My winter with box rest Dottie, Bug & Belle in photos!

[Vickijay]

I thought I would do a bit of a update, its been mostly very boring here since the autumn. Dottie has been carrying on with her rehab sheet of doom for her tendonitis. We have been walking for hours, mostly in our custom made (to keep my legs warm!) thermatex, occasionally stopping at the pub...

And seeing lakes where there should be no lakes!

She has been trotting since the end of November. This was day 1 of trotting...

Progress is very slow because she only goes up 5 mins of trot per month, but that being said she is now up to 20 mins of trot per day. Her trot is really getting more grown up now, not surprising I guess as its all we can do!

She has been such a good egg about being on boxrest. She's been in since August so we are at the 6 month mark now The sheet of rehab doom says that she could be thinking about going back out in the field again but with the weather as it is, its a no go.

Ive been trying to keep her brain happy, so shes been out in the truck to go walking with friends at their yards and after a nice scan last week I asked the vet if she could do her 20 mins of trotting at walk and trot dressage. He said sure! So a quick email was sent to see if we could get a late entry to do 1st and 2nd gear dressage, if it was quiet!

It was! So yesterday, boxrest Dot went to dressage! She knew something was up as she got a bath and I plaited her under the heat lamps. Her eyes were wide and there was quite a lot of nodding (that's as naughty as she gets!!)

We got there and the sun was shining and the pony looked very excited!

I tacked up and hopped on and we went to walk around. This is where trotting time limit dressage is tricky, I had budgeted 5 mins of trot for the test and a lap or 2 before it, so the plan was 10 mins of trot in the warm up, because I figured travelling her would of been a different type of strain on her leg so best approach was a less is more plan! We walked round and apart from a bit of head flinging and thoughts of naughtyness when a kid was trying to get her pony into canter Dot was cool. When we went into trot the first 5 mins were a bit sharp, but again, she held it together!

Getting a bit strong!

Someone asked if her daughter could take a photo of her!

Cute, happy little face!

A pic of her new Equiture pearly browband

Having a funny trot moment!

So we went in for her test, she was really good. A bit keen but just in a "THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING DAY IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS" type way!

Sadly all the pics of her test was mega fuzzy like this as my posh camera didn't like the indoor arena...

The last one wasn't fuzzy though, and seeing her little face meant that the plan to cheer up Dotties day had 100% worked! We were both smiling!!

Shes so brilliant, I doubt there are many horses on long term boxrest that could nip out to dressage and be so good. She is 1 in a million. The judge liked her and she got 75.22% and got a pretty red rosette, there were only 5 in it, but it really wasn't about that. I wanted her to feel normal and happy, and she did.

If I'm honest, it made me feel a bit glum that there would be no jumping for so long, but I gave myself a mental kick up the bum and remembered how lucky I am to have her, and how even more lucky I am that after all the rehab she should come back to galloping, jumping and eventing.

So here is day 1 of us trying to embrace a year of dressage based activities. Fingers crossed there is only another 7 weeks before she can start to canter and then we can go to proper dressage where we can go up to 3rd gear too!!

TBC....

 

[Vickijay]

Bug has been funny over the winter. He had some time off, then he had the chiro and after he felt AMAZING, like hes never felt before. Really fluid, travelling and covering the ground. Sadly a few days after he went slightly unlevel, just the smallest bit. We put it down to him not being used to moving how he was. He got better after a few days and did a bit in the coming weeks.

But sadly the slight unlevelness came back. A few days indoors & he was sound but some tomfoolery in the field and he was a bit more lame. The vet came back to see him and he was 4/10ths lame and as we trotted him up and lunged him, he got sounder and sounder until he was sound! He had some tightness in his back, which we xrayed to make sure he didn't have kissing spine, which he didn't! Hes had some physio for it, both the vet and the physio think he has strained a muscle in his back, so hes just hacking and working quietly at the moment while hes having treatment on it. So 2 rehab ponies to do!

Luckily hes being really good about it, even in the extreme wind and hail...

And he still puts up with me being a pain in his bum!!

