New Stall, Same Great Care

I love my new crib...

I was having a rough, hot summer. I don't deal well with the heat so in mid-July Mom decided to move me to the big barn at Miran. It's much cooler in that barn and I have a personal fan in my stall. The stalls are a bit bigger too, which is nice because I am a big boy! I'm really happy Mom moved me even though I was a little stressed about the change a first. Not too long after the move, I caught Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) even though I had received the vaccine. Fared and Ms. Jean noticed right away that I wasn't feeling well and Dr. Jay told Mom there was a chance I had PHF. Mom decided to treat for it and thank goodness she did-- a week later the blood test results confirmed I had the potentially deadly PHF. I then spent a lot of time in my stall recovering, but luckily I was in the big barn so I stayed nice and cool. I feel blessed to have such a great human herd taking care of me!!!

Mom’s Thoughts - I Love Our Shared Reflection

Buck Brannaman (the man who inspired the movie “The Horse Whisperer”) philosophizes that your horse is a mirror to your soul, a reflection of who you are. On the year anniversary of Duke’s adoption, I wanted to write about why I’d grown to love him so much and why I thought he made the choice to love me too. I started by listing out all the reasons why I loved Duke and the things he accomplished that made me proud. Then I read it back, thought about what Buck said, and started to cry at the revelation. Duke’s list was everything I accomplished or aspired to accomplish myself.

This is what I had written… 

Duke is very willing to learn. He is getting braver and showing his confidence. He is healthier, happier, and in better physical shape. He has shed lots of stress and built lots of love. He is calmer, more patient, and more trusting. He’s made friends at the barn, mastered new skills in the arena, and learned that the horse world is much bigger than what he’d experienced before. I love Duke because he is genuine about what he needs and what he gives. He doesn’t play emotional games, attempt to hide his faults, or try to be anything different than what God made him. He is the best soul on earth to “just be” with because he is completely sincere.

Duke came into my life as I was working my way out of a three-year struggle with severe anxiety and a deep depression. In the last year, Duke has helped me recover from old wounds and love myself so much more. I’d like to think I’ve done the same for him.

Oh, the difference a year makes…best week ever!

 You know, Mom and I overcame a LOT of obstacles during the past six months and we are both proud of what we achieved this week in the run-up to my one-year adoption anniversary.

• Last Saturday (22 June), we took a 45-minute dressage lesson with Jeffrey Lord and had some great moments. Mom was able to tell me with just her seat that she wanted me to taking bigger strides at the walk. At the trot, she told me with all her aids that she wanted me in a nice long and low position so I could really stretch and engage my back muscles. I was a very good listener the whole session. We really worked as a team!

• On Thursday (27 June), Mom and I had a lesson with Miss Jean. I was stressed and not very focused at the beginning, but Miss Jean guided Mom on how to patiently get my attention back and reduce my anxiety. By the end, Mom and I had a very successful introduction to shortening my trot stride and sitting to the trot. Miss Jean hopped on and we showed Mom how I can hold self-carriage for a while at the canter. I was VERY proud of myself! Thanks to Miss Carol for videoing it all.

Mom and I during lesson with Miss Jean

• Finally on Friday (29 June), Mom and I went with some other Natural Connection riders and herd-mates for a trail ride at Temple Hill Park in Lucketts, VA. It was my first ride away from the farm. I was a little stressed at first, but then I calmed down and really started enjoying the day. Mom helped me get over my anxiety of crossing through streams. I was shaking, but Mom kept talking to me, telling me it was ok, and that I was doing great. By the second and third stream crossing, I went across like it was nothing! I’m a good boy! Mom also wanted me to walk over a large log toward the end of the ride…hehehe, I surprised her, though…I snuck two canter strides in and leapt over that thing with a big jump. Mom screamed than started giggling. HAHAHA! Thanks to Miss Jean’s boy, Ty, for letting me follow his butt the whole way. It made me feel much calmer. 

