I have never really fed much sweet feed, to any of my horses. Mostly it was Senior Feed, and for a while I did feed OatMo, which I suppose you can consider a sweet feed since it's just oat-hay chopped up with molasses. So, I never really thought much of sweet feed either way, to be honest.
I came upon a coupon for $20 off two bags of Omolene. Any kind of Omolene, but I choose the 200 because it's for performance horses. What could be considered Performance more than Endurance?? Sounded good to me, and it was a great coupon. $21 for two fifty pounds bags of feed. Score!
So, get home and look at the back of the bag. For horses being conditioned, it said something like...seven pounds a day. WHAT? That is excessive to me, and Kandee wasn't completely back into training again so I decided on 3 pounds a day. So, she got her rice bran, flax, Omolene and Alfalfa twice a day.
Fast forward less than a week later [probably about three days at the most]. I have most of the afternoon off, don't have to be into work until 5, and it's absolutely gorgeous out. Sun is up, not too hot, not too cold. Perfect day for riding! Perfect day to start Kandee back up on an easy ride.
My horse is a monster.
Tacking her up, I should have known something was up because she was prancing in place, tossing her head and being just a jerk to work with. I made her flex to the left and right before I got on, because she didn't want to stand still, then I kept her flexed to my saddle while I got on.
Now, horses aren't supposed to really be able to move out/bolt/rear when you have them checked by the bridle. Well...you tell her that. I got my leg over her and she was GONE. She reared [what the hell is UP with that??], then took off. I was not impressed, and I immediately knew what the culprit was. I managed to get her under control, kind of. She was barely manageable, and felt like she was going to absolutely explode underneath me. She had so much energy, she had no idea what to do. Talk about one hot horse, I had no brains with me at all, she was just pure explosiveness.
Now, I don't like that feeling in a horse...not at all. What control I had was a complete facade, merely existing because there was a bit in her mouth and a rider on her back. If she really had wanted to do something, she would have done it and I would have had no say over it.
It took about four miles for her to cool her heels, and then she settled into the most beautiful canter I think she's ever given me. Barely touched the reins, sat back a bit and she stopped on a dime. Hrmm...nice to finally have a horse underneath me instead of a freight train!
The only thing new was the Omolene 200, which I will never be buying again once these bags are finished. I've dropped her to 2lbs a day, and she seems to have adjusted well to that amount.
However, it's been raining for four days now, with no plans of stopping in the next few days.
....Psycho Horse Take 2? We shall see.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Long, long time.
Well, it's been a long time since this thing has been thought of, let alone updated.
I apologize for the lack of updates, I really do. Life just kind of got in the way of updating and...well, that's just the truth of it.
Let's see, where do I begin?
I have three horses now. The only original horse I have left from the start of this blog is my mare, Keno's Cotton Candy. She is a nice horse, a little hot, but nice nonetheless. She is currently being feed leased by my trainer/friend, Lynn. She has picked up a nasty little habit of rearing that we are currently trying to break, but it's a long process. How do you stop a horse from rearing? Backing up, circles, etc isn't helping. I think she's fallen on her head a few too many times. [She doesn't crosstie and will flip over backwards. After three times of her doing so I gave up on her learning to cross tie and now I single-tie.]
I'd like to introduce you to my other two.
Amirah
Amirah is a 5 year old [in May] purebred Arabian mare. She is a gorgeous little [emphasis on little!] mare, and fast. I've clocked her at 39.8 MPH, with more to go in her. I ran out of trail, however, so I had to pull her up. She is my next endurance prospect, and I know she will kick ass. She's had about 4 months of consistent riding, and right now she is being used for my husband to take lessons on. Such an awesome little mare, so quiet and willing to do anything that I ask of her. Spooky lil' thing on the ground, but get on her back and she doesn't bat an eye at anything.
Did I mention that I really, really like this little mare? She has SO much personality! I'll let you guys know how her training progresses. Right now she is at Lynn's house, as well. Kandee is at home because we were going to try to use Kandee for my husband for lessons, but Kandee is too hot.
