Re: [IceHorses] Standing At The Mounting Block
Kolur - it depends on his mood, I guess. We worked on it last year and made progress...clicker training, one-rein stop if he moved off, mounting from the right side (Cherie's idea), bending and relaxing him. I suggested mounting Kolur from the right when he was being fidgety when we tried to mount him from the left, because most horses are mounted from the left and if he had any issues from previous training or from getting away with moving off (he gets excited) they might not transfer to mounting on the right. He did better, but he needs more practice when we're out riding in groups where he has a higher level of excitment. Cherie
[IceHorses] Driving
We have a young woman in our family (married a grandson) who is a successful pony trainer. She's trained and sold some Welsh ponies who have been very successful in some big venues. She thinks that ground driving has no carryover into riding. I do not agree with her, but it's an interesting theory. I ground drive everything and drive a few with a cart. Four year old Tosca had two ground driving sessions in the round pen before yesterday when I bravely drove her out the gait and down 1/2 mile of dirt road, over three bridges. She is SO trainable and so willing to be trained. As to which muscle groups are influenced by driving, I would think the hindquarters might be working when pulling a carrt. If the horse is rounded when ground driving, then I suspect the muscles over the topline might be at work. Nancy AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.
Re: [IceHorses] do your babies have testicles yet?
On 27/04/07, Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: No. Proud cut means incompletely gelded, and that is quite rare these days. It might have been more common back in the days when animals were gelded/neutered by the farmers, before the widespread availability of veterinarians. Karen Thomas, NC Incompletely geldedcould mean one smaller testicle left behind because it hadn't dropped?? Granted, it probably doesn't happen much todaybut I'm sure it did at one time. I've watched my boys get gelded (all except for Dagur, he required surgery)...and I can't imagine what tissue would be left behind that would cause them to be proud cut unless it was a smaller testiclesuch as you would find in a crypt... Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] do your babies have testicles yet?
On 27/04/07, Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: No. Proud cut means incompletely gelded, and that is quite rare these days. It might have been more common back in the days when animals were gelded/neutered by the farmers, before the widespread availability of veterinarians. Karen Thomas, NC Incompletely geldedcould mean one smaller testicle left behind because it hadn't dropped?? Granted, it probably doesn't happen much todaybut I'm sure it did at one time. I think the common notion is that the epididymis (which contains testosterone producing cells) gets left behind. My vet always shows me all the parts , including the epididymis, I guess so I can't later say he left something behind g. -- Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/ http://www.dslextreme.com/~napha/JoyOfRiding/ http://www.dslextreme.com/~napha/HighPoint/
[IceHorses] Horse Maturity
Here's an interesting article on how a horse matures from Dr. Deb... I forwarded it to a couple of trainers I know who are still starting babies (QH) at two. http://www.iwhba.org/TIMING%20AND%20RATE%20OF%20SKELETAL%20MATURATION%20IN%20HORSES.pdf Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] Gat
round her back and it would help build up her muscles which would be good because she's swayed. Have you ever read any of Linda Tellington-Jones's books? There is a great T-Touch strech for the back that uses a girth to lift the belly and another that you use your fingernails or a hoof pick (on the belly)to ask the horse to lift her own back muscles. -Kristen in Mi (it is a beautiful day and I am trapped at work!). __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: [IceHorses] Gat
Maybe you sit just a little bit further back than your daughter does... It would change the point of balance and make Gat more prone to pace and/or tolt. Try leaning just a bit more forward and see what happens. Pat G., in MN -
Re: [IceHorses] Horse Maturity
http://www.iwhba.org/TIMING%20AND%20RATE%20OF%20SKELETAL%20MATURATION%20IN%20HORSES.pdf What is interesting about this is that she says, in regard to fusion: ...and what do you think is last? The vertebral column, of course. A normal horse has 32 vertebrae between the back of the skull and the root of the dock, and there are several growth plates on each one, the most important of which is the one capping the centrum. These do not fuse until the horse is at least 5 ½ years old (and this figure applies to a small-sized, scrubby, range-raised mare. The taller your horse and the longer its neck, the later the last fusions will occur. And for a male – is this a surprise? – you add six months. So, for example, a 17-hand Thoroughbred or Saddlebred or Warmblood gelding may not be fully mature until his 8th year... So, actually, our breed, being smaller and generally range-raised, mature earlier than bigger horses. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
