Re: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: Melinda Schumacher [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kristie wrote: On a side note, isn't it wonderful how the Fjords do seem to take care of us in tricky situations whereas other horses are more inclined to worry and rush through? -Kristie Given that I am relatively new to horse keeping, and everything my horses do seems interesting and remarkable, I still think it is really amazing how my two fjords navigate a short but steep and muddy hill that separates the lower paddock by the house (where grain, water and hay are served) from the upper large pasture. Norrman, a 16 yr old gelding, very experienced at driving from his former life, always lets 10 year old mare Mirakel go first. He watches and waits till she is completely down the hill and fully out of the way before he starts down. With the rain and mud of late, they both ski the steepest portion part way down from the top, all four hooves firmly planted. They are so adept! I follow behind last, plodding along very slowly, hanging onto a non-hot strand of the fencemuch less gracefully. :) Melinda central Ohio, gray and gloomy with a cold rain - snow mix in the forecast. -- Coaching with Melinda Schumacher, MD Personal Empowerment through Equine Experiential Learning and Creative Expression You wander from room to room hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck. ~Jalal-Uddin Rumi As she knotted the reins and took her stand, the horse's soul came into her hand, and up from the mouth that held the steel came an innermost word, half thought, half feel.~paraphrased, John Masefield Fly Without Wings www.flywithoutwings.net Gestalt Practitioner www.gestaltcleveland.org Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Regarding the very clumsy 4 year old - put the saddle behind the shoulder and see if that helps. If it does not, have a vet out, as it could be anything from just developmental clumsiness to a neurological problem/illness such as EPM. Regarding the very steep hill that the Fjord skiis down with four legs straight and planted... if there is any way to get the hay and water up to the big pasture where this steep condition is not an issue, I'd strongly recommend it. Even though our Fjordies are tough and goat-like, that steep and slick invites soft tissue injuries such as a suspensary tear. If it's hard for you to get up and down, and the horse(s) take a long time to navigate it, I'd move their water and food to where they have easier access. Emily Emily Wigley http://www.FishBowlFarm.com Vashon Island, Washington Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: Nan Newton [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kristie, I agree. I bet it's not an indication of lameness, but of course one can't be sure. I know that my Bjorni doesn't take a lame step when eating his way through his field, or going to see what his friends are up to when they get too far away. He stumbles when he's being mindless, I think. Just like his owner - me, Nan. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: Kristie Strange [EMAIL PROTECTED] Is it fairly normal for a 4 y/o Fjord to be VERY clumsy? My Izzy has days where she's pretty good on her feet, but also days where she can't seem to stay upright.She trips a LOT. I've been told that young horses are especially clumsy, and that she will grow out of it as she matures, but she has more than once stumbled to her knees with me on her back. I've never had her feet x-rayed. Should I? My farrier says her feet look great, and she seems prefectly sound. We've even tried rolling her toes and such, but it doesn't seem to matter. I wonder if it's her confirmation. She has a very short neck and I have notice that she trips LESS when I ride in my abetta endurance saddle as opposed to my english saddle.Like my sitting a little farther back frees up her shoulders more. Sometimes she doesn't stumble at all, but other times she makes up for it. :P Thanks! -KRistie Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] My first Fjord stumbled badly, especially in the canter. Only once with me as I learned that he was too close in the front legs, slightly knock kneed. I rode, now too old to, with soft hands and kept him balanced. It was very difficult to get him into a canter and I was concerned for safety so usually we just trotted. A sweet boy who died young of a twisted gut. Check your horses front conformation at the stand and in motion. Jean Gayle Author of: 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520 Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: Melissa Dowling [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kristie, I would have her front fetlocks x-rayed. I had a 6-year-old gelding who began stumbling. X-rays revealed the devastating diagnosis of bilateral low ringbone. Sadly, after extracorporeal shockwave therapy and special shoes, I was forced to conclude that my riding plans for him were never going to be realized. He is now on permanent lease to a therapeutic riding program. You won't know what's going on inside until you have x-rays done. I hope for your sake that your Fjord is just a young horse, too much on the forehand, and that as she gets stronger, her stumbling will cease. Good luck! Melissa Dowling - Original Message - From: Kristie Strange [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 6:15 PM Subject: Very clumsy 4 year old This message is from: Kristie Strange [EMAIL PROTECTED] Is it fairly normal for a 4 y/o Fjord to be VERY clumsy? My Izzy has days where she's pretty good on her feet, but also days where she can't seem to stay upright.She trips a LOT. I've been told that young horses are especially clumsy, and that she will grow out of it as she matures, but she has more than once stumbled to her knees with me on her back. I've never had her feet x-rayed. Should I? My farrier says her feet look great, and she seems prefectly sound. We've even tried rolling her toes and such, but it doesn't seem to matter. I wonder if it's her confirmation. She has a very short neck and I have notice that she trips LESS when I ride in my abetta endurance saddle as opposed to my english saddle.Like my sitting a little farther back frees up her shoulders more. Sometimes she doesn't stumble at all, but other times she makes up for it. :P Thanks! -KRistie Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kristie, I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned sitting too far forward on the shoulders. That would definitely make her stumble. Why don't you keep track of which saddle and where you are sitting when she stumbles. I see so many cases where the saddle is sitting too far forward: I did it myself at first trying to get a saddle to fit my mare with low withers. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, cloudy and 0 degrees F. Is it fairly normal for a 4 y/o Fjord to be VERY clumsy? My Izzy has days where she's pretty good on her feet, but also days where she can't seem to stay upright.She trips a LOT. I've been told that young horses are especially clumsy, and that she will grow out of it as she matures, but she has more than once stumbled to her knees with me on her back. I've never had her feet x-rayed. Should I? My farrier says her feet look great, and she seems prefectly sound. We've even tried rolling her toes and such, but it doesn't seem to matter. I wonder if it's her confirmation. She has a very short neck and I have notice that she trips LESS when I ride in my abetta endurance saddle as opposed to my english saddle.Like my sitting a little farther back frees up her shoulders more. Sometimes she doesn't stumble at all, but other times she makes up for it. :P Thanks! now. hthttp://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/119642558/direct/01/ Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: Kristie Strange [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks everyone, for the responses. She doesn't stumble in the pasture. We go riding with friends 1-2 times a week and leading her back to the barn from the trailer she trips a couple of times. But only after the ride. I don't notice the stumbling leading her TO the trailer. So go figure. I have often thought the english saddle is too far forward. But she's so short backed. The next time I ride in the english saddle I will slide it back some and see if that helps. I don't think anything is pinching her. It's a very ancient Crosby saddle, but the tree is sound and it seems to fit her well. Granted, a new saddle is on our shopping list. Before I inherited this lovely (sarcasim) Crosby I had a Duett Rondo which I LOVED but I jumped the gun and got a 38 and it ended up being too big. I think we only need a 32 or 34. I looked up ringbone and she really doesn't seem to have any symptoms. No heat or swelling, or any ouchiness to her feet at all. Of course I'll keep a close eye from here on out. Yesterday I rode with friends and we did some programs and such in the field and Izzy wasn't as clumsy. Thanks again for the comments and advice. :) -Kristie Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: Nan Newton [EMAIL PROTECTED] My 14 year old fjord always stumbles when we are on leisurely, easy going walk rides. But, when we are going up tricky paths in the mountains, or down them, or if he is trotting, pulling a carriage, or jumping ditches he is completely sure footed. I think it's just a kind of distracted laziness. I find if I get him to trot around bushes, change his pace from time to time, and in general ask things of him, he doesn't stumble. Of course, I'm not up for doing that all the time, so it's a bit annoying this sleep walking of his Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
