The natural horse is a happy horse. Reality & sunshine equine blog. - Horse Livery Naturally

Colic myths

21/11/2017

Touching wood, colic is not something we have to deal with, but it is most definitely something you should know how to deal with.

First, have the phone number of at least two reliable vets, and confirm with them before a colic occurs that they will attend (if they are not otherwise engaged), no matter what time of day or night. I came across a veterinarian a few years ago who made it very clear she would only attend big money earners at hours suited to her, so that most definitely did not include any colic cases! So much for it being a vocation!!

Second, call the vet any time you suspect a colic. Describe the symptoms you are seeing, what the horse last ate, when they last ate, whether they have defecated or not and if yes what did their droppings look like. Have a thermometer on hand so you can take their temperature.

Thirdly, whilst calling the vet, remove all food and remove the horse from a stable if he or she is in one.
Signs of colic are;
Watching their flank
Pawing the ground
Kicking or biting at their belly
Curling the upper lip
Rolling, or trying to
Repeated lying down
Stretching as though to urinate, but not doing so
Sweating
Sitting like a dog, haunches down, fores straight
Depression
Holding head in an unusual position

There are different types of colic and many reasons for a horse to colic - something for a whole other blog, or your vet to explain. The reason I am writing this is because again the myth of walking a colic'y horse occurred when a rescue horse a friend had recently taken in colic'd, and living in the middle of nowhere with the vet some 3 hours or more away, many people were quick to offer their advice to her. Walking a colic horse to exhaustion can do more harm than the initial colic. Walking them for 10 to 15 minutes, with a rest in between, and not forcing the horse to walk if they do want to stand still is perfectly ok. When you call your vet, if they tell you to walk the horse after hearing the symptoms, then do so. But do not listen to the diehards who believe a horse should be walked come what may.

The other myth in regard to colic is about stopping a horse from lying down and rolling. Consider that a healthy horse rolls often, and their intestines do not get twisted. I believe this myth came about in part due to horses in the confines of a stable getting caste or stuck half-way in a roll, due to lack of space.

I believe Doctor Ramey, The Royal Dick and many other institutions will confirm what I'm saying. Whatever your thoughts, please call a vet!

A new equine gene!

30/7/2017

Go make a cuppa first.....
I have discovered a new equine gene. It is the M gene, or maybe we should call it the MM gene.
Eagles Moonmist Onyx (AKA Misty, or Mumu, or Mumu Mama) is a ´not quite´ foundation Appaloosa (a little too much arab in her bloodlines). Her story in a nutshell is; bred by lovely people, sold on to lovely person, hard times hit and a promise by someone who turned out to be pretty unscrupulous led Misty across the pond, all the way from America, to me. Contact was later made with breeder, and we are still in touch.

When Misty arrived in the Principality of Espiritu del Viento, her hair was matted with mud, her hooves badly overgrown and one tooth missing and a further two ´bashed´ out of line. Mentally I can have no idea what was going through her beautiful head. Mumu is not everyone´s cup of tea, with very pink skin around her eyes, further exaggerating the Appaloosa ´human eye´, many find this disconcerting, accustomed as they are to the solid dark eyes of all other horse breeds (unless they are blue of course).
Being a few spot, she also have very pink skin on her muzzle and around her genitalia. Something that almost caused me to sell her a few years back, when we got caught out by an unseasonably early scorching hot day and all her bits were burnt, flies homed in with a vengeance, and subsequently maggots came out. For nearly 3 weeks, twice a day, and sometimes 3 times a day, I was having to open scabs and virtually scoop out maggots from around her girly bits, whilst also attending to the burns on her muzzle and around her eyes. For all of this faffing, pulling and poking, Misty stood, untethered, and never moved a whisker.

Wearing her fly mask to protect eyes and muzzle from the sunshine. It only took one time without!

