The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!

[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?

This is a horse chat thread where we 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 previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.

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 previous threads, 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.

[Rose of Sharn]

Im going out with the horses now, I may get a chance to take pictures and run to CVS. No promises!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well, then, next time I'd explain why, and request the older one. I'd be very honest that the one that came today did not inspire confidence.

Around here, alot of the vets that see both large and small animals are not all that good with the larger ones. They can be more expensive:(, but I'd try to find a "horse" only vet in a deal like this. For routine stuff the others are OK, but for a "maybe" problem, I'd get an equine vet.

Becky

[Rose of Sharn]

I'm just a worrier. DJ said that the vet didnt think it was necessary to hobble her etc, he didnt think she needed the stress. He felt that she was in good shape and that the swelling would go down.
I guess he is the expert (and he is an equine vet too) so its just me being a nervous worrier!
Maybe because she is so crabby she is going to oblige us soon and have it : D

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, we are all past ready for this baby to be born!

[Beaker]

Good Morning!

Yet MORE snow here, it's snowing now with another 8 to ten inches expected. It's awful.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'll bet DJ is also telling you to stop listening so much to all these crazy women on this thread:) He's probably right too.

I'm taking my mare to the vet this afternoon to be pregnancy tested. I'll try to remember to ask her if edema such as you/vet describes is anything to worry about. (I can't guarantee I'll remember:).

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

FWIW, I don't know what my 'spidey sense' is telling me about this vet visit. I am left feeling a little let down that there wasn't something concrete, with a definite cause and a known remedy, disappointed that we are still left with no idea when the baby is due, whether it is tonight or two weeks from now.... so it's frustrating. I've had that same frustration before with my own vets and doctors, sometimes medicine is more art than engineering. And some vets are more hands off than others. I ended up not liking the more minimalist vets, because if I go through the worry and decide to call, it is because I want something done.... not just looking and head scratching and saying, 'well, it'll probably get better by itself'. I had a vet that way and while I appreciated his thriftiness at bill time, I also want something to happen if I call him there.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Bingo, exactly.

I don't call a vet unless I really need/want answers.

This is exactly why I don't pursue trying to figure out what my mares problem is. I'm afraid I'll get alot of well it might be this or that, or try this or that. If they honestly don't know, I'd rather they say that.

Becky

[tuffydoodle]

I haven't read through the posts so this might already be answered but the paints with the uneven edges are Overo, the spots that have a clear difference are Tobiano. No appy involved. There is also sabino and splashed white colors. The pic you posted is a frame overo.

[FrogInABlender]

Well, she may be in the same boat I'm in. I'm lucky to have a large animal vet at all, much less an equine-only. Where I used to live, I had to drive almost an hour up into Tennessee just to see a large animal vet, and he was a mixed practice too. There just AREN'T any equine-only vets around here. There's no money in it, the hours are long and the working conditions suck. They can make much more money just hanging around the office, taking care of dogs and cats and they don't have to worry about a cranky horse kicking the crap out of 'em and breaking their leg where they can't work for 3 months. It's aggravating, but you can't blame them either.

[tuffydoodle]

If you think she has any overo blood and you want to breed her to an overo stallion, get her tested for the overo gene. A lethal white foal is a heartbreak.

[tuffydoodle]

You're wrong. :) It's an overo. Tuffy is what most people call a frame overo but if you get really technical, he's a cross between an overo and a sabino. Overo's typically don't have white legs and Tuffy does.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You're exactly right. For the vets that see both, dealing with a cranky horse is not worth it.

I guess, I'm lucky we are overflowed around here with horse only vets. But for the most part, they are so outrageously priced, and such arrogant SOB's, I won't use them.

Last summer my vet died, and he was great with both large and small. I have found a horse only vet, very close here. "She" is pretty new, just out of school, and is mostly a mobile vet. She's the one that came out here last summer and got Rusty thru his colic. I liked her alot, so I'm giving her a try for awhile.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

They can make much more money just hanging around the office, taking care of dogs and cats and they don't have to worry about a cranky horse kicking the crap out of 'em and breaking their leg where they can't work for 3 months. It's aggravating, but you can't blame them either.

I talked to my vet about this the last time he was out, because we were talking about when he was at the clinic I still take the dogs to... He said he absolutely got tired of dog and cat medicine, because it's 95% itchy skin. He got tired of telling every single customer to get better flea control, like broken record. He may have worse hours and possibly less money now, not sure... but he likes horse medicine because he likes focusing on lameness and injury rehab. That's what's interesting to him. He said he doesn't really take on breeders as customers either, because he doesn't ~want~ to have to be on midnight duty all spring.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Ok, someone explain the lethal white gene to me in overo's. Is it the same as albino's? I'd never heard about this till last night.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Kinda funny to see you posting through 100 posts behind ;~D See you in a few minutes when you catch up :~D

[HairOfTheDog]

APHA.Com - Lethal Whites

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

ONe of our horse vets around here (and he is the most arrogant of all of them), specializes IN obstectrics. That's the part he likes.

But ooohhh, if you have to use him when he's been up all night with a foaling...

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

So yes, it's different than albinos.... albinos can grow up normal. Lethal whites always die, it's not the white that kills them, it's that the white gene goes hand in hand with a severe intestinal defect.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

OOHHH, not good. Worse even then the albinos of palamions and buckskins.

Learn something new everyday:)

Becky