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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:41 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
I hate profiles, but hay, no hands lol
Last one. Reins a little better I guess. I have some where I still had them up above the horn but not shoulder high like before.
Chains are harmless if used properly. They're very effective, because they make the horse pay attention, and make both your lives much easier. :-) It's like carrying a crop- as long as the horse knows that it's there, he'll behave himself. (usually)
You know, everyone around here that uses this vet I'm trying said I would be surprised at how low the bill would be. Just wondering if it's a difference in the parts of country we are in, or if she does charge less. She talked about it that night she was here, that she tries to keep her prices low as she knows about how vet bills can really strap people. As I said earlier my bill included the coggins on Rocky, 3 visits (1 an emergency at night), the antibiotics, and blood work, plus the treatment for the colic. So I guess my bill isn't so bad considering. The only thing I worry about is the old cliche, "you get what you pay for".:), But she seems real knowledgeable, and Rusty is better. Will be interesting to see how much a change I can see once I get him on this thyroid supplement. Becky
Wow..... you did get a lot for your money then!
Mine charges a regular $30 farm call charge, which is a one-time charge no matter how many animals he sees.... $50 for the night time emergency call, plus in this case the treatments, Bay had two Banamine injections, a sedative, the stomach tube and oil, the rectal exam.
Cindy, those last two shots you and Okie are doing great! That's an excellent hand position, IMNSHO!
All this time I have been picturing you in a regular ole snaffle. What kind of a bit is it? Is it a jointed snaffle mouthpiece with a shank or does it have a solid bar that goes all the way across? Chin chain or strap?
Rusty the night of the colic got, Rompum 4X's, $40, Buscopen (colic med) $30, Banamine 3X's $15. Oiled $30, rectal exam $10. Her emergancey visit was 75, that seems a bit high, but everything else seems low. A non ememergancey is $45, but one of the non-emergancey visits she split with two other of my neighbors whom she visited that day, and she didn't charge me for the visit yesterday to draw that blood. So I would say she is pretty reasonable.
Becky
Yeah - mine will sometimes charge one farm call for an `event`, and waive the charge for a follow up or a revisit. I think they do their best to not be too high.
I like my current vet better than my last one. He was even bigger on saving money, but he was such a minimalist, I could never get him to ~do~ anything. He'd come out and say "that'll get better by itself" or "he's holding weight good, probably doesn't need his teeth done". I switched when I could tell something was wrong with Bay last year but no obvious limping (well, he was limping, but on ~both~ feet) He ~never~ would have diagnosed Bay's Navicular until it was so bad he couldn't walk. But I could tell he wasn't right. Bay has a pretty huge trot and fancy way of going when he feels good, and though he was still moving, his presence was gone.
My current vet specializes in lamenesses, and studies movement a lot more, and understood completely what I meant by "he's not limping but his presence is gone".
I wish I could remember the individual charges for my stuff, all I remember for sure were the farm call charges.... yours sound about the same.
Thanks. I hope I can use the correct terminolgy to explain. I may have to take a picture. I use a broken bit snapple with a short trainer shank. I did have a longer one but he is so light in the mouth that we went to this so I wouldn't overdo it. The chin srap is leather on the sides with a chain in the middle. I had a direct rein but they are short and I was leaning forward too much so I went to split reins (tied).
Thanks. I hope I can use the correct terminolgy to explain. I may have to take a picture. I use a broken bit snapple with a short trainer shank. I did have a longer one but he is so light in the mouth that we went to this so I wouldn't overdo it. The chin srap is leather on the sides with a chain in the middle. I had a direct rein but they are short and I was leaning forward too much so I went to split reins (tied).
I see... those are good all around bits. Lots of people use them. You've got a fairly mild bit, but still have the leverage of the shank and chin strap when you need it. You might find a longer one-piece rein... Look in the english section for thoroughbred stuff ;~D
Really, Cindy, I think your whole position looks good, and most important, you look relaxed and so does the horse.
LOL. Okie would probably disagree with you. He has never been passive about being briddled. I get the bit in his mouth so easy though now. Over time I figured working with him instead of against him works better. I don't try to keep his head level or force the bit or even give him any "c'mom boy open your mouth or coat the bit in honey anymore. I just introduce the bit and wait for him to throw his head back. I even undo his lead rope so he can raise that head higher. It gives me a couple of seconds window when he has to relax his jaw before clamping those teeth back. Once past the teeth he's done. It used to be such a struggle.
Yeah, I just have to remember to use the chain properly though. I tied him up with it on one day and he tried to sit back and he cut his face and mouth. I felt really bad. When he's afraid it just makes him worse but when he's just wanting to do what he wants to do (usually eating grass) it's very effective. It gets his attention.
I haven't watched ya of course, but I always try ~really~ hard to not clank their teeth with the bit, either coming in or coming out. I think half of any resistance that develops happens because it hurts when you bang their teeth.
That was one of the first things my instructor taught me was not to force the bit against their teeth. I felt like it many times at first though. Heck, I felt like taking a hammer and knocking his teeth out:') I used to wait and wait to encourage and plead with him to open up. I would put my finger in his mouth, nada. I just place it in good postion in his lips. Now I just use that gap to rest my thumb and let him do his thing. At a certain point he has to break the clinch and it's just enough to slip it in. Too long and he's clamped again . Makes him mad too. He narrows those eyes like how did this happen.
Oh and he's on his own getting it out. I figure he has had enough practice spitting it out that he knows what hurts. I just drop the head stall and let him give it back to me:')
Keep working it! Sometimes this life is a contest of wills!
I wouldn't say he should be 'on his own' to spit it out. He doesn't have hands to take it out and protect his teeth. True, he's eager to get out of the bridle when you are unbridling, but it adds to his level of resistance if he is anticipating that as soon as he opens his mouth it's gonna clang him.
Well, pending me keeping my seat in the saddle life much better lately. He's a very gentle , easy going horse but very smart and like any kid, if he thinks he can get away with something.... and then honestly sometimes he just hasn't learned what I want him to do yet.
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