RE: [IceHorses] Gat
She wasn't as consistent in the trot for me as she is for Alex. Extra weight often makes it harder for a gaited horse to go diagonal. I know you're little, but you still weigh more than Alex - unless she's grown a lot lately. :) My coach also told me that if I could 'get her on the bit' she would round her back and it would help build up her muscles which would be good because she's swayed. I tried but Gat fights it so she maybe she's never been ridden that way. Just curious, how many gaited horses does your coach work with? MAYBE it could...but how does he propose to get her on the bit, via rein contact, or actually working to get her to push from behind? Getting a horse on the bit is not a quick thing to do. Trausti is multi-gaited but most often gives me a lovely running walk or flat walk. I ride him on a loose rein so he can find his own head position and balance. When I use more rein contact or lift the reins, he tends to step-pace - and he's not the only one I know that does that. One thing to consider - many (most?) Icelandic's don't have sufficiently long necks to get on the bit, or at least with normally expected head carriage, like say a TB, warmblood or some QH and Arabs are capable of doing. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [IceHorses] What Do You Do With Your Horse
I had a problem here with my old guy colicking on the new hay, the forst cutting that was mostly all clover after all winter on coastal bermuda which is lower sugar etc. Have you guys had your first hay cuttings yet? Janice -- yipie tie yie yo
Re: [IceHorses] do your babies have testicles yet?
oh hey! I forgot this one... my vet says sometimes a horse is proudcut because they geld and then turns out later the horse has THREE. amazing! Janice-- yipie tie yie yo
Re: [IceHorses] Sina prefers pink
Apparently she wasn't too happy to have to wear yellow. No, yellow is not her color! I have another website with pink on it... a Susan clone... gotta find the link. Judy
Re: [IceHorses] Gat
On 4/27/07, Kristen Mikula [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Have you ever read any of Linda Tellington-Jones's books? There is a great T-Touch strech for the back that uses a girth to lift the belly and another that you use your fingernails or a hoof pick (on the belly)to ask the horse to lift her own back muscles. Yes--I've tried some lift the belly but it appears that Gat doesn't lift. I've used fingernails and girth but I don't see any change. V
Re: [IceHorses] Gat
On 4/27/07, Pat Grimmer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Maybe you sit just a little bit further back than your daughter does... It would change the point of balance and make Gat more prone to pace and/or tolt. Try leaning just a bit more forward and see what happens. That's something I didn't think of but it sure makes sense that since I'm bigger my seat wouldn't be the same as Alex's. I'll try leaning more forward but I bet my coach will tell me to lean back. :D V
Re: [IceHorses] What Do You Do With Your Horse
On 27/04/07, Janice McDonald [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I had a problem here with my old guy colicking on the new hay, the forst cutting that was mostly all clover after all winter on coastal bermuda which is lower sugar etc. Have you guys had your first hay cuttings yet? Janice First cutting of hay? Seriouslyyou have a first cutting of hay in April? We've just got leaves coming out on the trees. And we have an odd thing this year...it's off topic, but in keeping with all the weird things going on in naturewe've got turkey vultures roosting at the back of our property I guess I'll have to pick up the pace, or they'll think I'm the next meal... Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] Gat
On 27/04/07, Virginia Tupper [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes--I've tried some lift the belly but it appears that Gat doesn't lift. I've used fingernails and girth but I don't see any change. V I've tried with Elska too, and I've had both Kevin and Cara watching to see if they notice any tightening and they said they didn't notice any change in her while I was doing it. I've only done it with my fingertips though. I hadn't thought of the hoof pick. Cara?? Are you out there? Maybe that's our next project.. Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] Gat
On 4/27/07, Wanda Lauscher [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I hadn't thought of the hoof pick. I didn't try the hoof pick either--do you use steady pressure? V
