I mentioned this briefly in a previous post, but I've got a bum ankle. It's one of those things that I didn't really understand as it happened. It went like this: breaking in new tall boots at A show lead to blisters. Blisters meant I wore flip flops around at the horse show because I couldn't wear anything that covered my heels. Simultaneously I rode more this week than I had in awhile, not to mention walked a lot more as well.
My left leg got really sore - really, really sore. I started moving slower by Thursday at the show, I was noticing that I really couldn't keep up with other people and that my leg was HURTING. But it wasn't until Saturday night that my ankle swelled up to twice its normal size. I'm not kidding you - I had cankle. I make that singular because my right leg remained absolutely normal, while my ankle bone on the left lost any and all definition. It got even more painful to walk.
Sunday I actually had to skip the show to get it checked out. Here were the 3 biggest theories:
Gout
Infection
Sprain
(The x-rays they took were clean)
Gout, really? Well I have a family history of it, and I guess the way it swelled made this what the doctor suspected, but he started me on anti-biotics which really have done a lot for the swelling. But I am still in mega-pain. I am supposed to be resting this ankle for the rest of the week - that is pretty much impossible for me right now, because I need to stay busy. So I spent the day limping around the barn and helping unpack from the show, which is not ideal. I missed a dose of my anti-biotic (which I have to take 4x daily) and I definitely overworked it. I'm a lot more sore now than I was this morning.
When my shoulder was messed up I was ready to replace it with a robo-arm, and I'm about at that point with this ankle, because it is really slowing me down. When I am in a bad place emotionally, I just need to ride. I can't ride when my ankle is swollen and it hurts to walk, because I can't even fit my foot in my boot right now. Plus I need to let these blisters heal. So basically I am wearing my ladybug clogs and not really touching the horses because I don't have any real foot protection. Not exactly what I had in mind, you know?
Also, I went to the barn today in the first place to watch my trainer ride my horse - he got last week off because he didn't go to the show. It was a nice vacation for him, but he ended up throwing a shoe last week anyway. We got it fixed after a few days. But this morning we went to pull him out of his stall and he had thrown another one. And it was right there - in his stall. Do you know how hard it is for a horse to throw a hind shoe in his stall? Patrick has talent - he's really special. And I mean that in the "short bus" way.
I'm going to re-cap my week for you:
-Dumped by boyfriend
-Horse shit on my head
-Messed up my ankle
-Horse refuses proper footwear
I have to laugh about it, it is too ridiculous.
28 June 2011
26 June 2011
Facebook confession
If you post something on Facebook, and I "like" it, and then a bunch of people start commenting on it and I can't be online for 5 minutes without getting a notification that someone else commented on your post, I'm going to "unlike" it. That's just annoying.
Roller Coaster Ride
Getting dumped right after one of your best friends gets married really sucks, I'm going to be honest. But my week turned out a lot better than it seems like it would have, especially when I add in the fact that on Thursday a horse shit on my head and today I spent the morning getting x-rayed and tested for infection and gout. What a life I lead.
But this week has had some highs, too. As I mentioned before, I attended my first A rated show. I had an absolute blast! I rode Domino, my trainer's little horse, and I could not have asked for a better mount. He is only 6 years old, so still green, but he was an absolute saint. He had never been to an A show either, which for my non-horsey riders, involves packing up a bunch of horses and driving them to a new property, where the horses don't get turned out at all and have to live in temporary stalls under what looks like a circus tent. I should have gotten a picture of this set up, but it is a far cry from the 5 star resort that Domino and Patrick both call home.
Dom took everything in stride (no pun) and just put on a brave face. We moved the horses on Tuesday and started showing Wednesday. He did a division with Amy on Tuesday and was nearly perfect, but a few small mistakes kept him out of the ribbons in the really big classes. On Thursday I rode him in Pleasure Horse and we ended up with two fourth place ribbons out of HUGE classes! I was so thrilled. Pleasure is all about making it look fun and easy, and Domino was perfect. He did everything I asked and I could not have been happier. He also did another jumping division with Amy that day, but was less well behaved - which is okay in a baby. You don't expect a toddler to be on his best behavior all the time, right?
