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exvet

Got to ride with Lauren Beechler today. She's a professional photographer who teaches biomechanics having apprenticed under Shannon Peters. It was absolutely refreshing and Junior did pretty well. She was all about being light in front and staying so quiet much like I used to ride Junior prior to al...

exvet

I have had two lessons this weekend, one with my judge friend and one with the new instructor. Both ended with very positive results. I also have set up a lesson on Friday with a Shannon Peters protege so biomechanics is the focus. We will see if she can help me with my position on the shortest back...

exvet

Good luck khall on your trip and possible acquisition. Good news on Joplin!

exvet

@Exvet, I don't know that you have the footing (I'm imagining it's rocky, so likely not), but do you ever do any work on trails? Even little spots where you can put on a short bursts of speed might make it a fun game for Junior. Anything to encourage him to really jump forward! All the time. Did fl...

exvet

Had today off because of switching shifts with a colleague. Plan to ride both boys but a nasty cold is really making it tough. I'm focusing on and preparing for next weekend and the weekend after that ......so......must......tack up.....throw leg over.......and go (2xs over). The focus and good news...

exvet

https://hosting.photobucket.com/96944799-328a-4c79-875f-35e9069a1a5b/5242f025-c9dc-4f4a-a843-898206a908e3.jpg Today was just a fun day for Junior. A neighbor, my SO, and I went trail riding and then circled back to our lot where we're building our new house (still have the other one on the market)....

exvet

Lovely pictures SF. I wish Junior didn't hate cavalettis and jumping the way he does otherwise I think it would help. Looks like it really helps T. Moutaineer sounds like you're making some real progress with your recovery. Glad to read you'll be back in the saddle soon. So Troy has been working on ...

exvet

LSP, tell your daughter what a great job she did and I'm jealous. I don't think I can keep Junior on the aids for 85% of the ride, well, not without it getting slightly ugly here and there.......................he is doing better though. Rode Troy down to the arena and back. He had to deal with Fed ...

exvet

Nice changes Aleuronx but you can keep that snow LOL. I have a 2 acre turn out that is gently rolling land. I ride Troy on it quite a bit. If he wants to canter he can canter there - straight lines no problem but so far he hasn't really taken the initiative. I've been getting a lot stronger road tro...

exvet

I've been working on maintaining my own self carriage, but feel like I could still be just a little more together and owning my elbows. Coincidentally, this contraption came across my Facebook feed, and I'm considering buying one, or trying to come up with a way to DIY something similar. https://ri...

exvet

SF I'm impressed with your ability to get Tesla's frame as up and collected as she is. She's a lot more horse than I'm used to frame and size-wise. I will say that keeping Junior's shoulders up and his hind legs moving faster than he'd prefer is what gives us in the air and clean changes. Frequent t...

exvet

We've had 5 mornings in a row of hard frost. Waiting for it to get above 32 in order to start riding today. In the meantime I guess I have no excuse but clean the house, ugh! I'm hoping to schedule a lesson with the (new to me as in instructor/coach) instructor next weekend. For now I'll just keep w...

exvet

No, not Molly. She informed me that their ranch was closed to haul in traffic because of EHV 1. I rode with my friend who is working on her R judging license. I also have a lead on another instructor who may take Molly's place, we shall see.

exvet

So in the end it does sound like it's really necessary and much fairer for the horse to determine what her goals really are. I'm sure there are a number of people frustrated with the way I ride Junior. Everyone wants him more forward. I think some believe that I just don't get it. I realize that the...

exvet

Well Big Boy Troy appears to have grown. He's literally a hair under 15 hands. We went on a trail ride around our community and though he got a little 'high' with other horses screaming and running in their turn outs and other being ridden who were also calling out he did pretty well. He weathered n...

exvet

I think having a talk with her about her goals and expectations are the best place to start. I will say one thing that helps me realize the issue with not having forward (truly dead to the leg) is the fact that I've ridden power before and on a horse that really isn't 'hot' or 'overly reactive"...

