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 | Posted On: May 02 2008 At: 4:43:58 PM | | | Reply Link |
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It sounds to me like he maybe "cinchy" try a loose girth and like Anne said move him around before you get on. If that does not work call me and we will come over to see what is going on.
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| Posted On: May 07 2008 At: 05:11:52 AM | | | Reply Link |
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Hi There --
I had been reading about Leo's mystery issue and this morning received the latest "The Horse" email ( a horse health publication). I am posting the article here as the last bit about FEET and the girth seemed very strange, but interesting. Good Luck!
Excessive Girthiness
by: Jay Addison, DVM
January 01 2004, Article # 4823
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Q: I start young Thoroughbreds for racing, and occasionally I work with a horse that gets really "girthy." Some even get to the point of falling down, and others get a hump in their backs as if they are going to explode. Can you tell me why this happens, what it is called, and what I can do to prevent it? Vale
A: We see two distinct responses when comparing yearlings and 2-year-olds in the beginning of their breaking period to older horses at the track. Imagine the fear a young horse must experience upon being saddled and girthed the first time. Evolution has prepared him for a response to fear of the unknown with the "flight or fight" response.
I am sure that, in the horse's mind, this is a simplified version of a more complex response to another form of restraint. The weight of the saddle and confinement of the girth must be perceived as restraint, at least in the early stages of training. Therefore, we might expect to see a release of both adrenalin and endorphin. A name for the resulting behavior would be fear- or pain-induced aggression.
To minimize such behavior, start the horse in a stall or small round pen using just the saddle and progress to a surcingle buckled loosely. Gradually work up to a saddle with a girth. Care should be taken to make sure the saddle or a heavily padded surcingle does not slide beneath the horse. It is also a good idea to first stretch the forelimbs after loosely buckling the girth and give the horse a few turns around the barn before tightening the girth.
The other type of response I see is in "girthy" horses that are exhibiting a pain response. These horses come out of stalls after being tacked as if their feet are tied together, exhibiting a gait similar to a horse with severe bilateral (in both front or hind feet) hoof pain--the "walking on eggshells" gait. After a few turns around the shed row, they generally begin to walk normally. I've found that these horses are actually suffering from some sort of foot pain. Often they have coffin joint pain or deep pain in other structures not responsive to hoof testers. Thorough examination, which might include diagnostic blocking and/or intra-articular joint therapy, will confirm this diagnosis. The horses I often see with this condition have underrun heels, which, when corrected, alleviates the pain.
Why do these horses respond in this manner when girthed? I've observed that an area along the heart girth slightly above the point of the elbows, appearing as a small depression in the lateral thorax, is very responsive to palpation on them. Although not fully understood, the connection seems to be that the girth exerts pressure here and the horses respond as if in extreme foot pain. A foam channel under the girth can alleviate the condition. Again, stretching the forelimbs out in front of the horse once the girth is tightened can also help. It is always wise to have your veterinarian perform an examination to determine the underlying cause and help avoid further discomfort.
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Sherrill
"Use what talents you possess -- the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke |
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| Posted On: May 23 2008 At: 5:42:12 PM | | | Reply Link |
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it's time for an update! i had a friend come out to help me figure out what was up with leo. i checked and re-checked everything and kept a looser girth. we did notice that because of his body shape...not quite up to weight....when cinched up to where it is snug under him we can get our whole hand in on the side! the saddle didnt seem to be slipping so we left it like that. HE DID PERFECT!! so i guess it may have been the girth even though it is a soft fuzzy one. or just a fluke cause he was fine today and he hadn't been tacked up in almost 3 weeks.
here he is...
he is looking good....gaining weight slow and steady. loved getting groomed today and the pawing has stopped completely. getting weight on him has been a trick though....bugger!....i first added weight gain powder and he would pick up his bucket and shake it and make it all go to the bottom and leave it! then i figured "I'll show you!" i added oil so it would stick to his feed....took a few mouthfulls, spit them out and then proceeded to eat the dry stuff on bottom! so i am daily trying to outsmart him with the weight stuff! lol
here is another pic from today...
i took the lead off him once we figured out he was his old self and
we took him through the trail and woods i have. he was a bit nervous but i was on the ground walking so he followed. when we got to the creek and the whole 2 inches of water in it...he acted like i wanted him to walk through fire....well buddy, i still remember when you went into the freezing cold water with ann so this wasn't gonna work...lol he finally, on the third try went right through. then acted like "Did you see what i just did??!!!" he is such a good boy. the rest of the ride was great. on the road he is steady as a rock. when we got back we put him on the lunge and worked on trotting. well we tried to work on trotting....my friend is gonna be sore tomorrow! she was on him urging him on. 
[url=http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/jmeyerpet/leonidas/?action=view¤t=5-23-08004.flv] [/url]
vet came to see him the other day....she is loving him. gave him a thumbs up on evaluation. he gets his booster shots in a month and a sheath cleaning. he was an angel for her. when she asked where i got him and i told her saddlebred rescue, she said "Oh, he's one of neila's angels." it was Dr. susan turk.
so now we have the dentist to get through next month and i think he has been checked out by everyone for everything!
thank you again for entrusting my family with this angel! he is amazing. watching him become "himself" is a journey that i have the priveledge to take with him.
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http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/jmeyerpet/argento/gentoandkara032-1.jpg[/IMG]
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| Posted On: May 23 2008 At: 6:02:33 PM | | | Reply Link |
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With the pictures stories AND videos your are every SBR addicts DREAM!!!
