A few thoughts on a beautiful Wednesday . . .
Find ways, not to make the wrong thing hard - it's hard enough for the horse already - but to make the right thing easy - open a path for the horse to find the right thing.
Every day, even if things are going badly, find something good that the horse is doing - the smallest inkling of a thing - praise the horse and build on it - pretty soon you'll be on your way together.
Find a way, every day, to have your horse be successful at something you're asking him to do.
Clear, consistent, patient, quiet direction and guidance - from the inside of you - will get you where you want to go.
Horses perform much better for praise than they do to avoid punishment.
If the horse is emotionally upset, don't get caught up in the drama - keep your cool and provide a safe, quiet center for the horse to find his way back to.
Ignore what you don't want and keep your focus on asking for what you do want, consistently, and pretty soon you'll have what you do want, consistently.
Find a way for your horse to be successful every day . . .
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Pie is Clear on EPM and Lyme
Pie has survived a lot of trials. He (as well as Red) was diagnosed, using the new peptide ELISA antigen test, supported by standard neurological tests, with phenotype 5 of EPM in the fall of 2011. They were both treated (using the new protocol which is clinical trials), and all apparent neurological symptoms abated. Then, in the spring of 2012, Pie (as well as Dawn) was diagnosed by the same methods with phenotype 1 of EPM. Both Pie and Dawn were treated and made full recoveries from any apparent neurological symptoms. Pie had some persistent muscle soreness and extreme crabbiness, and had had some symptoms that would be atypical for EPM in the spring and summer of 2011, so he was tested in late fall 2012 for Lyme, using the new Cornell antigen test.
Here's a quote from the EPM/Lyme page, with Pie's results from last fall:
Both Red and Dawn have had minor neurological flare ups of unknown cause, and have continued to test negative for EPM, and made complete recoveries on their own. Pie also had a minor occurrence of neurological symptoms in May, 2013 and was retested and showed a slightly elevated EPM titer, where before his titers had been negative. As a precaution, he was treated for 10 days using decoquinate, which is one element of the EPM protocol that is in clinical trials. He has been symptom-free since - although Lyme and EPM can have some overlap in clinical symptoms since they are both neurological, in my personal experience with Red, Dawn and Pie the symptoms of EPM and Lyme were quite different.
This month, he was tested again for EPM, to see if the treatment made a change in the antibody levels - it did - he was back to negative status again. We don't know if he cleared the possible new infection on his own - persistence of immunity after treatment is still not known - or if the treatment did the trick. At the same time, he was retested for Lyme - it's necessary to wait for at least 6 months after completion of treatment for antibody counts to decline. We were delighted to hear that Pie is below the threshold for active infection for all three Lyme antigens. Dawn and Red were not tested for Lyme as they are asymptomatic - and I keep a very close eye on them for any Lyme-related symptoms. I am aware of other horses with Lyme whose treatments have not been as effective - my vet says the level of antibodies and length the horse has had the disease, as well as the treatment protocol, can affect how successful treatment is.
The EPM/Lyme page will have more specific details about Pie's test results for those interested in those technical details (once I update it).
Pie's quite the Pie, to have come through two episodes of EPM as well as Lyme so well - I told him today (well, I do every day) what a fine Pie horse he is (and we had a lovely ride in the much cooler weather).
Here's a quote from the EPM/Lyme page, with Pie's results from last fall:
Antigen A - Negative.Antigen C - Negative.Antigen F - 1,726 (cut off for active infection is 1,250). This is a positive result, although many horses with Lyme have much higher titers. This indicates an active, chronic Lyme infection that is more than 5 months old. Our vet believes that some of the acute symptoms Pie experienced in the summer and fall of 2011, including an episode of laminitis, severe muscle pain/soreness, acute sensitivity to touch, severe grumpiness - to the point of biting, and his continuing muscle tightness and unusual visual reactivity to movement may have been/be Lyme related.Pie was treating using oral doxycycline, using a new protocol that dosed once a day at a higher dosage, in an attempt to kill the critters when they were most vulnerable - Lyme can be a bear to treat. He finished treatment in November 2012 and has been symptom-free for Lyme since.
