16 March
As soon as I arrived I checked Eric's temperature and the digital pulse in his right fore leg. Temperature 37.7 celsius (normal) and pulse 36 bpm (normal). Breathing normal. Box state normal. So far so good.I groomed him and massaged him but he didn't want me to touch in between hos front legs or behind his right shoulder. Most unlike Eric turning round and flashing his teeth at me. I know. I know.
Yves, the vet, arrived later in the morning. First of all he vaccinated Tamtam as he was due the week after. Then he took a look at Eric. He was much less lame today I noted. We walked and trotted him on the road and Yves confirmed (as we thought) that it is the right fore leg. He then did a full osteopathic check (Yves is also an osteopath) and tested his hoof. Yves confirmed that the problem is not skeletal or in the foot. It is in the shoulder and it is a muscle strain. I asked if it could be related to the diagonal left hind and the tight muscle in the loin area of his back. Yves said that could well be the case and that he has been carrying some small strain there for some time.
I asked him what I should do and he said in the first place box rest for a few days. After that? He asked me the age of the horse = 18 years old. He said if he was younger he would be recommending Willy's muscle treatment. At Eric's age it is up to me. I can just be very careful about what I do with him.....or I can have him treated. Yves said that Eric looks so good that it would be a shame not to have him put back on top form. I was considering having the hind muscle treated so maybe this is the sign that I need to get Eric properly sorted. I need to think......
Yves confirmed that Tamtam is now clinically correct....all the internal signs are ok. There are 3 stages to the rehabilitation-
(1) Clinical (now done);
(2) Psychological - dealing with the mental and behavioural problems the horse will have acquired as a result of working in pain (TT has the habit of trying to break free when he sees a saddle....and bucking his riders off); and
(3) Physical - Treatment of the musculoskeletal structure.
We are now into stages (2) and (3).
Such a relief. I had barely slept the night before...worried sick. Thinking it was going to be Shantie's story all over again. Now I have some hope.
In the afternoon we worked the stallions loose in the manege on the flat and over jumps. We also worked TT in the manege (no jumping!!!!!) He is sound in walk and canter. It is only in the trot that you can see his hind limb lameness. Then we took him to the douche. It is the first time he has been back in there since his fall. A slight hesitation on entering but then no problem. We changed his headcollar to one of Willy's specially made heavy duty none breakable leather ones and I held the rope while Willy gave TT an all over pressure wash with warm water using the karcher. TT was an angel. He didn't move once even when he did his head. After we dried off his head and scraped off the water in his coat and then wrapped him in a all over polar fleece cooler. He seemed to really enjoy his pampering. A good start.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
15 March On the move and bad news
15 March
With the empty box vacated by Beatrice, Willy has decided to move Hermanus and Antonio into the main stallion ecurie. Hermanus will be in the end box so ensuring he has a view outside and also ensuring there are no other horses walking past (he doesn't tolerate this!) So now the two boxes next to Tamtam and Eric are taken by two young mares. One chestnut 2 year old mare and the older bay mare who is ridden. TT seemed a bit sad to have lost his new mate Antonio.
After mucking out the 4 boxes, I tried giving TT a brush in his box but he was having none of it. He kept turning away and putting his nose in the corner at the back of the box so I decided to leave him to it. Maybe he associates brushing with work and saddles? Who knows?
Just before lunch I got Eric out to loose school him but he was hopping lame on his right fore at walk. We called Yves (the vet) and he will be there tomorrow morning to examine Eric at 9.30am. I am feeling very worried. W thinks it is his shoulder but I think it is his tendon....I've seen this before with Shantie. I think he may have done something when we went for the fast hack with the caleche a few days ago...I remember at one point shouting in english (as I was angry and I can't speak french when I am angry) for them to slow down .... I said W has 30 horses but I only have one and he means everything to me! And now look! If that was when it happened it has been exacerbated by the work I have done since then (loose schooling and then the hack in walk yesterday)....and that makes me feel terrible.
Maybe I am wrong and dear God I hope I am. I have had Eric for 12 years and he has only been unlevel once....when the farrier had over-trimmed his hinds. I have always been very careful with him...no trotting on the roads etc etc. I have wrapped him in cotton wool because I wanted him to last....then in the last month already two issues.
In the afternoon we made one of our regular visits to Josephine's. Willy gave her a jumping lesson in the manege. First of all bending the mare in trot and canter using jump supports as bending poles then grid work. A set of 3 jumps with a bounce in between and then one stride to a bigger oxer. Josephine rode very quietly. The mare was very straight. They are creating a strong trusting relationship. It is great to see.
