General Discussion

Overwieght riders

Jumpittb — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:17:05 GMT

So I dont know if this topic has been addressed on here yet, I know its been a subject of controversy in the past but I was flipping through the new smartpak catalog when I noticed the new 'fuller fillies' section. Dedicated to plus size riders it offers clothing and boots all the way up to size 44. I'm a little torn about this issue since I think its great for everyone to enjoy riding, but I also grew up in the old style hunters community where fat was a huge no-no. It seems the horse world is getting more accepting of it, what are your thoughts?

Coolers

horse_angel730 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:21:08 GMT

Like many of you, i LOVE riding, i mean, who doesn't? But when I ride in the winter my horse gets sweaty. And Last winter, the first one that i owned my own horse for, after i was done riding, i would get one of the large blankets from in the house, turn on her heater, and lock her in her stall. So even though I didn't know it, I was sort of using a makeshift cooler. This year, I want to get her a real cooler. But there are soooooooooo many choices. I've been reading a few different articles and it seems that wool coolers work best but are hard to clean and fleece coolers work nearly as well but are a lot easier to clean.Any preferences? Also, I was wondering if the ones that look like a blanket or the ones that come down to the horse's knees and cover their necks are better. Another question, can I leave my mare out with it on or should I lock her in her stall for an hour or so until she's dry then take the cooler off and let her out. Would leaving her out with the cooler on damage her fuzzy coat? Thanks in advance for any suggestions and/or advice. :-)

blind mare

caitlyn_horse — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:08:08 GMT

Well we have a older brood mare we think shes about 25ish that we dont do anything with but breed her. Recently we have noticed it takes her forever to come up to water and eat and when she does make it up she just stands around and doesnt move a whole lot. When i went to bring her out of the pasture and put her in a pen by herself i walked up to her like i would any other horse, when i touched her she flipped out. i finally got her calmed down and moved into a pen. We took her to the vet a couple days later for a teeth floating and checkup while there the vet said she is going blind! Well we want to keep her and hopefully breed her at least one more time before we have to make a more drastic decision. Ive heard of people putting a bell on a buddies neck, so she would have some one to follow in the pasture. So i was thinkin if we bred her again we could pen her up with the baby and put a bell on the baby. What do yall think im stumped on this one

Smarty Jones

SBWhisperer27 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:49:27 GMT

Found this wonderful video about the 2004 Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones.

The Blood Horse put together the video.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/watch/58A2DF64-4321-49F3-A5FD-EEE6E7DB3A88

Diseased Ticks Infecting Horses in Texas...

FocusCalmPatience — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:53:13 GMT

Have you guys heard about this?!?!?! I received this article in an email...

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced the imposition of import restrictions on horses coming into Florida from Texas following the discovery of hundreds of Texas horses positive for Theileria equi, one of two organisms responsible for causing Equine Piroplasmosis (EP).

Bronson is requiring horses from Texas to have blood tests to check for Theileria equi within 30 days of entry into Florida, have a health certificate, be checked for ticks that carry EP, and be sprayed with a pesticide no more than two weeks before their arrival in Florida.

EP is considered a foreign animal disease, not endemic to the United States. It is a blood-borne parasitic disease primarily transmitted between horses by ticks or contaminated needles and is not directly contagious from one horse to another. Ticks are the natural method of transmission of the EP organisms, and the tick species known to be efficient at transmitting EP is not believed to be in Florida.

Acutely affected horses can have depression, fever, anemia, jaundiced (yellow) mucous membranes, and can die from the disease. In its milder form, EP can also cause horses to have roughened hair coats, constipation, colic, generalized weakness, and lack of appetite. Some horses become chronic carriers of the disease, showing little clinical signs but have the ability to transmit the disease to other horses via ticks. Treatment of infected horses has not been shown to be effective in eliminating the organism (Theileria equi), and infected horses must remain under quarantine.

The establishment of Equine Piroplasmosis and associated vector ticks would seriously threaten the horses and equine industry of Florida, which produces goods and services of more than $3 billion annually.

"We are being very proactive in testing horses that came in contact with positive horses that were imported from Texas over the past few years since we are not sure how long the problem has existed in Texas," Bronson said. "This is a serious disease, and we must take all precautions necessary to prevent the spread of this disease as well as to prevent the introduction of any ticks that are carriers of the disease."

