Week 11: Finally Moving Forward

http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server900/b5c27/products/292/images/529/Soundhose_eliteflat__09773.1350954911.1280.1280.jpg

                

               The last two weeks have proved difficult due to a combination of lost shoes and bad weather. In the last 2 weeks Finn managed to pull off 4 shoes causing us to consider other shoeing options. Due to Finn’s Pedal Ostetis we made the decision to go with glue-on shoes instead of hoof boots or other barefoot options. We decided to go with Sigafoos Shoes. These shoes were originally designed by the farrier at The University of Pennsylvania as an alternative to direct glue –on methods. The shoes are aluminum with a urethane rim pad and fabric cuff. The fabric cuff is coated with acrylic and applied to the outside of the hoof. If put on correctly these shoes have been proven very successful for horses with poor hoof condition as well as horses who tend to yank of traditional shoes. So far Finn has had the shoes for 4 days and they seem to be doing their job.

                In the last two weeks Finn has also begun group turnout. He seems to really enjoy playing with the other horses and playing in the mud! I have found this extra play time makes him much happier and, thus, much easier to work with under saddle. In the ring we have begun some harder trot work. I have started asking for a stretchy circle at the end of each ride to help loosen his back and shoulders. Although I have seen some improvement it is hard to make too much progress due to the shoes.

                Overall, Finn seems to be learning fairly well despite the constant hiccups we have experienced so far. I hope to get some newer footage of Finn over the long weekend as well as updated photos of his feet!

Week 9: Creating a Plan

                Now that Finn is sound it is important that I create a plan for his training. Young horses thrive on a schedule; especially OTTBs. I have decided to put him in three riding lessons a week with one of those lessons becoming a professional ride every other week. I have also come up with some basic goals for all three gaits. I have put them into a table below. 

                 

                As you can see, my goals for each gait are very similar. The most important thing is that I do not progress to the next gait without first perfecting the gait before it. For Finn, I need to ensure that he respects my four aids at the walk before I can expect any type of response at the trot or canter. Beyond that, straightness is key! Instead of asking my horse to collect and bend for the get-go my goal is going to be to develop an elastic back and a horse that knows how to travel straight.

                A lot of this training methodology comes from the Pyramid of Training used in dressage. You must first develop a strong base before you move to more difficult movements. I would not ask my now 4 year old ottb to perform a collected sitting trot if I had never ridden his trot before. I plan to use this training pyramid throughout my time with Finn.

                Today Finn and I had our first lesson where we preformed all three gaits. At the walk I asked him to stretch towards the bit and slow his pace (he tends to get fast and stabby) and I worked on speeding up and slowing down using my seat. When I want him to move forward and extend his stride (not always just go faster) I engaged my seat, opened my hips and became more elastic in my elbows. In order to slow him down I closed my knee and tightened my stomach. Finn was extremely responsive at the walk so we decided to move to the trot. At the trot we worked mostly on straightness and getting Finn to loosen his back. At the end of the lesson we decided that it was time to try Finn at the canter. We managed to get one canter circle going each way on the correct lead. In order to give Finn freedom in his back I rode all canter work in half seat.

This is his right lead

This is his left lead

Week 8: Finally Sound

                It has been two months since Finn came off of the track and he is officially sound! I took two failed shoeing attempts to relieve the pressure on his p3 bone but it seems that a simple steal shoe with a rim pad is working!

                Now that Finn is sound I have begun my work with him under saddle. We have begun with basic work at the walk; asking him to stretch his neck and loosen his shoulder. From my first ride on him prior to adoption he has been a willing learner, but with extra energy from his time off he is becoming more excitable. I have been working him in a breastplate with a martingale attachment to discourage him from putting his head straight up in the air and he seems to have figured it out quickly 

        Finn is beginning to gain muscle and weight as a result of careful meal planning

              Outside of riding we have also been working on Finn’s nutritional plan. Currently he is getting free choice hay, 2 quarts of hay pellets and a weight gain supplement. The supplement that I have chosen is Cool Calories™. The bonus to this supplement is that is encourages weight gain without providing extra energy. Besides the weight supplement, Finn is also on a mild joint supplement and a hoof supplement. As time goes on I will report on the changes that I see in these areas. 

