DixieBelle
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- Joined
- Aug 11, 2013
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This is in reference to Dixie, our new-addition 18/20-year-old miniature horse with dwarfism that currently more commonly resembles a pygmy hippopotamus.
She's now off the rb, and is starting on Horsetech High Point Grass/Mixed Hay vitamin/mineral supplement. However, she needs to get moving more, which is a challenge with her heaves and our still somewhat high temps (90-93 degrees) and high humidity. But today started with a nice cool breeze, which tells me not-summer is coming (Louisiana has summer and not-summer. lol). So, I'm trying to come up with a little "workout" program for Ms. Tubbo. It does seem that her breathing is more heavy breathing than vigorous heaving, and she only coughs 2-3 times per day as opposed to 2-3 times per hour (she is still on the SmartBreathe supplement as well, but no idea as to its true effect as opposed to the effect of just changing her environment).
Our front yard is a good half-acre, and we have two nice huge Live Oak trees that provide great shade. So, this morning I got Dixie out and my 3-yr-old, Dixie,and I slowly ambled around the front yard. She was very curious and interested in her surroundings, and had a little spring in her crooked leged steps, but I in no way wanted to overdo anything. Today was just more of beginning to get her acclimated to being away from the other two and a chance for me to see how she does on-lead.
But this brings me to my question: What length of time would you recommend we start off with while hand walking at a slow pace? 5 minutes once a day? 5 minutes twice a day? 10 minutes? More?
It's been a loooong time since I've worked with a mini (over 20 years), and I've never dealt with one with dwarfism nor a horse that is cow-hocked. I'm unsure to what adverse effect such structural abnormalities have on the body when trying to get the horse in light "work".
Any and all input appreciated. Thanks!
She's now off the rb, and is starting on Horsetech High Point Grass/Mixed Hay vitamin/mineral supplement. However, she needs to get moving more, which is a challenge with her heaves and our still somewhat high temps (90-93 degrees) and high humidity. But today started with a nice cool breeze, which tells me not-summer is coming (Louisiana has summer and not-summer. lol). So, I'm trying to come up with a little "workout" program for Ms. Tubbo. It does seem that her breathing is more heavy breathing than vigorous heaving, and she only coughs 2-3 times per day as opposed to 2-3 times per hour (she is still on the SmartBreathe supplement as well, but no idea as to its true effect as opposed to the effect of just changing her environment).
Our front yard is a good half-acre, and we have two nice huge Live Oak trees that provide great shade. So, this morning I got Dixie out and my 3-yr-old, Dixie,and I slowly ambled around the front yard. She was very curious and interested in her surroundings, and had a little spring in her crooked leged steps, but I in no way wanted to overdo anything. Today was just more of beginning to get her acclimated to being away from the other two and a chance for me to see how she does on-lead.
But this brings me to my question: What length of time would you recommend we start off with while hand walking at a slow pace? 5 minutes once a day? 5 minutes twice a day? 10 minutes? More?
It's been a loooong time since I've worked with a mini (over 20 years), and I've never dealt with one with dwarfism nor a horse that is cow-hocked. I'm unsure to what adverse effect such structural abnormalities have on the body when trying to get the horse in light "work".
Any and all input appreciated. Thanks!