On Friday I rode Stampede out in the field for the first time this year. Other than a bit of spookiness in his usual spot he was very good and I believe enjoyed the change of scenery. We even trotted around for a few minutes each way in an effort to get everything all stretched out.
Field ride!
Saturday I went on a trip with a friend to a show about an hour northwest of us to help her look for a saddle. I also took my Antares saddle along so I could show it to the local brand representative and see if he thought my saddle needed to be looked at more due to an unrelenting squeak. I had already spent time squirting oil under the panels where the squeak was to no avail. The representative was concerned there could be a loose rivet, so the saddle is now off on an adventure to get checked out. Come back soon saddle, I miss you already!
Hanging out watching the show
Today Stampede got a lunge where I tried to find a balance between keeping him forward and keeping him stretching down. I think it went fairly well, but I’ll know for sure when I go to tack him up Tuesday and see what his attitude is.
Selfie with Mr. P
The boys also got their teeth floated today. I get both of my boys done manually, no power tools for the ponies. Luckily Stampede was fairly cooperative and didn’t have to be drugged. P is a perfect gentleman and never requires a sedative, but Stampede clearly had a bad experience at some point. Actually I was there and he was burned during a power float, which is part of the reason I made the switch away from it. He has over time gotten less worried about having his teeth done which is great. Nothing better than having someone around to do his teeth who makes it a low drama experience for him!
He knows how to pose for pictures…
I’m very sad that I have to go back to work tomorrow. Plus I don’t have any extra horses available to ride yet for the week. Hopefully I can find some ponies in need of work!
Great to hear things are going well with both boys – hope your saddle makes a speedy & squeak-free return!
Sounds like a great weekend! Hope you get your saddle back soon!
May I ask what is the other part of the reason that you switched away from power tools? A lot of Parelli people use a “Natural Balance Dentist” who they all just rave about, but she isn’t a vet which is concerning. So I have been going back and forth between the vet and power tools vs. the natural balance dentist…
I don’t know anything about a Natural Balance Dentist, mine is just an old school guy from before power tools became a thing!
I have a few reasons – heat from the tools, ability for the user to take off more tooth than necessary, the loudness of the tools and therefore the need for horses to be heavily tranquilized to use them. The dentist I use did 13 horses yesterday and not a single one had to be drugged. A chain over the nose and some patience was all it took. There are two other dentists that come to my barn regularly who use power tools and I have watched the horses afterwards barely able to walk and their faces swollen. I am also disturbed by the number of vets who think they can do teeth just because it’s easy with power tools. I don’t like to use someone with just general knowledge to do a specialized job. Yes some vets do everything but specialize in dentistry, but they are the minority.
Hopefully your saddle is back soon (squeak free!). I’m not a fan of power tools either.
Thanks, me too!
Hoping its an easy fix!
Me too, I really don’t want the cost of having to put a new tree in it!
weird about the saddle fix – hopefully it turns out to be no big deal. and yay for riding in the field!! it always feels a little alien at first (and maybe a little spooky) but it’s so refreshing!
I hope so, and I will not miss that annoying squeak ever time I post! I’m pretty sure Stampede believes the deer that lurk further out in the field are aliens! I normally get a ton of field rides in on Phoenix early in the spring since he’s cool with being alone out there so I’ve been missing being able to ride him.