Rehab Stage 2

Ok folks blogger hates me and I can not get my pics edited any longer. I don't know why as I have tried both my home MAC and my work PC but I think it is because I’m using the app on my phone to upload the pics. More experimentation to be had. Sorry for the large photos

Still testing positive and still stuck at home. That makes 4 tests and really it is starting to feel like getting my throat swabbed is my new hobby. I go again Tuesday and probably won't hear until Friday. I left work mid day on June 11th and my best case scenario to return is July 7th. I cant even believe I've been out that long. 

Eeyore is still in rehab mode but each week expands what we can do. This past week we could do two 2 minute trot sets with a 5 minute walk break between and a total of 30 minutes ride time. The vet emphasized how important the 5 minutes was saying that if we were focusing on cardio we would shorten it, but in this case we need to allow full blood flow to return to the area before stressing again. Apparently some studies are showing necrosis of  soft tissues in race horses from restricted blood flow with high intensity work and not enough rest. 

Anyway...

Eeyore has continued his dreams of being a plod horse and I've continued to insist that he actually march forward and put some effort into life. I switched him back to his dressage bit (single joint full cheek snaffle) since we aren't jumping any time soon. The first ride back in it was awful. He hung on my hands so much, but I persisted in informing him that he could in fact hold his own damn head up thankyouverymuch. It reminded me of why we switched to the Wonder Bit, but that isn't dressage legal and I need to get him back into his dressage bit more. 

The subsequent rides all improved so he is getting the memo even if he is unhappy about it. I've also reintroduced the 20 m circle at the trot. The first week, with a single 2 minute trot set, there really wasn't enough time to work within the trot, but with two sets I can focus on going one direction the first time and then the other the next. I've been making myself do it all at the sitting trot because why not?

Eating grass while he dries off so I can wrap his leg back up again.

Between all the two point time and now the sitting trot work, I can really feel a big difference in my riding strength which has in turn boosted my confidence tremendously. I even took the second 10 minute walk out of the arena and in the pasture! 

This week we get to do two three minute trot sets so yay for progress. My ultimate plan, if I can ever come up negative in my testing, is to return to dressage lessons with either AB or MD (haven't decided yet - probably try both and see) once cleared for canter work August 1st. We may even hit up some dressage shows this fall because why not? We won't be jumping for a while and lord knows our dressage needs a ton of work.