THOROUGHBREDS IN LOUISIANA NEEDING HOMES JULY 2014

These are courtesy postings only.  I am not affiliated with any organization and I cannot guarantee any of the horses.  I am simply networking these horses for their owners.   I only know what I am given.  Please contact me at howard.annie@gmail.com for more information.  These horses were listed as of July 2, 2014

2001 Thoroughbred Stallion "Bob's Proud Moment." 17 hands.

SUNSET, LOUISIANA. $5500 (neg).
 
Lovely, balanced individual. GREAT MOVEMENTS. The owners feel like he would make a fabulous addition to a sporthorse breeding program. He has been worked with since the track, and is a pleasure to ride, although he is not finished. He LOVES attention and to be fooled with, but the owners haven't had the time and want him to go to a great home.

Please see the website for more information:
http://www.fanlewfarm.com/BobsProudMoment.html
 
http://youtu.be/hP9DQLcKO1U
http://youtu.be/w7zHj3AhIsc

This is not my horse. I am listing for someone who needs to find Bob a new home. If interested, please email me and I can put you in contact with owner.

" Mikey", yearling UNBRIDLED COLT, $500

PRICE REDUCED. COLT MUST GO! $500
LAFAYETTE, LA.

Large, flashy, grey roan, UNBRIDLED colt yearling "T Mikey".

Foaled April 2013, Louisiana registered colt. Mom and Dad were 16.3 hands, so this will be a BIG horse. Grandpa is Unbridled Song and great-grandpa is Unbridled.

He has been handled extensively, so he is well-mannered and quite the ham.

He has no inbreeding for 5 generations. Here is his pedigree:
http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&sire_reference_number=7179396&dam_reference_number=7721010&color=+&sex=+&hypo_foaling_year=&breeder=&nicking_stats_indicator=Y&x=36&y=7

Priced to sell. Know he is a youngster, but will grow into a nice, big horse. Left front knee is a bit crooked, but should pose no problems with good farrier corrective farrier work as he grows. If you have time to wait for this horse to mature and grow, he will be worth the wait. WHAT A LOOKER!
This horse is not mine. I am courtesy posting and helping screen homes. Owners have too many horses and need to downsize NOW! Please PM me. More pics in comments section. Asking $500 (HALF ORIGINAL PRICE), price negotiable to good home.

"Miss K Lee" 2009 mare, $300  - MARE IS SAFE AND REHOMED!  THANK YOU!

URGENT. ONE WEEK TO FIND HOME OR WILL GO TO KILL AUCTION/SLAUGHTER. LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA (FROM JULY 1)

Tons of speed, would make a nice broodmare for Appendix-breds or polo ponies. Lovely short cannon bone, great body, love her big butt! And big ears HONEST PERSONALITY. She is in LOVELY condition.

Chips in front knees. Horses with chips in knees can go onto become nice pleasure and lower-level mounts, but she is not recommended for upper level or high impact sports.
Short story: My friend is FORMER owner who sold her to a man to race. She did quite well for him, but he does not breed and when they are done racing, they go to Dominick's Livestock Sales (aka kill auction). My friend was asked if she wanted the mare, otherwise to kill. She cannot take in any more horses, but she convinced the guy to give us ONE WEEK to find a home (Wednesdays are slaughter days).

He wants $300 because that is what he can get for her at slaughter.
If you want the LONG story and more information, either EMAIL me at howard.annie@gmail.com OR leave your email here. I can't access facebook at work, so need emails!

If you can purchase her in next week, my friend will board her until you can arrange transport to come get her.

PLEASE serious inquiries ONLY. This mare WILL go to auction if not rehomed by next Wednesday. Thanks!

Not that I think anyone is reading... BUT

Sooooo..there hasn't been any recent updates is that Scottie was off for about a week, blew an abscess last Sunday and we are still dealing with that THIS Sunday.  I assume she was off due to the abscess, but obviously have to get this healed up before can do additional investigations.

