Holiday Highlights

 The holidays have come and gone and 2025 is already rolling right along. 

I spent the morning of New Year's Day scooping poop. I foresee a lot of that for my 2025.

There haven't been a ton of updates from my last post, as I'm still "grounded" (aka, not in the saddle) and healing from the concussion. I've been prioritizing my sleep, hydration, and nutrition to enable my brain to heal as quickly as possible. I have good days and bad days, and I get to start vestibular therapy this week to help improve my balance. 

They'll have me bouncing around like Tessa on a frosty morning in no time. 

A highlight of the holidays was my husband surprising me with a custom-ordered, synthetic buggy harness for Pyro. He prioritized my safety, saying I could stop looking at used harnesses (that might have weaknesses from wear) on Facebook marketplace. Who says romance is dead? As the cherry on top, my father in law sent me home from our Christmas visit with his breaking cart to borrow. 

The Brahma web is stamped to look like leather, but can be hosed off.

The saddle is treeless, but does have spine relief.

Practicing ground tying while I fit it.

His first time wearing a breeching.

This cart is a perfect place to start... once I'm ready to hitch.

For now, it's tucked away under a tarp.

I've ground driven Pyro once in the new harness, but that made me quite dizzy and nauseated, so we'll slowly make progress on that front. Trying to give him soft, steady contact while timing my aids clearly and keeping myself in a safe position was a lot for my brain to juggle. 

Besides that ground driving session, I've been doing as many in hand workouts for both Miss and Pyro over the ground poles as I can manage, even if they only last 15 minutes.

Abbey Road

Missy the hand rail

She was so attentive this session with the mounting block

Lift that thoracic sling!

I delved into the weakness I saw in Pyro's right hind when stepping over the ground poles. 

He gave a clear "no thank you" when I palpated his right groin area.

After looking up how to do a stress test on the area, I (carefully) asked him to load his left groin muscles as a control...

...then compared that reaction to when I asked him to load the right. 

While I don't think anything is pulled, I do think he has some soreness in his right gracilis muscle based on him stepping out of the stress test and exhibiting discomfort on palpation.

The Gracilis (F) is responsible for adduction of the leg, as well as some bending of the stifle and internal rotation of the limb.

My theory right now is that he slips into poor posture habits when out of work (like he was for most of November and December). I think gentle, progressive strengthening exercises (such as stepping over ground poles), paired with a little extra massage and stretching, are exactly what he needs. 

His conformation is such that I think this will always be an issue for him. Consistent, biomechanically correct work is a crucial part of keeping him happy and healthy.

I've also been pairing the ground pole workouts with some proprioception-building tools. One being large ace bandages tied up in a Linda Tellington-Jones method, and the other being an Eagle ProSix equine system I found used, like new. The ace bandages didn't seem to phase them at all, and I asked them to do 15-20 minutes each of ground work while wearing them. 

Missy stepping up square in a halt, wearing the ace bandages

She stepped under herself with that band behind her bum!

"What now?"

Working that right hind

And stretching over his topline

He seemed unperturbed 

The ProSix (which I snagged for a greatly discounted $175, as the new ones are a pricey $325) is definitely more substantial and gave both of them a lot to think about. I introduced it in their stalls and let them simply wear it for 15 minutes while munching their hay. Missy was pretty sure at first that she couldn't move while wearing it. Pyro kept munching like nothing was wrong, but his several comically loud snorts gave away that he was really processing the input. This tool made of wide, elastic bands and velcro for adjustment has been used recently by Coach JT and other fellow students to rehab horses following surgery or injury. I look forward to trying it as another tool to increase the Pinto Party's core strength and encourage them to improve their posture while I'm healing. 

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Somewhat deep, veeeerrry slow thoughts

*SNORTS*

New Year's Day was a bit of a "bad brain day" for me, but I paced myself and managed to get a little bit of time with each pony. 

sweet mare

uneven walk poles this time

ground tying

Over the break, I got to bear witness to my barnmate Jen's first ride on her best baby stallion, Disco!

Zero theatrics, all smiles. Just how we like it.

As well as the infectious joy of barnmate Deb playing at liberty with Ivan. 

Their partnership is really blossoming

Otherwise, I've been enjoying family time, a break from my work laptop, and apple slobbers from very grateful ponies.

I hope you all had a happy holiday, whatever that means to you, and that 2025 is kind to all of us. 

May we be happy.

May we be healthy.

May we find peace.