He is a "seat horse" - and passing on a "Thank You" from my BFF

I think we are enjoying the "last hurrah" of the Michigan weather. It's been picture perfect the last days, and we enjoyed scenic trail rides in the woods ablaze with color on the weekend.

Today it was time for our monthly clinic with Maryal. We swung by the barn to pick up Andrea and Simon, and off we went to Linda's and Vic's in Metamora. I couldn't help but point (again!) to their fabulous indoor arena and tell JPs "this is on top of my Christmas List!" Somehow I don't think Santa will fit down the chimney with it, though...

Remy and Simon are excellent traveling partners, and we arrived relaxed and happy. Maryal build on our work from last month. She really focuses on the rider's position in order to help the horse. Today she reminded me to lift my toes, and it was amazing how a seemingly little thing made a big change. By picking up my toes my leg muscles lay differently on the horse and thus making more impact with less work.

Another area we worked on is my core, and how moving it correctly can make the exercises to much easier. For example in the upward transitions, if I pick up my core I give Remy the space to come up in his withers. Or moving my core in the shoulder ins also made quite a change.

Maryal exclaimed "Oh, Remy is now a seat horse!" ("All of Judy's horses are seat horses"). That was a big compliment because it meant that Remy is truly on the seat aids - And may I say, not just Judy's but mine also :-) Yay!

So coming home we found a very fitting surprise in our mailbox from Stephanie (aka Schnucki II): A big box of Hanuta for Judy! (Hmm, none for me???)

Stephanie follows our trials and tribulations closely, and she obviously felt that Judy needed not only a big "Thank You!" but also some sustenance to continue working with us :-)

If you don't do a good job - Mom will take care of the "Bad People"

The timing of the Kentucky event coincided Dolores’ annual vacation. Dolores is our regular farmsitter and knows the idiosyncrasies of our crew quite well. So, who to ask? After all, it’s not just the care of the animals, it’s also everything else (i.e. house).

Friends recommended a nursing student that they had used successfully in the past. It seemed to be a good fit, the parents own a feed store, and she is familiar with horses and other animals. We were fairly certain that all would go well, after all, JP would only be gone three days.

Imagine his shock when he came home to find a sick Saumur in a filthy stall, that hadn’t had any urine removed in three days, just some manure was picked out. (Saumur being sick of course most likely had nothing to do with the condition of his stall). When JP called the girl and asked what happened, why she hadn’t done the stalls she was completely taken aback and denied not having cleaned. In addition only two bales of hay were fed in three days to two horses and a pony. (Never mind that I left detailed written instructions on how much to feed).

To top it off, today her mother called to say we are no longer welcome to shop at their feed store because she didn't like her daughter to be criticized. Good thing that we don’t depend on them, they don’t carry most of our stuff anyway, but still: you can’t help but wonder how their stalls look, and what does that tell the young woman? You don’t do a good job - mom will 'punish' the “bad people”??

Home again - and human hospital staff could learn a thing or two from the MSU VMC

Yesterday I got an excited call from Dr. Kopper, Saumur’s lead veterinarian at the MSU VMC (Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center). She was very happy to tell me that Saumur was ready to go home. Yay! He got a clean bill of health, was bright eyed and bushy tailed*. 

The cause of Saumur's sudden illness is unknown. The fever, signs of colic, and low white blood cell count indicated enteritis (inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract). The tests for Potomac Horse Fever came back negative.  But whatever it was, the massive doses of antibiotics plus fluids etc did the trick.

Saumur apparently got the message that it was time to go home, he loaded without fuss. As soon as we drove into our driveway the “reception committee” galloped up to the barn door to greet him. Saumur had some good rolls (in his opinion he was kept way too clean at the hospital), and then got back to the business of grazing. Teddy stayed glued to his side.

It was our first experience having to take a horse to the MSU VMC. I can honestly say we couldn’t be happier not only with the care Saumur received, but also the positive attitude and concern the veterinarians and staff showed. I received twice daily detailed updates; when we visited everyone was very nice and took great care to explain everything. And I’m sure Saumur was very appreciative of the bed –uh stall- side manners! A big Thank You!! Human hospital staff could learn a lot from you!

Now we need to get Saumur’s gut in balance again as the massive doses of antibiotics have destroyed the good bacteria. Our Equine Homeopath will come today with pre- and pro-biotics. BTW, I thought the cheap and easy way of feeding yoghurt might be a good idea - Not so: horses after six month of age can’t digest milk products!

