Jumping - Finding the Right Spot

Sometimes getting in a little tight can get your horse to ‘snap’ up its knees. But sometimes a little deep can mean a chip and there goes your class. When is a little deep, too deep: when your horse loses its rhythm and causes a loss of flow to the round.

Where Should a Horse Take Off
A horse should take off from the sweet spot. This is located at the middle of the fence, the height of the fence away. Huh? If you are jumping a 3 foot fence the ‘sweet spot’ is located 3 feet away from its base. Similarly, a 2’6” fence has a ‘sweet spot’ 2’6” away from its base.

Getting in a little close can cause some problems. A tight spot, or too close to the jump, can lead to the horse being unable to make the distance, or put the correct number of strides in between jumps. It also leads the horse, jumping over its shoulder, and poor form.

Leaving from a long spot, or too far away from the fence, also encourages bad form and rushing at the fences. Jumping from a long spot makes the horse jump flat and it will sometimes hang a leg and take down a rail. Consistently riding from a long spot can encourage poor from and bad jumping style.

What Makes Your Distance
There are five main factors that determine where your take off is for the jump:

• The height of the jump. The take off point should be approximately the height of the jump away from the fence.
• The length of stride. The longer the stride, the longer your ‘spot’ will be. The shorter your stride the closer you will get to the base of the jump.
• The type or depth of footing. If there is deep footing, horses will be more likely to get closer and take off closer to the base of the fence.
• The type of jump. Verticals are usually jumped slightly farther out from the base than oxers. Horses will bascule over the middle of the oxer, so they will have to get closer to the base to satisfy the width of the obstacle.

• Location of the jump in the course. For example, riding a line from a vertical to an oxer is longer than riding from an oxer to a vertical. This is because of the arc the horse makes when jumping. The horse will physically land further into the line when jumping the oxer first so this will give him less usable space between fences.

If you see a tight distance coming don’t abandon your horse. Sit up, keep your eyes up and keep the energy coming from behind with a closed leg. Sitting up will help the horse to use his hindquarters and be able to lift up its front end out of the way. Keeping him balance and able to use his hindquarters will allow him to jump from a deep distance.


Read more at Suite101: Jumping - Finding the Right Spot: Getting Your Distances

New Blankets

Horses at play!

Solo (left sired by Tri-colore) and K-leigh sired by Popeye-K

new blankets!

Solo (sired by Tricolore) and DeL'aire sired by Voltaire

K-Leigh sired by Popeye-K

The Laura May Hay Test

This past summer has had its share of challenges, with the rain, no sun and did I mention the rain, buying and storing hay has been a nightmare. The beautiful aromatic stuff that flakes off the bale seems to be a thing dreams are made of.

If you have been fluffing, soaking and steaming then you need to get out of the spa. And get some hay that doesn’t need to be fluffed, soaked and steamed.

Does hay really need to be tested?

Every so often my nutritionist (read sales rep for Brooks’s grain, Tania) comes by to update and check on my feeding schedule. More often than not she asks, “Have you tested your hay?” I always respond with a resounding, “No”. It costs money and I often wonder if I test throughout the mow, it really doesn’t represent what I’m feeding. One bale may be from field ‘a’ in the back 40 and the next could be beside the highway and who knows from where in between.


I think I will start saying yes to Tania, my feed nutritionist to the hay test question next time because every hay bale I open up I give it the Laura-May test.


Steps to Completing the Laura May Test:
1. Lift bale – if it is heavy it probably means it has gotten wet and/or mouldy so it should be put aside to return to the supplier. My supplier is wonderful about this. If the hay is not good he will let me return it and will give me other bales in exchange.
2. Look at the contents of the bale – If it is alfalfa or majority alfalfa then again I set it aside to feet sparingly to babies, or horses in work.
3. Open Bale – if there is dust, mould or other then toss it.


This is just a basic test and all kidding aside I do study the hay before feeding. I know my fescue from my vetch, and trefoil from my alfalfa.


As the old saying goes you only have one chance to make a first impression and after opening a bale the contents are fully scrutinized.
Things I check for: Continuation of the Laura May Test:
4. Visual – the bale must be visually appealing. And I mean really, were not talking Mr. Universe here. It has to be green(ish) and free of mould (see 2. above) and be loose stems. Packed stems breeds mould and keeps dust. If the bale does not come apart when you open it then it probably means it got wet or not dried properly prior to baling so beware.
5. Aroma – If must smell fresh and ‘clean’. If you start to sneeze or are coughing up phlegm (I just wanted to type phlegm) beware. If there are mouldy, mildewy smells then don’t feed it. Use it for mulch on your neighbour’s garden, as the weeds will grow so don’t use it on your own.
6. Quality – This determines the nutritional value of the hay. The value is in the flower and leaf. Less value is in the stem. There should be a higher proportion of leaves then stem.

7. Types of Plants - Take note of the types of grasses and legumes present. Also there should be no weeds, thistles, burdocks etc which reduces the forage quality and prevents proper drying of the hay when it is harvested. Take the time to learn the types of grasses and legumes so you know what you are getting.


I’ve been known to fluff, soak and steam a few bales to get by with some dubious bales just to be on the safe side. Dusty hay can lead to a host of horse related ailments that are not worth having. Keep diligent and you can perform the Laura May Test before feeding your horse its hay.

How to Fit Your Horse's Blanket

Fitting your horse blanket… Here’s How

With the winter weather on the way and new blankets lining the shelves blanket buying and fitting can be a stressful time. Why not spend a little time and measure up your horse and buy a decent blanket that will last you instead of an ill fitting one that rubs.

Not all blankets are made equally and often have different cut along the shoulders that may or may not suit your horse. Don’t rush and find one that’s comfortable.

Here’s what I do.

1. Check the sales flyers and online! Sometimes they have good sales. I bought, this year 3 blankets at a $ 69 each. Great brand name Weatherbeeta and they are great!

2. Determine the size you need. Measure from the middle of the horse’s chest around the length of its’ body to its tail. If it is a half size go to the next inch or centimeter. Often blankets are sold in even numbers (76,78, 80, 82, 84) so keep that in mind if you land on an odd number then just go up to the next even number size.

3. Determine the type of blanket you need. Turn-out, stable, rain sheet, cooler all have different purposes and builds. Turn-out blankets are durable and waterproof for those creatures that go out during the day or those that live outside. Stable are usually non water proof and are suitable for clipped stabled horses that are in work and need to have blankets to help keep them warm. Rain sheets and coolers are other blankets with special uses during the horses training cycle.

4. Fit it properly. Check the blanket fit and ensure there is not possible sites for rubbing. Most rubbing occurs at the shoulders where a poor fit of the shoulder gusset slips back. This can be prevented by providing a ‘slinky’ under the blanket to prevent rubs. Other straps should be secured such as the surcingles should be secured tightly enough to fit approximately 1 hand width underneath. And leg straps should be tight enough so that horses will not step or hurt themselves on them.

Prior to putting it on the horse I spray new blankets with a coating of “Scotch Guard” to help make them waterproof and help repel dirt and stains.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at thistleridge@hotmail.com

East meets west of a different version

When someone tells me my horse doesn't do flying lead changes... I just can't help but thinking of this video.  If a camel can do tempi changes then so can your horse!





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnsWQ4kNG-w

Back and Recovered from the Royal Winter Fair 2009

 I didn't get to watch this dressage and reining demo but it looks very interesting!



I went to watch Cheryl Miesner ride Pagannini



And PopArt!



they were fantastic!

Choke

My horse recently suffered from Choke recently. Esophageal Choke to be exact. Simply put he had something stuck in his throat.


After a day of grazing I brought the horses in and 5 minutes DeL’Aire started choking. Probably from bolting his grain. He meets his grain with an open mouth and swallows without chewing.



He stood with his neck extended and gagging or retching as if he was trying to throw up. Soon after frothy foam and mucous came out of his mouth and nose. I walked and walked him and lead him around the sand ring and grass lawn. All to no-avail



I have had horses with minor blockages before and they usually resolve themselves within a couple of hours. Not THIS TIME



Saturday my poor horse was, still standing with his neck stretched and wretching. The local vet came and tubed him. The vet pushed a plastic tube slightly smaller diameter of a garden hose up his nose and into his esophageous.

The vet returned on Sunday complete with tube and scope so that she could see the obstruction. After we saw it and once again passed the tube we flushed the blockage by gently pumping water to remove the blockage.

Prevention

• Choke can be prevented through management strategies:

• Wet the grain. Often pelleted grain swells and obstructs the esophagus. Prevent this from happening by watering the grain.

• To prevent horses bolting the grain, use a large flat bucket that grain is spread into. Don’t use a narrow bucket that will lump the grain and promote large mouthfuls.

• Get your horses teeth floated regularily.