What Do Wednesday: Tails

I have actually done a post about this topic before, but it was in 2014 which seems like ages ago. Also, my methods have changed a bit since then. Also also, my recent FB and instagram post got a bit of attention, so I want to explain myself for those who requested!

What is it exactly? My transformation Tuesday of Bacardi's tail

Why yes, that is the same  horse and the same tail, almost exactly 2 years apart, save for a few months. Crazy right?

If any of you know me on a personal level, you know my obsession with tails is almost at an unhealthy level. For real though, I worry about myself. Considering I almost didn't buy B because of his wimpy tail...couldn't have that. (Jk jk!)

God his tail was awful.

LOOK AWAY

I honestly never thought his tail would ever reach the point where it is currently, since my methods worked no magic on my wee pony, Spirit, and his horrendously wimpy tail. Yankee was fortunately gifted with luscious locks, and requires little maintenance and I've been lucky with that beast at least.

Circa 2008

I actually believe my "old method" damaged the hair more than it helped, and he has lost some gloriousness with recent events. So we will have to work on that.

We have a lot to work on actually

I USED to braid the tail after applying Cowboy magic, roll it up and stuff it in a sock or vet wrap it...

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

This was truly so much work (so.much.work.), and I noticed more and more hair in my brush when I would take it down once a month to re-do.

So for the summer of 2015 I left the tail down.  Or kept it in a single braid.

Single braid rules. Wanna know why?

It keeps the hairs maintained, out of the way, unable to be stepped on/pulled out, keeps it conditioned, easy to take out for pics, and still gives the ability to swat flies. ITS PERFECT.

Before I braid, I FINGER comb with detangler and then usually ride to let it air out and dry. Finger combing is essential...and annoying, but essential.. If super tangled (it never is, because braid) I will allow myself to carefully use a human hair brush, but generally, brushes yank hairs out and that is the opposite of what we want.

After our ride, I will finger comb again with Cowboy Magic and then loosely braid from the tailbone down. The key is loose enough that it won't come out, but not too tight that the hairs break off. Its a fine line. I then leave about 6-8 inches of "swatch" near the end of the braid. I've noticed this helps the hair tie securing the braid not fall out, and gives an end for fly swatting.

Example of braid. ignore slipped polo. But now that I've pointed it out I bet you can't

and....thats about it.

I baby it with Cowboy magic and braid it up.

I usually take it don for pics or weekly, whichever comes first.

Then, in spring (NOW, yay!) I hack it off

Nah, I dont do that, but I do bang a good amount off the ends. Like a solid 3-4 inches.

Tail was touching the ground beforehand

Before you gasp and lose your shit, this really is the key. I know its horrifying to destroy all the growth that occurred all winter, but seriously trust me.

Major key

This creates a full effect, and gets rid of all the nasty ends. Just like a human hair cut!

Then, just repeat for a year or so or more and BOOM, sexual tail.

Disclaimer, I also feed a biotin supp for the feet and I swear it helps with tails. I also don't participate in the "venter tail" style where the top of the tail is pulled or trimmed up. Seriously, look at his tail head...I would be chopping off so much luscious hair and I absolutely refuse to. Plus, I've done this on Yankee, it looks tacky and I hate it (see circa 2008 pic fr proof). No offense to those who do it, I just think it looks silly. I like me a full tail.

But, this is how I do it. And with some patience and a little Magic, you can too!

So dear readers, this is my question to you, what do?? Are you as obsessed as me? Do you not give a flip at all? What do you do to make your pony's tail the best it can be? Feed your secrets.

Week Wrap Up

Super boring post today, be warned...but it is Monday. Still behind on rides, but I am slowly making my way in reporting on our super exciting happenings.

Last week on Wednesday Amy and her ducklings came over to my barn to take advantage of the jumps in the indoor. Perfect timing too since it was POURING outside.

It actually hasn't stopped raining since, and I have a feeling it won't for some time either. Poor ponies have been stuck in, but at least they're nakey! Almost overbite I've come to the barn, B has been asleep, and I feel bad about waking him, but sometimes ya gotta horse.

B kept up his streak of impressing me with his horsey adulting during the ride Wednesday. He stood still while the crew jumped all around him and he jumped everything I pointed him at, quite willingly.

