Allergic to Horses? I am

Its a long winding story but if you have some allergies or know someone with allergies, you might find yourself happy to take a time out and read.

I found out I had allergies when I was in bed sick, 3 out of 4 weeks for two months when I was in my late teens. Okay so it started when I was little. My mom mentioned she had to find goats milk for me, but I grew out of it, except I hadn't grown out of it. Not much else happened till I got SICK. Ended up at a nice doctor who specialized in allergies, he started do prick tests (I do not remember the official name), turns out I was allergic to a whole bunch of things, three of which stood out, I was allergic to Horses, Dogs and Cats. On the day I found out I was allergic to Dogs his receptionist gave me a dog :-).

You are going what! He put together a shot regiment that I started, what a difference, it helped a lot. A few years later was starting to have problems again. Having talked about having allergies with some friends, I was much more knowledgeable and decided to try a natural path allergy person.

I was impressed on the first visit. She was able to help me understand and accept quickly by going over the starting information I had from the doctor. By the end of the first visit I had a list 3 times as long and a lot more knowledge. She asked good questions and shared lots of information. Will admit to a bit of information overload when I left. Some items stood out, I was allergic to oranges. So when I would get sick and of course you eat oranges to get better, eating oranges would actually help me stay sick.

My being sick in bed was caused in part by my being allergic to the material my braces were made of. Ouch. Allergies are not to be taken lightly. The good news is that knowledge continues to improve. With the help of first the doctor and now natural path allergists I continue to enjoy being around Horses, Dogs, and Cats.

A friend mentioned that her son was allergic to milk, she was informed that it was important as it effects how kids breath, which effects how the mouth grows which effects the need for braces. Me I had an allergy to milk and I had to have braces, in my case it did have an effect. Parents need to be careful as kids do not outgrow their allergies, their symptoms may change as they grow, which is why treatment is important.

Hope this helps someone who may be allergic to Horses to understand that with treatment they too can enjoy being around horses.

When Purchasing Ask

Sometimes I run across did they know? Nope they didn't. When looking to purchase a horse take someone along, then pick up the phone and call a few other horse people you know. Try to pick someone who is not an impulse purchaser. Gotta smile because I have unknowingly taken an impulse purchaser along and came home with the item we went to look at. Most states have a purchaser decides oops time, this is usually short, so pick up the phone when you get home and call another horse person or two. Have them come out and look the next day if at all possible. Horse Traders / Sellers have a reputation for a reason, its buyer beware. So check and double check. Once you find that horse thats right for you it is all worth it.

Free How To Videos

Want to share some really good free how to videos. Two videos I really like are how to take a horses vital signs and how to give a horse an intramuscular injection. Both these videos are on my review every now and then list. I don't give injections every day, I find the video reminds me of the important steps to take. I hope you find these videos as useful as I do.

http://www.thehorse.com/Videos.aspx?tab=howto

Electronic Greeting Cards

Its a bit off topic but I have really enjoyed Jacquie Lawson's http://jacquielawson.com/ greeting cards so decided to share her contact information. Do check her cards out.

Went For It

Well I went for it, good thing I decided to give myself a few tries. We started working as a team the whole week before, everything looking good. During the time only, Tessa's shoulder injury came back, and I MISSED it. Went in for our run and we blew it big time. I was like what went wrong!!!! The next day arrived, started to warm up, used some unprintable language here, her shoulder was bothering her a lot. I quickly realized what happened the day before. Took a deep breath and let it all go. I was paid and there, so decided to just use our run as a training opportunity. Made sure she was nice and warmed up, and had a fine time just cantering the pattern.

I also discovered a way for me not to get nervous. Looked at the list, thought I knew where I was in the call. Was off my horse checking her rear boots, when I heard my name called! I was up. The gal next to me was kind enough to hollar I was there, while I quickly put the last boot back on, up in the saddle and away we went.

Do I go for it?