exvet

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone - 2 legged and 4 legged no matter where you hail from! Just want to say I am grateful for the camaraderie and support from this group along with our shared loved of horses/ponies and dressage. Counting my blessings this holiday. Hope everyone who needs to is feeling be...

exvet

We too are dealing with all sorts of lock downs and cancellations in Arizona due to the EHV outbreak. We have 3 positive horses from the Waco show based here and 2 more in quarantine though they have yet to test positive. So far the positive horses have not shown any symptoms by last report. Of cour...

exvet

I'm so sorry to read about Rip. No question you made the right decision. Fingers crossed for the ultrasound on Joplin.

exvet

I too have done it successfully. Monty, Morgan and Resi, all who made up through PSG scoring in the low 60s at PSG were doubling as my mounts for competitive trail. This was while my sone was competing as a junior rider and required an adult buddy rider. Those who I rode and competed on that did bes...

exvet

Jingles to everyone dealing with surgeries, sick animals, lame horses. Hopefully everyone comes well and gets through this! I have a question for you all. I figured I would post it here since this thread gets more attention. But do you think horses can have a strong preference on their rider's styl...

exvet

Sorry it sounds like you'll be out of the saddle for a little while chisamba but those I know who have had knee replacement wish they had done it sooner; so, I take it as a sign that it's worth it in most cases. I hope to read that both you and moutaineer are enjoying your horses as we usher in 2026...

exvet

Hoping all works out well for your dog Aleuronx. With what you shared I'd also be suspicious of autoimmune disease which is manageable but I get it. You have no idea who often I hope for tick borne over something else since doxycycline is usually effective and cheap.

exvet

Moutaineer, glad to hear you are chomping at the bit to get back in the saddle. That just means you are healing in more ways than one................and I'm going to say it; Take your time! I get it though. Also nice to hear that Potters is doing well. Plans are 'just a trail ride' with Junior today...

exvet

We've been enjoying some pretty nice weather. Big boy Troy has been going out on the trail and doing pretty well, some minor spooks but nothing big. I'm also working on introducing turn on the forehand, baby leg yields and bending. I start everything on the ground and then transition to under saddle...

exvet

So despite having made improvement with the forward, I still had a very behind the leg pony for the test today. I scored the lowest I have ever in my entire career - a 49 and change. It was deserved. Junior received a 5 for gaits because of his special pig mode. At two different moments I gave half-...

exvet

I am really busy dealing with all of the family life stuff and working my 'day-time' job. I might be able to get to one schooling show in October but other than that it's really just keeping the boys worked - baby steps continue with Troy and full commitment to outlasting Junior's convictions and t...

exvet

khall I'll keep my eyes open for a sire for Joplin. Unfortunately the ones I know best that I think move well are both greys. Gosh, I so love Junior. You'd think I'd be frustrated enough to seek other adventures with him but he's my greatest teacher. My SO and I went on a trail ride today. The weath...

exvet

I'm chiming in to say, take care of yourself Moutaineer and glad to hear you've got the surgery behind you with riding in the future. I agree with SF, LSP, I think obstacles may be a good way for focus and fun as long as they don't cause the Gypsy to shy or act fearful. In addition to keeping legs o...

exvet

So sorry to read about both human and horses' injuries/infirmities. I hope everyone is on the mend. LSP - I'm so sorry your daughter had her 'discussion with the ground via unplanned dismount' but I'm glad she's physically alright. It's tough to watch them go through it and even tougher as a rider, ...

exvet

Nice video Chisamba. I'm afraid I don't have any magical advice on leg yield. I introduce it very young (Troy is already doing it at both the walk and trot) or early on in the training. I teach it on the ground, then at the walk in the saddle, then the trot in very short/small pieces. I find that my...

exvet

Blob, my beginnings were much like yours. I learned and always start out with SI to half pass, first with walk and so on. I find if I can control the shoulders and have the hind legs coming up and through it's effortless but as you said it depends on the horse. Moving Junior to the right in half pas...

exvet

LSP those two are super cute together. You can keep on sharing. Love it. Well I took Junior's sweat off this morning and almost all the swelling is gone. I plan to lunge him later today and see. Troy loaded by himself and hauled over to the schooling show. This is the first time he's had to ride by ...

