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Unforeseen Problems
I note here, in an article that I wrote for the AIHA Newsletter in March, 2010, that being attentive to the needs of three Icelandic horses is sometimes, a full-time job.
On the home front, we are moving into spring. I rode all winter, or at least a good part of it. I had ice shoes put on Tinni and Raudi, but kept Mr. Siggi barefoot. The shoes will be coming off soon, and all will be given an extension of their break. The most interesting thing about horse ownership in Alaska is that it requires one to be constantly attentive. For instance, Tinni is slightly overweight, and when I take him for walks, is short strided. I am not sure if this is a laminitis related condition, which is partially due to the fact that this year, local hay had a higher-than-average sugar content. I’m not taking any chances. I’m going to feed him separately, and soak his hay. I’m also going to weight his hay, and make sure that he gets 2.2 pounds per hundred pounds of bodyweight.
Tinni and Siggi also spar on occasion. Siggi sometimes pushes Tinni’s buttons, for example, by beating on him with the jolly ball. So when they, as Pete says “start to mix it up,” we elect to separate them. I put Tinni in the small pen at night, and Siggi in there during the days. The rule is, both can be in the large pen when someone is on site.
I’ve also been dealing with what I call Raudi’s vexing problem. She developed roaning, splotches of white mixed with chestnut hairs, on her back. This was an indication to me that she has a saddle fit problem. At the same time, she began stopping when asked to trot. This did not seem to me to be a behavior problem, it was too consistent. Upon the advice of many, including Kaaren Jordan, (saddle fit expert) Robyn Hood, (TTeam trainer) Tom Clark, (Skito Pad Dealer) and numerous others, Pete and I made several saddle fit changes. This was after all looked at several photos, all of which indicated that she’s croup high, meaning that there is excess weight on her withers. Pete and I removed the butterfly insert from her saddle and I went to the use of a hanging stirrup configuration. I also went back to using her old Sensation girth, and raised my stirrups. We have been told that a thin felt pad shim, one that we’ll insert in her saddle, will also help to alleviate possible pain.
I’ve also resumed doing TTouches, TTeam obstacle
work, and connected groundwork with Raudi. This has been revelatory. I’ve
discovered that she’s touchy around her neck area. She also falls
into me when I walk her. I’d previously thought that these habits
were behaviorally-related. However, ‘m now thinking that they’re
pain related. There is a part of me that’s dismayed because I must
now deal. I want to resume our good work, which up until recently involved
walk-trot-canter transitions. But there is a part of me that’s relieved
because I know that in the end, my solving this problem is going to strengthen
my relationship with my most remarkable mare.
Arctic Arrow Solstice Gathering
Unforseen Problems