FOO: A Day In The Life

Tracy at Fly On Over is doing a great blog hop about what our daily routines as Adult Amateurs consist of.

I guess I can participate since I only show Open because I keep forgetting to do the stuff I need to in order to get my Ammy status. Plus, I score the same no matter what my status is and I kind of like showing against the real pros. You only get better by trying to compete with the best, right? Anyway, since I am really just an Ammy showing Open, I figure that I still count.

I wish!

6:00 am- My phone rings. It's the Fiancé reminding me I need to climb my ass out of bed. *Yes, this is late for the track, but we've been working seven days a week for almost five years straight and we have a groom. Sleeping in a bit = justified IMO.

6:01 am- Roll over in bed and stretch to see how stiff/crippled I am and whether or not I need to jump in the shower to loosen up or if I can use that time to check email and social media.

6:35 am-Walk out the door, get in the pickup, remember whatever it was I forgot. Go grab it.

6:45 am-Stop to get whatever form of caffeine I feel like so that I don't kill anyone.

6:49 am-Guzzle said caffeine while loudly labeling other drivers as an idiot every thirty seconds.

7:05 am-I start tacking horses, putting the Thermotex on, and watching them go when I can.

8:00 am- Break on the main track. Send one to the training track.

8:15 am- Silently curse the Fiancé for scheduling two workers and a ponier to all go right after the break while I run around like a crack head trying to get them all tacked and wrapped. Forgive him when he gets back and helps me.

8:30 am- Head up to the grandstands to clock the two workers. About have a heart attack as the horse we are working almost flies up the ass of the horse that some moron is hobby-horseing right on the rail.

8:50 am- Consider climbing on and tracking one of the horses. Decide that I don't have the time or energy. Start tacking the rest of the horses that need to go for the Fiancé to take.

9:50 am- Watch the last horse go. Notice a girl, that just lets the horses run off all of the time, unintentionally work about 35 flat for 3/8 of a mile, which is pretty damn fast. Wonder why she bothers if she isn't even going to try and how long before she gets herself killed. Decide not my horse, not my problem. Then wonder about why the hell anyone would even consider putting her on a horse, decide I don't care, and head back to the barn.

10:20-11:55 am- Go through the barn with L and hold the horses that the Fiancé wants thermaled, lasered, and adjusted.

12:00 pm- Go pick up lunch

12:30 pm- Start bathing the horse that we have racing that day.

1:53 pm- The horse is bathed, iced, wrapped, bridled, stretched, etc. I grab the shammy, bag, and blinkers and head up to the paddock.

1:58 pm- Our friend that helps us in the paddock catches me up on the latest episode of As The Walker Turns (AKA the typical racetrack drama and gossip).

My overdramatic pose for all of those As The Walker Turns fans.

2:09 pm- The rider is legged up and they are on the track. We head up to the Turf Club to watch the race.

2:16 pm- My heart starts going about 1,000 BPM while I sit there pretending I'm not nervous at all.

2:18 The gates open and I try not to squirm or yell during the race. Most likely, we get beat because it's horse racing and you lose a hell of a lot more than you win.

Sometimes we win, this is one of my favorites. This was Shivers Me winning the Inaugural Handicap at Sunray Park. It was his first race back after a three month layoff (six months since he'd last run). He was a complete ass in the paddock, not washing out or trying to flip or anything like that, he was just fresh and was apparently very excited to race. As soon as the rider was on him, he was perfectly calm. I'll never forget the rider confidently smiling and giving the camera (I was in El Paso watching the race on simulcast) a thumbs up after getting on a horse that just about killed everyone in the paddock.

2:20 pm- Try to keep the mood light after the race by making some smart ass joke. No need to get upset.

2:50 pm- The horse is on the walker cooling out, it's stall is cleaned, and I leave the SO to finish up and head out to ride my horses.

