matthies_horse911

Hey there,

Thursday I went out to ride my horse and his left hind leg was slightly swollen on the outside.. Im not talking about being stocked up or anything like that it simply just looked flat (i.e where you see the indent where the tendons are was flat) and it has been like this for a few days now.. However here are a few things to keep in mind:

- He is NOT lame.. first thing I checked, he is totally fine actually, no signs of being sick or anything

- It is just the one side of his hind leg

- Swelling seemed to go down a little bit after a little ride to get him moving

- YES I definitely cold hosed him, have been for the past few days.

What could this be? I originally thought he may have pulled a suspensory ligament or something because there was a big storm the other day and mud got deep.. but like I said, he's not lame at all, one of our dressage instructors even checked him out.

Any ideas?

Hello,

My friend last week took 11 400mg pills of advil. Long story, shes going through lots of stuff and im not going to get into it, but Im trying to help her out. So I have a few questions, but first off ill tell you a bit more about her symptoms-

She has been complaining throughout the week about a sore stomach, i saw her on wednesday and she was in pain, i asked her if it was cramps and she said no but it was a pain similar to that but worse, not like a stomach flu pain. She told me this morning that her leg muscles have been weird too and feels like she is going to collapse sometimes when she gets up. Generally she said her body has just been weird. This morning she texted me and said she thinks her stomach might be bleeding, because she checked the internet about advil overdoses. Also, she is a regular user of advil, she gets headaches often and turns to advil. She was also having stomach pain a while ago (before this) and thought it may have been kidney problems, shes had an ultrasound and other stuff and been to the doctors and they couldnt figure out whats wrong, so im not sure if this recent pain would be from that or the advil (just want to double check... im pretty sure its the advil though). I am going with her to the doctors on Wednesday.

1. Just to double check- are these symptoms caused by the advil? Because she was having problems a while ago with stomach pain and they couldnt figure out what it was, they thought maybe kidney problems, nothing ever showed up. I just wasnt sure because it was a week ago that she took the advil.

2. Could it be an ulcer? I dont know how long it takes the symptoms of an ulcer to show up, but would it make sense that shes having pain a week later?

3. I read in other questions/answers and on other sites that regular users of advil may eventually develop a hole in their stomach. Could this be a possibility? Does it mean her stomach is bleeding?

4. Is there anything she can do for pain? ie: lots of water maybe?

5. What else could be wrong and, yes I realize the above problems stated are serious, but HOW serious, like how long does it take to get rid of an ulcer?

Any information you could provide would be great. Please answer only if your serious, Im trying to help my friend. Any other possibilities of what could be wrong or what she/i can do to help her and for pain and any information you have would be appreciated.

Hello,

I was reading an article in Equus magazine and it was really interesting- it talked about horses 'breaking' their neck at the 3rd joint, not just in dressage but in any sport where the horse appears to be 'round'. Anyways, it can happen when a horse goes into a false frame- they dont raise the base of their neck and hang their head on the vertical, they just drop their head instead and aren't really using their hind end, they will carry their poll lower than the highest muscular point in the neck (not the crest, but the muscular part).

Here is an example of what they said was a 'broken' neck- www.sustainabledressage.#204D0B

As you can see, the horse carries his poll below the highest point of muscle in his neck, and there is also a noticeable bump on the muscular part from where that third vertebrae (what they use to go 'round) protrudes.

And then here is a properly rounded horse- http://www.aqha.com.au/magazine/imgSep/Dressage.jp...

The horse is hanging its head on the vertical, the muscular part of the neck is smooth and the horse is raising the base of the neck.

Anyways, I was just curious who many people actually pay attention to this, because now that I think about it, at an event I see all kinds of horses that are 'breaking' their neck or not properly going round. Also you see this in the rollkur style- here is an interesting article that has some rather gross pictures (in my opinion) of a wayyyy over flexed head and they explain more the idea of where the horse bends and if they are properly using their body or if the rider is forcing them round.

http://www.sustainabledressage.net/rollkur/why_not...

