Babes Little Twister

Starting to ride Babe again

2011-08-12T22:31:00.002-05:00

Finally! I've started to ride Babe again. Kruzer is 5 months old and is able to stay with Alley and Sox while I ride his mom for about a half of an hour.
It felt good to ride her. She's overweight and out of shape. I started riding her for 15 minutes a day for a week; then 20 minutes a day for a week. We're up to a half hour now, with some light loping. So far she is staying sound!
The first two days Kruzer would stand near the fence a nicker when I took her out - then he would wander off to pester Sox. He didn't really care his mom was not in the pasture. He could still see her, so things were okay. Now he doesn't even pay attention when I take her out. It's part of the routine of the day. Of course as soon as I put her back, he needs to nurse.
After I wean Kruzer (sometime in September) Babe will be put in a pasture by herself so I can control her feed intake. She needs to go on a diet. I was hoping she would lose weight while nursing a foal, but she just ate more. She is a good mother and produced a lot of milk. Kruzer didn't show much interest in grain until he was four months old...too full of milk.
I hope she is ready to show at the Guadalupe quarter horse show in November. We'll see.

18 days old

2011-04-05T16:52:00.006-05:00

Babe's colt is doing great. He's learning to lead and have his feet picked up. He's very sure of himself and independent. This morning we finally made it from the barn to the pasture without him trying to cow kick me, bolt, rear or buck while being led. He hates restraint. I sent in the registration application. AQHA has to send the DNA test kit to verify his parentage and then he'll be registered. First name choice is The Kustom Kruzer.

Here's a video I made of him playing at two weeks of age -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZlvWJ7UQw4

And one of him learning how to lead at four days old -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xggEAHKBXFA

His front legs are getting better. I still have him on limited turn out - twice a day for about an hour. Dr. Jana wants to make sure he is strong before he gets turned out with Alley's filly. We don't want him to become fatigued and not rest. Babe had her teeth floated yesterday. She's a great mother. She talks to him constantly - even though he ignores her. She went through her foal heat at 7 days with no problem. Kruzer didn't get foal diarrhea. I had dewormed Babe the day after she foaled and vets think that helps. Babe had a reaction to the dewormer. I used Zimectrin Gold and the inside of her cheek where I inserted the paste swelled and became very irritated. It says on the side of the box the reaction is "rare". After doing research I found out it's not as rare as they think it is. I've filed a complaint with the FDA and also called the company. I've pasted a picture of the inside of her cheek. She was in so much pain she couldn't eat for six hours. 12 hours later is was still swollen and sore.

Five Days Old!

2011-03-24T16:17:00.006-05:00

Babe's dun colt by The Krymsun Kruzer is now five days old. I've made several videos of him.

This video is when he was four days old. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdwn2MH655U

Here's a video of his leading lessons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xggEAHKBXFA

Still working on names.

Marestare video

2011-03-20T23:05:00.002-05:00

WyCherie, a Marestare.com viewer was kind enough to make a video of Marestare's live streaming feed of Babe foaling. Thank you!
Click here to watch video.

36 hours old

2011-03-20T12:37:00.002-05:00

While Don cleaned Babe's stall I held her as she grazed in yard. The colt had a blast, once he found his legs and learned how to canter. I had the camcorder set on a tripod. Click here for the video.

He's doing much better this morning moving his bowels. Had two normal bm's while we were cleaning stalls and doing chores...one while he was exercising while Babe ate.

Some concern about his knock knees, but they aren’t bad and should straighten on their own. The key is not to let him exercise to the point of exhaustion and keep him on solid footing.

One Day Old

2011-03-19T23:52:00.003-05:00

Saturday, March 19, 2011 After getting about three hours sleep (not consecutively) I was up a 7:45. Babe and colt doing great. Treated the cord again. Don had to hold the colt as he’s very strong. We let them stay in stall until around 3 PM. We brought Alley and her filly in and put Babe and the colt out for a few hours.

Don led Babe and I guided the colt. He’s strong and hard to guide. Got them to pasture. Babe’s a good mother. She followed him around and stood over him while he napped.

We brought them in at 4:30 as vet was coming to check IgG levels and give them a check up.

Dr. Jana arrived. Gave colt tetanus shot and checked IgG, which was very good. Babe has some bruising, which Jana said was normal for a big colt and maiden mare. I’m to keep an eye on her just in case it gets infected. The placenta was all there, so that was good. Colt is straining to move bowels so we gave him an enema. I’m to watch him in case he develops constipation. Signs will be not nursing and acting lethargic. He could get seriously ill if his bowels don’t work properly.

