tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42207054800756548732024-03-05T23:44:15.433-08:00Red Mare RunningThe pursuit of fitness for an unfortunate horse and rider.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-57003658422158648932017-05-01T10:04:00.000-07:002017-05-01T11:02:49.829-07:00The story of my first 50 miler – Eagle Canyon, 2017<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
You heard right. The title of this post is an accurate tease. I <i>finally </i>got to and completed a 50 miler
ride. For those who know how long I have been drifting on the periphery of the
endurance sport – doing an LD here and there – this was a major accomplishment
for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The background</h3>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Long story short of it I am catch riding this year due to Deli being
out in rehab. Who knows if Deli will ever be able to do even LDs again? Her rehab
is going well, but we’ve hit on the issue of saddles. So I’m in the thick of <i>that </i>again: finding a saddle that fits
her given her health needs and fits <i>me </i>and
is not super expensive. So far it’s been an impossible task.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the meantime I’ve been riding and conditioning my friend “M” horse
Duke. Duke is fairly new to her – a rescue with some possible harsh treatment
in his past (he was likely a dancing horse). Either because of the sketchy past
or for some unknown reason his brain tends to go to some unknown place when
stressed and he <i>pulls like heck. </i>That,
combined with becoming less aware of his surroundings – which can lead to more
tripping/ignoring of aids – means riding him can be like being a freight train
conductor. A freight train that can canter in place when agitated..! He is a
little guy (mustang-arab cross), but very solidly built. Luckily he also has
comfy gaits, so when he is hopping all over the place like a loon you at least
are not being jarred everywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Observe how adorable this guy is:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxDAINNAexRyvDDiicHnoKrIjzzZ72XPRedR7ZnMNVwWybyL46xqr2EDSl2jYYeC6NvlTlAosPPDdUEfF3T8v59BzNQWYWcl5_WbvQrAb-J3cnvpAr81wy5H19UIyPBr4n2Y0mHyL8xk/s1600/iphone+April+2017+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxDAINNAexRyvDDiicHnoKrIjzzZ72XPRedR7ZnMNVwWybyL46xqr2EDSl2jYYeC6NvlTlAosPPDdUEfF3T8v59BzNQWYWcl5_WbvQrAb-J3cnvpAr81wy5H19UIyPBr4n2Y0mHyL8xk/s400/iphone+April+2017+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I’ve been riding Duke 1-2 times a week and enjoying the challenge
and getting to know him better. The good news is every ride came with some
slight improvement. I hope I have been helpful overall, because there is some
hope that Duke would be the mount for M’s kid, who has also done endurance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPE9stLggrHycx3FCxfJdWkDMuTiMkUAkzkhJJx2jI4EpNTT5Ejmc6H_riKqpiLjguXAiokvILDK8ku11OcVilyMObtnwldOkQQKqVzbGU60EBptT6jVK7jGGXJ24Lx7JKn41R818gKI/s1600/iphone+April+2017+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPE9stLggrHycx3FCxfJdWkDMuTiMkUAkzkhJJx2jI4EpNTT5Ejmc6H_riKqpiLjguXAiokvILDK8ku11OcVilyMObtnwldOkQQKqVzbGU60EBptT6jVK7jGGXJ24Lx7JKn41R818gKI/s320/iphone+April+2017+035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Me on Duke on The <span style="line-height: 107%;">Deschutes River trail</span>.</span></td></tr>
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Two weekends before the planned 50 M and I took Duke and her other
horse, Pepper (who has completed Tevis) for a long conditioning ride. We ended
up doing almost 25 miles out in the Colombia Gorge area. The general idea for
Duke was that because of his pulling and general athleticism, his first ride
should be a 50 rather than an LD. We did NOT want him, with his pulling and
competitive anxiety-brain to get the idea he couldn’t take care of himself. This
conditioning ride clinched it, as Duke still had plenty of juice after that
ride despite doing it at an endurance pace. The only downsides of this ride
were that he got some girth galls and some filling in his front legs after the
ride – two things that were good information to have. Plus, that conditioning ride
was almost 100% hard rock footing so I wasn’t too worried about a little
filling. We could work with that by doing more aftercare on his legs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The weekend in between (when Duke was resting in prep for the 50 miler)
I went and did a 30 mile LD at Grizzly Mountain on <i>another </i>borrowed horse. This time a gaited TWH named Royal for his
first endurance ride. I had a lot of fun with him – it’s always interesting to
ride a gaited horse and to compare with the strengths and weaknesses of a
trotting horse. I also survived the cold nights of that ride, despite sleeping
in the back seat of my car for convenience sake.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At that ride I also tested my new Hit Air vest and my other riding gear
I had planned for the 50 miler. I also got a cool completion award.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The journey into Idaho and Eagle Canyon</h3>
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We got up quite early to head over to Idaho, with my husband dropping
me off at M’s place at 4:30am. Our other friend “A” and her little mare Reba
were there and set to go as well. Normally there are more early-season rides
within the 4-6 hour drive distance for us in the greater Portland area, but
lots of ride cancelations meant Eagle Canyon was the one. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We hit the road in good spirits towing M’s living quarters trailer and
the three horses, with my companions loaded up on coffee (alas, none for me).
Due to it being a Friday and a workday for me, I was on my laptop for a good
portion of the drive working. Still, it was a nice change from my normal home
office as I got to look outside and see the Colombia Gorge in all its stunning
beauty roll past as we steadily chewed up the miles.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsAtqCfwmoBLvctuV2JbfOKXer5VjA-9E6qjJA0kniVGmLK08JUKYDFVzTVZCNwdKfnkwQK7uf_W3LTxi5Xl7hRTodOMZmnM2q6or5eSijPQQTJaugPPPW-MJgbHyPRHkoT7UkqZzdEE/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsAtqCfwmoBLvctuV2JbfOKXer5VjA-9E6qjJA0kniVGmLK08JUKYDFVzTVZCNwdKfnkwQK7uf_W3LTxi5Xl7hRTodOMZmnM2q6or5eSijPQQTJaugPPPW-MJgbHyPRHkoT7UkqZzdEE/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the views once we got to the "dry side" of Oregon.</td></tr>
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</o:p></div>
About halfway there we stopped to let the horses out. Lucky for us
there is a great rest stop with a gravel trailer turnaround and a grassy fenced
paddock for livestock. The horses were happy to get off, pee, have some water,
and run around and graze for about 40-ish minutes. At this stop they were
butt-heads and did not <i>want </i>to be
caught, but we managed it and were back on the road in short order.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1se6vg8hXbqN9NwYCiEaPcQ0qb2YgZOn37-zT-SpBvc7pADckE28fMN2wCmjIb9IyXYfHUFbg_cA5orIX3xjVLzjGHVwvkisJy1cyxgp0eNtz829u3-wcbsv48r-jFL-WzotlRYcEh-Y/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1se6vg8hXbqN9NwYCiEaPcQ0qb2YgZOn37-zT-SpBvc7pADckE28fMN2wCmjIb9IyXYfHUFbg_cA5orIX3xjVLzjGHVwvkisJy1cyxgp0eNtz829u3-wcbsv48r-jFL-WzotlRYcEh-Y/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The horses enjoying themselves at their rest-stop.</td></tr>
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Then, soon after we crossed into Idaho, a trailer tire blew.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Epically. Taking the trailer fender with it, somehow, and flinging
rubber all over the road.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqrva78VScyvrgYtG2H6BYO42HvcZxf9QCV0ztxUIBLTQplIaVXaZea37xaj7lBpwUgDoK97UfGtHyr7H1dezArsPLKPZo-d7ytTszDbX8z5o7kfTjArVzjPHB9alW1tMFnImbg4QV2o/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqrva78VScyvrgYtG2H6BYO42HvcZxf9QCV0ztxUIBLTQplIaVXaZea37xaj7lBpwUgDoK97UfGtHyr7H1dezArsPLKPZo-d7ytTszDbX8z5o7kfTjArVzjPHB9alW1tMFnImbg4QV2o/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that's an exploded tire!</td></tr>
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We got to the side of the interstate safely (thankfully M’s truck is a
gooseneck dually, so it’s very stable) but found we didn’t have the proper tool
to change out the trailer tire
ourselves. Not to mention, the destroyed fender was beyond repair and
threatening to damage the other trailer tire. M called US Rider to get roadside
assistance – something that should have been smoother than it was. It was
stressful being on the side of a busy road with cars and trucks screaming past,
feeling bad for the horses who were standing around. However, after M finally
got it into the customer service’s head where we were (she was apparently very
worried as to why we were on the side of the interstate! I don’t know where else
you would expect someone to be when they have a tire explode?!) we waited for
assistance. Luckily, the assistance that came, came quickly, was competent, and
cheerful. He also helped us get the destroyed fender out of the way so we
wouldn’t risk popping another tire.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At this point I think we were a little frazzled, but with the tire
fixed we were free to move on. M decided – smartly – to go to the Les Schwab that
was on our route to Eagle Canyon ride camp to get a replacement spare tire. We took this
as an opportunity to offer the horses more water and lots of carrots and apples
in the trailer. Luckily, the horses were traveling well despite the setbacks
and we were not too far from our final destination.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiInrIBPIExM52SnTRE26KkoDnPHTwGYpVoaSpcg0qR3fnkvqCmBmz-0WufdYSX99ll5A6OQUeF_sh1gtqrfa1eA8RyABCiuYW3Lv1MnvPS72atjhwGrqjlW37U5DX0zuI7SvkdJWYak/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiInrIBPIExM52SnTRE26KkoDnPHTwGYpVoaSpcg0qR3fnkvqCmBmz-0WufdYSX99ll5A6OQUeF_sh1gtqrfa1eA8RyABCiuYW3Lv1MnvPS72atjhwGrqjlW37U5DX0zuI7SvkdJWYak/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The horses resigned to their fate as we wait at Les Schwab.</td></tr>
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We finally got into camp with what I think was a collective sigh of
relief. It had been a long day already. With the delays for the tire issues, it
was a good thing we started so early! We still had plenty of daylight to set up
camp. I ended up holding and grazing Duke and pepper while M and A set up the
panels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eagle Canyon is a smaller ride compared to some of the rides nearer to
Portland, like Klickitat or Mt. Adams. The camp was an open field surrounding
by green grassy hills, with snowy peaks visible in the distance. The grassy
ground was scattered with whistle pig burrows and badger holes, making it a bit
of a minefield, but we managed not to break any legs all weekend! The camp was in an area normally grazed by cattle too, so we had regular interactions with them as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With camp set up, A and I decided to do a quick scope of the trails and
get Reba’s and Duke’s legs moving. We just did a quick couple of miles while M
took notes at the ride meeting for us. From what we saw, the trails looked to
be fairly sandy with some washed-out portions and badger holes that would make
the footing somewhat challenging the next day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ride day</h3>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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We got up bright an early ride day, though the 50s were scheduled to
leave at a cozy 8am. My plan for the day was to leave after Reba and Pepper, as
I didn’t want Duke to over-stress himself keeping up with that more-experienced
pair all day. In general Duke tends to be more behaved – and keep his
freight-train brain fade at bay better when away from his companion Pepper.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO5Rx-wzp2GEKVt7uCbEIcVPnImq7H0ma6Upn-jpe4HH6TiPipl60yJNU-jYfvrc3oZ6aVOdunBYlTmToiwQY5XCHYek59OCRFAB3WQGmIwPvgW6fF7wRypPm6wYKjVoj3mPldaMENto/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO5Rx-wzp2GEKVt7uCbEIcVPnImq7H0ma6Upn-jpe4HH6TiPipl60yJNU-jYfvrc3oZ6aVOdunBYlTmToiwQY5XCHYek59OCRFAB3WQGmIwPvgW6fF7wRypPm6wYKjVoj3mPldaMENto/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duke ready to go.</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_GW_uZ2nz0xS-oyaBOZ8QhfVmjXaKXfXJXCgYiT2O_AdnFbKx3Yvi7YcfhU3v3qRwdsID6PXfz-4FYO9PTTueQy7a1U1w7krxFsS1_y-5zCqUjNMTi8XNWMZDWbR3j1DJTGti5K4NhI/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_GW_uZ2nz0xS-oyaBOZ8QhfVmjXaKXfXJXCgYiT2O_AdnFbKx3Yvi7YcfhU3v3qRwdsID6PXfz-4FYO9PTTueQy7a1U1w7krxFsS1_y-5zCqUjNMTi8XNWMZDWbR3j1DJTGti5K4NhI/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M on Pepper and A on Reba leaving for their ride.</td></tr>
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</o:p></div>
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Happily, Duke was calm being left behind. We watched till everyone at
the front left and then I walked him over to our makeshift mounting block. He
was UP and cantering sideways from the moment my butt hit the saddle. But I was
used to these antics of his and pointed him in the general direction of the
start line. Later, the vet joked with me that he looked a bit “hot” starting
out and I laughed about it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Duke stopped bouncing around pretty quickly and we got to work
at a nice working trot down the trail. Right away there were some sections
where the trail cut across hillsides where I felt the need to slow down to
watch for both ribbons and holes. Duke was already listening nicely, though clearly
a bit concerned as to why we were going out into a strange place all alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Throughout the ride I was very thankful for Duke’s interesting gait – essentially
he <i>is gaited… </i>when going downhill he
can get into this smooth wiggly gait where he cruises nicely. It feels similar
to the fox trotter gaits I’ve ridden, but I’m no expert. Regardless, it’s
faster than a walk downhill and a whole heck of a lot more comfortable than his
downhill trot can be since he tends to start dragging you down with gravity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This ride was a LOT of up and down, so every little strength helped!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We fairly quickly caught up to the tail end riders and passed a good
chunk of them. Duke got more excited to see he wasn’t all alone and we got a
good pace in for a while. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTRmgf829gXYHscZHSuDO5_WU6tbguJGnXyAVPmX5rktOmvfdWo5R8RkKMFnfmPYJyMbBH3uKEdAzJmAGqxDbsmdY3yslBH62OFFXLcQEYHvnjlFo4Sj0LOZurDt27kFDsqPF1QlnnUE/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTRmgf829gXYHscZHSuDO5_WU6tbguJGnXyAVPmX5rktOmvfdWo5R8RkKMFnfmPYJyMbBH3uKEdAzJmAGqxDbsmdY3yslBH62OFFXLcQEYHvnjlFo4Sj0LOZurDt27kFDsqPF1QlnnUE/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the canyons views on the first loop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then we hit the ridge tops and got to experience the full force of the
wind. I honestly think this was the most challenging part of this ride: the
35+mph winds that blew almost all day. Often we were pushing against a
headwind. Sometimes it was blowing against us side-ways and my body felt like a
kite on top of Duke. Sometimes it was blowing up Duke’s butt, which annoyed him
to no end. There were several times throughout the day that he stumbled
sideways in a big gust. Twice during the day I got off him and walked or jogged
alongside him so that we wouldn’t be blown away.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CIRKA0XGeHrRFTpKcj3CkA2794o7NeNpuN_hYrQ2ZyzukLYN9fJd7-NyZw4WkFwuYDUOgCuixg2zUFgeTHr8kcWnrJssk5_dNWnZMNNqbxJbAFPBVz_uQYdaeOki4Tw-goXOUqJ9Nz4/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CIRKA0XGeHrRFTpKcj3CkA2794o7NeNpuN_hYrQ2ZyzukLYN9fJd7-NyZw4WkFwuYDUOgCuixg2zUFgeTHr8kcWnrJssk5_dNWnZMNNqbxJbAFPBVz_uQYdaeOki4Tw-goXOUqJ9Nz4/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The views were incredible... even as we were being blown around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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At one point in that long first loop (which was 25 miles) a huge
tumbleweed soared up onto the hill and before either of us could react smacked
into Duke’s hind end, getting tangled <i>somehow
</i>in his tail and/or hind legs. Duke is not a very spooky horse. At most
before I’ve had him do one of those minor flinch-spooks. Having a tumbleweed
attack him?! That warranted an all-out bolt spook complete with jumping straight
into the air and kicking out against the offender. He crashed off the trail and
through the sagebrush, with me clinging on (having lost my stirrups in one of
the jump-kicks) the best I could, half-slid off him. Somehow I managed to
calmly repeat to him “easy, Duke. Whoa, Duke. Everything is okay.” Whether that
or me getting a better grip on the reins, I got him to stop, unclipped my air
vest, and got off. Remnants of the tumbleweed were around his hind legs and
tail, though a lot of it had been crunched by his antics. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Poor Duke was shaking, eyes rolling, much sweatier than he had been
moments before when we were trotting along at a working pace. I’m pretty sure
he thought he was being attacked and needed to fight for his life for those brief
moments. It took a little bit to convince him not to spin around me while I
removed the offensive tumbleweed from his tail. Luckily he wasn’t injured at
all, just shaken up. I’m impressed with myself that I stayed on, to be honest!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Taking him in hand because he was still shaking I walked back toward
the trail. I think when he bolted we were actually at a flagged turn in the
trail, so we missed it. I walked him for a bit and then got back on, thinking
by this time that it had been awhile since I’d seen a ribbon. We eventually
turned around and got back on track, but that whole mishap set us back in more
ways than one: everyone we had passed had now passed us, and we wouldn’t see anyone
the rest of the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Another upshot of the tumbleweed incidence is that Duke, who again, is
not normally spooky, started worrying about all the sagebrush thrashing in the
wind and particularly the bits of plant life flying around. He started spooking
frequently. His brain was much less forward minded, which is saying something
of Mr. Freight Train pony!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We came in from that first long 25 mile loop very happy to see camp.
Duke took some time to pulse down, which I think was more from nerves of a bustling
pulser area and not having buddies around more than anything else. I ended up
pulling his tack and sponging him (sponging the belly/groin area was
particularly helpful) before he drop to the required 60bpm. We then vetted in –
with all As – and headed for our first rest and the longest hold of the day.
Duke got a cooler because it was still windy in camp and as much mash as he
could eat, while I ate and drank as much as I could stomach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnimXktccXrZzgFpUWrZejxyLSm6QE7oBapgUPMyZXOYoaRcy4CYREgQ5g2dRN-GUYr4i3lMx_O8VQJRZ_HdFTawMQxtrSrhyphenhyphenxqTztJyNgaNC5YscVGNh_sntjVvA-1v2HIrmI2Luu4ps/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnimXktccXrZzgFpUWrZejxyLSm6QE7oBapgUPMyZXOYoaRcy4CYREgQ5g2dRN-GUYr4i3lMx_O8VQJRZ_HdFTawMQxtrSrhyphenhyphenxqTztJyNgaNC5YscVGNh_sntjVvA-1v2HIrmI2Luu4ps/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duke being a good boy and eating everything in sight during the first hold.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Before I tacked Duke up I smeared his old galls – which had healed
since that conditioning ride, but were still hairless – with goo to continue to
protect him and rubbed his itchy face down with a damp towel. He seemed to have
perked up from being somewhat demoralized by the latter half of that first
loop.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I started off the second loop on foot, expecting (and I wasn’t wrong)
that Duke was going to be unhappy about leaving the comfort of camp. Starting
this loop Duke would have gone further than he ever had before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Once I got back on Duke and had convinced him that yes, we were heading
out again, I found this loop very enjoyable. This was the prettiest of the
loops, with the beginning winding and following a lovely creek. There were also
lots of wildflowers and tall grass alongside the trail. And the best part: a
good portion of this loop had us in the canyons and protected from the worst of
the wind. We settled into a steady pace again, with Duke trotting along on a
loose rein for the most part.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzzXKHTJDOsvCw5Qfp2_yXrZ5NQaaAiafcHpKZxWdkn58X2e8oLrEBU8XrVD-4S_z3KiZdc_64LVXom9qoAuozQlXk063kud7hm2umJie1BP8d5m3VzjJj8RR54C05JWD_LN9m90DqM0/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzzXKHTJDOsvCw5Qfp2_yXrZ5NQaaAiafcHpKZxWdkn58X2e8oLrEBU8XrVD-4S_z3KiZdc_64LVXom9qoAuozQlXk063kud7hm2umJie1BP8d5m3VzjJj8RR54C05JWD_LN9m90DqM0/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Other than another exaggerated spook at a clanging metal sign and a
nerve wracking moment where we were riding down a hill that some local folks were
using as a shooting range for some semi-automatic rifles, this loop was scenic
and more fun. That is until my left calf started hurting. Bad. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I think (which has now been confirmed by consulting with my masseur at
home) that I pulled or tore a muscle in my upper calf when clinging on during that
bolt-spook. When posting the particular way my muscle was flexing in relation
to the stirrup and the rest of my leg gave me some very sharp terrible pain. It
was all I could do to keep trotting at times, and I was always happy for the
downhills because it meant I could throw Duke into his nice speedy downhill
gait where posting was not needed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICi-8uCYqPrg1G0sobvrO_j64jQJVVanjCj2CSbc4ZyuNayIn4g2IiXrcxu5rL5toQxfcS26zZrsK-8xsAl2UvV3MJPtRduqnZ23j-6Rvy0ARIVyK0rRlJMHiYuFW-rp0SI1pQReeWRI/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICi-8uCYqPrg1G0sobvrO_j64jQJVVanjCj2CSbc4ZyuNayIn4g2IiXrcxu5rL5toQxfcS26zZrsK-8xsAl2UvV3MJPtRduqnZ23j-6Rvy0ARIVyK0rRlJMHiYuFW-rp0SI1pQReeWRI/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Despite how pretty that loop was (and that it was only 14 miles), it
felt like it took forever. The last five miles of that loop I felt like we were
going at a snail’s pace and that it was my fault due to the painful calf. Duke
didn’t seem particularly motivated for speed either, and I think at one point
he was feeling a bit depressed about being all alone. I had to get off and walk
at several points to stretch the leg out. I tried to time it with when there
was long great, at least, so I could pull grass and hand it to Duke as we
walked. He also drank great on this loop after not having much interest for
that first loop. I’d been giving him electrolytes every 10 miles or so since
the start of the day and I think that helped.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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At any rate, I came into my second check feeling more than a little
haggard, questioning whether I was capable of doing the last loop of 11 miles
in time as I was defiantly the turtle and the day seemed to be zipping by.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3DFCalUEdNxJL1ECQTqD2raCdTVDezSKfYZpOBrGLuLevpsNJCKo-vZjaq-eoXigNBri8TT0_v3zgn-IULQPzi1JBBQQo8C5DoNw94KMJynNyy5NIXs9RibMIZyfD9mfLZBU4FWS-tA/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3DFCalUEdNxJL1ECQTqD2raCdTVDezSKfYZpOBrGLuLevpsNJCKo-vZjaq-eoXigNBri8TT0_v3zgn-IULQPzi1JBBQQo8C5DoNw94KMJynNyy5NIXs9RibMIZyfD9mfLZBU4FWS-tA/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Both M and A were already finished with their ride and actually hanging
out in the pulse area with their ponies when I arrived. Duke, seeing the
company, pulsed down much more quickly and both M & A jumped to help me
with getting him taken care of and vetted. Without a doubt they saved me from
crashing and burning! Duke vetted in again with all As – he was looking much
better than me at this point! It was a short (30 minute hold) and I was so grateful
that M & A were there to badger me to eat and drink and take care of Duke’s
needs. They also told me I had plenty of time – slightly less than 3 hours –
and described the trail on the last loop to me. It sounded like I could do more
cantering if Duke was up for it and make good time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I brace myself and got back on when the time came. Luckily the break
had done my leg some good and even though I hadn’t <i>felt </i>hungry, being badgered to eat had been good for me. I felt
some of my energy return, at least.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I left for that loop with people in camp cheering for us. I asked Duke
to canter and we cantered out of camp to the whoops of riders who had already
finished long before us. What a rush! Duke had no issues leaving camp at this
point. In fact, I felt completely synced up with him by now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s an odd thing, but the last loop was my favorite loop. I know I
should have been exhausted – and I was still in pain and worn out from that –
but Duke and I hit some kind of groove that last loop.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The light was getting softer as the sun sank. The wind had died down,
and with it, Duke’s spookiness. As promised, there were long stretches of good
footing and when I asked Duke to canter he obliged with his lovely smooth
ground-eating pace. Cantering was the perfect break for my calf and we cruised
along watching the clouds make patterns on the endless folded hills, birds
flying. I felt like we were the only living beings in the world with a purpose
at that time. Duke whinnied at every cow we passed as if to say, “how’s it
going, neighbor?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmkrF03BbNjAtCiYPcr8hWP30-fP5SBH3rJnDBI8f_XbQelURhg5rdRnyqBrQUO-876BftZVQl5-7B6Y6m6OG35839mmNXtQX4LmS_t5d0KGeXfuqFOvyGi6Qa16Gr_IrxWWHXaE6sTM/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmkrF03BbNjAtCiYPcr8hWP30-fP5SBH3rJnDBI8f_XbQelURhg5rdRnyqBrQUO-876BftZVQl5-7B6Y6m6OG35839mmNXtQX4LmS_t5d0KGeXfuqFOvyGi6Qa16Gr_IrxWWHXaE6sTM/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the mountains in the distance!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In another amusing moment there was a point in the flat valley where we
rode past a (still!) large tumbleweed along the trail. Duke spun his but around
at it and kicked out with a squeal. I think he was very proud of himself for “killing”
a tumbleweed on his own terms that time, because the rest of that valley he
felt puffed up, his neck arched despite a loose rein, like a stallion strutting
his stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And Duke – he was amazing! Horses are such incredible animals. I
thought he would be super tired but he perked up for that last loop. He
literally felt stronger that loop than the preceding one! And I know, even
though I was doing my best, that I wasn’t riding optimally with my injured
calf. Duke didn’t seem bothered. For such a little horse he carried me all day
without complaint.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When the footing got more technical and we had to trot I actually
dropped my stirrups and rode without them. At that point muscle soreness from
exertion was not any kind of concern of mine compared to the stabbing of my
poor abused calf muscle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
On those moments when I had to pick up my stirrups I sang to Duke (and
probably a lot of whistle pigs who were embarrassed for me) to not focus on the
pain. I sang the Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle theme song the most… because we <i>were </i>Turtles!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We cruised into our final vet check with a little less than an hour to
spare, plenty of time, really! We were the true turtles, with the ride meeting
already in progress when we arrived. Duke vetted in great, with the vet making the
comment that he looked even better than he had on the last check.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
With A & Ms help we got Duke settled and I limped over to catch the
tail end of the ride meeting and my completion prize (a hoof pick). All the
Idaho riders were very kind and congratulatory on my first 50. Duke deserves
the most credit, honestly, and I’m immensely grateful I was given the
opportunity to ride him.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The conclusion</h3>
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Other than the pulled calf muscle (which I really think happened during
the “tumbleweed incident”) I found 50 miles is enough to give me rubs where I’ve
never had rubs before. Next time I will employ some body glide or something
similar to myself and not just my mount!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I actually was not as sore as expected, which I guess is a good sign. But
despite my efforts to stay hydrated all day I certainly got dehydrated. That
was the worst of it – and I think the strong wind contributed to the
dehydration. I love Ms living quarters – I was able to rinse off in her little
shower and feel like some semblance of human again afterward. Though cold water
on rubbed-raw thighs and bits is a new and different kind of <i>ouch </i>that I will try and avoid in the
future!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m pretty bummed that the photographer abandoned their post before I
got to them. I guess that’s the hazard of running as the turtle. Regardless, I would
have liked a photo of my first 50 to keep next to my favorite photo of Deli and
I at the Mt. Adam’s LD.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After the ride I put sore-no-more clay on Duke’s legs and put standing
wraps on his fronts. His back felt good, happily.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next morning Duke was still feeling perky, his back good, and he
was totally sound and pushy about wanting his food (he ate wonderfully all
weekend). Pepper and Reba – they had gotten 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup>
in the ride – were also perky. We packed up camp and hit the road without too
much fuss.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVh893b5L_mma5ChDxhzpnGPF0H3_tKJLEUU1z9aI9LiMNrGcciPd3PO7CJBVIR0dzRrhDGiIDMFgWdXX293UKVf_BVIOrASLm1ainHjhMoBc3s9pNEl_y7zwKbFuYnYIKFE_loXgbRQ/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVh893b5L_mma5ChDxhzpnGPF0H3_tKJLEUU1z9aI9LiMNrGcciPd3PO7CJBVIR0dzRrhDGiIDMFgWdXX293UKVf_BVIOrASLm1ainHjhMoBc3s9pNEl_y7zwKbFuYnYIKFE_loXgbRQ/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride camp the next morning (many people had cleared out!).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BDdhxphNbZvqm0Sn3WdniA3F34tIpzzEhg2yaOCWKlVQw38Qy7bZ7NqAd8HMfkqoVwJjtkOnrU-2pAiYIagWQ36B9nYTLU7Uvt5kKtEyppTgWs3OLmE0WMtWFaYwbN1nN8tJsEoOFW0/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BDdhxphNbZvqm0Sn3WdniA3F34tIpzzEhg2yaOCWKlVQw38Qy7bZ7NqAd8HMfkqoVwJjtkOnrU-2pAiYIagWQ36B9nYTLU7Uvt5kKtEyppTgWs3OLmE0WMtWFaYwbN1nN8tJsEoOFW0/s400/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ponies at the rest stop (Duke in the foreground, then Pepper, then Reba).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRgNircVRmgN7qOSdtZ50rt7iVeywgFh0L6us-xUi4Hz3MitgELvoqEltL2AnUu-BKpahyphenhyphen3OtTwmmJUbOX-4xwe5hqsyxG9aGn1RE2hMGZVkvPQ72DjhtYoOBrvwn0g45AM3w284vX60/s1600/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRgNircVRmgN7qOSdtZ50rt7iVeywgFh0L6us-xUi4Hz3MitgELvoqEltL2AnUu-BKpahyphenhyphen3OtTwmmJUbOX-4xwe5hqsyxG9aGn1RE2hMGZVkvPQ72DjhtYoOBrvwn0g45AM3w284vX60/s640/Eagle+Canyon+50+2017+029.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duke looking great the day after his first endurance race.</td></tr>
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Lucky for us the drive home was uneventful, including the stop-over at
the same rest area. I was very tied still and napped for part of it. It would
take a couple days to make up my water debt, but otherwise I recovered pretty
well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So that’s it: I now have a 50 miler completion on my record! I can’t
wait for the next ride and am so thankful for my friends and teammates support
me the way they do. The endurance community is the best niche in the equestrian
sport, hands (and hooves) down!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/04/friday-prep-for-stress-free-endurance.html">Friday Prep For a Stress-free Endurance Ride(PNER Convention Notes)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-32003004305319159782017-04-29T10:55:00.000-07:002017-04-29T10:55:03.579-07:00Friday Prep For a Stress-free Endurance Ride (PNER Convention Notes)<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“For a Stress Free Ride: the Friday Pre-Game” presentation by Karen Leiman at the 2017 PNER Convention. Leiman showed the audience her step-by-step routine when setting up camp and prepping for the following morning. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">What follows is a rough bullet list of her step-by-step. The hope is that this will give those new to the sport some structure and possibly give old hats some other ideas!</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Electrolyte the horse the night before (Thursday) – it helps get the
thirst going early on. Include lots of water in the feed you give them at this point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Give one more walk-around after loading horse into trailer before you set off!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hauling to the ride:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">3-4 hours away, she won’t get horse out for a break. Going further than
that, she gets the horse out for a rest break.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you stop and get the horse out, let them pee and offer them some
water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">This lets them now they are not going to be stuck in the trailer – they
will be given a chance to get out and drink.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">First thing when unloading, whenever you arrive – offer them water!</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After arrival, Leiman does a warm-up ride. The purpose of this is to:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Confirm horse isn’t lame</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Confirm has all equipment (like your sponge, bags, etc.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Work up a tiny bit of sweat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">She goes about 5 miles</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After the pre-ride Leiman focuses on her saddle packs:</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Include a whistle and extra boot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Electrical tape can fix everything!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She keeps her water bottles out at night handy
on the side of the trailer – they will get cool at night and remain handy.</span></span></li>
</ul>
Electrolytes:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mixes pro-biotics with the electrolytes after the pre-ride.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adds additional lyte salt (which is additional potassium)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">She use olive oil spray with her electrolyte syringes to keep them working smoothly (and so they last longer)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She also does one syringe of electrolytes every 10
miles or so during the ride (on a 50)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Electrolytes go in the saddle bags</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Packing the vet-check box;</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Towel for wiping itchy horse faces!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">PNER Handbook – has contact information for everyone you could need!</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />For feed:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">She takes a container of soaked oats to the vet checks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soaking her carrots in water as well (all cut up)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She does not feed beet pulp on ride day. Does not put electrolytes in
the AM feed either – because it’s more likely the horse will eat it!<o:p></o:p></div>
</span></li>
</ul>
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After everything is set up, sit back and relax or socialize with your fellow riders!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySy9XobAkUXBEs9Yb8eQC7k5acXGLeeJBqQcPFrgOKMsClEB4jfU7Lj0s9qSsuoCxp81J1K01nPUGwK9jFTZHpwkigH6qYSpvWHgLlP-CBU59xQ-Uz_aTxt2_KpXehPdYJ9XzR29UAas/s1600/Grizzly+mt+2017+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySy9XobAkUXBEs9Yb8eQC7k5acXGLeeJBqQcPFrgOKMsClEB4jfU7Lj0s9qSsuoCxp81J1K01nPUGwK9jFTZHpwkigH6qYSpvWHgLlP-CBU59xQ-Uz_aTxt2_KpXehPdYJ9XzR29UAas/s400/Grizzly+mt+2017+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling pony at the EDRA Grizzly Mountain ride this year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last time: <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/04/choosing-endurance-horse-pner.html">Choosingthe Endurance Horse (PNER Convention Notes)</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next time: Ride report!</span></div>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-75054896171330308442017-04-29T10:36:00.000-07:002017-04-29T10:37:57.476-07:00Choosing the Endurance Horse (PNER Convention Notes)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Meg Sleeper, DVM, DACVIM
(cardiology) gave this presentation in conjunction to her talk on interpreting the results of blood machine analysis at the 2017 PNER convention. </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<h3>
The Basics (what you should consider first):</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<i>Balance:</i> the front and hind end should have weight evenly distributed
throughout (endurance horse being slightly uphill is a minor flaw, but being
built downhills is something to avoid). Bone substance should be appropriate to
body build (8” of cannon for 1000lbs). A nice deep heart girth and chest is also extremely
beneficial!<br />
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<i>Straightness: </i>Straightness of the legs is important because any significant
deviation could result in a weak spot that is prone to injury. Minor flaws such
as if a horse has mildly turned out or toe in or is over at the knees are
generally less important flaws. One concern with a horse that is toe in/out is
that they can interfere.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Feet:</i> Concave soles with thick walls, good heel structure. A good
farrier can significantly change foot anatomy! The balance of the foot depends
on the sport. For endurance you want a shorter toe and a good low heel that is
not under-run.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Body type: </i>It’s better to select for long tapered muscles vs. short and
bunchy. The reason being – heat dissipation!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Movement:</i> Efficient, freely moving gait. Padding or winging is inefficient
and can cause injury. When comparing between a “daisy clipper” (a very low
mover) vs. animated mover – we want something in the middle who can move
through bad footing without using excess energy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Understanding the limitations
when choosing a horse (i.e. there is no perfect horse):</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
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There is no perfect horse and we often choose to compete the horse we
have. Because of this, have <i>realistic expectations for your horse</i>. A heavier built horse is not
going to cool out as easily as an arab or arab cross. Ride and care for your
horse accordingly!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If it’s a horse that does not have great recoveries – slow down the
last mile coming into the vet check. You can also learn to pace by maintaining
a very steady efficient speed. Trotting is actually a more efficient gait than
a walk and horses can learn to cool down in a slow trot.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Assess which speed/gaits are more efficient for your horse! Some horses
may prefer to canter, for example. (She tries to condition her horse to develop
a canter to avoid doing the huge extended trot. A relaxed easy canter is often
less wear and tear than a big trot!). Its often a personal preference for the
horses. <o:p></o:p>(When she’s conditioning she tries to do 60-40 diagonals/leads on the
weaker side.)</div>
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Spend time cooling and effective cooling <i>on the trail. </i>Sometimes we get caught up in going forward but it
may be rare that you get off and cover your horse with water. It’s amazing how
much cooler you make them by dousing all of them (belly and groin) with water.
