Adjustments

This was a week of adjusting. 

Dr. Kim Adie, DC was filling in for our regular chiro, Dr. Seely. 

Luba and I both had chiropractic adjustments and we were both out in the sacroiliac to the left (LP1). She was doing lovely flying lead changes at liberty in the grass ring after the adjustment. Me too :)

Met up this morning with Lee/Parker and Colette/Phantom for a fast 9 miles (8mph average). Then said good bye to my riding companions and carried on for a slower 3 miles back to Roadapple Ranch.

trail runners by nancyzed at Garmin Connect - Details

Probably could have done a slower warm up, but Luba seemed to handle the increased speed okay. She definitely worked at higher heart rates, pushing her anaerobic threshold, but recovered well. Luba sometimes drops a beat, so the heart rate monitors are not always accurate for her. I have ridden with one for a long time, so I have developed a "feel' for her and review the heart rate data afterwards to see if it tells me anything I did not "feel" on the trail. I have my Garmin 305 set to display average speed, actual speed and distance. I have a watch for the time of day. And real time slows to a snails pace when we are flying down the trail. Magical. 

In the afternoon, Denise helped me check the saddle fit of my Reactor Panel saddle. I like to check fit in the spring before we start doing really long rides. After three rounds of adjustments and 15 minute test rides in the ring with the Port Lewis Impression Pad, Denise pronounced my saddle "acceptable" to her. Which basically means that it is perfect. She is really good at adjusting RP saddles and has very high standards for good fit. I am grateful for her friendship and her many talents!

Luba gave me nice left lead canters on the 20 m circle in the first test ride, but then started pinning her ears and giving a little buck again by the second one. So something still seems to be going on. She was also tighter on the left when we did our post-ride stretching. Hmmmmm. More adjusting needed somewhere - me, her, saddle??

I love the mystery of it all.

Don't think you are. Know you are.

We stayed up late last night and watched The Matrix, one of our favourite movies. Went to bed after midnight (yes, I turned into a pumpkin) and paid for it this morning when I woke up late.


But it was worth it.


I love this movie more every time I see it. The first time, I especially loved the reverse gender fairy tale ending, where Trinity kisses Neo and this brings him back to life.


Last night, I was struck by the blue pill / red pill scene. Neo is searching. He knows something. But he has to see for himself how deep the rabbit hole goes. 


Follow the white rabbit. (Trinity)


Don't think you are. Know you are. (Morpheous)


So ham.

Ride 'n Tie Training

Ride n Tie training by nancyzed at Garmin Connect - Details

Charlotte rides first mile

Beautiful Sera

Charlotte runs the last 1/2 mile home.

So hungry! Thanks Mike for leaving these giant marshmallows here.

Riding the fields

Snuck a little ride in yesterday after work. It was sunny and warm - maybe 15 C or so. Temps are now slowly getting back to normal.

Luba wouldn't pick up her left canter lead. I also noticed that she was counter cantering at first in the little video I posted from Wednesday evening as well. Good thing the horse chiropractor is coming next week and I am also getting adjusted. Hopefully we will both be balanced by Thursday!

Rode 4.69 miles at 5.6 mph.
the fields are almost dry! by nancyzed at Garmin Connect - Details

Hooked up with Laurie/Gucci for a ride today. It was overcast, only about 9 C and threatening to rain. Warmed up in Teddy's arena and then rode the fields. They are amazingly dry! Long slow distance with some hills for a total of  8.24 miles at 4.1 mph. Also ran into Juanita/Malone.
Riding the fields by nancyzed at Garmin Connect - Details

The fields on March 24, 2012

Laurie noticed that I have been riding with my left heel lifted. My massage therapist also recently noticed that my left leg seems more muscled than the right. Need to stretch and relax it? Tried to be mindful of a long left leg while riding today.  

Luba's heart rate was 54 when she was back in the stall eating her post-workout slurry of beet pulp, salt and Shur-Gain Xplosion.

Life moves pretty fast...

It hit 29 C with the humidex yesterday (humidex in March??). My office has a lovely south facing window, but I closed the blinds. It was a sauna in there. The unseasonal weather is starting to creep me out.

Opted not to ride today, with the heat and the fact that my back is just starting to feel good again. The grass ring is almost dry, so I lunged Luba for about 25 minutes. I didn't tape her today, but she does look like she is starting to put on a bit more weight.

Luba on March 21, 2012

Here is a little video. We also lunged a bit over caveletti and we walked up and down the little hill on the driveway and practised backing up the hill as well. I have also gotten into the habit of backing her into her stall when she comes inside. Every little bit will help to build up her hindquarters for the hills we plan to tackle later this spring!