At 8 pm I called Dr. Jana – he was straining to move bowels. She had us give him another enema. What he passed was soft and brown…not hard, so maybe he’ll be alright. I still need to watch him. He’s nursing every time he gets a chance and is keeping Babe empty, which Jana said was normal and what we wanted.

He’s also slightly knock kneed so we need to keep the stall not too deeply bedded and not let him exercise too much.

He’s getting more active as he gets older. He tried to kick at Don tonight when we gave him the enema.

Click Here for video

Dun Colt! 7 Days Early!

2011-03-19T23:35:00.001-05:00

March 18, 2011 I thought Babe was acting restless during the day, but the wind was blowing and I thought maybe that was bothering her. At 5 pm I noticed drips of milk and her muscles were relaxed around tail head. She still ate her supper and started in on hay. I kept checking on her and keeping an eye on the streaming video while I worked on the computer.

At 11:20 pm her water broke, at 11:29 the amniotic sac appeared, at 11:40 two feet appear. Both feet were soles down, so far – so good. At 11:45 she was far enough along Don could reach in a feel a head correctly position along the front legs, near the knees. By 11:50 contractions were starting pretty strong, but foal was not progressing – somewhat “stuck”. Don helped out by gently pulling the foal along with the contractions – keeping traction downward – toward Babe’s hocks. 11:56 the foal was all the way out and Don broke the sac which was covering the head and neck. We left the stall and allowed Babe and the foal to rest and bond. We didn’t want either to stand too soon and break the umbilical cord before all the blood was transferred from the placenta to the foal.

Babe was extremely tired and several times lay back, flat on her side, which got me nervous, but she was fine – just resting. In between resting she was nickering to her foal, who was already trying to nurse. In about 15 minutes I went in and removed the rest of the sac. Found a dorsal stripe! We were hoping for a dun, but was expecting a bay, as The Krymsun Kruzer is bay (though around the 5th generation he has two duns in his pedigree). I also discovered we had a colt! He also has a snip and white right front foot to fetlock.

Babe and foal did not show any signs of wanting to stand, so we let them rest. He’s a big colt and she’s a maiden, so foaling was very tiring for both.

Soon he started to get active – trying to stand. In doing so he broke the cord. Eventually he ended up in front of Babe, who was still down. But she was talking to him and licking him. I went in and treated the umbilical stump with 0.5% chlorhexidine, which is better than iodine.

He ended up standing before she did. But once he was up, she got up also.
As soon as Babe was up, he started looking for a nipple. She was giving little squealing sounds, but was licking and caring for him. I let him gain strength and get his bearings. In about a half of an hour I helped him find her udder. He started nursing right away.

He’s a big strong colt.

I let them rest for another hour and helped him nurse a few more times. I then treated the umbilical stump a second time. I went in for a few hours sleep.

At 4 am I checked on them. The colt has passed about 10 inches of meconium. He was nursing well and Babe looked good.

Here's a link to the foaling video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RUOCo4P6q0

10 days to go

2011-03-16T15:59:00.003-05:00

10 days left until Babe's due date. I washed her udder, under her tail and tail today. Vet was out on Monday and removed caslisk. Waiting for the new camera to arrive. I hope it presents a better quality streaming video which can be seen at:
http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=blazer during the night.

20 days to go

2011-03-06T11:19:00.004-06:00

2o days to go until Babe's due date (March 26). She doing great. Her udder is starting to enlarge - that's the only change at this point. Next week I have to get Dr. Jana out to open the caslick.

I'll also be switching the web cam from Alley and the filly to Babe's stall this week.
http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=blazer

It will only be on at night, as the mares are in the pasture during the day

Foal is very active

2011-01-30T00:04:00.002-06:00

The foal was awake while I groomed Babe tonight. I don't think Babe likes it when the foal is moving around, she shifts her weight and looks peaved. I guess it would be a different feeling when the foal is kicking, so I can't blame her!
Babe's foal is a lot more active than Alley's. Alley is due Feb. 16. I wonder if that means Babe's is a colt??? We'll see.
Babe's starting to shed. She better not start too early - it's to be cold here next week.

Web Cam is activated

2011-01-24T12:44:00.001-06:00

I activated the account for the web cams in Babe and Alley's stalls this morning through Marestare.com
The link is: http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=blazerThe mares are in the pasture during the day, so the cams will be off. I hope to have them on by 6pm CST and will leave them on all night. If anyone notices a problem or any changes with the mares please call one of the numbers at the top of the web cam viewing page. Thanks

Last Rhino Shot

2011-01-21T18:53:00.003-06:00

I gave Babe her last Pnuemabort K vaccine today to protect the her and the foal from EHV-1. She's doing great.
Babe also got new shoes several days ago. I'm only keeping her shod in front. She can't go barefoot on the rocks. I've tried it in the past and it's too painful to watch her try to walk without shoes. Her soles and hoof walls are just too thin. They are much better since we got her, but I don't think they will ever be perfect...too much damage was done.
I think the White Lightening treatment is helping. The rot seems to be clearing up. But it takes months for new hoof growth to reach the level where I will know for sure.

