Riding log - anyone interested?

[SupersonicDave]

Saw this on a horse forum and thought it would be a good idea.

Basically i need a bit of help with motivation (too much to do, not enough hours in the day etc) and can get a bit stuck in a rut wrt schooling/hacking/lunging.

So, today i am riding out my mare, a friend is riding my gelding, and we are going to ride through the village and back across some grassy tracks. Want to concentrate on keeping my mare calm, especially on the grass.

Well mixed feelings after my expensive trip to the equine hosp today. He does having kissing spines - badly, from T12 through to L3, which is quite a lot. It is too bad to operate on, which actually I'm quite relieved about because of what is involved with it all. The vet has said that because he shows no lameness, even after a flexion test that we should sort out the pain (which only shows when you press directly on the spot or when he is being shod) with firstly steroids, and secondly possibly bute and see how he goes.

He's had his first steroids whilst there and now needs a week off and then I will get the back person out to check him over. If she's happy I can get him back into work, making sure that he is extra fit before he does anything extreme like jumping and we will take it from there. The vet couldn't say how long I would have with him, but he can have cortisone injections ad infinitum as long as they work. She said not to give up on him, be very aware of how he feels and she will review in six months if all goes well. She also said that he needs to be kept busy, not given more than 2 weeks off at a time, not stabled where possible and he is not suitable for retirement - so if he can't be ridden then he has to go to heaven. Basically the longer he is kept busy and moving the better - always assuming his pain can be kept at bay.

So not brilliant news, but it could be worse. He was outstandingly good, lots of strange people, smells and loads of noisy horses and he behaved like a plod, curious and snorty but not silly and very patient.

Frosty all my prayers are with you and your beautiful horse - I hope the medication and slight changes to his lifestyle will keep him with you for many years to come!

Thinking of you Frosty and hope the lifestyle/medication keeps him pain free and happy for a long while to come.

We are back to just having dpony again.I can't post too much as we are debating taking legal action,but suffice to say that we were lied to by the vendors. We took her to camp and had to withdraw her after 1 morning due to her behaviour and we were very lucky in that the other mums let dd2 ride their ponies for the rest of the day so that she didn't miss out.Her lovely instructor actually bought her pony from home for the next 2 days,so that dd2 could continue to ride at camp and she rode 5 ponies over 3 days and thankfully had a lovely time.

For the past few weeks I've been trying to find a home for B,I am too honest to lie and put someone else's child at risk,so ended up giving her away to someone who needed a companion and will give her a home for life.The person was recommended to me by a local equine charity and they have already been and checked on her,plus her new owner has been in touch and we can go and visit her whenever we want to.So we have no money and no pony,but at least B has a good home [the alternative would have been a trip to the kennels,which would have dreadful]. It wasn't her fault that she had rotten,dishonest owners.

Poor dd2 has been so brave throughout the whole horrible time,but after B went,she just sat down in her field and sobbed her heart out.I have lost half a stone and been quite unwell over the past two weeks out of sheer anxiety.It has been an awful experience and I've quite lost my faith in people now.

Oh god, Mirage, poor dd!! Sounds horrendous. Back to searching then? I take it DH knows he's never having his TV?

He has his TV now Trebles he saw one on offer and it was a pretty good deal [apparently],and I wasn't going to object,so he has bought one.

We may have found a loan pony for DD2,via a mum at camp.Her daughter was in DD1's group and the mum came over to me and said that it was obvious how much DD1 loved dpony and that they'd be looking for a loan home for their 12hh mare in the near future if we were interested.My mum and I watched their pony like a hawk after that,to see how it was and it behaved perfectly.We were at a rally with them last week and she was equally good then too.Hopefully DD2 is going to try her this week,she is at a yard in Q,so not far.

How is your DGD doing?

Oh Mirage, that's dreadful, what a nightmare for all of you. There are times when I wonder why I have a horse, and this must be one of those times for you, made harder by the fact your DD is involved. Whatever happens, you will have a good outcome, even though it must seem miles away at the moment.

All the best to you, I hope it resolves itself soon.

