At work the other day between calls a couple of us in our row at the call center had a conversation about karoke. I recomended an indie film I had seen involving the same subject. Of course I couldn't think of the name of the film at the time and trying to describe it just brought blank stares. Needless to say I finally had time to look it up on the net. Jackpot (2001) written by Michael and Mark polish, directed by Michael, and starring Jon Gries as Sonny Holiday, Garrett Morris is exceptional as his manager, Daryl Hannah (friend of the polish bros) Peggy Lipton, Adam Baldwin etc.
Here's a summary: In a beat up pink chrysler, Sonny & Lester (Morris) travel the karoke circut across the desolate western landscape making their stops in sweltering, barely habitable towns to perform in contests held by a variety of swanky lounges and honky-tonks. This is sonny's"big tour" where fame and fortune are just a "pop-song" away. The tone of the film hums with a sense of estrangement, solomnity and many disappointments, but juxtaposed with sonny's character, who takes himself very seriously while donned in his fringed jacket and cowboy boots(picture Dwight Yokum before he could afford the nudie jacket) crooning to Billy Idol's Eyes Without a Face, you just have to break out laughing and laughing--til you start feeling embarassed for Sonny, but not for long because sonny is a prick-- in a way, the karoke theme lends a portion of humility to the otherwise cranky and ego-centric Sonny.
Like the other films by the polish brothers (Twin Falls Idaho, Northfork) , this one is really about relationships. Relationships between sonny and lester and the people sonny has estranged. The dialogue is rich as in the other films and Lester has some very sage comments throughout. The drama culminates as Sonny reunites with his brother, but I can't remember if he completely gives up his notion of fame as a karoke cowboy. I do know that they end up with a heck of a lot of miracle cleaner they haven't been able to unload.
Mar 18, 2006
Mar 14, 2006
Paint the Horse
Paint the Horse a horse blog at journal space, here's a cowboy blog, comment's later... here's a nice blog about ranch life in general called The Long Journey home
While you were sleeping...
While you were sleeping... the afore menioned link is where i had been sporadically posting whenever i had internet access and to keep my account active at journalspace. A few posts there track some of the goings on with the horses and myself--and my dog Amy. Rather than re post everything here at horsephiles, the journalspace entries can be referred to if you are really curious about the last year and why the horsephiles entries are far and few between
I do want to say a few things here about Amy, our once family dog, (kids are grown and on their own), now my constant companion & with me through the saga of my move up north and back. Amy has had the misfortune to be afflicted with a tumor on her belly which began to make its presence last july and has continued to grow at an alarming rate. The vet says that at her age she probably would not survive an operation. Performing a biopsy would be a moot point, for cancer or not, it's mere size will begin to hamper her quality of life. When this happens, or if she stops eating, or if she starts developing neurological or respiratory problems, that will be the time to let her go and kindly put her down. She is being treated with steroids to keep her comfortable.We were hoping that the steroid therapy might shrink the mass but it hasn't. The prednisone has been helping for quite a while but will not be able to keep her symptoms under control forever. For now, I just make the most of every moment I spend with her. I wish everyday could be Amy day, but since I work in an office she can't come with me. Instead she prefers to stay faithfully in my room until I get home. She does get all the peanut butter biscuts she wants, she gets to come to the barn with me on barn days and hang out, which she loves--helping with the barn chores or snoozing in the car if she gets too tired, and she gets a lot more hamburgers than she used to.
I do want to say a few things here about Amy, our once family dog, (kids are grown and on their own), now my constant companion & with me through the saga of my move up north and back. Amy has had the misfortune to be afflicted with a tumor on her belly which began to make its presence last july and has continued to grow at an alarming rate. The vet says that at her age she probably would not survive an operation. Performing a biopsy would be a moot point, for cancer or not, it's mere size will begin to hamper her quality of life. When this happens, or if she stops eating, or if she starts developing neurological or respiratory problems, that will be the time to let her go and kindly put her down. She is being treated with steroids to keep her comfortable.We were hoping that the steroid therapy might shrink the mass but it hasn't. The prednisone has been helping for quite a while but will not be able to keep her symptoms under control forever. For now, I just make the most of every moment I spend with her. I wish everyday could be Amy day, but since I work in an office she can't come with me. Instead she prefers to stay faithfully in my room until I get home. She does get all the peanut butter biscuts she wants, she gets to come to the barn with me on barn days and hang out, which she loves--helping with the barn chores or snoozing in the car if she gets too tired, and she gets a lot more hamburgers than she used to.
Mar 10, 2006
CANTER Ohio: Providing retiring racehorses with opportunities for new careers after the finish line.
I stop at this site once in a while when I wanna play, "hmm, if I were horse-shopping, which horse would I buy." CANTER Ohio: Providing retiring racehorses with opportunities for new careers after the finish line. I've always been impressed by Canter's determination to place ex racehorses in new homes and careers after their usefulness at the track is spent--at usually such an early age too. I read somewhere that among the various breeds of horses, the ones most likely to end up in the kill pen are first, thoroghbreds, then arabians, then something like standard breds--I think that's after they've (the standard breds) gone from track, to hauling an amish buggy around day in and day out for a couple of years til they're near death anyway, and arabs, well, don't really need to explain why they end up there, but thoroghbreds-- so few out of the many prospects make the grade or bring in the cash enough to justify the feed and vet bills. Then, the same as arabs, thoroghbreds are just too high on the maintenance scale for people who want a pleasure horse. The hunter-jumpers and dressage junkies don't just want a plain old thoroughbred anymore, as the warmblood, or any kind of european sporthorse is the thing to have. But I, like some others ,still happen to enjoy thoroughbreds. I love their personalities and their sensitivity and I get sad when I hear about their so often unhappy fates, like one example our local canter points out in the trainer section adoption ads:
SOLD - Big Time Sentence - At the SugarCreek, OH auction kill pen -- His fate is unknown!! Please help us stop this from happening by donating money to our "Pal Joey" fund to facilitate the purchase of these "at risk" horses.
If you go to that page and see the picture of Big Time perhaps the sad truth will hit home that these quality animals end up meeting this kind of fate. Such a waste, well, I hope he tastes good to someone in France or makes a nice handbag for someone -- our local canter is asking for foster care volunteers, especially for the Beulah park horses. Now you bet that if i were lucky enough to have my own successful horse operation, I would always reserve at least one stall for a foster or rescue project. To me that goes with the territory--to offer something back to the equine community that I derive so much joy and happiness from and was probably benefiting financially . Even if I was only breaking even, I would be compelled to make that small sacrifice. What the heck is an extra ration of grain and hay going to set you back, you know?
SOLD - Big Time Sentence - At the SugarCreek, OH auction kill pen -- His fate is unknown!! Please help us stop this from happening by donating money to our "Pal Joey" fund to facilitate the purchase of these "at risk" horses.
If you go to that page and see the picture of Big Time perhaps the sad truth will hit home that these quality animals end up meeting this kind of fate. Such a waste, well, I hope he tastes good to someone in France or makes a nice handbag for someone -- our local canter is asking for foster care volunteers, especially for the Beulah park horses. Now you bet that if i were lucky enough to have my own successful horse operation, I would always reserve at least one stall for a foster or rescue project. To me that goes with the territory--to offer something back to the equine community that I derive so much joy and happiness from and was probably benefiting financially . Even if I was only breaking even, I would be compelled to make that small sacrifice. What the heck is an extra ration of grain and hay going to set you back, you know?