Carrying a scoop can make a huge difference on hot rides. This can be the difference
between getting their heart rate down for big-bodied horses! There was no link
between dumping ice water on horses and horses cramping up, but if they are
continuing to work and move down the trail then cramping should not be an
issue. Try riding in the shade whenever possible – and never walk when it’s hot
and sunny because you want a breeze on the horse. Putting the same temperature
water on the horse that is their body temperature is essentially useless
(sometimes mixing alcohol with water will make it evaporate faster, or having
ice water).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Monitor the effectiveness of the cooling at holds by checking the heart
rate during holds. If they don’t have a normal pulse, continue to put water on
them throughout the stop.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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A horse that is not particularly well suited to endurance will be at
increased risk of lameness and/or may require more preparation than a
well-suited horse. Know when to admit a horse is not suitable for the sport –
you may have tried your best.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Other considerations:</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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What about <i>pre-examinations </i>before a purchase? Consider evaluating <i>heart size</i> if you want to be
really competitive (remember, meg Sleeper is a cardiologist!). However, soundness is even more important for the endurance
horse! It’s reasonable to consider basic radiography. However, if the horse is
already doing the sport and is successful, normal flexions can show you a lot
too! $350-400 for a comprehensive examination is important. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A sound <u>brain</u> on a sound body is key!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Al Mara breeding is what Meg Sleeper does. DR Thunder Bask stallion. Sirocco
Cadence Some stuff with the mind is genetic! A good mind is inheritable.
Recoveries may also be genetic -- Meg Sleeper certainly believes this is the case!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Horses for a heavyweight? It’s most important that the rider is
balanced and the tack is very good! Height does not matter. A 14.3-15hh horse
can be fine for a heavyweight rider, especially with good bone. Bigger horses
need more LSD than a smaller horse to get a good base before speed is added.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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That's all for now!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/04/blood-machine-testing-how-to-interpret.html">Blood Machine Testing (PNER Convention Notes)</a></div>
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Next time: "A Stress-free Friday: endurance ride prep." (PNER Convention Notes)</div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-9223767535216926002017-04-29T10:23:00.002-07:002017-04-29T10:23:31.756-07:00Blood Machine Testing – How to Interpret the Results (PNER Convention Notes)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meg Sleeper, DVM, DACVIM
(cardiology expert!) gave this presentation on how to interpret the information you can get from blood analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lovingly nicknamed Camilia,<b> </b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">PNER’s Abaxis blood machine travels</span><span style="font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> to endurance rides throughout the</span><span style="font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> region. </span>Riders
can pay to get their horse’s blood drawn for analysis – this is helpful
information for those curious! Beware... it's about to get technical!</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Overview (what are these terms and what are we looking for?):</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">PCV/TP, CBC (complete blood count – looking at #s of white blood
cells), chemistry (this is important and usually taken at rides)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Packed cell volume (PCV) – manual count (vs. Hematocrit which is done
in a machine). Normal results vary by “breed” and “fitness”. Endurance horses tend
to have a lower PCV. Red blood cells are important! They are the main oxygen carrying
capacity in your blood. They also remove CO2. Anemia results from: blood loss
(external or internal – which can be from something like a bleeding ulcer). If
anemia is acute, it will take 12-24 hours until PCV accurately reflect that
lost because it takes time for the body to compensate. If it’s chronic,
however, it should show in the PCV.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Polycythemia </i>means increased red cell count. This is usually seen in dehydration
cases (and is usually coupled with high protein levels). Also, if a stressed
horse or working horse their spleen will contract and release more red blood
cells. The equine spleen has muscles in it that contract with cantering or
excitement and dump those cells into the blood stream. An “absolute” change is
when you have more RBC than you should (usually because of disease, such as
chronic hypoxia, some forms of kidney or liver disease can also cause an
increase).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Total protein (TP) in the blood is made up of 3 components: <i>albumin, globulin
& fibrinogen</i>.</b> This can be helpful measurement if you are looking at a low
PCV horse because it will help you to determine what each means.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Albumin</i> is a protein produced in the liver and helps prevent fluid from
leaking out of the blood vessels. If you have a high albumin, it is consistent
with dehydration. If it’s lower than normal, the common reason for that is diarrhea.
Kidney disease, liver disease, and other reasons (all chronic disease) can also
make this number low.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Globulins</i> are produced in the liver and are important for immune
function. Higher than normal globulins are a sign of inflammation (infection,
cancer, etc.). When they are low there are other issues and those are not
usually seen in endurance horses (often seen in foals when they haven’t
received colostrum).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Fibrinogen</i> produced by the liver in response to inflammation. A high
number indicates active inflammation!</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The main two we are interested in is <i>dehydration </i>and the s<i>pleen
contraction</i> (because the spleen’s contraction will indicate if the horse is
truly dehydrated).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chemistry tests:</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Glutamyltransferase (GGT)</b></i> –
can show evidence of liver disease. Donkeys and mules normally have higher
levels of GGT than horses. This number can also be elevated in horses in
intense training programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Aspartate Aminotransferase
(AST/SGOT)</i> </b>– the main reason we see this in endurance horses is when there
is muscle damage. It peaks 48 hours after muscle damage and takes 3-4 days
after the injury.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Creatine Kinase (CK)</b></i> – Is
another muscle enzyme that is not elevated with liver disease. This level is
more associated with skeletal muscle or cardiac muscle damage. It can have mild
increase with transport, rolling, and hard work. Significant increases to CK
(up over 5000) consistent with muscle cell damage. The CK will go up very
quickly after damage (peaks within hours of the insult to the muscles) while
the AST will peak later and stick around much longer. A CK of 2-3000 after a
hard vigorous work is not necessarily tying up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Creatinine</b> –</i> is a byproduct
of muscle work and it’s excreted through the kidneys. It can indicate kidney
damage and is a good test for accessing kidney function. Horses that tie up or
have another muscle-stressed events are at risk for kidney disease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)</b></i> –
the urea is the byproduct (and is also filtered through kidneys). BUN is
increased by GI bleeding. Is the other main test to look at kidney function.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Glucose</b> –</i> Measures the amount
of sugar sitting in the blood. Hypoglycemia (the lack of sugar) can happen just
because the blood sample sat before it was run – hours can make a difference.
Hypoglycemia is also found in cases with endotoxic shock, or young horses that
are not eating well. Elevated levels in the blood can be due to excitement,
equine metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes in horses), PPID, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Electrolytes:</span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sodium</b> – </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Low sodium is most
common from loss of sodium in sweat. Equine sweat has a high amount of sodium –
more so than their blood level. You can see low sodium because of diarrhea,
etc. Increased sodium is often due to water </span>deprivation<span style="font-family: inherit;"> – something rare in the horses we
will be dealing with because we will always be offering them water! Salt poisoning can also occur for horse that eat too much
salt. The horse kidney is very good at getting rid of excess electrolytes, at
most it will show in an upset stomach (i.e. you might not see it on the blood work).</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Potassium</b> </i>– Is indication of
the free-P in the blood. However, the majority of potassium is located <u>in the
cells</u>. Potassium measure meant because low P can lead to arrhythmias in
horses. Low potassium can be caused by reflux, diarrhea, polyuria, &
excessive sweat loss. Horses usually have diets high in potassium. You should
test the fractional discretion and a blood sample, because horses that are
trying to conserve potassium the blood sample may not be enough (if a horse is
trying to conserve it, it will be under 16%). High potassium can be found in a
blood sample if there are some burst cells in the sample; HYPP can also cause
this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Calcium</b> – </i>The most common
cause for low calcium in our horses is when the albumin is too low. Cantharidin
(toxin in blister beetles) can cause dramatic reductions in their calcium
levels. Kidney disease and muscle exertion are also common for low calcium.
Calcium that is too high is really unlikely in a healthy horse – kidney
disease, cancer, or too much is given orally will make calcium levels elevated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Phosphorus</i> </b>– This is not a
common test, but low P indicates chronic kidney disease or starvation. High
levels of P is often because abnormal ratios in the diet (compared to Ca);
intense endurance exercise, and possibly even bone metabolism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That's all for now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last time: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/04/conditioning-and-maintaining-endurance.html">Conditioning and Maintaining the Endurance Horse (PNER Convention Notes)</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next time: Choosing the Endurance Horse (PNER Convention Notes)</span></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-77161139467063553412017-04-29T10:08:00.000-07:002017-04-29T10:23:53.960-07:00Conditioning and Maintaining the Endurance Horse (PNER Convention Notes)<span style="font-family: inherit;">This presentation was given by <span style="line-height: 107%;"><b>Heather Wimer </b>at the 2017 PNER Convention.</span></span><br />
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Building a strong athletic horse is <i>not
just </i>about the miles.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is what Heather Wimer suggested to improve yourself and your horse (which will, in turn, improve your endurance experience):</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Become a great </b><b>horse-person</b> – the better you are the better you will be able to draw out the full potential
in your horse. Horses will come and go but your skills as a horse-person should <i>always be improving. </i>What you take with
you matters! Take lessons – learn what diagonals and leads are and switch them;
become aware of how you are riding at all times; learn how to ride well
downhill; never think you know it all because you probably never will know it
all!</span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">This pursuit includes making
your personal fitness a priority. Wimer suggest that you have a fitness program
that includes cardio, strength, and flexibility training. Keep track of how you
feel after rides to diagnose your own fitness level and work to diagnose and
fix your “problem spots.”</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><b style="font-family: inherit;">Become an expert on YOUR horse</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
– you need to know that horse better than anyone else (including your vet). You
need to be the one who will know when something isn’t right because the vet (at
checks) only sees them for a short space of time. Your job is to be an advocate
for your horse!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ask questions! </b>It’s a good
idea to know something about the person who you are asking for advice. Find
people who ride the way you ride or remember what it was like for them when
they were at your stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>You should not neglect training
in favor of conditioning. </b>Carefully building your horse means taking time
the think about thing you want your horse to learn and then take the time to
teach them what they need to know to succeed. For example, you need to improve
strength between necessary muscle groups, work on specific biomechanics, etc.
You can get a 15-40% edge on your competition for the ride itself and soundness
over the years with this kind of approach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You can change the way a horse moves for the better by doing dressage!</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dressage will help your horse move better, more balanced, and
more flexible. Things to consider: </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Balance</u><b> –</b> “A horse is
balanced when it has developed the necessary muscles and physical posture (or
self-carriage) to facilitate distributing and supporting its own weight.” –
Endurance Riding and Competition by Donna Snyder-Smith. Horses by nature are
good at figuring out the easiest way to propel themselves down the trail. When
a horse lacks balance they will use more energy, be harder to steer and control
because they will be heavy on their forehand, be less comfortable to ride, etc.
They need learn to balance themselves and distribute the weight of themselves
and the rider, making themselves lighter on the front end. When the hind end
drags it hollows out the back. When a horse is reaching underneath himself it
lifts the back and suspends the weight of the rider more easily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Where do you start to build balance? Get them to raise that back by
stretching DOWN. Once the back is stretched out then they can use their hind
end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One trick: use polo wraps one end on the bit, feed through armpits and
tie up by their withers. To help stretch down and therefore lift their back!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimC3vDVoq7IRw7H-MEE-G4eVZmbkmgnSn0WKUXIp3VcA0dAnxv0FpaSTLBX3wm60WwOZmCHMzopNNi1U4QgcwO-_FSGFBwbLr4bMeSkByLFuS4s8AwgpmHagS2SggJWRqJy9mUQiyHEs/s1600/Deli+polos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimC3vDVoq7IRw7H-MEE-G4eVZmbkmgnSn0WKUXIp3VcA0dAnxv0FpaSTLBX3wm60WwOZmCHMzopNNi1U4QgcwO-_FSGFBwbLr4bMeSkByLFuS4s8AwgpmHagS2SggJWRqJy9mUQiyHEs/s400/Deli+polos.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I now use the polo-wrap trick with Deli for her rehab and it works well.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Straightness</u> – “The ability to use both sides of their body with
equal suppleness and strength.” – Donna Snyder-Smith. On a core level there
horses are not using everything equally, so when they get pushed they will wear
out the side they are using more and favoring. When they wear that side out
they are going to have to rely on something they are not used to – and then the
consequences start piling up. It’s our job to see where their strengths and
weaknesses are. Horses are the master of compensation and they are often so
willing to serve us to their detriment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Observations on adding speed…</span></b></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p style="font-size: medium;"> </o:p></span></h3>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you speed up, it often requires a new set of skills. If you train
at a different speed, you are introducing different factors. When you introduce
speed work it needs to not compromise the quality of your horse’s movement!
Essentially, make sure they are not compensating when they speed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Conquering common issues:</span></b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>To conquer inversion:</i> work on
relaxation, focus, and longitudinal flexion (getting them to flex through the
body).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>To conquer speed or sluggish retardation</i>:
work on balance, rhythm, impulsion, and collection. Your horses may be using
either of these as a cop-out when something is hard – often it depends on the
horse’s personality which one they choose! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>To conquer crookedness:</i> teach
them to be supple and engage that part of themselves they are trying to avoid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p style="font-size: medium;"> </o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Maintaining your horse once you
are on track with all of the above...</span></b></span></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Observing</u> – constantly evaluate how your horse moves. Horses are
masters of compensation, but it comes at a cost! This can mean putting your
horse on the lounge at least weekly to evaluate how the horse is moving
regularly. Things to watch for: watch length of stride for each foot; the path
each foot takes; is the movement the
same going each direction; watch all the way into the hips and shoulders (not
just the feet); are they able to bend both directions? Training to make that
possible means building lunging skills and the ability to bend, flex, and
stretch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Stretching</u> – there are serious benefits to routine stretching. This can
lead to increased flexibility and rage of motion, decreased possibility of
injury, better bond with your horse, relaxation techniques you can use the
morning of a ride, and it can also serve as a means to track the horse’s
flexibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hold your stretch for 10-15 seconds and release. Ideally you want them
to relax into the stretch (otherwise they won’t get a good benefit from it).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t do more than 3 repetitions with the stretches.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other things to consider include: body work, massage, and chiropractic
work to maintain your athletes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Conditioning your horse at last:</span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One plan will not work when applied to every single horse! There is no
one-size fits all plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Progressive loading – gradual increase in workload with each new level
of training being maintained until the body adapts to the additional stress.
This is the basic principle on which all conditioning is built on! We want to
stress the body just enough to make the changes to make stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The difference between aerobic (where the work still allows for oxygen
to be supplied and replenished) and anaerobic (means without oxygen, working at
a pace where the body cannot supply enough for the working muscles – this
builds up more lactic acid eventually lading to fatigue.). Anaerobic
conditioning is something you can use to tap into the next level of fitness (as
with interval training). Generally most horses start to get into anaerobic
around 150bpm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember there are cycles of work and rest. When the body gets stressed
it needs that time to make changes. Your horse will get worn down if you don’t allow
them to rest. A little amount of work only needs a little rest, and it scales
up depending on how much effort is put forth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are baseline time frames for how long it takes to get structures
to see changes (with serious work):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cardiovascular training and fitness – about 3 months</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Muscles 3-6 months</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Support tissues 6-12 months</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bone – 3 year</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Further recommendations from experienced endurance competitors</span></b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Jornaling/record-keeping. </i>It’s
helpful to have a journal to write down what you are doing – what worked, what
didn’t, etc. Date, distance, time it took, electrolytes, where you rode, the
weather, and recovery info (forming a routine by adding heart rates when you
first hop of and 5 minutes after – it’s a great way to track their actual
fitness. All the info from your actual rides (each loop, how long, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wimer asked experienced endurance
riders in the PNER group for their advice for a specific scenario. The
hypothetical horse they were asked to plan for 100% sound, 6-7 years,
well-trained, currently being trail ridden mostly at walk 1-2x a week.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many folks said they would require a minimum of 3-4 months before an LD
and 3-6 months before a 50 miler.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Karen Bumgarner said she wants to see a horse do at least 200 miles
before doing a 50-miler.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">When checking their heart rate monitor – needs to get down to 60bpm
within 10 minutes after a 10 miles ride of almost all trotting.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some folks do walk a mile trot a mile starting out; some folks use one
of their rides for long slow distance (same speed, but extend distance), one
fast day, one day for arena work. Many of these folks only do 3 days of riding
in a week!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consider your personal safety! Wear a helmet, carry a phone on your
person, carry an ID and pertinent information.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The golden rule is: never increase speed and distance (OR difficult
terrain) at the same time.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p><i>Once your horse has a good LSD miles – once you’ve got them going – how
many miles should you be riding on a weekly basis?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">15-20 miles if you are going LD</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">20-40 miles for 50s per week</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Do a couple conditioning rides that are at least
as long as the longest loop on your first 50!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you decide how to pace a
horse on your first ride?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Never faster than you trained!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Use their efficient working pace (which will change as your horse gets
more fit).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Watch heart rate and recoveries.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take the terrain into account.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Practice negative splits – concept that you start the ride slower than
what you finish it at. Gives your horse time to warm up, gives you time to
analyze whether you were right about your horse’s level of conditioning and
ability. If you start conservatively, then you still have time to adjust and
adapt and still finish the ride well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t use what you haven’t conditioned with (tack, speed, etc.).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">If your horse is having issues in the brain department at a ride – stop
and think!</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Describe average week of
conditioning for a horse in their first season of 50s?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">2-4 days a week</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">One long ride up to 25 miles (LSD 8-9 mph may be average, but adjust
for your horse) – some folks do one longer ride each week.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shorter rides on hills (8-10 miles at 9-10mph or 8-10 hard but slow
hill work)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not forgetting arena work (at least 1 day of arena work)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">One or two days that are two hours of walking – try and get as big and
marchy of a walk as possible!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some folks do hill repeats – walking up, then trotting up, then
cantering up and leading them back down the hill.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">And good luck on the trail!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/02/rehabilitating-sport-horse-pner.html">Rehabilitating the Sport Horse with Dr. Sara Sammons (PNER Convention Notes)</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next time; <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/04/blood-machine-testing-how-to-interpret.html">“Blood Machine Testing” presentation by Dr. Meg Sleeper (PNER Convention Notes)</a></span></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-80324234204007998372017-02-15T12:07:00.000-08:002017-02-15T12:07:24.918-08:00Rehabilitating the Sport Horse (PNER Convention Notes)<span style="font-family: inherit;">The following is the write-up based on notes taken by the presentation given by <span style="line-height: 107%;"><b>Sara Sammons, DVM, MS</b> at the 2017 PNER Convention.</span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know Dr. Sara Sammons from when
Deli and I lived in Davis, CA (where I attended undergrad and lived for many
years afterward, and where Dr. Sammons attended vet school). I actually was
fortunate enough to board Deli the same place Sara had her sweet gelding, Dave.
This was in the early days of my Deli ownership – about a year and a half in
and just after Deli had returned from 30 days under-saddle training. It was at
that barn that Deli and I could finally settle into some training and truly
form our bond, which up until that point had been unreliable. I made some great
friends at that barn – Sara included – and I have never boarded someplace since
where I felt that sense of community. Then a vet student, Sara helped me out
with the antibiotic injections Deli needed when she sustained a puncture wound
to her leg and I had to leave on a trip. Deli was an absolute monster for her
(she was bruised from so many injections, so its not entirely her fault) but
Sara never held that against her!</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I sometimes regret moving up to
Oregon simply because I left behind a barn where Deli and I felt safe. At the
same time – even though boarding in Oregon has often been a nightmare – I’ve
made SO many new friends and have joined the awesome PNW endurance community
here.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine my delight when, many many
years later, Dr. Sara Sammons moved into our area! Now Dr. Sammons is helping
Deli with her rehabilitation for kissing spines and her related conditions.
Deli is a very particular horse who can be suspicious and tense around
strangers. She absolutely moves to have Sara work on her though – whether it be
chiropractic adjustments or acupuncture. I’d highly recommend her for
rehabilitation work, since that’s what she specializes in. I think she is
particularly good for horses (like mine) who need a calm, gentle, presence. Deli
is super chill when Sara works on her.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If you would like more information about Dr. Sammons and her rehabilitation business with her partner, check out her website </i><a href="https://www.lavenderequinevet.com/">Lavender Equine Veterinary Rehabilitation Services</a>. <i>They also do work on small animals (cats and dogs)!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Common sport horse injuries
include:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hoof injuries – bruise; crack; laminitis, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Soft tissue injuries – muscle strains & tears; tendon & ligament
strains & tears; cartilage and meniscal damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bone injuries – arthritis; exostoses (popped splints fit into this
category); bone bruises; fractures; cysts/developmental orthopedic conditions
(these are usually not injury-related).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why do we need these therapies?
And which therapies are used for particular conditions?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Essentially, your treatments may vary widely depending on the
rehabilitation needs and original problem! There are several general ways
people approach rehabilitation. First, some folks turn their horse out for
basic pasture rest (the “turn them out” method). This assumes you have a
specific kind of herd where your horse stays quiet and won’t aggravate whatever
injury they have. Basic rehab can also be done at home. This includes rehab
work like hand walking, or even the exercises I’ve done with Deli during our
many many rehabilitation stints. With at-home rehab it is sometimes harder to
evaluate the progress. When rehabbing at a rehab facility it is usually more
expensive but usually has faster healing and there are multiple modalities
available to the horse (and usually professional application of those modalities).
The key is that the facility is on a controlled program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Common modalities used in rehabilitation and
injury treatment:</span></span></b></h2>
<div>
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Supportive pressure wraps</u> – increased pressure to reduce edema
formation. The warmth will also increase blood flow to the area. It also offers
some degree of support for damaged tissue depending on structure of bandage.
These wraps are good for use for the first week to first month of injury. You
will decrease the frequency that you wrap over time to wean them off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Cold therapy</u> – it decreases pain and decreases blood flow to the
area (which can have pro-inflammatory enzymes to the area, decreasing
inflammation), decreases tissue extensibility (meaning it makes the tissue
stiff). Cold therapy is something important to do right when the injury began
(especially the first 24 hours). Repeat 2-4 hours for first 24-48 hours to
reduce inflammation & edema, Cold therapy is only effective to a depth of
1-4cm of skin surface (so it’s really good on their lower limb). Cold therapy
includes tools like: cold hosing, ice boots, gel packs, and ice water machines
(game ready machines – which are expensive but also have the benefit of putting pressure/massaging the leg along with the cold therapy). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For at-home treatments, horse owners also use ice and alcohol (50:50) ziplock
baggies (a way to make your own gel packs – you can also add dish soap to make it squishier!).
Application of cold therapy for 10-15 minutes is usually needed for tissue
temperatures are around 50-60 degrees. After about 15 minutes, cycles of
vasoconstriction & vasodilation occurs (this is the warm tingling when
hands are cold long-term) that will bring more circulation to the area. Horses
have vascular shunts in their lower limbs – this is how they can stand in snow
without getting frost bit – but target tissues will still be chilled by the
outside cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 107%;">Heat therapy</span></u><span style="line-height: 107%;"> – It increases blood flow, increases metabolism
(increasing activity of tissues enzymes); it relaxes muscle spasm (decreasing
firing of muscle spindles, breaking any cycles of pain-spasm-pain); it also
makes their tissues more extensible (stretchy). It’s important to be careful
when applying heat, as you don’t want to scald or burn your horse! One
suggestion for a homemade heat pack is to put uncooked rice in pillowcase and
warm it up in a microwave. These are great for draping over backs.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Manual therapies (getting hands on)</u> –<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Passive range of motion is movement within the normal confines of the
joint. You must ensure support of other structures. This modality will not
increase strength and endurance and it will not prevent muscle atrophy. The
indications are when you are worried about contracture of a muscle or tendon;
it will maintain elasticity, assists, circulation, and increases awareness of
limb in space. The idea is to go to the point of tension and then stop.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Active range of motion is where the horse is doing it themselves (often
with cookies!). The horse moves its own
joints within the comfortable range. Hand walking is an example of active range
of motion. Range of motion can be increased depending on the surface – for example
some horses will pick their legs up more when walking over a novel surface or
poles. This maintains some coordination and balance.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Passive and active range of motion is NOT the same as stretching! If
you hold the active range of motions longer you can build up supporting
muscles.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stretching<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Indications for stretching are: to improve reduced range of motion
(ROM); increase flexibility; lengthens tight muscles (important – opposing weak
muscles will strengthen as well); to prevent dysfunction and injury. Tight muscles
lad to abnormal bio-mechanics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are passive and active stretching. In active stretching the horse
is doing it themselves. There is controversy with stretching – some folks say
not to stretch more than 2 joints at a time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>How to stretch</i><b style="text-decoration: underline;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Move slowly through the range of motion to point of tension-restriction
(or just before)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds ideally (though you may not be able
to get that from day one)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only stress one joint at a time (over-stretching can occur otherwise,
soft tissue injury, nerve irritation)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Repetition is important – give the horse the opportunity to stretch
even further.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Daily stretching may be too much and stretching when they are warm
(after exercise) is the better way to go.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Joint mobilization</u> – the restoration of “joint play”, safe stretch
of joints, breaks down adhesions, restores normal joint mechanics (some patients
cannot stretch!), decrease joint stiffness, and pain reduction. Joints and
bones van get slightly out of place, and if they are re-aligned then the joint
will have greater range of motion. Mobilization is a combination of rolling the
joint, compression and traction. It can also move synovial fluid around and
increase intra-articular nutrition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You practitioner must be knowledgeable about equine anatomy to do this
properly! Otherwise traction and rotation of a joint can be harmful. You also
need to know if there are torn supporting structures in the joint – if so, you don’t
want to mobilize that joint or you can cause more damage to the area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Chiropractic</u> – adjustment involves joint manipulations plus the
additional gentle thrust at the limit of range of motion. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Promoting Tissue Repair</span></b></h2>
</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some modalities can accomplish multiple goals! These can include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe3NfPHP3tXZL-4qPEiesEwEIWcAC2a_-r2w2fIt3qnOcl3MVOhNhR9mjoYweWI7ZdUXd33dWXcNCkl6G6q4HnP1g2NA7GIxhgN99GId9pMCYgoQzK0QICtNttrpYn54oKf4mIfZxgi4/s1600/Deli+acupuncture+sept2016+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe3NfPHP3tXZL-4qPEiesEwEIWcAC2a_-r2w2fIt3qnOcl3MVOhNhR9mjoYweWI7ZdUXd33dWXcNCkl6G6q4HnP1g2NA7GIxhgN99GId9pMCYgoQzK0QICtNttrpYn54oKf4mIfZxgi4/s320/Deli+acupuncture+sept2016+003.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Acupuncture!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Acupuncture</u> – you put needles in near nerves that need to be
stimulated. Blood vessels dilate, blood flow increases; it can also improve
lymphatic flow. Segmental analgesia provides reduced response to pain in
particular areas as well as entire body. This process calms through autonomic
nervous system stimulation. You can also affect organ function through
acupuncture points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Which horses benefit from acupuncture? Those with nerve deficits (EPM,
head shaking, facial nerve paralysis). Those with back pain (from muscle, bone
& connective tissue problems), because the acupuncture increases blood flow
and calms nerves that are hyper-active in the back. Chronic colic is also
assisted by acupuncture (especially spasmodic colic, gas colic).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Electrical stimulation/TENS</u> – With this modality, you can add
electrical stimulation to your acupuncture needles. It can pack a bigger punch
than just needles by themselves. TENS units themselves require clipped hair to attach to the needed area, which can be awkward. this method can be very good for very superficial issues (such as superficial nerve issues). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Therapeutic Ultrasound</u> – this therapy not the same as the
ultrasound used to diagnose injury. Therapeutic ultrasound sends pressure waves
into where you point it. It helps wounds heal by increasing protein synthesis,
fibroblast proliferation, etc. This therapy does not go very deep. There are
different modes to the machine for heating vs. not heating. In addition, this
therapy needs to be repeated routinely if you want the beneficial effects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the best uses for therapeutic ultrasound is to help break up
calcified structures in tendons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Laser </u>– How does it work? Stimulates cell function, by
photochemical means (not being thermal like surgical lasers are). What does it
do? Laser therapy releases endorphins, bradykinins to provide analgesia,
increases metabolic rate in tissues, and improves nerve regeneration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Disadvantages to laser therapy include: the cost is high,
patient/practitioner and owner safety (class 4 lasers you definitely need
goggles for to protect your eyes), inability to penetrate through hair, dark
skin (only 2% on laser may get through a dark-skinned animal), and it may not
penetrate to deep tissues. Skin color is actually very important for a horse so
surgical shaving of the treatment area is important!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Extracorporal Shockwave Therapy</u> – This therapy can help break
down scar tissue! Essentially this modality is supersonic acoustic pressure
waves cause a pressure bubble when they impact tissues. This pressure bubble has an effect on those
tissues: it causes micro-trauma which forms new blood vessels to trigger of
body’s natural healing mechanisms and repair. This is great for suspensory
injuries at the <i>top</i> of the
suspensory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other things of note regarding shockwave therapy:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Requires sedation – it does hurt during the therapy (and can be loud)!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Provides analgesia to the area (which can have risk of abuse)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recommended 1-3 treatments at approximately 2 week interval.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can also help with kissing spines – especially if a horse has pain
there.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bone pain and navicular disease.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">This treatment is effective in backs.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Restoring Function</span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Restoring function to the equine athlete is all about getting them back to a level of work and comfort.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Suppling exercises (circles & lateral work) and theraband/equicore
use (as a strengthening mechanism) are examples of tools that can be used to
help restore function. The Theraband has been a primary tool in Deli's current rehabilitation! Cavaletti exercises are also great because you are
increasing range of motion and they are also proprioception exercise. Doing
exercises that help the equine figure out balance, such as varying surfaces, or
putting cat collars with bells/bell boots on their feet to get them to step
higher can be useful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh05nm9xvM2j79IIf74T_W1wmKnpL4PbI0en1L-rLEgyn6H_Cjvx1mwRnJ84d037ttrtnEYvk_82FDWujECwdIDel8s8aCj0JCJUaDfDtAFJpbOKBIL3kj_rIyJUSeOSCJMtq3vi-cyjg/s1600/Nov+2016+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh05nm9xvM2j79IIf74T_W1wmKnpL4PbI0en1L-rLEgyn6H_Cjvx1mwRnJ84d037ttrtnEYvk_82FDWujECwdIDel8s8aCj0JCJUaDfDtAFJpbOKBIL3kj_rIyJUSeOSCJMtq3vi-cyjg/s320/Nov+2016+009.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Deli in her Theraband early on in the rehab.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Water therapy</u> – Water therapy claims to help restore function.
