Well, sometime last week we gave in and I shaved McKinna's legs to better deal with the scratches. It was still spreading despite our best efforts, and while I wanted to leave the hair to protect her against the mud, at this point it was hindering more than helping.
So, zip went the clippers and her legs are now naked. We also have been leaving her inside over the last couple weeks, which isn't as bad as it sounds because she still has a run and the barn owner has been turning her out in the arena to blow off some steam. McKinna seems perfectly happy with the situation, and best of all it has really helped with the scratches. (Or so I assume - since we clipped, kept in, and medicated all at the same time, I suppose there's no causation established).
It's been a pain dealing with. Scrub legs with antimicrobial/antifungal shampoo, dry with towel, wait to dry more and/or dry with a hair dryer, apply lovely mix of antibacterial/antifungal/desitin/etc to all the scratches-y spots, repeat ad nauseam. On the plus side, it's almost completely gone now! Just a few little splotchy pink spots. We've been treating it just about every day, and we'll continue to do so, but it's mostly taken care of (which is nice, because I have the Show Jumping rally this weekend).
Speaking of jumping, everything is going awesomely. I went to a lesson with Devin last week which REALLY helped get me out of my riding funk. Next time I am whining lots about not wanting to ride, ask me how long it's been since I've had a @#*@!(&% lesson with my regular instructors, okay? Not that I'm not allowed to whine, but I've forgotten how much fun it is to ride with them. I went in, told Devin I wanted a solid, simple confidence-boosting jumping lesson, and proceeded to have possibly the best ride ever.
We worked on establishing a forward, powerful canter stride from which McKinna can collect or extend easily. And wow, what a canter! We did a lot of course work, and I ended on short course of 5 fences. Most of them were 3'3, and the natural vertical was 3'6. Yeeeeeeeah baby.
I love her expression. She is SO calm and confident about it, and really in tune with me. It sounds silly, but I can't tell where my thoughts end and her responses begin. We just kind of adjust everything together and it works. I had another jumping lesson yesterday where we worked on more technical courses, and it went very well too. McKinna is working hard to keep her rock-star status!
I'm doing the 2'6 - 3'3 division at the rally (ridiculous range, I know. And jumpoff can go up to 3'6). It should be a great chance to practice jumping flashy courses with show nerves, so wish us luck.
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A Wee Update
1 month ago
12 comments:
You guys look great. McKinna looks really, really fit. And, she totally makes that course look like the fences were little 18"ers. :)
McK looks great! She does indeed look totally confident about the whole thing, woohoo!
Scratches is such an obnoxious thing to deal with. There are two horses where I work that are just getting over it. If it's still pretty bad I suggest using SSD cream after washing her legs. It helps prevent and treat bacterial and fungal infections and it works like a charm!
You guys look amazing. You and Eventer79 are my blogger riding idols, I think.
Aww, SB. <3
Thanks, guys. I was really honestly surprised by how well that lesson went, but it's sure leaving me feeling good about the upcoming season. My trainer told me, "We need to take this mare Training!" :)
Been lurking on here for a little while now. I just wanted to come out of the woodwork to say that you and your super pony look AWESOME in that video! It was fun watching you guys jump around!
she looks really good. Ont thing about scratches- especially if they are hard to clear up- is that it can indicate low copper levels. Copper is essential for the immune system function. I haven't had any scratches for years since I started supplementing copper.
McKinna looks fantastic! She looks really relaxed about everything. I'm also jealous of your riding outsideness
Best of luck - you guys look great!
I know nothing of jumping, but I know some about tuned in horses and riders. You two look great.
Just my two cents if you're still trying to defeat scratches! I've seen it a ton over the years (bad barn, unhealthy horses, and muddy pastures - ick!) and i've never seen anything work better than Silver products. My mare gets nasty scratches often in the spring with the warming weather. The fungus gets caught in the scars that cover fetlock-to-hock on her hind leg, and this Silver stuff kicks it in a week or less if you use it once a day!
Also - you guys look awesome!
WOW!!! You guys have come such a long way since I started following your blog a while ago! Y'all look fantastic! Way to go, and keep up that wonderful work ethic you have - y'all are going to do very well this season!! Can't wait to hear more PC stories - those were some of the best days ever. :)
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