| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 06 Nov 2016 : 4:27:41 PM
Hello, I've recently purchased a beautiful pure bred Arab mare that I wanted as a companion to my old rescue pony that had lost her best friend of 13 years a few months ago. I've previously owned an Old English mare and wanted another Arab so found one locally that had been backed a few years ago but done nothing since. I now realise that my new horse is not settling in to the role of a companion and really needs more to do as she is becoming a bit of a handful when she's stabled and prefers to live out. I haven't got any facilities school etc to re-start her also I'm in my mid fifties so a bit rickety! To be fair to her and to give her a chance of possibly moving on to a more suitable environment I was hoping someone could recommend a trainer/yard that uses kind methods for re schooling in the Midlands area or any other suggestions? Thank You |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Goldenmane |
Posted - 04 Sep 2017 : 09:09:50 AM
Oh how sad for you and your little pony. You did everything you could and definately made the right decision.X |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 02 Sep 2017 : 11:53:03 AM
Thank you. I had no idea either and was going down the wrong route thinking it might have been a hormonal problem, ovarian cysts causing Stallion like behaviour etc. Hopefully it has brought this to people's attention and help any other horses with similar problems. Originally posted by cmj
Sorry for your bad luck and sad loss. OCD is a horrible thing, I know it is quite prevalent in warmbloods but didnīt know it happened in Arabs.
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| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 02 Sep 2017 : 11:48:00 AM
Sorry to hear about your loss too but again I'm sure it was the right thing to do also the responsible decision to make although it was incredibly tough at the time. The fact that it was in both hocks made it easier too. xx Originally posted by Ziadomira
So sorry to read of your loss. I think you were very wise to let her go then as she may have suffered a long time without you realising how much pain she was in. I have heard of a pony that had bone splinters in his hock, in his case after being kicked and he had to be sent to Langford for surgery; however he was very young and fit and had no other problems. Sadly since I last posted we have lost Fern, she had experienced breathing problems for years and her heart started to fail so we had to make the same decision you made.
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| cmj |
Posted - 01 Sep 2017 : 6:17:11 PM
Sorry for your bad luck and sad loss. OCD is a horrible thing, I know it is quite prevalent in warmbloods but didnīt know it happened in Arabs. |
| Ziadomira |
Posted - 01 Sep 2017 : 4:40:11 PM
So sorry to read of your loss. I think you were very wise to let her go then as she may have suffered a long time without you realising how much pain she was in. I have heard of a pony that had bone splinters in his hock, in his case after being kicked and he had to be sent to Langford for surgery; however he was very young and fit and had no other problems. Sadly since I last posted we have lost Fern, she had experienced breathing problems for years and her heart started to fail so we had to make the same decision you made. |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 01 Sep 2017 : 12:39:44 PM
Hello everyone Sorry its been a while since I've been on here but I've been too upset to tell you all about my devastating news. As you know Roxy was having major issues with the farrier doing her hind feet in particular and had started to be aggressive towards even the sight of him let alone him trying to do her feet! This was very out of character as she was the sweetest mare to deal with on a day to day basis. On the last occasion I gave her some Sedalin and hoped that we could get her feet trimmed before I had booked her into the Clinic to have tests done. The farrier managed to do her fronts with no problems but she was starting to show worrying signs, ears back, tail swishing then grinding her teeth! I told him to leave her back feet until she had been seen at the Clinic and as he was about to leave she flew at him and bit him on the arm. I sent her to the Vets for extensive head to foot tests as it was obvious that something was badly wrong. She was perfectly well behaved with the horse transporter who is amazing and really experienced ( David at DMA ) and within an hour of her being there the Vet had done the walk and trot up,back up, no problems, lunged her at walk and trot, then trotted her on a tight circle and noticed that she looked lame so X-rayed her feet, all fine, so X-rayed her hocks and discovered that she had a condition called Osteochondritis Dissecans in both hocks. It is a degenerative disease and she had got some bone chips starting to break away and float around the joints hence why it was only certain movements, farrier pulling her feet forwards under her belly etc that made it show up. There was an option of surgery with lengthy box rest etc but with no guarantees of anything more than a fair prognosis also as it was thought to possibly be hereditary and been going on for some time so even though I took the precautions of having a 2 stage pre purchase vetting I didn't have X-rays done. A harsh lesson learned!! After a long and difficult conversation with the Vet we decided that along with her aggression now towards the farrier and only the fair prognosis with no guarantees that the surgery would ensure a pain free outcome we had her put to sleep there and then as she was already sedated so not distressed and blissfully unaware of what was happening. This was on the 10th May and its taken me until now to tell you all. It was truly heartbreaking. I really want to thank you all so much for listening and PLEASE listen to your horses when they are trying to tell you that they are unhappy.
