Tune up time....or "On teaching Strider to be less of a pain..."

I enjoy doing ground work.  I really and truly do.  I'm not GOOD at it, but I like to mess with a horse on the ground, and if I know how to teach a skill, I enjoy teaching that skill to a horse.  Something about seeing them learn and grow is immensely satisfying to me.  In a different life, I'd have enjoyed being a "recreational" horse trainer; buying green horses and putting a handle on them.

The reality though is I'm just not an accomplished enough rider and I lack the tools to teach a horse much more than the most basic of fundamentals.  I can overcome those issues by studying with someone; but I cannot overcome my lack of free time to do such things.

So, quite recently I realized it's PAST time to address Strider's quirks that make him a right royal PITA to deal with. 

So, I reached out to my farrier extraordinaire, Holly, to see if she was still doing training.  She isn't, sadly, but her son is. 

I took a few moments to weigh it out.  Holly is very affectionate with horses, but is no nonsense when they're working or act naughty (she has, in fact, corrected Strider in his younger years when she would trim him, and she was firm, but fair).  Her son perhaps isn't as "lovey" on horses, but he's no nonsense and gets results.  So, I feel that they will be a good match to work together.

Strider doesn't need "loved" on.  And, with Holly there, he'll get the loving from her. 

So, after Llano Estacado, Strider will get dropped off for another 30 days.

Goals?

Stand STILL!  He doesn't do this, and it's downright obnoxious at vet checks.  I suspect teaching him to ground tie is the answer to my problem.  And I know the fundamentals of it.  But figure I'll let someone else get that on him.

Yield the hind and forequarters.

Sidepass.

Open gates.

In general, let's see how much of an "all around" trail horse we can make him as well.


Icing on the cake is figuring out WHY he "bunny bucks" and seeing if that can be removed from his little brain.

The reality is that I want all of these things in case I should ever want to dabble in NATRC.  Also, it will just make him a more pleasant partner to have around.  And safer for our vets.  It kind of haunts me that at Shanghai the vet had to take him in hand and correct him.  I feel pretty awful about that.  Which is what sort of launched "Operation Tune Up".

Now, so Strider's all signed up.

My thoughts turn to Dakini.  She's a great little horse.  Needs to know more.  Gain confidence in herself.  Be balanced at a canter.  Learn to do trail obstacles too. 

For her, she needs a more "lovey" trainer.  She's a sensitive soul.  She needs no nonsense, but someone who will love on her.  So, now I'm on the hunt for that trainer.  I'm planning on sending her out for 30 days.  At some point this year.  Perhaps she will go sometime this summer as well.  My little "problem" child horse.  :)

Sometime this year, I also am planning on sending Socks for his 30 days.  Same lessons as Strider, although he needs some strengthening on his butt I think to make his canter less "ouchy" for his rider as well as learning how to negotiate trail obstacles and such.  Socks is such a friendly fellow that he also will probably go to Holly's son.  A large part of me is looking at making Socks my back-up to my back-up LD horse as he's in his 18th year now (certainly not OLD, but getting older), but really, making him a safe horse for Kaylee.

Strider is DEFINITELY going.  So is Dakini (once I find a good 'match' for her personality).  Socks is a "Well, he'll probably go this year....or next year.  But sometime."

And I'm kind of excited about it!!

Of unexpected water landings...and a plucky Paso...

So, I hadn't ridden Strider since Shanghai.  And, it was finally time for me to get back on and see how he was, post-shoe pull and antibiotics and sole paint.

Turns out, he was quite, quite strong and feeling very good.

Except that, as we were tacking up, he was sulking.

And by sulking, I mean SULKING!!!

Dis my sulky face...

Bug off Mom....

Hate you...Hate dis...Hate all so much....

Is okay though.  I'm still dirty.  And handsome.

He actually was very strong leading down the alleyway over the crunchy gravel and didn't beg to get off into the grass like he normally does.  I think that sole paint really is helping. 

(For the record, we're still putting shoes on though...)

I take him over to the Pecan Grove side of the property, and he behaves for me and does the "Come Pick Me Up" cue perfectly.  Stands still while I mount (might have helped I was allowing him to graze).  And away we turn from the mounting block and head out on the grass around the dirt track. 

He's very forward.  Strong.  I want to walk.  He wants to gait.  We have a discussion and I ultimately convince him that my way is the right way.

We head down into the Pecan Grove and I finally let him out a little bit on dryish patches to see how he's feeling.  "Good" the answer comes back.  So we loop around and around.  We see EB on her horse "D" and she comments that the trails really are pretty good considering the rains we've had. 

