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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 09/18/2004 6:56:23 AM 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. In the last thread we had a great time and were a great help to each other working through lessons and training, horse lamenesses and illnesses, questions and challenges and always just our stories we like to tell.
I always have 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 also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. 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.
So... like the last thread, this is intended as 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've heard of alot of people trying it lately, I think you're right about a "fad". Funny thing is that had nothing to do with why I tried. I was just really P/O ed at farriers.
Becky
The best thing I found to hold the braid was those cloth covered rubber bands for little girls hair. They don't break the hair so bad, and don't rot in the sun.
I tried those kind that have the big plastic balls. That didn't work, the horses about bruised themselves when they'd swing at flys.
I even used a tail bag for awhile with her. but that was more trouble then it was worth. And I could only use it in the winter anyway, they need those tails to help flick off flies.
Becky
Look at the way this post number showed up on my comments page:
Posted by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain to CindyDawg
On General/Chat 09/29/2004 8:49:02 PM CDT · 682 of 681
Strange:)
Becky
That's been happening to me a lot lately.... posting but not ~really~ posting for a few minutes... I dunno!
I was looking at your pictures with the horses in blankets. It's still hot here. Sarah Lee really having a hard time. She was huffying and puffing after being longed and rode awhile yesterday. The owner took my hand and placed it on the horses front width (chest area) She was very hot. I had to walk her a little before feeding her. I'm still so ignorant about some of this stuff. lol The trainer told me to cool her down, so hey I took her to the wash rack and picked up the hose. She came running over , yelling, "no, I meant walk her, not wet her" :')
Well, I don't think hosing her down hurts any, and I don't think walking in the sun helps them feel good as fast as a bath! I always hose mine down. Becky? I bet cooling properly is one of your fortes.
It was almost dark so cooling down. She just said if I cooled her to fast it could colic? her? She was drenched all over. The water not cold though. We wet Okie down all the time but he's healthy. You have to let the hose drain a little though or you could burn um.
I always walk the last 1/2 mile in to help cool, and if it's really hot we make a stop at the creek on the way in. I do hose mine. Just be sure to always start on their legs and under belly next. Don't just suddenly dump cold water on their backs if they are really hot. It can send them into shock. We did that once with Rowdy. Hose their legs and between their front legs for awhile and slowly work up to their backs.
Becky
Yeah I always start with the feet. Didn't know why until now though. I thought it just got them used to it. I probably have started a bad habit that I might need to stop though. Okie drinks from the hose but SL doesn't know how yet so I've been careful but cupping my palm and letting her sip out of my hand from the running hose
The advice someone gave me was to wet their legs only. Not the entire horse. Luckily I never did have any overheating problems with my horse even though we were out in very hot weather at times. We did see horses have overheating troubles and even a rider pass out and fall off his horse. Usually the horses that had the heat problems were out of condition, like a couch potato.
I talked with the owner today. She said if a hurricane came in some owners would move their horses to San Antonio but the ones that stayed would go to the pasture. She said the barn roof would hold up to a Cat 3 and we would just have to batten things down.
I've had a terrible time with Rusty. When I got him he had been rode hard and put up wet way too many times, and his system had been so stressed it had shut down and he didn't sweat at all. His respiration in hot humid weather would go to 150 standing at rest in the shade. It has taken me 3 years to get him over it, and I'm still not 100% sure he is over it completely.I'll find out next year. I rode him today for about 3 1/2 hours and he sweated good, and his respiration never got bad. Trotted and loped quite a bit too. I was told to hose him often thru hot days to help his system out. He loves to be hosed.
Becky
I didn't realize you were that far South. You do have warm weather there then. Just use moderation when out in the heat and you should do ok. The one horse That I saw get too hot had to have a vet treat him on the spot. He put a tube down the horse's throat to get electrolytes into the horses system. Also the horse had to be walked around all night long. That was a long night for everyone. My hat is off to the vet that stayed with the horse that night, a great guy.
Funny. People and horses adjust after awhile though. I did get too hot riding Okie in the afternoon one day in July. I gave him drinks but I wouldn't drink from that "nasty" hose. Should have, I was wiped me out for the rest of the day. I don't know which one of us smelled the worse:')
He's a clown:)
Becky
You are doing everything right in making sure he gets plenty of exercise and is used to the hosing. You just know that makes his day to get all the sweat and grime off him, plus get cooled down too. : )
The same day I was talking about in my post to Cindy, there were several guys that unsaddled their horses and then rode them into a pond for a swim. I watched but wanted to go in with them too. My horse would have loved it.
LOL! I would have turned the hose on myself too. : )
When he goes into water, he paws and splashes alot. I get soaked:). I think he learned to do this where he lived before. I think that is why they never noticed he was having a problem. They had a pond in their pasture, and they said he was always in it:). I'm just glad he doesn't lay down. I'd hate to not let him get in.
Becky
"He's a clown:)"
They are clowns and love to play. : )
Funny thing was I kept blaming the dog for all the wholes in the hose, until the day I caught him at it. He will stand and paw at it till he gets a whole in it.
Becky
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