Waiting on trailer to go to Temple Hill

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

I feel it is very important to recognize my amazing Grandma Jill and Grandpa Bill, who helped Mom pay for some of my medical bills during the past six months. I am very lucky to have had the best treatment and lots of support. I look forward to seeing them later this fall when they visit Mom!!! Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa! I love you!

I Got Myself a Lady!

This past winter was a particularly cold one in Aldie, VA so I began looking for a nice mare to warm my heart. I guess Jazz always had her eyes on me. I was just a little too shy and a little too scared of her boyfriend to make a move. But then her boyfriend went off to rehab and Jazz and I spent more time grazing together and grooming each other next to the run-in shed. She is a tall, chocolate, Spanish-warmblood lady, who is a little over twice my age *blush*.  Dang, who would have ever imagined she would be interested in a young white boy from West Virginia?! I don’t like spending too much time away from her. Here's a pic Mom took of us being all kissy face...

Reach out and love someone!

The Past Six Months…

I’m sorry. I haven’t blogged since mid-December and I want to tell you why. Don’t worry; there is a happy “ending”… a new beginning really.

It started the morning of December 11^th. Mom came out to ride me in the morning. We were working in the indoor and about 15 minutes in to our session I took off fast. Mom couldn’t stop me and she eventually fell off. Miss Jean found her a couple of minutes later on the ground and Fareed took me away to untack. The next thing I know, an ambulance was taking Mom to the hospital and I was turned out in the field. I FELT HORRIBLE.

Mom and Miss Jean didn’t realize it until later that week, but I was running away from pain. It was kinda everywhere in my body, but especially in my stomach and back. I was just so afraid of the pain that I took off to get away from it. Luckily Miss Jean had a hunch that it was ulcers, told Mom, and they were able to start me on what would be a fairly long road to recovery. As we tried to treat the ulcers, a hind end lameness and back pain showed up as well. I was basically off from work for four to five months.

Mom and Miss Jean catalogued my many various symptoms so they could research possibilities, everything from neurological conditions to muscle disorders and West Nile Virus to “maybe that is just who Duke is.” I am so very grateful to know they will always fight to make sure I am getting the best treatment. I am doing much better now, but Mom and I were so busy trying to get me better that we didn’t have much time to blog.

Anyway, there is a lot to catch you up on related to this so I plan to break it up into several posts after Mom and I can sit down and look at all our notes from the past six months. I promise to write separate, individual blog posts on at least the following topics so you can get a better understanding of my journey since December:

• My battle with ulcers
• My back pain
• My hind end lameness
• My rehab workout plan
• My "down time" bonding with Mom

So plenty more...stay tuned!

Dressage Tack

Mom bought us some dressage tack about two months ago to help us in the best form possible for our dressage work. After trying out a couple options, Mom decided to get us a super comfortable Marcel Toulouse Aachen saddle. It's been working out great so I thought I'd post a picture.

My Thanksgiving Day Poem

Wind in My Mane

Moon-tipped treetops covered rolling hills painted over by whinnies echoing from afar. The crisp evening air twirled the dark flocks running above my dapple-grey neck.

My deep, round eyes whispered, “I’m a gentle spirit, yearning to please” as a childish bewilderment blanketed my regal physique; I am a colt in horse’s clothing.

Like a puppy, I had rested my head in her lap after those caring hands groomed my growing belly, all the while I licked my droopy lips in response to her soft-toned praises.

Then, when tepid silence befell the twilight-swept pasture, encouraging slumber in its arms, I called to the herd in shrill-pitched searches for my four-legged sentries.

Finding them, I sighed and turned her way to say, “I’m thankful you brought me here to shed past pains and sleep every night with the wind in my mane.”

Proud of Myself! (Training Update)

After One of Our October Lessons

OK, I don't like to brag, but Mom and I had such a great ride today and it really made me want to share our progress with everyone...

For the last month or so, Ms. Jean has been trying to help me get "on the bit" or "between the aids." Basically, this means getting me collected so that I lower my head and neck and raise my back so that I can better engage my hind end for impulsion. Not only do I look better because I am more rounded, it also feels so much better to stretch down and use my back muscles.  This will help me properly carry my rider.

