It's way to hot here today. When I went out to feed and water my horse, she stood there kind of dull-eyed. Worried me a little bit but now I'm sure it's the heat. She was eating well and took a good slurp of water and isn't drawn in the gut, so I'm pretty sure she's fine. Just freakin' hot.
I now water her in a smaller bucket thing rather than the 1000 gallon tank. This way I can KNOW she is drinking water and getting fresh too when I fill it. Have her salt block out there, which makes me feel better.
Seriously, I can do without this heat.... Thumbs down from me.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Salt Blocks Are A Must
In this hot weather, it stands to reason that your horse is going to sweat just walking down the trail. To keep things functioning as they should, put a salt block out free choice.
This is only a reminder! A big plus is you might get a nicely shaped block that you could enter in an art show... :-)
This is only a reminder! A big plus is you might get a nicely shaped block that you could enter in an art show... :-)
Up The Feed A Little Bit
This post is pretty short and sweet. :-)
After your horse has been standing around doing nothing much and you start riding, you can up his feed about 1/2 cup for the days you ride. If he starts to look a bit too thin, then you can still up his feed. I guess I should say this is for trail riding. If you are going into harder, tougher riding, like competitions, then you will really have to adjust his feed.
There isn't any excuse for a horse to look or be too thin while being ridden. He may start to trim up a bit, (don't we all when we start to walk regularly?) but I mean getting THIN.
As I posted before, get to know your horse and what he's supposed to look like and then keep him there.
After your horse has been standing around doing nothing much and you start riding, you can up his feed about 1/2 cup for the days you ride. If he starts to look a bit too thin, then you can still up his feed. I guess I should say this is for trail riding. If you are going into harder, tougher riding, like competitions, then you will really have to adjust his feed.
There isn't any excuse for a horse to look or be too thin while being ridden. He may start to trim up a bit, (don't we all when we start to walk regularly?) but I mean getting THIN.
As I posted before, get to know your horse and what he's supposed to look like and then keep him there.
Learn To Read Your Horse
Went out to ride this morning and from the get-go, I knew something was wrong with my mare. She wasn't acting right. Not that she was ill but her behavior was flat off. I knew it must be really bad when she turned her butt to me and backed her ears. She hasn't done that since right after I bought her. In case no one remembers, this mare was uber-spoiled and she fairly steamrolled the previous owners into submitting to HER...which doesn't work with me.
Anyway, I reminded her abruptly that that won't fly and she straightened up. I saddled her but she was still 'off'. Normally, I step aboard and head out, not much warming up going on. I feel like she can warm up walking down a trail as well as walking around the pen. But it felt like there wasn't anything on the end of my reins or under my saddle. Kind of like if you're driving a car and the steering wheel has too much play in it, something akin to that.
So, today, we went around a few times to work the kinks out. She settled a teeny bit and I opened the gates (yep, while aboard and there are two gates to the outside world) and away we went. We probably got a whopping tenth of a mile down into the fields and she did this twisty, head in my face, hoppy toad thing with a snort that she's never done before. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I KNEW to take her back. So, I arc-ed around and we walked back, sort of under control.
Went back to the pen and we went around and around and figure 8'ed and stopped and side-passed and all the while, she wasn't even there in her mind. I don't know where she was but it wasn't with me this morning. She phoned the ride in is what she did.
Basically, it wasn't a good ride at all. I wished for the thousandth time that I had bought a gelding. Geldings, to me, are just happy to be alive while mares can be drama queens. I don't know what her problem was but it went downhill from the time I got to the barn.
Not wanting an emergency room bill, I did enough with her to give her a chance to do things right and then quit her. Back in the day, I would have ridden through it in the fields but I don't do that anymore.
After I stepped off, I tied her up and let her stand with the saddle just barely loosened. After I drank some coffee and perused a tack catalog, I unsaddled and braced her then let her go.
Even when I threw her hay, she was 'off' in the way she charged the fence, which she never really does. I growled at her and she stood back. Then I talked to her, asking her what was wrong and to tell me.
The point to this long-winded post is that you have to learn to read a horse and know when to go ahead (like on out to the fields for a long ride) and when to back off, unsaddle and call it a day. Not every horse is going to act the same all the time, especially higher wired mares, like mine. There will be days when your plans are shot to hell and you have to sigh and give it up and work with your horse. Sometimes you need to spank him to get him going right, know when he's challenging you too. Not a one-size fits all sort of training/riding deal. I believe I avoided what could have been a really bad accident for one of us, if not both. This is part of the deal where you have to get to know your hoss and know what is wrong/off and then deal with it. Or make him go even if he doesn't want to.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. I damn sure hope so. *sigh*
Anyway, I reminded her abruptly that that won't fly and she straightened up. I saddled her but she was still 'off'. Normally, I step aboard and head out, not much warming up going on. I feel like she can warm up walking down a trail as well as walking around the pen. But it felt like there wasn't anything on the end of my reins or under my saddle. Kind of like if you're driving a car and the steering wheel has too much play in it, something akin to that.
So, today, we went around a few times to work the kinks out. She settled a teeny bit and I opened the gates (yep, while aboard and there are two gates to the outside world) and away we went. We probably got a whopping tenth of a mile down into the fields and she did this twisty, head in my face, hoppy toad thing with a snort that she's never done before. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I KNEW to take her back. So, I arc-ed around and we walked back, sort of under control.
Went back to the pen and we went around and around and figure 8'ed and stopped and side-passed and all the while, she wasn't even there in her mind. I don't know where she was but it wasn't with me this morning. She phoned the ride in is what she did.
Basically, it wasn't a good ride at all. I wished for the thousandth time that I had bought a gelding. Geldings, to me, are just happy to be alive while mares can be drama queens. I don't know what her problem was but it went downhill from the time I got to the barn.
Not wanting an emergency room bill, I did enough with her to give her a chance to do things right and then quit her. Back in the day, I would have ridden through it in the fields but I don't do that anymore.
After I stepped off, I tied her up and let her stand with the saddle just barely loosened. After I drank some coffee and perused a tack catalog, I unsaddled and braced her then let her go.
Even when I threw her hay, she was 'off' in the way she charged the fence, which she never really does. I growled at her and she stood back. Then I talked to her, asking her what was wrong and to tell me.
The point to this long-winded post is that you have to learn to read a horse and know when to go ahead (like on out to the fields for a long ride) and when to back off, unsaddle and call it a day. Not every horse is going to act the same all the time, especially higher wired mares, like mine. There will be days when your plans are shot to hell and you have to sigh and give it up and work with your horse. Sometimes you need to spank him to get him going right, know when he's challenging you too. Not a one-size fits all sort of training/riding deal. I believe I avoided what could have been a really bad accident for one of us, if not both. This is part of the deal where you have to get to know your hoss and know what is wrong/off and then deal with it. Or make him go even if he doesn't want to.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. I damn sure hope so. *sigh*
So Much To Write About!! Also, Email Problem...*sigh*
I am so behind in all my writings!! Hang in there and I'll get caught up.
Don't know what the deal is with yahoo but if there is much more in the way of problems, I may change the email for this blog to hotmail. If you've emailed me, I'm appologize, I can't get into it. I even have trouble with my other yahoo emails...getting mighty tired of this... Grrrrr!!!
Don't know what the deal is with yahoo but if there is much more in the way of problems, I may change the email for this blog to hotmail. If you've emailed me, I'm appologize, I can't get into it. I even have trouble with my other yahoo emails...getting mighty tired of this... Grrrrr!!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Only Buy Quality Equipment, Especially Bits
I have not a problem one with paying close to $100 for a bit. Usually I buy Reinsman and if I hit it right, the tack store is having a 20% off sale of their bits...
When it comes to dealing with horses, it pays to buy the good stuff. Don't $kimp on reins and headstalls and especially bits.
As for saddles, I only ride quality saddles, name brand. Usually I'm astride a Billy Cook or similar. I have $100 saddle pads.
About the only stuff I skimp on is buckets, which I can get at the dollar store or shampoos for my baby-cakes. Almost all my halters are hand-tied rope halters and even then, there is a difference in a quality hand tied one and one that is cheaper. I can't tell you the rope halters I've retied to fit my horse better. What's with this short noseband part of the halter?? Geez.
Anyway, this is a reminder, when it comes to your horse, buying quality will last you forever and almost guarantee comfort for your horse. It'll be cheaper in the long run.
Get out there and hug your horse!
When it comes to dealing with horses, it pays to buy the good stuff. Don't $kimp on reins and headstalls and especially bits.
As for saddles, I only ride quality saddles, name brand. Usually I'm astride a Billy Cook or similar. I have $100 saddle pads.
About the only stuff I skimp on is buckets, which I can get at the dollar store or shampoos for my baby-cakes. Almost all my halters are hand-tied rope halters and even then, there is a difference in a quality hand tied one and one that is cheaper. I can't tell you the rope halters I've retied to fit my horse better. What's with this short noseband part of the halter?? Geez.
Anyway, this is a reminder, when it comes to your horse, buying quality will last you forever and almost guarantee comfort for your horse. It'll be cheaper in the long run.
Get out there and hug your horse!
NO Tying With The Reins And Drag Lines
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1239008178.html
I think this mare is tied with the reins, looks like it. Anyway, this is a big, big no-no. Never tie your horse with the reins. If you MUST tie, like in an emergency, your horse should be trained enough to stay put with looping the reins over whatever is serving as a hitching post.
The reason you don't tie with reins is because is if he should set back (which he should never do but he is a horse after all), if you do have quality reins (which you should have) he can really injure his bars (where the bit sits in his mouth, no teeth for a short stretch of jaw), not to mention scare the living snot outta him.
If your reins are the type to snap quickly, well, you shouldn't have been using them in the first place, they were tooooo cheap.
A lot of times, at especially rodeos, you'll see horses lined up on the fence tied up with their reins. That's fine as those horses aren't tied hard and tight. If they were to pull back, the little baling wire they were probably tied with, will bend, reins come loose and the horse walks free.
THEN he should be broke to dealing with loose reins. He steps on them and he should NOT panic and throw up his head and snap your good reins (those suckers are expensive!!). If he does this, he's a knothead and you better get on with teaching him to not do this. Your fault for not teaching him.
Put a short drag line on him on his halter while he's in his corral. About 6 ft. will do. I know some people like longer and some like shorter. I'm a '6-footer'. Let him loose to walk around. He steps on the line and throws his head up and pops himself in the nose. Nothing happens. He might panic a moment but if you don't react and stand there. Let him figger out in his little mind that he won't get hurt. You won't be popular with your horse for a little bit but this is something every horse must know.
Let the line get around his legs and stepped on. If he has any sense at all, he'll figger out pretty damn quick that it's nothing. If he doesn't figger it out quickly, maybe you need to find another horse to hang your halter on!!
So, back to the original point, don't tie hard and tight with reins and have your horse trained to deal with accidently loose reins so he doesn't hurt his mouth.
Now, go ride. :-)
I think this mare is tied with the reins, looks like it. Anyway, this is a big, big no-no. Never tie your horse with the reins. If you MUST tie, like in an emergency, your horse should be trained enough to stay put with looping the reins over whatever is serving as a hitching post.
The reason you don't tie with reins is because is if he should set back (which he should never do but he is a horse after all), if you do have quality reins (which you should have) he can really injure his bars (where the bit sits in his mouth, no teeth for a short stretch of jaw), not to mention scare the living snot outta him.
If your reins are the type to snap quickly, well, you shouldn't have been using them in the first place, they were tooooo cheap.
A lot of times, at especially rodeos, you'll see horses lined up on the fence tied up with their reins. That's fine as those horses aren't tied hard and tight. If they were to pull back, the little baling wire they were probably tied with, will bend, reins come loose and the horse walks free.
THEN he should be broke to dealing with loose reins. He steps on them and he should NOT panic and throw up his head and snap your good reins (those suckers are expensive!!). If he does this, he's a knothead and you better get on with teaching him to not do this. Your fault for not teaching him.
Put a short drag line on him on his halter while he's in his corral. About 6 ft. will do. I know some people like longer and some like shorter. I'm a '6-footer'. Let him loose to walk around. He steps on the line and throws his head up and pops himself in the nose. Nothing happens. He might panic a moment but if you don't react and stand there. Let him figger out in his little mind that he won't get hurt. You won't be popular with your horse for a little bit but this is something every horse must know.
Let the line get around his legs and stepped on. If he has any sense at all, he'll figger out pretty damn quick that it's nothing. If he doesn't figger it out quickly, maybe you need to find another horse to hang your halter on!!
So, back to the original point, don't tie hard and tight with reins and have your horse trained to deal with accidently loose reins so he doesn't hurt his mouth.
Now, go ride. :-)
Keep Salt Available
Everyone should know that when you sweat, you're losing electrolytes and all that medical stuff. Anywho, be sure to have a salt lick out for at will licking. I mean for the horse although you could use it in a pinch, I suppose...
I like sulphur blocks but it seems that a lot of horses nowadays don't like them. There are mineral blocks but make sure you get the one for horses and not beef cattle. The difference is urea and while I can't remember offhand why it's bad for a horse, it just isn't, so be careful.
