I have good news! I dont have to sell Addie after all! Downside is that she has tested with a weak positive for EPM, a neurological disease caused by a protozoa that attacks the central nervous system (you can learn more here). This causes asymmetrical muscle atrophy, neurotic behaviors, muscle soreness, poor coordination (more specifically of the hind end/legs), dragging of both or one of the hind toes, inability to stay balanced, and more. Fortunatly it can be treated. The most widely used anti-protazoal drug for horses with EPM is Marquis, but is also very expensive (usually around $750). This is what I am treating Addie with, and got an amazing deal from a friend that had left over from a horse that had treated a few years ago (who has made a full recovery after a very acute case the disease). We are going to treat her with the Marquis for two months along with 5,000IU of Vitamin E every day. Vitamin E has been proved to help with inflammation and support the immune system, which are very important to help make a full recovery.
Yesterday was the end of the first week of treatment, and she is acting much calmer (like her old self), hopefully it just wasn't a coincidence. I also started having one flake of hay put in Addie's stall in the am/pm so she has something else to focus on instead of being anxious during grain time (plus it will help prevent any side affects of the meds). So far, so good!
Right now I am hoping that we will be able to do the things I have been wanting to do with her (before all the health and behavioral problems), if she makes a good recovery. So I will be posting a calendar of the things I am hoping to do with her here soon, along with updates on how she is doing.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
First Post of 2011!
I have... well had a feeling that 2011 was going to be my year, but at this rate it is completely and utterly horrible *sigh*. Please bear with me as I vent a little.
1. My great- grandma died the first week of the new year, which was really awful :(. It was even more so because we share a birthday, and were pretty close because of that. This year was going to be big for both of us, my 18th and her 80th. She was really sick, and there wasnt anything we could do for her, at least she isn't suffering anymore. Rest In Peace Grandma Pat.
2. Addie's soundness issue(s) have never gotten any better, only worse. We don't think that she will hold up as even a dressage horse, so we are going to do some diagnostic stuff on her hocks to see how bad it has gotten, and find her a nice home as a please/trail horse/broodmare. Damn horses that are supposed to work out and never do, it doesn't help that I love the The Red Mare so much either. If you know of anyone who may be interested please let me know.
3. Last week my hamster died, yeah I know its not THAT big a deal, but it was for me. I had the "little" guy for a few years, and it was kind of a breaking point when he died after everything else that has happened. My life has a major suck factor right now.
4. Being that we probably wont get much for Addie because of her soundness and we are much more interested in finding her a wonderful home, we wont have much to buy me another. So I will probably be horseless for a while :'( If anyone knows of a horse for a lease to own, or cheap horse please let me know.
On the bright side I am working on college applications, which are both a bit exciting and scary at the same time. I have also learned about a grooming position that would be awesome!
My friend that recently lost her eventing partner to a neurological disorder. The horse community has really stepped up to help her find a new equine, and with their help she may have found a horse today. I am praying that she did. She really deserves it.
On my own hunt I have spotted some pretty cool horses on dreamhorse.com that may be in my price range because they're neg. to good homes. I also have my eye on one down in Kalispell, so we shall see.
Wishing everyone a better, happier,and successful 2011! If you are already having a year like mine, I have a feeling it is going to turn around for the better!
1. My great- grandma died the first week of the new year, which was really awful :(. It was even more so because we share a birthday, and were pretty close because of that. This year was going to be big for both of us, my 18th and her 80th. She was really sick, and there wasnt anything we could do for her, at least she isn't suffering anymore. Rest In Peace Grandma Pat.
2. Addie's soundness issue(s) have never gotten any better, only worse. We don't think that she will hold up as even a dressage horse, so we are going to do some diagnostic stuff on her hocks to see how bad it has gotten, and find her a nice home as a please/trail horse/broodmare. Damn horses that are supposed to work out and never do, it doesn't help that I love the The Red Mare so much either. If you know of anyone who may be interested please let me know.
3. Last week my hamster died, yeah I know its not THAT big a deal, but it was for me. I had the "little" guy for a few years, and it was kind of a breaking point when he died after everything else that has happened. My life has a major suck factor right now.