This is different than <i>swimming </i>–
instead picture a horse on a treadmill in different water levels (the water
level can be adjusted depending on the animal’s needs). Water therapy claims to
reduce stress on limbs by reducing weight-bearing 40-60% and reducing impact on
limbs. Water therapy proponents also claim that water therapy can reduce
recovery time by 50-60%, that the hydrostatic pressure reduces swelling and assists
with blood flow, improves conditioning and increases cardiovascular fitness (by
the water providing resistance to their movement – it’s a workout!). Flexibility
can also be improved by water therapy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Underwater treadmills are the primary aquatic therapy. The water level
can be easily adjusted depending on the animal’s need. The primary uses for
underwater treadmills are for tendon injuries, arthritis, and conditioning
after layup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Swimming pools are used for horses as well, but swimming is not a super
natural things for equines and the only real benefit to them swimming regularly
are cardiovascular benefits. Horses have to move aggressively when swimming, so
it’s not recommended for many injuries (especially back issues). There is also
a risk drowning. And as endurance riders know, cardiovascular fitness is not
the same as bone/tendon/tissue fitness!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/02/ultralight-trips-packing-without-pack.html">Ultralight Packing Trips (PNER convention notes)</a></span></div>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-86272638341640643762017-02-07T09:31:00.000-08:002017-02-07T16:34:53.433-08:00Ultralight Trips: Packing Without a Pack Horse (PNER Convention Notes)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>I really enjoyed this educational talk by Kim McCarrel and now I am
even more interested in doing packing trips with horses someday. I can’t think
of many things more enjoyable than enjoying a point-to-point trail, exploring
new trails, seeing beautiful views, and relying on my partner. Kim McCarrel has
been an avid trail rider for over 20 years and has ridden the horse trails all
over Oregon and SW Washington. Her trail guidebooks are “must haves” for
Pacific Northwest trail riders – I enjoy her guide book for my area. It’s very
comprehensive and packed with information! You can learn more about Kim and her
books at <a href="http://nwhorsetrails.com/">her website</a>. I’d highly recommend
it for trail riders in the West! </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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If a backpacker can carry everything they need for the trek on their
back – so you should be able to carry everything you need on your horse as well! The
challenge is carrying horse feed and gear along with everything you will need
on the trail. If you are an experienced trail rider, your horse is in good
shape, you can ultralight camp.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The main things you need to consider for ultralight packing trips are:
perfecting your high-lining skills, the ability to plan your trip carefully,
and embracing “leave no trace” principles.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>High Lining – the most efficient
way to secure your horse on the trail!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>You will need tree savers, rope, and the skills to tie the knots
(quick-release bowline, alpine knot, and the prusik knot).</li>
<li>To set your high line, use a branch to push it as far up the tree as
possible. Tie <a href="https://www.trailmeister.com/how-to-tie-a-prusik-knot-2/">prusik
knots</a> on your line before you leave home (you can tie it on with baling
twine which is cheap and weights almost nothing). This knot allows your
tie-loop to slide anywhere along the rope that you want, but the knot will stick
in place when your horse pulls on it.</li>
<li>Bring more rope than you think you need, and ensure you have rope
without stretch (bring at least 100ft of rope).</li>
<li>On the first tree tie a quick-release bowline knot (instructions on <a href="https://www.trailmeister.com/how-to-tie-a-bowline-knot-2/">how to tie a
bowline</a> at the TrailMeister website)</li>
<li>On the other end, put in an alpine knot – hook a carabiner to it and
block and tackle to get the rope as tight as possible.</li>
<li>Finally, tie your horse so its nose is close to the ground so that they
can lie down, eat, etc.</li>
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<b>Planning Your Trip</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Careful planning is needed for any ultralight trip. Considering where you are going to get <i>water </i>is key.<b> </b>Will you find it along the trail? Is there water that you can camp next to (it's absolutely crucial that you have water where you camp)? For g<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">razing, the rule of thumb is that your horse needs to graze 1.5 hour in morning and at night. You can also </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">carry pelleted feed – but that’s a
challenge because of the weight and bulk of that kind of feed.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Leave No Trace Principles</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">These principles are paramount when you are in the back-country. Essentially: leave the area the same if not better than you found it. This goes beyond packing out your trash, but pertains to your impact on the land overall. With land and trails for horse use disappearing it's also important to consider what other trail users will think about your presence. Some important considerations include:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li>Meadows – these are sensitive ecosystems, especially when they are wet.
Don’t take your horse out into a wet meadow as your horse will damage it.
Instead, allow them to graze in dry meadows.</li>
<li>Cat holes – bury your waste when you’re out on the trail. 6” deep,
using a trowel (they make folding ones). And <i>carry out</i> your toilet paper. Never
build your hole close to water closer than 200ft (which is about 70 steps).</li>
<li>Streams and lakes – only water your horse where the trail crosses the
body of water or at a bank that is rocky or sandy because horses will tend to stir
up sediment.</li>
<li>Manure – never make camp closer than 200ft to a body of water. Use
cathole shovel to scrape away everything on the ground where you are high lining (pine
needles, branches, etc.) and when you are done scrape the pine needles and
forest stuff back to where horse was. Fling manure into bushes, not open areas. This leaves the area nice for successive campers and keeps the horse area clean.</li>
<li>Fires/campfires – often they are not allowed, but if there is no burn
ban… clear all burnable debris within 10ft of the fire ring. Only used downed
wood. Use rocks to line fire pit. You can get several layers of aluminum foil
to help protect the ground from the fire. Fire cloth is also a thing (Norco
may carry it, but it can be heavy).</li>
</ul>
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<b>The equipment and supplies you will need (and suggested supplies):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Water purification – McCarrel<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> uses Sawyer water filter system – and it weighs
nothing!</span></li>
<li>Cooking – McCarrel uses a Jet Boil system. You can get lightweight pans
that nest inside each other. Remember: the kind of cooking equipment you have
will dictate what food you can have! </li>
<li>Sleeping considerations – You will need some kind of protection
depending on your preference. A bivisack (props up over your head), or a lightweight
tent will work. Everything McCarrel carries for sleeping weighs around 6lbs!</li>
<li>Clothing and toiletries. This includes</li>
<li>Food – You will bring lots of freeze-dried if you use a jet-boil; almond
butter is great and pack-able; tortillas – to make sandwiches with; nose feed
bag if your horse is getting pellets; sporks!</li>
<li>Baby wipes are the best thing ever on the trail as you can give
yourself a “bath” after a dusty day on the trail.</li>
<li>Human first aid kid – benadryl, triangle bandage, and general supplies.</li>
<li>Collapsible water bucket.</li>
<li>Cigarette lighter and matches.</li>
<li>Though she doesn't carry one herself, carrying a gun was discussed when it came up from commentators in the audience. What
if you need to put your horse down on the trail?</li>
</ul>
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<b>McCarrel then did a show and tell of her pack and bags, pulling things out and showing how she balanced her load. It's very important you keep track of side-to-side balance (ie. drink out of your water bottles evenly).</b></div>
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<u>Front pack.</u> Put the heavy stuff
in the pommel bag because horses spines are not connected to their hips. They can carry more weight over their shoulders. Also
put things up front that need to be accessible in your front packs. The list of things she carries in her front back include: horse pellets; water bottles; carry GPS always, with extra
batteries; folding saw; a flashlight with battery outside of flashlight to
conserve the batteries (flashers are good in an emergency); camera; leatherman;
salt (for your horse); and a good headlamp. Also include clothing that needs to be easy-to-reach, like a poncho (this covers more than just your jacket, and may be easier to put on).</div>
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<u>Rump pack.</u> In her back pack she carries: air mattress (she has self-inflating pad);
fleece, waterproof jacket, and clot<span style="font-family: inherit;">hing are all fitted around sleeping bag; horse
first aid kit with banamine, bute (in a powder for<span style="font-family: inherit;">m), topical analgesic, fly
spray (you can soak paper towels with fly spray in baggie as well). Also include a horse
brush hoofpick; shoelace for tack repairs; l</span>ittle kitchen garbage bag to line your helmet with to serve up your
horse water! The things found in the rump pack can be bulky (the sleeping bag especially), but they are lightweight.</span></div>
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McCarrel also spoke about riding <span style="font-family: inherit;">the <a href="http://cotamtb.com/trails/metolius-windigo/">M</a></span><a href="http://cotamtb.com/trails/metolius-windigo/">etolius-Windigo Trail</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, which is located in Central Oregon. She has a <a href="http://nwhorsetrails.com/riding-horse-trail/ride-metolius-windigo-trail/">new book</a> out describing the trail, it's camps, and different </span>challenges<span style="font-family: inherit;">. This<a href="http://www.equitrekking.com/articles/entry/riding-the-metolius-windigo-trail-in-central-oregon/"> article</a> goes into more detail about trekking on this scenic trail. The photos she shared of her packing trips on this trail were </span>gorgeous<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and it's gone on my bucket list!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other resources include the <a href="https://www.trailmeister.com/">Trail Meister website</a>. You can find horse trails and camps through this site, along with lots of helps with how to <a href="https://www.trailmeister.com/category/knots/">tie different knots</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Anyone want to go packing with me sometime?</i></span></div>
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Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/02/essential-oils-for-horse-and-rider-pner.html">Essential Oils for Horses (PNER Convention Notes)</a></div>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-35457079740147422172017-02-06T10:15:00.000-08:002017-02-08T09:38:27.106-08:00Essential Oils for the Horse and Rider (PNER Convention Notes)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The following are notes (along with some of my own added observations) of the presentation on essential oils given by one of our regional vets, Dr. Cassee Terry, DVM, at the PNER Convention in January, 2017.</div>
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<i>I enjoyed this talk by Dr. Cassee since I use my essential oils daily.
They have been one of the few things that has made a difference in my personal
battle with autoimmune disease and chronic illness. Unfortunately I am very
sensitive to most medications – if there are side effects listed in a
medication you better believe I am going to experience them! For that reason
essential oils have become my first line of defense for many issues because,
miracle of miracles, my body seems to accept these volatile plant oils much better
than western medicine “remedies.” I take them internally too (either in veggie
capsules, a glass of water, or just straight under my tongue). One reason I
personally believe this is true is that the essential oils work systematically
rather than just trying to pinpoint one symptom that may be caused by something
else within your organ systems.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>After this talk I hope to start using essential oils with my animals
more often. I've made some internal links for folks interested in learning more about particular oils. I also have a general list of many of the scientific studies and shown effects of oils, if anyone is curious about a specific oil – just let me know! (Note: cats are very sensitive and many essential oils are toxic to
them.)</i><br />
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<b>What are essential oils?</b></h3>
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Essential oils are extracts from plants that are 50-70 times more
powerful than the herb itself. They are composed of the aromatic compound of
the plant. This means that not all plants can be distilled into an essential
oil!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Why do we care?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The properties of essential oils have actually been studied and found
efficacious in Western medicine – you can do a search and find countless
studies on essential oils showing their effect (oregano oil, for example, is
well-studied as an antibiotic). Essential oils can penetrate cells and kill
viruses and bacteria. The role of the essential oil for the plant is to protect
and repair the plant, and these properties can be carried over to other
(non-plant) cells. Essential oils can have similar properties to synthetic
drugs but without as much potential for side effects. A good place to start
because you can ward off using medication and even prep the body for medication
if it ends up being needed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Cassee uses DoTERRA oils. I also use this brand of oils and have a
wholesale membership (which allows you to get a lower price on oils and other
products). DoTERRA sources oils from <i>native
soils</i> (where those plants grow in an indigenous state). Dr. Cassee notes that this
can make a difference for medicinal purposes due to the relationship between
the plant and the soil and climate it evolved in. One of the things I like
about this is DoTERRA contracts with locals to grow and harvest the plants
needed for the oils. In some communities this is the lifeblood income in the
area. My main concern with essential oils is that I needed the quality and
safety to be able to take them internally for my health issues. There are only
two brands (DoTERRA and Young Living) that currently seem to meet those
standards.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are three main ways to use
essential oils (for you or your horse):<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u style="font-family: inherit;">Aromatic</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> – affects mood, cleanses air (can be disinfecting), and works to open
airways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Topical </u>– works fast (entering bloodstream within 30 minutes), has systemic
localized effects. Most useful for massage, immediate comfort, immune support, etc.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Internal</u> – detoxifies the body, supports digestive system and immune
systems, mouth, throat, liver, urogenital tract, etc. some oils are also useful for flavoring in cooking or baking. <i>Note: some oils cannot be taken internally (it should say on the bottle).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The main difficulty for using essential oils on horses
is that it’s difficult to have a true topical application due to their hair
coat (the oils need to get to the skin to absorb). However, you can put it down
their hair coat and they can constantly smell it (essentially becoming their
own diffuser). Since horses are sensitive animals, this can often be enough to treat them.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b>Specific oils and their common
uses:</b></h3>
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<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/peppermint-oil">Peppermint</a></u> – horses typically love this oil! (Dogs usually do
not love it, so it can be used for a deterrent for them).<i> I use this constantly – in fact peppermint is the oil I go through most often as I use it for a muscle rub and internally for digestive upset. I also use it for bruises and headaches. It blends wonderfully with other oils when diffused.</i></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Helps you wake up in the morning – place 2 drops on palm, cup over your
nose/mouth and breathe deeply (just make sure you avoid your eyes!).</li>
<li>Helps with nausea either applied on skin over stomach or taken
internally</li>
<li>Cooling – good for headaches, cooling, stress and tension.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/frankincense-oil">Frankincense</a></u> – is well known as the King of the oils!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Its range of characteristics is huge and it touches almost every body
system with it’s chemical constituents – great for inflammation, healing,
telling cells to stay on the right path (and if they don’t, tells them to
die!), and supporting a healthy immune response. <i>I personally use Frankincense daily to support my auto-immune issues. This is one I take internally directly under my tongue. Unfortunately, it is expensive!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In horses, frankincense can be applied to <i>fight sarcoids</i> – apply full
strength to the sarcoid 2x day. It can be used for other cancers as well. This
oil is superior when used to lower inflammation, and fight infection – add 2
drops 2x day in food or apply topically. Horses don’t need much!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Helps with nervous tension.</li>
<li>Commonly used in skin care products, and for wrinkles.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://doterra.com/us/en/p/pasttense-oil" style="text-decoration: underline;">Past Tense (tension blend)</a> – is a doTERRA blend of oils that is typically sold
as a roller bottle. This oil is great for headaches – apply directly to neck, temples, or forehead for
headache relief.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Muscle & joint pain & tension relief.</li>
<li>Apply to hand or feet reflex points.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/aromatouch-massage-blend-oil">Aromatouch</a></u> – is another DoTERRA blend otherwise termed the “massage
blend." This blend helps relive inflammation when massaged into tired tense or
stressed muscles and was originally made for folks with edema in the legs (as
in diabetics). This blend it does not have peppermint which some people do not
enjoy the smell of, but still increases circulation to an affected area.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhjOpiMpTKq9Q3v4pIU2vjztbgEFB9gDGCFHPAOmOVj6jkZND8LGc4Xqd9n1Ax0ghPnlfy73gsMKU1Oh8HffaPgNW-U32rcz3KcgQLfkS42Cak6UFFUaMRxQY7-nJSBr9ZqzSAPi4UsY/s1600/iphone+feb+2017+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhjOpiMpTKq9Q3v4pIU2vjztbgEFB9gDGCFHPAOmOVj6jkZND8LGc4Xqd9n1Ax0ghPnlfy73gsMKU1Oh8HffaPgNW-U32rcz3KcgQLfkS42Cak6UFFUaMRxQY7-nJSBr9ZqzSAPi4UsY/s320/iphone+feb+2017+033.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the oils in my personal kit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For horses, n<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">othing in here would be restricted for
endurance. Cypress is the leading oil in this blend!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Nothing in here would be restricted for endurance. Cypress is the
leading oil in this blend!</li>
<li>Calming, respiratory – open bottle under horse’s nostrils and allow
them to breathe. Rub 1-2 drops on horse’s poll or on muzzle.</li>
<li>Muscles, cooling, colic: use 1.2 gallon of water and 5 drops oil and sponge
onto the horse.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/lemongrass-oil">Lemongrass</a><o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lemongrass is good for cramping muscles and inflammation<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is very potent, may need to be diluted (apply on location with
peppermint and drink lots of water!). I can speak personally to lemongrass
being potent. It’s the only oil that I react negatively to when applied
topically even when it’s diluted. The smell is lovely though!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Helps warm the feet in the winter.</li>
<li>Can also be used for arthritis – can be used internally (maybe use a veggie cap as it does taste bad).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/deep-blue-oil"><u>Deep Blue</u> </a>– Otherwise called the "soothing blend", this line of products comes in an oil, a rub lotion, and phenol
capsules (the capsules have different components, including turmeric – however
it is a supplement to help with aches and pains just like the topical products).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This mixture includes wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue
tansy, German chamomile, <a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/helichrysum-oil"><span style="color: #660099; text-decoration: none;">helichrysum oil</span></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, and osmanthus.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The capsule supplement of Deep Blue has boswalia (which is the herb
version of frankincense) – its actually different than frankincense itself (but
pairs well with it).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For the rub and oil it can be applied topically applied topically to
horses by rubbing rub into their skin. Key areas of attention could be the hocks
for arthritis, and coffin join for laminitis (rubbing into cornet band). Dr.
Cassee recommends adding some lemongrass oil into the mix for some extra zip!</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/digestzen-oil">DigestZen</a></u> – digestion support!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The PB Assist from DoTERRA has double layered capsules which are shown
to survive until they get to the small intestine. The DigestZen oil – can be a little hotter, so it should be diluted. It
can be used on the abdomen or taken internally (tastes like licorice). It can
help soothe and calm acid reflex.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
DoTERRA also makes DigestTabs to help deliver benefits to digestion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This product can be used in horses:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Ulcers – add 1 drop to horses feed 2x day (note that using electrolytes
may tear up the stomach; many athletes have ulcers! Even pasture pets can have
ulcers. Horses have very unique stomachs, they have a band that divides
glandular from non-glandular (acidic and non-acidic), which makes them more
sensitive to ulcers when the acid could be thrown up. They are very delicate!</li>
<li>Gas – put 3 drops in syringe, mix w/ applesauce and give orally (most
colics are gas colics).</li>
<li>Colic – put 3 drops in syringe, mix with applesauce and give orally
(rub over flanks and stomach, rub on gums, repeat every 10 minutes). This is
why banamine helps – it helps them relax and pass gas! But this may not help
torsion cases.</li>
<li>Deworming – add 1 drop to horses feed 2x day until parasites are gone
(would need to confirm via fecals). Adding thyme might work well too. This may
take a month – and it also depends on the parasites! </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/doterra-breathe-touch-essential-oil-blend">Breathe</a></u> – DoTERRA has a whole family or products in this area,
including roller bottles, “cough” drops for sore throats, a main oil. These
products focus on respiratory support and can be used on a horse’s muzzle to
target their airway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/on-guard-oil">OnGuard</a></u> – the immune support powerhouse (and encompasses another family
of products). The oil can be rubbed on the gums for quick uptake, diffused to
help kill airborne pathogens, and you can use it to clean your tack, trailer,
stalls, etc. THs oil blend contains oils shown to inhibit MRSA. doTERRA also
offers the product in capsules, which include melissa oil (which is the most
powerful anti-viral oil).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For horse care: <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Dilute 5 drops in 24 oz water, spray and wipe buckets, stalls,
contaminated areas, trailers.</li>
<li>Viral infections – put 2 drops in feed or syringe with applesauce
mixture in mouth. Twice a day until symptoms are gone.</li>
<li>Bathing: use foaming wash to boost immune system and get a healthy
clean coat without chemicals.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/oregano-oil">Oregano oil</a></u> – the leader in tackling bacterial infections, oregano is a
very “hot” oil and should usually be diluted with some kind of carrier oil
(such as fractioned coconut oil). Oregano oil is one of the most widely studied
oils and is antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiparasitic, antiseptic, supportive
for the respiratory system, antiviral, and an immune stimulant. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For use, you can dilute oregano oil with 5 drops in the 24 oz water
bottle and spray horse areas to safely disinfect stalls, trailers, and mats. A similar
spray is great for thrush – add 2 drops of oregano with coconut oil and put
directly on affected area. This oil is also good for skin infections – dilute
well with coconut oil first before applying to affected area (combining with
melaleuca is also a good idea for skin infections).</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/lemon-oil">Lemon</a></u> – is your gentle detoxifying oil; it’s antiseptic, antifungal,
& cleansing. This oil can be added to water troughs to clean and disinfect the water
(there will be no problem if the horse drinks it).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>For bad water: put 3-5 drops of oil in a 5 gallon bucket of water,
allow horse to drink.</li>
<li>Kidney function – put 3-5 drops in a 5 gallon bucket of water, allow
horse to drink.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/lavender-oil" style="text-decoration: underline;">Lavender</a> – is a calming and soothing oil that helps with skin issues,
and burns. It is well studied for its mood-stabilizing properties and the ability to
help sleep. However, lavender is considered an illegal substance in endurance
(though, how do they test for it?). You can always put it on yourself and your
horse will still get the aromatherapy affect.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/wintergreen-oil">Wintergreen</a></u> – is another great oil for soothing body pain. Because this
oil does have menthol in its chemical makeup, it would be considered illegal
for use in endurance (but you can use it afterward). I personally use this for
my own personal cartilage and bone pain (such as arthritis), which is one of its
studied uses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Oils for behavior</u> – many blends and oils are used to affect mood for people and they should have
the same effects for horses (note: cats do react differently and caution should
be used with cats. Cats should never be exposed to citrus oils).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://doterra.com/us/en/p/balance-grounding-blend-oil">Balance</a> – this is a grounding blend. “Balance” can help human or animal
relax and takes the edge off. This oil can be used on horse’s poll or muzzle</li>
<li>Lavender & the <a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/p/doterra-serenity-oil">Serenity blend</a> – calming and soothing (NOTE: lavender is a
restricted substance in endurance racing – so use it on you, not your horse at
a ride!).</li>
<li>Emotional aromatherapy kit – motivate, cheer, passion, forgive,
console, & peace.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<u>For use on skin & lacerations</u>, these oils may be called for:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>OnGuard – abscesses, infections, open wounds.</li>
<li>Clove – is numbing, so good for wound that is itchy or painful.</li>
<li>Frankincense – use for anything! Frankincense can be applied neat (without dilution).</li>
<li>Cedarwood – really good for skin, rashes, and dry coat.</li>
<li>Melaleuca – thrush, wounds, skin.</li>
<li>Helichrysum – wounds, tendons, swelling (it’s like liquid skin).</li>
<li>Cypress – increases circulation, and is grounding.</li>
<li>Rosemary – hair regrowth, antifungal.</li>
</ul>
<div>
If you are interested in learning more about essential oils there is a wealth of information online (though some of it is suspect). Dr. Cassee can be contacted <a href="mailto:cassee@redmondgvetclinic.com">via e-mail</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/02/an-update-on-delis-rehabilitation-for.html">an update on Deli's rehabilitation...</a></div>
<div>
<br />
Next time: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/02/ultralight-trips-packing-without-pack.html">Ultralight Trips: Packing Without a Pack Horse</a></span></span></div>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-9208390392073098422017-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:002017-02-03T08:00:12.832-08:00An update on Deli's rehabilitation for kissing spines (and the related issues)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I haven’t ridden my horse since mid-October of 2016 when she received her diagnosis. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Instead I’ve been working on serious rehabilitation exercises 3-4 times
a week, along with lots of stretching and strength exercises. The idea is to
build up her top-line before I sit on her again, which will help her one kissing
spine (the area around the 13<sup>th</sup>—15<sup>th</sup> dorsal spinous
process). The damage and atrophy to the multifidus muscle as it courses from
one spinous process to the next is another matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My rehab primarily takes the form of lounging her in the theraband with
some kind of equipment to keep her head down. In general I am not a fan of
equipment, but she does not reliably stay long-and low on her own and running
around with her head up will just exacerbate the problem. So I use a neck
stretcher with the theraband wrapped in various positions around her
hindquarters. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhWu_YQjVSKiaY9e5FDbAiPFJpd2Il7-ZOlcru1G8QxxDESapHYNODTdqm3m7wkR2LLcsqfn0qgczI3l8J0Kyg5fS28NrKt_UB8UxzBx0BhokdWbfdKtnrISTDF08b14YZHosgl2IyOk/s1600/Deli+snow+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhWu_YQjVSKiaY9e5FDbAiPFJpd2Il7-ZOlcru1G8QxxDESapHYNODTdqm3m7wkR2LLcsqfn0qgczI3l8J0Kyg5fS28NrKt_UB8UxzBx0BhokdWbfdKtnrISTDF08b14YZHosgl2IyOk/s640/Deli+snow+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using the theraband after a light snowfall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It’s a serious workout with the theraband providing resistance. After delays from a massive heel bulb abscess
and unusual snowfall that kept me from working her for over a week we have
worked our way up to 11 minutes each direction in the theraband (starting from one minute, which was enough to get her breathing heavily in the beginning). Soon, I should
be able to hop on her to cool her off after each session.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I’ve been thinking about this issue more. I’ve also, partially by
accident, noticed something interesting from looking at old photos. Deli has
always had a curvy back versus a straight back (a back with “rock’). However,
after she had a traumatic fall about 3-4 years ago and after the subsequent
rehabilitation for that, her back became more swayed. In that fall she injured
her hip, ribs, and gave herself serious nerve damage in her girth area. Time
for easy rehab, acupuncture, and some cold laser brought her back sound.
