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Wow, I am green eyed, with all that so close to you!  Though there are some
great people around here, a good chiro vet and another that also uses muscle
stem wit acupuncture , that's Dr. Ridgeway, and I haven't connected with any
natural hoof farriers yet but a friend is has and I am going to get the name
number and try her out.

Hope your ride goes well tomorrow.  

I just had a success with my 16yr old mare.  she gave me a near 2hr struggle
with getting in, or avoiding getting in the trailer Tuesday.  So I have
worked with her twice a day since.  Used this 1" cotton rope that is
probably near 15 feet in length and a lunging whip.  If she won't go in with
the first request using a normal lead.  I shift to the cotton rope which is
run in the trailer thru the last (3rd) window  and then I hold onto the end
while standing at the back of the trailer.  I then ask her to go in using
the lunging whip VERY gently just laying along her back at the rump and ask
her to trailer up.  she goes in and I pull in the slack on that rope, the if
she tries to go back, the rope holds her at the window, I can pull up slack
pretty fst then the rope basically hangs up on the corner of the window.  I
then move it so it slides easily and ask her to back out.  I also rewarded
her with massage at wither and poll.  That was Tuesday evening late (the 2hr
bit was in the morning.).  Then I did it again Wednesday morning and by
Wednesday evening I only had to ask her to trailer up with the short lead
rope and the whip (gawd that sounds horrid!-but she never has been or is hit
with it).  Oh I also let her have a tad of grain.  Today she walked with me
right into the trailer.  I let her eat her grain and took her out and back
in, letting her eat a bit more.  Then I took her to the barn and let her
finish the grain and gave her hay as well.  Today also I didn't notice any
of the stress behavior, no lip flapping or opening her mouth and basically
grinding her back teeth it looks like almost like she is stretching her jaws
around but it is a grind and a grimmace!  Today she was relaxed.  Oh,
Wednesday evening I sang to her as well, did deep breathing and rubbed her
poll a lot, she loves that. 

Since she has to go to boarding while I am having surgery, and the equine
dentist team comes to that barn periodically, I have decided not to trailer
her to the barn only for the dentistry.  I will take her over when I am to
leave her while I am in hospital and they can then do the dentistry.  This
way trailering will be associated with getting to go hang out with other
horses (though I do plan to drive her around a every week between now and
November).  I don't want her to associate the trailer experience with pain. 
The last 5 trailer trips were for acupuncture and she hates needles, and
dentistry.  So I am not about to get her to trailer up easily for me just to
take her out and let some one brutalize the inside of her mouth!  Poor baby,
I wouldn't like that.

Do let me know how your ride goes tomorrow.

Jo Ann


-------Original Message-------

From: Chris Paus
Date: 09/22/05 17:13:28
To: Ridecamp
Subject: [RC] tripping horse update

My three primary riding horses saw Dr. Drew, the chiro vet today. His AVCA
school will open locally next month. I'm so excited about that... experts in
chiro , equine dentistry and farrier work will be available.

Star had the most going on chiropractic wise, but not as much as I expected
considering his trippiness and his age, 18.

Star had issues at the poll and right shoulder and mid neck. His back was in
pretty good shape. Dr Drew said that Star couldn't extend his shoulder out
as much as he should. It was pretty locked up. I'm hoping that fixes the
tripping problem!

He also evaluated the new farrier's work. He thinks generally it's a good
job, but would like to see a little more agressive trim.. Drew said he
almost never says that about a trim, that usually too much is taken off. My
farrier is going to be at the chiro school open house to work with a farrier
from Germany. I'm hoping he'll pick up some good ideas. Maybe they can use
my horse as their demo horse.

I also took myself to the chiro today. So with both of us back at "level" I
m hoping we can ride tomorrow and check out the tripping issue again. It is
supposed to rain, but I'm hoping not all day.

He also checked out teeth. Dr. Drew is an excellent equine dentist. Here's a
good one for you. He looked at all three horses who are ages 18, 9 and 5.
Guess who has the sharpest points and needs work the most?

It is the 5YO. she's been less responsive to rein aids lately and tossing
her head a bit. I'll guess after we get her teeth taken care of, that will
stop!

chris




I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship. Louisa May
Alcott

Chris Paus
BayRab Acres http://pages.prodigy.net/paus
Lake Region SWA http://lakeregionswa.fws1.com



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