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Post by karenvermillion on Nov 20, 2009 0:03:42 GMT -5
Classy - I have a mare that is built like Classy. I bought a Reinsman Swayback saddle pad. It's built up on both sides of the spine, supporting the saddle and keeping it up off the withers. They're expensive, but you'll only need to buy one. Best pad I've ever bought! www.horsesaddleshop.com/reinsman-contour-swayback-pad.html
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Post by cat67 on Nov 20, 2009 0:28:02 GMT -5
Look into the Blue Ridge barrel saddles from www.chicksaddlery.com - I used to own one and it was very high cut. Fit all the TB's. Typically barrel saddles will be higher cut because a lot of barrel horses are racing QH lines that have a lot of TB in them.
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Post by Kea's Crest on Nov 22, 2009 11:40:59 GMT -5
TB's are tough to keep weight on. It does seem to be a constant effort to soften that ribsy look. They are such fantastic atheletes when they are healthy though. I just love watching mine trot around the field. Perfection in motion.
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classy
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Post by classy on Dec 7, 2009 18:24:52 GMT -5
Quick update on Classy - I thought you guys might like to see what she looks like lately underneath her pretty blankets! Here she is taking in some sun this afternoon and posing for a picture. She is a woolly girl but she feels like mink! and her favorite past time - eating her big tub of hot mush! I love her mush nose!
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Post by schwung on Dec 7, 2009 18:45:11 GMT -5
Her weight looks great...good job you two!!
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Post by classy on Dec 9, 2009 17:26:20 GMT -5
A quick riding update - Thanks for the saddle pad and saddle suggestions. I had already ordered a Cashel Western Swayback pad so I tried it out today! My trainer came out to Kristi's today to give me a lesson on Classy! We did about 5-10 minutes of groudwork exercises and then I got on her. She started out walking perfectly with ears perked up down the length of the arena. When we turned, she started to turn more toward the middle of the arena, so I steered her back to the rail where I wanted her and she decided she did not want to be on the rail. She threw a quick tantrum - no bucking, just general balking and tossing her head. She gave it up in less than a minute realizing that I was not okay with "tantrums" and she moved out nicely with ears forward and a little spring in her step! She was great for the rest of the lesson, with the exception of one more little tantrum when I asked her to trot. She got over that pretty quickly also and trotted nicely to end the lesson. I'm still saddle shopping but hope to have one soon. See you guys this weekend at the Poker Ride!
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classy
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Post by classy on Dec 25, 2009 16:22:28 GMT -5
Merry Christmas Everyone! Classy enjoyed an extra tub of mush this morning as an extra Christmas treat! For those of you that didn't make it, Classy was sporting a new saddle at the Poker Ride! It fits her perfect and its comfy for me too! The bad news is Classy came up very lame on her left hind last Saturday. This is the same foot she blew an abcess in this past summer after SAFE got her back. I suspected another abcess so I began daily soakings in warm water with epsom salts. Classy is very good about foot soaks and will stay still as long as she has a big bowl of mush in front her her! The good news is that the abcess opened up on Tuesday afternoon and Classy immediately started moving better. Yesterday, she was completely sound again. Unfortunately, it came out at the coronet band again, in the exact same spot that the previous one did. Have a great day everyone!
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Post by schwung on Dec 25, 2009 18:24:42 GMT -5
Darn TB feet! Slam just blew not one, but two abcesses, simultaneously in both front feet, both out the coronet band. That's pretty special even for him! Glad to hear she is doing better though!
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classy
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Post by classy on Dec 28, 2009 11:45:57 GMT -5
Two abcesses at the same time? That is pretty special - hope he is feeling better!
Classy and I went out trail riding at Landsburg with PK, delasl and a couple others yesterday. Classy was peeerrrrrrrfect!!! She did everything I asked.......walked through thick, goopy mud, a very large puddle, over numerous logs, etc........without any balking at all. She even followed along in the line (without "jigging") which is not her favorite thing to do........she likes to be in front. I had so much fun! There are a couple pics over in the "your pictures please" thread.
