June has proven time and time again to be one of THE busiest months of the year.
It makes sense. We have the best weather in June. This year hasn’t disappointed (despite the seven months with precipitation every single weekend).
Just this month we volunteered as XC Jump Judges for the GMHA June Horse Trials, the following weekend we competed in a schooling show run by ENYDCTA and just days later went to Vermont for the adult eventing camp. This past weekend was HOT and it was packed with education.
Saturday and Sunday I got to play photographer at the Tik and Sinead Maynard clinic at Graphite Hill Farm. I came armed with sunscreen, my camera, and a notebook. I always get great tidbits from both clinicians. It was my 4th clinic with them (technically 3rd with Sinead since she wasn’t there in 2022). The pair were split to accommodate different riders/students. Alex, the other photographer on site is among the most talented photographers I’ve ever met. I really look up to him and his art. He suggested that I shoot outside Saturday and inside Sunday to allow both of us opportunities to be both in and out.
Truly I don’t think I’ll ever measure up to his level of skill but I aspire to. Still, I got some decent shots…learned some things…and definitely regret some others (I’m not happy with my settings inside and know how I’ll fix it for next time).
On Saturday I spent the day with Sinead. I watched some great riding and great instruction. I watched some friends and learned a few things. One of my big takeaways was a different approach to a half halt and looking for the ear that shows the horse is listening. I was so inspired when I left that I stopped in at the barn to film my virtual dressage tests…and I used some tips I learned that day. As it turns out I was missing his ear flicks, I should have known…I DO know…but sometimes it takes time for it all to sink into normal practice…it’s all coming together.
Sunday I stayed inside with Tik. I watched some riding, some groundwork. I witnessed some breakthroughs and celebrated as confidence grew in both the horses and the horse owners. Tik popped a few dad jokes and I returned the favor. At lunch he read an excerpt from his new book Starting in the Middle (Read the Review here: The Sunday Review: Starting in The Middle).
The beautiful thing about my weekends is that they often only START with Sunday (I had to take Saturday off). I also had Monday and Tuesday off from work and chose to spend those days at Asolare Sport Horses as they hosted Jec Aristotle Ballou (who wrote a few books also, see The Sunday Review: 33 Strength and Fitness Workouts for Horses).
Firstly the farm was simply stunning. It had the feeling of being in the south, an all summer all year type of layout. The sweeping landscape, the stunning layout of the barn and indoor arena. The smaller barn behind the arena. The indoor arena had windows that could open to allow a cross-breeze which was good for the horses and riders as these two days were forecasted to be above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Where I sat unfortunately had no airflow, but I was sitting. so it didn’t matter as much.
Wow does Jec have a great eye and she’s so knowledgeable! I love what she brings to the table, I had no idea what to expect but I was thrilled. Each horse came in with different issues, weaknesses, imbalances. Jec responded to each horse as needed. They weren’t prescribed the same exercise over and over. Jec provided exercises that would help the horse improve those weaknesses and explained to us the theory and process of those changes.
For example, one of the exercises was a forward trot, shortening the stride for a few beats and springing into canter. The exercise as I understood it helps to stretch over the low back and help get the hind legs under himself better. Sounds like what we need.
As a matter of fact several of the exercises I saw were familiar. My very own trainer brings some of the same training to us, and I feel extremely fortunate to have such quality instructors.
Unfortunately, June is also the busiest time of year for my business, too. I ended up leaving early both days in order to balance my time. I didn’t want to miss the clinic entirely, but I REALLY had work to do. I am currently working on projects for 9 different people…AND I still needed to process all the photos from the Tik and Sinead clinic!
Of course…Tuesday I came to the barn and checked in on Stanley. I’m glad I did! It seems as though he had a dance with a hay net. He was standing quietly and as I looked at him I noticed the net. I went in and picked up a back leg. The strands had wedged in between the hoof and the back of the shoe. At least 5 or 6 of them. He stood quiet while I took them off. The shoe was still very tight. Then I went to the other side…also entangled…5 or 6 strands in the back of the shoe. He quietly let me undo everything.
The stall didn’t seem particularly messy. No evidence of a big struggle. It was over 100 degrees out and he wasn’t lathered in sweat…just what you’d expect for a hot day. No elevated heartbeat. No rapid breathing. He seemed calm. I took him out and put him on crossties. His front right shoe was skewed but tight enough that I couldn’t easily take it off. I felt no heat or swelling in his legs. I trotted him up and down the aisle but since I was alone I didn’t notice any gait changes.
Ok! Maybe we avoided too much drama.
Based on what I saw: He must have grabbed it with his front shoe, ripped the eye hook out of the wall and skewed the front shoe. With it then on the ground he probably just caught it with his back legs, kicking at flies or whatnot. He likely lifted and kicked repeatedly to create the entanglement he got himself in. He hobbled himself.
On Wednesday he was sore. His farrier came out to reposition…or replace a now lost front shoe (he tossed it overnight). Stanley was quite sore. Not too willing to pick up a leg. I called the vet.
On Sunday our usual vet came for a visit. She could easily find pain but didn’t suspect anything too catastrophic. He was more willing to left a leg. He willingly trotted with me. He was just short in the back end on a lunge line. The suspected issue is a hamstring pull…muscle relaxer and time off of work. Turnout still encouraged.
On the following Tuesday…now 1 week out from the incident we had our bodyworker out. He had slight swelling in the stifle area and significant pain. He’d take swings at her if she approached it. She worked the parts of the body she could. Her assessment based on his tension seemed to align with my theory of what happened. His right shoulder was tight and his pectoral muscles were tight. He was sore along his SI area and topline, his abdomen, and of course the hamstrings and stifle. She massaged, did electrical stimulation, and lasers the trouble areas.
The following day he seemed a bit better and I watch him canter of his own will in the field. Throughout the week he’s been spotted cantering some more and playing more.
I am traveling to Maine in 2 weeks, and he will remain resting without work until I’m home. Our vet will come for a reevaluation and hopefully we’ll get good news that we can return slowly to work.
My biggest fear was losing this boy as a riding partner to a catastrophic accident. I’m so glad I called the vet and that we have a plan. I was worried that I would miss something, put him into work, and make the problem worse. We’re not out of the woods but I’m quite hopeful and cautiously optimistic.
I know what some of you keyboard experts are thinking. I know. No hay bags with shoes. I know this was preventable. Many of us take calculated risks. He’s not a pawing horse and lives with one with no problems. This was a different hay bag altogether that I hadn’t put in there myself. And freak things happen. Please…I don’t need lecture…I am already great at beating myself up. I’m merely sharing this to be transparent and tell about what happened. If anything, use this as a lesson learned for the future…for yourself or others.
It was a busy weekend, an educational weekend, a hot weekend, a productive weekend. What more could you ask for (except maybe 20 less degrees of heat)?
The Green Horseman 
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