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Mittwoch, 30. November 2011

New tack!

  Well at least a week ago it was!! I've been so busy riding lately! That's right.. riding!! My new dark brown grand gilbert passier saddle and my new beautiful dark brown bridle are my new best friends!
  Last thursday I got my new tack. New saddle, new bridle, new girth, new breast-plate, and a new special saddle pad! I guess you could say the pad has imitation muscles in it. There are special slots where you can take the foam/gel inserts in and out to make a certain part a bit thicker, or not as thick. On a horse with no topline it's perfect! Like I said, it acts as the muscle that isn't there. It's a wonderful invention and you can really feel that Udex is much happier with it. He has not thrown his head a once since I've had him in this saddle. I can understand where passiers get their good reviews from! Best saddle I've ever sat in! Makes sitting such a horse like Udex comfortable!! Crazy- I know. Udex also goes totally round now and doesn't hollow out his back. Everything with him is so perfect! Even putting the bridle on! He's feeling a lot more comfy with his new bit and bridle and stands like a normal horse for that. Today while I was grooming him all the other horses were galloping and crow-hoping.
  Udex was getting nervous and pacing wanting to run with them. I was a bit interested to see if as soon as I put the reins and halter over his neck if he would dart off and run, or if he would stand quiet. Of course, he surprised me and calmed down and let me put his bridle on easily! That's how this last week has been. Super good Udex and super good rides!!

"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."

Mittwoch, 23. November 2011

Pain free!

  Tuesday we finished our osteopath sessions!!!!!! Amazing, right!? Just three sessions and then; boom... An entire new pain free Udex. The last session went beautifully! Udex didn't kick out a once!!! He knows the pain is gone, and he no longer has to expect it to come. His calm, happy attitude shows how he's feeling on the inside; happy. You can just walk up to him and kiss him and cuddle on him!! I still can't believe that my crazy Udex has been turned into a big softy! Really, really, realllly spectacular! I've said it before but I have to say it again.. If your horse is in pain PLEASE get osteopath/homeopath sessions done!! If you can use Utta, then I can promise you that you will have a perfect horse by the time she is done with him!!
  As for saddle news.. Not so good. Blah! This whole not having a saddle thing is literally driving me crazy! No saddle = no ride. Dang. Every day I'm not on his back seems like an entire year. It's been ages! Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating the two months an eency bit... but it sure does feel like for ever. So back to the saddle news! We will buy the grand gilbert in February! Until February I have to find another saddle to use. Obviously that hasn't been going to smoothly. Do we buy a new saddle for 1,000 euro that won't fit him right? Or do we use a cheaper one that doesn't fit him right? This one or that one, that one or this one? Aaaah!! It's seriously been an extremely stressful process!!!! Maybe tomorrow I will have a new saddle, or maybe not. Fingers crossed for one tomorrow. At this point I don't even care what it looks like!! After all it only has to last me until February!!

  I had a fun day the other day playing with Udex on the street and lunging him!! Thats what all the pictures in this post are from!




STARTING NEXT WEEK: I will be taking weekly measurements of Udexs' size and posting them here!! I'm so excited to start this! Thanks for the wonderful tip Utta!!

"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."

Mittwoch, 16. November 2011

Saddle fitting and homeopathy session!

