This message is from: Gail Russell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi all,
Marge, glad to see that Asta is looking better. I am grateful that you put
us all on the alert about letting horses get too fat - may save several
Fjords from going through the same thing. Gunthar's ribs are being tested
for "overstuffing" daily- reverse of the fairy tale about the witch, the
children and the chicken bones stuck through the bars.
Wanted to ask if anyone else has heard of products to disguise smells for
horses. Gunthar dumped me again yesterday. Spooked at nothing visible -
and without warning dumped me with a big jump. This always happens when we
are in, or have *just* passed through a particularly windy area. Someone
suggested that he is spooking at smells and that there is a product to put
in his nose when we reach a windy area that might stop this. It is very
scary and difficult to devise a plan to train out of him. I managed to drag
myself out of the dirt (he stopped and stood absolutely still with the reins
off to one side, and a shocked look on his face) and lead him a few feet
back to the monster. By that time there was no monster - at least in his
view. So I think it might be smells on the wind.
Continuing to look for a saddle - especially one that provides a bit more
security! Talked to the Australian Stock Saddle Company. Also the Shiloh
Aussie Saddle company.
Judy, at the latter, seems very nice and has fitted Norwegian Fjords (even
advertises the fact). Pretty accommodating. Think I may demo one from her
- the Norm Wilson - extra wide. Apparently more dressage type, closer
contact than her Wide Stockman saddle - at the cost of some comfort to horse
and rider when compared to the Stockman. She said she had recently closed
her shop in town and decided to specialize in Aussies. Said most Aussie
horses are Thoroughbreds - so trees were narrower. Just recently they began
building them wider. For that reason it is very difficult to find a wide
aussie saddle used.
Australian Stock Saddle Company sells wood/steel combo trees. They *bend*
the steel part wider specially to fit the horse. They recommend not getting
a saddle without the steel (bendable) tree (too narrow). As near as I can
tell the Stock Saddle trees have bars, whereas the ones Judy recommended do
not - have to look into that more closely - we're in my area of ignorance.
Pursuing the Boz saddle - *talked* (via e-mail) to someone who was greatly
relieved that it fit her high-withered horse - and said it is not all that
flexible. Does not sound likely to be the Holy Grail of saddledom - the
"one size fits all." (Apparently made of cross-linked polyethylene - the
type of poly used in the best polyethylene kayaks. "Boz" claims it bends
out to fit the horse, but does not spring right back - goes back slowly - so
it will not pinch the horse.) Not sure I believe that it will work with a
*really wide* horse - plan to do some research on cross linked poly). Other
thing about the Boz saddle is that it is designed to put weight over the
horse's front end - not back. He has quite the discussion on how the way to
have a collected horse is to get the weight off the *back* end so the horse
can reach under himself - not try to get the weight off the forehand.
Certainly would be nice to get poor long-backed Gunthar all the advantage he
can get in doing dressage. I ordered Boz's booklet which explains his
theories (drawn from Monte Forman - not that I know anything about him).
Oh - trained Gunthar to drink Kool Aid out of a dog water dish yesterday.
Idea is to get him so he will drink in the trailer. He sure looks cute with
his muzzle coated with cherry flavored Kool Aid. Our QH hated it! In fact
he sniffed it, then turned his butt to me as if to kick. I lashed back with
the only weapon at hand - the plastic dish full of Kool Aid. He is a
Princess and the Pea Horse and must have hated being covered with foul
smelling liquid. Yesterday when we came home and washed the sweat off of
them Gunthar rolled in the mud - and Brother found a nice pile of hay in a
grassy area to roll on. He certainly wouldn't want to get his clean clothes
*dirty.* Funny thing is that their owners have like characteristics!
Plan to go back and talk to Orthoflex again too. Thanks for all the input.
Gail
Gail Russell
Forestville CA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
