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