DefinitelyDressage.com

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continuing to plug along over here. MM had a diet change--she was getting a bit chunky on her balancer, so we switched her to some hay pellets + vermont blend. I'd rather do that than limit her forage, so she still has free choice hay and whatever her pasture will grow (not a ton). She dropped her e...

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goals for this time: Me: Find time to ride Eat healthy MM: Keep breathing in a good place as things heat up Do some real dressage rides among the frolicking Enjoy her RP: Another recognized show at 2-3 Clinic memorial day weekend Keep chipping away at the lateral work Get more elasticity in forward ...

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closing out! Me: Try to balance work/riding Eat healthy lunches Get back to doing exercise at home at least 1x a week MM: Keep working on fitness Keep riding consistent Take a jump lesson? Work on lateral work and consistent bend RP: Show or clinic? yes to both!! Crack the code on a more consistent/...

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Yes, Chisamba, the horses really are a mirror of where we are. I often think about how different things would be showing MM now versus when I was showing her--we were always at the top of my level together. She is a great horse for it because she is so forgiving. But I really think I could have made...

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LSP, what a lovely compliment! I got some video over the weekend to try to help me make a decision about showing. Well, I HATED the videos, but signed up for the show anyway, ha! So let's see. I've signed up for 2-3 twice each day. I'm not sure I will ride all 4 tests, but depending on how he goes, ...

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eek, GoldHorse--hope things heal well. We've had beautiful spring weather this week, but I've had less riding than I would have liked (and I'm full grumpy about it). I am leaning yes to signing up for the show. I will wait until entry close date because you never know with horses. But even though we...

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Blob, what do you think is at the root of RP's HI struggles? Does he have the same struggle in HP? No ideas, just curious. I think it stems from him struggling to lift his lumbar and tilt his pelvis forward and under. The HP is noticeably better and I think that's because he can open up in the fron...

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Great to hear and see everyone's progress--lots of interesting exercises and work taking place. Exvet, would love to see updated pics or video of Troy. Aleu, Kora is looking very strong in the work and I love her frame Chisamba, i hope the move is going ok. I agree with others, Paulette looks like a...

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Exvet, show outing sounds like it was really valuable even if the scores were not quite what you hoped. Sometimes showing is really about trying to pick the better of two problems and sometimes the right choice depends on the judge. With MM I would tend to either get 'hurried/quick' or 'lacks impuls...

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sorry the show was discouraging, Mari. I have been there many times before. I think sometimes when we don't show as often, there are little things and places that are easy to lose points. I wouldn't let this discourage you too much and hope you get back out there. Different judges want different thi...

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I think something can be physical for many reasons. Often we think physical has to do with direct pain or even discomfort. But sometimes a physical reason is due to muscle memory or what's easier based on weakness/strength. If he's throwing his haunches in on both directions, it's probably not a pai...

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I think something can be physical for many reasons. Often we think physical has to do with direct pain or even discomfort. But sometimes a physical reason is due to muscle memory or what's easier based on weakness/strength. If he's throwing his haunches in on both directions, it's probably not a pai...

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Riding has been all over the place lately. i've had some really great rides on RP and also some absolutely awful ones -- the kind where you should just throw up your hands and give up. I had one like that yesterday. I do think part of it is fueled by some tummy discomfort--he's been gassier than usu...

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Congrats, Exvet--sounds like a great show! glad the saddle is also seeming like a good fit. SF--good to hear that T is happy and comfortable in her shoes. I wonder if she would prefer straight sugar or maple syrup in her cookies than molasses? I find molasses polarizing among horses I've known. MM d...

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Now as for Saiph. She is 14, she had been training in dressage since she was 4, that's ten years. Still think its strength? Yes she can piaffe, in fact she likes to piaffe to avoid going forward. I personally think it was trained too young, but what do I know? I think her natural conformation makes...

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Glad to hear everyone is surviving weather challenges! We're also expecting some intense weather this weekend, but hopefully things change between now and then. *Exvet, show sounds exciting though looks like a busy couple of weeks for you! *Mari, Odin sounds like such a powerful guy, those horses ca...

