang of it..

We meet a lovely Physio

As we decided last week Charlie was carrying his tail slightly to one side I thought we should get some Physio help. A little bit of research found Grace Fairburn who appeared to have all the right credentials so Wednesday afternoon she was given the opportunity to meet the lovely Charlie.

We had a thorough assessment including lunging trotting up etc and Grace was pleased with what she saw. Some twitchyness in the back (my words not hers) which she treated and we came away with more guidance on exercises for my handsome boy which would enhance the work we are doing on the lunge. She also recommended pole work during our lunge sessions. So currently I feel quite happy that I am doing as much for the lad as he needs and I now I have my appointed army of Damsels for Charlie in Tori Rendle and Grace Fairburn.

A word Charlie

Following on from Grace's visit yesterday and Tori's lesson Wednesday we had some lovely work in the school however when Grace did baited stretching with Charlie he was putty in her hands positively simpering in his desire to stretch. Not so with me it was a case of go on you'll give it to me anyway!

We've done TWO weeks.

Chubby Cheeks

It wasnt getting any easier and on Thursday we were allowed, finally ,to turn our horses out.
I cancelled our normal morning slot and rebooked to lunge in the afternoon. Charlie came in with grass glands the size of watermelons (ok slight exaggeration).
Pessoa'd him in the school and he was a real pain having more tantrums but I persevered and the work improved although I went home to bury my head in the pond and beat myself with the garden spade.

Popped out to Stroud Saddlerys Christmas Evening and had a chat to the lady from NAF. Charlie now has NAF D Tox for his chubby cheeks.

TGIF

Back to our normal slot Friday morning and I felt we had turned a corner the work was much better though not perfect. He still reacts to the Lunge whip somewhat so I place it in the middle of my circle and as he tires and slows introduce it quietly. We are getting somewhere and I have to remember this is only week 2 of lunge work.

Hallelujah Saturday

The tantrums have ended and yet again we had some quite nice work however he seemed better on his bad rein but that may be because we had concentrated on this area of stiffness.

Tori's tip of getting him to flex to the inside and step out onto the circle in a sort of leg yield definitely improves his way of going. He is quite tricky to encourage to step over but that is probably because I am not getting it quite right so its best endeavours. Even my feeble attempt improves his shape.

I am not sure about my timing of the lunge work because everytime I try and look at my watch he misbehaves even if its just to fall into walk so I have to rely on the inner clock in my head.

Four more weeks folks.

Sneaky little Tinker

Soooo another week has passed and the lungeing has been going well. Another great Lungeing sessio n with Tori and now......the rot sets in.

Firstly we are stable bound and have been for a week as the fields are sodden :(

Sundays lesson had himself working very well in the pessoa but going very lazy so we introduce some tactful use of the lunge whip to encourage him to go forward.

With Tori Rendle My Trainer

Training your Handler

Monday not so good and I started to think he was lame on one rein but only slightly I pushed on and he looked better. I couldnt pick up the lunge whip as he kept tanking off so I eased off and I was worried he may have worked too hard on Sunday.

Tuesday he was really naughty and kept shooting off and I couldnt used the lunge whip.

Now I should point out I am not lifting it up and cracking it or anything like that. I have it in the centre of the school and I just bend down to pick it up and keep it low. Even bending down he shoots off

So the question is it pain ?

Wising Up

Wednesday I was tough. For once I had a decent nights sleep. So I started off carrying the lunge whip commenced on his easy rein then swapped to the tough rein. It soon became very apparent that what we are dealing with is quite a naughty boy. He was throwing his head up and tanking off in canter and it was all beacuse he was trying to evade the pessoa so.... did I stop and say there there little horse? No I did not and he started to work a lot better.

Back to the easy rein and the little tinker tanked off and sort of struck out with his left fore. Striking out with his left fore is his answer to everything it is his tantrum aid. So I just said get on with it. We finished off back on the tough rein and then cooled down. Point made Charlie No pain No Gain honey.

Lesson learnt

a) He is not frightened of the lunge whip he knows it means he has to work.

b) he is not lame he is stiff and is trying to evade stretching that which must be stretched.

c) He has got me sussed and is trying to train me

Monday Solo

God what a Star my Charlie is but maybe thats why he is called Loughgowna Star. To day we pessoa'd without the safety net of Tori Rendle to support us and she has taught us well. That really was a good move dragging her in for when I started working as I feel confident and know aht we are setting out to achieve.