Both Red and Dawn have had minor neurological flare ups of unknown cause, and have continued to test negative for EPM, and made complete recoveries on their own. Pie also had a minor occurrence of neurological symptoms in May, 2013 and was retested and showed a slightly elevated EPM titer, where before his titers had been negative. As a precaution, he was treated for 10 days using decoquinate, which is one element of the EPM protocol that is in clinical trials. He has been symptom-free since - although Lyme and EPM can have some overlap in clinical symptoms since they are both neurological, in my personal experience with Red, Dawn and Pie the symptoms of EPM and Lyme were quite different.
This month, he was tested again for EPM, to see if the treatment made a change in the antibody levels - it did - he was back to negative status again. We don't know if he cleared the possible new infection on his own - persistence of immunity after treatment is still not known - or if the treatment did the trick. At the same time, he was retested for Lyme - it's necessary to wait for at least 6 months after completion of treatment for antibody counts to decline. We were delighted to hear that Pie is below the threshold for active infection for all three Lyme antigens. Dawn and Red were not tested for Lyme as they are asymptomatic - and I keep a very close eye on them for any Lyme-related symptoms. I am aware of other horses with Lyme whose treatments have not been as effective - my vet says the level of antibodies and length the horse has had the disease, as well as the treatment protocol, can affect how successful treatment is.
The EPM/Lyme page will have more specific details about Pie's test results for those interested in those technical details (once I update it).
Pie's quite the Pie, to have come through two episodes of EPM as well as Lyme so well - I told him today (well, I do every day) what a fine Pie horse he is (and we had a lovely ride in the much cooler weather).
Looking for Fly Masks . . .
Dawn lost not just one, but two different, fly masks - nice Cashell masks with ears and long noses - in her pasture over the past week or so. I've been looking, and not finding - the pasture she's in isn't that big, maybe 5 acres. The boys don't wear fly masks in turnout - Red won't tolerate one and the boys also play too much face tag to keep one on. Their pasture is a lot bigger than Dawn's, and I wouldn't want to have to search for masks in all that acreage. Dawn appreciates her mask - she has a terrible problem with tiny flys that like to get in her ears - but when she rolls she often dislodges the mask from one or both ears and then it just falls off - whenever I find one of her masks, it's always still fastened.
So today I had a little time, and was systematic about it. The masks weren't in the shorter grass - they would have been easy to see - one was gray and the other black. They had to be in the rough - the mares' bathroom areas, where the grass and weeds get taller - or in the weedier areas along the stream. So I slogged through every one, and found not one, but two masks, deep in the weedy areas where she'd rolled - it made sense that she wouldn't roll in the roughs and now I know where to look next time. And I found a shoe - pad, clips and nasty nails protruding - and two boots . . .
We'll see how long she keeps her mask on this time . . .
So today I had a little time, and was systematic about it. The masks weren't in the shorter grass - they would have been easy to see - one was gray and the other black. They had to be in the rough - the mares' bathroom areas, where the grass and weeds get taller - or in the weedier areas along the stream. So I slogged through every one, and found not one, but two masks, deep in the weedy areas where she'd rolled - it made sense that she wouldn't roll in the roughs and now I know where to look next time. And I found a shoe - pad, clips and nasty nails protruding - and two boots . . .
We'll see how long she keeps her mask on this time . . .
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Three Splendids, and a Note on Bracing/Blocking
Finally, the hot weather broke - it was still hot and humid yesterday - mid 80s - but oh so much better than it had been for days. And I got to ride . . .
I rode all three horses. Dawn had had three days off from riding, Red four and Pie an entire week, due to the extreme heat and in Pie's case to let him grow a little more hoof. All three horses couldn't have been better after all those days off, mostly spent confined in their stalls - I've taken to calling them my "splendids".
