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Snickers, the noodle-legged pinto

14K views 169 replies 12 participants last post by  jaydee 
#1 ·
So, I have decided to start this thread, in place of the previous one....Snickers and the mysterious hind-end saga. I've enjoyed posting many of her recent accomplishments, and found it no longer should remain under the topic of 'horse health'.

She has a hind-end issue, not yet firmly diagnosed. Lots of guesses. She is being treated for EPSM with diet and exercise. She tested neg for Type I, but is not out of the woods for Type II. However, before I have subject her to a muscle biopsy to rule that out, I decided to start with the diet and exercise treatment, as recommended by Dr. Beth Valentine, DVM, PHD.

Her problem has limited her, but now she has improved. I continue on this journey with my wonderful stock pinto, because I believe in her for what she does offer, even if it is not perfection in some peoples' eyes. Despite her dysfunction, she is one remarkable horse.

So, I will start this journal with where I ended my last thread....with a picture of her showing her resiliance in preparation for doing her first parade, when she just turned four a week ago.

 
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#36 ·
Great progress
I'll forgive you the videos as it takes a really brave person to post anything of themselves riding. I don't know why but the moment someone aims a camera at me it all falls apart and I end up looking like a demented thing with arms and legs that all grow at the wrong angles
 
#40 ·
Once I think that I'm not a complete failure with my riding I'd be glad to post some. In her past 'being ridden' video I used my daughter..lol.

However, I am feeling much more confident in my riding now, though it may never be perfect. I guess once I at least make it past the 'that poor horse' phase of riding skill, I will be fine with video.

I do plan on taking some more lessons. There are two more trainers at our ranch besides the one that I took my first four lessons from. I'm told they won't throw so much at me at once. I start working next week and want to get that routine going and paycheck. Plus one of them is out of town until mid June. So, that is the goal.

Just saying that I had successful first attempts is good for me.
 
#41 ·
Well, a little minor setback today....

No riding today, but played in the arena with the ball today. I did notice a little bit of the locking up at the canter today. Maybe she is sore from trying to ride at the canter yesterday? Not major, I was just a little taken back.

So, she will have off tomorrow and Friday. Friday is beauty day for the parade Saturday. So, she can have a little breather until then.
 
#42 ·
Our Willow came in very hind leg stiff last night after months of being totally sound and full of 'go' and was coming back into work really well.
I've put her out for a few hours this morning but not sure if this is going to be a repeat of last summer.
Hope Snickers is OK
 
#44 ·
Last year she went from normal to totally seized up in pain in what seemed like a few hours. Our first thought was laminitis but that proved wrong, she had tests for cushings and IRS but they only came up with a low thyroid condition which she's on permanent meds for, she had a slightly elevated Lymes count so was treated with antibiotics but that made no difference. She was tested for EPSM gene but that was negative.
We had her on box rest for a while and it seemed to go as suddenly as it came.
Her diet etc hadn't changed at all so couldn't really blame it on that
Its why I was interested on your high fat diet and I'm trying it with her & Flo who has poor muscle (related to IRS I think)
I'm hoping that maybe she's just been kicked by one of the others or maybe twisted herself awkwardly trying to avoid being kicked as they do pick on her as the one leg does look slightly puffy this morning
Its a pain as she's our steady girl and being a really good role model for Jazzie on the trails who still finds it far too exciting, she just ignores her where the other idiots would join in
 
#45 ·
Sorry Jaydee.....I do know how hard it is when you want to do nothing more than help them, but just can't figure the mystery out. Very frustrating. I hope it's just temporary for you.

I did learn today, something positive about Snicker's trying to canter under saddle the other day.....one of my friends at the ranch saw the hopping she was doing going into the canter and she said it did not look like resistance or sassyness....just her trying to figure the whole thing out and get her body going. So, I'm happy to hear that.
 
#46 ·
Sorry Jaydee.....I do know how hard it is when you want to do nothing more than help them, but just can't figure the mystery out. Very frustrating. I hope it's just temporary for you.

I did learn today, something positive about Snicker's trying to canter under saddle the other day.....one of my friends at the ranch saw the hopping she was doing going into the canter and she said it did not look like resistance or sassyness....just her trying to figure the whole thing out and get her body going. So, I'm happy to hear that.
The vets given us banamine to ease her - more because we were worried that she might lie down and struggle to get back up - and advised to keep her in for a couple of days and then gradually increase turn out again just in case it is a reaction to the grass suddenly growing though you'd have thought at her age she'd have experienced it before. She's quite happy to be in as she enjoys feeling 'special' and getting regular visits from me!!
The way you describe Snickers and the canter isn't unlike a milder version of what Looby does at this time of year - and when I first had her - to being asked to canter in a ring again rather than just in a straight line. Her legs also seem to get in a muddle and she's changing legs, getting all wound up and usually ends up having a bit of a broncing fit.
 
