The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE

See our who's who page! ^

[HairOfTheDog]

*New* The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - Who's Who *pics*

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.

Previous threads:

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR

New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!

[Rose of Sharn]

well I am sure that is a good sign. : )
We had Emmas friends here for her birthday and the rain finally stopped and the sun came out long enough for us to ride! Lots of of fun with horse mad girls!
They are in the hot tub now and we are getting the boys to bed.
Hope everything goes well with Okie. I am going to go spend some quality time with James now, see you later or in the morning. Have a great evening everyone. I'll be praying for Okie : )
Sharn

[Beaker]

Oh man Cindy. It sounds like you've had quite a time. Did it all hit suddenly?

[MissTargets]

If he has an appetite, that's good. Unless, the vet said not to let him have anything, let him eat and drink. These are times, when you wish you had them at home. I am sure he is in good hands, but you will worry, I know.

Rhino should not be too much of a problem for him, with rest and meds. It's worst for pregnant mares, and can cause aborting of the foal.

[Beaker]

Well most of the snow is gone, about 99% but there's still the snow piles that refuse to melt and will be here till the middle of spring :-) The drift that I had to moutain climb was at the end of a deadend street at the start of the trail. Basically the plows just shoved all the snow that they moved there and completely blocked the entrance. So it was big. I felt like I was The Man From Snowy River :-) The ice hasn't melted on the trails because of all the trees, so sun doesn't get to where it should to dry out the ground. And we just got some snow a couple of days ago.

[MissTargets]

It's called "strangles" or shipping fever. Not surprising, for either of these diseases in a barn, where a lot of horses come and go.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah that's what he called it.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah the owner worried about them. Maybe they will be ok. I had thought though that he got an immunization for this. Guess not. I just didn't know about the grass but the owner would come back and check on me and told me it was ok and even gave me a hay net. The vet didn't want him back in the pasture but wet down and tied under a tree until his fever dropped. Hot here today. So I tied him up some hay where he could reach it.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah. It came on fast. Hope it goes away quick too.

[CindyDawg]

Me too.

[CindyDawg]

I hope I don't get fired:') I was coming back from another town where I had to do an inspection and stopped by the stables. The phones not working right at my new job yet and I had to leave a message for my boss. I was supposed to be at a CPR class this afternoon. My boss is a friend but I don't know how she's gonna take knowing I call in for my horses!

[CindyDawg]

Thanks

[mommadooo3]

Oh sheesh...many prayers

Strangles and shipping fever are worrisome. But, if that's what the vet has called it, DO NOT panic. (like I have done!)

Does your vet have Okie on any antibiotics? IF he DOES, make SURE you run the FULL COURSE of meds.

If the vet HASN'T prescribed the meds, let the 'sickness' run it's course. Keep a close eye on the horse, make sure he has plenty of hay, *fresh* grain, *fresh* water.

Markie can attest to the fact that antibiotics ARE helpful. But they prolong the 'recovery' time. AND she can tell ya what happens when the horse gets a hit-n-miss schedule of antibiotics.(that app at Pete's with bastard strangles)

Our vet has told us that it's either 'treat it all the way', or it's 'let it run its course'. If you treat it all the way, you will have to give it the immunization shot. If you let it run its course, they come out with their own natural immunities to it.

[CindyDawg]

The vet said it wasn't strangles. The owner was concerned it was that or diphtheria (the same?). He's on antibiotics twice a day xs 10 days. I've been looking for his last immz record (last May). I really thought Rhino was included. He was really junked up. The vet said virus. I'm from the old school though that if green you treat so I'm glad he is on antibiotics to reduce complications.

[Duchess47]

I'm glad to hear he's better - I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to get on sooner tonight. Yes, keep him on the antibiotics, he needs to be treated for this. Doesn't the owner of the stables there quarantine new horses coming in?
Am I understanding the vet said it's not strangles and it is rhino? I'm with you, his vaccines should have included that. I'm so sorry you had to go through this, and praying that he's well soon.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I've been told the Rhino vaccine has to be give like every 3-4 months for it to be effective???

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning.

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

Hi Cindy,

I vaccinate all mine for Rhino too, but I think I read somewhere that you might need to vaccinate for it more often than once a year in certain situations. I do my broodmares every other month starting with the 5th month of pregnancy because the Type 1 form of the virus can cause them to abort. The Type 4 strain just causes respiratory problems. Some vaccines just have the Type 1 strain, some just have Type 4. I always try to make sure I get one that has both. I can't remember what kind I use, but I had a hard time getting it at all last year. I think something similar to what happened with the human flu vaccine shortage happened to the supply of Rhino vaccine.

The barn owner should probably vaccinate everybody else in the barn now that there's been an outbreak. I think flu is another one that needs to be given more often where there's horses coming and going alot.

Hopefully now that he's over the worst of it, he'll get better real quick.

[FrogInABlender]

I think you're right Becky. I just couldn't remember how often. Thanks!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hey welcome back:)

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

I'm glad both of you got to ride.

Beaker, I know what you mean about the snow drifts. I was in northern New Jersey the first part of the week and although there was no snow on the ground, I couldn't believe the size of the drifts of nasty snow that were piled up everywhere. We just don't see that down here in Alabama. I got out just in time too, coz they got about 6 inches after I left. Whew! I don't drive well in snow. I got lost enough as it was and sure didn't need the added challenge of snow!

MissTargets, I know what you mean about not having enough time for two hobbies. Maybe when you retire you can ride more. In the meantime, it's good that you have buddies who will loan you a horse. You get to ride when you want to and don't have to pay for the upkeep. Pretty sweet deal! ;o)

Since yesterday was Good Friday, I had the day off from work and sure was glad coz it was a gorgeous day. It got up to almost 80! My riding buddy was off too and since it was supposed to rain the rest of the weekend, we went trailriding. The Forest Service has just finished cleaning up most of the downed trees left over from years of pine beetle damage and Hurricane Ivan so we got to ride trails we hadn't ridden in several years. One of them we call the "Kamilkaze Trail" because there's some pretty hairy places where the trail edges along about half way up an overgrown cliff face and there's big rocks to climb over and narrow places where you have to watch your knees, but it's the prettiest trail out there. It was Blade's first time there and he did really well. He has a tendency toward laziness, which is aggravating when you want him to move on out with some speed, but it works out really well in places like this where you want him to take his time and be careful. I always say that if nobody got killed, it was a good ride! ;o)