4. Being that we probably wont get much for Addie because of her soundness and we are much more interested in finding her a wonderful home, we wont have much to buy me another. So I will probably be horseless for a while :'( If anyone knows of a horse for a lease to own, or cheap horse please let me know.
On the bright side I am working on college applications, which are both a bit exciting and scary at the same time. I have also learned about a grooming position that would be awesome!
My friend that recently lost her eventing partner to a neurological disorder. The horse community has really stepped up to help her find a new equine, and with their help she may have found a horse today. I am praying that she did. She really deserves it.
On my own hunt I have spotted some pretty cool horses on dreamhorse.com that may be in my price range because they're neg. to good homes. I also have my eye on one down in Kalispell, so we shall see.
Wishing everyone a better, happier,and successful 2011! If you are already having a year like mine, I have a feeling it is going to turn around for the better!
Friday, December 24, 2010
2010 Is Almost Over- Its Goal Time
In the last few weeks I have been thinking a lot about the future and the possibilities, both horsie and non.
One of the current issues I have had to deal with has been "solved" and a plan of action has been "developed". Right now I am supposed to be a senior in high school, but because of health problems I am technically a sophomore credit wise. I was hoping to graduate the spring of 2012, but in reality there is a chance I get sick again and that would probably result in delayed graduation...again. So I have made the big decision to get my GED, which has been debated off and on for a few years.
My plan of action is as follows:
1. take the TABY test to see what I need to work on before I take the GED
2. take my GED and pass with flying colors
3.apply and get accepted into college, namely Montana State (I love their equine science/pre vet programs) and that way I can afford to keep my horse and compete
4.take the SAT/ACT
5. and then attend MSU in the fall :)
and above all - pray to God I stay relatively healthy
Horse wise I haven't been able to ride much because of various reasons, but heck thats winter in Montana if you have an indoor or not.
Goals for 2011:
- Get Addie's awesome jumping back and keep it
- work on my release
- get nice, consistent dressage work (mid 30's at least)
- get my C1 in the spring and my C2 later in the summer
- take Addie to our first reg. event and manage to do as well as we do at home
- conquer my fear of Addie bolting by doing LOTS of xc work
- be competing at BN, which means I will be schooling novice
- IF she is doing well go to an easy move up novice level event
- above else staying sound (for both of us, haha) and having fun!
Here's to 2010
One of the current issues I have had to deal with has been "solved" and a plan of action has been "developed". Right now I am supposed to be a senior in high school, but because of health problems I am technically a sophomore credit wise. I was hoping to graduate the spring of 2012, but in reality there is a chance I get sick again and that would probably result in delayed graduation...again. So I have made the big decision to get my GED, which has been debated off and on for a few years.
My plan of action is as follows:
1. take the TABY test to see what I need to work on before I take the GED
2. take my GED and pass with flying colors
3.apply and get accepted into college, namely Montana State (I love their equine science/pre vet programs) and that way I can afford to keep my horse and compete
4.take the SAT/ACT
5. and then attend MSU in the fall :)
and above all - pray to God I stay relatively healthy
Horse wise I haven't been able to ride much because of various reasons, but heck thats winter in Montana if you have an indoor or not.
Goals for 2011:
- Get Addie's awesome jumping back and keep it
- work on my release
- get nice, consistent dressage work (mid 30's at least)
- get my C1 in the spring and my C2 later in the summer
- take Addie to our first reg. event and manage to do as well as we do at home
- conquer my fear of Addie bolting by doing LOTS of xc work
- be competing at BN, which means I will be schooling novice
- IF she is doing well go to an easy move up novice level event
- above else staying sound (for both of us, haha) and having fun!
Here's to 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Long Time, No Post
Since my last post Addie and I have had a few set backs. I have been dealing with health problems, and Addie was having some behavioral issues (which kinda chipped away at the confidence I had gotten back after the accident).
Addie's problems have been pretty much been fixed by moving her to a new barn where she gets almost 24/7 turnout with four other mares, and finally getting to see the pony chiropractor! Both of these things have really helped her tons.