Mar 7, 2006
I personally loved the jeans
I found my original post and yes, Brokeback Mountain is included in Still Wild. Why, of course Mc Murtrey and Ossana would win for best screenplay adaptation from blah blah blah, whatever the category. So I had to check and see who this Annie prude, Annie prew, whoever the heck they were talking about was, so I checked my old post--here's the link--and have been digging around at barnes and noble reading the reviews of Still Wild (click my link toward the bottom of the page to go to barnes and noble, don't know what happened to the thumbnail of the book though)
Ohhh...that's who they were talking about. Annie Proulx. Well, ok how could I have forgotten that. Ms Proulx who won the pulizer prize for Shipping News is another of my fav's and for a really great read check out her latest or last to latest That old Ace in the Hole. And no, ha, ha, ha, despite the title, it is not a sequel to Brokeback Mountain.
Fear not.
Ohhh...that's who they were talking about. Annie Proulx. Well, ok how could I have forgotten that. Ms Proulx who won the pulizer prize for Shipping News is another of my fav's and for a really great read check out her latest or last to latest That old Ace in the Hole. And no, ha, ha, ha, despite the title, it is not a sequel to Brokeback Mountain.
Fear not.
Mar 4, 2006
Still in limbo
Haven't posted in so long that Still Wild, Mc Murtry's collection of stories from the west that Id featured is fashionable once again...I believe Brokeback Mountain is included in this collection. I'd check for sure but the book is packed away or got thrown out by accident when I moved. At any rate, Still worth reading.
Jun 7, 2005
Update, finally.....
I'm still working at my new job--indoors in the air conditioning. Oh, I'm so glad for that--not having to clean 17 or so stalls and then run around all day in 90 degree temps bringing horses in and out. I am stuck on the phone all day answering tech support calls. More on that later maybe. Had the last two days off. Today gave both my horses much needed baths and of course they loved it. Hand grazed them afterwards and put them back in their nice cool stalls all clean and fresh. They are happy.
Time to drive back home---no internet up north where the new house is. Here in town at the old house to check in. After July 1st, won't be here at all as the house has been sold.
I'm still working at my new job--indoors in the air conditioning. Oh, I'm so glad for that--not having to clean 17 or so stalls and then run around all day in 90 degree temps bringing horses in and out. I am stuck on the phone all day answering tech support calls. More on that later maybe. Had the last two days off. Today gave both my horses much needed baths and of course they loved it. Hand grazed them afterwards and put them back in their nice cool stalls all clean and fresh. They are happy.
Time to drive back home---no internet up north where the new house is. Here in town at the old house to check in. After July 1st, won't be here at all as the house has been sold.
May 12, 2005
Jan 22, 2005
What the Storm Blew In...
Big Fancy Barn (as I will refer to it herein and to distinguish it from Lady and Wyatt's more humble facility) is convieniently located near the on/off ramp of a big interstate. Wouldn't you know one unseasonably warm rainy day we get a visit from this guy who was en route with his cute dog and horses in tow from New York to warmer pastures. Apparently north of us was a major snow storm and he needed a short layover so everyone could settle a bit. Don't know the details of how he found us, but those of us affiliated with Big Fancy Barn are nice people for the most part so of course he was welcome to regroup and do what he needed to get back on the road.
Anyway, this guy was Gregg Miron of Throwing Stones Farm. He's a clinician and trainer who has developed his own program: Redefining Horsemanship (I don't know how to do the registered symbol, just pretend it's there.) His program does not wholly embrace one particular brand of training such as NH, but, to quote his literature he "applies the science of interpreting your horses body language to predict their emotions while applying individualized training techniques to accomplish the desired outcome." Well, it sounds kinda sexy and since I am interested in equine behavior and psychology myself and have recieved training in natural horsemanship methods and use them successfully, I'm happy to include a link to his site. I'm also happy to promote anything that improves the horse/human relationship thereby making life better for owners and their horses. I do remind you that being a lowly farm laboror at Big Fancy Barn without a lot of time for in depth conversations let alone chit chat, I can't say if I completely endorse his program, but he was a nice person, treated his horses well and his dog was nice.
Big Fancy Barn (as I will refer to it herein and to distinguish it from Lady and Wyatt's more humble facility) is convieniently located near the on/off ramp of a big interstate. Wouldn't you know one unseasonably warm rainy day we get a visit from this guy who was en route with his cute dog and horses in tow from New York to warmer pastures. Apparently north of us was a major snow storm and he needed a short layover so everyone could settle a bit. Don't know the details of how he found us, but those of us affiliated with Big Fancy Barn are nice people for the most part so of course he was welcome to regroup and do what he needed to get back on the road.
Anyway, this guy was Gregg Miron of Throwing Stones Farm. He's a clinician and trainer who has developed his own program: Redefining Horsemanship (I don't know how to do the registered symbol, just pretend it's there.) His program does not wholly embrace one particular brand of training such as NH, but, to quote his literature he "applies the science of interpreting your horses body language to predict their emotions while applying individualized training techniques to accomplish the desired outcome." Well, it sounds kinda sexy and since I am interested in equine behavior and psychology myself and have recieved training in natural horsemanship methods and use them successfully, I'm happy to include a link to his site. I'm also happy to promote anything that improves the horse/human relationship thereby making life better for owners and their horses. I do remind you that being a lowly farm laboror at Big Fancy Barn without a lot of time for in depth conversations let alone chit chat, I can't say if I completely endorse his program, but he was a nice person, treated his horses well and his dog was nice.
Great Tack and Supplies
I've been meaning to update--really I have!
Formerly located in Michigan, Equus Now! has relocated its store and warehouse to the Central Ohio area.Lucky for us! It's a place I often stop to get a quick fix for my horse habit when I can't get out to ride. While they say they carry the higher end brands and cater to the more discriminating horsey set, don't make the mistake of thinking they are just a bunch of snooty english people! Everyone there is really nice (try not to mess up their floor with your dirty barn boots, though) and I find their prices reasonable--lots of sale merchandise too. You can also register for contests--our barn placed and won spiffy personalized ball caps--and you can receive an informative monthly newsletter which simplifies those life conundrums such as "Hm, what's with all those blankets, sheets, and junk and when should my horse wear them?"
The store is located near Polaris, just off Polaris Parkway (look for a bunch of wharehouses past old state):
Equus Now!
9042 Cotter St.
Lewis Center, OH 43035
Store: 740 549-4959 Fax: 740-549-4960
If you're not fortunate enough to live near the warehouse and shop in the flesh, you can shop online by clicking the link in the text or in the links section.
I've been meaning to update--really I have!
Formerly located in Michigan, Equus Now! has relocated its store and warehouse to the Central Ohio area.Lucky for us! It's a place I often stop to get a quick fix for my horse habit when I can't get out to ride. While they say they carry the higher end brands and cater to the more discriminating horsey set, don't make the mistake of thinking they are just a bunch of snooty english people! Everyone there is really nice (try not to mess up their floor with your dirty barn boots, though) and I find their prices reasonable--lots of sale merchandise too. You can also register for contests--our barn placed and won spiffy personalized ball caps--and you can receive an informative monthly newsletter which simplifies those life conundrums such as "Hm, what's with all those blankets, sheets, and junk and when should my horse wear them?"
The store is located near Polaris, just off Polaris Parkway (look for a bunch of wharehouses past old state):
Equus Now!
