Friday, September 21, 2012
Professional Photos??? CHA!!!!
I took pictures of the professional photos I bought from the show! I love them!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Our first show in a year and a half!
He was a rockstar! I was the least nervous I have ever been at a show. I drove us out too :)
We only did flat classes as we are not quite ready for over fences classes. But it was still so much fun. There was about 12 people in each of our classes. So we did not place but I didn't really go to place. I went to get out there. To show myself how much we have improved and improved we have!!! He was calm and relaxed. He listened to me (minus counter bending to look at everything). He was steady in the trot. Not rushing forward and flying around the ring. When we cantered, he got his leads the first time and beautifully straight from me asking for them. I could not have asked for more!
He is pretending to be a Tennessee Walker here :) Steady and calm!
We only did flat classes as we are not quite ready for over fences classes. But it was still so much fun. There was about 12 people in each of our classes. So we did not place but I didn't really go to place. I went to get out there. To show myself how much we have improved and improved we have!!! He was calm and relaxed. He listened to me (minus counter bending to look at everything). He was steady in the trot. Not rushing forward and flying around the ring. When we cantered, he got his leads the first time and beautifully straight from me asking for them. I could not have asked for more!
He is pretending to be a Tennessee Walker here :) Steady and calm!
Up until now
Riding wise, August was uneventful. Sometime between July and August, I had to change farriers again. The farrier I was using was losing a lot of money by coming out to me and she didn't want to have to charge me a ton to make up for it. She suggested a guy and so I called him.
Awesome awesome choice. I love him. He is thorough and meticulous. A little rough around the edges but he is dedicated to each of the horses he works with. He made the effort to call my previous farrier and get her opinion on America's feet and where she was with him and what she was doing.
The first time he worked on them, America ended up too short. Which is why he called. This was when I started to second guess whether he needed to stay barefoot. It didn't really make sense why he was so sore.
The second time he worked on him, he barely took anything off. Did just enough. By this time, I was almost completely decided on putting shoes back on him, but my farrier wanted to see how he did. When after this very minimal trim was done, I was there watching and when he was cleaning up his feet, I could see the bruising everywhere. All around the edges. The frog. Everything, everywhere. No wonder he was so sore.
By this point, the farrier said to give him a few days. If he was still really sore, he wanted to do xrays because he believes there is more going on. So after a week of being sore, I called him and told him and promptly got an appointment to get xrays done.
AND BOY O BOY AM I GLAD I DID THAT!
He has two completely different feet. He's got high/low syndrome as well. And the kicker of it all, he literally has half the depth of sole that he needs to have. The vet believes that it is genetic. He said that we could possibly get some sole to grow but not enough for him to be comfortable. The guy weighs 1300 lbs. He is at .6 cm and should be over 1cm. I instantly felt like a horrible mother :( but the vet said that taking his shoes off helped him to grow healthier hooves all around.
But here are the xrays if anyone is interested in seeing what they look like!
Awesome awesome choice. I love him. He is thorough and meticulous. A little rough around the edges but he is dedicated to each of the horses he works with. He made the effort to call my previous farrier and get her opinion on America's feet and where she was with him and what she was doing.
The first time he worked on them, America ended up too short. Which is why he called. This was when I started to second guess whether he needed to stay barefoot. It didn't really make sense why he was so sore.
The second time he worked on him, he barely took anything off. Did just enough. By this time, I was almost completely decided on putting shoes back on him, but my farrier wanted to see how he did. When after this very minimal trim was done, I was there watching and when he was cleaning up his feet, I could see the bruising everywhere. All around the edges. The frog. Everything, everywhere. No wonder he was so sore.
By this point, the farrier said to give him a few days. If he was still really sore, he wanted to do xrays because he believes there is more going on. So after a week of being sore, I called him and told him and promptly got an appointment to get xrays done.
AND BOY O BOY AM I GLAD I DID THAT!
He has two completely different feet. He's got high/low syndrome as well. And the kicker of it all, he literally has half the depth of sole that he needs to have. The vet believes that it is genetic. He said that we could possibly get some sole to grow but not enough for him to be comfortable. The guy weighs 1300 lbs. He is at .6 cm and should be over 1cm. I instantly felt like a horrible mother :( but the vet said that taking his shoes off helped him to grow healthier hooves all around.
But here are the xrays if anyone is interested in seeing what they look like!
July
July ended up being a super fun month. It was dreadfully hot here. Disgustingly so. But we continued lessoning and prepping for our next show.
