You thought you were bored, waiting for another post!

Just think of poor Pip, who hasn't been ridden since about October 5! The strangles are finally gone. Of course the final test came back negative, which really tells me nothing at all. Just that he hasn't tested positive for a virus he had. But more than that, I left town and country in November, and only just got back from Australia on Tuesday. It was great, thanks!

But while I was out carousing on the bottom of the world (tho it felt like the top of the world to me!) Pip was languishing in his pasture. Yeah, that's right, languishing. Nothing to do but chase other horses, run around, buck, fart and eat. Yeah, poor baby.

And when I took him out to groom him today, he let me know just how horrible it had been for him, bored out of his mind on 3 acres with 5 friends. It was like he was 7 months old again. No discipline on the lead, dancing around while I'm trying to get some of the crusty mud off, biting at me when I clean his hooves. It was a bit of a circus, til I laid down the law, and he apparently remembered that I was that lady who put the very cold thermometer in him, and would do it again if he didn't shape up!

Then it was smooth sailing. However, I think that we'll start the riding process with some longing and long lineing when I begin riding again Monday!

Stay tuned!
Next week I'll ride Pip, then tackle the new year's plan!
I don't resolve anymore, it's too depressing. Now I make a plan!

The effecacy of testing

I'm naming the blog this because the results are back on the tests. I know I said he had strangles, but that's what the vet told me after the blood test; the blood work came back that night, high WBC and all that indicative of infection, large swollen glands indicated strangles as the infection (that's equine distemper, BTW). The swab, however, came back negative for Staph. equi, the organism actually responsible for strangles. Go figure. In fact the swab came back negative for growth, which is pretty unusual, as there's aways tons of flora groing in your nose and throat passages. So does he have a virus? Or just some bacterial infection that doesn't grow on general growth plates? I don't know. The vet will be out this afternoon, so I'll find out then, I hope!

Happily, the abscesses have burst (I can't tell you how nasty that was) and he's feeling better, for sure. For whatever reason, he really doesn't mind having his temp taken, as in, really doesn't mind at all, and in fact may find it a mildly pleasant experience. He will probably go on antibiotics now, as he has these holes in his head. (Ok, they're under his jaw, but it's still his head, technically!) And I'm hoping he'll be ok to get outta his space and back with the herd in a few. I'm guessing it may well be a few weeks for him to be able to mingle, Fiona, one of Amanda's horses, seems to be getting ill as well. Total bummer.

Strangled by strangles!

Ok, the vet was out, did blood and throat swab. It's strangles. Damn. I'm just hoping that I got Pip away from the other horses in time. He's got it and there's not much to do about that but let it run its course for now. But the others may not get it if we're lucky. I did feel terrible because how could he have gotten this? It turns out that a barn about a quarter mile away has a case/epidemic. I'm not sure how long it will take the other horses there to get it, but from what I've read, I'm guessing that they will all probably get it. You can't move them once they get it, as it's so dang contagous. So Pip is now in official quarratine.

I wrote last time that his lymph nodes were big, well I had no idea, they are huge now, like two golf balls crammed between his jawbones. His neck and all along under his jaw and chin are swollen. His breathing is getting a bit stenorious, and I've been listening to his chest, but that seems clear so far. I'll take my stethescope out there next time I go. It's just such a bummer. No one is allowed near him but me for now. I do everything, because I'm afraid that we'll spread it otherwise. I'm just glad that I'm not really in the habit of petting Amanda's horses very much. I really hope her foal doesn't get it.

Well i have all the disinfectant I could find out by his stall. He's quarrantined, and I have left my gumboots out there, and I won't go near the house or barn at all. If I need anything I call Amanda and have her bring it out. I am freaked that he might spread this to her horses. If any horse can pull through this, it's Pipper. He's tough. And I have to say, every time I go out there, he nickers at me, and follows me around, and eats quite happily. I can't tell if he just feels comfortable around me, and likes me best of all humans (which is what I hope, really). But he probably just hopes I can make him feel better. And I hope I can too. I'm putting hotpresses on the swellings, hoping to make them burst. He's not as bad as some photos I've seen, but it's still just the first week, really. I think it takes about a week or so to do it's thing, if it doesn't get complicated. I pray it doesn't get complicated, I can barely afford a healthy horse....

This last week Pip hasn’t been well. It started with him not finishing breakfast, which if you know Pip, is certainly unusual. He’s like my little Electrolux, sucking up all the hay he can get his lips on. But not on Thursday, he was looking like he just felt dumpy; he just sort of moped around. However by about 3 that afternoon he seemed to be feeling fine. I didn’t think it was colic, he didn’t have that internalizing look to him, and he didn’t mind me touching his belly, and had motility sounds. I decided to wait a day. The next day, also blah, so I called the vet. Based on my explanation and his elevated temperature, she said he probably had a viral infection, and to keep him cool, and give him banamine (horse aspirin, basically). So I did. She also told me that it would probably take about 4-5 days to pass, and he should be back to normal. Ok, no problem.