She was so excited the first day she was let out in the pasture by herself (before the she was introduced to the other four mares) that she galloped around it so hard and much that she managed to cut up the insides of both rear cannons. Fortunately they look a lot worse then they really are.
At our new barn we will also be getting 3 lessons a month with our board. I am VERY excited for this, because I have never had lessons on a regular basis except for the short time I was a working student last fall. This will definitely help with us get to the next level!
Addie's problems have been pretty much been fixed by moving her to a new barn where she gets almost 24/7 turnout with four other mares, and finally getting to see the pony chiropractor! Both of these things have really helped her tons.
She was so excited the first day she was let out in the pasture by herself (before the she was introduced to the other four mares) that she galloped around it so hard and much that she managed to cut up the insides of both rear cannons. Fortunately they look a lot worse then they really are.
At our new barn we will also be getting 3 lessons a month with our board. I am VERY excited for this, because I have never had lessons on a regular basis except for the short time I was a working student last fall. This will definitely help with us get to the next level!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Meggan Holloway Clinic
This last weekend I took Addie to the FVPC sponsored Meggan Holloway Clinic. It was both Saturday and Sunday, but I only rode on Saturday. First I had a semi private dressage lesson, and about an hour or so later I had a semi private jumping lesson. Addie was very good for the dressage, but pretty lazy, from now on I will always wear my spurs for dressage. For awhile I had quit wearing them because she was being very responsive, but it didn't last long. Haha.We worked on using her hind end and transitions, she was pretty good.
For my jump lesson we did grids and little courses, the highest jumps being 2'6"- 2'9". She had no problem clearing them, she just was being a compete dork. So I will also start wearing my spurs for jumping again too, because they would definitely help re-enforce my leg aids when she is acting up.This is what she has been doing lately:
This is the after math of a helicopter/deer jump, the nose dive. Because of her current jumping style, Meggan has offered for us to come down and have a mini jumping boot camp. Apparently Meggan's competition horse, Cutter (Addie's half brother), went through this "phase" as well. He is now being campaigned at Training level, trying to qualify for Prelim.
All in all it was very productive, helpful, and fun. I cant wait for next month!
For my jump lesson we did grids and little courses, the highest jumps being 2'6"- 2'9". She had no problem clearing them, she just was being a compete dork. So I will also start wearing my spurs for jumping again too, because they would definitely help re-enforce my leg aids when she is acting up.This is what she has been doing lately:
This is the after math of a helicopter/deer jump, the nose dive. Because of her current jumping style, Meggan has offered for us to come down and have a mini jumping boot camp. Apparently Meggan's competition horse, Cutter (Addie's half brother), went through this "phase" as well. He is now being campaigned at Training level, trying to qualify for Prelim.
All in all it was very productive, helpful, and fun. I cant wait for next month!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Recap
In the last month Addie and I haven't really been able to do much anything because I have been sick off and on, so right now she is fat and happy. I have been lunging her at least twice a week to keep her moving, but it still doesn't cut it, especially with the last mini event of the season at the end of the month. I am pretty disappointed with my self being that I haven't gotten us where we ideally "needed" to be. If I hadn't been sick and had continued our training schedule that we had started at Meggan's back in July we would at least be rocking bn . Right now we only have one smurf (18") under our belt.
Sorry guys, just needed to vent, now on to the good news.
This weekend I am taking Addie to a clinic that Meggan is coming down and teaching. I am going to see where she thinks we are level wise for the up coming mini event. Right now I am guessing that we will probably go smurf again, but that may change.
I am also going to talk to my Pony Club's DC about doing my C1 HM and Flat ratings (PC has a new rating system for those that may not have an appropriate mount for any of the 3 areas that one is rated on) sometime soon, because we are both more than ready for them.
So here are my goals leading up to next spring:
Sorry guys, just needed to vent, now on to the good news.
This weekend I am taking Addie to a clinic that Meggan is coming down and teaching. I am going to see where she thinks we are level wise for the up coming mini event. Right now I am guessing that we will probably go smurf again, but that may change.
I am also going to talk to my Pony Club's DC about doing my C1 HM and Flat ratings (PC has a new rating system for those that may not have an appropriate mount for any of the 3 areas that one is rated on) sometime soon, because we are both more than ready for them.
