Two New Horses Join Kids Horsin' Around

Two new horses join Kids Horsin' Around:
Sammy is a 13 yr Purebred Chestnut Arabian Mare.

Her friend Dali (my spelling, because I'm a big fan of Salvador Dali; her name might actually be "Dolly") is a 3/4 Arab with a touch of American Quarter Horse (a quarter, to be exact!). Also a fiery Chestnut mare and 9 years old.

Dali's pictures are the top two; Sammy the bottom two.

Oh...and there's more...I'll write about that tomorrow!!

Nasty Gashes and When to Definitely Call the Vet

Ok, here's something new I learned yesterday when we called the vet out to have a look at the nasty gash on Jack's cannon bone: this cut, shaped like a "V" should have had stitches. We work on it for a few days, wrapping, cleaning, prepping - thinking the flap would die off, new growth and healing would all take place quite naturally. However, when the flap is like this, blood still flows down to through the entire flap and it never dies, so it needs to be re-attached correctly. A flap like an "A" i.e. point up, would die off because there would be no blood flow to the flap!! Makes sense!!

Bottom line - we should have call the vet on this one right away.

Live and learn...

Los Vallecitos Riders Open Schooling Show

Early morning was overcast and cool - a perfect day for a horse show. Several families and friends from Kids Horsin' Around made the early morning trek to the Walnut Grove Equestrian Park in San Marcos, CA for the Los Vallecitos Riders final 2009 Open Show Series.




Jesskia and Erin spent Saturday night washing and grooming Tango and Flash - Tango to show; Flash was going along for the "show experience" and had to look his best.

Both horses look awesome - Tango's mane was beautifully waved from the braids. And even with his winter coat coming in, Flash still shined radiantly.

Tango did his first "walk/trot English equitation" class very calmly; the second class, "walk/trot English pleasure" he was showing signs of agitation, and he seemed to have a sore back when touched. Jessika applied "Sore No More" and an ice pack to his back when we got home.

What we need to work on:

1. Jessika needs to develop strength in her left leg.
2. Tango needs to have more show exposure - he still gets too excited.
3. Tango needs to work on correct bend when tracking right.
4. Tango needs more work on transitions within each gait.

We also found out about an upcoming event that we'd like to attend, "The Night of the Arabian Horse" at the Casner Ranch in Temecula on September 19th.

Next show, Southern California Professional Horseshow Association, is scheduled for September 27, 2009 at the Camp Pendleton Ace Brown rodeo grounds.

And I just realized I put this on the wrong blog!! LOL! It should be on the Kids Horsin' Around blog....oh, well...

You Can Take the Horse Out of the Show Jumping Arena, But...

...you can't take the jump out of the horse!
Tommy Boy was in the arena for a little work out - free lounging - and he just started jumping! Watch him go, this horse is lovin' it! If you remember, Tommy Boy is an ex-champion jumper who, after injuring his front legs, was retired. When we got him, (5 years later) he was still lame, and not doing too much. We brought him home, changed his diet, took off his shoes, and let him round around barefoot in a large turn-out while we treated his hooves for various problems. He's got a new pair of shoes on now, and what a difference!

Thanks Donnie, for catching this on your phone!! It's so cool to see him out jumping like this!!

Life Goes on at the Barn...

Sometimes there is just so much going on an so little time (and energy) to write about it. But I thought I should at least catch you up on the last few days...

Well...at the suggestion of some parents at Kids Horsin' Around, we decided to set up a petting zoo. Yep, that's right...more critters. Cute and noisy!

Jack and Tommy got shoes. (More about that later.)

The chiropractor, Dr. Allen, came today to adjust Jack and Harley. Both horses were well behaved, licking and chewing as the doctor went about his adjustments.

Jack's back, along the loin, was particularly tender; he got a whole body adjustment, plus a neurolymphatic reflex point message at the girth, right behind the elbow and by the last ribs (corresponds to acupressure points in the horses.) Procedure we are to repeat once a day.

Harley was another story: his left front hoof does this "fling-thing" - it kind of flips out to the side when he walks, creating a gait that is not smooth. Dr. Allen did a whole body adjustment, and found that his ligaments in his front forelegs is very loose, too loose! He recommended "Ligaplex" for a month. Plus front leg stretches at least three times a day, for very stiff, "popping" shoulders. And neurolymphatic reflex point messages on both points, both sides. Follow-up visit in one month.

Both horses need more workouts, especially straight trots. Well, I guess that means we need to get them on the daily street trail rides...doctors orders!

Oh...I found a nice site that gives great stretches for horses..."carrot stretches"!! Try it!! You and your horse will like it!!