The Fox and the Foods

I've been discussing Foxie's weight issues for a while here on the blog, and while she's recovering (slowly) right now, I'm looking into the future and I'm not sure what to do.

June 22nd

June 26th

The current routine is:

AM:
Smartpak (currently SmartMSM pellets, SmartPituitary Senior pellets & Previcox)
2 qt scoop of Assurance Performance Blend (

Daytime: She goes out with Bailey into a small paddock. They each get 3 flakes to snack on while out

PM:
2 qt scoop of Assurance Performance Blend
1 full "smart scoop" (approx 1.5 lbs) of Amplify
3 flakes of hay

August 10th

The main structure of this plan won't change; I'm not going to put her back out into the herd, because she's shown us that she's too submissive to fight for food, and that stress does BAD things to her. What you can't tell from the photos is that she had (and is currently shedding out) a heavier than normal coat, that was dull and almost fuzzy, vs her usual sleek self. She was sweating a lot in the humidity, and panting for extended periods after even light exercise. Her spine was extremely prominent, the fat pads on either side of her spine over the haunches were gone and she just looked... sad. Flat.

The first thing we did was bump up her hay, then her grain, from 1 qt 2x daily to 2 quarts 2x daily - this was in late June, early July, and gradually over a few weeks. We moved her and Bailey into a paddock with 3 flakes each the first week of August, and started her on Amplify a few weeks later. The thing I've really noticed since the move is that she's coming out of her shell; she's rolling, she's laying down and she seems much more relaxed and personable for a horse that is generally... not personable. She's shedding, and while this causes some complications (like bald patches weirdly appearing and everything she wears rubbing her, this week) she's also appearing to be more comfortable in the heat and doesn't seem to be struggling as much to come down after work (though the humidity has been better). She will be on Amplify for 3 weeks as of Saturday, so I'll get another photo of her tomorrow to see how three weeks of an extra 3k of calories looks on her:

Still has ribs, but coat looks better and her topline and haunches are filling back in. So is her neck! 

In the future, though, I'd really like to not have to keep her on the extra fat. Or at least, a lot less of it. I'm nervous about cutting it out of her diet, especially with winter coming on ever so slowly. I mean, the weight isn't even back on yet! Her Thoroughbred-ness isn't helping us, and I know that, but I'm used to seeing her in a very different body state, and I'd like that back. I'm going to keep feeding both of my mares extra foods (right now, it's alfalfa cubes, though Foxie prefers pellets so we'll be going back to those) and stealing them extra hay when they need it (and Bailey is now getting additional grain, too, as she's lost enough weight to make my saddle start fitting very questionably). I've been eyeballing oils, rice bran supplements and half a dozen other things today trying to decide what do to, and I still have no idea. I don't know if feeding something when I'm at the barn is enough, and I don't know what I can have fed through daily by the staff besides Amplify (or something similar). I don't know if I love the idea of oils or liquids, even with the heated barn.

How do you, readers, put weight on your horse when you're in a controlled (boarding) type environment? Have you been able to taper off what you feed once your horse has gotten to the weight you were looking for?

Recent Rides

I'm trying to be a good blogger, I swear. I've just been really, really boring. I spent my F/Sa/Sn photographing a horse trial, and came home exhausted, but motivated to ride, so I am actually getting my rides in this week.

Monday was a dressage school, and it was relatively awful as I was expecting. While I finally found my wellep key for my saddle back. it appears I had it cranked in too far because my horse ended up a little sore backed. I mean, either it was the saddle... or it was the red princess doing her best llama impression while arguing about simple things like consistent contact. She looked super cute in her new bridle, which of course made me very happy. We dressaged in her slow twist and while my half halts were *magically* reinstalled, she wasn't consistent and the ride wasn't life changing.

But this bridle is gorgeous, and so is the B, so I am happy

I rode Fox on Monday, too, in addition to starting her on the Smart Pituitary Senior pellets from Smartpak. She's looking a ton better weight wise, so I'm starting to put her top line back together. The Ikea saddle, of course, was cranked in too far for B, but fit Foxie beautifully with my thinline trifecta pad, and put in some lovely work. I don't know if it was just a change in the weather (much lower humidity than normal) or if she's finally rounding the turn to be getting truly better, but she seemed much less out of breath this ride. Last ride, as a reminder, she was puffing pretty visibly, probably even 20 minutes after our ride. This ride was much better, and she was fantastic. I have forgotten how much I love riding her. She's consistent, she's putting the perfect amount of weight into the bridle but still carrying herself, and she's collected and balanced and straight. And she does this with basically no topline muscle.

Bailey can't do that, and she's in regular work. Bleh.

