Backyard Horse and Rider

What kind of person has the Nerve to post this on Craigslist?!?

2011-09-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

.....the same kind of person who would consider killing their family horse because it is no longer useful to them.

This kind of stuff really pisses me off. This pony obviously served her family very well, and now that she is not longer useful to them, they are going to have her killed!!! And to make matters worse, these cowardly people decide to play upon the emotions of the horse loving community!

arghhhhh!!!!!

FREE PONY or be put down UPDATE! (Weare, NH)

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Date: 2010-07-10, 9:39AM EDT
Reply to: sale-pe2dv-1835339911@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

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I have someone who has committed to take her on 7/19. Thank you ALL who has offered to help. There are a lot of very loving people out there. (Apparently, you are not one!!)

Welsh/TB Mare Approx 12 yrs, 14 hands, Blue Roan. Been diagnosed with soft tissue damage in front right hoor, needs 6 months to a year of stall rest. Will let you talk to vet. She's a GREAT mare, very loving. She's done Pony Hunters in 07 & 08. Daughter went on to horses but rode her consistantly. Too nice of a pony to put down, PLEASE help this pony.

•Location: Weare, NH
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

I'm back....

2011-09-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since my last post. Many things going on - major life changes, which I won't go into, but life is back on track (sort of) and I'm feeling the urge to blog! Yipee!! My next post will be some interesting facts picked up from the recent National Geographic. Stay tuned....

Idiots on Craigslist

2010-06-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

FREE 30 year old arab mare (imperial beach)
Date: 2010-06-26, 1:07AM PDT
Reply to: sale-w6zpa-1811769954@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

She is 14.2 hands still rideable does everything. Free to good home got a new horse and can't afford two horses.

* Location: imperial beach
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 1811769954

So, idiot, why'd ya buy a new horse?

With Jack...It's Always Something.....

2010-06-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday we had a Junior Girl Scout Troop in from Pacific Beach to earn their "Horse Fan" Badge. During one of the activities, we bring out Jack, a very quiet and complacent horse, to take weight & height measurements; listen to heart & gut sounds; and record respiration. It was during this little workshop that we notice Jack had a nasty gash on his...and here's the technical term...armpit! Called the doctor on call, who soon arrived to fix him up. Of course, I wouldn't miss an opportunity to catch this on video!

What I like about this video, is that it shows so much "humanness" going on around: like the doctor's phone ringing "American Beauty"; then one of his kids, that he brought with him, quietly announces he has to go to the bathroom! And then, you hear text massages coming in on my iPhone! All in the space of 30 seconds!

Then, the doctor asks me to "use both hands" i.e. stop videoing and put the camera down!! to hold the horse while he stitches him up. Thus ends my epic documentary on "just an other day in the life of horse-human non-parallel relationships".

Chicks Love Horses......

2010-04-09T09:56:00.001-07:00

I know, generally speaking, chicks love horses, but the whole senario laid out in this email to me is disturbing...

"KIDS LOVE BABY CHICKS (but do they love to take care of big chickens, which is what baby chicks grow into? From my own past experiences, the answer is "NO")
SO MUCH FUN TO RAISE
GREAT BACK YARD BUSINESS, RAISE YOUR OWN FRESH EGGS (They are alot of work and money - if done right - and NOT a great backyard business; besides, you don't raise eggs.) We ship in 2 days from the hatching date, best customer service
Call Today to place your order
1-888-800-1778

START YOUR OWN BUSINES RAISING CHICKENS
WE SHIP NATIONWIDE, ALL STATES
LAS VEGAS HORSE WORLD & HATCHERY (Las Vegas Horse World and Hatchery?!?!?!) 9461 S. DECATUR
LAS VEGAS, NV 89139"

ATCHA Goes for Guiness World Record - You Can Join Us!

2010-03-24T22:11:00.001-07:00

From Ingrid LeMasters:
"I\'m sending this to all riders who helped with our TIER fundraising CTC on March 13. ACTHA has registered with the Guinness Book of World Records to stage the largest 1-day trail riding competition on record. This is ACTHA\'S announcement and description of the event: \"IT\'S OFFICIAL, GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS HAS ACCEPTED OUR APPLICATION TO SET A WORLD RECORD FOR THE LARGEST ONE DAY TRAIL RIDING COMPETITION...EVER! (Actually maybe the largest trail ride ever...gotta check the Punic wars!) ACTHA, with the marketing assistance of the Humane Soceity of the United States, will be sanctioning at least one ride, in every state....ON THE SAME DAY! That day is June13th, 2010! Mark your calendars and be part of history! Over 2,500 trail riders and their mounts will be RIDING FOR THE RESCUES!!! It\'s too early to give you many more details but I do know we\'ll be having a special sign up page at www.actha.us to keep the attempt organized and to comply with Guinness\'s observer rules and certifications. Your local media will be covering your ride as well. I also know ACTHA will have some pretty exciting options for you when you sign up! So far we\'re talking about commemorative belt buckles very attractively priced thanks to ACTHA sponsor Molly\'s Custom Silver! Also you will be able to sign up for a certificate from Guinness commemorating your attempt and another if we are successful! Most importantly we hope to raise over $100,000 for horses in dire need NOW! In one day! That\'s the power of the Trail Rider and the \"not JUST a trail horse anymore\" horses of ACTHA!!! All ride proceeds, even your local rider managers fees are going into the Rescue Pot! (Make sure you give your local ride manager a good pat on the back!) But you\'ll still be riding for the $1,200 in ACTHA Bucks at every event! And heaven knows what our sponsors are going to come up with as extras!\" **** I\'ve registered a ride with ACTHA for that date, and am co-hosting it at Marshall Canyon in La Verne with Richard & Carmen of Oak Knoll Ranch. Richard was actually the first California affiliate to reserve the date, but he has agreed to move his event north and combine our rides, to avoid conflicting with a joint ACTHA/CSHA competition that is scheduled for the same weekend. If you aren\'t competing in Anza on the 12th -13th of June, I\'d like to invite you to participate in the SoCal Guinness Ride with us. Details are available on the ACTHA ride page (there is not a separate page for this project, yet)."

Trail Ride Treasure Hunt

2010-03-19T21:24:00.001-07:00

More Riding Instructor Scams

2010-03-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

Here's another scam....

"Hello Instructor,
Its good to see your riding instructor service here online and i have to tell you i will be glad to have an insight on your coaching and how my son can get riding instruction there next month when he is back in the state.
I will like to know the duration for the training while i bring to your notice that he is 15yrs but growing passion for riding sense outrageously. I think your riding instruction service will be of a great help.He is a curious learner with submissive mind when corrected.He's got other skills related to gymnastics naturally and i can see i should help him develop this gift through your teaching service.
Get back to me with the following.....
Duration:
Tuition fee for the tutor:
your full names:
Addresses:
Tel:
Zip:
NOTE:I want you to note that i will pay the tution with a check or money order you will receive prior my son's arrival in the locality of your riding institute.
Looking forward to read from you soon.
Dr Dullah"

I would hate to see anyone fall for these!

Riding Instructor SCAMS!!

2010-03-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is a scam....

"Hello,
My Name is Karen Morris.
I got your contact displayed on a website while surfing for an instructor for my 16yrs old Daughter.
My daughter will be vacationing in the US for 3 month starting from April 2010,so therefore I want to secure your services in giving my Daughter some sporting instructions during her stay there.
So to that effect,I will like to know your pricing and schedule as regards the lesson?
Waiting your response.
Regards
Karen"

...don't get caught!

Jumping Bloopers

2010-02-01T23:37:00.001-08:00

Oh My! Don't these look painful??

Southern California Rainy Day

2010-01-24T18:13:00.001-08:00

Bring on the Rain!!! (...or "Look What I Got Today!")

2009-12-23T16:55:00.000-08:00

Almost every time it rains, I loose some hay. Either bottom hay gets muddy and molds or top hay gets rained on and molds. So today, I got this cargo container delivered! I'm so excited...water and rodent proof and holds 100 bales of hay!! Yipee!

Yeah, I know it's ugly, but boy, is it functional! (Plus it's a nice little wind breaker for Jack!)

Highly recommend it, and I don't know why I didn't think about it sooner - could have saved a lot of money on moldy hay and rotting chicken scratch.

This one was delivered by Allied Containers in San Diego, who were really great to work with. (I do not recommend Aztec Containers, whom I initially dealt with, but they never return calls, never followed up on promised information, and when ever I talked with them, they didn't have a clue that we'd ever spoken before!! After two weeks of this run around, I switched and got immediate service from Allied Containers.)

Drop off and pick-up is $95 each way and you must pay this fee up front, plus one month's rent which is $65/month. So total today, with taxes, was $260.

Now all I have to obsess about when it rains is the horses standing in mud!

Mud Season is Upon us!

2009-12-13T19:11:00.000-08:00

Last night, the wind blew the tarp off my mountain of hay bales. I recently spent over $800 on 60 bales; they were all neatly stacked and covered with a tarp. They had already suffered damage from the muddy ground and were molding on the bottom bales; and last night the wind and rain took it's toll again! When I went down this morning the hay bales were uncovered and soaking wet!! Waaaaaa!!! I hate the rain!!!!

Tomorrow, at the urging of Robert, I will call Aztec Containers and rent a small cargo container to store my hay in. Won't take much for it to pay for itself.