You can buy holder things that look like a partial plastic box. These are handy if it rains as the water runs on through and keeps the block off the ground and melting too fast. I had a block one time that lasted about a whopping 1 1/2 weeks or so.
Table salt can be added but I've found that horses don't eat all of it as it's grains are too small so let the horse have at freestyle.
I like sulphur blocks but it seems that a lot of horses nowadays don't like them. There are mineral blocks but make sure you get the one for horses and not beef cattle. The difference is urea and while I can't remember offhand why it's bad for a horse, it just isn't, so be careful.
You can buy holder things that look like a partial plastic box. These are handy if it rains as the water runs on through and keeps the block off the ground and melting too fast. I had a block one time that lasted about a whopping 1 1/2 weeks or so.
Table salt can be added but I've found that horses don't eat all of it as it's grains are too small so let the horse have at freestyle.
'Bracing' Your Horse
I have found a better way to brace your baby. Walmart sells cheap spray bottles for a whopping $.97 and you can mix up a little linamint and water to spray on your horse's back and loin. You can also add a smidge of witch hazel if you're a mind to.
Seems to me better to spray a mist onto her back and loin and lightly massage in, not to totally dry (you'd be there all day) but to make sure it's getting down to the skin. Even spray on the cannons and tendons but I like full strength for down there and then fairly vigorous massaging.
Of course, the upshot is the minute you turn your lambchop loose, she's gonna lie down and roll, getting nice and icky but happy as a clam. That's what's important now, isn't it??
Seems to me better to spray a mist onto her back and loin and lightly massage in, not to totally dry (you'd be there all day) but to make sure it's getting down to the skin. Even spray on the cannons and tendons but I like full strength for down there and then fairly vigorous massaging.
Of course, the upshot is the minute you turn your lambchop loose, she's gonna lie down and roll, getting nice and icky but happy as a clam. That's what's important now, isn't it??
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Bigeloil Makes A Lovely Perfume
The title says it all, doesn't it??
Okay, my lovey-dovey mare seems to be fine today but since I'M a little sore from yesterday's ride, I thought I'd rub her down with some diluted linamint. One of my faves is Bigeloil or Absorbine.
I made a body brace of the Bigeloil and sprayed it on my dumplings back and loin. Only a little as I didn't want to overdo it. Rubbed her cannons and tendons pretty good too.
Anywho, I now have a wonderfully good smell about me. I walked up to the house and my hubby wanted to know 'what's that smell'? Silly man, he should have KNOWN.
Being a bit silly about this but my point is that sometimes a bit of linamint will be the ticket between riding tomorrow or not. Gotta take care of your baby.
Okay, my lovey-dovey mare seems to be fine today but since I'M a little sore from yesterday's ride, I thought I'd rub her down with some diluted linamint. One of my faves is Bigeloil or Absorbine.
I made a body brace of the Bigeloil and sprayed it on my dumplings back and loin. Only a little as I didn't want to overdo it. Rubbed her cannons and tendons pretty good too.
Anywho, I now have a wonderfully good smell about me. I walked up to the house and my hubby wanted to know 'what's that smell'? Silly man, he should have KNOWN.
Being a bit silly about this but my point is that sometimes a bit of linamint will be the ticket between riding tomorrow or not. Gotta take care of your baby.
What Happened To My Posts??
For some reason, when I tried to log on, I got my posts from clear back the first of June. Scared me, I thought I'd lost them all.
So, if that happened, please click on the link again and hopefully the current page will come up. I think I better get busy backing up my writings!! I sure don't want to lose them!
So, if that happened, please click on the link again and hopefully the current page will come up. I think I better get busy backing up my writings!! I sure don't want to lose them!
Stretch That Achilles Tendon!!
A good rider always keeps her heels down or at least level with her toes while the foot is in the stirrup. None of this heels high stuff goin' on! Maybe I should do a brush up on good horsemanship for a few posts but while I'm on the subject, I'm gonna let fly.
You only put the ball of your foot into the stirrup and then the heel is level or a tad lower than your toes. You don't want to push your heel too far down because, depending on the barrel of the horse and how long/short your legs are, you can push your lower leg out, away from the horse or even get east/west toes (pointing opposite directions).
So, the first thing is how to get the stretched out, elongated achilles tendons? The best way is by riding, of course, but since most of us don't spend all day in the saddle, here's how I have done so in the past. Use your common sense on this. If it hurts too badly, don't do it. Don't force yourself into contortions to do this. Be sensible about this.
Take a 2x4 post and lay it on the ground. Holding onto a chair or the hitching rail, put the ball of your foot or if you can't, your toes on the edge of the post. Slowly and gently ease your heels down to the ground. If you can do it all the way, great, if you can only go half an inch, that's fine too. The point is to stretch that tendon (I'm tired of spelling out achilles, ok?) so while in the saddle, it's almost natural for your heel to stay down without much thought. While on the post, you have to bend your knees a little bit and stay balanced or you'll go ass over teakettle. Oh, yeah, do this on the ground, NOT on something hard, like concrete...remember, use common sense! :-)
This way, you have to streeeetch that tendon AND work on your balance! A two-fer!! Plus a 2x4 is cheap and you didn't have to spend $100 for a signature post from a BNTT...*snork*...
Now the only thing I've really noticed is that for western, balancing on the post puts your a bit out of whack. Your heels will be a bit too far back but still, working on balance and the stretching will be great for you. Pretty soon, you can do this without holding on to something. I stretch even while walking up steps to my tack room. Anywhere you can find to stand on the balls of your feet and let your heels down.
The next day or so, you'll feel it, oh, yes, you'll feel it and that's good. That means you're doin' it right! Keep at it and don't ever give up. As long as you ride horses, you'll need the stretched tendon.
Now, after stretching, go ride. :-)
You only put the ball of your foot into the stirrup and then the heel is level or a tad lower than your toes. You don't want to push your heel too far down because, depending on the barrel of the horse and how long/short your legs are, you can push your lower leg out, away from the horse or even get east/west toes (pointing opposite directions).
So, the first thing is how to get the stretched out, elongated achilles tendons? The best way is by riding, of course, but since most of us don't spend all day in the saddle, here's how I have done so in the past. Use your common sense on this. If it hurts too badly, don't do it. Don't force yourself into contortions to do this. Be sensible about this.
Take a 2x4 post and lay it on the ground. Holding onto a chair or the hitching rail, put the ball of your foot or if you can't, your toes on the edge of the post. Slowly and gently ease your heels down to the ground. If you can do it all the way, great, if you can only go half an inch, that's fine too. The point is to stretch that tendon (I'm tired of spelling out achilles, ok?) so while in the saddle, it's almost natural for your heel to stay down without much thought. While on the post, you have to bend your knees a little bit and stay balanced or you'll go ass over teakettle. Oh, yeah, do this on the ground, NOT on something hard, like concrete...remember, use common sense! :-)
This way, you have to streeeetch that tendon AND work on your balance! A two-fer!! Plus a 2x4 is cheap and you didn't have to spend $100 for a signature post from a BNTT...*snork*...
Now the only thing I've really noticed is that for western, balancing on the post puts your a bit out of whack. Your heels will be a bit too far back but still, working on balance and the stretching will be great for you. Pretty soon, you can do this without holding on to something. I stretch even while walking up steps to my tack room. Anywhere you can find to stand on the balls of your feet and let your heels down.
The next day or so, you'll feel it, oh, yes, you'll feel it and that's good. That means you're doin' it right! Keep at it and don't ever give up. As long as you ride horses, you'll need the stretched tendon.
Now, after stretching, go ride. :-)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Smell Of New Mown Alfalfa
Haying is in full swing and the sweet smell of alfalfa is in the air. There just isn't much better, maybe Honeysuckle, but not by much.
I love the smell. It's the best. :-)
I love the smell. It's the best. :-)
Check Your Tack
Now that I'm in full mode riding, I went for a great ride this morning. On returning, I pulled the bridle off and noticed that the browband had not quite rubbed a spot on my mare's head. More like a pressure spot. I'd never seen that rubbing before so I checked my bridle.
Turns out, my browband is pretty freakin' fancy (lots of braided rawhide as it's buckeroo) and where it's sewn into the loop part that goes on the crownpiece, it's quite a bit thicker. That caused the rub.
Now, why would it rub this time and never before?? Welp, this is a fairly new headstall and today my mare and I went a LOT farther than ever before and she did more sweating than before. The stars aligned and there was the pressure spot.
So, I got home and checked my other headstalls and found one with a thinner browband. I'll change her bit to that headstall for longer distances.
Moral of the story is to always check your tack, no matter what type of riding you're doing. Might save you and your horse in the long run.
Ride on!!
Turns out, my browband is pretty freakin' fancy (lots of braided rawhide as it's buckeroo) and where it's sewn into the loop part that goes on the crownpiece, it's quite a bit thicker. That caused the rub.
Now, why would it rub this time and never before?? Welp, this is a fairly new headstall and today my mare and I went a LOT farther than ever before and she did more sweating than before. The stars aligned and there was the pressure spot.
So, I got home and checked my other headstalls and found one with a thinner browband. I'll change her bit to that headstall for longer distances.
Moral of the story is to always check your tack, no matter what type of riding you're doing. Might save you and your horse in the long run.
Ride on!!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Facing Down 'Bloody Body' Syndrome
First off, does everyone know what BBS is?? A scientific explanation as designed by me is when you know you can get seriously hurt (very bloody and broken) in some event because you HAVE been hurt (very bloody and broken) in that event in the near and distant past. Your mind preys on you and brings up all sorts of 'what ifs' and overtakes your very being. Then, to lump in your age (I'm over 50 and not going to tell how much over) and your declining equilibrium, well, bad thoughts start to happen.
So, now that our move is over and done and things are settled, the frickin' rain has stopped, I was ready to start some serious riding. Now, I'm a member of the Appaloosa Horse Association and they offer a Trail and Distance Riding thingamajig. I was a member over a year ago but due to my job, never got to get very far, plus my crabby mare had a really bad absess, so nothing much happened.
Welp, I rejoined today. Woo-hoo!! This morning I saddled up my spotted crank and rode for a bit. I'm telling ya, I did have some thoughts while saddling. Oh, 'what if, what if, what if' till I drove myself nuts. What is I can't reach the phone, what if I get knocked out (that has happened several times over the years), what if I knock some teeth out, etc.
Finally, it was like, "Oh, cowgirl up and get on the friggin' horse!"...and I did. We had a great ride and the feeling afterward was a rush! Since it had been about 3 weeks since I rode (or feels that way) I didn't go far this morning but tomorrow, I am heading a bit farther out. Even my mare was wanting to go on, not back to the barn!! She seemed to want to head down the two-track trail.
So, by facing down my irrational fears, I had a great time this morning plus I can now win things from the App club for forking my darlin'.
I feel extra good because I faced down a major fear. Almost nothing like it!!
Now, you guys get out there and ride!!
So, now that our move is over and done and things are settled, the frickin' rain has stopped, I was ready to start some serious riding. Now, I'm a member of the Appaloosa Horse Association and they offer a Trail and Distance Riding thingamajig. I was a member over a year ago but due to my job, never got to get very far, plus my crabby mare had a really bad absess, so nothing much happened.
Welp, I rejoined today. Woo-hoo!! This morning I saddled up my spotted crank and rode for a bit. I'm telling ya, I did have some thoughts while saddling. Oh, 'what if, what if, what if' till I drove myself nuts. What is I can't reach the phone, what if I get knocked out (that has happened several times over the years), what if I knock some teeth out, etc.
Finally, it was like, "Oh, cowgirl up and get on the friggin' horse!"...and I did. We had a great ride and the feeling afterward was a rush! Since it had been about 3 weeks since I rode (or feels that way) I didn't go far this morning but tomorrow, I am heading a bit farther out. Even my mare was wanting to go on, not back to the barn!! She seemed to want to head down the two-track trail.
So, by facing down my irrational fears, I had a great time this morning plus I can now win things from the App club for forking my darlin'.
I feel extra good because I faced down a major fear. Almost nothing like it!!
Now, you guys get out there and ride!!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
An Experiment...Sort Of Ignore This Part
Nope, didn't work. I'm trying to link to an article about hoof abscesses. Something didn't work right...so....I'll keep trying. Sorry, if this is boring, I appologize but I'm trying to make this a better blog so please excuse the construction. :-)
*sigh* Now it says that the site I linked to, doesn't exist. Now, how can that be?? I have it open in it's own window. Getting frustrated but I'll keep trying.
*sigh* Now it says that the site I linked to, doesn't exist. Now, how can that be?? I have it open in it's own window. Getting frustrated but I'll keep trying.
L'arnin' Them Bloggin' Rules
Yep, I'm reading the book, 'Blogging For Dummies' and it's great. Of all the blog services out there, by sheer, dumb luck I picked the best one to start out on, to learn on.
This book has answered oodles of questions that I had and I'm going to experiment a bit and then present the finished, better blog...I freakin' hope...
So, hang in there with me. I really appreciate my readers!
This book has answered oodles of questions that I had and I'm going to experiment a bit and then present the finished, better blog...I freakin' hope...