I'm also happy it is ONLY an abscess (as I am sure we have all experienced) because she had not blown out last Sunday, and I was starting to think soft tissue injury, which makes me panic.  I LOVE my horses. LOFF THEM!  But, I can really (barely) afford two.  And one of them is 23 year old FM, who I have promised his retirement.  So, if someone has to go, it is Scottie :(  So an abscess is good news because it will likely heal well.  Soft tissue is so up in the air.

My next post is planning to be "my abscess treatment" which was very much influenced by Dr. Lindsey Schuell who is now in HOUSTON!!!  So if you need a good equine vet, look her up!!

http://www.ontherunequine.com/

Before that, we were working with Sue Bruns on dressage lessons, which were going.... well?

Scottie has the BEST personality, so she is so willing and TRIES to do everything you ask.  Between me "not being  dressage rider" and her being basically "track broke", I am very impressed with what Sue has been able to accomplish with us.  Sue hasn't given me a webpage yet, but will post when I can.

Scottie is literally the "most chill" horse I have ever dealt with. She takes everything in stride, behaves for almost everyone (unlike FM, where the smallest deviation from normal can cause internal chaos haha), and seems to get along with other horses really well. 

I have to admit that I am a little nervous as her owner because I got her from such good people for so cheap and she is SO GOOD.  I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I'm probably over babying her for the abscess, but I have such hope for her and she is such a good girl that I want to make sure she's comfortable.  She is obviously so easy going that she will work with pain and not do anything (behavior wise) to let you know.

In which I remember how hard circles are OR in which I remember why I prefer hunters over dressage

So, I started dressage lessons two weekends with Scottie.  As I mentioned before, I really want to start Scottie right, and dressage is the discipline that handles the correct bending, contact, and all that jazz.  I was fortunate growing up that both of my trainers emphasized a solid dressage foundation for jumping.  Both of them made me learn basic leg yielding/pressure, how to collect, correct circling, aids/cues, etc.  However, the fun part was obviously JUMPING, so as time went on, I tended to remember a lot about the jumping, and not so much about my flat work.  Fortunately, since I started with a good foundation from a young age, some of these skills stuck with me from muscle memory even when my brain wanted to forget :)

For my first lesson, I wanted to work on correct amount of contact, and correct bending both ways around the circle.  As with most OTTBs, Scottie can ride a straight line really well, but struggles on the turns. 

To the left (counterclockwise, opposite trackways), Scottie likes to lock her neck/jaw slightly to the inside and DIVE to the inside on her shoulder.  To the right (clockwise, trackways), she is a little better, but had a massive bulging problem in the last 1/4 of a circle.  ENTER DRESSAGE.

TURNING ON THE FOREHAND
The first thing my new dressage trainer had me do was work on some turning on the forehand exercises so that the hind end and front end start working independently of each other.  The main purpose of this exercise to get the horse moving off your leg reliably.  It is also a good exercise for the rider to start paying attention using CLEAR cues for independent actions. At this point, we are working on just one step, not a complete 180 or 360.  At first, Scottie did not understand what I wanted, but she is getting better.  The reason I like this exercise is because its very easy to include while warming up, in between trotting or cantering work as a break, or even out on a hack/trail. 

CIRCLES, CIRCLES, and MORE CIRCLES

It is amazing how difficult making a circle while on horseback can be.  It seems simple.  Turn the horse in the direction you want to go.  I had forgotten how difficult riding a correct circle can be. 

Going to the left is much harder for me than going to the right.  Going to the right was improved pretty quickly by simply solidifying my outside cues (outside rein/leg).  Going to the left is getting better now that I have worked on it a few days, but is MUCH harder.  Scottie really likes to lock that jaw and dive to the inside shoulder, so we can make it about 1/2 way around and then I really have to work on pushing her over with my inside leg, and making sure that I use my inside rein to "bend" her to the inside instead of having her locked to the inside (without dropping my outside rein....and blah blah blah... I could make this the world's longest runon sentance!!)

