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DJR

What a difference 24 hrs makes re: Finn’s wound. This is day 25 to yesterday, day 26!

: 454DBB8B-2539-47B7-A469-7E00AB3D02F0.jpeg (165.4 KiB) Viewed 25250 times

DJR

I just learned that it *was* a printing error and that Dressage Canada issued a correction subsequently. Yet, on the official Dressage Canada website, they did not fix the error!

Oh well.

DJR

I just noticed this execution comment on ALL of the freestyle tests Training to Fourth level. I get that trot work can be done rising at Training through First level, but am blown away that I could rise the trot without penalty at higher levels! Has this always been the case? 3A100382-1880-45C0-A2BB...

DJR

Welcome back!!! How is the transition going from hospital to (almost) home so far? It must feel super-awesome but also odd at times.

When do you think you’ll be able to ride again?

DJR

When I had to deal with a leg-vs-wire-fence injury, I had help from someone who worked in human wound research with honey. She helped me immensely as she was interested in how honey could help the horse wound. She told me that the wound takes 24 hours to come back to a healing state after being dis...

DJR

Thanks everyone! Yes, he’s still in a snaffle. We’re not even thinking about a double at this point. He tends to suck back SO easily that the snaffle is best, at least for now. Although, I’ve never used a double before so the “oooo, fancy!” part of me wants to try it! LOL. I appreciate the comment a...

DJR

This post is late because of the time it’s taking me to tend to Finn, my injured horse, but I’m so happy to report that I debuted Jet at Fourth Level two weeks ago! I’m SO proud of him. This was a horse that could NOT do a flying change to save his life just three years ago, and it took three years ...

DJR

UPDATE: 3-weeks post-injury : Finn is now almost 3 weeks post-injury (it will be 3 weeks as of tomorrow). He’s doing ok, all things considered. Dressing changes are taking 1-3 hrs each time, and I do them twice a day. It takes longer when I discover that he’s rubbed off a bandage so I have to repla...

DJR

Sue B wrote:Is the prescapular nerve intact?

It appears to be. He can weight bear normally on that leg without any winging.

DJR

IMO that's a good recipe for haunches leading in the new direction. That being said, I do bring the haunches up to straighten, but never past the shoulders in travers position. And if you're going from renver to SI on the same bend - you're actually kicking the hind out as opposed to it driving ove...

DJR

We aren’t sure what the soundness prognosis will be. Only time will tell.

DJR

I was taught to go from HP to travers which really straightens them & sets them up for the new line in the opposite HP. Then establish the new bend (almost a renvers to SI feel) and off you go. Once polished, it happens over 2-3 strides and results in a very polished look.

DJR

That’s refreshing to hear, Quelah, thank you! Meanwhile, Finn’s wound has gradually dehisced and now is wide open except for the top 4 stitches. He had completely transected the muscle bellies of the omotransverarius and brachiocephalicus, which are the two main muscles that translate the scapula fo...

DJR

I’m having a run of horrible luck in the last short while. First, my yearling filly out of my Shire mare by the Hanoverian, Sir Wanabi, sliced open her R flank to the tune of about 10-12” in length and into the muscle. It became infected during healing so the suture line dehisced. She has healed fro...

DJR

can you ask whoever is feeding to not feed her/leave the grain outside her stall? That way you can get their tack up and ride and feed her yourself after you're done? This is what happens at the barn I ride at. When they know I’ll be riding around PM feeding time, they leave the feed outside the st...

DJR

Thanks for all the tips. I’m noodling about how to arrange a mister & fan safely since my horses are out 24/7. He has access to a large, very deep (30’) shelter that stays shady and cool, and if there is any breeze it goes through that area. My fear about fans is the risk of electrical problems ...

DJR

Overheated teflon can release fumes that are toxic to birds, can kill them within minutes. It is odorless so people wouldn't be aware of it.

DJR

Wow, super information so far, thanks everyone. I'll check his temp when I ride this evening. We're in a show on Saturday and of course his tests are in the afternoon (hottest part of the day), but it looks like the temps won't be too bad so we'll see. I'm perfectly prepared to scratch him if he's n...

