I stalked Mezza, and worked with her, doing in-hand and longing before introducing the small fly mask that a friend had used for awhile on her horse. I let her feel the soft edges, and mouth it a little, then I proceeded to rub it on her head, neck and over her ears before finally taking it off and on several times.
We finished with me leading her around in the round pen with it on, but taking it off before taking her back to her own pen.
Then, several days later, I again put a fly mask on her in the round pen, and practiced leading her in it at the walk, then the trot. I took it off to walk her back to her pen, but put it on again once she was back in her pen, and left it on her for about 10-15 minutes. She did not seem flustered.
Dawn and I trailered Mezza over to the Indiana Equestrian Center for her second show on August 19th.
We loaded Mezza in a different spot, and she was a little flustered, so I took her out of the trailer and re-loaded her. She settled in and we were on our way. No problem with the un-loading at the center, and she got to eat while I put on her hoof shine, re-groomed her and Dawn put on her show halter (which is finally getting easier to unbuckle--those new ones need plenty of conditioner and work!)
Mezza behaved herself quite well, and did a wonderful job!
This time for the halter class there was no "mouth check", but again, a very quick squaring up was required.
For the Showmanship class we had a new pattern, which was not a problem. The class had about 8 or 9 entries.
Going through the groundwork and preparation for showing covers so much of what a horse needs in basic training. It also requires getting up really early, and working with the horse a bit before she's ever loaded to go, but the show itself is so worth it! You will notice that our backing is not straight, something to practice, and more work is needed on the head down at the trot. Horses are so truthful, we cannot 'fib' our way through, they always point out the (my) weak spots that need extra work!! : )
Mezza has been coming into heat now. It has never seemed to bother her, or to make her act our--that is until now.
Recently Dawn and I each discovered that Mezza had very sore flanks. Where touching her there had never seemed to bother her before, now any pressure there caused her to lay back her ears, grind her teeth, and eventually come after us with her mouth!
She was eating, drinking, pooping and moving well. The barn manager mentioned cysts on the ovaries, both Dawn and I looked at each other and thought--why would that produce pain so low?
The pain did appear to be inconsistent, this started after the 1st week of July, then tapered off somewhat, then got much worse by the start of August. Of course, during this time frame we've had some of the longest stretches of hot days on record, enough to make anything (horse or human) cranky and uncomfortable!
So, on August 1st, the vet arrived, and checked Miss Mezza out. I got to longe Mezza at walk, trot and canter for the vet--we don't typically longe at canter, so she doesn't even know that word. Well, she did just fine. Then she received her sedation, which totally made her like a rag doll. Dr. Gary proceeded to ultrasound her ovaries, and yes, one of them appeared abnormally thickened.
Mezza was given a little time to wake up, and then was given a hormone shot. This, the vet said, would help Mezza's cycle continue, as it was most likey "stuck". Usually this can happen to young mares who are just beginning to cycle. In other instances a mare may continue to have problems, and either she can be put on birth control, or the problem ovary may need to be removed. In a small percentage of cases, the problem is caused from a tumor on the ovary, but in that case it won't respond to the hormone shot, and the mare can often exhibit other more extreme behaviors.
The vet had us walk Mezza for about an hour after giving her the hormone injection. She went into a full sweat (read mare hot flashes) and appeared drunk! She remained so well behaved the entire time, bless her heart!
Dr. Gary set up a follow up appointment for a week later, saying to handle her as usual until then. In the follow up he will again ultra sound her to see how the ovary reacted.
The storms came in early today, but Mike and I had Hoss out in the field before they arrived. We have been trading off riding him, as Scout has been out of commission for quite awhile. I finally have my own set of reins so I don't have to shorten Mike's by tying knots in them!
After riding about the field as a warm up we dodged the storm and headed to the outdoor arena to join in some fun with cones. Hoss seemed to enjoy it as much as we did!
Sheree and Amazonia placing their cone
Megan and Kaya picking up their cone
Lindsay and Bri both riding Smoke
Smoke doing double duty!
Katie and Hoss placing their cone
Hoss appears to be enjoying himself!
Later I took Scout to the barn and tacked him up in a surcingle, blanket and side pull. We did some long lining and ground driving in the outdoor arena. It rained a bit, but not hard enough to make us stop. Once the ground got damp Scout was really bent on getting down to roll, so I had my work cut out for me to keep him going. He did well.
Upon asking for him to back in the lines at the end, he started swishing his tail and stomping his right hind leg. I'm noting this because it may mean the left hock is bothering him again. He definitely liked getting out and getting attention!
It was warm, but Mezza was happy to come out. I stalked her, then asked for some small circles on a long lead rope at the walk and at the trot. We practiced walking, stopping, and a few turns.
We left the round pen and went into the barn to groom and tack up. The flies are awful this time of year, and I am so proud of her the way she stands for the fly spray!
Once groomed and tacked up we headed back up to the round pen and longed at the walk and trot on the longer line using the side pull. I then added the second line, and practiced flipping each line over her back; she stands really well for that.
We practiced in the long lines and worked a little on turns along the rail. We finished the lines by having me ground drive her a short distance, whoa, and then back. I removed the lines and side pull, put her halter back on, and out we went for a walk to the east end of the property. We practiced the trot at side and the turn on the hinds briefly in the outdoor arena and then headed for the trailer.
At the trailer I tied her, gave her a little hay, and unsaddled and took off her sport boots. We walked back to her pen, and I took off her halter and rubbed her and said 'good by'.
My husband, Mike, and I loaded up Hoss this morning and headed out for the Equestrian Center! Hoss was not thrilled with riding alone in the trailer--took me a few minutes to convince him to stand alone quietly in the trailer so I could tie, and he whinnied as we left the farm, but was well mannered and stood well for tacking up as he was tied to the trailer.
Mike and I (and I think Hoss) had a great time exploring the trail around the canal. It was hot, so we quit after a little more than an hour. Hoss actually drank from the tank while we were there, and we all relaxed together before loading him. He did not want to stand alone in the trailer (again), so we got in and out several times, and he had to circle if he didn't willingly get in. We need to trailer him a lot more in general, and a lot more on his own! The big plus was that he wasn't an anxious sweaty wreak after trailering, and he was polite and quiet!
Later I trailered Scout over for his chiropractor appointment. His back is a lot better, only minor soreness in the sacral area, and a little in the withers. Dr. Deb Schlutz has showed me a couple of stretches, one of which I knew from Kim Cavanah. Stretching the rear leg forward and holding it for up to 30 seconds, then increasing the stretch (gently) as the leg permits has helped to release the over tight right hamstring at the same time as Dr. Schlutz has worked to free the lower back where it was caught down from the extreme bucking.
Scout should be able to be ridden again this next month! I will need to keep up on the stretches and watch the arthritis in his left hock closely. We still have a lot of ground driving over poles etc. to work in to the schedule, but I'm elated!! : - )
Today Mezza got a variety of practice: We started in the round pen where she bounced a bit, then trimmed all the plant life within easy reach.
We longed at the walk and trot in both directions, did several turns on the fores, and just enough turns on the hinds to stop at a really nice place!
Then I ground tied her in the center of the pen, practiced squaring her up, and groomed her. She is so easy to groom right now, and her tail is still really well conditioned and combs out easily.
We left the round pen and walked over to the gooseneck trailer. She eyed the Alpacas suspiciously for a few minutes. Then I opened up the back, and loaded her up twice, nice and easy. Didn't hurt that there was a little left over hay toward far end of the trailer! I turned her to take her out and she hopped right out both times after waiting for me.
We will need to revisit the stall for backing out a little longer, and then we can work on backing out of the trailer. A good day!
