Isabel: Chronicling 2013

It's Isabel's birthday today- she was foaled 19 years ago at beautiful Tara Farm in North Carolina.

And here she is in freezing New Hampshire, a few stray snowflakes in her forelock. Love this girl!

We had a good visit with the chiro yesterday. Izzy has a little bit of pain that seems to be connected to her right hind hock/stifle- we will bring this up with the vet during our spring visit next Monday.

Most interesting though, is that she really has no physical reason for girthyness or general grumpiness during saddling. She doesn't have any obvious back pain, she doesn't react to points where girthy horses react, nor seem like she has ulcers. The chiro got the saddle pad out, saw how she starts pinning her ears, throwing her head, sucking back on the crossties, etc. It got worse when she put the saddle on (tail swishing, trying to bite at the girth). The chiro seemed to not think the behavior was that bad (she kept saying she's seen a lot worse), but honestly, to me it's too nasty for my liking. If she doesn't have physical pain, I really expect she should be able to stand there quietly without the nasty attitude. I'm going to get someone to video her being saddled this weekend so I can start a separate thread to see if people have advice on getting the behavior under control.

I didn't realize you had a journal! Subbing ;)

Does she nip at you when you're trying to saddle?

Welcome!! As you can see, this is mostly just for me to make notes about when things go well- or when they don't. It's nice to have a record of things that are actually recurring patterns I might not notice otherwise.

She never nipped at me, but she would nip at the saddle pad/girth, which isn't much better in my eyes.

BUT....good news to report. I think the chiro actually really improved her overall demeanor with saddling. Even though the chiro really didn't think she had much pain, her behavior last night was vastly different. She started off the same- as I put the saddle pad on, she threw her head up, pinned her ears, swished her tail, the whole nasty thing. But then....she just stood there. I put the saddle on, tightened up the girth on both sides. Nothing. She just stood. I can't think of the last time she did that. I gave her lots of scratches on her neck where she likes it, and really hope this will be the new normal. Maybe she was more sore than we thought.

I could also feel a big difference under saddle. Particularly at the canter, I could feel a back down there under me It made me realize just how hollowed out she's been. Now, I could tell she was trying to figure out her "new body," as she tripped a bit at all gaits and seemed a little "wiggly," if that makes sense. But I'm hoping that she'll generally feel a little more balanced and freer in movement as she gets more rides in this week.

Overall, it feels like a huge improvement, and I hope it lasts.