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…
Read More

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…
Read More

Happy one year anniversary

Life with Circe, OTTB
It was kinda on a whim. I wasn't out shopping for another horse when Bonnie at After The Races (where i got Jezebel) posted that she had a couple horses coming back to her, no room for them and needed them placed/housed/fostered. For some reason I picked up the phone and made the call. Bonnie told me about the two horses and when i heard one was Syllogism, a horse that I not so secretly coveted all over the Facebook i couldn't help myself, i said "I'll take her" I then called my better half at work to try to explain to him what I had done. A few sort days later a shinny, sweet, chestnut mare came off the trailer and was in my barn. Over the past year…
Read More

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.…
Read More

The Circe saga continues

Life with Circe, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1553" align="alignleft" width="225"] The two fancy sport models[/caption] The last month or so has been hard. Harder on The Circe Effect than me but hard none the less. Her lameness issues were not progressing how anyone hoped they would. To add insult to injury she came up lame on the right hind a week ago with stocking up in both hinds. The farrier, then the vet came back out (because I'm made of money) and bruising was again the diagnosis. Again there was little improvement so i asked for a Lyme test. Why not start ruling stuff out. Sammy and i pulled the blood and i drove the tubes to the vets that evening i got the email. She didn't test negative on the snap. What that means is…
Read More

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!
Read More

The week in review

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1540" align="alignleft" width="200"] Heath Ryan, Moe and his rider[/caption] The week has been long and hot and not a ton is going on.  Both ponies are still out of work. Jezebel is still being treated for ulcers, shes not as reactive when palpated and is much less cranky in general. Sammy did take her on a 20 min how is she feeling ride and she was mostly okay. A little bit of pain anticipation was evident but that should fade with successful rides. A few more days for her and she should be able to get back into work. Circe is a lot less lame. I sent video of her trotting right, left and straight lines to my farrier who assured me she was better then i thought she…
Read More

Peas in a pod

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1533" align="alignleft" width="300"] Bad Belly[/caption] Were are a lot alike. We both over think stuff, we both have beautiful show pony hair and we both have to deal with ulcers. I know how it feels so when Jez came up ouchy (not to mention the behavioral issues) for ulcers again, my heart sank. I didn't have enough omeprazole for treatment and would have to get more. Only it takes many weeks when you order it from overseas. I ordered it anyways and counted out how many days i had on hand. Not enough, so i started looking for a way to get my hands on some that A. wouldn't require an RX (another vet bill in my life was not needed) B. wouldn't break the bank. I found some UlcerGard…
Read More

The saga of Circe

Life with Circe, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1527" align="alignleft" width="225"] The red-head[/caption] Circe's been lame for about 3 weeks now. It started with right front lameness and a suspected bruise. She was taken out of work while i waited for it to heal or abscess. It did neither. My farrier came out and Circe came off the hoof testers pretty hard but it was all over sore. It was time for the redhead to get shoes (clips, pads, magic cushion). We did that and hoped with a day or two she would be better. She wasn't. The day after the shoes went on a lump appeared on the inside of her right leg, below the knee. There was heat along with swelling. Ice, poultice, wrap for a couple days. No change in her lameness. I was…
Read More