To say she is green broke is an understatement. After producing and weaning off, 2 stunning fillies, I decided it was time to back Misty, then aged 9 and only halter broke! Two days in the school on the ground. Day 3 I put a saddle on her back, slithered up, and walked around the arena for about 15 minutes. Day 4 we went on a 20 km trek. Yup. I just knew we could. Obviously, we did not go alone. Accompanied by three other riders everything was going really well, even a little trot. But then we came to a spot where we would be going from bright into a dark "tunnel" of trees, and I knew the ground would still be wet, slippy, clay after a rain fall a few days previously, so I began to pull Misty up, but forgot to communicate this to the other 3. As the others pulled ahead Misty was not to be left behind and broke into a canter. My common sense, rather than the foetal position, kicked in and I let her go. We got to the front of the group about 2 strides into the tunnel, whereupon she began to slip. But

as quick as she began to slip she came back to walk - not an abrupt halt! - sorted herself, sized up the situation, and went back to trot again. Now, I don´t know if this was due to my lack of interfering because I ride bitless, or because I don´t ride using reins as braces anyway (bit or no bit), but I do know that I did not put that head on that neck and it was not the first time Misty had shown what a smart Mama she is.

I had long since become very aware of how sensitive Misty was to human moods. If I approached the fence to her paddock, where there could be anything from 3 to 7 horses, and, in a particularly sad or tired mood, I just propped myself against the fence to watch the herd, guaranteed Misty would sense me and come straight over. She would push her nose under my hands or forearms and tell me ´it´s really all ok´. You can always rely on Misty to make you feel on top of the world.
So where is the information about this new gene you have found? I hear you all say ;) Come on, I´ve finished my cuppa, time to get the cork screw out......
.....Misty became Mumu Mama. She has produced 3 stunning foals. Her first EV Etesian Kiss The Moon (AKA Lunita, or Luni Toon) soon showed signs of being the carer. When her little sister came along (EV Kaver Onyx Heart, AKA Indi Pop), Lunita took on the role of guardian, very subtly, but with a quiet strength, just like her mama, she watched over Indi Pop, and her half-sister Sexi Legs (EV Taku Blue Moon). Indi Pop definitely stood behind her big sister, sending her to deal with anything she didn't´t like! LOL When Sexi Legsi sold to her fabulous new home in Aragón, Lunita became even more careful to watch over her little sister.
Lunita is now living like a queen with her new Mummy in the UK. But for a very long time it was apparent that both sisters, Luni and Indi, missed each other immensely. Say what you will, I know my horses, their bond was incredible. Even new Mummy Jenny, in the UK, sensed this separation that Luni felt.
Now integrated into a new herd with, amongst others her Auntie Anni, Indi Pop suddenly stepped up, and made it her job to look out for her Auntie. Anni, as some of you may know, is our autistic mare. She needs her herd around her, but doesn't´t particularly like them "in her face", and Indi Pop clearly sensed this and has decided it is her job to protect her from everyone else.

Though I have seen the way Cappuccino steps between Kissy Boo and other horses on many occasions, today, I truly saw that he too, little brother to Lunita and Indi Pop, has also inherited the MM gene. Cappuccino, though younger than Kissy Boo, is far more level headed. If he were a human he´d be the tall, very handsome, slightly gangly, cool geek scientist type.
So there you have it. The MM gene is an incredible gene that Mumu Mama has passed on to all her stunning babies. It is the "I can read your soul" gene. It is the "Iistening, compassionate, I have no agenda, connection" gene.

Pigeon holed

24/5/2017

It is not just in the equestrian world that people like everything put away in neat boxes. Catalogued and categorised, makes most people feel safe. Everything can be explained and whether liked or not, at least people understand "who you are", or "what your role is", or "how you work" - which box you fall in. It is human nature to follow the crowd. Scientists in the Netherlands believe the brain reeducates itself if its views are in conflict with the norm.   According to them ... "we consider being too different as one of the most fundamental social mistakes.
It could also explain why people follow fashion trends or join religious groups and even the rise of extreme political movements like the Nazis and Soviet communism.
"We often change our decisions and judgements to conform with normative group behaviour," said study leader Dr Vasily Klucharev, from the FC Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging in the Netherlands. "However, the neural mechanisms of social conformity remain unclear."