Here's a picture of my muddy white horse (Tommy Boy) this morning. I was too distraught to take a picture of the hay!! (Actually, I just didn't think about it...maybe tomorrow...)

More Scams from Total Idiots Aimed at the Horse Industry

2009-11-13T17:49:00.000-08:00

I got this email today...

"Hello There,
I'm Brian White from Los Angeles CA,I am moving down to your state (Down to your state???? Didn't Brian say he was from Los Angeles, CA??? Duh?! Maybe a news report should know his geography) and i will like to board my horse willie for four months before they get my barn done,i am a news reporter and i got busy schedules (If he's a news report, don't you think he'd know English grammer a little better?!?!) with travelling to gather news information, I have the coggin and health certificate,i will need a full stall boarding or a pasture for the four months,Let me know the price and any other requirement ... Boarding Date: 12/05/09 Let me know if you will be able to accomodate my horse with any available space.pls get back to me with price per month..
Looking forward to read from you

Regards
Brian"

OMG!! Can you believe this? It's right up there with the millions of dollars I'm waiting for from a long lost relative's closest friend who died of complications from lingering cancer in Nigeria!! HA!!!

It's Always Something with Horses!

2009-11-10T22:47:00.000-08:00

So....here's Jack happily playing in the water during his first ever trail ride to Santa Margarita River...

(Some of you may have already seen this video because as soon as I upload it to YouTube it feeds into Facebook and a myriad of other ethereal locations.)

A mere 4 hours later, we've got the top head honcho vet called from his supper to treat Jack for "colic"!! No joke! This same horse playfully pawing the pool this afternoon, was writhing on the ground this evening! At one point (the point I decided to call the doctor) he fell to the ground, his eyes rolled up into his head, upper lipped curled and legs splayed straight out - almost like he was convulsing!
Dr. Colburn (who did not sign a media release so you will not be seeing his cheery face here tonight; no, he will not be claiming his fame on "Backyard Horse and Rider" blogspot! like his colleague Dr. Bender from last night!! LOL! I should own stock in their company!) gave Jack a sedative, listened to gut sounds and a few other things vets do for a colicky horse - final diagnosis - gas!! Yes...gas!

I wonder if he got it from drinking the water at Santa Margarita River?

Night Time with the Vet

2009-11-09T20:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday - Challenge, a 20 yr old Arabian gelding, come out of the upper turn-out with a nasty wound to his right stifle. We thought it was a bite mark from the young interloper, Flash, who was out to steal Challenge's new gal pal, Dolly. Jessika cleaned and dressed the wound and put Challenge to bed in his own paddock to recoup.

Today - Wound not doing any better and on closer inspection looks more like a puncture wound. Challenge moves lamely, dragging right hind hoof, and the stifle area is swollen and tender to touch.

Vet is called out and arrives pronto. Dr Bender who loves a "challenge" works deftly in the dark and even stops to strike a pose for the iphone video. He knows his work will be all over YouTube tonight (I made him sign a waiver)

Challenge is given standing sedation before doc begins poking around, but it is apparent he can still feel quite a bit!! And he's not liking it!! Especially when doc pokes his finger in the wound and moves it around looking for foreign debris (or a rise from the audience)

Yes, I know this video goes on for seven and a half minutes....in the dark...in the gore...

But you don't want to miss..
0:58 doc hams it up and strikes a pose
1:27 doc sticks his finger in the hole (up to his wrist?!)

Anyhow...seems Challenge impaled himself on a stake in the turn-out.

Ok, pics of the wound tomorrow in broad day light!!

Clues to Equine Narcolepsy?

2009-11-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

It seems that many horse people I run into have a tale or two to tell about a narcoleptic horse. Up until a few weeks ago, I had never heard of such a thing - now it's about as common as thrush!!

A few days ago, while shopping in REINs tack shop, I met a friend who had her own story of narcolepsy - I add it here hoping to accrue pieces to a puzzling equine aliment.

The horse in question was her daughter's, brought to UC Davis and boarded there in the riding program. The horse began exhibiting odd behavior (falling over, unexplained cuts) and was brought into the UC Davis large animal veterinary clinic for testing and hopefully diagnosis (the horse had a great career in eventing). The horse was strapped up for testing and the owner was quieting him by messaging his gums when the horse fell into a narcoleptic fit! He was promptly diagnosed with narcolepsy much to the excitement of attending vets. About the only thing else that showed up under mountains of testing was the horse had a calcium deficiency. This horse was 17 years old, never had any signs of narcolepsy until he was moved to UC Davis and diagnosed with a calcium deficiency.

A piece to the puzzle or totally nonsequitur....you decide!

Why Tattoos on a Horse Blog??

2009-10-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

Because, it's a tattoo of horses, of course!! And not just any horses!! As you can see, they have the Celtic knots - so they're Irish Horses! Yeah!!! And see all those freckles on my back?? Guess what? I'm Irish, too!!! Yeah!!!

Technically, this blog is about "Horse and Rider" (so, I'm the rider) and three of my horses already have their own tattoos!!! (LOL!!)

I have another year and a half until my second son turns 18 and I promised him I'd get a tattoo with him, too!!! Time to forget the pain! (My daughter said, "no way!", but she's only 11)

Certainly, alot of women are getting tattoos. I hadn't really given it much thought until the day before my son's 18th birthday, when he announced he was getting a tattoo for his birthday and would I like to get one with him? Fool, I said "yes" and he held me to it.

So, here's what the illustrious Drew Barrymore had to say about getting tattoos - oh, the sheer exhilaration of it - "I let him do it. And it felt so good. God, that pain is like nothing else in the world. And it's so sexual, too, you know? I mean, after it's done you just want to go and drive a car off a cliff or something, you know?" (huh?!)

Well, I'll agree with the pain thing, but the sex and driving a car off the cliff??!! Come on, Drew!!! I don't know...does any body else agree with Drew?

Pretty Girl Dolly, Going Through Her Paces

2009-10-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

We've had Dolly going on two months now. She came to us with a friend, Sammy. Dolly is a 9 year old 3/4 Arab, 1/4 Quarter Horse; chestnut and beautiful. She has been recovering from an abscess, and seems to be doing fine, now. She's been out on trail twice in the last week, and it was a challenge to get her to cross water. However, she's a fast learner and is going through deep water now with barely a hesitation. She's jumpy and doesn't really trust her riders, although she likes people very much.
In the arena, where much of the training goes on, she picked up free lounging quickly, then lounge line, but she always had a very pronounced counter bend i.e. she'd always be looking to the outside of the circle she was on, instead of flexing slightly inward at the poll. So, here she is, her first day in side reins....

She's looking so much better! Although not all together yet, she's much more collected, with her head down, slightly flexed inward, and back up. You can see she struggles to hold her frame. She's out of shape and being asked to use muscles that haven't been used in awhile! Very smart horse - she'll get it.
Oh, and my farrier says she the best prospect for endurance riding. (He didn't have much good to say about Harley - "weak stifles; narrow base"; nor Sammy, my other Arab, who has "duck feet" and is still resting up from pulled ligament.)

Jack Has Narcolepsy!!

2009-10-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

In my never ending quest to help Jack, I called in a new chiropractor (that I met "by chance" - nothing is by chance! - at the Bonsall Farmers' Market last week) in hopes that she would be able to find just the right spot that will help pull Jack out of his spiraling doldrums.

Well...I do think Dr. Fletcher solved a very important part of the puzzle to Jack's continuing listlessness, dull coat...depression!

Watch the video....!

Dr. Fletcher continued mulling over Jack's condition long after she left the barn - as did I - and here is input from the "Facebook" consortium:

"O.K. Today I saw a beautiful young Thoroughbred that I'm 99% sure has narcolepsy. This is the 3rd horse I've seen with narcolepsy (2 with definitive diagnoses), yet this is supposed to be pretty rare in equines. Anyone else have any experiences with narcolepsy in horses?

Narcolepsy is an incurable, nonprogressive central nervous system disorder characterized by abnormal sleep tendency including excessive daytime sleepiness. In narcolepsy muscle relaxation intrudes abruptly into wakefulness. This muscle weakness produces a collapse, or cataplexy, which is the most obvious sign of narcolepsy. The disease is seen in horses of all ages. Although complete attacks occur, most horses remain standing, with their heads hanging and resting close to or on the ground. Complete attacks may occur and result in the horse lying on its side with flaccid limbs. These episodes last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. The horse appears completely normal following these sleep attacks with no residual neurologic deficits.

Sleep deprivation is often mis-diagnosed as narcolepsy. In narcoleptic horses, the sudden onset of REM sleep usually occurs during periods of inactivity--while the horse is in his stall, at pasture, or standing relaxed in a run-in shed. Typically, the horse will drop his head quite low and spread his front legs for balance while his hindquarters sag. The horse's eyes might be closed or half-open, and movement (REM) is visible. Most horses remain standing during attacks, but some, particularly ponies, sit on their haunches and might roll on their sides. Attacks can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes.

REM Sleep
REM sleep can only be achieved when lying down. Horses that either can’t or won’t lie down may be at risk for sleep deprivation. Dr. Joe Bertone, Professor of Equine Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences, studies sleep deprivation. He reports that horses need between 30 and 60 minutes of REM sleep each day, and that after 7 to 14 days of being deprived of this sleep will begin to fall asleep (collapse) at odd times, without notice. If your horse shows signs of sleep deprivation, check:his/her ability to lie down physically. Is he in pain? Does he have trouble getting up?
His environment. Is it always noisy? Hectic? Loud?
Emotional issues. Too nervous to lie down? Afraid of not being able to rise?"

