Thermal imaging

With Mr T seeming poorly and Sof's ongoing lameness issues I've been looking at some diagnostic options. Thermal imaging is something I came across a couple of years ago. I have considered using it for Tonto (mainly because he finds vets and being touched so traumatic) but have never really gotten round to trying it out.

Anywho's another livery at the yard wanted to try it on her horse so I thought- hell why not, could be interesting.

Sophie's results

The camera picked up traces of heat on her front feet where her collateral ligaments are - but there were not very warm suggesting that this sight was not particularly active. The vet has said the injury is old - perhaps we have more of a problem with scar tissue than an active injury.

Interestingly the camera did pick up on a lot of heat on her left hind leg, extending upwards from her hock and across her pelvis, corresponding to a sore over-worked right shoulder. When I first called the vet, it was because I thought the hocks were an issue (as she constantly through me to the left). Perhaps she does have an issue here - but it has gone unnoticed whilst we are looking at the front end. I kinda hope I'm wrong. The last thing sof needs is another dodgy leg! There is also a little bit of heat in her right back foot but I am getting our trimmer out today to sort this the absess burst whole from October has finally reached the floor.

Tonto's results

I was fearing the worst with Tonto's results as he is a bit stiff of late. Surprisingly he does not look that bad in the known problem areas. Yes there is a bit of heat in his pasterns and his hocks, but nothing too troubling. From the thermal activity it seems that his issue might have moved to his left stifle and his back just behind the withers. It is possible he has agrovated these areas trying to protect his already sore joints, it is equally possible that he has developed arthritis in these areas as well. Again the images do not suggest anything terrible, and given he is out of work and on pain management I don't think I can really do anything to address the muscle strain. I could give him physio but it is only likely to move the pain elsewhere in his body. Poor old bugger. His feet are giving out quite a lot of heat. I will get the trimmer to check them again. He has been battling thrush of late so it could be that.

So in conclusion thermal imaging was interesting but inconclusive really. Still glade to have ticked it off my 'tried it' list.
 

Mr T the pin cusion

Yesterday I had the vet out. Both horses looked very nervous as she walked over with needles in hand. I could almost hear Sofies sigh of relief as the vet walked past her to Tonto.

Poor old Mr T. He is just not keeping his weight and sometimes he looks withdrawn in the field - standing with his head lowered. The old joints are clearly not great - he turns like the titanic, the back legs have to do an awful shuffle to get round. I am feeding him a huge amount of feed, but he just keeps getting thinner. Last year he tested borderline positive for cushions disease - a hormone regulation problem common in older horses. He is now displaying more signs of the illness. I wanted to get him checked for cushions and help medicate his stiff joints yesterday - hence the vet.

skinny Mr T

Alas, the vet was in no way successful. First port of call was to take his blood for a health check. Tonto was an absolute saint about it - but the vet could not get any blood out of him. After 6 attempts I told the vet to stop - it wasn't fair on tonto. By this point Tont's was pretty fed up. He - like most boys - is pretty needle phobic so this is quite traumatic for him. The vet decided to give him the catrophen shot in the bum instead of the neck. It was the final straw for Mr T and he lost his temper. Luckily his legs are too stiff to give a vicious cow kick and eventually she did manage to give him the shot.

The vet was then so flustered by her lack of success we couldn't' really have a meaningful conversation about his pain management. She basically said call me back in Autumn for a cushions test. Not helpful when I think he needs help now. Still, we will see what the catrophen does, and if he does not pick up on that I might try and get his hocks injected. In the mean time I will feed him as if he was a cushions horse.

When I gave him his dinner he didn't eat it all. After 20 mins of munching he gave up and left it. Now I am really worried. I wonder how often he does not finish his feed? the bucket is always empty but I suspect Sof will hoover up any leftovers in the field. This would explain why I have one increasingly fat horse and one getting thinner. I have asked for the yard to reduce Tontos feed but to move the ponies to a field with more grass. Really I should split them so that Sof has a restricted diet and Tonto gets more food, but Tonto is taking so much solace from Sofie, and is a nice quite companion for her I am reluctant to separate them just now.

It is tough caring for an elderly animal. I would give my right arm to make Tonto better. Alas there is no cure for old age, and the inevitable terrible decline in latter years. All I can do is make him as comfortable as possible, and love him to the very end.

The trust technique

I came across something called the trust technique on Surrey horse and rider the other day and it caught my attention.

The trust technique is a way of working with animals, particularly helping those with behavioural issues. It is a bit hippyish, but you basically meditate with your horse and the horse chills out. Sounds weird but there were lots of videos of this working with clients horses - and I have noticed that when I am chilled Tonto is super chilled.

Curious, I decided to sign up for their one day video course pass.

I was expected to learn a bit about how to calm nervous animals - but in the end got a several hour tutorial on meditation and an investigation into my many deep routed emotional issues. I found myself unexpectedly crying at my computer on more than one occasion!

