myparellijourney

Enough is Enough: Sarcoids be Gone

My Dear Romeo, my rescued Arabian, has had a couple sarcoids on his beautiful face, since I adopted him from True Blue Animal Rescue. They seem to be the 'scars', along with the permanent bare spot on one hip, from his days of neglect and starvation before he was seized and came to be rescued.

This year, the main sarcoid grew larger than ever before, and became the size of a large marble, growing right next to his left eye.  My husband commented recently that Romeo was ugly because of it. And truth be told, the sarcoid is ugly. Romeo is a particularly sensitive horse, sensitive to energy. He would probably make a great therapy horse. I got to thinking about what he must experience when people look at him and see ugly. Maybe that's why he'll put his ears back sometimes with new people?

Enough is enough. I've had multiple conversations with my vet over the last 3 years; and the strategy had been to leave the sarcoids alone, because most of the other options (freezing, surgery, etc.) are not very successful and often create more aggressive re-occurences. However, one possibility was XxTerra, a salve.

Doing research on the latest news of XXterra, I discovered an herbal salve that seems to work just as well, but without some of the not-so-pleasant side effects. I ordered a trial portion for Romeo. Today was Day 1 of treatment. I took pictures to document the progress.

 I'm holding the intention that the sarcoids (Bovine Papilloma Virus) will be cleared and the virus eliminated and my Romeo will have a beautiful face, that everyone can see, not just me.

'Saddle Burn'

I thought I was being clever.

It's been so darn hot and humid here in Texas, that I've had to come up with
new strategies to play with my horses. Wearing pants is just brutal. The
pants stick to me because I'm sweating so much, but I have to wear pants to
ride in the saddle.

So I figured I'd wear shorts and ride with my Parelli bareback pad - cooler
for me, cooler for the horse. Yesterday, during our ride, we ventured
outside the arena and were riding point-to-point going from shade to shade.
At one point, we're standing under a tree, dwelling, when something startled
Destin, and he quickly moved sideways one step. No problem in that I moved
with him. What was a problem - my leg, being hot, instead of moving on the
bareback pad, STUCK, to the leather part of the pad. OUCH! Nice 'burn'.

So, I have to wear pants or at least knee-length shorts to ride with my
bareback pad. Might as well ride with the saddle then.

I could ride bareback, no pad. Then I know I'd move with all that horse
sweat for lubrication :D

Keep it Natural -

Lauren

Back in the Saddle

Sunday was the first day I had enough energy to do groundwork AND ride. First ride in 23 days! How humbling -how long the body can need to heal.

You would never have guessed it had been so long since we played together.
Destin and I had really nice communication, connection and ride. Nice and
light phase required for ground communication. My leadership was fair,
non-emotional and I set him up for success (I *am* learning). During riding,
our steering at a walk was light and responsive; AND I even got a relaxed,
comfortable trot! WOW!

You would never know it had been so long... nice surprise actually. And no
surprise how much I love my horse(s) and how much of a passion it is - and
has always been - to be with them...

I AM BLESSED!

Best Laid Plans...

I "planned" to come back from my Destin, Florida beach vacation recharged, refreshed and ready to jump back into playing with my equine partner, Destin. Was excited to get us ready for our upcoming, July 8th Play Day. Best laid plans...

Day after I returned from vacation (which was fabulous! tell you more later), I got sick. REALLY sick. As in, stuck in bed for 3 days, unable to do any thing SICK. I haven't been sick like that in years! Monday was the first day to make any progress towards wellness, and each day brings a little more progress.

My mind came back on-line Monday night and wasted no time making up for 3 days of no thinking. Came up with a long to-do list. Also remembered my upcoming Play Day and realized it would take a healing miracle to be well enough to participate. Big Bummer!

While mind may be back to normal, my physical energy is still very low. I get about 15 minutes of energy at a time, use it and it's gone. It's humbling when my body needs 11 hours of sleep.

Bless my husband, he's been feeding and caring for the animals. Finally got to visit my horse yesterday and re-introduce myself.

I'll be going to the play day tomorrow, sans horse, just to say hi to my friends. I'd be worn out just loading up for the trip...

Oh well... it is what it is...

Best Laid Plans... Plan B?

Progress Continues

Even though it was ridiculously hot and humid, Destin and I had another excellent practice Tuesday. Our steering continues to get lighter, even when moving away from the other horses or away from the barn. Really pleased with that.