There is a reason that I am not a dressage trainer/rider.  As you can probably tell from my post, I have a hard time articulating the discipline.  However, the lesson was helpful because when I am on the horse, I can tell when I am doing it correctly, because Scottie really does soften and bend much better.

It will take a while to get her totally supple/bending, mostly due to my bad work schedule and really only consistently being able to ride her 3 days a week.  However, as it is staying lighter later, I am being able to fit in a few workouts during the week. 

Until next time.

COURTESY POSTING: PREGNANT MARE FREE TO GOOD HOME

LOUISIANA. FREE TO GOOD HOME. URGENT.  MARE in foal to Smart Sherif.

Posting as a courtesy for elderly couple who need help placing.  PM me for contact information.  While her owners want her to find a loving home, they did state that they can no longer care for her, and she will go to auction if a home cannot be found.

Mare is "Missionofthenight" due to foal soon.  Her bloodlines include Danzig!  She broke her maiden in a MSW in an impressive 1:11 for 6 furlongs.  She raced at Evangeline and New Orleans Fairgrounds.  The foal would be eligible to be a registered La bred.

http://www.pedigreequery.com/missionofthenight

In foal to Smart Sherif (AP Indy horse).  His foals are known locally to be very correct and athletic.

(http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6881721&registry=T)

http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=6881721

My local contact is getting pictures ASAP.

I posting this on this blog because you just never know who is out there googling thoroughbreds :)

Update: April 15, 2014

Scottie and FM got the week off. 

I did this for a week:

And this is what they did for a week:

 FM on the left, Scottie on the right

(YES, it is extremely muddy and gross in their turnout.  It's spring in Louisiana... I don't know what to say!  Can't wait for it to dry out!)

Prior to spring break, I had started cantering Scottie.  I had waited for a long time before cantering her under saddle because 1) she really wasn't fit and I wanted to build some stamina, 2) I wanted her knee to heal a little more, and 3) honestly, I can be a little bit of a chickensh*t. 

The first time I cantered her, I really just kind of cowboy kicked her into it.  She is pretty mellow and just kind of trotted faster and faster until I kicked her.  Once she realized what I wanted, she was totally fine.  She didn't offer to buck or anything goofy.   She couldn't carry herself (and me) around the corners (i.e., short ends of the arena) counterclockwise, but she could balance fine going the way of the track.  She blew her leads a few times, but I wasn't worried too much about leads... Just wanted her going FORWARD.

Over that week, I cantered her just a little bit every time I rode her, and she got to the point that she can carry herself both directions on the correct lead, even if she is a little spastic.  Although she has gotten straighter at a walk and trot, her canter is still a little wonky on the long sides of the arena (i.e., crooked, weird bending outside or inside).  Counterclockwise, she really locks her jaw to the inside at the canter.

The day I left for spring break, I wasn't being clear enough with my cues, and she got crooked on on the corner before the long end and actually swapped her lead.  She then proceeded to crowhop down the entire long side of the arena.  However, after I growled at her and picked her up, she had a LOVELY forward, organized canter in both directions?!?!   Go figure.

I haven't had too much time to work with her this week, but I am starting dressage lessons with her this weekend.  Now that I am comfortable at the green broke walk, trot, canter, circle, pole level, I really want to work on softening her.  She is pretty stiff through the neck and jaw, and doesn't give to the bit at all.  I also want some refreshers on how to utilize my aids to achieve the correct bending and suppleness.

 Here is a picture of Scottie eating grass to insert because I don't have any new pictures to share for this blog and reading a lot of text sucks without pictures.

