Even if you aren’t looking for it, there’s plenty of magic in Michigan, aka America’s high five / the mitten state.  Whereas it’s been uncomfortably warm for over a month in Texas already, Michigan is just now seeing the beginning of summer.  Green shoots are starting peek out from freshly planted fields, and flowerbeds are newly blossoming for the first time this year.  The day stays light out until around 9:30 pm, and you can actually sit outside in the sun without roasting your skin off.  We had the most perfect weather while we were there - mid 70s to 80 degrees and slightly cooler nights.


 Last summer, we visited B’s parents on the east side of the state and made a short trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes and the wineries in the northwest portion of the state.  This year, we flew into the west side of the state and stayed in Grand Rapids.  We rented a car and a chic little airbnb and spent some time exploring the city.  We were able to squeeze in a few visits with B’s friends and family before heading off the grid for B’s brother’s wedding in Cadillac, where the bride and groom were married at a rustic ski resort in the national forest.  Zero wifi, zero cell phone connection, 100% peace and quiet.  Except for the whole family wedding thing.


However, even with a wedding thrown in the middle of it all, a trip to Michigan isn’t complete without a visit to Lake Michigan, which means sinking your bare toes into the warm sand and trying not to shiver when you dip your toes in the water.  Michigan is tiny compared to Texas.  It only took an hour for us to drive to the coast from Grand Rapids.  The iconic Grand Haven lighthouse and pier that we went to see were under renovation, so we peered at it through the chain-link fence and then rescued a poor lady who fell into the rocks surrounding the pier and couldn’t get up.

And because it’s Michigan, our trip was abound with creatures.  There were more dead deer along the side of the road than I’ve ever seen, and we even caught glimpses of a few live ones wandering around.  B’s friend had recently bought some baby goats for pasture management, so we made a special trip out to visit Jimmy and Jeffrey and their equine companions Apollo and Diesel.  During our afternoon at a brewery in Rockford, an unescorted neighborhood dog stopped by each of the tables to be pet by all of the patrons.  And a stopover by a small neighborhood lake was punctuated by a pair of gigantic mute swans and their baby, gliding amongst the lily pads.

The wedding was, as most weddings are, chaotic but fun.  B’s best man speech was a massive hit and had the entire crowd rolling with laughter.  He has three (!) other weddings in the Midwest this year and chances are that we won’t hit most of them.  But if you haven’t had a chance to visit the Midwest, I wholeheartedly recommend the summer season and spending some time out on or by the water.

Progress!

First things first, I have to brag a little bit about the progress that we’ve made over the last few months.  The side by side picture is Mae, last week, on the left, and then Mae, in the beginning of April, on the right.  Notice how much better (also relaxed) she looks, especially along her back and her rear!

Besides the fakery lameness that we experienced last week, I’m really happy about where we’ve come this past month.

My favourite thing about Mae now is that she utterly enjoys being doted upon.  One of my fellow OTTB owners at the barn reminded me that as racehorses, although they were used to being handled, they are not used to being pampered and loved on.  Over the last month, as it’s gotten hotter, Mae is slowly enjoying her weekly baths more and more, particularly the neck massages and scratching around her ears.  She’s flinching less and less at pats on her head, neck, and back.  People = treats and good feelings, and that’s 100% the association that I want her to have.

Under saddle, Mae is muscling up and carrying herself in a more balanced and consistent fashion.  Oddly enough, it’s been remarked that she’s one of those horses who looks bigger with a rider than without.  She gets tired more quickly than my energizer bunny Ryon but, on the flip side, has very smooth gaits.  “You can balance a wine glass on her at the canter” was the feedback from one of my fellow riders.  Even though she has auto changes, we have gotten it to where she picks up the correct lead both directions at the canter depart.  Mae feels more confident when she’s in the arena with a “buddy” horse than by herself.  She is also more well behaved the more tired she is.  I’m still itching to take her out on the trail, but she’ll need a few trail friends as well as some desensitization before we do that.

She and I haven’t been jumping since her ulcer upset, but my trainer has started working her through low courses and teaching her the basics of form and how to use her body.  I can’t wait to challenge this mare and see how she does with it.  She’s got a good mind (stubborn but willing), and her body and health are finally in the right place.

I’ve made our goals a little more lengthy for June to include my horse-related goals as well.  I’ve been on a break from lessons basically all spring, and I’m ready to start working more regularly on Mae with my trainer.