Dawn was forward and enthusiastic, and would have happily done a lot more trot work than I let her do - she's still rebuilding strength from her layoff for the minor hind leg injury. Pie happily walked and trotted briefly in the indoor - completely sound again - and we then went on a short trail ride with two other boarders. He was very alert and forward, but very well-behaved. He and I herded off a horse who was pestering us as we were exiting the pastures to the trail - I can swish my dressage whip at the other horse, right by Pie's neck, without bothering him at all. He did some calling, and was distracted at moments by what the horses in the pastures were doing - at one point a whole herd of them galloped past going back to the barn - but came right back to me immediately each time.
Then Red and I had a wonderful ride - one of the best we've ever had. I think he was happy to be back in work - he's a horse who cares about working and seems to find it very satisfying. The walk/trot transition problem has gone away completely, just by my changing how I think about the transition. This is a perfect example of the importance of keeping my focus on what I do want, instead of what I don't want. Instead of thinking about the balk that I came to expect, instead I think only about the transition I want and how it should feel. It may seem odd, but I think expecting the balk in fact was at this point actually causing the balk - it was creating a brace/block - not physical but mental - and the fussing Red did was him hitting the barrier of the brace/block I was offering him, and the springing into canter instead of trot was him having to use extra energy to get past the block. Now that I'm just thinking about the smooth, soft transition I want, and offering him that feel, he just does it. I find this stuff pretty magical, but it's really pretty matter-of-fact from the horse's point of view.
Red and I also did lots of other transitions - walk to halt, to back, to walk or trot, trot to canter to trot. His sustained canter work was really excellent, and to finish off our ride we took a brief walking tour of two of the pastures.
Three splendids, indeed!
I rode all three horses. Dawn had had three days off from riding, Red four and Pie an entire week, due to the extreme heat and in Pie's case to let him grow a little more hoof. All three horses couldn't have been better after all those days off, mostly spent confined in their stalls - I've taken to calling them my "splendids".
Dawn was forward and enthusiastic, and would have happily done a lot more trot work than I let her do - she's still rebuilding strength from her layoff for the minor hind leg injury. Pie happily walked and trotted briefly in the indoor - completely sound again - and we then went on a short trail ride with two other boarders. He was very alert and forward, but very well-behaved. He and I herded off a horse who was pestering us as we were exiting the pastures to the trail - I can swish my dressage whip at the other horse, right by Pie's neck, without bothering him at all. He did some calling, and was distracted at moments by what the horses in the pastures were doing - at one point a whole herd of them galloped past going back to the barn - but came right back to me immediately each time.
Then Red and I had a wonderful ride - one of the best we've ever had. I think he was happy to be back in work - he's a horse who cares about working and seems to find it very satisfying. The walk/trot transition problem has gone away completely, just by my changing how I think about the transition. This is a perfect example of the importance of keeping my focus on what I do want, instead of what I don't want. Instead of thinking about the balk that I came to expect, instead I think only about the transition I want and how it should feel. It may seem odd, but I think expecting the balk in fact was at this point actually causing the balk - it was creating a brace/block - not physical but mental - and the fussing Red did was him hitting the barrier of the brace/block I was offering him, and the springing into canter instead of trot was him having to use extra energy to get past the block. Now that I'm just thinking about the smooth, soft transition I want, and offering him that feel, he just does it. I find this stuff pretty magical, but it's really pretty matter-of-fact from the horse's point of view.
Red and I also did lots of other transitions - walk to halt, to back, to walk or trot, trot to canter to trot. His sustained canter work was really excellent, and to finish off our ride we took a brief walking tour of two of the pastures.
Three splendids, indeed!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Tomorrow . . .
