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Post by ladyhawke on Sept 3, 2013 1:25:33 GMT -5
Hello! Been a while since I've logged in here - it's all updated a new! Wahoo. Anyways, I would like some honest feedback/opinions on my mares body condition. Someone told me she looked fat today and it blew my mind - and then I started to question my own judgement lol. I think often one gets used to what their looking at and maybe doesn't see it for what it is. Opinions?  |
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Post by Smay on Sept 3, 2013 9:56:11 GMT -5
Nope - she looks fantastic to me! She is definitely NOT fat, and congrats anyway for having a nicely filled out TB. Sometimes that's hard to do! She isn't flabby behind her shoulder, or cresty along her neck, and she has a nice flank and rounded topline. Nothing wrong with that! She is beautiful!
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Post by ladyhawke on Sept 3, 2013 13:03:16 GMT -5
Nope - she looks fantastic to me! She is definitely NOT fat, and congrats anyway for having a nicely filled out TB. Sometimes that's hard to do! She isn't flabby behind her shoulder, or cresty along her neck, and she has a nice flank and rounded topline. Nothing wrong with that! She is beautiful! Thank you Smay!! It's hard to believe a year ago I was having problems getting her to gain weight :-) Glad I'm not delusional. lol! |
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Post by Goalie on Sept 3, 2013 18:09:08 GMT -5
She looks really good. A very pretty girl.
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Post by ZenRider on Sept 3, 2013 21:55:21 GMT -5
Yep looks good to me too. Some people have a misconception that all Thoroughbreds are supposed to be boney and ribby. Don't sweat it.
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Sept 4, 2013 14:45:22 GMT -5
Not fat! She's in great weight. You always have to consider the source when you get an opinion about weight... someone who's used to looking at event horses, for instance, is usually freaked by a fat show hunter. :-)
Nice to see you here again. Hope you've been well.
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Post by ladyhawke on Sept 5, 2013 15:37:02 GMT -5
Not fat! She's in great weight. You always have to consider the source when you get an opinion about weight... someone who's used to looking at event horses, for instance, is usually freaked by a fat show hunter. :-) Nice to see you here again. Hope you've been well. Ah! Glad you chimed in :-) I have been well, just busy with my web design business! Actually... I wonder if you might be able to help me with saddle fit? If I take some photos later? My mare has started some silly behavior about a month ago. She doesn't want to go forward, (especially into trot) or move away from my legs. She slams on the breaks, pins her ears, puts her neck up and then kicks out or bucks. She's sound, and her teeth are fine - I'm thinking it's her back. In the picture I posted here it even looks like her back has dropped & she is standing quite far under herself behind.. would you agree that this stance could be from a sore back? edit ->> I'm so rude. How are YOU? Hope all is well for you too :-)! |
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Sept 8, 2013 18:05:10 GMT -5
Not fat! She's in great weight. You always have to consider the source when you get an opinion about weight... someone who's used to looking at event horses, for instance, is usually freaked by a fat show hunter. :-) Nice to see you here again. Hope you've been well. Ah! Glad you chimed in :-) I have been well, just busy with my web design business! Actually... I wonder if you might be able to help me with saddle fit? If I take some photos later? My mare has started some silly behavior about a month ago. She doesn't want to go forward, (especially into trot) or move away from my legs. She slams on the breaks, pins her ears, puts her neck up and then kicks out or bucks. She's sound, and her teeth are fine - I'm thinking it's her back. In the picture I posted here it even looks like her back has dropped & she is standing quite far under herself behind.. would you agree that this stance could be from a sore back? edit ->> I'm so rude. How are YOU? Hope all is well for you too :-)! This pic is a great one to see her back. Please take another in this pose with your saddle on (no pad) and girthed. Then do these two simple checks: 1. With saddle on/no pad/no girth, hold it in place with one hand mid-seat and use the other hand to reach under and feel panels from front to back. Any gap in the middle? Next... 2. Use a clean white pad (or pad with white underside) and no halfpad or other extras. Leave her back dirty and ride til she's warm enough to sweat a bit. Then take a look at the underside of your pad. You should see an imprint of both whole panels. If