The big question. My first venture into big time barrel racing, (for me thats where more than 20 barrel racers get together :-) did not go so well. All sorts of reasons and excuses, accept and move forward. Next weekend is another big race and I am going should I? or shouldn't I? Is the horse healthy and sound? Yes, Am I healthy and sound? Sort of LOL. So the thing to do is layout an exercise plan for the week, (don't skip any days) and see if horse is healthy and sound before the race. At the end of the week, do a recheck, is the horse healthy and sound? if yes then go. The reason this is so important is that if your horse is not feeling good and is hurting then it makes it hard for them to perform at their best and it creates a big distraction for you. Going to your first few Big events is not easy. Takes a lot of guts to try so give yourself a break and plan a few tries :-)

Busy Summer

Hi

Did lots of construction style work this summer, great for fitness not so great for riding. Had to really push myself to ride after a day of work, even on the weekends had to push. The consistent riding helped my relationship with both horses, Tessa and BabyDoll. We put in lots of arena time (okay so it was raining so often, about the only place to ride out of the rain was in the arena :-), the positive side of the arena time is it helped Tessa remember that turning a barrel is important. It helped BabyDoll really get the basics down, so the few trail rides we went on where much calmer nicer affairs. More later.

Long Trailer Rides

Successfully Traveled from CO to AK up the Alaska Highway. Traveling 3500 miles gives a person lots of time to think. Its a wonder all long haul truckers are not poets.

Traveling with horses has its own set of extra tasks. First teaching the horses to drink when you offer them water. The old you can lead a horse to water but can't make it drink, can't hold true when traveling. No water equals compaction colic. What do you do? First offer water at every stop, if the horse takes a good long sip, give the horse a treat (food is good) a hay bag is great. Always offer water first and if they drink, great give them their hay. Only give enough hay so that at your next stop the horse is not eating and is ready for some water. A few times of drink up and you get a hay bag. Once the horse realizes a good drink equals hay, they are much more interested in drinking.

I have had one or two try the well I am not thirsty right now, how about my hay trick, don't fall for it. The first time they turn their noses up at water, I consider how much hay the horse has already had that day, and if they have had breakfast, I may wait (not give hay at that stop) till the next stop. If they don't drink and I am concerned about them missing a meal I soak their hay. Nothing liked soaked hay to help a horse decide drinking from a bucket is better.

Traveled Alaska to Florida with a picky drinker, and by the time we reached Florida she was doing great drinking at every stop. I will totally admit my yearling who drank up at every stop helped the horse realize that drinking when offered was the way to lots of treats and praise.

BabyDoll on a trail ride

Sharing about BD's first trailer to trail ride. Every 4-5 days I have been taking BD on a block ride, then when we come back we spend a few minutes in the arena refining basic maneuvers. Decided she was ready for her first trailer ride to a new area trail ride. Invited a friend over and she rode Tessa, BD's dam. We saddled up and trailered to a spot just down the road. BD was calm and easy going about the trip. Because of the ground, I walked her for just a bit. When we got to the nice sandy ground, hoped on and started riding. We basically walked with a little bit of jogging here and there to stay up with Tessa. She did very well on her first creek crossing. I was very happy with her calm attitude about being in a completely new place. And even better (yep it gets better) She showed a bit of understanding that I desired her to walk in a straight manor with light rein contact to change her direction.

She was a little tired toward the end of the ride and the creek crossing coming back I had to get on her case a little to get her to cross, which upset her. Then the puppy unexpectedly rustled some brush behind her and she tossed in a crowhop :-(, so I got on her case lightly again. Now you can think negative or think positive. I would rather think positive, took a deep breath and let it go. Encouraged and allowed her to go back to a positive state so when we arrived back at the trailer she was in a happy to have gone trail riding mood.

The think to take from this is that a bad moment can be let go. Allow yourself to come back to a positive mood will allow your horse to find their good feeling again also.

