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!

[FrogInABlender]

Babies are usually pretty manageable. They're used to being told what to do by their Mom. I'm glad you caught him before there was an accident. IMHO, They shouldn't leave a halter on him all the time and ESPECIALLY not a lead rope. Too much chance of him breaking his little neck.

[FrogInABlender]

Looks like my weather forcast. I'm ready for it too. It's supposed to get up to 80 here today. WooHoo! Spring has Sprung!

[MissTargets]

Thanks for the link....looks like a real interesting read. The other girl, who works with me and I are into healthy eating and fitness. She is a personal trainer also. I think, getting plenty of exercise and a good diet, are really essential to good health. I am glad to hear this helped you, and Mack.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I have a question about your comments yesterday about Rusty and stifle problems. I asked a friend at the ranch my son ropes at yesterday about it and he said it sounded like stifle too. He said he had a stifle problem once. He tuned the horse out for 6 months then never had a problem again.

From what I AM Understanding you to say, Rusty's problem might just be that he is not in the best shape and I could still ride just easier. Bring him back up slower???, and that might fix it???

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Your welcome.

I can't say enough...you should get that book and read it if your are really serious about good nutrition.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

OH, and I need to add, this book does promote excerise which I am doing. But her "principles":) about it are so much more doable for the average person, who just wants to feel good rather then someone who is my age trying too look 25, or be a body builder.

According to her, and it seems to be working for us, going on 2-3 10-15 minute walks 2-3 times a day 1=2 hours after a meal is the best excerise for average people. Keeps your metabolism at a steadier pace then doing one big gob of excerise a few times a week.

Doesn't that sound more sensible to you? Did to me anyway:)

Becky

[MissTargets]

IIRC, to check for a stifle problem, you need to hold the leg up pretty high, hold for a few mins.
Have someone at the head, ready to trot off after you release the leg. You should be able to tell from the gait, if it's a stifle problem.
Hopfully, he's just out of shape.

[mommadooo3]

I don't know about you, but, my ole spirit, sure has, longed for nice weather and sunshine.

Heh, it seems that every year winter gets LONGER and DREARIER. LOL!!!

[mommadooo3]

Amen!

[HairOfTheDog]

I have read a little on the stifle issue with Rusty... I'll be curious too, about it, because Cyn does this. Our farrier first pinpointed the problem and could repeat it to show it to us by standing her and then backing her up while turning. It's starting out or pivoting on it that causes hers to lock up, and then it seems like she can lift her leg from the hip, but the stifle joint, and for that matter, her hock, seemed frozen. With her, it doesn't seem to cause any pain, she just has to jig and shake it loose and usually does within a step or two. With her, we'll just be aware of situations that bring it on, like trying to turn around in a tight spot, and allow her the latitude to turn like she wants to, and to shake it off when it happens.

Our vet said it doesn't hurt when it's locked, but that some horses get panicked about it and may kick out or crow hop to free it. That was a concern, but we haven't seen any sign that it bothers her. I think he also said there is a surgery that can snip or fix the ligaments that are too tight, but the best cure is better muscling in her hindquarter so the muscle to properly move her leg is stronger than the ligament. She hasn't been worked a lot yet, but we see it less in the pasture since she's gained weight.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well I just googled stifle problems, and that's pretty much what the article I read said to do. Light exceise on gentle slops. So that's where I'm headed in a bit.

I'm thinking it must have to do with him not being in the best shape, beings as this just started happening recently. I knew he wasn't in the best shape, but I didn't really think I was overworking him. But I'm just going to go do some hill climbing for a few weeks with him for an hour or so, then start slowly doing ome trotting and see what happens.

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

It might, since he didn't have a stifle problem before now. Seems like I remember Hair saying that her vet said something similar to that when she had him out to look at Cyn's stifle problem. The tendon might have shortened while he's been "layed up". You might try working him on hills to build up his leg muscles. It can't hurt anything and if he continues to have this problem or it gets worse, you can always have the tendon clipped, but you can't undo it once it's done. My mare's problem was caused by her stifle conformation I think. She was always uncomfortable going down hill and gave the farrier problems with her back legs from an early age. I had hers clipped and she's been fine ever since, but Rusty might not need it. I'd mention it to the vet the next time you talk to him and see what he thinks.

[FrogInABlender]

Oh, sorry guys, you've already got it covered. Great minds think alike! ;o)

[FrogInABlender]

Oh, I forgot something. I've got a short video clip I took of Bob chasing my car the other day. It's nothing special, but it's cute. I thought if I e-mailed it to you, maybe you could post it for the others to see?

[Axenolith]

I popped in a while back when we first got Mickey (The Mickster).

My sister has a 96 acre thoughroughbred farm in KY and after I took the wife back there one spring and the sis had her on her horse well... That was ALL she wrote :-)

Now it's to the "lets get 10 acres" point (though for what we can get it for in the Agricultural area around here (Contra Costa Co, CA) I could get a section in NV and it would have cool rocks with sparkly shiny stuff).

I'm interested in getting one of the BLM horses some time, where we board, they have the folks in with them once a year to adopt them out ($125 + a year wait for title so losers won't run them off to France or the dog food factory). There's some right nice looking ones. Critters seem to take well to me, people couldn't believe it when some of those horses would come over and smell me\let me rub their noses while they shied away from everyone else.

I've seen them out there in the wild on some wandering trips, it's quite a sight. The breed mixture is interesting too, you can tell that some were descended from draft stock while others are from the riding breeds.

[HairOfTheDog]

yes, email it to me... ecurbh has to do the part of loading it to the website where we can host it, and he's working today, but if you send it to me, we can do it when he's got time.

[FrogInABlender]

The breed mixture is interesting too, you can tell that some were descended from draft stock while others are from the riding breeds.

Yeah, I know what you mean. There is one bloodline of mustangs, I can't remember where they are, that were fairly isolated and were from the Spanish bloodlines. They are really gorgeous!

[FrogInABlender]

Ok, I sent it to your FR address. Thanks!

[HairOfTheDog]

I've seen them out there in the wild on some wandering trips, it's quite a sight. The breed mixture is interesting too, you can tell that some were descended from draft stock while others are from the riding breeds.

My first horse, Chico, was a formerly wild mustang who was found on a Nevada friend's property, shot in the neck and very weak. They nursed him, tamed him and sent him up to me. He was very draft-like... big roman nose and huge feet, very unlike the lean narrow type that our mustang arab cross is.

Chico was gangly and rough looking in the presence of all the TBs and warm bloods at jumping shows, but he sure could jump with them! I eventually sold him when I wanted to show more, but sure wish I had kept track of where he went.

[HairOfTheDog]

OK - I am off to run ecurbh to work, then come back and get Markie up to the airport. Will post when I return!