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Posted on 02/24/2006 9:12:25 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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 MissTargets will now be pinging everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets 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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread EIGHT
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
Hmmm....interesting....interesting. Would it be like diabetes in a human? How do they test for it? Blood?
Thought you all might find this useful. it was just posted on the Natrc web site.
Some tricks I've learned over the years about cooling horses:
> 1) Ride the horse within his capabilities based on genetics,
level of
> conditioning, and ride conditions. In other words, prevention is
much
> more effective than efforts to cool the horse after he is
overheated.
> 2) According to Courtney Hart, 80% of the horse's heat
dissipation
> occurs from the shoulder forward. Clip this area if ride temps will
be
> 70 degrees or above, and focus cooling efforts here.
> 3) A full body tepid water bath at the longer vet checks can
work
> wonders and will rarely cause any cramping or negative reaction.
Blanket
> him afterward to avoid over cooling.
> 4) A soaked sponge placed between the tail and the anus will
drop
> respiration and heart rate fairly quickly without risk of cramping.
> Sometimes the horse will clamp down with his tail and hold it there
> himself, otherwise you can pull the tail forward between his legs
and
> hold the sponge there yourself.
> 5) Have the horse move around a bit every few minutes, as
circulation
> from muscular activity helps keep blood moving, and avoids
stagnation of
> metabolic by-products in the muscle tissues.
> 6) Cooling the poll can also have dramatic effects on the
horse's
> heat dissipation. You can lodge a sponge under his halter (if he'll
> tolerate it) and keep adding water as the sponges dries.
> 7) Remove any leg protection gear--splint boots, wraps, etc.
They
> hold a lot of heat in.
> 8) Wet your saddle blanket and girth (if they are made of a
fabric
> that will hold water, like wool or mohair) before you leave the vet
> check so the horse can continue cooling himself on the trail.
Especially
> if there is a breeze.
> 9) Under certain conditions I may cool the horse in the
sunlight.
> You want the water to evaporate, not stay on the horse. Cool water
and
> shade combined, may have an exaggerated effect. You want cooling,
not
> vascular shut-down. On really hot days, though, go for the shade.
> 10) Don't drink beer while you're cooling the horse. You might
> spill your beer.
>
Becky
I get a kick out of that pony. I'd take her myself if I could.
Number 10 is the most important.
This was posted today too, I'm so glad I took down that plastic.
> Dear List:
>
> I have sad news to report: Please keep Carla & Charles Bass
> in your
> thoughts & prayers; they lost their colt Thunder in a tragic
accident
> yesterday. He was not quite 2 yrs old & the last get of Carla's old
> stallion Rebel (whom she lost as well, last summer).
> Apparently he became entangled in a piece of plastic
sheeting,
> panicked
> & ran headlong into the fence, fracturing his skull & causing
> (thankfully)
> instantaneous death. A tragic accident, and a sad waste of
> potential.
>
> Val Jaffe, DVM
>
Becky
Kinda what I thought:)
Becky
Holy cow, that's sad.
WOOP! I think that would increase ~my~ respiration a little ;~D
Good list of tips.
Very sad... although Harley's not likely to panic to the degree the two year old did, even if he did get tangled in it... Bay probably would. He hates plastic!
I actually thought that one would be the easiest to accomplish at a P&R stop, and it would be legal.
Becky
Is there usually facilities to hose them down? And can you do that?
Unless where the campsite is is primitive there is usually hoses at the campsite. But P&R's are just done out on the trail somewhere. We carry sponges and some water with us. So we could use the water to wet the sponge and go from there:) In the past I squirt the water up between their front and back legs, and over there withers to run down their shoulders. But water is limited.
Once the P&R is done, you can refill your water bottles for the next leg of the ride.
Becky
I see.
I think standing and lingering in cool creeks even if shallow can cool them down nicely too. Our creeks stay cold even in summer, do yours? Have you practiced any more with the 'sponge on a rope'?
About hosing them off in camp. I've learned an interesting thing. You don't want to hose them off if the check in is going to be done before the horse could have a chance to dry off completely. I don't know why, but if the horses back is wet, 9 X out of 10 they will react like they have a sore back when checked, but will be fine when they are dry.
I was skeptical about this till I saw it happen time after time. If you know your horse is going to be checked pretty quick on return to camp, your best to just clean them up dry. It's harder to do that, but your less likely to have your horse get marked off for sore back.
Becky
No I haven't:), thanks for the reminder.
It's kind of funny to see the things people do to cool a horse off. But I've found #1 to be the best. Condition the horse enough, and you won't have problems.
Becky
You know... I have noticed that with Bay... just the cold makes them cringe more under your fingers maybe? If I've been spraying him with cold water and poke him in the back, he flinches big time, whether he's been ridden or not.
Another question... Do you unsaddle at the P&R stops? I'd think that would help them cool too, to get the saddle off that is trapping heat.
Oh, and definitly standing in water is the best. There just is not always water to stand in:)
Standing your horse with his front end higher then his back end helps too, even if it's just the slighest incline.
Becky
You can if you want. I never have, I'll loosen the cinch and lift up the saddle a bit, to let some air under it, but I don't completely unsaddle. Partly why I don't is if you can get out of the P&R fairly quick you can pick up some extra minutes. They take the readings at 10 minutes, but you get 15 for the stop. So if you get out quick you can pick up 4-5 minutes. Doesn't seem like much, I know, but with 2 P&Rs that's 10 minutes, and that's 10 minutes you can use to let the horse move slowly down the trail, which IMO, helps more then taking the time to have to resaddle. Moving slowly will cool them down faster IMO. I think this is called "strategy":)
Becky
Sounds like a reasoned 'strategery'
Man, I can't wait for the ride in May:)
It's been all I can do not to run out there and throw a saddle on him today. But he's been rode 5 days straight. I think he needs a day off, altho watching him, he doesn't look likes it's bothering him any:)
Celia is suppose to be here tomorrow morning at 9.
Becky
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