Horse Talk

[abigalerose]

That great that it turned out well!
And yeah, first couple days Penelope's poop was like that too, and her urine was dark and thick. I attributed both things to dehydration. I know they get water at the rescue, but I'm not sure what the source is, I'm thinking maybe it's a small area and the stronger horses got more water than she did. And they said she was eating hay, grain, and pasture, but I'm gonna go ahead and say she was eating way more hay than pasture, becuase I've seen their pasture before, and due to all the horses they rescue it's pretty barren. They told me that Penelope ate out of their trees, and I even got to see how the tree line was flat straight across and up high becuase she'd been stretching her neck to eat up there, I'm not sure if that's becuase she just loves eating leaves, or if that's her way of saying she wasn't getting enough grass. Either way, manure and urine looks MUCH much better now, plus a little weight gain and a good looking coat and lots of prancing and rolling. I'd say she feels pretty good. And she's got a clean bill of health and negative coggins.
Oh and she's not limping anymore and her scrape is healing up

 

[abigalerose]

So yesterday I was round penning June, and I looked over, and right out side the round pen gate Penelope was laying down on her side all stretched out, and it worried me, so I walked over to look at her and she was snoring, then she heard me and picked up her head, layed it back down, rolled, and then got up

So weird. I thought something was wrong with her but she was just relaxing and havin a nice time.

 

[ChickenLover200]

So yesterday I was round penning June, and I looked over, and right out side the round pen gate Penelope was laying down on her side all stretched out, and it worried me, so I walked over to look at her and she was snoring, then she heard me and picked up her head, layed it back down, rolled, and then got up

So weird. I thought something was wrong with her but she was just relaxing and havin a nice time.

Haha!

 

[chicken19]

My grandpa helped me clean her hoof out real good with the hoof pick, and although she's still not putting all her weight on it she does seem to be walking a little better. So hopefully there was just something sharp in there. I'll update in a couple days on that. She's got a long cut across her chest too, it's not very deep but it's pretty long and stupid flies keep irritating it. I've been fly spraying her and June twice a day and it just keeps getting rained off and now I'm about out of spray. Ugh. I hate flies. Penelope seems so happy though, despite her injuries and being underweight. She'll follow June everywhere while I ride, she follows me everywhere when I'm walking around by the barn and stuff, she likes to roll in the grass, she seems playful, and she's super attached to June already, she neighs ridiculously loud if I leave her penned up while I ride June. She sure is cute. Usually it annoys me a little bit when a horse neighs and acts worked up if I take the other horse away from it, but I'm just happy that they get along and that she's settling in and super comfortable with everything. June rides past her and everything just fine, but tonight while I was untacking her Penelope got too close (she was nudging her butt and chewing on the blanket) so June nipped her, June's good about keeping her cool with her though if I'm out there with them. I also rode June again tonight, she just gets better every time. We did two laps around the pond again, would've done more but it got dark and I had to wait forever to go out there because it was raining and my grandpa said I can't ride in the rain till we oil the saddle. I'm hoping tomorrow it's sunny, I'd like to ride her around the pond a while and then take her out in the bigger part of the pasture. I've also taught her a little trick, since she doesn't know how to side pass yet, I've taught her to back up beside the gate so I can unlatch it, and then push it open with her nose haha, it's really handy! And she spooked at something tonight, I couldn't see what since it was about dark but I'm thinking a frog or snake, it was a big spook (for her) she jumped sideways, but we both stayed calm and after she snorted a couple times we carried on without problems. I'm very impressed with her lately.
Oh, and Penelope is already gaining weight

Also, what do you guys think about trying to pony Penelope here in a month or so? I figure it would be a good way to exercise the both of them without working Penelope too hard right off the bat

She probably has a stone bruise. Did you put anything on the cut? I'd recommend bag balm or a equine medical cream from like a tack or feed store.

It would be good for Penelope to pony behind June, because June doesn't seem like the type to be bossy. Practice it in a small, enclosed area first though.
Also,
If you have a round pen do some light round penning work with Penelope and teach her the commands walk, trot, canter, reverse if she doesn't know them already.

 

[abigalerose]

I've been keeping fly spray on it so the flies don't bother it, but now I'm half way to Alabama on vacation. I looked in the barn for something to put on it before I left but I couldn't find anything. I think it will be okay though. June's got a little cut on her too, it's just a little scratch though, flies weren't even after it. I just wish I could figure out what they're getting in to. I didn't see anything in the filed, I guess they're just leaning on the fence. This is why I hate barbed wire.
And yeah I think it would be too, June is the dominant one but she's definitely not bossy, so I think it'd work. Yesterday we had a long ride becuase I wanted to get a good one in before I left, we went around the pond about ten times, half way down the lane that goes along all 60 acres, and then about 5 more laps around the pond (so about 2 hours), before we rode out around the pond we rode in the round pen and she was a brat for a good 30 minutes, so we flexed and did circles until she quit throwing her head and then she was awesome after that. I'm thinking once I get back I'll put another week or two of good long rides on her and then see if I can't start ponying Penelope, and of course I'll start in the arena.
They're starting to get buddy sour though (hence the head throwing we had yesterday, it only happened when we turned away from Penelope) and I'm gonna keep working on that problem, but will it make any difference ponying buddy sour horses?

 

[abigalerose]

Oh, and yes we have a round pen, Penelope knows walk and trot already and I'm gonna teach her the rest and then start working on teaching her to move off leg pressure

 

[abigalerose]

Okay, back from vacation! I actually got back a couple days ago. June and Penelope both look good and they're little scratches are all healed up, they seemed happy to see me, I got them to come to the barn without putting a halter and lead rope on them. I worked with June they day before yesterday, she did good with all her ground work but as soon as I rode out of the round pound she acted up. She was throwing her head and turning the opposite direction of where I wanted her to go and trotting and not stopping. It was a little disappointing since the day before I left I had such and awesome ride on her, but it'll probably take her a few days to get back into things, since she had a little over a week to just sit out in the pasture. I'll be working with her again tomorrow. I missed them so much though, it makes me not even want to go on another vacation! Who ever thought I'd get that horse crazy?

 

[chicken19]

You're back!!

 

[abigalerose]

Yup! Currently trying to figure out what the heck people wear to ride their horses when it's 100 degrees out..

 

[ChickenLover200]

Okay, back from vacation! I actually got back a couple days ago. June and Penelope both look good and they're little scratches are all healed up, they seemed happy to see me, I got them to come to the barn without putting a halter and lead rope on them. I worked with June they day before yesterday, she did good with all her ground work but as soon as I rode out of the round pound she acted up. She was throwing her head and turning the opposite direction of where I wanted her to go and trotting and not stopping. It was a little disappointing since the day before I left I had such and awesome ride on her, but it'll probably take her a few days to get back into things, since she had a little over a week to just sit out in the pasture. I'll be working with her again tomorrow. I missed them so much though, it makes me not even want to go on another vacation! Who ever thought I'd get that horse crazy?

I had the same problem with cinnamon... she was great Thursday, then friday she was a pain in the rear, not responding to expand under saddle or any of my cues to go left. Ran me through a low hanging tree branch and scraped me foot off the barn. She was great when I did groundwork though. All the horses are acting weird around here lately. I wondr what's up...

Yup! Currently trying to figure out what the heck people wear to ride their horses when it's 100 degrees out..

Boots jeans a T-shirt is what I wear. I don't mind sweating a little. I'd rather wear jeans than shorts anyway.