Horse Gossip Thread

[vmdanielsen]

Quote:
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!

 

[welsummerchicks]

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.

 

[vmdanielsen]

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!

 

[michickenwrangler]

Quote:
Goodhors over on BYH had a link posted to a Michigan site of reported cases--although I can't remember if it was piroplasmosis or EEE. I think it was the latter. Most were in the SW, I'm in the NE.

Too tired to look now!

Dang 14 hour workdays.

 

[chickenzoo]

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.

 

[michickenwrangler]

ChickenZoo, was it you or someone else that knew an endurance rider in Michigan with the mustang stallion Red Cloud aka Snoopy? (don't want to put her name on here for privacy reasons).

I've always liked Arab crosses, they really excel at whatever they do since they have Arab intelligence and stamina coupled with the traits of whatever the other half is. There's some Morabs that do endurance here in Michigan that do quite well, a few other Arab/Saddlebreds in addition to mine that can "go the distance." A guy I know near Traverse City has a GORGEOUS Arab/Mustang that actually looks more like a lean Andalusian--big bay, long wavy black mane and tail, at least 15.1hh--he's a big boy. I've known some very nice Quarabs. When DH and I used to vacation up on Mackinac Island every fall, I always rode a chestnut Quarab. The people there at Jack's Livery were always thrilled to save him for me since he wasn't one they let beginners out with. Another woman who does endurance has an Arab/Connemara cross. Another has an Arab/Haflinger who is just darling!

Just got in my last, long trail ride of the year. Now starting Monday the hunters get the rifles out and shoot at anything that moves.

 

[welsummerchicks]

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?

 

[michickenwrangler]

I've never witnessed anything like that, but I've only attended one FEI ride and I was in the 25 mile division and since it was in da U.P., there weren't many from the UAE there.

Endurance riders tend to ride on a fairly loose rein, especially once they get past the start and the horse has "settled" into their pace.

Most specialized endurance saddles actually mimic a dressage seat more than a western one. They put you over the horse's center of balance with a fairly long leg but the stirrups are short enough to post comfortably.

Again, never seen anything like what you describe. When the WEG were on, we only saw the reining footage since we had someplace we had to go.

The prince-sheikhs from the UAE are very involved and have several WEG and World Championship medals apiece and the princess is actually taking equine breeding management classes at Colorado State U so I imagine she'll be running the stables in the future.

IIRC, the two princes from the UAE took Gold and Silver this year. US hasn't done well at 2010 and back in 2006. The FEI ride I was at in 2006 was actually a qualifier for the WEG in Aachen. Joe Mattingley who is a member of UMECRA like me made the team but pulled in Aachen

 

[welsummerchicks]

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.

 

[michickenwrangler]

When you're covering 100 miles of rough terrain at a fast pace, being slightly off balance can make a horse lame over those miles. Even posting on the same diagonal for all those miles can do the same thing.

For the new topic:

TAIL EXTENSIONS

What's everyone's opinion?

I personally hate 'em. They look so fake and tacky. Just shampoo the tail and finger comb it out and spritz some ShowSheen. Even sparse it will look nicer than that big old clump of hair that is invariably 2 shades lighter or darker than the horse's REAL tail