tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post2772634208152948795..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: Know Thy HorseJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-3239446761203501482009-01-27T14:22:00.000-08:002009-01-27T14:22:00.000-08:00We've all been there. As I've learned, I've often...We've all been there. As I've learned, I've often wished I could go back to my teens and the patient and the not-so-patient, equine instructors that I had, and do a little better for them.<BR/><BR/>My best listen-to-the-horse-you-idiot moment came while out leading a trail ride. My rather hot but generally obedient mount spooked like a mofo about turning off to go down the trail I'd planned for us to take. He wanted to go another way and was pretty definite about not going that way - he wasn't being nappy, per se, just didn't want to take that trail. <BR/>After I'd looked carefully for snakes, and loose wiring and other hazards I insisted, so he went, producing a huge high stepping trot and rigid under me.<BR/>20 minutes down the trail we cross a stream, round a corner and up the bank and run into a herd of speedily oncoming angus cattle. <BR/>Cattle go Argh! Trail ride goes Argh! One melee later, I have cattle everywhere, three loose horses and several wet and weepy kids. If I'd just taken the other turn, I could have avoided all that.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the next ride out would likely have run into them, but hey, wouldn't have been my group!FDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485030894416936129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-58676724188172951452009-01-27T14:20:00.000-08:002009-01-27T14:20:00.000-08:00Michele, I had a similar experience with my horse ...Michele, I had a similar experience with my horse Plumber. One evening, for no reason I could see, he was charging around his corral like a demented thing and it looked unnatural to me. When he came to a stop he was shaking. I called the vet. Come to find out he had a sudden high fever caused by a virus. I was suprised the discomfort would cause him to run, but the vet said that horses will respond to pain and discomfort by running and bucking, just like Monte. She had seen it before with colics. This was something I had previously never seen.<BR/><BR/>Colic is scary. I'm glad your daughter's pony is OK. He's sure cute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-59415898639300825462009-01-27T13:34:00.000-08:002009-01-27T13:34:00.000-08:00I'm glad Monty is better. Colic is scary, scary bu...I'm glad Monty is better. Colic is scary, scary business.<BR/><BR/>I had a substitute instructor for my last riding lesson about 6 years ago - the stable owner. My usual instructor had to go out for bedrest for a problem pregnancy, so the owner filled in. <BR/><BR/>To make a long story short(er), she made a tack change that I could tell that the lesson horse didn't like. I tried to talk her out of it. I could tell he didn't like it. But she didn't care what I thought. And refused to read him.<BR/><BR/>So, he was grouchy and fought me. Not the best afternoon for a nervous rider. I decide that she didn't have my best interests at heart and stopped going there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com