Amber

So I have had swelling in my stomach for the past week and difficulty pooping. One night before the right side of my stomach swelled a bit more than the rest but i was able to sleep. Tonight it swelled again and I have been in and out of the bathroom still having difficulty. It swells and is hard to the touch but goes down every so often. I can feel it swelling too. I have had a past of acid reflux also. . My throat feels like its either burning or somethings in it half the time.. anyone have a clue whats wrong with me im getting really paranoid and cannot sleep.

So my two mares are getting their winter coats but I want a light weight blanket for each of them just incase it gets really cold. Like what amount of denier and grams should I get? One is in work through the winter and the others injured if that helps at all!

This is her http://www.flickr.com/photos/99370452@N06/with/945...

She is a 16.1 HH tb/qh cross. She is 6 years old and is liver chestnut!

I do not like purple on her cause it seems to dull and wanted some other color choices!!

Her barn name is Aalana which I love but wanted a show name for her give me some ideas!

So my cats ear is really red and warm, there is no noticeable fluids or cuts that could cause the redness. I thought it might be an ear infection but im not sure because the inside isnt red? He does dig at it when he itches which made me think he may have a scratch in his ear or infection. It is only one ear and just seems sensitive. I cant tell if its swollen but is a lot different than his other ear with no reddening or heat. Any ideas of whats wrong? Been like this since last night and was gonna wait one more night before I called the vet.

So i currently have a white eagle western legend saddle pad which has left my mare with two big patches of hair being taken off her back. I was wondering what everyone would reccomend in saddle pad types? I was thinking either a gel or something thick but soft on her back since we do western gaming as well as other types of classes.

So on my 4th english lesson (i've ridden western 3 years now) She told me my position was good except my leg placement. I see what she means by looking at good riders and how she rides but my legs wont stay still and they wont go back. Ive tried many things! She says my ridings perfect when I lose my stirrups, my legs dont move and their back. My legs also move a lot in my western saddle :(

Heres a video of some clips of my riding English. I am starting more leg strengthening exercises but need more help! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUE89zp8bTw

So this is my mares last year without being blanketed since next year we will be showing a lot in the winter! Last year I went insane with all the shedding from my mare and was overwhelmed D:

Any tips to get the hair gone easier other than shaving it off haha? I have a shedding blade but it was still crazy even with that? I am also starting to slowly trim her up! I have her muzzle shaved of all whiskers and around her eyes. She has feathers but was wondering if I should wait to shave them off till she starts really losing her coat or is it okay to start now? I have also trimmed up a bit under her head to try and lessen the amount of hair thatll come from their when she sheds the most. Any other tips? She is still not used to clippers and we are slowly introducing them to her.

Just a question if anyone knew the names of the horses in my mares bloodlines, my last trainer said a couple were good. She is a western contesting horse who also is being trained in jumping.

Heres her bloodlines:

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/wtcc+blue+peggy+an...

For some reason it says shes 14.3 HH but shes actually 15HH lol

So im showing pleasure this year and have a saddle for it, but unlucky enough it is stained from my jeans! Any tips to atleast tone it down and make the leather look better? Most of it is on the rawhide though.

Ive heard that horses can be allergic to it but you dont know till you try of course. What are your opinions on it? And if you've used it has it worked? And how long? I have until August to get my mares tail thick and longer.

My mares been getting little nicks and scratches in her legs a lot lately while riding and soon we are going to start jumping so would it be a good idea to get her a pair? Not for support but just to prevent the scratches on her legs?

My trainer says my posting is almost perfect except the fact that when I go up my leg swings and when i go down they swing out. I have to keep constant contact and am having trouble doing so? Any opinions on how to get it?

So shes always moved when mounting but would stop after a few steps. Lately she trys to bite me and will not stop moving until I have to have someone stand in front of her, in which she bites them. She has been checked for back problems and is cleared through that, she has had thrush but it is under control and should not be causing pain according to my vet. We've tried distracting her and she still will move, she has already bit my back and left a pretty good wound. Any advice to get her to stand still? We've tried putting her in corners too.