Mirage - I thought you had been quiet on here; it sounds as though you have had a flaming nightmare :-(
Well done you on finding B a new home and being honest - very lucky pony ! I really feel for your DD2 - I hope the potential mare proves to be a much better bet. I know how long it had taken you to find the pony - it must be heartbreaking.
I can't believe people fib over their ponies - do they not know what the upshot is ?? Guess they just don't care.
Your summer hols must have been awful - here's to a better half term - with hopefully a new pony.

Oh dear Mirage what a nightmare and well done to your DD for being so brave about everything.

I can't understand why anybody would sell (or even give) a potentially dangerous pony to a child just for a few quid. Terrible.

Hope everything works out with your potential loan pony.

So, so sorry Mirage, it sounds like you've been through every parents' nightmare. Your poor DD and poor you too. If things don't work out with the mare I have seen Smartie advertised herebranches.pcuk.org/meynell/for-salewantedloan/smartie-for-full-loan/ and he always seemed sensible.

Thank you all for being so kind.I feel such an idiot for being taken in by the sellers-tbh I didn't think anyone would stoop so low,especially with a child rider.I'm one of those people who believes that most people are good I suppose.Well,it was a hard and expensive lesson learnt.

On the plus side,I was very proud of DD2,the first day she rode her borrowed pony at camp,she also took him around the mini cross country course.It was a first for both of them,neither had ever been to camp before.

We are going to see B in her new home tomorrow,and going to try the possible loan pony on Saturday.[Thanks for the link MariaLuisa I'll bear him in mind].

I've managed to post some camp photos on my profile.

Ahh, good time then despite all!

Yes,best week ever according to the girls.I was especially surprised by DD2 as she is very shy and not a joiner,and will never speak up in front of people she doesn't know.But she was like a different child-I would never had believed it if I hadn't seen it.She has gone back to school far more confident and outgoing.

We currently have two miniature horses and a 4 month old foal at our yard,which are doing a good job of distracting her from the loss of B.

Well,it's been a while so I thought I'd resurrect this thread.We took Dpony to a cross country rally today,our first time doing proper cross country.A few people had told us that she was fabulous at it,but we'd never been to a full course with her.

Bloody hell,I've never seen anything like it.Once Dpony got going,she was like a rocket and after each jump,was bucking with excitement,I have never seen her do that before,not even when hunting.DD1 had a wonderful time and I could hear her yelping with excitement as she went through the woods.She had the biggest smile on her face when she came out and was begging to do it again.

DD2 [7] is meant to be taking her hunting on Wednesday,and I double checked with her to see if she still wanted to do it,with dpony being as fired up as she was today,but she insists that she still wants to go. Dpony is in a french link snaffle at the minute and I don't really want to bit her up as she has never yet run away with either of them,but she is the sort of pony that reacts to the competence of her rider-the more confident and competent they are,the faster she'll go.She evidently thinks that DD1 is ready for a bit of fun now,I just hope she drops down a gear for DD2.

Fabulous! Which course were you at? Our local one is shut and DD was hoping for a charge round somewhere this week. We're hunting tomorrow but had a complete change of pace when DD went for her first side saddle lesson. She is hooked and thrilled that she got to canter and jump sideways. We're taking dpony next time as the instructor thinks she has a saddle that may fit him.....Can see this is going to get expensive

We were at Newton,it was only 45 minutes up the A46.We are lucky as there are a few very near us,Aylesford is our nearest,so that may be next.

It sounds as though your DD is going great guns with her new pony.I'd love the girls to try sidesaddle,so let me know how it goes?

Have just had an idea and will pm you.

I'd forgotten all about this thread! Mirage I'm glad your girls are having such fun - I'm very envious. I've just moved my 2 up to a DIY livery place here and seem to spend all my time mucking out, they have to be in at night which is a bit of a pain. They actually seem to quite like it as they are both waiting for me as soon as they hear the car! Having said that dpony, who is 18ish and has never lived in had mild colic on Saturday morning so had to get the vet out for that. It was just about gone by the time she'd come but he had some Buscopan and bute to make sure he was comfortable, which he was. I spent the rest of the day zipping up there to check he hadn't keeled over!

I've always been lucky enough to have my horses with me, so this is a very different arrangement and routine which is taking some getting used to. I've got it down to just under 2 hours to muck them both out, do Dhorse's physio exercises and 30 minutes lunging, prepare hay & feeds for the evening and tidy up. By the time I get to work I'm knackered! I've started riding dhorse a bit now - he's on a regime of 3 days a week on the lunge, 3 days a week riding and 1 day off (mostly for my benefit). I should be skinny with the amount of walking and running around I'm doing, but sadly I think, although I'm fitter it's muscle I'm building!