Played with our man-made water crossing some more - with the circling game and freestyle. Great practice for 'real' trail rides. Also walked Destin up to a small jump, while in the saddle, that I've used during ground sessions. I asked him to go over it. He thought about it, but is to uncertain. So I'll keep approaching and retreating until one day, he goes over.

Worked on our sitting trot and got a nice slow, comfortable trot to end on. Also did some work on our posting trot - definitely easier to post Destin's big energy, big stride trot. I actually think we're getting better at this - together. I've always said I'm happy to put in the hours and miles to get our harmony under saddle.

Another excellent workout for both of us. I think we both sweated off a few pounds too.

Keep it Natural!

Perfecting Practice

Destin and I had a great session Monday. We played and rode for about 2 hours! Endurance and stamina and I'm pretty well toasted at the end - from the growth and learning and just physically too. By making our practice sessions longer, I'm strengthening our endurance muscles. 
 

Worked on our steering which has really improved since it's breakdown just a few days ago. A slight tip of the nose in the direction I'd like, slight outer leg pressure and he turns. Very nice. Also practiced following my focus, and our trotting (sitting and posting). Good work out! Getting there...
 

Played with my man-made water crossing (hose running in a low spot) on the ground - circle game - to keep it interesting. Walked, trot, fast trot and even a little canter. The dip in terrain makes Destin pay attention to where he is putting his feet, which also means he's not bored that we're doing the circling game again. Also crossed the water crossing several times while riding ( BIG DEAL :D). Walked over some obstacles, rode around outside of arena and over around house too... Direction and play area driven by location of shade. 
 

Great growth for Destin being better with my leadership when it's just our herd of two.
 
I feel good about our communication and connection today. I want us to be ready and qualified for our upcoming group play day on July 8th! I'm the least experienced in the group.   I'm motivated ; I want to
play :)

Destin is such a great horse. He really tries...
 
Keepin it Natural, 

Lauren 

Our Steering Is Broken!

Yesterday morning, I was out early to play with Destin. It's so hot here
already, that early morning and late evening are the only reasonable times
to be outside.

Destin was particularly attuned to me from the start, so I intended to stay
soft and keep that softness and attention in Destin as we did some ground
prep work and then rode for a bit.

Destin beautifully, calming and willingly responded to my life up and focus
for backing, circling, moving from walk to trot - really nice! No opposition
reflex.

With the saddle on, Destin easily came up to the barrel for me to mount and
we started to ride. Walking around, checking out my hinges, checking in with
Destin - all good. He is still pretty poor at following the rail, but that
wasn't the 'goal' for the session. Got a few *really nice* strides of a
smooth trot and slowed down to a walk. Destin can have a really bouncy,
rough trot, but I have occasionally found the treasure of his relaxed,
smooth trot. Nice.

Then our communication took a nose dive. Just doing some seemingly basic
turns, Destin was very heavy, not responding to leg pressure at all. Not
even responding to rein when he didn't turn. So I thought I would help
Destin and picked up the carrot stick for support.

Our communication declined even further, unfortunately. Destin did not
understand and was just confused. At one point, after stopping, I asked him
to move forward with a casual rein, and slight leg pressure. He backed up
instead! Yikes!

SO... it's back to basics. Porcupine Game on the ground, focusing on getting
light. Day 1 of 7 days of focusing on our steering. Not much point on
working on my sitting to his trot or posting, if we have no steering
communication. (Sigh)

Now to keep it interesting so we don't both get bored...

Keep it Natural -

Follow-up

 

I noticed while re-reading what I wrote in my previous post that my pace seemed really fast, but in reality it wasn't. That was my enthusiasm and excitement over our time together and wanting to capture it all in writing. Destin and I actually spent about 2.5 hours together, so it was very relaxed, lots of stopping to lick and chew, process and dwell and rewards with scratches in favorite spots. We moseyed along, playing here and there, enjoying our relationship. It was not task-oriented as it was written. That's why it was so much fun, actually :)

My Kind of Morning!

Just got back from a fantastic play session with Destin, where we built on what we knew, using the tools/techniques learned in Christi's clinic (www.ChristiRains.com).