exvet

So I have been taking Junior out for a 4 mile walk the last couple of days, sweating his leg overnight and 3 days of banamine. His swelling is slowly dissipating as bone bruises do. He's sound but I'm still scratching him from the schooling show tomorrow. Just going to take Troy for some exposure. A...

exvet

LSP there's nothing wrong with being cautious or quite honestly not wanting to take another spill. Do you or would you want to have someone lunge the two of you with you on...........I've done that at times with certain individuals. Of course I would lunge him first before getting on and see how he'...

exvet

Oh gosh, Exvet, I'm so sorry you've had this drama to deal with. Finding a new trainer to work with is such a pain even if it is the right choice. I'm glad Jr's workup didn't show anything alarming or that needed major intervention. Are you planning on doing anything for the minor arthritic changes...

exvet

Thank you LSP. Here's the thing. I feel bad for others who don't have the experience/education from the veterinary medical side because I know a lot of people get lead down the path of 'well it could be this or this or that and such'. I have in the acknowledgment of knowing I can be barn blind (like...

exvet

Well a good friend of mine also ended up coming off her mare this weekend. It seems to be in the air. She's a pretty darn good rider but at 67 doesn't need to be kissing the dirt. Went to my lesson and showed Molly Junior's injury (went into detail about the injury in the half pass thread). She imme...

exvet

Unfortunately Lynx had yesterday off (my daughter got sick and I was just too busy) but today lunging, he was totally fine. Hysterical about the flies but they are suddenly super bad. But no issues with either lead on the lunge. One scoot on the lunge but there was a dog show going on at the barn s...

exvet

khall I think it's a short backed horse thing. It's so easy to block them that I have to open up my whole body looking in the direction of travel. If I do their ability to understand and move in that direction with bend is so much easier without much effort to push from me. Unlike the others I find ...

exvet

Sorry to hear about your fall LSP. As for what to do this weekend, boy, I'd be doing a lot of ground work - safer, they still learn and a lot of time it transitions to the saddle work really well. If there is something sore you may be able to figure it out by watching how he does his work or more im...

exvet

Sending more jingles for Joplin's healing and full recovery. Horses! It's always something.

exvet

OK I'll tell you what has always helped me on multiple generations of welsh cobs. I'm told my talents in riding are medium gaits and lateral work. If that's true or not you decide. I obviously don't have my gold and I struggle with lots. When I start half pass I always first get it at the walk gait....

exvet

Such a nice picture StraightForward. I love the concentration on T's face. Still she looks pretty relaxed and attentive.

exvet

Cute boy LSP. We're supposed to get rain this weekend with some decrease in temperature; but, nothing that bad. I've been so grateful for decent temps instead of the heat. I rode all 3 horses again today. Junior seemed a bit better so I'll call that a win. Troy is finally starting to feel like a pon...

exvet

Fzybtfrm, congratulations and it sounds like it must have been a really pleasant test to watch. You know I've had some tests where I came out thinking that there was no way I could have scored well because my welsh cob (not Junior) was a bit, well, ho-hum or lack luster. These were championship test...

exvet

Looking good SF and T. Looking quite good

exvet

Congratulations Blob and Aleuronx. I would be super proud with either of your results. I guess the irony is on me.......I mean Junior is now giving me clean in the air flying changes and today as well as yesterday he was a bit more forward and though my deltoids are getting rather defined, I wasn't ...

exvet

Gosh LSP, I miss those days with my two kids. You can post as many pictures as you want!!!!!! I am cautiously optimistic after my ride today on Junior but still kind of holding my breath. Hope y'all are up for more BIG BOY TROY updates LOL. https://hosting.photobucket.com/96944799-328a-4c79-875f-35e...

exvet

Sounds like a productive and successful outing SF. I'd rather be a little overdressed than stick out because it didn't appear like we showed up at the right venue. I remember being a last minute substitution for a Bruce Davidson clinic and I got a lot of grief for not being 'properly' presented with...

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