RE: Easyboot straps; Update on barefoot transition.
This message is from: "Gail Russell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thank you. WE are off to see the vet this afternoon. I will take your message because it sums up the Pete Ramey philosophy pretty well. Unfortunately, my barefoot trimmer IS a Pete Ramey "disciple" and does not intentionally carve out sole. She does bevel all the way back to the white line on the horses that are flared (which these two are) to try to get rid of the flare. It may be that she is taking off too much sole around the toe ...i.e...going back into the sole when she is intending only to bevel from the white line. Sadly, the barefoot trimmer is now getting a bit defensive on me. I swear I am being as respectful as I can be while pursuing the care of my horsesbut right now it is not working great. :( Oh well, things will work out! :) If I cannot get the barefoot trimmer to modify her trim so the horses are not so soreor get our other trimmer back, I will have to start trimming my own horses. I've read Pete Ramey's articles, but need to memorize a bit more about hoof anatomy in order to really understand them. I was hoping I would not have to do my own farriery, but it is looking like that may be the way to go. Especially since we have four horses whose feet are VERY long right now (the ones who had been left with the old trimmer...and one of those horses was four-footed lame, and looked close to developing laminitis the last time he was trimmed too close. I CANNOT have him trimmed to close ever again.) Anyway...wish us luck. The local guy who certifies farriers says she is the best vet for hoof care issues in the county. And, I know she believes in barefoot horses. On top of all this, Jim liked our old trimmer and was very reluctant to go down this road. I hope he takes to the new vet! Our regular vet loves our old trimmer, though he did say the horse's feet looked good after the barefoot trim. Sympathy and support has been much appreciated. Gail The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Getting over Riding/Driving fear! Try my Mature Mare?
This message is from: "Linda Lottie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I recently went to a horse sale..one of the featured horses was a 23 year old mare with a shoulder injury. The fellow stated clearly the mare was for walk trot only, but, she can lope. Just stiff with the shoulder and hard for her. She was also black and beautiful..I looked at my friend and said, "I am going to buy that horse". My friend said "why?". I told her, this horse will be perfect for my friends who want to ride but have little experience. The funny thing is..this sale was a "silent sale" where bids were made on paper. The only horse out of 20 that had multiple bids was this 23 year old mare. I was in a little "bidding war" with two other families up until the very end of the sale. In the end, I got her. She went for almost twice what the starting bid was. So, yes, the older, trustworthy horses are, IMO, worth so much. One of the parties looking at the mare had a teenage daughter. I heard the father tell her she would not have to worry with this horse. My thought was, this girl would soon tire of the mare and her "walk/trot"..but, with my circle of friends, walk/trot would be welcomed and praised forever:):):) To make this "fjord" related.my mare, Lena, is also the favorite with my friends. The friends who have the skills to steer and keep her head off the grass ride her - haha!! This past weekend a friend and I went for a trail ride on "Black Beauty" and my older QH. My friend had such a good time and felt relaxed and trusted the mare. My purchase was a good one:) LJBL in WI From: "Misha & Michael" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com To: Subject: Re: Getting over Riding/Driving fear! Try my Mature Mare? Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:35:50 -0700 This message is from: "Misha & Michael" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi all! Well since I am always starting green horses it seems--I always start them slow--lol. But I hear ya all. I have a 1987 mare that I retired from breeding who looks and acts half her age. She is great--sound, in shape, fit, funny kind super gentle and she is broke to ride and drive single or double. Plenty of pep but VERY laid back, clips loads, does PNH bathes plays poker whatever. I used to let the kids who visit ride her. She hasn't been ridden for a few years but heck--a trip or two around the round pen should do it. I HATE to sell her but it seems silly to have her retired when some one could be enjoying her so much right now. PERFECT for renewing your confidence riding and driving. email me if you are interested. I am asking $2500. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Misha from Shota Fjords The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Getting over Riding/Driving fear! Try my Mature Mare?