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| Posted On: May 23 2008 At: 7:24:43 PM | | | Reply Link |
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i wish i had my camera this morning...i woke up and was making coffee and i looked out the window and there is gento and kara doing their dance.........this is their dance of love.....in the mean time i quick look for leo and there he is in the top area, with his head pressed in the corner.....standing stock still.....and i swear i could hear him saying....."I don't see anything, do you see anything? i swear i dont see anything....." and no he wasnt talking to himself, he had the crazy goat up there with him! so gento does his thing and leo is trying to peak around without being noticed! i swear between the three of them and the goat i got stories that would curl your hair!
and yes...when the vet comes out next month we are drawing blood to test his testosterone. how long are mares pregnant for????
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http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/jmeyerpet/argento/gentoandkara032-1.jpg[/IMG]
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| Posted On: May 23 2008 At: 9:59:51 PM | | | Reply Link |
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11 months
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| Anne |
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| Posted On: May 23 2008 At: 10:18:08 PM | | | Reply Link |
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Love the updates! Such pretty pictures and video, keep up the good work and have fun with him this weekend.
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| Posted On: May 24 2008 At: 01:27:51 AM | | | Reply Link |
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This is just a wild guess, but can't hurt to see if this could be part of his intermittent blowups? Most Western saddles are very wide in front, not always the best thing for a high withered saddlebred, and I noticed that (probably because of that) you have two pads under the saddle. What I did not see was any air space between his withers and the front of the pad. Have you ever tried 'tenting up' the pad in an inverted Vee, with someone holding it up off of his withers and keeping it that way, while you tighten the cinch? The thought occurred to me that it could actually be pad pushing down on withers pressure causing trouble.
Nealia is an honest to goodness expert on Saddlebreds in Western tack, among her many other expert level ares of knowledge, so I hope she will chime in on this topic. I do know that National Bridle Shop has an entire line of what they call the Tennessean Western saddles, either in all leather or in leather/cordura, that are built on what they call a gaited tree. Might be worth looking at what they have available.
Jeanie
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[ Edited by: sdlbredfan on May 24 2008 01:29:34 AM ] |
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| Posted On: May 24 2008 At: 01:34:37 AM | | | Reply Link |
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Quote:
Originally posted by nikko
how long are mares pregnant for????
As I sit here with Trixie on foal watch, day 342 has come and gone! We are working on Day 349..  . and still counting
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[ Edited by: KMelious on May 24 2008 01:35:47 AM ] |
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Kathy Melious
Jansal Saddlebreds |
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| Posted On: May 24 2008 At: 04:19:59 AM | | | Reply Link |
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hey4horses--gonna be gorgeous this weekend, so we will enjoy. mostly groundwork for me though. gento is the only one i will ride with no stirups though...lol
jeanie....we have been using the 2 pads cause he is still a bit boney under there. i will try the tenting idea though! thanks. in really checking the saddle yesterday, everything seems to be sitting where it should. no rub spots anywhere. but if its a fit issue, then saddle shopping i go!
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http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/jmeyerpet/argento/gentoandkara032-1.jpg[/IMG]
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| Posted On: May 24 2008 At: 8:51:06 PM | | | Reply Link |
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leather ones but the fuzzy one you are using should be fine.
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| Posted On: May 25 2008 At: 10:37:10 PM | | | Reply Link |
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i am not sure if i just did the dumbest thing of my life, or was part of a miracle.
our neighbors had a bbq today for memorial day and i dealt with the usual party goers comming up to the fences and horses. one even brought his pit bull, off leash to visit! isnt that special! horses were edgy all day. well about an hour and a half ago the fireworks started. it was mayhem...horses charging like mad cause the morters and rockets were going off over their pasture. grabbed my shoes and ran out. hubby and son right behind me. they were charging and galloping like mad. i really thought i might lose one to the fence...it was that bad. my pasture can be split off into two areas, at one point kara charged out and gento and leo stayed in the smaller area. that is when i really got nervous, when they got separated. they were running the fencline trying to figure out how to get back together. they were more crazed than i ever saw them. i don't know what i was thinking, other than i have to do something....i grabbed the lead line and climbed through the fence. pitch black, fireworks going off, horses grunting and snorting, and i walked right up to Leo and gently put the lead thru his halter.(just looped it for a quick release if needed) i gently walked him away from the others to calm him. he was tense. kinda looked like this only taller! i spoke to him, and watched as his ear turned to me. he looked into my eyes and i softly told him how he came from a bloodline of famous war horses. that the noises he heard were their hooves in the heavens calling out to him....he softened. i continued to softly speak to him and i realized the others were right behind him. standing quietly! the rockets went off again and he just stood, tall and proud, and not shaking. we walked around with me talking to him and the others following. bright blasts and loud booms going off right above us and me and my herd, with leo in front calmly walking the field. i realized nicky was standing at the fence sobbing because he was so scared for them. i walked over with leo and leo put his head down so nicky could pet him. nicky crying and leo rubbing into his hand. they all remained calm and eventually it stopped. leo in my hand and NEVER once took a misstep no matter what blew up over our heads! he managed to calm my other two down and they all just followed us.
well its my turn, i am typing with tears streaming down my face because i realize now how dangerous this was but i just knew when i grabbed that lead rope to get Leo. he is my newest horse, i have the least bond with him, but i knew, i knew he would do this. i knew i was safe. i knew my other two would never have done this....i think my family got to see up close and personal tonight the miracle of owning a saddlebred! Leo is my hero tonight. he quietly kept my herd safe. he quietly let me know i am his...................... 
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http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/jmeyerpet/argento/gentoandkara032-1.jpg[/IMG]
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| Posted On: May 26 2008 At: 2:17:26 PM | | | Reply Link |
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nikko I just read your post from last night--it gave me chills...
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~It's a lot like nuts and bolts - if the rider's nuts, the horse bolts! ~ ~Nicholas Evans |
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