9042 Cotter St.
Lewis Center, OH 43035
Store: 740 549-4959 Fax: 740-549-4960
If you're not fortunate enough to live near the warehouse and shop in the flesh, you can shop online by clicking the link in the text or in the links section.
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch...
Here it is January already. I wish I could say that Spring is just around the corner. Actually, I don't like spring all that much what with the rain and mushy ground, inaccessable trails and bridle paths, yet most of our winter in Central Ohio and surrounding areas has been just that. We had a big Snow/Ice storm in December, just before Christmas, and soon after incredible rains and flooding. The ice storm brought huge branches crashing down all over the house starting at 3am and by morning it seemed a war zone on my front porch and all around the perimiter of my house. The whole neighborhood was really a mess. I didn't make it to work--a level 3 snow emergency--but did feel guilty. The next day was Christmas eve so we only had half a day of work, but the snow and cold temperatures made it a challenge. The horses could not go out even in the paddocks, but many of the boarders and clients came out to ride. Many people lost electricity, and our barn veternarian went without power for more than five days. She keeps horses as well, so I was surprised to see as much of her as we did, and that she was just as cheerful and full of her wry and leathery sense of humor as usual.
After Christmas we had the brief thaw. Most people would have done well to build arks during the holidays. I didn't see much of my horses as working in the contant pouring rain caring for the horses at the big barn had me wet and muddy through and through by the end of the day. What is sad is that at the "Big Fancy Barn" there isn't very much mud to contend with, but the stalls flooded and made the heavier work heavier still. When I was able to find some shred of energy I stopped by to check on Wyatt and Lady, even though I had to drive out of my way as the road was flooded at the little train overpass on the main road. In this though, I did get to see what was beyond skinner road and bowtown to get back to the main highway. This is an area where I could ride if I was feeling ambitious and Wyatt was sound--and if it wasn't pouring rain. The weather has turned cold again, with a new dusting of snow and more on the horizon. Stopped to see the horses yesterday. I had a hard time opening the sliding door--frozen, but the sun was shining and would have been perfect for the horses to be out munching hay. Got the door open, let my two out and considered letting the others out with some hay, but the heater has been removed from the pasture trough and no water. I didn't want to turn them out with hay but no water all afternoon and no one on the property. I threw everyone a flake of hay--I suspect most of my horses weight is from grain and not hay--which really makes me irritated, let alone my horses gut! After Lady and Wyatt frolicked a little and kicked up there heels they figured out no one else was coming out to play so they made their way back near the gate. When they heard everyone getting hay they reluctantly came back into the barn and went in their stalls. I gave them some horse snacks in there feed tub and shut up the barn, turned out the lights and said "Goodbye". Well, this is really the last thing I want my horses to put up with. At least they are eating better than last year, but they have spent the majority of their time this season shut up in a dark barn with no hay all afternoon. While it's pleasant enough for a horse to spend the afternoon outside where they belong, there is no one to put them out. The new owner spends very little time on the property due to his schedule and will hire no one on a regular basis to care for the horses as stated on the boarding agreement, hence, the horses stand around all day in an open pasture often exposed to cold rain with windy conditions (Ohio) and no shelter and no one coming for hours to bring them in, unless one of us, the boarders happens by or they stand in their stalls all day long with no hay in between the early morning and late night feed. This is a card carrying professional horse trainer. I'm sure he believes that he's taking great care of our horses, other than leaving them out in bad conditions, they are cared for about the same as some of the horses he's stalled for private clients--stand around in a dark stall, no hay, no real socialization with the other horses. Well, what does that say? Hm, what to do.
So, not only do I not see my horses enough, nor are they cared for as well as I would like, the last two months have me with extremely sore muscles--I'm waking up in the night with horrible muscle spasms--much attributed to the awful bedding we've been using at Fancy Barn since October-- you may as well be bedding the horses with limestone. No one there seems to get it--I'd never have this bedding in my barn if I ran one--and that's what has been ordered on purpose because it's "not as dusty" The stalls at this facility are bedded heavily so this bedding requires twice as much to prevent hock sores. This is the bedding none of the other barns want so it really is crap and it's much easier for the horses to get cast with it if it's not kept in the right place. We've had a lot of that going on too, horses getting cast with this bedding. Well, I warned them the problems this stuff would cause and now has, but everyone seems to look the other way, including the owner. You have to wonder--just because someone doesn't want to admit being wrong. Well, the bedding does have some benefits--you really cant fluff it up or use the dry bedding from the corners to make it last. It just gets wet and turns black in a hurry so you have to strip the stalls almost every day. Certain people in charge of the bedding and things like that at the barn like this because it takes more time to clean the stalls than we are supposed to be taking, and if we work faster than this person and our stalls look crummy, they can prove their point that it should take all day to clean the stalls to clean them right--or, that we suck at cleaning stalls but this person doesn't. I really love working closely with people who have an inferiority complex. It makes your job ever so much more enjoyable than if you worked with rational people.
Ok, there were some good things--Gwen and Brenda both called me on my birthday while I was at work getting irritated by J. and they were welcome and thoughtful calls--a reminder that I'm not really shut up all day devoid of reasonable people. Brenda invited me for birthday dinner with her family (gwen invite too but not able to make it) at her home complete with cake. I went and felt ever the "birthday girl" as her 5 year old son referred to me. Thank you Brenda, Dave and Ben--it was delicious and belive it or not, no one has ever done that for me before. The Birthday Girl is very happy! Alright--ending on a happy note :-)
Here it is January already. I wish I could say that Spring is just around the corner. Actually, I don't like spring all that much what with the rain and mushy ground, inaccessable trails and bridle paths, yet most of our winter in Central Ohio and surrounding areas has been just that. We had a big Snow/Ice storm in December, just before Christmas, and soon after incredible rains and flooding. The ice storm brought huge branches crashing down all over the house starting at 3am and by morning it seemed a war zone on my front porch and all around the perimiter of my house. The whole neighborhood was really a mess. I didn't make it to work--a level 3 snow emergency--but did feel guilty. The next day was Christmas eve so we only had half a day of work, but the snow and cold temperatures made it a challenge. The horses could not go out even in the paddocks, but many of the boarders and clients came out to ride. Many people lost electricity, and our barn veternarian went without power for more than five days. She keeps horses as well, so I was surprised to see as much of her as we did, and that she was just as cheerful and full of her wry and leathery sense of humor as usual.
