I went out to the barn today and brought up the boys. I put Biscuit in the arena and gave Sarge a bath. He was so full of sweat - poor guy! He was so patient while I bathed him. I scrubbed him up and trimmed off his sun dried straggles on his mane. He looked good when I got through!
I told LeAnn I was going to work with Biscuit and she suggested using the surcingle with draw reins. We put it on him and worked with touching his head which he doesn't like but he relaxed enough to let us.
LeAnn took him in the right side of the arena and worked his butt off. He gave her some guff a few times, running through the open gates to the other side but she made him come back and do what she had requested. LOL he was dripping wet with sweat but he really is a very smart horse - he is stubborn but very smart. We never got to the draw reins - that will be another day. She worked with him on turning his butt and pivoting his front feet and visa versa.
I turned him out with Sarge and they were running around. I left and ran to Subway for a sandwich and went to Sonic and got a diet coke for LeAnn and me. I came back and LeAnn and I were going to go for a ride...I was going to put the swivel stirrups on Barry's saddle but they wouldn't fit on his fenders and I didn't have the "key" to take the crooked stirrup off of the 360 degree turn thingies. Bummer...so I just gave Biscuit a bath. He was filthy. I washed and combed his mane and tail and he is full of dapples and looks wonderful. While LeAnne was riding I put the spring on my nippers! I can see how they are going to really help!
I picked up Biscuit's foot and was able to nip around several inches with no problem. Woot!
Sarge is starting to look like poop again. Margaret said to give him Panacure - she thinks he has blood worms. I need to get that boy parasite free.
Today I went over to DS Horseshoeing Tools in Vinton, LA and met with Terry Burns. (337-589-7217) He makes the tools right there on site. I purchased a 14" Racetrack nippers, a spring for the handles, a left handed knife and a sharpener. He sharpened my other German made knife and sharpened the new knife. Woot! I also got a DS Farrier Tools hat!
Nippers
Where to file when they get too far apart
Where to file to sharpen
Knife, Nippers, Spring, Sharpener
He had shoes of all kinds, knifes - left handed (I got one of those - I have a right handed), right handed, and circle knives, files, sharpeners, nippers, hoof stands, nails, etc. I told him what I was doing - that me and The LeAnne's do barefoot trimming and that we are learning.
He showed me how to sharpen my knives and the nipper. He said the nippers would last me a lifetime. He said I shouldn't have any trouble cutting through Biscuit's hooves...good thing - I don't need any trouble.
LeAnn P and I are going to work on hooves Monday. Biscuit's feet are growing like crazy. He still has some thrush and I am going to work on getting rid of that. I want his feet to be as strong as Sarge's. Sarge's hooves need to be slightly rasped - they are slightly chipped from the rocks at Kisatchie - but nothing bad. Biscuit's has a big chip in the front and the back. I am going to keep his hoof boots on when we go riding until that stupid crack grows out!
On Tuesday I went out to the barn and brought up Biscuit. LeAnn and I were talking about me cantering while we were at Kisatchie. She said I needed to get in the arena and canter him. We were also discussing her Endurance Clinic with Darolyn and how she said that we had too much bulk under our knees with the girth straps. She showed LeAnn how to wrap the strap once and then got to the back. OK...we are going to check that out on my Alleghany. So, I pull up the stirrup and hook it on the horn and am going to adjust the strap and I see this:
and this on the other side:
and this is why:
The Blevin's Buckel is at the same level as the rigging and was literally sawing through it. I didn't notice it this weekend so I think that most of it came about during the last 2 rides. I am just so thankful that I caught this. This could have been a bad wreak! I called Staci and sent her pictures. I sent the saddle back to the saddle maker, Eli, in Ohio today. It cost $55 to ship it ground. I shipped it in my Aussie Saddle box! Staci said we would pull the rigging up a couple of inches and they may have to make a new fender - I sent back the stirrups - they were supposed to be stamped and weren't so they are going to correct that now. My saddle will not arrive in Ohio until Wednesday. I am not anticipating having it back for 3 weeks. Sigh.......
LeAnn enjoyed her clinic with Darolyn. They rode 20 miles at a really fast pace - all the way to Pundt Park! Woot!!! LeAnn can drop her sponge at a gallop and Legato was glad to hit the water she was so hot! LOL Legato is not a super fan of going through water but she did a great job!
I am not going to be able to ride this weekend other than at the ranch due to work. I am going to DS Horseshoeing Tools in Vinton, LA tomorrow to get nippers. Paying $90 for farrier work is too scary!
