epiphany29 Member

Grrr that joints not formed baloney! Ok, so the big thing about this was that folks wanted growth plates to be closed before training horse. Joints are formed when the foal is in uterus. The majority of growth is length and occurs at growth plates which are near joints. Fetlocks close before 6 months of age, knees and…

I just am grateful that time is taken up with an activity and not around food that I don't worry about calories burned. I sorta like the surprise when I find the scale moved. (which is hasn't been doing lately) I think in one of the other discussions in the group someone posted calorie burn for different chores so you…

The 20% rules is a general guideline, but doesn't take the horse's build into consideration. Meaning if the average horse is 1000 lbs then you are limited to 200 lbs of you and tack. Watch any rodeo and you see folks who far outweigh that not including their tack on some of those really stout little QHs. I found a website…

Hi, welcome! There are professional saddle fitters who can assess your current saddle and potentially make some suggestions about how that could be adapted for a better fit. They can also help you with finding a saddle that fits your horse well. I honestly think saddle fitting is a really difficult thing for those of us…

I just take my feet out of the stirrups. Brego doesn't care if they hit his sides as we go. I am working on learning dressage. The no stirrups makes you rely more on your core for balance and stability. With stirrups you have a platform to brace against. I am getting seriously addicted. I just signed up for another clinic…

I can only do" no stirrup 20 minutes in a lesson" HMMM, I guess I need more core don't I?

Those darn horse eating things out there! I am so looking forward to this weekend and a bunch of horse related fun. My horse's girlfriend is no longer lame, so I am hoping in a couple of weeks she is fit enough that we can go back to trail riding. I am enjoying our arena progress, but it is really better for the horse if…

I think honey would be a good plan. You could also consider some sweet fruit as well to add to it. You and I are on the opposite spectrum. I don't like the light and fit and the ones with artificial sweeteners because they are so sweet. In fact, I usually make my own greek style yogurt because it has that awesome tang I…

Ladies, I was actually SO very proud of the rodeo. It's a huge victory for me not panicking, and pushing him through it. My trainer and I knew this was coming (he's been being recalcitrant for a couple of weeks) but the hope was that it would happen next weekend when the clinic master came in. I did it alone, we came to an…

I got to ride yesterday and today. Yesterday was the rodeo with a bucking bronco who has learned that he has to listen to ME. Today was much better when he remembered and he gave me some nice engaged, through and round trot work. I hope we can keep it up, weather permitting! Pip

I generally at least wrap until the wound is small enough to scab over and there is a good progression of new skin around the edges. I think the pressure helps make for less need for trimming. I know some advocate less bandaging, it just hasn't been as helpful in my hands. Pip

Honestly the best thing for proudflesh is keeping it trimmed back well, and bandaged. I find most topicals to be of little extra use. Although a few veterinarians suggest a steroid cream may help. I hope the money back guarantee works. Again, in my hands (and hundreds of wound) nothing topical has been the magic solution.…

I have to say I love my band and wouldn't change it for the world. I have been banded 3 1/2 years. I lost weight consistently for most of that time. I did gain a little recently due to cheating (which one can do with the band easier than the others). When I started pursuing this there was a fairly even mix between band and…

Welcome!. I used to do jumps too, but now I want to do that beautiful canter half pass zig zag like the Grand Prix Dressage riders do. It's good to have dreams. I am thinking about doing some hunter paces again. I fall off mostly when not jumping. Jumping I am prepared for the launch. Good Luck!

I think you are on the right track. You might also be able make your own extension if you have friends with horses willing to donate a little bit of tail hair. I'd be glad to donate some of Brego's, I am too used to TBs with no hair that I don't know what to do with all his tail. Pip

Also, I don't understand how stopping eating gluten will make the immune system stop attacking the thyroid? If gluten and thyroid appear the same to the immune system (which I also question the scientific validity of) how would eliminating gluten make the antibodies know that the thyroid all of a sudden isn't gluten? Pip

No special magic. Eat a deficit. It's slow, but don't give up. Gluten free may or may not make any difference for you. I went GF for 6 months. Didn't change a thing for me. I eat gluten again so very happily. Good luck. Pip

I prefer geldings but agree, that you are looking for a well behaved horse that can do the job you want him to do safely. Geldings and dogs are my preference over mares and cats if that give you an idea of what I see as the main differences. My mare used to make me trek out to her in the pasture. My gelding notices a human…

I am surprised the radioactive iodine doesn't work consistently. I was treated with that 25 years ago with no relapse. I am not a fan of methimazole, and I thought carbamezole was longer acting. Too many side effects, and monitoring issues. Call your doctor. If you are not seeing an endocrine (preferably thyroid)…

Just because I like being difficult and want people to listen to their bodies.... I had Graves and was treated with I131, so now I am hypothyroid (for what that is worth). I am well controlled on my Armour thyroid. For a time (about 6 months) I cut gluten out of my life. I noted no changes at all in how I was feeling. When…

In working towards our goals, I had my 5th ride today on Brego (weather has made it impossible because I don't have an indoor). We trailered to a place with an indoor and we took a lesson in a clinic with a trainer who comes in once a month. We did more together than I had imagined we could. He's got a pretty big trot and…

I hate that my new insurance company will pay for cytomel, or synthroid, or the combination synthetic but refuses to cover the cost of armour thyroid. Thank you affordable care act! By the way, I will pay for armour out of my pocket because I am not going through the ****storm of attempting to remanage things with the…

I haven't had experience with inguinal hernia. I think the majority of the hernias repaired with bariatric surgeries are of the hiatal variety. Inguinal hernias are a little more common in men if my memory serves and repair for most is pretty straight forward and tends to have good results. (It's been a long time since I…

Hi all, My goal is to get my new horse fit and compete with him in Training level dressage. I also want us to go on as many trail rides as possible, potentially some hunter paces and trail trials as well. Fitness wise, I just want to keep improving. My trainer says that over the last 3 months my position, posture and…

Introducing Brego (in my profile pic). He is my new 11 year old 15.3 hand Appendix QH gelding that I got for Christmas. While I miss Willow terribly, God had a hand in all that happened so that he could come to me. Either that or it just takes Santa 40 years to bring a pony if you keep asking. Brego is a ham and reminded…

Probably not the best analogy. 95% of cats I have as patients are obese and have gained weight at every visit. Same thing for our dogs.

I had a chiropractor assure me once she could cure my radioactive iodine induced hypothyroidism. She never did, but my back felt a lot better. I am not anti trying herbal/acupuncture. Just make sure both your western medicine doctor and your naturopath know EVERYTHING you are taking so they can be sure nothing is going to…

Hi, and welcome! As far as what weight you should be before getting back on a horse depends on many factors. A general rule of thumb is the rider and tack should be no more than 20% of the horse's bodyweight. That makes the average 1000 lb horse should only carry about 200. There are some who think a horse can carry 25%…

Congratulations :)

Find a horse. They can kill off a couple KG in 10 minutes.