Harvey: Staying in the moment

Years ago, my grandpa had Parkinsons Disease -- and it eventually took his life. When the family got together, there was a tendency to spend time enumerating the things he could once do but now could not -- at every gathering there was a hushed conversation about grandpa's decline. As a young adult, I hated it. Nothing is gained by obsess each and every sign of failing, I reasoned, why chronicle each life skill or ability lost? I felt sorry for grandpa and felt sure he knew about these conversations. It was heartbreaking.

I thought that then, and I still believe this. It accomplishes nothing to focus on what is lost.

Today's post is a Harvey status update, and I'm breaking my own rule.  Harv is failing. I don't know for sure, but it seems to me he is failing at a faster rate.

• He has trouble moving around in his stall. He catches himself, but the tight turns make him sway and correct himself. 
• He has trouble getting down to roll. Getting up has been a mild struggle for awhile, has has pulled himself up by his front legs for years. But now, getting down is harder for him. He can curl his front legs fine, but somehow the hind legs don't want to fold. He has just given up on a gentle landing. He drops down in front, but he can't lower himself down behind -- he basically falls heavily to the side like a falling tree. 
• The incontinence is worse. I used to occasionally find a big pee stain in his stall, which told me he could sometime evacuate his bladder somewhat. This has not happened in weeks.

In the moment

I enjoy seeing the things that Harv enjoys. Last week, I walked him to the outdoor ring for the first time in about a month. Harv knows the outdoor is for running around, and as we walked toward the gate, he started a little passage. He coudn't wait to tear around.

As soon as I unclipped the halter he kicked into full gear, even cantering a little. He would trot the perimeter at full tilt for a lap, then come into the center and stand with me--it felt like he wanted praise ("did I do good?"). After a few minutes he would go out and do another lap. He repeated this 4-5 times. He looked really happy and I'm so glad he likes to move out like this.  I'm guessing his bladder is basketball-sized on a permanent basis -- to me this energy indicates that he doesn't feel uncomfortable at least.

Oh, and his trot. Harv's trot is a little out of synch -- the hind legs are definitely draggier than in April, like he can't lift from the stifle. Watching from the rear there is an "egg-beater" action, hind legs swinging out, that is more pronounced. I try not to notice his movement, and focus on his happy face and he trots around.

He has his horsey friends, he is the fattest he has ever been, and the hay right now is soft enough for him to eat. Bob is par-boiling his carrots, which is an act of love that confirms my choice in spouse.  I'll keep you all posted. 

Random insights on barn drama

No, I'm not experiencing barn drama now. But it's always "five o'clock somewhere," and I'm certain there is always a barn situation somewhere.

Page turners...
A good friend from high school, Karrie,  had daughter that grew up "horse crazy." She used to call me to chat about news of the horse, her daughter's progress, and of course, that phenom that goes with the package -- barn drama.

Her stories were about horse show moms mostly -- horrifying, and of course familiar. She told me one day that she and a few of the other horse show moms had brainstormed an idea of writing a book about barn drama. the title:

UnStable: Bad parenting, hysterical women, and psychosocial drama in equestrian culture

I love it! Thinking about other random insights over the years, here are a few more.

It's a circus all right.
Have you heard the term hippodrama? It means literally horse drama and it has its roots in theater. It's described as:

"...a genre of theatrical show blending circus and horsemanship with popular melodrama and theatre. Evolving from earlier equestrian circus, it relied on drama plays. Trained horses were considered actors along with humans and were even awarded leading roles."

In real barn dramas, horses always seem to have a leading role. Perfect. The term could be refashioned for modern usage (barn drama!).

Do we have a winner?
A dear friend of mine would sometimes listen to stories. I'd finish my tale, and there would be a long pause, and she would say: "It all sounds very Jerry Springer."

But no, that does not win the prize for best observation.

Why does the sports metaphor always win?
 Best observation goes to Bob, former little league coach, who said one day...

"It's like always having a kid in little league."

THIS.

Right-sizing a horse

TPO is 14.3 but I am amazed at how well he takes up my leg. I don't feel gigantic on him and I think we look decently paired, given that I'm 5'10."

