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Elite Veteran
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| An older, high strung, hard mouthed gelding.
My gelding is a 23ish year old paintaloosa, and is about to founder so I need to ride him at least a little bit, but his bit is just not a good light riding bit. He rides in an 8in long shank twisted wire combination bit, but that was back when I barrel raced him every weekend, and he blew up and is no longer good to race. Got very gate sour and such. I have posted about this gelding before since I lost my barrel horse, and everyone said just leave him retired. He is just way too easy of a keeper to leave him out in the pasture, and he needs to drop weight before spring. I cannot stall him because I kinda like my barn and would not like it tore down.
Now, he rides very behind the bit in his racing bit, but he also isn't a super safe riding horse. He has tendencies to buck, so I want something he can relax in, but also something I can pull him up if he starts bucking like an idiot. I'm just wondering if a hackamore would fit that? He rides great with a halter at a walk, but I've never tried him any faster in a halter. What kind of hackamore would be a good fit? I've seen little s hacks, and ladybug hacks, but I don't know what the difference is. I've never used a hackamore before, so I'm pretty blank on them. Any help is appreciated. | |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
  
Location: Phoenix | For a high strung horse I would try a JD hack from L&W bits..a beetle or ladybug hack won't be enough for him. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I don't like using hacks on known buckers as they can get their head down and get out from under the pressure.
A little s won't have enough bite for a bucker IMO it is a very soft hack. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| If not a hackamore, then what bit would be good? I've tried him in many bits and he shakes his head a lot and roots out, except in his racing bit. | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 288
| Why not try a twisted snaffle and clinton anderson methods to get him broke? Just cause he's old doesn't mean he can't work on foundation skills | |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | I think my leg is being pulled.
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 Playing the Waiting Game
Posts: 2304
| FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-11-28 9:55 PM An older, high strung, hard mouthed gelding. My gelding is a 23ish year old paintaloosa, and is about to founder so I need to ride him at least a little bit, but his bit is just not a good light riding bit. He rides in an 8in long shank twisted wire combination bit, but that was back when I barrel raced him every weekend, and he blew up and is no longer good to race. Got very gate sour and such. I have posted about this gelding before since I lost my barrel horse, and everyone said just leave him retired. He is just way too easy of a keeper to leave him out in the pasture, and he needs to drop weight before spring. I cannot stall him because I kinda like my barn and would not like it tore down. Now, he rides very behind the bit in his racing bit, but he also isn't a super safe riding horse. He has tendencies to buck, so I want something he can relax in, but also something I can pull him up if he starts bucking like an idiot. I'm just wondering if a hackamore would fit that? He rides great with a halter at a walk, but I've never tried him any faster in a halter. What kind of hackamore would be a good fit? I've seen little s hacks, and ladybug hacks, but I don't know what the difference is. I've never used a hackamore before, so I'm pretty blank on them. Any help is appreciated.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| suzy2qtee - 2014-11-30 9:30 AM
FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-11-28 9:55 PM An older, high strung, hard mouthed gelding. My gelding is a 23ish year old paintaloosa, and is about to founder so I need to ride him at least a little bit, but his bit is just not a good light riding bit. He rides in an 8in long shank twisted wire combination bit, but that was back when I barrel raced him every weekend, and he blew up and is no longer good to race. Got very gate sour and such. I have posted about this gelding before since I lost my barrel horse, and everyone said just leave him retired. He is just way too easy of a keeper to leave him out in the pasture, and he needs to drop weight before spring. I cannot stall him because I kinda like my barn and would not like it tore down. Now, he rides very behind the bit in his racing bit, but he also isn't a super safe riding horse. He has tendencies to buck, so I want something he can relax in, but also something I can pull him up if he starts bucking like an idiot. I'm just wondering if a hackamore would fit that? He rides great with a halter at a walk, but I've never tried him any faster in a halter. What kind of hackamore would be a good fit? I've seen little s hacks, and ladybug hacks, but I don't know what the difference is. I've never used a hackamore before, so I'm pretty blank on them. Any help is appreciated.
What are you confused with?
We have a 4 acre pasture with one easy keeper gelding on it. He has started showing some heat in his feet, but he isn't lame, and he's so huge he looks pregnant. I want to try to drop some lbs on his before he completely goes lame (which would be saying something for this horse who has never taken a lame step in his life). We cannot keep him locked inside because he would tear the barn apart. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| wickedstepmother - 2014-11-30 12:09 AM
Why not try a twisted snaffle and clinton anderson methods to get him broke? Just cause he's old doesn't mean he can't work on foundation skills
Ya, been there, tried that, bought the t-shirt. This horse is not all there in the head. I've tried about every method under the sun with him back when I was trying to rehab him a few years ago, and never got anywhere with him. He works best by me staying out of his way and not nit-picking. I'm not looking to ride him to get him ready to do anything, I'm just gonna jump on him, drop some weight, then throw him back to pasture, because we don't get along.
I'm just too nice and don't want to see him hurting. And I'm too nice to send him down the road to the next unsuspecting person like I was. (I bought him as a dead head trail horse. He was psycho from the day I got him, and that was 8 years ago) | |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Grazing muzzle in the pasture and pony him to drop weight? Build a dry lot?
