http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html Inform and hopefully entertain on endurance competition, barefoot transition and the birth of new foals. Basically life at the yard! en-us Appaloosa Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:21:59 GMT Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:21:59 GMT espiritu-del-viento.com http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#When-your-back-hurts..... ... your family doctor recommends an orthopedic specialist. When your heart isn´t right you see a cardiologist. If your eyes give you grief you see an optometrist. If you´ve got bunions you see a pedologist. So when your horse has a specific problem where do you go? Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:01:33 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#MIA-Bearpaws-AU-Anni-is-special Now, I know we all think our App´s are special but Anni is something else. I purchased her as an ´apt for breeding´ mare so despite clearly being almost constantly in season and turned out with my proven apt stallion for nearly a year, when she remained open I had her thoroughly checked over to discover she has a uterus the size of a yearling and without surgery can never foal. So it was time to saddle up! Anni also had serious head issues when she came to me. The first time I rode her she wobbled diagonally across the arena, unable to walk in a straight line. The poor girl had been ridden by a large bloke in a large saddle in a tiny pen, made to canter in circles as this ´rider´ lent inwards. She was a mess. Now, weather this mess was the cause of Anni´s mental attitude or weather she was born that way I shall never know. But now I have Anni straight, she is the sweetest girl with the biggest of hearts, she clearly appears to me to be autistic. Now keep reading, I´m not completely crazy. I have no experience of autistic horses, nor know if it is possible, but Anni see´s and does everything in a manner I have never known with any other horse. It took a very long time for both myself and my OH to gain her trust, so there is no apparent male/female preference. When a confident rider is with her she keeps her head low, nose forward and will rack on all day (Anni has an incredibly fast walk which doesn´t change speed weather on the flat, up or down hill!). The second a nervous rider passes her, and of course worse still, rides her, she becomes a bag of nerves. Yet if I or my OH just put our hand flat on her neck she immediately calms down. Though she has an incredible inner strength and wisdom. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:55:53 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Anni,-continued... Yesterday she completed her 1st promotion level endurance competition. We just wanted her to classify, not looking for any trophies. It was a very hard course. All steep mountain, either up or down, so the actual 42 km´s was an equivalent of about 80 on the flat. Her pulse took a while to come down below 56 but it did, so she went in the Vet Gate, only to have her pulse suddenly up to 70 bpm!!! The stop watch goes on (you´ve just 1 minute for the pulse to come in at 56 or below or you´re eliminated) It came down one beat at a time, 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64, 63, and there it stayed (!!!!) I managed to communicate to OH, put your hand on the judges arm (the one holding the pulsometer to her chest), as he did so her pulse went 63 - 56!!! She was in :o) Anni got the message and she pulled it out of the hat. All Appy´s are special. Some are more special than others :)) Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:55:53 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Continued!!!.... I feel the need to say more about yesterdays competition. (AH oh, say many!!) But after conversations today, many people have said that the 42 km´s of mountain yesterday was more like 80 + on the flat, not my conservative estimate of 65. This then made me think how we, 3 riders and 3 horses, did this with no crew. No assistance or help from anyone. Although grateful to someone who let our horses drink from their bucket at the only crew point, when we arrived at the controls we each had to take responsibility for removing tack, giving our horses water and food and cooling them down, whilst constantly checking their pulse for the moment it was adequate to enter the Vet Gate. All this in a sea of mud, so we couldn´t just ´chuck´ stuff on the ground, for collection later, we couldn´t even let girths or breast plates trail, as one might, because they´d have picked up a blind of dirt making it impossible to fasten them for the next phase without first washing them down. When we arrived home - after two trips, one horse and gear then 2 horses - we had more mud to remove from buckets, tack, protectors, boots, chaps, travel boots etc than a turkish bath built for an entire village! That was before doing night feeds for everyone and putting clay from knee down on the 3 champions of the day, making sure they weren´t tucked up or dehydrated in any way and suitably rugging them for the night. All this and more is what endurance riding is about. Go hard or go home is definitely the case. But once you´re "in" you´re hooked and it is more than worth the effort. Did we sleep well last night? Absobloodylutely :) Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:15:09 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#On-top-of-the-world Yesterday THREE barefoot and bitless horses participated in the I Raid Villa de Marbella. 42 km´s of pure mountain. I think without a doubt this equates to at least 65 km´s on the flat. 31 horses participated in total, of which 1 retired after the first phase and 6 more were eliminated for metabolic reasons or being out of time after the 2nd phase. It was a tough competition. A day and night previous of hard rain had left everywhere knee deep in mud, making the going even more precarious. We all had soggy socks before we even started! Anni and Georgie participated for the 1st time at this level. Coming on 17 Georgie is an absolute veteran for this sport, but that didn´t stop him tanking up (and down!) those hills and finishing before other seasoned endurance horses, some of which have regularly competed at 80 and 120 km level. Anni wasn´t far behind, finishing two places after him. And Anni is special, she is the kind of horse that would run for you until she dropped. This is not good, nor what we want. But she see´s everything very differently to any horse I have ever known and without asking her, she knows she has to get somewhere or do something so just sticks her nose forward and one way or another she will achieve it. I am proud to bursting of both horses and their marvelous riders (Jess and OH). The Susk and I finished 2nd. It was a beautiful run through pine forests and such a shame we didn´t get photos at the half-way point of each phase because we were literally ´on top of the world´, looking down over Marbella and the coast line. GO TEAM SPIRT :O) Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:46:11 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/appaloosa-foals-in-spain.html Foundation Appaloosa Foals full of colour and character. