Cheri's Equines

08/10/2024

08/10/2024

If your horse is pawing his watertub it's because he's trying to get cooler water. He's hot. Set him a water sprinkler up. Same as you would for 2 legged kids.

08/04/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/DgS91u97oGU4iaUd/?mibextid=Ls6BEq

06/23/2024

Finally got Mandie's papers

06/12/2024

Boo got her papers

06/04/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/YUddBRdUm1JF3wNj/?mibextid=xfxF2i

05/13/2024

Bee was born with bottom teeth
Boo may/may not have hers but she's helping mom with her grain so need to arrange for baby buckets.

05/12/2024

Sold BeJ. Both babies are here. Started the new job. Moving on along.

04/30/2024

Did not know there was a group for Alois Podhajsky. Taught myself to ride from his books. Love them.

04/29/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/uAuqru9BTekMmmPx/?mibextid=xfxF2i

04/27/2024

Both barns cleaned. Holly a full year pregnant. Mandie and Doc gonna have a road trip soon. Everyone got pedicures today.

04/20/2024

This was my Ameigo 1966 to 1995. The stuffed horse at the bottom is in San Antonio Lone Star Brewery rode by Tom Mix.

04/18/2024

My apologies for not posting here directly more often. Today was Theia's 4 th time riding. For all the thoroughbred (Secretariat, Bold Ruler, Dash for Cash) It takes 5 to 6 swats with a riding crop for her to walk 3 to 4 steps. I got video of Doc on his 10th time riding (2 ND time trotting). He is posted with a horse broker to sell. Holly is past due and I'm thinking I'm not getting a baby. Vet trip tomorrow. Worked a bit more on the barn. Poo customers are picking up almost faster than the horses can produce. BeJ did a gorgeous canter the other day when I rode her. Start a new job that will not have set hours next month but expect it to bring in more money.

04/06/2024

Theia had her 3rd ride. She do does not care.

03/31/2024

Worked and then rode my handsome fella. He was an ass but well been over a month since I spent time with him. Bath, rebraid, hooves done, all fancy again. Finally have the recipe to get his tail to grow. Had a truck load of poo go out today.

03/23/2024

Theia had her 2nd leg over ride today. Had to get Monica to come play "safety human" and walk with her. Sticked at 15.1 1/4 hds and is 2 yrs old. Just used a bosal on her.

03/15/2024

TRAINING NOTES

Notes: Learn your horse’s personality as you go. It will help you present the next lesson.
The HARD part is train yourself to be consistent but learn when something is not working to try a slightly different method. Keep in mind even though something worked with the last 99 horses you did this way this may be the one horse that you have to do almost backward from the normal way.
EVERYTHING is training and you can train for the good response as easy as you can reinforce a bad response.
Almost all signals are having the horse give in to pressure. VOICE commands help the horse move from one step to the next. We ALL do “work” for a “paycheck”. My favorite is the wrapped peppermints.

HALTER: 1. Walk - Birth and onward 2. Trot - 3. Whoa – should be a COMPLETE stand still for like a five count…..every time….
4. Back - 5. Over – yielding to hand finger pressure on the side.
This is also where the horse needs to learn “space”. Patience standing. Moving their feet if asked.
Finger pressure on a shoulder tends to move diagonal feet. Watch showmanship and halter classes. You may not show halter but having the horse learn to stand properly for a pretty picture will help later – standing balanced for you to mount…..

Round Pen/Lunging: One month and onward
1. Walk -
2. Trot -
3. Left – specify which lead and lead changes will be easier to teach later.
4, Right –
5. Whoa -
This can be used for exercise, training the horse, training the rider. Lunge line and lunge whip are extension of your riding aids. Pull the line if you would pull the reins. Touch the side if you would use your legs.
Surcingle is light and has places for side reins, etc. Later or if it is all you have you can use the saddle. Side reins can be on the halter or a bridle depending on where you are at in training. Setting the side reins helps the horse learn balance for a rider. Reins should be even or the inside rein should be slightly shorter. If using a line the horse needs to turn to the center. Turning into the fence helps them learn to use the back end for spins and pivots. Initial goal is a relaxed consistent movement.

Ground Driving: Just short of two years (22 months)
1. Walk -
2. Trot -
3. Whoa -
4. Back -
Reinforces the commands and the horse learns to take commands when it may not be easy to see you.
Actual start of reining.

Intro to the rider: At two years or later.
Back to halter work. Mounting is the scary part for the horse. 3 steps: jog the stirrups, bounce beside, weight in the saddle. Rider starts as dead weight letting the horse learn to balance with a rider. Once halter works is ok, go to the round pen, then the arena.

By now the horse should be a riding horse and most are ok BUT YOU CAN DO BETTER.. Extended work first then collected work, Leg yields and spins and then you can teach lateral work – sidepass. Neck reining, sliding stops. Trail obstacles..