Re: [IceHorses] First Cutting
On Fri, Apr 27, 2007 at 06:17:38PM -0600, Wanda Lauscher wrote: I had a problem here with my old guy colicking on the new hay, the forst cutting that was mostly all clover after all winter on coastal bermuda which is lower sugar etc. Have you guys had your first hay cuttings yet? Janice First cutting of hay? Seriouslyyou have a first cutting of hay in April? We've just got leaves coming out on the trees. ha, we don't even have that yet, but we were running low on hay so we had some shipped up from a ways south. we still have big piles of snow under the highway overpasses, too :) --vicka
Re: [IceHorses] Gat
On Fri, Apr 27, 2007 at 09:16:01PM -0300, Virginia Tupper wrote: Have you ever read any of Linda Tellington-Jones's books? There is a great T-Touch strech for the back that uses a girth to lift the belly and another that you use your fingernails or a hoof pick (on the belly)to ask the horse to lift her own back muscles. Yes--I've tried some lift the belly but it appears that Gat doesn't lift. I've used fingernails and girth but I don't see any change. i had the same reaction until i saw someone *else* doing it. it's hard to watch your horse's back while you're reaching under the belly! but stjarni does indeed lift, now according to three independent witnesses :) --vicka ps. i also believe in hill work and backing to muscle up the back. just sayin'.
Re: [IceHorses] Jumping Gat
On 27/04/07, Virginia Tupper [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Alex's class practiced jumps outdoors this evening. Gat and Alex seem to be enjoying themselves. V Blink! Wow! Looking good. Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] First Cutting
I had a problem here with my old guy colicking on the new hay, the forst cutting that was mostly all clover after all winter on coastal bermuda which is lower sugar etc. Have you guys had your first hay cuttings yet? I don't know if it's first cutting, but the bermuda at this time of the year is impossible to feed by flakes. You can't pick it up as it falls to pieces all over the place (especially inside my shoes and socks). Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] Jumping Gat
Alex's class practiced jumps outdoors this evening. Gat and Alex seem to be enjoying themselves. She looks gorgeous in that photo! (need to see Alex's face, too!) Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
[IceHorses] Pergolide Update
Such as it is, here goes. The Veterinary side of the FDA (CVM - Center for Veterinary Medicine), did prepare a proposal for an interim solution. I spoke to the officer (that's what they call them at the FDA, officer) in charge of that. He would not tell me what was in it but did tell me that he had sent it over to FDA main for approval. The approval was expected to have occurred by last Friday at the latest (that was the announcement we were expecting) but never appeared. On Tuesday, he said he was hoping to see it soon. Part of the problem is priority. They're a tad distracted by the contaminated pet food fiasco (don't go there on this list please, much as I'd love to..) but even more important is that none of the immediate available options are very appealing to the FDA. Below is a list of the possible solutions that I just put together for a Horse Journal article: 1. The FDA could publish a specific exemption from the prohibition on compounding from bulk drugs with regard to pergolide and horses with Cushing's Disease. This would immediately free drug wholesalers to supply compounders. Drug should still only be produced upon receipt of a prescription from the treating veterinarian. This would be entirely legal and there are precedents for issuing exceptions. Certain chemicals used in treatments of poisonings have already been granted exceptions. We favor this as a short term solution. 2. The former USA manufacturers of pergolide pills in this country could be encouraged to resume production specifically for veterinary use. 3. The FDA could allow importation of pergolide pills produced in other countries. 4. A drug company could begin the drug approval process for pergolide as a treatment for equine PPID. This is time consuming and expensive, but preliminary communications with the FDA CVM staff in the division of MUMS - Minor Uses and Minor Species - indicates they may be able to help. This division was created to help fill the special needs of relatively uncommon species, or uncommon diseases. While the number of horses with Cushing's Disease is certainly not small, the market size can't compare to the need for things like dewormers and antibiotics. The program provides financial incentives and allows for sales of the drug before the entire approval process has been completed. 