What's Your Number?

So I read another person's blog today and she discussed the Henneke Body Scoring System for Horses. As a horse person, I have used this system since I first learned of it. The ideal weight for everyone is different. Some people prefer their horses on the leaner side of moderate, others think moderat is ideal. My ideal is just above moderate. I don't like my horses to be obese, or even overly heavy, but I do like a bit extra weight.

The reason I prefer my horses to be a tad healthy is because I prefer to stay ahead of the game. You never know when your horse may become sick and drop weight, or the quality of hay may be bad for a few loads, with a lower nutritional content. If something like this happens, and my horses are just a tad above where they would be ideally, if they drop weight unexpectedly they will still be at an ideal weight.

Now, that said, TOO heavy is also hard on a horse. Horses that are predisposed to arthritis, or leg issues, or have previously had an injury should never been too heavy. Young horses should be maintained at a 4 or a 5 to keep the pressure off of their growing bones/joints. Also, too heavy can create hoof issues, or cause your horse to become laminitic. Ponies and senior horses are especially prone to these issues.

I prefer to keep Tango at a about a 6. That is described as:

6 - Moderate to Fleshy: May have slight crease down back. Fat over ribs feels spongy. Fat around tailhead feels soft. Fat beginning to be deposited along the sides of the withers, behind the shoulders and along the sides of the neck.

Tango after a workout, grazing. He is a *bit* heavier here than I'd like.

Ellie, being a senior horse and with her history of unsoundness should ideally be kept on the light side of moderate. When I got her she would have been classified as a 2.5 or a 3. She was thin, all of her bones visible, but not a total skeleton. Here is what it says for 2-3:

2 - Very Thin: Emaciated. Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes. Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Prominent spinous processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins. Withers, shoulders and neck structures faintly discernible.

3 - Thin: Fat built up about halfway on spinous processes, transverse processes cannot be felt. Slight fat cover over ribs. Spinous processes and ribs easily discernible. Tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded, but easily discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable. Withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.

Unfortunately my refeeding program for Ellie has worked TOO well, and she is closer to the 6 that I prefer Tango at or even a 7. I will be attempting to get some of that weight off before Summer, or she will end up having to wear a grazing muzzle this Summer to keep her from getting obese. She has developed shape to her neck, and you can probably faintly see the fat pockets just above her tailbone.

So where do you like to see *your* horse's weight? If you are curious, or would like to learn more about the Henneke system, please visit this website that had a pretty good explanation:

http://www.brightfuturesfarm.org/henneke_scoring_system.htm

Have a Nice Day!

Tara

Tango Goes Riding!

So I know it's been awhile since I last updated, but I have been BUSY!

I have made it a goal to get Tango longed at least once a week, which also forces me to spend quality time, working on ground manners and grooming him as well. I hope that as the weather gets nicer I'll be able to do so more often.

So my friend Coral came out to cheer me on and give me some confidence to get on my boy. I longed him and he was really good, none of his kite-horse antics today! He was also really goofy while he was standing with me waiting for Coral to take some pics.

Coral got on him first because he tends to test for the first few minutes, and gets better toward the end. When she got off she said "OK, your turn!". I was a little caught off guard so I told her fine, but I'm only walking. She held him for me while I got on and I walked him off, anticipating him being a butthead. Amazing, he walked right off. Didn't feel like a ball of energy, and no tail swishing or stomping like he usually does when he is agitated.

It felt so good in fact, that I ponied up and went ahead and asked him to jog. Coral said "I thought you were only going to walk!" I said "Well, I decided to jog too!" :)She told me I should lope him but I decided to end on a good note since my confidence was so high! So I hopped off, gave him some carrots and called it a day:)

I hope to get on again this weekend, with similar results. I'll let you know:)

Spring Cleaning

Poor Tango has been OH so neglected in blogger-world! I figured I had better post a quick update on him!

So he is doing well...fat and sassy. I had a friend come out and help me get him worked, and while he was a nervous wreck at first, by the end of the ride he was relaxed and behaving. We have decided his ideal place is western, and I am going to aim him towards western trail, and dabble of course in the Sport Horse stuff, only we are going to aim for the hunter type because he likes to go a little lower with less pressure.