DJR

I'm worried about my 14 yr old, beloved Friesian/Perch gelding, Jet. He's showing at Third level and schooling Fourth/PSG at this point (which is *so* cool to be schooling at that level!!!). He's always been a horse difficult to get and keep in good condition, and loses condition easily if left unri...

DJR

Gorgeous! I think you are quite close (if not already there as soon as they are all old enough) to having a nicely matched four-in-hand! I'm two horses away from that ... not that I'm trying to achieve that goal (much ... cough*cough ... maybe!?!). Once Eowyn has grown up another year or two I'll h...

DJR

Thanks all! She is so darn wonderful, I can’t stop looking at her!! No name yet, still figuring that out. As for last year’s filly, Eowyn, I’ll have to post more photos. She’s probably 15h tall as a yearling! Unfortunately, this afternoon she somehow got a 10” gash in her right flank so the vet was ...

DJR

Look who we welcomed to the world yesterday at 3:45 a.m.! A gorgeous dark bay/black filly foal with bling!! She is basically a mini-me to her momma, Lexi. Lexi is Hano/Trak/TB (registered CSHA), and the sire is Sir Wanabi (Hano). This is my third SW baby, and my first full warmblood. I’m so excited ...

DJR

I vaccinate my own horses annually against rabies (I’m a vet).

DJR

I've tried the "chasing" technique with my Friesian/Perch, and he just ends up going faster (not longer) and tightens his back. Lately we've been doing transitions within the trot back to almost half-steps, then power surge forward (but not fast) for 2-4 strides, then collect. I'm finding ...

DJR

My WBx has a couple of old set splints. I have no idea when he popped them, but I suspect it was when he was 4-5 and playing in the pasture (which he did repeatedly & vigorously!). They never caused lameness, and I never did anything about them. I can still find remnants of them - they didn't go...

DJR

I used to haul my 2-horse BP Hawk trailer (no dressing room) with a Toyota FJ Cruiser. It’s maximum tow rating was 5,000 lbs, and it had a short-ish wheelbase. The trailer weighs ~2,500 lbs. My horse weighs ~1,700 lbs. For those reasons, I never hauled more than one horse to keep it well under 80% o...

DJR

Love it!!! Is the road to the barn very busy/a public road? It’s a public road, but they are not primary country roads. Rather they are side roads. There is a 3-1/2 km stretch on a busier road, but still nothing to worry about. Finn is fine with traffic anyway, but I prefer as little traffic as pos...

DJR

We were very cold until 2-3 days ago, then Saturday was GORGEOUS. Yesterday we were treated with a “don’t forget you live in Canada and it’s not spring YET” storm consisting of high winds, snow, then freezing rain, then rain which made the roads very slick & slushy. Today it’s just blah but warm...

DJR

This is Finn (big blaze), the same one in the post above who is pulling the carriage, and his full sister, Eowyn (cool sunburst star). She is only 10 mo old and is SO tall already (Finn is around 16.2-16.3h and will probably top out around 17h). They are both a hoot! 5A83B07F-4E29-48EF-9D4C-B86D284F...

DJR

At the beginning of March, there was an opening at a boarding facility that is literally a 6 minute drive from my house, so I jumped on it. It has a lovely indoor and a grass-ring outside ring that is used for jumping seasonally (it’s buried in snow right now). So, my Third/Fourth level gelding, Jet...

DJR

Sera was a very successful hunter pony in her heyday, including going to Florida and winning on the 'A' circuit in her younger years. So she was super to take to shows and, when she wasn't testing K, was a really fun mount for her. K dressed her up for costume classes, and did lots with her. Once K'...

DJR

I'm only now able to type this out. On Sunday (3 days ago), we had to say good-bye to my daughter's beloved Welsh pony, Sera. Sera was my daughter's first ever pony. For those of you who remember, I adopted K (my daughter) when she was 7 yrs old (4-1/2 yrs ago) and the next summer, when she turned 8...

DJR

Odie is gorgeous - I've always loved him. He looks great in those photos! My goals for March-April ... In general ⋅ ride 4x weekly once the weather allows it - I moved two horses to a facility that is literally a 5-min drive from my place. It has a lovely indoor arena and indoor board but ...

DJR

Yep, another from Ontario, Canada here, and we're all quite sick of the cold. This morning it was -19C (without windchill). The forecast shows above-zero temps this weekend with a low of 0C. I'll believe it when I see it, but looking ahead I think spring is coming as the bad cold seems to be ending ...

