Western Equestrian Society Area 6

Goodness knows it has not been easy this year as we all know and of course I have moaned regularly about the difficulties I have faced in "getting going" again.   But come on, Severn Trent have decided this is a good time to fix the water leak in our lane that has been going for at least 3 years.   So lane is closed, big hole, inpenetrable barriers the whole lot.      So my horse and horsebox are at the neighbouring farm which is approx 100yds down the lane.    Me and my saddle are here at the house, the other side of the barriers.    Gave up all thoughts of riding yesterday but tomorrow I have my second schooling session  in an indoor arena which I am sharing with a few others so I will have to follow the diversions around the lanes to get the horsebox back home this afternoon in order to load up tack, then detour again in the morning to go and fetch horse and then same again when I get back.   Will have to do this everytime I ride.    In 2 weeks I will be moving Sas back to our "summer residence" but they could not have waited until then to dig up the lane could they?   aaaarhhh.   Moan over, I promise.

Although I have been a horse owner and principal carer for a long time, I still love to admire the stable when I have done a thorough muck out, bed up, floor dried and new bedding put in.    I always look over the door with a sense of pride at the nice clean bed all ready and waiting for the horse to come in and muck it up again.     When Sas is brought in, fed and is contentedly munching her hay, even after all this time, I still get an aaah moment.    There is nothing quite like a contented horse to make a contented owner.    Am I weird?   Well probably, but I can't help it.     I am really lucky to be able to look after my own horse.   Sure it is hard, dirty work, and not so much fun in the bad weather but I love it.   I love the whole deal, not just the riding and competing.   Of course I would undoubtedly get better results in the show pen if Sas had spent more time with a trainer and less time being molly coddled by me but the relationship is more important to me than the rosettes.      Remind me that I said this if you see me at a show in future feeling disappointed at not winning anything!

What I love about Azzie is, he may have his back to you, apparantly taking no notice of you, his head may not move, don't be fooled, he has one eye locked on you, watching your every move, he "observes" a lot of people this way. What I hate about him is his occasional "I'm not doing that - and you can't make me!" attitude.

What I love about Bella is her openness, what you see is what you get, there's no sides to this girl. What I hate about  her is her ability to put on inches the minute that you turn your back.

And  Sarah, our Welsh girl, well what can I say, she has given so much to so many people, from 2 year old children to adults, a little super star, but she certainly has an opinion on life, and will let you know about it from time to time. What really amuses us though, is at first sight of a vet, she goes rigid, eyes out on stalks, grows to at least 20 hh, even stops eating can you believe, and does not move a muscle until the vet goes out of sight, then it's a big sigh and let's get on with the very important job of eating!

I love all my horses, and feel priveliged to own 3 lovely animals, and proud when the vets,farrier and dentist, all comment that they wish all their equine clients were as well behaved as ours.

"Hate" - no, just minor irritations, how can you "hate" them, they give so much and ask so little.

What I love most about Sassy is the way she instantly relaxes whenever we stop to talk to someone.   She loves people talking, her head drops and she just listens and chills.   I reckon she is an ideal pub horse but we have not quite managed this yet, maybe this year?

And what I hate most - that she will not be turned out alone even for a minute, without getting completely hysterical.    She has a real fear of it  and winds herself up into a complete frenzy and that is why she got badly injured 2 years ago.   I am just grateful that she accepts our sheep as companions which makes life easier than always having to have another horse around.

Also known as Insulin Resistance, or possibly pre-Cushings.

Symptoms -

Abnormal fat distribution and excess and abnormal fat distribution (Cresty neck the most obvious but also at tail head and in the prepuce)

Laminitis - either sub-clinical or full blown

Abnormal cycling and infertility in mares

Polyuria & polydipsia

Horses with EMS are often "good doers"

General crabbyness (sp????), lack of stamina

Muscle stiffness

Dee has been diagnosed as having this - we've had a horrendous 18 months and every time we see some progress the poor girly has a setback. At the moment we're

waiting for some laminal separation in both front feet to grow out.

I'd be very interested to talk to anyone who has had experience of this difficult condition, or from anyone who suspects that their horse is a sufferer, but has not been diagnosed. I may put together an article on it (similar to Fran's excellent piece on PSSM) if I get some time.

Anne

Over the past two years, due to circumstances beyond my control, I have had to bring Sassy back into work about 6 times following a severe leg injury at the start of 2008, then a cough, then complications from the injury and so it went on.    She has just had 7 weeks off because I had to take a break from riding and now I am ready to start again.   She is turned out 24/7, usually by now she would be in at night so this is new for me.   She is doing really well, is too fat and too hairy.   She only gets 1 scoop of Hi-Fi Lite with 1/2 cup of fibre nuts and a chopped apple each day.   While not riding I have been walking her out along the lanes once or twice a week as therapy for the hock spavin which has resulted from her injury and also to condition her feet as she is barefoot.   I have also lunged her occasionally but not for too long as it is not good for her hock.    So now she is feeling very well and I have to get back on!    I will have to lunge her a bit first, as much as I dare.   Mostly the quarter horse breeding in her keeps her sane but occasionally the mustang comes out in her (it is supposed to be Appy but I swear sometimes it's mustang!).   On Monday I tried to lunge her but the cold wind was blowing right along the arena and the ponies next door came galloping up to the fence and then having set her off, they turned and galloped away, well that was it, she was hurtling around at 90miles an hour, she never pulls away but just goes faster on a smaller circle leaning in like a motorbike, far from ideal for a hock spavin!   I spent 20 mins getting her attention back, then she started again, so another 10 mins then finally I got some attention and calm work from her.   I was so fed up that I put her out without her tea thinking I need to adopt the 'you only get fed when you work approach'!  Today I decided to strap her down rather than lunge her on just the halter!  I put lunging roller on plus bridle with reins tied loosely to the side rings.    Well no sign of the mustang today, she was so good as were the ponies next door!   30 mins of mostly jog with some faster trot and a little loping each way.   The hock was stiff but she worked through it OK.  She got her tea!  Will try and fit it another session tomorrow and hope to ride at the weekend.   If you don't hear from me again........

I'm sorry to see that we have only 11 members on this site! Sarah is doing such a great job keeping everything current for us and we should support her! Guess everyone is still on Facebook.......

It seems that I never get to ride in November the last few years. My horses always seem to come up with one excuse after another, lameness, etc. This year my one mare, Bobbi is in foal and the other, KD, had a fractured tooth and required surgery to remove it! I had lots of plans to work really hard on my flying lead changes, do some dressage and lots of hacking out.

Now I just get to feed them and clean out stables without any of the fun bits.:tongue: Hoping 2010 will be my year of no vet fees and sound and happy horses.