Biscuit and I have logged 182 miles this year on the trails. I have rode in the arena and at the ranch once but that hasn't been included as it was so little. It is about 36 miles on average for the month. If that holds for the rest of the year we will log 436 miles for the year. I would like to make at least 500 miles so I think I need to log some more miles.
Now that summer is here perhaps LeAnne and I can haul on Mondays out to Tyrrell and get in a short ride. That would be nice to ride the woods. Good exercise for Biscuit to jog behind Rouge while he gaits.
Kellie and I want to ride at the Jones Park in Conroe next weekend. That will be fun.
Even though I have a super padded seat in my Alleghany Saddle I still can feel my pelvic bones when I ride and they get sore as all get out. OMG they were killing me riding this past weekend in Kistachie. Sam was riding ahead of me on Saturday and she has a Tucker. She said she never gets sore any more riding in a Tucker but Tucker's just weren't for me. I got home and I actually have bruising on inside of my legs where I am sitting. Gaaaa. I am such a fluffy.
I ordered it and Valley Vet is johnny on the spot for getting stuff out. I will probably have it before Friday. I didn't want the ones that roll up the cantle...it is just my pelvic area that needs the cush!!!
Kellie and I are going riding in Conroe next weekend so it will be tested quickly!!!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Biscuit and Sarge hear a gaited horse...omg it sounds like an alien
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in LouisianaBarry and I made plans to ride Kisatchie a few months ago. I took Thursday off to get ready. I went grocery shopping, picked up dinners at Mazzio's and sandwiches at Sertino's. Barry got off at 1:30 and we went to get the horses. We hauled to the Lucky 4B Ranch in Melder, Louisiana. It took about two hours and 30 minutes to get here so we really made good time.
We put the boys in a little pen and visited with Sam and Tony, the owners of Lucky 4 B and we met Mr. and Mrs. Weber. He is the resident expert on Kisatchie. He said he would be glad to ride with us on Friday morning. We hauled our stuff up to the Saloon Suite and got settled in. We later moved the boys to a one acre pasture where they were happier.
The next day we got up and Barry went to get the boys and he said they were running around like wild horses in the paddock. He worked them both in the round pen before we saddle them. A young fellow named Brandon arrived and saddled up his Tennessee Walker that was a very nice horse. Mr. Weber saddled up his little mule, Shine and Tony was on Dot. We started off and it was rocky as all get out on some of those roads. Biscuit is always tenderfooted and I hadn't put his boots on as I thought these were just sandy roads. We went down a road and then crossed into a field and we going along and Tony's horse Dot shot sideways - it was a hog that startled her. Then she got tangled up in vine and was stumbling and spinning around and she was struggling to stay on her feet. Tony came off and fell flat on his back. Saints preserve me; I nearly had a cow. He didn't pop right up either. He finally got to his feet and mounted Dot and Mr. Weber took the lead. Another hog popped out of the brush and scared the snot out of Shine. Shine was spinning round and round back and forth and Mr. Weber did a great job of keeping Shine under control. He finally got Shine calmed down and Barry and I took the lead. I told Barry I was a little unnerved by all of that. Brandon's horse, Duke, was totally unconcerned about the hogs. He has been hog hunting and wow...what a well behaved horse. Anyway, Sarge took off and we went about 15 to 20 feet and a hog ran out from about 10 feet away. Sarge startled and jumped to the right just a little bit and Biscuit startled even less. I was so proud of my boy. Prouder of me...LOL I didn't wig out.
We carried on and went to the bluffs. Gorgeous scenery, deep bluffs, sandy dry creeks, deep shade. At the bluffs, Barry rode Sarge all the way down and back up. Sarge loves that kind of stuff. We went to the springs and let the horses drink. They were marking trails with green spray paint. Biscuit cantered twice - very controlled and very nice. Bless his heart. It was a wonderful ride. We rode 9.9 miles in 4 hours and 20 minutes or so. We were stopping constantly to mark trees so that is what took so long.
We came back to the 4B and unsaddled the horses. Sam and Tony said we could put Sarge and Biscuit down in a turn out pasture that was about 1 acre. They really enjoyed that.
Mr. Weber was cooking up fried pork ribs and rice dressing later in the open kitchen - LOL sweet sounding Cajun voices and the smell of Cajun food cooking - what could be better? We all sat out there and talked - I met Brandon's wife, Lee Ann and their little boy. Barry tasted the ribs and rice dressing and pronounced them wonderful. We ate our dinner from Mazzio's and it was pretty good. I heated it in the little oven and reheated the garlic toast in the toaster.
