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Comment by JC's Mama on October 4, 2010 at 3:04pm

I think the arthritis has travelled up into her stifle/hip - I noticed she swings the left rear out to the side & tip of her hoof shows drag marks. That's what happens when irresponsible owners break 'em at 18 mos. to be reining horses. Since Arabs tend to mature slower than other horses, I like to wait til they're about 4 Granted, this mare was a reining champion for a few years, then they turned into a brood mare - for years she was always bred back during foal heat . I've had her for approx 10 yrs. She's had 2 very nice babies for me (gave her a nice break in between -- figured she deserved it). I love her pedigree (she's pure polish) so her daughter has taken over. This'll be her first (keep hoping the hubby will hook-up the foaling monitor so I don't have to do the folding cot in the barn -- he says he gets sad that I love the horses more 'cause I was sleeping with them & not him -- silly boy!). My son never really got involved with the critters ("they're stupid") -- he was more the ATV, dirt bike, tractor kinda kid - when the girls at school found out we had horses & would call constantly, all of a sudden they were not so stupid & he wanted to learn to ride!

Prior to JC going to BC, he told me he wanted to muscle-up as he's tall and sightly built. He asked where my hubby's old weight bench was. I told JC I had the perfect exercise that would work every muscle in his body. He got hyped & asked what was this exercise? I told him to clean all the stalls & use the wheelbarrow, NOT the tractor & spreader. I will always remember that look on his face, but I was thankful when he "helped" his sister & me clean.

Comment by Connie foaling-lady (Groton) on October 4, 2010 at 11:54am

kk, the tombstone is awesome, where is it located? We spent at week one year at Fort Robinson in Kansas, an old cavalry remount station that has amazing stables and still offers trail rides thru the buttes. Great vacation.
JC's Mama, you're a sweetheart for taking care of your old mare. The Blood-Horse magazine this week did a special report on unwanted horses. It's a real problem, what to do with unsound geldings and mares with pedigrees too weak for breeding, the world can only absorb so many riding horses and pets and yet we (TB breeders) still keep cranking out 32,000 foals each year.
RE: roof goodies, of the 2 dozen colts that got gelded, 2 were stakes winners, the rest were bums as racehorses ... and a whole bunch of "oysters" stuck on the roof for days, so that theory is out the window!
RE: buzzards ... a wounded one was flopping around in our yard 3 years ago, surrounded by very attentive, caring comrades. I called the local wildlife rescue place and described the touching scene. The lady told me they weren't trying to help, they were waiting for their buddy to die so they could eat it!! Anyway, we took the bird in, they saved it, vultures are HUGE up close, and you're right, they puke!

Comment by JC's Mama on October 4, 2010 at 8:25am

wow - 34 yrs old. We have a mare that's pushing 30 - has ligiment suspensory issues, athritis, and the meds that she can tolerate with her sensitive tummy don't seem to be working for her anymore. Everyone keeps telling me she needs to go on to the greener pastures up above, but I just can't bring myself to that point yet - she hasn't told me that she is ready to go

Comment by JC's Mama on October 3, 2010 at 10:09pm

Foaling lady

I say ki-yo-tee --- and i have heard of oysters on the roof -- so how many stuck? NEVER get within puking range of a turkey buzzard - they vomit on you! so gross!!!

We have to watch our pupsies (min-pins) -- haven't had a problem with the kittens & cats being circled by vultures, just with "the girls" (we don't breed them anymore so don't have puppies to watch out for)

Comment by JC's Mama on October 3, 2010 at 10:01pm

foaling lady --

Delaware River to NJ? do you go over the DeMemBr???? Where you located? I am in Delaware

Comment by JC's Mama on October 3, 2010 at 9:59pm

kk -- there is a liquid product (Skunk Out or Skunk Off) that I used on me (purchased from Tractor Supply or our feed store - will check when I go on Tues ) Not sure if it will work in your barn