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jingles for horses and humans that are not 100% yet. Chisamba, how are things going with Siaph cantering up and up and up? RP had a chiro appointment yesterday, which he gets every 8-12 weeks depending on how he's feeling. Most of the adjustments were things I expected (SI, base of the neck). But we...

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Me: Try to balance work/riding Eat healthy lunches Get back to doing exercise at home at least 1x a week MM: Keep working on fitness Keep riding consistent Take a jump lesson? Work on lateral work and consistent bend RP: Show or clinic? Crack the code on a more consistent/easy HI Work on connection...

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Time to close out with mixed results Goals for these couple of months: Me: Continue to find good work/riding balance Eat well Get stronger/fitter MM: Figure out fecal water and stop it Get her weight in a better place Get in shape Enjoy her RP: Use the equiband at least 2x a week work on changes Get...

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Thanks, Chisamba, I'm sure you're shared all of this context/information before but it's nice to get the refresher. If the ducking is linked to her hunter history, then I take back my jumping suggestion as it likely won't help. It may not be pain, but the emotional block could still be making it phy...

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Glad you got some better riding conditions, SF! It's been a similar struggle down here. Exvet, i'm sorry the saddle search drama might be ongoing for you. I am lucky that even though I have two small ones, neither has an especially short back, in fact RP is a bit long in the back. This causes other ...

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I hope the Hastilow works out, Exvet. I tried a few several years back for MM. My passier is not a GG, it's a much older style, but was custom made for a connemara a friend had 20 years ago in the very old style. Zero thigh block and pencil knee roll under the flap. Really just a flap of leather! In...

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Exvet, I have an older style Passier that I've been hanging on to for ages because I love it. It is hard seat, old school style, but sounds like something you might like. If you send me measurements I can take a look to see if it seems like it might work. If it does look promising, I'd be happy to s...

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Glad you had a great ride Monday, Mountaineer, even if Tuesday was a bit less amazing at the start. Though sometimes the most rewarding rides are the ones where you don't start out great but get to the good place later. Helpful to hear those exercises, Exvet, though I might need to think a minute to...

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The horses here that are on zyrtec get 10-12 pills 2x a day (about 1 pill per 100lbs 2x a day)

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Mountaineer-- I wonder if oral dex might metabolize differently for him. Or another steroid like prednisolone? Forgive me if you've already tried this--but does zyrtec help him? Some horses respond really well to it, others do not!

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Had a good lesson yesterday, so putting recap here to help me remember and in case helpful for anyone else. We started with lots of w-t and then t-c transitions really making sure RP was doing the transition from behind. Previously when we'd worked on this it had involved making the transition 'smal...

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You look great, Aleu--can't wait to see you and kora with those tails. Chisamba, sorry to hear you are still not feeling full strength--lingering sickness is very emotionally draining. And I also agree that I want nothing to do with giant babies! SF--if the saddle is not comfortable for you, it migh...

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I always appreciate the lesson details, Exvet--there is so often stuff that I can use or adapt and use. Good news and bad news on my end: Good news: weather is warmer; MM has been doing a lot better and I am getting consistent chance to ride her in hopes of getting more in shape; the clinician i wor...

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Sigh, RP decided to throw a fit when the farrier was here and he wasn't able to get hind shoes on him. I'm a bit frustrated because i was very careful about getting RP comfortable with the shoeing process since he's so sensitive and was getting them new late in life. I cleared schedules to be there ...

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Oh, boo, i'm sorry you lost your full write-up, SF! But agree it sounds like a great clinic. Glad to hear T is looking her best even if she wasn't her most agreeable! Exvet-- FB and several others make pony panels, which would make a larger seat size doable. But finding those used is trickier. It do...

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I had a Frank Baines encore model for MM before I switched to the dynamic and i found it insanely comfortable. Probably the most comfortable saddle I've owned. Having said that it did ride like a lot of saddle compared to what i have now which is a lot more close contact feel. But the encore was not...

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I'm definitely feeling the "I'm never riding again" despair. Between work, weather, and limited daylight I've ridden very little in the last couple weeks. But I'm trying to remind myself that I probably feel this way every year around this time and this too shall pass. Usually where I am J...

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thanks for sharing the video, Aleu. It's nice to see the progression of those changes though I have to say your starting place was pretty good! I have another clinc in March, so my goal is to get something I can demonstrate of a change to the clinician so he can help me fix it/get a better path forw...