Harvey's legs: What worked for his scratches

I have the ointment. Would like to try the spray and shampoo...

Harv has always battled scratches, but now that he is dripping urine continually, his lower hind legs are covered with scars.  I've been trying lots of different things to keep Harv's legs clean and free of urine and to treat the scratches. It's a daily regimen and I'd like to be able to do the work in 30 minutes or less.

What works?
The short answer is, The Absorbine Fungasol Ointment wins the prize as the most effective treatment.  It stays on for up to 48 hours, but when his legs get dirty from turnout, it doesn't defy soap (it washes off well). It is an antifungal and an antibacterial, and it softens the rough areas. Think about whipped, soft, vaseline. It seems to have coconut oil based on the press release I read.  It's a great-feeling ointment, clear, light, easy to apply -- perfect for Harv's problem. Thumbs up!

For what it is worth, I'm a fan of Absorbine products and have written about free stuff they've sent me -- I have a lot of faith in the company and have never had a bad experience or disappointment. But this was my own purchase -- totally unsolicited, and to be honest I was at a tack store that didn't have much else in the way of anti-fungals. I bought it based on the brand.

Here is what doesn't work.

• Desitin, vaseline, Corona, and generally all things gooey and barrier-forming. Problem is, they block air (which is important to get ride of the icky fungus/bacteria) -- and the paste-gels get gummed up and mixed with shavings and dirt. It's hard to get this off and I end up shampooing it off with Dawn. It takes a lot of scrubbing which you don't want to do with scratches. Also,  when the original problem is scratches, water is not your friend.
• Iodine gel. Doesn't stay on well, and of course your hands are orange.
• Fly boots. They work, but Harvey hates them, and I don't like watching my already wobbly horse lift his hind legs in protest at the expense of his balance. He leans pretty far one way or another without seeming aware of it, and it would be awful if he hurt himself because I have these boots on him.
• Bell boots -- traps moisture, and similar to fly boots, Harv objects.
• Poultice. I applied one night over not quite dry legs, and it didn't stick that well. It is somewhat more effective with dry legs, but eventually the urine washes it away.

Thanks Absorbine, for helping me out with a problem with this uncommon problem!

My second browband

I made my second browband -- I followed the same instructions but ditched the hemostat in favor of needle-nosed pliers. MUCH easier, though I still stabbed my thumb and thigh repeatedly.  I looked a long time for this color combo as these are TPO's colors (teal and purple).

The only downer is that these bead colors are sprayed on. The color is not staying on well, and I noticed tiny chips even as I was working on the browband. We're going to apply clear nail polish to see if this helps. At least the materials are inexpensive. I can probably re-use the browband channel if the beads really do chip up...

TPO and I

TPO is officially 14.3 w/o shoes. It is amazing to me how well he takes up my leg. Here we are after our show on July 13...

TPO and his owner

TPO's owner and TPO -- the bond between these two is pretty evident here! He is not a horse that is quick to trust. I love both of their expressions in this photo. This is the high point ribbon for the schooling show -- granted it is easier to be high point when you are riding Intro A, but it is a nice feeling anyway.

Intro B, TPO

We got a 73% on this test. A good boy!

Shopping -- how'd this happen???

Somehow, shopping in a local outlet horse store in NJ, I found this Romfh vest/jacket, valued at $170, the the outlet area, marked at $44.95 and HALF OFF THAT!!!??? The fit is awesome and I rode in it in the last show (see video from the last couple of days). I'm still pinching myself. The best thing is that it has the normal longer hem and cool back vents. The crystals are black and very subtle. Now if only my a$$ looked like that...

Intro A, TPO

We got a 75% on this test. First time in the ring at this show...

A comic looks at dressage

What a hoot. But how can a Brit not be on board with dressage? If Carl Hester can't get you to like the sport, who could?

Riley July 12: Summer School

A few of you have asked "What happened to Riley?" He is doing great, and in the warmer weather I love, I'm getting lots of rides in. Here's our most recent footage.