Just curious what you guys do about pesky nose flies in the summer time? I know there are those things you can put on their bridles- like mesh stuff that goes over the nose to try and keep them out, but does anyone have or know of one of those mesh covers/bags that clip all the way around the horses muzzle to really keep the flies out good.

I really want a good solution because they can be so dangerous sometimes, its like you dont exist if a horse is on a rampage because he has a nose fly. I was walking a pony to the field today and he suddenly swoung his head up and waked my face because of one, a few years ago my old horse was running through the field and knocked over another girl, she ended up falling on a rock and had to get stitches by her eye.

Hello,

So I was working at my barn today and I had to hold horses for the farrier, today it was the 'good' farrier that came and I was watching them work and stuff, but I was just curious, are there any women farriers out there? Its a demanding job and requires strength but I was just curious if anyone knew any women farriers.

Also, I was wondering what other farriers make in a year. The farrier that did my horse (not the one that came today) charges 42$/trim (pretty much what other farriers around my area charge), like almost 200$ for full shoes with corks and I cant remember how much it is for full shoes, but anyways, they are pretty busy and I don't think they work weekends but I could be wrong, but anyways, just curious if someone could tell me a general 'salary' that they make- or I guess I should say how much they take home, roughly. If anyone has any ideas they could share that would be great!

Hello,

So I have decided that my next big investment will be good cross country boots for my horse. Just curious on what you guys have used to protect your horsey's legs.

My friend just bought these really nice Nunn Finer boots, and I felt them and they are very cushiny on the inside and look like they offer good protection, unfortunately they are very expensive (the price shown in the link below os for front or back paris, not for all fours). Can you guys tell me what you think of these boots?

Also, what good cross country boots have you guys used.... I figured it was time to get ride of my open front boots and get better protection.

http://www.nunnfiner.com/Nunn-Finer-American-Style...

Im just curious on stable/standing bandages. I have wrapped horses before- Im in pony club so we have practiced before, but I have never used them on my horse when were away at events or clinics and she is stalled all night (she doesn't stock up so I never saw the need to do them), but Im curious about the the actual wrap- so, I know now that you use a wide-ish wrap with velcrow thats not cotton but doesn't have any elasticity, but I never recognize them when I see them, can anyone provide a link for a good wrap to use for a stable/standing bandage?

Also, for measuring- Im not sure what size gamgees (spelling?) come in, but can anyone tell me the size increments and where/what you measure for the gamgees and the actual wraps?

So, Im looking for a horse right now and the lady that is selling my current horse showed me videos of this TB mare, I really love her and if all goes well she could be my new horse.

Im just curious though... dapple grey is when the horse has circles.. grey to me usually means all white, but what colour would this horse be?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTJVlZJhCeE -pause at about 0:19-0:20 seconds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzqd1mNEEmI&feature...

She looks more like someone tried to pain her dark grey and it faded lol.. so is this still called dapple grey? if not, how do you know if someone is talking about a horse thats all white (grey) and a horse thats like this one?

So I just want to be clear on the name- so if my horse is at an event/clinic with me and I want to wrap their legs over night so they don't stock up, thats called a stable bandage right? I know it may be a stupid question.. but I get really mixed up sometimes.

I know how to wrap a horse and stuff (Im in pony club) but I was reading another question and one of the answeres said that using a stable bandage there is no tension, just enough to stay on- but doesn't that mean you need a bit of tension, like when you wrap their legs, you don't put them super super tight, but you use adequate tension over top of the gamgee (spelling?) so that it prevents fluid build up and they cant get them off during the night, right?

Also- how do I go about measuring my horse for the gamgees and the wraps (can't remember what they are called, but aren't the actual wraps just the same ones you use to wrap an injured leg? like the stretchy elasticy ones?)