At one point, a flock of birds took off to our left, and Strider dropped and spooked so bad, I jammed my left pinky.  "What the EFF Strider?! BIRDS you dip!  BIRDS!!!" 

We fly up and down the hills as I let him get a canter beneath his feet and stretch out.  I savor the view between those perky little black ears as we go along. 

The gates are open throughout the entire Pecan Grove side, so I take full advantage and loop all of the trails together.  We loop to the upper side of the property and around.  Then I take him back down to the Pecan Grove side. 

We're at the start of the hills.

I'm enjoying the view for just a moment (okay, maybe more than a moment or two) and he drops his shoulder right, shys right...and I topple off slowly to the left.

Into a nasty, murky, sandy puddle.

"WHAT THE EFF STRIDER?!!!"

He was still on high alert.  So, with a sigh, I drag myself up and walk him over to a mound of dirt and get back on.  While my butt and leg is soaked.  And it stinks.  OH IT STINKS!!!

Taken in the aftermath once we're back at the pen.  Doesn't look SO bad, does it?

Well, there's my shirt on the side I landed on.  VERY sandy landing.  So, there's that!

It just gets progressively worse the further down we go.

Disgusting.  And STINKY!!  My sheepskin saddle cover is SANDY!!!

On the plus side, with the humidity being what it was, it was cooling.

And as such, we kept on going for another 2 miles or so.  I was hoping to get 7 miles done in an hour.  We got close to 6 done in about 55 minutes, so I figure, what with the spook and the unplanned water landing...we probably had a good, solid 6mph pace.  Someday I'd like to see him at 6.5-7, but...*shrug*  I'm a happy little Turtle.

Took him back to his pen, painted his soles again and let him go in his pen.  Where he bounced over to his water trough, took a big, long drink and then rolled.

So, I've got the Dormosedan gel ordered again, and once I get it in my hands, I'll put in a call to the shoer and get his shoes and pads put back on for Last Hoorah!

Fingers crossed that THIS year I can conquer those trails.

Dakini in her Scoot Boots; Round 2

Apologies in advance; this will be another photo heavy post.  I tried to take as many photos as I could of the many angles of the Scoot Boots for people who are curious about them.  This is especially true for we Paso Fino riders, and doubly true for Paso Fino riders who are doing distance riding with our horses.

So with that...here we go.

So, I mentioned a few posts back that it took me until the 14th of this month to finally step back on a horse.  And, I took Dakini.  For many reasons.  But primarily because she came up to me in the paddock and didn't run away when I laid my hands on her.  For some reason as of late, she's gotten hard to catch.  Like "I need to take Strider out so I can chase her into the feeding pen so I can get a halter on her" bad.  Quite annoying and frustrating. 

So, that she came up to me and asked for some love was nice.  So I gave it to her.

I went out not caring WHO I rode as I needed to get on them both.  It just so happened to work out that Dakini was easiest to catch.  Strider blasted off at Mach 10, obviously sound and feeling good.  Which was such a relief.

But, I pulled Dakini out and used the sole paint from the vet on all 4 feet, gave her a good grooming, and then tossed her Scoot Boots on her.

Now, after our first trial, and with the minor twist on the rear boots, the lady who fitted the Scoot Boots suggested removing the endurance gaiter.  And, on the suggestion of another friend who is using Scoot Boots on her TWH mare, she uses either cut socks, or the wrist sweatbands to wrap around the pastern to help prevent twist.

Well, why not?  So, I bought a dozen of the wrist sweatbands (thank you Amazon!) and tossed one on each of her rears and then put the boots on.

All 4 Scoots.  Kind of liking the purple on her rears.  :)

Better picture of the rear Scoot Boots. Not squared up.  I know, looks funky.

Left hind 'profile'.

Right rear, view from rear.

Not quite centered on her right front, but fit is good.

I also took the time to put the bit hangers on the new hackamore I got from Rae's Rope Halters and tossed it on.  Isn't she ADORABLE?!

Still a cute little Snort.

Profile and Strider photobomb.

However, let me say this.  She has always been SCARED of fly spray being squirted on her.  I was curious about what would happen if I fly sprayed her.  The actual bottle the fly spray came in broke, so I'd dumped it into the water bottle I bought to practice spraying her with.  And she just stood there for it!  WHAT A GOOD GIRL!!  I -almost- put her away after that.  But, I NEEDED to try out these boots and see how they were.

