Update

We've had three rides since the treatment last week.  As expected, I couldn't really feel any difference the first ride.  Though he did get both canter leads at least.

But then last weekend he felt phenomenal in our lesson!  I wasn't expecting much because to me he didn't look great cantering on the lunge line, though the trot was fine.  So I told our trainer let's keep it easy, mostly trot but with a little canter so she can see. 

Even though Cupid was already warmed up, I started with a quick walk with my feet of the stirrups, which is a stretch I've been doing to help my leg stay longer.  Then we picked up the trot and it felt pretty good.  Since we are keeping things simple I am really trying to concentrate on my form.  With the stretching frame sometimes I fall into a trap of throwing away all contact or my arms get too straight and down.  We did some gently leg yielding on a circle, going between ~18-20 meter circles.

Then it was time for a little canter work.  We started to the right, and Cupid picked it up promptly, then a stride later tripped on his nose and broke into a trot.  Oops!  (They recently added new footing to the arena so it may have been a touch deep.)  So I got organized and asked for the canter again, and got a lovely transition without him raising his head, and the balance felt really good.  We stayed on a 20 meter circle and encouraged Cupid to keep stretching, while I focused on trying to sit back.  (Still not quite there, even though in my head I think touch the back of my head to his tail!)  We got a nice down transition to the trot, went halfway around and down the diagonal, then I asked for the left lead and it was equally prompt and lovely!  =) 

The canter felt so good I was tempted to do more, but we stuck to the plan and finished with a bit more trot work, going between a 15 meter circle shortening the stride to a 20 meter circle opening it up. 

After the lesson I was feeling super optimistic that Cupid was on track and feeling good.  Unfortunately my next ride two days later felt a bit meh.  :/  Nothing wrong exactly, and maybe he was just lazy but I just didn't feel the same swinging and pushing from the back.  So now I don't know what to think.  Two steps forward one step back?

Here's a recent clip of him lunging - bear in mind I'm not very good at lunging and filming at the same time!

Functional Electrical Stimulation and Laser Therapy

We are continuing to be patient and give Cupid the time he needs to recover.  I worry sometimes that maybe there is something more going on, but I know personally I've had several muscle strains that though they were mild I could feel for months.  Saturday I was encouraged because Cupid was moving out about the best I've ever seen him, but then on Monday he just looked okay.  But on Saturday it was warmer, and I also went later then usual and he had already been turned out for a while instead of coming out cold from his stall so I'm sure that helped.

My trainer's therapist was coming out to the barn, so I decided to take advantage and see if we can help Cupid be more comfortable.  Plus it's always good getting a new set of eyes on a problem!  She hadn't treated Cupid before, so I gave her general background and then described the back problem and what we've done so far.  She watched him briefly and did a quick assessment.  She said overall his muscle development seemed good, and he looked fairly even both sides.  Then she went to his back and quickly found the problem area where Cupid dropped his back in discomfort.

She started with a laser to warm up the area which would allow the FES to work more effectively.  The laser was about 3.5 minutes each side, and Cupid stood without much reaction.

Laser treatment

Then she wet Cupid's back and placed on the pad for the FES.  I don't understand it entirely, so here is a description from: https://www.sporthorsevets.com:  "Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is the application of computer-regulated electrical impulses to the skin in a waveform that mimics the motor neuron signal the brain sends to the muscle to cause a contraction. It is considered “functional” electrical stimulation because the waveform replicates the normal contraction of the muscles being stimulated, just as if the brain itself had initiated the contraction. It therefore has the ability to treat both muscle spasm and muscle atrophy... During treatment, FES feels like a deep muscle massage because the sophisticated software mimics the electrical signals produced naturally between the brain and the body."

She said Cupid started responding immediately in some areas.  She told me to put my hand over the pad and I could feel it quivering.  I thought that was the signals from the pad, but she said that was actually the muscle reacting to it.  We did about 35 minutes total.  Cupid was very good about standing still, and about midway through started yawning and showing signs of relaxation!

