[IceHorses] Ponies in Iceland
Here are a few videos of some ponies playing around in Iceland: http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2008/05/icelandic-ponies-in-iceland.html Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
If you go here... http://www.flugnir.50megs.com/photo.html and scroll down to the 7th picture in the left hand column, you will see Raven, Billie-Jo and I wearing our netting to keep the gnats out of our faces at a CMO a couple of years ago. They are really quite inexpensive and work quite well. We got them at a sporting goods store. Pat G., in MN
Re: [IceHorses] I have a new saddle! - Evolutionary Saddle
>>> sometimes it just p___s me off that the most comfortable saddles are >>> often bad for the horse! Like a Tucker, my gosh I loved riding in that >>> thing! And it almsot ruined my jaspars back. Then my orthoflex >>> stitchdown, something about it just makes me sit correctly, so >>> balanced, I ride so well in it, and it just plain wont work on my >>> icelandics. My sensation hybrid works on some but not others. and it >>> is very comfortable. but some horses have to have spinal clearance. Janice, your horses for which the Hybrid doesn't work - they are TWH, right? I think that's the reason that there are so many treeless fans on this list - particularly Sensation fans. I used treed saddles for 15 years with barely a problem, at least no big ones...but then I got Icelandic's. As Liz Graves said, and as Carol Brett said, and as my local saddle-fitter said, and I certainly agree, for many Icelandic's, treeless is going to be the only option. There's often just not enough length to their "saddle backs" for a tree to fit. Interestingly enough, Liz, Carol Brett, and my local saddler could have each sold me a treed saddle, and each could have profited from it, but none of them did. Carol is founder of Balance Saddles International, and my local saddler sold Wintecs and Stubbens (among others) when she did the last saddle fitting here, and Liz is Dave Genadek's significant other... but all were honest and told me that treeless saddles are a viable option for us, and for Sina, probably my ONLY option. I have to admire dealers/clinicians who put ethics above personal profit, and these are three people I commend for doing just that. It's not a matter of being a "treeless fanatic" - it's just being realistic about finding something that really works for our horses, and doesn't cause them pain. I commend anyone who does that, no matter what kind of saddle they find that works for their horse. Karen Thomas, NC
Re: [IceHorses] Re: Porcupine grazing in the pasture!
Susan Coombes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> kirjoitti: > We have hedgehogs everywhere in England. I can hear them at night > grunting as they eat the slugs on the lawn. They get squashed as > they 'run' across the road at night. They are cute and good for the > garden. They must be hard to keep as pets as they eat slugs and worms. That's like saying cats must be hard to keep as pets because they eat mice and birds ;-) Hedgehogs eat quite happily cat food but special hedgehog food also exists. At least here in Finland the pet hedgehogs are not the same hedgehogs that run around wild, the most common pet hedgehogs here are African pygmy hedgehog and Long-Eared hedgehog. Krisse
[IceHorses] Down for the count...