After Christmas we had the brief thaw. Most people would have done well to build arks during the holidays. I didn't see much of my horses as working in the contant pouring rain caring for the horses at the big barn had me wet and muddy through and through by the end of the day. What is sad is that at the "Big Fancy Barn" there isn't very much mud to contend with, but the stalls flooded and made the heavier work heavier still. When I was able to find some shred of energy I stopped by to check on Wyatt and Lady, even though I had to drive out of my way as the road was flooded at the little train overpass on the main road. In this though, I did get to see what was beyond skinner road and bowtown to get back to the main highway. This is an area where I could ride if I was feeling ambitious and Wyatt was sound--and if it wasn't pouring rain. The weather has turned cold again, with a new dusting of snow and more on the horizon. Stopped to see the horses yesterday. I had a hard time opening the sliding door--frozen, but the sun was shining and would have been perfect for the horses to be out munching hay. Got the door open, let my two out and considered letting the others out with some hay, but the heater has been removed from the pasture trough and no water. I didn't want to turn them out with hay but no water all afternoon and no one on the property. I threw everyone a flake of hay--I suspect most of my horses weight is from grain and not hay--which really makes me irritated, let alone my horses gut! After Lady and Wyatt frolicked a little and kicked up there heels they figured out no one else was coming out to play so they made their way back near the gate. When they heard everyone getting hay they reluctantly came back into the barn and went in their stalls. I gave them some horse snacks in there feed tub and shut up the barn, turned out the lights and said "Goodbye". Well, this is really the last thing I want my horses to put up with. At least they are eating better than last year, but they have spent the majority of their time this season shut up in a dark barn with no hay all afternoon. While it's pleasant enough for a horse to spend the afternoon outside where they belong, there is no one to put them out. The new owner spends very little time on the property due to his schedule and will hire no one on a regular basis to care for the horses as stated on the boarding agreement, hence, the horses stand around all day in an open pasture often exposed to cold rain with windy conditions (Ohio) and no shelter and no one coming for hours to bring them in, unless one of us, the boarders happens by or they stand in their stalls all day long with no hay in between the early morning and late night feed. This is a card carrying professional horse trainer. I'm sure he believes that he's taking great care of our horses, other than leaving them out in bad conditions, they are cared for about the same as some of the horses he's stalled for private clients--stand around in a dark stall, no hay, no real socialization with the other horses. Well, what does that say? Hm, what to do.
So, not only do I not see my horses enough, nor are they cared for as well as I would like, the last two months have me with extremely sore muscles--I'm waking up in the night with horrible muscle spasms--much attributed to the awful bedding we've been using at Fancy Barn since October-- you may as well be bedding the horses with limestone. No one there seems to get it--I'd never have this bedding in my barn if I ran one--and that's what has been ordered on purpose because it's "not as dusty" The stalls at this facility are bedded heavily so this bedding requires twice as much to prevent hock sores. This is the bedding none of the other barns want so it really is crap and it's much easier for the horses to get cast with it if it's not kept in the right place. We've had a lot of that going on too, horses getting cast with this bedding. Well, I warned them the problems this stuff would cause and now has, but everyone seems to look the other way, including the owner. You have to wonder--just because someone doesn't want to admit being wrong. Well, the bedding does have some benefits--you really cant fluff it up or use the dry bedding from the corners to make it last. It just gets wet and turns black in a hurry so you have to strip the stalls almost every day. Certain people in charge of the bedding and things like that at the barn like this because it takes more time to clean the stalls than we are supposed to be taking, and if we work faster than this person and our stalls look crummy, they can prove their point that it should take all day to clean the stalls to clean them right--or, that we suck at cleaning stalls but this person doesn't. I really love working closely with people who have an inferiority complex. It makes your job ever so much more enjoyable than if you worked with rational people.
Ok, there were some good things--Gwen and Brenda both called me on my birthday while I was at work getting irritated by J. and they were welcome and thoughtful calls--a reminder that I'm not really shut up all day devoid of reasonable people. Brenda invited me for birthday dinner with her family (gwen invite too but not able to make it) at her home complete with cake. I went and felt ever the "birthday girl" as her 5 year old son referred to me. Thank you Brenda, Dave and Ben--it was delicious and belive it or not, no one has ever done that for me before. The Birthday Girl is very happy! Alright--ending on a happy note :-)
Nov 13, 2004
Home on the range
Don't think because I never post to this blog that I have no life! Well, really I don't but I'm very busy at not having one. Still working at Hunter/Jumpers-R-US. Some days are great, some not so much, other days--lets just leave it at that. Though I've been riding a lot more this summer and fall on my own horses I am beginning to feel landlocked. Attempted to ride to the trails at Alum Creek with my reluctant riding buddies in tow (they have no faith in me). Alum Creek has a reputation for being very challenging and very muddy--not for the faint at heart--which us gals are.
Here's one way to get to the Alum trails and the story of our adventure:
After encouraging our horses that yes, (even though we're lying) it's really ok to cross the highway which borders the front of the barn where the traffic averages 50 to 65 mph. we hurry across the slippery pavement and ride along the grassy berm of the road with corn rows flanking our right, speeding traffic to our left. We then turn right and ride between the same cornfield which is now adjacent to someone's very nice yard where they always have a little brush pile smoldering and this day is no exeception. My horse Wyatt and I ride by this all the time but typical for Wyatt, he tries to capitalize on the FIRE! hazard and glues his back hooves into the ground so he can hopefully surprise me while he whips around in a type of rollback manuever, which will allow him to head back to the barn at full speed. Of course, this same manuever he finds he's incapable of doing when you ask him. It doesn't help that Lady, my arab, can see us from the pasture, though it's quite far in the distance, and we can hear her calling and calling for us to "come back, come back oh, please come back!" I'm always prepared for this scenerio to come up so Wyatt's ploy is foiled yet again as I remind him that ok, we'll either go round and round in tight, uncomfortable circles until we proceed ahead or if we do go back you'll work your horsey BEhind off.
Anyway, we ride along until we get to the treeline where we turn and try find some break in the corn rows to get to a meadow, while at the same time hoping we can avoid that very deep hole that we can't see but know the estimated location of (could that be a fox den, or maybe something bigger?). We manage to locate a possible break and away we go crashing through the corn stalks which our horses have now learned to grab and carry as a souveniers everytime we ride here. Ok, so that now we're in the meadow with our horses still carrying two to three foot long corn stalks in their mouths, we mosey along the wide grassy paths cut through wide groups of trees and brush and eventually arrive along the property owner's drive. Here we take a small feeder road which will then take us briefly to the southern edge of Kilbourne on SR 24. We make it to the entrance off Old State and step about three feet onto the woodsy trail which is pretty, but abruptly descends down into a ravine. Never Mind! Although my horse was rather excited about being in the woods again as he is supposed to be a trail horse, I try to contain his excitement while we all have to manuever in a very small space and pick around in the undergrowth just to get ourselves turned around again, which is an adventure in itself considering my claustraphobia and agoraphobia thrown into the mix. Wyatt is rather disappointed about the human whimp factor. Treasure and Dancer--well they just seem a little perplexed but obediently await the next command from their mounts--which is of course, mission aborted, c'mon, lets go.
So, back we go the way we came and as we arrive at the driveway that we will follow back to the meadow, the property owner has saddled up and is just getting on her pretty red quarter horse to go for her ride. My friends and their horses want to stop and chat, but Wyatt has no time for that. From his perspective he didn't expend any energy picking his way along a trail so he may as well use it to get home faster. None of this nonsense of walking along pleasantly and gawking at all the nice scenery because he's seen it before. While my friends are shooting the breeze with their unsoured and perfectly behaved horses, mine is prancing, pawing, and jumping up on his front feet trying to torque around so that maybe he will lose me. Wyatt and I end up just turning round and round in tight little circles once again while my friends finish their unhurried conversation. Eventually Wyatt decides it's too much bother to fight and is ok on the way back home, but I ride him a little bit longer when we get to the paddock at our barn, just to add my 2 cents.
Now if my friends and I could get it together, we could get someone to trailer us to the better parts of the creek, but our schedules hardly ever mesh. Oftentimes we just miss each other when we've come to the barn to ride. We are so busy with the demands of the non-equestrian world. Trying to fit our horses into our schedules more often than not is a stolen moment from family, jobs and other responsibilites. There are people involved in our lives who are also competing for our time and attention. Often will come a reminder, sometime subtle sometimes not, that they think we are being selfish, that they are not as worthy of our time, we maybe prefer our expensive, high maintanence "pets" over them. The guilt factor adds its influence to the not-enough-time-as-it-is factor, always worming its way into our conscience and warrented or not, imposing a sense of urgency to our equine activity which is supposed to be our way to relax and slow down in a hyper-drive society.