Dr Klucharev believed social conformity might be the result of conflict, with group opinion triggering a "prediction error" signal in the brain."

This may explain why, when you go against the grain, people feel uncomfortable. At best they make excuses for you, at worst they right you off as some kind of nutter or clueless idiot.   People fear what doesn´t fit in!

Our horses, including stallions, live out in herds. We don´t ride our youngsters until they are at least 5 years-old, and when we do we do so barefoot and bitless. One of the facilities we have here is a Round Pen. I have also studied the "courses/DVD´s" of a couple of different NH clinicians. Because of this many people have presumed I wave a long stick and rope at my horses, or I sit on the ground whilst the horse slobbers all over me. They also presume that I ride without any contact or collection and do so for just a short potter around the countryside (after all my horses have no shoes on so they can´t possibly go far!).

But then some people see photos or videos of us riding, or have a fleeting glance into one of our horses being schooled, or they see the horse of a client being ridden in a bit, and they see the shelves full of trophies won in endurance competition on our barefoot horses, and we fall out of their box.   They don´t know where we (I) belong and nor do I. This is not important to me, which further aggravates the confusion of others.

I am constantly researching and learning so the likelihood of ever falling into a specific category is pretty damned slim. This does not make me ´special´ or a fool or mean I have any delusions as to my abilities. What it does mean is that I am open to change, to new information, I will not accept anything on face value, so I deal with each and everything in my path as something new and unique.

That is why I am so happy that there are so many others out there, like myself, only far better qualified, who also keep researching and thoroughly investigating any and everything that may affect our horses in any way. From new saddle designs and fits to the methods used to school horses. So I am sure you can imagine how very interesting I found this article on the role of ethology in round pen horse training. I hope it will make quite a few consider that it is not so important to be pigeon holed.

The Why Bird (!) - HYOID BONE AND LAMENESS

15/12/2016

This bone’s name comes from the meaning, “shaped like the letter upsilon (Y)”. I like this kind of trivia.

It is the only bone in the skeleton not articulated to any other bone and held in place by ligaments. Although present in many mammals, the Hyoid bone is uniquely located lower in Homo Sapiens allowing the production of sounds which give us the capability of speech. It is also called the Lingual bone, in reference to the ability of human speech.

In horses the hyoid bone articulates with the temporal bone and connects to the larynx, the pharynx and the tongue. The primary role is to support the weight of the tongue.

Horses can show signs of discomfort with their tongue taking form in sensitivity when touching their jaw or being head shy, or resentment of the bit and/or difficulty to flex at the poll. Chewing more on one side and/or dropping food, along with misalignment of the upper and lower incisors are also signs of distress and discomfort in the tongue.

These and other signs can indicate or could be a possible cause of TMJ or temporo mandibular joints dysfunction.

However another joint which is connected and affected by the condition of TMJ dysfunction is that of atlanto axial joint. It is the area where the first cervical vertebra (atlas) articulates with the second cervical (axis).

The "Y" bone sitting above C1

This is why grazing or feeding on the ground is important, allowing the mandible to come down and forward in the joint capsule, the atlanto axial joint to open (C1-C2) and the mandible to move up and down, side to side, forward and back without any inhibition.

Proper training techniques are a very important when considering all these possible issues. A tight or incorrectly adjusted noseband, wrong choice of bit and/or pulling the horse´s nose to his chest (RollKur or hyperflexion or behind the vertical) are all to be avoided.

Practicing flexion of the jaw, originating from the base of the neck - this is not a ´neck in´, but a rounding or curving of the neck from its base to the poll - helps with self-carriage which in turn helps avoid distress to the tongue and thus the TMJ.

Making sure the horse does not have teeth issues goes without saying! How many of you have a dentist how checks incisor alignment before ANYTHING else?

It is not necessarily about those molar hooks!