Before Christmas I decided it was time to have a little sit on my big baby horse. Belle, who is Dotties sister, but different dads, shes by Wish Upon a Star. She was 3 in the summer but she was too weedy to start then, she just keeps growing and is now a smidge over 16.2 so I thought maybe I should do a little bit with her before she gets too big and strong! She is really brill and coped very well with me being on, this was day 2.

I left it after those 2 days as she was so good about human carrying. Then a week or so ago I did another little bit with her, plus she had a baby clip (which she loved!) because she was mega fluffy.

Ive been wanting to hack her round the farm but theres no one suitable to go with as I wont let anyone else on Dot or Bug at the moment, so the other day when it was warm and sunny I had a little ride in the school after taking a picture of her new sparkly browband!

And I thought Id just give it ago! Its all contained so if I did fall off she would be safe and shes pretty chilled about most things and I thought if anything bad happened I could just hop off and lead her round which would be good for her anyway. So off we went! It was like hacking was something she had done hundreds of times, off she went, opened the tricky (and very loud bangy when they close) rider gates, splashed through the new lakes, had a trot and even saw the deer. She was a mega star!!

CRAZY MANE!!

She was very pleased with herself when we got back!

She had a wolf tooth out this week, so shes on holiday again now and she had some sort of mane issue whilst she was sedated. She needed to have some because her mane looked crazy!!!

Looking like a grown up!!

So that's my winter with the ponies in photos! Nothing overly exciting as if Im honest nothing overly exciting has happened!! Hopefully Dot will carry on and go to more dressage soon, Bug will get a bit more physio and hopefully carry on and Belle will do a little bit more and then have a proper holiday until the nice weather.

Im off to hack Dot now, which may be interesting because its blowing a gale here, plus she might still be feeling a bit happy after yesterday!!!

Vicki x

 

[TPO]

Lovely update.

Dottie is too cute! Glad to read that the rehab is all going to plan.

Bug is a star, he's looking really well.

Belle is a cracker and what a great start you've given her.

Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the next instalment

 

[3Beasties]

I really enjoyed reading that! They are all looking super, very grown up the lot of them! Bug and Belle both look to have bulked out a bit

 

[dafthoss]

Looking good from all your ponies! Though no more sick notes allowed.

Love the photo of dot having a funny moment, showing you how uphill she can be?

Bug looking very grown up in the first photo. Shame about his sick note. And belle being the cleaver baby pony. She looks smart, how big is she now?

 

[m1stify]

Great post wow Belle is stunning (as is Bug) I love your matchy sets

 

[Vickijay]

Lovely update.

Dottie is too cute! Glad to read that the rehab is all going to plan.

Bug is a star, he's looking really well.

Belle is a cracker and what a great start you've given her.

Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the next instalment

Hopefully the next instalment wont be quite as boring as a teeny dressage outing!!! Thanks, they are a good mini herd

I really enjoyed reading that! They are all looking super, very grown up the lot of them! Bug and Belle both look to have bulked out a bit

Belle is really starting to fill out, she went a bit lean as she was loosing a lot of baby teeth so shes getting lots of mushy feed. I tried to give her some haylege in a bucket, but she didn't understand what you were meant to do with that!!

Looking good from all your ponies! Though no more sick notes allowed.

Love the photo of dot having a funny moment, showing you how uphill she can be?

Bug looking very grown up in the first photo. Shame about his sick note. And belle being the cleaver baby pony. She looks smart, how big is she now?

I know, Dot was inadvertently channelling her inner Farouche!!

Bug is still working, just not hard. Hes having the chiro again this week, so hopefully that will go well.

I haven't measured Bellie since before Chirstmas, its odd because she looks very tall, but shes still weedy which makes her look smaller IYKWIM. Shes got to be over 16.2 now. Makes a change to her midget sister!!

Great post wow Belle is stunning (as is Bug) I love your matchy sets

Im bias but I think Smellie Bellie rocks Shes grown a lot since she was new...

I mega heart her <3

 

[sheep]

What gorgeous horses you have, loving the matchy and how sweetly your youngster seems to be going!

 

[now_loves_mares]

What a lovely trio of beautiful horses! Looks like you are producing your baby perfectly too. Can't believe you rode in that hail though.

