So as life goes, it has a way of not going as planned. We started out with high hopes for both Roze and Ty this year and a full schedule of shows, as luck would have it, Ty's tendon is bothering him again and he's off for a few weeks. With this time off he likely won't hit the show ring again until late summer if at all this year. We'll have to carefully consider his performance future as he heals and rehabs.
Roze on the other hand is doign quite well. She's now got two shows under her belt and is back to the show horse I know and love. You'd never know she hadn't been out to a show in two years. Mason Dixon was a bit rocky as I think the upper second level tests are a bit out of her range. This past weekend at the Empire show she was better.
We have a clinic coming up next weekend with Judy Westlake to fine tune her talents and then back to the show ring with a full schedule for the summer with hopes that we'll obtain the points necessary to earn her Legion of Honor. Stay tuned...life is full of suprises.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
What a Difference a Year Makes
This time last year, Roze and I, made a journey 12 hours west to Purdue University for her to have surgery on her right hock. It's hard to believe that it has only been one year.
Looking back there was a lot of uncertainty at how good the outcome would be. At best we were hoping she'd be comfortable being ridden and at least be more comfortable getting around day to day. There were a lot of possible complications, this was only the third time this type of surgery was being performed so that in and of itself left a lot of questions, and of course anytime you put a horse under general anesthesia there are great risks of complications.
After a tense week at the University's hospital, Roze pulled through with flying colors and we safely returned home. We had to wait a long six months for Roze to fully recover to see if the surgery would allow her to be ridden and compete again.
Despite a set back in December when Roze buggered up her left hock and needed stitches, she is back in full work and ready to compete. We'll be at a schooling show this weekend and Mason Dixon is scheduled for the end of April.
I will be forever grateful to Dr. Adams at Purdue and Dr. Juzwiack at Manor Equine for giving Roze another shot at competing. We're hoping Roze will earn her Legion of Honor this year and whatever the outcome is, it's great to have my show horse back!
Our plans are to breed Roze next spring and we'll show her as long as she's willing and able. We're excited to see what Roze will produce as she's the quintessential show horse. Stay tuned for the next chapter....
Video from this month's riding lesson:
We've still got lots to perfect, but we're getting there.
Looking back there was a lot of uncertainty at how good the outcome would be. At best we were hoping she'd be comfortable being ridden and at least be more comfortable getting around day to day. There were a lot of possible complications, this was only the third time this type of surgery was being performed so that in and of itself left a lot of questions, and of course anytime you put a horse under general anesthesia there are great risks of complications.
After a tense week at the University's hospital, Roze pulled through with flying colors and we safely returned home. We had to wait a long six months for Roze to fully recover to see if the surgery would allow her to be ridden and compete again.
 |
| Roze's hock post surgery |
I will be forever grateful to Dr. Adams at Purdue and Dr. Juzwiack at Manor Equine for giving Roze another shot at competing. We're hoping Roze will earn her Legion of Honor this year and whatever the outcome is, it's great to have my show horse back!
Our plans are to breed Roze next spring and we'll show her as long as she's willing and able. We're excited to see what Roze will produce as she's the quintessential show horse. Stay tuned for the next chapter....
Video from this month's riding lesson:
We've still got lots to perfect, but we're getting there.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Dreaming of Warmer Days
| From Blog Photos |
So the days are finally starting to get a bit longer, the snow is slowly melting, and the horses are beginning to show the first hints of shedding their winter coats. This time of year for many signals that spring and warmer days are a head, however for me the show season count down officially begins. We're just three months away from our first planned show of the season and of course there is still so much to learn and prepare for.
Roze has healed very well from her Christmas day fiasco. She's back to work, albeit a bit out of shape again, but full of energy and feisty. We're schooling second and third level movements, hoping she'll debut at second level this spring and garner enough points this year to achieve her Legion of Honor. We'll also head back to the Hunter Pleasure ring where she enjoys showing at the hand gallop. We'll allow her to work as long as she's comfortable and happy doing so.
| From Blog Photos |
Ty continues to be amazing. I continually have to remind myself that he's still a baby under saddle. He's very easy going and just an all around wonderful horse to work with. We intend for him to debut at first level in the spring and to show second level by the end of summer. We'll continue to move him up as he's ready.
| From Blog Photos |
| From Blog Photos |
“None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Friday, December 31, 2010
2010 In Review
2010 has been a roller coaster of a year. Both Roze and Ty have experienced a number of ups and downs, which I guess keeps life interesting.