Not from Wednesday, but still cute

Amy's lovely children were my jump and video crew for the night, (so spoiled by them)  and we focused on working through the grid that was set a few times, raising it a few holes each successful attempt. He knocked a rail once on the last oxer, but I am pretty sure that was my riding and not his error. Regardless, he was an angel and didn't fly through or knock down the entire exercise like he used to! Progress. So much progress.

Considering that he used to refuse everything repeatedly, or jump like a deer, I think its safe to say he's really starting to enjoy and understand his job.

Inbetween Wednesday and now, I rode every day, just continuing to work on basics on the flat, or hacking out. Combined with gym time, work and school, sometimes *I* have zero energy or too sore from CF to make a real ride of things and just focus on transitions or adjustability in gaits. Also important, but usually short sessions and rather boring. So, not much to report there but continued calm and willingness from the baby.

Saturday he was a bit sassy for our flat session and kept hauling on my left arm. Granted, going on 2 weeks of being stalled, it was sideways raining and there were FIVE horses in the ring...I didn't really blame  him or get too mad. 

However, one silly head toss too many, I did lose my patience with weaving inbetween horses jumping and being lunged that I said fuck it and chalked the day up for a loss. I also had just come from an absolutely BRUTAL and savage gym sesh that included a 3 mile run, broke up into sprints with burpees and lunges and I just didn't have it in me to focus my remaining energy on great transitions and wrangling a semi-hot OTTB.

Still not a terrible ride, just really didn't get past warm-up.

Sunday Funday did not happen, I was so sore and when I arrived, B was sleeping and I felt bad making him get up. 

Eventually he did, but I just spent the time grooming him and primping. His mane and tail now look less "wintery" and he seemed to enjoy it! 

I always treasure any barn time I have, and I wasn't mad about either visit this weekend.

Here's to a new week though!

Oh we gonna work, work, work, work , work

I am a little behind on Bacardi updates, so I am going to do my best to recall the two rides I had last weekend.

First, they were beyond wonderful.

I really needed some uplifting rides, life has been stressing me out and running me into the ground. Why did I think double masters grad school was a good idea?

So Saturday ride first, which was flat work.

It was a mucky gross day, but I rode outside anyways, sorry Supertrainer, don't hate me.

Really, I just wanted a few good videos to take some stills from. Indoor fuzzy pics are getting old.

B was incredibly chill and we got to work right away. The ring was atrocious, so I kept our ride mostly on one end in a 20 meter circle, and theres only so much one can do on said 20m circle before one gets bored.

SIDENOTE, I rode in my bargain FITS breeches I got off ETT for $60, They look like jeans and they're amazing. I wish I could afford MOAR

However, He was working quite well. So well, I didn't really know what to do with him actually. I was like, oh okay, trot transition perfect, forward in trot, tracking up, relaxed, lets try canter, OH OKAY no sass today? Um alright, lets collect? Oh snap that feels great. Ok, flying change here, BAM wow okay then, lets do another, WOW okay B stop blowing my mind, lets trot, Extended trot? okay fine, you're being amazing we can walk.

Fancy trots left

Fancy trots right

Canter right

Canter left

flying change

NBD

So after a few flying changes and some more trot transitions I just sat there and was like welp, I don't know what else to do, he's being perfect. Soooo, lets end it there.

So productive, I know.

So heres a few more pics of our very excellent, uneventful ride. Enjoy. Also don't judge the jump bridle, my dressage bridle/bit are in the leather shop getting fixed.

FAVORITE

Such uphill. Very canter.

Then Sunday was jump day. I think I am going to try and make early Sunday morning rides a thing now and work on jumping that day specifically. It just works out with my schedule and barn slave videographer schedule.

There was a very unique exercise set up, one I had not done in a while. If anyone has every heard of "thread the needle" you know it can bring about feelings of anxiety and claustrophobia.

First, we just dabbled with the outside lines of the exercise. He was a smidgen strong on Sunday, but I wasn't mad about it. This time last year he was refusing fences left and right so...not mad.

But he did about haul my left arm out of its socket. I was sore until Wednesday!

After that we increased the height to the smallest verticals and I ran through the outside lines a few times, then switches it up to angling them. You can't really tell in the video, but I did. He handled the angle jumps easily too, which made me a happy momma. Then, we worked on threading the needle, which means we jump all four jumps, with only about 2 feet of room. its hard to explain...watch the video.

Talk about anxiety. I don't know why but riding that made me so nervous and B was just like um, r u ok? I got this ma.

