Archive for It's About The Horse The Free Forum for those Doing Parelli - and a whole lot More! "Anything forced and misunderstood can never be beautiful." Xenophon (430-355 B.C.),
|
merle
|
Pics of muleI took pictures of Sage today. She's been doing really well, making great progress.
|
misstux
|
Oh what a sweet face.
|
TrickMule
|
Looking good!
Any changes in behaviour as a result of regaining weight?
Regards,
Liz C, Bazkins and Pants the Mule
--
|
merle
|
| TrickMule wrote: | Looking good!
Any changes in behaviour as a result of regaining weight?
Regards,
Liz C, Bazkins and Pants the Mule
-- |
So far no. I knew a guy once that was given a really nice horse, beautiful, healthy and very sassy! After about 5 months the horse was skinny and very laid back. Basically he was being starved and had no energy. Another friend tried to buy the horse because he had seen the horse go from beautiful, healthy to sickly. The guy that owned the horse refused to sell it because the horse was finally manageable! It was aweful.
After having seen that, I was wondering if Sage would change or become sassy as she gained weight. But, so far, she is still very sweet, friendly and loving. I have noticied her starting to paw for food - but I just wait until she stops before proceeding toward her with the feed. And, she has started trotting more - mostly to come in out of the pasture to get her feed.
|
Scarlet Belle
|
Looking much better! 
Sonya
|
merle
|
| Scarlet Belle wrote: | Looking much better!
Sonya |
Thank you! I'm so grateful for her recovery. I know she has more weight to gain, but it sure is nice to see her looking better!
Last week I had some extra barn time and decided to harness Sage and see how she was at driving. She was very polite and relaxed while I groomed her. Then I went into the barn and came out with the harness - it was hysterical. She grow about 6" her eyes got as big as dinner plates and her ears were erect! I swear she was in shock at seeing the harness!  But, she stood quietly while I harnessed. She was wonderful at driving, I just ground drove and did not hitch as she still needs to focus on her recovery. She was very responsive and soft, I was very pleased with her. We drove down the rode about 1/4 mile then back to the barn - she was very confident and responsive!
|
TrickMule
|
| merle wrote: | | TrickMule wrote: | Looking good!
Any changes in behaviour as a result of regaining weight?
|
After having seen that, I was wondering if Sage would change or become sassy as she gained weight. But, so far, she is still very sweet, friendly and loving. |
That's good. I wondered exactly what you wondered because like you, I have seen skinny laid back horses turn into spirited animals after regaining weight. I used to work at a dealer's yard where we bought skinny babies for a pittance, fed them up, started them and sold them on to the private market. Some of them, but not all, would get sassy once they recovered.
Is she good about her feet being handled?
Liz C, Bazkins and Pants the Mule
--
|
Scarlet Belle
|
Merle,
Good to hear that. I was talking to a girl who had seen a horse pull a buggy with a breast strap as oppose to a collar and the horse ended up sore fairly quick.
The rational for the proper fitting collar and a healing pad is that the horse can use more of it strength and shoulders.
I can just imagine the big eyes with the collar the first time. Funny! Glad things are going smoothly and the weight has picked up!
Sonya
|
Leah
|
what a sweet sweet face
(just be sure you take care of the feet in the rehab process!  )
|
merle
|
Sonya - I've always liked the collar instead of the breast strap for the reasons you mentioned. In my opinion, the collar seems to allow the harness to fit to allow for the most efficient movement for the horse.
Trick Mule - Sage is really good about having her feet handled but some times when I have the front feet she will just walk away. With the rear feet, she will allow me to pick them up, but then she starts falling forward. When Nick came out to trim her feet in March, he was able to do the front but not the rear feet. When he had the rear feet, she would immediately start to tip forward, she looked like she was going to fall on her nose! Poor girl.
Leah - Do you have any suggestions for being able to trim her rear feet? She needs her feet trimmed - they are long and starting to break off. Chris tried to trim her a weeks or so ago, she was better but still unable to stand to have her rear feet trimmed. I started Sage on a joint supplement. As her muscles develop along with taking the joint supplement, she is improving, but still has a way to go. When I first got her she was literally skin and bone, the vet looked at her haunches and said it was nothing but skin over the pelvis! I'm hoping that the her tipping forward will resolve itself as the muscles continue to develop.
Thanks for the feedback!
|
|