Anyway, I took Dakini over to the Pecan Grove side of the property.   Now, she had a tantrum heading out.  "I don't WANNA wear these boots!  I hate them!  Don't make me!!!!"  Lots of talking about that.  She's usually not a brat, but she was about that.  "I'm sorry babygirl, but you HAVE to learn to wear them!"

But, we finally got into the grove itself proper.  Where she tossed lots of spooks my way.  A few of them were hard spooks.  Dakini is DEFINITELY the type of horse who needs to be kept in constant work.  Noted little girl.

And away we went.  I let her walk for a while just to get used to them. And then finally asked for her to step it up into a gait.  Which she finally gave to me. 

We rode about 3 miles in them.  I wasn't pushing for speed, I was asking her to adjust to the boots and stop acting so weird about them. 

I pushed her through every large and small puddle I could find.  I made her walk through the nastiest mud and muck and filth we could access and go through.  I wanted to push these boots as much as I could.

I noticed, after passing through one puddle, I hadn't gotten a toe strap done on a boot.  I ALMOST got off to fix it and said "No.  Let's keep riding.  I want to know if, should a toe strap break on me while on trail, if the boot will stay on." 

Spoiler alert; that boot (her front right) DID!

At about mile 2.5, we went through a long, nasty muddy puddle.  As she exited, she did an incredibly violent spook which almost unseated me.  After a frustrated hollar of "What the eff Dakini?!!!", I looked back; "Yep, boot on each rear."  I looked right front "Hey!  Boot with 1 toe strap is still on through that spook!"  I looked left front.  Bare naked hoof.  But, it wasn't on the ground.

It was at the edge of the muddy puddle.  My suspicion is the spook was caused as the boot was sucked off her foot.  I'm SURE that felt INCREDIBLY weird to her.  So, I sort of slopped the boot around in the puddle to get the worst of the muck and grime off and popped it back on her foot.  Jumped back on and away we went.  Gait.  Canter.  She was quite happy to move out. 

Sun was starting to sink at this point, and I really wanted to end on a high note, so I made my way back to the barn. 

And, let me say I was impressed.  NO twist on the rears!  I'm not sure if it was because I removed the endurance gaiters, or because I added the sweat bands, or both, but I feel that the boots performed quite optimally for Dakini*.

So, here is the photographic aftermath of a little gray mare pushed through mud, muck, filth and just all around grossness.

Right front view.

Right front, profile view.

Right front, rear view.

Left front.  This is the boot where I didn't get the toe strap all the way on.  But it stayed PUT!

Left front, profile view.

Left front, bad rear photo.

Left rear; front view.

Left rear; profile view.

Left rear; rear view (again, not a great one, sorry!).

Right profile/front (sorta).

Right rear, rear photo.  Again, sorry it's not very good!

Left front with the boot off. No, that's not glass on the ground.  :)

Right rear, with boot off.  Seeing no rubs or "ouchy".

Left front off.  Looks good!

I apparently didn't get a photo of the back of the left front.  Got interrupted for feeding time at the barn and was talking with the guy who feeds the horses.  SORRY!!!

Right rear, removed, profile.

Right rear, rear view.  Looks good!

Left rear, profile view.

Left rear, rear view.  Still looking good!

Overall, and still so far, despite having less than 10 miles in these boots, I am happy with them. 

I would CERTAINLY recommend them for the casual trail rider on a Paso Fino.  And, while the jury is still out for MY Paso Fino for distance rides...I'm feeling confident.  If I only dismount once or twice during a ride to pop a boot back on, I'll count that a semi-success.  And, I'm thinking for the Old Glory ride, which will be at the same location as Armadillo Run, I just might boot her up for her LD and see how she does.  We have a month to continue 'toughening' up the skin to prevent rubs and to get her really used to wearing her boots.

In fact, think I'll have her wear them for the casual trail ride that's going on at Rusty's this weekend.  Babygirl needs to wear her kicks!!

*-Your mileage may vary

Updated RedDraggin'...

So, this will be a mostly images post.

I finally managed to borrow a power washer from my friend H, and power washed the top of my trailer (you know, the RedDraggin').  Joe and I bought the elastomeric paint and while he did the breaks on the car, I power washed the trailer and then we painted it the next day.

It isn't classy and it isn't high dollar, but it LOOKS better, and, from the one trip to Shanghai Trails post-paint job, I do earnestly believe that the paint does help keep it cooler inside the trailer.

Yeah, it was pretty gross up there.

Like really REALLY gross.

I also got REALLY bored.  BORED.