In closing, what could be viewed as a disappointing ride since we had to abort our plans, was not disappointing at all I remind myself: I spent time with my horse and my horse friends and took in some beautiful scenery, found yet another way to get to the trails which opens up new possibilities, found out what my limits and Wyatt's are and am encouraged to find a way to minimize them. I had to be creative, take chances and be brave. These are are valuable pursuits and allow for not just wasting time riding around and having fun and ignoring responsibilities, but avenues towards self-examination and improvement. I am still feeling landlocked, but rather than giving up and accepting it, I vow to continue to find new ways to pick my way around the barriers and perhaps new paths will open up. I have my horses and my horsey freinds to thank for this.
Don't think because I never post to this blog that I have no life! Well, really I don't but I'm very busy at not having one. Still working at Hunter/Jumpers-R-US. Some days are great, some not so much, other days--lets just leave it at that. Though I've been riding a lot more this summer and fall on my own horses I am beginning to feel landlocked. Attempted to ride to the trails at Alum Creek with my reluctant riding buddies in tow (they have no faith in me). Alum Creek has a reputation for being very challenging and very muddy--not for the faint at heart--which us gals are.
Here's one way to get to the Alum trails and the story of our adventure:
After encouraging our horses that yes, (even though we're lying) it's really ok to cross the highway which borders the front of the barn where the traffic averages 50 to 65 mph. we hurry across the slippery pavement and ride along the grassy berm of the road with corn rows flanking our right, speeding traffic to our left. We then turn right and ride between the same cornfield which is now adjacent to someone's very nice yard where they always have a little brush pile smoldering and this day is no exeception. My horse Wyatt and I ride by this all the time but typical for Wyatt, he tries to capitalize on the FIRE! hazard and glues his back hooves into the ground so he can hopefully surprise me while he whips around in a type of rollback manuever, which will allow him to head back to the barn at full speed. Of course, this same manuever he finds he's incapable of doing when you ask him. It doesn't help that Lady, my arab, can see us from the pasture, though it's quite far in the distance, and we can hear her calling and calling for us to "come back, come back oh, please come back!" I'm always prepared for this scenerio to come up so Wyatt's ploy is foiled yet again as I remind him that ok, we'll either go round and round in tight, uncomfortable circles until we proceed ahead or if we do go back you'll work your horsey BEhind off.
Anyway, we ride along until we get to the treeline where we turn and try find some break in the corn rows to get to a meadow, while at the same time hoping we can avoid that very deep hole that we can't see but know the estimated location of (could that be a fox den, or maybe something bigger?). We manage to locate a possible break and away we go crashing through the corn stalks which our horses have now learned to grab and carry as a souveniers everytime we ride here. Ok, so that now we're in the meadow with our horses still carrying two to three foot long corn stalks in their mouths, we mosey along the wide grassy paths cut through wide groups of trees and brush and eventually arrive along the property owner's drive. Here we take a small feeder road which will then take us briefly to the southern edge of Kilbourne on SR 24. We make it to the entrance off Old State and step about three feet onto the woodsy trail which is pretty, but abruptly descends down into a ravine. Never Mind! Although my horse was rather excited about being in the woods again as he is supposed to be a trail horse, I try to contain his excitement while we all have to manuever in a very small space and pick around in the undergrowth just to get ourselves turned around again, which is an adventure in itself considering my claustraphobia and agoraphobia thrown into the mix. Wyatt is rather disappointed about the human whimp factor. Treasure and Dancer--well they just seem a little perplexed but obediently await the next command from their mounts--which is of course, mission aborted, c'mon, lets go.
So, back we go the way we came and as we arrive at the driveway that we will follow back to the meadow, the property owner has saddled up and is just getting on her pretty red quarter horse to go for her ride. My friends and their horses want to stop and chat, but Wyatt has no time for that. From his perspective he didn't expend any energy picking his way along a trail so he may as well use it to get home faster. None of this nonsense of walking along pleasantly and gawking at all the nice scenery because he's seen it before. While my friends are shooting the breeze with their unsoured and perfectly behaved horses, mine is prancing, pawing, and jumping up on his front feet trying to torque around so that maybe he will lose me. Wyatt and I end up just turning round and round in tight little circles once again while my friends finish their unhurried conversation. Eventually Wyatt decides it's too much bother to fight and is ok on the way back home, but I ride him a little bit longer when we get to the paddock at our barn, just to add my 2 cents.
Now if my friends and I could get it together, we could get someone to trailer us to the better parts of the creek, but our schedules hardly ever mesh. Oftentimes we just miss each other when we've come to the barn to ride. We are so busy with the demands of the non-equestrian world. Trying to fit our horses into our schedules more often than not is a stolen moment from family, jobs and other responsibilites. There are people involved in our lives who are also competing for our time and attention. Often will come a reminder, sometime subtle sometimes not, that they think we are being selfish, that they are not as worthy of our time, we maybe prefer our expensive, high maintanence "pets" over them. The guilt factor adds its influence to the not-enough-time-as-it-is factor, always worming its way into our conscience and warrented or not, imposing a sense of urgency to our equine activity which is supposed to be our way to relax and slow down in a hyper-drive society.
In closing, what could be viewed as a disappointing ride since we had to abort our plans, was not disappointing at all I remind myself: I spent time with my horse and my horse friends and took in some beautiful scenery, found yet another way to get to the trails which opens up new possibilities, found out what my limits and Wyatt's are and am encouraged to find a way to minimize them. I had to be creative, take chances and be brave. These are are valuable pursuits and allow for not just wasting time riding around and having fun and ignoring responsibilities, but avenues towards self-examination and improvement. I am still feeling landlocked, but rather than giving up and accepting it, I vow to continue to find new ways to pick my way around the barriers and perhaps new paths will open up. I have my horses and my horsey freinds to thank for this.
Jul 18, 2004
Home on the Range
It's been over a month since the farm changed hands. The new owner is a quarter horse trainer. Things are better for now--more consistancy for the horses. Lady is dappling out--a good sign. Went on a short ride with two friends; the five mile loop through a meadow then onto bowtown road and around. We call it the five mile loop. Very scenic and very hot. When you ride alongside the corn rows you can feel the heat coming off the crops from all the oxygen produced.
Work is work. It's been ridiculously hot. Horses and their owners have been busy showing almost every weekend. Last weekend was the Robert Murphy show in Kentucky. That was a long one. They left Wednesday morning and came back late sunday night.
The grad is still unemployed but did help me at the barn one day. I think that was enough for him. Going to sign off as I want to get out to ride a few horses before the afternoon storms blow in.
It's been over a month since the farm changed hands. The new owner is a quarter horse trainer. Things are better for now--more consistancy for the horses. Lady is dappling out--a good sign. Went on a short ride with two friends; the five mile loop through a meadow then onto bowtown road and around. We call it the five mile loop. Very scenic and very hot. When you ride alongside the corn rows you can feel the heat coming off the crops from all the oxygen produced.
Work is work. It's been ridiculously hot. Horses and their owners have been busy showing almost every weekend. Last weekend was the Robert Murphy show in Kentucky. That was a long one. They left Wednesday morning and came back late sunday night.
