Yes, on the right horse. Not so much on my current horse, though. TNP: Owns more than one saddle.

My first thought would be "Is there something physically wrong with this horse that is causing him discomfort going counterclockwise?" Second thought, "Is he just being a jerk and testing the limits?" Once you rule out physical problems, then I would agree that just working him through it is the way to go. I would start with his "good" direction and make a huge fuss over him for doing it right. Then I would probably spend longer working on his "bad" side, praising everything that he did right and

I've "lost" two aged horses in my life, both very differently. The first, I made the difficult decision to euthanize. As one of the other forumers said... you'll know it's time because you will see it in their eyes. A sort of lifelessness that is just begging you to help them go. It was almost as if something of a higher power was controlling my fingers as I dialed my vet to make the appointment to put her down. The other horse that I lost, well, I knew in my heart that she was probably ready to

WD-40!!! I'd swear by it! Used it a ton of times on broodmare tails at the farm where I worked. Spray with WD-40, then start at the bottom and pick knot apart using a HOOF PICK. Very little hair breakage. -J

Nope, not preggo now, but I have been in the past. I know what you mean about being excited and scared all at the same time with only 4 weeks to go. I hate to tell ya this, but the *last* month goes the *slowest*! I used to joke that by the time my baby got here, I felt like I had been pregnant for 8 months and ONE YEAR! Good luck with your last month and congratulations!! -J

Not going to try to critique him because I'm terrible at that, BUT, I can tell you a great way to get "terrible rats" out of his tail. At the breeding farm I used to work at, I sprayed the broodmare's tail knots with WD-40 then started at the bottom of the knot and picked it apart with a hoof pick. Very minimal hair loss. I just kept spraying with the WD-40 to keep all the hairs wet and slippery until the knots were gone. Worked great! -J

I have two horses that are out on pasture 24/7. They graze all day, but the grass is short. Some grass... some weeds... horses must pick and choose to find the good grass. In other words, they are not able to gorge themselves, but are used to being on grass. My husband and I just fenced around a new area where the grass is lush, knee high, and weed-free. I want to start letting the horses graze on it, but I know I need to introduce them to it gradually. How long should I put them out there the first

Oh, you are going to have a *great* time!! I went once, when I was 16. That was about 20 years ago. The one thing I remember from it is that the dogs are "hounds"... do not make the mistake of calling them "dogs" or you will be qickly corrected to the fact that they are HOUNDS. Have fun!!

Do a google search on "French Drain"... that's what "Povertybyhorse" is describing. Not sure if you want to go to all the trouble to install a french drain, but it would be a one-time deal... a more permanent fix than something on the surface that would just get tromped down into the mud. -J

Oh, and just in case you don't know, English saddle size and western saddle size are different. I ride in a 15" western saddle and a 17" English saddle.