Entries Tagged as 'Random Musings'

Martha Wins it All at the NFR

Welcome back!

Lindsay Sears shared the limelight with her horse, Martha, as the pair won the 2008 barrel racing title in Las Vegas at the NFR this past weekend. Martha and Lindsay clinched the title in Round 8 by moving far enough ahead to secure the title. The good mare challenged the arena record several times during the week and won the hearts of many in the audience with her efforts.

The YouTube video below shows Lindsay and Martha making a run in 13.56 seconds during the 7th performance.

Just search for “Martha” and “barrel racing” on the internet and stories and comments abound from people who have seen her compete throughout the year.

Martha makes you feel good just watching her run. What a horse!

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Tags: Random Musings, Rodeo, Success Stories by totalhorse
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Farm Bureau Equine Seminar - Lameness

The Farm Bureau Equine Seminar had a Horse Lameness panel speak briefly about diagnosing lameness in horses, and then answer audience questions on specific lameness issues. The panel consisted of Dr. Sarah Schreiber, her husband Dr. Mark Schreiber , and Beth Blevins.

Ms. Blevins stated that she almost always starts by checking the horse’s hooves when lameness is an issue, since 95% of lameness comes from hoof problems. Also, moving the horse at a trot in a circle will help identify which leg or foot is affected since the legs on the inside of the circle get the most stress. Sometimes it can be helpful to actually video the horse as it trots in a circle, and then play the video back, at slower speeds if possible, to better observe the problem.

Another method of diagnostics mentioned by Dr. Sarah Schreiber included flexing muscles and joints for a short period of time and then noticing if it affects the horse’s lameness. If so, they know to zero in on that particular area.

Dr. Mark Schreiber said that it is impractical to use radiographs or X-rays as a diagnostic tool before isolating the area that is the problem because of the expense, and because of the fact that they might turn up irregularities that were not actually causing the problem. Isolating the lameness area is the first step and then they can move on to x-rays or ultasound. X-rays are more for bone and joint problems, while ultrasound will do a better job with soft tissue problems.

The panel ansered questions from the audience afterwards. Many of the questions involved correct shoeing, natural balance shoeing, and types of shoes. horse lameness panel at Farm Bureau equine seminarDr. Sarah Schreiber took a common sense approach to the shoeing questions, stating that she had seen cases where many different types of shoeing and shoes were successful, but that it depended a lot on the individual horse, their conformation, type of use, etc. as to what would be successful.

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Tags: Horse Health, Random Musings by totalhorse
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2012 Controversial Olympic Equestrian Location

2012 Olympic equine events are likely to be held at London’s Greenwich Park, following positive findings by a government study hired to look into the situation. The proposed site of the 3 equine events, dressage, jumping, and eventing, has been the subject of much controversy by opponents of the plan who are concerned about possible damage to the historic gardens. The Olympic organizing committee has countered by promising to repair any damages and minimize disruption to the Park.

However, opponents feel that the four mile course which winds through much of the Greenwich Park’s historic flower gardens will require many flower gardens and shrubs to be moved, and possibly irreparably damaged. The 350 year old chestnut trees lining the park will probably have to be pruned in order for the riders to gallop through them. Comments have been made questioning the wisdom of substantially pruning these old trees when signs currently in the Park offer criminal charges to chestnut-pickers.

Also affected by the Equestrian events will be the Park’s boating pond which will be turned into a water jump. Other locations which have been suggested for the Olympic Equestrian events include Woolwich Common, Windsor Park, and Blenheim Palace. Greenwich Park is apparently considered to be the most cost-effective.

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Tags: Random Musings by totalhorse
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Aaaah……the Smell of a Warm Horse!!

I love the smell of a warm horse. I don’t mean the hot sweaty smell of a horse that has been worked, although that has its own appeal. I mean the smell of a horse basking in the sunshine and radiating a kind of warm contentment.

Our weather is beautiful right now, sunny and warm with just the hint of fall in the air. It’s one of my Buckskin coltfavorite times of year, and I think the horses must like it too.

As I walked throught the corral yesterday, I noticed the fall smells - the dried grasses, warm ground, and …..aaah,…..warm horses. Their hair is starting to get a little thicker as the nights get cooler, and they really seem to enjoy soaking up the sun during these beautiful fall days. As Sis nudged me to get attention I noticed that her eyes were half closed, and her lower lip drooped in mellow enjoyment of the day.

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Tags: Horse behavior, Random Musings by totalhorse
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Horse Slaughter Bill

I love horses. I’ve lived around them most of my life, and they have been a big part of my life. But, I strongly oppose the so-called “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act”. I have no doubt that the people behind this bill meant well, but unknowingly they have placed US horse owners in a predicament and horses themselves in danger.

What happens to all the unwanted horses if there is no place to sell them? There may be as many as 100,000 unwanted horses in the US each year. A humane and federally-regulated euthanasia option for owners of unwanted horses was taken away when the last U.S. slaughter facility closed its doors. Is it worse to send horses to a regulated slaughter plant than it is to allow them to die slowly of starvation and neglect? What do we do about the disposal of all the 1000-1200 pound carcasses if the horses are euthanized by local veterinarians?

Go to QuarterHorseNewsfor more information on this bill, which is up for a vote on September 10th. There is a list of Congressmen with emails. Please help defeat this bill, for the good of all the horses.

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Tags: Daily Horse Life, Random Musings by totalhorse
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Contacts from satisfied horse customers

I love to get phone calls from satisfied horse customers. We raise and sell a lot of weanlings and young horses every year, and in most cases we never see those horses again. Then, years later we may get a call asking if we have more of that particular bloodline.

I got a call earlier in the week like that. We had sold some colts at an auction several years ago, and coltsa rancher about 300 miles away bought several. They are turning out real nice to ride and have good dispositions so he is interested in buying a few more this year.

Of course he had various specifications regarding sex, color and size but hopefully we will be able to come up with a few that will meet his needs. It just brings such a warm feeling to talk to a satisfied customer!

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