A early update because things are going so well!! Not sure if it's news shoes, Adequan finally kicking in, or a combination, but I've had three great days in a row out of Kai, which hasn't happened in over a month! He's been giving me great work, still wants to give me more when we're done, and follows it up with several bucks and a gallop when I turn him out!I'm back to looking forward to things, and planning shows! We're actually cantering FULL circles now, instead of just a few strides at a time, and I'm getting nervous less and less. We're going to take our first shot at Training test 1 at Paxton, and if that goes well I think we're just going to move up to T-3 and 4, because he really needs busier tests to keep his mind busy. And I do to, for that matter. The two GLASS-ED walk/trot tests are still very good for us, and I think we'll continue with those for a while. I'd still like to be at first level by the end of the summer, but we'll see! Two months ago when Shelby first said "first level by the end of the summer," I thought she was nuts...now it's actually looking like an attainable goal!
But of course, true to fashion, Kai couldn't just be sound for a few days and let me relax; he had to keep me on my toes!! After our first GREAT lesson in a month, I was super excited for the next day. Surprise! I found one bloody mess down his back leg. Two cuts were just on the surface, but one was deeper and caused me to worry a bit - especially when it hadn't clotted several hours later. So far so good - it seems to have scabbed over and no sign of infection. I'm not sure if he caught himself on a nail from his shoes, or something in his stall (I couldn't find hair or blood on anything obvious). Silly boy!
Update: Two days later and we definitely have an infection brewing. Wednesday I pulled him out and found one swollen and puffy leg. Go figure. But Kai...I don't want another vet bill!! Hopefully the antibiotics do the trick and he's back to being well by next weekend!
Another Update: We've had six wonderful, SOUND, rides in a row, and we leave for Paxton at 5:00 tomorrow morning!!
The end of June: Adequan, shoes, and antibiotics may have left me broke, but we have a sound horse!! And Paxton was a huge success! We began bright and early Thursday morning, and poor Kai tripping getting into the trailer. Of course, he didn't want to load after that, and when he finally did he pulled a shoe out. Thank goodness for onsite show farriers - the shoe was tacked on and Kai was just fine. Thursday night stormed and Kai was pretty sluggish after six hours in a trailer, so I didn't get to ride, even though I really wanted to!
Ride times on Friday were 9:00 and 1:00. We decided that since Kai doesn't need much warm-up, and tires pretty easily, we would do a morning workout very early, the let him relax before the tests. At 6:00 nobody else was in the warm-up, and the solo ride was exactly what we both needed. Kai was fantastic, and we put in two great tests!! This was my first ever rated show, and I full expected to be torn apart and eaten alive, but no such thing: we scored a 56.5% and a 52.143% (47% from the judge at C and a 57% from the judge at B) - good for fourth and second places. Our team took home second place. Kai was relaxed and forward, and I couldn't have been happier.
Saturday was just a wonderful continuation. Kai scored a 59% and a 56.190%, and earned himself two red ribbons! He consistently scored 7s on gaits and 6s for impulsion, which is a HUGE improvement over our earlier problems. He showed zero tension in his tests and was just as happy as could be! After looking at pictures back at the hotel, I knew that I needed to ask him for more. I was so worried about holding him back that I was barely even keeping contact. I knew that if I just asked for a bit of bend and kept him on the bit, we'd kick butt on Sunday.
Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned :) For the first time all weekend, Kai had a tense ride during our warm-up on Sunday. This wasn't helped by a panic before my test and issues with the rider before me and a gate keeper who wasn't sure whether to send me into the arena or make me wait. Several people started yelling to hurry in so I wouldn't be DQ'd. When I finally went to enter the arena, Kai said, "no way." He backed himself up and began to panic. If things weren't bad enough, a woman trying to help grabbed a rein and tried to lead us in. She hardly would have known that you can't touch Kai's face!! Kai threw his head way up and I could see the whites of his eyes. I almost scratched, but Shelby came over and ponied us into the arena. Kai followed his barn buddy without a problem, and picked up the trot right when I asked him to. 
