Kristen G

For those of you who have had your horse's chiropractically adjusted, can you tell me about your experience? I am planning on having my mare adjusted within the next month and would like to know others' thoughts.

Why did you have your horse adjusted and did you see improvement?

How did your horse react?

Was the problem fixed after the first adjustment or did you have to have a second adjustment done?

What is your overall impression of chiropractic work?

For anyone who is on anxiety medication, how did you know that you needed it? I am a constant worrier, I would describe myself as happy and not depressed, but I seem to always worry about something and it controls my life. I'm a 20 year old college student and I work very hard, but I can find stress in any situation and focus on it for days, no matter how hard I try to get past it. I am also forced to take a Public Speaking class this semester and I am truly mortified. I am the most nervous speaker when it comes to standing up in front of people and often feel like I am going to pass out the minute I get up in front of a crowd. When I know I have to give a speech I dread it for days until its due and lose sleep over it. I also have really bad acid reflux disease (heartburn) which seems to flare up when I get overly nervous. I also chew my nails to stubs and never realize that I even do it anymore, but it seems to calm me down better than anything. I know there is no "cure" for anxiety (both of my parents have it), however I'm wondering if the side affects of medication will be worse than the actual anxiety itself which seems to run my life.

Secondly, does anyone else have venephobia? I am terrified of veins, even my own, and it seems to get worse with time. I have no clue what started this fear but I can make myself pass out just thinking about my veins. Weird, I know. I can't take my own pulse or look/touch the back of my legs behind the knee or the inside of my arms or wrists. Anybody have a similar fear and overcome it?

Just purchased my little black Arab mare this fall =) Can anyone tell me more about her bloodlines? I purchased her for endurance riding so we are slowly cross training this winter to get in shape for this coming spring and summer. We'll see how she does. I attached a picture as well so you can see what she looks like.

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/lr+selena

http://s893.beta.photobucket.com/user/rithfib/medi...

http://s893.beta.photobucket.com/user/rithfib/medi...

http://s893.beta.photobucket.com/user/rithfib/medi...

http://s893.beta.photobucket.com/user/rithfib/medi...

http://s893.beta.photobucket.com/user/rithfib/medi...

Just curious to see what others feed their Arabian horses. Please include:

1) Type of feed (Brand & Name)

2) Age & Size of horse

3) Easy or Hard keeper?

3) Horse's workload

4) Why do you like this feed?

5) Please provide a picture of you horse's body condition!

Thanks!

What color should I choose for my new horse? She will be a trail horse and hopefully do some endurance rides down the road. What color do you think would look best on her? No neon colors please! I know they're cool, but we're not that extreme ;-) Thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/endurancelover6/80306...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/endurancelover6/80306...

I'm looking at this Morgan mare on Thursday. What can you tell me about her conformation? Good? Bad? I also posted her pedigree so if anyone knows about her bloodlines that would be a plus! Thanks!

PICTURES:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/endurancelover6/80012...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/endurancelover6/80012...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/endurancelover6/80012...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/endurancelover6/80012...

PEDIGREE:

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/flintwood+sierra+r...

I am looking at a Morgan gelding today for a good competitive trail horse. He is not registered (which in my opinion is silly, now it costs over $400 to register him!), however his parents are.

His sire is Stedman Ashmore and his dam is SWP Rubles. Can anyone tell me more about these horses' bloodlines? Is the father Lippitt?

I am currently searching for a new endurance/competitive trail partner and these are two horses I may go look at this week. What do you think? Age? Conformation? Other than their general attitude and soundness is there anything else I should look for?

Morgan Gelding:

http://burlington.craigslist.org/grd/3196807132.ht...

Quarab Gelding:

http://burlington.craigslist.org/grd/3245792739.ht...

Can teaching a green broke horse to drive and pull a cart be beneficial later in saddle training? By beneficial I am talking about exposure to the outdoors, voice commands, confidence, etc. What are your experiences? I am considering teaching my 5 year old green broke Arab to drive to expose him more to the trail and outdoors before actually riding him outdoors on a regular basis.