Mae’s June Goals

Build endurance (particularly in the heat)

Continue to work on intro to jumping

Continue desensitization


Rooth’s June Goals

Resume weekly lessons (we’ll see how long this lasts without work getting in the way again)

Darken saddle

Jumping with Mae

Lease out Ryon (here’s his ad on Dreamhorse if you’re interested!)

Society6

Mae was the tiniest bit off when I rode her on Tuesday.  She was steady as a rock at the walk, but at the trot, she was a half beat behind - barely notable but I’ve been able to tell when she’s been off before (see swollen front left leg, 4x normal size).  She has/had gotten to the place where her trot was more balanced and consistent, but her trot on Tuesday was wobbly and punctuated with the occasional small head bob.  Her feet felt fine and looked, and there was no swelling or heat emanating from her legs or feet.  I was concerned but not overly so and resolved to keep an eye on it.

On Wednesday evening, I trotted her by hand on concrete, and there was noticeable head bobbing at every step, even though she was more or less still steady at the walk.  She was very off kilter when I rode her at the trot, and I didn’t even attempt to pick up a canter.  My trainer has been in Florida and was getting back in town that night, so I texted her what I had noticed.  She had ridden Mae on Monday and she was completely sound then.  Mae also had the farrier come last week, and he mentioned that her hocks and stifles were sore but none of those things would cause a limp.

I’m sure some of you are familiar with the frustration and anxiety of a health problem that has no visible cause.  This week, I finally received her latest vet bill from her last ulcer / abscess treatment, and she’s only barely been on the rebound from that.  An anxious mind like mine is running wildly - maybe it’s nothing serious and she only pulled something while messing about in the turnout.  Maybe it’s a stone bruise.  Or maybe she has navicular.  The only thing I can do at this point is sit and wait and also anxiously glance at my phone.  Is the vet going to get called out today?  Is she feeling better and perfectly sound?  Has her leg just fallen off at this point?  The anticipation is always a killer.

Horse ownership is a bumpy ride.  Having Ryon sidelined by a degenerative condition after a year of treatment was my first step into realization that things oftentimes swerve despite the best care and planning.  In 2017 I was introduced to a whole new set of horse-related health issues with Mae.  I’m quite ready for the upswing on the health pendulum (who isn’t?).  Like I’ve said too many times to count, fingers crossed.

Walking into the sunset

May has been a relatively quiet month so far, and the lead in to summer has been one filled with hot days, which are then cooled down by rain showers.  Although things haven’t been moving - either forward or backward, there are plenty of schemes and plans bubbling underneath the surface.

One of these plans is getting Ryon listed for a lease.  For the past five months, Ryon has been in the countryside, relaxing in a grass pasture and generally being pampered by its owner.  He hasn’t been ridden or exercised at all during this time; the main objective was to give him a solid break from work.  However, he’s only 12 years old and far from being retired.  He’s also in better physical health when he gets some sort of daily exercise.  The goal is to get him leased out to someone for trail riding, which he’s an expert at, and light dressage.  I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll find a good temporary rider and home for him; he’s too good not to be enjoyed.

The other things that are stewing are still only doing that at the moment.  Instead, I’m bringing you an episode of what Mae and I have liked lately.  Most things that I consume have come from recommendations (personal or otherwise), so I wanted to return the favor and share the goodness with the rest of y’all.

These are the things that I’ve found to be awesome lately:

The Dark Tower Series - There’s some hype around this series by Stephen King lately because the movie based on the first book in the series, The Gunslinger, is coming out in August 2017, starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey.  The movie trailer looks exciting enough but as with all of Stephen King’s stuff, the book is really where the quality lies.  Despite having already watched and been spooked by The Shining movie multiple times, I still threw the book across the room when I read it because it scared the bejeezus out of me.  I’m going to be one of those obnoxious reader people and make a guess that The Gunslinger is going to be the same way.  The Dark Tower series was written by King starting in the 1980s so chances are that there are plenty of used and library copies floating around.  No excuse not to pick up this one, folks.

TonyMoly sheet masks - This spring, I’ve quickly become a sheet mask convert.  At $3 a pop typically, they are still more of a bargain than the face mask creams you can throw your money at from Sephora.  I found this TonyMoly sheet mask pack on Amazon for $13.  This is way cheaper than you can buy them at Ulta or Urban Outfitters.  Amazon for the win, once again.