"....If Jack startles awake every time he tries to take a nap so that he doesn't lose his balance or go down from his "stay apparatus" being overridden, just think how sleep-deprived he must be....he may be going around in pretty much a "fog" most of the time." Oh, poor Jack!!! That does sound just like him!!!

Search "YouTube" and you can find other videos of narcoleptic horses!

After all we've done to try to help Jack, this definitely makes all the pieces to the puzzle fall neatly together. As bad as I feel for Jack, it's great to know we finally (probably) have a clue what's wrong with him!!

Now...what can we do about it?!

Two New Horses Join Kids Horsin' Around

2009-09-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-09-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

...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...

2009-09-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

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!!

Jack's X-ray.....hmmmm.....What Now?!?!

2009-08-06T05:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we called in the big guns today. Jack is lame and wouldn't even walk down a small hill - apparently too painful to put weight on front of hoof.

The hoof that is really giving him problems is the front right (x-ray on left). You can see the coffin bone looks misshapen. (See above cross sectional of hoof for location of bones) Compare it to the coffin bone in the left hoof (Right x-ray). A look on the outside of Jack's hooves and the casual observer would know they are messed up!

But it's not just his feet! Jack's coat continues to get duller and bleached out spots are showing up; he's slow and lethargic; sweats standing still! Is that any way for a four year old thoroughbred to act?

We are still searching for answers. There must be a piece to the puzzle we just aren't seeing! Tomorrow, the doctor will come out and draw blood: once in the AM and once in the PM and test for insulin resistance and Cushings.

I'm still left with the current immediate dilemma of whether to shoe or not shoe. Vet says put shoes on (and this will help the symptoms of lameness); barefoot trimmer says "No! It would only be covering up the problem."

There's more going on than lameness here. So what would you do? Do you believe shoes can cure symptoms of horse lameness issues with no long term repercussions? Should we forget about his other symptoms (of lethargy, dull coat) if he can be made to walk ok? Or do we try to get to the root of the problem, no matter how long (or potential painful to the horse) and find out what's going on in this horse, thereby curing his hoof problems? Have you ever had to deal with this kind of situation?

Schooling Show at Los Vallecitos Riders

2009-08-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today was Tango and Jesskia's first schooling show and they were both did such a great job! We got up early this morning and headed over to San Marcos (CA) for the Los Vallecitos Riders Open Schooling Show.

They were in a tough category (riders 18 yrs. and older) with seasoned riders! As you can see, they looked great and came away with some ribbons to prove it!

Couple of areas we need to work on back home in the training arena...

We might try a dropped, fla sh or figure eight nose-band on Tango, or even a different (maybe Myler) bit, because he keep chewing and chewing his bit!! (and, yes, he just had his teeth done so that's no excuse!)

And, he was pretty excited so it was difficult to distinguish between "trot" and "extended trot" - they both looked about the same speed - fast! I think as Tango becomes accustomed to shows he'll relax and enjoy it more. But transitional work within each gait should be part of his on-going training schedule.

Schooling shows are a fun change of pace for both rider and horse, and challenge them to develop a wider range of abilities and deeper confidence in themselves.

Congratulations to Jessika and Tango!

Zim - On-Going Training...

2009-07-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

We continue to work with Zim, especially in jumping. He'll make a darling Junior Hunter, don't you agree? He loves to jump!!

One of the problems we're having with Zim and his half brother Flash is they are small ponies and it makes them more difficult to train, especially jumping! Generally speaking, the children that are small enough to ride Flash & Zim are not advanced enough for jumping; and those people that know how to jump, are generally too big for them!! So keeping them both trained and in condition is challenging!

Here, you see Jessika working Zim with a flag, dragging a plastic bag filled with rattling tin cans, and free-jumping (Zim's favorite!)

But, we're always on the look-out for that small special someone who can bring Zim & Flash along in their jumping careers!

Know of anyone?

French Intern Arrives at Kids Horsin' Around

2009-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Our French intern has arrived and she's really wasting no time getting to work! She helps out in every way, from training, to barn chores - she does it all.

Gaia Qiugnard is a second year student at LaSalle Beauvais Polytechnic in Beauvais , France, where she is working towards her Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Managment.

And she has a passion for horses! She has been riding since the age of eight and has obtained Galop 6 in the French Federation of Equitation.

As you can see, she really knows how to get Max to step out!

Gaia has also been helping out with lessons and even taught our summer "Mom & Me" how to play "one, two, three, Redlight" in French! The kids loved it!!

She's getting real knowledgeable on barefoot trimming, as she's always helping out when Joanna, our holistic horse person comes around.

She loves to take alot of pictures, too and she's blogging about her time in California, so you can follow Gaia on her own blog (it is in French, though, so good luck reading it!) You'll be seeing lot's more of her here! We are really enjoying working with her! Gaia comes to Kids Horsin' Around through a foreign intern program, the Council on International Education Exchange, (CIEE) and is here to learn about equestrian school management, schooling, training and lesson programs.

"Grand Vite" - Jack Will Still Need to Drink "Monster" Energy

2009-07-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

Picked up Grand Meadows Grand Vite this morning after reading the guaranteed analysis of all the supplements in Hawthorne Feed Store, Escondido, CA! This one seemed to have the closest match to what Jack appears to be missing in his diet vis-a-vis amino acids. Does not have L-glutamic acid or Taurine. But it has many other good things. We'll see. Joanna is concerned about the sugar content and dried cane molasses is the third ingredient on the list. (Why do they do that!?!? Can't they leave sugars out - I think I'll write them a letter. Way too many horse feed formulators add sugars unnecessarily and much to the detriment of the horses' health!!!)

This formula claims "comprehensive full spectrum performance formula - advanced support for balanced nutrition."

We'll see.....

Kinesiology Evaluation of Jack

2009-07-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

We have all been very concerned about Jack's deteriorating state of body and mind. He's becoming even more sluggish, his coat is dull; his demeanor is grouchy. His feet are becoming more tender as the healing in his laminae and sole slowly progresses.

Today, with the help of Amanda, her grandmother and Joanna, we performed a kinesiology, or muscle testing, evaluation to see if we could get some more insight into his condition.

What we uncovered in an hour or so of the evaluation was illuminating.

When we focused on issues of diet, we got back that he was deficient in certain amino acids; L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, (lack of this contributes to personality disorders), L-lysine and Taurine (hey, wow! that's in my Monster Energy drink). Everything else in his diet was ok, except he should not be getting the flax seeds, no "Red Cell" and stop Ranitidine - he doesn't have ulcers.

We will be looking at ways to add these missing amino acids to his diet. Preferably, a whole food source, such as Brewer's Yeast will work. If not, an amino acid supplement will be added to his beet pulp mash.

Physically, he walks poorly because of the laminitis (which we are addressing almost daily) - he needed a massage on the front pasterns; which we did.

Emotionally - he exhibited a "thyroid emotion" of fearfulness. After more evaluation, it came out that his point of fearfulness began when he was accidentally let out of his paddock by a careless gardener. He ran around the property, quite in a panic, and his right hind leg fell into a 6x6 drain hole trapping him momentarily creating several nasty gashes on his leg. I remember the day this incident happened, thinking he seemed totally panicked about being outside, alone with no supervision! He was running around frantically looking for help, or so it felt to me, when I found him. He was happy to see me and came right up to me. He was sweaty and shaking and bleeding. All the other horses, of course, had been stirred up into quite a tizzy, racing back and forth in their paddocks, contributing to Jack's confusion.

He needed to be reassured that this would never happen again.

Because of this incident, his nervous system was always in a state of fear; mentally he is in a hyper state of "fight or flight"; he is wearing himself out in his mind and it has created chronic fatigue in his body. Just standing still, he sweats! (and frets!) It is also interesting to note that when I had blood work done on him a few months ago (worried about his deteriorating condition and odd, lethargic behavior for a 3 yr. old Thoroughbred!) it came back that he had hyperthyroidism!! It was so incongruous to me that a horse so slow and sluggish could have hyperthyroidism! The doctor could not explain it, either. I never did get a good answer on that one!

I was told to put Rescue Remedy in his water, which I promptly did!

Also, as mentioned earlier, he doesn't have ulcers now, but he did have an ulcer from the drain pipe incident, which healed.

He is so out of balance internally, no wonder he looks a wreck on the outside. Poor guy! We'll be working to bring him into a balanced state with the addition of the missing amino acids and the Rescue Remedy in his water.

Tommy Boy Gets the Boot!

2009-07-17T20:59:00.001-07:00

Tommy Boy gets more hoof work done. He's still pretty lame; alot of thrush and infection in the laminae and white line, so Joanna proposed a more aggressive treatment. We treated his front and back hooves with Clean Trax. If you read about it, the compound sounds very impressive and treatment is in both the liquid and vapor phases of the material. It is very labor intensive and requires two to three people to work it.

First, the chemical must be keep cool, and Southern California in the summer makes that challenging alone! We kept it in the refrigerator until ready to mix.