Charlie was like a very big handsome clockwork mouse he must have been paying attention yesterday. Didnt work him too hard but had some stonking trot on both reins without and with the bit attached to the pessoa he is already understanding the job expected of him and looks for instruction as we go back into walk.

Am I staying walking or am I halting to change the rein.

Sorry no photos Harriet has some from Saturday if she ever gets to post them for me I will put them up..

Sunday and We Trotted

Today really is Sunday as I post this on the same day I am blogging about. We had a lesson booked today with Tori Rendle and I must admit I was thinking several thoughts
 a) how will we fill up a 45 minute slot with 10 mins lunge and
b) will we dare trot.

Well what can I say we discussed the fitting and use of the pessoa, we fitted the badly designed cavesson I had bought and we discussed warm up and cool down but most of all WE TROTTED.

Charlie was brilliant a little bit anxious but very good we trotted on both reins with just the sheep on his bum and then we finished off attaching the front of the Pessoa and did trot work on both reins and he was a very good boy.

He got quite sticky so I am going to have to consider clipping at some point!

Freedom!

Friday at Last

Well I say Friday at last but typically being me I am posting this on Sunday. Charlies first experience on turnout and lungeing was not as hoped for.

Firstly lungeing. Started off just in the roller and long side reins and he was ok until I asked for trot- he went ape shit leapt in the air and plunged a few times inviting me for skiing lessons.

Changed the rein and asked for the same thing same reaction. It may appear dumb but I wanted to know if he felt different on the other rein.

Gave the beast his breakfast rugged up and prepared to turn him out he was great walking down the  track to his field but went ballistic when I let him go and careered around with his two pals.

Here is a link to photos of the boys Charlie being the one in red

Cautious Saturday

After the hooliganism of Friday we took things low key on Saturday. I put Charlie in the pessoa but only put the sheep across the back and had the remaining straps hooked to the roller. I just concentrated on getting Charlie walking calmly on a circle and left it at that. Turnout too was much easier and no shenannigans.

Explosive Wednesday Chilled Thursday

Explosive Wednesday

Well, Charlie, It says on the instructions controlled exercise walk in hand 30 minutes.
Nowhere does it say explode while your owner has her back turned setting the timer. Nor does it say piss of round the school with the lunge line chasing you and you did not have to change rein and charge off in the other direction the lunge line was NOT going to eat you.

Anyway it was a lush canter and you looked very handsome.

Chilled Thursday

The last of our walking in hand days and Charlie was an absolute poppet again no surprises or explosions. Bring on tomorrow....I think.

Preparing for Sunday

Schooling Standing Still ?

Friday is Freedom day for Charlie so Sunday we have our first lesson in a Pessoa booked with  Tori Rendle. We have never lunged in a Pessoa before so it makes sense to start out correctly and then Tori can help me with ground work as well so by the time I vault back in the saddle Charlie and I will be brilliant!.

Today we did schooling standing still :). I have already faffed around his bottom with the lunge line as I hear tell some horses cant cope in a Pessoa but this afternoon we popped the lunge Cavesson on (not sure about the fit here but its very pretty Havana Leather and Brass!).

Then we put the bargain Mark Todd roller on seemed absolutely fine and then we popped the Pessoa loose on his back and dropped the sheepskin part over his bum. All absolutely fine rattled and jangles the ropes no reaction.

Put it all away and then thought I'll trim those hairy ears. Got my step and a pair of scissors ....Oh no you dont! Keep away from the ears so I had to give him a head rub instead I will sneak up on the ears another time.

So bring on the weekend!

Countdown to Freedom

Nearly There

Well not long now Charlie the patient is doing well. It would appear his naughtiest is afternoon yards when he knows everyone is coming in and he can get quite silly. So glad I am doing morning walking.

So here we are its Tuesday and he can be turned out at the end of the week and start lungework.

Walking is now at 30 minutes and I am including turns and small circles and changes of pace involving very fast walk and very slow walk and halt transitions at markers.

Waiting for an explosion with Elvis

Today, I decided, was the day for Charlie to have a roll in the school. At the end of our 30 minutes I gave him a treat and removed his bridle. I wandered off to give him space.

Then I waited and waited and.....waited.

