September 20, 2014
My friend Rachel Papotnik came out this week and messed around with her camera. These are all raw photos, no editing or cropping of any kind.
Here are some of the ones she took of Simon, and two of Daisy.
I think next time I need to brush Simon up, and probably my own hair too!
Posted by riderofchaos on September 20, 2014
https://blueridgepony.com/2014/09/20/rachel-papotnik-photos-simon/
September 19, 2014
Two things to point out with this blog post.
#1. Simon is worth his weight in gold.
#2. Poe got in a good ride around the property without being a nervous basket case.
Wednesday evening I was getting Poe tacked up and Rich asked if he could ride Simon.
I tacked up both ponies and Rich climbed on Simon, with beer in hand, and off we went around the property, dogs in tow.
Simon was the perfect husband horse. And Rich happily stopped for Simon to munch on stray corn stalks and over grown weeds along the way. They were two pees in a pod.
This also gave me the opportunity to ride Poe around the property with Simon, so Poe could relax. Normally he is nervous, shaking, and jumping out of his skin at every bird that shoots up through the trees. But on this ride he was completely comfortable and he seemed to enjoy the ride.
It was a good evening.
Posted by riderofchaos on September 19, 2014
https://blueridgepony.com/2014/09/19/evening-ride/
September 14, 2014
Poe is nervous riding around the new farm so this morning I rode Simon and ponyed Poe. He was still a little skittish and nervous but it went well.
Posted by riderofchaos on September 14, 2014
https://blueridgepony.com/2014/09/14/ponying/
September 9, 2014
The first field is fully fenced! yea!
Its basically in the yard next to the house, and is big enough for them to run around in (which they do). There are some trees around it, and we realized one of the trees in the middle, was a weeping ornamental cherry tree. Rich cut it down right away, and we drug it off to the burn pile.
I did do some reading up on cherry trees, which we all know the classic black cherry tree is poisonous to horses (dogs, cattle, etc). Ornamental cherry trees can be much harder to spot. They are also poisonous but not quite as potent as black cherry. All types of cherry tree are also more poisonous when the leaves die.
I am picking up some more metal T-posts after work today so we can get the next field started. My current plan is to have three fields so we can rotate the ponies, which will help the ground and grass recover.
Our fencing is being done on a shoe string budget. Keeping in mind we are dealing with two medium ponies, who are not exactly wild, and have respect for electric, our fencing is nothing fancy. We put up two strands of high tinsel wire, with one strand of wide white electric tape as the top, third strand. We also put up neon pink and green marking tape on the less visible wire strands, to help the ponies, and us become accustomed to it. I joked that it looks like our ponies are throwing a party.
Posted by riderofchaos on September 9, 2014
https://blueridgepony.com/2014/09/09/pony-field-1/
September 5, 2014
Back at the end of June, I took a tumble off of Poe and onto my head. I mentioned in some blogs since then how I have had some trouble recovering. I switched to riding Simon at MGAA Nationals, but was able to get back on Poe for International Pairs and Mid Atlantic #3. Although I have still been having issues turning my head, mounting, dismounting, sitting and using my back when riding, and generally doing anything requiring my back (like rolling over in bed).
I did immediately get the broken teeth fixed, and found an amazing new dentist in the process! Score (props out to Rocktown Dentistry and Dr Joan)!
I did eventually, about 6 weeks after the fall, go to my doctor, who had xrays done. He reported that nothing was broken, but I do have a “reversal” in my neck. This is where the spine in the neck reverses its curve. Its not uncommon and although my doctor speculates it was caused by my fall, it is something that some people just have normally. He prescribed muscle relaxers and physical therapy.
The muscle relaxers made an immediate difference. I had not even realized how high my shoulders were or how tight the whole back/neck region was. It took a little longer to get into PT, but it also made a huge difference. I went into the first visit without being able to turn my neck, and left with a mild turning radius!
Its now been just over two months and I decided to order my own moist heat pad for home use, and am still doing the stretches and strengthening exercises. There is still some pain and tightness, and some days are worse than others. Mounting up still really hurts, and often makes my shoulders and upper back tighten up for hours afterwards. Because of this I have been taking it very easy with my riding since the accident. My ponies are not nearly in the shape they should be at this time of year, and my games skills are probably suffering as well. But I am on the mend.
I was wearing a helmet, and my head was remarkably healthy afterwards. I was wearing a Charles Owen Pro II helmet, and I know it did its job. I filled out the accident report and CO sent me a certificate for 65% off towards replacing my helmet, which I did at VTO Saddlery.
It sucks getting older. I am sure this particularly fall would have been damaging when I was younger too. Launching at speed directly onto your head is never a good thing. But I feel like my recovery has been slower than it would have been when I was younger and my body was more resilient. But you got to keep on keepin on!
(this image is stolen from google images and is not of my particular neck, but shows what is going on in my neck).
Posted by riderofchaos on September 5, 2014
https://blueridgepony.com/2014/09/05/recovering-from-a-tumble/
Blue Ridge Pony 