tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post7949775932652940780..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: Life is a RollercoasterJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-91633836898565053712010-11-20T10:08:41.967-08:002010-11-20T10:08:41.967-08:00Francesca--I'm not sure about horse's back...Francesca--I'm not sure about horse's backs "collapsing", but certainly older horses have a tendency to sink in the back. Henry's back has done this to some degree (Henry is 22) even though we ride him regularly. I don't see it as much of a problem. I added an extra pad and I wouldn't let a heavy person ride him, but Henry is still completely sound and free moving. In my experience horses vary on this issue, but again, I don't think its a barrier to light riding. My horse Plumber, who hasn't been ridden in about a year (he's 21), looks about the same as he did when we quit riding him and walks downhill pretty freely now. The other thing that helped (or so I think) is that Plumber has been barefoot for a year. Turned out on pasture and barefoot helps an amazing number of older horses. However, certainly its a great thing to retire Kwint, and getting a new riding horse can be fun, too.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-73777689816922674752010-11-19T11:18:33.123-08:002010-11-19T11:18:33.123-08:00Francesca, Ronan Keating is SOOO cute he would che...Francesca, Ronan Keating is SOOO cute he would cheer anyone up. Think of this event as being for Kwintus: meaning he is so fortunate to retire with YOU as his owner. Here in the US, he might end up with a dubious owner and a dubious ending. So hats off to you for being the best "mom" to a horse who rightly deserves a happy retirement.Alisonhttp://www.alisonhartbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-2661735820198484962010-11-19T07:18:15.902-08:002010-11-19T07:18:15.902-08:00Oh Jami, you and I keep making each other cry for ...Oh Jami, you and I keep making each other cry for similar reasons! I've got tears in my eyes just reading your comment to my post. <br /><br />No, there is no horse for me to ride at the moment. I have a friend who has offered to let me ride her horse once in a while at a different stable, and there's one at Steph's who's been in the field for the entire year, recovering from tendon problems, whom I may get to ride if the ultrasounds show improvement. But that will mean total retraining as he's probably gone semi-wild! And I'm not the bravest rider in Europe...so I'll wait and see how he reacts to another rider before I climb on top of him.<br /><br />Maybe I'll finally get another book written while I wait until I can buy another horse to ride.Francesca Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201599087106798500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-7985173548569400792010-11-19T06:28:23.967-08:002010-11-19T06:28:23.967-08:00Cesca, your posts keep making me cry. Here I am ge...Cesca, your posts keep making me cry. Here I am getting ready for work, putting on my makeup, and reading your post. Needless to say, I need to redo my makeup.<br /><br />I am so sorry it didn't work out for him, and yet I'm happy for him that he has you and your daughter. I also think he came into your life for a reason, and he fulfilled that reason. Is there a horse at your trainer's you can take lessons on for now? I know I'm facing the same thing in the future and have planned to get my horse fix by continuing weekly lessons on other's horses.Jami Davenporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-71896905820078793892010-11-18T23:27:25.729-08:002010-11-18T23:27:25.729-08:00Thank you Kate. I'm sorry you had to retire Ma...Thank you Kate. I'm sorry you had to retire Maisie at 14, tendon and ligament problems are a nightmare. Do you have another horse to ride? <br /><br />Laura: yes, I was so sure he was going to be fine after that first ride, such a downer. About freer moving after turnout, Kwint was going bananas in the field yesterday when I turned up, charging around full speed, tail in the air, blowing and bucking. He looked wonderful. I guess we'll have to see how it goes after the winter has passed. Steph tells me her horse's back collapsed (sank) very quickly when she stopped riding him - I wonder if this will happen to Kwint. What's your experience with that? I hope this doesn't sound fickle, but I'm already itching to find another horse to ride, and keep finding myself "window shopping" on the internet! But I must be patient and wait the winter out. <br /><br />Redhorse: thanks for reading and sympathising. I really hope he enjoys his peaceful days, and doesn't mind the bad weather we're bound to have pretty soon! It snowed so much up there last year, it looked like the arctic. Beautiful, but pretty slippery...Francesca Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201599087106798500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-38605945418489261202010-11-18T11:12:07.837-08:002010-11-18T11:12:07.837-08:00He's lucky to have you. He'll have a good ...He's lucky to have you. He'll have a good life out there in his beautiful pasture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-2335066703784106302010-11-18T07:39:09.563-08:002010-11-18T07:39:09.563-08:00I am so sorry. It sounded as though you were on yo...I am so sorry. It sounded as though you were on your way to lots more riding with Kwint. I retired my horse Plumber last year due to similar stuff. The tiny uncomfortable steps going downhill, tossing the head in obvious discomfort, some stumbling, etc. He clearly did not want to run any more, nor walk downhill on the trail. Since I had Sunny to ride, it wasn't the same grief to me. I just wanted to treat Plumber well, as you do Kwint. He'd been my main riding horse for many years. One thought I would share. Sometimes, after lots of turnout, these horses get a lot freer moving. I have seen this many times. You just observe them and see the change. I would still get a new "main" riding horse, but you may yet find that you and your daughter could go for quiet walks together on your two horses on terrain that isn't too steep. After a year "off", Plumber walks down little hills pretty freely. I don't ride him, cause I have Sunny and my son has Henry, but I'm quite sure I could use Plumber for light, occasional walks if I wanted.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-25843543620567528392010-11-18T02:46:21.858-08:002010-11-18T02:46:21.858-08:00You are a kind and loving horse owner - it's g...You are a kind and loving horse owner - it's great to see fine horses like this get the retirement they deserve. I know exactly how you feel - my Maisie was permanently retired (at about age 14) this fall due to permanent hind tendon/ligament problems that made it impossible to keep her sound while in work. She's pretty happy now, and that makes me happy too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com