Foal moved

2011-01-18T22:08:00.003-06:00

I was watching Babe on the web cam. She got down and rolled in the stall and almost got cast. The stall is 12 by 24 and she still managed to get next to the wall. I went down to check on her. The foal must have been upset because it kicked several times as I was watching Babe. I could see Babe's flank bulge out. Babe wasn't too happy about it. 66 days to go.

Streaming Video is Ready

2011-01-15T13:17:00.001-06:00

As Babe’s foaling date approaches things are getting done.

With the help of a friend Don and I removed the partition between two stalls. Babe’s stall is now 12 by 24…lots of room.

The same friend ran a wire from the web cam to my computer in the house, so instead of using wireless it’s hardwired…the signal is much better. I’ve started streaming the video at night (about 6 PM to 11 PM CST). The first of February I’ll leave it on all night. During the day it is off as the horses are outside.

Cathy Hanson (our daughter who lives in California) sent a mare to foal here. She’s due February 16. Her name is Alley. She’s bred to Too Sleepy To Zip. The foal is her first one also.

Alley’s stall has a light set up so she’s easier to see on the web cam. I’ll put a light in Babe’s stall soon.

The streaming video link is http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-mares
Babe and Alley are both doing very good. Time is passing very quickly and soon the foals will be here!

Hooves

2010-10-30T19:07:00.005-05:00

Babe's hooves have been a challenge since we got her.
After doing some research online I decided to try the product called White Lightening. It's chlorine dioxide which is a gas. Research has shown that the gas can kill the fungus and bacteria that is causing the rotting within the hoof wall.
I ordered the Gel and did the first treatment today.
I took some "before" pictures. It will take at least eight months to see if it makes a difference. I have to treat her feet about every four weeks.

6 months

2010-10-21T14:52:00.002-05:00

Today marks the sixth month of Babes gestation. More than half way through the pregnancy!
Don pulled her front shoes. I'm going to try the product White Lightening. Her hooves have been rotted since we got her and it's been a battle keeping on shoes. The product should be here in the next few days. By the time she's ready to start training again maybe her hooves will be in better shape.
We'll see how she does without shoes. She has such soft soles and thin hoof walls that she may need shoes.
I also cleaned her show saddle and headstall. They're in storage in my office until she's ready to go on the show circuit again...in about a year.
I'll be riding her bareback several times a week for exercise.

2010-10-09T21:04:00.003-05:00

It's been busy here on the Blazer Ranch. I'm rewriting the online Stable Management course, we've been taking Sheza to shows and doing projects that were put off due to the heat of the summer. On Sept. 14 Babe had another ultrasound. I wanted to make sure she was still in foal. If she wasn't I wanted to show her at some fall shows. She was at 145 days - almost 5 months. Babe also had her second Pneumabort shot. (She had her first one at three months - before we went to the ABRA World as a precaution.) I made another video. Things look great. So no more shows.
We also found out The Krymsun Kruzer will be at the AQHA World. He's doing a demonstration on Nov. 16. We won't arrive until the 18th for the sale, but he'll still be there. Vicky Holt, his trainer, invited us to stop by his stall. We met her at the Waco, Texas show where we showed Sheza.

Babe Playing at the ABRA World

2010-08-09T15:25:00.002-05:00

While waiting for me to get my show clothes on Babe played in her water bucket. My mom caught her on video.

Getting Ready for ABRA World

2010-07-23T11:28:00.002-05:00

This week we've been getting ready for the ABRA World. We leave late Sunday night so we can drive while it's cool - a 9 1/2 hour drive.
Babe seems to be doing great. I think the Adequan did work, it just took a while. Their studies show on the 33rd day 80% of the horses showed significant improvement. That's about when I noticed improvement in Babe. The last shot was on the 28th day after starting the treatment plan, so it must build up in the system.
She gets her Legend IV tomorrow (Saturday), which should help her get through the World.
I rode her this morning and she did great. Don pulled the trailer closer to the house so we can start cleaning and packing it. I was rinsing Babe with the hose and she got excited to see the trailer. She hasn't been to a show since February, so I hope she stays calm next week. She knows what it is about and we'll be there the day before the show starts, so she'll have time to get her mind straight.
When I turned her in the sand to roll,she jumped straight in the air and bucked. Then ran around the turnout lot, snorting and acting a fool. She feels good. I just hope she doesn't hurt herself! It's getting close.