  Today was great!!! We had Utta come at 9.00-10.00, and the saddle fitter come from 10.00-10.30! It was great!! Udex was really relaxed and calm for the saddler! Okay, I'm jumping ahead of myself though! Let me start off with Utta!! Todays session went great!!! She explained to me in more detail about the effect of piaffe on his hocks! He was used piaffe over and over again; it was his flashiest gait apparently. Anyways, they work with piaffe, piaffe, piaffe, passage, passage, more piaffe, more passage, and even MORE piaffe and passage. That is a lot of strain on a horses legs! It's never ending. To make him even more flashy someone would tap his hocks with a whip to get him to pick the legs up higher. [Explains about his whip phobia!!!!] That caused pain and mental damage. Eventually from all the piaffe the muscles and ligaments get really loose and just hang around. With every piaffe step it causes the hock to push out in an awkward unnatural position. You can imagine how bad that must feel and make riding for the horse. The mental damage that comes with that is just as bad! I can't explain it as well as she can, but I hope I did well enough that you have an idea of what's happening inside him.
  Overall, it was a very successful homeopathy session!! Udex walked out of his stall energetic and anxious. After Utta? Calm, chewing (good sign) and snorting. Amazing to see the transition! He did kick out when she got to his hocks more so out of habit of knowing a painful fear will come. By the time she was done with his right side and was at his left, he didn't kick out! The reasoning? He is learning that her touch makes the pain go away. It's beautiful to see the connection Utta has with horses. Magic hands for sure!!!
  After our session Udex was so quiet and calm! He was on his best behavior for the saddler! We tried several beautiful dressage saddles until we found the one that fit like a glove. "Grand Gilbert deep-seat dressage saddle" It's amazing!! It will also be easy to make adjustments to! As Udex gains more muscles the saddler will make slight changes so it fits him perfectly! We also bought a special wool saddle pad for him, so it feels perfect for him! Tuesday the saddle is officially mine, which means next Wednesday I can ride!!!!! I'm so excited!! It's been waaay to long!!!
  Now for a quick story!! Last night around 6.00 p.m. the horses were chilly, and mischievous! While Johann and I went out to get Udex and Ernesto, all the horses decided to go running, crow hopping, and bucking... breaking down their paddock while doing so. A lot of the fences are totaled right now and need repairs, so the horses are taking a stall break for now! Naughty ponies!! (o;
Be sure to check out Uttas homeopathy website here!!!
Also check out the amazing saddler, Jean-Luc, saddle fitting site here!!
"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."

Freitag, 11. November 2011

The new Udex.

  I have been enjoying my horse more then ever. This is the new him, (well the real him anyways.) This is Udex without the pain. He is a normal, kind horse. Not so much of a beast anymore. I was able to walk a far distance away from the barn, and he didn't winny a once or freak out. He lets me cuddle with him and love on him. It's amazing having such a kind animal. I'm so proud to say he is mine. Although I can't ride him at the moment, I still love him more then ever.
  Speaking of riding, the saddle man comes tuesday! He will size both Udex and I and come up with the perfect saddle! I'm so excited!! I can't wait to start Udex again!!
"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."

Mittwoch, 9. November 2011

The prognosis;