This week he popped a splint (?) I think, and decided to treat it in a loose fashion by cold hosing daily, and then globbing some liniment on it. So far it seems to be working, and has gotten a ton smaller. Here it is on the day I first noticed it...

So today I went out and it was so beautiful I decided I should do something with Tango, so I took him on a walk and we worked on ground manners (so as not to agitate anything too much). He was a really good boy (compared to what he has been lately) I think it was a mix of the storm last night (he probably stressed a lot of his excess energy right out of himself), a nice sunny warm day, and my mindset when we went out to work. I concentrated on staying calm, and assertive and reacting reasonably to all of his goofiness. I sort of treated him like a horse who is just learning showmanship and that seemed to do the trick.
After we were done with our ground manners session, we cold hosed, smoothed on liniment and I liberally groomed him, re-braided his mane and tail, and fly sprayed him then put his blanket back on and put him out. That's the extent of our fun for the day. I will try to update more often now that my workload has decreased some!

2010: Instant Replay

So I saw this being done on a few other blogs (namely Pia's Parade) and I thought, my, what a great idea! So I decided to do a quick rundown of the last 12 months and kind of see what has and has not changed!:)

January saw not much action, I was riding Rudy and Lindsey was working through some minor stickiness with Tango's forward motion. I had lost my nerve completely, for no reason than because I am a wimp and Tango didn't have the forward button I am used to.

February was about the same. I had a few good lessons on Tango, and enjoyed some really great company with my friends for Saturday Lessons (we would all have lessons on Saturday and stay and encourage eachother) so much fun!

March saw me enjoying the Daffodil Arabian Horse Show as a volunteer. I had SO much fun with my friends Kat, Melissa, and Todd as well as Coral and Heather. Lindsey and Reese also came, but I sadly missed them! All of these people have been so instrumental in developing my relationship with Tango. Melissa has been that friend who has been there as a sounding board, and who has a horse freakishly similar in issues to Tango. Kat has been there most of the journey, she is beautiful, and always willing to help or encourage. Todd is my bobsy twin...we have the two sensitive redheads and we both can't seem to make up our minds what to do with our ponies:) Coral started Tango and did a great job with him--she loves him like me, despite his goofy personality. Heather helped school him for a short time, and has always been there for me to complain, or brag about my boy.

Melissa, Kat and I at the 2010 Daffodil Schooling Show and Clinics--SO FUN!(photo courtesy of Link Photography)

April-May I spent trying to find someone to lease Tango. I realized I wasn't going to be able to show him myself this year, and why pay the bills if someone else who can pay them could enjoy him. A few people inquired, but I endd up finding a great gal, Jessica, to lease him for 6 months. That would mean he was gone from June-November. I cuold enjoy a Summer free of horse bills and being able to enjoy riding Rudy:)

Jun-Nov were pretty much spent enjoying horse time with no money worries:) I effectively leased Rudy by making grain and handwalking horses on the weekends, and got to help groom at shows such as Region V Sporthorse where Lindsey's clients cleaned up, and where Quick Silver Bey++++// had his celebration for earning a Legion of Masters (one of only a handful of stallions to do so!) and also enjoying cheering on the same clients at Sporthorse Nationals where Lindsey handled Isabella Featherdance to a National Championship in SHIH mares, and the resident star Havilahs Cassanova (Cas) to a National Championship in the SHUS Jr Horse. What a show year!

In November Tango returned. I had to find a place for him, and ended up settling on taking him to my friend Jennifer's new private facility. He got his own 12x12 stall, a sand paddock, grass turnout, buddies and a great caretaker for a very reasonable price. The hauling home was an adventure, with the hauler being more than 8 hours late, and Tango ending up being hauled in at midnight. He settled in quickly though, and it seems he is really enjoying the break he has gotten. We would really love an indoor arena though-- I am ITCHING to ride my horse!:)

December was basically the same as November, only Tango gained a sister. He doesn't know though, because she is boarded at The Back Forte in Enumclaw. She is a rescue from the Enumclaw Sales Pavillion kill pen. I am hoping to find her a retirement home. So December has been pretty bittersweet.