Well in 2 weeks or so im moving my mare to a new barn and she will be in the trailer for a longer time than she normally is! I was already planning on putting her bell boots on and was wondering if it would be best to put her polo wraps on too! The ride will be almost an hour from the old barn to the new barn. She has gone from florida to pennsylvania before but at that time they use shipping boots and the works. I was just going to use polos on her and her bell boots, would this be good for the short ride? Or does she not even need them.

My mare has a weird past which we do not know a lot about but along her hind end she has a whip scar that leaves no fur at, and a couple others that arent as noticeable. She is a blue roan so it is hard to just put black grooming chalk etc on her.. Are judges in the English ring picky about this? I have only showed her western so far and they really havent been too picky about it. If so is there a way to hide this scar so her coat looks even? The scar on her leg is easy to hide due to the fact that her legs are black..

So inside my mares hooves they often peel, and she used to have really weak hooves before I got her so shes prone to hoof problems. She cracked her hoof twice since I owned her (1 and a half years) and I was wondering would it be good to put her on a biotin supplement because I cannot come out everyday to put on a hoof conditioner and such till summer showing season when Im out almost everyday. Also would biotin supplements help grow a mane and tail? If not what could? I was hoping the biotin could help with her mane and tail too so I wouldnt have her on a whole load of things.

So within this month or next month I will be starting to teach my mare how to ride English. I was wondering if anyone knows any good sites to links for a AP saddle pad, girth, bridle, and a full cheek snaffle bit that are reasonable prices! Reason I do not want to get very expensive things is that my mare is sort of crazy and I do not want to take a chance of buying something expensive and it gets ruined, ripped or broken during the training process. I do not mind having to leather condition the bridle every week or after every ride if it needs it, any suggestions? I already have my permanent tack picked out for when shes doing good in training so just cheap stuff haha

So from today onwards ill be at the barn more before we decide if were changing barns and ill be going up atleast 5 days of the week. How much riding is too much? When I ride my horse i usually do only 30-40 minutes in saddle. Should I ride her longer than that? After we ride ill probably be doing groundwork and trick training. How many days of the 5 should I ride, or should I ride all 5 days?

So my mare is at a barn right now that she loves and I do to but the problem is its 40 minutes away on a good day and longer on days with bad traffic. Theres also a rule that I cannot be dropped off and be in the barn without a parent even if Im just brushing my horse, but I always ride with someone around and I have so many things I want to do with my horse that only going 2-3 days a week isnt enough. Even when I get my license I wont be able to go up, and the only driver in my house never has the time to stay at the barn with me, unless im riding I think they would make an exception.

Two other problems is the trainer im using right now has done wonders with me and my horse and I would hate to leave that barn, but may be able to bring her to another barn on lesson days if they allow it.. I also have a dream of riding my mare english, and my mare has never even seen an english saddle before. Theres just so many problems that I cant go out and see my mare a lot and I need more time with her too cause she has mud fever and a small thrush case that needs a lot of treating and my 2-3 days a week just isnt cutting it. One problem though... my parents are madly in love with the barn im at now, maybe not the board but they said they would pay it if it helps my horse, so I was looking around at other barns that I can learn english on my mare, and she would still get the same care given but maybe for less. Please give me ideas, I get to see my horse today so I may talk to my mom while were out..

So in October we moved my mare into a new stable five minutes away from my old one, and from my house it takes 40 minutes to get there depending on traffic.. Am I selfish to feel like moving to another barn closer? I cant stand being away from her, and can only see her 2-3 days a week depending on the weather, plus the barn is strict on not allowing 18 and under kids to be just dropped off by their parents.. even though I am pretty good around horses and the only time im alone with my horse is for ground work and I always ride with someone there.. I just really dont know what to do.. I would hate to have to move her but the barns rules makes it hard for me to go up there (only driver in the house gets busy easily) and its too far away for drives in the winter.. and im scared my parents will get mad because they love the new barn and the people there.. but I just feel like me and my horse are being pulled farther and farther away from each other..