Re: [IceHorses] Walworth Accident 11/3 Update and Photos
> > it's a good update. <;] > > Maybe so but I am too thin skined for that type of thing. That is just me. Lorraine __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: [IceHorses] O/T Baby buffalo
HA!!! You should see my chunky monkey Dixie. <;] Raven
Re: [IceHorses] Kevin's little helper...
On 10/11/2007, Virginia Tupper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > LOL! I was thinking that if it was Gat she may have looked at the > ladder while Orri would've waltzed right over to sniff it, nuzzle and > taste it. > V You've obviously all had experience with scamps! That's exactly what Solon did. I was worried that he would pull it out from under Kevin. But he seemed satisfied with just a taste. Dagur had trouble having people above him, it was something we really had to work on with him. Solon doesn't seem to mind it. Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] Kevin's little helper...
On Nov 10, 2007 10:11 PM, Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You're obviously nicer than I am Anna. I thought Solon was going to > jazz up the day by pushing the ladder over. > > > I'm kind of between you two - I was imagining him picking it up by the bottom > rung to drag it off to play with. . > LOL! I was thinking that if it was Gat she may have looked at the ladder while Orri would've waltzed right over to sniff it, nuzzle and taste it. V
RE: [IceHorses] Kevin's little helper...
You're obviously nicer than I am Anna. I thought Solon was going to jazz up the day by pushing the ladder over. I'm kind of between you two - I was imagining him picking it up by the bottom rung to drag it off to play with. . Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Kevin's little helper...
You're obviously nicer than I am Anna. I thought Solon was going to jazz up the day by pushing the ladder over. Nancy
RE: [IceHorses] How relaxed is your horse?
I'll bet anything that Falki was as relaxed as he was because Gloi and Cassie were on the other side of the fence. Gloi and Cassie aren't mean to him, he seems to have moved up over both of them and I see them eating at the same hay pile, but still he must be a bit worried about his status in the herd. I'll have to be certain that I have him away from the other horses to work with him or wait until I see more signs of relaxation. I think that's very observant of you to notice. I think it takes most horses at least 3-6 months to truly feel at home, and I've seen a few that haven taken up to a year. I'd say it's good that he can eat from the same pile as they do, after only about 5-6 weeks. He's always been a little quiet, at least compared to some of the really gregarious beasts we have here: Melnir, Buck, Eitill to name three. It seems to me that they can like the other horses in their new herd, but still take a while to be 100% comfortable with them. I'm sure he will continue to settle in. >>> Even being a bit more reserved, Falki is such a sweet boy. Michael's new >>> nickname for him is Hershey because "like chocolate, he's sweet and dark >>> brown" . That's a good nickname. He is a sweet boy. We were just talking at dinner about how much he did for us while he was here. Give him a hug from me. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
[IceHorses] How relaxed is your horse?
Falki hasn't been as willing to be hugged and handled as much here as when we were together at Karen's and the clinic. Yesterday I got some light shed on his 'personality' changes. I went out to the pasture to put some stuff on my mare's hooves. She has a crack that doesn't seem to want to grow out and the farrier suggested treating it as bacteria or fungus can be part of the problem. After finishing her feet, Falki followed me towards the woods and we were heading past our 'round pen'. I made our round pen with t-posts and two strands of electric tape. He followed me in and I fumbled with the strands to get the pen closed. By the time I got us closed in the pen, the other two horses were there, watching. I had nothing with me except a few treats in my pocket. Falki is great with head down and backs when I move towards him. I was trying to get him to move forward with me and step away from pressure. He was doing well and I noticed that he was relaxed and dropped. The only other time I noticed him being dropped was last week when I was holding Gloi for the farrier and Michael was petting Falki. Michael commented then that Falki needed cleaned. With Falki being so relaxed, I decided to take the opportunity to see if I could get all that flaky stuff off him and check him for a bean. He was very good and very relaxed and let me clean him as thoroughly as one can without any supplies. FYI, wiping you hands on the grass before you hand them a treat is not clean enough by horse standards. I've seen less face making after giving a wormer. I'll bet anything that Falki was as relaxed as he was because Gloi and Cassie were on the other side of the fence. Gloi and Cassie aren't mean to him, he seems to have moved up over both of them and I see them eating at the same hay pile, but still he must be a bit worried about his status in the herd. I'll have to be certain that I have him away from the other horses to work with him or wait until I see more signs of relaxation. Even being a bit more reserved, Falki is such a sweet boy. Michael's new nickname for him is Hershey because "like chocolate, he's sweet and dark brown" . -- Anna Southern Ohio
Re: [IceHorses] Kevin's little helper...