After that, I added a boxy oxer on the outside line to test his scope a bit without going too crazy. I still have a healthy fear of anything over 3'3 and Supertrainer prefers we don't jump over that while she's in FL anyways. Happy to oblige.

I was pleased with his efforts and also cut that ride short.

He has really been making improvements in leaps and bounds (literally) and it makes me so happy to finally have a horse that shows up to work everyday. He is beginning to feel like home. You know what I mean? Like when you sit in the saddle, you know thats where you're meant to be. Yankee has always felt like that to me, but I am beyond happy that Bacardi is starting to feel the same.

Teamwork

Ride for Olivia

Quick sidenote, I can fully get behind this hashtag. Maybe with this tragedy the eventing community can make some much needed changes...

My two favorite pics of my beloved OTTBs

#RideforOlivia

Spoiled AF

Much has happened in the last few days, and I am struggling to stay afloat with school, work and the horses. I haven't read a single blog in 3 days, so apologies to everyone! I still see your comments and love them to death and can't thank you enough. 

This will be a rather quick, disjointed update so I'm hoping my next few posts won't be all over the place or done with a mobile phone. 

Besides riding, Bacardi got treated to another massage day last Monday (posting a week late, HA). As some of you may know, I am not the biggest fan of voodoo things like Chiro, massage etc...but I will say, trying the massage once, and now twice...I am a believer.

The first session was an overall body work for B. That was about 8 weeks ago and Magic Therapist (MT for short) solidified my spidey sense that his neck/shoulders and hips were routinely sore/problem areas. If you know us from our flailing days, you know he specializes in giraffing and holds literally all tension in his neck/shoulder area. His special talent.

That first session was almost two hours and I loved the dedication she had for my horse. As an upper level dressage rider, she understands what we as clients do with our horses and what would help them the most.

Our second session was a little different. I only had about an hour total to spare from work and MT got to work on B and discovered he was extra tense in his shoulders. As in, very tense. 

She spent a good deal of time working his neck and shoulders with her hands and even added in the laser after his mild protest of just hands. It was curious to watch, because you could clearly see he was enjoying it, and then MT would move to another area and he would be like "OW OW OW ouchhhh!" and then relax after about minute.

MT spent about 30 minutes on just his shoulders and neck before moving to his hind end. Not noticing anything particular about his spine, she moved forward with addressing his hips. Cue surprising small meltdown from Bacardi. Apparently his hips were extra ouchy and he let us know. He did this little buck hop thing with both legs, never actually kicked out, but his tail was a' swishin'.

I always find it interesting how horses can communicate to us handlers what they are feeling with simple flick of their tail or leg raise and we can accordingly adjust our actions.

After about ten minutes, MT moved back to his shoulders to wrap up with some more massage in his lower neck. 

I know it's "just massage" but I truly do feel it helps him. Especially with him being such a tense horse, the bodywork  truly releases some tension and he's a much different horse afterwards. He just feels a little less "stuck" and gives more effort in all he does after a session. Swings through his back and hips more, jumps rounder and nails his changes. I know I feel better after a massage, and I know he does too!

Next up, weekend jumping fun x 2!

We Have Work to Do

So it's now been 2 weeks since Yankee's ordeal began, and it's starting to feel a little bit normal again. Only a little bit.

Forever grateful for the outpouring of concern and well-wishes my big guy has received. He's my OG, and i cannot imagine my life without him in it!

Leaving the hospital

I've been adjusting to the fact that I will soon go from riding one horse exclusively, and boarding (I've gotten spoiled),and will now go to caring for two special case OTTBs and continue riding Bacardi. Let's face it, he's special too, haha! ALL THE OTTBS!

As soon as I got used to the idea of Yankee coming home to our farm, and all that entails, I was sent full body photos of my dearest thoroughbred by his caretaker. 

I staggered. I gasped. I almost cried. 

He looks atrocious at best. 

That topline, I cried

Not only did he drop a significant amount of weight, his coat and hair look scraggly and he has lost all muscle tone. We have a lot of work to do. 

tears

Luckily, his caretaker is actually a vet student who's outside her clinicals and almost a real vet, and very well equipped with brain knowledge on how to assuage his poor body condition. She's been an absolute Saint, tearing him like her own and sending me daily updates and pics. Also, his surgeon conveniently boards at he same facility, so she's able to monitor him as well. Handy.

For now, he's secluded to stall rest and minimal hand walking to graze. He's loving that option, and I've been told he's eating his hay like a champ. All digestive systems seem normal, but he still can't have grain. He's getting about a handful a day right now. 