And now, my next addition:
I apologize for the lack of updates, I really do. Life just kind of got in the way of updating and...well, that's just the truth of it.
Let's see, where do I begin?
I have three horses now. The only original horse I have left from the start of this blog is my mare, Keno's Cotton Candy. She is a nice horse, a little hot, but nice nonetheless. She is currently being feed leased by my trainer/friend, Lynn. She has picked up a nasty little habit of rearing that we are currently trying to break, but it's a long process. How do you stop a horse from rearing? Backing up, circles, etc isn't helping. I think she's fallen on her head a few too many times. [She doesn't crosstie and will flip over backwards. After three times of her doing so I gave up on her learning to cross tie and now I single-tie.]
I'd like to introduce you to my other two.
Did I mention that I really, really like this little mare? She has SO much personality! I'll let you guys know how her training progresses. Right now she is at Lynn's house, as well. Kandee is at home because we were going to try to use Kandee for my husband for lessons, but Kandee is too hot.
And now, my next addition:
FF Khemo Berry Bey
He is a 2001 Chestnut Arabian stallion. I picked him up January 10th, and I am glad that I purchased him. He was purchased as a horse for my husband, as he is wider and taller than Amirah and will be easier for him to ride. However, the CC&R's of the housing association we live in don't allow stallions so he will be gelded. I am tossing the idea of breeding him to Kandee, but haven't reached a decision yet.
He is so nice to ride undersaddle, yet he is very smart and has a tendency to test his riders. I finally got smart, and when he would just stop in the middle of the trail or working and refuse to move forward, I gave him motive to move forward. I have to be a bit cautious and not use too much force with him, but enough will make him realize that he has to listen. Since he finally realized that I am the boss, I haven't had to motivate him to move forward again and we have had a few happy rides.
His canter is so forward and comfortable, as well as his trot. He is going to be an awesome endurance horse, and I'm kind of jealous that he will be my husband's horse instead of mine. However, my husband deserves a nice horse as well so it'll work out in the end.
Plus, my horse is faster :P
I'll definitely be trying to update this as much as possible, but I cannot guarentee anything. I'll also try to put a few endurance articles up here, as well, so anyone who reads this can read them. =)
He is a 2001 Chestnut Arabian stallion. I picked him up January 10th, and I am glad that I purchased him. He was purchased as a horse for my husband, as he is wider and taller than Amirah and will be easier for him to ride. However, the CC&R's of the housing association we live in don't allow stallions so he will be gelded. I am tossing the idea of breeding him to Kandee, but haven't reached a decision yet.
He is so nice to ride undersaddle, yet he is very smart and has a tendency to test his riders. I finally got smart, and when he would just stop in the middle of the trail or working and refuse to move forward, I gave him motive to move forward. I have to be a bit cautious and not use too much force with him, but enough will make him realize that he has to listen. Since he finally realized that I am the boss, I haven't had to motivate him to move forward again and we have had a few happy rides.
His canter is so forward and comfortable, as well as his trot. He is going to be an awesome endurance horse, and I'm kind of jealous that he will be my husband's horse instead of mine. However, my husband deserves a nice horse as well so it'll work out in the end.
Plus, my horse is faster :P
I'll definitely be trying to update this as much as possible, but I cannot guarentee anything. I'll also try to put a few endurance articles up here, as well, so anyone who reads this can read them. =)
Monday, May 12, 2008
Saturday May 10th, 2008
Porscha went down to the sand pits for the first time! :)
Porscha really hasn't been hauled out anywhere to go riding. She's been to my friends house once or twice, but this was a trip specifically down to a place, parking on the road, and riding from there.
She did well, except for wanting to turn herself around in the trailer [and managing it!] a few times. I tied her shorter, and that stopped. She about broke my toe coming out of the trailer. I backed her half way out, she decided she didn't want to come out, so she came back into the trailer, stood on my foot, and squashed me between her fat self and the divider.
