Snow Day

Naturally when I can start legging Dakota back up it snows!! And not the dry snow that you can still ride in...the slippery wet stuff! I almost busted my butt about 3 times today walking down the hill to the barn.

So, of course I had to do something with her. Treated her like we were starting brand new, did little things that I used to do with her as a late 2 year old. Brushed her up all nice, and worked on mounting bareback, with the focus on making her stand completely still. Of course she remembered all this stuff from before looking at me like "Mom do I really have to do this again?" while standing there like an angel falling asleep. So I kept mounting her from every which way.

It was like I went back in time, remembering all of this stuff I did with her when she was just a little baby when i first got her (OK, she was 2 so she wasnt so little, but still.)

I cant wait for the weather to be nice again! Bring on the spring.

Recheck #2

Dakota had her 3rd appointment with Dr. Riddle last wednesday, just as a re-check to see where we were as far as healing. Hauled there with Sara because she wanted to get Cisco's left front leg checked out (which ended up being a navicular diagnosis =( ). Cisco never rode on the second stall of a horse trailer (come to think of it, Kota never has either), so Dakota was unloaded then reloaded many times that day. She gave a little trouble, but always ended up getting on the trailer. I think she was getting a little rusty from not loading all winter... She was not a pro-loader by any means, but she did well.

Lets see as far as diagnosis... It was FREEZING that day, so Dr. Riddle just watched her move by me jogging her up and down the cement barn aisle. He said she seemed a little stiff in her left hock actually, and said that may be due to the uneven distribution from the right stifle injury. Either way, it all could be due to the fact she has not been worked in quite some time. He also re-ultrasounded her stifle to see how the meniscus was healing..and I am happy to report she is 85-90% healed!! So, once the weather starts getting better I am allowed to start legging her back up..all straight line stuff for now, but I can bring her back into barrels come spring. Once she's back into full work I have to take her back to see how she's handling it. Dr. Riddle says she may need maintenence, possible hock/stifle injections...I hope not ridiculous amounts, but we have to wait and see. Overall he seemed very optimistic and told me "Just keep doing what you're doing, she looks good."

Cannot tell you how much that made my week! Baby girl may be able to barrel race after all! Maybe we'll work on that loading for now while the weather gets better.

For Old Times Sake

Was going through a few old videos of kota on the pattern before the stifle diagnosis! Figured to keep track of it all I'd post them on here.

First Up: Dakotas first time on the pattern ever.

March 13, 2008
First Try

Second Try


Second Up: Dakotas first time loping the pattern.

June 17, 2008: Right Before her stifle diagnosis

Trotting


First Time Loping

Second Time Loping

Zap goes the fence

So we finally decided to put up an electric fence along the paddock, to keep our escape artists from getting out time after time. We left the rest of the fence in the pasture un-wired, so the only fence that's hot is the paddock around the barn. When they're out on pasture they usually stay pretty busy with the grass and dont bother trying to get out. I don't believe Dakota has ever had an experience with an electric fence...let me tell you she was very upset with me.

She was the first to test it out. Walked right up to this "new yellow stuff" along the top of the regular wooden fence.. .ZAP! I sorta felt bad for her--she isnt even the reason we need the darn electric fence! After a few laps around the paddock to shake off that zap, she stood in the center looking at me like "Why'd you do that to me???" I tried walking up to her to pet her and let her know its alright, darn horse didnt want me near her! Mind you this horse is usually friendly as can be, never have I seen her run from someone.

So I just gave her a few treats and figured I'd let her be and let her settle down and figure out what this new electric fence business is all about. Went back out to feed later and she was her normal self--guess she finally realized it wasnt me zapping her.

I was too chicken to test it out on myself--I'm wondering how much shock it actually gives off. I think its enough to keep them from chewing on/removing fence posts from now on. Hopefully.

Brrrrr....

Too darn cold to do anything with Dakota... way too cold! Felt like it didn't get much higher than 0 today. Ground is frozen...everything is frozen! On the plus side, Kota looks like she's moving around well despite this weather. She's all bundled up, that's for sure. I am debating whether to bring her back lunging a little, although I think that may be a bad idea. Too much stress on her stifle to do the circles at first. So, I think I'll stick to straight stuff for a while, and then hopefully once she's back in working order we can do some large circle stuff. I plan on swimming her as soon as it gets warm out, Sara (skippysmom) says theres a equine pool over in burlington county, NJ. I think that swimming would be really good for her muscles, especially rehabbing that stifle.

Hopefully it warms up so I can get on my horse sometime soon!

Dakota's Debut on Blogspot

I always start a blog about Dakota's training progress, get excited about it, and then somehow end up writing two blog entries, and stop. It's a new start to her training, so therefore, I figure we need a new blog to celebrate. This one will last.

Dakota, aka "TT Kitabars Kitten" is my 4 (coming 5) year old mare. I got her as a 2 year old in June of 06', and have had her ever since. She has a rather calm temperament, but can have her mare moments. I think I like that fire about her, sometimes.

Dakota will soon be coming off her long winter rest, hopefully completely recuperated from her stifle injury she was diagnosed with back in september-ish? Dr. Riddle in Port Deposit, MD who was recommended to me as "the leg guy" to go to, diagnosed her with a "compressed medial meniscus"...in english, a torn ligament in her stifle. He gave me a 50/50 chance that she will ever be able to run barrels, which after losing my barrel horse the year previous, absolutely crushed me. I followed his treatment plan to a T, other than his recommendations to ride her. I decided to give her a good period of time off, with hopes she would heal. After xrays and ultrasound, her stifle was injected once, and she was put on a treatment does of Adequan. The following checkup appointment, the Dr. was suprised at her progress and did not want to inject her again. Instead, she got a legend shot. Now she is on monthly Adequan, and I am hoping to start legging her back up soon.

This blog will track her progress from bringing her back, to hopefully running barrels!