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:15:04 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Where-is-winter? I think these crazy seasons are affecting the horses. Now the scientific are probably going to say poppycock when they read on, but we have wormy horses that aren´t normally (and diets and paddock picking and rotating is all the same), some have teddy bear winter woollies, others have barely autumnal coats. Nearly all have runny noses and with us having very healthy endurance horses you really notice how a slight sniffle affects their performance. Yet, they all have the same degree of ´colds´, weather they are retired or in constant training! Nothing adds up, except that the days are toasty warm and the nights freezing cold so it´s no surprise the horses are discumbooberated! Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:40:47 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Time-for-a-chat? In or near Casares? You can attend a FREE talk on equine podology, natural horse training and Endurance riding, being held in the village of Casares at the end of February. The President of Endurance from the Andalucian Equine Federation, the Spanish junior endurance champion and yours truly will be giving a short introduction to these subjects. Date yet to be confirmed so keep watching this page :o) Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:52:12 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#One-size-does-not-fit-all A couple of years ago I received a phone call asking if I had a horse for sale. The man was not very specific and when pushed for what exactly he was looking for he informed me that he had a good saddle, so he wanted a horse! I politely hung up. It´s occurred again. Looking at a horse for sale the person was reminded it is not just the initial outlay of the horse that must be considered you also have to purchase, amongst many other things, a saddle. I was informed that they had a saddle, to which I replied it may not fit. The response that it would left me cold. It was clear that there wasn´t even a doubt, so not a thought as to possibly, maybe and trying and seeing, and if it didn´t getting one that would! One saddle not only does not fit any horse, but also horses change. You could buy a made to measure and when you bring a youngster under saddle, or change the training of an older horse, in no time the saddle may need shimming, or re-flocking. A horse continues to grow until it is 5 years old. In some of the bigger breeds this can be as old as 7. As they are schooled they build muscle, fat changes into muscle, their whole outline can completely change. Please, consider the saddle very important, it is not just a means to keep you on the horse. Ask a professional fitter for advise. Have your horse measured if you do not know how to do so yourself. Consider synthetic flexitree saddles if bringing on a youngster, until they build up their muscle and strength and you can then invest in a quality saddle for them. Yes, often a saddle will cost more than the horse. But it is the difference between a healthy happy horse, or one who will start with a little buck and end up in the chiropractor or worse!!! Now at the end of the day that is far more expensive both financially and mentally, without even discussing the physical expense to the poor horse. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:15:24 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Rain---at-last! Now is when we need to be extra vigilant of our horses hooves. A good daily clean will assure that no big problems arise as the slightest change in their feet will be noted the moment it appears. It is also the season to invest in a quality set of natural hoof protectors, for when their soles get soft due to all the mud and soft footing. Equine Fusion Jogging Shoes for Horses - innovation at our horses feet .o) Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:50:08 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/going-barefoot.html Why I made the decision to have all my horses barefoot. Going barefoot, the healthy alternative. Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:55:46 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Blow-out For all of you that haul your horses, or anyone that takes a trailer any where CHECK YOUR TYRES and your weight limits. Yesterday I had a magnificent blow out on the motorway. I was hauling the small trailer with a pallet of bricks. We had checked the tyre pressure and all was good, so maybe it was just one of those freakish things. But better to be safe than sorry. Loosing a pallet of bricks is not as hard as loosing a horse! Remember you not only need different pressure for different weight, you also need to consider the outside temperatures. Here in Spain, with the temps able to be below freezing in the morning and toasty warm by mid-day it is something very important to remember. Your vehicle should come with a table of pressures, if not contact the manufacturer. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:26:51 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Rug-Rage It´s that time of year again - well, it´s coming later each year - when here, in southern Spain, the nights get more than chilly (down to 2 or 3º) and the days can top up to 25ºC or more, yet there can be a wind chill factor to consider on those blustery days of somewhere near 0! We had one of those this morning, and despite my snood my ears still felt like they might drop off. The girls loved it though, and both Suska and Anni were hot to trot today, with the wind up their tails. Though careful to return them home cooled down as winter woollies and sweating can make for a cold so easily. Thus bringing the conversation, again, around to rugging. A complicated subject at the best of times, it´s something that has no answer here with temperatures able to whizz up and down between 4 seasons all in one day. Scientific research recently informed us that horses are capable of placing/holding their coats at 17 different angles or levels depending on the heat the want to expel or the cold they want to avoid. Which is all very marvelous for all those wild horses, and as much as you know I try to maintain my boys and girls as near to nature as possible, they are not living as wild horses would. What´s the solution? Hmmm - Training in the afternoon, just as temps are about to drop should be avoided. When training, bring things back to a walk a good couple of km´s before home to be assured your mount returns cooled off. Though with winter woollies you must check thoroughly that they are not still to warm underneath, or are not to wet that it may cause shivering. If you must shower your horse, do it in stages. Shower the neck and rug it, then the torso and rug, then the hind quarters and rug. Make sure your horse is fully dry before turning them back out. But shivering is not something to be to worried about. Horses will shiver to warm themselves up. It is another case of "know your horse". If it is not something they´ve done before then you must keep a watchful eye. Consider electrolytes, even in winter. Horses really are better off without rugs, you have to use your common sense and judgement if there are many consecutive days of rain for example - go for a lightweight waterproof as you can always put another layer beneath it. Layers are always better than just one thick rug. Age and work are very important factors before even considering the options of clippping out - in one of the various styles! Ah rug rage. No simple answer. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:04:55 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/appaloosa-stallion-at-stud.html Presenting my handsome and charming 100% Foundation Pedigree Designated Blue Roan Leopard Appaloosa stallion Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:57:49 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#In-the-words-of-Nina-Simone...... .... river running free, you know how I feel. Oops, no, not that line hehehe ...... It´s a new dawn, it´s a new day, it´s a new life for me and I´m feeling good. Hope you all saw 2011 out in fine style and are not suffering to much from bringing 2012 in! I must confess that the horses wont get much attention today beyond making sure they have water and food and that everyone came home safe from their celebrations (well, we don´t know what they get up to when we´re not there!). Did you make any New Year resolutions? Or was it a case of a few revelations? Without wanting to sound sanctimonious I gave up on the revolution malarky years ago and just go forward at the start of each year with a positive outlook and always the same intention of treating everyone and everything as I would want to be treated, to remain true to me and to those in my life, and to always be the same. I know to many people who blow hot and cold. Something I can´t understand. I find it impossible, once I´ve allowed some one into my heart, to be different with them from one week to the next. I don´t think you can be around animals and be an enigma. You have to be real and constant. One thing I am going to make a concerted effort to do, or not do, this year is ´project´. I project on to people. I know it is a bad habit. I think "wow, if I had that opportunity I´d snap your hand off" and when someone doesn´t respond as I would, I feel incredibly dejected. I know not everyone gets as excited as me about doing something in my world that I never had the opportunity to do before, but can´t help myself. I also project on to other owners. Knowing they have the information to care correctly for their horse and when they don´t I feel so frustrated and angry. I can´t understand why they would do that. So this year - no projection!! To all the horse owners out there who talk the talk, I ask that in 2012 you make the effort to also walk the walk. For a happy healthy New Year, and every year, for your horse. And lets face it, if your horse is healthy and happy, then so are you. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:13:54 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/index.html Foundation Appaloosas. Equine Podology. Resistance riding. Barefoot & Bitless in Spain Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:12:51 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/horse-care.html Horse Care, Horse Husbandry or Horse Craftmanship! Whatever you choose to call it, this is about caring for your horse and giving him the best you can. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:03:56 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Equine-Atypical-Myopathy I feel this is something we need to know about. Fore-warned is fore-armed. In December 2011 116 clinical cases were reported to Liege University, Belgium. These cases were recorded in Belgium (16 cases), France (34 cases), Germany (19 cases), Great Britain (34 cases), Switzerland (6 cases), Austria (3 cases), USA (3 cases) and Canada (1 case). As you can see, it is all around us in Europe. When and where Sporadic condition after spells of warmth, heavy rain, humidity and winds. Occurs in cluster areas with several horses affected on same pasture. Wet, boggy, leafy fields. Any age of horse, no sex/breed predisposition but young females over represented. Animals not in training, good/bad condition. Causes No known cause but factors including weather conditions, poor health status and certain leafy pastures may predispose. Dead leaves, humidity may favour growth of moulds/mycotoxins that may increase risk of EAM. Speculation that a toxin producing bacterium called Clostridium sordellii and bifermantans may have a role in the disease. Poor antioxidant status of horse may predispose horses to EAM. Clinical signs Acute onset of dullness, head down, reluctant to walk, stiff legs with hindlimbs/forelimbs. Mild sweating especially in the pectoral region, flanks. Reduced appetite, water intake, urination/defecation but no overt signs of “colic”. Increased respiratory rate, heart rate, gum colour from pale pink to darker pink. As the disease progresses the above become exaggerated with eventually recumbancy, dark brown urine (muscle breakdown products) and eventually death. Veterinary treatment/prevention EAM does have a very high mortality rate but early intervention can lead to recovery. Clinical signs described along with a blood sample can greatly increase the probable diagnosis of EAM. If your horse appears as above do not walk your horse and call your veterinary surgeon. The main aims of treatment include pain relief, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and husbandry for the recumbent horses. Treatment does not guarantee a positive result. Antioxidants including vitamin E/Selenium, salt blocks may help. Regular pasture management, poo-picking, vaccination, worming regimes, feeding, exercise. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:11:09 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/transition-from-shod-to-barefoot.html The transition from shod to barefoot is not a quick fix or an arduous task. But completely attainable whatever your horse or your riding discipline. Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:03:04 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/hoofboots.html Making the transition, or a permanent new, healthy alternative for your equine companion is easier with hoof boots. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:23:19 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Update---with-attitude! It´s been over two weeks now since EV Simoom Bean was castrated. A normal castration would be well on it´s way to healing by now, but Simoom had that extra jewel of long term infection so his "bit´s" are a little more fragile than usual. This morning OH bbm´s me to tell me he´s lame!!! Now we´d all be lame if we were sporting the swelling he had between his legs today! This, believe it or not, is the ´hump´ sorry for the pun, as he now goes over to the healing side of his little trauma. Movement was needed so I free-lunged him, gently. Well, that was my intention. Simoom was having none of that and cantered around giving me the equine bird, along with a few little bucks. No signs of ´lameness´!! This little chocolate treat is waking up and shaping up. He came to us walking toe/heel. He now steps out flat and soon will realise he can walk correctly, being heel/toe. Just this small improvement has already changed the shape of his body. He no longer stands croup high. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:49:56 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Woop-woo-.......