Day 75 Ultrasound

2010-07-07T14:54:00.003-05:00

On July 6 Babe had another ultrasound. It was the 75th day of gestation. The foal is doing fine. We saw the heartbeat and the backbone. It also kicked several times as we were watching. Babe also got her first rhino (Pneumabort K) vaccine. We decided to give the first one at three months, instead of the usual fifth month because she's going to the American Buckskin World show the end of the month. She also got her six month West Nile booster. I finished the last Adequan injection (for a total of seven over 28 days) last week. I'm not sure it's made much difference. She's still short strided on the left hind, but as she warms up during exercise it becomes better. I'm also massaging her, using Back on Track hock boots and rubbing her joints with Sore No More. Of course her Hyaluronex oral supplement continues daily. On the Saturday before we leave for Tulsa Dr. Jana Robbins, our vet, will give her an IV of Legend. Dr. Zermuehlen (her reproduction vet) said if she was sore when we arrived at the show she could have two grams of bute if needed. There are a lot of pregnant mares on maintenance doses of 2 grams of bute a day to keep them comfortable. Her training preparation for the World is coming along great. She rarely four beats at the lope, but I do have to use a lot of leg to keep it from cropping up. Her transitions are getting good. Bending around the cones when doing a serpentine remains difficult because she doesn’t like to bend around my leg, but she can do it if she is paying attention.

Trauma

2010-06-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

This morning at 4 am our Australian Shepherd, Texas Red, was whining and trying to get into the bedroom. He never does this and I went out to see what was going on. The barn is about 20 feet from the house and a person can see down the aisle way when looking out the kitchen window. I could see Babe pacing her stall and trying to get over the stall guard across her door.
I rushed out to check on her and heard the electric fence that is above the woven wire snapping and shorting out. The fence is about 50 feet from the barn. Apparently a deer had tried to jump the fence and the hot wire was touching the steel post – creating an arc.
Horses hate electric and Babe was stressed.
I got the fence off and stayed with her for about 45 minutes as she calmed down. Tex stayed right with me…watching her. He’s a good dog.
I called the vet this morning. I am worried about her absorbing the foal because of the stress. Cheryl, the reproduction technician, said as long as her body temperature did not get high for a long period of time and she didn’t colic the foal should be okay. She told me fetuses thrive on adrenalin and Babe’s increased heart rate should not affect it. Babe was not sweating during the trauma, so her core temperature should not have been high.
We’ll find out in July when we do the next ultrasound.
There’s no sense in checking her now because it’s too late to rebreed her anyway. So we’ll stick to the regular schedule.
Nine and a half more months to go!!!

Started Adequan

2010-06-11T12:20:00.002-05:00

Babe had her first dose of Adequan. She'll get 5 cc's every four days for 28 days (a total of seven). It's the loading doses. Then she'll get a shot every 4-5 weeks. I called Adequan to ask about giving it to a pregnant mare. It's not been tested on pregnant mares, so they can't say it is safe. Adequan’s consulting vet did say they have not had any absorptions or abortions that could be linked to the Adequan. But they still could not recommend it for a pregnant mare.
The first rule of horses is no pain. So I hope this will give her some relief from the pain in her hocks. It’s safer than injecting them with steroids (which would not be good for the fetus).
Along with keeping her hooves in balance, the oral hyaluronic acid in her feed, rubbing her hocks with liniment and light exercise she should stay comfortable.
I imagine it will be a week to 10 days before I see if the Adequan is helping.

Some history!

2010-05-29T23:44:00.002-05:00

I finally have a few minutes to post some interesting background about Babe. Several weeks ago I got an email from a man who is the grandson of the breeder who raised Babe. He owned her dam - Babewinken. Kirk told me Babe got her name because she was foaled during a tornado that touched down near their farm in Nebraska.
Babe was bred to be a roping horse. Her grandsire is Wilywood. Kirk's grandfather liked crossing Driftwood bred horses with running quarter horses to get ropers with some speed. It's no wonder she didn't make it as a pleasure horse and loves watching the cattle at the horse shows. With her arthritic hocks she'll never be a roping horse now. But she's careful with her feet and smart so she's showing an aptitude for trail.
Of course her immediate job is to raise a healthy foal.

26 Day Ultrasound

2010-05-17T15:31:00.003-05:00

Babe had her 26 day ultrasound today to detect the fetal heart beat. We also looked around to make sure there wasn't a twin that was hiding during the last ultrasound. I made a video, which turned out pretty good. Thanks to Dr. Zermuehlen of Kendall County Equine Clinic in Boerne, Texas for getting Babe bred on the first try and being so good about answering my questions and letting me video the ultrasound.