The horse is a nose breather (they can not breath through their mouth), and the cantering stride is in time with breathing and misuse of a bit can interfere with the normal function of swallowing. When placing a horse on the aids correctly, it connects the muscle and ligament of the tongue towards chewing the bit, allowing the contact into the rein and adjusting the neck vertebrae from convex toward the ground, to concave, producing an arched neck. Faults with the tongue are always linked to the hyoid apparatus. Biting causes chewing. Wrong biting and misuse of the bit cause ´any or all of the previously mentioned´. A horse chewing, or swallowing ´out of time with his paces´ causes him to open his mouth. Using a noseband to hold his mouth closed further exacerbates the distress.

And this is when a horse may suffer ´bridle lameness´.

If a horse sticks his tongue out, or appears to flick his tongue, it is a sign of pulling hands. The tongue and larynx both being attached to the Hyoid apparatus this tells us his breathing is being interfered with. Being such a crucial part of the anatomy involved in the effect of aids from the hands, legs or seat, the Thyrohyoid bone is not to be ignored. Riding bitless avoids many of these issues from the start.

Unable to swallow as body function dictates or suffering the tongue discomfort that may lead on to uneven tooth wear etc goes on to present itself in a short, choppy movement in the fores, or maybe hitching up one hind. With no apparent heat swelling or pain in the limbs it is not noted as an otherwise ´regular´ lameness. Some horses may stumble on the fores or have a hind buckle under them. Uneven striding is another sign of this bridle lameness, along with a change in attitude of the horse. As individuals there is no order in which these problems express themselves.

In the longer term there are visual changes in the body. Tightness at the poll is common, to diminishing top-line and even ewe neck. The list goes on.

EXAMPLE OF UNHEALTHY BODY SHAPE

EXAMPLE OF HEALTHY BODY SHAPE

All because nobody asked ´Y´!

"My little pony, skinny and bony"

7/11/2016

Scenario 1; The horse has been stabled it´s entire life. It is fed pop rocks and peas* 4 times a day, and comes out of it´s stall one hour every day to work in an arena. It is the correct weight, because although it stands in it´s stall 23 hours a day doing nothing, it is stressed to the heavens.

“Made our of plastic, looks like a spastic”

Scenario 2; The horse has been stabled it´s entire life. It is fed pop tarts and cardboard** twice a day and comes out of it´s stall for 2/3 hours, 4 times a week, to go for a trek. It is overweight because not only does it stand in it´s stall 21/22 hours a day doing nothing, it is laid back because it has no energy.

“Made out of rubber, looks like a scrubber”

Scenario 1 and scenario 2 horses are now put in a paddock. A space where you can swing more than one cat! They are feed only on grass hay, available 24 hours a day, and minerals.

“My little pony, My little pony, Isn't the world a lovely place”

S1 is going to loose weight because it has no idea how to behave or what to do. It has been removed from it´s safety bubble and can move freely for the first time in it´s life. It really doesn´t know where to begin! It will take this horse anywhere between 3 and 6 months to settle, to be accustomed to it´s surroundings and having food available ad-lib. It will reach a point within 2 to 3 months where it doesn´t loose any more weight, but may take a further 2 to 3 months before it relaxes enough to stop stressing in order to start gaining weight again.
“My Little Pony, My Little Pony, Everywhere you go a smiling face”

S2 is going to loose weight because it will use up all the fat deposits from it´s pop tart and cardboard diet, revealing the little muscle it truly had. But having been fed a ´lazy´ diet and been permitted the pleasure of the great outdoors on it´s treks previously, it will adapt much quicker to it´s new lifestyle. It will probably gorge itself silly for the first 2 to 4 weeks before settling down, realising the food is always there and self-regulating it´s requirements (just as S1 will). It will continue to loose weight for 2 or 3 months though, due to the fat loss and the new 24 hour a day movement, before it starts to put on new weight - muscular weight.