However, it's amazing just how much better it looked simply power washing off the nasty grime made things look up there!

 Also in this process, we discovered that the side windows, which I had always assumed were locked, they weren't.  They were just stiff.  With some WD-40 and a flat-head screwdriver, Joe managed to get them into working order.  So, now I can just feed a lead rope through and guide my horses in.  And toss alfalfa or hay in now!  I'm so pleased!!!

I fell in love with my little trailer all over again after all this work.  He'll be with me until he's unable to do his job anymore!!!

Before on top.  After on bottom.  Passenger side. Otherwise known as the "LD horses only" side. Socks and Dakini ride on this side.

Before on top.  After on bottom.  Otherwise known as the "Endurance horse only" side.  This is Strider's side.

Shopping List/Wish List...or "Small Purchases for Long-term Improvement"

So, since Shanghai Trails, I haven't stepped on a horse since.

Well, until the 14th.  It was a combination of recovery (I really had no idea I'd feel as badly as I felt) and probably a bit of anxiety.  Seems like when the wheels shoot off (as compared to falling off), I get scared and doubt myself and the sanity of endurance. 

But I can't seem to fully quit my drug of choice. 

So, I've been reading and researching.  And buying. 

I just acquired two of these:

Why?  Because Dr. Susan Garlinghouse mentioned them in a seminar at the AERC convention, and if they work for Dr. G, and for my friend who jotted down notes, then it's time I started using them too!!  Ordered two and in red...to match the RedDraggin', naturally.

I've got my Tractor Supply shopping list:
Muck Bucket (to soak hay in on the trips...or for rides where we have to tote it back out...line it with a trashbag liner and fill it)

Steel trash can (this stays at the barn..apparently a rat thinks Strider's ProForce Fuel is DELICIOUS, so...I need another can)

35 gallon "Incredible Solutions trash can" (inexpensive way to haul another 35 gallons of water to a ride for a mere $25)

 CMPK (replace the one I currently have)

I also will be ordering the ProCMC and some small wide-mouth jars.

Suffice to say, I've been studying the electrolyte protocols and committing to them in earnest going forward. 

I WILL:
Electrolyte 3 days leading up to the ride once a day
Electrolyte prior to loading onto the trailer
IN the trailer in the new buckets will be a soupy/wet mash of ProForce Fuel, Rice Bran and some rinsed beet pulp (actually, looking into the SpeediBeet which doesn't have molasses AND only needs to soak for 10 minutes!)
Electrolyte after getting out of the trailer
Electrolyte at bedtime
I will get up early and electrolyte
And before I get in the saddle I will electrolyte
I will electrolyte every hour to hour and a half on the trail
I will carry carrots (87% water) and apples (84% water) with me on trail
1 hour POST ride, I will electrolyte again

Current plan is:
Last Hoorah! Strider - 50 miles
Old Glory; Dakini and Socks on deck - 25 miles each day
Llano Estacado; Strider/Dakini/Strider - 25 miles each day

Then this insane Spring season is over for us.  They all get to relax and be horses for the summer (with some sporadic riding here and there).  I will probably pull Strider's shoes for the summer, but not totally sure yet.

And the conclusion of "Shanghai Trails" or..."How I learned Ground Controls Don't Work For Strider"

I promised I would do the conclusion, did I not?  I usually try and deliver....

I spent much of the day Saturday waffling on if I was going to ride Sunday or not.  I knew I wasn't riding Strider, but I had Dakini.  I even went and changed my entry to her.

And kept waffling.  And talked myself out of it.

Joe had to work his volunteer police gig Sunday.  I had surgery scheduled on Monday.  And, I know Dakini could have done the distance (27.5 miles), but...I was just fried emotionally and mentally and not on my game.  So I decided as I went to bed Saturday night I was heading home Sunday.

Which is exactly what I did.

I was able to break camp fairly quickly and easily, despite some SNAFUs getting out of camp (a truck and trailer parked right where I needed to drive to get OUT and a car also in the way).  Stood and talked with a friend's husband for a little bit...cleaned up the pen area as well as possible...loaded the kids and headed for home in a daze. 

I honestly don't remember much of the drive home.  I'm usually kind of zoned out, and I'm sure I was still decompressing the ride itself.  And turning my mind from "Ride weekend" to "I have surgery tomorrow!"