I went to Tanglewood to take a lesson. It was so much fun. Most importantly, I conquered some fears I have been holding on to. It's rough having fears but still trying to teach your horse to be confident.
I have had an irrational fear of gates for a while. Jumping them, they just look so solid. Like if you hit them, they will stay and you will go. America doesn't give two craps. We jumped gate after gate after gate. I don't know how tall they were. 1.5'-2' He is so tall, that really isn't much for him. To me, they look ginormous. I was really proud of him for sticking with me and proud of myself for doing it.
The ever faithful Matt came with us and took pictures.
Later that month, I had a very dear friend come down from NJ and we went trail riding. She rode the naughty pony! And another dear friend came up from Charlotte too!!! It was like it was my birthday!
I went to Tanglewood to take a lesson. It was so much fun. Most importantly, I conquered some fears I have been holding on to. It's rough having fears but still trying to teach your horse to be confident.
I have had an irrational fear of gates for a while. Jumping them, they just look so solid. Like if you hit them, they will stay and you will go. America doesn't give two craps. We jumped gate after gate after gate. I don't know how tall they were. 1.5'-2' He is so tall, that really isn't much for him. To me, they look ginormous. I was really proud of him for sticking with me and proud of myself for doing it.
The ever faithful Matt came with us and took pictures.
Later that month, I had a very dear friend come down from NJ and we went trail riding. She rode the naughty pony! And another dear friend came up from Charlotte too!!! It was like it was my birthday!
7-10-12
Derp says hi!Well we ended up not going to the show this month. It was just wretchedly hot and there was no way I was going to make him go in a trailer, which he would have with no fuss about it. Just wouldn't have been fair! But we have been working really hard. Really working on building up that topline.
His body is starting to even out. Top is becoming more muscular, butt is getting bigger and more muscular. He is getting big ol' moobies!
I found an ad with America for sale as a four year old.
<<<LOOK how handsome he is!!!
They must have been doing some awesome training with him, for him to be in such great shape. His topline, his butt, look at that neck!
<<<LOOK how handsome he is!!!
They must have been doing some awesome training with him, for him to be in such great shape. His topline, his butt, look at that neck!
So it's been a while eh?
Let's see, where did we leave off.
Last I blogged, I had just taken off America's Shoes and we were starting our adventure to barefoot world. Which lasted 9 months!
I am just going to bring some posts over from our website blog and go from there.
3/30/12
So I think this picture is a good example of where we are right now. He has only been on Dynamite for 6 months. For the past four months, we have ridden maybe a handful of times, so this is becoming natural for him. He's more balanced all over. More muscled naturally. He is shaved in the second picture because of our awesomely early....summer.
A couple of other things that changed from August to March.
Switched barns
visit from the holistic dentist
2 chiro appointments to get that SI where it should be (as well as lots of other stuff but that was the worst)
Diet change (obviously)
New Farrier and then removal of shoes
MOAR COOKIES!!!
4/10/12
I was not overwhelmingly pleased with my farrier. I feel like he tried, but barefoot was not his specialty. He helped him a lot when we first started because his feet were all screwed up.
America got a visit from his new farrier yesterday. She is a barefoot trimmer who honestly seems very promising. I am very excited for her to start working with him. She came out yesterday just for a consultation, did a tiny straightening out of his feet. One hoof was longer on the inside than the out, which was causing a strange wearing pattern on the front of his hoof and him to step wierd. The nail holes are almost gone!
She said he has nice feet, not much sole yet but she has no doubt he will soon. She measured him so that I can order some Easyboot Glove Backcountry boots for trails and such. To have, just in case. Which I prefer. You just never know, you know? Better to be prepared.
FINALLY, she is going to get his back feet better too. They are so ....awkwardly long and toey and pointy. I didn't even have to point it out either!
Best of all, America was extremely relaxed with her. He was being his goofy, America self.
So i'm thinking we are in the right direction. Happy pony is happy!
4/16/12
Got some new sneakers!
We got our new shoes in! I went with the Easyboot Backcountry's. I have to say, I am about 99% pleased with these. I forgot how difficult easyboots are to get on, but once I go it, they are great. I like the snugness of them. No rubs, no pulling them off. It's nice. The only thing I don't like, is there is a screw on the inside that rubs on his hoof. I am pretty sure I can fix that though.
We got to spend a very beautiful sunday out on the trail with one of our greatest friends. We had a blast! We haven't been able to trail ride for a few weeks because I didn't want to push it with his feet. He was a champ out there, and quite excited to go!
BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE, WE DIDN'T DO MUCH. We started with a new trainer who has helped us in more ways than I could ever repay her for.
6/11/12
America is doing quite well! We have been at it in our lessons and are preparing for a small, fun show in July. Quite excited!!!!
But healthwise, I feel like America is really on the up and up. He is filling out quite nicely and seems to prefer being exercised consistently. I invested in a thinline pad (heavensent). Though the saddle fits him quite well, I really like the extra shock absorption there.
Anywho, here is America right now! The right is August of last year. We are almost to the year mark!
6/13/12
America's feet were progressing beautifully. I will add in here, that even though they look amazing, he was still almost always lame for a week or so after his trim.
I almost forgot the progress on America's feets!!!!
I love this new farrier. This is his progress thus far (well as of a month ago)! These were taken a month after being trimmed. During that one month transition, the only hoof that didn't start the change into a rounder, more natural shape was his hind right.
Front Right is his "clubby" foot.
Last I blogged, I had just taken off America's Shoes and we were starting our adventure to barefoot world. Which lasted 9 months!
I am just going to bring some posts over from our website blog and go from there.
3/30/12
So I think this picture is a good example of where we are right now. He has only been on Dynamite for 6 months. For the past four months, we have ridden maybe a handful of times, so this is becoming natural for him. He's more balanced all over. More muscled naturally. He is shaved in the second picture because of our awesomely early....summer.
A couple of other things that changed from August to March.
Switched barns
visit from the holistic dentist
2 chiro appointments to get that SI where it should be (as well as lots of other stuff but that was the worst)
Diet change (obviously)
New Farrier and then removal of shoes
MOAR COOKIES!!!
4/10/12
I was not overwhelmingly pleased with my farrier. I feel like he tried, but barefoot was not his specialty. He helped him a lot when we first started because his feet were all screwed up.
America got a visit from his new farrier yesterday. She is a barefoot trimmer who honestly seems very promising. I am very excited for her to start working with him. She came out yesterday just for a consultation, did a tiny straightening out of his feet. One hoof was longer on the inside than the out, which was causing a strange wearing pattern on the front of his hoof and him to step wierd. The nail holes are almost gone!
She said he has nice feet, not much sole yet but she has no doubt he will soon. She measured him so that I can order some Easyboot Glove Backcountry boots for trails and such. To have, just in case. Which I prefer. You just never know, you know? Better to be prepared.
FINALLY, she is going to get his back feet better too. They are so ....awkwardly long and toey and pointy. I didn't even have to point it out either!
Best of all, America was extremely relaxed with her. He was being his goofy, America self.
So i'm thinking we are in the right direction. Happy pony is happy!
4/16/12
Got some new sneakers!
We got our new shoes in! I went with the Easyboot Backcountry's. I have to say, I am about 99% pleased with these. I forgot how difficult easyboots are to get on, but once I go it, they are great. I like the snugness of them. No rubs, no pulling them off. It's nice. The only thing I don't like, is there is a screw on the inside that rubs on his hoof. I am pretty sure I can fix that though.
We got to spend a very beautiful sunday out on the trail with one of our greatest friends. We had a blast! We haven't been able to trail ride for a few weeks because I didn't want to push it with his feet. He was a champ out there, and quite excited to go!
BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE, WE DIDN'T DO MUCH. We started with a new trainer who has helped us in more ways than I could ever repay her for.
6/11/12
America is doing quite well! We have been at it in our lessons and are preparing for a small, fun show in July. Quite excited!!!!
But healthwise, I feel like America is really on the up and up. He is filling out quite nicely and seems to prefer being exercised consistently. I invested in a thinline pad (heavensent). Though the saddle fits him quite well, I really like the extra shock absorption there.
Anywho, here is America right now! The right is August of last year. We are almost to the year mark!
6/13/12
America's feet were progressing beautifully. I will add in here, that even though they look amazing, he was still almost always lame for a week or so after his trim.
I almost forgot the progress on America's feets!!!!
I love this new farrier. This is his progress thus far (well as of a month ago)! These were taken a month after being trimmed. During that one month transition, the only hoof that didn't start the change into a rounder, more natural shape was his hind right.
Front Right is his "clubby" foot.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Unintentional Blogging Hiatus
I don't even know that anyone really reads my blogs but I will be updating them anyways. It's a great way to keep up with the goings on of the equine dude and myself :)
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