you've got a clean/dry spot in the center, you've got a "bridge" - an area where the panels are not bearing weight. If this is happening, pressure is concentrated at the front and rear of the tree/panels (you would see heavier dirt in the area with most weight-bearing). We'll talk about solutions after you test. :-) To answer your question about her stance... could be trying to alleviate discomfort, but from where is hard to quess. Maybe her back... maybe her hocks... maybe her feet (could be talking more weight behind to relieve front end)... maybe... does she react if you fun your fingers down her back/hamstrings? Ha, ha... wouldn't think you were rude. I'm good... back at the tack shop after a summer running the riding program at Camp Highlander. |
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Post by ladyhawke on Sept 8, 2013 22:24:10 GMT -5
Ah sounds like a busy summer then! How are you liking the tack store again? You may be right about the discomfort. She does have pretty bad front hooves, especially the left. She's been in pads for over a year now (expensive!!) and I've been with the best farrier in the lower mainland, she's sound and he's made a world a difference for her! But still when he pulls her shoes off to re-shoe she is clearly uncomfortable and hates to put weight on her fronts without shoes on. I don't really know what else I can do for her if that is what it is :-( I thought about maybe trying a supplement like farrier formula to see if it will help her grow more hoof so there's more to work with. Not knowing! Anyways, back to saddle fit. I did take photos this afternoon before I had even read your post lol. See what you think about them. There is a very slight bridging in the middle. I also find when I try to run my hand down through the shoulder area ...I can't really, it's a very tight squeeze to get my hand under there. Thank you so much for the support :-)     [img src="
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Sept 10, 2013 15:44:14 GMT -5
From your pics... yes, tree too narrow. The relative dry spots on pad at shoulders (especially right) show pressure, and the too-narrow width is also the most likely cause of the slight bridge (because the saddle can't drop all the way into contact with the back). If it's a regular tree and you can find a wide, the panels, gullet and channel all look to be appropriate for her back.
Bummer about her sore feet. Pads are a great way to go. If you're not already using and can afford it, I *really* love pour-in Vettec pads. They offer sneaker-like comfort and support. Dental impression material is also good. Leather and rubber pads bottom out after a couple weeks, and don't support the frog as well. Remember, though... if your farrier is trimming a lot of sole with his hoof knife, he's removing what you're trying to build up. Horses with thin soles (less than 15mm) need no sole trimming other than the lightest rasping for clean up. Have you ever had radiographs taken to look at the bony column alignment, sole depth and medial/lateral balance? Doing so can be hugely enlightening and can really help your farrier make good decisions.
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Post by ladyhawke on Sept 11, 2013 15:49:13 GMT -5
From your pics... yes, tree too narrow. The relative dry spots on pad at shoulders (especially right) show pressure, and the too-narrow width is also the most likely cause of the slight bridge (because the saddle can't drop all the way into contact with the back). If it's a regular tree and you can find a wide, the panels, gullet and channel all look to be appropriate for her back. Bummer about her sore feet. Pads are a great way to go. If you're not already using and can afford it, I *really* love pour-in Vettec pads. They offer sneaker-like comfort and support. Dental impression material is also good. Leather and rubber pads bottom out after a couple weeks, and don't support the frog as well. Remember, though... if your farrier is trimming a lot of sole with his hoof knife, he's removing what you're trying to build up. Horses with thin soles (less than 15mm) need no sole trimming other than the lightest rasping for clean up. Have you ever had radiographs taken to look at the bony column alignment, sole depth and medial/lateral balance? Doing so can be hugely enlightening and can really help your farrier make good decisions. Thanks for looking at that for me! I was thinking the same thing... though I think with a wider tree it might fall right onto her wither.. ? Maybe needs something with a higher pommel then. I'll ask my farrier about the Vettec pads. How much do they cost? Right now I'm spending 235$ every 5-6 weeks for her to have 4 shoes, pads on the fronts. Left front has a slight wedge as she's got a run out heel. He doesn't trim a whole lot off of her.. but it's taking a while to get that angle better on the left. This rad was taken in 2012 when she was dead lame. I believe it was in May 2012. They have improved a lot since then. The thing I find with the pads is that sand will still work its way under them even with the filling. I worry now going into a wet season about abscesses. Argh!  |