With the empty box vacated by Beatrice, Willy has decided to move Hermanus and Antonio into the main stallion ecurie. Hermanus will be in the end box so ensuring he has a view outside and also ensuring there are no other horses walking past (he doesn't tolerate this!) So now the two boxes next to Tamtam and Eric are taken by two young mares. One chestnut 2 year old mare and the older bay mare who is ridden. TT seemed a bit sad to have lost his new mate Antonio.
After mucking out the 4 boxes, I tried giving TT a brush in his box but he was having none of it. He kept turning away and putting his nose in the corner at the back of the box so I decided to leave him to it. Maybe he associates brushing with work and saddles? Who knows?
Just before lunch I got Eric out to loose school him but he was hopping lame on his right fore at walk. We called Yves (the vet) and he will be there tomorrow morning to examine Eric at 9.30am. I am feeling very worried. W thinks it is his shoulder but I think it is his tendon....I've seen this before with Shantie. I think he may have done something when we went for the fast hack with the caleche a few days ago...I remember at one point shouting in english (as I was angry and I can't speak french when I am angry) for them to slow down .... I said W has 30 horses but I only have one and he means everything to me! And now look! If that was when it happened it has been exacerbated by the work I have done since then (loose schooling and then the hack in walk yesterday)....and that makes me feel terrible.
Maybe I am wrong and dear God I hope I am. I have had Eric for 12 years and he has only been unlevel once....when the farrier had over-trimmed his hinds. I have always been very careful with him...no trotting on the roads etc etc. I have wrapped him in cotton wool because I wanted him to last....then in the last month already two issues.
In the afternoon we made one of our regular visits to Josephine's. Willy gave her a jumping lesson in the manege. First of all bending the mare in trot and canter using jump supports as bending poles then grid work. A set of 3 jumps with a bounce in between and then one stride to a bigger oxer. Josephine rode very quietly. The mare was very straight. They are creating a strong trusting relationship. It is great to see.
14 March Home Alone
14 March
Well F left today to look after his commitments at home.
I had a super day with Willy. In the morning I rode Romano (178cm chestnut 6 yr old stallion) and Bioterma (168cm 5 yr old stallion) again in the manege. Can't believe how lucky I am to have the opportunity to ride such quality horses. Then we loose schooled and jumped Casper (the 4 yr old New Forest pony stallion).
In the afternoon Willy and I went out for a long hack with Eric and Antonio. Before we left I commented that Eric's right fore leg was filled. I mentioned it to Willy but he just shrugged. The weather was super and the views amazing. So many castles. And it was most unlike Willly....very calm. We only walked all the way. In the morning he told me that he felt much calmer working with me.
After that another horse left the yard...Beatrice, the mare of Elouise. That's 11 horses which have departed since our arrival. Feeling a little sad.
Well F left today to look after his commitments at home.
I had a super day with Willy. In the morning I rode Romano (178cm chestnut 6 yr old stallion) and Bioterma (168cm 5 yr old stallion) again in the manege. Can't believe how lucky I am to have the opportunity to ride such quality horses. Then we loose schooled and jumped Casper (the 4 yr old New Forest pony stallion).
In the afternoon Willy and I went out for a long hack with Eric and Antonio. Before we left I commented that Eric's right fore leg was filled. I mentioned it to Willy but he just shrugged. The weather was super and the views amazing. So many castles. And it was most unlike Willly....very calm. We only walked all the way. In the morning he told me that he felt much calmer working with me.
After that another horse left the yard...Beatrice, the mare of Elouise. That's 11 horses which have departed since our arrival. Feeling a little sad.
13 March A quiet day
13 March
I can't remember much about what we did today...mainly loose schooling I seem to recall.
Eric did some loose schooling......20 circuits each rein in canter and then some trotting poles. I noticed he was carrying his head higher in canter on the right rein and he also fell out of canter a few times and I had to push him on. I thought it might be because I did the right canter after the left canter and maybe he was getting a bit tired.
TT had a quiet day in his box!!
I can't remember much about what we did today...mainly loose schooling I seem to recall.
Eric did some loose schooling......20 circuits each rein in canter and then some trotting poles. I noticed he was carrying his head higher in canter on the right rein and he also fell out of canter a few times and I had to push him on. I thought it might be because I did the right canter after the left canter and maybe he was getting a bit tired.
TT had a quiet day in his box!!