Ten horses that were exposed to EP in Texas and traveled into Florida before the outbreak was discovered have been located, tested and quarantined. Five of those horses have tested positive for the organism. The State Veterinarian's Office is working with the owners to test all horses exposed in Florida and to minimize the risk to other horses in the state. So far no horses that were exposed to horses imported from Texas have tested positive.

Because some states have placed import restrictions on all states with positive horses, the Florida State Veterinarian's Office recommends that anyone traveling out of state with their horse to call the state of destination to ensure there are no additional requirements enacted associated with this outbreak.

For more information about the import restrictions and the disease, visit the department's Division of Animal Industry web page at http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/ and click on the link under Announcements titled Equine Piroplasmosis.

Ridiculous Spooks

BMBlackbird625 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:36:18 GMT

My horse recently inspired me to write this topic. I was wondering what stupid stuff your horse has spooked at. My horse spooked at horse poop the other day. It wasn't like it was something that caught from the corner of her eye because after she jumped and we continued walking by, she kept giving it the evil eye waiting for it to jump at us. I thought it was hilarious and was laughing as this whole thing was happening. Does anyone else have any good stories??

December Horse of the Month Contest

Jayne-Admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:22:29 GMT

It's time for the December Horse of the Month contest.

It's open to all forum members and to enter all you have to do is upload up to three photos of the horse you want to nominate to the December Horse of the Month Gallery.

It should be a horse that you own, lease, or perhaps take lessons on. Please include the name of the horse in the photo -- so mine would be annapolis1.jpg, annapolis2.jpg etc.

We'd love to hear about your horse too, and why you think he or she deserves to be Horse of the Month, so feel free to add some text in the description when you upload your photo and tell us about what makes your horse special. If you prefer, once you have posted your photo, you can reply to this thread to tell us about your horse.

Entries can be posted through November 22, so you have two weeks to get your entries in. Voting will start November 23 and the winner will be announced November 30. Hopefully that will give everyone time to vote, around the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Once a horse has won in a particular month, that horse will not be eligible to enter for twelve months. However, if you have more than one horse and one wins one month, you don't have to wait before entering another horse.

The winner will have their winning horse's photo framed with a blue ribbon in the December HOTM gallery and the winning photo will also be featured in the EquiSearch.com newsletter.

The Flying Frenchman

My Gracie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:30:07 GMT

Has anybody else seen this? This guy is unbelievable! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsuN-56G2rc

Shetland Pony Grand National

Jayne-Admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:58:56 GMT

Practical Horseman posted a cute video on their Facebook page today. While I was watching it, as always happens on YouTube, one of the related videos caught my eye. I thought you'd like to see it.

Shetland Pony Grand National - Olympia 2006

You can catch the other video on our Facebook page (link below)

Need help with my spurs!

Nicole — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:40:12 GMT

Hey I have the Naturalizer Jadis Women's Riding Boot and I use spurs but they fit really bad on the boot and keep sliding down the heel. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem? Or should I just get different spurs? By the way... I use the rounded edge ones - I don't wanna hurt my horse=]

Equine majors/phds

Heather — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:39:08 GMT

Hey guys I'm currently a freshman in college getting my associates degree in Modern Horse Technology and Equine Science, I'm going to transfer to a 4yr and get my Bachlors in Equine Science and then I'm hoping to get some sort of PHD just wondering if anybody knew of the different ones I could go for. I want to get into horse genetics and breeding. Thanks so much!

One year ago today :(

CheyAut — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:14:33 GMT

I lost my beautiful, sweet friend...

Need advice w/Australian saddle

6694deb — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:34:36 GMT

I ride western and all I do is trail ride. I have a 10 yr old quarter horse, Cisco. I live in the country on a dirt road w/access to 100's of the neighbors acres to ride on. When I ride it's just me and my horse. That's the background. Now the problem- I usually use a western saddle which I have no problems with. I recently switched to my daughter's Australian because it's way more comfortable and supposedly safer. The Australian has the English girth system. No matter what I do I can't seem to get it tight enough. Today for the 2nd time I ended up on the ground because Cisco jumped to the side and when I leaned the saddle slipped, ALOT. I always wait at least 5 minutes after saddling to check it again right before I get on. I walk him before getting on. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I don't have this problem with the western saddle.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Stopping on trail getting worse