Also, as a tip to bring down body temperature, put an alcohol soaked towel on a horse’s back. Worked a treat! I used isopropyl, not vodka, BTW.

Alright, back to Pip. So yesterday the farrier was out, and there’s Pip in the crossties, and he’s drooling like you would not believe, like right down to the ground. So after the farrier leaves, I call the vet, because now I can see that Pip’s neck and lymph nodes under his jaw are totally hard and swollen. He’s eating and drinking, but certainly it’s not comfortable. I also put up some panels so that the other horses can’t come close to him, as this may be strangles! Crapo.
The vet is coming out in about an hour, so I’ll keep you posted what happens. We will probably put hot presses on him to get the abscess to burst on its own. They are also going to do a throat culture to see what’s growing, but I’m guessing he’ll go on antibiotics as well. Damn.

Damages!

So I was told recently by a firend that they do not understand why I am so bruised and injured. I have a whopping bruise on my leg from getting hit by a tree on the mountain ride, another bruise from being hit by the same tree when we were going the other way (yah, I know, I should have seen it the second time, I'm not that bright, apparently). I have blisters from wearing the wrong pants the other day and now I have a huge welt on my shoulder from a hornet that stung me when I rode through their little hornet procession.
Horseback riding is dangerous, which is why I always wear my helmet. Obviously I need a body protector too.

But I'm happy to report that Pip has no injuries, didn't bruise his feet on the mountain ride, didn't get knocked by any trees, and wasn't stung by a hornet. That last one is important, becuase we both would have been hurt if he'd been stung. I was certainly pretty frantic to get the damn thing off me, I can't imagine the antics that Pip would have used to get both me and the hornet off him.

So as long as I have health insurnce I'm happy to take the injuries for Pipper.

Here's Pip in the mountains. We rode into the wilderness yesterday. It was Pip's first mountain ride, and let me just say he exceeded expectations! He lead most of the way to the meadow here (about 5 miles from our start) and only had a few minor spooks. The biggest problem was that we need to work on leg yeilds so that I can avoid large trees thwacking my legs.

The second best thing about the ride (after Pip being fabulous) was the very very good idea of bringing beer with us so we could have a drink when we were done! We usually ride in to this meadow, untack and let the horses have lunch, and we have a snack. Next time we will bring a beer for us.
Overall it was a great experience, and one that Ihad actually been dreading. Before Pip, I had a wonderful OTQH who was beautiful but a bit unpredictable. He had dumped me many a time on the trail; some good reasons some non-existent, as far as I could tell. He was tall and willowy, more TB than QH, but just gorgeous. But a really long way down from 16.3, I tell you. I am glad I always wore a helmet. But back to Pip, I was a little freaked out that I would have a crazy unpredicable experience with him, as that's kind of what I'd learn to expect from Eli. And the cantering we'd done in by the river had been strong and bucky before the training. I honestly hadn't ridden a lot after Pip was in training, as his mouth was too badly injured from the summer sore(almost gone!) and I didn't feel completely safe alone with the hackamore. But as previous posts indicate, I did ride some. Saturday before the ride, I went out with Amanda, Phil and their horses, and we had a great ride. Canter, hand gallop, trot, it was all good.

So when when I mounted yesterday at the trail head, I was nervous, I tells you. Pip is good, he has a very rideable spook, if that's possible. But he was pretty keyed up and was looking at everything, and not really paying attention to me. As we started, he had to lead, absolutely had to. Didn't want anyone in front of him, and he walked fast. Fast enough that Tango had to break into his Tennessee Walker flat walk to keep up. And he stayed in front, almost the entire time; and he didn't really spook at all. (jus once when he went after some cows who, in running away, kicked a bit) After a little while I had enough confidence to just let Pip do his thing, which when you have steep rocky trails, is really the safest way to travel. On our way back, he was actually travelling on a loose rein, even when cantering, and was really listening to my legs. I was still in the hackamore, but I was sitting up, sitting still and not worrying. Pip wasn't too worried either. But we do still have to work on leg yeilds at speed, because this bruise is nasty!

When we got back, we did have beer, and the horses got to rest up a bit before we hauled them back to the barn. We'll be going again in a few weeks, probabl doing on overnight or two (yay!) to get in lots of mountain riding. It was such fun, I can't wait to have another great ride! I'd recommend it for all horses and riders. Except for that tree, which has marked me, hopefully not forever!