Friday was Domino's last show day and I did another division on him. We actually got a 7th in an over fences class - 7 of our 8 jumps were absolutely perfect, but we chipped into the judges line when I couldn't see a distance. Three strides out I knew it was trouble and I just let Domino do his thing - but we jumped out of the line fine and ended up with a ribbon. That's a BIG mistake - and the course had felt so flawless until then - I feel like we could have won if I hadn't done that. But Domino did everything I asked of him and I could not be happier! Plus I had never won a 7th place ribbon before. It is purple!
I could not have been more proud of him, even if it was a blue ribbon!
I'm going to be able to half-lease him by working at the barn, which is great because it lets me jump and get some more riding experience. Patrick is jumping well with Amy over bigger, more solid fences - he jumped the roll top! And I think his form is going to be excellent, but he still isn't in a place for me to be able to do that with him. He has come such a long way, though! He is turning into a really nice horse.
I'm trying to stay busy and I'm trying to stay positive. And I'm thankful for the good friends and the good horses that will get me through this.
But this week has had some highs, too. As I mentioned before, I attended my first A rated show. I had an absolute blast! I rode Domino, my trainer's little horse, and I could not have asked for a better mount. He is only 6 years old, so still green, but he was an absolute saint. He had never been to an A show either, which for my non-horsey riders, involves packing up a bunch of horses and driving them to a new property, where the horses don't get turned out at all and have to live in temporary stalls under what looks like a circus tent. I should have gotten a picture of this set up, but it is a far cry from the 5 star resort that Domino and Patrick both call home.
Dom took everything in stride (no pun) and just put on a brave face. We moved the horses on Tuesday and started showing Wednesday. He did a division with Amy on Tuesday and was nearly perfect, but a few small mistakes kept him out of the ribbons in the really big classes. On Thursday I rode him in Pleasure Horse and we ended up with two fourth place ribbons out of HUGE classes! I was so thrilled. Pleasure is all about making it look fun and easy, and Domino was perfect. He did everything I asked and I could not have been happier. He also did another jumping division with Amy that day, but was less well behaved - which is okay in a baby. You don't expect a toddler to be on his best behavior all the time, right?
Friday was Domino's last show day and I did another division on him. We actually got a 7th in an over fences class - 7 of our 8 jumps were absolutely perfect, but we chipped into the judges line when I couldn't see a distance. Three strides out I knew it was trouble and I just let Domino do his thing - but we jumped out of the line fine and ended up with a ribbon. That's a BIG mistake - and the course had felt so flawless until then - I feel like we could have won if I hadn't done that. But Domino did everything I asked of him and I could not be happier! Plus I had never won a 7th place ribbon before. It is purple!
I could not have been more proud of him, even if it was a blue ribbon!
I'm going to be able to half-lease him by working at the barn, which is great because it lets me jump and get some more riding experience. Patrick is jumping well with Amy over bigger, more solid fences - he jumped the roll top! And I think his form is going to be excellent, but he still isn't in a place for me to be able to do that with him. He has come such a long way, though! He is turning into a really nice horse.
I'm trying to stay busy and I'm trying to stay positive. And I'm thankful for the good friends and the good horses that will get me through this.
13 June 2011
Junebug
I love the month of June!
I am so busy this year, though. If you don't hear from me again for the rest of the month, here's why:
I spent all weekend at Tricia's bachelorette party which was pretty amazing
Next weekend is her wedding and once again I will be far too busy to update about anything
The week after that I am doing Deep Run and I am SO EXCITED! My debut on the A circuit and I will be competing with Domino - and all the time NOT spent at wedding festivities until then will be spent preparing for that. So yeah - busy busy busy. But loving my summer!
I am so busy this year, though. If you don't hear from me again for the rest of the month, here's why:
I spent all weekend at Tricia's bachelorette party which was pretty amazing
Next weekend is her wedding and once again I will be far too busy to update about anything
The week after that I am doing Deep Run and I am SO EXCITED! My debut on the A circuit and I will be competing with Domino - and all the time NOT spent at wedding festivities until then will be spent preparing for that. So yeah - busy busy busy. But loving my summer!
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