Work: PM heat therapy & groom. Ran out of daylight. Grade: none. We have a cheap digital thermometer, which makes taking daily temperatures a breeze. Beats the stuffing out of the days of glass thermometers & clothespins. Speaking of breeze, both horses break wind as soon as I, um, begin the process. Every time. It’sContinue reading “Daily Temps”
Author Archives: Virtual Brush Box
Equine Tics
Work: AM heat therapy/walk – top of the hill. He realized he was farther from the barn than usual but held it together. PM long groom/no exercises – yesterday’s trip down memory lane put me in a mood, so I fussed on him until I got over myself. Plus, he met me at the fenceContinue reading “Equine Tics”
In the Beginning
Work: AM heat therapy/walk [reverse of Tues], PM groom/ground exercises [weave cones, turn-around box, reverse poles, plank] Grade: [spookier than strictly necessary during grooming but redeemed himself in the ring, which alone is worth a star.] In their infinite wisdom, Horse Illustrated has published my story of shopping for Rodney as “Horse Tales: TheContinue reading “In the Beginning”
Helmet Evangelism
Work: day off. First of many rants on the subject. A few years ago, I decided to go on a short, quiet walk at home on my husband’s horse. Who needs a helmet under those circumstances? I did. Factoids: Matilda was 25 years old at the time. We’d owned her for 18 years. She hadContinue reading “Helmet Evangelism”
Ground Exercise 4: Plank
Work: PM heat therapy/walk, 1/4 of pasture Grade: Set up: 24″ x 30″ plywood board. Exercise: Stand on with both front feet. Saturday was our first day with this. As I suspected, he came right over to chew and paw. With a modicum of convincing, he put one foot on & then both feet. Sunday,Continue reading “Ground Exercise 4: Plank”
Ground Exercise 3: Weave Cones
Work: AM heat therapy only, rider [a courtesy title] on disabled list. Cough. Sniffle. Grade: n/a Set up: 4 orange highway cones in a row, approximately 5′ apart. Exercise: serpentine around cones. If we ever get into the jumper ring or out on cross country, Rodney will have many winning virtues: stride, power, boldness. However,Continue reading “Ground Exercise 3: Weave Cones”
Gentlemen …
Work: AM heat therapy/walk, PM groom/ground exercises [box, plank, weave cones, reverse poles] Grade: Engaging in what is becoming an annual tradition (BTR Jan 2011, final paragraph) of renaming my horse. Rodney as a stable name is here to stay. His show name is now Start Your Engine. Getting rid of previous show name becauseContinue reading “Gentlemen …”