I haven't yet shown Ri this summer. The reasons are a little complicated, I suppose, but it has a little to do with me and a little to do with him and a little to do with finances. First, I can't afford to show two horses, and The Painted One is like a summer fling. He is just such a fun ride, and so different from Ri -- I'm a little infatuated.

Second, on Riley I'm still riding in the indoor, not yet outside. The bar has been raised to get and keep him in his big gaits, fully engaged. The forwardness he needs actually scares me at times, esp. in the canter. I have to get past a certain mental handbrake. I'm frustrated with myself but at the same time I don't want to take him to a show just to limit his performance with my fears. Also, I feel I can recite in advance what any judge is going to tell me. I'm very happy with progress in my understanding and 'feel' for where he needs to be, and what I need to fix when I ride. I am applying this to The Painted One, which is neat for me...

Heartbreaker tank: Hearts are breaking on this on

I broke down and bought my third Noble Outfitters summer item -- the Heartbreaker tank. Mine is the lime and black variety.

 Why are hearts breaking? Because I'm hearing from folks that they can't be found in stores, or the sizes are limited. These tanks, and the Lil'Lover tank with the keyhole and draped back, sell out as soon as they come in. You can still find some online and in stores, but the Noble Outfitters line is very popular, it seems. I love the style which is very flattering (all shirts are fitted but not tight), and the fabric weight -- light, easy-drape, easy-to-wear, easy to wash. Thumbs up, and jump on these next year!

Urinetown III: What equine urinary incontinence looks like

Here is Harv, wearing hind bellboots that he hates (hence the hind leg action). This is what he and I are dealing with right now. You can see he is wondering why I'm so focused on his nether region. I'm sure he is puzzled!

Two Horse Tack: Riding Rein Giveaway!

So this month the Two Horse Tack Giveaway is riding reins. I'm showing the two-color reins here, but you can select the color and style you want if you win. You can view the many style and color options for riding and driving reins (driving reins are not in the giveaway, though).  You can order English reins, split reins, buckles of any type, several lengths, colors, color overlays, and there is a super grip option that I'm planning to get. Note also, the prices are well below what you would pay for leather reins, and you have the easy maintenance. Somehow my reins are always the dirtiest part of my horse's bridle, and the hardest to clean, so this is a real time-saver.

Enter the giveaway!

RIDING REINS with REFLECTIVE made from BETA BIOTHANE

Harvey, artistic collaborator (Urinetown IV)

Yesterday I shared some artwork of Harv's on BTB.  The reaction of the artistic community was immediate and gratifying.

Now, to Harv's many accomplishments -- Man About Town, Spiritual Advisor, Elder Statesman, Business Magnate, Public Intellectual, Cultural Luminary -- he now adds the title "artistic collaborator." How gratifying it is for him to be so immediately embraced by his fellow creatives.

Here we see Running Dog, Magenta... Thanks to Anne at Auburn University for allowing me to share her inspiring collaboration with Harv.  Art collectors may contact me for her contact information, but you'd better have deep pockets -- I see bidding wars in the future :-).

It makes a great screen-saver. Just sayin.

Urinetown II: Harv's artistic side...

So with Harvey's new ailment (urinary incontinence) I'm seeing his artistic side in the splash patterns he leaves in the paddock dirt. Harv created these while I was cleaning his back legs.

"Frenetic Snake"

"Running Dog"

"Shark on the water"

"Rorschach with apostrophe"

Browband love!

Another awesome browband from Woven Beads Browbands on Etsy.com. The designer made the markings on the paint to "match" the paint horse I'm riding, and the colors are the owner's favorite colors.

The Painted One, second show

Here is our second test, Intro B. We got a 70.8% which was a pretty good score now that I look at it and see the overall impression from the ground. A little choppy, but he is still tense in the ring. Our third show is Sunday!

Urinetown: Harv continues to bulid my character

You often hear people talk about how much horses have taught them. Harvey has made my personal growth his mission over the years -- he continues to help me in my quest for self-actualization.