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classy
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Post by classy on Feb 8, 2010 21:46:51 GMT -5
Time for another update! Classy is doing well, she had a visit from the vet last month to get her teeth done and the vet said they weren't all that bad for her age. I also had a fecal done and the results were extremely low. I am working with the vet on her deworming program.
We've also been hitting the trails when the weather cooperates and she is just awesome on the trails. In fact, last Monday, I went riding around the gravel pit with a gal who is leasing one of Kristi's horses. We were riding underneath the power lines when I heard some ATV's / motorcycles approaching. This is something Classy has not been exposed to before but I wasn't too worried because Classy really doesn't spook. It turned out they were two off-road motorcycles and they appeared just over the crest of a small hill coming right toward us. The gal I was riding with took her horse off the trail to avoid them even though her horse didn't really pay them much attention. She has only been riding this horse for a few weeks so she is still testing her out. Classy didn't even flinch at the motorcycles. The motorcycles stopped in their path and Classy just kept walking right toward them without missing a step. The riders actually ended up turning their bikes off so we could pass them, but I honestly think Classy would have walked right by them even with their motors running. She did not even bat an eyelash. She is a bit out of shape, but I am slowly bringing her back into condition so we can hit the trails all spring and summer. Anyway, she is doing great and I love her to pieces!
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Post by Kea's Crest on Feb 9, 2010 10:54:04 GMT -5
Classy was sporting a new saddle at the Poker Ride! It fits her perfect and its comfy for me too!
..... Yesterday, she was completely sound again. Hey nice saddle; looks like Duchess's new Tucker. Sorry about the TB foot probs. I know how that can be with my TB. But they are just big beautiful sweethearts so that makes it all worth it.
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Post by classy on Feb 21, 2010 23:17:56 GMT -5
I have been taking advantage of this awesome weather we've been having and I've ridden Classy quite a bit lately both in the arena and on the trail........she definitely prefers the trail. I'm working on her conditioning and trying to build some muscle / stamina.
Today, we went on a solo trail ride for a couple hours. This was our first real trail ride by ourselves and as usual, she was great. I was starting to think that this old lady is basically "spookless" because nothing seems to phase her - not bikes, motorcycles, cars, abandoned appliances, deer, the buzz of the powerlines, etc. It's like she's been trail riding forever......who knows - maybe she has.
Anyway, today, we were on the trail behind the next door neighbor's property, almost home, when Classy abruptly stopped dead in her tracks and frantically backed up a few steps before jumping off the trail into some bushes. She was wide-eyed and trembling so I got off and saw that she was spooking at the neighbors pot-bellied pig who was just quietly munching on grass!
I led her over to the fence and she stood there staring at the pig just shaking like a leaf. The pig wandered off - it never even snorted or made a sound! I got back on and we continued home........on the farthest edge of the trail away from the neighbor's fence. I had no idea the neighbor's had a pig so we'll have to make some visits with the pig so next time it won't be so scary!
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Post by schwung on Feb 22, 2010 0:18:10 GMT -5
Aww...well of course she couldn't be completely spook-proof! I am not sure what horse would not be startled by a pig if they have never seen one before. I have a very distinct memory of riding my TB on the Tolt Pipeline with a group of horses when I was a kid and my horse completely losing his mind over a group of llamas in a pasture. I had to get off and still he was spinning circles around me and snorting loudly, trembling and sweating. And the llamas weren't even moving, just quietly watching the horses, all of which were completely relaxed except for mine who was losing his mind. That was an exciting ride!
Glad to hear you are ok and I hope your next encounter with the pig is far less eventful!
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classy
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Post by classy on Mar 14, 2010 21:13:55 GMT -5
Classy and I went up Taylor Mountain today with a couple friends. She is doing very well and she likes her new hoof boots! Aren't her little ears cute?
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Post by pk on Mar 20, 2010 9:51:03 GMT -5
And another photo of Classy crossing some water yesterday. Classy's mom has been doing a great job keeping her going under saddle. She didn't have much problem with the water, showing that her work and perseverance are paying off!
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