12 March Two Stallions
12 March
This morning I rode two stallions in the manege: First of all the big 178cm chestnut stallion "Romano" and then a smaller 168cm(!!) chestnut stallion "Bioterma". Romano is a complete gentleman. If he was a car he would be a Rolls Royce. Powerful but so smooth. Bioterma is quicker and less comfortable especially his canter. I really enjoyed riding the pair of them. Willy had to shout at me to keep the contact in the downward transitions....I know that is a fault of mine with Eric too.I will have to work on it!! How lucky am I to have the chance to ride such super horses.
Afterwards I worked Eric in the manege loose and then did a very short hack. Eric is easily doing 15 or 20 circuits of the manege in canter on each rein.
Tamtam was also loose schooled....but then afterwards refused to be caught....I had to bluff catching him (he let me on his terms). Willy found that TT was sore in the same area as Argenta was yesterday. He did some osteopathy on him. Where do we go from here?
This morning I rode two stallions in the manege: First of all the big 178cm chestnut stallion "Romano" and then a smaller 168cm(!!) chestnut stallion "Bioterma". Romano is a complete gentleman. If he was a car he would be a Rolls Royce. Powerful but so smooth. Bioterma is quicker and less comfortable especially his canter. I really enjoyed riding the pair of them. Willy had to shout at me to keep the contact in the downward transitions....I know that is a fault of mine with Eric too.I will have to work on it!! How lucky am I to have the chance to ride such super horses.
Afterwards I worked Eric in the manege loose and then did a very short hack. Eric is easily doing 15 or 20 circuits of the manege in canter on each rein.
Tamtam was also loose schooled....but then afterwards refused to be caught....I had to bluff catching him (he let me on his terms). Willy found that TT was sore in the same area as Argenta was yesterday. He did some osteopathy on him. Where do we go from here?
11 March Two Problems
11 March
Josephine's dad had been in touch to report that Josephine felt that Argenta was holding on the left side of her mouth. When we arrived Willy did a full diagnostic check....He found a problem in the wither area on the right hand side (RHS). The mare had been stronger on the left contact as she was protecting the RHS. Willy took Argenta to the manege and with Geertrude's help made an osteopathic correction. The impact was immediate.Willy explained that is the way with corrections to the skeleton. The problem is if the skeletal problem is not identified early as then the muscles will compensate and there will be two problems....skeletal and muscular. Luckily Josephine is well trained and spotted the problem immediately. Well done Josephine!
On the way to Josephine's we talked about Valegro and why he had been so successful. Willy concluded that all the success factors were firmly in place. That is to say:
(1) The horse has good genes and is very capable of his job;
(2) He is in good health and on top form;
(3) He has been trained with patience;
(4) They have been lucky; and
(5) They have a good team working with them.
I found the following article on facebook that evening:
http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2016/03/talking-dressage-with--carl-hester/
We also discussed the story of Totillas. A lot more controversial! See
http://beeandthehorse.com/2014/05/30/totilas-how-a-magnificent-stallion-became-a-poor-creature/
Later in the afternoon we went out for a balade with Antonio in the caleche and me on Eric. It was very fast. Mostly trot. And mostly medium trot! Quite a few times had to shout at Willy to slow down as we were trotting through deep mud at one point and on the roads...something I never normally do with Eric. But Eric returned without much sweat and in good humour. He is obviously much fitter than I think!
Josephine's dad had been in touch to report that Josephine felt that Argenta was holding on the left side of her mouth. When we arrived Willy did a full diagnostic check....He found a problem in the wither area on the right hand side (RHS). The mare had been stronger on the left contact as she was protecting the RHS. Willy took Argenta to the manege and with Geertrude's help made an osteopathic correction. The impact was immediate.Willy explained that is the way with corrections to the skeleton. The problem is if the skeletal problem is not identified early as then the muscles will compensate and there will be two problems....skeletal and muscular. Luckily Josephine is well trained and spotted the problem immediately. Well done Josephine!
On the way to Josephine's we talked about Valegro and why he had been so successful. Willy concluded that all the success factors were firmly in place. That is to say:
(1) The horse has good genes and is very capable of his job;
(2) He is in good health and on top form;
(3) He has been trained with patience;
(4) They have been lucky; and
(5) They have a good team working with them.
I found the following article on facebook that evening:
http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2016/03/talking-dressage-with--carl-hester/
We also discussed the story of Totillas. A lot more controversial! See
http://beeandthehorse.com/2014/05/30/totilas-how-a-magnificent-stallion-became-a-poor-creature/
Later in the afternoon we went out for a balade with Antonio in the caleche and me on Eric. It was very fast. Mostly trot. And mostly medium trot! Quite a few times had to shout at Willy to slow down as we were trotting through deep mud at one point and on the roads...something I never normally do with Eric. But Eric returned without much sweat and in good humour. He is obviously much fitter than I think!