Ready, mix! - One gallon of water to one bottle of Clean Trax. Pour into the treatment boot, and put a clean front hoof into it! Easier said than done. Like I said, helps to have a lot of hands around for this job - and a cooperative horse, like Tommy Boy! After both hooves are settled into the bag, some one must stay with the horse to be sure he doesn't move for 45 minutes while he soaks!

When the 45 minutes are up, the treatment soaking bags are moved to the back hooves and the front hooves get plastic baggie booties so the vapor phase can continue to work on the front hooves.

That's Gaia and Jessika working to get the back boot on Tommy. They had the hard job! I volunteer to sit with him during the 45 minute treatment!!

So here's Tommy Boy in full treatment regalia! Back boots are now duct taped on (where would we be with out our duct tape!!) He was not so happy about having another 45 minutes on the back and tried to kick them off.

Plastic bags duct taped on the front hooves. When 45 minutes were up, the treatment boots were removed from the back hooves, the solution now spent, was dumped out. Back hooves were then wrapped in plastic baggies for vapor phase of treatment (45 minutes).

Tomorrow, treatment continues with Stalosan F, sole support impression material and hoof casting.

What Kinda Stress Could They Possibly be Suffering From??!?

2009-07-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

So Jack's back on ulcer medicine - Ranitidine 11 tabs twice a day. He was treated about half a year ago when he started showing signs of gastric ulcers i.e. grinding his teeth, weight loss, dull coat, picking at feed. One month of Ranitidine and he improved tremendously. Lately though, his mood has been awful (down right grumpy!! Way out of character for him!), coat very dull and he's getting very thin. So back on Ranitidine two days ago and already I see a difference in his coat and attitude!

Max is also on Ranitidine twice a day since his episode with what appeared to have been gastric ulcers, although we never made it as far to get the endoscopy. The Gastrogard we gave him for a week and a half seemed to cure him of what ever it was he was suffering from.

To get the horses to take the eleven pills twice a day is not that easy. You can't just ram them down their throat like you might do with a dog. Twice each day I have to:

Grind the pills in a mortar and pestle
Soak the grinds in hot water to dissolve
mix in 1/4 cup molasses, grated carrots and apples
the above mixture is then added to soaked beet pulp & alfalfa pellets
then add Biotin Plus (for coat & hooves)
and Probiotics

Phew!! And all I had to do to get my kids to take their medicine was have the pharmacist add bubblegum flavor!!!

Arab Horse Lovers - Take a Look!

2009-06-26T17:53:00.001-07:00

Looked at this horse today. Reserved Champion, did halter show, arena work, then endurance.

Here he is today, at 10 yrs., considering him as a competitive trail horse (NATRC).

Max just can't cut it.

Clicker Training Horses to Take Their Meds!

2009-06-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

When I moved horses into a larger turn-out together, I ran into the problem of dosing specific products in appropriate amounts to individual horses. I had to address the feeding of Solitude IGR pretty quickly, because any break in that product and the flies would start breeding like....flies!!! Living in a residencial area with ten horses requires a certain amont of tact and vigilance with regards to smells & flies!

The solution was pretty easy: a doggie treat pouch and clicker! Everyday I strap the doggie treat bag filled with Solitutde IGR onto my belt and go into the turn-out. I call each horse by name, and when the named horse comes to me he gets a "click" and a treat (his fly meds! -yum!) This is working really well! At first, I had a crowd of horses around me, but now they wait their turn!

Flies....................................................................0 (almost!)
Solitude IGR (60 lbs x $285/20 lbs)........$855 (does anybody know a cheaper way to get rid of flies!!??)

Horses in new turn-out.

Tommy Boy - Feelin' Better! Lame horse kicks up his heels again!

2009-06-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Holly was here today to work with the horses.

She decided to give Tommy Boy a bath - he needed it! And being white (grey!) and a past show horse, he was good for his bath - though he did get a little nervous.

After, when we put his sheet on and then the hooded sleazy, he got very nervous! I think he thought he was going to a show!

He sure looked good enough!

Tommy Boy in the arena, kicking up his heels........

Does this look like a horse who could barely walk yesterday!!?? Look at him go! Towards the end of the clip, you can see his lameness becomes evident a little bit.

Max - holding his own in new turn-out

2009-06-19T22:41:00.000-07:00

The horses are really enjoying the new turn-out we recently built for them. It's about one quarter sloping acre with trees! The group that gets along best is Tango, Flash, Zim, Star, Sugar and Emmy. Jack gets in and tends to bully everybody - everybody ends up with bite marks on their backs. Tommy Boy was alittle too anxious when he went in, so we didn't leave him there alone yet - he's back in his roomy 24 x 24 paddock. Connor is too old and infirmed and even gets beaten up by the minis! Max was too sick up until a few days ago, but he's in there now and enjoys running with the herd. He still needs to add weight.

We're continuing to clear a path around the perimeter of the property to make a totally circular turnout so the horses can run continuously (and escape the bullies). I'll have to scan a blueprint of the proposed turnout. It's going to be very cool!!

Tommy Boy - Hoof Care w/EquiCast

2009-06-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

We worked on Tommy Boy's hooves this evening. Over the last several weeks, it's been evident that he is very sore and has difficulty walking. (He was on bute 3 times a week, and had joint injections prior to coming here - which wore off and left him struggling to move).

Left Front - his feet are practically flat due to false sole flush with wall - no concavity (1/4 inch depth at apex of frog); evidence of dropped coffin bone from chronic laminitis (He was wearing full shoes with pads on front when we got him about three weeks ago.) Sole sounded hollow when tapped. First, Joanna trimmed sole and frog, then packed with EquiPak CS (the neon blue stuff!). Adhere Equithane (black stuff) is then applied to hold a 3/4 inch foam pad in place on the hoof for added support while the hoof grows out. The whole hoof, pad and all, is wrapped in EquiCast. Entire procedure is repeated on the right front.

Right Front - again, sole appears flat; build up of sole is due to a combination of shoes and pads- there was nothing abrasive to naturally wear the sole. Possible causes are diet related, lack of circulation in hoof from limited movement, enzymatic and mechanical forces which all contribute to hoof wall failure. Peripheral loading is the mechanical force that tears the wall away from the coffin bone.. i.e. pressure or weight bearing on outer wall of hoof only; weight bearing not distributed to sole and frog as nature intended.

Tommy Boy will wear the EquiCasts for three weeks.

For more information on natural hoof care and hoof rehabilitation check Pete Ramey's website - Hoof Rehabilitation Specialists.

One Sweet Horse - Four Incredibly Bad Hooves!

2009-06-15T23:03:00.000-07:00

As you can see, Jack has quite the hooves! No wonder this poor guy was tripping over his feet constantly! We saw a huge difference when his four shoes came off a few weeks ago. At that time Joanna gave him a quick trim, and left his feet to settle in to their new feeling of freedom!!

Today she was back ready to continue trimming and shaping his hooves. It will be a long, slow process to bring his hooves back to a more natural, balanced, healthy state.

Left Front - very grossly misshaped - extreme flaring; laminar failure, stretching of the lamina. (Perhaps a mechanical failure due to over compensation from soreness in the right hoof) What is so pronounced is the heels are under run, weight of horse is moved forward; instead of being shared equally by sole/frog/wall. Weak walls - (sound hollow when tapped) - disconnected toe. This hoof measures 6 inches at it's widest; 6 1/2 inches long; 4 inch toe length; 3/8 inch sole depth. Joanna trimmed dead sole.

Right Front - Hoof wall is flared at toe and pulled away from wall by one inch!!! Disconnect! Totally infected white line. Will soak for 4 hours in a vinegar solution tomorrow, then pack with poultice.

Right Hind - very deep thrush in central frog; excessive sole and toe length. Also, notice how hoof has been shaped oddly pointing out! What is that, duck feet?! No wonder he can't walk!

Left hind - not so much thrush. I was so overwhelmed with information, and frustrated to see how badly his hooves had fared under shoes!

Backyard Horse - Yes! Rider - No!

2009-06-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

It seems forever since I've been riding, what with Max sick; Tommy Boy, Connor and (now) Jack on hoof convalescing; Star is over worked already, and Tango...well, if I just had more time! Mucking, lessons, parties, camps; planning, organizing - and that's just at the barn. I got a whole household to run with 2 teens and one pre-teen, (cats, dogs, birds....the noisiest, messiest, neediest Green-winged Macaw)

I wish I had more time...

Make that Dental Appointment (for your horse) Today!

2009-06-12T22:06:00.000-07:00

Get your horse's teeth floated at least once a year; more if you suspect dental problems might be at the core of training or behavioral issues.

A couple of things I learned this time around:

1. The term floating comes from the fact that once the teeth are properly rasped, the filing tool should "float" over the teeth.

2. Some Equine Dentist Specialist may go too far in smoothing and filing down the teeth. There needs to be some roughness and irregularities or the horse will be unable to effectively grind his food and it will dribble out.

3. In some states (not California) it is a felony for anyone other than a licenced veterinarian to float your horses teeth. And this is a big issue!!

4. In fact, there is a petition to keep it free and safe for non-veterinarian types of equine dentists to work on your horses teeth. (Read the petition - people are very passionate about the issues - although I think this petition has been allowed to languish.)

I've used a DVM that has specialized in Equine Dentistry and then I've used my regular vet to have dental work done. I've never actually used equine dentist that wasn't a DVM, but apparently there are alot out there!