Got that all sorted out, then tacked up and went out! She was very snorty and watching everything around her, and spooky. She spooked at a lizard, some concrete, a bush, and a squirrel. Not in any particular order, and sometimes more than once.
She seemed a bit sore [last time she was ridden we got stuck in a barbed wire fence, remeber?] so I didn't ask for more than she wanted to do. We did a lot of trotting because that was her speed of choose, and boy can that girl book it. She loves trotting, and is in her element when she does so.
There was some bright orange plastic construction "fence" [the kind with lots of holes in it] that was on the ground half way, so I decided to walk her over it. She had been very, very spooky at the black solid plastic little barriers that the construction people put up, but didn't seem to mind the BRIGHT orange stuff. So, she starts to step over it, then stops. Then backs up.
Well, as it's basically plastic grid, and has holes in it...it got stuck on her shoe. And well, when she backed up, it was stuck. So...she took off.
And the fence followed us....
I thought I was going to be done with, and on the ground. She just TOOK off, with that fence STUCK ON HER FRONT FOOT! *insert panicked horse here*
*snickers* Now that I look back, it was quite funny, and just adds to the drama that is riding with Porscha. But at the moment in time, it was very scary. It eventually fell off her hoof, and I brought her back down. After that, she decided the black AND orange construction plastic was something that deemed spook-worthy and she avoided it at all costs. *sigh* Silly horse...
We ended up going about 9 miles, not too bad. It was a slow pace, about 2 hours and 15 minutes. But it was all in the sand, so that was completely acceptable to me.
Porscha really hasn't been hauled out anywhere to go riding. She's been to my friends house once or twice, but this was a trip specifically down to a place, parking on the road, and riding from there.
She did well, except for wanting to turn herself around in the trailer [and managing it!] a few times. I tied her shorter, and that stopped. She about broke my toe coming out of the trailer. I backed her half way out, she decided she didn't want to come out, so she came back into the trailer, stood on my foot, and squashed me between her fat self and the divider.
Got that all sorted out, then tacked up and went out! She was very snorty and watching everything around her, and spooky. She spooked at a lizard, some concrete, a bush, and a squirrel. Not in any particular order, and sometimes more than once.
She seemed a bit sore [last time she was ridden we got stuck in a barbed wire fence, remeber?] so I didn't ask for more than she wanted to do. We did a lot of trotting because that was her speed of choose, and boy can that girl book it. She loves trotting, and is in her element when she does so.
There was some bright orange plastic construction "fence" [the kind with lots of holes in it] that was on the ground half way, so I decided to walk her over it. She had been very, very spooky at the black solid plastic little barriers that the construction people put up, but didn't seem to mind the BRIGHT orange stuff. So, she starts to step over it, then stops. Then backs up.
Well, as it's basically plastic grid, and has holes in it...it got stuck on her shoe. And well, when she backed up, it was stuck. So...she took off.
And the fence followed us....
I thought I was going to be done with, and on the ground. She just TOOK off, with that fence STUCK ON HER FRONT FOOT! *insert panicked horse here*
*snickers* Now that I look back, it was quite funny, and just adds to the drama that is riding with Porscha. But at the moment in time, it was very scary. It eventually fell off her hoof, and I brought her back down. After that, she decided the black AND orange construction plastic was something that deemed spook-worthy and she avoided it at all costs. *sigh* Silly horse...
We ended up going about 9 miles, not too bad. It was a slow pace, about 2 hours and 15 minutes. But it was all in the sand, so that was completely acceptable to me.
Look at that trot!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Friday May 1st, 2008
We went for a night ride this evening! Kim picked Kandee and I up at around 6. Kandee got into the trailer with relatively little fuss, which is an improvement to last week where she refused to get in the trailer, and once she did she absolutely panicked and basically tore back out of it like a freight train.
