So, thanks to OTB, I now have to come up with 10 honest things about myself that I’ve never shared before. The 10 things isn’t too tricky, but the “haven’t shared before” part might be. Sticking with tradition, I’m keeping it horsey (mostly)!

1. I’ve learned so much about horses and riding between blogging and owning my first horse. I was always a pretty good rider and knew a bit about horse care, but I always only knew the what. Now I’m learning the why. Of particular interest is horse anatomy and function, and how my own anatomy affects my riding.
2. I can relate just about any topic back to horses. Need an analogy or object lesson? I can always find one that’s horsey.
3. The worst horse day I ever had was in college while I was teaching a beginner hunter camp at my barn with my mom. I rode Penny before camp and was jumping, and she dumped me. The twit spooked at something and came to a sliding stop AFTER the jump. I landed flat on my back in front of  her, but was mainly just a little bruised. Then, in camp later that morning, an older rider lost her balance over a cross-rail in the same spot in the ring and fell off. She hurt  her back and we had to call an ambulance. So not fun. I know this stuff happens no matter how careful you are, but I felt sick for hours for having someone get hurt on  my watch.
4. I really hate getting dirty. Unless I’m in a barn. There I couldn’t care less. I’ve even been known to climb into a full manure spreader to retrieve toads or eat my lunch without bothering to wash my hands (that one’s for you OTB!). If it’s not horse-related dirt, I hate it and avoid it at all costs.
5. I had to work at my barn when I was 11 to pay off a vet bill because I almost killed one of the barn cats. I liked the cat, and decided to put him on a leash and walk him around. Relatively harmless, right? Except that I made a collar and leash out of bailing twine. He didn’t like it and managed to escape almost immediately. I couldn’t catch him to take it off, and later that night he got himself hung up in a tree! He ended up being fine and lived for many many years after that. But I was knocking down cobwebs and filling water buckets for months because of it. It was a silly kid thing, but I still feel bad about it!
6. I’m worried about what I will do with Ace and his winter coat this winter. Last winter, he had an abscess and was in early stages of training. Now, we’re working a lot harder. I plan to keep working and training this coming winter. Really, Ace will need to at least be trace clipped to combat the sweat. But, if he’s clipped  he needs a blanket. And I can’t put a blanket on him because the other horses will destroy it in 10 seconds flat. So I need to figure out how I can keep working him at the pace I want, but not have him get too hot and sweaty when it’s cold. It’s worrying me, despite the fact that its the middle of July. Advice welcome!
7. I love my horse to death, but sometimes I have to be good and put my hubby first. For instance, there is this awesome event at Pegasus tomorrow that I would love to go to. It’s a demonstration by Lew Sterrett called Sermon on the Mount, and it sounds amazing. However, tomorrow is one of the very few days out of the year I absolutely cannot do anything horsey. It’s our anniversary! Hubby says he doesn’t care, but I know it’s important that tomorrow is our day.
8. Things I just don’t get in the horse world: how to ride gaited horses, why on earth western pleasure is fun, and why it’s so difficult for people to accept preferences in training techniques and disciplines. It wouldn’t be so much fun if every horse person only did hunter/jumpers just because I thought it was the best discipline. I have zero interest in riding western pleasure. So what? If that’s what you love, then get to it! I do think there are some absolutes, like treating our horses with kindness and respect no matter what discipline or training method you subscribe to. How you go about that doesn’t matter so much.
9. My biggest fear right now is that I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I bought Ace. Training-wise I’m not worried. Relationship-wise I’m  not worried. But his habits of getting hurt drive me nuts. I hope that I didn’t buy this falling apart horse who is going to have to be retired sooner rather than later.
10. My greatest joy is the way Ace looks at me. I can walk into the arena, and he immediately walks right up to me with his ears pricked and his eyes full of recognition. He very clearly says, “Hey there, it’s my human!” I like that we get along and have learned to trust each other.

If you haven’t done the 10 things yet, consider yourself tagged!