Today was very, very hot . . . the heat index is still 97 at 5:00 p.m. Horses came in early - I caught Dawn and Pie when then were just getting uncomfortable and didn't need to be hosed off. Red was way out in the far pasture - about a half mile from the barn, and as usual, cool as a cucumber. But once his halter was on, he was on a mission - to get to Pie, who was already in the barn. He tried to trot, and tried to pass me, a few times, and kept calling to Pie. Finally, I unclipped him - he walked free next to me for a few strides, then I told him to go and he exploded into gallop and headed back up to the barn. I met him there - he took a huge drink - and had to hose him off because he was all sweaty from his run.
The horses were comfortable under their fans, despite temperatures in the barn over 90. I picked stalls in the afternoon, groomed and put on fly spray, and topped up hay and water - taking each horse to the outdoor tanks for a drink. Tomorrow, after the cold front comes through, we ride . . . three days without riding seems like an eternity to me . . .
The horses were comfortable under their fans, despite temperatures in the barn over 90. I picked stalls in the afternoon, groomed and put on fly spray, and topped up hay and water - taking each horse to the outdoor tanks for a drink. Tomorrow, after the cold front comes through, we ride . . . three days without riding seems like an eternity to me . . .
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Rinse . . . and Repeat
Today's hotness was worse than unpleasant - it was disgusting. Our heat indices today and tomorrow will be in the 105-110 degree range, with lots of sun and a hot wind. Friday night, we're supposed to have a cold front coming through with thunderstorms - can't wait.
Our barn doesn't do night turnout, so my days have consisted of going to the barn early - around 9 a.m. - making sure stalls are set, and then bringing my three horses in. As I bring each horse in, I stop in the wash stall - it's handy having the wash stall be the passage between the pastures/indoor and the barn aisle - and rinse each horse with cold water until cool, scrape off and then use a wet sponge to wipe off their faces, polls and foreheads.
Today, Pie, that grass demon, didn't want to come in. This was despite the fact that he was grazing in full sun, soaking wet on his neck, chest and shoulders, with nostrils the size of dinner plates and panting - he doesn't do at all well in the heat. Once I got his halter on, we headed for the barn. Red today stuck close, walking right next to Pie all the way - no halter. Red, as usual, was as cool as a cucumber. When we got to the barn, both Red and Pie took long drinks - I'll bet Pie swallowed several gallons of water, he drank so long.
Both got rinse offs and put under fans in their stalls. Dawn, unlike Pie, saw me and immediately galloped up to be brought in. She was sweaty too, not as sweaty as Pie but still uncomfortable, and appreciated her rinse off.
This afternoon, I stopped by to groom, fill water and replenish hay and put on fly spray. I led all three horses to the outdoor water tank to have a drink - both Red and Pie took advantage - I think this also helps convince them that conditions aren't suitable for being outside. Everyone was happy and comfortable.
One more day of this . . . and then we'll ride . . .
Our barn doesn't do night turnout, so my days have consisted of going to the barn early - around 9 a.m. - making sure stalls are set, and then bringing my three horses in. As I bring each horse in, I stop in the wash stall - it's handy having the wash stall be the passage between the pastures/indoor and the barn aisle - and rinse each horse with cold water until cool, scrape off and then use a wet sponge to wipe off their faces, polls and foreheads.
Today, Pie, that grass demon, didn't want to come in. This was despite the fact that he was grazing in full sun, soaking wet on his neck, chest and shoulders, with nostrils the size of dinner plates and panting - he doesn't do at all well in the heat. Once I got his halter on, we headed for the barn. Red today stuck close, walking right next to Pie all the way - no halter. Red, as usual, was as cool as a cucumber. When we got to the barn, both Red and Pie took long drinks - I'll bet Pie swallowed several gallons of water, he drank so long.
Both got rinse offs and put under fans in their stalls. Dawn, unlike Pie, saw me and immediately galloped up to be brought in. She was sweaty too, not as sweaty as Pie but still uncomfortable, and appreciated her rinse off.
This afternoon, I stopped by to groom, fill water and replenish hay and put on fly spray. I led all three horses to the outdoor water tank to have a drink - both Red and Pie took advantage - I think this also helps convince them that conditions aren't suitable for being outside. Everyone was happy and comfortable.
