Qashmir SS is a 2009 Oldenburg NA gelding that I've been riding and training for several months. For the past couple months, Qashmir has also been offered for sale. His owner and I have had a rising suspicion for a couple months that the stiffness in his hind end was more than just a fitness concern. After some research and consultation with an expert we have concluded that he has EPSM. Not to be confused with EPM. EPSM and EPM are very different. EPSM is a muscle disease that is becoming more and more profound among drafts, draft-crosses and warmbloods (the Quarter Horses have a sister disease known as PSSM). EPSM is treatable and in most cases the affected horses show 100% improvement so long as they follow a special diet and receive regular exercise. For more information see this post by Dr. Beth Valentine, the leading specialist in EPSM horses.
So, in response to his recent diagnosis his owner has decided to dramatically reduce his asking price to $5,000 very negotiable to a good home that will understand and follow his new nutritional demands.
Anyone who's interested can call or text me at (614) 940-9816.
K.O. has had the past couple weeks off because she had become very foot sore and needed some time for her hoof to grow back out. However, at the beginning of the month I was able to move her to the same barn that my other mare, Luna, is boarded at which has been wonderful. Last week, K.O. had some front shoes put on, which has helped her immensely along with time for growth and she has shown noticeable improvement. Since I'll be able to get back on her in about a week or so, I decided to start ground driving her so that we can at least work on steering in the meantime.
K.O. ground driving (Sorry for the bad quality!)
Ground driving is a handy tool with green horses and especially babies because its an easy way to teach steering and rein aids (among many other tools) without having to be on their back. In this situation, K.O. is mature, broke and quiet, so if she wasn't so foot sore I would typically just teach her mounted, but if I had a yearling, a 2yo or even a horse that demonstrated anxiety under saddle, I would try ground driving for awhile. Ground driving does have its faults, though. It is important to keep in mind that there is always a chance that the horse can just take off like a bandit, so be sure to plan for that. Don't wrap your lines around your hands or put them in a position where they could be. Practice in an enclosed area first, so that if they do demonstrate any anxiety you won't lose them. Also, I would recommend driving in a halter a couple times first, so that if they do run off and you lose the lines and then they step on them, it will be less damaging. Always baby steps! My second concern with ground driving is when your horse gets confused or naughty they can easily spin around. As a consequence, at least one of your lines will more than likely get wrapped around their legs. This is another situation that you have to anticipate and plan accordingly for.
So just a couple tips from me with ground-driving:
1) Make sure you use two long-lines that are the same length and are smooth. No knots in the line and I personally prefer the kind that doesn't have the rubber weight at the end either.
2) Practice the first couple times in a halter until you and your horse are comfortable. When you do upgrade to a bit, use something very, very basic. ie: a plain snaffle
3) Be smart with your distance behind the horse. You don't want to be so far away that you have no control, especially in the situation that someone else is in the ring with you. However, you don't want to be so close that if your horse kicks out or bucks that you're in the line of fire.
4) Have a plan! Make all transitions slowly and plan very far ahead. It's also important to have an emergency plan in case your horse takes off or gets tangled.
This is K.O. ground driving, her second time, with my friend Maggie, her first time!
Since this is a blog for ALL of my training endeavors, not just K.O., I wanted to share a project that I've been working with for a few months and is now offered for sale!
Qashmir SS is a 4 year old 17.2hh+ Warmblood by the late Holsteiner stallion, Quidam's Rubin and out of a Canadian Warmblood mare (by Cambridge out of Chris Mills). Qashmir has been started slowly and correctly and is ready to be brought along in the discipline of your choice. He has a confident grasp on the basics and has recently been started over crossrails and loves it. Qashmir has a good mind, pretty movement and loves work. He is a good candidate for a confident amateur or advanced junior rider to bring along with a trainer.
I decided to create a blog in order to journal K.O.'s journey with me in a effort to limit the amount of pony spam on my personal Facebook and to maintain the honest integrity of my training program.
Since I'm a little delayed in starting this blog since I purchased K.O. over a month ago, I'm going to bring this blog up to speed.
On August 16, 2013, I accidentally visited Sugarcreek, the local horse auction and purchased this adorable pony.
She was clearly neglected. Her mane was a disaster, her tail was a disaster and her feet had never, ever been trimmed. I had to beg the meat buyer who had won her in the auction to let me buy her off him because she had been considered "dangerous" when she was dropped off. Apparently up until that point she was feral, had to be chased off the trailer and who knows how they got a halter on her. After a lot of begging I convinced him I could handle her and purchased her for double his purchase price.
Before the farrier
Before the farrier
After the farrier
I spent a month working with her; teaching her how to tie, lead, be groomed and, obviously how to stand for the farrier. Primarily, focusing on general socialization. After a month, I started teaching her how to lunge and wear a saddle.
First time with a saddle
And after a week of lunging with a saddle, I broke her...in a halter. So much for being "dangerous". :)