“Running and skipping; merrily tripping, Watching the morning unfold”

*Pop rocks and Peas - High NSC processed feed and alfalfa
**Pop tarts and Cardboard - High NSC whole grain feed and straw

“My Little Pony, My Little Pony, What does the future hold?”

ALL TIMES ARE APPROX. EACH HORSE IS AN INDIVIDUAL AND WILL RESPOND DISTINCTLY. THESE SCENARIOS ARE NOT NECESSARILY REAL OR SPECIFIC TO ANY PARTICULAR HORSE. BUT HOPEFULLY MAKE IT CLEAR WHY MANY HORSES LOOSE WEIGHT, WHEN FIRST ALLOWED TO LIVE LIKE A HORSE, DESPITE FEED BEING AVAILABLE AD-LIB 24/7
There are always other factors to consider - Time of year (climate), dental condition, parasite control, age of horse, mineral balance etc..
A horse living out in a paddock with a herd (even if a herd of 2) will enjoy a higher base fitness level than a stabled horse. When we talk of paddocks we refer to a minimum of 1500m2 for two horses. Not corrals or open-topped stables!

This is a blog entry from over 3 years ago, on our old web site. A fellow yard owner ask I republish it to help explain to her liveries the difference, and enormous benefits, horses enjoy at her yard with it´s tracks, equi-centrals and herd families.

To Lunge or not to longe....

4/3/2016

Lunge a horse, if you really must,
But don´t go making your own circle of dust
Stand in the middle, give him the rope,
Let him form the circle, don´t be a dope
If you wander around, click and chasing behind him,
He´ll lean or he´ll fall and make knots of his forelimb
His shoulder will bulge, his hip will loose balance
And thats nothing to say of the mental abhorrence
Lunge a horse, if you really must,
But remember for him it is a lack of trust
Those circles illformed, don´t build a partnership,
Only serving to improve his markmanship
Your horse will begin to kick and buck,
And not down to him being a schmuck
The imbalance you made will cause him pain,
Especially if you are unable to ascertain
Lunge a horse, if you really must,
But take advise and he wont combust
Lunging is an art applied, not a simple exercise
Like everything else in equitation
It is based on a knowing foundation

The word is believed to be derived from either the French word allonge, meaning ´to lengthen´, or the Latin longa. In both cases, the root word featured spelling with an “o” and emphasis is on lengthening and extension, so although always pronounced “lungeing”, the traditional spelling of the word in English is “longeing”.* Having friends in both spelling camps I thought it would be good to clarified the why, now I´ll explain my reasons behind my rhyme.

Lungeing a horse correctly is an art. It takes patience and application to develop. The point of this article is not to teach this. Finding an experienced instructor and receiving hands-on guidance, is the recommended way to learn. The point of this article is to bring attention to the people who don´t know how to lunge, are maybe unaware they are not lungeing correctly, and often don´t really know why they are lungeing (?), in the hope they will take this information on board and go and seek correct guidance - and ask questions.** We have all been in a place with the best of intentions but under a very misguided notion at some point in our lives!

There are some ´rules´ to lungeing, which you ignore at your peril. When working with a young horse or a new horse, it is very much a time when he or she will assess you. Their decision, based on your performance, will directly influence their behavior towards you in the future, be it ridden or on the ground. This can be make or break time for your relationship!

Why some people lunge:
As a means to tire out a horse - that is just cruel and mindless.
To control behavior - senseless. You end up with a much fitter horse, who therefore has more energy to misbehave.

Why other people lunge;
As a precursor to long reins
A way a trainer can observe for themselves the progress of a horse
A way to start a beginner, or give a lesson to a more advanced rider
It can be used to increase fitness, suppleness, muscle tone, and stretching (a fair tool in the box if you don´t have time to ride) and as a remedial tool for imbalances or after an injury.