So, hang in there with me. I really appreciate my readers!
Buying Clean Feed
This is something that I've been meaning to post for the longest time...and then forget to do so. But, today, I'm on top of things and was reminded to post this when I went out to feed.
Normally, I buy very clean, steamed, rolled barley for my mare's grain. I only feed enough to get her vitamins down her, not really for nutritional purposes. She gets about a pint of grain twice a day.
This last bag I bought of barley has a LOT of chaff in it. When I bought it, I didn't think to ask for triple cleaned grain and got this stuff instead. I kind of wondered, in an off-hand way, why the bag was so cheap, er, inexpensive and now I know why.
Since I've opened it, I don't know if the feed store will take it back, I thought well, I better figger out a way to clean the grain up. Simple, really. All you have to do is when you scoop the feed in the scooper, pour it out slightly higher than normal into your bucket while standing in a bit of a wind. The wind blows the chaff away and the grains fall down into the bucket. Do this several times and you'll have pretty clean feed, not perfect but better than chaff-y feed. By the way, do this before you throw feed into your horses' feed bucket, do it outside somewhere.
Next time, I'll be sure to ask for the right grain... :-)
Normally, I buy very clean, steamed, rolled barley for my mare's grain. I only feed enough to get her vitamins down her, not really for nutritional purposes. She gets about a pint of grain twice a day.
This last bag I bought of barley has a LOT of chaff in it. When I bought it, I didn't think to ask for triple cleaned grain and got this stuff instead. I kind of wondered, in an off-hand way, why the bag was so cheap, er, inexpensive and now I know why.
Since I've opened it, I don't know if the feed store will take it back, I thought well, I better figger out a way to clean the grain up. Simple, really. All you have to do is when you scoop the feed in the scooper, pour it out slightly higher than normal into your bucket while standing in a bit of a wind. The wind blows the chaff away and the grains fall down into the bucket. Do this several times and you'll have pretty clean feed, not perfect but better than chaff-y feed. By the way, do this before you throw feed into your horses' feed bucket, do it outside somewhere.
Next time, I'll be sure to ask for the right grain... :-)
Friday, June 19, 2009
This Is Butt High, An Explanation
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1230457996.html
Here is a yearling filly who is starting her awkward, gawky stage and a perfect example of her buns being way higher than her withers. Her hoofies seem to be pretty level, even her back may be a scoche lower than her front and still her rear end is higher. Now her withers aren't really developed yet so it gives an impression of lower even than it is.
She's just a gawky girl, bless her bones! But all horses go through this. As she progresses through her second year, her front end and rear end will change heights pretty quick and you can see the difference in even as few as three days. But they don't seem to grow at the same time, it's like a ruler that one end is higher and then the other end is higher and so forth.
Since she's a Quarter Horse, she should pretty well level out when she matures. Her neck looks like it's jammed on instead of set on, this is normal too. Her neck is thin, that's normal. The thing I really don't like is the second pic that looks like she's looking around with her ears instead of her nose. I like 'em when the look at something with their nose sticking out first, that's what you see first instead of seeing eyes and ears first. Even from this angle, I think her head could be set on a bit better.
But this is a case of bloodlines. I wasn't going to check Allbreed but, in the end, I had to know, yep, I was right, she's a Hancock horse. So she's bred to work her buns off for you, not look purty and charm the socks off anyone. She'll be a working fool. So, for this, you can cut her slack on the weird way she's standing, especially that back near hock and the off-side leg.
All in all, I'll betcha she'll be a nice little horse someday. Thumbs up from me!
Here is a yearling filly who is starting her awkward, gawky stage and a perfect example of her buns being way higher than her withers. Her hoofies seem to be pretty level, even her back may be a scoche lower than her front and still her rear end is higher. Now her withers aren't really developed yet so it gives an impression of lower even than it is.
She's just a gawky girl, bless her bones! But all horses go through this. As she progresses through her second year, her front end and rear end will change heights pretty quick and you can see the difference in even as few as three days. But they don't seem to grow at the same time, it's like a ruler that one end is higher and then the other end is higher and so forth.
Since she's a Quarter Horse, she should pretty well level out when she matures. Her neck looks like it's jammed on instead of set on, this is normal too. Her neck is thin, that's normal. The thing I really don't like is the second pic that looks like she's looking around with her ears instead of her nose. I like 'em when the look at something with their nose sticking out first, that's what you see first instead of seeing eyes and ears first. Even from this angle, I think her head could be set on a bit better.
But this is a case of bloodlines. I wasn't going to check Allbreed but, in the end, I had to know, yep, I was right, she's a Hancock horse. So she's bred to work her buns off for you, not look purty and charm the socks off anyone. She'll be a working fool. So, for this, you can cut her slack on the weird way she's standing, especially that back near hock and the off-side leg.
All in all, I'll betcha she'll be a nice little horse someday. Thumbs up from me!
My Traditional Views Are Being Heeded! *Gasp!*
Sump'in is in the air. I'm actually being asked, yes, ASKED for advice by newbie or fairly new horse owners for help with their horsemanship and their horse. The old *'N'atural 'H'orsemanship* stuff isn't working out so well, it seems, and several have asked me to help them straighten out their little Triggers with my 'back in the day' horsemanship ideas. (Remember, I think there is a BIG dif between 'Natural Hor$eman$hip' and natural horsemanship.)
Can. You. Believe??
A couple are seriously overmounted and I am going to have to lay it on the line about their horse. They thought they could buy almost any horse and using love and understanding, get their horse to love and understand them right back...only to get semi-seriously hurt and look for help elsewhere.
As far as I know, they don't read or even know about this blog so it's not like they sussed me out and then were looking for advice/help. This is me talking to my neighbors and friends and people found me.
I'm actually kind of thrilled. At my age, I'm not too much on retraining a spoiled horse (bloody body syndrome comes to mind rather quickly) but I can sure give lessons again and be a help to someone that really wants a good horse.
As I stated in a recent post, it seems that the classical/traditional training is coming back into play and becoming popular again. Well, it may be too soon for 'popular' but it's curving back my way.
Okie dokie, just had to brag a little bit. If anything comes of this, I'll report on it, good or bad, my way or not. If nothing else, hopefully it'll be interesting reading!
Now, go ride!
Can. You. Believe??
A couple are seriously overmounted and I am going to have to lay it on the line about their horse. They thought they could buy almost any horse and using love and understanding, get their horse to love and understand them right back...only to get semi-seriously hurt and look for help elsewhere.
As far as I know, they don't read or even know about this blog so it's not like they sussed me out and then were looking for advice/help. This is me talking to my neighbors and friends and people found me.
I'm actually kind of thrilled. At my age, I'm not too much on retraining a spoiled horse (bloody body syndrome comes to mind rather quickly) but I can sure give lessons again and be a help to someone that really wants a good horse.
As I stated in a recent post, it seems that the classical/traditional training is coming back into play and becoming popular again. Well, it may be too soon for 'popular' but it's curving back my way.
Okie dokie, just had to brag a little bit. If anything comes of this, I'll report on it, good or bad, my way or not. If nothing else, hopefully it'll be interesting reading!
Now, go ride!
Up For 'Worst Ad' Prize
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1230330322.html
Honestly, I should start giving out awards for 'worst ad'. First off, what the hell is a 'fole'?? Really, that's the first time in my whole life I've seen it spelled like that. Hey, goofball owner, check the dictionary perhaps??
Ain't these jes' the best pictures you've EVER seen of a horse, stud horse no less?? Check out those front legs!!
Of course, my personal pet peeve, say it with me, grammar and punctuation.
Yeah, boy...we have a winner.... A top-tenner for sure!
Honestly, I should start giving out awards for 'worst ad'. First off, what the hell is a 'fole'?? Really, that's the first time in my whole life I've seen it spelled like that. Hey, goofball owner, check the dictionary perhaps??
Ain't these jes' the best pictures you've EVER seen of a horse, stud horse no less?? Check out those front legs!!
Of course, my personal pet peeve, say it with me, grammar and punctuation.
Yeah, boy...we have a winner.... A top-tenner for sure!
Do You Know This Almost Geezerette?
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1228617888.html
I don't know these people but the ad got me 'right here'. If you know anything about this old lady (I mean the horse...), please get in touch with the poster and maybe there will be a happy ending.
Sure hope so!!
I don't know these people but the ad got me 'right here'. If you know anything about this old lady (I mean the horse...), please get in touch with the poster and maybe there will be a happy ending.
Sure hope so!!
Feeding For Bad Weather
This is kind of obvious, to me, but it dawned on me that in this day and age of, seems like, most people boarding their horses, they may not know this.
A horse's gut is their internal heating element. When they have hay in their gut, it's humming right along and the horse can 'weather' bad weather a lot better than if they don't have much in there.
Now, I've heard both sides of this argument. One side, that I agree with, says that a full gut is good for horsie-warmth and the other side says that it's not so.
From my personal experience, the full gut is the way to go. Not just for warmth for the horse but to keep all systems in check and good running order. In bad, inclement weather, if you keep hay in front of your sweetheart (I mean the horse, not your spouse) you can even do away with using blanket for his protection. If he's in good shape beforehand with enough fat reserves, he will do just fine in cold or cold/wet or wet weather with lots of roughage and plenty of fatty deposits.
If you see your horse is slightly shivering in bad weather, then throw a blanket on for a little bit and throw a lot of hay (roughage) and in no time flat, he'll be right as rain (a play on words there, did you catch that??). Take the blanket off and leave it off after that. That's what I do.
I don't get it when I see thin horses over the top standing out in the cold rain and they look like they dropped in from Ethiopia but there is a nice warm, dry house next to the horse pens. To me, get the owner's ass out there and throw some hay!!
It's all the better if your babykins has a good pasture. He can stand out there all day and night in the ooky rain and come out none the worse for wear. He's had plenty of fuel to stoke the engine and keep him going. He doesn't need to hide behind a barn, his fat is his protection.
Don't remember why some article said that it's not the gut that warms the horse but it didn't make sense to me, not from a practical, personal viewpoint.
Get out there and kiss your horse!!
A horse's gut is their internal heating element. When they have hay in their gut, it's humming right along and the horse can 'weather' bad weather a lot better than if they don't have much in there.
Now, I've heard both sides of this argument. One side, that I agree with, says that a full gut is good for horsie-warmth and the other side says that it's not so.
From my personal experience, the full gut is the way to go. Not just for warmth for the horse but to keep all systems in check and good running order. In bad, inclement weather, if you keep hay in front of your sweetheart (I mean the horse, not your spouse) you can even do away with using blanket for his protection. If he's in good shape beforehand with enough fat reserves, he will do just fine in cold or cold/wet or wet weather with lots of roughage and plenty of fatty deposits.
If you see your horse is slightly shivering in bad weather, then throw a blanket on for a little bit and throw a lot of hay (roughage) and in no time flat, he'll be right as rain (a play on words there, did you catch that??). Take the blanket off and leave it off after that. That's what I do.
I don't get it when I see thin horses over the top standing out in the cold rain and they look like they dropped in from Ethiopia but there is a nice warm, dry house next to the horse pens. To me, get the owner's ass out there and throw some hay!!
It's all the better if your babykins has a good pasture. He can stand out there all day and night in the ooky rain and come out none the worse for wear. He's had plenty of fuel to stoke the engine and keep him going. He doesn't need to hide behind a barn, his fat is his protection.
Don't remember why some article said that it's not the gut that warms the horse but it didn't make sense to me, not from a practical, personal viewpoint.
Get out there and kiss your horse!!
I'm Really Torn On This One
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1228420331.html
If nothing else, my posting this might give someone an idea that they need something from this grab-bag of goodies and help the little dog...
However, after I thought about it a little bit, I had to go back to the ad several times to look at it, I can't help but think that maybe this is a sort of way of selling by guilt association. It's almost like the 'the kill trailer is coming so buy a horse quick!' sort of deal.
Whatever may be the true reason for selling the tack, the little doggy is a cute one, alright. This is where I'm going to veer off track a minute. To my mind, if she was rescued and has many health problems, I think I would have put her to sleep and saved her any more pain and hurt. What a cute little pic, sure tugs at my heartstrings, that's for sure.
But you have to think at what cost of saving a poor, sweet little (or big animal, like a horse) that it's going to cost you. In this case, the poster says he/she needs to sell stuff to pay the vet bill. At the very worst, like I said above, you get people wanting to help the puppy who will buy stuff and the poster unloads all the tack that they couldn't before.
At best, you have true altruism (is that the word I want? Too early in the morning...) of someone who is willing to lose it all to help a downtrodden cutie-pie.
At any rate, if you can use this posted stuff, give them a call or email if you see something you can REALLY use.
If nothing else, my posting this might give someone an idea that they need something from this grab-bag of goodies and help the little dog...
However, after I thought about it a little bit, I had to go back to the ad several times to look at it, I can't help but think that maybe this is a sort of way of selling by guilt association. It's almost like the 'the kill trailer is coming so buy a horse quick!' sort of deal.