Hello,

so to make a long story short.. I was wondering what brands of saddles make ones with back and front calf blocks. I rode in my friends mom's saddle and it had these huge calf blocks and knee roll and it was perfect! It was an old saddle though, which is totally fine with me but I just need to know of any brands that make their saddles with big knee rolls and calf blocks. I was riding my horse in a jaguar saddle but it was not good at all...

Any help would be appreciated=)

I just finished reading The Last Song, and it is the first book where I've actually balled my eyes out!! (of course.. it may have something to do with the fact that I saw the movie first so I put the images together and what not, plus I balled during the movie too). Anyways, I really loved it a lot and I just bought Dear John to read.

Im just curious, though, what other books would you recommend reading? (doesn't necessarily have to be by Nicholas Sparks) but I have always liked these types of books- the teen romance thats sad but also has a happy ending (Im 17 so Im a sucker for those romances). Im planning to read The Notebook after Im done Dear John (always wanted to read The Notebook after I saw the movie).

I was reading an interview with from a producer (Kevin Williamson regarding the Vampire Diaries) and he said something about how if a show reaches 100 episodes, it is eligible (or something) for syndication.. but what exactly is the difference between a syndicated show/non syndicate? I know (well Im pretty sure) those daytime soap operas- All My Children etc. are syndicated, so does that mean they can't be cancelled?

So, I have a kimberwick bit on my horse right now for jumping, but she's too scared to jump with it on- but I need a bit with leverage because with a snaffle she just runs through it (she loves jumping a little too much lol..). I was on vacation this last week so I had some of my friends and fellow pony clubbers riding my horse, my friend rode her using her bit which is (well Im pretty sure it's this one, I haven't seen her to double check) but she used a happy mouth (mullen shaped- so just a straight bar) elevator bit and said that my horse went really well in it- http://www.doversaddlery.com/happy-mouth-shaped-mu...

I think she needs a bit that's not hard on her mouth, but still has leverage, which is why I think this one works- Im just curious though, if the bit part is actually good on her mouth, like am I correct that it's fairly soft on her mouth but still has leverage? I can't remember if the straight bars or if the jointed bits are softer on their mouths, but I always thought it was the straight bars (like the happy mouth or like a rubber mullen mouth), but Im not sure if I am correct on that?

I have a MacBook (that I love=) and I leave it plugged in to the wall all day, I just leave it turned on too because I used to turn it off but it was a pain to keep turning it on (I would turn it off, forget to do something turn it back on again etc.) so I just leave it turned on and plugged in all the time now, and at night too. My question is, I read somewhere once that they create radiation and you shouldn't sleep with them turned on? I know it's probably a dumb question.. but Im just curious. Also is it better for my laptop to have it off at night and in the daytime or does it matter?

Oh, and just for the record, I do drain the battery every so often too, I was told that it should be drained or left to lose some battery power so that when you plug it in it 'calibrates' the battery.

I have some new ariat boots that I got about a month ago, I absolutely love them and they are now feeling very comfortable to ride in them, I finally broke them in. Anyways, I wanted to clean them just now but I couldn't find my leather cleaner or my leather wipes. I was just wondering, could I use vegetable oil? I know it may be a bit out there, but I thought you could use stuff like that.

They are black ariat field boots with a zipper in the back.

We were doing this experiment in my biology class, my group did the affects of caffein on your heart rate and blood pressure.

My resting heart rate was about 80 beats per minute, and my blood pressure was 106/62 - which Im not even sue was correct because the machines weren't working great. Anyways, after I drank half a bottle of coke, my heart rate was slightly lower- 76 b/m and my blood pressure was 126/14.

Im just curious though, I figured that if you have a lower heart rate, then your blood pressure (systolic) would be higher because the body still has to pump 5L around your body with not as many beats a minute, so to me it makes sense that when heart rate is lower, blood pressure is higher. I looked on the internet and Im pretty sure that's not right though, can anyone explain about the relationship?