The next morning Barry went and got the horses but they didn't give him any problems. I pulled Biscuit's hoof boots on so his hoof wouldn't get chipped more and he is tender footed. We saddled them up and I went to get on and my jeans were not very stretchy and I had to get on with a mount. Bummer. We went over by Mr. Weber's area and he was saddling him Tennessee Walker Poncho. The little mule, Shine, was not a happy camper; he wasn't getting to go and was braying to beat the band. Barry took Sarge over by him and Sarge was all charged up over it but behaved. LOL every molecule in his body was on alert!
We rode out with a good sized group - some from Morgan City, Lafayette, Iota, Carencrow and a few other places. We rode a different trail going to the bluffs that was very pretty. At the bluffs, I noted that one of the ladies saddle had the same hardware as mine - it was a black saddle. LOL It was a Renegade Alleghany Trail Saddle! Hers was nice in the black but I like mine with the little hoofpick pocket with my initials on it! Several people went up and down the bluff on their horses - woot! They were having a blast. We carried on to the springs and Biscuit drank out of the stream. We stopped and chatted there and then took off again. The lady with the Alleghany was on a Missouri Fox Trotter that was very nice. At one point he stumbled and went down on a knee poor fellow but he was ok. I did notice that we were riding with many gaited horses and they were all so well behaved and none of the rider's were acting crazy people. I have rode with gaited folks before that made me nervous because it seemed they didn't have really good control of their horses. Some gaited horse riders are just fine (LeAnne!!!) and others not so much!
We rode around to a different trail and were crossing dry creeks and we came upon the wild horses. They moved off quickly and did I have my camera out? No...what a idiot. I finally got it out and we rounded a ridge and went up a little higher and there they were - a group of about 6 wild horses. They were all paints except one solid colored horse. They moved off and we followed quietly and I took some pictures but they were pretty far away and there are tons of trees. Biscuit got all excited - all of the horses did - they could smell and see them of course so they were definitely interested!
We continued on around the trails and Biscuit once hit a canter coming up from a little dip - wow wee - hoof boot gloves and all!! Later I had Biscuit on Sarge's tail jogging - but he can't jog that slow for long! Later when we were near the Ranch Sarge was loping and I was urging Biscuit to canter but he never would. He did take the lead from Sarge (the other horses had gaited out of site!) and he was trotting really fast but would never canter.
We got back and we had gone 10.7 miles so we rode 20.6 miles all together. I rinsed Biscuit off - he was a sweaty boy. When we got to the trailer there was a donkey in their pen. OMG Sarge was having a nervous breakdown over that. Barry tied him to the trailer (Donkey is gone by this time ) and he was still all charged up, pawing at the trailer and then he started rearing up. I fussed and him and told him in a loud cranky voice to knock it off. Barry came and got him and put him in the pen. LOL Sarge is a hoot.
Later, Barry, Mr. Weber and two of the ladies from Lafayette went on a 5.5 mile ride where they cantered and Sarge liked that!!! They went on a totally different trail to the west of the ranch so I sent the Garmin to catch all of that!!!
We visited with the Weber's, the policeman from Carencrow (he was on a HUGE palomino) and looked at the trails. I had uploaded them and Mr. Weber had me mark them with waypoint names. That was pretty cool.
Barry and I ate another Mazzio dinner - he didn't want me to cook the pasta dish I had planned so Mazzio it was. We ate dinner, watched some TV and went to bed. My knee doesn't bother me when riding but going up and down the stairs to the Saloon Suite hasn't made my knee a happy camper!!
We rode Sunday morning with Mr. Weber and Tana, the lady with the Allehany saddle. We rode a different trail that was gorgeous! Biscuit behaved so well today. We jogged behind Shine - it was good for Biscuit to be in a position to HAVE to jog. He can't do that very well. We also cantered a few times before the jog and I was able to kick him into a canter easily. He is getting better. Later we cantered behind Barry and I had to tell Barry to speed up!!! We cantered 2 or 3 times and it was so much fun!!! Biscuit was the bomb dot com today.
We got back and washed the horses and Sarge was being a pill again - rearing up against the hitching post. We talked to Sam and Tony and the Webers. They are all such sweet people and I'd love to go back.
Biscuit's coat is feeling silkier since I had him tube wormed last week. The hair on his chest is still a little rough but he is getting there. Worming certainly makes a huge difference in the way he looks. Barry and I went out to the barn awhile ago to load up to go to Kisatchie. I am so excited about it!!!
I made a post to the blog and tried to upload pictures but it wouldn't allow it. I will try later to add pictures from last weekend.