We went with a few other people. I met a new lady, Rebecca, who I like a lot. She is nice and she knows how to ride really well, not to mention her little Paso/Quarter gelding Tony is the cutest! There was also a stallion along for the ride, which irritated me a little bit due to the lack of tact in asking if it was okay with the other horses. Kandee was in a raging heat, so I felt like she was going to explode beneath me. She wanted to get up there and invistage that horse, and I was having a hard time. She just wanted to throw her head up, brace again the bit, and run ahead.
So I finally said screw it, and I told everyone I needed to pass. My little rocket needed to get some steam out of her system. And did she! We hauled ass down in the sand pits [dry river bed] until she felt somewhat normal beneath me. I looked back during my run, and there was a coyote running behind us! It was awesome, and when I pulled up the coyote stopped as well and just looked at us. It was a rather large coyote, but he/she was so gorgeous.
It got really dark [no moon], so we cracked our glow sticks. I ended up going ahead again, because I wanted to trot and canter more. Kandee loved it. And it was so peaceful, the darkness around me, trotting along with just the green glow from the sticks. I loved it, and I think she did as well.
We were out for about three hours, didn't get home until about 11pm. Kandee was a trooper, and I now know that if I have any endurance rides at night, she will be perfect. It was her first time riding in a large group, and she did well and didn't put up a fuss when I asked her to leave the group.
We had to ride the main road in Lakeside to get back, and she didn't even flinch at all the traffic. Kandee is a great horse.
I couldn't get any pictures because well...it was dark and there was no moon. BUT, I did get two pictures before I put on her bridle and got on.
We went with a few other people. I met a new lady, Rebecca, who I like a lot. She is nice and she knows how to ride really well, not to mention her little Paso/Quarter gelding Tony is the cutest! There was also a stallion along for the ride, which irritated me a little bit due to the lack of tact in asking if it was okay with the other horses. Kandee was in a raging heat, so I felt like she was going to explode beneath me. She wanted to get up there and invistage that horse, and I was having a hard time. She just wanted to throw her head up, brace again the bit, and run ahead.
So I finally said screw it, and I told everyone I needed to pass. My little rocket needed to get some steam out of her system. And did she! We hauled ass down in the sand pits [dry river bed] until she felt somewhat normal beneath me. I looked back during my run, and there was a coyote running behind us! It was awesome, and when I pulled up the coyote stopped as well and just looked at us. It was a rather large coyote, but he/she was so gorgeous.
It got really dark [no moon], so we cracked our glow sticks. I ended up going ahead again, because I wanted to trot and canter more. Kandee loved it. And it was so peaceful, the darkness around me, trotting along with just the green glow from the sticks. I loved it, and I think she did as well.
We were out for about three hours, didn't get home until about 11pm. Kandee was a trooper, and I now know that if I have any endurance rides at night, she will be perfect. It was her first time riding in a large group, and she did well and didn't put up a fuss when I asked her to leave the group.
We had to ride the main road in Lakeside to get back, and she didn't even flinch at all the traffic. Kandee is a great horse.
I couldn't get any pictures because well...it was dark and there was no moon. BUT, I did get two pictures before I put on her bridle and got on.
My Chunky Monkey
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Back to riding!
Back to full time riding!
In all actuality, I've been back in California for almost a month now, but I just haven't updated this blog of mine. I'm slacking, and I promise I will get back into it.
Kandee when I arrived home, seemed happy to see me. Needed a lot more weight, but she had gained some while I was gone. So I started her on a ration balancer, along with rice bran and flax. She is off and on with beet pulp, so I fix it for her and if she doesn't eat it I just give it to Porscha.
Porscha is gorgeous, filled out, and sassy. She is going to be my 50+ miler, as she is a trotter. Kandee trots, too, but is more inclined to want to move out at a canter and gallop more than just trotting. Porscha's trot is huge, and we move out. Not to mention the knee action - she'd make a good park horse.
I had to get a new farrier, thanks to mine not calling me back. Kandee was such a hellion last time for shoes, but this time she stood calmly and feel asleep as he pulled her shoes and put on a new set. Porscha had to have a lip chain, but we're working on her and strangers around her feet.
