Is it summer yet?

 

We've been bracing for the next round of frigid weather, which arrived on top of a couple inches of rain. That said, I haven't ridden either horse since the last update, but I HAVE gotten all the chores knocked out that needed to happen before the freeze. Each pony did get lunged to keep them moving when the pastures were way too sloppy for turnout, but I had a headache that day, so no media. 

So. Much. Water.
This is our parking lot on top of the hill.

Missy got suited up in her Back on Track gear when they had to be in for a day. I think it helped her comfort level, and she definitely didn't stock up as much in her hind legs as she would without it. She, however, would like you to know that putting ANYTHING on her hind legs is cruel and unusual punishment. She has always taken offense to hind boots/wraps of any sort, and it is one of her endearing quirks. 

Special Boy got his Special Boy Poll Cap to warm up before lunging. (I do not trust him to keep it on and NOT eat it without supervision.)

In an attempt to stave off Pyro turning into the Baby Demon of Boredom, he got a treat ball full of low-sugar cookies, which he spent quite a bit of time rolling around once he realized holding a leg up like a flamingo didn't magically dispense treats. 

Once the ground had drained/frozen enough for them to go out, we ALL were much happier. 

Pyro Snark-o-meter was reading off the charts.

The many faces of Pyro

Missy: FINALLY

Big girl got her sunglasses (aka fly mask) against the snow glare

I put Pyro's Eagle ProSix on under his blanket to make him work a little harder during his half day of turnout. Check out that uphill canter!

At home, I have nothing but good news. I may have a buyer for Pyro's old Loxley saddle, a new litter of baby show bunnies arrived without incident, and I was officially discharged from vestibular therapy!!!

I'm joining my buns in their happy binky dance! 💃

I had several physical therapy sessions where I was consistently able to do the most challenging exercises with minimal symptom flare up, so I get to take charge of my further progress at home, knowing all the tools and skills needed to do so. This means more saddle time, as well as planning my return to the Crossfit gym starting in March. Until then, I'm working on vestibular, proprioceptive, and joint stabilizing exercises at home each day. (Since I've been out of the gym for several months, I'm starting to deal with pain from unstable, hypermobile joints that I had previously gotten under control. My SI joints are particularly problematic.) There's still a lot of asking myself, "okay, what cards have I been dealt today?", but it brings me a lot of hope and optimism to have these "good brain days". It's like sunshine on my soul to get me through the frigid weather. 

Bonus: my "Sticky-bird" asleep in my hand while I was reading last night

Bonus bonus: Missy casually doing a capriole 1 year ago today.

3 Months Later...

 My last ride on Pyro before Thanksgiving holiday, his respiratory infection, and my concussion was over 11 weeks (nearly THREE MONTHS) ago. 

Photo from 11/24/2024 for proof

I was working on fitting his WOW saddle, and we tried a new bit from Agador's for the first time.

I had adjusted the balance front to back via the air panels.

I wasn't sure how the full cheek would work with the Micklem, but I wanted to offer him some lateral clarity.

Agador's SmoothRide Full Cheek Snaffle (5.25")

I ordered it hoping he'd like the shape of this mouthpiece more than the Myler Comfort Snaffle.

It was the kind of ride where we didn't get a ton of "training" done, but I was feeling out how comfortable the tack changes were for both him and me. It was productive in it's own way, and I thought we might be onto something. Then, shit hit the fan. 

I'm happy/relieved/excited to report that Monday evening I finally put my big girl panties on and swung a leg over Pyro. 

I got some major side eye for sitting on him again.

To his credit, he was a saint the entire 10 minutes we walked around together, with zero shenanigans. Similarly to Missy, I rode him in the super grippy bareback pad plus neck strap, and I didn't miss stirrups as I focused on my balance and proprioception through my seat.

He was quiet enough that Tessa even opted to walk with us.

It was an interesting sensation, being so aware of his conformation, how he swings his back and shoulders, how my pelvis has to move to follow him, the way my legs drape around his sides, and how we balanced together after such a long time. It's a completely different feel from riding Miss.

His bridle had the addition of bit keepers for the full cheek. I'm not thrilled about how the top of the full cheek overlaps with the bridle, but I decided to let him tell me what he thought of it.

We spent most of our time on a loose rein, but I did pick up light contact to work on coordinating my body with steady hands. To my surprise, his mouth was very quiet. There was none of the rooting, pushing, or trying to get his tongue over the bit that often occurs when I pick up contact. 

I'm grateful the neck strap is long enough that I can hold both it and the reins. There were times I feel myself tipping off my balance point, and I could catch myself on the neck strap rather than his mouth.

He was quiet, polite, and attentive the whole ride, and I got "real world" vestibular therapy. My brain was tired, but not wrecked. While I need more data points, it seems he may like this new bit with the addition of keepers. If his mouth stays this quiet and accepting, even with the slight overlap of the top of the cheek piece with the bridle, then I may have found something he's comfortable with. 

Good baby dragon

I'm grateful to have a youngster who can come back from a break of this length and be this settled. As a friend pointed out, it's "almost like [I] trained him well". I'm well aware I've made (and continue to make) mistakes in his training, but if he is at least willing to look after me and provide a safe, steady ride, then I've done something right. 