Barry hauled the boys up to Ebenezer early Friday morning. LOL he had a time catching Biscuit...Biscuit pulled a Legato and was running around the pasture. He was finally loaded and off they went. Barry and Sarge rode Friday for a long ride.
I was texting with Kellie and she asked if Robin could ride Biscuit so she didn't have to rent a horse as Eli and Jimmy were riding their horses George and Sunny. I said sure. I know that Robin would take good care of The Biscuit.
I got up to Ebenezer around 5:00 PM Saturday. There had been a huge storm up there starting at 1:30 AM to 5:30 AM with tons of rain and lightening so they didn't go riding til 11:30 AM for the morning ride. They left for the afternoon ride after I got there. Robin rode The Biscuit again. I took pictures as they left. I wasn't riding due to my knee hurting. I had hoped to ride on Sunday but I stepped in a hole delivering the cake Saturday morning and my knee really was hurting. They returned later and wow wee, James was carrying a huge 3' or more coral snake he had killed OMG it was a big one!
Later that evening we were all chatting and carrying on and we heard sounds like the Jurassic Park dinosaurs screaming. James' palomino mare kicked the stuffings out of Beverly's bay mare. OMG she was squalling like a crazy horse. James said the bay mare has always been the dominate mare but the dynamics had been shifting and Hollywood decided she wasn't going to take anymore from the bay mare. She was cut up some and had a puffy spot on her leg.
The next morning Barry and the others left for a ride - Robin didn't ride and she and I chatted. Ray Langley, Jacque and Andy and their daughter and another man came up to ride and I talked to them and chatted awhile. Barry rode for 3 hours and when we left we went to Novrotski's and ate lunch. It was nice being up in the country with the horses whether I rode or not!
I went out to Doc's after work and Cassie had their paperwork ready. Biscuit' was under Pac which is
what I called him when I first got him. She made copies of their Coggin's and Doc signed the copies. I went and looked at the little miniature filly. OMG is she TINY.
Poor little tyke, she has diarrhea really bad and they are working to get it regulated. Her little neck is shaved and she has had IV's.
Doc had several babies so I had to look at them up close! I love foals - they are just too cute for words!
There were two more that I didn't take pictures of. One was a Thoroughbred mare's little stud colt in the round pen. He was a pistol. I was petting him and he seemed to love the attention!
I hauled Biscuit and Sarge to the vet to have Biscuit tube wormed and both of them to get health certificates. I told Jaime today not to feed them because I would feed them in the trailer. I left Biscuit in the arena earlier today. When I went back to the barn he started trotting around the arena when he saw me...I am sure his thought bubble said "where the heck is my feed sister?"
I put their feed in the buckets and Biscuit was more than happy to haul his backside into the trailer. I went down to the pasture and got Sarge and loaded him up. We hauled down 365 to Doc's. I went in to the hallway and there was a week old white mini foal getting IV fluids. It was SO tiny!!!
I unloaded Biscuit and Sarge got all wired up - LOL I think he knew he was at Doc's and he wanted no part of that! I led Biscuit into the hallway and he was so nervous that I led him onto the porch overhang and he calmed down. I kept talking to him softly and he finally totally relaxed and dropped his head. He stood quietly until a man unloaded his little mare - I think Biscuit liked her! I had to pull him back. The man said that Biscuit was beautiful. Bisckie is pretty darn cute.
Doc finally was ready and got his pail and his tube and his twitch. Ok...Bisckie wasn't so crazy about the twitch. He was backing up and trying to evade Doc. Poor guy. I told Doc he was the bravest guy I knew (LOL this old chick would not have the cajones to twitch a horse) and Doc said there was another name for it and it was stupid! LOL He is so funny. Poor guy got knocked out when a horse head butted him last week. The older I get the bigger sissy I become. I did hold the twitch while Doc but the tube in and dumped in the wormer.
Before Biscuit knew it - he was tube wormed. Doc pulled the tube out and petted Biscuit up. I asked him what he thought Biscuit weighed and he said around 1100 or so lbs. He said 1200 was a whole lotta horse and didn't think Biscuit was near that! I loaded Biscuit up and I asked if he needed me to pull Sarge out but he said no but came over to look at Sarge. He said that Sarge was looking good - almost too fat - I don't think so but that is my opinion!!! LOL He said Sarge was fine - and that he was slick and soft. He said he thought Biscuit may still have parasites - and that is why his hair is still a little rough. Geez...maybe he got more from Sarge or they never totally went away. Doesn't matter - I am sure I will get them under control. Any horse can get worms especially those that you haul around. Heck, Legato had worms not too long ago and that horse is vetted out the wazootie.