Stifle Issues

His predispositions for stifle issues include:

• being out of work for a long period of time and then starting training
• lack of muscle condition n the hind end (see above)
• confirmation flaws including slightly straight back legs that are also base narrow

General symptoms I’ve noticed before:

• back legs slip out from under him occassionally (a stifle lock symptom)
• sticky left lead

Current symptoms:

• lameness at a trot on turns and in deep footing
• popping sound in stifle when turning at a trot

He’s totally sound at a walk, and he trots pretty well in straight lines on hard ground.

I did call the vet, but he didn’t want to tell me anything without hauling Ace into the clinic for a full lameness evalutation complete with nerve blocks and xrays. Since he’s not too seriously lame and he hasn’t gotten worse, the vet said it wouldn’t hurt to give him some time and see how he does.

Treatment for weak stifles and stifle lock is primarily conditioning. Lots of walk and trot work up hills to strengthen the muscles.

So, currently I’m handwalking Ace in the driveway, which is conveniently long, straight, and on a slight hill. Then following that up with cold hosing and pouticing his stifles. I’ve also got him on bute to reduce any inflammation he may have in the joint. And looking into some good joint supplements. I’m not keeping him in his stall because that would just stress him more, and he would spend the whole time walking in small circles – which definitely wouldn’t help.

Revelation

At first I was frustrated that we weren’t able to ride and work AGAIN for the third time since I got him last August. We were making such good progress and then we were stalled. But I realized yesterday, what’s the rush? We’ve (hopefully) got years ahead of us. Ace and I always have a blast together even if we’re just grooming, hand walking, or treating injuries. It doesn’t have to be all about being in the saddle. I still love this horse like crazy even if I can’t ride him right now!

Awards

I’m glad OnTheBit likes me, because she always manages to send blog awards my way just when I’m in need of encouragement. And I do love getting them, even if I’m terrible about responding to them right away! It is nice to be appreciated, and fun to have a chance to recognize others.

Zombie Chicken Award

What on earth a zombie chicken really has to do with blogging, I don’t know. The people who come up with this stuff are either way more creative than me or have entirely too much time on their hands.

Here’s what this award is about:

The Blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the Zombie Chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…

Actually, I think I might just take a zombie chicken apocalypse over my horse having abscesses, injuries, and hurt stifles. And what would I do if I were attacked by a zombie chicken? Beat it up with my dressage whip, of course. Then run really really fast.

Blogs I love to read simply because I can really relate, and who would totally show grace (and their dressage whips) in the face of a zombie attack are

• Green Slobber On My Shirt (she’s a great writer and I think her horse Gabe is actually Ace moonlighting as a gray TB)
• Nuzzling Muzzles (maybe zombie chickens in your yard would keep those annoying neighbors away!)
• Oh Horse Feathers (Mrs Mom is the best! She’s the most helpful when it comes to hoof issues, and I think I’d rather face the zombie chickens than her wrath (rasp?)

I’m sticking with three for now. Hopefully that’s enough to keep the ZC’s away.

Or, in the case of the Lemonade Award that my dear blogger friend OnTheBit passed on to me, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” (I tend to prefer the “When life gives you lemons, stick ‘em down your shirt” version.)

At any rate, the Lemonade Award recognizes bloggers who maintain a positive and uplifting attitude on their sites.

This is one of the best awards I’ve gotten because staying positive is something I work hard to do, even when I don’t really want to. I firmly believe that we choose our attitudes. It also comes at a time when I really really need it. I’ve been feeling down and out of sorts lately, and getting this award when I don’t really feel like making lemonade encourages me to hang in there.

Here are some lemons that have been squeezed into lemonade lately:

• Ace had an abscess, but it gave us another way to get to know each other and to work on his problems with holding up his feet.
• I wrecked my car, but I was perfectly fine and now have a newer, more reliable vehicle.
• Smoke had to be put down, but he had a long full life and was loved by many.
• I may get stressed and have minor breakdowns occassionally, but I’ve got a good hubby and a sweet horse with broad shoulders to cry on.

I’m not into tearing people down to make a point, no matter how valid. And I really appreciate other bloggers who hold that standard as well. A few that immediately come to mind are

• Grey Horse Matters
• Freelance Riding Instructor
• A Horse Crazy American in Germany
• Behind the Bit
• Deanna Castro
• The Eventing Percheron
• Saving Argus
• Rising Rainbow

These are some fantastic blogs that if you aren’t reading, you definitely should be!