This message is from: "Misha & Michael" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi all! Well since I am always starting green horses it seems--I always start them slow--lol. But I hear ya all. I have a 1987 mare that I retired from breeding who looks and acts half her age. She is great--sound, in shape, fit, funny kind super gentle and she is broke to ride and drive single or double. Plenty of pep but VERY laid back, clips loads, does PNH bathes plays poker whatever. I used to let the kids who visit ride her. She hasn't been ridden for a few years but heck--a trip or two around the round pen should do it. I HATE to sell her but it seems silly to have her retired when some one could be enjoying her so much right now. PERFECT for renewing your confidence riding and driving. email me if you are interested. I am asking $2500. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Misha from Shota Fjords The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Fat Fjords...need more work !!
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Everybody, Just a quick note to tell you how much I love this group. I gather tons of useful information about Fjords which is precious because I live in such a remote area and there is nobody to ask for help or advise. The discussion about fat Fjords makes me want to comment about the fact that Fjord Horses really are work horses maybe more that any other breed. The are genetically conditioned to work SEVERAL hours every day - and to be happy they really need stimulation and a job. The breeder from where I got my new guy (Stormy and 4 year old)told me that one of his geldings was getting hard to catch. After he started driving him again as soon as he saw any kind of preparation for driving he was standing right at the gate ! And I found the same thing with both my fjords : they expect action. Every day. And boy do they get restless and irritated if they don't get it !This makes me think that the weight issue that many owners face (including me !) might have something to do with Fjords without a job. I started to have people from outside riding my Fjords just to give them more exercise. It was hard at first since I trained both and was scared of people with hard hands etc. But in the end I think that the benefit of the extra exercise and stimulation outbalances the fact that some rides are not as experienced as I would wish. That might be something to reflect on for Fjord owners. Take care all Yasmine the Yukon-rider The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Easyboot straps; Update on barefoot transition.
This message is from: "Lola Lahr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Gail! I've been doing the barefoot thing for years now. I suspect that your trimmer might be carving out too much sole. I had that happen with the first barefoot trimmer I used, who lossely followed the Strasser model, and after reading Pete Ramey's philosophy which is basically "if the horse is sore after the trim, it wasn't done right", I then started doing the trims on my horses myself, and my horses really are really doing well. I definitely recommend reading Pete Ramey's writings re: using boots and pads, and following his advice on leaving any live sole intact. I have an Arabian mare with a "club foot". I have been following Pete's advice on bringing the heel down, reading the sole and frog (yes, she was REALLY sore at the apex of the frog = THIN SOLE there! and I checked the condition of the digital cartilage at the back of the frog, which also indicated the need for boots and padding. I ordered the set of comfort pads for rehab from Easy Care ($130 for the full set), and started them last week. I already see new sole growing in at the apex of the frog - it is no longer super tender- and I am using a brass-bristled (welding) brush - looks like a toothbrush - to take out the dead sole that is being sluffed off because my mare didn't like the discomfort (or memory) of using a hoof pick or the dull side of a hoof knife to scrape it off. I also can see the bars now instead of a solid block of sole material. Last night, I trimmed more off the heel, put another set of pads in her Epic (she can tolerate a firmer set now) and for the first time in YEARS she walked out heel-to-toe rather than landing toe first and rocking back on her heel (which only perpetuated the problem). I was ecstatic, and she was so relaxed and happy. Easy Care has Pete's article on hoof boots and pads on their website. As far as your former trimmer is concerned, it sounds like he's being a bit immature. I know it's hard to know that you've hurt someone's feelings/made them angry, but your horses have to come first. I think you will really enjoy the benefits for your horses going barefoot (and they will too!) once you get the trims going in the right direction. The boots and pads and Pete's book and free articles are so much less expensive than going the traditional route of vet checks, poor trims, shoes, bute, etc., so it makes sense from a $$ standpoint as well. I don't worry about the heel strap either, but if I used the nylon web strap they send with the Epics to help put them on, I would worry because using that pulls the heel strap up - and it is almost impossible to get that strap out! I just put the boot on as far as I can and let the horse step into it, lift the foot up again and get the back of the gaitor pulled out if necessary. You