Teddy Log: #160 - Teddy is doing well

Teddy Log: #160 - Teddy is doing well: After the drama of a couple of weeks ago I have been treating Teddy's back bumps with Iodine and they are doing really well, almost clear. I...

#160 - Teddy is doing well

After the drama of a couple of weeks ago I have been treating Teddy's back bumps with Iodine and they are doing really well, almost clear. I have had another person look at him and yes he is weak in the back but, as has been said by many people, this will improve when he gets into regular work. I have decided to stick to lessons in the place I am most comfortable and supported so I will continue to do my lessons with Kim. I am not dismissing other options but I have seen results in Teddy and I do know my own horse. I think this is part of the problem, people think they know him better than I do. His head tossing is a nervous condition without a doubt, its got nothing to do with his back. In short, though I had hurt feelings, I'm over it and will do this for the reasons I started doing it in the first place - To be with horses, which I love, to learn and above all have fun! I'll be back in the saddle this week working on strengthening both of us.

Teddy and I are going to show them all!

Teddy Log: #159 - This is what the bumps look like - Any idea...

Teddy Log: #159 - This is what the bumps look like - Any idea...: I've been cleaning Teddy's bumps every day (except last night when I was a uni) and there is very little change. Improving slightly. They do...

#159 - This is what the bumps look like - Any ideas?

I've been cleaning Teddy's bumps every day (except last night when I was a uni) and there is very little change. Improving slightly. They don't bleed or anything and only one is large, about the width of a pencil. When I pressed down on that one today he did go a little weak in the back and then he stuck his head up from his feed and just looked straight ahead with his teeth together and dribbling the water he had just drunk. He probably stood like that for a good 30 to 40 seconds. I had to go over and have a scratch and chat with him before he went back to eating. Maybe he heard something in the distance that I didn't and he was listening out for it, who knows.

Here are some photos of the bumps. You can click on them to enlarge them.  Let me know if you know what they are. There are 5 on his back,  all around where his saddle seat sits.

Teddy Log: #158 - poked and prodded

Teddy Log: #158 - poked and prodded: Yesterday I gave Teddy a good look over, he was poked and prodded with pressure all down and around his back and he didn't flinch at all. H...

#158 - poked and prodded

Yesterday I gave Teddy a good look over, he was poked and prodded with pressure all down and around his back and he didn't flinch at all. He's also walking fine. He does however appear to have three small bumps on one side of his back that would be under where the saddle is. I pressed on them and he looked around but that was it. They aren't open sores or anything. They may well be from dirt as he hasn't been washed in ages, or they may be insect bites or something else and this may be getting aggravated when the saddle goes on. Particularly when he's sweating. He also spooked yesterday and turned on his heels and ran without a problem and that evening I was up the top of the hill (small hill incline) taking apples to the cows when Teddy decided he wanted to see what was going on. He could have walked around to the flat to get to me but he just trotted up the hill. He didn't seem to be in pain at all. That doesn't necessarily mean he isn't in pain but the degree probably isn't as bad as first thought.

I did the same pressing thing again today but with a lot more pressure and still no reaction. I cleared and treated where the bumps are just in case its that and I'll continue to do so until they go away.

I wish we had taking his tack off on Saturday after the ride to see where the soreness was coming from. When I was watching him playing with the horse in the next corral I was thinking that he wasn't showing any soreness at all and wouldn't he still present after an hour long lesson where he was in pain with every fall of the trot? In the past my regular instructor has said to me in that he has a weak back and that would be improved with work. Yesterday the rally instructor said he was working fine when I followed the instructions she gave and that when I looked between his ears he carried himself well and lowered his head well. I'd have thought they would have said something if they thought something was wrong, after all they are watching the horse the whole time.It was put to me on Saturday like it was a major problem, maybe the woman telling me was unintentionally over stressing the point.

