The Best at Time Off

He is the best at turnout

Between the bodywork lady and the farrier and the BO, we have worked out a plan of (in)action for Courage. Best guess is that he did something creative and awesome in the pasture which jammed his shoulders up.

Oh Courage.

He's taking a few more days off to get himself re-aligned. To help his muscles relax from their current state of spasm (ouch!), he got some bute today.

Here comes the cookie monster!

I think painkillers are a great thing when you're in pain, but I use them very sparingly, both for myself and for my horses. I guess my thought is just that if something hurts, I want to know about it and not push through it instead of drug accordingly and just keep going. I know that's it's not necessarily a popular mindset and I have to temper it with the fact that I'm pretty young and have limited aches and pains at this point in my life.

That said, my policy on anti-inflammatories is that they can be given post-exercise as needed. I do not bute in order to ride or pop painkillers to run. If I see the need to give a horse bute after exercise, then they get the next day off, provided they are in a situation with enough turnout to stretch their legs. If exercise is causing the horse to need drugs, then the situation needs to change. I don't see pain killers as a regular part of daily life for horses or humans.

That's a big part of the reason that Cuna is retired--given the right injections and enough drugs, he probably is passably sound to jump around 2'6" or so. I just don't believe in doing that to a creature. If drugs have to mask his pain, then shouldn't I be listening to his body instead of my desires?

Too adorable not to share

Is that just just me? Is it because I don't understand the aches and pains of growing older? How does everyone else use bute/banamine/advil/ibuprofen?

All Quiet

Not much going on at the barn this week--most everyone who jumps is off to the High Desert Classic in Bend. Ok, actually everyone who jumps except me. Sad when you put it that way...

Anyways. Cuna and I are looking forward to a low key week. He's getting his hocks done Thursday, so we did a light hack today, might do a tiny jump school (2'ish) tomorrow, then some easy flat work and hacking on Wednesday.

XC preview

I'm doing my best to not completely freak out. He'll lay off over the weekend to recover, then I'll bring him back just in time to compete at (EEEK!!) our first ever horse trials!

I'm doing my best to feel prepared. We've been working hard on the dressage, kicking butt at the jumping, and with our newly-installed brakes, can probably even put in a safe XC round.

I am now the proud owner of a complete set of quilts and wraps, plus a medical armband. I've checked the attire rules, and should be good to go.

Honestly, having an easy week is probably the best thing for Cuna right now. Otherwise, we'd be tearing through the mountains in the name of fitness and probably just wearing him out. Besides, to run BN, I sort of don't think he needs to be any fitter. At all. Many less fit horses will also complete the course just fine.

Not gonna lie--I'm pretty excited.

Thanksgiving break!

I was out of town all weekend, so Izzy didn't get ridden and obviously, I wasn't online here. I'm enjoying my time off of school. I'm celebrating it by doing lots of homework, going to doctor's appointments, and giving a surprise birthday party for my husband tonight. (It's ok. He doesn't read my blog, so he'll never find out.)

I will try to catch up with the rest of you soon. I hope all is going well!

May Be Offline...

Izzy was wonderful this morning. She probably wouldn't have made a dressage teacher happy, but she made me happy, and that's the point.

I have had a pretty serious family situation come up. Coupled with the massive amount of school stuff I still have to do, I will probably not be posting much for at least the next week or two. Send prayers, happy thoughts, and good karma my way.