Day 15

2010-05-07T14:56:00.003-05:00

Babe went to see Dr. Z for her 15-day ultrasound. We have a foal! And we only have one!
In ten days we go back to check for a heart beat.
There's a two-day AQHA show in San Antonio this weekend. She's not going. The fetus is in a very critical stage, so the less stress the better. After we get a heartbeat she'll be able to do some light showing - depending on how her hocks are doing.

Bred and Ovulated

2010-04-23T15:02:00.003-05:00

Babe was bred to The Krymsun Kruzer on April 20 and April 21. She ovulated sometime after the second breeding. The ultrasound on the 22nd showed both sides ovulated. During the exam Dr. Z found a strange growth attached to the left ovary. It may be a cyst. We'll watch it. In 14 days we'll see if she was "caught" and if she has twins. The attached ultrasound was taken on the 21st. The right ovary is changing shape and getting ready to ovulate. It measured 36.0 by 35.8. The left is not as large and still maintaining the oval shape. It measured 34.9 by 34.7.
We brought her home today (Friday the 23rd). She was glad to get home. She had a good roll in the sand and is now napping under her live oak tree. I'm glad to have her back home, also.
Now the waiting begins.

Bred!

2010-04-20T14:48:00.004-05:00

Babe was bred to The Krymsun Kruzer at 10 AM this morning. The follicles were at 37 and 34. It looks like both will ovulate. Dr. Zermuehlen gave her the HCG, which should make her ovulate within 36 hours. Pilot Knob sent enough semen for two doses, so she'll be bred again tomorrow.
The vet tech, Cheryl, said Babe was doing great. She mentioned how nice Babe was to handle. Babe's not stressed about being away from home. She's eating hay and resting. They have her in a big stall where the repro mares are stabled.
Yesterday there were about six mares with foals in for re-breeding and a few maiden mares (like Babe)scheduled to be bred.
I'll still be relieved to get her home.

Possible Twins

2010-04-19T13:36:00.004-05:00

We took Babe to the Kendall Equine Clinic in Boerne for her ultrasound this morning. She has follicles developing on both ovaries. So the chances for twins are very high. Left ovary has a 28.8 and right is at 30.4. Dr. Zermuehlen says some mares produce twin follicles during every heat cycle, so we may as well breed her this cycle and pinch one off if they both take.
Babes's timing is also off. They collect The Krymsun Kruzer on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If we wait until Wednesday to order we may be too late. If we order today we may be too early.
We ordered the semen today (they knew we may call). If he ships good the semen may hold until Babe is ready. We can order again on Wednesday - depending on how quickly or slowly she progresses.
Babe stayed at the clinic so she'll be there when the semen arrives in the morning. It's possible she'll be far enough along to breed tomorrow. Because she is a maiden mare we don't know.
It's another adventure.

Our western riding course and breeding

2010-04-16T22:58:00.003-05:00

Babe did great on the last lesson for our online western riding course. The side passing exercise was good, so we moved on to the next lesson. Of course practicing lateral movement and moving off my leg is on-going.
Babe had a flare-up with her hocks ten days ago. We have discovered she needs to be reset every three weeks in order to keep her hooves balanced. After Don re-shod her, I lunged her lightly for three days and she was back to normal.
She came in heat today, so early Monday morning we head to the clinic. Cheryl, at Kendall County Equine Clinic, informed Pilot Knob Quarter Horses that we will probably be needing it Monday night or Tuesday morning. They collect The Krymsun Kruzer on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so today would have been too soon.
Fingers are crossed that the timing works out.

Training for Western Riding

2010-03-15T12:50:00.002-05:00

I signed up for the online course "Train for Western Riding" taught by Nancy Cahill.
This horse show class requires about eight lead changes depending on the pattern. Learning to do lead changes correctly will help Babe with her four beating problem at the lope and also improve her lateral work...which is needed to perfect a lead change.
Lesson three requires a video of her side passing. Click here to see the video I submitted for our assignment.
She "gets" it and then starts to lead with her shoulder. But a year ago she couldn't do any lateral work, so she's learning.
I await my grade from Nancy...