Intention matters. Nothing is insignificant. Take the time to do it. The lovely ladies who came to the inaugural class of the Spring Hatha Yoga at Motions Fitness Studio were amazed that they only spent 5 minutes in savasana at the end of the class. They said it felt longer and they wondered if I had left and forgotten to tell them the class was over!

savasana

Leaving you with this thought:

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again...life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you might just miss it." 
---Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller's Day Off 

TLC, ahimsa and spinal twists

Another sunny 26 C day today :) Popped out to the farm after work to check on Luba. Lee also said that her temperature on Saturday was high normal and suspects that maybe an electrolyte imbalance was causing the muscle tremors. Though we did not go very far or very fast, it is warm and the horses are still wearing their winter coats. She did get 6 ounces of Perform and Win electrolytes on Saturday, but maybe that wasn't enough. She had also been a fussy eater at Roadapple Ranch over the weekend, so were were likely behind the 8 ball to begin with.


Today, she was bright eyed and bushy tailed and eating like a pig now that she is back at home. This is definitely a weakness that I have to carefully manage when we travel to ride.


Since the snow melted and the mud started, I have been on thrush prevention duty. I pick and brush out her feet, spray with a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water and finish with some tea tree oil every time I see her  - which has been every day since Spring Break started on March 12  :)  


I also wet her down and scraped off a bunch of hair, mud and old sweat and fed her supper. I love feeding my horse. I suppose if she lived at home, the novelty would wear off. But there is nothing like sitting in the sun on a hay bale listening to your horse chew as she drops wet bits of feed in your hair.


The scab on the cut that caused the fat ankle a couple weeks back fell off with all the water, but it was still red underneath. So I sprayed on some Dermagel. I also put some vitamin E ointment on a couple of places on her back where she has hair off from some bites from the other horses.  Luba is low on the totem pole.


I also trimmed her bridle path and shaved the mane off of her withers. I find it is easier to saddle up without all the extra mane. It is too short to braid to keep it off her neck anyway.

We all need some TLC and sometimes we have to practise ahimsa - non-violence - towards ourselves. I have had a funny tightness in my lower back on the left that comes and goes for the past 10 days or so. It was bothering me on the weekend, but good old Vitamin I (ibuprofin) kept me going.  

Today, I got in to see Dr. Barbara Rodwin over my lunch hour. My sacrum was out and it was causing other muscles in my back and left hip to be tight. Dr. Barbara worked her usual magic and I left feeling less stiff, though a bit sore from the Active Release Technique.  Ice and another Vitamin I before bed should do the trick! Charlotte and I are going back to see her again tomorrow for our regular monthly tune-up visit.

Here are some gentle yoga moves I used to release tension in my back tonight.

Hugging  knees into the chest and slowly rock back and forth

Spinal twist to the left, keeping both shoulders on the floor.

I always do both sides. Spinal twist to the right. I feel the tightness in my left hip and buttock on this one. 

I also have the cold that Charlotte brought home just in time for Spring Break. More ahimsa is in order - hot tea, lemon and honey before bed.


For more on ahimsa, check this out: Yoga Journal - Yoga Philosophy - Beginning the Journey


om nama sivaya

Adventures in Finch

Charlotte and I trailered Luba over to Roadapple Ranch in Finch on Friday for her annual shots and wellness check. The new truck pulls like a dream. It feels like we are floating down the highway. I had to check a couple times to see if the trailer was really still attached!

New-to-me 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 loaded! Charlotte likes having her own door to the back seat.

After a pizza lunch and before the vet came, we went out for a little ride. Lee rode Gem down the road for the first time and Charlotte rode Sera. I walked. As we started out down the driveway, I put a lead shank on Sera, and Charlotte very politely asked me to take it off.  So I did.  Of course, she and Sera were just fine :)

Gem was a star! I think he should be renamed "Steady Eddy". Steady forward 4mph walk, no lookey lookey balky balky spooky spooky at all.  Charlotte smiled and giggled the whole way.

Charlotte wouldn't shorten her reins when I asked her, but did so most obligingly when Lee mentioned it to her. Already! She is only 8! sigh.

Lee riding Steady Eddy and Giggles riding Sera

Both Luba and Sera got a clean bill of health, both of them a lean 5 for body condition score. Kim has done a great job managing my dear old lady, Sera, who turns 26 on Wednesday. Dr. Ingrid Bill  suggested adding alfalfa cubes to Luba's ration to help build muscle, in addition to the 2 pounds of Evolution Elite, Nutriquin Elite, probiotics, and vegetable oil top dressing that now gets twice daily.  She taped her weight at close to 900, but we don't measure at exactly the same spot.

