Horse Gossip Thread - Page 5

According to my vet, anaplasmosis was formerly thought of as  ehrlichiosis, but they are not the same.  As far as working with a vet, I do.  "Again" means that indeed they can be reinfected with a new tick bite, as with Lyme disease. He is being treated with doxy,(as per vet instruction) as I always have it on hand due to the prevalence of lyme and anaplasmosis in this area. I can save a farm call visit and speak with my vet over the phone.  His first infection was a year ago June(2009).  This time it is milder.  I was only looking for advice beyond probiotics (he's on them), garlic(he gets that too) and general supportive care.  But thanks for the heads up on piroplasmos.  I will discuss that with the vet at his next visit!

Yes I found some of my old books  call it erhlichiosis but newer articles don't.

WOW it sounds like you take excellent care of your horse and have a really good vet.  I don't think piro is much of an issue in the US and don't think it's associated with anaplasmosis here.  Glad you asked about it, though, it gave me an prod to learn some new - I went back and read more about it...and about recent cases in the states (thanks Mi).  I hadn't read any recent information.

Yeah, the first time my horse had it it was really bad....vet here giving IV oxytetracycline.  Horse with 104.4 temp.  And he presented with ataxia,,,,,,,not a common symptom, but sometimes it happens.  Oh yeah and the severely stocked up hind legs.   To bad I couldn't keep him in the house:)  Gotta go feed!

I hate when people look down on Mustangs, like they aren't worth anything......... I really enjoy mine and she is very very smart.I have done a lot of different things with her from endurance, jumping and trail riding and she has always tried very hard for me.  Also love my Quarbs, love the mix between the two breeds.

Mi, can I ask you something since you are an experienced endurance rider?  I was watching some of the top middle eastern riders during the World Equestrian Games and was really struck by the way they ride - hands way up in the air, feet very forward on the dashboard, seat way back, right on the horse's kidneys...do you know what's up with that 'style'?  None of the other endurance riders rode like that.  Are they possibly not the ones that leg the horses up?

I've seen a lot of endurance riders and compared them to these couple guys - a couple middle eastern guys, about 2-3, they all ride same form.   I can't recall if the princess' husband was one of them or not.  These guys have a 'very unique position'.  Did not see how they could ride many miles like that and keep a horse sound.  That's why I wondered if someone else legged up the horses.  Hands very high, feet way forward on the dash, weight back.  Reins in a loop, not loose, but hangin' down.  I can't recall in forty years, seeing any top endurance riders ride like that.  Even in the bad bad old days, it wasn't so extreme.

Other riders rode on a LONG rein with very little tension on the rein, but not like this.  In fact, no one else rode like that.  The rest of them had overall, just about perfect equitation.  I usually sit there and watch endurance riders and say WOW.  Until the last mile or so, lol, then pretty much everyone's slappin' leather...still to go that far in form, pretty impressive. 

From what I've read about endurance, most people seem to find a balanced position extremely important, and at every dressage barn I've ever been at there have always been endurance riders who come in for lessons, and those guys were super concerned about being in the middle of the saddle, weighting both stirrups perfectly evenly, head-shoulder-hip-heel in alignment.