She was insured with Petplan and they did cover some of the Vets costs but not her loss as she was considered to not be in a life threatening position to have her put to sleep immediately! No amount of money will bring her back but it is a warning to us all to check your policy as without the compensation I cannot buy another horse. My little pony now has a loan companion 8hh mini Shetland to keep her company as she too had to deal with losing another friend.
Thank you all again xx
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| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 01 Mar 2017 : 11:52:33 AM
Thanks for the tips! I have to restrict my little pony and trickle feed her with double netting hay also she has a low starch chaff feed with a vitamin supplement and this seems to work well also I am constantly checking the weather forecast and conditions of the grass as I've previously had a pony with Cushings disease that had bouts of Laminitis and was very sensitive to changes in sugar levels. Roxy has the same basic feed larger amount and as much hay as she wants as she has access to the field shelter where I keep a large Heston bale of good quality hay that she can eat as and when she wants. She has a healthy appetite and seems happy enough being groomed all over so it's a mystery. When I had her vetted she passed her flexion test where the vet held each leg up for about 3/4 mins and didn't show any reaction to that also he checked her back. I'll see what she's like when she comes into season again and wear a hard hat! xx |
| kizzandra |
Posted - 01 Mar 2017 : 10:43:16 AM
Yes, lots of people associate ulcers with limited turnout/lack of fibre/long periods with no food. But there are lots and lots of different reasons. My mare hates being out when there is no grass and won't eat hay in the field so for her, being in most of the day with ad lib hay is a much better option. Grass changes throughout the year eg frost, heavy rain, warmer weather etc all change the sugars and can upset the hind gut. Even the type of grass which the horse is grazing, whether it's been fertilised or topped all contribute. Adding yeasacc to feed can help support. If you think it's related to her seasons, adding Agnus Castus can help to even out the hormones. |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 28 Feb 2017 : 8:41:38 PM
Originally posted by faymouseI think an awful lot of mares dont like to be touched anywhere around the belly area at the best of time. Then a man comes along smelling of male and with the scent of other male horses on his clothing and has his head in a delicate area... its more than a lady can cope with!  She is the most beautiful girl btw and I dont blame her at all 
Thanks faymouse Your comments made me laugh Men are generally a bit smelly especially farriers that make your eyes water! Roxy could definitely smell him from at least 50 yards hence the expression of a camel. Isn't it amazing how something so beautiful can look so ugly! Thank you again xx |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 28 Feb 2017 : 8:27:14 PM
Thank you Kizzandra for the suggestion and I will run it past my vet. I had heard of gastric ulcers mostly in stabled horses with limited access to food causing them stress but she has always had ad lib hay/grazing and not been stabled for long periods of time. Stress could have been a factor at her previous home when she was kept on her own for the last 2 years though and as you say she has had a huge change in her routine so worth asking the question! Your mare looks lovely too and very sweet xx |
| faymouse |
Posted - 28 Feb 2017 : 6:09:05 PM
I think an awful lot of mares dont like to be touched anywhere around the belly area at the best of time. Then a man comes along smelling of male and with the scent of other male horses on his clothing and has his head in a delicate area... its more than a lady can cope with!