The grad is still unemployed but did help me at the barn one day. I think that was enough for him. Going to sign off as I want to get out to ride a few horses before the afternoon storms blow in.
May 16, 2004
Meanwhile, back at the ranch....
Wow. I have been working full-time at a hunter jumper barn for over a month now. I've been putting in long hours due to my training and just the basic horse management challenges transitioning from dry-lot turnout to pasturing. We've had lots of rain in this area as we had last year so it has been a difficult spring again for anyone involved in agrarian pursuits.
My horses have put on weight since they have been on pasture and look much better. I have a lot of plans for the summer--formal riding lessons for me, some saddle training for Lady--especially in the canter department--which means I need to find a trainer who won't cost me an arm and a leg--and just overall conditioning for both horses. I don't know how much I will accomplish with my new job eating up lots of time and energy. I may have to forgo lessons for myself as the big priority is to get Lady further along under saddle so I can enjoy riding her instead of worrying that she'll go into a bucking fit--she hasn't done that to me yet, but just the thought makes me nervous, which of course affects her confidence with me on her back. Getting a competent rider will help get through the basics without a wreck setting us back. KST
Wow. I have been working full-time at a hunter jumper barn for over a month now. I've been putting in long hours due to my training and just the basic horse management challenges transitioning from dry-lot turnout to pasturing. We've had lots of rain in this area as we had last year so it has been a difficult spring again for anyone involved in agrarian pursuits.
My horses have put on weight since they have been on pasture and look much better. I have a lot of plans for the summer--formal riding lessons for me, some saddle training for Lady--especially in the canter department--which means I need to find a trainer who won't cost me an arm and a leg--and just overall conditioning for both horses. I don't know how much I will accomplish with my new job eating up lots of time and energy. I may have to forgo lessons for myself as the big priority is to get Lady further along under saddle so I can enjoy riding her instead of worrying that she'll go into a bucking fit--she hasn't done that to me yet, but just the thought makes me nervous, which of course affects her confidence with me on her back. Getting a competent rider will help get through the basics without a wreck setting us back. KST
Apr 4, 2004
Meanwhile back at the ranch....
Worked at the barn again, today, saturday. Not all that exciting for most folks, but horses are the postitive influence and motivation in my life. They are so happy when someone fulfils their basic needs and I am glad to do it. How would you like to live in a 12 by 12 box waiting around for someone to do something for you? When they see me, they know that I will take care of them. I give them plenty of hay, their favorite, a little grain and water, then they get to go outside weather permitting, or if they can`t go out together, i`ll walk them out individually and let them snack on some grass while I scratch all the itchy places they can`t get at. Some horses will get in the act of mutual grooming. Magic for instance--I mentioned her the other day in the audio blog. She is a very loving horse.
When I worked at a certain performance horse barn, I felt like a prison warden. At the barn where my horses are kept, I feel more like a school marm, say. While not all performance horse barns treat their horses bad, The lives that some performance horses lead are disturbingly cruel and even if not horribly cruel, not always in the best interest of their equine health and well being. These horses seldom get to be real horses or socialize in any meaningful way with those of their kind. They live in a kind of institutionalized system where everything is regemented and cooly objective-- like a horse factory, whose end product is a glossy show horse that at least by appearances riders/owners can just jump on while the horse happily and obediantly performs and entertains in whatever discipline it has been trained in. They are kept stalled unless working or lunging in an arena, or performing at a show, and when they are done they are put away, seldom with the opportunity to graze ( the almost constant grazing and foraging horses do is imparative to a healthy equine digestive system) in a pasture or even in their stall except for the twice a day feeding of grain and hay, which also includes the plethora of nutritional supplements and medications that would rival a football players diet. They are not allowed to expend any unnecessary engery running around in the pasture, why, they could get hurt that way!--lose money being on stall rest for an injury when they could be performing. Performance horses are kept in an objectively sterile environment and must learn the language of man, and only man, usually by force and all kinds of training devices and restraints. (well this is not only limited to performance horses per say, many horses are trained by using artificial aids and learning to avoid pain and all of it is not cruel per say) The advantage to keeping horses this way is that the horse, being a highly social animal-- its acceptance and participation within the herd imparative to survival-- will learn look to the human for both its physical and emotional needs and will crave human attention in any form, thereby more apt to do exactly what the human wants without question--to the point of jumping off a cliff if you asked it--and if it won't-- you get rid of it and cut your losses. My experience has been that when in a stall with these horses they are so deprived by the physical presence of any warm body, you become either a toy for them to play with, grabbing your clothes and trying to pull you around the stall, or they are trying to climb all over you to get you to love on them. Ha, sounds like some of my dates! Some are so desperate about this that it makes them dangerous and you have to set limits no matter how much you really do want to cuddle up or play with them. You have to shoo them away and then be stuck with that pitifully dejected look they give you. That part about that one particular job caused a lot of grief for me. It made me extremely sad because I was constantly reminded that these horses craved such companionship not because they had naturally affectionate personalities, but the way they were kept and handled forced them to be that way. I found it hard to be objective in the way I handled them, knowing every minute I was with them I was training them. I did not want to "train" them to do something that would get them later whipped for disobediance, because that is what people did to them there, almost in an arbitrary way. It really depended on the mood they were in, not that the horse misbehaved so much. I didn't stay at that job for long, but on leaving did shed some tears for the horses I got to know very quickly, but had no power or clout I could use to improve their circumstances. Goodbye and good luck, dear friends.
But the life of some horses and the way we view them has improved somewhat, the natrual horsemanship hype has educated owners that horses should be allowed to be horses; it may allow for a longer life span (not good if you want to keep your maintanence costs down) and a longer and more successful career as a performance horse. The clinicians have been able to demonstrate that you can enjoy your equine partner, and get the same results using training methods by using the body language of the horse and by teaching them to "yield to pressure" whether applied directly or psychologically, to get them to do what you want. (I can attest that it does work and actually it is quicker than some of the conditioned response methods--though CR is also is a basis for natural horsemanship, and any animal you want to train, including humans!) but there are many skeptics. Skeptics who actually use some variation of natural horsemanship without even knowing it. NH as a published method of horse handling and care has been around a long time--Xenophon, a greek general published a book on just that.
Anyway, I didn`t intend to write an essay on Natural Horsemanship--but I practice it myself in earnest, because I want my horses or any others I come in contact with to get as much joy out of our relationship and interaction as I do, while at the same time knowing how to be safe around horses--as much as you can anyway. The benefit is that I connect with them on their level, I am a part of their herd and they are a part of mine and I am important to them and them to me. Horses, in their natural environment are very reasonable and practical animals--much more so than humans and I think that`s why I like horses so much. They teach me to keep things simple, they help me prioritize what is important in life. To horses the most important thing in their lives is to be included. That takes care of everything else for them. to be excluded and forgotten means death. So, I have been included in their social heirarchy--and of course I am at the top because you must be to be safe around horses--but to me, that makes me feel important, and as long as I am around horses, it gives me a reason to keep going and not give up,
Worked at the barn again, today, saturday. Not all that exciting for most folks, but horses are the postitive influence and motivation in my life. They are so happy when someone fulfils their basic needs and I am glad to do it. How would you like to live in a 12 by 12 box waiting around for someone to do something for you? When they see me, they know that I will take care of them. I give them plenty of hay, their favorite, a little grain and water, then they get to go outside weather permitting, or if they can`t go out together, i`ll walk them out individually and let them snack on some grass while I scratch all the itchy places they can`t get at. Some horses will get in the act of mutual grooming. Magic for instance--I mentioned her the other day in the audio blog. She is a very loving horse.