Unloaded the kids at the barn.  Noticed Dakini had pooped in the trailer...and, disconcertingly, Strider had not.  When I unloaded him, he ran off into his pen, bucking and farting, and then ran and grabbed a BIG drink of water.  Rolled.  Acted utterly and completely normal.  I thought back, remembered seeing a fresh pile of poop by the trailer after I loaded.  Told myself it was his, and then dashed off a message to a friend who had also been at Shanghai to see if she could look in on him when she dropped her boy off to make sure he was okay.

So, Monday is surgery.  I'm not even wasting my time talking about it.  Surgery is what surgery is.  Sayonara gall bladder!!

But, Monday evening I get a text; "Your horse is lame."

I get this a LOT.  Figured he was just sore from whatever he'd done to his left front, so fired a message back "Sure he's just sore from the ride.  Thanks for letting me know!  I'll check on him as soon as I can."  And then I promptly passed back out in that post-anesthesia haze.

Tuesday afternoon late, a new friend I met at the ride who is leasing one of my friend's horses says "He's lame." 

Told her "Yeah, I hear that a LOT.  I'm sure he's fine."

"No, he's LAME.  Right front.  Want me to send a video?"

And she does.

And I lose my mind.  Oh yeah.  He's LAME.  And I start to cry.  I can't get to the barn.  I cannot PHYSICALLY do ANYTHING for him because I'm not supposed to DO anything.

She's pretty sure it's the nails.

After seeing these photos, I agree.

Can you see what I see?

That nail RIGHT there is what we suspect was part of the problem.

Not going to lie, I started calling in favors I probably had no right to.  I was in a state of panic and hysteria.  My new friend said she'd pull it, but didn't have the right tools. 

Thankfully, my amazing farrier, who had JUST gotten home from a long day of trimming horses looked at my pictures of it after listening to me, said at first she'd check him tomorrow, but after seeing the video said "I'm going right now to pull those shoes and see if that helps."

So she, her son and, well, basically her "crew" rolled over to my barn, relieved my new friend from the whole thing and pulled his shoes.

She noticed that he'd ripped off a large flap of sole, but even after removing shoes, while he was better, he wasn't sound.

Obviously.  :(

So, suggestion of call the vet and go from there. 

Which I did on Wednesday morning at around 8:10am.

Now, we'd had a NASTY storm Tuesday night (this did NOT in any way reduce my anxiety or concern for him), so the wonderful vet at OnCallVet said I would be shuffled in as soon as possible, but it would be in the afternoon.  I explained to them that I physically could NOT be there due to my surgery.  Now, I had friends at the barn volunteering to hold him for the vet and offering to help (just thinking about the outpouring of generosity makes my heart swell).  THANKFULLY my farrier happened to be trimming at the barn when the vet made it out there, so she was able to hold and tell me what was what.

Due to the unshapeable ability of composite shoes, we feel that he got a hot nail in.  NOT my shoer's fault.  Just the way those shoes are made, they do not work for Strider.  So, vet said remove the back shoes (we'd left them on HOPING we could salvage and reset...not doing it though), antibiotics and to use his sole paint to toughen him up.

Holly went to get the sole paint for me (did I mention my farrier is an angel here on Earth?  Genuinely and truly sincere) on Saturday from the vet's office, and Joe and I met her at the barn that Saturday to see it go on.

Now, to wait.  To let the antibiotics do their job.  To let the sole paint do IT'S job.  And for me to figure out what on earth to do next for his feet.

My gut says "Just go steel shod.  Pad for rocky rides.  Stop fussing with composites."

So, with that said...anyone want to buy 2 BRAND NEW un-used Ground Control shoes in Size 0?  Teal.  I happen to have some.  *sigh*

Endurance Introspection...(both the blog and my own...)

(FYI-I have the post regarding Sunday at Shanghai started...I shall finish as soon as I can...until then....)

So, I stumbled across Patti Stedman's blog at EnduranceIntrospection.com (after having looking at her online Endurance 101 course which I shall be taking shortly) and, as is normal, started at the oldest post and am working my way forward. 

Let me assure you that there is a LOT to be gleaned from her blog; especially for those of us on "non-traditional" endurance horses.  I also wish that someday I could have half her good grace at ill-luck while doing this sport.

I digress though.

I was reading through her May 31st, 2011 post and saw this:
"Best to go in to a 100 underconditioned and well-rested than the inverse."

I was truly struck by this statement and jotted it down and rolled it around in my head.  Weighed it.  Considered it.  Found the truth to it.  Know it, myself, to be true (at least for 50's.  No comment on 100's.   Yet.).