5. If they ask you to hold the tongue to one side, you can ask for a discount! (you may not get it, but you can ask!)

Max - Almost All Better

2009-06-11T22:44:00.001-07:00

The GastroGard appears to have done the trick!! Good thing, too, because the next step was to take him to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital for a fiber-optic endoscope (Gastroscope). Wow!! And I thought the GastroGard was expensive!!!!

I did have a few offers of psychic readings - and I was honestly thinking seriously about that!! I was desperate to help Max!

Luckily, Max seems to have responded (slowly) to the GastroGard. He's eating his own food now, and he prefers the tender, green leaves of the alfalfa - I'll give him just about anything as long as he eats!! He probably lost 50 -75 lbs! Everything seems to be coming out the other end just fine, too!

Phew!!

Diatomaceous Earth -Everything Good...Nothing Bad

2009-06-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

Tired of rotational deworming? Or just like to try something that is perhaps less chemically invasive? less prone to resistant-buildup? In all my years of being around horses, and struggling to keep on a good deworming schedule or dealing with a horse (Max!!) that would rather flip over backwards (almost) than take a dewormer paste, I can't understand why nobody ever told me about diatomaceous earth as a mechanical/physical internal parasite control!!

This stuff does just about everything good and nothing bad!! You gotta love that!!!

Diatomaceous earth is the remains of microscopic one-celled plants (phytoplankton) called diatoms that lived in the oceans and lakes that once covered the western part of the United States. Apparently, it works by slicing open the internal parasite with microscopic razor sharp edges, then the powdery diatoms sucks the life out of the parasite leaving them dehydrated and dead!

I have started top dressing soaked beet pulp with one cup of diatomaceous earth for each horse. This is all part of my move away from processed, sugary feeds and towards formulating a more natural feed based on the horse's individual needs.

Up-date on Max

2009-06-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

Max is still on Gastroguard - sixth day now - and doesn't have the up and down, turning around episodes anymore! Yeah! He is still not eating much, and what little he does eat, he prefers to steal from his neighbors! He has a whole trough full of food untouched, yet he will squeeze his head through the pipe rails (at the expense of his beautiful mane) to pinch a bite from Connor's trough! There must be some psychological battles going on here as well!!

Horse People! Any Idea What's Wrong with this Horse?

2009-06-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, this looks like your standard case of colic, and he certainly is suffering from some sort of major stomach ache, but I don't think this is your typical "colic".

This horse does not have a history of colic.

Max is a 20 yr. old American Saddlebred; he's been in my care for 8 yrs. Prior to that, he was a lesson horse at L.A. Equestrian Center (or so I'm told). He's had a nice cushy life with me; I've used him on lazy trail rides, and low key arena work - he's high spirited and an alpha horse. Until recently, he was on Bermuda grass and Creekside Life Stages only. With the coming of Joanna the Holistic Natural Hoof Practitioner, his diet has been modified gradually over time to cut out sugars, and move more towards formulating for specific dietary needs, i.e. still mostly Bermuda grass with a mash of soaked beet pulp, biotin, sea kelp, Red Cell.

It started about three weeks ago...

He was out for a lesson and something just wasn't right - he's a fast, forward moving horse, and that day he was notably slow, sluggish...off!

He was put on paddock rest and observed. He hung his head and licked his lips alot. Doctor called out; vital signs all checked out good.

Within a few days, green snot began running out his left nostril. His stance was odd - he stood with his nose almost on the ground with his head tilted to one side. Doctor called out; again all vital signs checked out good, sinuses not terrible congested; and he was put on sulfur based antibiotic SMZ (Sulfamethoxazole 800 mg and Trimethoprim 160 mg) 16 tablets twice a day. In a few days, the green rheumy nose cleared up, but his stance got worse. His eating was off, he began to go down and lay completely flat several times a day. He was still passing good manure and still eating alittle.

Doctor called out; took a blood sample on June 1st (Max had hepatitis about three years ago with similar symptoms); I'm thinking maybe he has hepatitis again, 'coz he's just not getting any better! We got the results the same day - all blood levels normal! Vital signs still normal; gut sounds still fairly normal - considering he's now not eating and looking very gaunt! Doctor thinks maybe ulcers.

On June 2nd, yesterday, we started dosing Gastroguard. This video was taken today, after a second dose of Gastroguard. No improvement in his condition. He's up and down like this several times an hour; and stands with his head to the ground, tilted to one side. Not eating - no manure at all today.

I gave him Banamine tonight after calling the doctor; tomorrow we will oil him. I'm wondering if there is such a thing as chronic colic and if so, what causes it, or more importantly, how do you control it?

Has anybody had similar symptoms with a horse? And what did you do about it? It doesn't really seem like a standard colic, but what else is there that manifests like this?

Update on Max

2009-06-02T23:30:00.000-07:00

Test results on Max's blood work show no abnormalities; liver looks good, so not hepatitis. We're going to try Gastroguard for ulcers.
Max looks awful - he's up, then down completely supine, 2o times a day. He's not eating. Stomping. Looks very gaunt! I hope this Gastroguard works.

Don't Look A Gift Horse in the Mouth...

2009-06-02T22:28:00.000-07:00

Tommy Boy got his teeth done today. Dr. Bender of Creekside Veterinary Services was out late morning to do the honors. We were told his teeth hadn't been done in 4 - 5 yrs., and they were pretty sharp.

Couple of other noteworthy suppositions:

Judging by his teeth, he is more likely 20 yrs. old. Not an exact science, but fairly close.

Also, he may have suffered a broken lower jaw a some point in his life. The gap between his lower canine teeth and third incisors was much larger on the right side; it was also uneven side-to-side.

I'm thinkin' since he was a jumper, well, maybe he fell on his jaw!!

Not so! Could have been from cribbing and pulling back quickly from being startled (Has anyone ever had a horse break his jaw from cribbing?); or maybe he got kicked in the jaw by another horse. Anyhow, you can see from the photograph of his lower jaw how asymmetrical it is and I guess that's pretty atypical.

Tommy Boy meets Jack

2009-05-31T21:54:00.000-07:00

New Friends

We decided to introduce our new horse, Tommy Boy, to Jack. I think it went very well...
They are both OTTB (off the track Thoroughbreds i.e. they were race horses) although Tommy Boy's racing career was more successful than Jack's!
Jack is 3 yrs old and 17 hh
Tommy Boy is 16 yrs old and 16 hh
But I think they are going to be great friends, in spite of their age difference!

Good-bye Oleander! Hello Hawaiian Pizza!

2009-05-31T21:07:00.000-07:00

Spent almost the entire day trimming back poisonous Oleander bushes from the perimeter fence in the new turn-out. Husband Bob and daughter Kristin helped, as well as Jessika (who turns out to be quite the little task master!) and Donnie - thank goodness, because it was a tremendous amount of work. We trimmed back about 150 feet of shrub brush over hang; then meticulously raked up every old, dry Oleander leaf that had fallen along the fence line over the last 10 years. (It's extremely toxic - even the dry leaves!) When we thought we had gotten every last leaf, we brought out the leaf blower (and blew any remaining leaves back through the fence into the neighbor's yard - they are his trees, after all!!) I still felt like I should bring out my vacuum cleaner just to be sure.....

We loaded two truckloads of clippings, then order pizza for delivery.

I was happy to find that Jessika and Donnie like Hawaiian Pizza, too, because nobody in my family will eat it, so I can never order it for family pizza dinner.

Dinner a la fresco!!

Tonight, we have Jack, Zim, Flash and Tango in the new turnout.

Max is still very sick - I've called the doctor (well...I texted him!) and he'll be out tomorrow to draw a blood sample. I bet he has hepatitis again!!

Need to ask the doctor tomorrow what he's found out about hyperthyroidism in horses (i.e. Jack)

Suddenly - There's a New Turn-out!

2009-05-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Joanna came over today to work on the horses hooves and announced she'd brought her husband to build a turn-out for the horses because that's what was needed to keep their hooves healthy and strong.

We had talked about putting in a circular turn-out around the perimeter of the property - eventually! and that idea appealed to me, but I don't think I was ready to dismantle half my pipe corral paddocks and re-assemble them into a nifty quarter acre run around for the horses, but that's what happened this evening! Jason (Joanna's Husband) and Bob (my husband) worked until dark to make it happen. (Then we went to J.J. Purty's in Fallbrook for dinner & Drinks)

And so now I'm worrying about how they are going to get along in this turn-out even though I know it's the best and most natural for them - it's that initial pecking order repartee that they go through that I worry about. And the Oleander bushes that are so prevalent along the fence line.

Not Enough Time in the Day

2009-05-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

There is so much going on, but not enough hours in the day to write about it all. But here's the summary report:

1. Max has been on antibiotics for the last two days; green snot running out his left nostril and off feed.

2. We picked up Tommy Boy, the beautiful grey gelding in the last post - he's doing well. Got him home Thursday night and Joanna the Holistic Barefoot Trimmer immediately pulled his shoes (Full shoes, pads in the front). He's running around barefoot in the sandy arena and lovin' it!

3. All remaining horses got their teeth done this week (Zim, Flash, Tango, Emmy and Sugar). (Note to self - Timmy Boy has not has his teeth done in years (3 -4 yrs) get doc back ASAP to get his teeth done as they badly need it.)

4. Doc called in says blood work on Jack show hyperthyroidism - google it next time I get a free minute. I know it's rare!

