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Horse talk for mature people over 40

2M views 29K replies 352 participants last post by  Blue 
#1 ·
I thought I would start a new thread for people over 40
who love horses.
This thread is open to owners leasers an people who
love horses

I will start I am 48 years old and I never yet owned a horse
mainly because of finances.
I have been around horses most of my life. I have ridden
all kinds of horses first ponies then horses
I have ridden Arab, Quarter Horses, Morgans, Appendix Quarter horses.
Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, American Saddlebreds and Paints and lots of mixed breeds too and all sizes 14hh-17hh
I have ridden both English and western
here is are pictures of me riding my friends Pinto 14hh
and my friends Half Arab

My husband knows how much I would love my own horse so in the spring we are looking in to leasing a horse
 

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#23,722 ·
Blue: I agree, those accidental animals have something special about them.

So sorry to hear about your dog, not eating is the problem I had with Gigi too. This is not a good year for our doggies. Praying for a good outcome.

I called the vet office, receptionist had no comment, I need to wait for the vet to call back. Doesn't sound hopeful. I feel a bit remorseful not letting her pass peacefully in her own bed at home. I just didn't want DD to find her.

Do you know, she was still smiling when I held her and spoke to her friday? The corners of her mouth would always curl up in a smile. Poor girl.

Nicker and Phantom, those snowball pads are very cool! Amazing what we now have for the comfort and care of our beloved equines. I willl remember about the non-stick spray too, might come in handy if we get caught in a freak snowstorm, which does occasionally happen here.
 
#23,723 ·
Vet just called, they have been keeping Gigi on the iv fluids. Her BUN is coming down, and Vet is hopeful she can be weaned off the iv and maybe be ok. So, will know more tomorrow.

Guarded news, but good. Will be rough on the pocketbook though...won't know for a few days. Was given an estimate of $300/day for iv, which is why I said try for only 24hrs.

Maybe he'll take payments:???:
 
#23,724 ·
Anita, hope your vet calls you soon. I always so "No more animals!" I get so tired of losing them. But then some critter comes into my life and here we go again.

I've used the non-stick cooking spray on all their hooves here when that snow storm came through. It really did help. They still got some build up, but was much easier to just knock it out instead of struggling with it. Mornings they would actually be up on their toes! But all I had to do was lift a foot and knock it out. Easy peazy.

I have an appt for our old girl this afternoon. I'm going to stay there until they do whatever it takes to tell me what's wrong and what I can do to make her more comfortable. Even if I don't like the answer:-(
 
#23,725 ·
Wheweeee, I just cleared off the suburban. There was 2 ft of snow on top. Huge drifts everywhere. I got the chicken run opened up but those girls will not venture out of the coop. I opened the doors wide on the coop so the sun would shine in. LOL They were all just laying out in the sun!!! It's beautiful out there, but pretty cold. Could be -15 by Wednesday. Brrr I have plenty to keep me busy indoors, thank you!!! I do think I will take the 4 wheeler out for a little ride around the road to see what's what.
 
#23,727 ·
PS - The GP's get their shavings from a bit skimmed off from the horses' supply. They enjoy some hay too, I just gather up some of the loose stuff from the hayroom.

I consider GP bedding & hay "free" :D a little GP food and baby carrots, and they are happy campers.
I had my Maggie for 8 good years, quite the g-pig. I lived near a feed store at the time. They let me buy enough hay for a plastic bin w/lid I had for bedding. Then I'd get Timothy hay in a little roll & gpig pellets at the pet store for her to eat. She loved carrots, grapes & fresh spinach. Loved a pizza box folded into it's "A" shape too, so she had a big ("stall" lol!) & could chew to her heart's content. She was a special gpig, a very good friend. Died of old age in my arms. Still miss that 'pig! (Had a dream not long after she died: big & glossy, she jumped in my lap, reached up & "kissed" my nose with hers, then jumped down & ran off. Nice dream, that).
 
#23,729 ·
Yeah...it's been a hard year for doggies. Prayers & hugs for all now going thru it. Critters...I watch my Savannah, especially, for health issues, but so far so good. Losing one is so very hard.

HP, that's way too much snow to shove off your suburban! I feel ashamed to admit grumbling about the 6" I shoved off of my VW Passat this morning! But...did that (well, would've done it anyway, but..) because had talked to Janice. When I spoke w/her it was 23 degrees & windy, figured out there it was even colder, windier & she had a foot of snow. Not! She said it was already in the 30s, would be 40ish by the time I got there, no wind, barely a flick of snow (Colo is weird, this storm totally missed Brighton). Got my stuff together asap & headed out for HorseMonday, yay!
 
#23,730 ·
TJ, we get a GP story but no HM story? LOL

My house is CLEAN! OK, not sparkling....but better than it was!:shock: It's my day off, can't clean the entire day now can I? LOL
Gimme me a minute, girlfriend, I was bloabbing:lol::lol:Your house is clean? You're hired...:lol:
 
#23,731 ·
HM today: got Miss Bailey (going into heat, but caught her, she needed a pop on the butt to lead 'tho, but she did it. Janice was suprised that I got her so fast!)