On Nov 10, 2007 6:13 PM, Wanda Lauscher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > He's had a helper ever since he got out there. I'm sure if Solon > could think of a way to pick up a screw driver with his hooves...he'd > be in there. > > I think Solon's poised to catch Kevin if he fell off the ladder. -- Anna Southern Ohio
RE: [IceHorses] Horse Antlers
or: http://tinyurl.com/32afm5 Sina has a pair, but they aren't exactly like those. I'll have to see if I can get a picture of her in hers. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
RE: [IceHorses] Coverall
I wonder why the other companys are less expensive. In photos they all look alike. V That's a good question. I don't know anything about those type buildings. Sometimes you get what you pay for...but when we were looking at building our barn about 1995-1996, we got about 4-5 quotes. The Morton quote was at least twice what the company we went with was, and actually, I liked some of the features in our barn better. It pays to check around, check references, and go see examples of each I guess. I've never regretted going with the builder we used. Not much help about Coveralls though! Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Horse Antlers
On 10/11/2007, Judy Ryder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jeffers Equine has some nice horse antlers: > or: http://tinyurl.com/32afm5 Wow...though I would never get them to sit properly on my guys...too much hair. These are obviously made for the forelock challenged. Neat idea though. Wanda
[IceHorses] Horse Antlers
Jeffers Equine has some nice horse antlers: http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=AVNS1VBAPE748MS437E41QS7H6D937MC&pf_id=0031752&cmkw=reindeer%20AND%20antlers%20AND%20novelty or: http://tinyurl.com/32afm5 Judy
Re: [IceHorses] t-post fence pics
On Sep 27, 2007 7:36 AM, Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I remembered I took a couple of pics that show the fence last weekend. I > can get better detail - and the posts don't have to be as close together as > shown in the second picture. I don't recall if you, or anyone else, has told me how deep do Tposts have to be put in the ground? Thanks, V
RE: [IceHorses] Still bragging
>>> I am looking for a low level of drama and think I've found it in these two Icey mares. I love low-drama horses. I've joked that occasionally, Sina will "head buck." If she's annoyed about leaving her herd mates (like last week, when the mini mule gelding was trying to breed one of her mare-friends back in the pasture...) sometimes she'll sort of drop her head, like the head motion with a buck, not exactly "snaking" her head, but she can't seem to get enough motivation to do a full body buck. You gotta love a horse when that's their idea of being "bad." :) Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Coverall
On Nov 9, 2007 12:10 PM, Robyn Hood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > There are quite a few other similar > companies now that might be less money - ours was a very good price - about > 40,000.00 erected I think, but I know the prices have gone up since then. I wonder why the other companys are less expensive. In photos they all look alike. V
Re: [IceHorses] Still bragging
I am looking for a low level of drama and think I've found it in these two Icey mares. Nancy
RE: [IceHorses] Sina's color
>>> Oh, yes! All shades of blue looks good on the yellow ones! I wanted teal for Andi, but I couldn't find it at a reasonable price, so I went with turquoise. The biothane overlay on her Freedom Bridle and breast collar is turquoise. I can't remember what Torsion calls that shade of turquoisey-sky blue that the saddle is made of - they may simply call it "sky." Whatever it is, it matches the barrels in my arena. Everyone should have a saddle to match their barrels, right? :) Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
RE: [IceHorses] Sina in the Phantom bareback pad
I notice your low trace clip on her, and I know it gets cold in NC - will you blanket her at night? Is she on turnout 24 hours? Is her belly clipped? I won't blanket her. I clipped her from the line you see, all the way down, completely under her belly. I did a pretty close clip about a month ago - it was probably about 1/4" then. The coat is well over 1/2" long, maybe closer to 3/4", and I suspect it will grow a little more, so she has some protection from the cold.She's out 24x7 - the only night I ever remember her staying in a stall all night was the night Landi was born. I'm sure she would have delivered him in the paddock, but we had the remains of a tropical storm come through the night he was born - it rained about 5" that night, so the paddock was more like a lake! Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