McSweeney’s - Again with the things to read on the internet.  McSweeney’s is sort of, kind of replacing a melon-sized hole in my heart when Mallory and Nicole shuttered The Toast.  These are some of the goodies that I’ve liked lately:

NEVERTHELESS, HE PERSISTED: TALES OF MASCULINE PERSEVERANCE

WHITE FRIEND CONFESSIONAL

And these are the things that Mae has found to be awesome lately:

Enjoy Yums - One of the Dover employees suckered me into buying a bag of these during their “sale” a few weeks ago, along with my bag of German horse muffins.  They're around the same price at SmartPak.  All of the ladies at the barn think they’re cute (1) because of the name and (2) because they’re heart-shaped.  Mae loves the mint version of these and will dig in my pocket for them.  I like them because they’re little enough to fit a few into your pockets, but you can still break them in half for smaller-sized treats.  

Teddy’s Tack Trunk brushes - Mae is a typical thin-skinned thoroughbred and sensitive to everything that touches her.  No jelly curries on her legs.  No rough currying along her bridle path.  However, she does love the Prinze body brush.  She’ll lean into my arm when I’m brushing her neck with it and lower her head when I’m running it down her face.  It does a fine job removing dust and cleaning up her coat, but my favourite thing about it is the grooming and bonding time we  get because of it.

Baths - This horse, who a few months ago found it impossible to stand still in the wash racks without a buddy, will now patiently stand in the wash racks before and after bathing.  She especially likes when I shampoo her mane and her neck, giving it a good massage on both sides, and will actually curve her neck so that she rests her face in my chest.  It’s heart melting, particularly since both of my horses love being bathed and that’s about the only thing they have in common.

**I’m not being compensated in any way, shape, or form for my or Mae’s endorsements.  We just both truly like these things and wanted to share  

Brazos Bend State Park at night

This past weekend, B and I drove “south” to visit old friends.  Time flies, it has been a year since my last visit to Houston and almost five years since I’ve moved.  Friends have been promoted, bought houses, had babies, gotten pets, etc.  Life is what flashes by when you’re having fun (or stuck at work), and it’s been happening to everybody.  Most things / people were very much the same, although Houston, like most cities in Texas, is experiencing a rejuvenation with tear downs of the old and crusty and expansion of the fresh and new.

Last year we went to Houston during what felt like monsoon season, and the highway down there was flooded at certain points, with cars stranded on the shoulders.  This year we couldn’t have picked a better time to visit.  The weather was absolutely perfect - highs in the 80s and cool at night - and we spent the vast majority of our time outside, doused in bug spray.

We stayed in an Airbnb in the Heights area; I have nothing but good things to say about Airbnb and have happily used it more than a handful of times.  The garage apartment rental was surrounded by mature trees and felt more like a tree house.  We spent Saturday morning reading out on the second story balcony, taunting the squirrels and blue jays that peeked over to say hello.  The entire apartment was probably around 400 square feet with a separate bathroom, living room, and tiny bedroom.  B made sure to remind me multiple times that we would NOT be able to live in together in such a small space unless there was a lot more storage space.  Alas, tiny home dream squashed!

On Saturday afternoon, since the weather was so nice, we drove down to Brazos Bend State Park, where there are known to be alligators lazing about on the banks of the lakes.  We took a casual four mile stroll around the lake and ran into no less than five alligators, some which were only feet away.  B almost walked right past the last one, which was a monster and probably eight feet long.  They’re surprisingly still and silent creatures, both on land and in the water.  Instead of turning B into lunch, the gator excused himself and slowly and quietly slipped back into the water.

One of the telltale markers of our adventures is eating and drinking way too much.  I think that’s actually an American pastime.  I’m not sure how we were able to fit so much food into one weekend - wild game bratwurst at Moon Tower Inn, South African food at Peli Peli, rustic Italian fare at Coltivare - to name a few.  I also found a breakfast taco place (Uno P’nches Tacos) in the Heights, and B and I ordered every single taco they had on their breakfast menu.  I expected small, light, handheld tacos but these were fully loaded two-handers with refried beans and eggs along with the other toppings we ordered.  Unfortunately for the both of us, we had to drive back four hours to Dallas after breakfast or else we would have loved to settle in for a post-breakfast food coma.

