"How did you stay on??"

My 12 yr old student who had just ridden Stryker commented after he bucked.  "Miss Loretta how did you stay on while he did that?"   I told her that the method of riding I teach teaches a safe, secure, seat. By learning to keep your leg under you AT ALL TIMES many falls can be omitted. Not all, but many.  My upper body did go forward when he bucked. But my legs stayed under me. Had they swung back I would've been over his head or shoulder in a heartbeat.

The other thing is reaction time. As soon as I felt what was happening I pushed myself back upright so more weight could be in the seat.  It takes a lot of years to be able to do that, and unfortunately some falls along the way. Sometimes we learn the hard way, by our mistakes. I have been thrown off by a buck or two in my time. 

For the record, Stryker was not trying to ditch me. He was very happy to be cantering. Everyone was commenting on how happy and excited he looked before he bucked. I think he was thrilled to be doing something.  Since the herd changes at the barn, he's been living in the paddock with the ponies, not in the field.  So he does not have nearly as much space to roam in.








Loretta
 the natural horseman
 clear communication/visible results

Schooling ponies, well horses I guess

Interesting day here today. Started with schooling Blue after a student had a morning lesson on him. He was quite ready, I think he could've cantered forever.  Ended with me schooling Stryker after a student's lesson. This one was a bit more interesting. Trotted around great, still off left but I think that is a forever thing. Much like Playboy he picked up a canter as soon as I thought about asking (this psychic pony connection is coooool), we went around about once, to the right. Lauren was commenting on how good we looked, his tail was up, his head was tucked in, and then, blam. He bucked. Wow he has a pretty mean buck to him. I stayed on, it was uneventful. I corrected him and off we went again on the right lead, a do over if you will.  Then we went to the left. Lovely, slow, rolling canter. Was wonderful and felt great both directions. Guess he can stay another month....







Loretta
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Apollo's amazing ability

So, Stryker was defending the feed room door territory and making sure the ponies knew that was HIS spot now.  Apollo and Piero were running around together, right next to each other.  I scooped up their food, walked out the door to give it to them, and......Apollo was not there!  He was on the OTHER side of the paddock in the field.  OMG. Didn't someone say he was afraid of jumping?  That fence is 4 feet high!







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Stryker's third day home

Loretta
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Companion Walking with Stryker

Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

STRYKER UPDATE

So happy! Stryker weighs over 1000lbs now!

After sharing territory and a long grooming I tacked him up. We went around the ring 5 times both directions. We walked over a pole, worked on halting and changing directions. He halts on a dime with no hands and even turns when you look! I am so happy for him!




Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Beauty

I


I saw this and thought wow, he resembles Stryker so much!  When Stryker's mane gets a bit longer....



Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Update

Stryker is looking much better. He loves the attention he gets at my friend's barn. Thanks Cara!




Astro will be living there for a while. He really needs work and since I am there all the time it will be easier to give him the time he needs.



Gemstone will move to my house. She HATES the ponies anyway



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Update on Stryker

The vet came out today.  Dr. Broadus said to me, "You can be happier than you imagined.  You have your horse back.  He'll be fine.  The tendon is reattached and looks great.  Weak, but great."

WOW!  YOWZA!  OMG!  Happy Dancing around the yard with tears in my eyes!


I will be creating a front porch for his run in to give him extra room to move.  We will start rehab for the leg, and he also needs physical rehab due to muscle loss from 6 months of stall rest.  The biggest thing now is for him to exercise, slowly & in very controlled settings.  He cannot have the opportunity to run and get crazy like I know he'd like to.  If he did the tendon would likely rip apart.  So I will make extra room for him and hand walk him for the next few weeks.   Then I will actually begin riding him at the walk.  I am so excited.  I didn't think I would be on him until fall!  The doctor and I are so happy and amazed he has healed with no complications and so quickly.  


I can think of a couple of people who will really enjoy riding him!  I plan on polishing up my jumping with him, so we can ease both of us back into that.


In case you haven't seen him lately he is looking really good.  Very true to his former name, Handsome.  His mane has grown out and has a ton of silver in it.  He has many brown flecks, not like a flea bitten grey, but simply random brown flecks.  I will be uploading some pictures very soon.


Thank you to everyone who helped get us through this, mentally, emotionally, and physically.  It really was tough in all of those areas and feels great to see the light come through the darkness.


This is really the news I needed.  I have been feeling down because Tango would have been 27 years old yesterday.  This helps me keep looking forward.


Loretta

Stryker update

Exciting news to share about Stryker!


The vet phoned to say they will come out again in 5-6 weeks to ultrasound the tendon. In the mean time he can be hand walked up to 20 minutes daily! Yippee! This does mean, however, that I will have to sedate him.   I'm sure he'll want to do more than walk! If he can remain quiet and calm after his walk, I can allow him to graze (on lead, in hand) for as long as he likes. (or that time allows!)


Additionally the Doctor thinks that when they do see him again, he may be able to be moved into a bigger area. I'm sure he's had enough of the stall, so he will be looking forward to that immensely!

Stryker's Status

Stryker's Status Good news!  The vet visited Stryker on Tuesday.  She actually had us walk him from the stall to the truck. (We hadn't done that yet.)  The ultrasound shows that the fibrous tissues have reconnected.  Yippee!  They are weak, so it's not over yet, but they're already there and that is great.  He's 2-3 months ahead of where we thought he'd be in the healing process.  I am putting a door on the open run in area and will be moving Stryker into that space over spring break.  He is quite eager to get out.  Last weekend when the temps went into the mid 70s I found Stryker pointing to the field with his nose.  You think he was trying to tell me something? He has been taking an herbal mix of marigold & cleavers which is supposed to help his circulation and lymphatic system.  It is recommended for horses on stall rest.  I've also been giving him Reiki on a regular basis.  Whatever it is, it is working for him and we are all very happy about that.

Loretta


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My Stall Door

On Saturday morning when I went out to the barn to prepare for my 10am lesson, this is what I found.

Stryker's looking down at the door like "Hmm, not sure, but I don't think the door should be like this. Scottie...."

The door was completely off the hinges and hanging by one little latch that I recently put on. Stryker was still in, that was the good news. He could have easily been tempted to hop over the dismantled door and perhaps would have injured himself in the process. So how can this happen you ask?

Ask Scottie. He was apparently trying to chew his way in and discovered that he could lift the door with his mouth. There are NO kick marks. I believe if Scottie kicked the door it would've been shattered. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting him in person, the 17.2h draft cross is LARGE.

What was that I said? Chew his way in? Yep. He is not trying to let Stryker out. Oh, that's a nice thought. But it's not the right one. That was his stall. Every morning and evening like clockwork, at feeding time, he would go right in there. He would politely wait for his food, then stay a while. (If I didn't shut him in he would take the other's food.) So he would use that time alone to rest. To not be the herd leader. To decompress. You get the picture. With Stryker in there he does not get that down time. I know how you feel buddy, I need my alone time too. :)

Loretta

the natural horseman
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We named him Stryker

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results