3:15-5:30 pm- Life is good as I groom, tack, and ride my horses. Who cares about the race? I have two gorgeous animals to enjoy. They are mine to do what I want with, no pressure. I never have to worry about them going off of their feed (they Hoover everything I put in front of them), if they get a bad ride it's because I'm riding them, no owners to appease (these things are completely opposite of the horses I deal with at the track). I pay a crapload of money for this privilege, but then how can you put a price on your sanity. Totally worth it.

5:35 pm- Call the Fiancé to see what he wants for dinner as I'm leaving the barn. In case you didn't notice, I don't have much time to cook.

5:37 pm- Decide that it's a scientific miracle that I'm not morbidly obese or dead with the way I've been eating lately. Try to convince myself that I need to join the gym I've been looking into and that I will be able to find the time to actually go. Forget about it as I begin to yell "Idiot!" at other drivers every thirty seconds. Again.

6:05 pm- Arrive back at the track, eat dinner, and get started on evening chores. *The Fiancé likes to feed late because the horses eat better when it's quiet and cool. I like to feed late to keep their blood sugar levels more balanced throughout the day (instead of them having three big meals in an 8-10 hour period). Either way, we like to feed late.

6:25-8:30ish pm- Feed, water, do leg work, and pick stalls.

This is what happens when a big, dumb (adorable) two year old tries to wipe the mud off of his legs before I can get him wrapped. Of course, he then proceeded to freak out about the mud on his head and tried to wipe that off on me.

9:00 pm- I'm finally home and want to draw, blog, read, or watch a movie.

9:20 pm- I'm completely crashed, probably drooling on my phone because I fell asleep reading my book on it.

9:55 pm- Give the SO the look of death when he wakes me up to tell me that I should probably change into some pajamas.

Kind of what I look like when someone tries to wake me up.

9:57 pm- I begrudgingly drag myself out of bed to get ready for bed.

10:10 pm- Crashed out sleeping in some awkward position that will inevitably cause me to wake up stiff/crippled tomorrow.

Me showing of my lack of knowledge about golf.

All times are subject to change when you work at a racetrack, but this is a typical race day with the exception that the post time might be different and can be the deciding factor on whether or not I ride or just turn my horses out that day. On a non-race day, I sometimes even get a couple of hours of free time to do "normal" people things. Sometimes. I even manage to squeeze a lesson in 1-2 times a week.

Sometimes I even get to enjoy an afternoon at the races with a friend.

The Young Horse Challenge

She was so dang cute!

It's easy to get big dreams going in your head when it comes to a young horse. The

process sounds so simple: start them, train them, show them. No big deal right?

Or not. Thank goodness she has gotten past this stage and the need to lunge has diminished immensely.  I honestly hate lunging so much that I debate about whether or not it would be less painful to just get bucked off. 

Looking back on that thought process with Indy, I have to laugh to keep from crying. NOTHING has been simple with her. First she was spooky, then she decided that filling her dreams of a career as a bronc would be a great idea. She was mentally immature. Then she went through the most awkward growth spurt and I was dealing with physical immaturity. She was spooky, bitchy, and damn hardheaded. Top that off with her being about as coordinated as a giraffe on ice and I could see my "young horse" dreams slowly dwindling away. So much for simple.

Right after she turned two.

Indy will be five in May and we still haven't shown. We will attend our first clinic this month. Her canter often looks like me riding Bugs Bunny hopping around *four footed leap, air time, land, repeat*. Sometimes she still responds to my leg with a giant F U. She'll still find that spooky spot ("OMG is that an open car door a mile a way?!!!" *ducks sideways*)  when she decides that she should be done. She's traumatized by another horse getting within twenty feet of her (I had this bright idea that if I mostly rode Indy alone, her confidence wouldn't be dependent on other horses. Mission accomplished and yet still a huge FAIL). Oh yeah, don't forget the occasional bite on the ass while I'm stretching her.

First time with a saddle and bridle on. She didn't care about that.