5. In the event the FDA does not offer even a short term solution quick enough, and an owner/vet find themselves unable to source the drug, the veterinarian can apply for a Medically Necessary Veterinary Drug exception. Details for this application can be found at: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Policy_Procedures/4170.pdf/ Once approved, this would enable the veterinarian to import drug to treat his or her patient(s). Because of inherent delays in petitions being approved, and a likely large volume of petitions once the supply begins to dry up, you shouldn't wait until the last minute to get started on this. === In speaking with the FDA on Tuesday, it was abundantly clear that granting an exception for bulk compounding was the last thing they wanted to do. The current compounding furor, with abuses on both human and veterinary ends, haven't helped us any. Still, this would be the quickest solution. The FDA would prefer to see 2. happen, but no interest from that sector so far. Number 3. is probably the solution that CVM proposed (I'm guessing at that), but FDA main wouldn't be wild about that idea either. Number 4. is something I'm actively working on, identifying companies that are already making specialty drugs (smaller market than big sellers like dewormers or antibiotics), small companies, companies with experience producing drugs that are potent in small doses in a loose powder form. Number 5. is your safety net. There's no way to tell how much pergolide is still out there, or how long it will last. Pharmacies that seem to have a good supply now could find it disappearing quickly as other pharmacies run out. If this drags on too long, you could also easily be looking at a problem with black market drug of god knows what quality and coming from god knows where. If the availability of drug through approved suppliers doesn't change, sooner or later you're going to have be highly suspicious of anyone who claims they have no problem getting the drug. The FDA is not interested in having to process a huge volume of these applications, but may try to stall on doing anything until they actually start to get them. == Until they have a solution in front of them that they like, the FDA is going to drag its feet. We need to keep putting pressure on them. All of you who cross-post and generate new signatures on the petition are helping. Several members are also getting breed associations involved and/or getting articles in magazines. I've been interviewed by The Horse, Equus and got a request late yesterday from Horse
Re: [IceHorses] First Cutting
Have you guys had your first hay cuttings yet? Janice We are very low on hay in Western North Carolina, several late frosts have set us back quite a bit, no one I know has cut hay yet. Usually, my horses are fully on pasture by now, but I'm still scrounging for more hay. Cherie
Re: [IceHorses] Sina prefers pink
On 4/27/07, Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Apparently she wasn't too happy to have to wear yellow. I need sunglasses! LOL V
Re: [IceHorses] Gat
On 4/27/07, Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Extra weight often makes it harder for a gaited horse to go diagonal. I know you're little, but you still weigh more than Alex - unless she's grown a lot lately. :) Yes--I do weigh more than Alex. I'm 115--maybe I'm too big for Gat? Just curious, how many gaited horses does your coach work with? None. MAYBE it could...but how does he propose to get her on the bit, via rein contact He tells me that if the horse gets on the bit they will round their back -- and his method is rein contact. From what I've read this is not the right way. Getting a horse on the bit is not a quick thing to do. No--he says to practice--that with time the horse will do it for longer and longer periods of time, and when they do go on the bit they are 'lighter' and that Gat will probably trot and canter better if she gets on the bit. I ride him on a loose rein so he can find his own head position and balance. When I use more rein contact or lift the reins, he tends to step-pace - and he's not the only one I know that does that. That's what Gat did for me on the trail rides we went on. One thing to consider - many (most?) Icelandic's don't have sufficiently long necks to get on the bit, or at least with normally expected head carriage, like say a TB, warmblood or some QH and Arabs are capable of doing. Gat has a short neck so I really can't imagine her getting on the bit like the other schooling horses, but, how could she get her back up without going into that frame? V
[IceHorses] MN Horse Expo
I was sitting with some Icelandic horse owners watching the Icelandic breed presentation today and said I wish I had One They looked at me and said I thought you did. I said yes I do but I have been coming here for 10 yrs and every time I saw the Icelandics I said that.
[IceHorses] Susan and Sina
Eat your hearts out: http://www.freewebs.com/lodgeropes/horse%20%20alexa%20030MOD.jpg Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