Thanks, buddy

It Feels So Good Feeling Good Again 🎵

 2 months since I passed out and sustained a concussion and 2 weeks since I had a setback after slipping on the ice, I'm FINALLY having days I feel relatively "normal".

This past week, I made some changes to a medication after talking with my NP who is helping me balance my hormones (I've been estrogen dominant with low progesterone), and I believe it helped me sleep (and therefore recover) better. To go from not feeling safe to drive Tuesday to feeling my old normal 3 days later is a HUGE change. 

I haven't had my Garmin track a sleep cycle this good in a long time.

Friday, I was able to get up, feed and turn out horses at the co-op before work, muck my stalls, do vestibular therapy, work on my laptop, do rabbit and chicken chores at home, and read in the evening without any major symptoms. It was the first morning I've woken up feeling clear headed, with no mental fog. Vestibular therapy exercises that usually wreck me for the rest of the day were easy enough that we spoke about possible discharge next week if this progress holds.

Barn chores with the world's best barn dog and cat

Saturday I woke up with minimal cognitive fog, just enough for me to notice, without feeling like my thought processes or balance were impacted. I was able to once again do the a.m. shift at the stable, then audit 2 lessons my barnmates had.

Tessa was right by my side, learning to be a polite clinic/lesson auditer

Just 2 weeks ago, watching lessons was extremely taxing for my brain. However, this time around I felt no worse for wear, and I was able to jot down some good notes/play paparazzi.

Totally worth it since I got to capture baby stallion's reaction to Jen having the AUDACITY to ask him to go forward. How absolute DARE.

After the lessons were over, I took a moment to check in with myself, grab a snack and water, and decide that yes, I DO feel up to working with the Pinto Party. (*Cue dance party*)

Reliable old mare Missy was pulled in first so I could test out my new Correct Connect double neck strap with the extra long strap added. I tacked her up with the super grippy Brockamp bareback pad and rainbow halter bridle (configured as a side pull so I wouldn't accidentally pull on her mouth). Her WOW saddle was deconstructed to make one that fits Pyro, and that bareback pad feels like Velcro when I ride in tights with silicone grip, so I figured it was a good choice despite the lack of stirrups. Plus, I want the sensation of really plugging into her back to assist with my proprioception as I return to riding.

Tess likes to walk at heel without me asking when I do walk work with Missy. Miss and I don't mind <3

She started out stiff but surprisingly forward, a bit of a live wire after a 2 week break from any work. The ability to hold the neck strap in both hands along with the reins gave me a TON of confidence to handle her marching walk.

I was pleased with how well she rode in basically just a halter.

Once I relaxed and realized my brain wasn't drained from just walking, I started working on coordinating my body to ask for shoulder in and haunches in. We did a full 20 minutes of walking together, and I couldn't be more grateful for my wonderful mare.

As I watched the Pivo video later, it was interesting to note how active her mouth was with no bit.

Lots of tongue movement 

She demanded her usual tribute of peppermints with a combination of soft nickers and haughty glares, and I sent her back out to rule her domain eat hay with the geldings with a loving pat and heartfelt "thank you".

You can just hear her saying, "less pictures, more peppermints, peasant".

Aware that I was riding (pun intentional) the high of getting back on Missy, I once again took a moment to pause, check in with how I was feeling, have a snack and hydrate... Before deciding it was within my ability to work with Pyro too!

Trying the ProSix under the surcingle this time... I might try it the other way next time.

While I don't have the confidence to get on him at the moment, I think our time is well spent using the Eagle ProSix while lunging him in (fairly loose) side reins. He has been out of consistent work for basically 3 months now, and I want to help him build the right muscles and increase his understanding of accommodating the parameters of the bit and reins, without the added inconsistency of my hands at the moment.

First time in the arena in 2 weeks 

His mind was everywhere but with me

This was not the first time he passed by this corner...

He was definitely disconnected and a bit of a brat at first, testing my boundaries as I brought him in and got him ready, then looking for things to spook at as I warmed him up. However, it didn't take long once I clipped up the side reins and put him to work for him to settle in.

Finding a steady, forward trot

Figuring out how to move with the side reins

Could he be, *gasp*, reaching into the contact?!?

Morgan head below withers in side reins... Hell must have frozen over

Listening. I guided him mostly off verbal cues.

LOVE how he was working over his back here.

I focused on working him though transitions, and by the end he stopped rooting at the bit and hollowing when I'd ask for a change. The final halt was EXTREMELY steady for him. Usually he roots or flings his head or whips his head around to look at me.

We ended on this halt, unclipping the side reins and walking together for the cool down.

I was VERY impressed with where we were at the end of the lunging work, and I suspect the time "turned out" has been good for him. Coming back into work with a fresh mind and the ProSix giving postural cues may be just what this coming 6 year old needs.

After 30 minutes (including walking in hand for the warm up and cool down), Pyro looked like he would be less of a pest to the other horses for the rest of the afternoon... And I was still functioning!

Tessa: "What's next, mom?"

While I am certainly physically tired after so much activity, my brain seems to be handling it well. I'm feeling overwhelmingly *relieved*. Every brain injury is different, so there's no timeline for getting "better". It takes a village to sort out what a specific individual needs to heal, and it seems like my health care team are on the right track. Healing isn't linear... But I'm healing regardless.