Fear of all things scatalogical
You may not know this about me, but I am squeamish  about bodily issues and functions, and there is a reason I did not go into nursing. In high school my science partner dissected the frog for me; I had to be excused from watching a childbirth video in a college sociology class; I don't clean toilets; at mealtimes, conversations must veer away from anything vaguely unappetizing -- no descriptions of physical ailments -- NOOOO!

Harvey: "Get over it, lady!"
Harv's latest ailment -- incontinence -- is helping me get past this. Last night, for example, I was trying to clean Harvey's legs are getting scalded and around his pasterns, where everything drips down, he has scratches. Treating his legs are quite a process, and here are the steps.

When: Wait till no one is around. No one needs to witness this, no matter how entertaining it might be.
Have on hand: Leg wraps, Neosporin/Desitin mixture, hose, gauze, vetwrap, duct tape

1. Situate Harv somewhere outside the barn where he can drip freely. Barn aisle is not an option due to the dripping.
2. Remove urine-soaked bandages or wraps (Ewwww). While unpeeling the wet, stinky velcro straps in 96 degree humid weather, try to evade Harv's swinging member.  Often as not, he is dripping or streaming or splashing urine. You know those kid's sprinkler toys? It's like standing under one of those pictured above, except you're not all that enthusiastic. 
3. Walk Harv over to the hose, and hose off his nether regions. 
4. Apply soap and scrub off the Desitin or vaseline that has been previously applied to protect his legs. This is almost impossible. But smear it around at least and get the worst of the dirt off.
5. Hose off soap.
6. Hose off urine-soaked wraps.
7. While avoiding Harv's swinging sprinkler system..
• Towel down Harv's legs vigorously.
• Apply more Vaseline and/or Desitin/neosporin.
• If there are any bad areas of scalding or scratches, cover with gauze and vet-wrap.
• Apply fresh set of wraps.
8. Put Harv in his stall or turn him out. He is done.
9. Hose off yourself to remove splashed-up urine. 
• Almost certainly a healthy sprinkling on your arms, legs. Hose  off.
• Any urine on hair or clothing? Change clothes,  shampoo hair using garden hose.

The Painted One: First time in an indoor!

Muted this footage so you would not hear the constant calling. The prescription for the whinnying and inattention is bend/yield and get them back on task...

Three things about TPO

The Painted One (TPO) is doing well overall. Here's video from one of the hottest days of the year...

 As the summer starts in earnest I have learned 3 things about TPO.

• We have learned that his saddle slides forward when he canters more than a 20 meter circle or two -- if you keep going it goes right up over his wither. And we're looking to fix that before we do much more than the bit of canter we currently do. The saddle fitter pronounced that the saddle fits him, but it's likely his conformation is just going to make saddle stability a challenge. 
• He is tortured by the flies. His owner tells me she never rode in the heat, and the last two days when I rode in heat he was a different horse. You'll see in the video below his tail is positively twirling. The flies were particularly bad this day, it's true. But we are just now learning about this sensitivity.
• In the last two rides (in the summer heat and flies) TPO is showing us how much he loves the gate. It does not surface at the trot, really, but it does at the walk.  But when we walk, he has time to think. He has not done anything bad, but he does balk, which I've gotten around by circling him. 

He has opinions, but I appreciate that every time he's saddled he puts in a day's work.

Oops moment with Adelinde

At the 2011 EDC Rotterdam Grand Prix Kur, Adelinde & Parzival had a bit of an oops at around minute 4:07. The commentator's reaction is priceless. Dude, that's harsh!

23 year-old horse does a Grand Prix freestyle

Percy (Perseus), a 23-year-old horse competes at a Central Oregon Dressage show in 2014. Check out his freestyle!

TPO Talker

Laura Graves & Verdades Freestyle at 2014 Festival of Champions

Laura Graves & Verdades were the surprise of the week at the 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. With excellent efforts like this freestyle test, the two newcomers to the international scene established themselves among olympians and finished as Reserve Grand Prix National Champions. More from the 2014 #DressageFOC is available on-demand on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Festiva­lOfChampions/

Snuggy Hoods Anti-Itch Sheath Cover

I think this ad has drawn some ridicule. Maybe this isn't quite ready for prime time but as someone with a horse with a swollen sheath every summer, I would love to see a product that addresses this problem.