Princess Buttercup thought she was going to take a nice nap...but along came her bratty brother... Karen Thomas, NC <>
Re: [IceHorses] I have a new saddle! - Evolutionary Saddle
>>> This system must be different. I could ride the dining room table in >>> this thing. Maybe this one is wide enough then, and that would be good. Width can still be an issue with flex-panels - I got a little annoyed with the various manufacturer ads when we were first looking at them, because I didn't think they were forthcoming about the lack of "flex" in the width dimension. I've seen some REAL problems with some of the Orthoflexes being not wide enough - I think they come in various widths, but each widths appear to be fixed...or they were when we last looked at them. The FnE's don't have any "flex" in the width, but at least they can be adjusted width-wise within limits. It's just that once they are adjusted they don't have any "give", and Skjoni's got too tight, even to the outermost limit. Someone - Renee Smith? - has an OrthoFlex I think that was specially made for an Icelandic to be extra wide and extra short, but I think it was a special order. Maybe if it was Renee, she'll speak up. (I know I saw one somewhere, and I think it might have been hers.) >>> The panels and the tree, though connected, are independent of one >>> another. The tree is for the rider support and the panels are for the >>> horse. That sounds like the way Cary's FnE was made. However, the riders weight was distributed all the way to the back edge of panels, so, even if the panels are flexible, you still wouldn't want any weight on the horse's loins. I believe that's the purpose of the panels - to give a larger weight distribution area. The back edge of the FnE sat all the way to the very back of Skjoni's last rib, but it barely missed being on the unsupported part of his back, but it did overlap his shoulder by maybe an inch. We really couldn't bring it any further forward without causing other issues. In other words, it worked within his available saddle area, but there wasn't a bit of spare room to tinker with. >>>Check out the web page if you haven't yet - there are a lot of >>>interesting pictures and also history of the flex panel system. I checked it out when we first were looking, and I checked it out (and the Reactor Panels, and many other brands) when we were first looking and then again when the FnE showed the problems. Karen Thomas, NC
Re: [IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
2008/5/16 Virginia Tupper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > while he was bracing the corner posts in the pasture. I could > probably find some wearable netting in garden and/or fishing > departments--what do the rest of your wear? (I'd prefer not to spray > myself with chemicals.) Here you go... http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=10292&cat=2,42407,33240 Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
Yes. She uses it for the horses and it did keep the bees off Hunter (and me) last year at Headwaters. If I remember correctly, there's not a thing in it that would prevent using it on people. I had it taped to my computer tower all winter but I guess I tidied up and moved it. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
--- Nancy Sturm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Amber Applegate on the gaited endurance list has a > wonderful > herbal/Skin-so-Soft concoction. I lose the recipe > annually, but she'd > probably post it again if someone would ask. Is this for horses and people? The stuff that kept the bees off you last year? Susan in NV read my blog to see why I ride my horse in pink: http://desertduty.blogspot.com/
Re: [IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
--- Virginia Tupper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'm hoping I'll be able to find that netting that I > can wear with a > hat or put over my helmet. If anyone has a link, I'm interested, too! I hate gnats in my ears and they also get in my eyelashes! I look like a geek as it is when I ride in my outlandish outfits, I might as well add some netting to the mix! Susan in NV read my blog to see why I ride my horse in pink: http://desertduty.blogspot.com/
Re: [IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
Amber Applegate on the gaited endurance list has a wonderful herbal/Skin-so-Soft concoction. I lose the recipe annually, but she'd probably post it again if someone would ask. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 10:10 PM, susan cooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Then, 15 minutes after that, > my lips were numb! I think I applied too much! I had > so much deet on, my face was white! Yuck! That's not good! I'm hoping I'll be able to find that netting that I can wear with a hat or put over my helmet. V
Re: [IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
--- Virginia Tupper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>what do the rest of your wear? (I'd > prefer not to spray > myself with chemicals.) I don't blame you about the chemicals. On yesterday's ride, the mosquitoes and gnats were so bad, I sprayed myself 1/2 way thru the ride (I carry a travel spray of fly spray in my fanny pack) then 15 minutes later, I applied deet. Then, 15 minutes after that, my lips were numb! I think I applied too much! I had so much deet on, my face was white! Luckily, mosquito season in the desert only last 4-6 weeks! Susan in NV read my blog to see why I ride my horse in pink: http://desertduty.blogspot.com/
[IceHorses] Blah! Black Flies!!
Hubby and I went for a walk tonight after supper on our wooded trail and we were swarmed by black flies! I hate black flies! I need combat gear or I'll never be able to go for walks in our woods anymore. I don't even think there's a 'good' time when to avoid them because my husband was saying they were swarming him during the day while he was bracing the corner posts in the pasture. I could probably find some wearable netting in garden and/or fishing departments--what do the rest of your wear? (I'd prefer not to spray myself with chemicals.) V (I saw 2 porcupines on our walk--my dog Lacey didn't like being on the leash)
Re: [IceHorses] black dun info
On Fri, 16 May 2008 19:38:06 +0100, you wrote: >"light smoky cream that should say light smoky black, sorry! Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen --- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ---
[IceHorses] Re: Porcupine grazing in the pasture!