Started with some friendly game - scratching, loving while brushing and fly spraying. Then did some on-line playing. Started with the 4 Rs. Respect - driving backup, then yes ma'am back up. Took a couple times to see a change for the yes ma'am. Follow me was fine. Yielding hind quarters 361 degrees! nice! Then practiced our yield Forequarters - this is Destin's hole. Backed up a few steps, then asked for FQ yield. Got several nice cross over steps from him in each direction. Nice! Step on pedestal with front feet (Destin's favorite thing), step on blue tarp (with puddles of water on it), put two feet in hula hoop. Stopped to scratch and put on bareback pad. Then did some circle game at a walk, then trot in both directions. Got nice backup and snappy departures. nice! Set up a small jump, did some circles then asked Destin to stop at jump (touch it). Next time, asked him to jump it. He basically went through it - barely over and creamed it. really sloppy. so set jump back up, circled a few times, then asked fro jump. plowed through it again. doesn't seem to be afraid just not happy about it. set jump up again, got momentum up, asked for jump again - nice, clear jump. down to 1 knee I go. Dwell! :D

Did a walking figure 8, till I didn't have to pick up stick - only took a couple times. nice!

Time to ride :) Asked Destin to pick me up at fence, and he tolerated my really sloppy mount from the fence from right side. I need to work on that! Did some arena riding. Superman turns, walking to HQ yield (nice!). lovely light backups (as usual). Not so good on FQ yield. Insists on moving front feet, so got carrot stick to assist and thought "how can I set Destin up for success?". Put us up against fence (butt too), so no backward movement. And used carrot stick to assist with communication. Got 1 step sideways on front (yeah!) stopped - rubbed. waited for lick and chew. repeated on other side. yeah!

played around a bit more in arena, then opted to go for a walk. Had a nice ride down our driveway with Simba, our dog leading. Destin is getting better at trusting me when we're out 'alone'. Focus is key. And when he was getting distracted, we played some games (superman turns, oh-no stops, trot 3 steps, stop/backup). Worked really well. Also did some FQ yield and got one step sideways without moving back feet - yea!

On the return trip, Destin was in a hurry (so funny, coming from the "I don't' want to go horse"), so practiced our "oh-no", stroke rein 3 times, one rein bend to a stop, and other hand pushing on pommel.

Back at the house, untacking, Destin was focusing on other horses, so I got his attention by doing some HQ yields, follow me at trot. Nice! And FQ yield, getting cross over step - yeah!

What fabulous morning!! We were really partnering today - fabulous! THIS is what I love about Parelli!!!

Thanks for reading! :D

Keeping It Natural and Loving It,

Lauren

The Clinic Started Before We Left Our Driveway!

Saturday morning, the first day of my participation in Christi Rains L2/3 Clinic in Brenham, I awoke to a Texas thunderstorm - lots of water, thunder and lightning!

I had prepared the night before, hooking up the horse trailer and moving it to the driveway that didn't get buried in mud during a storm. Everything was already loaded into the truck and trailer. Just had to load up Destin and myself. But it's lightning and thundering! I don't go out in lightning, if it's just me. I'm not about to go out and try to load my horse.

I called the clinic host and let her know that I would be there as soon as the weather allowed. We would stay safe and go slow and get there when we get there. She was in agreement.

Thirty minutes later, the storm had subsided to a light drizzle and the lightning had stopped. Time to start the process of loading up.

Brought Destin over from the barn; he followed me easily and didn't seem to be concerned that he was leaving the other horses. I asked him to load and he did. But he didn't stay in. He showed nervousness upon getting in the trailer and hearing the rain on the roof. And, his buddy horse had noticed he was missing and started calling for him.

So I worked with Destin to get him re-focused on me by doing some circling game and change of direction. He did end up going in the trailer and staying so that I could calmly and slowly close the door.

I reminded myself of what my teacher, Cindy Deaton, told me about being in a clinic: "You and your relationship with your horse come FIRST. Only do what you two are ready for. For example, if you are asked to canter and you have only worked on trotting, you trot.". As I went into the front area of the trailer to rub Destin, check everything and put the lead rope in the Blocker Tie Ring, I noticed Destin's eyes. They had a slight white rim. He was eating his hay, but he was nervous eating. My horse was not relaxed, not comfortable and NOT ready to go.

So even though it meant we would get to the clinic even later, I took the time necessary to hang with my horse, giving him scratches and rubs and comforintg him until he RELAXED. It took about 15 minutes. Only then, did we head off to the clinic.

Our 'clinic' started before we even left our driveway. And when Destin and I did leave, our relationship was more than intact, it was GREAT!

Keep It Natural!