I just wanted to say thank you.

[Tremor]

Some of you may remember that I had a broodmare who was VERY underweight and pregnant. Its been nearly 2 years since I began posting on here and I wanted to share some pictures of one of my mares.

You may remember my repeated threads about feeding and pre-pubic tendons; they were all for this mare.

September 2010: Pregnant and nursing. Note the large belly , hip bones, ribs, neck, etc.

September 2011: Almost there. Still some issues with her top line and her stomach still huge. She was nursing her last foal and NOT pregnant.

Bow August 2012: An ENTIRE year not pregnant and not nursing. Do you see a difference with her stomach? We were all so worried with her stomach and its actually tightened up in the past year! And guess what? It was all natural. No sweats, no lunging, no jumping, no exercise.

This is so exciting. Now, the only thing left to work on is her hooves. My herd has TALL heels. The above picture was after a trim and her heels were 2"+ long. Needless to say we've been working on them! I am hoping to become a farrier when I'm older.

The hooves are a work in progress. I can trim her heels how they should be and 8 weeks later it looks like the previous trim. Her heels are about an inch too long.

So, THANK YOU all for your patience in answering my repeated threads for the past two years (in November). My entire herd thanks you.

 

[REO]

Gosh! She's come a LONG way in two years! You've done a great job with her!!! She looks so much more healthy!!!

GO YOU!!!!!!

 

[targetsmom]

What a great job you have done! It doesn't even look like the same horse ...her hip looks longer and her shoulder angle seems better. Shows what feeding and conditioning can do. Now, if you were to add some exercise...

I just took some "before" photos of our two broodmares as they will be turned into 4-H projects for next year. One has been pregnant 4 times (2 live foals) and the other has been pregnant 9 times (6 live foals). You give me hope!!! Thanks for posting.

Are you going to be showing Bow? I thought that was the plan?

 

[wingnut]

Bravo!!!! That is amazing!!! Congrats!

 

[rubyviewminis]

She looks so good, you did a great job! You should buy the horseowners book Pete Ramey wrote. It will open your eyes to a whole world of how to trim. 8 weeks is way too long to wait to trim hooves and that is why the heels are so long by then. People always went 8 weeks with shoeing but they had a metal shoe on, and there is always a LOT of sole,wall, and frog to cut off. Think about it.

 

[Tremor]

I would love to show Bow. She's so darn smart. She sets up like a champ and everything. She enjoys it too. We wouldn't be able to show competitively due to her conformation but rather just for fun.

However, she is terrified of loading the trailer. She won't do it. I have done everything possible but nothing works. I refuse to force her in. I was able to get her in once and she shook violently. It's not worth it.

I am however hoping to train her how to drive.

I do have a book by Pete Ramey and have read at least half of it. I have decided to trim more frequently; around 4 weeks I think.

 

[kay56649]

Quick question about setting up, in like local open shows and in 4h, do minis have to set up square or with their back legs farther back and their neck stretched?

 

[Genie]

Your mare looks really great. So much healthier looking.

I watched a person get their horse familiar with a trailer by parking the trailer in the pasture with the ramp down and food inside. Eventually the horse started walking on to enjoy the feed.

 

[Tremor]

Quick question about setting up, in like local open shows and in 4h, do minis have to set up square or with their back legs farther back and their neck stretched?

I set my minis up like a QH because my county fair is mostly western. Doesn't mean I'll win or anything because this year the judge said he didn't like the smaller ponies and placed a Shetland sized pony with poor conformation and poor handling above mine. No biggie though! Lol.

I show for fun and experience.

 

[Tremor]

Your mare looks really great. So much healthier looking.

I watched a person get their horse familiar with a trailer by parking the trailer in the pasture with the ramp down and food inside. Eventually the horse started walking on to enjoy the feed.

Thank you.

We've actually parked our trailer in our horse lot and I would open the doors and the youngsters would jump into like it was a game. (that was my entire goal. I wanted loading to be a game with them)

I spoke to her previous owners and they said that she never like loading. I wish that she was properly trained as a foal like mine were as yearlings. They LOVE loading and will do it without a lead.

However that's not the case and I wont stress her out about it; which my vet agreed on. It sucks because she is SO smart and has SO much potential. I want people to see her but I may just have to settle with playing with her on my property.

 

[Sandee]

Just keep on working with her and getting her trust. I'm sure you know this that a horse will do a lot for a "leader" they trust. Do some obstacle or whatever is "fun" for both of you. Eventually this bond will allow you to get to the trailer training. Patience is a must and you seem to have that.

Just to add: I had a mare brought here for breeding that the people told me it took them 3 people and over 1/2 and hour to load. After being here with my mare (who totally trusts me) for about 6 days, I took my mare into the trailer and the other mare came right along behind like she'd been doing it all her life.