Porscha and I got caught in a barb wire fence, here is the story copy and pasted from the forum I frequent:
Kandee also came up "off" on Tuesday, so I sweated her leg out and she was fine on Wednesday morning. I'm not having the best of luck right now with the horses, hopefully that changes.
Kandee is officially entered in her first Endurance Ride. June 14th [or is it 9th?] Descanso 25 mile LD. I'm not sure how well we'll do, but we're going to try our hardest. =)
In all actuality, I've been back in California for almost a month now, but I just haven't updated this blog of mine. I'm slacking, and I promise I will get back into it.
Kandee when I arrived home, seemed happy to see me. Needed a lot more weight, but she had gained some while I was gone. So I started her on a ration balancer, along with rice bran and flax. She is off and on with beet pulp, so I fix it for her and if she doesn't eat it I just give it to Porscha.
Porscha is gorgeous, filled out, and sassy. She is going to be my 50+ miler, as she is a trotter. Kandee trots, too, but is more inclined to want to move out at a canter and gallop more than just trotting. Porscha's trot is huge, and we move out. Not to mention the knee action - she'd make a good park horse.
I had to get a new farrier, thanks to mine not calling me back. Kandee was such a hellion last time for shoes, but this time she stood calmly and feel asleep as he pulled her shoes and put on a new set. Porscha had to have a lip chain, but we're working on her and strangers around her feet.
Porscha and I got caught in a barb wire fence, here is the story copy and pasted from the forum I frequent:
We just cannot catch a break, or at least Porscha can't. I think I need to change her name to "Badluck Pony".Things are okay now. There is a bit of swelling on her leg, but I had her sit with an ice boot on this morning for 30 minutes, and it looks better. I'll probably ice it again tonight, and then sweat it out next week.
I was on my way home from a short trail ride [only 7 miles], and we were almost home, about 2 miles out. We were cantering [think western pleasure canter, it was nice and slow] up this wide trail. It has houses on the right, and an old barbed wire fence on the left. I've ridden this trail for over 15 years, and have never had a problem.
Something spooked Porscha, which is odd because Porscha usually doesn't spook at "natural" things like rabbits, birds, etc, she saves it for things like ballons and whatnot.
Anyways, I think a rabbit took off under her feet, and she jumped sideways. Into the fence. We crashed into the fence, which was more like it. We promptly went down, and Porscha was stuck.
She got her head and neck stuck and intertwined in the top and middle twines of wire, then her whole body slid and went under the last wire. And let me tell you - she was STRUGGLING.I was scared shitless, and I was STUCK on her because my leg was under her left side. There was nothing I could do except try to stay away from the wire, while she struggled. I asked her to WHOA, and she hesitated for a second or two, then just lost it again.
Finally, the top two wires broke [very very old, rusty barbed wire] and she managed to get up and only have her feet tangled up in it. She pulled away, and I just closed my eyes and prayed nothing was ripped clean through.
Finally got to her feet, and I jumped off. My heart was beating so loud, and I thought I was going to die. She had gotten the wire wrapped around her hocks, but it broke away when she really pulled. Then I looked at her front left and my heart sank because it took a big chunk out, and you could see white.
Porscha stood there panting, and I just sat in the middle of the trail and bawled. I had no service on my phone, and I didn't know what to do.
Finally got up and we walked very, very slowly home. Ran into a neighbor who used to be a vet, and he's been riding for over 65 years. He used to work at the King Ranch. But anyways, it was total luck he was in his yard. I was on the phone crying to my best friend, and he commented on my hot pink half chaps, and I got off the phone and told him what happened.
He picked up her leg and looked at it [Porscha actually let a stranger pick up her leg!!!!!!!!!] and said it barely missed the important stuff. So he brought me up to his barn, and put Corona on it for me.
Her back legs didn't go deep, just a bunch of gouges but nothing near anything major. She ripped her muzzle pretty good, and I had blood all over me from that, but otherwise she's relatively okay...