Yesterday, I headed out for a ride on Luba with Lee and Phantom.  Dessia joined us, riding Parker and ponying Kiera. We rode 7.5 miles with them before they turned around to head back to Dessia's. It was 15C, breezy with a moderate UV index! Break out the sunglasses and lip balm!

Luba and I carried on home along the old railway line. Luba was not keen to leave her friends, so I jumped off and led her for 20 feet or so and then we were good to go. The footing on the railway bed is a bit soft in some places, but great for the most part.

We stopped in a big puddle just before crossing County Road 9, and she seemed to enjoy just letting her feet soak in the cold water. Spring is here! The pussy willows are out!

We rode a total of 11.9 miles at an average speed of 5.2 mph. Railbed Run by nancyzed at Garmin Connect - Details

The day ended with a little excitement, as Luba was shaking and running a fever when Lee went out to feed supper. She phoned Ingrid, who said it might be a reaction to the flu shot and recommended bute. This seemed to do the trick as Luba was back to normal by the time Lee texted me around 8:00. Whew! I am such a mother hen, I almost drove back out to Finch. But Lee is very wise old soul. She said, either she will get better or she won't. It is what is is. 

And I say, all's well that ends well. 

Turkeys, other birds and the child's pose

Cloudy, windy, and a little above 0 C at 10 am when we met Laurie/Gucci for another great ride. The bird theme continued today. Saw wild turkeys in full display on the side of the 416 on the way to the farm, saw my first robin of the spring in the paddock, a cardinal flew across the road as well as Canada geese and snow geese.

The turkeys reminded me of an old photo I ran across the other day that, for some reason, I have been carrying around in my wallet. It is my Uncle David and the first turkey at Lenswood. Good thing Baba annotated all her pictures!

David. Our first turkey at Lenswood. 1952

In keeping with the bird theme, Gucci and Luba did some flying too - we hit 19mph at one point on the way home from Carsonby Road! We need to find a track so we can really open those girls up! Luba's CRI at the end was 53/51.

All that riding can be hard on your back after the winter hiatus. I find the child's pose to be very restorative for my back after riding. The goal is to keep your buttocks on your heels, so if you need to, make fists and stack them under your forehead. Then practise deep abdominal breathing in and out through your nose. You should feel your belly pressing against your thighs with each inhale.

child's pose

child's pose with stacked fists

A variation is to spread your knees as wide as your yoga mat and stretch your arms out in front of you.

hip and upper back opener version of child's pose

Once you are very comfortable in this posture, you can get the whole family involved with the partner version of child's pose!

Partner yoga version of child's pose

Blackbird

Black birds, geese, dogs, leaves, little blue flags... everything was out enjoying the unseasonably warm weather today. 15 C with a warm breeze.

After our great ride on Sunday, I was looking forward to hitting the roads again. As it turned out, neighbour Laurie joined us on her lovely mare, Gucci (Arab and Connemara or Welsh cross).

Hand walked/jogged until we met up with our riding date and rode up Phelan to Rideau Valley and back. Total of 8.25 miles for me and Luba in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Luba had a tiny bit of fill in her front fetlocks after our ride on Sunday, so I was glad that we walked most of the way home.



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Despite having two mares with a tendency to kick, all we got were some faces and a little ear pinning. I rode Luba in the side pull on the way out, but decided that the bit was a good plan for the way home. As usual, she is not so willing to lead going away from home. Good advice from Laurie - bring a stick next time! We did have a nice canter (and almost a gallop!) on the way out. At one point, Luba was getting rambunctious and I thought I was going to get another hind end "lifter", but as Laurie pointed out, we were going too fast for bucking. Wise lady! As usual, Luba was on fire on the way home.  Point-to-point rides are easier for her mentally than ones that loop back to base camp.

Basking in the afterglow in the car on the way home listening to CBC Radio 2 Drive with Rich Terfry (one of my favourite radio shows), I was treated to Sarah McLaughlin's interpretation of the Beatles "Blackbird".

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

In this beautiful song is the theme for today. 

We are all doing the best we can with what we have. 

Right here.  Right now.  Just the way things are.

Perfection, if we can just take these sunken eyes and learn to see.

Road Warriors

Sunny day, minus 5 C. Time to ride!!!