Charlie stood next to the stool with my mobile phone sat on it blaring out Elvis indicating the 30 minute walk alarm had gone off. I went up patted him and said its ok you can go have a roll.

He gave me a look which indicated Elvis is singing its time to go back to my hotel room which we duly did.

Just one more week

Cant believe its nearly 10 days since I posted. Well the Dude is chilled really laid back has had the odd blip in his walking but nothing that you would worry about.

We had our 2 week check up on Friday and all was ok. We are keeping the dressing on for an extra week just in case and that is due to come off tomorrow then Hoorah 1 more week and he can have turnout.

We have a nice little routine going but I cant help but worry he is a little spoilt. We sing nursery Rhymes to walk to and he knows exactly when his stable is ready to move back into after I have mucked out and tells me.

Currently on about 25 minutes walking in hand.

Tuesday gets a bit rocky

A good nights kip and earwax?

Charlie had a very good night I could tell by the flat as a pancake poo in his stable. But what was that great lump of earwax doing in his ear. Oops my mistake it was a lump of poo and straw.

A Rather Fetching Bay Scarf

Life doesn't always go to plan and his mornings walk was a little bumpy. Firstly his majesty decided to do an enormous spook at his reflection in the one and only school mirror he has seen 100 times.

Fine we got past that and the dogs on the yard decided to have a barking playing game and Charlie decided to leap in the air and hide behind me and attempt to wrap himself around my neck like a rather fetching bay scarf.

Finally he settled back down to mr ploddy and our morning routine continued as normal.

Fright night

Our afternoon trip did not go to plan I arrived to find a very upset horse he was hyper. I took him out for a short walk and put him back pdq. Then it became obvious when swapping rugs he had been very active and his dressing pad was half off.

I replaced it as he did an Irish jig at every sound on the yard. Something had obviously occurred as several other horses were also slightly neurotic.

Monday and the ImPatient Horse

Bedtime Success

well this morning was great the boys bed was not too bad at all and all fodder was roughly where it should be plus a nice row of poo along the back wall falttened nicely where he curls up at night.

Dressing Change 2

Another success the dressing was yet again very clean. Replaced it hopefully for the last time vet to check on Friday.

The Extra walk

Morning walks are always in the school its safer but now we are up to a glorious 12 minutes I want to start doing a second walk pm. To this end I filled a mini net with haylage let him munch and then untied and let him walk around the stable block. This is quite significant as it is a very short walk but does entail walking in the direction of the turnout fields. I hoped to get his brain keyed into walks round the block by returning him to the haylage - success so far.

Spoilt Boy

The all you can eat buffet of grass is a resounding success however the ImPatient now knows the pattern water buckets filled means whinny to be let in stable for tea. Tea eaten call me to go and get the grass.

Pictures of the Gorgeous boy

 

The Dressing

Finger pointing out the eency weency wound.

Sunday is not a Day of Rest when you are stuck in

A Lie in Whoo Hoo!

Oh Glorious heaven and extra hour in bed

Making The Bed

9 days in and we appear to be ticking over nicely. I have moved his handsomeness onto Hay/Haylage mix and decided to try feeding on the floor instead of nets. To this end I am giving him a smaller deeper bed to allow foraging room. He is on rubber matting so doesnt really need loads of bed but he is prone to curling up like a contented cat so I like him to have a comfy matress for his big bum.

He seems to be drinking a lot of water so I am supplying two tubs of water to make sure he doesnt run out.

Cripes a Cockrel

I downloaded a new Android App so I can do his walking without too much clock watching. What I hadnt realised was that the sound it makes when time is up is a very loud cockrel crow. The first time it went off his eyes were out on stalks.

Pamper session

Afternoons now he is having a pamper session rather than a little hand graze mostly because a car drove in and surprised him cue nearly leaping the bank to the field below so in his case less is certainly more. Yesterday we did feather trinning and today I feel advanced mane taming coming on.
I gave his feet a good clean and purple sprayed them just in case.

Next Dressing Change Tomorrow

So Tomorrow is the day for his next dressing change fingers crossed it is ok or it will be my fault as I did the last one on Thursday.

Nearly a week has passed

Getting into the Routine

Last night I went down the fields and cut a huge wheelbarrow full of long grass dandelions and thistle tips for Charlie he was ecstatic.

 I know how much horses like a routine and it does seem to be working.

