This summer's been spent moving the three horses to new (and old ) digs. Before moving in August to a barn I've boarded at off and on through the years, I took a tumble off my horse Lady. We'd just finished a very nice ride too. My mistake was feeling over confident and not physically up to the task of mounting from the off-side after already dismounting from the offside without incident. This time the saddle slipped and well, my failure to properly desensitize her, or at least test her memory of being desensitized, got me bucked off while I tried to throw my leg over. I remember seeing her butt in the air and thinking, 'oh no! How am I gonna one-rein-stop this?' I hit the ground reeeely hard, with an an audible crack in the vicinity of my rear end,( which was actually the cell phone in my back pocket, and it still works! my butt...not so much.) Soon after, came an electrifying pain similar to what I imagine it feels like to be disemboweled. It's taken me ( as I'd predicted) about six weeks to even feel ready to try riding again, and that's only at the walk, and on my old, reliable yet arthritic senior horse, Wyatt. See Wyatt? it's just like I was always telling you, "Come on Wyatt, cheer up, someday it's gonna hurt me a lot more than it hurts you.''
Currently, I've buddied up with two friends and we're back at our old barn trying to run a co-op deal. I was the first to move and try and settle in, with lots of cleaning up and organizing to do despite pain and discomfort. For a while it seemed a ghost town til my friends got their horses moved. Many of the stalls had flooded, and still do on account of the rainiest September we've had in years. To top that off, the water hydrant has a leak, and we have no charger for the fence, which itself is in disrepair. We have some challenges and have to work with what we have, but it sure is nice setting things up the way we like it and having some control over our own horses. I live 5 minutes away now and it's the next best thing to having them in my backyard. We have an attached indoor arena which will comes in real handy for long winters. Last winter was the pits, trying to get them to the arena for exercise when the paddocks and fields were closed.
This month's big activity, besides the fencing, is attending the All American Quarter Horse Congress. As a spectator I plan on taking full advantage of it this year, even though I'm pretty busy with all the additional barn chores.
Oct 4, 2011
Jun 13, 2011
May 18, 2011
Mar 22, 2011
On Horses and Autism – America’s Horse Daily
On Horses and Autism – America’s Horse Daily
Great Stuff on horse behavior and training by Temple Grandin
Great Stuff on horse behavior and training by Temple Grandin
Mar 17, 2011
forrest taken to arena
This one's pretty funny. Trying to film forrest being bad, but it's the humans having a problem. well, I have 3 horses, so I've been shovin' this freak'n door open and closed-- 6 times a day-- just about all winter and now into spring. We're not allowed to put our horses out. It's either this or hand-grazing. I do both. And why is it I never ride?
Mar 13, 2011
Buckeye Performance Center
Mar 5, 2011
Alfalfa Horse Feeding Facts
Alfalfa Horse Feeding Facts
The use of Alfalfa has come up again at the barn. The above is from an alfalfa grower so of course they have an interest in dispelling myths--and alfalfa does get a bad rap, but most of this is from user error.
This article however doesn't mention that by feeding less because of it's nature, your horse may not get its forage/roughage requirements, especially for stallbound horses, nor does it mention throwing the calcium phospherous ratio out of balance and it's consequences, or a higher incidence of enteroliths in horses in the southwestern regions, yet, with proper use it can be a very beneficial addition to a horses feed program. Recent research has suggested that the higher calcium content may help neutralize acid and benefit horses with ulcers.
Around here, alfalfa and alfalfa mix hay can be pricey so it doesn't always make economic sense to use it as a main forage ration, especially when considering feeding pure alfalfa, your horse will pee out all that excess protein you think he's getting, and during winter months when water intake can be an issue, he won't be able to flush out all the excess material. All in all, it's not the demon it's purported to be as long as the user understands its impact on equine health and nutrition and how to compensate for it's use.
The use of Alfalfa has come up again at the barn. The above is from an alfalfa grower so of course they have an interest in dispelling myths--and alfalfa does get a bad rap, but most of this is from user error.
This article however doesn't mention that by feeding less because of it's nature, your horse may not get its forage/roughage requirements, especially for stallbound horses, nor does it mention throwing the calcium phospherous ratio out of balance and it's consequences, or a higher incidence of enteroliths in horses in the southwestern regions, yet, with proper use it can be a very beneficial addition to a horses feed program. Recent research has suggested that the higher calcium content may help neutralize acid and benefit horses with ulcers.
Around here, alfalfa and alfalfa mix hay can be pricey so it doesn't always make economic sense to use it as a main forage ration, especially when considering feeding pure alfalfa, your horse will pee out all that excess protein you think he's getting, and during winter months when water intake can be an issue, he won't be able to flush out all the excess material. All in all, it's not the demon it's purported to be as long as the user understands its impact on equine health and nutrition and how to compensate for it's use.