So here are my goals leading up to next spring:
- Take Addie to the Mini Event at either smurf or bn and end on our dressage score
- Have a dressage score better than 36
- Get my C1 HM and Flat ratings this fall
- Over the winter get both my C2 HM and Flat ratings
- In the spring get both of my C1 and C2 Jumping ratings, so I will have both of the original "eventing" ratings for both Thats all for right now, I will post more soon ;)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Just Another Day
Didnt get to go ride today....Just had too much going on. Dang it. Oh well, so let me get you all up to date.
This weekend is the mini event which I am completely psyched for, but also kinda bummed about. The reason I am bummed is because my goal for the summer was to take her BN on Saturday, and guess what? The mare and I are going smurf. Barf.
I took her out to school last Sunday at the park and had a lesson with John. I had never had one from him before, but it was pretty awesome. I got over the fear of her bolting with me again, she was a xc machine, even though you really cant be at Smurf and BN.... Anyway I used the gag that Meggan let me borrow ( the golden wings gag we tried when we over to her place) and it worked very well. Half halt here and half halt there, no more having to haul on her to get some kind of positive reaction. Yay!
Addie was still jumping the BN and Smurf stuff like it was prelim height, and acting like she could jump 8 feet, so she needs to learn to sloooow down and be patient. Thus the reason for Smurfing this weekend. Plus since we can both do it all with our eyes closed we have a very big possibility of kicking some major a** .;)
I figured out what I am going to both register Addie under with the USEA and IDHSNA. Since her sire is Dry Creek Macha, the first Registered Irish Sport Horse born in North America, I wanted to carry on the Macha name. It is also customary to do so in so. Read here what Macha means. Its very cool because I was wanting something that went along the lines of Celtic/Irish female warrior/goddess names, so I came across Aife. Aife (also known as Aoife) was famous female warrior from long long ago. So Machas Aife she shall be.
Another reason behind Addie's "new name" is because there are not very many mares in eventing, and even fewer as you go higher up the levels. For those that do make it they are very strong and hold their own against the big boys. I have always thought that Addie would max out at Training probably to some T3D's. But because of her current behavior and love for jumping I have been lead to believe otherwise. John also mentioned after my lesson that Addie and I are going to go far together, which also gave me some more new found hope that we may get to prelim and possibly higher together. :)
This weekend is the mini event which I am completely psyched for, but also kinda bummed about. The reason I am bummed is because my goal for the summer was to take her BN on Saturday, and guess what? The mare and I are going smurf. Barf.
I took her out to school last Sunday at the park and had a lesson with John. I had never had one from him before, but it was pretty awesome. I got over the fear of her bolting with me again, she was a xc machine, even though you really cant be at Smurf and BN.... Anyway I used the gag that Meggan let me borrow ( the golden wings gag we tried when we over to her place) and it worked very well. Half halt here and half halt there, no more having to haul on her to get some kind of positive reaction. Yay!
Addie was still jumping the BN and Smurf stuff like it was prelim height, and acting like she could jump 8 feet, so she needs to learn to sloooow down and be patient. Thus the reason for Smurfing this weekend. Plus since we can both do it all with our eyes closed we have a very big possibility of kicking some major a** .;)
I figured out what I am going to both register Addie under with the USEA and IDHSNA. Since her sire is Dry Creek Macha, the first Registered Irish Sport Horse born in North America, I wanted to carry on the Macha name. It is also customary to do so in so. Read here what Macha means. Its very cool because I was wanting something that went along the lines of Celtic/Irish female warrior/goddess names, so I came across Aife. Aife (also known as Aoife) was famous female warrior from long long ago. So Machas Aife she shall be.
Another reason behind Addie's "new name" is because there are not very many mares in eventing, and even fewer as you go higher up the levels. For those that do make it they are very strong and hold their own against the big boys. I have always thought that Addie would max out at Training probably to some T3D's. But because of her current behavior and love for jumping I have been lead to believe otherwise. John also mentioned after my lesson that Addie and I are going to go far together, which also gave me some more new found hope that we may get to prelim and possibly higher together. :)
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