Yesterday, despite being generally annoyed that my fancy horse who should be able to do very capable dressage can't dressage as well as my broken horse with 1 leg longer than the other three and is coming off of a period of huge weight and muscle loss I decided to jump my horse. Because reasons. The schoolies are out on the SJ field, so Bailey and I went out to play with the XC fences. We played in the water, we jumped some little stuff. She was fantastic going cold over the ditch, and while a little looky, went over all of the solid things on the far side of the XC course (an open hay feeder coop, barrels, a couple of medium sized logs and a roll top). She was super looky (there was a young person on a mini motorcycle thing) but I decided, what the hell, I'm wearing armor, and pointed her at the log to coop line (with a scoopy ditch in the middle) that we struggled with during the clinic with Dom. No problem. A complete "yes, ma'am" and we went dancing off down the track to the other side of the xc. I pointed her at the BN table. No problem, into the water, no problem.

We did pick up a couple of stops at the logs in the water (and I don't think there's stuff in the water til Training? anyways...) but she jumped it just fine, and jumped the log-on-the-rise question just like we did with Dom. I think she even jumped the watery logs backwards (towards the track, not away) just fine, as well. It's awkward but she gets it done. Since stops were relatively easy to work through now that I was riding and forward and remembering I had legs with spurs and a crop, we went to tackle the scary skinny trees to the big red house question we seriously struggled with during the clinic. I bit my tongue over that fence, after numerous stops and awkward jumps. Of course, I asked her the dual question first and got a stop... and then realized that the full question puts the stupid house on a weird angle and that coming at it from further towards the barn gave us a cleaner line. She jumped less awkwardly over the house each time, going both directions. I took her through the water (on another section of the course we did with Dom) and pointed her at the corner, willy nilly style. She jumped it (a bit awkwardly - I was riding for a dodge that never happened) and then better the second time.

I realized part of the way through my ride that my breeches just were not cutting it, grip wise. I was wearing my Kerrits Microcord breeches, and honestly... I need more grip. Or some saddle tight.

Question to the internet: What breeches grip similarly to Kerrits Flex Tights or Sit Tights? I felt a pair of FITS that had a leather-like seat (I think) that were glorious... but is there anything in a more reasonable budget - preferably with fabric that doesn't make me look like Jabba the Hut?

Somewhere on our XC adventures we lost one of my stupid velcro back blocks for my saddle. They've been popping off like crazy and I'm not sure why. Clearly I need a new saddle (I jest. Kind of). Either way, I could either walk out to mosquito-ville and look for it on foot... or I could do what I did and hop on the super fox in a bareback pad and go look for the fucker. I looked and looked, and Foxie was a freaking STAR. I nearly lost my wedding ring (came off my necklace, fell down my shirt and out the bottom of my sports bra and she woahed and stood while I figured out what the fuck had just happened. Either way, just as I was giving up and trying to figure out how to get the word out to the barn to be on the lookout... there it was. On the rocks by the water. BOOM. Best horse.

The best part of the drama? I still left exactly when I planned to. And got my errands done just as I intended. #WINNING.

What do you Wear? Wednesday

While I was once a skinny, fit little 16 year old version of myself... I think its time to really admit. I'm turning 26 this year, and while that's not old...  I'm not exactly as trim and cute as I once was.

My breech taste has evolved over the years; for many, many years I rocked pull on On Course Cotton Naturals, and I loved them. Dearly. VPL and all. I slowly began my transition over to the dark side with my first pair of full seat Kerrits winter breeches, and am now so heavily dependent on my full seats that I am looking at my long wearing, slimming Tuff Rider Ribbed breeches in angst when they're the only option left in my breeches drawer. Looking at the recent photos from the Dom clinic, however, I can tell a few things clearly;

I definitely have gained weight in the last year and a half

Tan breeches are NOT my color (the lighter they are, the worse it is)

And in addition to the muscle scarring in my thighs, I also have some other... stuff going on there. And it's not cute.

I was much skinnier when this was taken... and still think I look like a hippo.

So, I'm definitely in the market for some new breeches. Luckily, I have a tack store just down the road from the barn, and I need to get over there anyways to drop off some consignment saddles. I should be able to take advantage of their stock and try some options on, myself.

Real life questions: WHY CAN'T KERRITS MAKE A THICKER FABRIC'ED FULL SEAT?

My wish list seems relatively high for both schooling and show breeches. My favorite breeches at the moment are my Horze brand breeches, for all of their ugly fading and discoloring of the seat, but they aren't as grippy as I'd like when I'm in my jump tack. Of course, I could just buy ones that don't make me look like a hippo and invest in a few bottles of saddle tight, but I wish there was a golden goose out there with thick fabric, Kerrits gripstretch or griptek seat, ankles that don't make me want to die and comes in a nice dark tan, preferably with a black seat. I don't mind a clareno seat 99% of the time, but I really prefer the grip of the Kerrits for jumping, especially.

