Onward and upward!

Things are back to normal in my world.  I took a week's break from the muffin, finally can call myself "not sick", and enjoyed a nice ride today.  I think there is some validity to fellow blogger Jae's suggestion that maybe Tiki is nursing an ulcer flare up since being on stall rest for his splint injury.  It's either that, or my Thinline pad makes more of a positive difference than I thought it did.  In retrospect, for all of my rides recently, I've been using one of these pads.  I feel like both of my saddles fit well with this pad, and I haven't felt any different than I usually do.  My Thinline pad is really thick; it's an older model.  Also, it's just a smidge too short for my saddle, and I always worry I'm creating a pressure situation on that back edge.  I think for the rest of this week I need to go back to my usual combo of a normal thin cotton pad with the Thinline and see if I see a difference.

Tiki has never had a chiro adjustment; it's on my "to do" list for this year, but I have to have about $200 available so he can get multiple adjustments at first to get things "right".  Also, I put him on the remainder of the Ulcer Guard powder he used to be on; can't hurt!  He was his usual goober self; silly, sensitive, and taking opportunistic air nips as I groomed him.  None of the teeth bared, ugly attack I got a week ago.  Tacked him in the cc saddle and the copper ball bit on the regular cavesson bridle.  Mounted up and he was SUPER quiet, offering once again to just suck back hardcore.  He's always lazy at home; never away!  But never pin his ears, just won't GO; this behavior has reared it's ugly head since I've begun riding him since his injury.  Possible causes are:
Ulcer
Sore back
Pain elsewhere
Saddle fitting issues

I'm pretty confident it's not saddle fitting issues since he has exhibited this behavior with both saddles.  I would say my cc fits him a hair tighter than the dressage saddle, but both fit well (to my non-pro saddle fitter self).

An ulcer I didn't even think about, but that COULD very well be it.  He loves his turnout, and he was on stall rest for a full week.  Not only that, but with all the rain we've had, Joyce has just left him in at night:(  I've been watching him for signs of boredom vices, but none yet thank goodness!)

Sore back is possible.  He is just touchy and sensitive EVERYWHERE.  Were I to win the Mega Millions tonight, I would put Tiki on the following regimen:  Chiro every 4 weeks, Quiessence for the sore back relief, Cosequin with the mega MSM dose, Adequan, and would have him evaluated for a sacro injection.  He just carries around a lot of tension, and his skin is super crazy sensitive.

Pain elsewhere seems low on the list as well.  He is 100% sound on that left front, and he doesn't have foot issues.  His heels *could* be sore; I noticed cleaning them today they seemed a little mushy.  We've had a lot of rain, and I haven't touched Tiki since he bit me, which means he's had mud in his feet for a week.  However, I don't think this was the case a week ago when he was sucking back like he did today.

He was good.  All I did was w/t/c for about 15 minutes.  I got frustrated when he would NOT trot forward, so I raised up in 2-point and FINALLY got him to gallop up in front of my leg after totally chasing him!  The trot was a little better after that.  Hopped over the cav stack oxer 3 times; the first 2 times he sped up and got a little deep; 3rd time I kept a feel, used my voice, and he met it perfectly.  Not making any commitments for the rest of the week; if I ride I will report back!