> No, I've seen hedgehogs in pet stores! > > I really wanted one. They're the cutest things, but their sale has been > outlawed in Oregon - not sure why. > > Nancy We have hedgehogs everywhere in England. I can hear them at night grunting as they eat the slugs on the lawn. They get squashed as they 'run' across the road at night. They are cute and good for the garden. They must be hard to keep as pets as they eat slugs and worms. Sue Coombes.
Re: [IceHorses] Award for Susan
you GO Susan!! Janice-- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
Re: [IceHorses] I have a new saddle! - Evolutionary Saddle
The panels and the > tree, though connected, are independent of one > another. The tree is for the rider support and the > panels are for the horse. the panels have to be in a good place tho, for horse comfort. Like my flex saddle on my wide wide icey, it seemed to fit fine but the panels were up on top of him almost instead of lower down sorta toward the sides like they are supposed to be. I could really tell it perched tho and you should be able to also, also watch for a sorta hard to explain "hesitance" when you ride. A sorta walking on eggs thing they do if the panels flex and it bothers them. sometimes it just p___s me off that the most comfortable saddles are often bad for the horse! Like a Tucker, my gosh I loved riding in that thing! And it almsot ruined my jaspars back. Then my orthoflex stitchdown, something about it just makes me sit correctly, so balanced, I ride so well in it, and it just plain wont work on my icelandics. My sensation hybrid works on some but not others. and it is very comfortable. but some horses have to have spinal clearance. Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
Re: [IceHorses] black dun info
wow, sure looks champagne to me!! Did you get to see its eyes and see if they were amber?? Do you know what color they SAY it is supposed to be?? Champagne may not be in icelandics but at some point it wasnt in any horse and spontaneously ocurred... Reykur is very dark, he looks almost bay! I love the splash, seems almost yellow and cream:) It is stormy here and farrier was coming but now had to cancel :( Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
Re: [IceHorses] Porcupine grazing in the pasture!
On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 9:13 AM, Ashley Gallant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > WOW Virginia!! I have to come visit you and see that!! > Ashley > The trapper has been coming out daily to check the lodge and dam--he hasn't caught anymore beavers but he did find a dead deer in the dam. V
Re: [IceHorses] I have a new saddle! - Evolutionary Saddle
--- Kristen Mikula <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This system must be different. I could ride the > dining room table in this thing. I saw that in one video which really made me consider this saddle. > The tree is for the rider support and the > panels are for the horse. Yes, while the Sensation works well for a lot of Icelandics, there are still instances where the horse and rider need a tree for support. Lolligagging around the pasture a few times a week are one thing, but for longer rides, a horse really needs a tree to help distribute the weight of the rider. I know I will catch hell for this since this group is such a treeless loving group, but a lot of the treeless fanatics don't ride for that great length of time except for maybe a few times a year. Serious ride times sometimes require the support of a tree, especially if trotting and posting. > Check out the web page if > you haven't yet - there are a lot of interesting > pictures and also history of the flex panel system. I learned a lot from this web site and found it quite interesting. I did a lot of researching before I decided on the Specialized. I joined the Flex Panel yahoo group, and researched their archives in addition to the archives of RideCamp (the endurance riding list). I found about a 50% long term success rate for the flex panel saddles, and that is the main reason I decided on the Specialized. I hope you are in that 50%!!! Susan in NV read my blog to see why I ride my horse in pink: http://desertduty.blogspot.com/
Re: [IceHorses] Porcupine grazing in the pasture!