            As the training begins I am reminded of how well put together this gelding is. His large shoulder and swinging walk (when sound) provide me with a lot to work on! Many who meet him comment on his great appearance and his good mind. I have had a couple advanced level eventers drool over him! 

                 Here is Finn after the rim pads. He is sound but still shows some shoulder stiffness.

Here is Finn with full pads on, three days after the pedal ostetis diagnosis. Notice the head bob and irregular gait. Note: I was asked by the vet to ride him in this video since he will not go on a lunge line and this was the easiest way to see the lameness.

Week 5: No Foot No Horse

      Even though it hasn't been long since my last post I decided it was time to chronicle Finn's feet. A I discussed in post two upon Finn's first shoeing we found that he had significant sole bruising in his front left feet. He also has a slightly "clubby" foot. The term club simply means that his foot is slightly upward and, also that his P1, P2 and P3 bones are not in the correct alignment.

             Above you can see 3 feet in different phases of the correction process. The feet from left to right are in order of worst to best. 

     In Finn's case, his club foot is almost undetectable by a naked eye but is made obvious by digital imagery. Upon his last set of x-rays we also found that he suffers from Pedal Ostetis. This condition causes the demineralization of the P3 bone also known as the coffin or pedal bone. Luckily it seems that we have caught the condition early and with the help of corrective shoeing he should be sound.

 front feet after first off-track shoeing 

 hind feet after first off-track shoeing 

 removed aluminum race shoes 

removed aluminum race shoes

     Tomorrow the farrier is due to come out and preform his own examination of the feet and begin the corrective shoeing process with a pour in pad and new shoes. As you can see above Finn was raced in aluminum shoes that sported toe grips and clips in the front and rim pads in the back. The toe grips likely caused increased pressure on the toe area thus exasperating his toe bruising and eventually triggering the Pedal Ostetis. The vet also noted that he only sports less than a centimeter of sole to protect his coffin bone. 

    Despite obvious challenges the vets and trainers supporting me through this training process believe that with work and time Finn will develop into a fantastic riding horse. In the meantime Finn has been cleared for walking under saddle and individual turnout. Once his new shoes are on and the pads are poured I plan to begin his training at the walk. I will be focusing on bending, rhythm and acceptance of the bit for the next couple weeks. 

Although sore Finn continues to shock barn-goers with his calm personality

Week 4: The First Month

    It has been a long and very rewarding first month of training for Corofin. Originally I selected him for his good conformation. He has nice straight legs, a strong back and a nice neck. Although aesthetically pleasing, more importantly, I thought these traits would help in the sport of eventing. 

    Above you can see Finn, as we now call him at the barn, after his last race. Although good looking I found it important to begin pointing out areas in need of improvement. Foremost, I feel that he needs more hind-end muscle as well as a more defined top line. As time goes on the areas of weakness are sure to change and require different courses of action. 
   At the time of purchase Finn had been off of the track for approximately 12 days, unlike some other OTTB's (off the track thoroughbreds) he seems calm and collected. His sane mind told me that he would probably handle the switch to a busy boarding barn well and, that he very well might take to training nicely. Medically Finn did have two small faults. First he had two non-acute bone spurs on the front of his pasterns that did not effect his movement. Secondly, Finn suffered from bruising of his front left sole, probably from running on a poor racing surface. Because of this bruising Finn has been put in a small individual paddock at the barn and is being given the opportunity to heal before his under-saddle training takes place. 
  In the meantime I have come to enjoy his goofy personality and good manners in the barn, I have begun introducing him to new things around the barn in hopes of making him more prepared to confront 'scary things' under saddle. 

Corofin races at aqueduct

Week 1: Introduction

       Hello! My name is Annmarie and I am a high school student embarking on an exciting OTTB retraining adventure. My goal is to retrain a three year old race horse into a competitive eventing horse. I will be following my horse and I's adventure for the next year through frequent blog updates filled with pictures, videos and interviews with professionals. Come back soon for an update!

Annmarie