Really it was not a super exciting year, but lots of great things happened. I enjoyed learning a new discipline (dressage), meeting new friends (Jessica, Lindsey, Carrie, Jodie and many many others) and learning how much I truly enjoy owning Tango, even if I never show him successfully myself, I don't think I can ever let him go completely:)

Happy(?) New Year

So today was COLD COLD COLD! I froze my butt off doing chores today. Yesterday was even worse! I've spent a lot of time using the shovel (to break the 3" of ice covering the trough which is the only source of water I have right now), my boot (to kick buckets, haha, to try to dislodge the ice stuck to the sides so that I can TRY to give the horses actual water instead of popcicles) and the garden spade (to chip away the ice and frozen dirt that froze the exterior stall doors closed...was worried I wasn't going to be able to get a couple of the horses out!

Tango's beet pulp has frozen in the bucket, so for now he'll have to settle for Strategy and Rice Bran. I'm sure he'll survive:) I also threw an extra blanket on him yesterday, but that doesn't stop him from sticking his nose to the fence and freezing to it, thus tearing skin off. Retard. The entire barn is made of metal, so is the fencing--so he has a lot of metallic surfaces on which to get stuck. Here is hoping he has learned his lesson.

So after doing all of that and being completely exhausted (both from the cold, and the extra work that the ice made for me) I was on my way home when I drove past a farm that I drive by every day. During the wind storm we had a few weeks ago a tree fell on their fence. The fence is down and hasn't been put back up. Anyhow, I drive past and see a nice chestnut horse in a brand new Weatherbeeta running the fence line in the frozen glittering snow...."Oh, pretty!" wait...did I see that right? Was there no fence along that fence line he was running? I drive a tiny bit further, turn around and go back. Sure enough, there is no fence and the horse has finally just realized the same thing. He is JUST getting ready to jump the ditch when I screech to a stop, jump out of my car (running, with a key in it, in the middle of the road mind you) and run across the street and shoo him back toward the pastures WITH fences. I get him sort of trapped and keep shooing him away from the downed fence line. Then I stand there thinking...Now what? I hear a faint voice beyond the treeline (where the arena is) and I yell out "Hey! Anyone down there?" wait a minute, and hear more chatter. "Hey, HELLO! You have a loose horse up here!". Finally someone yells "Hey -____ theres a horse loose up by the road." "Which one?" "Buddy (or whatever his name was), there used to be a fence up there but it's not there anymore." "Oh." (Really? Is right now a time for conversation? WHO CARES what horse--go get a dang halter!) Someone is walking around down by the barn taking their sweet time, goes in, gets a halter, waaaalks up the hill. Undoes both strands of hot tape, walks up to the horse and halters him. (way to take your time, jerk...I have places to be, and how do they know he isn't running around loose still about to get in the road...) So I say, uh, "Good thing he was smart enough not to run in the road" I get "Yeah, thanks." and all I can think is "Yeah...your welcome for saving your horse, and your farm from being sued by a driver who may have hit him". Jeez.

Anyway...so I thought that would be my excitement for the day. Nope no such luck. I begin my NYE celebration (about 9pm) and then get a text from the BO (and friend) to let me know that the horses hadn't been fed yet, because she had to take her baby girl in to urgent care because she was having trouble breathing. I text her and tell her not to worry, they'll be OK till she gets home. About 11:30pm I get another text, that is there any way I can head out to feed and water--the baby is not doing well and they were heading to Childrens because she was in respiratory distress. Turns out she has the Croup but also had a cyst in her throat nearly constricting her entire airway. Poor thing! So my awesome friend Melissa and I head out to Covington to feed and water horses in 15* weather at 12:30am NYE. FUN! Please pray for a fast recovery for little Laken--she had surgery to remove the cyst, but she is only 1 and has a lot of recovering to do, poor thing!

So that was my New Years--how was yours? (and of course, a few customary photos of the Lish for your viewing entertainment)

Tango and icky play through the fence--they love to bite/lick/gnaw/slime and otherwise deface eachother. Literally.

Tango playing kite horse on the longe line.

