Bipolar...my horse is bipolar

This past Saturday was the first day Tillie was allowed back into work after her injections. I fully expected there to be some interesting moments...so much so that I even lunged her lightly to let her sort out some wiggles.

Extremely fit horse + 4 days off of work = pshyco mare

Except this is the horse I got

Ok she did let some sass out on the lunge. But when I hopped on her, there was no tension, no jigging or bracing...not even the usual goading me into argue with her when shes been out of consistent work.
She showed up ready to work and was shockingly good...so bipolar in a good way.

Such a hard life

 I was so freaked out about how good she was, I even took her temp a few times...all was normal! Poor Tillie. I do not give her enough credit, but seriously up until this, if I even gave her a day off I would be riding a very opinionated horse the next day.

Tillie isn't sure what the fuss is about

 Her canter felt AMAZING. We were in the smaller ring, so she naturally tends to balance herself better in this one...and tends to stay straighter and better about not throwing her shoulders around. She was slightly down with her left shoulder when we tracked left, but that was also her more positive hock, and the side she is more downhill on.

Sleepy mare...and looking very tiny in this picture

 It didn't take too much to get her to lift that inside shoulder when in the past, it would sometimes be an open door for bolting, head flicking or any number of her antics. She felt really nice and balanced, even willing to sit and engage.

Donkey Ears

Now, I don't think the injections work THAT fast. I have been told they can take anywhere between 10 days to 1 month before feeling the effects. So I am not really sure why the drastic change.

Her canter has been what we are trying to improve the most lately...and she certainly has given me nice moments, but an not usually an entire 2-3 circles.

At any rate, I am excited to get back into our lesson routine and prepare for our dressage debut next weekend. Here's hoping Tillie stays on this end of the spectrum!

You get what you put in

Sooo much exciting stuff happening on our end over here that I don't even know where to begin or if I can fit it all in one post.

So for now, all I will say is I have a few lesson posts to update you all on where we are under saddle that will be forthcoming...and Ill have time to finally do it with Tillie needing a few days off starting tomorrow.

Just a preview from our XC lesson last saturday

No worries, Tillie is in pretty darn good health according to my vet. Better yet, she is sound and he couldn't be more happy to see how she is moving. After some flexion tests and discussing some various conversations with my trainers recently we touched on injections.

I knew injections would be needed eventually and have started preparing myself, and bank account for when that time would come. I figured by next year, and wasn't all that surprised with the recommendation that she could start this year as well.

Those hocks get a lot of use

I have had the injection conversation with all of my trainers at this point...and they all agreed that if my bank account was up for it, maybe now wouldn't be such a bad time to give them a try.

I have touched on some recent frustrations with being able to half halt my horse when it comes to jumping. It has improved a lot, but two of my trainers suggested I have her SI, stifles and hocks examined since her answer always seems to be unload the hind end and lean on my hands down...rule out pain and all that first right?

Like this example from sometime earlier this season

So answers have been found and after some deliberation, Ill be having Tillie's hocks done tomorrow. I am fortunate I have two vets I use one being SUPREMELY reasonable on pricing and very affordable. Hopefully shell only be laid up a few days before we are back at it!

At least our lesson Saturday was a good last lesson before shes laid up for a bit

With all that said, I am very excited about it...and nervous because what horse mom wouldn't be!? Dom is also eager to see how it will help us with some of our recent training struggles...although some recent tack changes have seemed to significantly improve some of these. More on that to come soon!

So any one else do join injections? If so, how did you decide on when to start them and how often?