One more day of this . . . and then we'll ride . . .
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Red's Eyes Get Big . . . But He is Very, Very Good
Today the weather was miserable - temperatures in the 90s with heat indices approaching 100 - it's supposed to be even hotter tomorrow and Friday before a cold front is supposed to move in and cool things off.
It's interesting to see how different each horse's response to heat and humidity is. Pie gets hot the fastest - when I went out to get him about 9:30 a.m., he was already sweated up but still reluctant to stop eating grass. He got a hose off and then went into his stall under the fan. Just after that, I went to get Dawn - she was started to sweat and seemed glad to come in and get hosed off and put in her stall under the fan. Red - he's the cool cucumber - when I went out to get him just after 10 a.m., he had come up for a drink out of the water tanks, but was still completely dry. He didn't get hosed, but came in anyway - reluctantly - since I had to leave for the city and wouldn't be around to bring him in later.
In the afternoon, I stopped by to top up water and add hay, groom and apply fly spray, and pick stalls. There's a "pony camp" at our barn, held by one of the trainers, with a group of 8 to 11 year old girls in the afternoons. They were all in the (air-conditioned) viewing room when I took Pie out for a brief walk in the arena - he stuck his nose up to the glass to examine the visitors and then we went to the pasture water tank for him to take a big drink - he prefers drinking out of the big tanks although he'll also drink out of his stall buckets (one of them).
When I took Red out for a walk around, there was a gaggle of small girls in the barn aisle. I invited them to come out and say hello to Red - he likes children and any sort of attention at all - and they swarmed him, petting him and saying hello. One small girl even came up to his chest and grabbed him around the base of his neck and held on - his eyes got big but he didn't move a foot - good Red! They had lots of questions: "what's his name?" "how old is he?" "is he easy to ride?"
Tomorrow and Friday will be about the same, although since I have more time flexibility tomorrow, Red may be able to stay out a bit longer - he seems OK up to a heat index of 100, where Pie and Dawn are more heat sensitive.
Looking forward to some cooler weather, and some riding, this weekend . . .
It's interesting to see how different each horse's response to heat and humidity is. Pie gets hot the fastest - when I went out to get him about 9:30 a.m., he was already sweated up but still reluctant to stop eating grass. He got a hose off and then went into his stall under the fan. Just after that, I went to get Dawn - she was started to sweat and seemed glad to come in and get hosed off and put in her stall under the fan. Red - he's the cool cucumber - when I went out to get him just after 10 a.m., he had come up for a drink out of the water tanks, but was still completely dry. He didn't get hosed, but came in anyway - reluctantly - since I had to leave for the city and wouldn't be around to bring him in later.
In the afternoon, I stopped by to top up water and add hay, groom and apply fly spray, and pick stalls. There's a "pony camp" at our barn, held by one of the trainers, with a group of 8 to 11 year old girls in the afternoons. They were all in the (air-conditioned) viewing room when I took Pie out for a brief walk in the arena - he stuck his nose up to the glass to examine the visitors and then we went to the pasture water tank for him to take a big drink - he prefers drinking out of the big tanks although he'll also drink out of his stall buckets (one of them).
When I took Red out for a walk around, there was a gaggle of small girls in the barn aisle. I invited them to come out and say hello to Red - he likes children and any sort of attention at all - and they swarmed him, petting him and saying hello. One small girl even came up to his chest and grabbed him around the base of his neck and held on - his eyes got big but he didn't move a foot - good Red! They had lots of questions: "what's his name?" "how old is he?" "is he easy to ride?"
Tomorrow and Friday will be about the same, although since I have more time flexibility tomorrow, Red may be able to stay out a bit longer - he seems OK up to a heat index of 100, where Pie and Dawn are more heat sensitive.
Looking forward to some cooler weather, and some riding, this weekend . . .
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