She is the most beautiful girl btw and I dont blame her at all |
| kizzandra |
Posted - 28 Feb 2017 : 12:52:31 PM
Hi Mrs Hoo. Your girl looks lovely. Having read your post, have you considered gastric ulcers or hind gut acidosis as a cause of the farrier issue? If she was fine before then it would seem that this is a behavioural change. Reluctance to lift hind legs for the farrier was the first sign my mare displayed and she was subsequently diagnosed with squamous ulcers. I now know that this is a common symptom. The stress when stabled may have contributed as could the move to her new home and the change in diet and routine. Feel free to PM me if you'd like, the farrier's head touching her belly sounds just like it could be gut related xx |
| Ziadomira |
Posted - 23 Feb 2017 : 4:19:32 PM
Hope all goes well whatever you decide. Peculiar until I read your post I have only known of one horse that always sat down in the trailer. She was a very big girl and when they loaded her she stood still until the engine started and they would hear a bang and she was sat down all comfy in the straw!! |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 23 Feb 2017 : 09:38:03 AM
Hi Ziadomira Your mares sound lovely and clearly have very individual characters! It's interesting that you have similar problems. My old mare was Old English/ Courthouse breeding and would let anyone do anything to her she was wonderful at confusing the Arab hating people! Her only quirk was that she used to lie down in the trailer and refuse to get up if she was comfy, annoying but hilarious too. I let my heart rule my head with Roxy and deep down I knew she was too young/nice etc to sit in the field and now I have to do the right thing for her. |
| Ziadomira |
Posted - 22 Feb 2017 : 4:12:56 PM
We have a group of mares and they are all different. Fern will let the farrier do all her feet, Silva also behaves, Izzy will let that farrier doe her front feet then back in the stable, 'Do NOT touch my back feet' We know from having had the vet in for another reason that she is frightened of having her back fee picked up (Something from before we had her). Scarlet will also let the farrier do her front feet but as she kicks farrier will only do her back feet if she is sedated. Rosie won't let the farrier touch any of her feet unless sedated. We work round each of their idiosyncrasies. Good luck but if you enjoy the mare in all other ways try sedating to get her feet done. |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 22 Feb 2017 : 10:50:29 AM
Hi everyone, 6 months on and all was going fairly well until the farrier visit. I had brought Roxy in from a very muddy field and tied her up outside as normal with a haynet picked out her feet and wiped the mud off them (she doesn't like them being hosed) and groomed her which she really enjoyed. She was really quiet and chilled out so I thought the farrier would have an easy job to do. How wrong was I!! She does tend to snatch up her back feet but always holds them up nicely for me to pick them out. Since she has been with me, I've had her feet trimmed every 6/7 weeks the same as my other pony, and each time she has pulled a face at the farrier but nothing more. This time she started face pulling at him as soon as he walked through the yard gate! He managed to do her fronts ok and she was reasonably happy but as soon as he started her back feet(his head was touching her belly) she really threatened, swishing her tail , ears back etc He carried on even though I told him to stop and when he had finished her last foot she kicked out at him, luckily missed him then tried to bite him but I was nearer so she bit me on the arm!! She has never been that bad before and has never threatened me in any way so it was such a shock! She came into season a couple of days later and has been an angel since. I spoke to my vet and she thinks it might be connected to her first season of the year making her over sensitive? She has sent me some Sedalin for the next farrier visit but it has made me unsure about my capabilities and after a lot of thought I have decided that she needs to move on to someone/somewhere that can do more with her as I think she is getting really bored and needs more to focus on. I'm investigating the option of sending her away to be re-started as I've mentioned before but also will put an ad under Homes Wanted to offer her out on ltl/lwvtb in case anyone would like to do the work themselves and produce her for what they want? It's very upsetting as she will be my last horse but I haven't got any facilities to do anything with her here. Luckily a friend has offered to let me have her old mare as company for my little pony as I don't want to keep her on her own again. Thanks for listening x |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 17 Dec 2016 : 8:26:51 PM