The Arrival

Well, it seems that Pip and I have finally arrived! We went out on a trail ride and Pip was great. One buck getting the canter, but I think this is due to the saddle somehow. Either the latigos are bugging him, or it's not fitting just right. Which is a drag, since I'd had it made for hi, but you know, that's the joy of putting a static thing on a living, dynamic animal. But I think my Aussie saddle will fit him just fine.

We're going up into the mountains next weekend, so we'll see how the two of us do with hills, dales and rocks!

working on nothing

Today I just hung out with Pip. I took him into a paddock, so the other horses wouldn't bother us, and we just hung out. I got some hay and leaves out of his mane, and generally fussed over him while he ate home grown carrots and had me treat the sore on his mouth. That particular sore is taking it's sweet time going away, but it looks a lot better.

But it was nice not having to make him do anything, except enjoy my company. Since Pip doesn't live on my property, often when I interact with him, it's for riding, and not much else. I was thinking about how nice it would be to have him live with me, so I could just see him, and realized that he isn't so far away that I can't be doing this more often.

So after I was done making him look oh so pretty, I pulled out the book, sat on a bucket (it was upside down) and read my book. I did read a few paragraphs to him, but he didn't seem to care either way. I have been trying to get in better shape for riding, as I believe that I'm on the heavy side for him. So instead of bonding through riding, I rode my bike to the barn, and he and I just did our own thing together. He got scratches when he came by me, and I got to pet that softy soft nose. It was a nice time.

I'm not a trainer by any stretch of the imagination, but I do think it helps me learn to be realxed around him, and vice versa. He's actually a very nice horse, and when I was only riding him, I thought of him as kind of stubborn and hard-headed. And he can be. But I'm learning that he can also be a sweet companionable horse who really seems to enjoy human company.

I'm happy.

breeding for better results

So I was just looking through Pip's pedigree on the all breed pedigree query site. I clicked on the photos and wow, some of his ancestors are fugly. Like not breeding quality, from the photos there. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/index.php?h=sandstone+mirage. click on the link in the top left and open photos.
It's amazing he turned out ok. It's amazing some of those horses were bred a few of them look like giraffes or okapis! And there's a lot of yaks too. As far as I can tell, most were not back yard breeders, they were big shots breeding pretty quality winning horses. But man, so, so fugly. If you follow Fugly Horse of the Day, these horse's breeders would get creamed. But it's a very good showing of horses getting better looking and better built. the photos are in order, but it's a little confusing, because they tend to follow a line, and jump to the next, so it starts with his sire, then his sire's tippy-top line, then his granddam and her top line, then the dam lines.
And WTF, why was someone breeding AQHA to Haflingers? What was happening in the 70's that someone thought that was a good idea? How bizarre to think Pip has a Haflinger great grand sire. odd. Not that I can tell, but it might be why an appaloosa has such a nice long mane and tail.

Meeting expectations

I've discovered something about myself. I get exactly the results that I expect from Pip. When I got him, I didn't actually know what to expect, he was a weanling, my first, and I had never met him. I knew he'd lived in a pasture with a little herd of mares and foals; that he wasn't halter or trailer broke. I wanted a horse that was completely untouched. That was Pip. When he got off the trailer he didn't look anything like I'd imagined. The breeder had sent photos of him when he was about 3 weeks old, and he looked good, compact, leggy (what three week old isn't?) and composed.
Off the trailer he was 6 months old and shaggy as a highland cow. Only a very pale, buttermilk buckskin-colored highland cow.
For a weaned on the ride, never been haltered, never been in a trailer, never been really handled much stud weanling, he was surprisingly calm. I unloaded him from the trailer, and we walked down the drive, and right into his pen. He didn't whinny or pull or paw or anything. I checked his papers to make sure they hadn't gelded him without telling me. But no, he was fine.

And he was pretty fine with everything. He didn't like the bit when I introduced that, but that's not unusual. He made all the icky faces and tried to spit it out. But saddles, he took in stride. Me getting on him, no problem. Walking around with me on him, not a big deal.
What was a big deal, for me was going faster than a walk. I got all stiff and scared and worried, and I realize now, he did too! I've only come off him once, when we were cantering in the arena, and he either tripped, or did a correction buck, and I went off over his shoulder. Pretty classic case of dump the monkey. I'd been perched forward and clinging like any good primate would when scared. And I was looking at the ground, and there I went.
Well, this summer, I sent Pip off to a very good trainer here in Albuquerque, and it worked wonders. For me as well as for him. More for me, I think. I got lessons, and those gave me more confidence than I can describe. The up shot is, Pip is back at the barn here, and I'm a happy relaxed rider, so far! I'm planning on taking him down to the trainer and getting some jumping lessons, so I don't do me and Pip the wrong thing by screwing him up.

