Laney (*filly* 4/10-Tinkerbelle) *New pics pg 187*

[Eagle]

I am afraid to admit my methods cos Aunty Anna will be after me with a stick! Lol I worked with horses for such a long time where I had no time to faff around that I go straight for the kill with anything that could be potentionally dangerous for me or the horse. Even though the horses I worked with where over 1.80cm at the whithers and were generally basket cases I still can't help myself with the minis. I am very happy with Dipinto and he is a very calm and balanced little boy so I guess it doesn't hurt them. Britt was a nightmare when she arrived and it took me 3 days to catch her and you have all seen what an absolute angel she is now so Megan there is no way you are going to do any harm to Tink.

My first clip I hold them firmly so they can't wiggle and just get to work, if they panic at the head I just twitch them using my hand. If you put cotton in their ears it helps and I have some maple syrup hand for them to lick when they are good. Remember to keep calm and hold the clippers on her always even when you need to go back just slid them backwards but still on her, often the stopping and starting of the vibration upsets them but if you keep the clippers on her she will relax. After they realise that they didn't die the first time it just gets better and better.

I need to clip Dipinto so if I can convince Matteo to help I will get him to film it for you. I am actually dieing to clip Merlin cos I can see white on his bum and I am secretly praying for spots. (blush)

 

[MeganH]

I am going to try both Tink and Ricky again today. I think Ricky may need to be twitched (my hubby can do this with his hand) and I am going to go with the hair not against it to see if that makes any difference too.

Ricky was a little mad at me because I braided his mane last night and out neighbors brought their little granddaughter and niece over so I embarrassed him. I'll have to take a picture for you ladies. Tinkerbelle and Ricky are able to love on eachother more without Laney having a fit. I actually got onto her a few times when she ambushed Ricky and bit him for no reason and I haven't seen her bite since.

I would love to see a video of the clippings Renee! I was surprised at how much Tink had hiding under that fur.. didn't think she would have actual spots. Can't wait til Merlin shows us what he is hiding.

 

[AnnaC]

LOL!! Renee. Auntie Anna couldn't possibly be cross with you!! My point of view is that, yes you have to get the job done. However when dealing with 'novice' folks clipping a foal or a youngster who hasn't been clipped before, then I do recommend a careful introduction, great care and understanding. The object beng to make that first experience as easy as possible for all concerned. And if you are not going to show, then why do the tricky bits that first time around? When it comes to the face/ears or other areas objected to, then a 'hand' twitch can allow the job to be done much more quickly and without the danger of poking a eye out or some other nasty happening to either horse or person doing the clipping.

But I think time and patience should always be the first aim, especially with foals.

 

[kay56649]

What a cute little filly!!!!! Those videos of her are hilarious!!!

 

[Wings]

Actually, you're probably not. I do them all in one sitting when they are very, very young, so that most of them just fall asleep while they're being clipped. By the time a second clipping comes along (and I make sure I clip babies twice the first year) it usually goes pretty well, but sometimes when I hit that "bad zone" I also do it in two sessions. I do use a twitch if necessary -- but since my clippings are not for shows, I seldom twitch a little one. But a mature horse, I "take no prisoners" and I get the job done no matter what it takes in one session!

If I had to clip a youngster for a show, I would be happy to follow your method -- no problems! Giving them something else to think about while I'm clipping is the way to go. I use food for the body and neck, and then for leg bottoms and face -- whatever it takes! But since I don't show babies, I'm fortunate -- it doesn't matter if they have furry stockings!

It certainly is easier when you don't have shows looming. i try to do my first clip far away from a show so it can be a bit messy and I can take my time. I've also always started at the lower neck as the babies seem to love the feel of it there, have you noticed the same? Would be interesting to know!

I wish Derby would get over his ear issue... By Lyric's third clip she was pretty much asleep while I worked, even on her legs!

 

[MeganH]

I was able to clip Ricky! I went with the hair first and Brandon held his front leg (after he kicked me.. yes- he made contact! Laney has taught him to side kick!) And we twitched him by hand for a few spots. I don't have the best clippers and they got hot so we left it choppy and will have to go back and fix it another day.