Ms. Jean really has been seeing and feeling my progress, but she wants to make sure that Mom can help me with it and feel it herself. Mom has been trying really hard to learn this and getting better each time we ride. Today we had a lot of great moments. Mom was feeling it. I was getting it. She was praising me and I was just so proud of myself that I couldn't help but stick my tongue out and start licking and chewing! Ms. Jean told Mom to mark this day on the calendar so I just knew I should blog tonight!

A quick shout-out to Lancet, our new friend at the barn. Thanks for this photo! 

Journey to a Healthier Me

Sorry for not posting in a while! I spent part of the last month recovering from a bought of lameness, but at least it gave me the idea for this blog post. :-) I am very thankful that Mom and Ms. Jean have helped me with several issues so that I can be the healthiest horse possible. I want to keep a list of what they've done. So, here are the things they've discovered so far and what they are doing to help:

• High-level of strongyles parasites || Deworming treatments
• Underweight, Weak Immune System || Specialized diet with alfalfa and rice bran supplements
• Significant weakness, lack of muscle || Consistent and progressive workout plan under saddle
• Sharp teeth || Teeth floated by Dr. J (see one of my previous posts!)
• Melanomas || Twice daily doses of Cimetidine
• Ulcers? (assessing) || For now, Pro-CMC before rides
• Mild arthritis? (assessing) || Weekly Pentosan injections and a daily dose of Prevecox for a month

They've also worked with my farrier, Chris, to make sure I am properly balanced with the best type of front shoes and hind trims for my flat hooves. Plus, Mom makes sure I get all the preventative vaccines I could have so that I don't have to worry about coming down with something. I'm a very happy horse!

A Healthier, Happier Me!

Comparison Photos - 2 Months!

I don't have much to say because the photos say it all. Dang, I'm lookin' goooooooood!

4 July 2012

9 September 2012

My Family Tree!

Mom was doing some research online and look what she found! My full pedigree chart goes back to my great, great, great grandparents, but only part of the chart would fit nicely on my blog so I had to take out a generation. Click here for my full chart.

At first glance, it looks like I am British-French-American. That is a lot of red, white, and blue running through my blood... Mom says she understands now why I've got such handsome coat colors. I've got gray, roan, brown, dark brown, and black-coated family members. Mom says she is going to try digging a little deeper for information and she might be able to come up with some pictures.

EASTOVER COURT (USA) gr/r. 1991	SEATTLE SLEW (USA) br. 1974 [BC]	BOLD REASONING (USA) dkb/br. 1968	BOLDNESIAN (USA) b. 1963
			REASON TO EARN (USA) b. 1963
		MY CHARMER (USA)* b. 1969	POKER (USA) b. 1963
			FAIR CHARMER (USA) ch. 1959
	HEAVENLY CAUSE (USA) gr. 1978	GREY DAWN (FR) gr. 1962 [BI]	HERBAGER (FR) b. 1956 [CS]
			POLAMIA (USA) gr. 1955
		LADY DULCINEA (USA) gr. 1963	NANTALLAH (USA) b. 1953
			SHY DANCER (USA) gr. 1955
MO CHUN (USA) gr. 1989	FEEL THE POWER (USA) dkb/br. 1982	RAISE A NATIVE (USA) ch. 1961 [B]	NATIVE DANCER (USA) gr. 1950 [IC]
			RAISE YOU (USA)* ch. 1946
		DAVONA DALE (USA) b. 1976	BEST TURN (USA) dkb/br. 1966 [C]
			ROYAL ENTRANCE (USA) b. 1965
	MOST BEAUTIFUL (USA) gr. 1967	DONUT KING (USA) br. 1959	DETERMINE (USA) gr. 1951
			STRAYED (USA) b. 1945
		MLLE. SOMEBODY (USA) gr. 1956	OIL CAPITOL (USA) gr. 1947
			EYES OF BLUE (USA) gr. 1943