Whatever may be the true reason for selling the tack, the little doggy is a cute one, alright. This is where I'm going to veer off track a minute. To my mind, if she was rescued and has many health problems, I think I would have put her to sleep and saved her any more pain and hurt. What a cute little pic, sure tugs at my heartstrings, that's for sure.
But you have to think at what cost of saving a poor, sweet little (or big animal, like a horse) that it's going to cost you. In this case, the poster says he/she needs to sell stuff to pay the vet bill. At the very worst, like I said above, you get people wanting to help the puppy who will buy stuff and the poster unloads all the tack that they couldn't before.
At best, you have true altruism (is that the word I want? Too early in the morning...) of someone who is willing to lose it all to help a downtrodden cutie-pie.
At any rate, if you can use this posted stuff, give them a call or email if you see something you can REALLY use.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Putting Weight On A Pasture Horse
Every time I go to town, I pass by a horse in a pasture. A pasture is that the grass is up to his knees and he always has his head bogged right down in the grass, not coming up for air a bit.
However, he's a little on the thin side and I don't quite get that. The first thing I think of is a good worming but he seems to be pretty slick and not pot-bellied a bit. Still a good worming wouldn't hurt.
Since I see him in this little pasture every time, I wonder if the owners ever take him in for proper feeding. He may be a geezer gelding for all I know but, in my experience, that's not a reason for him to be thin. He seems to be, maybe, a TB or TB cross but that's still not a reason. I don't think he's being worked a bit, just holding the pasture down and keeping it mowed.
So, what's the deal on him then? I would say do a blood panel and find out if everything is normal. Take him in for breakfast and supper and put oats in front of him along with alfalfa and a good supplement for weight building. Check his teeth but don't get carried away (more on this later). Take all stress off of him. After doing these simple things, he should start gaining weight where you notice it in less than a week-ish.
I can't tell the number of horses I've seen over the years where someone said their horse wouldn't gain weight, only to sell the horse to someone else who plumps that sucker right up. It's a matter of finding the right combo and then DOING it, following through. Not only saying that 'he's been like that for years and won't gain weight'. Not true. If some combo of feed doesn't work, then go to the next thing but something will work. Only if he's so debilitated by something, then he won't but it'd have to be pretty big to keep him from gaining.
This has been bugging me for a while and now it's off my chest... :-) Now, go ride your horse!
However, he's a little on the thin side and I don't quite get that. The first thing I think of is a good worming but he seems to be pretty slick and not pot-bellied a bit. Still a good worming wouldn't hurt.
Since I see him in this little pasture every time, I wonder if the owners ever take him in for proper feeding. He may be a geezer gelding for all I know but, in my experience, that's not a reason for him to be thin. He seems to be, maybe, a TB or TB cross but that's still not a reason. I don't think he's being worked a bit, just holding the pasture down and keeping it mowed.
So, what's the deal on him then? I would say do a blood panel and find out if everything is normal. Take him in for breakfast and supper and put oats in front of him along with alfalfa and a good supplement for weight building. Check his teeth but don't get carried away (more on this later). Take all stress off of him. After doing these simple things, he should start gaining weight where you notice it in less than a week-ish.
I can't tell the number of horses I've seen over the years where someone said their horse wouldn't gain weight, only to sell the horse to someone else who plumps that sucker right up. It's a matter of finding the right combo and then DOING it, following through. Not only saying that 'he's been like that for years and won't gain weight'. Not true. If some combo of feed doesn't work, then go to the next thing but something will work. Only if he's so debilitated by something, then he won't but it'd have to be pretty big to keep him from gaining.
This has been bugging me for a while and now it's off my chest... :-) Now, go ride your horse!
Old Vs. New
Oh, boy... You know how I've been harping on the 'old ways'?? Welp, it seems that some think that the old ways are to be dismissed and even *slightly* dissed. Not totally dismissed but with a peer-down-the-nose sort of dissed, if that explains it. To tell the truth, I'm a little, teensy bit teed off about it.
Let me explain it again... I'm from the old school when it comes to horses and life in general. I have tried many, MANY of the new ways only to find out that the older, settled, traditional, classical ways are much better and less stressful on me and my horse(s). I'm not touting the old ways just to be a pain in the ass, I truly believe and have seen firsthand that a lot of the old ways are far superior to the fluff that now passes for horse training and knowledge.
Take as an example, and the reason for this got started on a horse board, the subject of conformation. Let me be really clear on this...good conformation is a must if you are to show your horse. You are judged on how your horse is put together and if it comes down to you and someone else, everything being equal and you have the nicer horse, you're going to win the class. The whole point of showing in my book. The show-conformation angle is not quite new but I used to show when confo didn't much count so, show-confo to me, is one of the 'newer' things.
However, for a saddle horse of whatever discipline, good confo is great but he doesn't have to be perfection horsified. If his legs aren't quite straight, he MIGHT have a bigger chance of going lame and then again, depending on external factors, he might not. You have to look at his bloodlines (certain bloodlines are known for unsoundness but they look great), what he's been fed from the very beginning in his dam's womb, where he's been kept and a really important one is, who is your farrier. A bad farrier can make a good horse travel bad and cripple themselves. My mare scalps big time and her legs are clean as a whistle. Not a knock on them and she's now 14 years old.
My version is more the old fashioned way, looking at the whole pie instead of one pie slice, the paragraph above.
I've noticed on the TV trainers (see other posts) that they are trending back to traditional training instead of 'carrot sticks' and cradle bridles (you can just imagine what I think of those...). Ol' Clinton A uses a lot of Kel Jeffrey's techniques that are on youtube. Mr. Jeffreys videos are from the 1950's, that I've seen anyway. I've written of McNabb too. I likey his way of starting a colt, short and sweet and to the point. No fiddling around asking Snookums if he feels like working today. Chris Cox is very good but he's over a lot of people's heads but right up my alley. There are some others I like and they are more the traditional types and produce good, sound horses that last for decades. Not cripples either.
So, this is what I'm talking about when I get bent out of shape over the 'new' stuff. It's fine and great to know the 'new' stuff but any well rounded horseman/woman should know classical/traditional too and be able to use tools from the older-knowledge toolbox.
Okay, I think I'm about over my teed-offness. :-) Hope this explains it better.
Let me explain it again... I'm from the old school when it comes to horses and life in general. I have tried many, MANY of the new ways only to find out that the older, settled, traditional, classical ways are much better and less stressful on me and my horse(s). I'm not touting the old ways just to be a pain in the ass, I truly believe and have seen firsthand that a lot of the old ways are far superior to the fluff that now passes for horse training and knowledge.
Take as an example, and the reason for this got started on a horse board, the subject of conformation. Let me be really clear on this...good conformation is a must if you are to show your horse. You are judged on how your horse is put together and if it comes down to you and someone else, everything being equal and you have the nicer horse, you're going to win the class. The whole point of showing in my book. The show-conformation angle is not quite new but I used to show when confo didn't much count so, show-confo to me, is one of the 'newer' things.
However, for a saddle horse of whatever discipline, good confo is great but he doesn't have to be perfection horsified. If his legs aren't quite straight, he MIGHT have a bigger chance of going lame and then again, depending on external factors, he might not. You have to look at his bloodlines (certain bloodlines are known for unsoundness but they look great), what he's been fed from the very beginning in his dam's womb, where he's been kept and a really important one is, who is your farrier. A bad farrier can make a good horse travel bad and cripple themselves. My mare scalps big time and her legs are clean as a whistle. Not a knock on them and she's now 14 years old.
My version is more the old fashioned way, looking at the whole pie instead of one pie slice, the paragraph above.
I've noticed on the TV trainers (see other posts) that they are trending back to traditional training instead of 'carrot sticks' and cradle bridles (you can just imagine what I think of those...). Ol' Clinton A uses a lot of Kel Jeffrey's techniques that are on youtube. Mr. Jeffreys videos are from the 1950's, that I've seen anyway. I've written of McNabb too. I likey his way of starting a colt, short and sweet and to the point. No fiddling around asking Snookums if he feels like working today. Chris Cox is very good but he's over a lot of people's heads but right up my alley. There are some others I like and they are more the traditional types and produce good, sound horses that last for decades. Not cripples either.
So, this is what I'm talking about when I get bent out of shape over the 'new' stuff. It's fine and great to know the 'new' stuff but any well rounded horseman/woman should know classical/traditional too and be able to use tools from the older-knowledge toolbox.
Okay, I think I'm about over my teed-offness. :-) Hope this explains it better.
You'll Be Happy To Know
I got the book, "Blogging For Dummies" and hopefully, it will help me be a better blogger. I glanced through it today and I think it's gonna help me...and you, my dear reader, in the long run.
What could be better, now I ask you??
Okay, 'nuf about my learning curve jitters, let's get on to some meaty posts, shall we?? Read on... :-)
What could be better, now I ask you??
Okay, 'nuf about my learning curve jitters, let's get on to some meaty posts, shall we?? Read on... :-)
Friday, June 12, 2009
How About Learning Basic Grammar And Punctuation??
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1218351759.html
and...
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1218353186.html
and...
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1218343406.html
and...
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1218343406.html
These are the ones that I found at one glance!! I wonder how many more there up there that I missed??
Honestly, these types of ads drive me nuts. It's really hard to suss out what they are saying. Where does that pesky period fit in AND is it really that hard to capitalize the first letter of each sentence?? Or to capitalize "I"??
Before anyone says anything, I do make mistakes on here but my boo-boos are nowhere NEAR the cluster**** these ads show. I've almost gotten to the point of when I happen upon an ad that is nearly indecipherable, I click it off and go to the next one. Our education system in this country has it's problems but if you paid attention just a little bit in school, you'd know these things. It's basic stuff! Don't give me any ADD or OCD or whatever crap either. This basic stuff can be learned, no matter the learning disability. I have dealt with learning disabilities and too often, they are used as an excuse to not learn or as a crutch. Not happening on this watch!
So, I'm making an offer. If someone wants their ads proofread, I will be happy to read them, correct any mistakes and send them back through email. I've done proofreading in the past for newspapers and novelists and never spilled a word about the subject. I don't care what the subject is except I will not do anything that is porn related...and I will be the judge of iffy content. I'm not going to charge for this, will do it to help people out. If you'd like some help, send me an email to horseinfoperson@yahoo.com, I'll do what I can and send it back with no copy kept of my own. I guess I should say, if I get some emails that seem a bit tooooo silly, like a joke on me or the iffy content, then I won't do them. I am serious about helping people and don't need numbnuts clogging up the channels.
Welp, I'm way off subject but this is something that drives me crazy! No excuse now, is there? :-)
and...
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1218353186.html
and...
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1218343406.html
and...
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1218343406.html
These are the ones that I found at one glance!! I wonder how many more there up there that I missed??
Honestly, these types of ads drive me nuts. It's really hard to suss out what they are saying. Where does that pesky period fit in AND is it really that hard to capitalize the first letter of each sentence?? Or to capitalize "I"??
Before anyone says anything, I do make mistakes on here but my boo-boos are nowhere NEAR the cluster**** these ads show. I've almost gotten to the point of when I happen upon an ad that is nearly indecipherable, I click it off and go to the next one. Our education system in this country has it's problems but if you paid attention just a little bit in school, you'd know these things. It's basic stuff! Don't give me any ADD or OCD or whatever crap either. This basic stuff can be learned, no matter the learning disability. I have dealt with learning disabilities and too often, they are used as an excuse to not learn or as a crutch. Not happening on this watch!
So, I'm making an offer. If someone wants their ads proofread, I will be happy to read them, correct any mistakes and send them back through email. I've done proofreading in the past for newspapers and novelists and never spilled a word about the subject. I don't care what the subject is except I will not do anything that is porn related...and I will be the judge of iffy content. I'm not going to charge for this, will do it to help people out. If you'd like some help, send me an email to horseinfoperson@yahoo.com, I'll do what I can and send it back with no copy kept of my own. I guess I should say, if I get some emails that seem a bit tooooo silly, like a joke on me or the iffy content, then I won't do them. I am serious about helping people and don't need numbnuts clogging up the channels.
Welp, I'm way off subject but this is something that drives me crazy! No excuse now, is there? :-)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
On A Learning Curve
I am SO proud! On the posting page (which I'm on right now), I found some nifty button thingys and am playing with them, trying to make them work. So, then I can post straight from the web instead of cut and pasting the link dillywhopper. I may have some strange posts for juuusssttt a little while but I'll get if figgered out. Please hang in there with me, okie dokie??
On another front, I found a book called 'Blogging for Dummies'...I think it sounds perfect for me. Next time I get to town, I'll check it out from the library to see if it's any good and will help me improve my blogging. I want to make this blog more interesting and with pictures and maybe even a sales page but I don't know how to do it yet. I found a link to a page that explain Html but it's still a bit over my head, but, then again, I didn't take a whole lot of time to peruse the site.
Yup, this is coming together and feeling like something good! :-)
On another front, I found a book called 'Blogging for Dummies'...I think it sounds perfect for me. Next time I get to town, I'll check it out from the library to see if it's any good and will help me improve my blogging. I want to make this blog more interesting and with pictures and maybe even a sales page but I don't know how to do it yet. I found a link to a page that explain Html but it's still a bit over my head, but, then again, I didn't take a whole lot of time to peruse the site.
