Monday, February 16, 2009
In addition to my prior post...
I forgot!! After we were done riding yesterday, we turned the girls back out to stretch and roll. We had read somewhere that it's a good idea to let them do that. Like brushing them when you are done with a good work out so their hair isn't all compacted. They loosen themselves up and are less likely to cast themselves in the stall. Not like that's ever happened, but they said it's a good idea. Sure enough, about 10 seconds after we turned them out, they both found their spots (about 5 feet away from each other in that huge arena!! lol) and roll. Well, my horse rolled quicker than the older girl and when she rolls, she gets up, takes a huge buck and fart and then darts off. Well, she did her buck and fart and started to dart when the other one was just starting to stand up. Sis attempted to start her little buck too. Only problem? She wasn't quite finished getting up and ended up with rear end and legs in the air and face and front legs being pile drove into the ground. It was the weirdest thing. We (hubby and I) kind of looked at each other because it was in slow motion and we couldn't decide if we should laugh and say silly horse or be worried that she hurt herself. But she got up, shook herself and then took off running. I guess she's ok. We'll see when we go out tomorrow if she's sore or not. Silly old girl. She's not 7 anymore!!! lol If that wasn't a kodak or video moment, I don't know what was.
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10 comments:
It is a good idea to let the ponies have a bit of rolling time after a ride. They love it.
My barrel horse is definitely a horse that HAS to have his roll. He just loves them.
Gee, I saw the picture of that mare and I thought, ohhhh barrel horse!! Too bad about the leg. I might have had to get into a bidding war with ya over her otherwise-LOL.
With your mare, it's good that you try to push to the next step but then back off and work in her comfort zone again. It will take a while to build her muscles up as well as her mental frame of mind.
It took Megan and I 4 months to get her blue roan horse to pick up his right lead. That was just to get him to pick it up even once. It was another couple of months to get it consistent(it's still not 100% there).
It was all muscle tone work, we circled in and circled out and two tracked and rolled back on the fences.
I was so frustrated. There just didn't seem to be any reason why he couldn't pick that lead up-just that he had never been taught to and it took that long for us to teach him how to pick that right hip up and move it. Of course, once he finally did get it picked up, he loped like a freight train on that lead too and it was hard work to even keep him loping.
So don't get discouraged, it just takes time to work through those things. Some of it is muscle tone issues, some mental issues, some of it is balance. But if you just keep working on those exercises, eventually she will get strong enough to pick up that lead and then it will just take more time to get her comfortable loping in it.
Wish I could have seen that!
Love your paint. I like them too!! :) I love it when my horses roll after a ride. Helps them keep aligned if you ask me.
Mine get to go out into the field ( they only stay in at nights) so one of the first things they will do is roll - ever heard a draft cross hit the deck ? It's groan groan as the front goes down then Splat as he just drops. I'm sure it can't really be worth all the effort it takes !
Then when he's finished he rolls so he's lying on his chest ( like just before getting up) and then just stays there and starts eating. I tried to video it but he's always just that bit too far away when he does it. Here's an old pic though....
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2143/2233090464_e04b49399e.jpg?v=0
BEC: they sure did enjoy it, well, maybe not pile driving head first, lol. She is a cutie and super sweet. Do you know much about angular deformities? She just looks a little bowlegged. I have to look it up and research a little. I know, I am one who thinks results should be instant and my mare opposes me. I'm trying to work on a little bit of something each time we go out, but not work hard at it so that we both get ugly. lol
FL: It really was funny. I hope I never see it again, but I secretly wish to just to get a little video. lol
B: thanks for stopping by! I think that's what I heard too, it lets them adjust themselves, like us stretching.
Rox: what a cutie!! I LOVE drafts and vow that if we ever have our own property, I WILL be getting one. Eating is so much easier laying down :)) I think my big dog is getting the same way, she'd rather just lay down and eat because getting up and down is just too much effort at her age. AND, I wanted to tell you that I am reading your blog, but it's one that has the verification thing that I just cannot get into!!! It gives me an error and I don't know why!
Ezra - THe one in the pic with the tongue isn't the draft - she's TBxWB. The bucking one on the blogpage is draft x.
What kind of draft cross is it? When you put the link for the picture of him(?) laying down, he looks like a belgian or maybe clydesdale cross? I knew the tongue picture wasn't a draft, the head isn't large/wide enough, lol!!
He's Irish Draft x TB
Although there were rumours that the TB just walked past......
17.2 and weighing in at around 1700lbs ( close as I can get using a formula that someone sent to me that uses pieces of string - weight tape just won't reach !)
lol!! that's funny. I read something about measuring a weight too and it had to do with measuring just from top of withers to middle of their chest and then front to back. It was strange and I wonder if it was true. Might have been in Equus or Horse Illustrated.
I love the picture with your horse with hay all over it's head like what?? what's so funny??
Girlfriend! You have got to take you camera with you!! Man! That would have been a stellar photo or video.
I'm glad she's ok, though :)
~Lisa
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