can pull the back of the gaitor out with the foot on the ground if the gaitor's not too stuck in there. I haven't mastered the gaitor thing yet! I also got the Easy Up buckles. They are so much more flexible for fitting and easier to open after a ride, especially in mud. Good luck! Let us know how things go. Lola and Lisa who are going an a great adventure in two weeks! On 6/10/07, Gail Russell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This message is from: "Gail Russell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Hi all, > > Someone asked about the easyboot straps and how to position them > correctly. > > > I took a look at my 2007 vintage easyboot Epics tonight (they have been > changing them a bit here and there all the time lately, from what I can > tell, so vintage may be important.). > My directions say to position the strap, etc. The "barefoot trimmer" who > we > used actually cut the straps out of an older set of easyboots. We believe > that was not the best plan. However, I think they more or less position > themselves, as long as you have the horse's foot in the bottom of the boot. > My straps really do not move up and down at all. I would not really worry > about them. > > I bought the EASY UP Buckles for ours, which I believe will be much easier > to adjust and REMOVE. They actually put in a slot into which you can > insert > a hoof pick or screwdriver so it should not be as difficult to release the > boot as it has been. > > I will let the list know exactly how they work out. > > We are having a vet look at the horses because they have been sore after > "barefoot trimming." I think it is just that the trimmer tried to remove > too much of the flare all at once, and trimmed them a bit short. Their > feet > look good to me (now, at 5 1/2 weeks from the previous trim) and they are > no longer sore, so we may be running up a vet bill for nothing. However, > I > wanted to put both of our minds at ease about what we are doing. In the > meantime, our regular trimmer, who we have tried to be faithful to (though > we did remove four of our eight horses from his care) is having a tantrum > and has now, apparently, refused to trim ou
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2007 #135
This message is from: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Ellen, I got the plan for my wagonette from the Oregon Historical Society. A man named Ivan Collins spent his life making miniature vehicles exactly to scale. He wanted to preserve horse drawn vehicles for future generations but didn't want to take up too much space. Anyway, several of his plans for miniature vehicles are available. There is a book about him too. (www.ohs.org/exhibitions/exhibit_historicvehicles.htm ) I took his miniature plan and scaled it back up--and it worked! He was very accurate. I wanted a period vehicle and didn't want it to look modern with a lot of metal showing. I use the wagonette in the carriage service I started. I know there must be simpler plans available using modern materials which would be ideal, but I don't know off the top of my head where to get those, sorry. You could draw one up though with enough research. You would be surprised how many people will help you when you tell them what you are doing. Take a welding class at a local Jr. college if you need to. I also took a woodworking class at an adult school. Whenever I would come across a step I knew nothing about I would research and ask until I found a resource. For example, a kind cabinet maker showed me how to set up my saw to make the compound miter cuts I needed to make on the passenger seats. He showed me how to use a biscuit joiner and even lent me his so I could do it myself at home. I visited a carriage building shop in southern CA and looked at vehicles at auctions and took tons of pictures and measurements. It was a really fun project. Two summers ago I visited the Oregon Historical Society Museum in Portland. Ivan Collin's work was on display and there was my carriage in miniature! It was really neat. What kind of wagon were you wanting to build? Would this be for passengers on the street or hauling hay, etc? I can try to do some digging around if I know more specifics. There are certain parts you can buy like the wheels, eliptical springs, 5th wheel assembly, brakes, etc. And you would need some tools, like a table saw, drill press, various sanders, etc. Building a whole carriage sounds difficult, but if you just take it one little step at a time its fun and doable if you are dedicated and little handy. If power tools scare you--don't try it. Safety must come first. It's good to have all your fingers! Bonnie MacCurdy in CA and Stormy who says, "Since my name is Stormy, shouldn't it rain once in a while?" - Original Message - From: "Ellen Barry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 6:46 AM Subject: Re: fjordhorse-digest V2007 #135 This message is from: Ellen Barry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> You wrote: Or, if you are handy and are up to the task, you can make your own. I built my first carriage. - Bonnie MacCurdy In very hot CA Question: Bonnie, do you know of any available build plans for a wagon? I would love to try and make something myself. Ellen The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: shaken confidence