Yup, this is coming together and feeling like something good! :-)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Example Of An 'Iffy' Ad
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1215525907.html
Now this ad may be on the up and up but this is a perfect example of the types of ads I've written about in the past about fronts for kill buyers.
I've seen several ads in the past coupla weeks where someone is asking for a horse but doesn't have the money to buy. To me, red flag! Then, my mind wonders, why don't you save a bit of money for a couple of months and buy something cheap. There are plenty of cheap horses out there right now, even some free ones. I know of some free ones right now, as a matter of fact.
Or, if you don't have the money to buy, there have been lease ads up and that way, you aren't stuck with a horse forever and the owner can know his horse isn't going to go violently bye-bye to a Mexican slaughter house. Since I'm on dial-up now, I can't get to the video of the horse being stabbed to death but it's on the Humane Society website somewhere. Be forewarned, it's really graphic and even I have not been able to make it through the whole thing, only peeking through my fingers held up in front of my eyes... Yes, it's that bad...
So, before you commit your horse to ANY home, especially for free, do your due diligence and make sure your horse will be safe. That he can be returned any time, for any reason if the home can't keep him. You can write out a contract and get it notarized and hopefully, both sides will abide by the contract.
Last thing, I want to make really clear, this ad may be for real and be a really good home. But I'm a former buyer/seller (never sold to the killers but rescued out of there quite a bit, did a lot of rehab and rescue) and I have a bullshit radar that's a little rusty but things haven't changed that much, I'm sure. Just do your due diligence first. Never be afraid to back out if you get the jeebies that something isn't right. Ask the neighbors or horse people in the area who the local kill buyer is and where do they live (if known...some kill buyers don't want that info out there).
Due diligence, can't stress it enough.
Now this ad may be on the up and up but this is a perfect example of the types of ads I've written about in the past about fronts for kill buyers.
I've seen several ads in the past coupla weeks where someone is asking for a horse but doesn't have the money to buy. To me, red flag! Then, my mind wonders, why don't you save a bit of money for a couple of months and buy something cheap. There are plenty of cheap horses out there right now, even some free ones. I know of some free ones right now, as a matter of fact.
Or, if you don't have the money to buy, there have been lease ads up and that way, you aren't stuck with a horse forever and the owner can know his horse isn't going to go violently bye-bye to a Mexican slaughter house. Since I'm on dial-up now, I can't get to the video of the horse being stabbed to death but it's on the Humane Society website somewhere. Be forewarned, it's really graphic and even I have not been able to make it through the whole thing, only peeking through my fingers held up in front of my eyes... Yes, it's that bad...
So, before you commit your horse to ANY home, especially for free, do your due diligence and make sure your horse will be safe. That he can be returned any time, for any reason if the home can't keep him. You can write out a contract and get it notarized and hopefully, both sides will abide by the contract.
Last thing, I want to make really clear, this ad may be for real and be a really good home. But I'm a former buyer/seller (never sold to the killers but rescued out of there quite a bit, did a lot of rehab and rescue) and I have a bullshit radar that's a little rusty but things haven't changed that much, I'm sure. Just do your due diligence first. Never be afraid to back out if you get the jeebies that something isn't right. Ask the neighbors or horse people in the area who the local kill buyer is and where do they live (if known...some kill buyers don't want that info out there).
Due diligence, can't stress it enough.
Somebody Needs To Get 4-H On The Line
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1215744267.html
Okay, I'm going to cut 4-H a little slack on this one, not much, but a little.
Look at the text, it says this is a 4-H home.
Look at the picture, what is way wrong with this picture??
Look at the text again, it says she's a beginner rider. I can deal with that...
Now, I'm gonna let fly...
A beginner rider on a too-much horse and the kid doesn't even have the reins in hand...hello? Anyone see something odd here? Next, the kid is in capri pants. Actually, I can sort of deal with that as long as the kid doesn't whine or complain about blisters but overall, long pants are the thing to wear when astride a horse.
Now the REALLY big one, whether beginner or long time experienced rider...what the hell is the kid doing wearing a pair of tenny-shoes and her foot is in the stirrup???? These aren't even stirrups that have the cage in the front to keep a kids foot from going through. ANY time you fork a horse in a saddle, you ALWAYS wear footwear that has at least a 1/2 inch heel!! There are even horsey tenny-shoes called Horseshoes that wear like tenny-shoes but if you get on a horse, they have a heel for safety.
So, we have a beginner rider on a too-much-for-her horse in capri pants, not holding on to the too-much-for-her horse's reins AND wearing tenny-shoes to boot!!
Back in the day, when I was in 4-H, if my instructor had seen that, I'd been booted out of the club, no questions asked!! I'm not sure if the 4-H there is falling down on imparting info to their members or this kid is soooo new, she hasn't been properly instructed on safe horsemanship or what is happening. SOME one really dropped the ball on this one!!
In my most humble opinion, 4-H is extremely valuable place to learn proper horsemanship. They have a wealth of knowledge almost second to none so I don't know why such a silly pic would be posted in an ad. I can understand that someone overbought for their kid before knowing about horses, but in today's day and age, with the 'net, you can find all sorts of good horses for your kid in the appropriate riding range.
So, I don't know who's really at fault for the most part, but someone needs to get hold of this family and show them the proper way. Let's hope it's a learning experience for them and they don't get their backs up and ignore good advice.
Jeepers...
Okay, I'm going to cut 4-H a little slack on this one, not much, but a little.
Look at the text, it says this is a 4-H home.
Look at the picture, what is way wrong with this picture??
Look at the text again, it says she's a beginner rider. I can deal with that...
Now, I'm gonna let fly...
A beginner rider on a too-much horse and the kid doesn't even have the reins in hand...hello? Anyone see something odd here? Next, the kid is in capri pants. Actually, I can sort of deal with that as long as the kid doesn't whine or complain about blisters but overall, long pants are the thing to wear when astride a horse.
Now the REALLY big one, whether beginner or long time experienced rider...what the hell is the kid doing wearing a pair of tenny-shoes and her foot is in the stirrup???? These aren't even stirrups that have the cage in the front to keep a kids foot from going through. ANY time you fork a horse in a saddle, you ALWAYS wear footwear that has at least a 1/2 inch heel!! There are even horsey tenny-shoes called Horseshoes that wear like tenny-shoes but if you get on a horse, they have a heel for safety.
So, we have a beginner rider on a too-much-for-her horse in capri pants, not holding on to the too-much-for-her horse's reins AND wearing tenny-shoes to boot!!
Back in the day, when I was in 4-H, if my instructor had seen that, I'd been booted out of the club, no questions asked!! I'm not sure if the 4-H there is falling down on imparting info to their members or this kid is soooo new, she hasn't been properly instructed on safe horsemanship or what is happening. SOME one really dropped the ball on this one!!
In my most humble opinion, 4-H is extremely valuable place to learn proper horsemanship. They have a wealth of knowledge almost second to none so I don't know why such a silly pic would be posted in an ad. I can understand that someone overbought for their kid before knowing about horses, but in today's day and age, with the 'net, you can find all sorts of good horses for your kid in the appropriate riding range.
So, I don't know who's really at fault for the most part, but someone needs to get hold of this family and show them the proper way. Let's hope it's a learning experience for them and they don't get their backs up and ignore good advice.
Jeepers...
A Fabulous Book To Read
I'm in the middle of Reiner Klimke's 'Basic Training of the Young Horse' and, so far, it's fabulous!
I recommend it greatly. Now, this book touts REAL horse training with common sense thrown in to get a great horse.
Strangely, even though when he wrote the book (that is translated from German into English) and rides english, the basic premise is there that I have used for years and years (decades actually). I had vaguely heard of him when I was way younger but his methods and ideas still hold up after all these decades later.
If you don't want to buy it, you can check it out of your local library, as I did. I wanted to make sure it was something I wanted to buy and now, I will. A GREAT book to add to your horse library. No matter what, please read this book!!
I recommend it greatly. Now, this book touts REAL horse training with common sense thrown in to get a great horse.
Strangely, even though when he wrote the book (that is translated from German into English) and rides english, the basic premise is there that I have used for years and years (decades actually). I had vaguely heard of him when I was way younger but his methods and ideas still hold up after all these decades later.
If you don't want to buy it, you can check it out of your local library, as I did. I wanted to make sure it was something I wanted to buy and now, I will. A GREAT book to add to your horse library. No matter what, please read this book!!
Wonderful Old Lady Was Put Down Today
A sweet old battle-axe of a mare went over the rainbow bridge today. She was euthanized late this afternoon. She had been going noticeably downhill in the last week with high temperatures and trouble eating her feed.
She told her owner (one of my best friends ever) that she wanted to go, it was time. So, arrangements were made and she went in peace.
A strange thing, we now live over 140 miles from my friend and her mare and my mare seemed to know something was wrong. She was strangely quiet today. I believe she knew her horse friend was going.
Now, go love on your horse...
She told her owner (one of my best friends ever) that she wanted to go, it was time. So, arrangements were made and she went in peace.
A strange thing, we now live over 140 miles from my friend and her mare and my mare seemed to know something was wrong. She was strangely quiet today. I believe she knew her horse friend was going.
Now, go love on your horse...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Rollkur Explanation
In the other post, I mentioned Rollkur. Here is a site that 'splains it perfectly. Bookmark this site for future reference too!
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=rollkur%2C+dressage%2C+dangerous%2C+third+vertebrae&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sustainabledressage.com%2Frollkur%2Fwhy_not.php
Scroll down about a third of the way for a great explanation. This whole site is fabulous.
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=rollkur%2C+dressage%2C+dangerous%2C+third+vertebrae&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sustainabledressage.com%2Frollkur%2Fwhy_not.php
Scroll down about a third of the way for a great explanation. This whole site is fabulous.
Cleaning Up The Last Post
I don't know what happened to the last post. So, I'll try again.
I can't see what I posted on the last post but the upshot is that I think going back to maybe not square one but maybe square two or three will help her alot.
I want to be clear, riding her regularly would alleviate a lot of these problems but she is supposed to be a totally broke, almost finished horse so should ride properly, no matter the circumstances.
Something that just dawned on me, well, what about lunging her first, you ask? Well, as I said above, she is a totally broke horse and SHOULD ride pretty much the same each and every time. She's turned out in a large corral and can self-exercise to burn off excess energy so it's not a matter of being overly fresh. She's just being a knot-head of the first order!!
Also, about lunging (I've seen that spelled so many ways that I'm not sure of the correct spelling), lunging is good to a point but what if you have to hop on for whatever reason and don't have time to lunge?? Lunging has its good points but it shouldn't be relied on too much. Horsie can just deal with it...
Now, go ride... :-)
I can't see what I posted on the last post but the upshot is that I think going back to maybe not square one but maybe square two or three will help her alot.
I want to be clear, riding her regularly would alleviate a lot of these problems but she is supposed to be a totally broke, almost finished horse so should ride properly, no matter the circumstances.
Something that just dawned on me, well, what about lunging her first, you ask? Well, as I said above, she is a totally broke horse and SHOULD ride pretty much the same each and every time. She's turned out in a large corral and can self-exercise to burn off excess energy so it's not a matter of being overly fresh. She's just being a knot-head of the first order!!
Also, about lunging (I've seen that spelled so many ways that I'm not sure of the correct spelling), lunging is good to a point but what if you have to hop on for whatever reason and don't have time to lunge?? Lunging has its good points but it shouldn't be relied on too much. Horsie can just deal with it...
Now, go ride... :-)
Retraining The 'Trained' Horse...Oy Vey...
As I reported in my last posting, I just got in from riding my mare and some days, I'm ready to pull my almost-blonde-out-of-a-bottle-hair out!!
Since there have been quite a bit of thunderstorms, I don't ride much. I'm totally afraid of riding in mud. I'll take riding in snow over mud any day. I've had horses slip right out from under me in mud and one even bowed a tendon, so no mud-riding for me.
So, this makes it hard for me to keep a horse going. When I miss days sometimes and then get back on, the first 15 minutes can be really, really interesting before we can get down to business. My mare makes me work for every little bit, which is good in a way but it does get old after a while.
Now my mare is broke to the hilt and someone in the distant past did a helluva job training her but I bought her from some people who were into 'N'atural 'H'orse Training and my mare got the upper hand rather quickly...and she kept the upper hand. Wouldn't relinquish it one bit!!
Then I came along. The take-no-prisoners cowgirl from the old school... My mare had been 'told' that she and the humans were on a level playing field and that us humans would try to 'understand' her and her feelings. So, I got an unmitigated brat (who is also an Appy, read other posts about Appys and their characteristics). She basically took their niceness as being weak (which in a way, it is weak) and steamrolled right over them. That's how I ended up with her.
I took a lookie at her papers and 'saw' a good horse who needed straightening out. Due to circumstances, I didn't get to do much with her till recently.
But this morning's ride...I'm telling ya...I haven't ridden since last week and she just wasn't into listening to me. Saw the frickin' barn cat after a squeaker (a type of rodent, bigger than a mouse) that she has seen every single day since we moved here and just could NOT get with the program! In my mind, I was tallying up how much my emergency room bill was going to be.