    So we had our first homeopathy session yesterday, sponsored by my lovely trainer. If you are not too familiar with "homeopathy" it's a natural form of healing. Our homeopathic uses her energy and natural talent, and of course natural medicines stemming from herbs. You may think the whole "energy" thing seems a bit absurd and like it wouldn't work.. However I saw with my own two eyes this energetic magic work. I'm jumping ahead of myself though.
  Yesterday we picked my trainer, and Utta (the homeopathic) up and drove to Udex! It was really interesting driving 45 minutes with them and listening. You can really learn so much that way. When we got to the barn I took Udex in and removed his rug. I held him while Utta pressed certain points and ran her fingers around certain spots. She then got to his hip/hock area, and that's where the trouble kicked in (literally.) Udex instantly started a kicking fit with that leg every time she applied pressure to his trouble spot. He had the same reaction on the other side. The trouble wasn't in his spine, hip, or hoof. It really was in the hocks. Yes; hocks. An old injury that never fully went away. How did this injury occur? Piaffe. Lots and lots of it at such a young age, for such a long time and with hyperflexion. It eventually took its toll on his hocks. The good news? Five to ten sessions and it can be cured!! In just our one hour session last night, already there was a huge improvement with his behavior, stride, and legs. Like I said; magic.
  This wasn't the only thing she found however. His jugular veins were clogged. As you know, with rollkur the horse has over 100 kilos of pressure on their over flexed neck. That causes poor circulation and clogged arteries. Udexs' jugular veins never moved when he chewed, and were constantly in an enlarged state. Utta put her finger in his mouth, had him chew, and couldn't feel the veins move; only clumped, hard, and enlarged. She then put her hands a certain way on his head, used her energy to him, and viola; the two veins unclogged. Just like that the problem was solved. It was magic to see them soften, flow, and shrink. The moment she did that Udex became a total different horse! It was amazing! He totally relaxed and was cuddly, kind, and sweet; a new horse.
  He needs more muscle. The solution to that isn't complex. A new custom fit saddle and a special type of saddle pad will do the trick. The saddle pad has padding you can remove and put back in, almost like substitute muscle. When he gains muscle, I can remove one of the inserts, and vice versa, although I hope we will only be gaining, not loosing. Utta said that riding him before caused pain to every part of him. His back, his neck, his face, his hocks, his knees, his hooves; everything and everywhere. She said how lovely he is for being so kind and always giving his best, even though the amount of pain he was in was crazy. As soon as I get the new well-fitting saddle, I can start riding! Thats the best thing I can do for him now; ride.
  I have an entire new respect for homeopathy and transferring and use of energy like Utta did. I don't think just anyone could do it; you really need to have the natural god given talent Utta has. She is a horsewoman, and really respects the horse. She is truly the best. If you have a major problem with you or your horse, then I recommend her in a heart beat. If you can't have her, then have another homeopathic healer heal you or your equine. If anyone asks me if magic is real, now I can reply "yes. I have seen it with my own two eyes."
  Some more good news! Jacq (my trainer) brought a few of her many bits to try out for Udex! We tried them until we found the perfect bit that he enjoyed!!! We also removed the nose band to his bridle! Turns out you don't really have to ride in it! How cool is that!? It makes it easier for me to put the bridle on him, and it fits him better! Eventually I will put a noseband back on, but for now what's the rush?
  Udex should be sore for the next few days. Thats a normal reaction from a homeopathy healing session. I have arnica beads that he will be taking for the next few days. He gets five a day, put right on his gums. They are so little, yet so affective! You would think five little beads as small as a grain of salt couldn't really work, but it does!! Once again, amazing. Today I spent time with him. I gave him the arnica and then walked him for about thirty minutes. The entire time I walked him I just talked to him. I could really feel that he was listening. It was so nice to feel the strong connection right then and there. After walking him I worked with bridling. (you can read how Udex was with the bridle before by clicking here.) Today I put the bridle on successfully without any fighting or problems five times! FIVE! Can you believe it!? Then I spent an hour with him in the paddock, just kissing and hugging him. He left the herd and came over to me. He rested his head on my shoulder and let me kiss and hug him! He is feeling a lot better with his new bit and some of his pain gone. Utta said that the only reason he is like he was before is from the pain. She said as soon as the pain is gone, Udex will be kind and loving. She said he has a heart of gold, and will be an amazing teacher to me. I already agree with her, he has taught me so much already, and even more to come. He's amazing. I love him so much, and I can't wait for the Udex I spent time with today to become permanent him. He means so much to me. His personality is so special. Udex is the best horse in my books. Not for his movement, not for his training, and not for his looks.. But for his personality. That's the part that of him that I'm in love with.


  Next Wednesday at 9:00 am we have our next homeopathic healing session!


"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."

Montag, 7. November 2011

Homeopathy session tomorrow!

  Aaaaaah! I'm so nervous!!!! Tomorrow Udex gets his first homeopathy session done!!! I know I shouldn't be nervous.. but at the same time I am!! There are so many things to think about!! What if the woman finds something really wrong? What if Udex goes crazy and he or someone else gets hurt? What if there isn't a problem? What if, what if, what if!? So many "what ifs..." too many. In his past he has already had shiatsu and osteopath sessions... so this may possibly be his first of this kind! Knowing his pampered past though, it isn't. I'm hoping he will have one of those days where he totally surprises me and behaves like a little prince!!! I may have just jinxed myself though.!
  So now for some other news! We are trying different bits tomorrow! My lovely trainer was so kind and offered to bring out bits after bits until we find the one that really fits him. I'm so lucky to have such kind people in my life! Heaven knows bits are costly! So hopefully tomorrow we find the right bit-fit for both of our sake!
  Udex has been happy at home. Acts like he never even left the place! It's awesome!!! Something else that is awesome is the fact Johann takes the horses in at night, so I don't have to take Udes in at night and turn him out in the mornings! Yay!
Enjoying his rutabaga.
  Today Udex was nice. I picked his hooves (which have chunks missing, but normal for this season, eh?) and gave him his rutabaga and rugged him! It's gotten so chilly!! He was running around today just trying to stay warm! Bless him! Also something really funny happened! Whenever I turn Udex out after I'm done with him I usually run beside him. Well today we realllly raced. He pinned his ears back and then gave me the evil look! It was the funniest thing that ever happened!!! Actually turned his head towards me, pinned his ears back, and well; just looked evil!!