I've learned a few things from the Fugly Horse of the Day and Mugwump Chronicles about the usefulness of outside help. I'll keep you posted.

trail riding

So I took Pip out for one of our first alone trail rides. We'd gone alone over the winter, and about a mile from the barn he stopped and grew roots. Would not move for love or money. I'd had to get off and lead him down the trail a way, then we had to practice standing for mounting. So I was a little concerned that this would be a similar day. I was worried that he would actually remember the location of the last full stop.
But he was great. A little spooky at the chickens, and really keen to see other horses, but for the most part, he was fine. One lady with tiny annoying dogs off the leash did come close to losing one of those dogs, but Pip contained himself. Normally he is quite aggressive towards dogs, and has been known to attack them. Happily, Henry the pug lives to annoy other trail riders!

I have to say, I have dogs, and I love to go out in the wilds and let them off the leash. However, they do come when I call, and I do not let them approach strange people or horses, if they are not on the leash. It makes me crazy to see people who let their dogs offleash, and have absolutely no ability to get them back on again. This lady started calling her dogs to her when she was about 100 yards from Pip and me. Those dogs *never* once went to her. They ended up walking my me (with Henry barking) while Pip and I stood on the trail. Madness!

Ok, back to Pip and me. So we walked a lot, because I think I was a little more worried than he was. But we did trot a bit, outward it was a lot less energetic than going home. We even cantered a tiny bit, but he was on alert, and seemed to feel more comfortable trotting, or just walking quickly.

Overall it was about an hour and a half, along the ditch, then over two bridges, and into the woods near the river (we call that the Bosque, here in NM). He went right through the water, jumped alittle jump, it was great. It's the first real trail ride I've had alone on him, and it was fantastic! whee!

summer sores

I don't know if any of you know about summer sores, but let me tell you, they are awful! Just nasty disgusting sores that for Pip, are just hard hard hard to get rid of. He's allergic to habroma worms, and when his skin swells in reaction, they dig in further. Nasty! sooo gross, so now I am thinking about moving to where there aren't any flies. Or not too many other horses. Like dead center NM, where only a few cow live, and no habroma.

What sort of weirdo peculiarities does your horse have? I'm curious about the non-medical as well as the medical.

First and foremost....

So I've decided to start this blog as a place I can record some of my trials and tribulations with training my 5 year old Appy/Colorado Ranger horse, Pip. aka Sandstone Mirage
I have had Pipper since he was 6 months old, it's like he was a mail order horse. I bought him off the internet, equine.com, for not too much money at all. The breeder was in vet school at Perdue, and liquidating her herd of QH/Appys. I live in Albuquerque, NM. So suffice to say, I only had photos and phone calls to get a sense of him. His Dam and sire are rather mediocre, but their parents were quite the thing. You can look them up under Sandstone Mirage on Allbreedpedigreequery. but his photos were nice, and he looked cute. Plus, my friend where I woud be boarding this fuzzball, had a weanling TWH, and I realized that it was the perfect time to sieze the buckskin, or, Carpe Pipkin.

Now you may be thinking, He's 5, so WTF? why isn't his training done?
Well, I don't have a good answer for that, except when I got Pip, I had an OTTB that I was reprogramming, and so Pip got ground manners and all that good stuff, but no real riding for a while. I sold the TB, Eli, (to a wonderful forever home where I get to check up on him and he gets more spoiled every day) and finally had time for Pip. I had my on business and worked two other jobs, so time was rather precious.
Also, i decided as a re-rider with no money for training, that I could stand to wait a bit, let Pip grow up. Afterall, I'm not trying to win any futurities, and he is stubborn.
Oh, don't worry, I backed him when he was three. He's been ponied out on the trail since he was 6 months old. He trailered, tied, was great for the farrier and vet, I could tack himup, longe him, ground drive him, all that good stuff. I just hadn't ridden him much.
Last year we went out on the trails a lot, through the river and the woods, over hill and ditch bank. He was ok, not great, not terrible. I'm from a H/J background, and as a rather "phlegmatic" kid, I got all the hot crazy horses. Pip ain't that. But I think I was making him crazy. So we took a break for the winter.

So this year, the job is beginning to pay off, I dropped one of the jobs, and I now have the time to ride. And pay for some proper training!
He's had 2 months of training, with me getting lessons on him. We had to stop the training early, as Pip is prone to summer sores, and the training barn was not the best place for me to deal with those. So I moved him back, and I'm riding in a hackamore til the sore on his mouth clears up.

The bad news is he has summer sores, and will always be prone to them. the good news is, for the first time using a hackamore, he was fine. He didn't respect it as much as a bit, but he listened. We're relearning together, how to undo all those bad habits we fell into before. It's hard work, but here we are!