She went right back into turning on the forehand and throwing her haunches out, bowing up her neck at the third vertebrae (not a good idea even though a lot of modern day dressage riders do it. Called something like Rollkur, not sure, would have to look it up but it's basically dangerous for a horse), asking with my legs was going nowhere, diving into turns. That sort of stuff. This is what she reverts to when not ridden regularly.
So, I've had thoughts recently of starting her all over again. Just like she was an unbroke horse. I've done this on several horses and overall, it worked out well. She needs more forward instead of dwelling on her forehand so much. She has been 'let' go on her forehand so much and it's so much easier for her to do it wrong that she reverts to this. I've been around horses long enough to recognize she's been trained badly, but recently, not the original training. She knows right from wrong but it's easier to do the wrong thing and get away with it, instead of the right thing.
(Sorry about this post being strange. I was typing along and all of a sudden, blogger posted my unfinished post and now I'm editing it...I'm hoping this works well) I better post this and then post again because I'm not sure what happened... :-)
Since there have been quite a bit of thunderstorms, I don't ride much. I'm totally afraid of riding in mud. I'll take riding in snow over mud any day. I've had horses slip right out from under me in mud and one even bowed a tendon, so no mud-riding for me.
So, this makes it hard for me to keep a horse going. When I miss days sometimes and then get back on, the first 15 minutes can be really, really interesting before we can get down to business. My mare makes me work for every little bit, which is good in a way but it does get old after a while.
Now my mare is broke to the hilt and someone in the distant past did a helluva job training her but I bought her from some people who were into 'N'atural 'H'orse Training and my mare got the upper hand rather quickly...and she kept the upper hand. Wouldn't relinquish it one bit!!
Then I came along. The take-no-prisoners cowgirl from the old school... My mare had been 'told' that she and the humans were on a level playing field and that us humans would try to 'understand' her and her feelings. So, I got an unmitigated brat (who is also an Appy, read other posts about Appys and their characteristics). She basically took their niceness as being weak (which in a way, it is weak) and steamrolled right over them. That's how I ended up with her.
I took a lookie at her papers and 'saw' a good horse who needed straightening out. Due to circumstances, I didn't get to do much with her till recently.
But this morning's ride...I'm telling ya...I haven't ridden since last week and she just wasn't into listening to me. Saw the frickin' barn cat after a squeaker (a type of rodent, bigger than a mouse) that she has seen every single day since we moved here and just could NOT get with the program! In my mind, I was tallying up how much my emergency room bill was going to be.
She went right back into turning on the forehand and throwing her haunches out, bowing up her neck at the third vertebrae (not a good idea even though a lot of modern day dressage riders do it. Called something like Rollkur, not sure, would have to look it up but it's basically dangerous for a horse), asking with my legs was going nowhere, diving into turns. That sort of stuff. This is what she reverts to when not ridden regularly.
So, I've had thoughts recently of starting her all over again. Just like she was an unbroke horse. I've done this on several horses and overall, it worked out well. She needs more forward instead of dwelling on her forehand so much. She has been 'let' go on her forehand so much and it's so much easier for her to do it wrong that she reverts to this. I've been around horses long enough to recognize she's been trained badly, but recently, not the original training. She knows right from wrong but it's easier to do the wrong thing and get away with it, instead of the right thing.
(Sorry about this post being strange. I was typing along and all of a sudden, blogger posted my unfinished post and now I'm editing it...I'm hoping this works well) I better post this and then post again because I'm not sure what happened... :-)
A Tip For Newbie Horse Owners
Take this for what it's worth...after all, this is FREE horse info so if in doubt about my tip, just don't do it, however...
I just got in from riding my mare. That's where I do most of my horse thinking. I think horses all day anyway but when I'm riding, that's when the heavens open up and drop gems of wisdom down on me and I think, "Hmmm, maybe I should blog about that.". So, here goes a real gem...
Before I saddle up, I always brush my dumpling angel all over. Well, most of the time I do. There are days that I brush only where the saddle and cinch sit and away we go but that's really not a good idea overall. (I can just hear the 'boos' going on out there!) But you SHOULD brush your muffincake horse all over to check for cuts or those damn stickery little porcupine looking things that inhabit the deepest recesses of the mane or tail, or best of all, in the forelock. But what's the best way for walking around your horse to check this stuff without getting your head kicked off or the very least, a broken leg/arm from a startled horse. You know, there is that moment when your heart sort of stops in your chest when you think for a millisecond that you're going to get cracked a good one...
The first thing to remember is ANY horse will kick given the right set of circumstances. Never, ever believe anyone who says their horse would never kick. Ain't so. Just the right time hasn't hit yet, might never but you should don't want to be in the way if and when the stars align.
So, when walking behind a horse, always let your horse know where you are. On just about every horse I've ever had (except the totally wild ones off of a New Mexico pasture, but more about them sometime later), I walk with my closest shoulder barely touching the horse. At the very least, I put my hand up on his hip bone and walk around, sliding my hand with me as I go on to the other hip bone. Usually, I say something in a low voice to let him know I'm coming, it's sort of a back-up to the touching.
Even if I'm walking in someone's barn and a horse is tied in the aisle-way, I still put my hand up and use as described above. I stay close in to the horse. He can sure still kick you but, the theory is, he won't have all his power going just yet. Now, that's the prevailing theory. I've been kicked (or kicked at) but in just about ever case I can think of, the horse has been farther away from me and not when I've been 'right there'.
The upshot is the you want to let the horse know where you are at all times. Don't surprise him by popping up out of nowhere.
Hope this has been helpful!!
I just got in from riding my mare. That's where I do most of my horse thinking. I think horses all day anyway but when I'm riding, that's when the heavens open up and drop gems of wisdom down on me and I think, "Hmmm, maybe I should blog about that.". So, here goes a real gem...
Before I saddle up, I always brush my dumpling angel all over. Well, most of the time I do. There are days that I brush only where the saddle and cinch sit and away we go but that's really not a good idea overall. (I can just hear the 'boos' going on out there!) But you SHOULD brush your muffincake horse all over to check for cuts or those damn stickery little porcupine looking things that inhabit the deepest recesses of the mane or tail, or best of all, in the forelock. But what's the best way for walking around your horse to check this stuff without getting your head kicked off or the very least, a broken leg/arm from a startled horse. You know, there is that moment when your heart sort of stops in your chest when you think for a millisecond that you're going to get cracked a good one...
The first thing to remember is ANY horse will kick given the right set of circumstances. Never, ever believe anyone who says their horse would never kick. Ain't so. Just the right time hasn't hit yet, might never but you should don't want to be in the way if and when the stars align.
So, when walking behind a horse, always let your horse know where you are. On just about every horse I've ever had (except the totally wild ones off of a New Mexico pasture, but more about them sometime later), I walk with my closest shoulder barely touching the horse. At the very least, I put my hand up on his hip bone and walk around, sliding my hand with me as I go on to the other hip bone. Usually, I say something in a low voice to let him know I'm coming, it's sort of a back-up to the touching.
Even if I'm walking in someone's barn and a horse is tied in the aisle-way, I still put my hand up and use as described above. I stay close in to the horse. He can sure still kick you but, the theory is, he won't have all his power going just yet. Now, that's the prevailing theory. I've been kicked (or kicked at) but in just about ever case I can think of, the horse has been farther away from me and not when I've been 'right there'.
The upshot is the you want to let the horse know where you are at all times. Don't surprise him by popping up out of nowhere.
Hope this has been helpful!!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
TV Trainers. Rethinking Them.
Freakin' early this morning, I got up to catch the latest news and flipped on RFD-TV. There was a guy named Ken McNabb starting a colt. I gotta tell ya, now THIS is how a colt should be started!!
I don't know how McNabb has slipped under my radar but, overall, I've been opposed to sooo many of these TV trainers that I got to where I dismissed them without really taking a lookie-loo.
For way too long, a lot of 'trainers' got to where they were sort of pandering to the masses and wanting to teach 'tricks' instead of actual training. ...And making lots of money off of unsuspecting types who don't really have a way of seeing the real thing and wanna be a horse trainer. (I have a personal story of a guy who was a pharmacist for decades who wanted to 'train' and went to a Big Name TV Trainers clinic [from now on, it's BNTT for short] and hung out his shingle as a trainer..then posted on horse sites about what he had learned. Needless to say, we tangled quite a bit.)
Recently, I re-looked at CA and now his candle is out from under the bushel basket and I'm impressed with him. He's real and not just 'cause he hangs with the big boys (Carol Rose, Shawn Flarida, etc) but he is a horseman.
Not like another TV trainer who(m) I happen to know someone who grew up with him and this poplular BNTT didn't even ride until he got to be an adult but could always talk a good line. He sure does. I've seen him in person and marveled at how people were glued to his every word. I wished I could talk like that in real life but I didn't get inherit that gene...dammit.
Chris Cox, to me, is more the cowboy's trainer but I've watched him take a very spoiled black Arabian that would buck even while being saddled and get him straightened out in one go. He did such a masterful job of keeping that uber-brat's head up and pushing him forward that it was beautiful to watch. However, I doubt that the owner could have kept that horse going like that 'cause the level that Cox was riding was way up there and not down on most everyone's level. I don't know if that horse went home with his owner or if there were some deal with Cox that the horse goes home with him but it sure was a nice horse that could have been fabulous.
So, as time goes on and I see things such as this, I'll post them. I want today's horsepeople to see the real deal when it comes to horsemanship and not someone only teaching tricks. In my perfect world, I want real horsemen/women produced.
Now, go love on your horse!! :-)
I don't know how McNabb has slipped under my radar but, overall, I've been opposed to sooo many of these TV trainers that I got to where I dismissed them without really taking a lookie-loo.
For way too long, a lot of 'trainers' got to where they were sort of pandering to the masses and wanting to teach 'tricks' instead of actual training. ...And making lots of money off of unsuspecting types who don't really have a way of seeing the real thing and wanna be a horse trainer. (I have a personal story of a guy who was a pharmacist for decades who wanted to 'train' and went to a Big Name TV Trainers clinic [from now on, it's BNTT for short] and hung out his shingle as a trainer..then posted on horse sites about what he had learned. Needless to say, we tangled quite a bit.)
Recently, I re-looked at CA and now his candle is out from under the bushel basket and I'm impressed with him. He's real and not just 'cause he hangs with the big boys (Carol Rose, Shawn Flarida, etc) but he is a horseman.
Not like another TV trainer who(m) I happen to know someone who grew up with him and this poplular BNTT didn't even ride until he got to be an adult but could always talk a good line. He sure does. I've seen him in person and marveled at how people were glued to his every word. I wished I could talk like that in real life but I didn't get inherit that gene...dammit.
Chris Cox, to me, is more the cowboy's trainer but I've watched him take a very spoiled black Arabian that would buck even while being saddled and get him straightened out in one go. He did such a masterful job of keeping that uber-brat's head up and pushing him forward that it was beautiful to watch. However, I doubt that the owner could have kept that horse going like that 'cause the level that Cox was riding was way up there and not down on most everyone's level. I don't know if that horse went home with his owner or if there were some deal with Cox that the horse goes home with him but it sure was a nice horse that could have been fabulous.
So, as time goes on and I see things such as this, I'll post them. I want today's horsepeople to see the real deal when it comes to horsemanship and not someone only teaching tricks. In my perfect world, I want real horsemen/women produced.
Now, go love on your horse!! :-)
Does It Get Any Better Than This?
I went out this morning to feed the Brat. After I had tossed feed and thrown hay, I climbed on the fence (never, never climb on a gate!) and sat there with my cup of coffee and watched her chow down.
The clouds were starting to build so maybe we'll have another frickin' thunderstorm this afternoon but at that moment, it was perfect. A slight breeze to cool the coming humidity.
The clarity of the air was startling clear. I could see out over the pastures to my home. The resident Hawk was flying around with his pestering little friends.
While I sat on the fence, my mind wandered over every sort of subject the world has to deal with. Why, just let me fix the world! I can do it!! It was sort of like watching a lot of TV commercials that flash before your eyes, know what I mean?
But, I was at peace. The smell of the wet ground and of the hay are indescribable. My mare was 'wanting' some personal attention (well, I did have the feed bucket in my hand...but still...) and I rubbed her forehead and got lots of little white hairs all over my gloves and me, to boot. She's not a cuddly horse most of the time but this morning, she was for some unknown reason. I doubt she even 'knows', just wanted some lovin's.
After sitting on the fence for a spell, something in my mind told me it was time to take off and do my chores for the day. I don't care to do chores but when I have mornings like this, the rest of the day is soooo much easier to deal with.
Yeah, boy howdy...
The clouds were starting to build so maybe we'll have another frickin' thunderstorm this afternoon but at that moment, it was perfect. A slight breeze to cool the coming humidity.
The clarity of the air was startling clear. I could see out over the pastures to my home. The resident Hawk was flying around with his pestering little friends.
While I sat on the fence, my mind wandered over every sort of subject the world has to deal with. Why, just let me fix the world! I can do it!! It was sort of like watching a lot of TV commercials that flash before your eyes, know what I mean?