When I worked at a certain performance horse barn, I felt like a prison warden. At the barn where my horses are kept, I feel more like a school marm, say. While not all performance horse barns treat their horses bad, The lives that some performance horses lead are disturbingly cruel and even if not horribly cruel, not always in the best interest of their equine health and well being. These horses seldom get to be real horses or socialize in any meaningful way with those of their kind. They live in a kind of institutionalized system where everything is regemented and cooly objective-- like a horse factory, whose end product is a glossy show horse that at least by appearances riders/owners can just jump on while the horse happily and obediantly performs and entertains in whatever discipline it has been trained in. They are kept stalled unless working or lunging in an arena, or performing at a show, and when they are done they are put away, seldom with the opportunity to graze ( the almost constant grazing and foraging horses do is imparative to a healthy equine digestive system) in a pasture or even in their stall except for the twice a day feeding of grain and hay, which also includes the plethora of nutritional supplements and medications that would rival a football players diet. They are not allowed to expend any unnecessary engery running around in the pasture, why, they could get hurt that way!--lose money being on stall rest for an injury when they could be performing. Performance horses are kept in an objectively sterile environment and must learn the language of man, and only man, usually by force and all kinds of training devices and restraints. (well this is not only limited to performance horses per say, many horses are trained by using artificial aids and learning to avoid pain and all of it is not cruel per say) The advantage to keeping horses this way is that the horse, being a highly social animal-- its acceptance and participation within the herd imparative to survival-- will learn look to the human for both its physical and emotional needs and will crave human attention in any form, thereby more apt to do exactly what the human wants without question--to the point of jumping off a cliff if you asked it--and if it won't-- you get rid of it and cut your losses. My experience has been that when in a stall with these horses they are so deprived by the physical presence of any warm body, you become either a toy for them to play with, grabbing your clothes and trying to pull you around the stall, or they are trying to climb all over you to get you to love on them. Ha, sounds like some of my dates! Some are so desperate about this that it makes them dangerous and you have to set limits no matter how much you really do want to cuddle up or play with them. You have to shoo them away and then be stuck with that pitifully dejected look they give you. That part about that one particular job caused a lot of grief for me. It made me extremely sad because I was constantly reminded that these horses craved such companionship not because they had naturally affectionate personalities, but the way they were kept and handled forced them to be that way. I found it hard to be objective in the way I handled them, knowing every minute I was with them I was training them. I did not want to "train" them to do something that would get them later whipped for disobediance, because that is what people did to them there, almost in an arbitrary way. It really depended on the mood they were in, not that the horse misbehaved so much. I didn't stay at that job for long, but on leaving did shed some tears for the horses I got to know very quickly, but had no power or clout I could use to improve their circumstances. Goodbye and good luck, dear friends.
But the life of some horses and the way we view them has improved somewhat, the natrual horsemanship hype has educated owners that horses should be allowed to be horses; it may allow for a longer life span (not good if you want to keep your maintanence costs down) and a longer and more successful career as a performance horse. The clinicians have been able to demonstrate that you can enjoy your equine partner, and get the same results using training methods by using the body language of the horse and by teaching them to "yield to pressure" whether applied directly or psychologically, to get them to do what you want. (I can attest that it does work and actually it is quicker than some of the conditioned response methods--though CR is also is a basis for natural horsemanship, and any animal you want to train, including humans!) but there are many skeptics. Skeptics who actually use some variation of natural horsemanship without even knowing it. NH as a published method of horse handling and care has been around a long time--Xenophon, a greek general published a book on just that.
Anyway, I didn`t intend to write an essay on Natural Horsemanship--but I practice it myself in earnest, because I want my horses or any others I come in contact with to get as much joy out of our relationship and interaction as I do, while at the same time knowing how to be safe around horses--as much as you can anyway. The benefit is that I connect with them on their level, I am a part of their herd and they are a part of mine and I am important to them and them to me. Horses, in their natural environment are very reasonable and practical animals--much more so than humans and I think that`s why I like horses so much. They teach me to keep things simple, they help me prioritize what is important in life. To horses the most important thing in their lives is to be included. That takes care of everything else for them. to be excluded and forgotten means death. So, I have been included in their social heirarchy--and of course I am at the top because you must be to be safe around horses--but to me, that makes me feel important, and as long as I am around horses, it gives me a reason to keep going and not give up,
Apr 2, 2004
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Just got back from the barn. The vet was there to give everyone shots and health check. I asked Dr. Morrison about Lady, who has had an upward fixation of the patella, which started last year after getting off a trailer when I moved her in June. This is also known as a Stringhalt, a term often confused with a condition from eating the stringhalt plant I believe. What lady does is paddle outward on the left hind when the ligament gets caught and locks on a boney prominence of the patella. Anyway the ligaments that attatch to the hind patella are limp, which can be caused by poor muscle tone & confirmation issues, Lady is, an arab with refined bone structure and long straight legs, popular look for the halter horses but not good if you want more than a pasture ornament!--so she can be predisposed to this. It was explained to me by the doc, that it can be common in two-year olds since their muscles have not caught up with bone development. Lady is seven but has not worked on a reg basis to build up those muscles and being an arab, they take longer to mature--although by seven she is pretty much done with the growing. In her case the trailer incident was enough to fire this up. There is also the weight issue which I have mentioned before--she and the other horses are underweight and that really makes a difference to me. So, what is the plan besides an expensive operation that may not work as a permanent soulution?
Here's the plan: work on the hind muscle groups--building up the muscle mass will cause the proper tension in the ligament so that it can do its job. I can do a lot of hillwork, although, going up is beneficial, while going down can aggravate. So, we'll work on trotting over cavelletti --about 5 or 6 poles in a line and we can also set some up arc like fashion. 20minute about 3 to 5 times a week. Long trail rides are also good to work inbetween. Of course she's underweight, so my first priority is to get that hay into her somehow. I do not feel right working her at all right now as she is. When she's in better shape nutritionally, We'll begin the work on the caveletti and see how she progresses. The doc says later we can think about blistering. Not as bad as it sounds--but you use an agent that causes swelling--I think you inject DMSO maybe? someone told me I could apply this topically-- on the day you may have a long trail ride--they will be stiff at first, but keeping them moving will free them up and they will actually feel really good and flexible--it basically lets them to use that hind the correct way because the swelling causes tension on the offending ligament so they won't be protecting it undermining all the muscle conditioning you are trying to do. If you want to learn more about this, you can go the The Horseonline.
Now, the other problem this could be is EPM, but since the trailer incident caused this acute presentaton, as she did not have any gait problems before she got on the trailer, there's no reason to worry about that yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Just got back from the barn. The vet was there to give everyone shots and health check. I asked Dr. Morrison about Lady, who has had an upward fixation of the patella, which started last year after getting off a trailer when I moved her in June. This is also known as a Stringhalt, a term often confused with a condition from eating the stringhalt plant I believe. What lady does is paddle outward on the left hind when the ligament gets caught and locks on a boney prominence of the patella. Anyway the ligaments that attatch to the hind patella are limp, which can be caused by poor muscle tone & confirmation issues, Lady is, an arab with refined bone structure and long straight legs, popular look for the halter horses but not good if you want more than a pasture ornament!--so she can be predisposed to this. It was explained to me by the doc, that it can be common in two-year olds since their muscles have not caught up with bone development. Lady is seven but has not worked on a reg basis to build up those muscles and being an arab, they take longer to mature--although by seven she is pretty much done with the growing. In her case the trailer incident was enough to fire this up. There is also the weight issue which I have mentioned before--she and the other horses are underweight and that really makes a difference to me. So, what is the plan besides an expensive operation that may not work as a permanent soulution?