Anyone use it? If so what are your thoughts? If not, please don't answer this question. I don't need this to be a calming supplement bash session. Thanks =)

Which grain do you feed or recommend and why? Personal experiences and pictures welcome =)

Just wondering what people's thoughts are on feeding a nervous or anxious horse a calming supplement. I have a very green 5 year old Arabian gelding who is very nervous and spooky and many people have recommended one to me but I'm not sure I want to put him on a supplement. He definitely needs more ride time and miles before I can expect him to feel more comfortable under saddle, however do you think a calming supplement would be a good aid to help smooth out the process? What are your experiences with them and does the horse become reliant on the supplement once it has been taken away? Thanks!

What is your opinion on the height of the endurance horse? Mostly everyone I talk to says height doesn't matter and that the average endurance horse ranges from 14-15 hands. However, then there are some people who prefer smaller horses and some that prefer large. I personally prefer the smaller type horses (I have a 14.3 arab gelding) and I am looking into a foal in utero who's sire is 14.2 hands and dam is 14 hands, so I am expecting a smaller type horse. What are your experiences with height and what do you PERSONALLY think does better in the sport? Advantages/Disadvantages??

Okay so I am a chronic midnight snacker. I'm not talking munching on a handful of chips, I'm talking a bowl full of ice cream EVERY night. I am super active, I workout everyday and I am satisfied with my appearance, HOWEVER, I watch what I eat throughout the day and I need to stop ruining my healthy eating with my frozen night routine! I think I do it because it makes me feel comfortable, and something about ice cream satisfies my late night cravings. I've tried cutting down the portions but I never seem to enforce myself to do it. I NEED to give up the ice cream all together. What are some healthier food choices for a sweet tooth like mine? I am desperate to find another snack that doesn't rack up 500+ calories before bed! Thanks!

Ok so I am basically clueless when it comes to Arabian breeding. I've owned a few Arabs in the past but never really cared about their breeding as they were just trail/pleasure horses. Now I own a 5 year old Arab gelding who I am training for endurance/CTRs and I would like to know more about his breeding. I know of Bask, Khemosabi, and Bey Shah but I don't know their "types" or what they were famous for. I have had a few people tell me that he is "Halter/Show" bred which makes sense because he was a halter stallion from the ages 2-3. How is he bred and what does his breeding "suggest" about his performance/abilities? Thank you.

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/

Just curious if anyone else makes their own grain ration instead of buying commercial/processed grains? What do you feed and why?

I make my own grain rations because I have a young Arab who tends to get "hot" off from commercial feeds with addes sugars. I like knowing what goes into my horse and I find it much more affordable and beneficial to his health and appearance. I feed: Beet pulp, rice bran, whole oats, sunflower seeds, min-a-vite supplement, and alfalfa pellets.

For those of you who own or know horses that were gelded later in life and were bred before they were casterated. What are your thoughts on the difference in behavior compared to a gelding who was gelding earlier and not bred. Do you find they are harder to handle, train, compete, etc? I own an Arabian gelding who just turned 5, he was bred when he was 3 and gelding at the age of 4. When I bought him he was completely out of control (he was also a halter horse) and could not control his excitement around other horses, especially mares. It has been almost a year now and he is has improved drastically, but still has some inner anxieties. Can anyone relate to this situation? Details and pictures work =) Thank you!

Just wondering if anyone has been to Tevis? I have an opportunity to go crew for someone riding Tevis this year in August and wanted to know if people thought it was worth going to. I am an endurance rider so obviously I would love to go! I do, however have to come up with a good chunk of money to go so I want to make sure it is worth going to! Thanks!

Just conducting a little poll on what you (the endurance or competitive trail rider) feed your horse and why. If you could also provide your horses information (breed, age, height, weight, workload) that would be great! Thanks

I have a 5 year old Arabian gelding who is HELL to fit a saddle to. He is only 14.3 hands and has a very short back but well-sprung ribcage, making him very compact and wide (however he does have withers). We ride endurance, however I have been considering dressage style saddles because they are more cutback and allow more shoulder room. Any saddle brand recommendations would be great! Think: Big shoulders, short back, wide, with withers! A picture and explaination of your recommendations would be great too! Thanks!

Here is a picture to help you get a better idea.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/endurancelover6/68886...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/endurancelover6/68886...