-´nuf-said! and the Best Condition prize, of one years insurance at the equine hospital La Equina, at the 1st Equine Endurance Jimena de la Frontera goes to.................. E.V. Suska A.K.A. The White Bullet :o) (wearing Equine Fusion Jogging Shoes, this barefoot and bitless beauty does it again) Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:57:55 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Even-the-toilet-roll Organizing a competition away from home you have to make lots of lists so as not to forget everything you need. Thanks to the Town Hall of Jimena we had use of their Sports hall but needed to take everything, from all our horse gear, drinks and food supplies for everyone, down to teaspoons and toilet paper. The day dawned cold but cloudless. 18 riders participated - a great number for a first comp. The official services enjoyed a sandwich and drink from us and gave us superb service with control at every change in the circuit, over the railway line and across the river. The participants enjoyed a great run, with open fields letting the horses reach speeds of up to 40 kph, though the average speed overall was 16 kph as permitted at this level of competition. We all enjoyed our Jacket potato, baked beans and sausage lunch, along with beautiful rosettes for all the classified, fruit and cake thanks to the town hall for all participants, many prizes totalling 950 € in value thanks to our sponsors - I.H.C. horse feed, Virureyes forage and horse bedding, Jimena businesses - Bar On D Vas, Gruas Cesar, Transportes Infante, Manilva printers Reklame and Hospital La Equina for their great prize for the horse winning Best Condition. A great way to end the endurance calendar and wish all our friends on the circuit a very happy holiday season. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:55:28 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#These-boots-were-made-for-walking...... Most of you will know my many trails and tales of woe with many brands and styles of hoof boots. They have flown off for no apparent reason, they have stayed on until they have gotten muddy, they have rubbed sores, one brand actually caused such a severe bruise across the front of the hoof wall that it cracked, some have worn out in no time, cables have frayed & broken, screws have come out, they have flipped off the hoof but stayed dangerously flapping around the fetlock. The list goes on - but one thing that didn´t even occur to me until I discovered a fantastic new product was that every boot, no matter how precise the fit, is giving a greater or lesser degree of concussion to the hoof with every step a horse makes. Absolutely nothing like the concussion of metal nailed to a hoof, and all still a 100% improvement on that. Due to the soles of all these boots being rigid there is a forward movement of the hoof within the boot with every step. This signifies the horse thinks he has made his ´pace´, but his hoof continues to move a fraction forward after it has been placed on the ground, until it contacts with the rigid toe/sole union. Like a tiny slip with every step. This in turn affects the overall movement of the horse. Each step he makes his shoulders and hips are making an extra tiny movement that his body hasn´t prepared for. Another point I really must make, is the amount of people that do not tell you everything when you are shopping for hoof boots. Get on the forums that are not sponsored by manufacturers and get truly informed of other peoples experiences with hoof boots. Also remember "horses for courses". What might not be good for one, may be perfect for your horse and your chosen discipline. There are many good boots out there, but now I think, at long last, I have found the best hoof protection - and it´s not a boot!! Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:01:56 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Simon-says Day Two of a new life for EV Simoom Bean. We learn he was only fed once a day (major alarm bells. Please note everyone that this is a major no-no for to many reasons to go into just here). I had already figured he was being fed ridiculous quantities of hard feed (grain) that, by just a gentle rub down his spine to his liver, told me his liver was working overtime. We are feeding him only forage for the time being, and he hasn´t taken his head out of the feed bin since he arrived. A horse only accustomed to eating once or twice a day will devour everything in front of him, thinking ´that´s it´ for another 12 hours. So when they find themselves on ad-lib forage it takes them time to adjust to only eating what they need and that they will not be ´short´ of food again. This can take between two to three weeks, sometimes up to 6 weeks. They will not explode in the meantime! Already his liver is improving as is his demeanor. His previous owner so proudly told us that you can put him next to anything and he is so noble he wont turn a hair. I guess when you have a horse shut up all day every day, it´s system completely overloaded with cheap dusty grain, that is what you get. But as soon as you give that horse some daylight and decent food, oh how quickly they change. Apart from the fact that this boy has jewels, he has no vaccination history and has worms so he is kept away from the rest of the gang for the time being. But oh how quickly Lord Hearty Farty realised there was a new boy in ´da house! He has spent all day herding his girly away from the fence line, making sure she knows who´s d boss. As for new boy - how quickly he has settled in and started calling the girls. Of course something he didn´t do before because he was locked up in a cell surrounded by other sad boys. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:12:20 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#For-all-the-girls...... .... with the muckers, half chaps and gloves with a hole in. For the girls who skip a party because they have to get up at 4:30am. The ones who will feed, muck, and repair a fence for the love of their best friend. This is for the girls who can drive a tractor before they can drive a car. For the girls who would rather jump fences than skip rope. This is for the girls who think bailing twine and duct tape are tools. For girls who spend more money having manes and tails braided than have their own hair done. This is for the girls who are excited opening a box with a leather halter in it, who shovel snow to get to the barn. For the girls who filled a stocking for a horse, who wear a bracelet or a belt with their horses name on it, not a boy. This is for the girls who dreamed of a pony for Christmas. This is for the dreams we hold and the memories we all share. We know how to love unconditionally because a horse has taught us. This is a lifestyle not a hobby. Merry Christmas - for all the girls :) Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:29:11 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Grounds-for-divorce? Our handsome Duque is barely cold in his grave and there´s a new boy in the house! I´m not sure if his white star and little snipe, just like Duque´s signifies kismet, but I do know it eats and pooh´s and will need more than hay to keep it going. As nervous as can be, full of worms, feet almost like persian slippers, no vaccines and balls - yes, spherical objects. Only 3 hours in our installations and he´s had his hooves trimmed, been wormed, appointment made to remove his jewels, and some ground work done to start teaching him sticks are not for beating and in our house they will never be used to harm him, but he also must respect us as we will respect him. The boy is probably dizzy. We went to look at him on behalf of a friend, who decided he was to small. OH decided he was just perfect!!! He couldn´t walk properly, much less trot, so we had no idea of his paces. We were told he is an arab (his papers say Spanish X) and he maybe is - about 60/70% of him! The head is right, the height is right, the back is right, the shoulder angle is right. Lets just hope it all works ´right´! His liver is clearly overloaded - a diet of 7/8 kilos of grain a day whilst shut in a box doing nothing will do that! But this little chocolate coloured pretty is, like all the others, here to stay. Say hello to EV Simoom Bean. Simoom sounds like ´The Moon´and Bean is for Chocolate Bean (a play on Moon Beam). Simoom actually is the name of an evil wind in Arabia - better than calling him "marital difference"!! Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:14:35 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#SATURDAY-17TH-DECEMBER 1st Equine Endurance JIMENA DE LA FRONTERA. Initiation level 20 km´s - Promotion level 40 km´s 1st 5 stalls reserved - FREE (after, only 10 € each) Various gifts for all participants Rosettes for all classified Neck sash and prize worth 600 € for horse Best Condition in Promotion. Neck sash for Best Condition horse Initiation 1st Classified Promotion - Zaldi Horse Rug worth 80 € 1st Classified Initiation - IHC Feed - special Endurance mix worth 40 € Meal and 1st drink for all participants and Crews - FREE Possibility to camp and corral at event. Discounts at various hotels and hostals for participants. For full advanced program drop me a line. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:33:13 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Ahhh-The-O.C.A. Today I went to register the death of Duque as is law, with the dept. of agriculture. Turns out they had him registered at the yard of a ´neighbour´ some 15 km´s from me. Now, is that not my queue to and give them a fine? Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:33:13 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#My-new-titfa Sorry, I completely forgot to tell you about the fit of my new hat. No wobbly pimple on a pumpkin - ah ah. It fits like a glove, even on my big odd-shaped bonce. It doesn´t move, not even a little bit. Ok, we´ve had no major gales since it arrived, but I´ve jumped up and down and swirled around and it hasn´t moved at all. One very happy bunny :o) Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:49:44 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Sweet-dreams-sweet-Duque Over the Rainbow Bridge you now run, faster than the wind. Duque, a prince amongst princes entered our lives a year ago, when Seprona called asking if I could do something about the hooves of a foal they had found, laid for 5 days in mud in the constant rain. We went to see the horse to find 3 hooves like persian slippers (incredible in a horse only 2 years old!) but one fore was also cut in half by a cable wrapped around it. Well the owner informed the police that she would eat the horse before letting anyone touch it! And I´m talking about a virtual walking skeleton. In short, we convinced the ´umm, least words here the better´to surrender the foal to us and upon getting him to his feet we discovered his hooves to be the least of his problems. Sometime in his short past he had broken his pelvis or lower spine. During the following year Duque (one good thing the owner had done was give him a befitting name for his character) put on weight, his damaged hoof developed enough to support him and the other 3 became sound, but although not suffering he didn´t put weight on one hind due to the pelvic damage. Duque was more than able to walk and trot "in his own way" and enjoyed life with his two friends in his clean paddock with shade, water and always with food. But with so much love, care and good food Duque grew, and grew so much that his body could not support his new height and unfortunately an infection entered and he had a very bad reaction to the treatment. Today we had to make the painful decision to PTS him. Why am I writing this? Why do I want the maximum number of people possible to know Duque´s story? Because there is a Duque for every horse that right now is cared for and loved. Because all of us must remember that a horse is not only for the good, the cool, the competitions, the parade or the exhibition. When a horse enters our lives it is for all of their life, the good and the bad. I have another horse, Pelucas, now at 34 enjoying his retirement. At 26 he suffered a prolapse and an operation saved his life. My neighbours asked why I didn´t sacrifice him. My answer: "When your granny stops baking do you kill her? Of course you don´t. When she can no longer do for you, you start to do for her" Please remember - if it bleeds it feels. In memory of Duque 2008 - 28/11/11 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:26:42 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/horse-photos.html Putting faces (and hooves) to events and clinical cases Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:10:03 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#´Tis-the-season-to-be-careful! A good friend of mine who is a Vet contacted me this week, asking advise on treating an abscess on his barefoot horse. No sooner had we chatted, another friend well educated in the care of her horses naked hooves contacted me with the same problem. What´s going on? Well it just show´s again that we can only assist nature. We can´t, and shouldn´t mess with her, and we certainly can´t change her. She is going to throw these things at us no matter how well we believe we are treating our equine friends. It also serves to remind us that horses, for the great big strong brutes they appear to be, are also one of natures more delicate babies. Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:14:00 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#The-up-side Having the vet out to assess the abscess meant xrays being taken. The up side (always the optimist me!) of this, was discovering what fabulous sole quality this horse has, with 27mm of thickness. As the vet was here I had a couple more horses xrayed and the thinnest sole was 25mm. So of course I´m going to crow about the 27mm one, but 25 is nothing to sniff at :o) Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:14:00 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Quick-relief So happy to report that the abscess ´we´ are suffering is draining out nicely. The horse, after just one week, is putting full weight on that hoof. What did we do? Due to the rain and serious mud, I kept the horse in for the first 24 hours after the abscess burst - especially as it burst low on the heel bulb as well as at the coronet band, and this particular horse is a bit of a Houdini when it comes to getting things off that she doesn´t want on! Then, bandaged up with betadine and sugar, two diapers, vet wrap and all wedged in to a soaking boot, out she went. Movement is very important as it means more new blood pumping through, removing the poison much more quickly than if the horse was ´bed bound´. Anti-inflamatory for 5 days. Antibiotics for 4 days. Bandage changed daily and removed completely by day 5. After day 2 instead of Betadine and sugar I used an antibiotic cream. Had this happened during dry weather I would probably have removed the bandage after 48 hours. According to the xray this was a significant abscess. One of those ones we will never be sure what caused it as the hoof has a very tight white line and there was no obvious penetration injury. Some smaller abscesses can go, almost as quickly as they appear. Others can take some weeks to heal. We´ve been lucky. Hopefully we´ll be back in light training in another week. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:43:11 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#A-very-dirty-word! Abscess - a word no horse owner wants to hear. Especially the hoof kind! Let me explain.......A hoof abscess can come about due to the teeniest piece of dirt entering between the outer hoof horn and the inner wall or laminae. It can also be caused by sole penetration, from a sharp stone for example, or by compression of the corium or lateral cartilage. The latter being the more common cause. Any of these then cause a build up of bacteria forming purulent fluid (pus) which will look for it´s easiest exit point as this fluid builds up and causes pressure inside the hoof capsule. The capsule is a solid structure so the abscess will burst through at weaker areas like the coronet band, or if nearer to the sole and the sole is soft, thin or weak it will find it´s way there. There are other less common factors that can cause an abscess but many times the cause and/or point of origin are never known. Anyone that´s had to deal with an abscess will know that bursting at the coronet band is the worst case scenerio, as it takes the longest time to heal and the actual hoof itself will be compromised in this area as the new wall grows down for some months to come. Abscesses can be extremely painful, and while often they can heal on their own - keep your horse moving, keeping fresh blood circulating through the hoof, don´t shut your horse in a box - you should work with your vet and a hoof care professional to resolve the problem. Anti-inflammatories and antibiotics are often necessary, along with testing the hoof to try to locate the abscess. If it is behind the bars or frog or too deep it is impossible to locate and a poultice may help to draw it to the surface. It may be necessary to make a hole in the sole to relieve the pressure of the abscess or it may be that you have to leave it to take it´s course and find it´s own way out. All this needs the guidance of professionals. Prompt action is key to minimum recovery time. Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:06:11 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#When-you-know-your-horse-loves-you-back-Part-2 Ten km´s in Susk began to slow. I knew she wasn´t quite right, so I relaxed down with her. My body told her it´s OK babe, we just need to complete, we don´t need to break any records. But as 2 then 3 horses passed us she clearly re-thought her tactics. The first 20 km´s is usually me keeping the gear low and hovering over the breaks! So when The Susk picked up again I knew it was for me. Think what you like - I knew. No drama - first phase complete, through the vet gate in a whisper, 30 minute rest and out again. I felt Susk look within her and pull it together for me. I felt her having to push on to complete the second phase. Yet every time I pulled her up, she let me know “it´s ok, we can do this”. We came to the final km and the obligatory trot or canter. We had time to spare so all I wanted was the slowest of trots and time and again she tried to pull into a canter. The Susk pulled it off for me. Only 36 seconds behind first place. No Best Condition this time despite pulling all A´s at the Vet Gate. The White Bullet did it, despite, I reckon, having been pulled down by the sudden weather change and 3 days of non-stop rain just a couple of days earlier. Extra carrots for tea Puska - it´s the least I can do :o) Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:56:58 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#When-you-know-your-horse-loves-you-back-Part-1 Saturday 5th was the VIII Endurance in Rota. Despite serious rain having caused the organisers to re-route the circuit 3 times the competition went ahead. Incredible whistling winds the night before helped to dry up a lot of the mud, but they didn´t drop the following day so we were also riding against them (and the cold!). My bipolar horse was her usual relaxed self as we did the prelim vet check and tacked up. But when I mounted her it was apparent that The Susk was not quite 100% that day. She didn´t become her other ´self´. We had also just learnt that 5 km´s of the 25 km circuit (to be done twice) was on asphalt, so I was in two minds as to weather to withdraw or not. But having driven nearly 200 km´s to get there and now all tacked up and ready to go, I decided we´d just take it steady on those 10 km´s, and maybe the rest of the course given her disposition. The start announced I let Susk call the shots. She´s not a follower so, her decision, she broke into a gentle canter and we pulled through the other 17 competitors to the front. After a couple of km´s we hit the road and I sat back, a signal that Susk knows to slow down, she faltered, clearly thought about it, and decided to maintain her pace. I couldn´t help but flinch at each shod foot fall I heard behind me. The horses breaking into canter quickly returned to shod as they slipped over the asphalt. I wasn´t happy about the impact this would be having on my barefoot horse, without thinking of the trauma it could be causing to the shod participants. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:56:58 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Pimple-on-a-pumpkin! The internet does make life so much easier, especially when you live where Christ lost his last sandal and on the rare occasion you do brave it down the mountain there isn´t a decent equestrian outfitters as far as the eye can see. Now, don´t be up in arms you couple of nice horsey shops along the coast. But us endurance riders seem to be second class citizens. Not one has a saddle/helmet/bridle/pad or diddly that is endurance specific. So, thankfully we have the internet for our shopping. But I need a new helmet and this is something I´d really like to try on. We all know what it´s like to end up looking like a peanut head, or bobble head, which is all very well and good when you can just put it back on the shelf and walk away. If you make the commitment to have it delivered to your door, you know, no matter how much of an idiot you may look, that you wont send it back. The inconvenience and postage cost just doesn´t make it worth it! My current helmet needs to be retired only due to having washed the liner so many times now, it just doesn´t go back in right any more and my helmet tends to take off before I do! Hence I´ve ummed and aahhed for quite some time before finally pressing the send button today. The helmet I have chosen hopefully eliminates the size problem as one size fits all with a special adjustment dial at the