AnnieW128 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:12:31 GMT

Toby has recently started to be ridden on the trails by himself, which isn't making him very happy. He's started freezing on the trail for no reason at all. Absolutely nothing will make him continue forward, not whipping him, turning him, spinning him, waiting him out, etc. He is more than happy to go back towards the barn, but when he decides to put the brakes on, they're ON. The only way I found to get him going was to lead him past the problem spot. I would have to pull, and it took about a minute to get him going, but it seemed to work. I'd hand walk him past the spot a couple times, then ride him past it, no problem. But recently he's started stopping more and more, and I'll have shorter periods where he goes down the trail without a problem.

What on earth do I do?! I can't get a trainer-Toby really is my only option. Has anyone dealt with this before??

Thanks,

Ann

Polo

FocusCalmPatience — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:51:00 GMT

So I somehow got notified of an informal polo club in Tallahassee, and I am very strongly considering getting involved. I need riding to just be FUN for a while! We have a 15.1 arabian gelding with a tremendous sense of humor and he loves a good gallop and a good time, so I'm thinking in a week or two I might trailer up for a practice and see what happens.. Maybe he'll take to it! Anyway, I know nothing at all about polo, so I was just wondering if other people know anything? Is it safe? It sure looks dicey in the videos! But this club doesn't compete or anything, they just go out to have fun. Anyway, if anyone has any polo experience, let me know!

St. Wenceslas

gypsy fly — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:45:14 GMT

I had to look further into this after a teaser showed up on yahoo travel.

Says it's a parody of St. Wenceslas riding a horse, the original monument is right side up.

http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=Unusual+Monuments%3a+Prague

Payment plan contract

Turn-'n-burn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:38:47 GMT

I am selling my QH gelding and looking for a payment plan contract for a guideline of what to go by. Does anyone have one to show?

Thanks!

Ugh! Stolen horse?!

Mandalark — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:08:16 GMT

So.I'm super frustrated, here's the story. So I aquired a free breeding stock paint gelding over the summer, has sarcoids and needed his feet fixed, but man was he beautiful! His feet look great now, had some sarcoids surgically removed and sucessfully using xxterra on the rest.
here is a pic of him

So I've had my arabian gelding Tino since he was a yearling, he's now 8 and I don't ever plan on getting rid of him. My husband and I came on tough times and I needed to do something to alieviate some bills.. So my mother in law offered to 'buy' Tino from me, (pretty much give me some money to lease him formy husbands little brother) until we were sitting better financially so that I didn't have to sell either of them. No bill of sale was signed, she gave me $300 cash (and said we owed her $200 and zero'd that too.. even though she couldn't think of what for), and has had him at her property since then. (prob about 4 months now)

Well my paint isn't the nicest horse, I have gotten tired of his rotten attitude that from talking to some former owners he's apparently had since he was 2. Stall agressive, will lunge at people over the stall, kick at you when he's tied up, strike at you when you feed him. I decided it was too much for me, I started dreading going ot the barn and I don't want that.. I want to enjoy my horse and want to be at the barn again. So I decided to sell cowboy, to pay my hubby's mom back and take my horse back.

So I sent her a text telling her i was going to give her $500 cash and I want Tino back. Her reply is "That is not an option, he's trevors horse now, if I feel like selling him I'll let you know."
WHAT IN THE HECK?!!!! He's MY horse! There was NO bill of sale, no signed lease or anything! I still have his papers and they are in my name! So what do I do? My husband and I are going to sit down with her and have a talk with her about it, but if she won't budge can I take legal action since his papers are in my name? there are no witnesses the day we talked, no signed bill of sale, and his papers are in my name and I have PLENTY of pictures of me with him and can describe him down to the dent in his chest and every cowlick on him...

I want to let her know I don't mind if trevor (my man's little bro) still uses him in 4-H I just want it to be known that he is MY horse and I have final say on anything that goes on with him... Anyone else been in this situation?

New Pony

maureencol — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:38:46 GMT

I purchased a 7 year old paint pony for my twin grandbabies about 3 months ago. I have had a number of horses and ponies over the years and they have all been really affectionate and enjoyed human contact. This pony is very shy of adults. The person I got him from said that a few years ago, he was sick and the person who owned him had to give him shots every day so he got really shy of adults. He is much better with little kids.

