FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread 12

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Just got in from riding and have a video and a picture. I’ve been working with Rocky when I ride him on flexing. He was pretty stiff, and has never done this type of work, so I figured it would take awhile, but he has picked it up quick. He’s not perfect yet, but he will come around to my stirrup at a stand still, for the most part:). Please forgive the video being choppy, it was a bit of a challenge to film him and get him to do it.

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/harleysowner/?action=view&current=100_1598.flv

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Here's Rocky before we took off, doesn't he look enthused:)

I tried several times to get pictures of a spider that shows up in every fall and builds webs across the trails....They are a fairly large spider, rather reddish in color...but there were hundreds of them today...I swear they just about had me wrapped up in web I went thru so many of them. I'd try ducking one, and go right into another...The lead person on a ride gets to clear the path:) The spiders are quick to see you coming and run for cover, so I've never had the spider get on me, just their webs. Rocky went thru so many, I could brush them off his face when we got back. I'm hoping they will be gone when you all are here:)...not sure how that will go over if they are still here. I don't mind going first, but being on one of the slower horses will make that difficult.

Becky

[MissTargets]

Your dogs are beautiful. Thanks for posting the links, I enjoyed reading about them.

[HairOfTheDog]

Pony was colicky again this morning.... I think. Gak.

Sign... rolling out by the water bucket again, like she did last time right after she took a drink. I called to her from the porch and she just lay there flat. Weird place for her to do that. So I go out... get her up, she wants to roll again... Dang it, called ecurbh to grab her halter.

We stood there with her in the yard, and walked her around a bit trying to figure out if there were really symptoms, walked her, brushed her tail, picked her feet, all the things that usually make her fart ;~)

Trotted her a little and she started farting. Pooped. A couple times... hm well, things were looking up! But still felt uneasy, she kept pawing when I'd stop her, still wanted to roll, wanted to paw the ground, looking at her belly.

Called the vet. Vet is out of town at a conference until MONDAY. Damn. I bet the other backup vet is at the same conference. I didn't call, but he's very active in the Veterinary boards, I'd just guess if there's a conference, he's at it. I left a message for the vet's wife to call me but she didn't right away, and hasn't yet.

I made an executive decision to give her Banamine tube. Dosed her at 800 pounds. We walked her around some more and she has pooped more. They're good looking piles. Not hard, not loose. Ecurbh sat around awhile trying to figure out if he could leave me alone and go to work. We taped off a small corner of the paddock for her and turned her loose and looked at her. She hasn't tried to roll again so I felt safe to come in the house. As I typed this she did lay down and I ran out there, but no rolling. Not feeling good, but not rolling. I eventually got her up and walked her though.

Now I've talked to the vet's wife, filled her in, she's going to call Dr. Mike and see if he is in town just in case, but I think I'm in wait and see mode.

[HairOfTheDog]

He has such a pretty face. You can ride through the spider webs... even if we all have to go slow ;~)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Oh no....but if she is laying now and not rolling, it may have passed. Mine lay around for awhile after a colic. How long will it take for the banamine to kick in?

Was it this time of year she coliced last time? Maybe it’s the weather change that gets her...

Becky

[MissTargets]

Hopefully this’ll finish you up for this kinda thing for a while.

Unfortunately, this is just the start. He floated them today... lol Some of my front teeth had chips, so they filed them down. They look really nice now. I have to go back for some fillings in a week. Dang, my mouth is still so numb.

On the way home, I stopped at Circuit City to buy a new mouse. Mine died on me last night, right in the middle of battle. I stoled the one off of Alison's computer to finish the game.

[MissTargets]

Oh poor pony. As long as she is not rolling, I would let her rest. That is good her bowels moved. I wouldn’t give her any grain tonight, but you probably already know that.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Thanks:)

LOL...Well I’m rather use to the spider webs:) so I don’t mind as long as no one cares that we are going slow.

When I have been in conditioning mode, it’s a bit unnerving when you trot full speed face first into one, at least at a walk you some what of a chance to miss the full web and just bet the support lines. I swear you can go down a trail clear them all out, come back 30 minutes later and they have built them back...it’s incredible how fast they can do it.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah, she’s just walking around now, she’s had water, I saw her drink, she’s nibbling at what grass there is. Vets wife said if she stays OK, to let her nibble on the green grass in the yard for bits at a time a little later.

[HairOfTheDog]

I’ve never thought about spider webs on our trail rides, maybe there’s enough traffic up there that unless you’re the first one out in the morning you don’t get them ;~)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Oh, that’s good...sounds like the worst is over.

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

...Is that pic of Goose when he was born...

Yep I actually pulled him out of his mom. He had one leg kinda bent at the elbow and was a little stuck as you can see in this picture....

He looks like this now...

I love loving on my bunch too. They're all such spoiled pocket ponies it's pitiful.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

WEll, it’s funny how this type of spider only shows up in the fall and are only around till it gets cold. Have no clue where they are the rest of the year.

Is what is amazing is how they can stretch their webs across a fairly wide trail...I’d sure like to know how they get across that first time, I guess jump, but sometimes, it would be a heck of a jump.

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

He really is doing well to have been doing it for such a short time. He sure is pretty too, in a very masculine way.

I need to do more flexing with mine too. I’ve done it a little bit on Bob but he tends to want to just turn in a circle. I guess I need to start on the ground first.

[HairOfTheDog]

Here's video when she was laying down... sick pony :~(

Watch her side if it will stream smooth enough. She has an abdominal muscle that does a slow cramp and release, like contractions. She did that last time she colicked too.

Video of Colicky pony movie - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

[HairOfTheDog]

Understood. I’m still trying to figure out which hand you’re holding the camera with ;~)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That’s what Rocky did, turn in circles. I know Clinton Anderson says to start from the ground, but I’ve found it easier to just do it from the saddle...on the ground it works better, IMO, believe it or not to use a treat to start with:), Yikes I can’t believe I said that:)

With Rocky from the saddle is what I do is when he goes in circles, I just keep steady pressure on the rein, don’t let off, but repeat the whoa command every so often. As soon as he stops circling I released the pressure....he finally caught on he was suppose to stand.

Today when we first started he would stand but started pulling away from me:), slinging his nose out. I don’t think he really likes doing it, but I think it really helps soften them up and then I don’t have to pull so hard on them. Makes everyone lighter.

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

He looks like he’s thinking “D**n, here we go again! I thought I was retired!”

I know whatcha mean about the spiders. They’re the worst thing about riding this time of year. Usually when I’m out front I’ll break me off a branch about 2 feet long and when I see a web coming up I just start twirling it around like a propeller. The horse’s face still usually gets it first, but it keeps the rest of it, including the occupant, from falling back on me. But I have had them get on me before and I just freak out. Talk about scream like a little girl! It’s embarassing!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Oh gawd, that is just pitiful...I hate seeing animals hurt. The video streamed smooth enough.

Do you think it could be the new fresh hay? It looked pretty rich. How long have you had that good stuff?

Becky