However, now I wonder if possibly she tweaked that area in her back (which may
have already been weak due to her upright neck set) or even tore her multifidus
during that accident. Any kind of injury to an already weak area could have exacerbated
what was already there. Subsequently adding more and more work to condition of
endurance led her to strain her lower back because she could NOT use her upper
back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBMM5xJz_rA2Dpwa-Zx3xRGibuXj2HiJEk8blVu4Dy8aMRXWXnJhISYoZmRig31KFIlDVkpWNgM-LCfFqYSt3RM5aUlHtora2jahQRLqDcO4ZEPv2jiStQOwHrxzfhxvU2LiGI7ZQnWs/s1600/Jan+2017+animals+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBMM5xJz_rA2Dpwa-Zx3xRGibuXj2HiJEk8blVu4Dy8aMRXWXnJhISYoZmRig31KFIlDVkpWNgM-LCfFqYSt3RM5aUlHtora2jahQRLqDcO4ZEPv2jiStQOwHrxzfhxvU2LiGI7ZQnWs/s400/Jan+2017+animals+007.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still the prettiest horse in the barn...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
All the times I’ve had her scanned with infrared, adjusted, or worked
on, the area of the back where she has kissing spines has never registered as a
serious problem area. Now I know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I think that area was weak (or stuck, or whatever you want to call it)
because even before I got her she tended to build up lower back muscle much
faster than any of her other top-line muscle. Since she was essentially semi-feral
for most of her early life she could have gotten into all sorts of unknown
trouble! She is definitely a horse that would have benefited from correct dressage work
early on (not so early you would be riding a horse who hasn’t finished growing, of course!).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The rehabilitation will continue. I don’t know yet what kind of riding
(if any) she will be up for in the future. I’ll also need another saddle for
her if and when I get to that point of the rehabilitation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Between rehabbing my poor Deli, I’ve been doing other horsey things. One
highlight was the <span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.pner.net/"><span style="color: #660099; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Pacific Northwest Endurance Riders (PNER) </span></a>Conference,
at the end of January. I got to see and hang out with a lot of my friends that
I don’t always get to see, attend some interesting talks, and even make some
cash by selling unneeded tack and horse blankets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As per usual, I took notes during all the talks I attended. I plan on
cleaning up these notes and posting them on this blog over the next couple
months. Endurance education coming up!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-end-of-something-barely-started.html">the kissing spines diagnosis!</a></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-59668428948875914632016-11-04T08:41:00.002-07:002017-02-03T08:02:38.276-08:00The end of something (barely started).<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It has been a long time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I keep starting to write an entry and stopping. I am still in a muzzy
state of unrest from the recent diagnosis I received for Deli. Unrest and heartbreak.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A couple of months ago after a long-but-slow conditioning ride, Deli
presented with some pretty severe back soreness. This was much worse than the
muscle soreness she had after her first LD at Mt. Adams. I thought, at first,
it was related to a new pad combination I’d tried (since that was the first
long ride with the new pad configuration). Then, when it didn’t resolve as
expected, I wondered if she had hurt something while bouncing around in the mud
trying to avoid a water crossing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Long story short of it, we’ve been chasing odd back soreness in her
lower lumbar region since then. I finally decided to get a back ultrasound
after the normal R&R, chiropractic adjustments, and acupuncture did not
make a difference. She would get better, but then I’d do an easy ride and the
back soreness would flare up again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well, the news from the ultrasound was not good: kissing spines and
some serious damage multifidus muscle along her spine – right behind her
withers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What is kissing spines? The more technical phrase is<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> “overriding dorsal spinous
processes” – essentially this term describes the touching or “</span><em><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">kissing</span></em>” of spinal processes, which are the long thin
bones that protrude upward from each vertebrae in horse’s back. It’s likely
she has always had this underlying problem because she has always over-built
her lower back muscles. Her conformation (that high-headed saddlebred set) likely
predisposes this problem in this area of her back. The damage to the multifidus
could be acute or chronic. Regardless, time carrying a rider and the increased
workload we have had coming into endurance riding has made an underlying
pathology become more obviously painful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
You want to get technical? Here are some ultrasound images.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZGId1xiLLc7Ubcwx6sgw-KEa6hmTtaVC_gCu96UBgBHklXRge_NOo2QTf_tdn_CFCkaI7uD5PSoAcv3SyMphpF6B1L6v6BgJEkJHR04v3uaklrXvzHtlBQJMg0mBIpq6eCnnfx_ESHo/s1600/Back+ultra1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZGId1xiLLc7Ubcwx6sgw-KEa6hmTtaVC_gCu96UBgBHklXRge_NOo2QTf_tdn_CFCkaI7uD5PSoAcv3SyMphpF6B1L6v6BgJEkJHR04v3uaklrXvzHtlBQJMg0mBIpq6eCnnfx_ESHo/s640/Back+ultra1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Normal
multifidus muscle fiber pattern with some underlying
proliferation of bone on a dorsal spinous process. 13<sup>th</sup>
thoracic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGo19O1EdsVzJWX7zCpsojlG98kVupp05-MK1iRW6SluN5X-DCPEHXOxnuLjlkquHLZnTiwuXNqRjP9vwF5csBgI5wcIWg00-q9oTWzrBcS7TJAvCQa3CUlTAX-MpJlKs3DGRJOzwiGc/s1600/Back+ultra2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGo19O1EdsVzJWX7zCpsojlG98kVupp05-MK1iRW6SluN5X-DCPEHXOxnuLjlkquHLZnTiwuXNqRjP9vwF5csBgI5wcIWg00-q9oTWzrBcS7TJAvCQa3CUlTAX-MpJlKs3DGRJOzwiGc/s640/Back+ultra2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Damage
to/atrophy of the multifidus muscle as it courses from one spinous process to
the next. Notice the total loss of normal fiber pattern compared
to the previous image.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9dzFsPzOXxew0oqgu6rsphxrDHdTw7eR2bGZDEXyVjdw6rGhPBdvWpGD5bv203GN7KyPvnlpJQel8jah1-yrD_ub4F-PdnXsSWBYxPez4XHhQWxRYzhhuOgq842ZEGn5zbIw3xZfg3Y/s1600/Back+ultra3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9dzFsPzOXxew0oqgu6rsphxrDHdTw7eR2bGZDEXyVjdw6rGhPBdvWpGD5bv203GN7KyPvnlpJQel8jah1-yrD_ub4F-PdnXsSWBYxPez4XHhQWxRYzhhuOgq842ZEGn5zbIw3xZfg3Y/s640/Back+ultra3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Location
where dorsal spinous processes are close-riding or touching. Approximately 13<sup>th</sup>-15<sup>th</sup> dorsal spinous processes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Her lower back region looked great, so my vet rightly determined that
being unable to use her upper back properly and is straining her lower back
muscles. So the obvious pain is not where the underlying problem is.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the short term I am working with Deli to try and get her back to
lift (by using her abs) in that upper back region. So far, the therapies and
ground exercises I’ve tried have been unsuccessful. Our next step is to try <span style="background: white;">mesotherapy, a pain-dampening technique that
stimulates the mesoderm, the middle layer of the skin. Our hope is that pain
relief will make her more able to build the muscles needed to relive those
spinous processes. We are also going to get a theraband (a lounging therapy
tool) and continue with massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic work.</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">In the long term… any more endurance riding is probably out
of the question for her. For this, I am heartbroken. She really showed she has
the mind and enjoyment for it and I know this is the sport that I want to be
involved in over any other.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">My plan is to try this rehab work for a couple months and see
if it seems probable that we could get her strong enough for long trail rides
without her always presenting as back sore. </span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">Then I will need to get a new
saddle. Though the edema I was getting with my Ghost saddle didn’t appear
painful to palpation, you could see in the ultrasound that it was not superficial
and may have been contributing to the multifidus damage and internal pain. I am
considering doing the Reactor panel “rent for rehab” program, but the cost of
all of that makes me cringe.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">As of right now, if after a couple months of ground therapy
it does not look like Deli will be able to be decently sound and comfortable
for trail riding I am going to <i>retire her</i>
altogether. It’s rough and my heart aches because <i>she is my heart </i>and the one I want to go off and have adventures
with. But this pathology means I can’t rely on her comfort. And if it will take
10 hours of doing hard arena work she hates just to get an hour on the trail... I’m
not sure that’s worth it. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">Especially if that would require me buying her a $4k saddle that would set back my financial situation. It will make her so very unhappy. And she isn’t that
horse that has a huge work drive – she would be perfectly happy being a pasture
puff.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">With the money I would spend renting an insanely expensive
saddle I could easily lease another horse to compete in endurance with. If I
had my own property I could probably <i>own
another </i>horse, but given the state of the world that’s not going to happen
anytime soon!</span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the other hand, if she has just been annoyed by arena work
because of this underlying condition the whole time, she may thrive under these
therapies. Not enough to do endurance, I’m sure, but it might be enough to justify not </span>retiring<span style="font-family: inherit;"> her (in part because this condition is chronic and will progress even if she is a pasture puff, and proper work might help her longevity).</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;">I don’t have to make any decisions yet, but having a “if,
then” plan is necessary for me to not otherwise implode from stress. We still
have some things to try, but I am preparing myself for the idea that Deli is going to be retired sometime soon.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceVBTVamoz3iA3p9x8Fg1Sbpr0STXzcfIFo2HKkSUqGzO_ROm5Ys4f3G6CicBzegHaQAjzNGRFWuXpvSJP4Zl910vuYdOLOdHDKTdmZirGHc9ilN3JvjX-K_B2POhdBG9c_TJW-9k8b8/s1600/Deli+Fall+ride+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceVBTVamoz3iA3p9x8Fg1Sbpr0STXzcfIFo2HKkSUqGzO_ROm5Ys4f3G6CicBzegHaQAjzNGRFWuXpvSJP4Zl910vuYdOLOdHDKTdmZirGHc9ilN3JvjX-K_B2POhdBG9c_TJW-9k8b8/s400/Deli+Fall+ride+2016.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />
Next time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2017/02/an-update-on-delis-rehabilitation-for.html">an update on how our rehabilitation is going!</a><br />
Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/05/mt-adams-ld-follow-up-thoughts.html">final thoughts about our Mt. Adams LD</a></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-75545147996707225032016-05-28T18:21:00.002-07:002016-05-28T18:21:51.744-07:00Mt. Adams LD follow up thoughts...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh yeah, we had fun.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGuOzzV0HzQKtTBHc45EuAg9pNy_seWmz4qy4H8ClzzozICXeasXfrNroeVWlK7PdGJ5hXiPQ8P5sqZ_bsAXG5_D4VJwZWYrwtiDEseCL0-sP2Crxj2dOXMkPJ9c3e5KUZB76Uc6Agho/s1600/mtadams16-7891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGuOzzV0HzQKtTBHc45EuAg9pNy_seWmz4qy4H8ClzzozICXeasXfrNroeVWlK7PdGJ5hXiPQ8P5sqZ_bsAXG5_D4VJwZWYrwtiDEseCL0-sP2Crxj2dOXMkPJ9c3e5KUZB76Uc6Agho/s640/mtadams16-7891.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Deli's back is just about 100% better after the soreness from the ride. And her first rides afterward (I gave her a good chunk of time off) she felt great. We obviously still have a few things to fiddle with, but hope to improve with each LD we do.<br />
<br />
Problems we encountered that we need to fiddle with:<br />
<br />
<b>Back soreness.</b> Likely from exertion (especially trotting downhill and me being less balanced there), being weaker on one side, and possibly compounded by cramping from the cold. Planned solution? More practice trotting downhill for both of us, increasing strengthening exercises for Deli (especially these canter exercises my trainer friend suggested). For the cold, I just need to get a cooler on her ASAP when we stop if the temperature is at all cool and ride with a rump rug on cool parts (even if I have to keep it rolled up). There is also a possibility the saddle is an issue and I will continue to be vigilant in that regard. I am planning on playing with the rigging and the pad(s), and thinking of bolstering the front even more. Since it sits a little downhill already, it may have thrown me off more than expected on those gradual downhills.<br />
<br />
I am also going to try and determine if I can get off and jog besides her for some of these long gradual slopes. It's a big IF with my knee and hip issues, but I thought I'd try anyway.<br />
<br />
As for the cramping, she definitely did stiffen some in the brisk cool wind. It might have been better to <i>come in hot</i>, knowing I had a cooler in the pulse-in area, rather than jump off before the finish line and walk her in. Hmmm. Maybe more electrolytes?!<br />
<br />
Also: bring liniment next time!<br />
<br />
<b>Skin flaking</b>. Actually, this problem was not as bad as I <i>expected</i> it to be. Her armpits flaked some, as did everywhere where I had tack on her body. She has such sensitive skin and I'll take the dandruff-ick over the inflamed raw sores any day. I also didn't give her any anti-histamines after the ride because the insects were non-existent. In retrospect a single dose might have helped her sensitive skin after the fact even if she wasn't bitten up.<br />
<br />
<b>Stocking up and space.</b> Due to Deli's lymphangitis she gets fatleg if confined at all, so I bandaged her hinds after the ride (and overnight the night before). The next morning her front legs were a bit stocked up too, which is less common for her. Tying her to the trailer is not ideal for this horse. She needs as much space to move around as possible AND standing wraps. I am planning to collect supplies between now and the next ride to set up an electric corral for her. While not my ideal choice, since I do not have a rig of my own the electric corral will be the most portable and least PIA when bumming rides. Deli is respectful of electric tape so it should be okay. and I can build her something a bit bigger for less money than corral panels.<br />
<br />
By the way, can I just say how impressed I am with Deli for not killing herself tied to the trailer overnight?! That was my backup of a backup plan as I had thought to borrow a corral and/or electric pen, which ended up not actually existing when i arrived. We <i>did not practice the tying overnight-thing </i>before trying this at a busy ride. And we were camped right next to the trail! She did paw some and stuck her fat face in my riding-buddy's business (since I tied to her trailer and Deli was in reach of the back of her truck), but otherwise she did pretty good. I just plopped an entire bale of hay down in front of her, which also served as a barrier between her and the sharp bits of the trailer side.<br />
<br />
I just had to keep the mantra in my head from my friend and trainer who helped me with Deli in our first years: <b>plan and do what you can and for everything else, ENDURE.</b><br />
<br />
Here are some photos of our vet card:<br />
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Deli pulsed in really well (though she was anxious for her vet check-in!). I was also <i>very happy </i>with her CRIs, since her fitness was a big question mark for me. I think we can get them even better with work. Probably she just has that Arabian metabolic advantage.<br />
<br />
The B in gut sounds is something I wasn't super worried about day-of because she ate really well most of the day and into the night. She did eat a few mouthfuls of grass on the trail and carrots (fed by hand). Her hydration did perk up on the second loop because she drank so well after the first. On the first loop she just sipped water when offered.<br />
<br />
Also for checking her mucous membranes and capillary refill, she would not let the vet do it. However, all the vets at the ride let ME show them her gums and hydration so it wasn't a big issue. Deli does get more fussy about her face being handled by strangers in hectic environments, so I think this is something we will need to practice more at rides.<br />
<div>
<br />
Mt. Adams is well run, but it is a HUGE ride and the pulse-in area and vet checks were BUSY. Deli did pretty well, but I'm curious to see how she does at a smaller ride. Also the 30 minute hold felt <i>so short, </i>and I think we even left <i>after</i> our release time(?)<br />
<br />
So those are my closing thoughts. She felt good when I went out for 5 miles today. She's going to get a good amount of work this week and then another whole week off because my husband and I are going on our first vacation in years to Yellowstone. I am hoping to get to another one of my bucket-list rides in July and try another LD with Deli there.<br />
<br />
Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/05/mt-adams-2016-we-completed-our-first-ld.html">We completed our first LD!</a><br />
<br />
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-32189156274658158842016-05-22T16:35:00.002-07:002016-05-22T16:46:53.888-07:00Mt. Adams 2016 – we completed our first LD!<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
did it! I didn't jinx it! Deli didn't injure herself the day before! She got in the trailer! We arrived intact and rode 30 miles!</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Deli and I COMPLETED our first limited distance ride yesterday! We
completed 30 miles at the <a href="https://mtadamsride.wordpress.com/">Mount
Adams Endurance Ride</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
am so very happy with Deli and had a blast on the trail. The Mt. Adams ride is beautifully
run. Which is a good thing, because it is a BIG and BUSY ride (with 68 riders,
I believe, in the LD and… 30 started in the 100 miler!). The trail was well-marked
and the scenery was absolutely stunning.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKQSoV5Xww6zLhwW9NVw6JhI1TJIb0UoUJKn8UvtbDfkhfLZKin14ZXE8BWZiyTT2LqXKdU3sMAiinqN2F_P7kvCtuYWT4tIo_IwTv23OhOIr_egq31sg-rvodBBJfgKocCn_o4fSWpI/s1600/Mt+adams+2016+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKQSoV5Xww6zLhwW9NVw6JhI1TJIb0UoUJKn8UvtbDfkhfLZKin14ZXE8BWZiyTT2LqXKdU3sMAiinqN2F_P7kvCtuYWT4tIo_IwTv23OhOIr_egq31sg-rvodBBJfgKocCn_o4fSWpI/s400/Mt+adams+2016+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At home, waiting to leave.</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Deli
felt great all day. We dealt with some over-excitement on her part, which was
expected for her first ride. She got fairly strong at points (though never out
of control) and I was glad I opted for her snaffle bridle over the side-pull.
Her power-trot was exhilarating as we wove our way up and up through the
forest. It threatened to rain all day, sprinkling on as at times. When we
climbed through an old burned out area, the mist crawled in between the
blackened trees. At one point we got a close-up view of Mt. Adams’ snowy base.
The first loop was long and involved a lot of passing and being passed by other
groups of riders. I rode all day with my friend Vanessa and her horse Jinn and
had a great time with them.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JcIolSZ4VsnTvHLLxzt9cNehZPVor423t8gIpE2w_J3b-b7Li6mh9lhJfgeAYzyvVr6O6PaN3ilAs66cWS9pZBB1ZUg5yi4NlL6yq_G3EWBJqZH9gAb9-NUtn6lPl88_-_AyJ5VX5Pc/s1600/Mt+adams+2016+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JcIolSZ4VsnTvHLLxzt9cNehZPVor423t8gIpE2w_J3b-b7Li6mh9lhJfgeAYzyvVr6O6PaN3ilAs66cWS9pZBB1ZUg5yi4NlL6yq_G3EWBJqZH9gAb9-NUtn6lPl88_-_AyJ5VX5Pc/s400/Mt+adams+2016+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All vetted in on Friday! With her whole bale of hay...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mJrh0ndtHyijfUgP2gF_eJgcaMdkEqWdWCBbqnvKJpzs-mx1xaPWBh62oy8sHq-5JlJrzTZNTnSFVssJVbtUhleqep5bAdfVP0OhU4i6nJQm4f5Mwtahpciehzff7EwzTh64lkrBvic/s1600/Mt+adams+2016+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mJrh0ndtHyijfUgP2gF_eJgcaMdkEqWdWCBbqnvKJpzs-mx1xaPWBh62oy8sHq-5JlJrzTZNTnSFVssJVbtUhleqep5bAdfVP0OhU4i6nJQm4f5Mwtahpciehzff7EwzTh64lkrBvic/s400/Mt+adams+2016+021.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deli ties to the trailer overnight for the first time. And Jinn is CUTE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Our only trail “mishap” was Deli having a freak out about
the first bridge we encountered. She ended up crashing into a downed tree with
her hind legs and giving me a brief heart attack. So I hopped off, let folks
pass, and examined her for injuries. Miraculously she was totally fine and it
was easy to mount again on one of the many downed trees in the forest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Deli vetted in great at the first check after 16
miles – all As and A minuses. We walked out of camp on a loose rein for the
second loop and when I asked to pick up the trot again she was totally game. We
were able to find a bubble for a bit in the second loop, and I think this was
my favorite time. With a loose reins we mostly let our horses pick the pace,
which was typically around a 7mph chugging along trot. At points they picked up
the ground eating 10mph trot. For the most part we did not go fast, however, as
I had plans to not push Deli too hard. She came back into the camp after
another 13 miles still happy to trot forward, ears up. Of course I question her
soundness and ability with all the injuries she’s had, so I was very happy with
how she moved all day.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3o5EqAPZNUcjXENormezK-yvOPxNU6KLOgKd-i24tKj1gfxFxDrDhbY-zCdc5TcfhlkK4youKQ_65-cP5d72f351K9K1C3nlSmY7gTbizUk6p11CjM5Ni5J_CfpLQRzifv7wmCk40eA/s1600/Mt+adams+2016+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3o5EqAPZNUcjXENormezK-yvOPxNU6KLOgKd-i24tKj1gfxFxDrDhbY-zCdc5TcfhlkK4youKQ_65-cP5d72f351K9K1C3nlSmY7gTbizUk6p11CjM5Ni5J_CfpLQRzifv7wmCk40eA/s400/Mt+adams+2016+031.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trails (ridden on Friday).</td></tr>
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She ate up those hills and seemed to be enjoy the experince! It wasn’t
until the last few miles I felt she started to “guard” her right hind a little.
She was still moving cleanly, but it did feel like that weak leg was getting
tired faster than her other three limbs.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We pulsed in fine and got a completion, ending up with a 43<sup>rd</sup>
place out of 60.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
T<span style="font-family: inherit;">he “bad” things mostly related to her after the ride. The
wind was brisk and cold when we pulled tack, and even though I got a cooler on
her ASAP she started to cramp along her back and topline. She got Bs on her
back on the final vet through and the vet commented that she was stiffening up
in the cold. I also thought she was a bit back sore beyond just cramping, to my
disappointment. The saddle has been a big question for me (due to that edema –
which ironically we had no issues with for this ride) and I hate that she has a
sore back. This saddle we have is the MOST comfy I have ever been in tack. In
fact, I feel pretty darn good today. A bit of muscle soreness, but no un-right pain (though </span> I am personally very sleepy from two nights with poor sleep)<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next hour she was eating and drinking great, but she definitely seemed to be stiff and uncomfortable on her
topline and generally cramped up just standing around. She was shifting about
on her feet. As Deli seemed most comfortable sedately walking around camp and
grazing, that’s what we did for about an hour or two after our ride. When she
seemed a bit looser I tied her back to the trailer with her bale of hay and a
bucket of carrots and went to pass out for a bit in our tent with my husband
(who crewed for me like a champ all day).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She did fine overnight but, unfortunately, her
back was still sore this morning. I got some advice from riders more experienced
than me: that it might just be all the downhill trotting or the exertion (and
not the saddle?). If that’s the case the soreness should be gone by tomorrow or
the next day. If not, something else may be going on. She didn’t feel fussy or
sore-backed at all while I was riding. In fact, she seemed to enjoy herself.
Particularly when we were in that bubble I could feel that delightful curious
spark she has, wondering what was around the next bend in the trail.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly-OxkyyA19E8yuvZ1QLnGK7U3_gBd0-x09zeyMIREkjTCZExOwNQHIpBBJSY6aRumlEujvr5euizt9qWA9fgbhyphenhyphen7H6Sxig-VrObXwkbFTiOCPzukgYzb_BuN65HRU4PFnqjlrYUNIXw/s1600/Mt+adams+2016+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly-OxkyyA19E8yuvZ1QLnGK7U3_gBd0-x09zeyMIREkjTCZExOwNQHIpBBJSY6aRumlEujvr5euizt9qWA9fgbhyphenhyphen7H6Sxig-VrObXwkbFTiOCPzukgYzb_BuN65HRU4PFnqjlrYUNIXw/s400/Mt+adams+2016+056.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the ride, trying to keep warm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKHaD1NRfTIKC4xrg1ldn2Nsne-goAGzRbz-2eSQKzSeqYcfq7GMkHunDOlxrmwFknvqV68rNxRkOXTgxGk7N-3_HvuDHY-QdHedUjPQ8wAH1SOC5HBdlqsw9ypuYwQ_xoOQPebbzvGE/s1600/Mt+adams+2016+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKHaD1NRfTIKC4xrg1ldn2Nsne-goAGzRbz-2eSQKzSeqYcfq7GMkHunDOlxrmwFknvqV68rNxRkOXTgxGk7N-3_HvuDHY-QdHedUjPQ8wAH1SOC5HBdlqsw9ypuYwQ_xoOQPebbzvGE/s400/Mt+adams+2016+063.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband was so helpful and wonderful all weekend.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIdtwRpFi5myZISt9GljaZyzbDFyEhKvXz3OTttxwWlcrOWvW85kM_pIjk95MHHfSM8LF0gdNGZNfUGwjUo7eeWypDy7QaPQNMUPJdKK8rSOIIVqx4lK86igR4X_n3MRIS3JrgNoP2pQ/s1600/Mt+adams+2016+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIdtwRpFi5myZISt9GljaZyzbDFyEhKvXz3OTttxwWlcrOWvW85kM_pIjk95MHHfSM8LF0gdNGZNfUGwjUo7eeWypDy7QaPQNMUPJdKK8rSOIIVqx4lK86igR4X_n3MRIS3JrgNoP2pQ/s400/Mt+adams+2016+069.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride camp this morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx2ZPk5usQlBuF8ASdXOoJMP8qoO6GiQMjgkTThU08_yPgpAwDIfC471th8cQMeEoSdlpCwQ4qEzg5pi0j2n19UWLo_2xA6baswF-hSk4kVaklXgb93r6m5bZYTO7FnXjvk0orA_ci5E/s1600/Mt+adams+2016+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx2ZPk5usQlBuF8ASdXOoJMP8qoO6GiQMjgkTThU08_yPgpAwDIfC471th8cQMeEoSdlpCwQ4qEzg5pi0j2n19UWLo_2xA6baswF-hSk4kVaklXgb93r6m5bZYTO7FnXjvk0orA_ci5E/s400/Mt+adams+2016+075.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deli was perky this morning! Demanding her mash.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
She also led a good portion of the way! My submissive weenie
of a pony is turning into something else… and I like it! Her worst spook of the
day was right when we were coming back into camp from the first loop. Go
figure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll probably post more about the ride later because I’m
still mulling over my experiences.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/05/conditioning-update-may-2016.html">Conditioning update for May 2016.</a></div>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-23170724920424414602016-05-18T11:18:00.001-07:002016-05-18T11:18:52.642-07:00Conditioning Update (May 2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpWijs17c0ocmUZp2_RmDU7g6xk3to7P1OkgtL9iBkNtavE57Khclq6BcxdwQmNHuq-mnVDx4uR6AofDRQBc6MBwHdw7bE6CPgqjYsdurpuXuDhJmuwYWHqrNtgxlmrJeSIhQ6xNsCvg/s1600/Deli+trail+%2526+shots+2016+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpWijs17c0ocmUZp2_RmDU7g6xk3to7P1OkgtL9iBkNtavE57Khclq6BcxdwQmNHuq-mnVDx4uR6AofDRQBc6MBwHdw7bE6CPgqjYsdurpuXuDhJmuwYWHqrNtgxlmrJeSIhQ6xNsCvg/s400/Deli+trail+%2526+shots+2016+016.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Deli and I have been doing... decently? Nothing has gone wrong, at least. Due to work continuing to be life-consuming my conditioning miles have been less than I'd like. I've tried a couple different saddles without finding anything better than what we have. And honestly, Deli's back feels great. This was confirmed by my chiropractor (who is also a vet).<br />
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Considering she would get sore spots on her shoulders from our custom-fitted dressage saddle (and her lower back would lock up with miles) I think we are in a good place right now. I do hope to alter the rigging of my treeless saddle, as I think that's what causing the issues I'm seeing. Can I just say that the dealer for GHOST saddles is <i>the best</i> customer service I've ever experienced. Just impressive!<br />
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I've even moved shims around in my Skito pad and gotten a better sweat pattern. Though she has been attacked by bees several times since the hot weather started. Have I mentioned that managing her various issues is always <i>exciting?</i> Ha. No.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweaty and bee-sting-ed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWU49Yz2ng616_3TjiX3foe5u3Rbc1vuj5Jj_4Cq2WjigdEQOS3iO8nMFaAOMooY6Bvnvqshyphenhyphen54J9Q-Yq5K4g_Sa1PYUIzWfbRMHw6wKa8R1IoPSxpkFrDVS5klxIe3MI2fZIUvcq9G4/s1600/CATS+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWU49Yz2ng616_3TjiX3foe5u3Rbc1vuj5Jj_4Cq2WjigdEQOS3iO8nMFaAOMooY6Bvnvqshyphenhyphen54J9Q-Yq5K4g_Sa1PYUIzWfbRMHw6wKa8R1IoPSxpkFrDVS5klxIe3MI2fZIUvcq9G4/s400/CATS+041.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass-brain is a problem here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milo McIver State Park. A good place to ride!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9a8A9SWsCZEMSjph59uf-SndYpxw_ynan2s_BTXUeUuPLNrn3aQlHDocCLbAr0utRbn8pPzUdUWjPU1nV6E4nLR8l_5naE4z8m5l0TT-0ap25rtJPBMsAUW3MeH5gdcc1CxUAhsVJHk/s1600/CATS+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9a8A9SWsCZEMSjph59uf-SndYpxw_ynan2s_BTXUeUuPLNrn3aQlHDocCLbAr0utRbn8pPzUdUWjPU1nV6E4nLR8l_5naE4z8m5l0TT-0ap25rtJPBMsAUW3MeH5gdcc1CxUAhsVJHk/s400/CATS+044.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweat and a dusty horse = yuck.</td></tr>
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Deli has been incredibly sassy. Though our last ride of 18 miles went fine (read: it was <i>hot</i> and we were all lazy), she refused to load to go home <i>again. </i>So this week she is getting off work but I have been reinforcing <i>that </i>particular skill. Much to my redhead's chagrin. She is claustrophobic and I kind of get the feeling this issue is going to rear it's ugly head every now and then.</div>
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The only other news on the horizon is: time to do something official?! If all goes well, Deli and I will be headed to our first LD <i>together</i> at Mt. Adams. I'm loathe to say anything because I've become increasingly superstitious over the years of mishaps and failures. There is still so much that can go wrong before this Saturday (not to mention things that could go wrong <i>during </i>the ride).</div>
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I am very lucky that my best friend and husband is coming to be my crew and someone to absorb my anxiety. Oh, and help me pack since I still have a full work week ahead of me.</div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-28743810345054945382016-05-02T08:07:00.000-07:002016-05-02T08:07:46.957-07:00Saddle fit and discouragement...The Ghost saddle may not work. And the thought of doing more saddle shopping right now makes me want to Give Up On All Things Horse.<br />
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I don't think it's the <i>horse </i>in general, but the fact that so many areas of my life right now are being met with disappointment and a lack of answers (specifically with health problems I am having). I guess I'm just worn out and discouraged and this is more of the same.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin82z24ORwAiot56l1vOWCu0QQNl-baF3ox0uKO_gryhvpkaigj_gujG6CJxGdoKzl9oNYqIx8Dk17z4TU_vTzmT8pGGuzjAvVlMJX-4XOrK-O3y9hlnqv6WX6_gUUJI4EUU9YkN4E7e8/s1600/cat+and+saddle+April+2016+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin82z24ORwAiot56l1vOWCu0QQNl-baF3ox0uKO_gryhvpkaigj_gujG6CJxGdoKzl9oNYqIx8Dk17z4TU_vTzmT8pGGuzjAvVlMJX-4XOrK-O3y9hlnqv6WX6_gUUJI4EUU9YkN4E7e8/s320/cat+and+saddle+April+2016+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm getting some clear pressure points now that I've experimented with saddle pads that make her sweat more. Another reason for the experimentation was seeing some edema.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6pI7xXUXAFn5E-UcDh1E0kCw9T_-BQr8lk4pRIDYHU97ElNw68KjQzVNdKVofoRNcTd1eYkSYe-ZfOElZIISVUwQ6V7iojJFt7BZm5H9nMkaVYvROXFq1HlDegXnsVdMBjTcSswSOT0/s1600/cat+and+saddle+April+2016+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6pI7xXUXAFn5E-UcDh1E0kCw9T_-BQr8lk4pRIDYHU97ElNw68KjQzVNdKVofoRNcTd1eYkSYe-ZfOElZIISVUwQ6V7iojJFt7BZm5H9nMkaVYvROXFq1HlDegXnsVdMBjTcSswSOT0/s320/cat+and+saddle+April+2016+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The edema I'm seeing shows up on her spine (as demonstrated by ghost finger above) after rides. Based on conversations with experts this is a sign there is pressure alongside and fluid is squeezing into the spine channel. This edema disappears within a minute and none of her back is painful to any kind of palpation. In fact her back generally feels good, though I feel it won't last given what I'm seeing! This is comparing to our old dressage saddle which had a more even sweat pattern, no edema, but DID make her tender to palpation! It seems like every saddle we've tried has some issue, though I have yet to have the same issue with different saddles.<br />
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I got a new Skito pad that is very shiny with a shim set I was certain would at least help. I rode 7 miserable miles in it yesterday and... NOPE. Same issues. The shim set I got for the Skito pad (which is gorgeous, by the way) was intended to fill the "dip" in her sway back... which is the area I'm seeing the pressure and edema.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRUe_LdTePf0XyguNz_hyViQ4VPGmkmaMRWj57gDqMxIOG8VV8uQ5zCgRDeZrXMQ1gMod4wYU_VqqT8sF-nSC2-vs-rec-d-Iy4ggubjT7avG4rMYGgNICUBz9ESOZu_Gt1EiNbsByxE/s1600/New+Skito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRUe_LdTePf0XyguNz_hyViQ4VPGmkmaMRWj57gDqMxIOG8VV8uQ5zCgRDeZrXMQ1gMod4wYU_VqqT8sF-nSC2-vs-rec-d-Iy4ggubjT7avG4rMYGgNICUBz9ESOZu_Gt1EiNbsByxE/s320/New+Skito.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new Skito.</td></tr>
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Possibly this problem is contributed to by the saddle wanting to slide back. It will slide back a good three inches on big uphills and I can't get my breastplate any tighter. It already interferes when she puts her head down to graze.<br />
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Another thing to note: the Ghost is treeless. The dry spots and edema are right around where my weight is. Possibly I'm just too heavy for treeless, though I am within the recommended weight range for this saddle right now.<br />
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I don't know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiQn6qkVLCqjQs2zYje8TadEw8UhGQxG26rAyVd73WTq5UOUqC3DCWQ-bgp77jPHphtm2NINqt3jbYZdZvwBkSGfbJEAJTE-zpydNehkVfuGOxHjE9J714-IF3aKwZ0PhfuyULcMYLlM/s1600/Pressure+spot+-+April+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiQn6qkVLCqjQs2zYje8TadEw8UhGQxG26rAyVd73WTq5UOUqC3DCWQ-bgp77jPHphtm2NINqt3jbYZdZvwBkSGfbJEAJTE-zpydNehkVfuGOxHjE9J714-IF3aKwZ0PhfuyULcMYLlM/s400/Pressure+spot+-+April+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another example after a rinse that shows the curve of her back better.</td></tr>
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I know lots of recommendations for saddles to try will come flooding in if I look for them, but I can't afford something more than around $1k right now (and that's if I sell this NEW saddle, ugh). If only saddle brands did rent-to-own stuff! Plus, there is no guarantee that a more expensive saddle will help at all. This saddle performed great in my trial and is the most comfy saddle for ME that I've tried. That's one reason I wasn't sure I wanted to make this post at all.<br />
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It would be great if I could borrow saddles to try, but Deli just isn't shaped like many other horses. Part of me thinks treeless is our only option. How else to you accommodate a sway-back, wide as hell, forward-girth groove, sensitive skinned redheaded pony?<br />
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She <u>isn't sore</u> so I'm going to keep riding and tweaking things to see if I can make some difference. But I'm not feeling super hopeful today.<br />
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Here's what I plan on trying:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Less stretchy girth (may help the saddle from sliding back but historically Deli has been intolerant of a non-stretch girth).</li>
<li>Moving shims around.</li>
<li>Trying NO shim in the Skito pad.</li>
<li>Swap back to the slimmer panel to see if that makes a difference (probably not).</li>
<li>See if I can get to a place to have a fast FLAT conditioning ride to determine if the sliding back is a contributing factor. Or bore our brains out doing laps in the arena...</li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqlFxJZ_OqrMbc8QOwi0VmZVZnhkgT0aaeeq5azYqhwN9WrInZsuKR8CcqfOPNv1ui63ogQ6fWt454c1xrkUN7eWfJYYfU21vv9czWoXV7DMXX-yHO3Hq-0OMBHLlrjeiBuEmPDKjC20/s1600/Compared+Ghost+panels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqlFxJZ_OqrMbc8QOwi0VmZVZnhkgT0aaeeq5azYqhwN9WrInZsuKR8CcqfOPNv1ui63ogQ6fWt454c1xrkUN7eWfJYYfU21vv9czWoXV7DMXX-yHO3Hq-0OMBHLlrjeiBuEmPDKjC20/s400/Compared+Ghost+panels.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I switched to the wider panel which is supposed to spread out the weight more.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGSBOOFXw38PT0BihJxHx292cYpGufQYXQwvDSMDK8Htw-EbvlC_Jf9F6QXrgzW5mvWPcLz_m57qbVJoj5FWj4XWzc9OwPdIUwJJNpXF9wKBmqQfiqPfNtnKDTpwADuTcRxSk0ykl0hk/s1600/B%2526W+conditioning+-+April+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGSBOOFXw38PT0BihJxHx292cYpGufQYXQwvDSMDK8Htw-EbvlC_Jf9F6QXrgzW5mvWPcLz_m57qbVJoj5FWj4XWzc9OwPdIUwJJNpXF9wKBmqQfiqPfNtnKDTpwADuTcRxSk0ykl0hk/s400/B%2526W+conditioning+-+April+2016.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling very "grey" today, despite the sun finally being out.</td></tr>
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I am still planning on our first endurance ride in late May. Conditioning-wise Deli is looking good for a conservative LD. I suppose if the greater distance does make her sore then I will have my answer and truly return to the drawing board. (And probably be out for <i>another </i>season. A thought which I can't stomach right now.)<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/03/conditioning-in-march-2016-ups-and-downs.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">Conditioning in March, 2016 – Ups (and Downs)</a></span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-41403524941292398192016-03-21T08:53:00.000-07:002016-03-21T09:51:42.949-07:00Conditioning in March, 2016 – Ups (and Downs)<div class="MsoNormal">
Conditioning for the 2016 season has started in earnest. The video below was from my last conditioning ride, also featuring our riding buddies Vanessa and her Arab gelding, Jinn.</div>
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In
three weeks we’ve had three really successful conditioning <i>rides </i>trailering out to parks with good riding. I’ve been filling
in the gaps with arena work (boring, but the local farm roads I will ride on
later in the season are still too muddy to traverse). <o:p></o:p><br />
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Last ride I borrowed Vanessa's extra side-pull bridle for half the ride, and Deli went pretty well in it. I like that it does not twist on her face like other side-pulls we've tried.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BIVvUAO7nU17oy24gG1gLWF53lYKzqTgChJmXjxf5ens2bIq5ZmHZkmFDW_qoNRQz8JVBmLr1nZhWk5XWha0vBymXDCdZVRmP36RgmDUh0pw7YdjoN8nhfxIX9daKyd5YzWfcHmsCbc/s1600/McIver+March+2016+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BIVvUAO7nU17oy24gG1gLWF53lYKzqTgChJmXjxf5ens2bIq5ZmHZkmFDW_qoNRQz8JVBmLr1nZhWk5XWha0vBymXDCdZVRmP36RgmDUh0pw7YdjoN8nhfxIX9daKyd5YzWfcHmsCbc/s400/McIver+March+2016+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grazing break while Vanessa looked for a lost hoof boot in the mud.</td></tr>
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There have been some bad points. Mostly: my Deli was an
absolute nightmare getting back into my friend’s trailer after one conditioning
ride at a local park. She’d been recalcitrant before, but had always gotten on
(after our first ride she even hopped on with very little fuss). This time
after nearly six hours in the dark and rain, my barn owner offered to rescue
us. I’ve <i>never </i>had to be rescued in
that way, and I was incredibly humiliated and frustrated. I know the weather and
her fear (of a small trailer) had something to do with her behavior (hail and
rain, which makes noises on the trailer roof and frightens her) but she was
also just being a brat at times.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciMIOUl_ggbD2b_hVZrnkImL1Crf6S9rZ34tnKY2YQn0jUpCxdEHPzrI_fkzAw21HcEcvJiDjjQ1gpVCSMJsiknUyse6D4Bz9yyO6UaPE4Y3whTPleyFu9x-N3GvjIYdlwtE8A5J1k94/s1600/March+2016+horse+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciMIOUl_ggbD2b_hVZrnkImL1Crf6S9rZ34tnKY2YQn0jUpCxdEHPzrI_fkzAw21HcEcvJiDjjQ1gpVCSMJsiknUyse6D4Bz9yyO6UaPE4Y3whTPleyFu9x-N3GvjIYdlwtE8A5J1k94/s400/March+2016+horse+023.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We rode in the rain, then it cleared up. Then (when we were trying to get back into the pictured trailer) it started raining again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You know when you work so hard to make your horse a solid
citizen and then you have a day where it seems like they willfully forget
everything? Yeah. FacePALM.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2aXmQZTicd9ZeNjVQk8P70EsJtt1entsq4zioHHkds60uDgHgbfIiNYqYpCsMaGWx5fbjuHw-QiqpT9kPVuXcdDmqHu7QjAwYofx-S-PgUB9Th1gLGUnx5hVRv5NHWODBlxiqMyiQMY/s1600/March+2016+horse+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2aXmQZTicd9ZeNjVQk8P70EsJtt1entsq4zioHHkds60uDgHgbfIiNYqYpCsMaGWx5fbjuHw-QiqpT9kPVuXcdDmqHu7QjAwYofx-S-PgUB9Th1gLGUnx5hVRv5NHWODBlxiqMyiQMY/s320/March+2016+horse+039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deli sure does not look like she's about to fight loading forever, does she?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She just seems to dislike my friend’s trailer (an
older Brenderup) and this does not apply to ALL trailers. She loads without
much hesitation into an old stock and everything else I’ve tried recently. Though,
because I really want to ride with my new friend, this is problematic nonetheless!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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Ironically the trail ride before that nightmare was AMAZING. </div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSJJ6C4qUBhdh3_f8Hmvh_IrFJBW7Y2Gn_ROuo6EzGWTk-RqeaiYjDcsIZNlY7AHKBGKaay-q7BfYuUPZBWWN9aNkdmAykNBuuaNTKauqCzLuV58dYQ2YKpD-xS2pZvqNKpPLqKvY01I/s1600/McIver+March+2016+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSJJ6C4qUBhdh3_f8Hmvh_IrFJBW7Y2Gn_ROuo6EzGWTk-RqeaiYjDcsIZNlY7AHKBGKaay-q7BfYuUPZBWWN9aNkdmAykNBuuaNTKauqCzLuV58dYQ2YKpD-xS2pZvqNKpPLqKvY01I/s400/McIver+March+2016+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out at the Clackamas River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW45rk4dZLCe85vAV2YvxGitja1Zls8Gu-hpbEvyjtkJFZaErO11bKL8BeymEIlEqgW_Mofz6YjiJa-WKwBsIK5NUVhmG-DeGaGchUMiAU064zW1j0VjFosOnlzBup6At20T2N-6InsTM/s1600/March+2016+horse+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW45rk4dZLCe85vAV2YvxGitja1Zls8Gu-hpbEvyjtkJFZaErO11bKL8BeymEIlEqgW_Mofz6YjiJa-WKwBsIK5NUVhmG-DeGaGchUMiAU064zW1j0VjFosOnlzBup6At20T2N-6InsTM/s400/March+2016+horse+055.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deli and Jinn hanging out and being polite like good ponies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx66PmzJo6wItUcUy-ZIRNtS2ChRVQi5LnMsKO4S2sTqGV3AegHXFkZnpW46zxmOljU4iB2Jn8WPviyrXcvChLQlp2MKvyAgAoLpd4h26rHYFT8nE7IRPEr_NuPhkSvMfv78od6_e1MmY/s1600/March+2016+horse+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx66PmzJo6wItUcUy-ZIRNtS2ChRVQi5LnMsKO4S2sTqGV3AegHXFkZnpW46zxmOljU4iB2Jn8WPviyrXcvChLQlp2MKvyAgAoLpd4h26rHYFT8nE7IRPEr_NuPhkSvMfv78od6_e1MmY/s400/March+2016+horse+045.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deli waiting patiently to GET GOING.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc6mDbaEnPIYdUVFyvQauXHnUb2vVCV33MXWrylom-P-X6BkBR3TQjA7wIAyBNPIOvk9zmclGxoEqb63XmmxQ8v9HUp9liZOHAN5_Ne_qbxjGqb6EHPaXT4cGcsXEDNzMNpg4mp7g2WY/s1600/March+2016+horse+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc6mDbaEnPIYdUVFyvQauXHnUb2vVCV33MXWrylom-P-X6BkBR3TQjA7wIAyBNPIOvk9zmclGxoEqb63XmmxQ8v9HUp9liZOHAN5_Ne_qbxjGqb6EHPaXT4cGcsXEDNzMNpg4mp7g2WY/s400/March+2016+horse+048.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mentioned there was a muddy bit, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have
found a conditioning buddy who is, essentially, the perfect match for us. I think we riders get along great and have a lot in common. And Deli and Jinn have quickly
become buddies (but without buddy-sourness). As an extra bonus, their paces are similar. Deli seems to truly enjoy these
rides. She’s forward, offering to trot along on a loose rein. She really excels
at tackling hills and technical footing, though we walk sloooowly for the downhill bits. She seems to
recover quickly. During our last ride she drank whenever offered water.<br />
<br />
And I'm happy to report that my horse happily leads the pack now. It helps that she isn't nervous about Jinn being behind her. It's lovely!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our new saddle is comfortable and I just got some NEW wider panels
which will hopefully spread my weight out even more. I still have plans to get
some Skito foam inserts and other ways to niggle with our tack. For instance, we need to figure out a better system for attaching out trail bags, since my bags are made for an English saddle and don't exactly match my new GHOST saddle.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrm5sBMOh2-CW-0-F0UJKFj26RVUnxHIFCI4DjXQoiY22CCD5ZyTjgs7rMwgIu1rz0ll5B886VlwCMku7bfH4ikn2x_fNgfbMQBP7ZgoWQD8n3lFwXwKEihyrur0IkDhXDQAKUsHDfJs/s1600/March+2016+horse+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrm5sBMOh2-CW-0-F0UJKFj26RVUnxHIFCI4DjXQoiY22CCD5ZyTjgs7rMwgIu1rz0ll5B886VlwCMku7bfH4ikn2x_fNgfbMQBP7ZgoWQD8n3lFwXwKEihyrur0IkDhXDQAKUsHDfJs/s400/March+2016+horse+061.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deli at home after our most recent conditioning ride. She's looking good for an almost-17-year old mare!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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And try not to <i>plan
too much.<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Last time:<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/03/pner-convention-notes-beyond.html">PNER Convention Notes – “Beyond Conditioning” – by Robin Ryner</a></span></span></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-50893515494371457662016-03-08T08:27:00.001-08:002016-03-08T08:27:37.905-08:00PNER Convention Notes – “Beyond Conditioning” – by Robin Ryner<div>
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Another day, another long-overdue post of my PNER Convention
notes! Fair warning, the following post is LONG (with my personal thoughts in italics for the most part).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Robin Ryner operates <a href="http://compassequine.com/">Compass Equine</a>, a training center in
Arizona. She rides, trains, and teaches.</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 107%;">At
the beginning of her panel, Robin Ryner told the audience that her presentation
was not a recipe for training horses. Instead, Robin Ryner wanted to give us
some of her “ingredients” that we could then use in our own recipes. My general
feeling about this talk was that she was giving us a kind of reality-check.