Doc couldn't find Biscuit's Coggin's. I am sure it was there - LOL I forgot to tell Doc it could have been under Pac or Nick. I will take my copy tomorrow and get Cassie to make out the Health Certificate.
Barry and I headed over to the barn to take the tack we had remaining back. He went down to the pasture and brought up the boys. Sarge is looking fantastic!!! OMG it is so good to see that boy slicking off, his hair shining like polished copper and putting weight back on. I put Biscuit up on the wash rack so I could watch Barry work with Sarge in the round pen.
Lee Ann and I were talking about Rogue - I gave him a tiny treat - and I gave Biscuit one, too. Barry then worked Biscuit free lunging him in the small arena. He doesn't collect up like Sarge and you can see a big difference in the way they move. Sarge is smooth and effortless - Biscuit is stiff and unbending but that is what we will start working on tomorrow. He is willing and very smart and that is what counts!
Barry played barber shop with Sarge and trimmed his whiskers and bridle path and Sarge stood there like a good boy.
LeAnn P and Doug came through and we chatted a few minutes - they were going to a rodeo something or another tonight so were leaving the barn.
Later Barry and I joined Kellie, Randy and Justin at JuJu's for crawfish - well, I had potatoes and corn and Diet Coke - Barry ate crawfish!
Today was our Tack Sale/Swap at Tyrrell Park. We brought our unwanted/unneeded tack out to the stables to sale. We invited anyone and everyone to join in and bring what they had to sale or bring it to swap if they could.
I brought my 2 Aussie Saddles, Barry's two saddles, bridles, halters, saddle pads, hoof boots, cinches, bits, etc.
I had several people look at the Aussie's which kinda surprised me as this is not Aussie territory! Kenny looked at them but we couldn't come together on a price. I dropped it to $600 but $500 for Kenny - with both saddles. That was my 18" Aussie with breast strap, leg woolies, suede stirrup pads and saddle pad and the 19" saddle. An older gentleman was interested and he got on them both several times. He had Paso Fino's so those saddles will be perfect for him. He paid me the $600 and I was thrilled. I sold the big gel saddle pad along with the Skito pad to Spirit Stables and I threw in the flat neoprene non skid pad.
I sold reins and a few girths and traded reins to Meg for a fat snaffle like LeAnn said I should use for the arena training with Biscuit! Margaret wants the back cinch thingies for $40 and Esther is going to try out the martingale for someone and they will pay $20. So I did pretty good.
We all had a great time - LeAnn's hubby Doug was there and the other Lee Anne's hubby Spud was too. Esther's husband Michael came out with his super cool new BMW motorcycle that was KILLER.
Meg's truck sprang a fuel line pump thingy leak and Barry and Randy helped her with it. Her truck was POURING out diesel. LOL it is always an adventure.
We all had a very good time and Kellie gave me a Justin and a Professional Choice pommel bag that is waterproof. Woot!!!
After I got off of work I had to go to the Doctor's office for my results. Dr. May's thinks my knee is just aggravated and not so much as ate up with arthritis. Last year when I rode Butterbean in Barry's Billy Cook saddle with the first time, my knee was cranky for 2 months. I think I aggravated it when I got on Legato to try out the Sharon Saare saddle and since I stand on my feet for 6 hours lugging paint it hasn't calmed down. I just checked back in my blog and that was on March 23. So it hasn't been two month yet! I think it will just take longer; I will wear the knee brace, I will take Modec as prescribed and Kelllie said to ice it. So last night I iced it. I want to make it better so I can ride when I want and not have to sit on the side lines!
I went out to the barn and checked on my boy's hooves. They looked pretty darn good. Reagan did a mustang roll on both of them. Biscuit let me pick up all four feet like a good boy. I called LeAnn to see how it went with The Biscuit's first farrier experience. She said that he pulled his foot back from Reagan a few times and she took him and backed him up and fussed at him and that was all it took. She explained that he had not been trained to have a farrier do his feet. Reagan slaps his chaps with his rasp and she said poor old Biscuit looked terrified when he would do that. Reagan even felt sorry for him so he stopped doing it around The Biscuit. I was glad that Biscuit was pretty calm about the whole thing.
I did ask her about the nippers she told me about. I am going to run over to Vinton and get so next week. I also asked her about the sharpness of the knives and she said Reagan stated that the knives don't come with a real edge on them - so I am going to take mine to Schmidt Saw and Knife and have the blade sharpened so I can cut their frogs and bars, etc. It is just too hard with dull equipment!