Let´s focus on the suppleness mentioned above and the meaning of the word ´lunge´ explained at the beginning. If you truss your horse up like the Christmas turkey to lunge them you are not aiding them to find their natural balance. You are not aiding them to be able to stretch and lengthen through from the hind quarters, back and to the fores, to be able to lift the spine, work equally the fores and hinds and create their own natural collection when their body is ready to do so. You are creating disharmony. A disharmony that can create a swing bridge of the spinal column and disengaged hinds. The polar opposite of the collection you may want to achieve. Again, see note **

Though what I really want to draw attention to is the handler who doesn´t stand still! There is a time and a place for moving from your center pivot point - again, seek out experienced instruction** - but constantly doing so, constantly either bracing or slacking against the lunge rope is a no-no.

Firstly, if you are lungeing in a round pen there is no need for a rope or lunge line. Train your horse to respond to your voice and body language - good groundwork. And remember the ´rules´ mentioned at the beginning. If you are not constant with your rules a horse will see you as weak and test you to the limits. Be sure the turn is asked by you, be sure corners are not cut. Again, see note**

If you don´t stand still you are not permitting the horse to gauge the circle and pace himself according to it´s size in what ever gait you are asking. This will cause him to either be bracing against you, which means he is not naturally ´bending´ around the circle with his whole body, but rather falling out with his hind end and using the outside shoulder much more. Or he is turning his head, and subsequently neck, in towards you, trying to figure out where he should be going, and he will be constantly stepping on an inside track with his inside fore. Again, unbalanced. Of course either of these two give him the option to run off quick smart, should the thought enter his head, probably taking you off balance with him - and breaking one of the ´rules´. Additionally, if you are constantly moving you will, at some point, be positioned either in front or behind the horse. In front sends signals to the horse that you are blocking his path. Behind sends signals that you are chasing him up. Both causing hesitation, both loosing the rhythm.

Ideally you will be standing centered, pivoting, with a constant contact, not pressure, on the lunge line. Your leading arm, with the line, will form one side of a triangle, your trailing/guiding arm (with lunge whip if you use one) forms the other side of a triangle, meeting at tip of nose and end of tail of the horse, the third side of the triangle. This is a neutral position. You are not putting the horse under pressure. You are positioned to guide him forward at your chosen pace, halt at your behest and change direction, again, when you ask for it. Now, how that all comes together, with no pushmepullyou is via - see note**

Using the lunge as a remedial or corrective tool really should only be done by an experienced equestrian, someone who is also capable of maintaining their own circle as is required to ´walk´ around with the horse. No eggs, no rhombus and knowing what level of contact to maintain.

Just remember, the first tool you ever pull out of the box is patience. Buckets of that in every aspect of your equestrian endevours and, with the correct guidance, you will have harmonious days ahead with a balanced, happy horse.

Ref; * Wikipedia

Spreading the word

2/1/2016

"The Horses Hoof" magazine has dedicated 22 pages to bitless riding this quarter. This includes 2 pages on an article written by yours truly. I am honored to have had 3 articles published previously (regarding hooves, their transition and health) in this informative quarterly. Recommended reading for all things new and healthy for your horse.

http://www.thehorseshoof.com

Risk it for a rosette?

21/12/2015

TWB was a rock star this weekend. Not so much so her bedding in her “hotel” the night before, which she spent the whole night chowing down on.

1st phase of the competition on Saturday we had a ball. Having not competed since May due to other commitments, and quite frankly also due to being quite disillusioned with what endurance has become here in Spain, we had been very much looking forward to the Ronda competition - Great circuit, great organisers, great friends.

The Susk and I were back on the game, totally in tune, loving the circuit - true Endurance, with twist and turns, rises and falls, and fabulous scenery to boot - we were at ease as we crossed the finish line first, ´just´ on the minimum permitted time, dismounted, took off her saddle and walked straight into the vet gate. All solid. Start prepping for the 2nd phase and I just know she isn´t right. Pulse fine but respiration elevated, so I called the vet over to check her out.

No impaction but high motility, I told the vet about the eaten bedding, and he confirmed my suspicions that she could be on the point of colicking. He gave her the A-OK, but I think partly because he knows me and that I would make the right decision. That decision being to retire EV Suska from the competition.