The first few videos' were all about how to be peaceful - which means removing all conscious thoughts about the past and the future from your mind and disengaging with your emotional thoughts. The theory is, if you can be truly peaceful, your animal picks up on this and it encourages them to be peaceful. It is really just an extension of the normal stuff we already know - if I am stressed and angry, Sof will pick up on this and become stressed and angry herself ect. The video's gave tutorials on how to disengage with your negative emotions and re-condition emotional responses to remembered events. Very much like CBT (for the psychologists amongst you).

But the videos went on to look at the causes of problem behaviour. They highlighted that it could be for several reasons:
a) the animal has had a bad experience and now has an emotional response which make you upset
b) you have had a bad experience and now has an emotional response which make your animal upset and causes the behaviour
c) both you and your animal have had similar bad experiences and now have an emotional response.

They had an activity called 'thought surfing' which identified which category you were in. Sof and I are in category C. I have a habit of rescuing emotionally damaged animals - I don't set out to, they just seem to find me. It would make sense that I am identifying with them, which causes me to sympathise and try to help them - but it is not something I had realised until this exercise.

At this point I had been watching the course for several hours and was truly exhausted. I went to sleep exhilarated and excited for what the next day would enfold.

Unfortunately the next day brought crushing disappointment. The latter stages of the course moved onto Reki healing. It is something I just can't stretch to. The video's suggested that you can physically 'heal' an animal via your thoughts alone. It also suggested that you could pick up on an animals thought processes, even when you are simply holding a photograph. For me this is too far. Yes I think on an emotional level you can influence your animal by being calm, they will follow suit - but reading their minds and fixing physical aliments? Nope our neural network is not that powerful. Soo disappointing because I had gotten so much from the previous day. I now almost feel silly for believing in the first few modules.

Still just because someone is wrong about something does not mean they are wrong about everything. I think I am going to try and give this meditation thing a go and see if it helps calm Mr T, Sof and my more than mental cat. I'll keep you posted.



me trusting Sof on our 'no reigns' hack last summer

 

The difference between borrowing and owning a horse

Since owning horses is so colossally expensive and time consuming I am often asked by friends why I don't borrow horses instead. Sometime I even ask myself this - especially when I am offered lovely horses such as the fantastic Fin for free.

However, there is a big difference between borrowing and owning. And in actual fact all the fun I had with Fin at the weekend has actually made me miss my horses more. I am particularly pinning to be able to ride Tonto again.

The difference is the bond you have with your own horse. A bond that takes time, often years, patience, persistence and work. You just can't magic that bond with a borrowed horse overnight. I guess that is why it feels so special when you get it. To demonstrate here are the photos of T and I over the years. I think they speak for themselves.

The BFG and the adventures of Fantastic Mr Finley at Frensham Sponsored ride 2016

Whilst this blog is about Sofie – as she is on holiday atm I thought it would be OK to mention some of the who have been covering her hours so to speak.

Last week I was chatting to the lovely Louise (livery at the new yard) about Frensham Sponsored ride on Thursday evening. She had entered and raise a huge amount of sponsorship – but her travel buddy had to pull out due to injury. I casually mentioned that if a horse became available I would happily go with her – not really expecting anything to come of it.

10 minutes later I had been offered a horse and we were going! Wow.

There was then some confusion as her original buddy (lovely girl called Jess) came back and said that she would like to go. I was happy to offer her my place. Whilst I would love to go it didn’t seem fair to go at her expense. But this was swiftly resolved by finding yet another horse and more transport. Fantastic – now we could all go! Even better I was additionally offered another horse on Saturday for extra riding. I couldn’t believe my luck!

Saturdays mount was a lovely BFG – and when I say big I mean HUGE! A 17.3 shire called Frodo – must be fate. He was super sweet – even lowered his head in order to help me put on the bridle – which is just as well as there was no way I could reach his ears otherwise. He is still only a baby – so was a little worried by gateways, horses galloping in fields next to him and such like. But was so honest about the whole thing - only responding with a little trot or look. He is also surprisingly manoverable – which is just as well as negotiating trees can be a bit tricky. I have to admit though – despite his impeccable manners I was a little intimidated by his size. I was shacking like a leaf when I had to climb aboard (via some stairs).

team at the start

Fantastic Finley full of enthusiasm

Sunday I stole a child’s pony – the fantastic Mr Finley. He is the sweetest cob, very relaxed about everything, so relaxed in fact that I was not really very nervous about taking him cross country despite having never sat on him before (see the cross country jitters post to see how scared I was of taking Sof last year). My faith in Finley was well deserved. He was a lovely ride and took great care of me. We only jumped the little fences, as Finley still hasn’t mastered the ‘lift’ aspect of jumping – but that suited me as I hadn’t really intended on jumping in the first place. He is normally only pottered about – so when I got out of the saddle to let him have a blast he responded at first with some confusion ‘you sure?’ then went a little faster and asked ‘really OK?’ then finally letting off the handbrake with a ‘WEE GALLOPING!’. He loved it. By the end of the ride he had fully gotten into the swing of things – and met each line of jumps with great enthusiasm, setting himself happily into cavalry charge mode to the point where it took me some effort to steer him away from the larger fences (his mind is keen, but technique is lacking and I didn’t want to get him hurt on the bigger jumps). 

