Re: [IceHorses] Re: WWWHHHHOOOAAAAA
ask if they are putting molasses or sugar in his beet pulp to make it more palatable to him. Not every horse loves it, especially if its cold so if they are doing that it will make him "hot" Janice-- yipie tie yie yo
[IceHorses] Re: WWWHHHHOOOAAAAA
> This is a 30 year old horse, unfit, not been ridden for a long time, suddenly had a saddle put on and ridden in trot and canter. Now, to me, that seems like simply asking for trouble. He had been in good condition before he choked, like a month ago. A day of arena work, a day of trail work, and one of something new. The trotting and cantering was his idea. He was about jumping out of his shoes. He was practicaly piaffing. I told him to trot and he started a slow canter. I pulled him out of it after a few strides though. > It sounds to me like he has some kind of pain issue - not that surprising if he's had a long rest, then been asked to trot and canter out of the blue. I would guess he hurt, and he said in the only way left "get the hell off me, lady!". The saddle does fit. I have had four people, trainer, teacher, show trainer, barn owner: all that ride western. He is long in the back and has nice withers. I do usually ride him in my english but I know that he can get naughty after some time off. >So he got more riding, pretty intense from the sound of it, to teach him a lesson I just had him do turning on the hunches and forehand, walk/back, side pass, all things he has done before. I do that until he seems to be on the aids. > If you had had a long break from exercise (and you were a pensioner to boot!), you would not start with a 5 mile run. You should not ask your poor old horse to do the same - please, I know this probably sounds harsh, but have some common sense! We used to take long trail rides. He has what I call the pony patiance. Or lack there of. He is always jigging and dancing. I have to leave his stall door open, with a guard, so he can watch everything going on in the barn. JR
[IceHorses] Re: WWWHHHHOOOAAAAA
> take a western saddle since we were going out into the field. We > went out and everything was fine. We trotted and did some canter. > Suddenly he just took off. I am talking full out gallop. I can imagine how you must have felt, all that adrenaline pumping, boy, not a good feeling! Something must have been wrong if he took off, and he doesn't usually do that. Maybe he wasn't used to the western saddle (possibly it did not fit him or impinged somewhere), or possibly the tom thumb bit pinched his mouth? I hope you can find the reason why he took off, and hope that it doesn't happen again. How's he doing on groundwork? Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
[IceHorses] Re: WWWHHHHOOOAAAAA
> This is a 30 year old horse, unfit, not been ridden for a long time, > suddenly had a saddle put on and ridden in trot and canter. Now, to > me, that seems like simply asking for trouble. And not because of what > he's being fed - a 30 year old will have much higher needs if he's to > maintain weight through the winter, and once he loses weight you will > find it really hard to get it back on him. > > Beet pulp is indeed a filler - the treatment modern beet pulp > undergoes when the sugar is extracted means it's not an awful lot more > than *just* a filler with a few vitamins and minerals. This old guy > probably needs his sweet feed too. > > It sounds to me like he has some kind of pain issue - not that > surprising if he's had a long rest, then been asked to trot and canter > out of the blue. I would guess he hurt, and he said in the only way > left "get the hell off me, lady!". So he got more riding, pretty > intense from the sound of it, to teach him a lesson > > If you had had a long break from exercise (and you were a pensioner to > boot!), you would not start with a 5 mile run. You should not ask your > poor old horse to do the same - please, I know this probably sounds > harsh, but have some common sense! Start him gently, just 10 minutes > at walk only for a week or two, gradually building him up to an hour > or so. Then start adding some trot (or tolt or whatever he finds > easiest). Finally, once you've built up some basic fitness, think > about cantering. Give the guy a break, he deserves better. > > Mic Well said, Mic! I'd also be concerned about the saddle fit/causing pain--that's to me what he seemed to be saying. Robyn S