Here's the plan: work on the hind muscle groups--building up the muscle mass will cause the proper tension in the ligament so that it can do its job. I can do a lot of hillwork, although, going up is beneficial, while going down can aggravate. So, we'll work on trotting over cavelletti --about 5 or 6 poles in a line and we can also set some up arc like fashion. 20minute about 3 to 5 times a week. Long trail rides are also good to work inbetween. Of course she's underweight, so my first priority is to get that hay into her somehow. I do not feel right working her at all right now as she is. When she's in better shape nutritionally, We'll begin the work on the caveletti and see how she progresses. The doc says later we can think about blistering. Not as bad as it sounds--but you use an agent that causes swelling--I think you inject DMSO maybe? someone told me I could apply this topically-- on the day you may have a long trail ride--they will be stiff at first, but keeping them moving will free them up and they will actually feel really good and flexible--it basically lets them to use that hind the correct way because the swelling causes tension on the offending ligament so they won't be protecting it undermining all the muscle conditioning you are trying to do. If you want to learn more about this, you can go the The Horseonline.
Now, the other problem this could be is EPM, but since the trailer incident caused this acute presentaton, as she did not have any gait problems before she got on the trailer, there's no reason to worry about that yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Meanwhile back at the Ranch...
Yesterday I worked at the barn for Scott--I sent an audio post hoping to get the horses in the background. They usually chime in and neigh, "hello! hello! hello! when I first walk in. The phone picks up my voice loud and clear but being in the aisleway of the barn, it's hard for the phone to pick up the sounds. Well I'll keep trying. You can hear the horses towards the end, and scott and bill talking in the background. They had no idea what I was doing, i'm sure they thought another person was on the other end.
Scott told me he called his friend the manager at Tractor Supply to get me in there, as I had left an applicaton. Today I talked to the barn manager at a Hunter Jumper barn for full-time groom position. It's very close to where my horses are. It looks like a nice place to work. Jack, the manager would have hired me then and there as I have all the qualifications, but he has to run it by the head trainer there first. He wants to get someone in there before the 16th and I'm the first person who's responded. I think it would be great if my employment status could change very soon--like, now! It's getting pretty rough. The guy at tractor supply is on vacation so I can't talk to him til Monday, but I know which job I want. Call me crazy, but I'd rather clean stalls all day then stand at a cash register selling tractor supplies.
After that, went to see my horses and their friends: Shaka, Galano,Magic, Treasure,Bud, Sierra, Tai. I hope I didn't forget anybody. We used to have 12 horses but many have left. I picked out stalls, fed and hay, groomed Lady top to bottom. They were all happy and content when I left.
Yesterday I worked at the barn for Scott--I sent an audio post hoping to get the horses in the background. They usually chime in and neigh, "hello! hello! hello! when I first walk in. The phone picks up my voice loud and clear but being in the aisleway of the barn, it's hard for the phone to pick up the sounds. Well I'll keep trying. You can hear the horses towards the end, and scott and bill talking in the background. They had no idea what I was doing, i'm sure they thought another person was on the other end.
Scott told me he called his friend the manager at Tractor Supply to get me in there, as I had left an applicaton. Today I talked to the barn manager at a Hunter Jumper barn for full-time groom position. It's very close to where my horses are. It looks like a nice place to work. Jack, the manager would have hired me then and there as I have all the qualifications, but he has to run it by the head trainer there first. He wants to get someone in there before the 16th and I'm the first person who's responded. I think it would be great if my employment status could change very soon--like, now! It's getting pretty rough. The guy at tractor supply is on vacation so I can't talk to him til Monday, but I know which job I want. Call me crazy, but I'd rather clean stalls all day then stand at a cash register selling tractor supplies.
After that, went to see my horses and their friends: Shaka, Galano,Magic, Treasure,Bud, Sierra, Tai. I hope I didn't forget anybody. We used to have 12 horses but many have left. I picked out stalls, fed and hay, groomed Lady top to bottom. They were all happy and content when I left.
Mar 29, 2004
Parelli Clinics in Ohio
Parelli Natural Horsemanship Clinics
with Three Star Endorsed PNH Instructor Sharon Lindy
May 7th - 9th, 2004
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Hunting Valley Stables
18400 Fox Road
Hiram, Ohio
(30 miles Southeast of Cleveland)
May 7th -- Advanced Level One Partnership Clinic (With included Assessment)
$200 per horse/rider
May 8th & 9th -- Level Two Harmony/Fluidity Clinic $350 per horse/rider
Only Ten Riders Accepted for Each Clinic
Auditor Fee in Advance: $25/1 day -- $40/2 days -- $60/3 days
or $30 at the door
For more information on these or other
Parelli Natural Horsemanship Clinics
check out our website at:
www.huntingvalleystables.com
Or contact:
440-834-1900
info@huntingvalleystables.com
Jennifer Sibits and Candy Lawrence
Team Parelli Events
Hunting Valley Stables
18400 Fox Road
Hiram, Ohio
44234
440-834-1900
www.huntingvalleystables.com
Parelli Natural Horsemanship Clinics
with Three Star Endorsed PNH Instructor Sharon Lindy
May 7th - 9th, 2004
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Hunting Valley Stables
18400 Fox Road
Hiram, Ohio
(30 miles Southeast of Cleveland)
May 7th -- Advanced Level One Partnership Clinic (With included Assessment)
$200 per horse/rider
May 8th & 9th -- Level Two Harmony/Fluidity Clinic $350 per horse/rider
Only Ten Riders Accepted for Each Clinic
Auditor Fee in Advance: $25/1 day -- $40/2 days -- $60/3 days
or $30 at the door
For more information on these or other
Parelli Natural Horsemanship Clinics
check out our website at:
www.huntingvalleystables.com
Or contact:
440-834-1900
info@huntingvalleystables.com
Jennifer Sibits and Candy Lawrence
Team Parelli Events
Hunting Valley Stables
18400 Fox Road
Hiram, Ohio
44234
440-834-1900
www.huntingvalleystables.com
Mar 24, 2004
Two good sites to check out:
Equus.net
From the website:
Equus.net presents JP Giacomini's Essential Horsemanship training method as an approach to horse education based on increasing the relaxation of the horse and the authority of the rider, building an ideal horse-human relationship.
Equus.net also presents the Lusitano breeding stallions of the Baroque Collection, as well as other Baroque breeds, such as the Marwari, the war horse of ancient India.
The Show Planner
Lots of informative/authoritative articles with great links and resources for the professional or amature.
Equus.net
From the website:
Equus.net presents JP Giacomini's Essential Horsemanship training method as an approach to horse education based on increasing the relaxation of the horse and the authority of the rider, building an ideal horse-human relationship.
Equus.net also presents the Lusitano breeding stallions of the Baroque Collection, as well as other Baroque breeds, such as the Marwari, the war horse of ancient India.
The Show Planner
Lots of informative/authoritative articles with great links and resources for the professional or amature.
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