"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."

Freitag, 4. November 2011

Bridle Sour.

  Have you ever heard of a bridle sour horse? Have you ever seen one? Well I sure have.. and let me tell ya, it isn't fun!!! I admit, a lot of Udex being bridle sour is my fault. When I first got him he wasn't as reluctant to put it on as he is now. Let me describe a typical tacking up session with Udex.
  I always have him tied up. For grooming, he is usually quiet and calm. He does get a little fresh occasionally and will pace around a bit. When he sees the saddle he remains quiet and lets me put it on him without any issues, maybe a few side steps sometimes, but most times as I said before, he's quiet. I unclip his lead rope from his halter and put the reins over his neck, then re-clip the lead rope to his halter. At this point he starts to try to dart to the left or right to avoid this. Then I take the halter and slide it onto his neck. Sometimes he runs away and either A) pulls hard at his neck and halter, B) breaks a lead rope, C) ducks his head at an angle the halter slips off his neck and he runs away, or D) paces side to side and begins to start a struggle. When it comes time to put the bit in his mouth, he gets awfully clever. He raises his head so he becomes a giraffe, making my hand slip off of his face with the bridle. He keeps his head raised until I manage to grab him at the right angle and try it again. I repeat the process and try to open his mouth up (he clamps it shut) and he goes up as a giraffe again and pulls back and runs side to side. Usually at this point he has either accomplished option A, B, or C, and is flinging me around, causing a lot of stress on both of us. There is no other way to put the bridle on him but to take him to the arena and let him run, and try it again. Fifty percent of the time I have luck after he is done running, and the other fifty I don't, causing me to run him more and test my luck again. I know letting him run doesn't help this matter in any way, but some days it is my only hope.
 While riding he is fine with the bit/bridle and doesn't seem to be in any apparent pain from it. My trainer has said he is afraid of my hands and needs a duller bit though. The one I'm using now may be a bit (no pun intended) too sharp for him. Of course his rollkur past doesn't help this any matter.
  Taking the bridle off isn't any better. I think this plays a big deal as to why he is so bridle sour. When I have to take it off he gets extremely nervous and goes up, up, up with his head the exact moment I'm sliding the bit out of his mouth. That causes me to yank hard on the bit while pulling it out, creating a terrible situation for poor Udex. Udexs' head is seven feet in the air, I'm on the grounding pulling at the bit while he is way up high, creating a lot of pressure from the bit on his gums. Maybe you can picture what I mean. Not. Pretty. I have tried getting him to drop the poll, but even when he does that he still yanks his head (and the bridle!) up at that exact moment!!!
  I know that what I'm doing doesn't make my situation any better. The bit may be too sharp, I'm not the most steady handed rider, and I totally fail at putting the bridle on and off. What other options do I have though? I'm not about to hire someone to tack Udex up because of this!! The problem is he only trusts me to handle him, with anyone else he inverts and totally looses it even more due to his trust issues. I'm really giving him my best and all. It's so hard to not become stressed with him when he acts like this though. I know it's not his fault, if anyones to blame it's his rollkur trainers and me!!
 As for a solution? I am not sure. I think I may try several things. First I think I will remove my bit from my bridle and just work on putting the bridle on without the bit. Hopefully he will start to realize the bridle isn't a bad thing, and even if he does pull up when I take it off, he won't pull on his mouth and get bit sores. The problem with this solution is I don't think it's the bridle he fears, more so just the bit and the damage the bit has on him. Once he is all right with the bridle without bit, (maybe this takes a long time, maybe just a few sessions) then I will work on putting the bridle on for a very short time, then taking it off while he is eating grain or something so he keeps his head down. After we get to the point he takes the bit like that, I will think of what to do next.
  Sunday the osteopathic comes and will hopefully fix some of the damage. His problem could also be pain in his poll from so many rollkur years. It's extremely likely that his vertebras are fused together in some places; the pole being one of them. If we can find a way to unfuse that, or lessen the pain perhaps that could remove some damage.
   GUESS WHAT!?! Udex behaves like a normal horse alone now!!!! Crazy right!? He used to freak out when he was alone, and now??? What happened to him!? He's a totally new horse! It's crazy!!! I brought him into his stall the other day and he calmly ate his rutabaga, grain, and hay. Didn't winny a once. The old Udex would run, pace, ignore his grain and hay, and keep on winnying until he went back out or one of his specific friends came in. Today I had him tied up alone and he was very calm and relaxed as well!! While in the arena with no other horses in the barn, he didn't winny!! I love it, and hope he decides to make this little change permanent!!! I remember I thought he would never get out of his crazy alone behavior, but today I stand corrected. He has once again proved me and many others wrong!!! I know he will overcome this hard time with the bridle too, and that in good time I will be looking back on this bridle adventure as something silly.  As for now, I have just got to keep trying and lots of positive reinforcement and look on the bright side! As they do say, after the storm comes sunshine!!!!
"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."