5. Tomorrow - pony party with 10 seven year olds!! Still need to prepare Horse Themed goodie bags!

Phew! And that's just the horses!!

5. Middle son (15 yrs) came home with sore throat today; just got back from emergency doctors and he has strep throat! (First one doc has seen this week)

6. Daughter (10 yrs) is waiting to go see new Disney movie out, "Up" tonight (I can't wait - it looks fun!! That's the great thing about having young children - I get to see all the cool kids' movies!)

So, when I get a free minute, I'll elaborate on all horse happenings....

New Hunter/Jumper Prospect for KHA

2009-05-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Jessika and I drove down to Escondido to look at an older Hunter/Jumper Thoroughbred that was being offered for sale on Craigslist. He's a 16 yr old (16 hh) flea bitten gray OTTB, with a long, successful history of Hunter/Jumper competitions. Because of his past,competitive work, he is now not able to do much jumping (that sport wears horses out fast!), but he appears to have many good years left in him and his temperament was sweet and willing.

He is currently boarded at a facility in a small 12 x 12 paddock, and turned out infrequently; rarely ridden. When we saw him, he had just been turned out and was buckin' up a gleeful storm!! Jessika then lounged him, and he was a dream on the lounge line.

Jesskia then rode him and he was also well behaved, responsive and obedient. (We are considering him for an adult beginner horse).

The only issue was that he began showing some lameness after awhile, which we all assumed was from a combination of not getting out enough, then getting out with uncontrolled exuberance, and old age. We were told he does not have lameness issues, but it is something of a concern and will have to be addressed.

60% of Top Ten Equine Friendly Places to live are in California! See who else made the list!

2009-05-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

A little while back ELCR participated in a study (Equestrian Community Zoning, November 6, 2004) of communities considered equestrian-friendly by nature based on zoning provisions, facilities, municipal services, etc. The study went a step further and made recommendations for how to achieve more equestrian friendliness in communities. That study, as well as a couple of articles equine attorney Julie Fershtman wrote about horse-friendly zoning, can be found on ELCR’s Library of Resources pages at the following URL:

http://www.elcr.org/index_resc_B.php

For those who are not already aware, please note that the communities listed below (in no particular order) have been identified as being equestrian-friendly.

Tempe/Scottsdale, Arizona
Tryon, North Carolina
Granby, Connecticut
Marin County, California
Sweetwater, California
Mead Valley, California
Jurupa, California
Norco, California
Rolling Hills Estates, California
Bridle Trails Subarea, Bellevue, Washington
Putnam Township, Michigan
Highland Township, Michigan
Cattaraugus County, New York
Greenwich, Connecticut
Loudoun County, Virginia
Wellington, Florida
Aiken, South Carolina

We would like to know if anyone has any to add to the list and, if so, would you please offer a comment or two about why they should be considered equestrian-friendly?

Conversely, if you are aware that any of these are struggling to remain equestrian-friendly, we would welcome that information as well. [For example, the following blog entry from 2007 suggests that Scottsdale is losing its unique horsey character: http://blogtheholmgroupaz.com/2007/08/27/az-republic-once-a-horse-friendly-town-scottsdale-loaded-with-ranch-conversions/].

We would also like to know whether you can identify model attributes of equestrian-friendly communities that are not discussed in the 2004 study.

Thank you.

Cynthia Higgs
Equestrian Partners Coordinator
Equestrian Land Conservation Resource
4037 Iron Works Parkway, Suite 120
Lexington KY 40511
(859) 455-8383 -Ph
(859) 455-8381 -Fx
chiggs@elcr.org

Jack - He's Bare Footin'!

2009-05-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

We pulled Jack's shoes on Friday. With the busy weekend, he was allowed to just relax "feel the grass between his toes"; today, Monday, was his first day under saddle with no shoes, and what a difference!!! OMG!! He's picking up his feet and moving forward!!

Obviously, low on the training tree; we're just beginning to work on moving forward with steady rhythm, and he looks good. Amanda, who is riding him, noticed the difference immediately. Last week he was sluggish, not moving forward or picking up his feet. And you could hear the "clink" as his back shoes hit against each other with each step forward.

Another variable that could be effecting his performance is, we just started (Saturday, May 23, 2009) supplementing him with Red Cell.

TaDa!! Connor goes for a walk!!

2009-05-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

Here's Connor out for a stroll in the arena. You can still see it's painful for him to walk, but I don't think he has one foot in the grave!!

A few weeks earlier, I had reach the point where it was more painful to watch him try to move than to think about having him euthanized. Luckily, the doctor who came that day suggested we give it one more try...

Don't you just love his little duct tape booties...?

Changing dressings on Connor's hooves

2009-05-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Slide show below shows Connor's left hoof, then right hoof. Notice on both, the abscesses (small, nickel sized reddish bulge) are healing; the edges of the abscesses are closing in with healthy hoof material. Side view shows high heel of Connor's right hoof.

For more information on holistic hoof care approach, see Hoof Rehab.

Tango - Here We Go 'Round and 'Round

2009-05-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

Four things to note about the video:

1. Turn your volume down!!! - there is something really wrong with the sound pick-up on my little camera.

2. No, he's not sweaty from a long, hard work-out - he just had a bath!

3. This is the first time in recent history that we have been able to get Tango to canter on the lounge line. When we first got him (about a year and a half ago), he was reasonably obliging on the lounge line. Then, one day out of the blue, he decided he'd had enough of going around in circles, and he just stopped and refused to go!! And quite honestly, his attitude towards work has been questionable. Anyhow, we're glad to see that he is finally coming out of his funk, many thanks to Jessika's persistent working with him.

4. We're not just working on hoof care! There's still plenty of daily training going on! (Just not enough hours in the day to write about it all!!)

Vet Visit Today

2009-05-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

During an early morning lesson, Star was not her usual self; she was slower than usual and seemed to be off in her hindquarters, then, all of a sudden, her muscles started twitching (shoulders and hips). A few days ago, she was off her feed - wouldn't touch her pellets or hay. She also has ridges of swelling on her belly, which I assumed were the returning annual allergic reactions to gnat bits. But everything added up to something wrong - so I called Dr. Bender from Creekside Veterinary Services and he came out this afternoon to have a look at her. She checked out ok for all vital signs; he gave her a shot of lasix-type drug to reduce the edema and a steroid to help reduce the allergic reaction.

Star was eating ok this evening.

Connor's Hoof Wraps - Holistic Hoof Care

2009-05-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

Holistic Hoof Practitioner, Joanna Schwartzel was back Saturday to work on Connor's hooves.
The first thing we did was bathe Connor; he had laid in urine and actually looked like he might have peed himself while laying down! A good blast of water cleaned out his hooves nicely. Then rotting hoof was trimmed away as much as possible, then the toe was filed. The sole was sprayed with a natural antibiotic, Banixx, then packed with "Q-shot" ointment, covered with gauze and wrapped in blue vet tape. A clothe diaper waterproof cover, that has a wear proof hoof sole made of Vettec Equi-Thane "Adhere" glue-on hoof repair, wraps around the entire hoof and is held in place with...duct tape! (where would we be without duct tape!)

Two things to note:

1. In the slide show above, the roundish, reddish bulge (about 1/2 inch in diameter) is the result of the hoof abscess pushing out of the sole.

2. In the photos below, the picture on the top is Connor's left front hoof; the photo on the bottom was taken off the internet and shows a very healthy, naturally trimmed hoof for comparison. (Beautiful!)

Connor's Week at the Spa

2009-05-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

All week, since Holistic Hoof Practitioner Joanna Schwartzel first addressed Connor's major hoof problems, the old grey Thoroughbred has had daily treatments of Calcium Bentonite (Indian Healing Clay - the kind you use as a mud pack at a health spa!) with lavender oil packed into clean hooves; and then hand walked for 5 minutes. He walks slowly, but his mobility is improving!

Joanna was here yesterday and got some great photos and treatments to post after Mother's Day dinner.

PS I get no kickbacks from any of these links - they are just there to inform you!

Star Off Her Feed

2009-05-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

This morning, Star was not interested in her feed. Walked away from her Senior Pellets/Biotin Plus/soaked Beet Pulp haute cuisine. Well, I'll keep an eye on her, since this is very unusual behavior for her or any horse. (The dreaded "colic" pops into mind).

At lunch, she had eaten about 3/4 of her pelleted breakfast, and no Bermuda grass. My son had already mucked so don't know if she passing any manure. She looks a little down. If this continues into the evening, will have to call vet.

"Walkin' Wild" - Holistic Approach to Hoof Care

2009-05-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting up with a horsewoman and hoof trimmer whose holistic approach to horse care in general and hoof care in specific appealed to my intellectual and emotional desire to provide the best possible care for my horses in the rather unnatural environment that most of us must subject our backyard horses to.

Fresh in from Utah, Joanna Schwartzel immediately presents herself in a professional, knowledgeable manner with the horse's whole health and well being foremost in her concerns.

I talked with her over the phone about my concerns for Connor and the hoof problems we've been dealing with over the last few months. Earlier posts include: Rotated Coffin Bone, Connor's Abscess , Initial Diagnosis, From Laminitis to Abscesses, and Radiograph Update.Connor still has a great deal of difficulty moving around in a smaller stall cushioned with wood shavings. He is extremely reluctant to pick-up his hooves for any cleaning and medication (i.e. douse with iodine), and my concern for his prognosis has been bleak.

