Whoooo got in a strop then :-)
I've just spent an hour and a half in the barn with Jazz. He did some superb walk/trot work, where the only problem was that he had such impulsion that he kept giving me walk/canter instead. So I was a bit surprised when I asked him for walk/canter after a break on a long rein, to find that he was totally resistant. He'd obviously decided he'd done enough in the first 20 minutes!
I made the saddle cloth an excuse to get off and take a mental break. I sorted the slipping cloth out and tried again - he was as flexible and giving as a plank :-) I tried halting and getting his back up and walking on. I tried sending him forwards. I tried tiny circles and rapid changes of bend. I tried using a whip to get him moving but all he did was bolt, twice. A two-hands-on-one-rein halt into a wall was necessary both times or he could have fallen taking the corner too fast. We went back to trying it all slower and calmer, but he was stuck somewhere firmly behind me, with no bend and no throughness at all.
I went and made a cup of tea and left him alone in the barn. The tea was nice! When I got back on I had to drive him forwards to make him move at all. I ended up, though I stress it was for a very short period, using a driving seat - you literally shove your seatbones down into their back and forwards. The discomfort of it makes them move forward under your seat. NOT recommended for normal use (and certainly not in a saddle with fixed padding which can't move around) but I was desperate by now!!
It worked anyways, he decided that working was more fun than that. And promptly gave me some beautiful walk, lovely trot, a sweet canter transition and a few balanced strides. We stopped then of course.
Tetley is either half asleep or doesn't seem very bright this morning. I think maybe the high wind kept them all awake all night, because there were no forms in the surface this morning, suggesting that they hadn't laid down all night. He came and asked for a cuddle and I swear he was telling me how bad it had been at Beckbrook. I rubbed his forehead and told him it'll never happen to him again.
Zip's cut is a tiny bit suspicious - it's more swollen and swollen higher up than it was yesterday. Not a lot, but I shall be taking a very hard look at it tonight to decided whether to ask the vet that does Tia tomorrow to give me some antibiotics for him. There's no heat in it, which makes me think that I just caught him after a long period of standing still when I went out this morning.
I tidied Tia's back feet for the vetting tomorrow. She's looking really well. I have a whole queue of people wanting to see her if these people think she's too much.
Another photo tomorrow of Tetley. I'm not sure how different he'll look. He's definitely getting fatter all the time, but it's a slow process.
C.
posted by cptrayes @ 11:53 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
To give Jazz an excuse, it could be muscle fatigue. As well, muscle soreness. I used to have that trouble with PJ when I first got him. He would work OK, then we'd rest and he just wouldn't come through. His was a long term, chronic problem from the track which I eventually kept under control with acupuncture.
Maybe you could try some muscle massage on Jazz if it happens again to see if that makes a difference.
Also, the back muscles just behind the saddle, where you finally drove in your seat can get tight. You could try some massage from the saddle back there. Do be careful, though, as it will make some horses buck.
I'm only suspicious of this because Jazz is a bulky horse with considerable muscle mass. As he gets fitter, this will be less of an issue. But remember, he had a period of time off due to the abscess and may not have even been using himself out in the field the way he normally does.
Could be all of Tetley's past misery hit him all at once. I'm hoping it's that and he's feeling OK otherwise. If he still seems dull later you might take his temperature. Do remember that respiratory thing bb had.
Oh, the Zip leg thing sounds familiar. Stocking up is common, even above the wound since you really don't know for sure how much trauma the part of his leg that didn't get cut had in his little escapade. That's why I bandage, but I do understand your reluctance considering what happened. You could try some DMSO to help bring down the swelling. I think that is one of the ingredients in my magic leg sweat--which can be used without a bandage. And yes, usually exercise will bring down the filling if it is not an infection.
Pretty Tia. I can see her human "suitors" lining up. She's going to do well.
the thing is ... will you actually be able to bring yourself to let tetley go again, even only down the bottom of your hill? i don't think so, somehow
i think jean's idea about jazz sounds about right...
I take your point Jean. The difficulty with him is knowing whether it is actually safe to ever let him "win", given his performance when I don't have walls to restrain him!! I felt I needed to finish on a note of authority with him, especially as he'd hardly done much before he decided he wasn't doing any more :-)
I can't keep him here in pain or on constant medication Claire, that wouldn't be fair. I've been plotting his future and will have some news soon.
C
Your point taken as well, Caroline. What I used to do with PJ and later Toby--who occasionally had hock/back issues--would be to get something right out of them before quitting, even if it meant getting the walk to come through to the bit. That way I won on principle but still granted something to them in regard to the pain/discomfort.
That being said, neither PJ nor Toby had the strong will to be the dominant partner that Jazz has. It's a hard call.
Jean the nice thing about the way you write is that you always manage to make suggestions without ever sounding as if you are criticizing. Please feel free to keep commenting, it often helps :-)
C
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