Special Snowflake

Barn tales, Injury, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1724" align="alignleft" width="300"] My Special Snowflake[/caption] Right Hind Lateral Digital Extensor Tendonitis approximately 5% lesions - Starts 2cm distal to tendon sheath extends to 4cm proximal to union with common digital extensor. Fuck... My... Life...
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The blahs

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
Circe got kicked and has a sore muscle and is off. Jez is still off from the mystery leg scrapes and her possible extensor tendon strain. She just finished her course of SMZs. Reps is getting his around the clock meds at home (every four hours, yo!) The only horse without issues in the barn right now is Luna, the pony. Its been cold as hell and I cant find my base layers that I packed away over the summer and I need more smart wool socks. I've been looking for excuses not to go to the barn cuz well winter... I hate it. The good news is we have an official working student and shes great and I love her already.
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Colder weather

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1659" align="alignleft" width="226"] Let me in or I will shoot laser beams out my eyes.... oops too late![/caption] Its getting colder so the ponies are coming inside some nights, though theres not a strict schedule were trying to give them as much turn out as possible. Weather permitting the are outside night time. The weather decides the turn out, not some arbitrary schedule. (which is awesome!) Soon it will be too cold for overnight turnout for but for now they are outside at night while we can. On cold nights though they know they come in and wait by the gate.    
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Fall horse maintenance

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1652" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jez loves jumping the coop[/caption] It  was that time of year again, fall shots. I also had my vet float the girls teeth. My vet does a hand float and though i was thinking id use a dentist this time around seems "horse dentist" in this area is synonymous with "never return voice mails" Since my vet does a bang up job and she was out for shots anyways i decided to go with her. Jez did almost all of her float with no sedation, we only had to use a little bit to get the way far back. Seems my girl has a narrow but highly arched palette. Which might facilitate a bit change for her in the future, well see how she goes over…
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Eric Smiley Clinic

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1634" align="alignleft" width="300"] Eric Smiley, Jezebel & Sammy[/caption] Eric Smiley was coming to town. He's a very sought after clinician and also an Olympian. I just missed him last  spring when he was teaching in this area  and really none of my horses would have been prepared for a clinic at that level last spring anyways. I personally think its important to be prepared. To make sure your not wasting anyones time (your instructor) or your hard earned money as these clinics are not exactly cheap. Sammy decided to ride Jezebel both days in two jump lessons. One was private the other was a semi private. Being as the clinics were being held at my farm i had the opportunity to audit sans big piles of cash both flat…
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Fall with Jez

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1624" align="alignleft" width="200"] Its fall the leaves are turning[/caption] Jez is doing great, she loves her new job... Jumping bean. Shes had some really great rides with both Michelle and Sammy. I get great feedback on her progress all the time. Shes one pretty amazing horse. On this day the video was shot we were sharing the ring with another rider who was jumping 3.3+ so we had to splint up jump runs as Jez was jumping 2.6 (ish) There were 3 of us n the ground acting as ring crew. It was good for Jezebel to have to stand quietly and wait for the other horse to do its run. She did really well, was very patient and was an all around happy pony. She has a lot…
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Training day: Grids

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1598" align="alignright" width="300"] Major grid![/caption] Grid work its now on the agenda for Miss Jeza-bobo. She did great on her first day. She figures out whats being asked of her after just one or sometimes two shots at it. The grid was a tough one, very challenging. Sammy started with with trotting though, poles down. Once she understood the layout of the grid  we added jumps one at a time. She jumped the grid like a champ! http://youtu.be/9nCH20hm0Oo [caption id="attachment_1599" align="alignleft" width="300"] Skinny[/caption] She wasn't so sure of the skinny though. That makes sense as with a skinny you have to remain straight and Jez is still wiggly sometimes as evidenced by her second run at the grid (on the video above) Jez was asked to acknowledge the skinny…
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Learning by listening

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignleft" width="300"] Weee![/caption] Jezebel is back in full work, shes finished her round of ulcer medication and shes on a maintenance program. Theres going to be a little trial and error for that but a plan is in the works to control her ulcers. Seems Jez is just a thinker or rather an over thinker she must get that from me. She's been doing well both on the flat and over jumps at home so it was time to school off property. Step one, ride over to a local barn and school in their jump ring. Which is exactly what happened. Sammy rode Jez to Covered bridge (I drove over) it's on the far side of our farm and its where Circe did her first schooling Jumper show…
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Get out ya seat and jump around!

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_1562" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jump Jez Jump![/caption] Jezebel is back into work. Shes still being treated for ulcers and I'm still in the process of devising an ulcer maintenance plan for her but she's feeling much better and is ridable. Both Michelle and Sammy have taken her on successful rides on the flat. I even popped on her after Michelle one day because she was  being a super clam and listening pony. I felt awkward and dorkish. That's what not being able to ride does to ya. I'll get better the more i get on her. She was doing so well with her rides on the flat that Sammy decided Jez could have a jump day. [caption id="attachment_1563" align="aligncenter" width="864"] Small cross rail[/caption] She was super happy to be jumping.…
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Fly mask is no bueno!

Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1544" align="alignleft" width="225"] Hi Mom...wha?[/caption] Most mornings she gets it all the way off.... she really has a knack for making me hike out into the field and look for it. I got to the barn early enough the other day to see her fly mask removal task in process. Clever pony!
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