Yes, there are still days when Indy is spooky, bitchy, and damn hard headed. There probably always will be. It's just her. Then there are the days when she is wonderful and lovely. Times when everything comes together and her talent shines through. Times that bring on new dreams.

So, I have a bit of a challenging horse. I love her all the more for it. I know that I've earned everything I get from her. She makes it clear when I am right or wrong. Indy has taught me when to be patient or when to be tough. She has made me braver. Mostly, she has taught me to put my pride aside. I'm not ashamed that we aren't further along, I've done what was best for my horse by giving her the time she needed to grow up and I'm not going to get down on myself over it. Life would have been easier if the process had been simple, but what the hell would that have taught me?

WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE USING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES ON YOUR HORSE

There is, and always will be, a heavy debate about the use of alternative therapies on horses. To me, it's been useful. However, there is a lot more to it's success than just a simple treatment. I'm not saying that they are for everyone or every horse. If you are considering using alternative therapies, here are some things to keep in mind and how those therapies could possibly fail.

*I generalized alternative therapies instead of going into each one available along with putting everyone who practices those therapies in the "equine therapist" category. This isn't technically correct, but it gives you the basic idea. Mostly, I am referring to chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and massage and laser therapy.

1. It should be used in conjunction with a veterinarian's diagnosis and treatment, not as a replacement.

There are a lot of vets out there these days that approve of or perform chiropractic, acupuncture, laser therapy, etc. under the right circumstances. The equine therapist I use wants the vet to diagnose and approve the work that she will be doing and to make sure that her treatments won't interfere with the veterinarian's. Because she is working with the vet, not trying to replace him, he approves and the horses aren't put at risk.

On another note, if you have someone that performs alternative therapies that IS pushing their services in place of veterinarian diagnosis and care, I would highly recommend not using them.

2. Don't expect a miracle cure.

Alternative therapies can help aid in recovery, but don't expect that someone can magically fix your horse overnight.

3. They can be very useful as a preventative.

Horses tend to be more likely to obtain injuries when they aren't moving correctly. For instance, if a horses is out of alignment or has body soreness, they probably aren't moving evenly. This can put more pressure or decrease the efficiency of another limb and that can lead to injuries/damage in joints and tendons. Keeping your horse loose and aligned helps prevent the damage to other areas. No, that doesn't mean that your horse is suddenly invincible, but it does decrease the risk of injury.

5. There are many factors in keeping a horse sound.

No veterinary treatment or alternative therapy is going to fix a horse that is shod, ridden, trained, or fed incorrectly in the long run. An ill fitting saddle won't do you any favors either. Don't expect treatments to compensate for all of that. Everthing has an equal part to play.

6. It usually takes more than one treatment.

How often do you hear of people getting one chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, or laser therapy treatment and suddenly being and staying completely fine? Very rarely. I don't see why horses would be any different. Be willing to do it correctly or don't waste money doing it at all. This is why you need to go with a therapist that is reputable and known to be honest.

7. Do your part.

This one pretty much goes with #5, but there is more to add to it. There are lots of things you can do yourself to help your horse. If they need their feet packed or leg work done, do it. Learn how to stretch them correctly and make it part of your routine. If you have them, use therapeutic blankets such as Thermotex or Back on Track. Educate yourself on the basics of equine nutrition and what your horse needs to feel well. There are a lot of things you can do to help extend the results of alternative therapies.

8. Avoid the uneducated therapists.

Before you let someone that isn't a vet go to tweaking, poking, or lasering your horse, do some homework. Ask about what training/certifications they have and what type of equipment, when applicable, they use. Try to go with someone that is recommended/approved by your vet. There are many equine "therapists" that have little to no official training. Make sure you pick one that does. Also, remember that it isn't their job to diagnose illnesses and injuries. If they are credible, they will want a vet's diagnosis. No one with a brain wants to put themself at risk of a law suit. The equine therapist we use is a certified thermographer (thermal camera imaging). However, she only uses it to see if there's a problem showing up, not to diagnose what that problem is. If something looks suspicious, she won't touch it until the vet has a look. Thermal imaging should NEVER be used to diagnose injuries or illnesses!