But, I was at peace. The smell of the wet ground and of the hay are indescribable. My mare was 'wanting' some personal attention (well, I did have the feed bucket in my hand...but still...) and I rubbed her forehead and got lots of little white hairs all over my gloves and me, to boot. She's not a cuddly horse most of the time but this morning, she was for some unknown reason. I doubt she even 'knows', just wanted some lovin's.
After sitting on the fence for a spell, something in my mind told me it was time to take off and do my chores for the day. I don't care to do chores but when I have mornings like this, the rest of the day is soooo much easier to deal with.
Yeah, boy howdy...
Saturday, June 6, 2009
My Recommendations For...
This is something I've been thinking about for a while. I use horse related products and some work well, some not so well and some jes' don' work a'tall. So, I thought I'd give my thoughts on some products and since I'm basically tighter than bark on a tree when it comes to money, maybe some money-saving tips that I use too.
Okie-dokie, my disclaimer...just recently, I heard a news story on my Directv that some bloggers were being sued by companies who made certain products that the bloggers didn't like. Now, I was under the impression that the First Ammendment came into play here and if it's your opinion, then you can state that. However, from what I understood from the news story, the companies didn't like how their products were being portrayed, even if true, and so were suing. I'm not a legal type so can't think of the word I want but that's the gist of the story. So, I thought I'd write about products that I LIKE and then the reader draw their own conclusions.
So, first off, I'm a Show Sheen fan. Even when I used to show a lot, I went through this stuff like water. Of course, you have to feed properly, worm, exercise, a good body/trace/whatever clip but this stuff would put you over the top. As an aside, don't use it on a saddle horse where the saddle pad sits, trust me on this...even when I read it on the bottle, just had to test it out... Even with my mare in a muddy pen, I like to keep her mane and tail straightened out but don't like to use combs on them due to pulling/breaking too much hair. So, I spritz the SS and use my rice root brush to keep things shiny and straightened out.
A rice root brush. I don't know any brands for this but most any horse store has them. They are kind of pricey but I have an old one from 25+ years ago and could still use it but broke down last year and bought a new one. Just tell me if one of the other types of brushes could last that long??? I use this brush on body, over bony part, mane and tail (as I've stated a gazillion times), anywhere on a horse. Just be sure to soak it in a bucket of water overnight after buying and it will last you practically forever.
I'm a Repel X fan but the other day, I succumbed to buying something called Bug Blocker in the purple bottle. Just because it had 25% free (I told you I was a chinch...) and thought I'd give it a try. I'm impressed, big time. I spray my dumpling all over and the flies just LEAVE. I don't know if it actually kills them as I haven't tracked any of the varmints but the flies do leave my horse alone! Another good one is Zonk-It but it seems to be a bit hard to find. I used it several years ago after hearing about from some friends. The one thing I like about it was after you sprayed several days, there was some sort of residual action going on and then you didn't have to spray for several days after that. That came in handy when I was in a hurry and didn't have to take the time to spray...also, the filly I owned at the time didn't appreciate my spraying when I was in a hurry so it worked out well all the way around.
I can't think of the name but it's from Farnam and it's the roll-on eye fly stuff. After you roll it on, your horse looks a bit like a raccoon but what the hell, the flies leave their eyeballs and lids alone!
One last thing, for the moment anyway, is that I feed a supplement because the hay around here is selenium deficient. Just bugs me to death! So, I've been feeding Horse Guard and doing just fine. But the other day, I thought I'd try Equerry (sp?) selenium stuff. Seems to be doing a good job, can't tell the difference but the best part is it's cheaper! Whoo-hoo!! Nothing wrong with Horse Guard but with the Equerry, you can save a few bucks. My sort of deal.
Now, get out there and love on your horse!! :-)
Okie-dokie, my disclaimer...just recently, I heard a news story on my Directv that some bloggers were being sued by companies who made certain products that the bloggers didn't like. Now, I was under the impression that the First Ammendment came into play here and if it's your opinion, then you can state that. However, from what I understood from the news story, the companies didn't like how their products were being portrayed, even if true, and so were suing. I'm not a legal type so can't think of the word I want but that's the gist of the story. So, I thought I'd write about products that I LIKE and then the reader draw their own conclusions.
So, first off, I'm a Show Sheen fan. Even when I used to show a lot, I went through this stuff like water. Of course, you have to feed properly, worm, exercise, a good body/trace/whatever clip but this stuff would put you over the top. As an aside, don't use it on a saddle horse where the saddle pad sits, trust me on this...even when I read it on the bottle, just had to test it out... Even with my mare in a muddy pen, I like to keep her mane and tail straightened out but don't like to use combs on them due to pulling/breaking too much hair. So, I spritz the SS and use my rice root brush to keep things shiny and straightened out.
A rice root brush. I don't know any brands for this but most any horse store has them. They are kind of pricey but I have an old one from 25+ years ago and could still use it but broke down last year and bought a new one. Just tell me if one of the other types of brushes could last that long??? I use this brush on body, over bony part, mane and tail (as I've stated a gazillion times), anywhere on a horse. Just be sure to soak it in a bucket of water overnight after buying and it will last you practically forever.
I'm a Repel X fan but the other day, I succumbed to buying something called Bug Blocker in the purple bottle. Just because it had 25% free (I told you I was a chinch...) and thought I'd give it a try. I'm impressed, big time. I spray my dumpling all over and the flies just LEAVE. I don't know if it actually kills them as I haven't tracked any of the varmints but the flies do leave my horse alone! Another good one is Zonk-It but it seems to be a bit hard to find. I used it several years ago after hearing about from some friends. The one thing I like about it was after you sprayed several days, there was some sort of residual action going on and then you didn't have to spray for several days after that. That came in handy when I was in a hurry and didn't have to take the time to spray...also, the filly I owned at the time didn't appreciate my spraying when I was in a hurry so it worked out well all the way around.
I can't think of the name but it's from Farnam and it's the roll-on eye fly stuff. After you roll it on, your horse looks a bit like a raccoon but what the hell, the flies leave their eyeballs and lids alone!
One last thing, for the moment anyway, is that I feed a supplement because the hay around here is selenium deficient. Just bugs me to death! So, I've been feeding Horse Guard and doing just fine. But the other day, I thought I'd try Equerry (sp?) selenium stuff. Seems to be doing a good job, can't tell the difference but the best part is it's cheaper! Whoo-hoo!! Nothing wrong with Horse Guard but with the Equerry, you can save a few bucks. My sort of deal.
Now, get out there and love on your horse!! :-)
Muddy Horses...This Can Be Good
Welp, it had been raining like there is no tomorrow, except for today (of course!). So's I toddled out to the barn this p.m. only to find a nicely dried-muddy mare. Since I keep her in and around cattle (have I ever mentioned that I DESPISE moo-cows, except for the ones that are sliced up and grilled and on my plate with some A-1 sauce going on?) I've noticed that those little bitty, teeny-weeny flies start to bug my girl along about late afternoon when the shadows start overshadowing her pen.
But, today, since she had a nice mud exterior, there was hardly a fly on her. Now this is something that I've forgotten about from way back in my youth with hosses. The mud 'shell' keeps the horse protected somewhat from biting flies. Not that it looks very good but it'll do the trick in case you don't have time to properly brush your baby off and apply some fly spray.
Of course, it's a good idea to groom asap. Since it's a horse we're talking about and we all know they are an accident waiting to happen, it's ALWAYS a good idea to at least brush off the uppermost layers to check for any cuts or abrasions or anything that looks ooky and then deal with it.
Now this isn't to say you can go DAYS without a brushing, it's not. But in a pinch, a mud shell isn't going to hurt your horse as long as she's not limping or you see gushing blood somewhere on them. Also, check to make sure she's not laying down and then up and then down and then up, such as colic but you get my point, I'm sure. You should know your caballo well enough (unless you bought her yesterday or so...) so that at a glance, you can see that all if well or not.
My lambchop was very happy today to let me clean her up and put on the fly spray. I straightened out her mane and tail too and she 'crooned' to me. At the very least, it made ME feel better to get the mud off but the thought did strike me that I was taking away a layer of natural protection. Honestly, the mud shell didn't seem to bother her, just me it bothered to the max.
So, this is just one of those random thoughts I have that I think might be of interest to my readers. Now, get out there and brush your baby and go for a ride!!
But, today, since she had a nice mud exterior, there was hardly a fly on her. Now this is something that I've forgotten about from way back in my youth with hosses. The mud 'shell' keeps the horse protected somewhat from biting flies. Not that it looks very good but it'll do the trick in case you don't have time to properly brush your baby off and apply some fly spray.
Of course, it's a good idea to groom asap. Since it's a horse we're talking about and we all know they are an accident waiting to happen, it's ALWAYS a good idea to at least brush off the uppermost layers to check for any cuts or abrasions or anything that looks ooky and then deal with it.
Now this isn't to say you can go DAYS without a brushing, it's not. But in a pinch, a mud shell isn't going to hurt your horse as long as she's not limping or you see gushing blood somewhere on them. Also, check to make sure she's not laying down and then up and then down and then up, such as colic but you get my point, I'm sure. You should know your caballo well enough (unless you bought her yesterday or so...) so that at a glance, you can see that all if well or not.
My lambchop was very happy today to let me clean her up and put on the fly spray. I straightened out her mane and tail too and she 'crooned' to me. At the very least, it made ME feel better to get the mud off but the thought did strike me that I was taking away a layer of natural protection. Honestly, the mud shell didn't seem to bother her, just me it bothered to the max.
So, this is just one of those random thoughts I have that I think might be of interest to my readers. Now, get out there and brush your baby and go for a ride!!
Post Legged Horses And DSLD
This is another one of those subjects that it's good to know. Honestly, I can't remember if I've posted about this before or not because I have dial-up now (oh, boy, are you going to read that refain a whole lot from now on...) and it's hard to do searches if I want to get anything typed and not spend all my time waiting on something to come up.
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=post+legged+horses%2C+dropped+pasterns&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horseshoes.com%2Fanatomy%2Fesad%2Farticles%2Farepostleggedhorsesdsldcarriers%2Farepostleggedhorsesdsldcarriers.htm
(If this link doesn't come out, then google or ask.com 'post legged horses, DSLD' and it'll come up.)
Postleggedness (I don't know if that's a real word but it is in this blog) is something that was brought up on a horse board I'm on. I'm against a post legged horse in the first place. The dropped pasterns I'm definitely against and will reject a horse solely on that criteria, even if everything else is just what I want. I don't need the problems that will ensue.
Post legged came into being because race horse breeders/owners/trainers figured out that this type of leg could propel a horse faster down the track. Not as much movement sideways, all movement was forward. This post-y stuff has even shown up in the show ring in WP horses (Western Pleasure) for some dumb reason. But the post leg doesn't have enought to step under the horse and get in the ground for, say, working cowhorse events.
At any rate, this is something that shouldn't be bred for but no one is going to stop doing it, especially racing. Too much money to be made. I'm a capitalist and want to make money but I feel/know that intentional breeding of really BAD conformation, no matter the purpose (so what if we have a little bit slower race horses...or is that just naive on my part??) is bad for horses overall. I'm against breeding for this hind leg.
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=post+legged+horses%2C+dropped+pasterns&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horseshoes.com%2Fanatomy%2Fesad%2Farticles%2Farepostleggedhorsesdsldcarriers%2Farepostleggedhorsesdsldcarriers.htm
(If this link doesn't come out, then google or ask.com 'post legged horses, DSLD' and it'll come up.)
Postleggedness (I don't know if that's a real word but it is in this blog) is something that was brought up on a horse board I'm on. I'm against a post legged horse in the first place. The dropped pasterns I'm definitely against and will reject a horse solely on that criteria, even if everything else is just what I want. I don't need the problems that will ensue.
Post legged came into being because race horse breeders/owners/trainers figured out that this type of leg could propel a horse faster down the track. Not as much movement sideways, all movement was forward. This post-y stuff has even shown up in the show ring in WP horses (Western Pleasure) for some dumb reason. But the post leg doesn't have enought to step under the horse and get in the ground for, say, working cowhorse events.
At any rate, this is something that shouldn't be bred for but no one is going to stop doing it, especially racing. Too much money to be made. I'm a capitalist and want to make money but I feel/know that intentional breeding of really BAD conformation, no matter the purpose (so what if we have a little bit slower race horses...or is that just naive on my part??) is bad for horses overall. I'm against breeding for this hind leg.
Uneven Hoofies
Here is an article that I came across that I thought would interest any horse owner/lover. The uneven hoofies are something I've noticed but never really given much thought to. The article references Dutch Warmbloods but over the years, I've noticed that horses who are slightly club-footed tended to stand with that hoof back when grazing or eating hay off of the ground. To my knowledge, I've never dealt with a Dutch Warmblood but noticed this in other breeds, particularly some Egyptian Arabian lines. So, in my experience, I don't think it's only the Dutch Warmbloods but I don't have any scientific proof, just my watching, not necessarily taking big note of it. But, I feel, this is important to know for an all-around horsewoman/man.
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=14251
This online mag has a free version and well worth it to sign up.