He doesn't really run away just kind of acts like "oooh she's coming near me again....cringe!". I have been very slow and gentle in my movements around him. He is extremely head shy so I have been giving him a little grain in a bucket and just holding my hand next to it so he has to touch it to get the grain as well as just brushing him and massaging him. He is slowly improving but I was wondering if any of you had anymore suggestions that would let him know to trust me. I can't really work with him everyday...since I work long hours. But I do at least 3 or 4 days a week.

Please recommend your equine insurance agency!

katemax — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:07:32 GMT

I'm in the market for mortality insurance on my new horse. I've looked into Equisure, Taylor Harris, and Markel, but I don't know much about who is reputable and who is not. Recommendations (and horror stories) would be appreciated. Thanks!

Shopping!

MC856935 — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:53:44 GMT

So, if all goes well, I should be selling Riley to a first-time horse owner, as a Christmas present to a (lucky!)little girl.

The client has asked me to get a list of all the things they need for their new horse, and I must say, it's fun shopping and "spending" someone else's money, haha.

But anyways, what all does a first-time horse owner need? It's been a while since I was one so I have forgotten.

I have on my list:
Saddle(I'm selling them one of mine)
Bridle that Riley comes with
Saddle pad
Girth
Crop
Brushes/Grooming box

Sooo, what else should I "buy" for them? I'm sure I am missing stuff!

You know you're loved when...

asharri — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:11:16 GMT

Hey everybody, I just thought it would be fun to share stories of how your horse shows you that he/she "loves" you. Sorry, if this has been done before. I'm new. :)

So many years ago when my little Arab gelding, Ghazal, was still very young and I had just started training him he made me feel like the most special person alive. I had been riding him exclusively for probably a month, as well as lunging him, just working on basics. One day I decided that I missed riding my old lesson horse and went ahead and tacked her up that day for a lesson and gave my horse the day off. The riding arena was adjacent to the paddock where my gelding stayed during the day. It took me a while to figure out what he was doing but halfway through the lesson I began to notice that Ghazal was following me up and down the fence as I was riding my other lesson horse. He was also chasing his paddock mate and making a little bit of a scene. I thought, "ahh, that is sweet." (No horses were harmed!)

So after the lesson I brought my lesson horse, Kharisma back to the barn and started untacking her. This happened to coincide with feeding time. The barn manager at the time used to let the horses just go on their own to their stalls (perhaps not the safest thing in the world but that's the way it was back then). Well Ghazal, instead of heading straight to his stall where his grain was waiting, trotted over to where I was untacking Kharisma in the adjoining lot. He came right up to us gave this huge snort and then whirled around and went back to his stall. Okay, so now I felt really guilty. I put Kharisma up and went to Ghazal's stall and literally when he saw me coming he stopped eating his grain and turned around and put his butt to the stall door. Can you say jealous??? Now I know that I shouldn't delight in making him jealous but truly he made me feel like the most special human being on the planet that day. He was telling me that not only did he enjoy our training sessions but he didn't want to share me with anyone else. To this day when I think of the times when I've been the happiest that is one of the first I think about. He's going to be 21 this year and I don't get to ride him nearly enough since we're military and move so much and I've decided moving him across the country every other year or so, sometimes more often just isn't good for him. I miss him tons, though.

This is Ghazal and I at a Competitive Trail Ride several years ago. Yes, my riding attire looks completely retarded, lol!!

Is anyone here from northeast Ohio?

sauerhorse08 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:11:44 GMT

Does anyone know of any good boarding facilities in northeast Ohio near Painesville/Mentor area? Lots of turnout and preferably under $400 is mainly what I'm looking for. Any input is welcome!!

A little history- My Kingdom for a horse . . .

SeeingStarz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:29:01 GMT

http://tinyurl.com/yfx4fb6

Meant to post this earlier almost forgot!

You will find this interesting esp. if you are a history buff!

Horses and mules continue to serve today.

Zenyatta Video

Jayne-Admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:33:49 GMT

We posted this on our Facebook page yesterday and it's so amazing I had to share. My apologies if someone else has posted this (I missed it if you did).

Zenyatta Working

Hmmm, the link doesn't appear to be linking -- copy and paste this if it doesn't work for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv49V2RzgHw