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)

The recommendation was to give him the following day off, then resume the light work ever 2-3 days as we've been doing.

This Never Happens

Cupid usually ambles over, not come running when I call him.  Maybe I should ride less more often!

Today I just groomed him and we went for a walk and grazed.  It was nice to spend a leisurely morning together, I feel like I never have time anymore.

But it's back to work tomorrow, I scheduled some time with our trainer so she can watch and make sure he is working through his back properly, and maybe give us some more light exercises we can work on.

Making Lemonade

Horses and disappointment go hand in hand, I know that.  But I still can't help but feel a little disappointed that all the plans I made for this summer are slipping away, one by one.  But I'm lucky this is actually a relatively minor setback, and Cupid's well-being is most important so instead I will focus on some positives (taking lemons and making lemonade). 

As of our checkup last week, following the doctor's recommendation I have been riding him every other day on a long rein, after a light lunge to warm up.  Though we are limited in what we can do, I can still use this as an opportunity to work on the following things:

- Two point!  Since I've been focusing primarily on dressage the past 2 years, I haven't been riding in my jump saddle as much.  But I can practice two point while we trot and canter around on a loose rein (bonus, no hanging on for balance!)  After about 5 minutes I can feel it in my calves, usually the left one first. 

- Straightness - I try to ride Cupid a few feet off the rail and most of the time we are pretty good about straightness.  Our bigger problem tends to be cutting corners so that's something we can work on.

- Prompt transitions - Depending on Cupid's mood, some days our up transitions are better other days our down.  I'm focusing on getting them prompt, and without him raising his head, both on the lunge and when I ride.

- Equitation - Since we're keeping pretty much everything else simple, I can focus a bit more on my position: keeping elbows bend, sitting upright (meaning feeling like leaning back to me), and feet underneath me instead of behind.

Acupuncture

We had a dull 2.5 weeks of rest and muscle relaxers for Cupid, with just a bit of ground driving until our re-check.  Cupid looked good and I was fully expecting the doc to say go ahead and ride.  Well it's not all bad news, she says there is definite improvement, but not as much as she hoped.  She watched him on the lunge line, trot and canter both directions, and then with me on him.  He is not lame, just uncomfortable especially when he puts his head up (Cupid only has two modes: giraffe or anteater.) 

The recommendation was to keep it light, but every 2-3 days do a light lunge and when he's relaxed ride about 20 minutes.  Trotting and cantering is okay, but keep him in a long and low type frame.  No collected work.  She checked my saddle again, and still thought it looked like a good fit but agreed that adding my thinline pad underneath is a good idea.  She also suggested a round of acupuncture, which neither Cupid nor I have tried before.

The doc is a DVM but primarily does chiropractic work now, and has been seeing Cupid regularly (usually about every 2-4 months depending on his workload and how he looks) since I've had him.  I like that she mixes both eastern and western medicines (ie. she is not afraid to prescribe muscle relaxers, in addition to the chiro and acupuncture.) 

Cupid was very good standing while she applied the needles, and then about 15 minutes afterwards with the needles in.  I wasn't worried about the needles specifically but he does generally get bored standing around - but he was super relaxed and happy to hang out.  She put two smaller needles on each side of his neck, and about four longer ones on each side of his back.  She also hit his "ting points" above his hind hooves.  Although I still don't quite understand how it works, it was interesting learning a little about it and I hope it will help Cupid be more comfortable!

Equine pincushion

Cupid's Fan Club

Well I'm a little bummed I'm not going to ride Cupid for 2 weeks, but first I'll start with the positive.  I haven't taken the baby out to the barn in several weeks (it's just easier to leave him home!), but I was alone with him all weekend so we went to go visit Cupid.  And this was the first time the baby seemed to actually notice the 900 lb animal infront of him.  At first the baby seemed a little uneasy as Cupid stretched his nose toward us, then decided it was funny and started laughing.  It was pretty cute!