#47 ·
Yeah, it does sound familiar in the way you described Looby. Before this journey started, that's what Snickers would do....get all tangled at the canter in a circle and end of bronco bucking like she was trying to get herself straight...lol. It was as if she was upset at her own body not moving correctly. Would made it funny is she is so far from a bronco bucker personality wise.
 
#48 ·
Same with Looby - she's more on the lazy if she can get away with it side of things. Her spook and bolt off stuff when I first had her was more of a knee jerk panic reaction than her being a fizzy forward type. Her first trail ride she was shaking all over and I'm never sure if it was fear or excitement at a big wide open space
Its funny how they are as Flo who has always been a hot ride is totally fearless and goes at life head on
 
#49 ·
Today I cantered Snickers under saddle again.....you know, I'm going to STOP saying canter and now start using western terms with her, jog and lope....because there is no canter in her and probably never will be...lol. I confirmed that today when asking for the lope. She looks like one of those western pleasure horses doing the lope in place almost. Total rocking horse motion, but at the speed of the walk. I've also been told in the past, that she has a western jog to die for since you can sit it since it's smooth as butter.

Now, I have to figure out how to get her to move more forward....
 
#51 ·
Soooooo....today was parade day. I had no idea what to expect. The staging area was CRAZY! We had to go through crowds, animals and obstacles. Floats, fire trucks, military vehicles, tons of other horses, flags, tractors, loud noises and a gazillion kids with noisemakers and pinwheels. There was no.....horses coming through, watch out.....it was more like pushing through all the chaos like the mounted police during crowd control.

Once we made it through the main chaos to the front area to line up I got so teary-eyed....because Snickers was so easy peasy!!!! I was so proud of her. Not one single spook.





 
#54 ·
Today I rode Snickers in the arena for a little bit to try out a saddle. At first she would try to lope just when I asked for trot. I let her try what she wanted since I was told to never keep a green horse from moving forward. But, after a few times of this....and I asked for the jog, she just went into the jog. So, hopefully she is figuring it out.

When I asked for the lope, she did a few strides, and then stayed in the jog like I wanted. Before she would halt from the lope, so that is so much better. It also seemed that her speed picked up a little bit, rather than her doing the lope at a walk pace...lol.

So, I guess a little at a time and we are going in the right direction?
 
#55 ·
today i rode snickers in the arena for a little bit to try out a saddle. At first she would try to lope just when i asked for trot. I let her try what she wanted since i was told to never keep a green horse from moving forward. But, after a few times of this....and i asked for the jog, she just went into the jog. So, hopefully she is figuring it out.

When i asked for the lope, she did a few strides, and then stayed in the jog like i wanted. Before she would halt from the lope, so that is so much better. It also seemed that her speed picked up a little bit, rather than her doing the lope at a walk pace...lol.

So, i guess a little at a time and we are going in the right direction?
ohhh yesssssss:)
 
#57 ·
Could be she's anticipating, could be she's more eager, now that things " work", could be you sitting differently with the new saddle, could be the saddle fit...lot's of " could be"'s.
Keep riding and watching her reactions. Maybe ask somebody who hasn't seen her for a while, if there's an obvious difference. For us it's somewhat hard to tell without seeing it actually.
BUT...she's going forward....:)
 
#66 ·
It's been a little over a week since really riding. I started my new job, finally this week, so I've been adjusting my life to that....and so have the horses...lol.

I was worried that Snicker's 'noodles' would be off again. I lunged her in the roundpen before riding to see. She is the same....so that is a good thing....no better, but no worse. So, I went on to ride her today. We took a ride around the ranch and then to the arena to work on loping. Her going into the lope is getting smoother and not as animated. She also isn't anticipating my asking like before. We ended the day with a smooth lope of a few strides and she is picking up speed now!!

Found this picture someone else took of us at the parade....

 
#68 · (Edited)
Lol...she came from a place that reminded me of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre....but it's all good, because apparently the girl rescued her dam from a feedlot while she was in foal with Snickers. Snickers was born on her property and her name was Snooki....um, no...didn't keep the name...lol.

I was told that her sire was a black and white spotted draft with fresian in him and her dam was a buckskin paint crazy mare. I trim her 'wannabe' feathering off.

That's all I can go on. She is only 14.1hh....so who knows. I work hard at keeping her weight where it is. She is an EXTREMELY easy keeper.:)
 
#70 ·
Well, my horses are both fine with what they get pretty much. I open their pasture every other day for them to munch on. They get half the hay that the light horses on the ranch get and then their high fat mix.

I also try to exercise them or ride them almost daily.

They are not destructive really and pretty patient horses. Snickers will occasionally pull the halters, fly masks and lead ropes through the gate that they hang on, but that's about it. They will hang out at the fence line with the gelding next to them too that adore's the girls. Keeps them entertained.
 
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