Western Riding, rain and computer problems

2010-03-05T22:06:00.002-06:00

The rain continues. We're lucky if we get to ride twice a week. We were planning to go to an AQHA show in Katy, but didn't feel we were ready.
When I do ride Babe is doing great. So well Don suggested I start getting her ready for the Western Riding class. This class consists of about eight lead changes (depending on the pattern). The horse must maintain a steady cadence and not fuss.
To train a horse for lead changes she must move off your leg, be able to do half- passes at all three gaits and have a good change of direction. When I got Babe she would not move off my leg so we've been working on that.
Nancy Cahill teaches an online Western Riding course for Horse Courses Online, so I signed up for it. I hope the weather dries up so I can send in the required videos and do the work.
My 8-year old computer finally crashed. I knew the end was getting near. I kept deleting software to get more disc space on the hard drive, but soon life became short. I was having trouble editing videos for the courses and loading web pages.
I took the old one into our computer repair man and he tried to replace the hard drive, but memory was maxed out also. So I had him build me a new computer. I got it up and running yesterday.
I've been loading software and getting things on it as I discover something missing. The new one sure runs a lot faster!
I just heard the weather forecast..spinkles tomorrow and significant rain on Sunday.
Also - Babe had not come in season. Her breeding to The Krymsun Kruzer is paid for. I don't want to breed her until April, so we have plenty of time. Have to get the Caslisk out soon.

The Krymsun Kruzer

2010-02-10T22:37:00.002-06:00

Well, it's done. Babe will be bred to The Krymsun Kruzer - AQHA's 2009 Super Horse. I sent in the breeder's contract and booking fee yesterday.
After a lot of thought about what my future goals were for a show horse, I decided on not breeding for color. We only go to one buckskin show a year - the ABRA Buckskin World. The rest of the shows we attend are mostly AQHA shows.
Unfortunately it is very rare for a buckskin to do well in performance classes on the AQHA circuit. Judges just don't look at them. (They are competitive in cattle classes.)
By the time the foal is ready to show we may not be making the trip to Tulsa for the ABRA World any longer.
On Sunday, at the AQHA show in San Antonio, I asked a breeder who has a yearling buckskin by his stallion if he would be showing him in the yearling lunge line class. He said "No, it was a waste of time and money to show a buckskin in yearling lunge line." It reinforced my decision to not breed for color.
It was easy to decide on the stallion after that decision was made. Don and I have followed The Krymsun Kruzer's career since we saw him show as a 2-year old.
The end of March or April is the target date for breeding.

Second show of 2010

2010-02-07T23:20:00.002-06:00

This weekend was another show at the Rose Palace in San Antonio. Because of the rain we haven't been able to ride in over a week. We got 2 inches on Thursday.
The horses were feeling good on Saturday. We got there early and rode in the warm up pen as much as we could.
The trail pattern on both days had tight turns and close lope overs. Many horses broke down to the trot on the turns. I had that trouble on Saturday and did not maintain enough leg on Babe.
Sunday went much better. I concentrated on keeping my leg on her...along with some spur pressure and she maintained her cadence over the lope overs.
There was also a transition from the lope to the jog and into a box for a 360 degree turn, with which we had trouble during the last show. I did get a few chances between rains to work on it. Babe remembered her lessons and did a great job on that section of the pattern.
Babe won the amateur trail and placed fourth in open on Sunday.
Because of the economy the show management decided to let amateurs ride in open pleasure for free. We have not been showing Babe in pleasure because of her four beating and being sour on the rail. But I decided after two years it was time to try it. I also decided I would school her and not let her four beat. It was an oportunity to work with her in a rail class.
I used a lot of leg and kept tapping her with my spur to keep her driving with her hindquarters. I was afraid to drape the reins, which would allow her to flatten and hollow her back - the precursor to four beating. So I had more of a contact with her than they like in pleasure.
But she never four beated and maintained a pretty good cadence. Plus she did not get mad and resort to her extreme head shaking she did when we got her.
We didn't place, but she has definitely improved and her attitude is much better.
I'm not interested in showing Babe in pleasure, but I welcomed the chance to work her on the rail and school her.
One very interesting thing came out of the show. I was talking to a breeder who showed and stood an AQHA buckskin stallion. I asked if I could come and look at the stallion. He told me he had gelded him. Buckskins don't do well at AQHA shows, in the performance classes. Judges just won't look at a buckskin. I know it's not fair, but judges prefer bays, sorrels/chestnuts or gray.
The breeder told me if I was serious about showing on the AQHA circuit I needed to avoid breeding Babe to get a buckskin foal.
I'm afraid I have to agree with him.
So over the next few days I'm going to think about my goals with a foal from Babe.

Update

2010-01-31T21:09:00.003-06:00

We've been working on new courses for www.horsecoursesonline.com, so I haven't had much time to update Babe's blog.
The weather continues to be wet and cold. We've managed to get a few days of riding in during the last several weeks. But the arena is wet again as I write this and it looks like it may not dry out enough to ride before the show this weekend.
We had our first show of 2010 the weekend of Jan. 16. It was held at the Rose Palace in San Antonio so we didn't have far to drive.
Saturday was cold and windy. It was cold in the indoor arena...very drafty. Sunday was better.
Babe did great. Saturday she was full of prunes, but paid attention in her classes. She placed fourth and fifth in trail (amateur and open). We need to work on slowing down after the transition from a lope to a walk, which is followed by walking over a series of poles. She wanted to rush.
Sunday she won her amateur class and placed second in open trail. Her lope overs have really improved since last year. She's also guiding much better.
Babe's starting to shed and I'm keeping a blanket on her at night. We don't keep them under lights or shut in stalls. I believe in letting them out, as long as it's not too muddy. So she's not slick, but she's happy and healthy.
I hope we get to ride a little before this weekend's show. It's also at the Rose Palace.