1st: oblong pen: got about 20 min lesson of "stalking" 'till she joined up, then lounging on the lead rope (only 2nd time I've done that; can't practice that at home, lol, will need real-time practice). Got on, & she paid me no never mind whatsoever, so worked on moving her to the rail..had trouble with that, she didn't want to listen & I was trying too hard. Janice asked if I wanted her to be on the lunge-line & I think I got "fear of canter" in my face (Janice 'reads" extremely well) so we went to the smaller rounder pen.

Aah. Much better. I think it's still a comfort zone for me, & that's okay...is what it is 'till it's not. Was easier to get her to the rail & get her attention, so got her into the trot. Did ok, but went bouncing more than I liked. Stopped her & expressed frustration. Janice said I TRY too hard to be "right". (She also said Bailey is no push-button, she's a goer; I just need to sit her trot with CONFIDENCE, know where I want to go, & take her there). Janice was blunt (love that!), said "Don't be timid, don't be a passenger, she wants a RIDER!"

Dang. So..I worked on that, or rather,LET myself do it. Ladona! I SANG! Once I started to do that, something big clicked & I eventually did 2-3 full circles at a fast trot (Janice said I was nearly at posting trot speed). Plus, I could tell when her body started to slow & I could cluck her back up into it. We did this both directions.

And, this is funny: the song that popped into my head was that silly old jingle "I wish I was an Oscar Meyer weiner"; it worked!! Bailey loved it, ears back on me & enjoying her trot! I started to laugh, in between singing, it was so funny! I was laughing & singing so much that I lost my left stirrup & in the middle of the trot said to Janice "oops! lost my stirrup!", slowed Bailey to a walk then stop. Janice almost had her mouth hanging open, lol; she said "Before this, if you'd lost a stirrup, you would've paniced!" Oh...yup, I would've.

Anyway...I sat her trot better than ever, turned directions in mid-trot, kept her attention because I was happy & she liked the feeling of my being good w/everything (& the singing, I think she like the song, too).

Almost 2 hours of lessons, you'all. I did good. Janice said when I was untacking that she didn't want to try the canter again just yet, but wanted me back on the horse that it was tried on. That works, I needed that.

She was happy that I finally was smiling (long time coming). I've really needed to lighten up with life in general, & the Horse is taking me there. All is good.

Hope all have enjoyed this segment of HorseMonday. The program will be moving to the available HorseFriday while the rider is in emtb-class thru mid-March. Tentative schedule is Friday Feb 20, barring weather, lesson approx 12noon (instructor is booked Feb 6, rider has another weapons qualify on Feb 13).

Smiley face smiley face..!!!
 
#23,732 ·
Oh...after my lesson(s), I helped Janice free the horses for their pasture romp. Got a border's paint gelding out to lead him to the oblong pen (he fights with everyone). Janice told me he leads well, but was either not neutered all the way or has had experience...Bailey loves him anyway & she was standing by his pen, flagging. He was quite interested, but "withdrew" when I haltered him. Janice said to just toss the end of the lead rope at Bailey & she'd go away. The Janice walked off (to let me just...do it, although sure she was watching outta corner of her eye..). It worked. Got him out, flung the end of the rope at "Hotty" a few times, went slow; she went on, reluctantly, got the boy into the pen & let him loose.

So pretty! His name is Cody. He went galloping, spinning & bucking, running circles at a slant. Very athletic horse.

On a "too much horse for me" note: Janice did say that, in the big picture, Bailey might be too much horse for me. She can take off, big-time (well, anyone can, I know), but she's the best school horse she has for me right now. I said I know, & that a horse like Bailey might always be too much for me...but she's being good for me right now & it's all good.

I really don't mind, at all, that it's taken "so long" to get where I am right now. Janice said it's good that I want so much to be "farther along", but it is what it is & it takes the time it takes.

That's good with me. I've had a lot to overcome & have made great progress from sitting on a 14 hand sweet gelding hoping he wouldn't move a muscle, lol!

Oh...it was pretty out there today! No wind (a minor miracle), sunny, got to almost 50 degrees. Got to see the horses run out & helped clean & fill their run-out water tank.

Today was a big hug on my heart.
 
#23,735 ·
Blue: Stabilized never happens, I just need to heat everyday with the wood stove.
Mostly based on how well you are insulated and how much draft you allow in.
I have an exterior door in the basement with a decent gap at the bottom.
A second door to the living area that is very tight.
A bit cool at floor level moving toward the stove.

For me if the teens and twenties at night I need about 74 at bed and wake up to 67 or 68.
In the 40's I might skip a day with the stove.
A lot of wind is another story, try to fill the Dragon for the night.

TJ: Glad you had a good HM!
It's good for the soul you know.

Quiet here no snow Dragon Breathing, Corn Growing.
Nothing on the ground now it's just a little crunchy everywhere.

9 new fish this evening, 1 new plant, soon a jungle will emerge.
Definite move from horses to aquarium for me this winter.
Horses look very woolly right now, but they seem happy.