Roze started the year off having surgery at Purdue to fuse her right hock. It was a gamble and the final outcome is still yet to be determined, but after recovering most of the summer Roze is showing promise that she may return to the show ring next year. During a follow up vet visit we learned that while her recovery from the surgery has gone exceptionally well she has developed arthritis in her left hock, it will limit her future ability to show, only time will tell how long she'll have. We did manage to make it to a schooling show at the end of November and while we're still rusty it was great to actually be back in the ring.
Roze never wanting to leave us with a dull moment some how managed to get her leg hung up on something on Christmas morning and needed 6 stitches, she's healing well, but I'd really like her to just be happy with work for awhile. She'll have her stitches taken out next week and I'm hoping before the end of January she'll be back in the ring.
Ty also had his fair share of ups and downs this year. He had a stellar start to the show season only to have it cut short when he injured his annular ligament which resulted in surgery for him. Ty scored 70's on all three tests at his last show in June, it was two weeks before Regionals and we were extremely excited at his chance of doing well, but alas it was not meant to be this year. Ty has fully recovered and is now back to work schooling at First and Second level, we're going to keep our fingers crossed for next year.
Even with a short show season, Ty placed 6th in the USDF All Breed Awards at Arabian Training Level with a score of 65.079% and placed 4th in Region 15 for USEF Horse of the Year Award Arabian Training Level. He's certainly proven to be a diamond in the rough and I'm happy to have him as part of our family.
We wish everyone a prosperous and happy 2011!!
Roze started the year off having surgery at Purdue to fuse her right hock. It was a gamble and the final outcome is still yet to be determined, but after recovering most of the summer Roze is showing promise that she may return to the show ring next year. During a follow up vet visit we learned that while her recovery from the surgery has gone exceptionally well she has developed arthritis in her left hock, it will limit her future ability to show, only time will tell how long she'll have. We did manage to make it to a schooling show at the end of November and while we're still rusty it was great to actually be back in the ring.
Roze never wanting to leave us with a dull moment some how managed to get her leg hung up on something on Christmas morning and needed 6 stitches, she's healing well, but I'd really like her to just be happy with work for awhile. She'll have her stitches taken out next week and I'm hoping before the end of January she'll be back in the ring.
Ty also had his fair share of ups and downs this year. He had a stellar start to the show season only to have it cut short when he injured his annular ligament which resulted in surgery for him. Ty scored 70's on all three tests at his last show in June, it was two weeks before Regionals and we were extremely excited at his chance of doing well, but alas it was not meant to be this year. Ty has fully recovered and is now back to work schooling at First and Second level, we're going to keep our fingers crossed for next year.
Even with a short show season, Ty placed 6th in the USDF All Breed Awards at Arabian Training Level with a score of 65.079% and placed 4th in Region 15 for USEF Horse of the Year Award Arabian Training Level. He's certainly proven to be a diamond in the rough and I'm happy to have him as part of our family.
We wish everyone a prosperous and happy 2011!!
 |
| From Snow 2010 |
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Journey Back Begins
It certainly has been a long and trying road with Roze, she's been off for nearly two years and was dealing with issues for two years prior to that. We are extremely hopeful that we have resolved her soundness issues once and for all and Roze can get back in to shape and accomplish what we set out to do all along.
Roze is currently 6 months post op and is doing fantastic. She's improving weekly and getting stronger and back in shape. The video above is from our second lesson since Roze has been back under saddle. In my opinion she looks better than ever. She's extremely happy to be back to work and once again the center of attention.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Back on Track
Roze has now been working lightly under saddle for a little over a month. I've slowly been pushing for a little more and a little more. Our time to work on the trot is brief, per vet's instructions, so I've been trying to behave and not push too much. I usually warm up at the walk with some lateral work. Then I move into the trot for just two or three laps around the arena each direction. The last two rides I have truly got some amazing, albeit brief, trot work from Roze. She rises through her back and drives with her hind end! It's been at least two years since I've felt her this good. I am so excited for what her future may now hold and anxious to get back to the vet for the official all clear. Roze certainly has the heart of a champion and has proven herself to me even if she never sets foot in the show ring again.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Roze's First Lesson Since Surgery
Discussing the game planSo Roze has been slowly working back since her surgery in March. We put shoes on her front feet this week and decided we could take a half hour lesson with Sarah to begin getting her back in gear for full work. She jumped on the trailer as if she knew she was going somewhere fun. In typical Roze fashion her entourage (and my friends) came out to cheer her on. She did very well and seemed happy to be out and working. We worked on some leg yielding and a little trot, nothing spectacular, but quite amazing for a horse who I had contemplated putting down last summer because she was so sore and miserable. It was nice to reach this milestone today and hopefully there will be many more in the near future.
Remebering leg yield
Looking a little like her old "show pony" self
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)