 Walk in the morning and give him a little grass graze while its quiet.
Pop him in the loverly Harriet Burrow stable while I muck out
Afternoons back into Harriets stable for evening beds and then go and collect loads of grass.

I have given up on the soaked hay he isnt impressed and its doing my back in  and as its a nicety not a necessity we will forego it.

He is having just a couple of handfuls of Saracen Shapeup and a bit of Hi-Fi lite with carrots apples and some Global Herbs Boxrest all damped down he seems to love this.

It was evident this morning that he had a good night as there was a very tidy row of horsepoo along the back of his stable and Jan and Dave Holpin said he didnt call out when they turned his neigh bour out this morning.

Dressing Change Thursday

Today it was time to change the dressing on his back and I finally got around to reading the box..hysterically the brand name is SNOGG.

It was actually a piece of cake not quite as tidy a job as the vet did just a piece of Gauze stuck to the SNOGG plast and pop in place. Its very sticky and the hardest part was taking the old piece off.

And hooray very clean underneath you can hardly see the incision.

Golly Wednesday already

Return of the King

Golly Wednesday already. I visited Charlie Saturday and was amazed at how perky he was. The intern vet said I could bring him home Sunday! Cripes I had spent my day therapeutically digging out his bed but hadnt made it!

Sunday Morning I whizzed off to the yard and made up a lovely big bed of straw and 4pm we arrived at the vets to collect the little treasure.The lovely vet Suzie gave me a dressing change lesson and I came away with a letter of instructions and a box of sticky foam dressing roll.

He came out very alert in fact he was buzzing, not ideal.

After a quick 'I am not going in that trailer' he loaded well. Like all good horses one look at his lovely bed and he stomped it everywhere.

My Pre Xmas Fitness plan

Well I shant need to diet before Christmas The Instructions say strict boxrest walking in hand daily starting at 5 minutes and building up to 30 mins by Nov 14th.

So here begineth my trudging round in circles in the school. Being safety conscious I wear a hard hat and walk him in bridle and lungeline. he has yet to explode but you never know.

The All you Can eat Buffet

Now the tricky bit what to feed a good doer. I mistakenly asked them to give him a small feed while he was in Saracen Shape Up. I wrongly assumed he would come home on medication but non was needed so hard feed even a balancer is not needed.

So the buffet service is supplying some soaked hay and some dry hay in the morning plus chopped apples and carrots served post his morning walk.

Afternoons the buffer supplies dry hay and another apple carrot snack then his servant goes down the bottom of the fields to the muck heap with a pair of shears and collects Dandelions Bramble tips Grass and Cow parsley. I also save a minute of his walking time to hand graze him on the edges of the yard.

While I am mucking out his stable he pops into the Restaurant ( Stable) next door and tucks in JB (his best friend) haylage net. I am so lucky to have such a lovely Stable neighbour.

 

And Tomorrow I'm a nurse

So Tomorrow is dressing change day it should be simple a gauze dressing on a large sticky mat place mat on back ensuring gauze goes on the wound area. Lets pray when I take the old dressing off I dont find any discharge.

Operation Complete

Ollie just rang me the operation has been successful nothing unexpected and Charlie stood nice and still. I am told the wound is about 1.5 centimetres long. Going to visit him tomorrow and they will let me look at his xrays.

And So it Begins

This is just the start of a long road for me and Charlie posh name Loughgowna Star. As  I type this I am sitting here waiting for news on him so lets scroll back a bit in time.

I bought Charlie on March 29th 2012 my first horse since I gave up riding 2 years earlier having lost my nerve. Charlie was perfect for me an adorable horse who rescued me because the day I paid for him I lost my Dad.

I rode in a school hacked out alone and in compnay and did two fun rides in fact we had a blast. Then suddenly in Mid September all that changed. Rears when we hacked out getting bigger and bigger napping by turning 180 degrees and then finally bolting up a field bucking at every stride.

I turned him out for a week while I went on holiday and came back he was even worse. I had a Chiropractor out twice who found tightness but nothing major.

Finally enough was enough I know he is good and has a heart of gold so I rang my vets and explained the problem. We took him over lunged on hard ground and in arena he looked a million dollars. His back was examined and it was decided to x-ray.

Bang my worst fears exploded in my face my Google guide to veterinary science had been right. Charlie had Kissing Spine not severe but two bones touching.

Fast forward to today and he is currently residing at Bushy Equine Clinic awaiting surgery.