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Echo Update
Mar. 28th, 2011 06:59 pmAfter lots of rehab and a few set-backs, Echo is doing VERY well. We have progressed to the point where I have had her canter on the line and while sometimes she is very relaxed, round, and doing a pretty good 'rocking chair' canter. Other times she still needs some work. However, given that she is doing the round and relaxed means that she is FINALLY getting over associating any/all work with PAIN. I am still kicking myself for not insisting that Xpioti stop NOW when she was being 'balky'. Balky isn't really in Echo's vocabulary and if she doesn't have get-up-and-go there is probably something going on (stiffness, tired from playing, sore foot/leg/shoulder/whatever). I still strongly suspect that the chip was there and bothering her in an on-again, off-again fashion and that led to her protecting herself and blowing the suspensory (she blocked better when the fetlock was blocked, but not sound until the suspensory). GRRR
Anyway, she is showing some AMAZING movement at the trot and has a walk to die for (when she is warmed up and relaxed, her hinds are clearing the prints by the fores by a full hoof length.
This past weekend we were Outside for the first time in a long time (it will be awhile before we can be outside regularly since the ring outside is on the soft side when it is dry, damp is perfect and wet is just gross). I had to pull her in from the paddock (and tell Ellie that no, she doesn't have the right to come in first) and then deal with them yelling at each other. Echo needs to learn to focus on me more when working (esp. outside) and I need to learn how to use the whip more consistently (not to beat her but to get her to focus on me and as an additional cue when she is being distracted ... my safety and hers depend on it).
She has an excellent work ethic and is remarkably amiable about most things. Her willingness to pick up her feet has grown by leaps and bounds over the last couple of years where I would let her pull away (she worried) and then take the foot gently and didn't fight her. When she is good, I tell her (and sometimes have someone administer a goodie). Peppermints make the world go better in her book.
Anyway, she is showing some AMAZING movement at the trot and has a walk to die for (when she is warmed up and relaxed, her hinds are clearing the prints by the fores by a full hoof length.
This past weekend we were Outside for the first time in a long time (it will be awhile before we can be outside regularly since the ring outside is on the soft side when it is dry, damp is perfect and wet is just gross). I had to pull her in from the paddock (and tell Ellie that no, she doesn't have the right to come in first) and then deal with them yelling at each other. Echo needs to learn to focus on me more when working (esp. outside) and I need to learn how to use the whip more consistently (not to beat her but to get her to focus on me and as an additional cue when she is being distracted ... my safety and hers depend on it).
She has an excellent work ethic and is remarkably amiable about most things. Her willingness to pick up her feet has grown by leaps and bounds over the last couple of years where I would let her pull away (she worried) and then take the foot gently and didn't fight her. When she is good, I tell her (and sometimes have someone administer a goodie). Peppermints make the world go better in her book.