So, Readers - now that I've rambled for far too long on my #equestrianproblems... what do you wear? What are your favorite breeches, and why?

Recently

I'm such a terrible blogger - I still can't find a way to talk about things that isn't boring, and while I feel like a lot has happened since my last post, we really haven't done much that is heavily bloggable.

Foxie:

Foxie is now on Amplify (YAY!), extra grain and she and Bailey share a paddock with a substantial amount of hay that they now share.

She doesn't look any better, yet, but I'm hoping. After talking to some folks last week, I broke down and ordered her some Smart Pituitary Senior pellets on sale today... if they help, we'll know that she does have something going on other than stress and getting kept away from the food. Basically, what they pointed out was that Foxie has a few things that are definitely not normal:

- Longer than normal hair coat
- Dull, lifeless personality
- Muscle wastage / lost weight
- Panting after a relatively low impact riding session

So I'm starting to think that she's early Cushings. Maybe. We will see.

Bailey:

Bailey and I prepped for the Dom Clinic, rode in the Dom clinic and no one died. I wasn't riding as confidently as I normally do (apparently I'm only a badass when no one is watching) but Bailey was pretty darn obedient and really seemed interested and "up" in the jump field for day 1. Day 2 I had to fight for the fences a bit, but generally she was good, and straight forward. She was a forward beast all weekend and I'm finally starting to get her to go forward to the fences, I feel like. We were super crooked on Day 1, but I feel like that was a weird attitude thing - she was 1,000x better day 2 despite being spooky.

Of course, post Dom clinic I went out and we jumped lots of the scary stadium and even a few XC fences and she was a forward, half-haltable, fence clearing beast. If only it was that easy when people were watching! Ugh. I need to take several chill pills and ride with an audience more. I really don't like feeling like my anxiety is crippling our ability to perform, because it was night and day, jumping the same fences alone and in the clinic. I felt like I had to drive and fight (though each fence got easier with repetition) when I was being watched, but pointing Bailey at them again she was 100% "YES MA'AM" and galloped them. They felt so much smaller that way.

In between my last jumping day and the clinic, I gave Bails an easy week of a short flatting ride on Wednesday and a lot of days off. Not only has it been stupidly hot and humid lately, but her feet were kind of coming to pieces for the clinic and while we have a farrier appointment tonight, I've been taking it easy. The weather has been hard on both horses' feet and bodies this summer and between having them adjust to relatively solo life last week and the heat we've been dealing with intermittently, I'm ready for it to be fall. We're headed, this week, for more nasty temps before cooling down for the weekend. I'm so glad I hung fans for the girls - they're definitely a necessity in a barn with less airflow.

I feel like I've been floating; no competitions, no real goals now that we've done Dom, and honestly... I don't know if I will ride in September. We'll see. I'd love to get out and trail ride some, and maybe take some dressage lessons. We need to improve but I've definitely been enjoying this hiatus from competition. It's nice to not have a fire under my ass, but at the same time... we need to have something to work towards or I feel like we'll be doing the same thing forever.

Foxie Goals:
1. Regain weight and muscle
2. Monitor weekly with photos - including when she starts the Smart Pituitary
3. Start working her up to doing more, and make sure she's a part of the plan a few days a week.

Bailey Goals:
1. Continue to play with saddle fit and watch her weight; find a functional norm for both saddles and ensure she doesn't get any skinnier.
2. Jump in the slow twist but play with bits on the flat until we find something that works well
3. Dressage work: work on strength, straightness and bending. Re introduce the medium and lateral work, and push for more shoulder in/fore work (3.5 - I need more core strength and position strength)
4. Jumping work: BOLD and CONFIDENT are the words we're working on. Replay exercises that gave us trouble from the Dom clinic and start pushing height because you know you can do it. Height and accuracy. Yes, Ma'am rides on the first go. 

Hell Yeah!

I like this blog hop. A lot. Thanks, I Will Jump Sweet Jumps.

Here are some of the jumps that have made this whole circus worth it:

Triple Bar. 5 foot spread. Fox is a beast.

This jump was nothing special, but this picture is kind of everything to me.
Happy Fox <3

Bailey's first 3'

We're jumping a freaking bathtub here. BATH TUB.

We had some great jumps on Monday night; I wish we had some video, but I went out solo and we conquered some demons. The Big bank, some of the coops we haven't jumped before, the ditch on the FIRST TIME (thank you very much), and the table I term "novice". It jumped almost exactly the same as the other one. Shocking, I know. Other than a continued inability to turn right (she's not an omni turner, ok??) Bailey was workably obedient and didn't shut down when she stopped. I think it helped that I wasn't really feeling any pressure (at least from a trainer; I was out there on my own and had skipped armor because it was hot AF) and therefore was disciplining her but not really getting mad. It was too hot to get mad.