Okay so back to the not riding.  Cupid and I are coming up on our 5th anniversary together.  Even though I'm proud of the progress we've made, I'm a little frustrated that 5 years later we still have a recurring problem with picking up the left lead.  Sometimes it'll be fine for months, then we'll have a week or two when it gets tough - and sometimes Cupid is very calm about it just keeps picking up the right lead but occasionally he gets downright cranky when I ask for the left.  I accept that it might always be his weaker side, but I would have expected he should at least be able to pick it up consistently after all this time.  He feels even trotting both directions and seems about equally developed both sides.  I've talked about it with my trainer and vet, and so far neither has attributed it to anything specific.

So I asked my wonderful chiropractor, who is also a DVM, to watch me ride and see if there is anything we are missing.  I lightly warmed him up before she got there.  Then she asked to see him trot both directions, both on a long rein and with contact.  Then we cantered to the right, on a long rein and with contact.  Then we changed directions and it took a few tries to get the left lead, but once he got it he felt fine to me.  Again we did both a long rein and more contact.  She said he had a bit of a toe drag on the left hind, and looked tight with the contact. 

She started adjusting his TMJ and poll, then neck.  She got to his back and said his back was quite sore.  She checked my saddle and said the fit was good, Cupid just strained himself somehow.  So she prescribed muscle relaxers and recommended I put him on magnesium, and 2 weeks no riding but okay to long line keeping him long and low.  She said the sore back explained the tension on contact, and we would have to wait for that to improve before we can really determine what is contributing to the problems with the left lead. 

We are in a bit of a heatwave, so if I have to miss riding this is a good time for the break.  It doesn't usually get that hot were Cupid is, on a ridge overlooking the coast, but it's been in the 90s!  The barn gets pretty warm even with the fans in the aisle, so usually the horses stay in turnout longer when it's warm because it's actually a little cooler outside.  I've been giving him electrolytes.  He doesn't really like them, he eats his grain slower but he will eat it.  Cupid's mane is very long and thick right now, I need to tidy it up but for now I've just been doing a quick running braid in the morning to keep it off his neck. 

Messy, but hopefully helps keep him cool

Working Equitation Clinic

It has been over 6 months since Cupid and I did the working equitation clinic and show, so I was excited to have the opportunity to try it again.  Since last time went so well I was pretty optimistic, and thought we would be able to work on refining our technique.

We started out in hand again.  We took a quick lap around the arena, then I went to the cup obstacle since that's the one we had the most trouble with the first time.  We walked through between the cones once, then halted between the cones.  Cupid seemed fine with it.  We checked out a few more obstacles, and Cupid was perfectly relaxed so I thought we were ready to mount up.

I took Cupid out of the arena to bridle and mount up.  We went back into the arena and started walking around, perfectly calm.  Then Cupid's nemesis appeared - the leopard appaloosa from last time!  Not sure why they were in the arena since they weren't in the clinic, or why they were cantering around when everyone else was walking, but it doesn't really matter.  I don't know if it was me or Cupid, but things got a little tense and ugly for a while.  I tried trotting Cupid on a circle to get him settled, no dice as the appy continued cantering around.  They finally left the arena, but it took a long time for Cupid and me to get relaxed again.  I can't relax until Cupid does, and he can't if I'm pitched forward, it's an ugly cycle!  Cupid was still totally fine with the obstacles themselves (even when during the ring joust I accidentally tapped his rump with the pole), but our trot was quick and unbalanced and our down transitions late.  Which is why working equitation is so good for us, it's really just working on the basics!  Eventually we both started to relax and have fun.

We started by going through the obstacles one by one.  The one thing we could use a little more work on was the gate.  We were able to get through it, but it's hard for me to move his haunches and back up with only one hand on the reins.  

We ended with going through the whole course like we would in a show - trotting between all obstacles.  Cupid was totally relaxed, down transitioned smoothly, and was bending and listening.  Even though we had a bit of a rough beginning, I was really happy with how we ended things!

I just need to keep working on staying relaxed even if Cupid isn't, and not letting him dictate the tempo.