Cisco and EPM – Stage One 2/8/2018

November 11, 2019Posted inCISCO, EPM
My horse Cisco was diagnosed with EPM not too long ago.  All 2017, we thought he had a stifle problem.  We were watching his back toes drag and first a limp on one back leg and then both legs.  During this time, I also became sick with internal bleeding.  My recovery surgery was a great success, but my body was weakened.  Cisco and I both needed rehab.  Cisco improved greatly in the summer and we started riding at James A Reed, short to longer distances.  It was going great.  However, he was nervous on the trek away…

Cisco EPM Story- Stage 2

November 11, 2019Posted inCISCO, EPM
Cisco EPM Great News on the Cisco health story. Cisco visited Dr. Randy Huenfield on Monday, 7/23/18. Dr. Randy was very pleased. Cisco was in better physical shape than was expected. Cisco did not need any acupuncture treatment. All his points were clear. We had some minor chiro adjustment what you would expect from a well horse. One day of rest and I rode him. There are muscles in his hind leg that are weaker. The EPM affects rear end muscles normally used, so other muscles have to compensate. That…

Rescue Volunteer

November 7, 2019Posted inMiscellaneous
I was a rescue volunteer for wrecked truck towing a trailer with one horse inside.   Car driver put on turn signal about a minute before he braked and slowed down.  Truck and trailer behind could not stop.  I probably drove by about 5 minutes after the wreck.  I beat the emergency responders.  Glass and broken stuff all over the road. I was on my way to ride Fancy.  Instead I stopped and asked if a trailer was needed for his horse.  He hesitated, looked at me in my bright yellow Parelli sweatshirt with a huge horse…

Fancy’s Spur Refinement Horsemanship Lesson

October 31, 2019Posted inFancy
Early Susan spur rule, in effect at least 18 years before Fancy was born:  Don’t use spurs until you can ride bareback with spurs. Translation into English:  Humans should not achieve balance while riding by holding on with the legs and feet.  When becoming unbalanced on a horse, one should not clamp the horse’s body with a spur death grip.  It might end in a condition called run-away-horse-dumped-rider. Your favorite rider, me, adhered to that rule. Fancy is much more advanced in her spur rule:  “Do not touch me with your spurs.”  She is teaching me…