Feb 26, 2011
Feb 24, 2011
Their Own Roads to the Horse
So exited about this event--just wish I could have gone to cheer on my fav horseman.
Feb 23, 2011
On the Subject of Grooming
Barn this afternoon, take the horses one by one to the indoor arena, clean stalls, waterbuckets, bring the horses back in, one by one. Distributed flakes of hay, doled out mints, made sure all were comfy. I decided to work on Forrests mane, banding and hoping to tame it on the right side. He was flustered about it. He's really particular about his hair I guess. I gather he's had his mane pulled at one time, and probably not very gently as he's pretty nervous when I mess with his mane near crest.The other day I was fussing with it to get the globs of mud out and he swung his neck around and clacked his teeth in warning. Being an appendix, he's so sensitive! He's usually compliant with many things, he even seems to enjoy having his ears clipped--go figure-- but was downright cranky about this spot as I ran my fingers through the hair.
So, I'm working on him, and Lady in the stall beside his, takes little peeks at us and flicks her tail briskly--she's the one that usually gets the beauty treatment--how dare Forrest get special attention! I get the banding done and he looks a little pathetic, a few times shaking his neck at the odd sensation of his mane on this foreign side, and I'm feeling tonight, first thing tomorrow I should just say 'heck with this!' and pull out the bands and let his mane lay where it may, cause you know, sometimes bedhead hurts!
So, I'm working on him, and Lady in the stall beside his, takes little peeks at us and flicks her tail briskly--she's the one that usually gets the beauty treatment--how dare Forrest get special attention! I get the banding done and he looks a little pathetic, a few times shaking his neck at the odd sensation of his mane on this foreign side, and I'm feeling tonight, first thing tomorrow I should just say 'heck with this!' and pull out the bands and let his mane lay where it may, cause you know, sometimes bedhead hurts!
Amazon.com: Grooming To Win: How to Groom, Trim, Braid, and Prepare Your Horse for Show eBook: Susan E. Harris: Kindle Store
Amazon.com: Grooming To Win: How to Groom, Trim, Braid, and Prepare Your Horse for Show eBook: Susan E. Harris: Kindle Store
Have been waiting to get this manual for a long time. A must have for anyone's grooming box. I was disappointed that it didn't give a good suggestion for how to actually bang a tail and get it right.
best thing, I can loan this to other kindle users. Leave me a comment if your interested--show season is almost here!
Have been waiting to get this manual for a long time. A must have for anyone's grooming box. I was disappointed that it didn't give a good suggestion for how to actually bang a tail and get it right.
best thing, I can loan this to other kindle users. Leave me a comment if your interested--show season is almost here!
Feb 22, 2011
It's a Weather Roller-Coaster
It's crept up to almost 60 degrees this past week. Horses have been stuck in for at least five days because the ground is so saturated. They did get to go out Saturday, but yesterday we had the rain, then sleet, then rain again. Today was worse--50 degrees this morning and steady rain. I had to just stick my horses in the arena, clean their stalls, and stick them back in. It's been really rough and they are all getting pretty grouchy. Temps steadily dropped. By late afternoon, snow, then ice rain covering everything. When I got home I just curled up with my kindle, then took a nap. Were going back down to 11 to 14 degrees the next few mornings, then back to more moderate temps.
Feb 7, 2011
From Today
I'm attempting to get my horses out for some hay in the paddock, instead they just want to goof off.
Feb 5, 2011
Winter Blahs Not Always So Bad
It's been a real challenge this winter getting the horses out for even 10 minutes.Last week the whole perimiter was under a sheet of ice. We're at a nice barn but the layout doesn't provide for easy turnout --even when the weather's good. Having an indoor arena available is great, but since our barn is not attached, it can be treacherous trying to get into it. Most of my time lately has been spent ensuring my horses get out at sometime during the day so there has been very little time to devote to riding. That said, it's our groundwork that really gets ramped up when we can get to the arena. Seems my three are so thankful to get out of their stalls they offer me more of their attention-- they are actually interested in what we're doing! You know, they really partner up with me. I love that I can focus on refining my skills and technique-- less fumbling around with ropes and sticks that are never in the right place when I need them, and my horses sure appreciate getting clearer communication from me as I get better. We are having a lot of fun and I find myself loving and appreciating my horses more for the creatures they are and the things they offer me--I'm so glad they are a part of my life. So, the winter blahs have been a good thing in a way, as during the long grey days shut in at home, I find myself reflecting on what we've been able to accomplish despite the limitations.
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