This message is from: Sarah Clarke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I was told once by an old weatherbeaten, apparently fearless, trainer that "Anybody who's never been scared while working with horses is a damn fool." [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: there are more of us out there who have been scared than you might imagine. in friendship laurie, and oz, the great teacher ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw - Luggage? GPS? Comic books? Check out fitting gifts for grads at Yahoo! Search. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
RE: confidence - my story of coming back from horse fear
This message is from: Sheryl O <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I am coming to this one late... but I am currently going through a process of rebuilding my confidence so I thought I would share what has been working for me. I grew up woth horses and was a bold confident rider as a kid and teen. I was away from horses for 25 years, and then didn't have such great experiences when I got back into them. Honestly, I was nervous about things before I was hurt in a "wreck" and I had some other "disappointments" related to my riding goals so I just decided to give it all up after awhile. Somehow, I developed a nervousness/fear around all things horses - not just riding. Over time, I really longed to somehow do something with horses again. For some reason, I decided to drive 2 hours to watch a combined driving event for minis and was just taken with them! I couldn't believe such little horses could do such amazing things. A few months later, I started doing a carelease on a fully trained driving mini. The owner gave me a few lessons, and I have to tell you, even getting in a cart behind a 7.2H horse scared me! I know it sounds silly, but my heart would pound, and I really felt terror. At first, if I was on my own, all I would do is ground drive or lunge him. Then, I had to move barns so I was on my own. I spent probably 2 months ground driving him, including off the farm, down some trails, up the road. It was like I needed that time to gauge how he was going to react and behave.It was very peaceful and therapeutic. Even so, he often tested me, as he is not a perfect mini so I had to work to earn his respect. At some point, I got up the nerve to hitch him up and drive and I had kind of forgotten how to do the hitching and one of the tracings fell off. As soon as he knew something wasn't right, he slowed to a stop. There was something about that moment, combined with our months of just going for walks that made me trust him and realize that I could do this okay. Since then, we have driven all sorts of crazy places, over big bridges, confronting ATVS and motorcycles going over jumps, met llamas, run obstacle courses, you name it. Today was a windy day and he was full of spirit, and I felt very safe and could calmly "rein in" his enthusiasm. He has learned to trust my leadership skills since I never ask him to do something he can't handle, and I have learned to trust his reactions and judgment too. After driving for a little while, I realized I needed some skill improvement, so I took 2 driving lessons with a fullsized horse back in March. I was terrified the first 10 minutes of the first lesson, but then it got so dang fun and informative, and he was such a good horse, I forgot to be scared! So, just recently, I decided I wanted to ride again. Some friends offered to let me ride their horses, but I just could not get over my fears... when I got on her horse, he wouldn't even move. I am sure that I was transmitting all sorts of mixed signals to the poor guy! So instead, I decided to take lessons on a steady-freddy lesson horse with a "western pleasure" type slow gaits. The beauty of this horse is that she totally ignores the nervousness I transmit through my seat and legs - during the first ride, she looked to the instructor for her confidence and didn't mind a nervous rider at all. At first it was frustrating getting her to go faster then a walk since she pretty much ignored my legs, I couldn't bump her into a trot. By my second ride, which was not a lesson, and she did not have the instructor to look to, she was responsive and light to my signals. We were walking and trotting all over the arena, even when it is crazy busy (busy arenas are one of my fear triggers). I am feeling pretty good that this mare always obeys "WHOA" and so far hasn't even taken a misstep no matter what is going on. I am still in the confidence building process, and I am trying to continually build on my good experiences in hopes of replacing some negative emotional reactions with the sheer joy of riding. I will always be a cautious rider, but that is different then fearful. No horse is bomb proof, and I know that, but it is such a pleasure to work with properly a trained horse with a less reactive temperment. It really helps a nervous person to have a calmer, slower, less complicated horse to ride. Anyway, one of the reasons I am interested in Fjords is that someday I hope to own a big riding (and driving horse?) again. I am not sure that it will be a Fjord, but they are one of the breeds that I am very interested in because I want a horse that is less likely to get excited or spooky. The other thing I will do differently when I buy my next riding horse is get one that is really suitable for my abilities and personality regardless of breed... being over-horsed is just no fun. In memory of my beloved sist