Joanna came right over and began to work on Connor's hooves with such passion and knowledge I felt hope spring eternal! I think Connor sensed good thinks happening, too! He was cooperative and alert.

First, watch the slide show and you will see how bad his front hooves are. The red on point of frog is blood, and dead, rotting tissue is evident all over the sole.

You will then see Joanna cleaning out the dead tissue and lowering the heel to ease pressure on the coffin bone sole area when he walks.

Right hoof, the worst one, is then soaked in a solution of apple cider vinegar. A poultice of Betadiene, Arrow Root, Golden Seed Powder, Grapefruit Seed extract, Epsom Salts, Apple Cider Vinegar, "Sore No More" (a natural herbal liniment) and "Q-Shot" (a super oxygenated antiseptic spray manufactured by Bio3X,) is pressed into the sole and wrapped in a disposable diaper (actual it's a "pull-up") and fastened with duct tape. This was left on all night.

In the morning, Joanna was over early to remove the poultice, and what a difference in Connor's hoof - you can see for yourself, and he was walking with no signs of lameness!!! Obviously, he's got a ways to go before his hoof is returned to natural state of health, but...WOW!!

Jack Begins Under Saddle Work

2009-04-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Make no mistake about it, Jack being three year old off the track, but never raced, racehorse, has been ridden and probably ridden hard and fast! And when we first brought him home, we did put a saddle on him and "rode" him - it was like being on a newborn baby giraffe; he couldn't keep from tripping on his feet, he had no idea where to put his head in the space of things, it's hard to believe that Swiss Yodeler is his dad!!!

So, we took the saddle off and began at the beginning...
Relaxation is the first element of the horse's education and the very foundation for all further training.

"Keep your horse happy. Happy horses don't get tense." The Elements of Dressage; A Guide for Training the Young Horse - Kurd Albrecht Von Ziegner.

The first serious work begins on the lounge line, and Jack has had many months on the lounge line, beginning with basic voice commands at walk, trot, canter; and recently work over ground poles and cavalletti, first in hand, then on the lounge line to loosen the back muscles and encourage relaxation. Jack is relaxed! Jack is laid back!! Ok..next!! Get him to pick up his feet. He is very sloppy at the walk, but when he picks up the trot, either on lounge line or as today, under saddle, he becomes....almost graceful and there is hope for dressage in his future!

Just look at him picking up that hind leg to step over the cavalletti! This is all new and exciting work for Jack!!

Max and Tango go on a Field Trip

2009-04-20T22:21:00.000-07:00

Today, Jessika and I took Max and Tango to Fallbrook Riders Field for a change of pace. What a great place to ride, even in 96 degree heat!! Full size dressage arena, super-size stadium jumping arena and a cross-country course with every imaginable obstacle to maneuver up, over or around! A local field for local riders! We are very lucky to have it!

Anyhow, Tango was not on his best behavior. But Max, who just turned 20 yrs., and we've been working together as a team for 8 years, is really coming into his own. He is a fine horse, with his one (major) fault being he doesn't have great brakes! We keep working on it, but he just doesn't like to stop.......

At this time in his life, he has decided he likes to jump! So we're starting out together in a small way, jumping! I'm lovin' it, he's lovin' it!

But Tango, the young whippersnapper, has a ways to go!!

Visit From a "Snake in the Grass"

2009-04-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

Look who we found crawling around Jack's hooves! A California King Snake. Luckily, Jack was totally nonplussed. I haven't seen one around in a while...must be the warmer weather bringing them out. Certainly, we are glad to see them here. First, you were right, Jesskia - they do eat venomous snakes such as the rattlesnakes that we also have around here! So that's always a good job to have. They also eat gophers and other pesky rodents who get into the horses' grain and dig horse-tripping holes in the ground. So let's hear it for the beautiful California King Snake!

Two Milestones for Jack

2009-04-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

Been awhile since I've posted to this blog - been working on the Wild Horse Conservation blogsite.

Meanwhile, Jesskia's been faithfully working with Jack, trying to get him to lift his feet and walk gracefully over a ground pole without clipping and stumbling each hoof as he drags it over the pole. Honestly, we were thinking "maybe dressage is too high an aspiration for this guy...if we can just get him out on trail without him falling over his feet, that would be good!" As you can see, Jack has had an "Ah ha!" moment!! Here he is trotting over a cavaletti with barely a brush of his hoof! So, we're all really proud of Jack.

And...we decided it was time for him to try playing with a friend. Jack has always been turned out alone because when he was first brought here, he did not play nicely with the other geldings. But he and Max have often sniffed noses at the fence and since the both have full shoes, it would be a fair fight if there was to be one, so Max joined Jack in the turn-out. They got along very well, and in fact, the encounter was rather unspectacular!

Here they are, seeing eye-to-eye............

Connor has a Rotated Coffin Bone...

2009-04-09T22:32:00.001-07:00

Connor, the grey (white) thoroughbred in this photo was diagnosed with a rotated coffin bone this evening. We have been treating him over the last several weeks for various hoof ailments, but this certainly is the most severe! The bone has broken through the sole of his hoof and bleeding. We have it padded and wrapped, and waiting for Dr. Bender in the morning.

Horseback Riding Eases Back Pain and Boosts Confidence

2009-04-09T22:21:00.000-07:00

A new study confirms that horseback riding boosts confidence and eases back pain. The study, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, states that the main reason seems to be “that the movements transferred from the horse’s body to the rider are very like the body movements made by a person walking.”

“There are no excessive movements, but a continuous bilateral influence on postural balance that is enhancing balance reactions and the fine movements in the rider’s trunk,” said Hakanson, a researcher in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Goteborg University in Sweden.

"For those suffering from back pain, a horse at walk provides relaxing movements. Apart from the movement influence, the psychological effects of managing, communicating with and steering a large animal promote self confidence,” Hakanson said.

First Filly for Sulphur Springs Mustangs!

2009-04-06T16:16:00.000-07:00

"Our first filly arrived in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Mom is the young grulla with the star. Filly is a red dun with a white Niki trademark instead of a star...??? She appears to be healthy and galloping circles around mom. The mare figured everything out and is a good mother; doesn't appear to be real nervous." - Kathleen Hayden, Coyote Canyon Caballos d'Anza.

Photographs by Kay Levie

Hey, Kathleen! I think you should call her Niki!!!

"Invader Zim" - This Pony Loves to Jump

2009-04-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

This is a 5 year old Welsh pony that, as you will see, loves to jump. Once he gets going, there's no stopping him! We're just standing in the middle watching with delight as he obviously has an enjoyable jaunt over the obstacle course! Sweet as they come!

Nice...but where does the horse go?

2009-04-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

Nice...but where does the horse go?

Movie of the Sulphur Springs Mustangs

2009-04-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a little snippet of the documentary being filmed by the Fallbrook Film Factory on the American BLM Mustangs. This particular piece is of the newly rounded up (from Utah) Sulphur Springs mares, who will be part of a foundation herd to be reestablished here in southern California, under the auspices of the nonprofit group, Coyote Canyon Caballos d'Anza (See previous blog postings)

Begin Fly Attack - Now!!

2009-04-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

I hate flies, and for the southern California horse owner, we are either in the mud season or fly season. Right now, we are in the small transition period from mud-to-fly season. Time to start bringing on the heavy artillery in the attack against flies!! My major weapon of choice: Solitude IGR by Pfizer, a feed through fly control product. I used it last year with great results. (I tried the fly predators the year before, but they just didn't work for me!). Yes, I still have to spray the horses when I bring them out to groom & ride, and they still wear fly masks for the occasional renegade fly, but for the most part, our fly population among 10 horses is drastically reduced.
And that's really good news when you have a busy riding stable full of children who hate the thought of even one fly landed on them!!

More on the Sulphur Springs Mustangs

2009-03-31T21:05:00.001-07:00

The colonial Spanish horse comes from old Iberian breeds, and horse of the Sulphur Springs herd are one of the types that retain many of the the traits of the endangered Sorraia.

The Sulphur Springs Registry, while not the greatest website (too many broken links), does have some good background information on the herd.

These twelve Sulphur Springs mares that arrived in Southern California two weeks ago, will be part of a foundation herd to be re-introduced into their natural habitat. Four stallions removed from Coyote Canyon will be part of the efforts (sorry boys, these gals are already all pregnant!) spearhead by Kathleen Hayden of the nonprofit Coyote Canyon Caballos d' Anza.

The group has had many benefits and fundraisers to support the herd growth and objectives.

Tail Chasin' Horse

2009-03-30T22:01:00.000-07:00

This evening, while feeding the herd, my 9 yr Morgan/Haflinger gelding (Tango) was in his paddock chasing his tail! He looked just like a dog! He did this for the first time last night...and then again tonight. It was so strange to see, I couldn't let it go without making a remark about it! He'd chase his tail, then stop to give a small buck or two, then continued on chasing his tail!

I thought maybe he was pissed because he's always the last to be fed and his sick and tired of it! Once I feed him he's fine. He's never displayed this behavior before last night.

Anyone have a clue to what's up with this?

Sulphur Springs BLM Mustang Mares

2009-03-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Borrego Springs to film a documentary on the American BLM Mustangs. Here are some photos of the newly arrived (from Utah) Sulphur Springs rounded up mares. They will be part of a foundation herd here in Southern California. Aren't they BEAUTIFUL?? They are all pregnant.