Weekend trips always seem to fly by, and I always ask myself why I don’t head down to Houston more often.  It’s a quick four hour drive, and maybe next time, we’ll stop off at the drive-in movie theater on the way.

We’re on the cusp of summer in Texas and you know what that means:

DEATHLY DRY DESERT HOTNESS

In preparation for that (and mainly to see what effects it’ll have), a coworker and I have started drinking as much water as we possibly can per day.  It typically tops out at around a gallon, and we’ve only been doing it for two weeks so far but the immediate impact that I already notice is the boost in energy.  I’ve trimmed down my coffee intake, and I don’t feel as tired in the afternoons anymore.  It also gets me up and out of my chair because, well, bathroom breaks galore but that constant activity can only be a good thing as well.  It’s probably just wishful thinking at this point, but I also feel like my skin looks better and brighter than before.

When it gets hot and dry, my psoriasis starts to flare up, which it’s doing currently.  Luckily I have probably the most mild form of the autoimmune disorder, and it’s an annoyance at its worse.  I wake up in the middle of the night itching and trying desperately not to scratch at the rash, which typically appears near the joints.  I’ve always been lackadaisical about applying lotion but should be doing that with more discipline.  Any of you with skin diseases recommend any lotions that soothe and moisturize?  Surprisingly (or not), aloe tends to work quite well but doesn’t really moisturize.

I’m quite excited about a trip planned this weekend to see old friends, squeeze some babies, and eat all the food and a Michigan wedding at the end of the month.  Otherwise, raptor horse is healthy, putting on muscle very quickly, and being introduced to jumping, with which she’s very clearly never had any training.  In the countryside, Ryon is happily shoeless and enjoying long days of grazing with his friend BlackJack.  We lost one of the horses, a big personality German gelding, at the barn this week due to a sudden health emergency, so we’re all hugging our big guys and gals a little tighter.

Bardi and Ike - we miss you both

Lest you think the arguments are over, let me assure you, they are not.

First of all, let’s give the little raptor some benefit of the doubt.  She has only been at the barn for four months, two of which she was weak and really sick, and we really didn’t push her outside of a very confined comfort zone and limited her interaction with other horses.  Now she’s been asked to do things with a rider on her back that she’s never done before, like drop her head and go slow.  I’ve also been introducing her to different environments, away from the herd.

This past weekend Mae became official.  My trainer made a laminated name plate for her stall, and we celebrated by going out to graze.

Raptor looking at her name

Don’t go into the long grass.  There be raptors there.

There are two overgrown fields out by the driving range next to our barn; I don’t think they’ve been mowed since January.  These fields are out of sight from the barn, and they are Raptor Mae’s mix of heaven and hell.  When Raptor and I walk out to the field on our own, she’s both excited and anxious.  She knows there’s lush clover at the end of the path, but she’ll have to walk away from her homies to get to it.  While we’re out there, she’s on high alert the entire time.  Wind, birds, you name it, they make her nervous.  She starts heading back to the barn when she feels like the potential dangers outweigh the free salad.

Mainly because of new stimuli and/or new concepts, Raptor and I have been fighting consistently, at least once a week, about who the alpha/leader/bosswoman is.  When she gets scared, her instinct is to return to the safety of the barn and when she is not allowed to do what she wants, she kicks out with her back feet, like a child stomping its feet.  Luckily she doesn’t do it very often but it’s something that I won’t stand for.  I’ve been able to out wait her; patience is most certainly the name of the game.

On her April goal progress, Mae’s head shyness is much improved, even within only a month’s time.  I would still like her nervousness to come down; we’ll continue to work at it.  She’s improved a lot in her self carriage.  We’ve been asking her to drop her head and to accept contact in her mouth at all three gaits.  Her trot is still the least consistent of the three gaits, but she’s able to use her hind end more and more and find a comfortable position.  Mae’s weight gain, as I mentioned earlier, is coming along nicely, and she’s muscling up as well.  She still looks shrimpy compared to all of the other horses in the turnout, but she’s sassing all of them a lot more than she has been for the last few months.

Here are Mae’s May (ha!) goals (again, applying KISS methodology):

Accept contact and relax

Steady, consistent gaits

Continue desensitization


Do any of you have recommended desensitization tips?  Or is this something I’m going to have to be patient and persistent with?