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Thanks, goldhorse, this is helpful! I've had a hard time getting her to eat the psyllium but I could look at other brands to see if someone makes a more palatable version. I have not tried glutamine, but will look into getting it. MM has always had a very sturdy gut, so this is a bit unexpected, hop...

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Well, it's a rare occurrence, but we have snow in GA today! It's supposed to switch to sleet and then rain later this afternoon which also means high chance for frozen power lines (eek), but right now it is beautiful. It does mean no riding because no one here is equipped to drive in the snow. But m...

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I'm in kind of a weird lull. During christmas/new year time I got some good intense work/riding in with RP that was all really productive. But now he has some time off after getting his injections done and a bit of a slowish ramp up after. Meanwhile something has been not right with MM. She has some...

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Happy new year, everyone. So sorry to hear about your difficult 2024, goldhorse, I can't imagine all that sadness. Glad you and piggy are carrying on. Goals for these couple of months: Me: Continue to find good work/riding balance Eat well Get stronger/fitter MM: Figure out fecal water and stop it G...

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Happy new year everyone! Closing out: Me: Keep trying to eat well keep trying to work out some Keep trying to balance work and riding MM: get her in shape again! Even if it's just long walks, in fact... find time to do long walks on weekends set up a better system for keeping her moving when i'm bus...

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Thanks, everyone. LSP, that's a good suggestion of looking into virtual option. I think it would require me coordinating with a second person but not impossible. My hope actually was to try to balance the clinician I rode with earlier this month (he comes every 2 months) and this local trainer. That...

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sounds like a really productive lesson, Exvet. Re: saddle pads: I have found both the ps of sweden and eq. stockholm 'cob' sized dressage pads are a really good fit for my smaller ones. I had a lesson yesterday and it was both helpful and frustrating. This is with the new local trainer I'm working w...

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oh, the snow riding loves so lovely and dreamy, Aleu! but I have to be honest, I'm glad I don't live in a snowy place! I'm so sorry, LSP, that is very hard. If it makes you feel any better, when the barn I was at closed down, I was really sad because I loved being there, but ended up somehow finding...

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Chisamba, i don't know how many students you have that need a horse, but I wonder if Kimba or Fly would be more willing to play lesson horse if they each only had 1-2 students that rode them. So that way neither was dealing with too much. That's what our current barn does for students that take less...

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MM also has massive chestnuts, it's a bit alarming. Exvet, yes, although I don't have RP's bloodlines, I'm fairly certain he's section B or at least mostly section B. He's built much finer than any of the C's or D's I've seen. He also has a very type face and the higher tail carriage. I'm not sure i...

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we have hot water and heaters in the wash racks, which does make bathing a possibility in the cooler temps. But I still save it for days above 60. I have found that waterless dog shampoo is a nice grooming hack in winter when baths are few and far between. After using a stiff brush to knock mud off...

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we have hot water and heaters in the wash racks, which does make bathing a possibility in the cooler temps. But I still save it for days above 60. I have found that waterless dog shampoo is a nice grooming hack in winter when baths are few and far between. After using a stiff brush to knock mud off,...

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Aleu-- I am so sorry that happened. How scary for both of you. Thankful you and Kora are ok! Mountaineer -- those are some lovely photos! re: curling: I've found success with some curlers by fluffing the reins. When they come behind contact, i sort of fluff my hand back towards them--it's a light an...

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re: chip: i also need RP chipped sometime in the coming year. I wonder if it'll make show sign up easier--maybe all we will need to supply is the chip number and coggins, vax records, and USDF/USEF numbers will all pull up when the chip is entered into the system. That would make things easy for com...

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We're in opposite of bitterly cold--still getting to high 70s/low 80s each day and the flies have been awful. For november, this feels bad. MM hasn't been doing well with our extended summer. Sigh. But trying to keep her somewhat in shape for her own health. So, we are doing what we can--even if it'...

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I have some days off here and there in Nov and Dec, so I'm hoping that means some good riding time if weather behaves. Me: Keep trying to eat well keep trying to work out some Keep trying to balance work and riding MM: get her in shape again! Even if it's just long walks, in fact... find time to do ...

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