[IceHorses] Riding With Fluidity, Part 5
by Linda Parelli he Ribs - Zone 3 Horses can't bend their ribs on the circle unless you are bending yours. Once again, if you think about how much curve you want in your horse's body and do the same in your body, your horse will find the freedom to be able to do it. Many riders sit stiff and keep their horses stiff because of it. Experiment with getting more "flexy" and fluid. Exaggerate to teach and learn, then refine as you progress. Asymmetry Have you experienced your saddle slipping to one side all the time? So you constantly have to stomp your foot in the other stirrup to straighten it? The side to which the saddle slips is the "hollow" side. This is caused by your horse carrying his ribs off center, toward the "full" side. An easy way to correct this is to sit in the center of the horse's rib cage, which may mean you are actually sitting crooked on your saddle. For example, if the rib cage is carried to the left, you would sit on the left side of your saddle's center. This would put you in the relative center of your horse's ribs. The worse the problem, the further you need to sit on that side. Within minutes your horse will start to carry himself straighter and you'llbe able to sit more toward the center again, but you'll probably have to repeat this each time you ride until you've installed a new habit for your horse. Some other symptoms you might recognize if your horse is carrying his ribs to the left: left leads are easy, right leads are difficult. Right circles are easy, left circles are difficult. Your horse will "drop" his shoulder on the left circles because he is counter bent and can't shape himself properly on the circle to stay balanced. Of course, if your horse carries his ribcage to the right, everything above will be the opposite. Collection Versus Engagement I think there's a lot of confusion here. Horses can be mentally, emotionally and physically "collected" but that doesn't necessarily mean they are engaged. Engagement applies to when the hindquarters are carrying most of the weight and the hind legs are therefore positioned more under the body. There's upwards as well as forward movement, greater suspension and more power. Is Fluidity a Dressage Thing or Does It Apply to Everything? It would be easy to think that the fluidity I'm talking about applies only to dressage or English equitation, but it actually applies to all disciplines, English and Western. Fluidity is about using your whole body when riding and thus allowing your horse to use his whole body. Every horse and rider combination can become more harmonious, comfortable and balanced through learning to be fluid as opposed to rigid. Your horse and your body will thank you for it! _ Judy
Re: [IceHorses] Coverall
On Nov 9, 2007 8:10 AM, Robyn Hood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Virginia > >>>Does anyone have a Coverall riding arena and/or barn? They look like > they'd be a nice, bright building for indoor riding. Just wondering > about the cost, how people like them, etc. > > I didn't see anyone answer this but we have had one for 7 or 8 years. The one Robyn and Phil have is just great for riding, clinics, etc. I really enjoyed it when I was up there. Ferne Fedeli
Re: [IceHorses] Still bragging
--- Nancy Sturm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Here's Tosca returning from her first ridden trip > out on trail.<< Tosca certainly looks comfortable going over that bridge! I think she will be easy - just like Andi! Isn't it nice! Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: [IceHorses] Sina in the Phantom bareback pad
--- Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> I still can't feel anywhere it feels like it's pinching or binding and I still can't find anything to complain about it -<< Her long stride would indicate it feels good to her! I notice your low trace clip on her, and I know it gets cold in NC - will you blanket her at night? Is she on turnout 24 hours? Is her belly clipped? Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: [IceHorses] Sina's color
--- Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > but I think I've found Sina's best color.<< Oh, yes! All shades of blue looks good on the yellow ones! I wanted teal for Andi, but I couldn't find it at a reasonable price, so I went with turquoise. Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