Hi me again! Found him on Facebook. I'll see how things go over the winter but think Roxy would love the training as she's inquisitive and very receptive to learning new things. Sadly I haven't got the facilities here so she would have to go to him on livery. Thanks again for the info. |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 17 Dec 2016 : 7:54:14 PM
Thank you Quarabian Whereabouts is he? |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 16 Dec 2016 : 8:25:51 PM
if you still need help contact Jamie Evans. he started my young arab and he is amazing. he uses natural horsemanship methods. Tel01920 318299 or message me. |
| FireLight |
Posted - 08 Dec 2016 : 7:12:54 PM
Fantastic, enjoy your time together. |
| Goldenmane |
Posted - 08 Dec 2016 : 07:36:13 AM
Brilliant |
| Pasch |
Posted - 07 Dec 2016 : 9:13:15 PM
That's good news!  |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 07 Dec 2016 : 8:32:13 PM
Thank you so much for the info I'll have a look at their website but I'm also very cautious as it's such an important step. It's interesting that several other people have said it might take around 6 months for her to settle and she had come direct from the breeder where she had lived all of her 9 years except for the two occasions that she had been backed then sent away again for re starting a couple of years ago. Also she had been kept on her own for the last 2 years so it has been a massive change for her! I've taken the great advice I've been given on here and just spent lots of time in her company and not put her under any pressure and suddenly she has really settled and is loving the attention. A regular routine seems to have worked and today I took the step to put my little pony into the same paddock as her and they wandered off like they had been together for years, no drama, no squealing, sharing the same pile of hay, even the same mouthful!! The poor goat is still being treated like something inferior and gets chased along with the sheep... I think Roxy thinks it's a game so I have to be careful and keep them apart! Hopefully we've turned a corner and I'll stop fretting as much...I only want her to be happy and enjoy her life here so fingers crossed things will continue in the same way. |
| heathermcbreen |
Posted - 07 Dec 2016 : 2:43:52 PM
I think it takes a good 6 months before an arab really feels settled and decides you are lovely .... she is beautiful...just give her time. I have an arab that came to me with loads of quirky habits... would not let you get on .. would not let you tack up... used to have such stress that she frittered weight off when stabled... one year later and I could tack up without even tying up. get on without even holding the reins ... and she automatically goes in her stable without any problems.
If you really need some help these people are in the Midlands .. Towcester and are good... they use natural horsemanship methods... which i mostly like .. but am a bit selective about what i would do and not do. http://www.colemansavvycentre.co.uk/
Also many years ago i only had one hore .. a chestnut arab... i bought her as a yearling and she only had my goat for company.. she loved the goat... it lived in her stable with her and shared her paddock. It used to scare people because they would walk up to the stable door to say hi to the horse ... and then the goat would hurl itself at the door with its front legs hooked over the top... bleating to say hello.... the horse was not a bit upset by this. |
| Mrs Hoo |
Posted - 09 Nov 2016 : 11:12:26 AM
Hi Thank you all so much for your kind words and support! I was fretting about the heavy rain/sleet forecast for last night so decided to put my pony in overnight and my goat in the adjoining stable(the one that I had been trying to use for Roxy) so that the field shelter was available for Roxy to use if she wanted. It's at right angles to my stables so right next to them but open fronted so that she could go inside without being shut in. Looked out of my bedroom window this morning and she was in the shelter with a huge mouthful of hay and quite relaxed!! All was going well until the cows appeared in the field across the road and started mooing, she grew into a 16.2, tail over her back, snorting and spectacularly strutted her stuff. Looked amazing!! Calmed down as soon as they moved out of sight and returned to a lovely chilled horse so might explain what she's been upset about? Scary cows, scary goat, bless her! Set my old pony off too and she turned into a mini Arab spinning around in the stable lol. Put her back out into the paddock and she came over for a fuss so feel like she is now coming to me for attention and maybe a bit of reassurance? I hope I'm getting there and starting to understand her. Will keep you all updated and Thanks again xx |