Hyaluronex may be working!

2009-12-17T22:27:00.004-06:00

An inch of rain fell during the night. It will be days before the arena dries out enough to ride. Our first show for 2010 is Jan. 16 and 17. I hope we get some riding time in before then!
Babe doesn't mind the time off. But she also doesn't like being shut in the stall. The turnout lots are too wet to use. I hand walked her today and lunged her lightly in the small sand area that is behind the barn.
I'm really happy with the way she is moving. No sign of lameness. I've had her on Hyaluronex for almost two months. Her range of motion has improved. I may put off having her hocks injected. I would like to avoid inserting a needle into the joint if possible. I know many do it, but there is a chance of infection every time it is done.

Dealing with the Rain

2009-12-13T16:26:00.005-06:00

We got a break from the rain. It was 70 degrees and sunny today. The arena was still wet, but usable. I rode Babe for about an hour. We just jogged, worked on neck reining, transitions from the walk and stop to the lope and did some standing in the sun. The footing was not great and I didn't want to get her too warm. I was very pleased with the way she rode.
Don took a picture of her and me before we started to ride. I also took a picture of her in the lot behind the house after we got done riding. There's not much grass, but she enjoys what she can find.

2009-12-11T22:54:00.003-06:00

The weather has not be good for riding. I did manage to ride Babe for about a half of an hour yesterday. But the ring was too wet to do much training. I mostly did long trots to give her some exercise. She likes extending the trot a lot better than having to do her little slow pleasure horse jog. We also practiced some leg yielding to review moving off my leg.
We got some mist today and it's still damp and dreary. Forecasters are predicting a colder and wetter than normal December for this area. After the long drought we need the rain, but it sure hurts riding time.

2009-12-05T14:14:00.005-06:00

After a lot of research I've decided to breed Babe to Investment Signal in 2010.
I had it narrowed down to two stallions – Signal and Krymsun N Gold.
I wrote down what my goals are for the foal and then made a list of each stallion's strong points.

The Foal - The foal is going to be my future show horse. The classes I want to show in are trail, western riding and horsemanship. I'm not interested in showing western pleasure. We like to show at the American Buckskin Registry Association's World show, so this means the foal has to be dun, buckskin or grulla. I also want a foal with potential to show at AQHA shows and do well.

INVESTMENT SIGNAL – Because the mare plays a big part in the raising of the foal, we'll look at Sig's dam first. Her name is Smoke N Signal. She is a gray mare that was never shown. Her sire, Smokeys Gray, has AQHA halter and performance points.
Smoke N Signals dam goes back to ranch bred horses. Her dam was never shown, but her dam's sire has points in halter, roping, reining and heeling. His name is Rooster Bars.
Sig's sire line is very good. His sire is Potential Career. This stud was injured at a young age and never shown extensively under saddle. He is the sire of World Champions in western riding and western horsemanship. His offspring are also winners in trail, pleasure, hunter under saddle and halter. Potential Career's sire is Potential Investment, a Reserve World Champion and producer of winners in the events which interest me.
Signal's conformation shows a strong, balanced skeletal structure which carries muscle well. Sig has a sloping shoulder angle and a deep heart girth. He has a short back and loin with a long hip allowing him to collect easily, getting his hindquarters well under himself for performing lead changes and tight maneuvers. His neck is just a bit more than 1/3 his total body length and ties in nicely to his shoulders, producing a nice wide chest. Sig has a real nice head…very refined, and perfectly attached to his neck.. Babe also has a pretty head, so the foal should be pretty to look at.
Tammy, who owns Signal, had him tested for color. He is Ee and AA. She's going to have him tested for the cream gene.
At this point I don't know what color genes Babe carries. I need to get her tested.
But regardless, I have a very strong possibility to get a foal I can show in buckskin classes.
Signal also has a great disposition. Tammy shows him in amateur classes and he never gives her any problem.
Investment Signal has AQHA points in western riding, trail, pleasure and halter. He was the 2005 ABRA World Champion in two-year old lunge line. He missed several show seasons due to an injury.

