Project Jim

[whisper's mum]

  I'm glad you're keeping him, he does sound fab!   

[Cloud_cirrus]

These round little people have a way of getting under your skin despite your original intentions.  Charlie Too has got a 14 year old riding him this summer holidays and he is really helping her get over some nerves she has had, to the point that the other day she and my OH were hacking round the fields and he got a bit over excited in trot, did a little buck and shot past the OH in canter.  She pulled him up and had a big smile on her face.  OH once he got his horse under control was impressed by the clean pair of heels he was seeing in front of him.

A nice, safe, fun, ride that makes you smile is worth it's weight in gold in my opinion

[cirocco]

Yes my thought exactly. I was sure that I would be happy to sell him but thats not going to happen

Jenny came to see him the other day and she cant wait to ride him. Im going to have to lead him from willi, but im sure it wont be a problem. Im so glad charlie has a new body and mind, he really was a very lucky boy to find himself at your door. She's coming over tomorrow so ill tell her about charlie. Give him a big hug from us.

[cirocco]

UPDATE ive been talking about the saddle and its fit, and the problems ive been having with it sliding over to the left. Today I rode up to my lesson in the suede one just to see if there was any difference in a treed saddle compared with the fhoenix. My lower legs were well behaved and I didn't tip forward!. But its been a long time since I rode in anything other than my dressage saddle, so its hard to ride in another sort and feel comfortable right away, it takes time I think.
Anyhow the suede saddle slipped to the left as well, and we wonder now if this is something to do with his lack of muscle on his left side..
Which might just account for the problems im having getting right canter. And why he seems dis united on one diagnal in trot.

We lunged him and found that going left in trot and canter he is fine, strikes off on the correct lead, go right and it all goes to pot.  right ridden its the same, he is totally happy trot is lovely, forward going and then he smoothly goes into canter with one small signal, and the downward transition is good. We go right and its shocking. trot is ok but asking for canter is hard, he hesitates and then leaps into it but always on
the wrong leg. Today it took ten goes to get him to canter on the correct lead, and even then he changed halfway down the long side [ he can do a wonderful flying change]  we go walk trot canter, trot canter trot canter trot canter....till im blue!. Then he gets the idea and will canter round the school on the correct leg and we call it a day.
If he's lunged right he canters perfectly well, lunge him left dis united and wrong leg all the time, which is why we are doing so much ridden because he's easier to correct.

If things continue like this I think ill get someone out to look at his back, just to make sure there's nothing going on.
We know that he's not done anything much for the past two years, so perhaps its just that he has to strengthen up. 

[Lammy]

I won't go over old ground that I said in the post: http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php?topic=40925.new;topicseen#new 

but absolutely have him checked out sooner rather than later, always best to do the good ol MOT (back, teeth and feet) check.

 

[cirocco]

teeth done 23rd may   
feet he's barefoot trimmed by our E.P and is fine.

He has no soreness to pressure anywhere on his back, he does not dip or flinch to fingertip pressure.

Ive left a message for the back woman ive used before, so hopefully we will get to the bottom of any problem he might have... Of course he might not have any other problem than just being un used and with no muscle condition to carry weight. he had only ever been ridden or sat on by a 4 year old for the last 2 years apart from an odd hack out with a non riding person. so we will see.

[SNC]

If everything checks out, it could be that he just needs time to strengthen up.  But agree him checked and go from there. When the physio came time before she said Cassie had some soreness but because of all what was going on at the time, she didn't do anything.  She came Friday to check and sort out the issues, only to find that her back was as soft as anything.  Just taking things slow and building up gradually until she had strengthened up has worked, but we still have a way to go.

Good Luck 

[Larri DB]

He has no soreness to pressure anywhere on his back, he does not dip or flinch to fingertip pressure.

I don't want to put the horrors on you but my old mare Safi showed no reaction whatsoever to back tests...ever, despite being seen by a very high level vet of my own and the chief orthopedic surgeon at Rossdales - even after she was diagnosed with arthritis in her spine, deformed spinal processes, both sides of her sacroliliac and inter spinous ligament compression the only way you knew was because of her behaviour, twitchy withers and her odd action.
I'm not saying that your lovely boy could have any of those issues just pointing out that some of them don't respond in ways we think they should to pain.

[cirocco]

Ive just been given the name of an equine osteopath Bruce Hewett. he's got some stuff on u tube which lookes impressive, wonder if anyone has heard of him or had him for theirs.