It’s one thing to learn all you can about conditioning, feeding, and shoeing
the endurance horse – but what about the rest of it? The <i>planning </i>and <i>doing </i>part
of endurance riding?</span><span style="line-height: 15.6933px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Robin started in endurance in 1998. Though she does not have
a lot of competition miles herself, she really enjoys getting a good base on
young horses so that those same horses can go down the trail successfully with
their owners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She was right when she stated, “Endurance riders are good at
</span><u style="font-family: inherit;">dreams and goals</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">…” </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">I feel like my
time as an endurance greenie has been dreaming and making goals for over eight
years! With only one LD under my belt, both my goals and my dreams seem hardly
achievable. BUT last week I had my first proper conditioning ride of the
season, so right now my dreams are hope.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Robin continued by defining exactly what “dreams” and “goals”
mean. This is the beginning of that “reality check.” Essentially: dreams are
what inspire us, while goals are what get us to those dreams!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">It does not matter what your dream goal is, but it does have
to be specific, </span>measurable<span style="font-family: inherit;">, achievable, realistic (time, commitment, and
setup?), and time-bound (we have to put some sort of time-limit on them or else
it isn’t truly a goal).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make many little goals to get you to your big goal. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">I like the sentiment that I should make
little goals to work up to the big goals, because with an accident prone pony
like Deli it feels like those big goals will always be swept out from under us.
But I can plan small (even if my dreams remain big).</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your chances of succeeding at goals are much higher if you
meet smaller steps.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Expectations vs. reality: Expectations – a strong belief
that something will happen in the future. Expectations get in the way of dreams
and goals because they may not mesh with reality. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">So true. And so cruel, sometimes.</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Figure out your ultimate objectives (and in-between
objectives). If we, as riders and horse owners and endurance riders, don’t know
where we are going, how do we know when we’ve arrived? Break things down as
concretely as possible so you know when you have met any of your objectives.
This may be the signal to move on to the next goal!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Be flexible within your goals. And make sure
each step is not too big of a jump</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><b><br /></b></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><b>Inside your horse's mind..?</b></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Horses are different from us, right? My own learning curve with Deli was helped along immensely</span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> when I understood her way of seeing the world better.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnpFDFCIwBTyBhnMbuoqrPvkJfHkjZhsdrY8eGoZO6tpfeRqkFqW-xDHEyk8vvlSnnzvze3CXfUAmEADDOXrBCGimbHHO0bmAAG-J1oV_jGUHf54hIZd2z2cJT8BNrcbiab2ypN-TBqU/s1600/March+2016+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnpFDFCIwBTyBhnMbuoqrPvkJfHkjZhsdrY8eGoZO6tpfeRqkFqW-xDHEyk8vvlSnnzvze3CXfUAmEADDOXrBCGimbHHO0bmAAG-J1oV_jGUHf54hIZd2z2cJT8BNrcbiab2ypN-TBqU/s400/March+2016+008.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello, Ponyface.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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Robin Ryner went into depth on this topic. <i>In contrast to our human way of obsessing</i>
<i>and planning… </i>Horses don’t have goals
in the same way. They just want to be comfortable. Consider how we have to
break what we are doing with our horses into steps to train them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
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Horses live in the moment, of course. And it’s all about
them – they are not thinking about you. All they really want is safety, comfort,
food, and play (which I qualify as social bonding and social interaction with
other horses). Why is this important? Robin Ryder reminds us that the stuff
horses do isn’t personal, and we have to frame the times when they are being naughty
or pig-headed from that perspective. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As it relates to how horses work with us: <i>be willing to say
“no” when you are training</i>. Positive reinforcement is great and should be
utilized, but don’t get afraid to say “NO” when they do something wrong,
because it gives the horse a clearer picture of what you want. Letting them
know when an action is incorrect creates structure and boundaries within which
they can learn. And saying “NO” can be done in a polite way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Robin Ryner does like to use cookies when she trains. (That’s
great – so do I. Deli is also a horse who will try and stand on her head for a
cookie.) She did qualify this statement by saying that she is not a human
vending machine when it comes to treats. Instead, using treats or any kind of
reward system is about what finding that horse’s currency is. (For Deli?
Cookies.) Leave that horse every day with good feelings towards you, towards
work, toward whatever skills or behaviors they need to make that step towards
the next goal.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>What other considerations should you bring to your dreams
and goals when working with and training horses?</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Be present</u>. Ride
the spine of that horse instead of constantly riding in the far future. When we
can feel what is happening in that moment then we can actually abate the
problems of the moment much more quickly. <i>To me this means: deal
with issues when they arise. I have often heard “ride the horse you have” and I
think that applies not just to the individual horse you own but also the horse
you have </i>that particular day. <i>Perhaps
as a mare guardian I understand this all too well.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>What are you starting
with?</u> Make sure you know this baseline and use it to plan the goals, both
large and small. Figure out the age and level of your horse and how that
relates to these goals. What are the horse’s innate characteristics and
ingrained behaviors? Are they analytical, calculating, or the anxious type? Or
are they unable to control themselves because they are just super exuberant? Or
are they a right-brained introvert who is so scared – they want to do
everything they can for you but they get scared and the brain turns OFF? <i>Answering some of these questions seems to
me like it would make some goals form right then and there. I know a long-term
goal of mine has always been to build Deli’s confidence in herself and trust in
me. We have come a long way in that respect, but I think it’s going to be a
lifetime goal in general.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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A horse can have a lot of issues or training holes. No horse
in perfect in all circumstances. You say the horse is bomb proof? It probably
depends on how big the bomb is!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Time is limited – make
it count.</u> We use time pressure problems to disregard training holes our
horse(s) may have. Instead of using this as an excuse, deal with issues <i>as they come</i> and soon your list won’t be
so big. Train along the way and whittle down all those rough edges, essentially.
Always expect that certain things will happen (like your horse behaving as
expected) and train them with that expectation. It does not mean they will
always behave, but the expectation should always be there. Mounting is a good
example. Horses don’t <i>know </i>when it
counts (i.e. at a busy ride startup line) so if they haven’t been asked to
stand for mounting all the time they don’t know that it’s a rule that should be
followed strictly. It’s important to make the most of every opportunity!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This was a very-real tenet to me last week when I spent nearly three hours getting Deli on an unfamiliar trailer. Luckily the owner of the trailer was chill and fine with letting us have the time. Deli was legitimately scared so I'm glad we worked through it.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitypbW-1ZC44voDJ4RELCi8rkY4y379qZ8wZiLCNscB-xBGWN2LK_unbAoLWDIhPqD-hljp4QLXExRLoqcSmg5bRWdQo_d-SlsznO47jpWIIDVTheB4HQvGfaHYy79NjmwJEnOsYvKhDE/s1600/March+2016+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitypbW-1ZC44voDJ4RELCi8rkY4y379qZ8wZiLCNscB-xBGWN2LK_unbAoLWDIhPqD-hljp4QLXExRLoqcSmg5bRWdQo_d-SlsznO47jpWIIDVTheB4HQvGfaHYy79NjmwJEnOsYvKhDE/s400/March+2016+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>How can you set
yourself up for success?</u> What we do today prepares us for tomorrow. Address
your horse’s tendencies on a consistent basis. For example: what happens when
you take their buddy away? Better to set them up for success and work them away
from their buddies more gradually. But it’s not what we do – it’s what we do
when we quit what we were doing. Don’t reward them at the wrong moment; for
example, don’t put them back out with the buddy when they are going nuts. If
they are<span style="font-family: inherit;"> very frantic, only remove the buddy by a few feet. It will take time,
but you are giving them a better chance of exhibiting the correct behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Make standing quietly a habit.</u> Don’t instantly take them out
of the trailer when they start pawing, for example, because essentially they
are training YOU to hurry. Prepare the horse to eat and drink better – use
different buckets at home, for example.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><u>Create
positive experiences</u></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><u>.</u>
Sign up for clinics, group trail rides, lessons you have to haul to. Use your
imagination and make leaving the property fun for the horse!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><u>What kind of relationship do you want?</u></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"> Partnership or a slave? Again, a horse isn’t
being naughty because he wants to piss you off. Essentially, be patient and
tolerant, and when the horse is being naughty or not doing what you want, try
and put yourself in the horse’s shoes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Desensitizing and
sensitizing.</u><b> </b>The keys are balance and timing – it’s not what we do but when
we quit what we are doing. Yes, we can <i>teach
the horse to spook</i>. Sometimes all we think about is desensitizing, but
sometimes things are not so cut and dry. Be conscious of safety zones and
approach and retreat strategies. If a horse is scared or something is going
wrong, and you push them and start whacking on them when they react to
something with fear, the horse is probably thinking, “See, I knew this was
going to be bad.” On the other hand, if you always stay in your safe zones, you
will never get anything done – so you have to push that envelope. Knowing this
comes from a lot of experience (and knowing your horse!). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The above is so very very true from my experience. One of my big breakthroughs with
Deli was realizing when her “naughty” behavior was from fear or anxiety, and
when it was just from her being obstinate. When I could feel the difference, we
made huge strides, because I could correct her when she was being naughty, and
take more of a calm-leader role when she was scared. I am hardly perfect there,
but a lot of the trust we have now is built on me not punishing her when she
reacted <span style="font-family: inherit;">from anxiety or fear.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">You
can’t tell things that may be scaring your horse to STOP (like garbage trucks
or bikes) but you can teach a horse to face their own fear. </span><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">From my </span><span style="line-height: 15.6933px;">experience</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">, a large part of this is your horse trusting you when things get dirty.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<h3>
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where do we start once we have all these
ingredients?</span></span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
We catch, lead, saddle up, ride them, and then put them
away. If you consider it, we do most of these things on the <i>ground</i>.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So start on the ground! The moment our horse sees us is when
groundwork starts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><u style="font-family: inherit;">Does your horse lead?</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> It’s a more complicated
question than you would think. Robin Ryner expects leading to be that the horse
will follow you at whatever speed you ask with a mostly slack lead. Remember
that everything seems to buckle on the left so your horse may only be
responsive on the left! Build a connection with the </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">feet in mind</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Grooming and tacking.</span></u><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"> Hard tying is important, so work on that.
Ground tying is super useful in endurance – for instance when you are pulling
tack at a vet check. Give a daily once over as well and know what normal for
you horse feels like (you can use this to mimic a vet check). (As an aside,
when the vet is on the front of your horse checking things out, be on the
opposite side so you aren’t in the way. When the vet is on the hind end
checking things out, stay on the same side so you can pull their head <span style="font-family: inherit;">toward
you and get their hind end to move away from the vet.)</span></span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: inherit;">Mounting.</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> When a horse leaves without you when you
are mounting (i.e. does not stands) it’s the same thing as not being to rate
them on the trail. The small things build up. Once you get on </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">hurry up and wait. </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just slow down and
stand there for a few </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">minutes.</i></li>
<li><u style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Warming up (more than just the muscles).</span></u><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"> One you first get on always do a little warm-up.
Check your breaks, check your cues, etc. </span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
What to do when specific issues arise?</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can condition WHILE training the brain! For example,
while doing circles in the arena. You can actually do quite a few miles doing
arena work. But yes, it’s boring and mind numbing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Pacing</i> is a big issue people have. Pacing problems can result from not practicing at home enough! Extend and collect within the gaits, and
transition to the different gaits as well. Work on transitioning between the
gaits before you work on extending and collecting them within the gait.
Essentially good transitions are the key to rating. Work to get a minimum of 3
speeds without tension in each gait. If you don’t release and relax you are coiling a
spring then the horse’s body is going to slingshot ahead. Essentially: don’t go into death-grip-mode on them to "control" them!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What about other issues? Spooking, aggression, herd bound,
head tossing, bucking, and bolting? There is no recipe for every problem or
“grab bag” for every problem. What you want to do is break down each problem
into its components (isolate, separate and recombine). Fixing these problems
may not happen fast but put it into pieces and work with consistency. For example, desensitize while they are MOVING not just when they are
standing still because they will have different reactions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming home or back
into camp and having a barn-bound or trailer-bound or horse-bound horse is a common problem. Sometimes you have to be creative in how you come home. Maybe do
a couple circles around the trailer and then head back out. Go past the
driveway, switch up your loops, don’t always gallop in the exact same place,
etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>And my favorite part: </i>recognize when the horse is trying and reward them for try! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF2s0Zx0YuUMK_sTGOCfJxSYgKXn7jAF_JFlHw6qQZ2OVdsZTLDPKaaHzuvs0II2csY-ozwvZWZB2nuvOhGbWOcHWe40xLjr5IbxGdyfccLUiWov8dYwjFMZ1yt6u8V86eEk_aE6S_BE/s1600/March+2016+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF2s0Zx0YuUMK_sTGOCfJxSYgKXn7jAF_JFlHw6qQZ2OVdsZTLDPKaaHzuvs0II2csY-ozwvZWZB2nuvOhGbWOcHWe40xLjr5IbxGdyfccLUiWov8dYwjFMZ1yt6u8V86eEk_aE6S_BE/s400/March+2016+100.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modeling our new GHOST saddle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Race day.</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">
How does today differ than any other? </span></span></h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Figure out where the tolerances are well before the ride
day. For example, check their heart rate halfway through. If you want to go
fast you don’t have to be going fast – just figure out where you can save time
and condition to trot and canter everywhere you can. Average speed is the
biggest thing to pay attention to for new riders or riders wanting to bump up their game. If you
are riding at a 5mph average pace you are at the back of the pack. You have to train
faster at home then on race day because things might go wrong. <u>Go slow to go
fast</u>. Steady pacing wins the day (and horse metabolics do play a part as
well). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The everyday things we do don’t really change on race day
(regarding the care of the horse), so be mindful of what that everyday care entails.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Protect the horse</u><i>. </i>Don’t
let other riders tailgate! And do not tailgate! Most people are not thinking
and are just trying to survive the ride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><u>Focus
your energy</u><i>.</i></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> If
you want your horse to be relaxed, then you can’t be braced. If your back is
hollow the horse’s back is going to be hollow. Essentially: emulate your horse! Loosen everything up – ride the way you
want the horses to be. If you need to wiggle in the saddle occasionally and get things moving fluidly, do it.</span></span></div>
<div>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">And above all: </span>Practice your horsemanship every moment of every day.</b></div>
<div>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Be present. Be thoughtful. Be willing to adjust.</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYwvhnmYyALEneaCvYXFKtQ23LIWkWgeUWdrBjyfSOw6C87DarwTJjl6b6CGPJyQJgix7X1o0j2_ZFIJ9jdubzzhyphenhypheniRiJNTZCM7XeDEpWKCKHekJa-z1uxzjEpJIFdyMYDMZRfiOUf5s/s1600/March+2016+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYwvhnmYyALEneaCvYXFKtQ23LIWkWgeUWdrBjyfSOw6C87DarwTJjl6b6CGPJyQJgix7X1o0j2_ZFIJ9jdubzzhyphenhypheniRiJNTZCM7XeDEpWKCKHekJa-z1uxzjEpJIFdyMYDMZRfiOUf5s/s400/March+2016+087.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first conditioning ride of 2016!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Thank you Robin Ryner for your amazing and thought-provoking talk!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last time: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/03/pner-convention-notes-endurance-foot.html">PNER Convention Notes – “Endurance Foot Care” – by Sue Summers and Lee Pearce</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-66660151166644625122016-03-06T11:35:00.000-08:002016-03-08T08:29:00.762-08:00PNER Convention Notes – “Endurance Foot Care” – by Sue Summers and Lee Pearce <div class="MsoNormal">
One of the talks I attended at the PNER convention in
January 2016 was all about the things we put on our horses’ feet to protect
them. As most horse people know, the old adage “no foot, no horse” often holds
true. And when you are asking your equine partner to carry you for twenty five,
fifty, or even a hundred miles, good hoof-care is key!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They started the talk by hammering home the fact <b>that knowledge is not understanding</b>. By
using the example of a backwards steering bike (where when you turn the
handlebars the wheel turns the opposite direction) they illustrated that once
you have a ridged way of thinking, It’s hard, or even <i>impossible </i>to change. A lot of us get stuck in a rut of doing the
same thing over and over, believing it will work like we expect it too (this
holds true to when we think the same thing is going to work for every horse.).
I think the idea that “knowledge is not understanding” is a tenet that I should
keep in the back of my mind for other areas of my life.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
All endurance horses should have some kind of hoof
protection – and what that protection entails depends on terrain, the horse, the
nutrition intake, etc! There are so many hoof protection products on the market
right now so you have lots of things to try. Both Summers and Pearce told us
what products they like to use as farriers. What follows are some pictures I
took of different products that were passed a<span style="font-family: inherit;">round during the presentation
(I’ll try and link to the products I recall throughout and I’m sure my readers
will chime in about what they recognize as well).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Protecting your horse's feet starts before you saddle up to ride or even consider what protection our horse may need. These were some of overriding themes of this talk:</b></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bad shoeing is going to be cumulative! Horses can lie to you – they may not be moving as efficiently as they could. And you</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> want </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">them to move efficiently in this sport. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most important part of hoof protection is a GOOD TRIM.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The LONG foot is the enemy. Keep everything short and balanced. Essentially this makes it easier for them to move. (Again, it’s all about efficiency.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The environment that foot lives in will affect everything else. For example, crushed heels seem to be common where it is very sandy – because you don’t get that natural dirt pack. Feet packed with dirt isn’t a bad thing. Think of it like Mother Nature’s own pad!</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steel and Metal Shoes</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The old standard is, of course, steel shoes. Steel
shoes are still in common use and work very well for many horses. Both Pearce
and Summers like Triumph steel for when you are not going to be riding through
a lot of rocks. Aluminum shoes are good for heavy competition – especially for
gaited horses who wing out (because then they have less weight on legs). The
biggest issue with aluminum is they wear out quickly.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cMBr-mkUqJGjp3PIiuPZ_Z3ATK1yXNNxIs2BU1PbTZrhEoxDCKwDaVbPNGk0RjMuXauZH7WtDsWNbz9cgH1kceB_-0wzWrTShChRUtafBeeHM_lZB2LVZS9qnISGeYqz0IsrT3aNVAY/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cMBr-mkUqJGjp3PIiuPZ_Z3ATK1yXNNxIs2BU1PbTZrhEoxDCKwDaVbPNGk0RjMuXauZH7WtDsWNbz9cgH1kceB_-0wzWrTShChRUtafBeeHM_lZB2LVZS9qnISGeYqz0IsrT3aNVAY/s640/iPhone+Feb2016+383.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Table full of examples!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Glue-on Boots</b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are two main brands for glue-on boots right now:
Easyboot and Renegade. Sue Summers noted she prefers the <a href="http://www.easycareinc.com/our_boots/easyboot_glue-on/easyboot_glue-on.aspx">Easyboot
Glove glue-ons</a>. <a href="http://www.renegadehoofboot.com/pro-compglue-ons.aspx">Renegades</a> are
also popular.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was emphasized that these DO stay on if applied properly!
This usually means: <a href="http://www.vettec.com/adhere-180cc-black"><span style="color: windowtext;">Adhere</span></a> on the wall of the boot and Gooberglue
(also called <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Silkaflex)
</span>on the sole of the boot and hoof. Gooberglue dries more slowly and is
like a sponge. Horses love it and in the presenters’ experience, horses with
this kind of padding in a glue-on shell no longer look for the soft footing on
the trail. Summers noted that she applies <a href="http://www.durasole.com/Durasole_use.html">Durasole</a> before shoe or
glue-on. It’s also good for a barefoot horse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are some issues to consider with a glue-on shell. For
instance, most hind feet are more triangle shaped and most glue-ons are more
round shaped. Summers noted that because of this she often has a gap along the
edge of the toe she has to fill with glue on the hind feet. Also, the hoof has
to be completely dry before you apply them! Another downside is they are hard to take off and are usually one-use only (though people do sand out the excess glue and re-use them, but that’s labor-intensive).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This
hoof-needing-to-be-dry issue would be the reason I don’t use them for Deli in
her current living situation. She can’t be stalled overnight to get dry and we
live on the wet side. Glue-ons would probably only work well during the height
of summer on a non-humid day. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glue-ons are usually just for a single ride. They can stay
on for 2 weeks for a ride and they are fabulous for multi-days. Sue Summer<span style="font-family: inherit;">s has
a tip for glue-ons: she duct-tapes the heel to keep the glue from picking up
things in turnout (because it takes around 4 hours to dry).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is <a href="http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/hoof-boot-news/installing-glue-on-hoof-boots-with-goober-glue-and-the-adhere-lock">a
video from Easycare</a> showing the process for gluing –on one of their shells.
And here is a <a href="http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/bootlegging/a-revised-gluing-protocol-introducing-the-goober-glue-apron">revised
gluing method</a>, also from easy-care. This gives a good idea of what you need
to do to glue-on</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"> shells!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqWyvLs4z6wYc7gD4RsVHU9OyrJSk3SOMfTCyPWRUr8riTmqUomGGwQ-AGp5uSgJE5Zz1PJCx7YdGtXuHElYYTZX9GIV5AV48165jcfBNLqyPHnMb6m6brziH__jZ0R3h_TBrmywE_E0/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqWyvLs4z6wYc7gD4RsVHU9OyrJSk3SOMfTCyPWRUr8riTmqUomGGwQ-AGp5uSgJE5Zz1PJCx7YdGtXuHElYYTZX9GIV5AV48165jcfBNLqyPHnMb6m6brziH__jZ0R3h_TBrmywE_E0/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+378.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the bottom of a boot used in Tevis.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnP26CPWY6mWLFLqCOFuueE6K92zx9oWy14jnCv1mGRJM7H93CXA2i4R9zislM4e3eDxVyPmEit_zDVK4dvgTG_nOF0jNlwyYzDrVxw-LvCQv08hlpYVZR1DzxxO1SjYQUYTIPBsSZ-A/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnP26CPWY6mWLFLqCOFuueE6K92zx9oWy14jnCv1mGRJM7H93CXA2i4R9zislM4e3eDxVyPmEit_zDVK4dvgTG_nOF0jNlwyYzDrVxw-LvCQv08hlpYVZR1DzxxO1SjYQUYTIPBsSZ-A/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+385.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More wear examples.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;">Strap-on Boots</b></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Neither of the presenters seemed to be a fan of
the strap-on boots and they did not go into depth as to why. Summers noted that
the horses seem to move choppier with the strap-ons, giving them a shorter
stride. They also mentioned potential issues with rubbing and that you were
more likely to lose them.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><i>I do use strap-ons for Deli and plan to continue to
in the near future. The Easyboot Gloves, in particular have worked really well
for Deli (I have never lost a single one) and I am using Renegades for her hind
feet due to an issue with the Gloves not fitting her scarred right hind pastern
well. The rubbing can be an issue: our last tough ride the Renegade on one foot
did cause a rub. One of my mentors has suggesting using bodyglide next time. Or
I may try the Gloves for the hinds again because I’ve found the Easycare
products (and customer service) so much more reliable. I'd love to try other things in the future if we do start going to regular rides. As they say: use what works for you!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Composite Shoes<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Composite shoes are made from some combination of plastic
and possibly metal. Some can be glued on and others can be nailed and/or glued.