When Strider and I did this year's River Run, he was not as conditioned as I had wished.  Ultimately, despite what I say, I genuinely AM okay with a pull when it's for my equine's welfare.  I rail against them emotionally because, when they happen, it's because I somehow failed my horse.  Wasn't diligent about keeping an eye on the time.  Hit a rock.  Didn't electrolyte properly prior to the ride.  ALL of those things are utterly and completely MY fault.  And I am embarassed by those things.

However, and I know people go back and forth and argue fiercely, but I find this to be true; almost ANY horse, who is reasonably fit, can do an LD.  ALMOST any horse.  Not every horse.  Not any horse.  But many.  I point to, as always, Strider and Socks.  Socks was literally pulled from my pen, thrown into a trailer, and did a 30 mile LD.  Strider's very first LD was under much the same conditions.  Pulled and tossed into a trailer, taken to ride camp and did 25 miles. 

Amazing animals.  Amazing partners.  Amazing souls.

I digress.

I would say Socks was underconditioned but well-rested for his first, second AND third LD.  When you go to any gathering of endurance riders, they'll tell you about conditioning, and everything else you should do before doing an LD.  I get it.  I really do. 

But, here's Socks' quick stats: 
First LD; HW Rider (myself).  30 miles.  Hot and humid.  Not pre-loaded electrolytes.  First time ever to a ride.  Turtled.
Second LD; Junior rider (Josh).  25 miles.  Cold and damp(ish).  Pre-loaded electrolytes.  Very sandy ride.  Mid-pack.
Third LD; LW (?) rider.  25 miles.  Warm.  Pre-loaded electrolytes.  Turtled.  To be fair, he was keeping back with Strider who was on day 2 after having done the 50 the day before.

I question how much of that was his breed?  How much was it the riders after myself?  Don't know.  But know he LOVES it.

Strider was VERY underconditioned for his first ride.  I had no idea what I was doing.  He was in a heavy saddle.  Tried to keep up with the front of the pack (I did mention I had NO idea what I was doing, right?).  Completed back of the pack.

Next ride a few weeks later.  Same saddle.  Rode with a lady with lots of experience.  Turtled.  OT'd our next ride (I rode alone and had NO IDEA what I was doing without someone to keep me on target with time...also got lost a few times).

Dakini's actually done 2 rides.  She's 50/50 right now.  Though as they dug the big rock out of her rear foot at the ride she and I did together...PRETTTTTY sure that was the culprit!

My ride record shows OTs.  Lameness pulls.  A RO.  It's the record of someone who's fumbling.

Anyway...All of this to say that; I find Patti's statement dead on.  My horses retain fitness once they've gotten it.  Sometimes they already had it, and if I'm careful about management, I get them through their rides.  Or, as I learned at Shanghai, if I'm NOT careful...my brave horse cannot succeed. 

Shanghai Trails LD Ride...or "How I Learned to Rider Option"...

So, ride day.

I could hear the 50's prepping for their day, and had a moment where I was longing to be going out with them.  But, I settled back in for about 30 more minutes to sleep and just relax before getting out of bed and getting ready to go out and get ready.

I had left Strider's rain sheet on him all night, and he was a little sweaty beneath it. 

I didn't give him any grain or breakfast, just threw fresh hay to him and Dakini.  Made sure that Dakini would have lots of water and pulled him out and tacked him up. 

The prepping process was the smoothest it has ever been.  We were quickly saddled and I made sure I had everything I would need; my Garmin, phone set to airplane mode to run Endomondo, 4 bottles of water in my Stowaway packs.  I was ready. 

So, I actually stepped into the stirrup around 7:10ish and we started walking around to warm up. 

The mood was quiet and subdued.  I checked in and kept doing loops near the trailer and vet check area.

This was the best Strider has ever done for me.  He was grazing on grass.  He was calm and relaxed.  He wasn't crying for Dakini (she sure was crying for him and acting like a fool).

And then, oh irony of ironies, a loose horse came into our milling pack of horses.  It wanted to make friends with Strider, which was fine...he was well behaved, it was well behaved, but trying to corral it into the barn was a bit of a pain.  Someone finally managed to get it into the barn, but at that point Strider realized Dakini was back at camp and he started acting up.  *sigh*  So much for our calm and easy warm up.  I kept him doing circles and loops near our camp, but that was just amping him up.  The complete OPPOSITE of what I wanted to happen.

So, about 2 or 3 minutes after trail was called open and the hot foots left, I went out on my own.  No one before us (well, I could see them, but there was a good distance) and no one really behind us at the start.