[IceHorses] Gaits and speed
I finally did something today that I'd been meaning to do for ages. I strapped the wrist-watch type GPS (Garmin Foretrex - ebay, about $60) onto my saddle and actually even remembered to turn it on. I didn't really have any particular gait goals today, but thought it would be fun to see what speed Sina was actually going in different gaits. I'm getting her back into shape after a good period of limited exercise, so we are mostly going fairly slowly, no cantering just yet. As I'd expect, her walk speeds ranged from about 2.9 mph to almost 4mph. However, one surprise came with one stretch of foxtrot. I would have thought it no more than about 5 mph - maybe more foxwalk than foxtrot. But, it actually measured at around 6.8-7.1 mph, so I guess that qualifies it as a full foxtrot. I repeated it a few times, so I'm pretty sure the speed was accurate. Her maximum speed today was 7.7mph. I wasn't watching the GPS when we hit that, but I assume it was when we saddle-racked. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
RE: [IceHorses] Sina in the Phantom bareback pad
Me too--she looks like she's moving with ease and comfort. V And believe me, Sina will let us know if she's not comfortable. When I was on the Eternal Saddle Search (ok, it wasn't really eternal, but it seemed like it at the time) I'd think I'd taken care of her by getting a slightly wider saddle, and then, boom, 2-3 months later her ears would be back, not wanting to go forward, and pacey if she did move. I went through a period of thinking she'd just be a pacey horse. Then I finally tried a treeless on her, and she generally hasn't been very pacey since. Now it seems she's just as happy to foxtrot (or even trot) as step pace. Today, she walked a good bit, but also foxtrotted, flat walked and did some saddle rack. I love my little mare and I'm REALLY glad I found a saddle solution for her. :) Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Sina in the Phantom bareback pad
On Nov 10, 2007 1:48 PM, Nancy Sturm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I love the way she's moving willingly forward with her head in a nice > natural position. > > Me too--she looks like she's moving with ease and comfort. V
RE: [IceHorses] Still bragging
Here's Tosca returning from her first ridden trip out on trail. The other half of this was my pleasure in having Hunter finally so settled in his trail horse/ baby sitter role that I could actually ride down a steep piece of trail, onto a narrow bridge, holding a camera to my face, leaving him on his own. The first time he went over this same bridge, he took it in in a single bound. Congratulations on both counts. I love seeing all the progress pics of the young horses coming along. I've done my share of bragging on these small victories (that cumulatively aren't really so small) so I enjoy hearing about other horses like Tosca and Andi. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
RE: [IceHorses] Sina in the Phantom bareback pad
>>> I love the way she's moving willingly forward with her head in a nice natural position. Thanks for noticing that, because I'm particularly proud of it. She's only had easy methods used on her over the years - a good dash of Natural Horsemanship, some Centered Riding/dressage-y type ring work, and a lot of relaxed trail rides. She's ten, but she had over a year off, having a baby and getting over a little "pelvic glitch", I guess from the delivery. (She seems fine now.) She's never been ridden with much rein contact. She was just greenbroke when I bought her from Anneliese - and she's the mare who inspired me to get back riding after I broke my back. She's my heart - the smartest horse I've ever met. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.27/1121 - Release Date: 11/9/2007 7:29 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Sina in the Phantom bareback pad
I love the way she's moving willingly forward with her head in a nice natural position. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Sina's color
She's gorgeous and so is the color. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Sina's color
On Nov 10, 2007 1:32 PM, Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I think Palomino's can wear most colors - ok, maybe yellow isn't the best - > but I think I've found Sina's best color. She looks beautiful! V
Re: [IceHorses] Trivia Questions
How old is this the Icelandic Horse breed?