Here is Ricky in his do

And here he is after I was able to rough clip him. I have to go back over him to get it even and fix the lines.

 

[Wings]

*wolf whistle* Lookin' good Ricky!!!

 

[cassie]

wow Megan Ricky looks great!!! such a gorgeous young man!!! I have been rugging suzie at the moment (in the hope of showing her soon

hehe) and I have been braiding her mane and tail and she loves it

I SOOO Want to clip Finn now though LOL. he has SOO much fluff and is on a major diet, but I can't tell if he is skinny under that fluff or still fat LOL

are you going to show Ricky soon?

love all your mini's Megan! they are all so gorgeous!

 

[AnnaC]

Well done Megan, he looks great (but then he always does - such a handsome boy)

 

[Eagle]

ROFL Megan look at Ricky's face, it looks like he is thinking " look what she did to me!"

He looks absolutely great

has he grown a tad? He looks slimmer too without his fur.

 

[MeganH]

Thank you everyone. I will tell him the ladies loved him with his braids and maybe he won't be so mad lol.

He does look like he is thinner without all the fluff on his belly. I am pleased. Still has to lose some but I think he is closer to showing then I had thought. By the end of the year I do think we will have him shown. Jake will be shown as well. I am honestly more excited in the minis being shown then Jake. But we are going to show Jake just for fun and to see what he can do.

 

[Eagle]

Jack is a lovely horse and I am sure he will do great

 

[cassie]

with a little work Megan I think Ricky will do really well with the showing LOL

tell him we LOVE the braids LOL

I reckon Jake will do awesome at the shows he is SOO handsome! I'm quite jealous of you LOL

 

[AnnaC]

I'm sure they will both do you credit Megan. What classes will you be putting Jake in?

 

[MeganH]

Thanks ladies

Jake was trained for Western Pleasure but his head is not set as low so I don't know what we will be putting him in. I am more excited about the minis.. so we are going to put Jake in a local show and see how he does but I want to get much more involved in the minis showing. In less then 2 weeks the East Coast Miniature Horse Club show is coming to town! I plan on going both days and am so excited! Ricky won't be with me but I am going to watch closely to prepare because he will be shown in that series in the future!

I need to get Ricky in shape. Should I lunge him? I cut his food back slightly and he is now not on hay it is all grass. I cut back on the amount of beet pulp he gets and it has made a difference. I need to get that belly a bit smaller and work with him at halter so I can hurry up and get him in the show.

Does anyone have any video of training a horse to set up for judging?

 

[cassie]

Hi Megan

well I hope Jake does well for you,

oh how fun have a great time!!

lunging and hill trot work I have heard is the best and also trotting poles, but I know its not good to do all of those with a baby... Suzie is on a show feed now (I really need to take a pic) but she is on a cup of feed twice a day and on good grass and she looks amazing!! I took her rugs off her this morning as finally the rain is gone and her tummy is GONE!!! YAY I reckon I could show her now and she would do pretty good

definitely dropping the feed will help a bit Megan,

I have been using the clicker training to get Finn to set up properly, and he is doing really well

I don't like it when pple set up the horses feet right in the middle of judging (but thats me personally ) so I'm working on him learning to set up himself...I don't know how you want to do it... I can't wait to see Ricky in the show ring

he is going to look sooo awesome! have you got him registered yet Megan? or do you not need to do that? I know I can't show Finn until he is 2 years old. but thats because the stallion wasn't registered... but thats ok...

what feed do you have Ricky on? maybe you could find out from some people around your area, maybe ask on the main forum what they use on the their show horses for feed and how much? they always give great advice and may be able to advice you on what work to do on getting him into shape and setting up for showing...

Sorry for the massive post, lol I'm so excited for you showing Ricky!!! =D

 

[Wings]

I've broken down what I do based on your questions, hope it helps!

Feeding

I feed my show horses a little different to the norm in that I don't cut out as much roughage as some. I like to drylot the horses though so that I'm controlling everything that goes in! Hay is fed soaked, this can stop the belly effect as the hay won't swell in the belly while the horse is digesting it.