No, I've seen hedgehogs in pet stores! I really wanted one. They're the cutest things, but their sale has been outlawed in Oregon - not sure why. Nancy
[IceHorses] Losing racehorses in Puerto Rico condemned to die
Losing racehorses in Puerto Rico condemned to die " Here, even when a second home is available, veterinarians say that some owners want losing horses executed anyway - some to save money, others to have revenge. "You'll get a few owners who get so upset, they just want the horse dead," said veterinarian Shakyra Rosario." http://tinyurl.com/4zdgg5 Raven Lucy & Molly, the Girl Doggies Huginn & Dixie Chick, the Back Behind the Barn Ponies Maggie Rose, the cat who makes me sneeze http://www.myspace.com/iceponygoddess Respect ALL Earthlings. We are all animals of this planet. We are all creatures.
Re: [IceHorses] Porcupine grazing in the pasture!
the little hedgehogs were somewhat popular a while back-they were cute but more of a novelty i think. they had spines but didn't shoot them-just be careful when picking them up :) Maggie (and another Solie) [moderator's note: please be sure to delete the previous message in your response to the list, or only quote one or two lines with your response *below* the quoted text. thanks.]
Re: [IceHorses] I have a new saddle! - Evolutionary Saddle
I know that Robyn > Hood has mentioned that is common - that a horse may > initially feel better in a new > saddle I have a western saddle that fits us both. *I* would prefer to ride English, hence the new saddle. Probably a mistake...I should follow the if it ain't broke don't fix it adage... > > Remember that Flex Panels don't have much - some > NONE - adjustability in the width of the > front gullet. The Free N Easy had about an inch of This system must be different. I could ride the dining room table in this thing. The panels and the tree, though connected, are independent of one another. The tree is for the rider support and the panels are for the horse. Check out the web page if you haven't yet - there are a lot of interesting pictures and also history of the flex panel system. -Kristen in MI
Re: [IceHorses] Porcupine grazing in the pasture!
You've seen porcupines in pet stores?!! No, I've seen hedgehogs in pet stores! I don't think I've ever seen a real porcupine, even in a zoo. Karen Thomas, NC
Re: [IceHorses] Porcupine grazing in the pasture!
On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 8:03 AM, Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Me either. I'm just amazed. Why did I think that porpupines are native to > Africa for > goodness sakes?!! Maybe that's hedgehogsI've seen them in pet stores > though! > You've seen porcupines in pet stores?!! I pulled 2 quills this morning that the vet had missed. V
Re: [IceHorses] I have a new saddle! - Evolutionary Saddle
>>> I don't know how the Free-N-Easy saddle works. Is it designed to overlap >>> the should >>> like the American Flex? Yes, supposedly it can overlap the shoulder. We HAD to overlap to get it to fit, and it DID seem to work for something like 6-9 months. Hard to say an exact time, because it came on gradually, but it looked perfect for at least a few months. I know that Robyn Hood has mentioned that is common - that a horse may initially feel better in a new saddle, because it gives relief to his old pain spots. However, it seems sometimes to take weeks to months for the new problem areas to arise. I don't remember how many saddles we tried that looked perfect for an initial period, only to show problems within six months. Sometimes I think it takes that long for previously atrophied muscles to regrow, and find their new limit. I see it in young, still maturing horses a lot, but you can see it in mature horses too. Remember that Flex Panels don't have much - some NONE - adjustability in the width of the front gullet. The Free N Easy had about an inch of adjustability, but that means that some horses will be on the cusp between widths. I don't think the OrthoFlex's have any width adjustment at all - can't remember about the AmericanFlex. A horse will change in width with fitness, maturity, age, etc., and having flex in other dimensions can't help that. That was a helpless feeling when we realized the FnE saddle was the problem. Cary had found the perfect horse, and we'd already tried and rejected a bunch of saddle. I had no idea what to look at next - that's when we tried the Fhoenix saddle, whose pictures I sent yesterday. I never expected the Sensation to be a long-term solution for them, but it's still