 

[glamourpuss]

What a great report & your horses are lovely. I love the foggy, lake one....I spied that one on Twitter I'm very envious you look a very stylish, tidy rider as well.

 

[meardsall_millie]

Great report, enjoyed reading that. I'm very jealous of your horses, you've got 3 stunners!

Hope Dottie continues to improve and is out and about in all 3 gears soon

 

[PorkChop]

They are looking super, I particularly like Belle, very smart indeed!

 

[Elsbells]

I love your thread.

I'm not one for spotty horses tbh, but I have to say that your Dotty is lush and has such a pretty face too. In fact all your pones are lovely and that no doubt is down to you. Well done and here's to a great Summer of fun.

 

[ellie11987]

I love reading your updates, thanks for sharing! All that matchy too... lush!

 

[Vickijay]

What gorgeous horses you have, loving the matchy and how sweetly your youngster seems to be going!

Thanks, I'm embracing matchy a bit more this year now I'm all about the dressage!!

What a lovely trio of beautiful horses! Looks like you are producing your baby perfectly too. Can't believe you rode in that hail though.

As I took Bug out it was lovely sunshine, when I was about half way round there were some very ominous black clouds, I tried to beat them back to the stables but didn't make it!! The wind was howling so much it blew his exercise rug almost off, the fillet string was right up his tail! When the hail got too bad, he stopped and stood with his bum in it!!! It really was pelting him!!!

What a great report & your horses are lovely. I love the foggy, lake one....I spied that one on Twitter I'm very envious you look a very stylish, tidy rider as well.

Yes, it won the helmet ears competition and I got a fantastic pair of helmet ears with speakers in, they are mega! I don't know about stylish, I spend all my time wobbling around on baby horses!!

Great report, enjoyed reading that. I'm very jealous of your horses, you've got 3 stunners!

Hope Dottie continues to improve and is out and about in all 3 gears soon

Aww thanks, I was with them all the other day and I thought how lovely they all were (on that day anyway )

They are looking super, I particularly like Belle, very smart indeed!

Love Jellie Bellie, I'm so excited about her. Shes got the same attitude as Dottie & their mum. She's got a sweet technique over a fence too, but I'm not going to do much jumping with her till she's filled out a bit more.

I love your thread.

I'm not one for spotty horses tbh, but I have to say that your Dotty is lush and has such a pretty face too. In fact all your pones are lovely and that no doubt is down to you. Well done and here's to a great Summer of fun.

I hope there is some summer fun to make up for a winters worth of rehab!! I mustn't complain though as it could of been a lot worse!! Aww Dottie is doing her bit for changing opinions of spotttttttttie ones!! She was very pleased with herself when I just trotted her round the farm, that's EXCITING!!!

 

[castella]

A great post to read and lovely lovely horses ! I've got a new grey mare and she is currently in a black micklem so if you dont mind I may copy your beautiful pearly browband idea as I think it would really suit her. Is it all pearl or pearl and diamante sparkly bits ?

 

[only_me]

Wow! You have certainly had a tough winter to be doing rehab, much kudos to you for that!
Not sure I would have hacked out in that rain

LOVE belle's overreach boots! And also love the pic with gloves on ears, made me lol

 

[ktj1891]

I love love Dottie she's gorgeous!

 

[CAH7]

What a lovely report! All the best for 2014 with your 3 lovely ponies

 

[FlaxenPony05]

Haylage pedicure hehe. Dottie is so so smart, as are Bug and Belle. Hope your hack with Belle went well today, she is really lovely.
I LOVE your shiny fluffy over-reach boots, they are brilliant.

 

[BBP]

Wow, you really do a wonderful job with your horses. After 3 days box rest mine was doolally, the idea of a long period and then hopping on for dressage would terrify me, dotty is a real testament to you. Lovely bunch you have.

 

[Vickijay]

A great post to read and lovely lovely horses ! I've got a new grey mare and she is currently in a black micklem so if you dont mind I may copy your beautiful pearly browband idea as I think it would really suit her. Is it all pearl or pearl and diamante sparkly bits ?