Also, can anyone tell me what they think would happen to blood pressure and heart rate after having caffein?- say after drinking the equivalent 200ml of coke or a 'short' americano form starbucks.

Hello,

Okay so my 13 year old hanoverian mare lately every time we go into the canter she bucks. It's odd because she has never done this before. Also she just seems more touchy now and way more energetic.

A little background info:

So this started happening in January after quite a long break from lessons- it's cold here so I only got out to ride max. probably 3 times in december, then we rode all through January about 2-3 times a week, no there is another break from lessons (so she's not getting extra exercise) and I haven't been able to make it out to the barn to ride very much, I rode on Saturday and then I rode almost a week and a half before that and that was it. So SHe started bucking when I would ask for the canter (never did that before, always a sweet horse) and I don't get spooked easily, but the other people that rode her in their lessons no longer want to ride her because she bucked them off (that's what my coach said) so she's not getting ridden very much at all now.

Im wondering what's causing this though- could it be her saddle?? I checked it in the barn and it seemed to fit fine- it was professionally fitted a little while ago and it was an expensive saddle but she has had weight troubles for a while now- she's very hard to fit saddles because when she came to the barn she was extremely skinny, now she's gained weight (even a bit plump right now) but I think she may have had an ulcer (started getting a pot belly, ribs were showing, up by her withers there was this weird dip so it was hard to fit saddles that didn't pinch) so I started a long time ago giving her this gastric stuff and it seems to have worked for the most part- you can still feel her ribs but she's filled out a lot. It's just weird that it would be her saddle though because she hasn't changed really since before and after she started bucking like this.

Also my coach said that some of the other mares have been acting up lately too, could she be in heat? How do you tell? It's just frustrating because I was hoping to get started working on jumping, dressage etc. for the eventing season coming up and this has set me back a lot and I don't want to hurt her either- she's just been more rambunctious lately like when I let her back in the field she'll gallop and buck and run away back to the hay but she never used to do that, me ad my coach figure it might also be because she was under weight before, now she's healthier and probably has more energy and I just didn't notice until now.

What do you guys think (by the way, sorry for the novel) any help would be greatly appreciated though.

My brother and I both have the fido 25$ a month plan and we get 100 minutes and unlimited texting. Im just curious though, if we get 100 minutes a month, is that also used up if someone calls me, or is it only if I call someone else? It says per-second billing so Im assuming it's 100 minutes in general, but I just thought I would try and get it cleared up for us.

I have do come up with ideas for a personal response for tomorrow. Recently in class, we read the book "Brave New World" and watched the movie "Planet of the Apes" -1968 version. I need to come up with ideas for what these two texts (either or) suggest about human nature, aside from these few:

- Arrogance

- Tendancy to want to feel like the superior species

Im not even sure if those are good, and I know this shouldn't be too hard, but I just had a 5 day weekend and Im having a major brain fart here! lol

I asked this question http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200... the other day and I got great response.

However I just have another question and I didn't want to ask there because no one would see it again. Anyways, When the saddle fitter was at the barn, she said my horse looked like one that might have ulcers, she siggested feeding plain yogurt in the diet (1 cup) twice a day. However, I wasn't sure if that was going to work. So I got an answer in my last question, where this person posted before and after pics of her horse and after she fed him U7 Gastric- Aid. I love the results and her before picture kind of looke dlike my horse does (stomach wise- has a stomach but can still see ribs).

Anyways, I was wondering, if I did buy that Gastric-Aid, how would I go about feeing it- and since I don't know for SURE that she has ulcers, if I DO feed it to her, will it harm her if she doesn't have ulcers?(she doesn't have worms by the way- she was just dewormed a little while ago).

Also, is there anything else thats not TOO expensive that I could get her (available in Alberta, Canada hopefully) that would get rid of any ulcers, prevent them and not harm her if she doesn't have them?