Patriotic dressage browband from Etsy.com

Happy July 4. We are lucky for our freedom to do whatever we want to do, and we're so immersed in it that we don't appreciate it. Let's think about it today.

I have a surprise related to Woven Beads Browbands (Silver-lined Ruby, Sapphire and Crystal Chevron Woven Beads Browband, Size 16 inches) that I will share later, but for now enjoy this awesome red, white, and blue browband.

I also need to share these patriotic horseshoe nail earrings, from an Etsy store I don't know well -- Kowboy Kim's Design. Are these not lovely?

Diva night at Tuesday night dressage

The Painted One went to his second dressage show, the Bucks County Horse Park Tuesday Evening Dressage. Look at the button braids--my first attempt. I had a Diva moment in the braiding process. Someone came by with horse treats and TPO started waggling his head during a critical moment of setting the braid. I had a moment of Diva Histrionics. I'm not proud of it.

The show itself went well. The owner suggested lungeing TPO which was a good decision. He was much calmer, and in the warmup he felt every bit as composed as he does at home. As we made our way to the ring, there were a few things that got him ramped up -- normal horse show stuff, but there were some trail riders in the distance that inexplicably set him off.

That was Diva Moment #2. TPO was a cow pony one minute, and suddenly I felt like I was sitting on a tuning fork! He was rigid with fear and really felt like he could have bolted, and there were lots of folks pretty close that seemed unaware of my panicky horse. It was moments before the first test so I didn't want to dismount.

"I need some help here!" I yelled. The owner came and held him. Once we figured out what he was reacting to (trail riders in the distance), at least I stopped having a meltdown. I pointed TPO away from the riders and he calmed down nicely.

Tests forthcoming on video!

Blue is back! Noble Outfitters super summer top

When I got my first Noble Outfitters 'Lil Lover tank shirt, I got grey because they were out of blue. I loved the grey shirt but I really loved the block color in the blue. So when I heard the blue was back in stock, I jumped on it! Here I am on June 29, after riding two horses and finishing a 30 mile bike ride on the Upper Saucon Trail in Hellertown PA. I'll restate my earlier love for this shirt -- it is the most flattering tank I have ever worn, and it is comfortable and looks super untucked-in. At $23, it does not break the bank either.

My stuff for sale...

Black Country Vinici 

Make offer to  sek4278 at gmail.com -- note that buyer pays shipping costs. Photos of items in links and some along the right-hand side

• Black Country Vinici saddle 17.5" W tree, $2800 (view more photos),

trial available at Trumbull Mountain Saddlery. For sale, 17.5 MW-W Black Country Vinici with serge panels, excellent shape. Saddle is on consignment shop listed at $3200 on the recommendation of the dealer-- 2K firm, contact me if interested.

Pikeur Skarlett jacket, $250, size 8 (US), view more photos. This Pikeur Skarlett jacket is a US size 8, in navy with a "velvet" collar that is dark navy. It is washable. I have used it perhaps 5 times. It retails for $339. Please go by measurements when evaluating this jacket; I can take additional measurements if desired as well as more photos. From shoulder seam to shoulder 

Petrie Elegance dressage boots

seam across the back is 16"; from armpit to sleeve cuff is 18" and from the shoulder seam to the sleeve cuff is 26"; From the top of the collar in back to the bottom hem is 25 1/4"

Petrie Elegance dressage boots, $499, View more photos, 8.5US, 49cm height, 34cm calf tall/slim. Used for a year at shows, then only very occasionally. Super shape!

Gorgeous never used Ellerslie dressage pad (photo here), large, pale gold and black Asian or Friesian horse tapestry with black velvet trim. 

Brown Fleeceworks contour dressage pad, used about 20 times, super shape!

Nunn Finer dressage girth, brown, 30-32" photos on request, excellent shape, $50.

Soft Touch girth, 32" and 30" $20 apiece, great shape. Photos on request

Ellerslie pad, click to enlarge

78" Schneiders Tack Fly sheet, $20, good to very good  condition. 

Pikeur Skarlett dressage coat