Doesn't sound like a hack would be my choice, but sometimes you don't know until you try | |
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Playing the Waiting Game
Posts: 2304
| suzy2qtee - 2014-11-30 8:30 AM FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-11-28 9:55 PM An older, high strung, hard mouthed gelding. My gelding is a 23ish year old paintaloosa, and is about to founder so I need to ride him at least a little bit, but his bit is just not a good light riding bit. He rides in an 8in long shank twisted wire combination bit, but that was back when I barrel raced him every weekend, and he blew up and is no longer good to race. Got very gate sour and such. I have posted about this gelding before since I lost my barrel horse, and everyone said just leave him retired. He is just way too easy of a keeper to leave him out in the pasture, and he needs to drop weight before spring. I cannot stall him because I kinda like my barn and would not like it tore down. Now, he rides very behind the bit in his racing bit, but he also isn't a super safe riding horse. He has tendencies to buck, so I want something he can relax in, but also something I can pull him up if he starts bucking like an idiot. I'm just wondering if a hackamore would fit that? He rides great with a halter at a walk, but I've never tried him any faster in a halter. What kind of hackamore would be a good fit? I've seen little s hacks, and ladybug hacks, but I don't know what the difference is. I've never used a hackamore before, so I'm pretty blank on them. Any help is appreciated.
No just curious how you still have enough rich grass the end of November to get one to founder on it. Unless you live in hawaii or something that you still get to graze your horses. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| OhMax - 2014-11-30 6:06 PM
Grazing muzzle in the pasture and pony him to drop weight? Build a dry lot?
Doesn't sound like a hack would be my choice, but sometimes you don't know until you try
He has on a grazing muzzle....That's whats so annoying. (I've even made the hole smaller!)
I only thought of a hack because he fights the bit a lot and I don't need something that has tons of control because I'm not afraid to get rough with him. He's an old fatty who hates work, so there's going to be a little head butting in there. lol Nothing against him, he's a pretty pasture ornament, but thats about it.
This picture is from the winter before last I think, so imagine him double the gut now. haha
Edited by FlyingHigh1454 2014-11-30 10:30 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| suzy2qtee - 2014-11-30 11:01 PM
suzy2qtee - 2014-11-30 8:30 AM FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-11-28 9:55 PM An older, high strung, hard mouthed gelding. My gelding is a 23ish year old paintaloosa, and is about to founder so I need to ride him at least a little bit, but his bit is just not a good light riding bit. He rides in an 8in long shank twisted wire combination bit, but that was back when I barrel raced him every weekend, and he blew up and is no longer good to race. Got very gate sour and such. I have posted about this gelding before since I lost my barrel horse, and everyone said just leave him retired. He is just way too easy of a keeper to leave him out in the pasture, and he needs to drop weight before spring. I cannot stall him because I kinda like my barn and would not like it tore down. Now, he rides very behind the bit in his racing bit, but he also isn't a super safe riding horse. He has tendencies to buck, so I want something he can relax in, but also something I can pull him up if he starts bucking like an idiot. I'm just wondering if a hackamore would fit that? He rides great with a halter at a walk, but I've never tried him any faster in a halter. What kind of hackamore would be a good fit? I've seen little s hacks, and ladybug hacks, but I don't know what the difference is. I've never used a hackamore before, so I'm pretty blank on them. Any help is appreciated.
I know! Our grass is still pretty nice even after the snow we've gotten. I'm from Indiana so our winters are not very nice, and he is still gaining weight with no grain or hay. He is like the ultimate easy keeper! | |
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Veteran
Posts: 288
| Appy's do tend to be easy keepers. And also, old bastard even though I love them. I vote grazing muzzle and ponying | |
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Playing the Waiting Game
Posts: 2304
| Maybe he has a thyroid issue or is it cushings that make horses get fat on air? | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| suzy2qtee - 2014-12-01 10:09 AM
Maybe he has a thyroid issue or is it cushings that make horses get fat on air?
He has no health problems, because he's been this way since I got him and I had him checked head to toe and everywhere in between when he blew up, he was a smoking pole horse in his day.
Sadly, I do not have another horse to do ponying (he's the only one I have now), so he either gets rode or sits. I used to pony him off my barrel horse, but I don't have her anymore. | |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | I am under the assumption this horse would not be happy locked in a barn, but how about a small dry lot? If he's anything like the old stubborn cuss I have at home, he will self exercise, by pacing the fence. So make a small electric pen (maybe 50x50) and lock him in there for 4-6 hours a day. Becareful what you wish for, the day will come when he won't be this easy to keep.
As for the hackamore, try one, you might be surprised. Just be sure you look at photos online to see how to set them on his head. If he were mine I would try the ladybug hack (I like to call that the yes ma'am hack) Or just a standard mechanical hackamore-has a longer shank and a lot of whoa. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| The more you say the more it sounds like Pssm or cushings.
Most vets do not know what to look for, and most do not have the equipment to test for these conditions.
A specific blood test for cushings is available
Pssm is a muscle biopsy
I would go this route, and if my horse was positive for either, I would discuss with my vet pergolide.
As for exercising, I don't know why you wouldn't use the bit that works. If his racing bit works, then use it.
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | cheryl makofka - 2014-12-02 9:52 AM The more you say the more it sounds like Pssm or cushings. Most vets do not know what to look for, and most do not have the equipment to test for these conditions. A specific blood test for cushings is available Pssm is a muscle biopsy I would go this route, and if my horse was positive for either, I would discuss with my vet pergolide. As for exercising, I don't know why you wouldn't use the bit that works. If his racing bit works, then use it.
^^This | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | cheryl makofka - 2014-12-02 9:52 AM
The more you say the more it sounds like Pssm or cushings.
Most vets do not know what to look for, and most do not have the equipment to test for these conditions.
A specific blood test for cushings is available
Pssm is a muscle biopsy
I would go this route, and if my horse was positive for either, I would discuss with my vet pergolide.
As for exercising, I don't know why you wouldn't use the bit that works. If his racing bit works, then use it.
Just an FYI, there are two known types of PSSM, type 1 is tested by hair sample and type 2 is by muscle biopsy unless something has changed since I had my mare tested last year. Might test for IR as well, it's a pretty simple test. | |
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