The general idea of a composite shoe is to get some of the benefits of a
traditional steel shoe while getting some of the benefits of a boot (lighter,
more shock-absorbing, flexible). In fact the presenters noted that composites
in general reduce 65% of the concussion to the foot and they are lighter.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the major issues with composite shoes is that the
horse’s foot has to be the same shape. Your farrier can’t shape the shoe to fit
your horse over a forge. The horses do love the composite shoes – but they have
to have a foot that fits the shape of the shoe as it comes!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The “<a href="https://www.easycareinc.com/our_shoes/Easyshoe_performance_ng/easyshoe_performance_ng.aspx">EasyShoe
Performance N/G</a>” is a product both Summers and Pearce recommended and
passed around. It is quite a clever design, in my opinion: you can glue AND/OR
nail (has a metal plate inside it, which give the ridged structure needed for
nailing-on). Summers noted that these shoes do last: she knows people that
reset them. It seemed like this shoe is <i>ver<span style="font-family: inherit;">satile
</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">based on what the presenters were saying. For example, you can fill the
hole in the center with <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">equi-thane adhesive</span>, and you can add spacers to the back of this
shoe. The presenters noted that this shoe is really great f</span>or horses with
contracted heels (especially when utilizing spacers).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5o3YR6Sl3Ub-b5L6Y2jALaLIejEaT40Ia3k6Cb_shmg2U3IeArEgT-s-tOBGTtHqCcdTKPh66FC4mBnWmCSaDR5JTm3AWPwOTfx5Qo9U7eJqfRFPhQBYelUb9_KJrJQqjxgqdIUoj6Tc/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5o3YR6Sl3Ub-b5L6Y2jALaLIejEaT40Ia3k6Cb_shmg2U3IeArEgT-s-tOBGTtHqCcdTKPh66FC4mBnWmCSaDR5JTm3AWPwOTfx5Qo9U7eJqfRFPhQBYelUb9_KJrJQqjxgqdIUoj6Tc/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+381.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Easycare
also has other models which are ONLY for gluing-on (Though Pearce noted he sometimes puts nails in them). Unlike the glue-on boots
these can stay on for a full trim cycle. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPstE0n-CaGwkc7xYf3yxVP2bC0ct2efJk51y9bXOBDE3TZbjKuSa_DXLsAtPUF9q4Ee1_qBMaAR2yjrPbDwSUHF63Ck6nkA0MMxH53tIoJBXrVJjL7Ax6YJD04ju2SzxxMaK59Kn8v20/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPstE0n-CaGwkc7xYf3yxVP2bC0ct2efJk51y9bXOBDE3TZbjKuSa_DXLsAtPUF9q4Ee1_qBMaAR2yjrPbDwSUHF63Ck6nkA0MMxH53tIoJBXrVJjL7Ax6YJD04ju2SzxxMaK59Kn8v20/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+382.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When comparing glue on boots versus composite shoes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can keep the glue-on or other composite shoes on for 6
weeks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Glue-on boots stay on better, and so are better for an
intense ride.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">At Tevis and other extreme endurance rides glue-on boots
have been the most successful. But it you are going to use something new (like
a glue-on boot) you don’t want the first time to be at a hardcore ride. Try
them out on a 50 first!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">What should inform your decision if </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">you are trying to decide between glue-on boots
(or strap on) versus a nailed-on shoe versus a composite shoe of some kind?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The conformation of the pastern AND the hoof conformation
need to be taken into account. When you have long toes and long pastern
(especially with weak heels) you are adding a lot more stress with glue-on
boots. Why? Because you are </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">extending the
breakover</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and have more leverage.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The shape of the hoof will change ability to do composite
shoes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Horses that have feet that tend to want to
flatten out (pancake) do not do good in composite shoes because they just
exaggerates that flattening out trend. Consequently, an upright and contracted
will do really well in a composite because it will help the foot to spread out!</span></li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pads & Packing</span></b><br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wedge pads affect bone alignment. These can be used if a
horse has bad heel (like a crushed heel) and you have to take heel off to get
to better quality horn. However, hopefully wedge pads are always temporary. In
fact, they can be detrimental so you have to know what you are doing (so incorporate
the veterinarian and get feet x-rayed).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Packing under pads usually encourages a thicker sole. Putting
a sponge or something in boots will thicken soles up too! However, when you are
doing </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">pour-in </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">packing, do not have
the cushion or pads so that they are flush with the ground. This can cause sole
soreness and pressure points.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Summers noted she was a big fan </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">of concussion rim pads</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (in the front feet in particular).</span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.vettec.com/equi-pakcs-180cc" style="font-family: inherit;">Equipak CS</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">
is also a recommended product – it has copper sulfate in it to help with white
line and thrush.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leather pads not so useful in endurance – they can get sand
and things </span>underneath them<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and lame the horse easily. This introduction of
material defeats the purpose of packing (which is to keep sand and stuff out).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just having a pad makes problems of bacterial growth arise,
so always PACK when you are PADDING.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both the presenters love the product: Magic cushion. They
note it’s best for horses with sore feet </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">after
the ride </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">as a therapeutic treatment.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
That's all for now!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/03/ghost-prototype-trial-eva.html">Trying out the GHOST prototype.</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last time from the 2016 PNER Convention : <span style="color: #33aaff; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/02/pner-convention-notes-10-things-you-can.html" style="color: #33aaff; text-decoration: none;">"10 Things You Can Do Better" by Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MS</a></span><br />
<br />
Next time: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/03/pner-convention-notes-beyond.html">PNER Convention Notes – “Beyond Conditioning” – by Robin Ryner</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-25608086576943557982016-03-01T10:27:00.000-08:002016-03-02T08:03:00.595-08:00GHOST prototype trial: EVA<div class="MsoNormal">
The month of February has been very busy! I have my notes
from the PNER conference mostly written up, but they still need to be edited to
make sure they are read-able.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to get a quick blog post out to talk a little about
my experience with the GHOST prototype saddle I’ve been testing out this month.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This prototype – termed EVA – is very different than the
other GHOST saddles. It has a “tree” made out of the same material as Crocs. It’s
very lightweight and has some flex to it, but is much stiffer than other
treeless saddles I’ve seen. It also does not have panels, but they are not
needed: this thing has no problem maintaining a vast spine channel even when
using a <i>normal pad. </i>Pretty cool,
right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc55vnjF5HMSnnDoUMxKUqWw_BvSMMMZJ8klp9sBZZpelAEREpcWYCM9SHXK2rC0ANu6BO9Hvn8u99W-t-wjdWSKI05IzGbgOMOknXOJJM1YAYQmgkru229lMqRQ-G9oWHRuWd5Sjr7A/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc55vnjF5HMSnnDoUMxKUqWw_BvSMMMZJ8klp9sBZZpelAEREpcWYCM9SHXK2rC0ANu6BO9Hvn8u99W-t-wjdWSKI05IzGbgOMOknXOJJM1YAYQmgkru229lMqRQ-G9oWHRuWd5Sjr7A/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+386.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The EVA on Deli (with GHOST pad).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYS8RI6S44vFbRZLX_iUdny8PZ4r7qCop3x-tZpim9Bv4t_ddRTQ5cNARvOlKNrzdio3Vs-EkOkvi2j4VcyqcJJUuJ6PsQ_FcXPk7DZaQqW9yWzHRGPp6MLQfrdwoRPsoq2dt5x8b15IU/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYS8RI6S44vFbRZLX_iUdny8PZ4r7qCop3x-tZpim9Bv4t_ddRTQ5cNARvOlKNrzdio3Vs-EkOkvi2j4VcyqcJJUuJ6PsQ_FcXPk7DZaQqW9yWzHRGPp6MLQfrdwoRPsoq2dt5x8b15IU/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+387.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pony modeling the EVA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did end up needing the pommel bolster insert on the EVA as well to lift up the front of the saddle. As discussed in my trial of the GHOST Firenze, Deli’s conformation means saddles sit downhill on her. Though the EVA looked like it was sitting perfectly with a tight girth, the <i>front</i> of the saddle would squish down when I sat on it – the form is obviously more flexible there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4s-UQkzRjSRXuA8DC8ELAQh9QRM8PnUKZ2URY36jUh486Q8D8ukzwWYCQ2ZhSZwMxFTdr9YkwQ3PyhfpYzGYMFvGW8XV4yEl_gwJop7wMyIb3u-jb2nVzLI5A-ZoiGrIN9rK4pbgm5Po/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4s-UQkzRjSRXuA8DC8ELAQh9QRM8PnUKZ2URY36jUh486Q8D8ukzwWYCQ2ZhSZwMxFTdr9YkwQ3PyhfpYzGYMFvGW8XV4yEl_gwJop7wMyIb3u-jb2nVzLI5A-ZoiGrIN9rK4pbgm5Po/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+389.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front of the saddle. The front does squish down some when rider weight is added.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8G9v_4-LB2RuwlctOD0Je8Nz7BsIa7B5mOXOE3bX72-g96_g3_fxVU0P6znyY3l0m19ZwS_7ANo-isG4zlNmP1bzoE3Bho1OPJlMrsNlaKs5Eve5sMNDTjBwFOi7_PTG_8brNwTBrto/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8G9v_4-LB2RuwlctOD0Je8Nz7BsIa7B5mOXOE3bX72-g96_g3_fxVU0P6znyY3l0m19ZwS_7ANo-isG4zlNmP1bzoE3Bho1OPJlMrsNlaKs5Eve5sMNDTjBwFOi7_PTG_8brNwTBrto/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+390.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pad ties onto the back ring of the saddle. You can kind of see how the seat is Velcroed on in this photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLEhZfgX3TdzLPND1iXt8s4B8Z4C15EA7m4SfE8x4QZI3IkgeMz3tY5vdAkQjQvINb8ddpKOIf3GtPW3GJDs4vdDU6BAFVVo7qnYguK9Gv3eu8UOGTLJSxpT3hBCNYz3_d-eXYx_QQuw/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLEhZfgX3TdzLPND1iXt8s4B8Z4C15EA7m4SfE8x4QZI3IkgeMz3tY5vdAkQjQvINb8ddpKOIf3GtPW3GJDs4vdDU6BAFVVo7qnYguK9Gv3eu8UOGTLJSxpT3hBCNYz3_d-eXYx_QQuw/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+391.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rigging is awesome: adjustable like the other GHOST models, but with a wider spread. This added to front-to-back stability.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlSH27QGmWZmyYgZJUQjVJP_ya5TV7PJxHcqSIrdp3mzR_q1_9zqbTWjoNOsEL6EClTJWc0SOaPUXgH7qgQqMDEvFuGO8MLLs9zCBQPB9vSqocuB2PbfZvzjPrY-xLhRy9Yjv7JRvpHQ/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlSH27QGmWZmyYgZJUQjVJP_ya5TV7PJxHcqSIrdp3mzR_q1_9zqbTWjoNOsEL6EClTJWc0SOaPUXgH7qgQqMDEvFuGO8MLLs9zCBQPB9vSqocuB2PbfZvzjPrY-xLhRy9Yjv7JRvpHQ/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+393.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the rings for the stirrups. Note that they are attached to the tree like other GHOST models to prevent pressure points from the stirrup weight. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The stirrup position wasn't quite
right, to be honest. I ended up in the forward ring like I did with the Firenze, but I did
feel like if my legs were even a little more forward it would have been
perfect. In part this could be because I was having some discomfort from the
seat pommel so maybe I wanted to push my legs out more in front of me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">The seat did kinda bust my girly bits in the front, if you know what I mean (I had a similar issue with my County dressage saddle). I think I prefer a flatter seat because of this. And </span><i style="color: #222222;">generally </i><span style="color: #222222;">my horse isn’t a complete loon – though she has clearly been feeling some spring fever this month. (I think she wants me to start conditioning, right?)</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vxPACJa5yg5hft9259PCi5_HBu0pzMGnhcwRs_ovDhlFQJeiXVCP2MbBL_QLRQ_165CCeG-ebndJ56ebvmgHfpVlDmk5i1ea0lxOb6_Oy-j2jHOSKdZ51rnOJAZsCbnerHYbo1FKwYw/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vxPACJa5yg5hft9259PCi5_HBu0pzMGnhcwRs_ovDhlFQJeiXVCP2MbBL_QLRQ_165CCeG-ebndJ56ebvmgHfpVlDmk5i1ea0lxOb6_Oy-j2jHOSKdZ51rnOJAZsCbnerHYbo1FKwYw/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+394.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind our creep barn llama, Flipside...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nVbuIaJR58rXo-ICRX1d6t7VxxlRllZ_xL6xa0rdXmp8uOIAWaRSoDN7AMftQmx0ysj9Hb5EQZIx9NEpKNN1gdohecImttzA73-HO2BwThjHrZO3_3t4f3Knc2UrlLidSp7zPykfxiQ/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nVbuIaJR58rXo-ICRX1d6t7VxxlRllZ_xL6xa0rdXmp8uOIAWaRSoDN7AMftQmx0ysj9Hb5EQZIx9NEpKNN1gdohecImttzA73-HO2BwThjHrZO3_3t4f3Knc2UrlLidSp7zPykfxiQ/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+400.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The EVA with the Thinline.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It felt pretty stable once I switched
to using my Thinline endurance pad, though I did notice the back end in
particular kicking off to one side or another sometimes. This has been reported
with other riders: some side-to-side instability. I think in part this is
because the existing GHOST pad wasn’t quite wide enough for the stiffer saddle
base on this prototype. I tend to like a pad with a little extra space beyond the
saddle footprint and the GHOST pads, in general, are pretty minimalist in that respect.
Both my Deli and I are dealing with one-side-weakness problems so it could be a
rider/horse problem rather than a saddle problem. It rolled a little, certainly,
but I think on a horse with a less pronounced barrel-shaped body and actual withers
it wouldn’t be an issue <i>at all </i>(and the roll was about
the same as the Firenze, to be honest, and I got some side-to-side roll with my
old traditional treed dressage saddle as well). The Thinline had a wider base for the
saddle to sit on, so I think that helped. And my horse seemed more comfortable
with that pad setup more so that the GHOST pad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZG6NVSfmtnoVccuh7u7_Qk_lGDNumb7u0E07Azxim1uOFS-IhKmL-VTiBcF5D1FJvYwphS9GJ7IB_9i06CHu8LjjHnR6WjRlloIkvRCxwdF-xfmF8AdgWahTfaqQ_OuVjkiBYII36F10/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZG6NVSfmtnoVccuh7u7_Qk_lGDNumb7u0E07Azxim1uOFS-IhKmL-VTiBcF5D1FJvYwphS9GJ7IB_9i06CHu8LjjHnR6WjRlloIkvRCxwdF-xfmF8AdgWahTfaqQ_OuVjkiBYII36F10/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+428.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding in the EVA! I did not get any arena pictures because my husband only seems to come along during "trail rides" (i.e. walking up the road because everything else is MUD).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqjUm-V444bKAYMzNBxFRPBtTkZAaZlc9I6cs3xcMzjXgABJETh1yVh-SN5OrlRA6KMBGrD86kSqxeRHshX8knimNKeRykjdZmHSMvEZY-BOpw4BPNlQ0O7_lA6bYURc_9IW2rTVo0yg/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqjUm-V444bKAYMzNBxFRPBtTkZAaZlc9I6cs3xcMzjXgABJETh1yVh-SN5OrlRA6KMBGrD86kSqxeRHshX8knimNKeRykjdZmHSMvEZY-BOpw4BPNlQ0O7_lA6bYURc_9IW2rTVo0yg/s640/iPhone+Feb2016+422.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least these roads have some decent hills! I did try different stirrup lengths (this being the shortest).</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The seat on the EVA was <i>very</i> secure but I tend to like a flatter
seat. People that like to feel like they won’t move when the horse does some
crazy antics will like this seat. I did have one <i>crazy </i>antics ride on Deli in this saddle and felt very secure
throughout. Deli does not rear or buck, though, so I can’t speak to that kind
of misbehavior. Epic spooking and thinking galloping around a slick muddy
corner is a good idea is all I can contribute to this test! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrDy1wIyFZDjEEC4pLdc2fLKsmrTtMsn2cuJwNz03Hh2n5dNUzcsjo4AxQ3fUP2h-qRxlG7l4PPTWaQj2G9BAOnCLc4AczXFvCnJjjQfVvnhf6XJuFLY0rgsOnotef5tLsif0Ns-zvFs/s1600/Ghost+eva+underside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrDy1wIyFZDjEEC4pLdc2fLKsmrTtMsn2cuJwNz03Hh2n5dNUzcsjo4AxQ3fUP2h-qRxlG7l4PPTWaQj2G9BAOnCLc4AczXFvCnJjjQfVvnhf6XJuFLY0rgsOnotef5tLsif0Ns-zvFs/s400/Ghost+eva+underside.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The underside of the EVA. The velcro strip down the middle is one way they secure the seat (which you can peel up to add bolsters, or adjust the seat size). This saddle technically is an 18" seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222;">I am very curious to see how they
develop this. With a somewhat flatter seat and some other minor adjustment, I
think I might want one! It feels more like a treed saddle but with the
flexibility it could really work for lots of situations. I think, with some
work, this could be an </span><i style="color: #222222;">awesome saddle </i><span style="color: #222222;">for
heavyweight riders or riders wanting a stiffer/more secure feel while getting
some of the benefits of a treeless saddle.</span></div>
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There are some things I preferred about this prototype when
compared to the GHOST Firenze I trialed. First and utmost was the wider spread
on the rigging. This seemed to help the problems I had with the saddle sliding
back were much less with this rigging set up, though I also took the time to
adjust my breastplate tighter before I hit the road hills!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also like that you <i>don’t
need </i>a special treeless pad with this saddle. And it's lightweight while still offering the kind of support you might expect for a treed saddle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think overall Deli moved more freely in the GHOST Firenze, Which is fine, because I bought a Firenze! It arrived yesterday and I am very pleased. I can't wait to try out my new saddle, especially since I got custom blocks (instead of the bucking rolls) done that I think will work well. This means the EVA prototype is going to be sent along to the next person. The hope is that, since this saddle is still in development, rider feedback will shape the next prototype.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGi3I6pET23DADddAmZS2B3RM4nkKBzyjH9CLeWvIWkM9vJMJ4t8aJu9DD-sl33ah4u-IgESOkg0yBfArZ-soedFISFVVyYf8Cl-rbWfwNlesmQhumLQEG5EvlCIUdFxK1eoF5BqBOvQ/s1600/new+saddle+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGi3I6pET23DADddAmZS2B3RM4nkKBzyjH9CLeWvIWkM9vJMJ4t8aJu9DD-sl33ah4u-IgESOkg0yBfArZ-soedFISFVVyYf8Cl-rbWfwNlesmQhumLQEG5EvlCIUdFxK1eoF5BqBOvQ/s640/new+saddle+3.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new GHOST Firenze with custom "banana split" block!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0OQQHpETU7Ujze8_0TvLxtYZXKIfR_Y50pZnHh32Q7Lou94Z-sK8tRwkv2EP5MWBf4Py4hJ89NMsKg01vA1VwvLystwLN_rBu1gWgMJOg16cp7jnEWZvNPvhgm1l4AE0uJ-_x_7_zGo/s1600/New+saddle+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0OQQHpETU7Ujze8_0TvLxtYZXKIfR_Y50pZnHh32Q7Lou94Z-sK8tRwkv2EP5MWBf4Py4hJ89NMsKg01vA1VwvLystwLN_rBu1gWgMJOg16cp7jnEWZvNPvhgm1l4AE0uJ-_x_7_zGo/s320/New+saddle+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My (newish) cat, Jovian, checking out the custom block.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbje7_hTKA5_hW80D94AuSsszFF72yw2M35zTEXkMRI6uihj3_N8ehWWKdTBXsehaVEAMm7GUECW50f-uohvfNLpHKLczwJdhC04arX0hu7H93IeVGQg4qujJKHZuEGn8MDljOtyd641Y/s1600/Jovian+admires+new+saddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbje7_hTKA5_hW80D94AuSsszFF72yw2M35zTEXkMRI6uihj3_N8ehWWKdTBXsehaVEAMm7GUECW50f-uohvfNLpHKLczwJdhC04arX0hu7H93IeVGQg4qujJKHZuEGn8MDljOtyd641Y/s320/Jovian+admires+new+saddle.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What do you mean I can't sit on the new saddle?"</td></tr>
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Fingers crossed this is THE saddle that will get us through lots of trail miles with comfort and happiness. I know I am going to have to play around with bolstering the front and I have <i>plans </i>for pad experimentation (including getting a laminated foam Skito that I can place on TOP of the Thinline pad). If there is an interest in these things I can endeavor to make an effort to catalog them here.<br />
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Fingers crossed March is the month where we start conditioning and building fitness for the long haul. I am looking forward to more saddle time and trail riding. So far 2016 has been turbulent with my own health problems and I need the relief some long trots on the horse I love will bring.</div>
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Last time: the <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/02/10-years-of-chestnut-mare-under-my-belt.html">10 year anniversary for Deli and my relationship/ownership/guardianship</a>.</div>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-70047231680997263202016-02-16T07:44:00.000-08:002016-03-01T10:31:14.708-08:0010 years of Chestnut Mare under my belt… award please?<div class="MsoNormal">
This week marks our 10<sup>th</sup> year together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlXzmpMetvo5-L8oL3IgTDKSiVOrB-lbiFa5icl2aUVSWUHFtEul7HONv4j49p5G5jO37lkUWzP3ZzqMGHXBfnfcwYL6jG5FHoE3batHi5KVIeWVq76CpRScVCS1Q_Lkbyk8qbc2vaos/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlXzmpMetvo5-L8oL3IgTDKSiVOrB-lbiFa5icl2aUVSWUHFtEul7HONv4j49p5G5jO37lkUWzP3ZzqMGHXBfnfcwYL6jG5FHoE3batHi5KVIeWVq76CpRScVCS1Q_Lkbyk8qbc2vaos/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+292.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cold but sunny day in January, 2016.</td></tr>
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I still
remember the day Deli stepped off the trailer like it was yesterday. It was my
first-ever emergency vet bill! We struggled for the first year and a half
together as I worked with her on the ground, teaching her all the things a
polite horse should know. I had trained baby horses before, but it was quite
the challenge teaching an ADULT horse who’d had little handling how to do the
basic things many horse owners take for granted. We also dealt with injury and
illness during that time that put the STRESS in stressful.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recent road riding around our barn.</td></tr>
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<br />
But each year things have gotten better. We may be older and
creakier with past injuries, but we are partners now. She turns 17 in May the
day after I turn 32.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09AeRAi4gN61WqTxZJsnV70lwv9oBhZNXHPIcV8wZFNiM6hZzCjD21CJ_xyAn6E_DGU3rwrKux_qNux1N6MYB4LGwOeNrbM9Bxg-2-JRlEu9X5NaNygr9_KkhGf4dK_jfTo5l-mDMVOo/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09AeRAi4gN61WqTxZJsnV70lwv9oBhZNXHPIcV8wZFNiM6hZzCjD21CJ_xyAn6E_DGU3rwrKux_qNux1N6MYB4LGwOeNrbM9Bxg-2-JRlEu9X5NaNygr9_KkhGf4dK_jfTo5l-mDMVOo/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+426.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxt01Bdw_e9tGY4MXiZ86aDixMqJfo1ohAobnmVeW3mgmOGVWCNAutMfk7PWQnON5AEHiShCVmZTvjLfWe2D5U2olBjCenk2tY7-J_mMFlDd4i87l9Hns6qDx1P8ugWHfHjIA4s0pzdE/s1600/iPhone+Feb2016+455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxt01Bdw_e9tGY4MXiZ86aDixMqJfo1ohAobnmVeW3mgmOGVWCNAutMfk7PWQnON5AEHiShCVmZTvjLfWe2D5U2olBjCenk2tY7-J_mMFlDd4i87l9Hns6qDx1P8ugWHfHjIA4s0pzdE/s400/iPhone+Feb2016+455.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road riding in February.</td></tr>
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This horse is a huge challenge. But she also holds a piece of
my heart that belongs to nobody else. Even knowing all the pain and hardship we
would face in the past ten years I’d do it all again. I think she came into my
life for a reason and vice versa.<br />
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I'm looking forward to the next ten years with this beautiful individual.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband made her a "mash cake."</td></tr>
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Last time: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/02/pner-convention-notes-10-things-you-can.html">PNER Convention Notes – "10 Things You Can Do Better" by Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MS</a></span><br />
Next time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/03/ghost-prototype-trial-eva.html">Sharing my experience of the GHOST saddle prototype I tried out in February.</a></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-26659244052449314952016-02-04T09:49:00.001-08:002016-02-05T11:48:18.065-08:00PNER Convention Notes – "10 Things You Can Do Better" by Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MSFirst in my convention-note lineup is a talk given by <b>Dr. Susan Garlinghouse</b>. She is fairly well known in the endurance world for her articles on equine nutrition and other salient topics regarding the health and fitness of our horses.<br />
<br />
During this talk she essentially rounded up some of the more interesting things she had found from scientific research, and the practical applications of this recent
research. Everything she talked about comes from her reading peer-reviewed research journals (so we don't have to?).<br />
<br />
There were several points that are very applicable to Deli and I. I hope making my notes available will be helpful for other riders and horse lovers.<br />
<u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><br /></b></span></u>
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<h3>
<u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>1. </b></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">How to Feed Feet</b></span></u></h3>
<div>
<u><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b></span></u></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are tons of factors go into growing a good foot –
bio-mechanics, genetics, age, breed, metabolic rate, temperature, and moisture (so
the season and climate in general matter quite a bit for what a foot needs). Nutrition
is a big deal but there is no </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">one thing</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> that is a silver bullet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The key points from the nutrition standpoint
are:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Feed enough calories – the quality of their feed
might not be high enough. In a positive energy balance they will grow foot 50%
faster than horses on a restricted diet (not meaning the horse is on a “diet”
for weight control, jut that the horse might be working more than the calorie
intake received).</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">P<span style="font-family: inherit;">rovide a good amino acid profile – don’t just
supplement one amino acid and expect it to make a difference (for example,
don’t just add methionine).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal;">Should you add minerals? I</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">f the mineral profile is already
adequate, adding more is not going to help (and it might hurt). What’s more
important that adding in single minerals is BALANCE. Don’t add a specific
mineral unless you have a shown deficiency.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Chelation of minerals is when</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> bonded mineral to some kind of protein. This kind of mineral may
increase rate of hoof growth. Minerals are absorbed more easily when chelated but it’s going to cost
more money. Look for th</span>ings like “zinc proteinate” or some kind of yeast. Zinc
is a good one to be chelated.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Gelatin does not help – it has no scientific
influence on hoof growth (And it’s not good for your fingernails either).</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Adding fat to the diet – adding a generic supplement will
not help hoof, but it could help keeping the positive energy balance discussed
earlier. However, adding</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> fats high in omega-3 fatty acids IS beneficial for the foot. This </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">WILL provide
direct benefits to their coats and hoof. Essentially these kinds of fats will
add </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">increased tensile strength</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> if fed
in the right amounts for long enough.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Premium commercial feds provide a good
vitamin-mineral balance if feeding around 5lbs a day. More cost effective than
multiple supplements! For example: LMF Gold.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><span style="font-size: small;">2. Feeding Biotin (for hoof quality) – it does
work!</span></u></b></h3>
<div>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
As for specific supplementation, Susan Garlinghouse
discussed biotin extensively (which makes sense – it’s a common additive to
hoof supplements). Biotin is one of the more expensive vitamin supplements.
Most supplements do not add a lot of this because it’s expensive. The daily
requirement for biotin is around 1-2mg/day just for general health. But if you
supplement extra (15-20mg/day) you are going to get better hoof quality with some patience...<br />
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It will take 6 months to appreciate the difference with the
15-20mg/day dose. In about 9 months you s<span style="font-family: inherit;">hould see a statistical difference (most
horses grow out a foot in this timeline). In 33 months you see the increased
tensile strength in the foot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">So yes, biotin can help a great deal with
“feeding a good foot” if you keep in mind these baselines:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be patient and consistent!</span></li>
<li>Improved quality: 5-7.5mg/day. At 15-20mg/day you see even better quality but no increased growth. At 50mg/day – you will see
increased hoof growth. This will be around 15% better growth, plus a higher quality of hoof.</li>
<li><i>Not every horse is going to
respond, however. </i>There are other factors that contribute to the hooves growth and strength (you need to have an overall good
environment and supplementation before you can get payback).</li>
<li>Biotin is a B vitamin (B7) and is not stored in the body – you have to feed supplement 2x a day if you are giving
50mg/day otherwise it will just be “an expensive pee puddle”.</li>
<li>Her personal favorite is <a href="https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e06fbf-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5">Paragon
Biotin Plus</a> – one scoop is 50mg. It also includes yucca. Yucca in
naturally-occurring feed supplement is okay (otherwise it’s on AERC’s
prohibited list).</li>
<li>I personally recommend <a href="http://horsetech.com/bioflax-20">HorseTech’s Bioflax20</a> product. I
didn’t know horses should be getting at least 20mg/day of biotin – but looking
at the dosages for this product the horse does get the 20mg in the normal dose!
The company also has higher doses in other products.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">3. Feeding Fat</span></u></b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div>
This topic is one I’ve seen discussed a lot within the
endurance community. So, why feed fat? It has 2x the calories that protein and carbohydrates
do, and it’s highly digestible! So feeding fat makes it easy to maintain a
horse’s body weight.</div>
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The vegetable fats are more digestible (about 90%) and
animal fats are somewhat less digestible (about 75%) because they have an added mineral
content. In contrast, forage on average is 50-60% digested. What is not digested
is poop, urine, or heat. You <u>need that also</u>, but heat is also a
byproduct of exercise. A horse gets very hot during exercise and when their
normal cooling process aren’t operating, they can get to a lethal core
temperature in <15 minutes.</div>
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Feeding fats DECREASES the thermal load! Thermal load is
higher in: larger horses, carrying heavier weight, heavily muscled horses.
(This will tie into competing the non-Arab in endurance because one of the
pri<span style="font-family: inherit;">mary advantages Arabs have is a lower thermal load.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Fat in the diet also provides glycogen-sparing effect. Glycogen
is animal storage form of starch. Glycogen is a big bushy molecule. It’s not
efficiently stored compared to adipose tissues so is in <i>very limited supply</i>.
This means that feeding fat makes the animal <i>more fuel efficient</i> and Improves
glycogen utilization. </span>Once a horse had adapted to a high fat diet (which takes 5-10
weeks) they can still replenish glycogen repletion. High carbs are not
something you want to feed a tired horse, so getting horses fat-adapted makes
their rebound easier after a tough ride as well.</span><br />
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Fat is a SAFER feed than a lot of grain! Horses get more fuel
efficient when exercising using aerobic metabolism processes and when they are
used to burning fat, this process is encouraged over anaerobic energy uses. The
glycogen sparing effect is also associated with a decrease in respiratory
exchange ratio.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The comparison of oxygen consumption to CO2 produced does
relate to the glycemic cycle in a horse as well. Adding dietary fats smooth’s
out the glycemic/insulin curves from starchy meals, so your horse will have
less of an energy rocket-boost and then a corresponding crash. Ideally its better to have <i>sustained energy. </i>Another reason
to avoid large swings in the glycemic index is that insulin suppresses the
horse’s ability to <i>oxidize fatty acids</i> – and you want them to be oxidizing
fatty acids. All of this ties into how you want to feed a horse before a
ride: ideally you want to SMOOTH OUT the glycemic/insulin curves.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Other considerations of a high-fat diet in the endurance
horse include:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Horses on high fat also digest grain better.</li>
<li>One thing to note that is perhaps a bit unexpected: horses
on generic HIGH fat diet show symptoms of being insulin resistant! However, if
you change their diet to include 1-2oz of marine oil daily abolishes IR effect.
So with a high fat diet add a little fish oil and add that. Dr. Garlinghouse recommended
the product “<a href="https://ker.com/products/ker-products/united-states/eo-3/">EO3</a>”, which is a marine oil source.</li>
<li>Don’t ever syringe straight oil down the throat as it does
not induce the “swallowing” effect and they can easily aspirate it into their
lungs.</li>
<li>What about the adage that you should stop feeding fat a
couple days before an endurance ride? Essentially, fat consumption makes the
horse less hungry. You want the horse to be stuffing itself with FORAGE before
and during the ride-day as it is the best thing for gut health and water absorption.
During the ride you should <i>not add additional fat</i> to their meals. You want
your horses hungry whenever you make hay available to them. A horse can’t utilize fat
on ride-day anyway. <b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Edit to add another comment from Dr. Garlinghouse:</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8px; text-align: justify;">It's okay to feed a ration that happens to contain significant fats, and it's okay to add a high fat feed, like rice bran, as a flavoring agent. Just don't add a specific fat source, like pouring corn oil on their mash. I generally stop adding additional fats a day or so before a ride." </span></span></li>
<li>What about coconut oil? One of the fatty acids in coconut oil is
lauric acid – the only other place it’s found is in breast milk. Lauric acid has been linked in some research with cancer fighting properties. But before you get too excited, this is what the actual research said about lauric acid and cancer: one of the metabolic byproducts of it, when put into a lab petri dish the
“cancer did not like it.” Does this mean it actually has cancer-fighting
properties? No! Essentially just think of coconut as fat a fat source. (It also tastes good and
is therefore a palatable fat if your horse is picky.)</li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 107%;"><u><br /></u></span></b>
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 107%;"><u>4. Chia seed vs. Flax?</u></span></b></h3>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 107%;"><u><br /></u></span></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These two seed sources are commonly fed to our equine partners and in her talk Dr. Garlinghouse compared them. Actually, she mostly talked about the benefits of feeding flax.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">These seeds have equivalent omega-3 content but Chia is twice as
expensive (so why buy it?). <i>Flax helps with hoof and hair quality and helps as
an anti-inflammatory</i>. It’s good for arthritis and it’s great for horses in the
endurance sport because endurance creates a certain amount of inflammation in joints and tendons even if it's not a chronic condition.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So what are the research points for flaxseed in a horse's diet?</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><i>Every horse should be getting omega-3 fatty acids</i>.</li>
<li>Some endurance horses who had metabolic
issues did well on 4-5lbs of flax a day (suggesting it's pretty safe for horses with metabolic issues).</li>
<li>Lingan is higher in flax than in chia – lingan is a
phytochemical structure (ie. An insoluble fiber which just providing bulk). It does have a weak estrogen-like properties
but the Dr. Garlinghouse assured us that
that is near impossible to actually make a measurable difference. She told us a
story about a bunch of stallions on a rigorous breeding schedule who needed a
lot of calories and were getting 5lbs of ground flax a day without experiencing
any fertility issues. Though it has not been tested in horses, lingan can be
protective in humans (prostate and breast cancer!).</li>
<li>Human grade flax seed is okay to feed to our horses. Golden
and brown flax is the same.</li>
<li>Don’t over-grind the flax. You degrade the omega-3 if you
grind it too much (because it gets too hot). Also, getting it pre-ground is
risky. As long as it’s not rancid it will still provide some fat content to the
horse, but the omega-3s degrade more quickly. Feed within 10 days/2 weeks. Put
it into freezer bags to make it last longer.</li>
<li>Flax does have the cyanide precursors that in some bodies do
turn into cyanide. But the dose makes the toxin! It is another “cowboy myth” that
flax seed is toxic because of these cyanide precursors. How did the myth start?