Comment by Connie foaling-lady (Groton) on October 3, 2010 at 6:06pm

Beth, an otter!! Where on earth do you live? I've only seen them in the zoo. And JC's Mama, ditto for where do you live? I haven't heard the name "polecat" in years, since I lived in Louisiana one summer. We trap coons in the feed room sometimes; I drive them acoss the Delaware River to NJ, and I'm always afraid I'm going to catch a skunk one night. If I ever do, I''m gonna find out how much my husband loves me (as in, "honey, would you do something for me?" You guys are my kinda people ... I wouldn't trade my life with animals for anything. RE: Cats 'n' coyotes (do you say ki-yotes or ki-yo-tees?) .. my big worry this time of year is red-tail hawks; did you see the Sandra Bullock movie where the eagle swoops down and nabs a little lap dog? That's my nightmare about the kitten my son and his gf got me before he left. RE: gelding yanchies (that's an expression from my gnarly aunt!) : we throw racehorse oysters on the barn roof; if they stick, the horse will be a runner, if they roll off, he's a dud. Old racetrack groom superstition! We did this one year when we gelded 23 colts on one day, knocked-out bodies all over the farm lawn, what a sight ... and then a huge flock of turkey vultures landed on the roof for the feast.

)

Comment by JC's Mama on October 3, 2010 at 5:13pm

Beth

We love our kitties, too! We had some ferrals that "adopted" us. Problem was the females had kittens, their kittens had kittens and so on and so on -- and we couldn't catch them to have them spayed. We ended up getting some of the humane live traps to catch them so we could take them to the vet. I eventually caught something -- a polecat - and boy did Mr. Peppy LaPew get me good even though I was wearing the heavy duty total body rainwear -- ended up having to throw a tarp over the cage to move it. Thank goodness for Skunk Off - I wasn't even fit to be around myself, much less my family. Even the dog ran from me when she got a wiff of me. I was even happier it was Summer and could use the hose. My son sometimes teases and calls my Mama Pewy or Pew-Tinky . Funny the silly little things you remember sometimes. Yet there are times now that I'd give anything to hear him call me that again. Josh joing the Navy has been a double-egded sword - I'm so proud I could burst, yet I worry so much about him. He's our youngest & last to leave the nest -- the other 2 are in close proximity & I can contact & visit them whenever. And to think he has 3 more years. Hopefully I'll survive - but you ladies have given me comfort in knowing I'm not alone. Thanks!

Comment by JC's Mama on October 3, 2010 at 4:47pm

Beth -- hope that works for you. I recall reading an article about deterring wild things (coyotes, foxes) from entering your property by sprinkling powder containing bobcat urine (guess you purchase it on-line -- I've not seen it - not that I was looking for it). Try surfing the net and see what comes up. Had a friend who was really into raising chicks, ducks - she had a fox problem which she solved by building a dog run that entirely surrounded her coops -- no more foxes!

Comment by JC's Mama on October 3, 2010 at 4:35pm

foaling-lady Here's an old wives tale that we swear works: a month or 2 prior to breeding, add apple cider vinegar to mare's feed. This supposedly increases the acidity in mare's system & when bred, kills off those nastly little Y chomosomes, thus allowing the X's to do their thing & there's your filly! We've experimented with this theory 3 times (2 times feeding both mares vinegar and both times each mare had a filly --- the one time we did not feed both mares vinegar, we got the babies with extra equipment (colts) -- what a mess when we had both down in the paddock at same time to get cut. My vet is hysterical - that day cutting the colts, she brought her young daughter along. Vet has quite a sense of humor & some strange "superstitions" but she knows she knows her stuff when it comes to the critters (even vets our sheep & goats, gives dogs their rabies) After cutting/excising first colt's kahoonies, she tossed them over her shoulder ("for good luck") & they landed right in her daughter's lap! Poor kid jumped up & was running around screaming, but we were laughing soooo hard, we couldn't move to go help her. Oh the stories I could tell you.

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