It was glorious.  He was strong.  He was also fast.  Part of the problem was that after we crossed the first cattle guard (they laid down plywood so we could cross safely), we got passed by a pair of riders, and Strider just locked on to them and wouldn't stop chasing after them.  He was mad as hell that I wouldn't let him have his head so he could race them down.  I will say that he DOES listen in an S-Hack, though sometimes I have to "see-saw" the reins some to get him to come back and listen to me.

The first two miles are open.  OPEN.  We're on a dirt road with plowed fields on both sides, so you can see every horse ahead and behind of you.   

The first trough was about 2 miles in, and he had ZERO interest.  He was more irritated that the two horses he had been "chasing" were now out of sight as we crossed from open fields into forest. 

Glancing down at my Garmin, we were going faster than we'd ever gone before.  Solid 7-9 mph and we usually condition at a solid 5.5-6ish.  I should have INSISTED he slow it down, but I didn't.

We hit our second water trough maybe 7 or 8 miles in.  He stopped and drank some from it.  But, he'd seen a group ahead of us leave as we came up, and was more intent on catching up to them.

But he was happy to move down the trails.  And I allowed it with occasional "checks" to remind him he isn't an Arabian with their innate skill at this sport.

Photo credited to John Nowell.  Original purchased. 
As you can see, he is happy, I am happy.  He is barely sweating at this point.  We look STRONG as a team together!!

So, we're moving out alone on a portion of trail.  I've dumped water on his neck occasionally, sponged out of occasional puddles (it was HOT and HUMID).  We were doing great.

Then we hit a section of trail where we had to go down through a culvert.  There was a tree immediately to my left, large chunks of broken concrete to my right and some rocks to traverse.  He charged over it, and as we popped up the other side, I felt him jerk and almost go down on his front left.

I immediately hopped off and inspected his leg, the shoe, made sure he didn't have a rock under his shoe.  Checked for heat.  Nothing.  Bad stumble?  Not sure.  So, I lead him and he gimped and gimped.  I wanted to cry.  And scream.  We were a little over mid-way through a 14.1 mile loop!!

Instead, I walked him.  Some friends came up behind us, asked if we were okay.  Said I was going to hand walk him and see how we were.  They said he looked okay, but weren't real sure as they're not familiar with gaited horses (they have a Missouri Foxtrotter).  I told them not to wait on us, keep moving and we'd just walk and see what happened.

And so we walked.  And walked.  We walked some more.  I stopped to take advantage of the fact I was on the ground and took a potty break.  He seemed to be walking out with confidence again, so I opted to hop back on and go at a walk for a bit, and see how he felt.

So we walked some.  Then went back to gaiting.  He was strong and fine.  Okay, keep it easy.

As you can see, I was concerned and no longer happy.  Our amazing ride photographer had said my friends told him I was walking, so he was shocked to see me up.  I said he seemed okay at this point, so we were moving forward.  And we kept going.

Photo credited to John Nowell.  Original purchased.
Can you see how "squinchy" my face is.  That's my "I'm concerned face".  And yet, he looks strong, doesn't he?  Ears forward and eager to go.  Stubborn jerk.

Then as we were in an open stretch, my entire body tense and anxious and attuned for any bobble, I SWORE I saw a head bob.  I immediately stopped him and jumped off again for more hand walking after checking him over once more.  Nothing physically wrong I could discern.  So more walking.

Walking and walking.  No big deal.  I sing some.  Talk to myself and him some. 

He seems okay again, so I get back on and repeat.

Again, I think I feel an issue so get off again.  I make him stop and graze. 

A horse comes up behind us, she checks to make sure we're okay, I tell her we're fine, thank you...and she moves on.  Strider seems raring to go again, and won't eat anymore, so I get back on, tell him to take it easy and we play leap frog the rest of the way back to camp.

He did stop and take a GREAT drink at the water trough about 12 miles in.  Which is about when he is first interested in water; usually between 10 and 15 miles is when he'll do his first drink.  So that didn't set off any additional alarm bells for me.

I was fairly sure I was going to rider option, but I knew I needed to vet through.

His pulse hung and hung.  I stripped his tack off (I invariably do some sort of that for warm rides).  Kenny and Bobbie Jo came to help me out (learned a useful trick from Kenny to keep him from slinging his head all around which I will utilize some in the future).  Take him to PR check, and he's back up a little bit.  I'm trying not to get frustrated and overwhelmed when a nice lady does some TTouch on him and we finally get him into parameters.

I go to vet him through, and surprisingly enough, he gets an A on gait.  A on everything but gut sounds where he gets a B.