Me and Tang having some sort of discussion, isn't that always the case with us? LOL.

Go Fly A Kite (Horse)

When I was a little girl, my mom and I always used to refer to horses who ran away or spooked or just acted goofy on the longe line a kite horse. Mostly because the way they take their person dragging accross the arena is reminiscent of flying a kite. No control but sort of fun to watch:)

Anyways, Tango doesn't have real turnout where he is at right now, just a good sized paddock where all he can do is trot. So I try to get him out a couple times a week into the area that has been prepped as an arena (still only fill sand, not arena footing so there are rocks surfacing, some inconsistencies, as well as no arena fence) and since it is not finished, I have to be really careful to keep him down a notch, because if he were to get away there is the possibility he might hurt himself.

So because of weather and Christmas he hadn't been out all week, so I took him out and attempted to longe him sanely. He had other ideas;) He ran and ran and then would slide to a stop and try to come in like he was done, then when I'd send him back out he'd take off running again. Oi. Gotta love a hot horse right?

Anyways, the best part of the day was that there was someone there to take pics of him in all his fluffy, unclipped, mussed up glory. So without further ado...

Wind, Snow and Flooding Oh MY!

I'm writing this post on both of my blogs, so if you read both, so sorry for the duplication!:)

I have been unable to update on both horses due to a myriad of circumstances, the least of which is the busy schedule I've had in this Holiday Season including Christmas Parties (a party each day of the weekend for the last three weekends), Pet Sits (it IS the time of year that people go visit family, or run away from it if thats your thing), and of course caring for my two ponies and my home.

In addition to all the normal goings-on that we endure during this beautiful time of year, is the lovely weather that little Ms La Nina has brought us...with today being the very first day of Winter, we've already experienced (in the last month) an ice/snow storm, a wind storm, record rains (which of course equals flooding) and another large wind storm (following the flooding, of course). All of these things have caused us all some amount of grief, mine being the influx of vehicles in our dealership to be fixed from all of the accidents.

First I'll chat about the snow/ice storm which happened just before Thanksgiving. We had something like 8 inches of snow in our area. It stuck around for about a week, melting, and freezing, and sleeting, then snowing, then melting and freezing again creating a giant mess of our roads, and ultimately our cars. The boyfriend and I made it through with no negative issues. It was cold, and icy, but my 2010 VW Jetta made it's way home safely the first day (amazingly avoiding all the huge issues just half an hour behind me!) and the rest of the time I convinced the boyfriend to run me back and forth between the barns, making sure I had enough feed and bedding for both horses, as well as to work and back. We flew out to Vegas for Thanksgiving, and when we came home it was dry and cloudy:) Photos below of my parent's road, and then a pic of a friend's backyard about 5 miles from my house.

Then we had a nice big wind storm. I woke up in the middle of the night to a HUGE gust of wind blowing sheets of rain, and hail into my window. We woke up in the morning to no power. Crazy night with very little sleep. Horses survived, thankfully!:)

A few weeks later we were subjected to Washington's favorite weather condition--rain! We had record amounts of rain (I can't remember how much, but something like 4" in a few hours in spots). It DUMPED. Every river on the West side was swollen and threatening to spill their banks...the Green and White Rivers (the two the we are sandwiched between) stayed within them, but the Stillaguamish and Snoqualmie overflowed. Like a lot. Photos below of the Green River, and then a couple from news channels about the Snoqualmie and Stillaguamish.

And last but not least we had our most fabulous wind storm. There is damage EVERYWHERE, including a beautiful historic barn that collapsed. The news was saying top wind gusts in Enumclaw (the next town over from us) was 74mph. A family friend, who lives just off the main Hwy in Enumclaw, has a home weather station that clocked one gust at 83mph...and she claims she saw it peak at 115mph during one particularly strong gust. Needless to say, I was worried about the horses. Power was out at both barns, but everyone was snug and calm. Gotta love nicely built barns!

Anyhow, thats what I have now. Tango and I went on a nice walk, and he is enjoying his new suite between the two arabians...I think they are exhausting him because he was SUPER good for his walk on Sunday! I'll update again soon!