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Sept 14, 2013 16:09:05 GMT -5
I can't figure out what brand your saddle is, but from the pics, it looks like you'd have good clearance with a wide tree. Another option is the Prestige Roma Jump. Probably in a 34 or 35 tree. Those old pics of feet show very shallow soles, and an almost "0" angle on the left front... no wonder she was sore. See the difference in the "smoothness" of the way the bones line up on the right vs the left. Those awkward angles create pressure in the joints - you can see less joint space between P1 and P2 (left front) at the top - aggravated by delayed breakover from the excess toe on that foot. If you get a chance, get the films re-done to see if your farrier is really making progress.  Oops, almost forgot: I pay $50 for front pour-ins. Advantage over plastic or leather is they don't go dead, and no room for crud underneath. |
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Post by ladyhawke on Sept 16, 2013 14:20:09 GMT -5
The saddle is a MW I believe. It's a Kentaur Naxos, though maybe an older model then the one shown here - www.kentaur.cz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88%3A1130-naxos-&catid=11%3Asedla-skokova&Itemid=37&lang=enI forgot to mention, once those rads were taken, I changed farriers. I was thinking I might get them re-done - or at least the front left. I'll post an image when I get around to that! Farrier is coming out tomorrow and I will ask him about the pour-ins :-) I would love to know that no crusher dust or sand is getting under there! It hasn't been an issue much, but it did once work its way under and re-bruise her pretty badly, and then abscess. Edit: That looks like a nice saddle! Is that what you ride in? What is the "bi-elastic tree" all about? I was thinking of saving up for a CWD, but that will take a while. Thoughts.. ? |
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Sept 16, 2013 16:32:41 GMT -5
Yes... I have a Roma Jump and *love* it. Quality all the way, and a great fit for the TB back (typically, high/long withers with some curve). Simon is also a big fan... moves/jumps better under this saddle than anything I've had on him (and I get to try everything that comes through here on trails, over fences, etc.) Bi-elastic: Prestige synthetic trees are made of a mix of fibers, giving it similar flexibility to wood without the possibility of warp, need for metal attachments or weight. Best part: machine-adjustable for the life of the saddle... up or down 2 cm (so you could change a 34 to a 32 or 36, or in between). (Costs about $150 and 24 hours in the heater to change.) CWD makes a beautiful saddle, too, but I'm not sure she'd have enough wither room in one of those. The pommel is lower and the panels are much thinner than your saddle (or the Roma). Total no-go for Simon, and his back isn't nearly as dipped as hers. We have a 17/34 +2 (forward flap) Roma coming in Oct. 1. |
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Post by ZenRider on Sept 16, 2013 17:16:29 GMT -5
The Passier's come with ample wither clearance, but take for ever to break in. That said, they do wear like iron.  Even if you have to have it reflocked, sometimes you can luck into a deal on one on eBay. I have (because of a tack store in Illinois going out a business a few years ago, but before the announcement and when the real sales were going on) two, the Comet FS and the Paragon Jump. Later picked up an older Passier dressage saddle on eBay that I did have to have reflocked, but haven't really used yet. I'm thinking her back is more like Zen's so the Comet FS might be something to look at if you stumble onto one. Saddle shopping is one of those things I hate. Mostly as you run the gambit of fits the horse doesn't fit you, fits you, but doesn't fit the horse. Arrrrrggggghhhhh |
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Even if you have to have it reflocked, sometimes you can luck into a deal on one on eBay. I have (because of a tack store in Illinois going out a business a few years ago, but before the announcement and when the real sales were going on) two, the Comet FS and the Paragon Jump. Later picked up an older Passier dressage saddle on eBay that I did have to have reflocked, but haven't really used yet. I'm thinking her back is more like Zen's so the Comet FS might be something to look at if you stumble onto one. Saddle shopping is one of those things I hate. Mostly as you run the gambit of fits the horse doesn't fit you, fits you, but doesn't fit the horse. Arrrrrggggghhhhh