I've found that, when used correctly with realistic expectations, alternative therapies can be a very good investment. They aren't going to make your horse run faster, jump higher, or move better than it is designed to do. What alternative therapies can do is help, not make, your horse perform to the best of it's capabilities while keeping them sound and healthy longer.

New Blogger: The Adventures of a Floppy Ammy

I occasionally have a hard time rembering the names of new blogs, but from the first time I saw The Adventures of a Floppy Ammy, I remembered her blog. Why? Because the title is genius. Obviously.

Shauna and Boca.

From the title it just gets better. Shauna has a great sense of humor and always brings a laugh in her posts. She has an adorable ten year old APHA gelding named Boca (make sure to read about how she came to acquire him here). I highly recommend following this thirty-something re-rider's hunter/jumper adventures with the lovely Boca! She is upbeat, fun, and easy to relate to. Her posts are well written and very enjoyable to read. You won't be disappointed.

Welcome to the equestrian blogosphere Floppy Ammy!

If you are a newer equestrian blog and would like to be highlighted, please send me an email at jodiperkins1984 at gmail dot com.

Cursed

Okay, I don't really think I'm cursed. However, this year is not off to a great start so far and it's really messing with my riding schedule.

Craptacular quality pic #1

Here's why:

1. Grandpa goes to the hospital.

2. Dad comes to visit Grandpa.

The Fiancé and Dad talking.

3. Have to drive Dad AND the Fiancé everywhere because the starter went out in the Ford, leaving us with just one vehicle. The Fiancé has had no time to fix it because he has had to do most of the barn work so that I could take care of Grandpa and Dad.

4. Dad has little patience to hang out with me while I ride. I guess I don't blame him, I'm sure that it's boring for him.

5. The Fiancé gets really sick.

This concoction didn't work. At all.

6. I get really sick.

Now, I'm not trying to feel sorry for myself. More than anything I'm just frustrated. Having just one or two of these things happen at the same time would be easy to handle and I could get quite a bit of riding in. Having several of them happening and overlapping each other is like taking one punch after another. It's feeling like it isn't ever going to end.

DAMN IT! I JUST WANT TO RIDE!!!!

#2

Anyway, I did manage to sneak in a ride on Indy and Winn last Thursday and an awesome lesson on Friday. *Oh yeah, Winn was REALLY foot sore after getting shod this time, so that ride didn't entail much.

The lesson on Indy was very encouraging. Every time that I ride her she does something so well that I am increasingly leaning towards her being the most talented horse I've ever owned. Her movement gets bigger all the time. I can now ask for more and she gives it to me instead of letting me know that she would like for me to piss off. We really worked on coming through behind and the connection in this lesson and it was by far the most connected that Indy has ever felt. It takes a while for us to get warmed up, for everything to come together, but when it does...WOW!

And #3

I now feel like I have made the right decisions with Indy. You can't force this filly to do anything, she fights back. I'm not saying I didn't have to get after her some, I did. Only when she was just flat out being nasty though. Never because of a lack of understanding. Once we established the lines that were not going to get crossed, things have gone fairly smooth. I correct her when I need to and make a huge deal of rewarding her for everything she does right. Indy loves praise, she thrives off of it. We are slowly building a mutual respect for each other and every ride she tries a little harder for me. I'm glad that I didn't push for anything that she wasn't ready for. It was worth the wait.

She's really just in it for the food.

Indy has taught me so much already. I have to ride every single step, but when I do she gives me what I want. She will be a great school master one day as riding her highlights every flaw or correctness in position and timing. There is no in the middle. You're either right or wrong and she lets you know either way.

My trainer said that Indy and I have a bright future ahead of us. I'm finally starting to think so too. In the meantime I'm going to spend my time keeping my throat numb (it freaking burns like Hell) by eating more popsicles than I've had throughout my entire life and hope that I don't die from a sugar high.