Need arena time? think outside the box

Sometimes you just have to think outside the box to get something done. Tessa needed arena time to move forward. She did great getting in basic shape by going down the road. It was time to do more cantering and turning, which wasn't working so great going down the road. With winter still lingering, I looked hard for some indoor arena time. Talked to more than one person :-) and came across the information that during the barrel races both local indoors offer a $10 30 minute ride time after the race. Doesn't sound great does it? Except you are allowed to start riding when the arena opens, about an hour before the race, stand around and watch the races, then you get another 30 minutes of ride time. For around an hour and a half of ride time for $10. Actually pretty nice :-). So started hauling Tessa to the indoors on barrel racing nights and days and we are getting our arena time in.

and a side benefit? Tessa is getting used to different arenas, she is much better about walking in a new arena and paying attention to her rider.

Talking of Horses

Was at a really neat meeting the other night, a Mustang Support Group. These folks are putting together some people to help and support mustang owners. While at the meeting one of the people talked about her 2 mustangs, move out down the trail, ready to go, ready to spook at the twitch of an ear, good moving cattle, boy she could have been describing my 2 quarter horses. She also talked about a quarter horse a friend gave her, steady, stops to look at spooky stuff, good moving cattle, a real match for the mustang of the person setting next to her.

Turns all breeds of horses have horses of all temperaments. Just because a horse is a Quarter horse doesn't mean they are calm and steady. Just because a horse is an Arabian doesn't mean they are flighty and spooky. Writing of Arabians, my neighbor, who is 89!, has two Arabs she uses for trail riding and dressage lessons.

When looking at horses take a look at each individual horse. Really think about any disciplines you hope to enjoy with your horse. I dislike admitting it but its the rare mustang that will make a top barrel horse. I have seen a few mustangs make good all around gymkhana horses. Outside of a few distinct events you will find many different breeds can compete at entry to intermediate levels of your chosen discipline.

So why am I writing this, guess it just struck me as funny that 2 spooky mustangs matched 2 quarter horses and 1 non spooky mustang matched a non spooky quarter horse.
Michelle

Playing Around

Do you play around with your horse? I do :-) Finding new things for you and your horse to do is all part of enjoying a long term relationship with your horse. Here is King doing a few of his favorite tricks. YouTube Video We start with a back and move to a bow. King gives Kisses on the check. As you might notice he has a tendency to to do this trick for extra treats. We finish the tricks with a hug. Couldn't resist adding the picture of King enjoying a nap in his hay.

Working Young Horses

Use common sense :-)

If your youngster is out on lots of acreage running around getting exercise, what does your youngster need? Well the basics, leading, feet, brushing, etc. You can do very light training sessions concentrating on the basics.

How about a stall with a paddock or stall with small turn out with another horse. Exercise and the basics. Its all about looking at your options. There are some NO's that are available. No don't lunge for 2 hours. No don't lead them from another horse for 2 hours. No don't do much of the same thing for 2 hours. Young horses are mentally not ready for a 2 hour exercise or training session. But young horses in stalls and paddocks do need exercise.

You go well what are they ready for? Well some non forced turn out time in a large arena? sure. How about a 10-30 minute light lunging session? sure. Leading around the block, sure? all in the same day, probably not.

Its about mixing and matching. Mix and match your training and exercise program to create an opportunity for learning and exercise for development of bone and muscle. First few times leading around the block a youngster may only have the stamina for a half mile or mile. As the youngster grows and gets used to more exercise you may be taking them for 3 or more mile walks. When working on training your youngsters attention span may only be a few minutes, thats okay, as they grow and as you introduce them to training, there attention span will increase.

You may lunge your youngster one day and their attitude might suck, do you stop because (well), you always do 5 times around each way and stop? nope, you are going to keep going (stomping your feet, making faces, show you are not happy with the attitude) and the minute the attitude changes you take the opportunity to stop on a good note.

Okay so things are going BAD, you are at 30 of trying to teach your youngster something and its going no where. Options? First, take a long deep breath and let it out. Second try something the youngster is good at, if they respond nice take the created opportunity and stop for the day. After a good nights rest you can reapproach what you where trying to teach with baby steps.

Michelle