Re: [IceHorses] Trivia Questions
>> For a game of trivia about Icelandic Horses, what questions would you include? Horses come in many beautiful colors and patterns. What color pattern is NOT seen in Icelandic Horses?
Re: [IceHorses] Trivia Questions
Who made the first US importation of Icelandics? Nancy
[IceHorses] Trivia Questions
For a game of trivia about Icelandic Horses, what questions would you include? Judy
Re: [IceHorses] Walworth Accident 11/3 Update and Photos
>> Update http://tinyurl.com/3ychox >> Not looking it's a good update. <;]
Re: [IceHorses] Walworth Accident 11/3 Update and Photos
Good choice Lorraine. It made me cry and I didn't even look at the graphic photos. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Walworth Accident 11/3 Update and Photos
> Wadsworth Accident, Double Deck Trailer Overturns on > 41 Nov 3, 2007 > Update http://tinyurl.com/3ychox Not looking Lorraine __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
[IceHorses] Riding With Fluidity, Part 4
Do What Your Horse Does If you are truly doing a Passenger Lesson, if your horse braces (neck, ribs, etc.) you should brace too. In fact, in lessons with my International Study Center students, I saw that if the horse went fast and the student did too, the horse became calmer and slower. If the horse braced his body against the rider and the rider did exactly the same thing, matched it physically, the horse calmed down. What's normal is if the horse gets braced and faster, we try to get more relaxed and slower. This actually feels like opposition and lack of rapport to the horse, and because he is emotional it upsets him and makes it worse! Weird but true! Just when we think the life-saving thing to do is to hold back, the horse thinks the opposite! So, if we want to get on with the horse, to be in total harmony, we should do what he does. Once we create harmony, rapport, synchronicity... only then can we lead it to where we want it to go. I have to admit I never had any idea of this before. I tried to control, I tried to restrict (out of fear) but all this did was upset my horse. Given the benefit of hindsight I realize that the real deal is to be so in rapport, so part of the horse that he thinks you are part of him, and not any way in opposition... this is when you have harmony. Having harmony means the horse will not think of you as a predator (a wolf in sheep's clothing), he'll think of you as someone just like him. The Walk The walk is the easiest to sit on, and the hardest to do really fluidly! A lot of people push their pelvis forward with each stride when actually it's more of a shift of each hip as the horse moves each of his hips. This gives you a little more of a side-to-side motion rather than a back-and-forth one. The Trot The trot is the hardest for the human, and the easiest for the horse! The trot is difficult to ride unless you can free your hips up to do what your horse's hips are doing - moving independently of each other. Because our hips are usually stiff when riding, rising trot is often the easiest choice. You can practice sitting trot by trotting very slowly at first and coordinating your hip movement with your horse's hips. This makes an amazing difference! The Canter Most people when cantering tend to rock backwards with their shoulders and scoot their seat forward, polishing the saddle as they go! I used to do this terribly and some riders have an awful time with horses who kick up or won't maintain the canter, or on the other extreme, get faster and faster and very emotional. So far, every horse we've had riders try this new technique with has changed its way of moving (physically and emotionally) within minutes! Do as your horse does: each canter stride is like a little "leap" so you have to do little leaps in your body! Try doing the same thing with your arms as your horse does with his front legs, matching each stride with exactly the same timing. While it might look a bit funny at first, your body will move in a dramatically different way that is now in harmony with your horse's movement as opposed to the first scenario I described, where the horse is leaping forward and you are scooting downwards into his back. By "leaping" or "reaching" up and forward with your horse at every stride, you become weightless and very comfortable to carry. Over a relatively short time you can minimize your arm movements to where it's just your joints that move, everything from your ribs through your jaw, shoulders and arms. ___ Judy