Good Night All:
 
#23,736 ·
Good morning folks. I apologize for being gone so much lately. Just a lot of adjustment going on in several different places.

MIL seems to be stabilizing a bit already. Her energy level has already risen and she has cooked a few meals, done a few loads of laundry and washed a few dishes. Yep, on her way back to being a good woman...haha

Seriously though, she has been moving around a lot and has even been able to get off the oxygen for a couple of hours without dropping levels. The only issue she still has is more from concern and nerves and that is lack of continuous sleep.

She got her blood work done yesterday, finally, to send off to the clinic so they can decide the direction to go at the next consultation.



Doc is improving little by little since the Diarrhea has stopped. Weight gain is still slow, but consistent.

I sold my little BP trailer and have a bite on one to buy my dually. I'm now considering selling the big trailer too to pool all those funds into house deposit. I told DW I can always get another truck and trailer, I won't always have $20K laying around for a home deposit.

TJ, glad you had a great HM and hope to be around a little more regularly soon.

How has Ellen's lessons been going? I haven't seen mention of any as I tentatively scrolled through a few posts.

HP, did you get the job?

Blue, hope things are getting better with the family. I have been keeping you and yours in my prayer time.

MR, nice fish tank and hope things work out with mom living with you.

AA, I'm sorry about Gigi. I received pics of the new rodent running around a young ladies neck yesterday. Also heard she thought you were bringing in chicken for supper. hahahaha


I know there are a few others, but I have a few other things to finish before work starts. I'll try to pop in a little later to see responses.


Love all of you and hope family, friends and animals are well.
 
#23,737 ·
TJ, That is awesome! I'm so glad you finally had a comforting day with horses. Now you can relax and look forward to many more.

Maryland, thanks for filling me in about the stove heating. I suspect husband knows all this, but knows how I am about drafty corners and big differentials he probably just doesn't want to talk about it! :lol: O well. North country is where he wants to build a house and I have a tendancy to do most anything that makes him happy so, here we go! Spring will be here before you know it and you'll be out there brushing all that hair off those horses right?

Roadyy, nice to see you pop in even if only briefly. So glad your MIL is feeling a little better. She's got to stick around for this new little girl, right? I haven't read anything yet about Ellen's lessons. Darn that girl, she's been a little quiet lately. Maybe she's waiting for some decent weather? On my family home front, things are still pretty ugly. I try to keep a low profile. I tried to help some of the individuals figure out what they needed to do, but was pretty much told that they didn't need me involved soooo...... Didn't have the heart to tell husband about that so I'm not sure what they're telling him. Over the weekend we got a c.c. of a letter from a probate lawyer that one family member hired and had sent to another. Ugh! Now husband can't get any of them to answer the phone to find out what the heck is going on. I'm done with it. I like animals better.:evil:

Well, got my old dog to the vet yesterday. She's a new vet and I like her. Plus she's a horse person also so she understands when conversations always float back to horses! :wink: We talked about how Piper was doing and when it started. She said her heart sounds good so not too worried about that, but had a couple immediate ideas. So she took blood and urine and we're doing a full panel before we worry about X-rays. Should have results mid morning today. In the meantime just keep trying to entice her to eat anything at all. Even though Piper seems to be drinking enough and urinating enough, she's not absorbing the hydration, and that's seriously not a good thing. So they gave her fluids sub Q and an anti nausea/gastric pain injection. Just trying to cover some bases for 24 hrs until we know which direction we're going with her. Honestly my friends, I don't have a good feeling about this at all. Husband and I talked about it last night and we're both on the same page with what we want to happen and what we're prepared for so that's good. Hey, it took our minds of family drama for awhile right?

Supposed to ride with friends tomorrow so really need to get the mud off my ponies today. They look like adobe bricks!

Ellen, what's up girl friend?


Good day all!
 
#23,738 ·
Blue, sorry things are still rough on the family front for your hubby. I hope the vet has good news for you about Piper soon and if not so good then I send my condolences as I know you will do right by the dog. I hope you are able to build a chimney out of the bricks and enjoy the ride.

Eole, I hope things are well in your world. I don't have much time to go back and read too much so just kinda starting from here.
 
#23,739 ·
Hi Roaddy, glad to see you! I'm still long term subbing. She has until Mar 26 to make her next decision. Doc said it was too soon for her to come back when she did. We shall see if 2 more months make a difference. She is fine on the day to day stuff but work is demanding, lots of small steps, memory and decision making. That's just too much for her.

Glad MIL is picking up!
 
#23,740 ·
Anita, you must have posted just as I was posting. Did he have any idea what was causign the problem? I'm glad its under control though.
I did send a quick post before checking others, it was my
nap time! Or something...

He said her kidneys were shutting down. could be old age, could be she was wormy, felt bad and didn't drink enough, not sure we will know the answer.

Well, got a phone call while I was writing this, and it is not good news...Gigi's kidneys are too far gone, She was unable to be weaned off the iv fluids without her BUN increasing significantly and has passed over the rainbow bridge.

I'm going to pick her up tomorrow for the burial. I hope I can dig up the ground. We are placing her next to Bunny under the bushes. :oops:
 
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