Unfortunately, I started to relax too soon. Once we hit the arena, Kai went sideways.He didn't halt at X. He blew through all my aids and picked up speed as he went around the corner. He reared and danced a bit and then bolted into an all out gallop. He was still picking up speed when I finally came off on the gravel road. To make matters worse yet, I landed on the feet of another horse, and she may have stepped on me as well. Kai was fine, and although banged and bruised, I was very lucky and no matter how bad I felt, nothing was seriously hurt or broken (although I may have braces on for a few extra years). We sure went out with a bang!!
Even with our unexpected ending, I'm still so happy with how Kai did while we were down there, and very proud of our performances!
Yep, it's all on video...Click here to see Sunday's 30 second ride
But of course, true to fashion, Kai couldn't just be sound for a few days and let me relax; he had to keep me on my toes!! After our first GREAT lesson in a month, I was super excited for the next day. Surprise! I found one bloody mess down his back leg. Two cuts were just on the surface, but one was deeper and caused me to worry a bit - especially when it hadn't clotted several hours later. So far so good - it seems to have scabbed over and no sign of infection. I'm not sure if he caught himself on a nail from his shoes, or something in his stall (I couldn't find hair or blood on anything obvious). Silly boy!
The end of June: Adequan, shoes, and antibiotics may have left me broke, but we have a sound horse!! And Paxton was a huge success! We began bright and early Thursday morning, and poor Kai tripping getting into the trailer. Of course, he didn't want to load after that, and when he finally did he pulled a shoe out. Thank goodness for onsite show farriers - the shoe was tacked on and Kai was just fine. Thursday night stormed and Kai was pretty sluggish after six hours in a trailer, so I didn't get to ride, even though I really wanted to!
Ride times on Friday were 9:00 and 1:00. We decided that since Kai doesn't need much warm-up, and tires pretty easily, we would do a morning workout very early, the let him relax before the tests. At 6:00 nobody else was in the warm-up, and the solo ride was exactly what we both needed. Kai was fantastic, and we put in two great tests!! This was my first ever rated show, and I full expected to be torn apart and eaten alive, but no such thing: we scored a 56.5% and a 52.143% (47% from the judge at C and a 57% from the judge at B) - good for fourth and second places. Our team took home second place. Kai was relaxed and forward, and I couldn't have been happier.
Saturday was just a wonderful continuation. Kai scored a 59% and a 56.190%, and earned himself two red ribbons! He consistently scored 7s on gaits and 6s for impulsion, which is a HUGE improvement over our earlier problems. He showed zero tension in his tests and was just as happy as could be! After looking at pictures back at the hotel, I knew that I needed to ask him for more. I was so worried about holding him back that I was barely even keeping contact. I knew that if I just asked for a bit of bend and kept him on the bit, we'd kick butt on Sunday.
Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned :) For the first time all weekend, Kai had a tense ride during our warm-up on Sunday. This wasn't helped by a panic before my test and issues with the rider before me and a gate keeper who wasn't sure whether to send me into the arena or make me wait. Several people started yelling to hurry in so I wouldn't be DQ'd. When I finally went to enter the arena, Kai said, "no way." He backed himself up and began to panic. If things weren't bad enough, a woman trying to help grabbed a rein and tried to lead us in. She hardly would have known that you can't touch Kai's face!! Kai threw his head way up and I could see the whites of his eyes. I almost scratched, but Shelby came over and ponied us into the arena. Kai followed his barn buddy without a problem, and picked up the trot right when I asked him to. 
Unfortunately, I started to relax too soon. Once we hit the arena, Kai went sideways.He didn't halt at X. He blew through all my aids and picked up speed as he went around the corner. He reared and danced a bit and then bolted into an all out gallop. He was still picking up speed when I finally came off on the gravel road. To make matters worse yet, I landed on the feet of another horse, and she may have stepped on me as well. Kai was fine, and although banged and bruised, I was very lucky and no matter how bad I felt, nothing was seriously hurt or broken (although I may have braces on for a few extra years). We sure went out with a bang!!