It began– from cows fed linseed cake (which is the same plant but with the oil
taken out of it). Cattle have the enzyme to break down the cryogenic precursors
and they had some issues arise. Horses do not have this enzyme! Or at least not
in high concentrations.</li>
</ul>
So how much should you feed?<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">For flax: give a cup to 2 cups a day (start at ½ a cup a day
or you will get diarrhea) for a horse doing LD or 50s. It’s more palatable than
a lot of the oils.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">What about flaxseed oil? Plain flax seed is 20-25% fat and
is a lot less expensive. The oil is harder to keep fresh – it’s very sensitive
to light, and needs to be refrigerated.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">What about grinding flax? You will get 2x the digestibility
out of ground (slightly ground). This is different than oats (where grinding
does nothing) because flax is a SEED and has a hard hull.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Someone asked about black oil sunflower seeds. For BOSS –
good way to get fat into them as a source of calories. But they have more
omega-6s than omega-3s (and omega-6s are pro-inflamation). But at a better ratio than most vegetable oils!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">5. Feeding Grain to the
Endurance Horse</span></u></b></h3>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
</div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oats, corn, barley, etc. The main thing to remember about feeding grain is: <i>there is a limit to how much
grain horses can digest in a day.</i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When feeding 5-11lbs of grain a day the risk of colic increases by a
<i>significant percentage</i>. Why? Starch meals are digested by enzymes in </span>the small intestine.
It is like a conveyor belt and just keeps moving when healthy. When there is
too much grain it gets dumped into the cecum. <o:p></o:p>The cecum will treat it like
forage because that's what the cecum does!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://articles.extension.org/pages/20288/feeding-management-of-the-equine"><img alt=" Feeding Management of the Equine - eXtension article." border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8W6iknFhrLWhS46xVzNefrNJTb7ibrwuKQiame0bboNruIVgXievpU0HB2N87ex5fCVRCr8BAwcGulYB19FjMy7ogp94KwgUkpVo-1oCss86AEWcyMLV6wNXpabUPEvGa21iNUaUtY4/s400/Digestive_capacity_horse.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">When grain gets to the cecum it makes the environment acidic ( which is called "cecal acidosis"). This condition </span></span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">associated</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> w/ colic, laminitus, </span></span><a href="http://www.thehorse.com/articles/28436/endotoxemia-explained" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">endotoxemia</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">, </span></span><a href="http://www.aaep.org/info/horse-health?publication=816" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">EGUS</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">, and other things you want to avoid in your equine partner. What's more, u</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">lcer
medication does not heal ulcers in the hind gut, so you should avoid ulcers as best you can. Dr. Garlinghouse noted that horses with fore gut ulcers often have </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.6933px;">diagnosed</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"> hind gut ulcers.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other considerations for feeding grain include:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feeding 10lbs of grain a day also decre</span>ases fiber digestion.</li>
<li>Sub-acute cecal acidosis contributes to decreased appetite.</li>
<li>Digestibility NOT improved by splitting a large amounts of grain into
many meals.</li>
<li>The <i>least digestible</i> grains are corn and others with a very hard casing (the “hard grinds”). There is NO
advantage to processing oats or other grain feeds compared to the straight grain (crimping, rolling, etc.). </li>
<li>Co<span style="font-family: inherit;">mmercial
feeds do things to grain to make them more digestible, so if you want to feed grain that might be the way to go.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">With respect to sprouting grains (as in fodder): it does i<span style="line-height: 107%;">mprove digestibility, improves the vitamins the horse can access, and makes it palatable. </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">If
the grain is still intact enough to sprout and grow then you know you are
getting a high quality grain. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">6. Ride-day Breakfast</span></u></b></h3>
<div>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Re-think 4am grain or concentrate breakfast. Why not?
Because you don’t need the energy spurt at the start of the ride. You want the
burst later and you don’t want a slump at the “lunch” hour. This does not mean they can't get a mash of soaked pelle</span>ts or something similar. So give them a flake of alfalfa in the morning. Or soak some pellets of alfalfa. Just to make him happy!</li>
<li>The horse should be eating FREE CHOICE forage all day long!
And days beforehand. This packs the gut full and will help store water if nothing else.</li>
<li>Feed them any concentrates the DAY BEFORE (before midnight). The "lighter fluid" can be filled up the day before and your horse's glycogen stores will be full. And you will
skip the glucose-insulin curve with this practice.</li>
<li>Make sure he finishes all concentrates before midnight the
night before.</li>
<li>The only horses that<i> need</i> carbs during the day are the ones
being competitive. </li>
</ul>
<h3>
<b><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">7. Preferred Gait Studies</span></u></span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></u></span></b></div>
<div>
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How does the body mass and distribution of weight affect energy costs?
Does reducing mass of a distal limb increase energy efficiency? </div>
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<br /></div>
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We know there is a <i>linear relation</i> between increasing mass and
energy costs. When measured in fit Arab horses, adding 1.5lbs to each ankle increased energy costs by 11%. If the same amount of weight was at the center of gravity
increased energy costs by only 0.6%. So every 1lb you add to the legs equals the same energy cost (approximately) as adding 18lbs
over the center of gravity (such as tied to the saddle or breast collar). But you don’t get the extra “credit” points when standing for
best condition if you have things on your horse's lower limbs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -24px;">So what should you do? Essentially, </span><u style="text-indent: -24px;">b</u><u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">alance hoof protection against unnecessary additional weight!</u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Ask: d</span><span style="text-indent: -9pt;">oes my horse really need splint or bell boots? Does he need the heavy shoe or can I find something lighter? </span><span style="text-indent: -9pt;">Or
maybe be dynamic and change the booting and leg protection throughout the ride. For example, if you know the first loop is going to have a lot of brambles or cacti, put on protective boots and then pull them off for the second loop which has more sandy terrain.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -9pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -9pt;">(This is one reason it's important to train in the gear you are going to use, too, so your horse get's used to the energy expenditure required in wearing boots.) </span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">8. The "Sweet Spot" for Gait</span></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Energy costs for the horse rise outside the “sweet spot” – ie. the speeds they are
willing to keep up all day long. Most horses will have this for each gait. <o:p></o:p><span style="line-height: 107%;">If
the horse chooses their own speed they will </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">usually</i><span style="line-height: 107%;"> choose the sweet spot
themselves. Where an extended (or collected) gait goes away from the sweet spot we should make
them transition to a different gait or else they are expending </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">energy</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> needlessly. The main qualifier for this is that i</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">f you have an inexperienced horse they may try and tell you their "sweet spot" isn’t quite what it <i>actually </i>is (I promise, Deli, the sweet spot is not
jigging sideways). It's always good to c</span><span style="text-indent: -9pt;">hange
gears every now and then to use different muscle groups, anyway.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This is another area heart-rate monitors can be very useful. With a heart rate monitor you can tell his "sweet
spot" is – that’s where his heart rate will be the lowest at that particular gait. As your horse gets
more experienced that sweet spot <i>is going to change</i>. It usually gets </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">faster </i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">as a horse gets more fit mentally and physically.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am really curious to figure out Deli's "sweet spot". She can trot like a demon sometimes (approximately 14mph) but she seems most efficient at 7mph or so. Her walk varies widely, usually slower at the start (2mph) and warming up to 3-3.5mph. Not a fast walker!</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><u>9. Joint Supplements</u></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The only joint supplement that is supported by data is <a href="http://www.cosequin.com/">Cosaquin</a>. And yet even cosaquin is only about 3-4% bio-available to the horse. Glucosamine and the different sulfite joint supplements are not bioavailble to the horse when ingested. Why? The size of the
molecule matters and can't be utilized well by the equine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.adequan.com/" style="line-height: 107%;">Adequan</a><span style="line-height: 107%;"> (or Legend) works better because you are </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">bypassing the digestive tract. </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Adequan is 90% more
bio-available. So Dr. Garlinghouse's </span><span style="line-height: 15.6933px;">recommendation</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> is that you get 2 vials of Adequan rather than buying expensive supplements. In the long run this might actually save you money!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Here is another article I found </span><a href="http://horse-journal.com/article/adequan-legend-pentosan-16151" style="line-height: 107%;">comparing Adequan, Legend, and Pentosan</a><span style="line-height: 107%;">. I'm </span><span style="line-height: 15.6933px;">particularly</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> interested in researching and asking my vet about </span><a href="http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/research-points-pentosan-polysulfate-treat-equine-osteoarthritis" style="line-height: 107%;">Pentosan</a><span style="line-height: 107%;"> for Deli, as she </span><span style="line-height: 15.6933px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> have any specific joints that are problematic (just a history of traumatic injury).</span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><b>10. </b></span><b>The best thing to feed DURING the ride is hay!</b> </span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also feed a lower-glycemic mash (triple crown senior is pretty good for this). </span>As an aside – green grass is MAGIC for horses! If you have access to pasture and your horse is not sugar sensitive, green grass can do wonders to multiple systems in a horse’s body. This includes ride-day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjFeN8-lnnsYTfQxORtEsRMtdECuG-KtmZW2UMB5n7NOIs5DEH1fNvlcCBUkzNavHfWBzCNN_cd2bOcJHZWY6_YqlPUVLMjuq08EO8n9Z2uFCVYjwABBceL0hUJy11bEF03E4cV-y9lY/s1600/Deli+roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjFeN8-lnnsYTfQxORtEsRMtdECuG-KtmZW2UMB5n7NOIs5DEH1fNvlcCBUkzNavHfWBzCNN_cd2bOcJHZWY6_YqlPUVLMjuq08EO8n9Z2uFCVYjwABBceL0hUJy11bEF03E4cV-y9lY/s400/Deli+roll.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what we do at the end of anything long: a good roll!</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;">That's all for now! </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since a lot of what Susan Garlinghouse spoke
about related to nutrition, I thought I’d provide a link to an article on <a href="http://greenbeanendurance.weebly.com/nutrition-and-management.html">nutrition
and management</a> made specifically for Green Beans.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Last time: </span><a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-2016-pner-conference-was-blast.html" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">The 2016 PNER Conference was a blast!</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Next time: Notes from "</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Endurance Foot Care" by<b> </b></span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Sue Summers and Lee Pearce.</span></span></div>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-50607082403938897682016-02-02T09:27:00.002-08:002016-02-04T08:56:44.315-08:00The 2016 PNER conference was a blast!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
This past weekend was spent in Portland, Oregon at the <a href="http://www.pner.net/">Pacific Northwest Endurance Rides</a> Conference. I’ve
made it a must-tend event for several years now, and it’s an easy thing for me
to do since I live in Portland.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The highlight of the long weekend is both seeing familiar faces and
meeting new folks in the endurance community. It always reminds me that PNER is
just that: a community. There are cliques and insular groups within it, of
course, but by in large they are welcoming folks. Green Beans such as myself
are welcomed in this region – probably in part because the leaders of the “movement”
originated here!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next big highlight is, of course, the speakers and round-table
discussions. I always learn something valuable and take extensive notes so that
I can eventually share my thoughts and the information with others. One of my
favorite things about horses is the constant need to learn and adapt (says the
perpetual student), the Conference speakers have a ton of valuable information
that is applicable both to endurance and horse care in <i>general. </i>The speakers and panels I attended this year included:
<i>Moving Up – Smart Conditioning for Every Distance</i> (though I missed the beginning
of this), <i>Managing Equine Liability</i>, <i>“10 Things You Can Do Better” </i>(by Dr.
Susan Garlinghouse), <i>Endurance Foot Care</i>, <i>Beyond Conditioning, and Running on
Empty</i> (the Do’s & Don’ts to Avoid Dehydration). I also attended a
round-table discussion on <i>competing the non-Arab in endurance</i>. If you are
interested in any of these topics, stay tuned! Over the next month I will be
posting my notes and thoughts on each of these panels and discussions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA4jOh4opkZHjyG-nVQUf6LL2deMmb2jPWhHtqcK31dfG6FI3IFE2jlZMnyjGmwXnIkCkiFgzoj_hQzFwJaAyysO-npz9_e2DYhR0hcUh_hn5UwNJZol8YseVwevEI0ua2cy6C1K-u0o/s1600/GHOST+PNER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA4jOh4opkZHjyG-nVQUf6LL2deMmb2jPWhHtqcK31dfG6FI3IFE2jlZMnyjGmwXnIkCkiFgzoj_hQzFwJaAyysO-npz9_e2DYhR0hcUh_hn5UwNJZol8YseVwevEI0ua2cy6C1K-u0o/s320/GHOST+PNER.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty GHOST saddles on display.</td></tr>
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Another exciting thing to happen at the PNER Conference: I ordered a
saddle! There were lots of saddle vendors at the conference this year but I
stuck with what I’d tried. I ordered a GHOST Firenze. Fingers crossed I get it
sooner rather than later, but the saddle ships from Italy and it will take time
to make as well (particularly since I’m getting some “custom” accents). I am
still doing a game of international telephone to see if the saddle maker can do a block or
knee roll that would better suit my leg conformation. But I do know I am
getting a black saddle in the oiled nubuck (the same material as the demo
saddle I tried). I briefly considered getting the synthetic material, which was very
nice, but I kept coming back to the rich pliable nubuck. And the black? Well,
Deli’s official colors are “black & blue”, which suits us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also left the Conference with a saddle prototype in-hand. Also from
GHOST, this prototype uses the same material as the Croc shoes as a tree. The
result is a stiffer “treeless” saddle which may offer more support for
heavyweight riders. Based on what I’ve felt of it, it also seems to offer a
more definite “twist” than most treeless saddles. I’ve done one short ride in
it just to see Deli’s immediate response – no rejection so far. It feels very
different and I am excited to experiment and give feedback. How often is it
that someone gets to influence the design of a saddle! I’ll report on my
findings for the prototype as well and I am very happy to have a saddle to experiment
with while my Firenze is being made.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx84JN9h5OHnYNix9OAoSMJ6b1dwqbWdc-tfCwY-CwlQtXGfioUB1npu-1Q_eRZVrY1C9zsyOLOoDNYxu9kvlD9XrMA7tI1SlNWc_SWPlTmD4PVNaZmLOxugAxK2pXty66wMaKKkL7n68/s1600/Deli+w+EVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx84JN9h5OHnYNix9OAoSMJ6b1dwqbWdc-tfCwY-CwlQtXGfioUB1npu-1Q_eRZVrY1C9zsyOLOoDNYxu9kvlD9XrMA7tI1SlNWc_SWPlTmD4PVNaZmLOxugAxK2pXty66wMaKKkL7n68/s400/Deli+w+EVA.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deli tacked up in the GHOST EVA prototype.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I don’t know if this is Deli and my year when it comes to actually
getting to an LD (or two, or three), but I’m trying to remain positive while
letting the universe do its thing. There is a lot I can’t control when it comes
to riding in endurance. To a certain degree I can control Deli’s health, but
given our history I’ve had to become accustomed to meeting the emergencies as
they come and with minimal</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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During the conference someone I was in a discussion with made a good
point: the real reason this sport is called “endurance” is because of
everything it takes to get onto the actual competition trail. The conditioning
miles, tweaking horse nutrition, keeping your horse healthy, figuring out tack,
and working on mental readiness. It’s all hard work. It all takes serious
problem-solving skills. I really like problem solving – it allows me to always
be in the mindset of a student, which is a role I enjoy. But I’ve been lusting
after that elusive endurance trail for eight years now. That longing was only
intensified by my one and only LD.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I joined both AERC and PNER for the first time this year. The new job
and a more predictable income allows for little things like memberships. I’m
curious to see how these memberships affect my place in the endurance
community. I still need to get my one LD completion attached to my new AERC
number. Deli also has a number now.</div>
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I am not making plans other than a goal to: hit the trails. Whatever
that may mean at the time. For example, this month (February) is busy with business
trips and jury duty and meetings upon meetings. It’s still mud season in the
Pacific Northwest so I am allowing February to be Deli and my month of
<i>stretching, yawning, and cleaning out our literal and figurative closets. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-final-thoughts-on-my-ghost-firenze.html">My final thoughts on the GHOST Firenze demo.</a></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-62593959271928648842016-01-04T11:39:00.000-08:002016-02-02T09:29:56.585-08:00My final thoughts on my Ghost Firenze trial.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I ended up keeping the <a href="http://badlandsequine.com/page/2463/Firenze">Ghost Firenze</a> for an extra two weeks on
trial. This was a good thing. Due to the weather it had been difficult to ride
as much as I would have liked that first week. The extended trial was appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I got to experiment with some other things which is making my decision-making process much easier:</b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Different girths, moving the girth around (the rigging
allows for this).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Different pads. I tried my favorite endurance Thinline with
sheepskin (pictured), a thicker Western pad, and combining the Ghost saddle pad
with the Thinline.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Longer periods of dressage work in the (often slick and ooky)
arena.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trotting small cross rails (she just trots big over them).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Different stirrup lengths to test knee comfort while
half-seating (since I prefer cantering in half seat or two-point).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Riding with a crupper.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Riding with a saddle bag (it makes me think I’d want more
rings because the placement doesn’t quite match my bags).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Riding through a huge bolt-spook and not budging.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A trail ride! Not as long as I would have liked (only 4.5
miles), but I was able to trailer out to the nearby horse and hiking park <a href="http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=103">Tryon Creek</a> for a ride on some good hills. (Also it was an awesome trail ride
adventure in and of itself – a good test for Deli which she passed with flying
colors!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">And very important: different bolstering.
Specifically bolstering the front pommel WAY more than before and trying to
fold the felt inserts given in different configurations. This made the biggest
difference in my comfort.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>My final thoughts:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I’ve said before I really like this saddle. Deli moves
much more comfortably than she ever did in my dressage saddle. With me
bolstering the saddle way more in the front I felt like I was in a much better
position and I had no back soreness or issues from her after that. The bucking
rolls were hardly noticeable with the bolstering. I might do a wedge-shim in
the PAD plus a wedge in the saddle itself when I eventually work things out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
trail ride showed me that the saddle wants to slide forward and back QUITE a
bit. She didn’t seem irritated by this
slipping, oddly enough. I WAS irritated by it, though! </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TEsSB8kDRW0pfXDtxnWWB6jCObpJjjwbGtA0JzLs_yoDxdaneLReCURVWRBKP01U5n5vsP6i5X4-yz0i5_2aF397gI6-EE4ftJo8K7dnQ9gjGA-9Jm5YZOiIPFd8aTUlAmvrtBmo0IM/s1600/Tyron+Creek+Dec+2015+ride+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TEsSB8kDRW0pfXDtxnWWB6jCObpJjjwbGtA0JzLs_yoDxdaneLReCURVWRBKP01U5n5vsP6i5X4-yz0i5_2aF397gI6-EE4ftJo8K7dnQ9gjGA-9Jm5YZOiIPFd8aTUlAmvrtBmo0IM/s400/Tyron+Creek+Dec+2015+ride+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddle after coming up the biggest hill. WAY back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I think this can mostly be solved by a tighter breastplate.
I should have just adjusted it on the trail ride but my fingers were freezing
(it was 35 degrees). I was also curious to see how much she fussed, to be
honest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Deli wasn’t a huge fan of any of the girths except her
sheepskin-floof covered and VERY stretchy Montana Cincha. This might be in part
because she isn’t clipped yet and any hair catching irritates the heck out of
her. Also she does like the softness of the stretchy-mess. So inevitably the
saddle does have some tendency to roll if more weight goes into one stirrup. A tighter
breastplate and even the addition of a crupper for those longer rides would
help that. Honestly every saddle I’ve had on her rolls to some degree.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am thinking of trying a mohair girth or something similar
on her, since the Ghost totally allows for our number one problem (saddle being
pulled forward into the shoulder by her forward heart girth). Notice the angle of the girth on the above picture? That isn't "forced" per se, though in that shot the saddle is sitting too far back. The rigging is really nice for horses with conformation like Deli's (that forward heart girth & round rubs and laid-back shoulder combo) but would work for a horse with more "straight" conformation too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eENkkHeyN-AklEPHIZZp63kHabPQVLthZWGSUUrMPD23UC8FL-t5ktwYo-Zrm1Bi_0LBCTAsEmDDRHeLGwER7fWH3DLZQtKMB9LTDl7E8bLPwf2I0yG9a5DNpApk7SMQquQi_S_LuLo/s1600/Ghost+w+Thinline+trial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eENkkHeyN-AklEPHIZZp63kHabPQVLthZWGSUUrMPD23UC8FL-t5ktwYo-Zrm1Bi_0LBCTAsEmDDRHeLGwER7fWH3DLZQtKMB9LTDl7E8bLPwf2I0yG9a5DNpApk7SMQquQi_S_LuLo/s400/Ghost+w+Thinline+trial.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with the Thinline pad. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Most treeless saddles require some kind of built-up pad. I've avoided a lot of treeless saddles because Deli certainly needs a nice spine channel. The Ghost has panels that support the seat above the horse's spine. Since Deli does not have a protruding spine or a narrow frame i thought I'd try it with this pad.</div>
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She did fine without the super-padded treeless pad (ie. my
Thinline), but even though it didn’t touch I didn’t like how close the “tree”
came to her spine. Since both Deli and I love the Thinline I am interested in
getting a Skito half-pad (with their heavyweight foam) to place on top of the
Thinline to account for it being treeless. This material-type combination is
what we use for our bareback riding that has worked so well. I like the Ghost
pad as well but I am someone who likes having backup combinations. I imagine if
we ever get to LDs I’d like to change my pad during the vet check if I have
time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For our little trail adventure we mostly walked in part to
riding with a greenie horse and also because the park was very crowded. It was
the day after Christmas and Tryon Creek is within Portland city limits. The
trails are very nice and totally winter-ized, however. We trailered up to the
park and unloaded. Deli looked around calmly. I had popped her boots on prior
to loading so save the hassle in the parking lot. Deli basically ground-tied
while I saddled her, watching curiously as other riders pulled their rigs in
and out of the parking lot. Ready to go I mounted awkwardly from the truck tail
and off we went. Deli eagerly moved out at a nice walk. She was a little slower
at the walk but she usually is when leading the pack – which she did the WHOLE
way! Tryon Creek is forested but not tightly closed in and Deli eagerly looked
ahead the whole way. She put her muscles into the hill climbs (she excels at
climbing hills – going down, not so much) and never put a foot wrong. We had
some balking at the first of two of the bridges we had to cross, but not a
difficult fight. Mostly I am proud of her for how good she was around the mobs
of hikers/walkers, families, dogs, joggers, and other riders. It was the day
after Christmas and CROWDED. Deli was also a great example for the greenie who
had a few brain farts when crossing culverts. She is communicative of things
that are worrying her – basically you are just aware she is aware, though. She
was awesome. She even got called a “trail schoolmaster” which makes me LAUGH
because, NO WAY.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_WggTv7ksoAKMFgfr6zJVlpLLfu1zOJCa8NfX_LdDcPafGJifg0fRdvX5ug-LTvkHa-c8dohUxcUJu3mTrNIBNv6WBzAIBQB1d7d0gdNLBOP02dfFpgF4ZnSOL-UMhhanS2kd2tXkKc/s1600/Tyron+Creek+Dec+2015+ride+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_WggTv7ksoAKMFgfr6zJVlpLLfu1zOJCa8NfX_LdDcPafGJifg0fRdvX5ug-LTvkHa-c8dohUxcUJu3mTrNIBNv6WBzAIBQB1d7d0gdNLBOP02dfFpgF4ZnSOL-UMhhanS2kd2tXkKc/s400/Tyron+Creek+Dec+2015+ride+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Hawk Pony in Tryon Creek.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_b5cZiruXvIoyDQ9UrAwOZcvM2z_0UIqeNLqc6BUTLuV80pWrQQccCE9tQzpMxKw3bU7KmDs9Ch4nrgom5_EHjgoCix_1olE5sLKJ6Ei1v4YTzkYzVr9qSnD3LX3sCI-UsMvyhfWvtw/s1600/Tyron+Creek+Dec+2015+ride+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_b5cZiruXvIoyDQ9UrAwOZcvM2z_0UIqeNLqc6BUTLuV80pWrQQccCE9tQzpMxKw3bU7KmDs9Ch4nrgom5_EHjgoCix_1olE5sLKJ6Ei1v4YTzkYzVr9qSnD3LX3sCI-UsMvyhfWvtw/s400/Tyron+Creek+Dec+2015+ride+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>So what’s next? </i>Over the past week I’ve been ruminating on
the saddle issue. If I want to have the opportunity to ride more I need
something more than my bareback setup. Deli has been, historically, not easy to
fit. The Ghost seems to be a good fit. One of the bigger points in its favor is
how adjustable it is. You can add bolsters, exchange seats, adjust the stirrup
positions, etc. I can even get one made without the bucking rolls.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I still have that worry of: what if it doesn’t work
long-term for what I want to do with Deli (Which is, limited Distance rides,
extensive trail riding, schooling dressage). I suppose I will NEVER know that
with any saddle though!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am probably going to get this model. I like the forward flap quite a bit. My legs are more underneath me that they ever were with my dressage saddle! Clearly that one had problems beyond the girth-fit issue. One thing about this Ghost saddle is that the price seems <u>very competitive</u>. That’s a huge draw for
someone like me! I still have to figure out whether to get it with or without
the bucking rolls, what material (different kinds of leather, fleece, and
synthetic are available), and what color. The demo I tried was the oiled
nubuck, which I liked. My life on the wet side of Oregon has me considering the synthetic option, though.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hmmm...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2015/12/demoing-ghost-firenze.html">Demo-ing the GHOST saddle</a>.<br />
Next time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-2016-pner-conference-was-blast.html">The 2016 PNER Conference summary.</a></div>
</div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-67485812627494114152015-12-13T21:17:00.005-08:002015-12-14T08:27:01.480-08:00Demoing the Ghost Firenze.I am just finishing up my saddle demo for the treeless Ghost saddle. It
wasn’t the best week the demo a saddle because of the epic storm that has been
thrashing the Pacific Northwest since Tuesday. And my “epic” storm I mean
downed trees, SIGNIFICANT flooding, closed freeways, mudslides…<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
And for those who don’t live here and think its weird someone living in
Portland would comment about the rain: this isn’t normal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I still got a couple good test rides in on the <a href="http://badlandsequine.com/page/2463/Firenze">Firenze</a>, though no long trail
rides unfortunately. I am fairly new to treeless saddles but I’ve tried a
Startrekk and a Freeform on Deli before. She disliked both and there is little
more to say. I have personally ridden in an older Ansur, but not on Deli.
Ansurs are WAY out of my price point, anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHjVYTESSXVpYUt3geIVEg8yCv6-Fr4cqKlhInM0Zdq_BNj1u3C2B_e2OrE3Mw1qV9DtKaHHv0SQ2ox341NRYT_A16roztx5QyXJD2BnSSuqccsuohk0Mz_rcJNt06j6603BNVqe0PdQ/s1600/Ghost1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHjVYTESSXVpYUt3geIVEg8yCv6-Fr4cqKlhInM0Zdq_BNj1u3C2B_e2OrE3Mw1qV9DtKaHHv0SQ2ox341NRYT_A16roztx5QyXJD2BnSSuqccsuohk0Mz_rcJNt06j6603BNVqe0PdQ/s400/Ghost1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ghost Firenze with Ghost pad - size 18" seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyCSE_SDzZK6yS5wgf-vwTGRof7YYHwW556JA-MMafWjYS5AZgbwTlTW8ksJxQAbet6kyWtZqwVL3HWswbOHGVPCxoGtORhM-IAkQwS1fcUsK4yg_lOfaT9QxxQYxtRlz-5RispCqVbg/s1600/Ghost2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyCSE_SDzZK6yS5wgf-vwTGRof7YYHwW556JA-MMafWjYS5AZgbwTlTW8ksJxQAbet6kyWtZqwVL3HWswbOHGVPCxoGtORhM-IAkQwS1fcUsK4yg_lOfaT9QxxQYxtRlz-5RispCqVbg/s400/Ghost2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rigging , the pad, and the stirrup attachments.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHjVYTESSXVpYUt3geIVEg8yCv6-Fr4cqKlhInM0Zdq_BNj1u3C2B_e2OrE3Mw1qV9DtKaHHv0SQ2ox341NRYT_A16roztx5QyXJD2BnSSuqccsuohk0Mz_rcJNt06j6603BNVqe0PdQ/s1600/Ghost1.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The best “trail” trial I had for this was riding 3 miles up the road
and back in the freezing rain today (luckily, I have a waterproof saddle cover that fit). Deli was kind of pissy (wanting to go home), but
it was hard to tell whether it was the weather, all the cars, or the saddle. We
did some more trot work in the arena upon returning and she was nice and
forward still, which is usually a good sign.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
My general impressions:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Well-constructed,
fairly minimalist with a more ridged but flexible base, a stiffer pommel arch
which gave it the most structure, and areas for both the leather seat and
panels to be Velcro on (seats are interchangeable). This would allow the panels to be adjusted. I messed
with that very little.</li>
<li>The Ghost pad also
seemed well-constructed - the foam is different than what I'm used to seeing in Skito, though.</li>
<li>I like the panels
system that gives the spine lots of clearance (*note, when I tried the Freeform
it did NOT have the sympanova panels, just a bulky treeless pad).</li>
<li>Sit’s “higher up”
on the horse due to the extra padding – typical for a treeless.</li>
<li>Initially it was tipped
way to far forward due to Deli’s sway back and the fact the saddle does <i>squish</i> when you sit in it. The saddle
dealer included some felt seat inserts which I placed under the seat as a bolster.
That really helped. I might want an even bigger bolster if I get this saddle.</li>
<li>Deli was initially
wiggly, and then really moved out nicely for some easy arena work. She seemed
more comfortable than our old dressage saddle and than just the bareback pad
just based on her willingness to trot on and relax her head down with little
urging.</li>
<li>Comfort for me was
decent after I figured out where to have the stirrup leathers (there are two
spaces to put them) – except for the bucking rolls. I hate those things. I have
a VERY long upper leg and big thighs. Bucking rolls just do NOT work for me.
