Missed photo op

Today, while my camera battery was charging and the sun was shining, the horses got their first taste of spring pasture!

I am always nervous about introductions, knowing how much damage one kick can do. So we turned out the three "old-timers" in the arena to run off steam and put Lance in the pasture. Once everyone settled down, the three got to join Lance. Fortunately, the grass kept everyone's attention and there was no ugliness. So far, so good!

Naked lunging

My handsome Chippendales dancer ;-)

Rick asked me to lunge Lance without saddle or surcingle to see if the lump still occurs. "How could it?" I thought, but complied anyway. And you know what? The answer is not conclusive! There did seem to be something, maybe a thickening, along the right side of his spine in the problematic area afterwards, but I can't be certain it wasn't there before starting. Plus, Lance had several other bumps (bug bites?) scattered over his back today. I'm thinking I need to replicate this experiment and palpate more thoroughly "before" in order to more accurately compare "after."

Rick said he might be able to ultrasound Lance's back tomorrow, but the cobbler's children know better than to get their hopes up about shoes.

Sleuthing

I got back from Texas Monday in time to help with evening chores. I said Lance's name and his beautiful head shot up and he came right to his stall door. Yep, I like him every bit as much as I remembered. :-)

Yesterday I turned him out in the arena for a couple hours to roll and run and play. Today I tacked him up with lunging surcingle and worked him in side reins. At first he had a lot of energy (for him), but by the end I was having to remind him that it's his responsibility to maintain whatever gait I have asked for.

When I pulled his tack off, there was a slight bump on the right side of his backbone in the same ol' place. Rick says he's going to ultrasound Lance's back to investigate further, but I don't know when he'll get around to that. I've called and left a message for the saddle maker/fitter I've used, but still don't anticipate him making a trip north anytime soon. Laura has offered to bring me her saddle with the interchangeable gullet to try, and Theresa just sent me photos of an Ortho-Flex dressage saddle she has for sale. The latter sent me searching through old emails to see if I still had any info on an Ortho-Flex saddle I tried on Russell years ago . . . and I found something very interesting. Almost nine years ago I sent the inventor of the Corrector (AND Ortho-Flex) the photos below, showing a swelling I was seeing on Russell's back after every ride when using the Corrector.

Wow, that is eerily similar to what I am seeing on Lance's back after riding!

In his email response, Len said, "I know what the problem is, thanks for the pictures. Give me a call and keep riding with whichever combo balances you best concerning shims or not. Keep riding with the Corrector and expect the lump. I'll explain when you call, it's easier that way." I do not remember what he said when I called; I do know that I eventually discontinued using the Corrector on Russell because he seemed happier without it.

Last year I used the Corrector for every ride on both Larry and Horton for months, and neither of them ever got a bump or showed any other adverse reactions to the Corrector. How very strange that both Russell and Lance, two very different horses with very different back conformations, have reacted to it in the same way years apart!

To be continued....

Worrisome

I wore my kelly green Polarfleece breaches today so Lance wouldn't pitch pinch me. ;-)   They felt good on this brisk and breezy day.

We had a good schooling session; his canter is getting steadily better – in spite of an apparent problem with my saddle's fit.

For the last week or two – at least; I'm not sure – I've noticed a bump on Lance's spine when I untack him, just beyond the base of his withers pretty much at the lowest point of his back. It's not sensitive to palpation, but it can't be a good thing. The lump goes away after a few hours, but comes back during every ride. I've tried different saddle pads, I've used my fleece numnah instead of the Corrector, I've tried various combinations of shims in the Corrector, but the lump is still there after each ride.

I'm afraid I may need a different saddle, but my favorite saddle fitter/maker isn't going to be in the area anytime soon. I don't want to embark on a saddle hunt without his input (along with my husband's and my favorite instructor's). Neither do I want to cause any damage or discomfort to Lance, this horse I am attached to beyond reason. He doesn't deserve that; no horse does. I'm thinking being gone for a week may be a good thing....

Working on canter

With two-plus months of conditioning and two shows at Intro Level behind us, it's time to focus on Lance's canter work. He is relatively obedient about picking up the canter, but prefers the left lead and sometimes takes it when asked for the right lead. He also has to be encouraged to stay in the canter, which is partly due to lack of strength and balance, I'm sure. He was a stall-potato when he came, after all! Now that I'm cantering him more, he is actually breaking a sweat occasionally – barely.

Yesterday I had Brian video some canter work, and was surprised to see that it doesn't look as bad as it feels. It's nothing like Don Juan de Hus' canter, but visualizing the canter of the "best four-year-old in France" when I ride Lance certainly can't hurt!