In addition, he's being treated heavily with gastroguard (bye the rest of my money) so hopefully this repairs whatever ulcers he had. I believe the vet said we need to utilize this treatment for 3 more weeks.

I can't help but feel responsible for all of this. Never in my life have one of my creatures ever look like a neglect case. Of course, he underwent major surgery, but I was not prepared for the end result and having to start from negative square two in our weight gain journey (again). Luckily, Yankee hasn't been the problem child with weight gain, so I am hoping as soon as he's cleared to eat grain, we can fatten him right up! 

I'm used to this Yankee

Post op plans are as follows, directly from his surgeon;

Mar 1-20: stall rest,  light hand walking and grazing
Mar 21-April 20: Small turnout, and extended handwalking (this is when he can potentially travel to Ohio as well)
April 21-May 20: Turnout in pasture allowed
May 21-June 20: Light flatwork can be introduced, increasing steadily
After June 20th if healed and strong, can resume jumping

So this is promising. I've done extensive research, and most horses return to normal work afterwards. I am incredibly nervous about reoccurring episodes of colic and the financial burden of that possibility. He sadly no longer qualifies for insurance, and he is showing a steady pattern of colic becoming a happenstance. Nervous horse mom is nervous.

Overall though, I am eternally grateful to all the horsey gods for keeping him with me. I am excited to smush his face again, as I have missed him! 

Lets get back to this!

I Believe in Magic

I have updates on updates on updates, for real and only so much time and attention to divulge to said updates. Luckily, I got some media this weekend, so I have pics and video! 

I shall give a proper update on the Yankee later this week, with pics, and also a rundown on Bacardi's massage today, with pics! (and video!). ALL THE MEDIA.

Lately though, despite my lack of blogging, I have been riding. Like a bad eventer, I have not technically ridden in my dressage tack since he snapped my new bridle and I got new saddle, but hey, we are riding! I am LOVING this new saddle too, and I feel like we are adjusting well. Bacardi seems to have really taken to it, and feels wonderful in the shoulders. I am having a tough time getting used to all the room I actually have, after riding in a 16 inch for a literal decade, so don't judge my flopping everywhere!

What I really wanted to share though was the absolute magical powers that Liquid Titanium seems to have.

Behold, the Bonnet of Glory.

Its actually very plain, and try to ignore the giraffe ears, but it is real magic. 

Jackie suggested it after hearing testimonials from other people and how they swear by the Fenwick Farm products. I was skeptical of course, obviously, but after BOT products...I decided to "splurge" with my tax return. In addition to purchasing another BOT pad in white for dressage, I also snagged a bonnet from Fenwick. Here's the link if anyone wants to read about it.

When I first used it, I felt like it was a fluke because it was a warm day. He's generally better on warmer days, but they had also been in about a week due to weather and rain, so I wasn't sure.

The real truth came last week when it was freezing, windy and cold and he still was just, "meh, whatevs" about literally everything. Its like an actual calm switch and I am a true believer. For-rills.

So with my little friend, we have had some incredible rides lately. He's been nailing his changes, staying mostly relaxed through up and down transitions and truly showing up to work overtime. No battles of anxiety, no explosions. Its eye opening. 

Love. this.

Here's a little video I put together of our schooling on Sunday. the fun part is in the middle over the jump course, so if you have ADHD with blogger videos like I do, scroll forward to about 30 seconds in. If you dont like how tiny that video is, here the link for the youtube video.

So we took advantage of the nice day after running through the course set up inside a few times. I have a horrendous chest cold and literally suffocate while trying to do anything but sit still, so I was attempting to not die the whole ride.

Speaking of not dying, he slipped after jumping the ravine and somehow scrambled and saved us from eating dirt. Go pony.

He was totally game to splash through the water and jump the ravine and didn't bat an eyeball at them. I was thoroughly impressed with my lil eventer. Here we come USEA BN level (if we can afford it *giggles with anxiety*)

After playing in the water a bit (sorry Supertrainer) trying not to tear up the ground too much, we headed out to the field to do a little flatwork in our jump tack.

Hello uphill canter. We played with this canter and dabbled inlaid changes on the flat, in which he was only sassy once. Love. this. horse.

Overall, fantastic ride that has been our recent norm. Up next is a Yankee update and then the rundown on Bacardi massage therapy. Stay tuned and happy Tuesday!