Vocabulary Sunday

IMPACTION COLIC
Colic caused by a blockage in the intestines. Hardened feces may block the passage, or an enterolith.

IMPRINTING
Training a newborn foal. Usually the foal is handled and petted all over at birth, the feet are picked up and tapped on, the mouth and inside the ears are pet, and sometimes the foal is exposed to loud noises. All of this 'imprints' the foal so that when it is older it will not be afraid of these things. Usually this training is done within an hour of birth, then the foal is left to bond with and nurse its mother.

INBREEDING
The act of breeding related horses to one another to try to develop a certain trait. This can preserve or enhance specific traits, but if done too much can create weaker animals. Inbreeding in any species results in less genetic diversity, leaving organisms less able to adapt. The results of too much inbreeding can be seen in many show horses today that have conformational defects or over-enhanced traits that sacrafice the rest of the body.

IN FRONT OF THE BIT
When a hosre is hanging on the bit and pulling on the rider's hands.

JIBBING
Describing a vice where the horse will balk and sometimes back up when asked to move forward.

KAIMANAWA
A breed of horse that lives wild in New Zealand. The name means "Eat the wind" in Maori. This is a small, hardy breed of horse that was first reported in 1876, and descended from Exmoor and Welsh pony stock brought to the island in the early 1800's. In 1941, the mounted rifle cavalry units at Waiouru released several horses when a Strangles epidemic threatened. In 1960, an Arabian stallion was turned loose.These feral horses stand 12.2-15 hands high. They are strong, sure-footed, and very intelligent. They are domesticated and used in a variety of showing disciplines.

KISSING SPINE
Kissing spine is a painful disorder in which the horse's vertabrae touch each other because the horse's back is curved downward, sometimes caused by excessive back stress such as a heavey rider. Chiropractic treatment can help to reduce the stress that builds up in the joints surrounding the affected area and will also help in relieving some of the pain associated with this problem.

KOUMISS (or KUMISS)
A drink made of fermented mare's milk, used by the Tartar tribes of Central Asia. “Kumiss is still prepared from mare’s milk by the Calmucks and Nogais, who, during the process of making it, keep the milk in constant agitation.”—Rawlinson: Herodotus, vol. iii. book iv. p. 2.

KULAN (or KOULAN)
Scientific name Equus hemionus luteus, also called Turkmenian or Mongolian wild ass. The kulan is a rare race of wild Asian Ass (the others are the kiang, onager, and ghorkhar) that lives in Northeast Asia. They are smaller than the African asses.They are endangered because livestock are taking over their feeding grounds and they are hunted for their meat and hides. The Asian wild ass typically has a sandy-colored coat with lighter-colored legs and belly, a short erect black mane, a black spinal stripe, and a black tail tuft.

Freedom seems to have lost his butt

Today we had a visit from an equine therapist. We all got the once over to check our alignment and nutritional needs. The DOR found it very interesting. I found it delightful because the therapist loved my butt.

Freedom has been having a bit of trouble with his hind end off and on for about a year now. Sometimes his hips are out a bit. The DOR had a chiropractor get everything back in line. At Freedom's age it doesn't take much to throw things out again. Well an interesting discovery was made today...sometime between this morning and two days ago Freedom has lost his butt, actually he seems to have lost his right hind leg...he doesn't seem to know it is there. We know it happened in the last couple of days because the DOR had his standing on it while she picked out his left rear hoof. Today if you picked up his left rear he would sink and sit down...he can't support any weight on it. He is also dragging it, this is the same horse who gingerly picked his way over all of the props around the hay pile without dinging a single one.

The photo is of Freedom out on an orienteering ride, the old fart just about did himself into the ground. He didn't want to go slow and take things easy. What I am wondering is how he could forget that spotted butt is back there or even forget about half of it? Seems like he would at least notice it following him around. The DOR teases that Freedom is getting senile, but even a senile horse should know he has a butt. The therapist worked with him for a bit and it seemed to help. Freedom picked his tail back up and started putting a bit more of the load on his right hind, poor left leg is going to get pooped out if the right leg doesn't start carrying its own weight-what will he do then? Freedom now has a physical therapy routine that he needs to do. I am laughing a bit about that because he is an opinionated of fart and the DOR is going to have her hands full getting him to do some of the things he is supposed to do. The therapist will be back in four weeks to check on how things are going.

We all got told we have to move around more. The DOR was saying she is going to come out each evening and chase us around the pasture for 20 minutes before we get to eat. Well good luck with that, I don't think the DOR can run us around for that long-she isn't in that good of shape. Maybe the therapist is having the DOR make us move so she gets in better shape, the therapist is just being kind saying we need the exercise. Between the 20 minute aerobic exercise, bending to pick out all of our feet everyday, and throw in moving hay bales around for us the DOR is going to be a new woman come spring. Yep that is it, all of us horses are running a gym for the DOR...we should be charging her for all of this individual fitness coaching that she is getting.

All in all it was a great day! The DOR hung out with us from 8:30 am until 5:10 pm. She got a bunch of "horsey time" and that makes her happy.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

My virtual trail ride

I went on a virtual trail ride today courtesy of Middle of the road,
The leader of the trail ride was PC Pony Girl, with her favorite trail pony, My Boy. My Boy is a lovely appy too! We were joined by C-ing Spots , Latigo Liz , and Sunnysd .
To the horse who followed me I appologize for the fact that you had to stare at my butt all day. The DOR had on her regalia, so what you see in the photo is not what they stared at all day, but it was also her backside along with mine. I also apologize for any road apples that I left, but I ate too much before the ride and couldn't help it.