(A) Bit Confused

Miss Jean and Mom have been trying to figure out what bit to use with me after switching to the English gear. I like to grab the bit sometimes (what can I say...we all have stubborn moments) and I am much softer for my riders when I have a curb chain so the double-jointed elevator bit isn't doing the trick. They tried a double-jointed Kimberwicke with a roller but didn't really like it and it was a smidgen too big for me anyway. A Waterford, which has many joints on the mouthpiece and would make it very hard for me to grab, would be perfect except there is normally no place to put a curb chain and no additional shanks on the side to give extra leverage like in the elevator bit. Miss Jean mentioned it would be awesome if there was such a thing as a Waterford Kimberwicke...but there isn't. Mom went online and did a lot or research though. She found a British company that makes some innovative bits and they have a "Waterford Universal" bit that might just be what we need. It has the Waterford mouth piece, an extra ring on the bottom for more leverage (like a half elevator bit), AND a place to put a curb chain. It wasn't inexpensive, but it sounded perfect so Mom went ahead and ordered it. I'll let ya know how it goes. Click on this link if you want some more information about the bit => Neue Schule Waterford Universal Bit.

More Ride Time with Mom!

So starting last week, Mom began coming out on Thursdays to ride in addition to our Saturday lessons together. Yay! She also snatched an extra ride with me on Sunday because she was trying out her new Wintec 2000 saddle. It works great for both of us. Yay! Mom tells me how much she loves our extra bonding time. We worked on keeping my head in the correct frame as we transition up to the trot. It is harder than Miss Jean makes it look...

Yesterday, instead of working in the arena, Miss Jean invited Mom and me to go on a trail ride with her because she needed to take Milton out. Miss Jean helped Mom fit my new saddle pad, girth, and breastplate.  Mom had cleaned up my bridle all nice too so we looked really snazzy going out together. It was the first time we rode in all of Mom's tack. I was super excited that I was going out with Milton too. Milton is the lead gelding in our herd and we've recently become pretty good buddies. I'll hang out with him and his girl, Lilly, when we are in Miss Jean's field. He's a really cool guy and a very kind leader so I felt confident and safe following behind him. I had taken this trail once before with Miss Jean. It goes into the woods and circles around the bottom of one of the mountains. It has a couple of small inclines so I get a good workout. Miss Jean hopes that by the end of October that I will have built enough muscle to ride the trail that goes up the mountain. All in all, it was a wonderful evening. :-)

A Month’s Worth of Change

So I thought ya’ll might like to compare some pictures of me when I first arrived at Miran Farm and a month later. I am starting to develop some butt muscles and Miss Jean estimates I’ve gained about 45 pounds overall. I still have a way to go to be in athletic shape, but I think I am coming along nicely.

 JULY 1, 2012                                                            AUGUST 1, 2012

Saddle Woes & (Future) Jumping Shows

Trying out the Merielle Saddle...yuck.

Sorry for not blogging in a while my dear human herd mates…I’ve been so busy in training! During the last couple of weeks I made the transition from western tack to English tack. Miss Jean put me in an elevator bit and Mom has been trying out a couple of different saddles. At first she tried a M. Toulouse Merielle plus 4 with Genesis (a monoflap), but I HATED that saddle…she was all over the place trying to find her balance and my back hurt. I’m so glad she decided to take it back. Then she grabbed a Wintec Pro Jump saddle thinking that is what Miss Jean has, but turns out Miss Jean has a Wintec 2000 so Mom has that one on order from Dover now. I was fine in the Pro Jump, but Mom’s knees were way in front of the flap so that was a no-go.

In other news, Miss Jean told me how proud she was of my behavior on our first long trail ride. We went with a couple of roping horses and I showed her how super good I am both following and leading. In the ring, she is still teaching me about how to respond to leg aids, give to the bit, and carry my head properly to better use my back muscles. In our lessons, Mom and I are working on getting smooth transitions to the trot and we had a chance to do a little bit of canter work in light seat. Mom is still trying to work on staying relaxed, keeping her hands even when steering, and sitting back and deep in her heals. We are both very excited about our work, though, especially after Miss Jean suggested we should train for jumpers instead of hunters since it suits me better. Yay for speed and high jumps…eventually. :)