Thursday, March 10, 2016
10 Mars Deux Poneys
10 Mars
J'ai decide d'essayer d'ecrire le blog en francais...peut etre que si ca marche je vais faire le blog un jour en anglais et un jour en francais - comme ca tous la monde peut etre au courrant pour les nouvelles de Tamtam (excusez moi mais mon clavier anglais n'a pas les accents).
Aujourd'hui Willy et Geertrude sont arrive de leur voyage en Allemagne. Moi, j'ai travaille Eric dans le manege en premier. J'ai fait 10 tours de galop chaque main....je vais essayer d'en faire 50 eventuellement (comme Argenta!) mais c'est necessaire d'aller doucement car Eric a 18 ans! Apres je suis alle faire une ballade en pleine nature...le temps etait super bon....J'ai de la chance. Francois a monte trois chevaux. La jument baie en pleine nature et deux etalons dans le manege.Il sait qu'il a une chance enorme meme si c'est tres dur de monter ces jeunes chevaux qui sont a peine debourre. (C'est un cavalier debutant). Un peu de stress mais pas de peur car les chevaux de Willy sont bien eduque.
Apres dejeuner Willy a cherche les deux poneys etalons "New Forest", Antonio et Casper. Casper a juste 4 ans et Willy m'a dit ,il a ete monte juste 5 fois avant. J'ai monte Antonio en premier. Nous sommes parti pour une ballade, avec Willy et Francois dans la voiture pour me suivre. Ca c'est bien passe....nous avons fait des seances de galop (doux et vite) et nous avons franchi une rviviere en premier au pas, apres au trot et apres au galop...impressionant. Jamais je n'aurais ose faire cela toute seule. J'aime bien Antonio. Apres j'ai monte Casper. En premier dans le manege et apres en plein nature. Willy et Francois m'ont accompagne a pied. Nous avons traverse encore la riviere et apres une grosse ferme avec des cochons, une chevre et des vaches. Casper etait impeccable. Merci les poneys. J'ai toujours aime les poneys et des petites chevaux et aujourd'hui j'ai resenti pourquoi!
TT est reste dams son box. Nous avons discute de son comportement quand il est tombe. Willy dit que c'est un probleme de comportement. Nous allons travailler ca demain j'espere.
J'ai decide d'essayer d'ecrire le blog en francais...peut etre que si ca marche je vais faire le blog un jour en anglais et un jour en francais - comme ca tous la monde peut etre au courrant pour les nouvelles de Tamtam (excusez moi mais mon clavier anglais n'a pas les accents).
Aujourd'hui Willy et Geertrude sont arrive de leur voyage en Allemagne. Moi, j'ai travaille Eric dans le manege en premier. J'ai fait 10 tours de galop chaque main....je vais essayer d'en faire 50 eventuellement (comme Argenta!) mais c'est necessaire d'aller doucement car Eric a 18 ans! Apres je suis alle faire une ballade en pleine nature...le temps etait super bon....J'ai de la chance. Francois a monte trois chevaux. La jument baie en pleine nature et deux etalons dans le manege.Il sait qu'il a une chance enorme meme si c'est tres dur de monter ces jeunes chevaux qui sont a peine debourre. (C'est un cavalier debutant). Un peu de stress mais pas de peur car les chevaux de Willy sont bien eduque.
Apres dejeuner Willy a cherche les deux poneys etalons "New Forest", Antonio et Casper. Casper a juste 4 ans et Willy m'a dit ,il a ete monte juste 5 fois avant. J'ai monte Antonio en premier. Nous sommes parti pour une ballade, avec Willy et Francois dans la voiture pour me suivre. Ca c'est bien passe....nous avons fait des seances de galop (doux et vite) et nous avons franchi une rviviere en premier au pas, apres au trot et apres au galop...impressionant. Jamais je n'aurais ose faire cela toute seule. J'aime bien Antonio. Apres j'ai monte Casper. En premier dans le manege et apres en plein nature. Willy et Francois m'ont accompagne a pied. Nous avons traverse encore la riviere et apres une grosse ferme avec des cochons, une chevre et des vaches. Casper etait impeccable. Merci les poneys. J'ai toujours aime les poneys et des petites chevaux et aujourd'hui j'ai resenti pourquoi!
TT est reste dams son box. Nous avons discute de son comportement quand il est tombe. Willy dit que c'est un probleme de comportement. Nous allons travailler ca demain j'espere.
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