The DOR was wearing this dress. It is a beaded wedding dress. I am not sure what the point of wearing a wedding dress was, she is already married to the best guy in the world. I think it is the only beaded dress she had handy.

She couldn't make up her mind which fan to carry, so she brought them both. She hung the fly whip on the saddle horn, just in case the mosquitoes were a pain. She threatened to bring the paddle, I think she was trying to tell me to be good.
I wore my side-pull bridle.
I was saddled with a western saddle, the DOR won't ride trails bareback, and had a wool pad with a fringed blanket over it.
Our ride leader took us on a wonderful trip through Douglas firs. I was on the look out for blue tarps, I hear the ride leader's horse has been spotted wearing one a time or two and I didn't want him surprising me with one stashed on the trail. We had smooth trails, gentle climbs, and lunch served in a meadow complete with teepees. We headed back down the mountain to the rest of our friends. We enjoyed a wonderful Italian meal and lovely beverages. The DOR was warned to stay away from the "fire water", something about it causing possible silly behavior. I don't know what she was worried about, she had already ridden through the forest in a wedding dress flapping a fan.
The DOR broke out her peace pipe and offered to share. She thought that making peace with anyone behind us was a good idea.
I want to thank Saddle Mountain Rider for allowing us to be a "Pony Cousin" for a day and putting together a wonderful virtual trail ride for us. The DOR and I had a great time!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

The DOR goes visiting

The DOR got to visit her two horses who are in Ellensburg yesterday. She was really excited to spend some time with these guys. The big varnished roan appy is Hank Astin, he is also know as Hank the Tank and Hankamus Tankamus. Hank was in training with the CWU equestrian team. He was doing well jumping, but after a period of time it became evident that while he loved to jump he could not do it everyday without tearing his body apart. So now he is hanging out, helping raise an orphan foal and giving lessons. The DOR and Hank play parelli games and then he gets his favorite spot scratched until he just about falls over.


Who wouldn't love a face like this? Hank will be giving lessons to the DOR's niece and nephew (who live in Ellensburg) next spring. He will most likely return back here and hit the trails this summer. Hank is fearless on the trails, nothing bothers him, and he loves to go out for a long ride.

This is Scooby, he is the DOR's blind appy. She says he is the smoothest horse she has ever ridden-that hurts a bit to hear, but I am working on collecting myself. Scooby has been raising an orphan foal for the past five months. The reason that he is in Ellensburg is the DOR is pretty sure that she would ride him if he was still here and that is not a safe thing anymore because Scooby occasionally has panic attacks. The last one he had when they went out for a ride resulted in a few broken bones in the DOR's left hand.

Scooby knows when the DOR is around because he recognizes the lavender scent she wears. He is always happy to see her. Scooby and the DOR do a bit of groundwork, she gives him massages, and rubs his eyes (which is his all time favorite thing)

The little head you see peeking over Hanks ginormous butt is Hildalgo, the orphan that Hank and Scooby are raising. Everyone gets lots of carrots and Altoids before she leaves.

The DOR went to a board meeting for a rescue she works with after her visit. There are so many horses who need help right now. People are not able or willing to take care of them for a variety of reasons. People need to realize the horse market stinks right now and quit breeding their horses. They also need to step up and do the right thing for their aging and crippled horses rather than just trying to pawn the duty off onto someone else.

I am glad I live where I do. We have everything we need and want. We have plenty of food and attention. We are treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.

I encourage my readers to research their local rescue and help out if they can. Buy some hay, donate money to an account set up with the vet they use, pay the farrier to work on a few feet. You can even donate some time doing chores, grooming, or just visiting the horses. Your life will be blessed by the time you spend with a horse and your time will be a blessing to a horse.

Well I am off to make Harley move. Part of his rehab program is making sure he walks enough to strengthen up his heels...I am really good at that part of his rehab.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

I'm a dirty boy!

Yep, it is true I am a dirty boy...

The DOR is embarrassed by my messiness, but heck it is part of life. I always wonder why people don't share more photos of the everyday aspect of us horses. Sometimes we are sparkling clean and other days we look like walking mud holes...it is all just a part of life.

The DOR brushes me each night and I look like this the very next day. It has been raining and muddy for the past week here. I have to roll and waller in the stuff, it is sooo much fun. If you think I look bad you should see Salty the Wonder Horse, the white guy, he is looking like a mud ball right now.

I have been trying to convince the DOR that I am an Indian war pony (don't I look like the horse in the painting?) and that I am just wearing my warpaint. After an American Indian warrior dressed for war, he often painted his favorite war pony with the same pattern and colors he used for his own face and body and his weapons. A painted pony or horse always carried a message about his rider and sometimes about the quality of the animal bearing the marks. Each symbol had its own specific meaning and the purpose was determined by the nature of the dangerous job which the horse would be asked to do. So this would mean that my DOR runs around muddy too. She isn't buying it, she says I am just a dirty horse who likes wearing mud-yep she has it, I love being dirty.
Please support me in my wish to be dirty, send in your photos of your dirty horses...I need to prove I am not the only dirty horse in the world.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR