OT: Barbero News

[Nanci]

He really looks like a sweetheart when you see pictures of him and the vet staff. Still- (I used to be a farrier, have a degree in farrier science) when your hoof falls off, that's almost always a death sentence. I wish they would have put him in a sling to begin with...But it's hopeful news.

I always wanted to teach a horse to sit. The most I could manage was yes and no. Oh, and shake hands, on one of my first horses. Never did that again. I trained my ex-husband's horse Darla the Idiot to say yes and no, then I'd ask her questions like Are you the stupidest horse in the universe? and she'd say yes. Are you going to be good today? No. Are you going to be good ever? No. Man, she was difficult to deal with. I just hate it when you have a horse you can't ever really trust not to blow up over some silly thing. She'd blow up over _everything_! Did the whole John Lyons deal with her, and everything. That _did_ really help with her fear of having her head/ears touched. After working with her using the John Lyons method, we could get her to lower her head so far she'd touch the ground. Pretty cool. She was _very_ afraid of shots, too. I'll never forget the first week we had her. She was quite expensive, a pure Polish Aladdin granddaughter (Arab) who came to MN from Long Island. She'd been raised as a halter horse, and was a pampered princess. Not broke. We moved her out of her show barn to a nice facility. I put her in cross ties and went to bug spray her. She _flipped over_ backwards in an instant the second the spray touched her!! Gave us _heart failure!!!!!_ But ended up with only a tiny scrape. Of course we got her used to bug spray, then, but that was pretty much how she handled anything frightening for the rest of her life.

[maillotpois]

Darla the Idiot was an Arab? Well, that would explain it. Most irrational, crazy animals there are. But beautiful! Mine was only 3/4 Arab so he had some moments of sanity. He'd drink lemonade out of a glass. But every once in a while he'd return to his roots: "OMG! I know I have seen that trash can a million times before, but this time I KNOW it is actually a bear and I am going to FREAK OUT!!! Right now!!!"

Good news on Barbero. Wow, that was just so sad. I hope he continues to make progress.

[Nanci]

All of my best horses have been Arabs, and two of the worst. They love people more than any other breed- comes from having shared tents for thousands of years. Tough, smart- but there are some goofy ones that give the breed a bad name. Darla once scared herself so badly by farting (while stopping for a drink in a stream) that she took off in a (one of hundreds) wild bucking running frenzy. From then on, you can bet that my daughter and I loved to tease her and my ex by making giant farting noises on our arms to see if we could scare her...She was very good at clipping and baths and loading and shoeing, though. Anything that pampered her she loved.

Annie the Perfect Horse could drink out of anything- hose, pop can, bottle. She liked wine coolers a lot. My arab/hackney that got hit and killed liked green hot sauce.

Here's a picture of the Perfect Horse:

[maillotpois]

What an amazing picture!!

It does seem that Arabs really love people. Mine was very dear - more so than any of my other non-Arabs were. I could lie down in the grass, and he'd graze around me. We'd play tag in his pasture - it's funny how they will chase you. They have a tremendous sense of playfulness.

I grew up with horses, but haven't had one for 20 years. No way we could afford it here. But the PP always complains about how I had a horse and she never has. It is sad. But we don't live on a farm like I did as a kid.

[Nanci]

That's on a lake (Como) during the Winter Carnival. I miss sleighing. It was on the front page of the St. Paul Dispatch.

When I got divorced, my ex got to keep that horse. I was riding a Paso Fino at the time, Darla was sitting idle. We sold them both. I got to see Annie a couple months ago on her way from Florida where the ex's new GF lives back up to MN for the summer. She's the same age as my kid- 23. Looking good.

I have a yard where I could have a horse- but, I don't know. I wouldn't mind having an old retiree around. I just like the company. I'm not set up, or will ever be again, for horse camping. You need a trailer and a motorhome for that. sometimes I miss my old life.

[btchance]

Oh jeez, Nanci, I can so relate to teaching a horse to say yes and no. It about got me strangled by my mom at one point!! She had no idea I had taught one of my mares that that. We were at a show, (and with my Dad's encouragement (he's worse than a little kid)), and when she walked up, I asked if she liked mom, and of course, she promptly said no! I still haven't lived that one down, and it's been about 8 years. The same mare would also eat anything that you were eating. I fed her ice chips, coke, beer, hamburgers, pickles, chips, you name it, she ate it. Our old stud would also eat Coppenhagen (sp?), nobody could go near him with it! Oh, and my last horse (see avatar), whenever I would go to set up for the judge in Showmanship, his tongue would promptly stick out directly at the judge! I have actually had judges laughing with that one. Probably didn't help my score, though

Back on subject now, I'm glad to here that he's getting growth from the coronary band. My dad is a farrier also, and I've seen way too many horses, including one of our brood mares, have damage to the band and end up destroying their hooves. I'm hoping for the best.

[Bluetree]

It seems that Barbaro has defied all odds by making it this far. He's out of that sling now (hopefully for good) and is out grazing every day. His hoof is growing back steadily and there has been no sign of infection.

He must to get better. Horse racing has had some terrible blows this week. 2005 champion sprinter Lost in the Fog has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and has only a few weeks to live. They found tumors the size of footballs in his spleen and next to his spine. He will be taken home to familiar surroundings and euthanized quietly when he starts to feel pain.
Today, 2005 Horse of the Year St. Liam was put down after a freak paddock accident. http://www.drf.com/news/article/77810.html

Amazing how fragile a 1200-pound animal can be.

[Trek420]

Nanci "Here's a picture of the Perfect Horse"

Nanci, that is so beeyoooteeful, Christmas card perfect (yep, from the Jewish gal). Lovely.