*The allusion here is to the appearance of a squirrel, which with its beady eyes and bushy tail looks ready for anything

This is not the homecoming I had in mind: Midnight rush to the clinic

JP had hit the road right after Remy's last class; we were both rather nervous because Dolores, our regular farmsitter, is on vacation and we had to use someone unproven. Turns out we had all rights to be nervous: I was somewhere in Ohio when I received a call from JP - he had checked everyone at home right away and found Saumur down in his stall, obviously in great pain.

Luckily, Mike, our vet, lives around the corner. After administering pain meds and fluids he recommended to take Saumur to the MSU (Michigan State University) Large Animal Clinic, as Saumur didn't have any gut sounds. This indicated something was seriously wrong, and the potential need for colic surgery. Good plan - difficult execution: Saumur refused to load for JP and Mike.

I high-tailed home, putting the turbo charger in my car to good use while gritting my teeth that I would be able to fly under the radar of the ever vigilant Ohio State Police. And forget a bathroom stop. I made it home in -let's just say- good time, got Saumur onto the trailer and off we went. Of course, our GPS got us lost on campus, and we had to call the clinic several times for directions. By now it was close to midnight. 

Luckily, a team awaited us and they calmly and expertly examnined Saumur. I got queasy watching the IV line being sewn in, but more due to exhaustion, hunger and dehydration. Luckily it didn't look like he needed surgery. Saumur was put into a stall with the IV fluid bags hoisted overhead.

Update this morning: Saumur developed high fever overnight, they suspect that he might have contracted Potomac Horse Fever (even though he's vaccinated). We visited today and Saumur was a tough sight: Clearly depressed, and almost unresponsive. He is on heavy doses of antibiotics, and hopefully that will help fight whatever infection he has. I love my 'old man' so much -- and I am so thankful that we are able to give him all the care he needs. 

Gaining experience is the name of the game - between 600 dressage horses and a carriage competition

I should have worn a mileage tracker, it felt like I walked about 100 miles at the Kentucky Horse Park with Remy over the last five days. It was sensory overload for the kid: The space, the cold, rain and mud; golf carts whipping by from every direction; and the piece de resistance: Carriage horses and ponies practicing for their marathon at the water hazard next to the Rolex arena. I could feel it whirling in Remy’s head “Why are these horses chased by buggies??”

                                            A cold day at the KHP - Remy had to borrow JP's scarf

All in all, Remy handled it well. His first test netted him his highest score of the season: a 70.8%! Second day he had another good test, but the judge had a different opinion. We were still happy, though, because Remy did a good job. Unfortunately, his championship class was at the Rolex arena. Even though Remy held it together –entirely thanks to Judy!-, the test was marred by mistakes as Remy was just very tense. However, as we were mainly there for education purposes we felt that this goal was met.

As Judy said: Now Remy has lots of stories to tell his friends, especially about his “near death” experience with horses ‘chased’ by buggies.

In desperate need of a drink - KHP Day 2

After navigating six hours of road work and trying to fly under the radar of the Ohio State Police I arrived yesterday at the KHP at about 1 p.m. Kim's status updates on FB didn't help with my anxiety "Three Tornado Warnings!", And then the response to my text inquiry was: "Remy survived the Tornado". Hmm, OK, while scant still good news.

Remy hadn't been out of his stall since arriving Tuesday evening, so needless to say, he was flying higher than a kite once I took him out: Horses! Golf Carts! Tractors! More Horses, Golf Carts, Tractors... Andrea showed me how to put a chain on his halter (I had never done that but yesterday it clearly was an act of self-preservation). So we walked, and walked, and walked some more... for hours on end. Remy finally chilled. By the time I longed him in the early evening,and Judy schooled him he was fine. Big sigh of relief all around.

I, OTOH, was not so fine, a lack of food, water and sleep caught up with me. To top it off, I got lost on the way to the hotel. When I finally made it I was too tired to eat. I got a bottle of Kentucky Ale and fell into bed - only to wake up in the middle of the night with severe leg cramps. Sure, all that walking combined with dehydration will do that.

Today started much better, and Remy schooled well. It was smooth sailing... until I hand-walked him to the Rolex arena and what do we see: Driving Ponies pulling carts through the water complex = Remy on hind legs! We got by unscathed, but I hate to think what what have happened if I would have been on him. So... more walking, and he settled down

I hardly ever felt like I deserved (and needed) a drink like these last two days in Kentucky. Cheers to Kentucky Ale!