With the current crazy cold, but cold nights and too-hot days the horses are all a little discumbooberated at best. Throw in the mix a food they are not used to (yes, even a hay), and trouble will find you.

Could she have completed the next two phases? Physically and mentally she was most definitely prepared for it. On the trot out in the preliminary control and the control after the 1st phase The Susk happily moved out, ears pricked and forward. She chose the pace on the circuit, always doing her thing of letting off steam the first 3 or 4 kilometers and then coming back to me and listening to my advise as I look at the road ahead. Yes, she most likely could have completed, and in very good form. But I am never going to risk her health, or worse still her life, for a rosette.

I am very cross with myself for not removing the bedding. I made noises about it and didn´t follow through because, again, I was accused of being unnecessarily vigilant. People say I´m a nightmare when it comes to wanting things “just so” in regard to my horses, but now you know why. Do not settle for just so. Do what you think fit.

The White Bullet is now fully recovered and back in action. No harm no foul.

Innovation performing

27/11/2015

We´ve tested many makes and models of hoof wear over the years and our firm favorites are, without doubt, Equine Fusion. Having been involved in their development, thoroughly testing them ourselves to assure they can stand up to the rigors of our harsh terrain, we know they do the job, and they do it very well. This montage shows just how well these innovative jogging shoes for horses do perform.

Colic - Never an easy subject!

14/11/2015

This week ended with the senseless deaths of over 100 innocent people in Paris, France. (Liberté, égalité, fraternité) Something that puts so much into perspective, but very nearly detracts from what is happening on your own doorstep. But not totally if you are a true empath when it comes to animals.

Tuesday I went out with The Susk. Those who know understand what a forward mare she is, loves to be out ´pounding dirt´. It was a gentle ride, with 2 km´s at her stonking walk as a warm up, whereupon she stopped dead. Pawing the ground she refused to move, even to turn back for home! We sat, we chatted, and after a few short minutes she walked on. Another kilometer and I asked for trot. TWB willingly obliged, but it totally lacked her usual va va voom. Taking into consideration her winter coat well and truly coming in, and another un-seasonally warm day, even for The Susk she began to sweat, a lot. Two kilometers further and again she stopped. Her breathing irregular I dismounted immediately and began to head for home. TWB literally leaned on me as she insisted on a fast pace and I tried to keep her at a steady walk. My alarm bells were telling me colic, whilst my head was trying to be heard and win over the noise. "Our horses never have empty intestines, they live in happy herds, stress is not a word in our equine vocabulary - WE HAVE NEVER HAD A COLIC AT OUR STABLES".

Arriving back at the yard, saddle dumped somewhere at the entrance, The Susk began pawing frenetically at the sand of the arena, I walked her on, towards the shower and the necessary implements to check her temperature and pulse. Temp 38.7ºC. Pulse 51 bpm. Respiration 85 pm.

I telephoned my vet, relaying this information along with the denying words "tell me I´m just panicking and this can not possibly be a colic". His answer; "I don´t need to tell you".

Showered, cooled, 20 minutes later her temp dropped to 37.6, pulse to 44 and respiration to 40, so I felt I could permit a roll if The Susk wanted. Say what you will, I knew I would find the superhuman strength to haul her back to her feet if she didn´t do so of her own accord. In the past I have spent many a night walking horses of other people, keeping them on their feet until a vet came (when horse vets where more few and far between and slower to respond as well!)**

35 minutes of pawing and circling passed before she finally dropped. As she did so TWB let out the most almighty large gas explosion! "That´s it" I thought. "Just major trapped gas. Now she´ll be fine". TWB didn´t want to get up, but it didn´t take much coaxing to get her on her feet. That girl is sharp. I swear self-preservation in the less ´manufactured´ breeds is far stronger. Whilst all this went on TWB defecated twice and urinated once. Her feces were healthily moist, not at all dry or strained.

