Dusty's Progress

[Marsha Cassada]

I was able to take Dusty out in the cart for a short session yesterday. It's the first time he's been in the cart for a month. Tried to check all the adjustments to make sure everything lay on him properly. We just did a little maneuvering close to home, at a walk, and he seemed to be doing just fine. No unnatural pulling in either direction.

Also, when we did our preliminary stretches, he was able to extend his left front leg out fully now. Before the chiropractor, there was always a slight bend at the knee in that leg.

With the weather cooling off a little, I'm hoping to get some road work in.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Today was Dusty's first long drive. He was pretty lively! Including the pasture driving, roadwork and arena he probably went about 3 miles. He went straight as an arrow without a hint of pulling right or left. Glad I took him to the chiropractor!

 

[Shortpig]

That's great he sounds like he is doing so great now. Isn't it great when it works out and all comes together.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I had Dusty in the cart yesterday. I wish I could have someone else drive him so I could see him move. He seems to me to have a long strided trot; the cart just seems to float. Today I was walking another horse and went over the same route as Dusty in the cart. It was interesting to see his tracking. I think it was a good sign that quite often his prints were on top of each other or overlapping. Not consistantly, but at least I feel as though he is learning how to use his body.

At 35", he is about 2 inches taller than my other horse and I can't believe how much smoother of a ride it is with a larger horse. I had a 29" horse at one time, and won't ever go back to that small. Taller is smoother!

 

[hobbyhorse23]

...I can't believe how much smoother of a ride it is with a larger horse. I had a 29" horse at one time, and won't ever go back to that small. Taller is smoother!

No kidding- tell that to any kid who ever rode a small Shetland while growing up and then moved to a big horse!

*Thinking fondly of the small palomino old-style Shetland mare who was my first mount*

Leia

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I'm planning to take Dusty in his first parade on Saturday. I believe he is ready. As an appaloosa, he doesn't have much of a forelock

so I'm wondering the best way to secure the headstall so it won't come off.

I'm not sure what a gullet strap is, exactly. Is it something I could make-do?

I do not want anyone to ready about us on the news as parade runaways!

 

[MiLo Minis]

A gullet strap goes around the throat latch and the nose band in the depression between their jaw bones so that it is pretty much hidden from view. I have made them for Minis out of a piece of throat latch from an old bridle but any narrow piece of leather with a buckle on it will do. Cut off the part that has the buckle on it with enough leather attached to go around, approx. 8 to 10". I use 2 keepers - 1 above the buckle and one below to make it lay flat - or you can use black electrical tape. Shave the tip of the piece of leather you cut into a vee and punch holes for the buckle pin to go through. Slip a keeper over the end, go around the noseband, back through the keeper, slip another keeper on, go around the throatlatch, back through the second keeper and buckle it up or buckle it on and then use black electrical tape around either side in place of the keepers.

This is just a quick sketch to give you the idea.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

That is what I thought it was. But my bridles don't have nosebands. Would you attach it to the caveson and the throat latch?

It seems to me the bridle could still pull over the head, unless the throat latch was pretty tight.

Nice drawing, by the way!!

 

[RhineStone]

The terms caveson and noseband are interchangable, like blinkers, winkers, or blinders. All are correct.

Yes, it is attached to the throatlatch and caveson.

You can try the same thing with a dog collar, just to see if it will work and get the fitting correct.

Myrna

 

[MiLo Minis]

The terms caveson and noseband are interchangable, like blinkers, winkers, or blinders. All are correct.

Yes, it is attached to the throatlatch and caveson.

You can try the same thing with a dog collar, just to see if it will work and get the fitting correct.

Myrna

Sorry! I used the term "noseband" because not everyone uses a cavesson noseband and a gullet strap can be connected to any noseband. It will keep your bridle on! I don't change the adjustment of my throatlatch at all and in fact that was my main reason for going to a gullet strap in the first place with one of my horses who would not tolerate his throatlatch done up any tighter but loved to shake his head and dislodge his bridle - the gullet strap has prevented him from doing that ever since I installed it.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Great! I will try the dog collar and see how it works, then fabricate a real one.

Thanks for the extra info.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Okay, I'll bite: What's a "cavesson noseband" versus a cavesson or a noseband?

I made a gullet strap out of a nylon dog collar and a couple of spare synthetic keepers I had from Camptown and it worked great. I also included a welded metal tie ring at the bottom as many of the ones I'd seen for sale had those and it's a nice way to tie up the horse temporarily without using the bit. I don't use it often though as for whatever reason my bridles seem to stay on well and it was a pain trying to keep the strap on with both throatlatch and cavesson undone for bitting. (Kody won't tolerate the cavesson being done up while he's being bridled.)

I have pix, will post when I can.

Leia