Our partners in crime had an equally enjoyable time. Jess was on Fleck the super cob – who has ample enthusiasm and skill at jumping – so much so that Jess felt confident taking him over the big fences despite not knowing him well. She is a good little rider, and he is one amazing horse. He is up for sale atm – probably just as well I don’t have any cash lying around otherwise my pony count would go from 2 to 3. Louise took her beautiful Phenoix around – who is clearly born and bred for endurance. He was desperate for us to trot the whole way. Phenoix was not however bred for jumping and Louise was sent into orbit over every fence as he jumped them all much in the style a leaping antelope adopts in long grass. Louise managed to land back in the saddle on all jumps though – had a bit of a near miss at the start – and jump most of the fences. Another very talented little rider.

Super cob Flec showing us how its done - Pheonix has his own unique style, and Finley and I are still looking up style in the dictionary

By the time we got back we were all smiles but exhausted. I went to get T and Sof in – but was so tired by the time I got the field I only managed to remove their rugs and then had to take a little lie down. Still it was very nice just chilling with them in the field on a warm sunny spring day. Had a nice little cuddle with Tonto as well who was feeling particularly affectionate (Sof meanwhile was busy expanding her waistline on grass).

So in summary a great weekend, with lovely horses and a wonderful yard. I am very pleased I made the move to Shamely Green :) I have returned to my desk this morning grinning ear to ear and walking like John Wayne – probably giving a very bad impression to my colleagues!

When life gives you lemons...

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade - or so they say. Haven gotten very down about the ligament lemons Sof and I have had to deal with, I have been trying to look at it as an opportunity, to learn more about ground work with horses.

I have come across something called liberty training - I like it because it is all about a non-forced relationship with your horse.  It is all about communication and gaining trust. Both ponies are bright and sensitive so I think this could really work for us.

To be honest I have to do something as Sof has returned to being a leading monster - combination of not coping with all the changes recently and not being in work I think - and I still have no control over Mr T. Leading in and out of the field currently involves me being dragged by Sof in her bridle whilst Tonto dithers behind us free range - often running away from the llama/baby goat/ his own shadow. So ultimately I have limited control of either horses behaviour and it is making spending time with them a bit challenging. At least they are safe on the new yard.

So watch this space - liberty could be my lemonade

Pastures new

Sorry for the high level of windgy posts of late. Poorly ponies had me stressed. Hopefully this entry will be more upbeat.

At the start of this month I finally decided to be brave and take the ponies to pastures new. We have moved into a yard in Shamley green. Everyone seems very friendly and they are all set up for the assisted livery I need - which should reduce my stress levels significantly.

Whilst my stress levels will drop I have been a bit worried that Sof and Ts stress levels will rise with the change. Poor Tonto only moved to the yard in Ripley 2 months ago and Sof is not a big fan of being away from her girls.

Turns out I need not have worried. On moving day both Tanya and Kate were very kind and helpful and made the move as smooth as possible. Sof loaded easily enough, and Kate's daughter Robin helped me walk Tonto to the yard with his favourite mare and helped load him up (he put up a brave fight). Sofie was an angel throughout. Whilst Tonto was rearing and charging off behind her she just stood and calmly watched as if to say 'what is all the fuss about!'.

Tonto and Sof haven't seen each other for a couple of months, and it has been nearly a year since they were out together. I wasn't sure if they would remember each other. Horses are much smarter than we give them credit - they were instantly at ease with each other and sharing haynets. On arrival they seemed to take comfort in each others company so I decided not to split them. Tonto was very stressed on day one - Sofie was remarkably calm.

They are now out in a nice, dry, flat field together. Tonto keeps Sofie from charging about, as he rarely goes above a mooch, so whilst the field is not the restricted pen the vet advised, I think Sof should get the rest she needs. Both are very respectful of each other, so the yard can feed them together without having to hold them. I was surprised to see that Tonto is the boss in the relationship - but Sofie doesn't seem to mind that much.

I have been able to bring them in and give them a good cuddle. Both are quite happy to come in so long as they can see each other and me. I think that they will relax a bit more when they are more settled. It is so nice to be able to cuddle Tonto and Sof again. Tonto has lost all of his aggression, and Sofie is not as fidgety as before. All is good.

I do still have slight issues leading them. Tonto is an utter woos and as soon as he saw the llamas and goats he turned tail and ran. Thankfully Sofie is much braver and stood her ground. As soon he realise that Sof wasn't coming with - and begrudgingly took himself in after us - admittedly having to do a very unmanly dance to get past baby goats. Sofie is just too enthusiastic - we are back to bridle leading as she tries to go back to her field full pelt. Hopefully once she settles in this will stop. I might try and take some parrelli up with her to sort the ground manners. Realistically I know that this is because she is out of work, she will be much better if I can get back on board.

So over the next few weeks I intend on slowly introducing the ponies to different parts of the yard. I hope to be able to take them both on short walks in the coming weeks. I might also start paralli lessons with them to keep their minds active. I have decided to give Sof until the end of May before I re-evaluate her lamness. But I think we will have plenty to occupy ourselves with until then.