Temp now 36.6, Pulse 41 and Respiration 36, the vet arrived (Hat´s off to Javi). It didn´t take much to ascertain she had a small impaction on her right side. Her response to the exploratory made it quite obvious. 7 liters of greasy water later (vaseline) I took her for a gentle walk, and from there on in I ignored my vets advise (!). He told me not to give her anything to eat***. Accustomed to ad-lib hay I turned her back out with her paddock mates, and the hay that was in their feeder. He told me to walk her ´for ages´. **I don´t remember from where the information came, but I heard it more than once, from qualified sources, that you can ´over walk´ a colic. So again, after a gentle 10 minutes, at her chosen pace, I turned The Susk back out with her friends.

On Thursday evening, over 2 days later, I offered Susk her usual bucket feed for the first time since ´the incident´. This is not cereal based, contains long fibers, so I was not concerned it would have ill effect after that time. One, disdainful bite, and she walked away. The same when offered breakfast Friday, lunch Friday, dinner Friday. Total disinterest. Only this morning, Saturday, has she eaten her short feed. {I reiterate, I am sure the more ´natural´ the breed the more natural instincts they have.} TWB knew, as much as she usually devours her bucket feeds, that she did not need it. I didn´t. TWB knew far better than me, mere out-of-touch-with-nature-so-called-intelligent-species.

This was an extremely mild colic. It would go undetected by many owners, through no fault of their own. We are talking of the most unstressy, unstressed horse I have ever known (apart from Hearty Farty), living in a herd, in a huge paddock with a constant supply of forage.

EV Suska is still a part of the family, but sadly #espiritudelviento did not get off so lightly this week. Besides Mumu Mama coming up hopping lame the following day - due to a screw well and truly in the sole of a hoof (Cheers neighbours doing building work next to her paddock!) - fortunately her soles are so thick that the 1cm long culprit (the screw was longer but the washer still on it and half way down stopped it penetrating further!) didn´t hit live tissue, we have a devastating event to share;

Redheart Cateaster, lovingly known at home as Easter, was the youngest filly in the UK of our stallion Kiss My Finest Heart. My dear friend, and her breeder, Paula Cooper of #redheartappaloosas informed me that despite valiant attempts at the equine hospital they could not save her from colic this Friday the 13th. We are all heartbroken. She was one of "ours". This is also a very sad day for the Foundation Appaloosa breed. Easter has well and truly left her legacy in her short 18 months of life with 7 firsts and 5 seconds of the 14 competitions she entered, also reserve champion and an International title. Husbandry second to none, with, like us, herd environment and ad-lib forage, again, there is no rhythm or reason behind this death. The wind will be forever beneath your wings little one. R.I.P. Hugs are not enough for you, Paula and your girls.

***I would love to hear opinions from vets regarding not giving a horse anything to eat when it has suffered a colic. My questions and thoughts are this;
When did colic start being diagnosed? Was it when horses were in real work? When horses were being fed some 6/7/8 kilos of oats a day to supplement their hay as they pounded the streets or fields for 8+ hours a day? Due to the nature of oats (or barley?) I can understand the advise ´no food´. But it is ´no food´ that is a big cause of colic. An empty gut twists or sticks. Or too long a time between feed causes a blockage. Are vets saying "no food" because that is what they were taught from times past, without thinking out the full significance of this and connotations for todays equine? Does no food really mean no short feed, but still forage, but it goes unexplained due to assumption? Assumption that all horse owners are feeding their horses many kilos of crapinabag, they are kept in solitary confinement and given very few kilos of hay/forage!

Author

Random, though a perfectionist, is probably how family and close friends would describe me. I won´t settle for second best for my horses, whilst I´ll happily go without. Do they mean more to me than my beautiful daughter? Not quite :)

Fortunately I have a better half who totally supports the world according to me!

My back is giving out (even on a good day) but a bad day with horses beats a good day in an office every time. So down at the barn is where you´ll find me, even after over 40 years of being around horses. I am still learning, and the day I stop is the day I need to walk away.

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