Mirage - any more pony news, or have you put it on the back burner for winter?

Wow frosty sounds like you are super organised.I'm glad that you are getting some riding in alongside all your other work.

We are still pony hunting,but they all seem to be too big,too small or laminitic to such an extent that they have to be kept in most of the time.I've just got back from taking DD2 hunting this morning and a chap there was admiring dpony and said that he'd got a matching pony at home just like her,and it is outgrown,so we had a chat and I'm going to go over and have a look at it.The guy laying the trail said that he always hears about little ponies,so will let me know if anything suitable turns up.

I got up at 6am and caught dpony in the dark and it was just getting light as we left.DD2 was the only one on a lead rein and the youngest by far,and luckily we were able to keep up with the field all morning.It was really foggy and we were in unfamiliar country,but people were very nice and showed us short cuts.Dpony was so good and behaved perfectly.She got a lot of compliments,which was lovely for DD2.I'm shattered as I walked and ran for over 3 hours with them both,so am heading for a hot bath.Tomorrow we have a rally in the afternoon,so might get a lie in.

I'll try and post some pictures on my profile.

All 3 of you look very perky for such an early start - the look on our dpony's face is the same if he sees hounds! I'm not surprised you're knackered, all this horse stuff is exhausting - I'm out tonight, Friday and Saturday and I'm not sure I can cope with late nights as well as shovelling horse poo! Dhorse is absolutely filthy, he's been without his rug for 3 days as it's been so warm and boy has he taken advantage. He has mud ringlets in mane and tail and has managed to scrub the mud in so his coat is all going the wrong way. It will take me HOURS to get off tomorrow before a ride, the swine.

Fingers crossed again for the pony - can you cope with another grey?!

Just put a couple more photos of my boys on my profile - sadly I don't have one of dhorse in all his muddy glory, but his mate has made a good effort!

They are gorgeous frosty.

I actually fell asleep in the bath earlier. I've sent DH out for fish and chips for tea as I can't be arsed to cook.He did dpony's tea and rugged her up too.He loves her really,despite grumbling about how she has taken over our lives.

I hope you are refreshed this morning Mirage - they do take over everything don't they? It took me almost an hour to clean the mud off dhorse this morning, and then when I got on him there was still a load in his ears and mane! As soon as I put him in his field he was reapplying the mud, but he's got a rug on so at least it won't be all over.

Gah! Shouldn't have fallen alseep in the bath.I slept very badly after that.Thursdays rally,blessedly,was indoors and in the afternoon,so no early start.Yesterday,marialuisa and her dd came over to ride with us,which was lovely.The girls really enjoyed it,as did dpony,especially racing against marialuisa's dd's pony,a beautiful palamino.It was lovely to meet them and we discovered that we have some friends in common,the horse world is very small.

We gave dpony the day off today,partly because I'd done no housework or shopping all week,and partly because dpony has worked really hard this week and deserves a break.However,when I went to give her her tea,she was calling to me and followed me around the field whilst poo picking.I think she was wondering why she'd had no fun today.

Dhorse had his physio visit last night and SHE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE HIM ANYMORE - which is such fantastic news I had to shout! I'm to get him fit and can aim to take him hunting towards Christmas. I took him out today and he was very springy and snorty which was a bit alarming. So, no more lunging (thank god), just good hard exercise. He still does have to do his stretches every morning which isn't too much of a pain, but at least I'll have more time.

Bearing in mind he's been lunged for 30 mins pretty much every day since 12th August, and ridden 3 times a week for the last month how much work do you think he'll need? He wasn't unfit before he was signed off, we were up to trotting up hills. His rides the last few weeks have been a mix of walk & trot, and the last couple of times short canters. I'd thought of trying to get him out at least 5 times a week (work, weather and children permitting) and perhaps taking him hunting for a couple of hours max towards the end of November, having picked a mid week meet with no jumping in case I get overexcited. Obviously all this is dependant on him responding well to the extra work - and I thought I'd get the physio to check him over once we've done a couple of days.