I haven't been riding this week because of the heat; today it's supposed to be mid to upper 90's and humid AF. I hung fans, jumped some jumps and went home. A friend's snapchat has verified that Foxie is still alive, and I assume they would call me if Bailey up and died. So... we'll see what I have tomorrow. Or this weekend. Or whenever I get out to the barn. Because I really ought to ride before the Dom Schramm Clinic...

All of the Dressage

I had the Classic Saddlery dressage out on trial all last week, so of course, we did a lot of dressage.

Tuesday Bailey was good, as I talk about in my last post. Thursday morning, Bailey had a teeth floating appointment so I got to the barn super early to get her ridden before then. She was still inside, and despite not having been turned out yet, she was pretty darn good. Quiet and forward again, and her canter has either improved because of the saddle, or the saddle makes it actually feel like a canter and not like a legs-going-everywhere kind of floppy thing. However, her sweat marks left some things to be desired; long, somewhat wide dry spots where the panels would be. I had played with the tree, and decided to play with it again before Saturday.

Teeth floating itself went well; the vet was in and out quickly and while she definitely needed it, she didn't seem adversely affected by the procedure. She was still her usual hungry, stall walking self. I took the saddle over to a local repair place on Friday during my lunch hour to have the rip looked at, and delightfully it doesn't *need* repair. I need to be careful to not injure it further, but it doesn't adversely impact the use of the saddle... so I can repair it myself, or stick some tape over it, or have it repaired as time and money allows. The saddler also showed me that black saddle soap exists and how amazing it made my saddle look - definitely getting some!

Saturday came, and after a morning photo shoot with a client, I pulled BB out for one last ride in the Classic. My bid on a lovely used buffalo leather model had been countered higher than I was willing to pay, so I was starting to look at my options and be unhappy. But really looking at it, the saddle isn't that bad. The scratches are hidden when I ride, and honestly... the unsightly damage is just unsightly. But I don't look at my saddle, I ride in it. I had forgotten until writing this that my Vision has a cut in the seat; unsightly, but has NEVER been a problem. It looks the same as it always has, despite many miles. I had a so-so ride; the horse was definitely not magically softening her jaw because I dropped money on her teeth (shocking, I know) but after a bit of wrestling, she settled and gave me some lovely work. I decided, on my way back, that I hadn't successfully narrowed the tree to what I needed; when I was in the tack, I felt like her withers were nearly touching the top of the gullet.

But I pulled my stirrups off and got it ready to go back to St. Croix... and when I arrived, they asked if I wanted to put an offer in. I mentioned the rip and other things, and the gal who was helping me conspiratorily said she'd offer $550 for it. I said, ok, lets do that. And she called, and left a message, and I was all ready to leave when she got a call back with a counter - $600. And I took it.

So I own a dressage saddle now, bringing my total saddle count up to 5. Jesus.

It's time to sell some saddles!

Saddle Saga Continues...

So I've spent most of this week shopping obsessively all over the internet trying to find myself a majikal Classic Saddlery saddle.

So far I have discovered:

1. The internet sucks.
2. There aren't too many of these suckers for sale
3. Facebook saddle propositioning is the worst.
4. Closely followed by tack stores who don't check their emails, apparently.
5. No one agrees on how to photograph or measure things.

Last night I bit the bullet and checked the damn thing out for a trial. I brought it out to the barn, plopped it on my benevolent red horse and stared at it. Then I swapped it for my current saddle. And then back. I played with the adjustable tree. I groped hopelessly for the last rib.

And finally, I said "fuck it" and tacked up to ride. I worried about getting bucked off; no bucks were offered. So we went out to play outside. And angels sang (quietly) again. Bailey was softer in the bridle than usual, and once I stopped pushing my leg forward, I actually felt like I wasn't flopping all over the place and had control of my leg aids. Like I could be subtle. It also pushed my hips up and forced me to ride with my chest up and open... and not like a gollum hunched over my horse. The big blocks were supportive but not forceful, and didn't push my leg back like that one time I rode in a Wintec with Contourblocks. Basically, my body was where it was supposed to be and riding BB and dressage was easy. Cantering was easy. Doing things while also cantering was also easy. It was just... great.

The problem? The saddle does have some unsightly issues; scratches, some fading... and a weird rip in the gullet area. So I need to look at it really hard and a) decide if it's worth keeping and b) probably call a saddle fitter to get the thing fitted. In the mean time, I've compiled a list of similar brand/model saddles... that way if I decide it's too long, I can get measurements of an 18". Or if I decide I don't necesarily need the adjustable tree, I can look at fixed tree models. So I have options, but I want the unicorn perfect saddle.

Of course I do.