working, and they've ridden longer rides in it than in any other saddle. I'd heard too many warnings that treeless saddles shouldn't be used for large riders. I guess Skjoni never read those warnings. He never literally complained about the saddle though. Sina and a few others are much more direct in expressing their discomfort. She will get antsy when I'm about to do up the girth, then she doesn't want to do anything but pace...or she'll stand still and refuse to move at all. She's the easy kind to deal with, because she lets me know. Some Icelandic's are so stoic that they are very hard to read. I think about Loftur, who let us ride him when we first got him, but when the vet checked him a month or two later, he said he'd never seen so much stored up pain in a horse - he was hurting everywhere. (No wonder that Loftur was bolting with his prior owners.) Skjoni is more like Loftur, but just not as extreme. I thought about Loftur when I watched the saddle-fitting videos on Stan Hirson's blog. That last horse in his video had a good bit of muscle atrophy from the saddle, and apparently just been taking and taking, but he wasn't a happy horse at all. He apparently had continued to do his work though. It seems like a contradiction, but the very traits that make Icelandic's seem "easy" also make them difficult in many ways. On first blush, most people would have considered Sina "difficult" in her vocal objections to the first saddles I used, in hindsight, I'm glad she was so easy to read, that she had the confidence to speak up for herself. Because of that, she has a very healthy back at age 11. Besides, I'm glad she trusts me enough to know she doesn't have to "put up and shut up." She knows she has a right to an opinion. I have NO idea how vocal or stoic your horse is, but I don't think it hurts to talk about the wide range of reactions to poorly fitting saddles that I've seen in this breed. That saddle DOES look too long for your horse to me, but I'm not there to feel around. Just remember that you don't want ANY weight born on his loins. I don't mean to be a wet blanket, and again, I can't be sure this saddle won't work for your horse. But, gosh, when you buy a $2000-4000 saddle and realize it isn't working, that's a sick feeling - been there, done that! And we have to be practical - most of us don't have huge trust funds to draw from. These saddles have limited appeal, so the chances of you taking a loss if you have to sell it are pretty real. Karen Thomas, NC
Re: [IceHorses] Porcupine grazing in the pasture!
oh my gosh. I have never seen one in all my life. Janice-- Me either. I'm just amazed. Why did I think that porpupines are native to Africa for goodness sakes?!! Maybe that's hedgehogsI've seen them in pet stores though! Karen Thomas, NC
Re: [IceHorses] Run-In photos
On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 6:55 PM, Anna Hopkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I have been very happy with my barn/run in. Mine is 24 X 36. It sounds like what I'm aiming for. I'd love to see photos. V
[IceHorses] New arena
My new arena is finally completed (except for the gate). The first day I let the girls loose in the paddock so they could go in and explore. One had been in and left a calling card. Yesterday I took Ofeig up and did groundwork she loved the surface. We did reversing down an L shape. Leading between obstacles and some changes of pace on the leadrope. She was an angel and very happy. I rode Corrie into the arena expecting trouble from this ex- schoolhorse. She loved the footing too. She offered trot several times (previously been reluctant). By that I mean she asked for trot without actually trotting. I could feel the excitement in her body. We used the same obstacles to do manoevres in walk and trot. She did not stumble once. So I was right it was the footing that upset her. I noticed that there wasn't the jarring going though OUR joints like on the road or the hard paddock. I was surprised to ache today though. I love the surface but it is hard to find dropped treats! This is the first time I have really enjoyed riding and felt with the horse 100%. I guess it can get even better than this. I have a lot to look forward to now. The surface is top quality equestrian sand with fibres that make it springy, prevent the hoof sinking and hold water. So far I am impressed. The real test will be after the first winter or maybe a very dry summer. By the way it is 40 metres by 20 metres. A hell of a big sand pit for my grandaughter! Bye for now Sue Coombes