Of course not! Mine is a row of pearls with small sparkles above and below. I really like it

Wow! You have certainly had a tough winter to be doing rehab, much kudos to you for that!
Not sure I would have hacked out in that rain

LOVE belle's overreach boots! And also love the pic with gloves on ears, made me lol

Its been busy for sure, but time has passed quickly! I love the spaceman boots too! I reallllllllllly the orange ones...
Bug had been a bit of a keen bean out riding so his payback was to be made fun of with the gloves!!

I love love Dottie she's gorgeous!

Aww thanks, shes a doll <3

What a lovely report! All the best for 2014 with your 3 lovely ponies

Thanks, hopefully it will be fun, with less issues!

Haylage pedicure hehe. Dottie is so so smart, as are Bug and Belle. Hope your hack with Belle went well today, she is really lovely.
I LOVE your shiny fluffy over-reach boots, they are brilliant.

Yeah Belle didn't understand the haylege bucket, she just stood in it, spilt it and then refused to eat it as it had touched the floor!!! Dot was a hooligan in the wind today! Bug felt amazing, its like having a new horse since he had the chiro. I hope hes back up to full fitness soon.

Gotta love the horsetronaut boots!!

 

[nikkimariet]

I love reading about your lot

I LOVE the pic of Belle in the bucket!!!! Brilliant!!!

As much as I love DotGrot, I do have a soft spot for Bug, I just think he's such a genuine dude.

Really pleased Dot is strong enough to do a little more now, fingers crossed that the rehab keeps rolling on smoothly.

 

[Vickijay]

Wow, you really do a wonderful job with your horses. After 3 days box rest mine was doolally, the idea of a long period and then hopping on for dressage would terrify me, dotty is a real testament to you. Lovely bunch you have.

She has been such a good patient that its hard to believe that she has been in for 6 whole months. I didn't tell anyone that I was going to dressage in case it went badly!! She was a pro though. Fingers crossed spring hurries up and she can go back outdoors. The sheet of doom continues all the way up to week 48, but at least she will be outdoors again!

I love reading about your lot

I LOVE the pic of Belle in the bucket!!!! Brilliant!!!

As much as I love DotGrot, I do have a soft spot for Bug, I just think he's such a genuine dude.

Really pleased Dot is strong enough to do a little more now, fingers crossed that the rehab keeps rolling on smoothly.

They are good little monkeys....mostly!!!

 

[stencilface]

You are so lucky to have 3 gorgeous horses, and like another poster above, I'm not one for spotties either, but they are all lovely. My boy had tendonitis last year, I think I did 4 months box rest with long reining and then walk hacking, I was preggers and he was a swine! Rehab is no fun at all. Do you know how she did it? Fingers crossed for a good 2014 for you

 

[Vickijay]

You are so lucky to have 3 gorgeous horses, and like another poster above, I'm not one for spotties either, but they are all lovely. My boy had tendonitis last year, I think I did 4 months box rest with long reining and then walk hacking, I was preggers and he was a swine! Rehab is no fun at all. Do you know how she did it? Fingers crossed for a good 2014 for you

She did it galloping around the field being silly She had stem cells done, did yours? How is he now?

 

[Girlracer]

You have a lovely trio of horses, good luck this season

 

[stencilface]

She did it galloping around the field being silly She had stem cells done, did yours? How is he now?

His wasn't too bad, had adequan injections and rest and that was it, there was never any heat or swelling. It was his third injury on as many legs in as many years so I've taken his shoes off and trying to rehab him barefoot, hacking out in boots in front ATM. He's very hackney like with the boots on, and is unlevel if I ask him to go faster as he lifts one front knee higher than the other, need to hire a school so I can work with no boots to see how he is and be able to push him forwards.

 

[Carefreegirl]

How lucky are you having 3 lovely horses :smile3:

Well done to Dottie on her 'sick note rosette' :biggrin3:

 

[Shrimp]

What a lovely post, you have some great horses. I completely sympathise with the box rest, mine did his suspensory and just as we started to trot he got cast and fractured his pedal bone so started the box rest all over again! Belle is really nice, looks lie she'll go a long way