Dienstag, 1. November 2011

We're home

                               

"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."


Home.

   Udex and I are back home, at The Klippenstein. I couldn't be more proud to say so. I shall save the last barn the humiliation, so I will just be leaving it at this, and making a long story short: If you feel safe leaving your horse in an environment with mould everywhere, even in the hay, undersized paddocks over crowded with horses, attacking each other for water and food, jealous girls, a so called "farmer" who can't tell the difference between a rutabaga and kohlrabi and forgets he is handling horses NOT cows.. Then sure, that stable is okay. Let me shorten the story...
 Because I wrote about saving a horses life, two of the barn witches decided to dramatize my story and go tattle tell to the barn owner. Of course everything they said was a lie and when the owner of the horse I saved read through it she could find nothing but the truth. That was the start of my trouble. A few days later I was physically and verbally assaulted and attacked by the grumpy old grandpa-of-a-barn owner. Unfortunately for him his farmer skills get a F-. He couldn't tell the difference between a rutabaga (which is completely healthy for horses to eat!!) and a kohlrabi (which aren't healthy for them.!) He stole my rutabaga from Udexs' food tray, and then had the nerve to say something along these lines to me
   "YOU! (while physically attacking me.) YOU!!!! YOU!!!! You give your horse this kohlrabi!! You want to kill him so you can say that this stable killed your horse!! I called the vet and he said kohlrabis are bad for horses! YOU!!!"
  Whoa now, chill out grandpa! I could have told you kohlrabis are bad for horses. I also found it funny that while a horse was choking to death at their stable, they couldn't call the vet, but he can find time to call the vet about a so called "kohlrabi" I'm giving my horse? Hmmm.. Speaking of calling the vet, maybe he should ring him up and ask about the effects of mouldy hay for horses? I love the entire idea of this "you murder your horse so we can take the credit" thing.... Hahah!! Grandpa made a fool of himself though going around the barn showing over 40 boarders the "kohlrabi" I was giving my horse. I guess he got his karma really fast!!
  I would never give something unsafe to my horse. If I was and someone told me it could kill my horse, I would listen to them until I had proof it was safe for them. When I'm 100 percent sure something is healthy for my horse, and I've already asked a vet about it, and someone comes and physically attacks me and yells at me for it, that's a different story. It's my horse, I'm allowed to feed him whatever I please. Also, Udex is Mr. I-eat-nothing, so the fact he goes nuts over rutabagas should be enough proof he won't kick the bucket from them.
  We left the barn that day.
  Oh how it feels nice to be back home. Friendly faces, lovely people, sweet horses.. Udex acted as if he was never gone. The best part was when Johann, the owner of the barn looked at us with a smile and said "I saved your stall! I knew you'd be back!! It was only a matter of time!!" There are a lot of bad people out there, but good people like Johann and the others at my barn really make up for that.


NOTE: I have pictures of Udex back at home that I've uploaded here!
"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."

 

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