Little Lottie Update!!

atlantis

atlantis

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Little Lottie update!!! It's long sorry!!

Sorry I've not been on here for a bit. It's been crazy busy here with work and my daughter starting school etc. calming down now though.

Lottie has been at our current yard since March. We moved there to access the good hacking and my friend is there and has taken us out and about in her lorry!!

We've been hacking out alone and in company and been out to some cross country schooling to accompany my friend and she even popped a few little logs (which she loved).

Her feet are much better growing out the bad ringed bits and finding their own balance. I have found a fab trimmer/farrier (he's both).

Her off lameness she had earlier in the year, which vet, Physio and I put down to her shoulder, is much much better. It's muscular tightness in the left shoulder and the right shoulder that needs lots of strengthening. It flares up a little after hard work but that's getting less and less. I've been doing lots of stretches and equine touch to loosen up the tightness. I've also found straightness training and we've been doing lots and lots of groundwork to get her off her forehand and stepping under with her hind legs. She can now do a beautiful shoulder-in in hand on both reins and we're getting the beginnings of haunches in too. :)

Ive also noticed how wonky I am (we're both right bended which doesn't help) so I've started doing Pilates and I've noticed the difference.

Ridden wise I've her her saddle refitted a couple of times and we've just got a shiny new prolite version of the Fairfax girth. I only picked it up on Monday but it really helps the saddle stability. However I've always been intrigued by Heather Moffat's saddles so I'm trying to arrange to trial a flexee!!!

We had our first lesson yesterday from a very highly regarded local BD instructor who was holding a clinic at our yard. It was amazing!!! Lottie went so so well and I need to remember to keep even weight in both reins and both stirrups. We got lots of compliments and she said that we were an exciting combination for the future, I rode her beautifully and I should be proud of how I've started her off!!!!!!

I was beaming from ear to ear and I'm so chuffed!!! Makes all the hard work worthwhile!!!!!

Unfortunately to settle work down (it's been horribly stressful, sad and upsetting - it's just the job but I've burnt out really) I'm having to downgrade which will mean less money. It's the right thing for me and my family but it will mean I need to move Lottie (again)!! I don't want to but she's on part livery and I will save at least £100 a month to drop to assisted DIY. I've asked if I can do that where we are but its part livery only. I think I've found somewhere nice and I'm going to have another look tomorrow. Poor pony I feel bad but I can't help it really. I'm making sure I move her somewhere that's just right.

A couple of pics!!

First hack

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First time cross country

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Chilling in the sunshine...

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New girth mum!!!

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I don't have any ridden ones as nobody to take pics really.
 
Omg they could have been separated at birth lol. Love a grey!! Although even though she's still dappled peeping for the lesson wasn't just a quick groom!!! I might regret the purchase in a few years when she is no longer dappled!!
 
atlantis said:
Omg they could have been separated at birth lol. Love a grey!! Although even though she's still dappled peeping for the lesson wasn't just a quick groom!!! I might regret the purchase in a few years when she is no longer dappled!!
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Haha! She actually is more rose coloured, like Lottie, but of course she had to look 'greyish' in the photos! She has greyed out though - dreading her whiteness, she's already awful to keep clean. How old is Lottie again? :)
 
She's 5 and is apparently grey dun!! She was born dun but has really greyed out since I bought her. In November her legs were BLACK!!! Lots of white in there now.

She likes to use her poo as a pillow. She always seems to have a horrible head (her whitest bit!!)!!
 
well done, you have come a long way, she is looking great.......shame you have to move her but sometimes it works out better in the long run. I had to leave my old yard which I had been at for 8 years and I thought my horse was happy and I was really upset I had to move her as she is 24 and I was expecting her to live out her days there...BUT she is actually much happier at the new yard and so am I so the old yard owner did us a favour....good luck
 
atlantis said:
She's 5 and is apparently grey dun!! She was born dun but has really greyed out since I bought her. In November her legs were BLACK!!! Lots of white in there now.

She likes to use her poo as a pillow. She always seems to have a horrible head (her whitest bit!!)!!
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Ooh grey dun....*goes off to do a little google search*. Rowan also has black legs, all year round though.
0ce7efc168fe92fb3223a0981fd26852.jpg
She's apparently a dapple rose grey, however is maturing into a more white/ dark grey than rose. She's 7 by the way. Rowan is exactly the same, in fact, all our greys are!
 
splashgirl45 said:
well done, you have come a long way, she is looking great.......shame you have to move her but sometimes it works out better in the long run. I had to leave my old yard which I had been at for 8 years and I thought my horse was happy and I was really upset I had to move her as she is 24 and I was expecting her to live out her days there...BUT she is actually much happier at the new yard and so am I so the old yard owner did us a favour....good luck
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Thanks splash girl. That makes me feel a bit better. I do have to move my OH pointed out that I can't have it all. I can't change jobs to release the stress and remain at our current yard. I don't need the part livery just some assistance some days and it will be a massive saving in the summer as she can live out.

I'm going up the yard tomorrow to meet the other liveries and have another look round. Fingers crossed!!
 
EquiEquestrian556 said:
Ooh grey dun....*goes off to do a little google search*. Rowan also has black legs, all year round though.
0ce7efc168fe92fb3223a0981fd26852.jpg
She's apparently a dapple rose grey, however is maturing into a more white/ dark grey than rose. She's 7 by the way. Rowan is exactly the same, in fact, all our greys are!
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She's super cute!!!

I'll try to get a photo of Lot tomorrow to show how much she's greyed out since the winter!!
 
ester said:
Is it sad I was excited about hoof pics? :p ;)
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Nope that's not sad. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow.

They've grown some flare on the insides at the front, which mark (trimmer farrier man) isn't worried about at all and he wanted to leave well alone. His main concern was different angles in the hind feet, the off side of which is steeper, and he really felt that she isn't using her hind end properly and recommended straightness trsining. He advised leave well alone and every couple of weeks I'm to shave the flare off a little and prevent cracks with a radius rasp which I do.

The crack is finally growing out too!!
 
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Sheep said:
Me too!! hopefully resolving the hoof issues will help with the muscular problems :) she is a very pretty little thing!
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Yes it's so all related. She is so much better all round it's fab!!! Her feet look a bit strange but mark thinks she's growing the foot she needs and not to worry.

I have to say now I wish I'd had x rays of all 4 when we were at the vets as there has def been some change and it would have been interesting and I really think she could have had caudal hoof pain in her near fore, even if there was no change with the nerve blocks. The vet was certain it wasn't her feet though...

However even if she had a diagnosis of navicular syndrome I wouldn't have changed what I've done as I've taken it so so slowly. If she looks 'tight' in her movement then she is tight in her muscles if that makes sense. Weekly ET keeps her moving nicely and I'm able to get deeper and deeper into the muscles as time goes on!! I love the constant analysis and she's like my little project.

I've made the decision to do the Vet Physio masters next year!!! My parents are going to lend me the money!!! I'm so excited about that and I think that decision has been a catalyst to me wanting to change my job. That and not being able to cope with people constantly dying (I work with lots of people with motor neurone disease).

Love my pony!!!!!:)
 
Woop!

Frank has one wonky hind foot, it is the one (at 22) that he is a bit stiff on and reacts to on flexion (assumed stifle/hock arthritis starting). At his age he is allowed to keep it but it is also the reason I keep his schooling up and I have been doing more in hand work so at least his muscles around it are in good nick.
 
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