On the road... towards big time

Remy and his friends are rolling towards Kentucky. Lisa posted a picture after he had boarded, I swear Remy was smiling! I sure hope he keeps smiling this week, because to me it all sounds rather overwhelming:

600 horses

1780 rides

8 arenas

11 judges

Etc. etc.

I already ‘outed’ myself again as “very German”. Ah, it never ends. This time it was concerning Golf Carts, more precisely renting a golf cart for the week. Most of the competitors are renting carts due to the distances at the KHP. When asked I just shrugged it off, saying I’d rather walk. Emil’s saying “you have two good legs, you can walk” is never far. And walk I did all through my child hood, climbing with him in the Austrian Alps. And walk I still do, even though I now live in a country where people take their car to the mail box.

Good shoes (love my Ariat Performers) and sustenance (German chocolate) are of the essence. Speaking of sustenance: I am packing ‘emergency rations’, as I have learned the hard way that the food offered at horse shows is usually not something I will eat.

The offerings at the larger shows in Germany (ach ja, caught again) are quite different: I can almost taste the “Thueringer Rostbratwuerste”, “Bier vom Fass”, and last but not least Crepes with Nutella and Banana; and Champagne!

Getting ready for boading the Party Bus - luggage for a 1200 pound Muffin

Remy, aka "The Muffin", will be boarding the party bus to Lexington, Kentucky, on Tuesday. OK, some explanation: We called him "stud muffin"* because he is so cute and and also sometimes studly. But technically, he's more Muffin than Stud, hence "The Muffin".

The USDF Regional Championships are held next week at the KHP (Kentucky Horse Park). I usually figure six hours driving time by car to Lexington, so it's much better for Remy to share the ride with friends on the 'bus' than being towed in a two-horse trailer.

Wow, they have 600 (!) entries. It will be interesting to see how Remy is going to handle this. There is quite a contingent from Topline going, 11 horses, plus riders, family members, grooms. I'll be following Remy early Wednesday morning; and until I get there Kim (groom to the stars) will take care of him. From there on out - Meet the groom: Birgit.

So today was packing day: 21 lovingly packed brown bags with Remy's breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A rolling tack box stuffed to the top with a myriad of essentials. Very important is the EquiMedic first aid kit, to my logic: If it's there - we won't need it! And, and, and...

So one of us will have fun with friends on the Party Bus, enjoying home made meals, and plenty of treats...  the other one will drive alone in a pickup loaded to the brim with horse stuff, some power bars by the side,  desperately trying to stay within the speed limit in Ohio and always on the lookout for the next coffee.

Let the good times roll!

*stud·muf·fin

ˈstədˌməfin/

noun

NORTH AMERICANinformal

noun: stud-muffin

1. a man perceived as sexually attractive, typically one with well-developed muscles.

To play or not to play is not the question - the boys turn into Ferkel

Actually, to be more precise, the question is "Let them play or not"?  When I looked out my kitchen window this morning my heart skipped a beat: Chambord and Remy were racing around, leaping in the air, mock fighting each other with their front legs, bucking, racing again ... I could hear their hoof beats in the house.

They definitely had a grand old time, and Saumur and Teddy were just slightly more 'sedate'. Of course, I love it when they have fun. But... with all the effort that goes into their training (and yes, all the expenses) the thoughts of Suspensory Injury! Broken leg! Pulled Tendons! are right with "Aw, look how they enjoy themselves!" To top it off, it was raining and 40F, the more reason for a lot of people to keep the horses in. 

The boys, however, are used to all day turnout. They have a huge covered porch, bedded and clean, where they can get out of the elements. Still, of course, the risk of injury through play remains. However, I could never deny them the joy of being horses. It's a risk that I am willing to take. And research has shown that a lot of injuries happen when horses are stalled or turned out in a small paddock. Life is unpredictable.

The local horse magazine "Saddle Up" featured a really good article by Juliet Getty, Ph.D. "Empty Fields Everywhere - Why Movement Is So Important". She lists all the problems lack or restricted turnout causes. I can say from experience that our boys are fitter and healthier than a lot of their pals. Ms Getty closes her article with "Confining a horse to a stall or small outdoor area without the ability to exercise leads to an animal who is mentally stressed and physically limited. Exercise, walking, grazing, socializing, and freedom to flee from perceived dangers are essential parts of what makes your horse a horse". 

So, while all this is nice and dandy... I am looking at three large and one small Ferkel (piglets) and wonder how to get them clean without turning into a Ferkel myself??