Luckily this saddle comes with the option to have them removed so I tried to
ignore them and focus on other aspects of the saddle.</li>
<li>I absolutely LOVE
the rigging system (see pictures). It worked great for my forward-heart-girth
& laid-back-shoulder gal. The saddle did slide forward and back a little
when we did some hills.</li>
<li>You have to cinch
it up much tighter than a treed saddle. Saddles always roll on Deli because she
is a barrel, so I had to be mindful of that.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Visual of how it all layers together:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT40IbZ9S4T928d6imtWBEabPr4R5Gn4O3f35hxMQoTYxM30GNv_JIztQ-Rz5JosH8htORBFWj5CZNdgcVZAiyiQoOlPLjYCSZYCYBhPqLt-BCNyt82rVziagWLFEo63wZ3u56EWsCOBU/s1600/Ghost3.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT40IbZ9S4T928d6imtWBEabPr4R5Gn4O3f35hxMQoTYxM30GNv_JIztQ-Rz5JosH8htORBFWj5CZNdgcVZAiyiQoOlPLjYCSZYCYBhPqLt-BCNyt82rVziagWLFEo63wZ3u56EWsCOBU/s320/Ghost3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Me on Deli (but before I put the bolster in the saddle pommel:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZfTJ8evo9rdrKzolHSHj3wn1ClYCKqxlCrSpNLXHkH0ICPUDe9twehY6rA8M5sq8nxlCz6kjC869rOtb6NoPYzide-hHfOsZE8H6vDxx0cVzP8Qagb404puO2HnE8Ag8HLRfCH-igtI/s1600/Ghost5.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZfTJ8evo9rdrKzolHSHj3wn1ClYCKqxlCrSpNLXHkH0ICPUDe9twehY6rA8M5sq8nxlCz6kjC869rOtb6NoPYzide-hHfOsZE8H6vDxx0cVzP8Qagb404puO2HnE8Ag8HLRfCH-igtI/s400/Ghost5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After I put the bolster in the pommel:</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbADxJgDm42zRKrhSDcV_w70_FbJmui8LyL7XUEP2hCxPcsyiV0098b126Bs2HvspYE5LnF8jWRNQT_6JGyVYDWsCxT2bEKzbPaFebG8eBh6qj74dbAbF8l9oUAimzFuP_zsqlpcfhF6A/s1600/Ghost6.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbADxJgDm42zRKrhSDcV_w70_FbJmui8LyL7XUEP2hCxPcsyiV0098b126Bs2HvspYE5LnF8jWRNQT_6JGyVYDWsCxT2bEKzbPaFebG8eBh6qj74dbAbF8l9oUAimzFuP_zsqlpcfhF6A/s400/Ghost6.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
More shots of the "inner workings" of the saddle:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaigfqoKlPn-KBDR2DfIe1khByrvXjoTf1-_YgG9hx2xZJ3uj6hyphenhyphenZkUy6lejdtt5KCbUJ3uWHGAn-qbKATQx853LgZS3AKp08Ca3jA6ribyqOl5UouHy-WqYV0dO369TvINNOAzqQoNS0/s1600/Ghost7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaigfqoKlPn-KBDR2DfIe1khByrvXjoTf1-_YgG9hx2xZJ3uj6hyphenhyphenZkUy6lejdtt5KCbUJ3uWHGAn-qbKATQx853LgZS3AKp08Ca3jA6ribyqOl5UouHy-WqYV0dO369TvINNOAzqQoNS0/s320/Ghost7.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing the foam in the pad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohREwCj3X3L7nl6DfAC619XpLrIOQg7dn_Y6ZL2OLMdw6zjJvWPlsJVtpo10WYqSol7lcPFigu0ZcuaMcD56DCTnVHyDiQXAeu6YN3uSCQj_niOH6gl3PmrWODujLXgMWCEX91HwPbFU/s1600/Ghost9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohREwCj3X3L7nl6DfAC619XpLrIOQg7dn_Y6ZL2OLMdw6zjJvWPlsJVtpo10WYqSol7lcPFigu0ZcuaMcD56DCTnVHyDiQXAeu6YN3uSCQj_niOH6gl3PmrWODujLXgMWCEX91HwPbFU/s320/Ghost9.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The panels can be peeled off the flexible frame.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Potential issues to be addressed or actual problems:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>I am heavier than
the “maximum weight” of 175. Not much heavier – and given the diet I am now on
(for specific health reasons other than losing weight) I’ll probably be 175 or
less by the time the weather is nice enough for longer rides. Still. I will
never be a lightweight and I have a mental block about the treeless + fat person
issue.</li>
<li>Her lower back was
somewhat tender after our last ride (in the area she gets fatigued easily).</li>
<li>MY lower back and
crotch were also a bit sore after riding up the road. Again, it’s hard to say
why. I still felt like I was being tipped forward sometimes so If I get this
saddle – maybe a bigger bolster? Shim the front of the pad? Not sure. I don’t
get any soreness when riding with the bareback pad, and I’ve done around 5
miles pretty regularly (before it started raining every day) with that. Related
to this: I feel like I could sit more comfortably without the bucking rolls
hitting me uncomfortably.</li>
<li>The saddle did
slide forward and slide back when we hit some minor hills. Not enough to make
her fuss, but it was noticeable.</li>
</ul>
<o:p>I</o:p>’m concerned about the slight back tenderness today. Hard to tell if
it was saddle related or because she was so tense and “up” for the whole of
riding up the road. I also haven’t asked much of her dressage-wise for several
months since we have not had a saddle. Still, we only went 4 miles. Can her
back remain good for 25 if she’s iffy after 4? Her back didn’t feel tender like
that riding 5 miles in the bareback pad, but she was tenser today (due to the
weather/timing) and I asked her for more in the arena.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I would like to be able to use Thinline somehow since Deli does really well with that. I think Skito COULD make a treeless pad for this saddle, or I could add Thinline shims into the pad itself (or the panels!). There are lots of ways to adjust and self-modify this setup, which is a plus.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I tried putting our Thinline pad
UNDER the Ghost pad, but Deli wasn’t a fan of the layered pads. I wonder how much a treeless pad is
needed with the panels and a barrel-shaped horse? I should have tired just the Thinline
in the arena but it didn’t occur to me till just now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Otherwise I am seriously considering getting this model. There were
lots of things to like and in general Deli seemed comfortable. She did her
lovely power walk reliably without being nudged a lot, which is usually a sign
she feels good. She certainly moved more freely than in our old dressage
saddle! The pricing on these saddles is also very good – I could get one NOW.
The other saddles I was considering (Trailwise, Alleghany, maaaayyybe
Stonewall) would all be double the price of this saddle or more. And there is
no guarantee they would work long-term either. Finding a treed saddle to fit her particular conformation has been difficult if not impossible so far.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
One VERY note-able observation: when I first rode her in the arena when it was dry she picked up the canter <i>easily. </i>With the dressage saddle it was always a struggle in the arena. I thought it was just her but not I'm not so sure... I couldn't canter again after that because parts of the arena were semi-flooded and it was too slippery to canter at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
It bears musing. I wonder if it's a good idea to get this so I at least have a saddle to RIDE in. If it does not work for Deli and I longer-term we can always sell it (like we would any saddle that did not work). I certainly recommend this saddle based on what I've seen so far. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-54763599164913042292015-10-23T11:08:00.000-07:002015-10-23T11:09:01.435-07:00Don't sweat the small stuff!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I can’t believe I haven’t done any updating since July! Slacker slacker<i> slacker.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilddeHykmNxdljpDoxns4S_hGyOc9MFPMziuKhOOQKvS9KNEn5l3kbD9N_eBLmsO839cpHV-Ehn-DKXZviXB68Y8sV-pXRJAdwAE0V2Njp4CNRi-NeFlXGBakB4_M8zB6KP_0n1NxnYms/s1600/Fall+2015+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilddeHykmNxdljpDoxns4S_hGyOc9MFPMziuKhOOQKvS9KNEn5l3kbD9N_eBLmsO839cpHV-Ehn-DKXZviXB68Y8sV-pXRJAdwAE0V2Njp4CNRi-NeFlXGBakB4_M8zB6KP_0n1NxnYms/s400/Fall+2015+101.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall - my favorite season in the PNW - is here.</td></tr>
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The good news is: Deli is doing pretty darn well. The lymphangitis is
still <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a thing</i> but I’ve learned not to
sweat the small stuff. Seeing a puffy leg <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">now
</i>just means several things: </div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>She got bit by an insect and needs a loading dose of antihistamines.</li>
<li>She needs more exercise and/or has been standing around too much.</li>
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<br />
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So far neither of the above have affected her soundness or general
comfort.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Look at her leg on a <i>good</i> day! This is incredible considering the trauma this leg has experienced (so my vet tells me).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_Zy4mPivW6JUq1XQsP-0i506ViiyMVXvpPzJmvL9M6BGUHNl_UApHylysZ5cVgdeXuAvEWnIUzlD0VMxILz_ERhnz4Is2BQBQxfgcPm78GWfqiZkdoF9MTxS8-BjR1A5IUTqxN4nHQ4/s1600/Fall+2015+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_Zy4mPivW6JUq1XQsP-0i506ViiyMVXvpPzJmvL9M6BGUHNl_UApHylysZ5cVgdeXuAvEWnIUzlD0VMxILz_ERhnz4Is2BQBQxfgcPm78GWfqiZkdoF9MTxS8-BjR1A5IUTqxN4nHQ4/s400/Fall+2015+094.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have been riding her – still bareback (with a pad) – about 3 times a week. We do “trail
riding” whenever we can. Just loops around the farm fields across the street,
but she enjoys that more than arena work. We have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">also </i>been doing dressage work in the arena. She is sound and not
terribly unfit. Now that the cooler weather and some rain has come to Portland
at last the insects are no longer a bother. I’ve been able to take her off
daily antihistamines. The fact that those drugs <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>help her highlights
that she has hyper-immune allergy issues that set off inflammation more than anything.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVMPbFtLVkcygUgkpOr1hgEFajSH5ibnZrOQ16ydaMdAIB9JlA9DTxLijttojhrdYt9DVx2-qZypzLe_oS-_WbQNifmt-cwBDm6RVzXRM6zDC7sWzGGLsEEPD2hyU_37-MDFUq98nF9M/s1600/Fall+2015+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVMPbFtLVkcygUgkpOr1hgEFajSH5ibnZrOQ16ydaMdAIB9JlA9DTxLijttojhrdYt9DVx2-qZypzLe_oS-_WbQNifmt-cwBDm6RVzXRM6zDC7sWzGGLsEEPD2hyU_37-MDFUq98nF9M/s320/Fall+2015+041.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAT. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWXlY6ECaORjKv18PkPqgr4u231nH7fZaI_EhsQfrq6dRk5q11hwtlYuXoHU698gCKPLOJfsKTzuHFIW0jkQFIHzVBCOv2fWoT34PZbTYAUlb_EKbJakuma8UGNZsTGwIpNZw8JuBaC0/s1600/Fall+2015+112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWXlY6ECaORjKv18PkPqgr4u231nH7fZaI_EhsQfrq6dRk5q11hwtlYuXoHU698gCKPLOJfsKTzuHFIW0jkQFIHzVBCOv2fWoT34PZbTYAUlb_EKbJakuma8UGNZsTGwIpNZw8JuBaC0/s320/Fall+2015+112.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foggy day on Cow Hill.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I did get Deli tested for Cushings disease this fall and the good news is: she doesn’t have it!</b> We received a big
fat (and very clear) negative on the ACTH test. This is a relief for me because
her having Cushings would have added another whole management headache.
Ironically her top line and the odd fat pads also go better with the use of antihistamines
(and perhaps, not using my old custom-fit saddle?!). My vet wants me to watch
her heat cycles carefully next spring and have her checked for reproductive
issues if I still see some irregularity in her heat cycles.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RN7vNO-gsPEjD_gCn2zGtEXVB3QyAH-vTIOKU93lHNgdTAi4uwKSmKRfnkEHqZZa8l2kyll6gwMg_Kuy3NqgRoSm9a2g4OZBpIaWFtDV-OqUtinatBAYEHzgbm-OAuox28VqQzKbReE/s1600/Fall+2015+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RN7vNO-gsPEjD_gCn2zGtEXVB3QyAH-vTIOKU93lHNgdTAi4uwKSmKRfnkEHqZZa8l2kyll6gwMg_Kuy3NqgRoSm9a2g4OZBpIaWFtDV-OqUtinatBAYEHzgbm-OAuox28VqQzKbReE/s320/Fall+2015+052.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian has even been riding her more!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Despite not having Cushings I still decided to muzzle her this fall.
She bloated up HUGE after two days on growing green grass and the muzzle went
on. With the drought we have been in this is the first fall season we’ve had
where the horses are going from NO grass to the highly sugary fall grass. It’s
not even raining much yet but I plan to keep her muzzled until it’s truly
winter and the grass is a bit safer. She gets high quality hay 2x a day, her
supplements (I’ve added back in some cinnamon since fall is here), and lots of
grass snacks as we poke along in the farm fields.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
With the muzzle on she now looks good. Oddly she looks less sway-backed since I started just riding her with the bareback pad. And she is FUZZY-PLUSH with her winter coat right now!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I really am trying not to sweat the small stuff. It’s not in my nature
but I think it’s about time I adopt this as a policy with my beloved chestnut
mare. I push the ache of wanting to do more endurance rides away for the time
being and tell myself over and over: what will be will be. The endurance season
is just about over in the Pacific Northwest anyway. Next year I hope I can get
Deli out more and if not I’ll try and find an appropriate endurance horse to
lease or try to find pick-up rides. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tEDJd33-xcT7NwcH4BnERF_CgntvvfBz1yw3sfjArQgyQ84JBqHDqD-i6W9B5w__bhw3ODo2TjzU8xIMvLKoSyda96_zBs7tUNqal7P4bQANRQo1PcGOb1IoSOblmTtow4t0fxqW-H0/s1600/Fall+2015+158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tEDJd33-xcT7NwcH4BnERF_CgntvvfBz1yw3sfjArQgyQ84JBqHDqD-i6W9B5w__bhw3ODo2TjzU8xIMvLKoSyda96_zBs7tUNqal7P4bQANRQo1PcGOb1IoSOblmTtow4t0fxqW-H0/s320/Fall+2015+158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I’ll be able to afford it better now because after two years of looking
for the right fit I’ve finally found and been hired onto a new job! I’ll be
making some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">predictable </i>money while
also doing agricultural policy work – something I am passionate about. It will
be reasonable to start looking for a new saddle soon. Maybe down the line we
can also invest in a used truck and trailer which will open up opportunities
for Deli and I whatever our direction ends up being.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My vet tells me the lymphangitis doesn’t make endurance out of the
question: endurance vets are more concerned with a leg that GETS fat than a leg
that gets thinner. And soundness, of course. And everything I have seen over the past few months is that
the exercise is the best thing for Deli. I hope extensive trail riding (and
hopefully camping) is going to be a big part of next year. But with a new job... who knows? I certainly don't!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1tJV9iV4ykunprjfq76TPG8w69LQWNB2OMnBqjnvfyNICP_LTBarLklD-c_9rLBIOkRdwbzMS-OI1eYDnI1SMFyxNezGdUwcUMu6N0kIDMSTNL5mHWGWRTx5bzZGGfmno3WT2R_xwyc/s1600/Fall+2015+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1tJV9iV4ykunprjfq76TPG8w69LQWNB2OMnBqjnvfyNICP_LTBarLklD-c_9rLBIOkRdwbzMS-OI1eYDnI1SMFyxNezGdUwcUMu6N0kIDMSTNL5mHWGWRTx5bzZGGfmno3WT2R_xwyc/s320/Fall+2015+036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZa9QrZfgygdTldIqwEOmHLZooMRJVN9uxNLhSzd6w0TfmDLv8bzqriAj7dVVD22yykSQapFgOB5B1OPLpHHJxv-kR3NiAlKX-dBOEk3x1GUAEGuCm0GuuzBKVp5EFj4eu-2mtGS1zFm0/s1600/Fall+2015+130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZa9QrZfgygdTldIqwEOmHLZooMRJVN9uxNLhSzd6w0TfmDLv8bzqriAj7dVVD22yykSQapFgOB5B1OPLpHHJxv-kR3NiAlKX-dBOEk3x1GUAEGuCm0GuuzBKVp5EFj4eu-2mtGS1zFm0/s320/Fall+2015+130.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Last time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-positive-way-to-spin-this-another.html">Deli gets <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4220705480075654873.post-19539467342509047182015-07-31T17:09:00.001-07:002015-10-23T11:10:07.834-07:00The positive way to spin this: another fork in the road...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i>When to give up?</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
That’s what’s been going through my mind a lot lately when it comes to
Deli. Not to give up on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">her</i>, because
she’s going to get my care for the rest of her life whether she is a pasture
puff or something else. But whether to give up on doing endurance rides with Deli.
To retire her to easy-going trails without a goal other than moving along.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Endurance riding is something I’ve been trying to achieve with this
horse for six of the nine years we’ve been together. Because I think she would
both enjoy it and be good at it (barring the obvious soundness problems) and I
also enjoy and could be good at it. I love being outside on a trail with a
horse I love more than anything but the element of goal-setting (not necessarily
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">winning </i>a competition, but the idea
that there is some mountain to climb) to endurance riding really appeals to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have that <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-first-limited-distance-ride.html">one LD under my belt </a>and that was enough to make me realize
I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really really </i>want to pursue this
sport. I can’t remember doing something that was so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hard </i>and yet so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fun </i>ever
before in my life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was all set to take Deli to her first LD (Bandit Springs) at the end of June. She was
doing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">awesome </i>during conditioning
rides<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>So awesome. She was getting
obviously more fit and seemed to be enjoying moving out more on the trails
(more forward = more fit and confident for this mare). She was ready, too. She
was strong and getting stronger. The couple successful intro rides we have
under our belt meant I was pretty confident her brain could handle it as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just over a week before the ride I go out early in the morning to sneak
in a ride before the blistering heat set in only to find her pawing in her
paddock, not wanting to move. She was 3-legged, the right hind leg had a
slightly puffy fetlock, and her distress was obvious. I made an emergency vet
call. I found the barn owner down in the barn and asked if I could cold hose
her where she stood (and create a big mud puddle), and she expressed surprise
because when she’d fed Deli about a half-hour earlier she was walking around acting
normal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4DQuSyjRKU2tYehZmv8Y2F2AdMmsMYqPxjwJ6hF_aYYwHvqzEkzzgtlj1LufumctbzaXFvzD6vqkMFMpNkq2vfPfEPR4vogiWTm2YT5Kl2QXEG9bFf4m1b4PRCsc2RU167br7KJkcCs/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4DQuSyjRKU2tYehZmv8Y2F2AdMmsMYqPxjwJ6hF_aYYwHvqzEkzzgtlj1LufumctbzaXFvzD6vqkMFMpNkq2vfPfEPR4vogiWTm2YT5Kl2QXEG9bFf4m1b4PRCsc2RU167br7KJkcCs/s640/iPhone+June-July+2015+024.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was bigger than this, I kid you not. This was taken later when she was comfortably putting weight on the leg again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I don’t need to go into all the details but as I waited for the vet
Deli’s leg got bigger right before my eyes. She got a fever that kept climbing
past what would be normal for a horse in pain (eventually getting to 103.7
before the vet was able to administer a nice cocktail of drugs). Concerned
about the level of pain she was in – to the point she was almost panting – and
knowing the vet was still at least an hour away, I called her to let her know I
was giving Deli the last of the painkiller I had left from her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">last </i>badbad injury. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The final diagnosis was lymphangitis, but based on the circumstances
it’s likely that Deli was bitten or stung by a spider or other insect. The vet
thinks a black widow bite somewhere on that leg is a possibility. We also have scorpions
in the PNW, though I’ve never seen them around the barn. The weird and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bad </i>weather we’ve had this year had
meant the proliferation of all sorts of insects we don’t normally get much of. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The swelling was bad. Horrific, one might say. The whole leg from hoof to udder was grotesque.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iFZBLecUkiAiu5GUW_YlVSSHFRMno2E2F7p7EjK2-aWmWGB9M3YBtNUFh0N1dyWcJjrWLs0ej0C81Pi8ik0Qs8Obj1wmXP6NrYT5aV0-ByfzHjPcIpcm6WS9uNt9wrnAKSslAc86XJk/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iFZBLecUkiAiu5GUW_YlVSSHFRMno2E2F7p7EjK2-aWmWGB9M3YBtNUFh0N1dyWcJjrWLs0ej0C81Pi8ik0Qs8Obj1wmXP6NrYT5aV0-ByfzHjPcIpcm6WS9uNt9wrnAKSslAc86XJk/s400/iPhone+June-July+2015+018.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For non-horse folks... the left leg is <i>normal.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6ajzcCuOTnRf7LC4y7u5MU26YFeyv_GFKY_EOT8NbseuD6ziTXSZdSECzjEQBWU43mPjPFaqYUVdjh52cxmBa72VyFLNAg0YCwfh_Q_FRk5dRLxdx_Uc5b3HBTG2sqvwmy-Rf2djj8o/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6ajzcCuOTnRf7LC4y7u5MU26YFeyv_GFKY_EOT8NbseuD6ziTXSZdSECzjEQBWU43mPjPFaqYUVdjh52cxmBa72VyFLNAg0YCwfh_Q_FRk5dRLxdx_Uc5b3HBTG2sqvwmy-Rf2djj8o/s320/iPhone+June-July+2015+036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deli hanging out in a stall the day after the "event".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Deli’s compromised lymph flow in that darn right-hind from her old scar
and many bouts of celluitus probably contributed. As did her allergy to insect
bites (a hyper-immune reaction which started after she definitely had a bad
spider bite on her chest about 3 years ago – her skin melted off that time). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10213/lymphangitis-in-horses">Lymphangitis</a>
is essentially inflammation and/or infection of the lymph system. The vessels
swell enormously. Lymphangitis can be caused by many things – one of which is
the introduction of a toxin. Things get inflamed, lymph gets constricted, that
gets infected and… everything goes downhill from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Everything I’ve read and heard now says the same thing: Lymphangitis is
a frustrating condition to treat."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In all the articles I've read they end saying something like: it’s a good thing it’s such an
uncommon condition. To that I say: <i>no sir, because that pretty much guarantees
my horse is going to get it.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Deli went through a long round of antibiotics, and me trying to find
something, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything, </i>that would work
to abate the swelling. Her leg got huge and nothing helped. It got so huge the
pitting edema (meaning you can press a finger into it and it stays like putty)
was draped over her hoof. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nothing helped. </i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5C5MTb5bWiz4QYSrrUDOJ2FelA3czjY54N9ZZqD9doKtuz3aOrKVAgUcMxGbb7jVwtPIqTp73vbNpBWnhqc73wAbYw_u5Dy_FgWmKUdUY67ZG1wEWvq-LOj4CGQOAt2ThIbJeFcsJ4o/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5C5MTb5bWiz4QYSrrUDOJ2FelA3czjY54N9ZZqD9doKtuz3aOrKVAgUcMxGbb7jVwtPIqTp73vbNpBWnhqc73wAbYw_u5Dy_FgWmKUdUY67ZG1wEWvq-LOj4CGQOAt2ThIbJeFcsJ4o/s320/iPhone+June-July+2015+042.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sweat wrap. Which helped not at all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I played around with different things. Supplements to help cleanse lymph. Infared light therapy. Cold hosing and icing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Topical medication. Anti-inflammatory medications and even herbs of various sorts. Bandaging and sweat wrapping and massage. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm still considering other therapies, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJZBqhyphenhyphen3Xm26p3Wtj7oxgkkL2EtDcnLJVhhOC9IGYvSbSIBr-8dBiCCpUyzqbAC-bCxzUXcDXCFepeCLskXCEXCk6MdNMGW_1PcHZ3M-4PFp8uS7eJTXcvE6TmWBp-EALswP5MD5epQ8/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJZBqhyphenhyphen3Xm26p3Wtj7oxgkkL2EtDcnLJVhhOC9IGYvSbSIBr-8dBiCCpUyzqbAC-bCxzUXcDXCFepeCLskXCEXCk6MdNMGW_1PcHZ3M-4PFp8uS7eJTXcvE6TmWBp-EALswP5MD5epQ8/s320/iPhone+June-July+2015+058.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying some feed-through assistance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Luckily, other than the pain of having her skin stretched tight Deli’s
serious pain went away within a day. Her skin itself wasn’t hot or painful like
I saw when she gets cellulitis. Up around her groin/udder area it was more
painful and inflamed – there are a string of important lymph nodes in the area.
The skin on the inside of her leg from stifle upward got weird bumpy skin,
almost like hives, and the lymph system in the area became ridged and hot. That
particular area hurt a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lot </i>when you
poked it. It made me consider that Deli may have been bitten a bit higher up
and the first swelling just appeared in the fetlock because of how the fluid
circulates.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But I’ll probably never know exactly what happened. The spider bite is
our best speculative guess based on the whole set of facts we do have. Her temperature
being so elevated so quickly, for example.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I finally found that movement seemed to help a little, so she went back
out in the big pasture with her buddy. I went out two times a day (meaning over
two hours of driving every day for two weeks) to give medications and hand walk
her. The FatLeg remained stubbornly persistent. It would go down a little, but
only a little. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She didn't seem very uncomfortable so I hopped on her to do our walking. I even gave my husband a short lesson on her one day to serve two purposes at once.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-kdCGTE3n0gQna3SnxusjcoXK0IG9013YO6BDig_Br2kpziirHMrOKvNUwQ7q3KgfFHJ7N9pHcYvyhVd5UQBO2WrXtod_hz7xtDnRgFxA0G94XbCCnpi_YuxL2aLtkO4anpHg2h1vOs/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-kdCGTE3n0gQna3SnxusjcoXK0IG9013YO6BDig_Br2kpziirHMrOKvNUwQ7q3KgfFHJ7N9pHcYvyhVd5UQBO2WrXtod_hz7xtDnRgFxA0G94XbCCnpi_YuxL2aLtkO4anpHg2h1vOs/s400/iPhone+June-July+2015+080.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesson pony? <br />
Haha... no. Only for my husband, who she adores.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When we knew we were not dealing with infection anymore, it
was time to try steroids. Adding the corticosteroids dexamethasone had an
immediate positive effect. She was on that for 10 more days, ending last
Saturday. During which time I obsessed over watching her feet for founder –
something that luckily didn’t happen (she’s pre-Cushing’s and Cushing’s horses
are more prone to founder. And a side effect of steroids can be founder).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Steroids are a magical thing in some circumstances! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Despite all these drugs and enormous time commitment on my part there
is currently a residual swelling left. Longer exercise (the longest so far was
an hour and a half trail ride) gets the leg looking almost normal, but I can
feel a difference. There is still some pitting edema left. This is pretty
common – basically the leg will be permanently FatLeg to some degree.
Unfortunately this also makes the severe lymphangitis more likely to recur in a
previously affected leg.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yesterday she was stung by a bee on the neck and today the FatLeg is a
little fatter. Antihistamines helped that, so now, on vet advice, we are
playing with a large dose of Zyrtec that we will taper off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_GCTUOlKHZhqXsv7i6ObaY0htknL5U3uh8-RFiN8MFK7lUCmfci7G06R3IYidXhxqf5YyQunqfrEFJL5JWxb0M34hBeS-yWpQX-IizkK2lweBV9hg5lpyN23fQeY6Kuk2irs61ajHbk/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_GCTUOlKHZhqXsv7i6ObaY0htknL5U3uh8-RFiN8MFK7lUCmfci7G06R3IYidXhxqf5YyQunqfrEFJL5JWxb0M34hBeS-yWpQX-IizkK2lweBV9hg5lpyN23fQeY6Kuk2irs61ajHbk/s400/iPhone+June-July+2015+110.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A more recent shot of the problem leg before a workout, which takes away some of the puff. Much better, but some residual fibrosis (especially around her fetlock scar). Welcome to the world FatLeg.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I’m <i>exhausted</i> and trying to ignore the stress caused by already-substantial vet bills because there is nothing I can do about <i>that </i>right now. I
feel like I don’t have the right to complain, sometimes, because this has been
a hard summer for many of my friends (and fellow bloggers) when it comes to pet
health. We all seem to be struggling. One friend of mine had to put down her
old guy recently due to neurological issues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Further conversations with my vet highlight that endurance isn’t
necessarily off the table. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ride her, work
her, </i>my vet says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she how she holds
up and watch how she feels. Movement is the best thing for Deli if she can
tolerate it. </i>Deli is sorta-kinda sound. If the FatLeg is fat she is a bit inconsistent. As it goes down she moves more smoothly. The stretched skin is no doubt uncomfortable, but a short period of discomfort means more comfort later. And since Deli isn't resisting being worked I know she is not really in pain. This is an advantage to sensitive horses I think: I KNOW she's not hurting if she's telling me she's fine. Not a stoic pain-hiding horse, this one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_b-UmFatELZHMWOu8UqfV6lDMlSKAduM9fqdd0WnPHOr9JzEMtPHEros8LpO008GTBKfg4k6M3Ko1Z6qO0FmPf5TM9AkQbwxyxzsQ9XHmvVigc0m8U3ncjtAXWMSdS81W2KmoRTXZJc/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_b-UmFatELZHMWOu8UqfV6lDMlSKAduM9fqdd0WnPHOr9JzEMtPHEros8LpO008GTBKfg4k6M3Ko1Z6qO0FmPf5TM9AkQbwxyxzsQ9XHmvVigc0m8U3ncjtAXWMSdS81W2KmoRTXZJc/s640/iPhone+June-July+2015+125.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we head back out again to wander at a walk. Happy ears = happy me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My vet – who also vets endurance rides – also said that having
some permanent FatLeg does not necessarily preclude competing in endurance. She
is not surprised edema is sticking around in Deli’s scarred fetlock or that
there is some stubborn fill in the tendons on that leg. She sees horses with “war
wounds” all the time during vet checks – what’s important is the horse vets in
sound and stays sound, and that the leg doesn’t get bigger during the ride.</div>
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But. </div>
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Honestly competing Deli in endurance is not something I’m going to
worry about anymore this summer. It’s a hot miserable summer. I need to sell my
saddle for various reasons, the main one being that I need the money. And it’s
not what I want, going forward, even if non-goal oriented trail riding is all
that’s in our future.</div>
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While I market my saddle (to help pay for those vet bills!) I’ve returned
to my trusty Skito bareback pad. Ironically I am much more comfortable on the
bareback pad than in my dressage saddle for long walks. Since my own accident
my conformation in my hip seems to have changed such that the dressage saddle
really pains me. We’ve been back out around the fields near our barn and Deli
seemed happy about that – even asking to trot in the places we have been
trotting for conditioning. The footing is still pretty terrible around the fields
and I’m not that inclined to tackle it while bareback.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gwIOCz9CDfWdnUalOZq3zqdyEqFEpaSTupHjAyW-xYmSqmes726WbLtX_2oXnCU9ePGaStdmjntCWKkmb336y88EvhhqVInTKkuRy_qubNnr5GpyQkA-yzYM5QWLQqja_NebE59hYPg/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gwIOCz9CDfWdnUalOZq3zqdyEqFEpaSTupHjAyW-xYmSqmes726WbLtX_2oXnCU9ePGaStdmjntCWKkmb336y88EvhhqVInTKkuRy_qubNnr5GpyQkA-yzYM5QWLQqja_NebE59hYPg/s400/iPhone+June-July+2015+120.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have mentioned my horse is wide, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My main worry right now is the management nightmare this is going to
be. Deli needs movement. Lots of movement. She’d probably do better in a much
bigger area than she has now (which is about 1.5 acre pasture without much
grass this time of year). She also can’t be in mud past her heels due to issues
with skin infections which will only be more serious now that she has
lymphangitis. </div>
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Ideally she needs 2x a day supplements fed to her (which the
current barn won’t do) so I don’t need to drive out daily to ensure she gets
her medications when she needs them. Since she is likely pre-cushings, her
being on grass may become problematic sometime in the future. So far she seems
okay in that respect, but I have to admit the grass this year was minimal
compared to a normal Portland spring and summer. She has always done great on
pasture in the past and I’ll likely have to juggle the grass issue with
exercise issue. The more safe space she has to move and the more movement she
is actually getting, the less grass is going to be an issue (probably). Otherwise,
how is she going to have all the space she needs while ALSO being on a dry lot
(ideally with slow feeders giving her forage access 24/7)?!</div>
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Add to those management considerations her insect allergy, her need to
have a fly mask put on and taken off, and her need to have certain fly sprays
applied but not others (because she's allergic to some fly sprays, too). Oh, and her social needs which always have to be balanced with the
fact that she gets harassed and badly injured so easily when put in with poorly
socialized equines. She’s in with two bossy brat mares right now and has never
had a mark on her from them – but they are also well socialized. Boarding barns
have never cared much about such things from my experience and it’s always me
that ends up with the bleeding broken pony and the vet bills to boot.</div>
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I feel like I could deal with a lot of these things much more easily if
she were on my own property. That has always been the dream, anyway. But life
and my career are not working out even remotely as planned (so far) and I’m
currently in a limbo that does not give me the option of having my own place. I
also dislike driving to the barn so it’s not just a desire to work out the
management issues myself that makes me want my own horse place. I’d rather
commute to work than drive to the barn.</div>
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Another thing I’ve run into many times at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">many </i>boarding barns is that management knows much less about horse
care than I do. Multiple places feed poor quality hay or don’t feed enough of
it (one place refused to feed a horse more than 10lbs of poor quality hay a day
– when board was upwards of $500!). It seems to be the rule rather than the
exception that herd turnout and/or pastures are managed very poorly.
Overcrowding is very common as well and the land is usually destroyed and knee
deep mud by the time the rains come around.</div>
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This new hitch in our plans means I am <i>discarding plans </i>altogether that
this point. Screw you, plans. The ever-increasing problems of horse-management considerations for
my Deli-pony have left me discouraged and looking for solutions I’m not sure exist.
At least not where I currently live where boarding seems to be very poor
quality for what is paid and the economy is very bad in comparison to the rest
of the United States.</div>
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I just have to work on that <i>moving forward</i> thing – it’s the best thing
for all of us. Even FatLeg.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfZIzclioa7AMoeqcJt0s3B45SyfIp0UsHdfmfWv2JGePPxrD8Ja6MCigjS7nupIt3GuOytkTMDat5ifiSN_xJ6GnDCmS6AqQzKtpG4k1Qt70mRWaowUwicgjQtL6nOO7lC6opyT-jYA/s1600/iPhone+June-July+2015+127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfZIzclioa7AMoeqcJt0s3B45SyfIp0UsHdfmfWv2JGePPxrD8Ja6MCigjS7nupIt3GuOytkTMDat5ifiSN_xJ6GnDCmS6AqQzKtpG4k1Qt70mRWaowUwicgjQtL6nOO7lC6opyT-jYA/s640/iPhone+June-July+2015+127.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Next time: <a href="http://redmarerunning.blogspot.com/2015/10/dont-sweat-small-stuff.html">Don't sweat the small stuff...</a></div>
Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18130269654793509549noreply@blogger.com1