Getting me straight

My chiropractor tells me my pelvis is dropped to the left and rotated :(

It keeps happening and we think Charlie is putting me wrong so time to take some action on me.

The  Pilates exercise ball has arrived plus DVD unfortunately I have been given conflicting opinions as to wether I need 55 or 65 cm ball but I have it now so there. I am actively seeking an appointment with a physio who works with riders on their position but about to jet off to France.

Charlie came in today for the first time in a week and we did his stretches with....a little handful of hay. I was so impressed at how much more supple he has become as doing his baited stretch to the side he almost touched his hind leg whoop whoop!

Its all change for Charlie!

Interesting session with Charlie yesterday and a 180 change in direction for me. Charlies Physio came and watched his schooling session. Not the best day as Charlie decided to spook at every single chink of light.

Apart from that he got an resounding thumbs up for how he was moving and afterwards when she did his leggy movy stuff  where she lifts the hind leg up out sideways and forwards he could almost touch his front foot amazing.

Where does the 180 degree turn come in me <----- Yup this one sat here. I have been feeling crooked and they put me on board and forced me to ride so they could see how crooked I am. I didnt want to get on because I feel twisted not only did they make me get on they forced me to stay on while they discussed me an Charlie and we couldnt listen. I have a Chiro session booked for Thursday for me before I go away for a few days. I have ordered a Pilates Ball and DVD and I am actively seeking an appointment with a Physio that assesses rider position.

I state here now publicly that if I have to do stretching exercises CARROTS aint my treat of choice.

So thats the change for the next 6 months it will be less about getting Charlie right and more about getting me right.

Snakes and Ladders!

Monday my delicious trainer Alastair (OMG did I really call him that ) rode Charlie in the bottom field. We had discussed my issues napping and insecurity as well as Charlie's :) and popped a nathe 3 ring snaffle and running martingale on.

The plan was to work on the horrid canter. Charlie was lovely and worked very well for Alastair much better than last week and he had some very nice moments. He is obviously weaker in canter with his right rein but neither was a disaster. Alastair followed up with some popping over jumps and now I see why I couldn't get jumping right. Over protective of his back he jumps like an ironing board. Still time being a great healer and all that I remember a time when he couldn't trot without tossing his head manicly.

I am beginning to feel that having a Ex KS Horse is a bit like a game of Snakes and Ladders and if I play it long enough I will win.

Today Thursday we had an early morning farrier and I planned to ride out in 'the field' post shoeing. Unfortunately I had a sudden and unexpected meltdown as all my gremlins turned up in my head at the wrong time and to say I was stressed put it mildly fizzy hands feet and tinnitus so I did the sensible thing popped the boy in his hotel room and went home.

Sunshine, painting in my studio and a cuddle from the cat put things back into perspective as did a double dose of Rescue Remedy.

The Rescue Cat

The view from my Studio.

I returned to the yard with a plan. 

Get all tacked up Body Protector,reflective top etc so if I died they would find me.

Once tacked see how I felt, worst case scenario I could take him round the field in hand.

I was desperate not to have anyone say be careful before I escaped ,I lie the phrase is 'you go careful now', so Charlie didnt even have the bedding brushed out of his tail.

We did it! We rode down the track into the field and he worked beautifully. I didn't push for too much and was delighted with that offered including the constant relaxed 'wuffle' emitted from his nostrils.

Last time we schooled out here I felt pleased to have stayed on top as he napped strongly and went up a few times. He was relaxed, I was tense but managing the wooden buttocks and determined to keep my shoulders and arms relaxed.

The brilliant thing is he accepted my tension and worked nicely. No canter that would be pushing it but long and low trots changing the rein and bend with no whoopsies.

All this may seem dramatic to some but I have lost my nerve big time in the past with the horse from hell, think inability to put foot in stirrup, and I am at that wonderful age where the hormones have a habit of biting you on the arse when you think all is well.

So to finish a photo of Charlie Fatboy Poshcob doing what he does best.

The Need for a Helping Hand or Leg

I look back and realise I last updated this blog on 20th August which is 2 and a half weeks ago but feels longer somehow. So where are we now?

I have had to face the fact that I can't do everything on my own and Charlie needs more help.

Firstly we are on a diet the thoughts are that the grazing is too rich with a lot of clover. In an effort to ease the stretching exercises I have been offering too many treats including a Molassed lick.

He needs to lose weight and seems also to react very silly to sugar levels.

So in by day small Haynet and out at night no feed no treats. Amazingly is my big boy upset with the removal of sweeties and feed from his diet? Nope he is just as loveable and is delighted to come in to his Haynet everyday.

Hacking by me has been temporarily abandoned as we had another bad hack last weekend and I don't think it helps now when anxious Annie is astride.

So my delicious trainer Alastair is schooling him and teaching me once a week and then hacking out or riding in the field once a week. In between I am riding in the school or taking him down to the field and trying to de-spook him.

We have identified that he is not cantering properly he throws his head up and doesn't work properly from behind so that is our next challenge.

I am pleased to report, however, that when I lunged him in the Pessoa today his canter strike off was much improved. I haven't tried this for some time and he had been doing a semi rear and leaping forward into canter when i did it a couple of months ago.

Interestingly reading back that is how his trot  transition used to be so there is improvement here.

And my next challenge.....to ride him as we'll as Alastair.