In general, I do NOT like dressage (prefer jumping!!!!), but I think that a solid foundation in dressage work is essential for any working horse, and since she is right off the track, I will have to be the one to work with her.  Previous horses that I have owned already came with some of the tools in their toolkit.  I am not planning on winning any dressage competitions, but having a soft, long/low, supple, and adjustable horse will make her more functional at any sport, and make her more marketable.  Plus its been a while since I've had a lesson, and my riding will benefit by working through these issues with her.  I really need to try and get some video this weekend.

In other news, mom got me 101 Jumping Exercises (lots of pole work/arena ideas), which I am excited to start incorporating into my rides.

Book available here

Arena Exercises

Every once in a while, it pays off to ride with someone who rides a different discipline.  The majority of the people at my barn ride Western (90%), but there are about 4 of us who ride English.  My friend has a young dun quarter horse that she is running barrels on.  We happened to be riding at the same time last weekend, and she had been researching simple exercises for her barrel horse.  She does a really good idea of researching for ideas online.

Since I am working on similar objectives with Scottie (bending, suppleness, driving from behind), I asked her if I could work through her exercises with her.  It was actually a fun, simple, yet challenging ride.  I will definately use this exercise again.

The concept is simple: 4 ground poles in the arena.  While some of these exercises are meant to be done at a canter/lope, I did them all at a trot (obviously no flying lead changes).  My friend and I also made our circle bigger to make them a little easier.  For being basically a track-broke TB, Scottie did surprisingly well.   My friend did all exercises at a lope.

Although these exercises seem very rudimentary/simple (which they area...), they really did make both the horses and riders think about execution and correctness.  It was an easy way to pass a 35-45 minute ride.  I run out of ideas quickly with a green horse (you can only do so many trot poles and walk-trot transitions), so I am always looking for patterns to work on.   Plus this is an exercise that can be modified/expanded upon as Scottie and I progress.

Follow the link below for 7 exercises to do with only 4 ground poles in the arena.

Seven Exercises with 4 Ground Poles

Scottie Update: March 2013

I've had Scottie about a month and a half.  She has gained weight, personality, and can now walk (and mostly trot!) a straight line :)  She still needs some weight, but she is getting there.

First some comparison pictures: 

 

Scottie second weekend: Feb 1st (ish), 2013

March 7, 2013

(white on backlegs is fungus ointment :( )

Scottie continues to be one of the most mellow horses I've encountered.  She has yet to be majorly fazed by anything.  She comes when called, and has excellent ground manners. 

Work over the past 1.5 months have included riding 3-4 times a week, with occasional lunging.  She is in much better shape and continues to be sound and barefoot.  I am hoping to work her more now that the time has changed.  Accomplishments include:

- sensitive and responds well to leg pressure (both directions, turning)
- good walk-trot and trot-walk transitions
- can walk and trot circles, including relatively small circles, without major bulging, as long as I remember to hold my outside leg
- easily and willingly trotting poles and itty bitty crossrails (really cavaletti- sized)
- backs easily
- stands well when tied, learning to stand quietly when mounted
- remains bombproof around normal barnyard choas
- I have ridden her solo down the neighborhood roads (still very close to barn).  She is not afraid of mailboxes, kids with basketballs, or big blue trash cans, and isn't overly herd bound

- willingly rides through ditches, water, different terrains (rock to asphalt to grass, etc)


I have ordered a surcingle and side reins, and will fit them this weekend.  I am not a HUGE fan of over lunging, but she doesn't yield to the bit at all, and I think side reins will get her started on getting used to contact.  I will try those this weekend for a short workout.

In other news her knee is healing well.  The first couple of weeks it looked like this:

 

and now it looks like this:

So it is getting there!  Taking its time, but no heat, and no soundness issues, but I am also not working her very hard.

The latest battle is the MUD.  Both Scottie and FM have scratches and the general south Louisiana spring leg funk that I am treating with a combination of salves that may or may not be working.  They have been getting turned out in the dirt sacrifice paddock/play pen because the back pasture is just too muddy.  Here are some pics of the TBs playing in the play pen