I've previously fed premixes but haven't found one that really did it for me, I'm going to straight lucerne chaff and whole oats this year supported with supplements, rice bran oil and/or straigth ricebran.

I want my horses energetic and lively for the ring but of course the more you put in the more you have to work off or it will turn into unwanted weight.

Work

Personally I don't work weanlings at all, teach the basics to yearlings and extend on that for 2year olds. Once they hit three I'll light lunge for work and once 4 they can work thier butts off out there

Lunging can put pressure on young joints as the horses is constantly turning.

I work mine off the back of my small tractor. I take one at a time so I can hold the lead rather then tieing a group up behind and trot them out, increasing distance as needed. Pallidon was trotting 2km including a hill for part of his last season!

Training (I know it's nto a video but it might help)

I start with 'woah' training. Standing in front of them, close to start with, I give them whatever cue I'll use. Don't worry about feet right now. If he moves, correct him. Build on this until he stays still with you at the end of the lead, walking around him (I can go a full circle around some of mine.)

Don't let his attention wander, if you're standing in frotn of him he should be focused on you. A little sound or a jiggle of the lead can get attention back.

Once you have a good woah installed you can start thinking about feet. Over here we get away with hand placing our babies but our judges don't like it on our adults. I think in America it's a bit different?

I don't start with hand placing, i'll pull the horses head gently in one direction (lets say right) and pont to the left foot and give a cue. Once he moves that foot reward him, try and get him to woah before moving any other feet. This gives you the tools to make and correct his stretch.

So now you have his woah, you can adjust his front feet on cue. Now you can focus on the back feet. With the horse in his woah run your hand down his back legs and adjust his feet. Keep him in his woah! You can now hand adjust the fronts if you need them but I always start at the back.

From there you can get him backing up one step at a time, this can reach a point where you can correct a back leg without ever touching it! I love my adults to do it themselves and Special actually gets offended when you hand place him

 

[cassie]

great advice Bree

 

[AnnaC]

Great explanation Bree!! I agree that any exercise should be 'straight lined' - no lunging for youngsters, it's so bad for developing bones.

Last year when Cathy was showing, we did have the yearlings and two year olds out on grass all day, but it was on a field with very little grass so that they were on the move all the time grazing. Also we had an advantage over you Megan in that we had several youngsters out together so, apart from being on the move grazing, they also had long 'play' times together. Add to that a large field on a gentle slope and you have the perfect senario for lots of 'natural' exercise.

Be careful, if you are cutting down on Ricky's feed, that he is getting all his vitamins and minerals. We add a Gro and Win balancer to our feeds as a precaution. But the main thing is plenty of the right food and lots of sensible exercise. I have seen many horses at shows 'looking' the right shape, but they are actually 'thin', whereas a 'fit' horse has a completely different 'look' about it.

Enjoy your visit to your local show - look, learn and have FUN coz that's what it's all about!

 

[MeganH]

Lots of great info! Thanks ladies!

Cassie- I have Ricky on Omolene 300 right now. I will have to ask for anyone in the area to recommend a feed if they can. I noticed when I took Ricky off hay and he is on grass now his belly was not as bloated looking. Makes sense what Bree said about wetting the hay so it doesn't expand in their belly.

Ricky is registered AMHA and AMHR: MCMs Be Ready For The Ricochet

That is all great advice, Bree! Whoa seems to be the most important thing to teach.. which I need to work on with him. He will whoa but will fidget a bit and won't stand still. He HATES to be tied and have to stand. I need to get him used to that as well.

My clippers have an adjustable blade that is 30-15-10 and I clipped them on the shortest setting. Would that be 10? I feel clueless but the other clippers that have the detachable blades are different then these.. I would think the numbers would be the same though.

Anna- Tink and Ricky are able to play together a lot more now. Laney isn't as mean and allows them to play but does step him when they speed around together. I hope she eventually gets tired of chasing Tink and lets them be free.

I didn't think it was good for the little ones joints to lunge. Ricky has 2 exercise balls that he plays with everyday but he isn't always running with them.. sometimes he lazily walks behind them and pushes them around lol.