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=14251
This online mag has a free version and well worth it to sign up.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
"Approved Home", huh?
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1204453478.html
This is a notable case of the seller trying to put one over on themselves. Looking for an 'approved home' is bullshit in the first degree.
When you take in a horse, unless you have some sort of binding contract, you canNOT dictate what happens to the horse the minute it's out of your hands. So, in my book, when I see an ad that someone says the horse must have an approved home, they are just trying to soothe their doubts about what is REALLY going to happen to their former horses.
My basic thoughts are, if it's my horse and I want to shoot him and put him in the freezer, then I can. As an aside, I wouldn't put a horse in the freezer no matter what but am stating this to make my point, so no hystrionics about this, okay?
So, when I take a horse on the pretext of an approved home, who's to say that I'll keep him there? I've actually bought horses that the seller had to check out the barn I was moving the horse into!! After talking with some friends, I didn't fight it, just let the seller look to make themselves feel better but there was nothing to prevent me from turning right around and selling to a kill buyer. (No, I wouldn't do that but again, making a point)
Actually, the Arab in the ad isn't that bad from what I can tell from the horrible pic. The price isn't stated but with the 'approved home' thing, you can bet, the seller thinks he has something really special there. The yearling is flat icky. A good worming would do wonders. If this colt is soooo special, why hasnt' he been taken care of, but I digress. He should be gelded on the way to the new home and he might make a nice plunk-around horse.
Okay, got that off my chest! Now, go ride your honey-dumpling horse!!
This is a notable case of the seller trying to put one over on themselves. Looking for an 'approved home' is bullshit in the first degree.
When you take in a horse, unless you have some sort of binding contract, you canNOT dictate what happens to the horse the minute it's out of your hands. So, in my book, when I see an ad that someone says the horse must have an approved home, they are just trying to soothe their doubts about what is REALLY going to happen to their former horses.
My basic thoughts are, if it's my horse and I want to shoot him and put him in the freezer, then I can. As an aside, I wouldn't put a horse in the freezer no matter what but am stating this to make my point, so no hystrionics about this, okay?
So, when I take a horse on the pretext of an approved home, who's to say that I'll keep him there? I've actually bought horses that the seller had to check out the barn I was moving the horse into!! After talking with some friends, I didn't fight it, just let the seller look to make themselves feel better but there was nothing to prevent me from turning right around and selling to a kill buyer. (No, I wouldn't do that but again, making a point)
Actually, the Arab in the ad isn't that bad from what I can tell from the horrible pic. The price isn't stated but with the 'approved home' thing, you can bet, the seller thinks he has something really special there. The yearling is flat icky. A good worming would do wonders. If this colt is soooo special, why hasnt' he been taken care of, but I digress. He should be gelded on the way to the new home and he might make a nice plunk-around horse.
Okay, got that off my chest! Now, go ride your honey-dumpling horse!!
Downright Stoopid Ad
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1204493124.html
An unbroke, in-foal mustang mare for light 'ridding' (whatever the hell that is...geez, learn basic spelling...) or for kids??? Honestly?? Registered as what? Who exactly is the sire?? What's HE done, other than knock up a plain, icky mare??
This is NOT a kids horse!! I'm thinking that the seller could be liable legally if they are selling her as a kids horse and a kid got seriously hurt or even hurt. Of course, this goes back to what I have said in the past, a buyer should be smart enough to do due diligence and know this isn't a good match for a kid but in today's market, people still seem to think that the seller should watch out for the buyer's interests. So, whichever way you think, just know this is NOT a kid's horse or anything similar to her. (I was so annoyed when I saw the ad that I posted here before getting all my thoughts together!! Hence, the ETA part)
Only One Thousand American Dollars 'rehoming fee' and she can be YOURS...
Damn... (Do you guys get the sarcasm here?)
An unbroke, in-foal mustang mare for light 'ridding' (whatever the hell that is...geez, learn basic spelling...) or for kids??? Honestly?? Registered as what? Who exactly is the sire?? What's HE done, other than knock up a plain, icky mare??
This is NOT a kids horse!! I'm thinking that the seller could be liable legally if they are selling her as a kids horse and a kid got seriously hurt or even hurt. Of course, this goes back to what I have said in the past, a buyer should be smart enough to do due diligence and know this isn't a good match for a kid but in today's market, people still seem to think that the seller should watch out for the buyer's interests. So, whichever way you think, just know this is NOT a kid's horse or anything similar to her. (I was so annoyed when I saw the ad that I posted here before getting all my thoughts together!! Hence, the ETA part)
Only One Thousand American Dollars 'rehoming fee' and she can be YOURS...
Damn... (Do you guys get the sarcasm here?)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Locking Eyes With Your Horse
This is something I've never been able to do. I keep hearing from TV trainers and everyday trainers that you need to catch your horse's 'eye' and you'll have some sort of power over him.
To this day, my horses didn't read the book or watch that program. Catching their eye so I can catch them seems to make them want to move away from me. I have far greater luck when I want to catch someone who's loose in a corral by walking up to his point of shoulder (the lower end of his scapula that is forward pointing) and putting the lead around his neck, then putting on the halter.
Of course, my horses know that when I walk around with a halter and lead, they better plant it and wait for me to grab 'em. I don't hold with a horse walking off from me and I've been known to walk a horse down (that means following at a walk till the horse stops and faces you, basically giving in) for several hours and then we don't have that problem again. Ever. But it all goes back to walking up to the shoulder, not catching their eyes and locking with them.
They know I'm there and what I want and do keep a bit of eye on me while I'm fooling around them or around the barn. I do want them to know I'm around and where I am but I don't want in their face and be threatening.
If this works for you, then by all means, go for it. I don't get it... :-)
To this day, my horses didn't read the book or watch that program. Catching their eye so I can catch them seems to make them want to move away from me. I have far greater luck when I want to catch someone who's loose in a corral by walking up to his point of shoulder (the lower end of his scapula that is forward pointing) and putting the lead around his neck, then putting on the halter.
Of course, my horses know that when I walk around with a halter and lead, they better plant it and wait for me to grab 'em. I don't hold with a horse walking off from me and I've been known to walk a horse down (that means following at a walk till the horse stops and faces you, basically giving in) for several hours and then we don't have that problem again. Ever. But it all goes back to walking up to the shoulder, not catching their eyes and locking with them.
They know I'm there and what I want and do keep a bit of eye on me while I'm fooling around them or around the barn. I do want them to know I'm around and where I am but I don't want in their face and be threatening.
If this works for you, then by all means, go for it. I don't get it... :-)
Regular Feeding Times??
This is something I've been meaning to post about but got sidetracked because of the email and trainer posts, so here goes.
By and large, I'm not a fan of super regular feeding times. It's been my experience that as long as I get out to feed within a certain time period every morning and evening, the horses do fine.
Now I have friends who would rather DIE if they deviated even 10 minutes (no kidding) about feeding. But it seems to me, when a horse is soooo regulated, they get kind of like Pavlov's dogs and start acting up in the barn, such as pawing and kicking maybe, when the internal clock goes off in their grapefruit-sized brain. I think horse's know what time you feed if it's a really regular time.
My way, when I go to the barn, I may fiddle around a bit or I may even be 'late' getting there or better yet, from the horse's point of view, feeding earlier in the morning. Keeping them a bit off balance and not anticipating when their feed is going to hit the bucket is way better to me. Also, if something comes along, such as an emergency or an important event, you almost know that your horse isn't going to go nuclear and hurt himself if feed is a little late.
What do I mean by 'within a certain time period'? In my book, give or take an hour at the very most, excluding emergencies. I used to be the right-on-time feeder till I watched a friend of mine who didn't ever get out to feed till around 10a.m. every morning and she never had a problem with hungry horses acting up. She fed late in the day too with plenty of hay and all was fine.
I do feed a lot of hay as I want my horses to 'graze' as I don't have pasture right now and I want them to keep busy and not concentrate on the feed time.
Another thing, when you feed late or at 'odd' times, you have a chance to watch your horse as he moves around the corral or stall or whatever you have him cooped up and make sure things are okay before you throw feed and hay. He's not going to stand at the fence and bang on it or pace or act abnormal, he'll just know in his mind that feed will get there and don't sweat the small stuff.
I'm sure you'll find all sorts of studies that say to feed at the same time every day but in my practical experience, it's not the best way for me or my horse(s).
Get out there and enjoy that caballo!! :-)
By and large, I'm not a fan of super regular feeding times. It's been my experience that as long as I get out to feed within a certain time period every morning and evening, the horses do fine.
Now I have friends who would rather DIE if they deviated even 10 minutes (no kidding) about feeding. But it seems to me, when a horse is soooo regulated, they get kind of like Pavlov's dogs and start acting up in the barn, such as pawing and kicking maybe, when the internal clock goes off in their grapefruit-sized brain. I think horse's know what time you feed if it's a really regular time.
My way, when I go to the barn, I may fiddle around a bit or I may even be 'late' getting there or better yet, from the horse's point of view, feeding earlier in the morning. Keeping them a bit off balance and not anticipating when their feed is going to hit the bucket is way better to me. Also, if something comes along, such as an emergency or an important event, you almost know that your horse isn't going to go nuclear and hurt himself if feed is a little late.
What do I mean by 'within a certain time period'? In my book, give or take an hour at the very most, excluding emergencies. I used to be the right-on-time feeder till I watched a friend of mine who didn't ever get out to feed till around 10a.m. every morning and she never had a problem with hungry horses acting up. She fed late in the day too with plenty of hay and all was fine.
I do feed a lot of hay as I want my horses to 'graze' as I don't have pasture right now and I want them to keep busy and not concentrate on the feed time.
Another thing, when you feed late or at 'odd' times, you have a chance to watch your horse as he moves around the corral or stall or whatever you have him cooped up and make sure things are okay before you throw feed and hay. He's not going to stand at the fence and bang on it or pace or act abnormal, he'll just know in his mind that feed will get there and don't sweat the small stuff.
I'm sure you'll find all sorts of studies that say to feed at the same time every day but in my practical experience, it's not the best way for me or my horse(s).
Get out there and enjoy that caballo!! :-)
The Email Thing
I'm about to chunk the thing and try hotmail or something. I can only access horseinfoperson@yahoo.com sporadically even though I have other yahoo emails that do just fine.
The gremlins are afoot, I just know it! Don't know if it has to do with my now-dial-up but if you've sent me an email and I'm slow to get back to you, please know I'm not ignoring you, just can't 'do' the email. *sigh*
The gremlins are afoot, I just know it! Don't know if it has to do with my now-dial-up but if you've sent me an email and I'm slow to get back to you, please know I'm not ignoring you, just can't 'do' the email. *sigh*
Need To Clarify About The 'Trainer' Post
I'm re-doing this post. I don't know why this bugs me, but it does.
Starving a horse down is not normal and I thought the practice had died out a long time ago but apparently, still happens at least this once. Years ago, people used to supply feed to their trainers instead of paying a flat fee and a lot of the feed was diverted to other horses. In my view, paying the flat fee is the way to go but that's not what I'm writing about right now.
Trainers are in the biz to make money and even saying something generally can get people to go elsewhere for their needs and hurt the 'trainers' business. The response that I allowed to be posted is correct in that I and any other blogger has to be careful to not hurt someone's business, no matter what it is.
So, rest assured, I do not target people and only use generalities in referring to trainers. I handled the situation personally but felt that maybe some owners didn't/don't know what to expect and so posted about it. This situation really got my goat. I guess I let the post get too personal because I was extremely bugged so I'll try and watch that from now on.
Another concern which I didn't realize, this blog started out on Craigslist as a regional thing but I know horsepeople from almost all over the world and talk to them quite a bit, dial-up or not. Just because I'm posting about something doesn't mean it's local to southern Oregon or even the PNW. Also, in the space/time continuim (sp?) things may have happened a while ago (or years) or yesterday. I have tried to keep things sort of generic.
Okay, the rambling has started so going to let it go...if I can... :-)
Starving a horse down is not normal and I thought the practice had died out a long time ago but apparently, still happens at least this once. Years ago, people used to supply feed to their trainers instead of paying a flat fee and a lot of the feed was diverted to other horses. In my view, paying the flat fee is the way to go but that's not what I'm writing about right now.
Trainers are in the biz to make money and even saying something generally can get people to go elsewhere for their needs and hurt the 'trainers' business. The response that I allowed to be posted is correct in that I and any other blogger has to be careful to not hurt someone's business, no matter what it is.
So, rest assured, I do not target people and only use generalities in referring to trainers. I handled the situation personally but felt that maybe some owners didn't/don't know what to expect and so posted about it. This situation really got my goat. I guess I let the post get too personal because I was extremely bugged so I'll try and watch that from now on.
Another concern which I didn't realize, this blog started out on Craigslist as a regional thing but I know horsepeople from almost all over the world and talk to them quite a bit, dial-up or not. Just because I'm posting about something doesn't mean it's local to southern Oregon or even the PNW. Also, in the space/time continuim (sp?) things may have happened a while ago (or years) or yesterday. I have tried to keep things sort of generic.
Okay, the rambling has started so going to let it go...if I can... :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