KRYMSUN N GOLD – KNG has a very strong pedigree.
KNG's dam is a winner. Her name is Cierras Legacy. She has points in western pleasure and hunter under saddle. Her sire is Mito Cierra. This horse has his ROM in performance and is a winner in halter classes.
KNG's sire is One Hot Krymsun. One Hot Krymsun is an AQHA World Champion in western pleasure. He also is a producer of World Champions.
A person can't go wrong with Krymsun N Gold's pedigree.
KNG's conformation is what pleasure horse competitors want in a horse. He is lightly muscled and balanced. He has a long elegant neck. He has "flat knees" which allow him to perform the slow compact gaits required for western pleasure.
He hasn't been tested for color.
KNG has a great disposition. We saw him at the 2009 AQHA World and he had just arrived…after a 25 hour trip from Michigan. He was friendly and willing to please as we visited him at his stall.
Krymsun N Gold is a NSBA World Champion in pleasure, has AQHA points in western pleasure, hunter under saddle and performance halter. He continues to show and is very successful.

It was a hard decision to make between these two stallions. But after comparing pictures of each one's conformation, looking at Babe's conformation, watching videos, researching pedigrees, researching the color factor I decided Investment Signal would work best with Babe. In 16 months we'll know for sure!

Thanks to Lynda McCall, our instructor for the Coat Color Genetics course. She researched the pedigrees and gave me advice on potential color results.
For more information about conformation and form to function check out the online course Conformation and Selection for Performance .

2009-11-30T22:34:00.003-06:00

Another front came in and it's raining. I spent today editing videos we made while Cathy Hanson was here at the beginning of November. Cathy teaches the online courses Preparation for Competition and Showmanship In hand for Horse Courses Online. Cathy is writing a new course called "Train for Trail".
We wanted to make videos for the new course and used Babe for some of the exercises.
Trail classes use a lot of poles. The horse is expected to walk, jog or trot and lope over poles set in a pattern. Some of the patterns can have tight turns. The horse must do it on a fairly loose rein, at an even pace and try not to hit the poles.
Because Babe is an ex-rail horse (western pleasure) she had trouble at first learning to guide and pick up her feet. She also is learning she can't four-beat at the lope over poles.
Last year I started working her over one pole. When she learned how to go over it at all three gaits I added another.
The spacing of poles is critical. Walk-overs are set at two feet apart; jog (trot)overs are set at three feet apart and lope overs are set at six feet apart. If you decide to try going over poles with your horse, never go over poles spaced for trotting at the walk or poles spaced for walking at the jog. It's not fair to the horse.
Horses have different natural lengths to their stides. In time you'll learn if your horse has a long or short stride. But if you intend to show your horse must learn how to lengthen or shorten to accomodate the pattern, as the above measurements are the ones used in competition.
Click here to watch the video for jogging over the poles.
Click here to watch the video for loping over the poles.

2009-11-27T14:06:00.006-06:00

The arena finally dried out enough to use. I made a video comparing the degree of lameness Babe presents now (Nov. 2009) to the degree of lameness she showed in the summer of 2007(the year I got her).

In the first video (2007) she counter-counters to avoid reaching forward with her inside hind leg. Her right hock is the most tender. I also had to do a lot of coxing to keep her moving. It doesn't show in these clips, but the more she exercised the better she was able to move. She needed exercise in order to improve her range of motion and get in condition.

In the most recent video (Nov. 2009)you can see she is still is short in stide with the hind feet - she doesn't want to reach up under herself. This is probably due to the loss of joint space in her hocks. She has improved because of having better balanced feet and getting some condition. I am planning on injecting her hocks in January. Eventually the hocks will fuse and injections will not be needed. Fusing can take years.

Click here to watch video.

2009-11-21T23:45:00.002-06:00

We had over an inch and a half of rain in the last 36 hours. So no riding for a day or two - until the arena dries out. Yesterday I hand walked Babe up and down the drive way for fifteen minutes several times during the day. If she stands in her stall she stocks up and gets stiff.

Today the sand lot behind the barn was dry enough to turn horses out for some exercise. They mostly stand around and eat hay, but moving from flake to flake gets them a little exercise. It's better than standing the their stalls all day.

The Beginning

2009-11-19T21:29:00.004-06:00

I wish I would have started this blog on Babe when I got her - 21 months ago. It's been a rewarding (and sometimes frustrating) journey.
Instead of trying to post a long submission on the blog, I made a web page to document Babe's progress since I got her. It can be read by clicking here.
My goals for Babe are to win a World Championship at the American Buckskin Registry Association World show, keep increasing her AQHA points and raise a foal. The foal will be my next show horse.
While we have made tremendous progress toward achieving our goals, much work needs to be done.
Thank you for visiting Babe's blog. Please post any comments or questions you may have about her training, care and adventures.