Walked over to Steven's Creek to warm up in the arena. Neighbour Laurie and her new black Arab mare were working over trot poles and a caveletti jump. We startled them when we got close to the door. Next time I will shout "DOOR" in my biggest, baddest voice instead of the polite, inquiring one.

Luba was completely upside down for the first 20 minutes or so and then settled. We worked about 45 minutes total. She was drenched in sweat  by the end!

The lovely arena at Steven's Creek

The jump standards, hay bales and bags of shavings at the other end are the best hiding places for the bogey man! Not to worry, Luba is keeping close watch.

Then went down to Phelan Road as far as the airport.   I dislike riding on roads and dislike doing it without the company of other horses/riders even more. However, we have 15 more weeks until the Pine Tree 100, and three more weeks before Luba goes to Horses of the Sun for a month of training with Sonja Koch. So NOW is the time to get a jump on conditioning and the roads are clear and soft. So no excuses! Off we go!

Luba gave me a hind end "lifter" when we turned right instead of left (towards home). After a bit of cajoling, she agreed to head away from home. By the time we turned onto Phelan Road, she was all business. It felt soooo good to let Luba open up with nice extended trot and a lovely canter.  I got off near Steven's Creek on 2nd Line Road to walk the last 3/4 mile home and took these shots of my pretty pony, wearing the fluorescent halter fuzzies we got for finishing the Vermont Moonlight 50 last summer. Great prize!

Was an absolutely glorious almost spring day! We were out for a total of almost 2 hours. Luba's CRI when we got home was 49/51.

I am off until March 19, and plan to ride ride ride.  I love Luba.

Buns of steel

Wednesday was 12 C and sunny! The geese have arrived, the horses are shedding and kids are out on their bikes (big kids too - I saw a motorcycle!)

Spring!

The swelling in Luba's rear fetlock is gone. We went for a hand walk down the road, past Steven's Creek to another neighbour's farm. They have a lovely long laneway with a big hill at the end. We walked up and down the hill for about 20 minutes and headed home just as the sun was setting. Luba and I will both have buns of steel for the riding season.

Luba has also put on some weight. She is now 878 lbs up from 863 two weeks ago. She is out in the herd with the brood mares now.

Full moon peeking out from behind the clouds on the drive to Motions to teach yoga. Life is good!

Fat ankle

Worked too late on Monday to make it to the farm.

Left early today looking forward to a trip down the road to Steven's Creek Farm to ride in their lovely coverall arena. It is about 3/4 of a mile from the farm, making for a perfect warm-up and cool-down.

Went to get Luba out of the paddock and noticed her left hind fetlock looked puffy. Sure enough, some heat as well. Found a small cut (about 2 inches long) high up on the outside of her cannon bone that is probably the culprit. A bang and a cut? It was scabbed over, so at least a couple days old.

She does not seem lame, so hopefully looking better tomorrow.

Buffed up her feet, fed her, and kissed her on the nose.

The upside is that I think she has put on some weight! Will check with the weight tape and photographic evidence tomorrow.

The lesson for today is plan plan plan and then be prepared to change you plans at the last minute. Yogi Bhajan (I think) as told to me by Sylvie Gouin.

Namaste Nancy

Holy wind Batman!

The radio said winds gusting up to 90 km per hour. But it was warm and the snow was melting, so off we go. Don't believe everything you hear on the radio.

Rode Sera in the outdoor snow ring while watching Charlotte and Ryan build a snowman - fresh Sera road apples for eyes. Successfully trimmed at least 1/4 inch off the back of Luba's front Renegade Hoof Boots with hoof nippers. The 0N size I am now using is just a bit too long and I should order them cut back next time. Wished Kim and Mike a great trip to Florida, wishing I was going too!

Still blowing at 3:45 pm when I headed to Kars. Lunged Luba over trot poles and a small jump in Pat's arena. At times, it sounded like the roof was going to end up in OZ. All good training.

Mostly trotting but went long enough to get Luba breathing hard - maybe 45 minutes? Left watch and camera at home, cell phone dead. No technology. Imagine! Cooled out for about 10 minutes hand walking up and down the driveway in the slush. The driveway has a little slope to it.

Fed beetpulp with her supper and left her in the stall with a couple flakes of hay and a pail of water so she could dry out.

Looked at our log from last year at this time. Same story: snow/rain/ice = bad footing.

The secret is to show up. Every little bit counts. That's my story anyway.

Om nama sivaya.

Haiku Hiking

Cold sleet in my face
Deval Premal in my ears
Light snow lifts us home




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Home to work, work to Charlotte's school, school to home: 6.2 kms.

Rider fitness - intention matters - nothing is insignificant.