CHASITY’S CHALLENGES: Chasity’s First Workouts: 4-1 & 3-20
4-1-20: I led Chasity from the stall and introduced her to her new work station. It was clear that there would be a lot of work ahead. Her neck crest was fallen to one side, but was not yet permanently broken, as far as I could tell. She had fat pockets across her body and her hooves were overgrown with shoes on the front feet. At least her feet could be balanced after removing her shoes and having her trimmed. For now, I would introduce Chasity to her new routine of grooming and exercise.
Since I wanted a clean place to set the crownpiece of the bridle without it getting tangled in her hair, I went ahead and clipped her bridle path. She was very good about having the clippers behind her ears.
I wasn’t thrilled to have to do the workout with her feet so unbalanced, but I knew the farrier would be here the very next day, so I opted to get started. I had my Ranch manager, Chad, clean her feet.
Then I proceeded to groom her with the multi-bristled human hairbrush and scrape with the shedding blade what I thought was dried milk from the insides of her hind legs.
I tacked her up in a light weight surcingle, Eggbutt snaffle bridle and a neck sweat to help keep the crested neck stabilized and encourage shrinkage during the workout. Then I added and adjusted my “Elbow Pull” self-correcting, postural restraint to support good equine posture during her workout.
Then it was time to go to the indoor arena where I had the Hourglass Pattern with ground rails set up for her therapy sessions. She hollowed her neck and back, and “trailered” her hindquarters behind when she walked. It was the same when she stood still with an inverted neck and back and camped out behind.
I began her postural therapy…leading her through the Hourglass Pattern in the “Elbow Pull” restraint to encourage her good posture. The neck sweat would begin to shrink the crest on her neck. She didn’t know exactly what was expected at first, but soon “got with the program” of walk and halt in designated places. She was asked to square up with equal weight over all four feet and then be rewarded for her effort. I waited each time for her to finish chewing her crimped oats before proceeding again along the track of the Hourglass Pattern.
As she walked, she submitted to the pressure from the “Elbow Pull” restraint which meant she was holding her own good posture when it was loose. She would lean against it when she could not hold that posture, but I encouraged her to relax and “give” to it each time we halted.
Chasity tracked once around one way and then once around the other way. She walked over the ground rails in the center of the pattern and stopped at strategic places between the cones to do square halts and stand still. I also stood still after dispensing her rewards so she would never feel rushed. She learned to stretch her back and engage her abs, and slowly began to improve even after only one session!
One of my ranch hands, Steve, said that he noticed her back and overall posture looked ever so slightly better when she was done, even after only one session! I think I see some very subtle improvement from the beginning to the end of the workout as well. It will take a long time to get her REALLY correct in her posture, but it is truly exciting when it begins to happen!
4-3-20: I went ahead and did Chasity’s therapy session in the Hourglass Pattern again. She did well in her workout and I noticed that her hair coat is already considerably softer. She had some difficulty squaring up, but it could be soreness from the previous workout. Standing squarely is unnatural for her and it will just take some time before it becomes comfortable. After having her hooves trimmed, she is moving a bit more balanced…not quite as awkwardly. Going forward, I will be doing her workouts at least once a week, but no more than every other day. Muscles need to be appropriately stressed during the workout, but not fatigued, a day of rest is needed in between to fully recover. I expect it will probably take six months before we have redistributed the fatty tissue and solidified her balance in good equine posture. I am fortunate to have such a nice indoor arena in which to work during inclement weather.
Cinda (Spoon) Coach
May 3, 2020 @ 4:58 am
Glad to see her off to a good start!
Lori
January 22, 2022 @ 7:14 pm
Ty for sharing. It will be interesting to follow her progress.
Jan
January 22, 2022 @ 10:58 pm
Do you expect to be able to ‘undo’ her fallen crest? My two retired brood jenny’s (half sisters) both have fallen crests, each to opposite sides. And a 3rd jenny in the same family, her crest went over as a 2yo. None had been or were obese at the time, but the first mentioned 2 were overweight at times during their broody lives.
Meredith
February 2, 2022 @ 12:27 pm
With my core strength exercises (you can email me at meredith@luckythreeranch.com and I can send you the details), we were making a lot of progress, but I had to stop exercises over the winter. She is still on her diet and the crest is still reducing, just not as fast. I will resume work again in the spring and I am confident we will be able to get her crest into alignment, however I do think it will take a lot of time. These kinds of things cannot be fixed very fast, if at all. She is already much improved and it is holding where it is so far without the exercise which is very encouraging.
Sam Barnhart
January 17, 2024 @ 9:21 pm
Dear Meredith, I’ve been reading on the blog on your work and love w Chasity. Hope u both are doing well and that she is continuing to improve and enjoying life! I was wondering how your work has gone with her leaning crest and would you be willing to share your experience and techniques/ therapy used to Correct it? I have a mini donkey who is experiencing a loose, wobbly leaning crest. It has not fallen, but I want to prevent that. No one local seems to have much to offer other than diet in which we are making sure that her sugar values are low and she’s getting more protein. We have always practiced a Woodie stalky diet with very little pasture. They mainly eat high-grade straw. The problem all started with him reducing maybe a little too much weight in his crest. He was never obese or overweight. I’ve had him since he was three months old. He is now 16 and I plan on keeping him for many many more years. This is his forever home! I have a feeling you know what I mean. I see the dedication and compassion for the lovely’s you’re taking care of. Any insight would be greatly appreciated if you have the time.
Thanks, Sam
Meredith
January 23, 2024 @ 11:43 am
Chasity’s whole therapy story is on my website at https://www.luckythreeranch.com under TRAINING/CHASITY’S CHALLENGES and the way we feed all of our equines is under TRAINING/ASK MEREDITH/NUTRITION & DIET. You should never feed straw. I manage all my donkey’s weight by keeping them in dry lots with a large dry lot for turnout for them to run and play. They never get turned out on pasture, but I do take them for walks occasionally and let them have some grazing when I do that.
Sam
June 3, 2024 @ 11:34 am
Meredith, Hi.
Sorry for the big delay. I just now getting back to a few ideas for our boy mocha. Other health issues were all going on the past few months. I was looking at the webpgs of chasity challenges but the pics on the later entries are not displaying. On one Its noted he no longer had a cresty neck. I was hoping to see that pic. Did the neck straighten up a bit or stay in the broken position. I still working with our boy and going to attempt to sweat the crest. Thansk for sharing your story. Its informative and inspirational to many.
Bailey Folker
June 5, 2024 @ 2:24 pm
Hi Sam,
A lot of the articles that are posted on pages 4 and 5 are duplicates that are posted on the earlier pages. All of the images are loading fine on all of the articles except for the duplicated ones. We are currently in the process of removing those.
Thanks,
Bailey
Lucky Three Ranch