I will write more (there's lot's to write) but my family is after me to go out with them to see "Monsters & Aliens", so gotta go now!

BLM Mustang Benefit this Sunday, March 29, 2009

2009-03-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

As you know, (or may not), Kids Horsin' Around has the one of the best lesson horses around in our Mustang mare, Star. Most likely, this 28 year old mare was taken out of a wild herd as a young filly. She's spent her life in southern California and gone through the ranks of the Pony Club. she's taught alot of kids how to ride. We love her.

This Sunday, March 29, 2009, I am heading out to the Anza Borrego Desert with members of the Fallbrook Film Factory to shot a documentary on the BLM Mustangs. The Coyote Canyon Caballos de Anza, a nonprofit group that cares for four stallions that once lived in the canyon, has purchased a dozen mares that were recently rounded up form federal land in Utah. These Sulfur Spring Mares are the very best match in DNA that they could get to restore the herd. They will become the foundation mares. The goal of this organization is to return this herd to a natural habitat. This Sunday is a fundraiser towards that goal.

Dharlin Productions 's ("Ele, My Friend", "White Rainbow") Linda Mandrayer and Devon Camilleri, both Fallbrook equestrians with a passion for horses that extends well beyond the barn, will be co-producing the film, which is being sponsored by the Fallbrook Film Factory.

My son, Devin (DLawProductions) will be involved in the shooting of the film. Look for lot's of cool photos on Sunday night. Anyone care to join us, here's the info:

Max Tries His Turn at Free Jumping

2009-03-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason (certainly not because of age!!), I kind of move along a slow and steady path of more classical training, like the kind you find in books. And then, along comes Jessika and throws in a creative twist that gives me pause for thought. Like today! She calls me down to the arena and tells me to bring my camera. And there she has the jumping standards up and Max in the arena free jumping!! Old, hollow-back, high-head Saddlebred, Max! Now I had a dressage diva once try to lunge Max over a small cavaletti and he refused. She said, "he would never be able to jump! He just wasn't built for it"! So I never gave it another thought.

But there he was, jumping and lovin' it! (or the treats he received after each jump!) Max was clearly enjoying this new challenge. And honestly, it's not something I would have ever thought to do with him, having already been told he couldn't do it!

That may sound like a major character flaw, not being gutsy enough to try new things like that, but in my defence, I didn't grow up with horses. I learned late in life, from books by Jane Savoie and Betsy Steiner; and the occasional lesson (from the dressage diva), and I would not want to push my old horse to do something an "expert" told me he couldn't do. I am cautious

In general, I'd have to say I am more conservative, by-the-book when it comes to training horses. So it's really nice to have (young!) Jessika come in and throw me these curve balls - the horses sure seem to have fun with it! (Although I draw the line when she gets out the scissors and wants to get creative with their hair!!)

Jack's First Day in Side Reins

2009-03-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

After lounging Jack, we put on side reins, ever-so-lightly. He registered them, but didn't make too much of a fuss. They are attached to side rings of a cavesson, and low on the surcingle. He moves slow and steady. Right now, we really want him to be calm and comfortable around humans and the funny equipment we place on him - he seems obliging. Nothing too exciting here.

Tango, on the other hand, was not so accepting. First, he hates to lunge, so when Jessika had him out for an under saddle workout in the arena, we put the side reins on him and worked him on the lunge line. He evaded the bit by tucking his chin under, which he does all the time anyway. But he was so focused on the side reins and evading the bit that he barely realized he was working a circle on the lunge line. So that was a baby step in the right direction. Tango does love to jump. Here he is today, jumping a small cavaletti with Jessika...

Will they ever out grow their skittishness??

2009-03-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

Skittishness - now, that's some odd looking word, but you get the meaning. (Look it up, it refers specifically to horses!)

Flash and Zim, the up-'til-now inseparable Welsh bros are skittish ponies. And we've all worked hard, long and diligently to "cure" them of this for two years! I'm hoping it may be just their age - they are 5 years old, and maybe, like teenagers, one day they will wake-up and be well adjusted, responsive, obedient; older, wiser...mature and settled. And all the hard work you put into "raising them right" will pay off!

One thing I like to do, is take them for walks in the neighborhood, like a dog, exposing them to all sorts of stimuli. At one time, my kids rode skateboards with me on these walks - now that was special! Nothing quite like a skateboarder coming up on your starboard side at full throttle!! Today, it was with my daughter and roller blades, and Zim, having lived through the skateboard years, was quite calm and obedient; staying by my side at every turn, stop, back-up, trot! A real dream pony.

He definitely is getting less skittish, although he still has his moments. He's come a long way!

I think he'll make a great hunter/jumper pony!

Here he is free jumping and lovin' it!!

....and RIDER!

2009-03-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

Saturday, Jessika and I were in the arena working with Max, trying to get him to lift his back and step under, and as usual, we were taking lot's of pictures. Now, usually the pictures don't include me...I'm the one taking them. But today, I hopped on Max and Jessiak started shooting frames. Like I said, I rarely see myself on horseback, so I was shocked to see how heavy (i.e. FAT) I looked on poor Max. Well, no wonder he has a hollow back! The words that cross my mind are "portly matron!"

This is Backyard Horse and Rider...so, if I am expecting my horses to become athletes, how could I slide by with anything less for myself? I am always encouraging my riders to get in shape to become better riders. Well...now it's my turn! I hit the gym with a vengance today. I won't tell you how much I weigh, but my goal is to loose 20 pounds by summer! Here I go...wish me good luck. (Bye-bye evening ice-cream...)

...Sort of Kinky...

2009-03-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

Essential if you own a horse. Sort of kinky if you don't. It's all relative. I love this advertisement for horse tack. It gives you a whack upside the head. If you walked into someone's house and they had polished leather tack hanging around the bedroom, (and no horses anywhere!) you might quickly find a good excuse to beat a hasty retreat out of there.

...Pretty innocuous stuff hanging around a barn full of horses...

See? It's all relative! Anyhow, kudos to Tractor Supply Co. for such a clever advertisement!

Star's Thrush Treatment - Begins!

2009-03-13T22:31:00.000-07:00

Star is a 28 year old Mustang mare. We've had her for about 8 years, but she's been around Fallbrook all her life, and even did her time in the Fallbrook Pony Club (before we got her). Here she is today! She looks really great for an old mare...but she's got really bad feet. The problem is she pees a lot!! Doctor says she may be a....psychogenic drinker!!! Because of all these factors, she has always had mild to severe thrush. This winter it got really bad.

Here she is this winter, standing in her cesspool of muck and pee! This horse is pretty well cared for - again, not show horse pampered - but well cared for: she is turned out into a large sand arena daily (with her two buddies, the mini-mares Emmy and Sugar), she is groomed (hoof picked) once to twice a day by young adoring riders, and she has a mat that she can stand on to get out of the mud. But she chooses to stand in the mud and pee next to her two buddies (see them in the photo) and her thrush was the worst it has ever been. So, we decided some drastic steps had to be taken. And, of course, we'll be chronicling every step of the way.

Connor - Right Foot Forward

2009-03-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Dr. Bender, Creekside Veterinary Services, was out bright and early this morning to have a look at Connor, the old grey TB gelding. We've been nursing an abscessed hoof on left front, and now, he appears to have pain in the right hoof, i.e. not bearing any weight on it. Truthfully, Jessika and I lamented over the thought that it might be Connor's time to cross the rainbow bridge.

But Dr. Bender located another abscess in his right hoof, again, in an unusual spot at the point of the frog. He did a hoof block, released and cleaned the abscess, packed in ichthammol, then wrapped the hoof with bandages and duct tape. With Connor able to bear weight on his right hoof, he could examine the progress on his left hoof. Still thrushy; he rinsed with 7% Iodine solution; then gave him a shot of bute. I'll give him 1.5 grams bute twice a day, Iodine rinse on left hoof once a day, increase Creekside Life Stages (supplemental feed) and mix in corn oil. Throw in some generic biotin for hooves. Connor is loosing weight, although he does eat well.

Wet winters, old age (30+) and Thoroughbred feet all contibute to Connor's hoof problems. We'll need to be extra vigilant to pull him through this.

2009-03-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

Took Jack out today. We are still working on the first element of the (dressage) training tree as identified by Kurd Albrecht Von Ziegner in "The Elements of Dressage" - relaxation. Von Ziegner's training tree differs slightly from the tradition German Training Scale in that it places relaxation before regularity. I tend to agree with his theory that in order for a horse to be regular, he must first be relaxed.

"A good horse and a good rider are only so in mutual trust." (H.M.E.)

Relaxation - the fundamental basis of the form, relaxation is the absence of tension in the horse's body and mind.

Although we are way ahead of the game with Jack since he is so laid back for a young (3 yr OTTB gelding) horse.

Here's Jack doing "self-carriage free jumping" (haha, you go, Jack!) - he loves people and is following us over the cavaletti and ground poles. We're working on getting him to realize he has feet that he needs to pick up!! Very obliging horse.

Good picture showing Jack leaning on the forehand, poorly developed topline, and trailing hindquarters. Such a nice (young, under developed) horse.

I figure we got at least two years to go before we get down to some serious work!!

Someone once said, watching horse training is like watching paint dry. How very true!