Pre Two-Four Week; At a Glance

Portion of our course. First outing of the year folks!
*ignore my girth checking hiney*

Here we are, officially ten and a half work hours from my week off! Wee-hoo. 

Does anyone realize how long it has been since I had vacation time? ....no? Well, I do. 

First week of September 2015.

*sigh*

As far as truly front page news worthy, nothing THAT exciting happened this week but a few things did happen that are a bit more exciting or at least worth sharing.

Without further ado....

Late Monday evening my dearest Mish-mosh texted asking if I wanted to leave work a bit early and come trailer over to a nearby barn with her for a jump school. *insert stupid face* 'Hell yeah I do...!'

After much figuring and bribing, I coerced a coworker into staying late for me by yielding a weeks worth of Tim Horton's coffee.

Totally worth it! 

So as Tuesday evening rolled around we trucked Thunder and Paloma down the road and set up a little course. 

Now, I must add that neither Mish or I have done much jumping since fall but remembering my excitement and attempting to ignore my whimpery we set a full course. Woot!

Exhibit A. Proof it happened.

I totally look much more pleased with the situation than they do.

...Much better!
I later figured out why Paloma kept standing funky. Lady had to pee something serious!

Our course comprised of the 2' cross rail on the quarter line for warming up, around to the outside 2'6- 2'9-3'ish pink/white stripe two stride line (not pictured), to the diagonal 2'6 brown (chameleon as I called it) vertical to the 2'6 gate, outside 2'6 vertical line and finally the bending diagonal 2'6 barrel oxer to cross rail. 

Both horses were great but each had their little quirks. Thunder loves to run! Paloma loves to day dream! 

Pal especially had issues with the brown vertical line. For whatever reason, the simplest line/fence, gave us the most trouble. Initially, I think I surprised her by tossing in the brown vertical on a canter circle. This pole totally blended with the sand/shadows. I asked for too deep, Pal said 'holy ****' and slid to a stop, understandable and mostly my fault. I did a quick turn out and jumped it from a walk, calmly, no drama.

We trotted in the entire brown line to warm up after the crossrail proved to wake up the brain. Paloma decided to nicker her in-season heart out to the stallion in the barn and nearly ran face first into the fence. Hormones! Slight drama appeared. First time, totally my bad, I even had issues seeing the brown fence, second time, 99% your fault. Keep your panties on!

The rest of the course flowed very well! 

The line that gave me the willies, pink/white stripes, felt the BEST every single time, things just clicked and happened. Both horses totally nailed it! Why can't every fence feel like that! Effortless.

We cooled the horses out with a nice long trot and without any qualms both horses loaded up, ready for home.

Wednesday evening was farrier time. 

As a sequeal to my farrier woes, after much convincing from Mish, I had decided to give the new farrier a call to explain the issues I was having and see what he has to say. I highly doubted he could say anything to change my blackened heart.

Somehow, I ended the call feeling as though I had been heartless and that I should have just called him in the first place. I had thought, 'who am I to tell him how I want my horses feet? he will just be super pissed....' Right? 

Wrong.

During the call I explained the clicking etc, and he calmly and almost energetically explained to me that 'he is like a hairstylist. He takes as little off as he needs to and trims the shape he sees currently. If he doesn't hear any feedback, he figures he should continue to do the same'.

The guy was actually happy that I had called!

I felt much more re-assured after this and decided to give him one more chance... feeling like a jack***. Ha.

That being said, he was only out last night but he trimmed her toes exactly how I asked. He even pointed out that I had been correct to be concerned because her toes had some bruising around the 'white line', meaning there was too much pressure on her toes and she was not 'rolling over' quick enough. 

*I nodded like I totally understood .....*

Mish and I did go for a strong trot and gallop in the field afterwards and there was no clicking to be heard and P didn't lose her footing once. 

Give it a week the farrier said, otherwise it is free.

Thursday AM, last but not least. Slightly controversial I am sure.

Spring shots were done at the barn. P was due and sharing the call fee between 11 horses, a'ok with me. Despite my wanting to swap vets based on prior concerns about the quality of equine tooth care.

Shots are simple, yeah?

Well, yes, shots proved uneventful but vet says P should have her teeth done again, despite having just done them late last summer and having experienced issues with P's chewing for months after, (rewind to P's tooth trouble right after floating... hmm, coincidence?). 

Based on recent events I clearly should not be so hasty to judge but seeing as though Paloma is the most comfortable with her mouth now than she has been in months *knocks on wood*, I feel like I really need to get on to swapping vets sooner than later. Never did Paloma require frequent dentistry before I changed to the current vet. Never did I have problems until right after her last floating, which led to said vet thinking problem area should be extracted rather than treated. 

I treated. Lengthy process, yes, but I think it was the best and least invasive decision for my horse. 

Many would probably say I am very conservative when it comes to medications, supplements (unless natural!), treatments etc but I live my life thinking humans are too quick to judge and interfere and most think everything can be best solved by the quickest solution.
(Exhibit B- Bison Calf Euthanized when Man Put Calf Into SUV, Thinking It Was Cold )

I believe no decision should be made in haste, despite how much I want it too be done quickly. All decisions no matter how simple and straight forward seeming should be made with an educated, and I do not mean merely scholarly, mindset.

I found this article to be of the most help. However, I will keep a sharp eye for symptoms of any issues and will continue checking myself to be sure.

http://www.listentoyourhorse.com/do-equine-dentists-interfere-too-much-with-horses-teeth/ 

Horse people, we are all crazy!