I'm also confused about this "muscle wastage". I have looked at photos of him when I bought him and he looks exactly the same. Seriously exactly the same. I've looked a pic online and at horses in my area that are thoroughbred types (Teddy is a stock horse but they are derived from TB and he looks like a TB to me) and their backs look like his too. Maybe I don't know what I'm looking for, but to me he looks absolutely the same as he always has!

I think its important to note that I tend to over think things so this is why I stress out. But in my defense I just want to be sure that Teddy is as happy and healthy as he can be. Anyway if Teddy doesn't improve, and I'll only be able to determine that with someone else watching me ride, they I will call a vet to check him.

Teddy Log: #157 - Disappointed and Confused

Teddy Log: #157 - Disappointed and Confused: Today I went across the road to take part in my first rally with the riders club. I've been a member since I moved here but I've never actua...

#157 - Disappointed and Confused

Today I went across the road to take part in my first rally with the riders club. I've been a member since I moved here but I've never actually participated in these rallies, I've just observed or taken photos as I didn't have a float and Steve was worried that something would happen to me if I walked Teddy down our road to the reserve in the weekend traffic.

So I had a joint lesson with an instructor I had never been with before. Teddy was in a new environment so he was hyper and I wasn't quite sure if my bruising had healed, so I was a bit nervous. It took me a good half hour to calm down Teddy with ground work as he was quiet flighty and even rears up a few times but we got through it. Then when I mounted he had a few half-hearted attempts at bucking me off! Half-hearted but for real, so that was a surprise to me. We walked through that then the lesson began.

I was quite confused by the instructor asking me not to do things that my regular instructor tells me to do. With this instructor it was all about the head and knees. I wasn't allowed to move my head at all, even when turning, which is different to what I normally get told, and I wasn't to use my body weight at a slight tilt to tell Teddy the direction I wanted to go, I had to do it with the opposite knee.  I had already formed a habit with my regular instructor so I was spending most of my time correcting these things to the new way. It took some time and I was still a bit sore, particularly after a while, but I could really see a positive difference in the way Teddy carried himself; particularly his head. It was a very good lesson. The instructor was thorough and attentive.

When I got off Teddy all the other riders had been talking and one was waiting around to tell me how sore Teddy was. I knew he had a bit of soreness but they went to the extent of telling me I shouldn't be riding him at all. She even implied that they thought he must have a very old back injury and I should consider selling him or putting him out to pasture! This shocked me as I didn't think it was that bad. I heard this and all the other stuff being said about his back and his behaviour issues being a result of his back and I felt really deflated and sad.

I was watching Teddy socialising with one of the other horses in the corral opposite him and he was calm and peaceful. But the bucking is a clear indication that he has some soreness. To what extent I really don't know. When riding with my regular instructor I'm told that he works his way through it. Today I was told by onlookers that he flinched each time I rose to the trot. I haven't ridden since the last time I was with my regular instructor, approximately three weeks ago when I had received the injury. Today Teddy cantered fine and when I implemented the instructors no-moving-head rule I was stunned at how well he carried himself; so while I stood there watching Teddy play I was mulling all this over in my mind.  

I've ridden with one other instructor before but I wasn't too impressed so I thought that I should give this new instructor a go. I don't think it is fair to just dismiss my current instructor because we all have our own methods that are adapted over time so it may well be that this is just another version of how to ride dressage. I'm also more interested in eventing than dressage anyway.  This new instructor is more expensive and give you less time in the saddle but I've decided that I'll go to both instructors on alternate weeks for a while to compare.

However I am confused on whether or not to do lessons with Teddy. Neither instructor has told me his soreness is so bad that he shouldn't be ridden but I'd hate myself if I hurt him. Which reminds me - a strict diet for me is in order! Maybe I should look at retiring him and getting another horse but I'm definately not selling him and I cant afford a new horse now anyway. I don't want to stop riding either, particularly as I just got the float! I've been lead to beleive that back problems take years to resolve. I've come so far but it would be impractical to return to a school horse.

What to do?... I don't know.