DJR

Ideally, 4 days a week(or 5). Realistically, during winter I'm lucky to ride twice a week between weather & work constraints, as well as the constraint of having to board them so I have to factor in the commute time to/from the barn. During summer it's closer to 4 days a week unless work interfe...

DJR

We've been challenged by weather the last 2-3 weeks, too. We had a colossal blizzard Tues-Wed, enough that I put all the horses inside overnight (that is a rare event on my farm). Today is sunny and lots of snow on the ground, but overnight tonight we are getting snow then rain/freezing rain, which ...

DJR

I’ll also add to the excellent comments so far that, for me, one of the more nerve-wracking aspects to showing is timing the warm-up properly. This is especially so given that I have a huge, black horse who hates the heat, and has a very narrow “perfect energy-to-warmed-up” window. I also need to pl...

DJR

Happy New Year! My training goals in the next two months: ME: work on my fitness, walk more regularly, add some core exercises HORSES under saddle: JET (13 yr old 3rd Level gelding): improve his fitness/conditioning, improve his “sit”. FINN (4 yr old greenly backed gelding): start cantering under sa...

DJR

LOL, I had to contribute to this thread again after this afternoon. I have another tool to improve the jump in the changes ... This afternoon, I clipped Jet (finally got around to it — he needed to be clipped a month ago!). Then I rode Jet. Jet, in his post-clipping exuberance, proceeded to do his b...

DJR

That's an interesting exercise DJR. I'm going to have to try that. It can be canter-walk-halt or canter-halt. The more "sit" the better but it needs to be a "forward" transition. The important part is halt --> canter a stride (maybe 2, but sooner is better than later) --> change.

DJR

Love this thread, and reading everyone’s progress. So cool! For me, 2018 had a slow start. I keep my horses at home except for about 3 months during the worst part of the winter typically. However, Dec 2017 was AMAZINGLY cold (as in, -30C!!!) so I brought the horses home since I was paying board for...

DJR

It's not Ding, it's the big bay one. Thanks for going through all that dresseur, reading your post I think he might be going through my hand. He was anticipating for a bit there, and he'd do these big leaps - where he'd leap forward and change in front, land and change behind. Now, he doesn't do th...

DJR

I live in cold/snowy Ontario, Canada. Of my 9 horses, I only blanket the 20 yr old Welsh pony in really wet/cold conditions or if she is cold. I also sometimes blanket one of my broodmares but she came to me under-conditioned and is now in great condition and, so far, hasn't needed a blanket. I also...

DJR

When I purchased the full sibling to your new horse, I thought it quite sensible to bring Spooky home in the horse trailer. I texted my local vet a pic of Spooky in the trailer with the message “bringing home another rescue, can you come have a look this afternoon?” LOL, that’s hilarious. What did ...

DJR

I just bred a full sister to my 4-yr-old Hano/Shire gelding. We’ll see how similar they are as the filly matures, but so far they are very similar in terms of temperament, brain, and head/neck conformation.

DJR

Thanks very much for all the info. I’m reassured to hear that those of you who have hauled that much trailer as a BP are happy with it. I agree that the truck makes all the difference. I’m driving a 2005 Ford Excursion diesel and it has a very long wheelbase itself, and a large tow capacity. The die...

DJR

I really like the Rambo turbo cooler. It soaks up sweat very well and really improves drying time.

DJR

I'm working on planning a custom-built trailer that will serve as a carriage hauler but also can double as a 2+1. It's a fun process, but SO much to consider (I'm doing it through Hawk including LOTS of input from their designers & engineers). The trailer is based on one of their custom trailer ...

DJR

Ryeissa - I'm also finding it exceptionally hard this fall to adjust to the darker evenings and the cold. I could have ridden both days this past weekend and didn't ride AT ALL. Just want to hibernate. Of course, this is at odds with my long-term goal of moving Jet up the levels, hopefully to PSG, m...

DJR

I was putting away decorations and decided to introduce Skeletor to the rest of the gang. I propped him up at the fence and waited to see who was brave enough to approach. Of all of the gang, only Finn had the guts to check out this strange entity. Here is his first approach (pardon the mud, it rain...

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