I almost had a heart attack. I was crying the whole way home. And my poor horse was so good for everything, even the tetanus shot. She kept nuzzling me as we were walking, because I had my arm over her neck while I was walking, looking at me like,"What in the world are you crying about?"
*sniffles* I'm still upset. My poor horse. I'm just so lucky it was old wire, and broke so easily. We almost flipped over it, but she got tangled and pulled down.
Anyways, this is in health because I was wondering what else should I do. I put triple antibiotic ointment on all the other cuts and scrapes, corona on the bad leg.
Kandee also came up "off" on Tuesday, so I sweated her leg out and she was fine on Wednesday morning. I'm not having the best of luck right now with the horses, hopefully that changes.
Kandee is officially entered in her first Endurance Ride. June 14th [or is it 9th?] Descanso 25 mile LD. I'm not sure how well we'll do, but we're going to try our hardest. =)
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Hiatus
Unfortunately, I am back in North Carolina for a while. My husband is leaving to go back to Iraq for another deployment, and I must be here for him when he leaves. No doubt I'd love to have my horses here as well, but my husband comes first and foremost so they are in California.
I will be back in California sometime in April, hopefully the beginning. But leaning more towards the middle of April. And then I will have plenty of time to torture the ponies with more trail riding adventures.
Until then, I have to rely on my grandmother and Kim to keep me updated on the well-being of my horses. But this will be a well deserved break for them [Kandee at least, Porscha is the least traumatized as she was only ridden on the trail twice by me] and they should be refreshed and ready to go by the time I get back.
I wanted to do a chart on all my rides on Kandee, just to show how much I have ridden her. Keep in mind she was broke on the 26th of January, 2008. And this is what I have so far:
And you want to know my MILEAGE? This is the kicker, right here, that shows you how much I ride my horses:
I will be back in California sometime in April, hopefully the beginning. But leaning more towards the middle of April. And then I will have plenty of time to torture the ponies with more trail riding adventures.
Until then, I have to rely on my grandmother and Kim to keep me updated on the well-being of my horses. But this will be a well deserved break for them [Kandee at least, Porscha is the least traumatized as she was only ridden on the trail twice by me] and they should be refreshed and ready to go by the time I get back.
I wanted to do a chart on all my rides on Kandee, just to show how much I have ridden her. Keep in mind she was broke on the 26th of January, 2008. And this is what I have so far:
Total Hours Ridden: 29.5
| 2/25/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | trail | 2.8 hrs |
| 2/23/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | Trail | 3.0 hrs |
| 2/17/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | trail | 4.3 hrs |
| 2/15/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | Trail | 2.5 hrs |
| 2/13/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | Trail | 2.0 hrs |
| 2/10/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | trail | 1.5 hrs |
| 2/8/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | Trail | 2.0 hrs |
| 2/7/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | Trail | 2.0 hrs |
| 2/2/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Sloan Canyon back up to Alpine | Trail | 4.5 hrs |
| 1/26/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | Trail Riding | 4.0 hrs |
| 1/25/08 | KENOS COTTON CANDY | IAHA | 349620 | Alpine, CA | Trail Riding | 1.0 hrs |
And you want to know my MILEAGE? This is the kicker, right here, that shows you how much I ride my horses:
67.17 Miles since January 25th
Not too bad. *grin* And I do believe there was one ride I don't have in there, because I forgot to take my GPS with me, but it was probably about 5 miles.
And that was a good starting point for her. Some will argue and say I ride her too much, but she doesn't seem to mind. She walks right up to my in the pasture, she'll nicker at me - if she wasn't happy, she'd let me know.
Until April, my friends.
Not too bad. *grin* And I do believe there was one ride I don't have in there, because I forgot to take my GPS with me, but it was probably about 5 miles.
And that was a good starting point for her. Some will argue and say I ride her too much, but she doesn't seem to mind. She walks right up to my in the pasture, she'll nicker at me - if she wasn't happy, she'd let me know.
Until April, my friends.
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