I'm in a state of shock, and the vet suggests letting him graze on the fresh grass, get a good drink of water, so I say that's exactly my plan.  I let him graze while talking to a friend.  And eventually we head back to our camp site.

I put him in the pen and am talking to my friends when he lays down, as he always does, for a good roll.  However, unlike normal, he stretches out and doesn't get back up again.  His eyes drift closed and a friend thinks maybe he's tired and is going for a nap.  My mind thinks "He never does that....but...maybe....?"

He eventually gets back up and flops to his other side and stretches out and won't get back up.  At that point I KNOW this isn't normal.  So I go into the pen, grab his halter and start tugging on it. 

"Get up Strider.  Get up."

He stays on the ground.  I gently nudge him with my boot.  "Get UP Strider."  My emotions are starting to spiral.  No.  Nononononono.

One of my friends asks if she should get the vet, I tell her yes as I keep yanking at his halter "Get UP Strider, get UP Strider, get UP!!!"  I'm starting to sob as my other friend and her neighbors grab a carrot stick and spank him to his feet.

He gets up and I get him out of the pen, a shaken and rattled mess.  The poor head vet this weekend has been run ragged, but he comes to my camp with a bag of fluids.  He listens to Strider's guts and says they've gone from a B to "Nothing/Not moving".

"Go walk and graze him.  Give him some calcium and electrolytes.  Bring him back as often as you want and we'll check him for you."

So that is exactly what I did.

Now, let me say this; in my mind I kept hoping we could go back out.  Makes me sound heartless, doesn't it?  Here's the rational behind that.  If he was somehow capable of going back out, then he was okay.  He wasn't hurt.  I hadn't hurt him.  Things were okay. 

Look, I didn't say it was logical, did I?  Logic had NOTHING to do with it, and my hope for a horse that wasn't hurt had EVERYTHING to do with it.

So, we walked.  We walked some more.  I took him back to the trailer and gave him a little alfalfa and some hay which he devoured.  He also took a nice long pee.  But hours ticked by and no poop.  I could hear his guts burbling, but no poop.  This concerned me. 

I took him to the vets who checked him out and said he was improving.  I finally told them I was definitely going to Rider Option.  They all said they completely respected that decision, said it was a good choice and if I needed to bring him back, feel free, they'd check him again.

A few hours later, he did finally poop.  And was back to his regular self.

The vet thought it was perhaps a gas colic.  A friend of mind thought perhaps a water colic.  Who knows, ultimately? 

But it was a long, LONG afternoon.  Don't misunderstand, I had a great time hanging out in camp with him, reading, taking him for walks and watching the traffic come and go all day.  I was a little jealous I didn't get to go back out, but not completely torn up about it.

If you'd like to see the information for our first loop, here's the info from my Garmin:
First Loop of Shanghai trails

I will say that this has been one of the hardest posts to write.  Because I can see in every single step of the way what I did wrong.  And for some of the steps, I wondered if it was going to come and bite me in the butt.  And it did.

So, what did I learn?
FOLLOW MY PRE-RIDE ELECTROLYTE PROTOCOL!!!
For me, for 3 days leading up to the ride I go to the barn and electrolyte ANY horse I think might be going with me to a ride.  I did NOT do that at ALL prior to this ride.  And why?  Because in my hubris and faith in my horse, I thought "Well, it's 'just' an LD.  He's got this!!!"  Never again.  NEVER AGAIN!!  Don't ever assume that because you've done it before that this time it will be okay to take a shortcut.  Yes, this was our very first ride 2 years ago and he was out of shape AND we did it on the Dumor electrolytes that are more sugar than anything useful, and we ran with the front of the pack that time, BUT....it was cooler that day. 

I also feel leaving his rain sheet on him all night did NOT help.  I should have taken it off.

NEVER RIDE FASTER THAN YOU CONDITION!!!
I had done a total of 2, count them, 2 rides on him with his new shoes on.  He was fast.  He was zippy.  But, I didn't take that into account on ride day.  I should have insisted he go slower.  I could have, in fact, waited at camp.  I should have, in fact, waited at camp.  But instead, I left camp and let him, for the most part, set our pace.  7-9mph was faster than we had conditioned.  MUCH faster than we had conditioned.  Don't fall victim to "race brain" or a horse who hunts.

I share all of this in order to educate someone else.  I share all of this to learn myself!  And I share all of this so that I can then share the aftermath and fall out of the next few days....which I shall share in the next day or two.