back. It should sure eliminate heat and weight problems being only 270 grams heavy and full of ventilation holes! I just have to wait and see if I suffer pimplepumpkinitis :/ Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:41:16 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Ignorance-is-bliss People fear what they don't understand and hate what they can't conquer. Ignorance often translates to frustration, jealousy, anger, even violence. They will lash out verbally and sometimes even physically. At the very least they will ridicule what they don´t know. It´s because people fear change. Because they focus on the possible negative impacts on their happiness and lives and they do not know if they will be able to handle it. People's reaction to change is unpredictable and irrational. They fear the new or different because it would mean their belief of years, maybe generations, was incorrect. They prefer to continue blissfully forward with their ignorance, than risk the possibility of being seen as a fool. But that vision is only in their heads. Humans are to selfish to concern themselves for longer than an instant about a humiliation or failing in another. Ah, human pride! Come mothers and fathers throughout the land And don't criticize what you can't understand Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command Your old road is rapidly agin'. Please get out of the new one If you can't lend your hand For the times they are a-changin'. Bob Dylan Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:15:54 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Author-unknown---I-take-no-responsibility-for-your-tears If the day should come when I'm in pain, And you know I won't be well again Promise you'll do what must be done ... If this is the battle that can't be won. ... It'll break your heart, but please be kind, Don't let your grieving sway your mind. For this is when you'll let me see Just how much you do love me. Together we've had happy years The future now can hold no fears. Please don't let me suffer so When that day comes, please let me go. For my usual vet please will you send? But stay with me until the end. Hold me steady, speak to me Till my once bright eyes no longer see. In time I hope you'll come to see It's the last kindness you'll do for me One more time please stroke my mane And know that I'll have no more pain. And don't be sad that it was you Who decided this was what to do. We've been such buddies through the years Don't let me be the cause of tears. You'll always see me graze now, with the sun upon my back Painful limbs won't tire me now, however long the hack. I live now in your heart and mind, a lovely place to stay. And what you have in memories, no one can take away. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:43:50 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Erm!---Hand-signals? Out on a rekky/training ride today we saw 3 horses coming towards us ´nose-to-tail´at a walk, so we slowed down from gallop to a slow trot, kept a wide berth (the track was wide) and carried on. The lead rider said something - but it was quiet and unclear - as her horse stepped out of line, by ummmm... half a step, the two other riders smiled and waved as we passed by. On the return we stopped into the stables these people had come from to ask about stabling/rooms for the Endurance comp coming up in December to be met by serious negativity. This was followed by a ´telling off´. That explained the negativity! Basically they think we had no respect and should have stopped while they passed. I was informed that for one of the riders it was their first time on a horse. No helmets, riding on the road with complete novices in the saddle!!!! What would they have done if they came across the loose donkey that followed us for nearly 1 km? I think that´s there problem and not ours. Apparently the guide had said ´slow down´. I think we woke her horse up! She also spoke in English. Now I might be blonde, but when I have my hair tied back, my riding helmet on (as always when I ride), and on this day sun glasses, you would not tell I am not from this country in which we live and in which the language is Spanish. So, shame on you lady for not speaking in the local tongue. Shame on you boss lady for your negative attitude - teach your guide how to use hand signals if you are so worried about your non-riding guests that you take out on unpredictable horses on to ´unpredictable´ roads. Had we been met with the correct signals in time, we would have respected them. But bigger shame on you trying to turn things around, when I foolishly tried to explain that I can not stop my horse when it´s pulse is up at 220 bpm, because this would not be good for it´s health, so I did respectfully slow it down. Trying to twist my words into ´I CAN´T stop my horse´, when what I was saying is ´I WONT stop my horse´ in that situation. Body language has no barriers and OH understood the negativity that was coming in waves from you, whilst he didn´t understand what you were saying. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:37:08 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#You-can´t-touch-this! Last Saturday we participated in the II Equine Endurance of Colmenar. The toughest circuit of the year with 65% hill work and all the flats being shale, rock, concrete or asphalt. No let up, the climbs were over 2 km´s long at a time and then of course the downhills just as steep. It was not a circuit you could run at, nor one for the faint hearted with a few steep drop-offs and very narrow ledges to negotiate. But hey, this is Endurance - Go hard, or go home. E.V. Suska (A.K.A. The White Bullet) took me around that circuit in great time and great style. WE WON. But as though that wasn´t enough we also took home the trophy for BEST CONDITION. Woop Woo!! Barefoot and Bitless we are showing them how it can be done. That was the perfect end to a perfect day. I really enjoyed the technical circuit. The sun stayed low for the first phase, only peaking for the second. My OH was a star giving assistance not just to me and Susk but also to two other horses belonging to friends of ours on the circuit. We enjoyed great company and marvelous wood-roasted pig after the prize givings. We were so busy gloating about our achievements that we took a wrong turn out of Colmenar and had to double back about 10 km´s. Duh! Buy hey, ho, small price to pay. It was very sad to see a horse there with laminitis and heart bar shoes on. His hoof walls completely convex. He must have been in such terrible pain, but showed no signs of it - how incredible! A testimony to his strength of character or to some very clever veterinary dosing? Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:11:57 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#I-Equine-Endurance---Espiritu-de-Arrieros-&-Jimena-de-la-Frontera DECEMBER 17TH Despite having a huge debt, like every Town hall at the moment, we were met with warm smiles and handshakes by the mayor and various ministers of Jimena. They are going to do there very best to make the first equine endurance competition there a day to remember. We spent all day yesterday driving around, mostly in circles and serious 4 x 4 mode, searching a level route of at least 10 km´s. The President of the Pena Caballista of Jimena had very willingly jumped on board to assist with the event and was most surprised to discover routes that take him hours, at a gentle hack, are only 4 or 5 km´s long! Eventually we found a great route - just 10 km´s, so we have to go back and forth twice for the promotion competition - and as long as the river doesn´t rise to much (!) we´re good to go. It´ll be a great day, great food, great atmosphere, great prizes. So get training and get there! Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:07:34 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#CHAPS---HALF-CHAPS-AND-DRI-RIDERS BARGAINS - CHEAP - SALE - BARGAINS I am selling off my remaining stock of funky half chaps and a couple of pairs of dri-riders very very cheap. Contact me for details. Christmas stocking fillers, unexpected gift, prize for a competition - all suitable for this. CONTACT ME for a list of stock and sizes available. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:46:17 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Appaloosa-Spain Finally :) For all my Spanish friends, readers and horse enthusiasts who have an Appaloosa, want an Appaloosa or simply would like to be better informed about this special breed of horse, make yourself a fan of my new page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Appaloosa-España-Appaloosa-Spain/198142240255749 All in Spanish, I promise. All the facts. Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:56:50 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#It-must-be-true---a-professional-told-me-so. Traditions and practices of Farriery come, quite literally, out of the medieval times. Farrier´s believe what they practice to be the truth, as they are doing what they were taught and have been taught for centuries. But all through history you see men coming up with an erroneous conclusion about something. They write a book, open a school and teach people this erroneous information. So that lie gets spread further, accepted as the truth, and because it comes from a school and the students are given a certificate or diploma Joe and Josephine public think they are experts, believe they must know what they are talking about and pay them because they believe they must know what they are talking about. When many times what these ´professionals ´ think and believe is a complete and total fallacy. That is farriery today. In 1886 George Fleming wrote a book ´Horse shoes and Horse Shoeing", telling where the beliefs of farriery originate and how the way they look at a hoof actually causes the horse problems. Professor Bracy Clark, London Veterinary School 1809, performed tests over a 3 year period and wrote papers proving that farriery methods where causing damage to hooves and generally shortening the useful life of a horse. No one listened - business was to good! Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:04:55 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#What-a-day,-what-a-day! We couldn´t have ordered better weather or a better ´feast´ at our destination, or a better glimpse at nature in all her early autumn glory. We considered lightweight jackets as we left the yard, but the fast moving light clouds told us to leave them behind. After preparing the horses and eating most appreciated sausage sandwiches (thanks J) we set off through the village of Casares and into the forrest on the other side. Our barefoot horses had no problem negotiating the cobbled streets and all their steep inclines and very quickly we left civilisation behind. There was no rush as we enjoyed the smell of earth and moss and pure clean air. Hoping for sight of deer, in all their splendor at this time of year as the rutting season has begun, we didn´t have that pleasure on the outward journey. But having been a while since we rode this particular trail more concentration was required at ´the job in hand´ as we found tracks very much altered, or completely lost, by the winter rains. All the horses were very happy, eager and on their metal. It was an absolute joy to be riding them, but that also meant there were moments, when we would have preferred they concentrate more on where exactly they were putting their feet as we negotiated very narrow paths bordering steep ravines! Thank heavens they are all bombproof and we didn´t have the added worry of any spinning, skittering or sudden breaking at strange smells or rustles in the undergrowth. Only once did we have to dismount on the outward journey and it was a perfect opportunity to confirm why there is no right side to dismount or lead - only the correct side if you don´t want to roll down a ravine! We arrived in Benarraba on the dot of 2pm to meet up with the metal riders of Team Spirit and eat lunch. All home grown produce, simple but fresh and well cooked. We left the horses in a little tree-lined area on the village outskirts, knowing they would be safe. The village is to tiny to tie them up in the street - they would literally stop the traffic! Nature pulled out all the stops for the journey home. Wild boar (Jabali), young roe, young bucks and mature ´big daddies´ with full trussocks. This more than made up for the very very very steep decline where not only did we dismount, but we removed reins and left the horses to find their own way to the bottom!! All in a day´s adventure with TEAM SPIRIT :)) Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:10:33 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Just-a-horse From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a horse," or, "that's a lot of money for "just a horse". They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a horse." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a horse." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a horse," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a horse,' and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a horse" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think it's "just a horse," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." Just a horse" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a horse" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of "just a horse" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a horse" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a horse" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away. I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a horse" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a woman/man." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a horse" just smile, because they "just" don't understand. ♥ ~Anonymous Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:23:47 GMT http://www.espiritu-del-viento.com/Appaloosa-blog.html#Off-on-the-trail This Saturday 1st October, leaving from our yard, we are going to ride to Benarraba for lunch, returning by late afternoon. I know it´s short notice, but if anyone wants to join us feel free, but do let me know beforehand! The last time we did this ride LL had fish and frogs in her boots - it poured down!! Talk about soggy knickers LOL It will be fabulous - the deer will be in all their racked glory, so hope to get a peak at some and the weather is now cooling off enough to keep the temperatures mild and pleasant all day. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:48:20 GMT