Horses anticipate. Go from something they know to something new. Once they have the idea use the new but if needed follow up with what works.

Most commons rider errors:
1. Heels up. Seems good but actually works against you.
2. Sit straight in the saddle and stay out of the horse’s way. It’s not a bicycle so leaning your turns does not help the horse.
3. Bar bell lifts for rein signals – DON’T. Keeping the elbow straight instead of bending the hand to your mouth - YES. Neck rein should be rein pressure to the neck. To do that the rein needs to be down on the neck. The reins should not be between the horse’s ears. Just in front of the saddle where there is a neck to touch is better.
4. For every ONE time you give in and let the HORSE make a decision you will have to TAKE CHARGE THREE times to get their co-operation.
5. Different things can work for different horses It’s easier for the horse and harder for the person to get an idea. If the first 2-3 times DON’T get the desired result DO ask for help and don’t get yourself or the horse frustrated and learn BAD habits.

03/15/2024

NUTRITION

BRAND is NOT as important as the information on the FDA required tag of ingredients.
Most of the time: riding, breeding, etc. 12% protein is fine.
If just eating and being a yard ornament back down to 10%
If need to pick up weight have had my best luck with beat pulp and rice bran.
Mare foaling: like to add a cup of Foal milk replacer pellets to feedings about a month before foaling and a month after. Foals can be weaned at three months if you see they are eating well on their own. I separate at night and let them be with mom during the day for about a month so it’s less stress for both and mom has a chance to stop producing milk as much.
Like the Morman’s Grow blocks for young foals to two years old.
Hay free choice does not cause a hay belly. Lack of any exercise so stuff is not moving thru the gut well does. Horse are designed to eat most of the day. Without hay they tend to eat fences, the barn, trees, each other…. Just keeps them out of trouble.
Lack of exercise also affects blood flow thru the legs and hoof and can cause problems there.

Veterinary care

Worm alternating wormer every two months. (yearly packs can be bought).
Once they are about two and start riding it’s good to have their teeth checked once a year and floated if needed. Top jaw and bottom are not quite the same so the top is wider and gets points on the outside and points on the inside on the bottom. Cuts the cheek and tongue. Wolf teeth can interfere with some bits.
Hooves only need shoes if on very hard surfaces. Barefoot is fine most of the time. Specialty riding like reining can requires shoes. Do trim 4-8 weeks based on the growth of the bottom not what it looks like when they stand on the hoof. Farrier will be glad to show you. If you clip the bridle path the same time hooves need trimmed when the bridlepath makes a good Mohawk. Books say 45 degree angle on the hoof. I prefer 50-55 myself and blunt rear toes as I train a lot for collection and show. Farrier can adjust as needed for the way the horse moves. A GOOD farrier will have you lead the horse away and back before he starts every time to check.
Annual shots depend on area kept or going to. EWT + WN, rabies, etc.
Pregnant mares need three Pneumabort shots (5th, 7th, and 9th month of the 11 month pregnancy). Annual shots a month before foaling. PM

New note. Can NOT geld until testicles stay descended into the sac. Gelding early does adjust behavior and adds about 2 more inches in height. Plan for between 6 months and 1.5 years. NOT at a week old.

03/15/2024

Horse Owners List

1. Place to keep the horse (2 acres/horse to sustain on pasture w/o grain).
2. horse - w/halter and lead
3. Basic grooming kit: Hoof pick, mane/tail brush &/or comb, Shedding blade, fly repellant - you and horse, Curry comb, rubber bands or clippers, Stiff body brush, hoof conditioner (Vaseline works), Soft dandy brush, carry tray for all is nice.
4. saddle, blanket, bridle
5. if training lunge line and whip
6. If no stall or limited weather protection winter turn-out blanket
7. Emergency vet care kit: Veterinarian Name & number.
Farrier name and number, clear eyes,
Wound medicine for bites cuts (aluminum spray, cut/heal)
Thrush medicine (bleach works in most cases)
Card with emergency vet numbers, contact info, etc laminated or in waterproof ziplock bag
8. feed bucket, water bucket, hay net, as needed.
9. bath bucket: water scoop, baby shampoo for face,
any soap shampoo, etc for rest of body. Dish soap (Dawn)good for killing rainrot etc squeegee. Back of shedding blade, etc to remove extra water. Sprayer for hose, hose

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http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/

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03/02/2024

Doc did great on his 7th ride and Theia could not let him show off so she did good for her first time ever. Both and Nancy got their hooves cleaned and Dr'd and should get a trim next week
Both Doc and Theia sticked at 15.1 hds today

02/18/2024

Doc "accidentally " turned the water on in the stall ans later took his blanket down and stomped it in the mud. Good thing I ordered an extra when I got large blankets earlier. If he finally stops growing it will most likely be a perfect fit as I expected.

02/04/2024

Theia had her first time with weight over the saddle. Only did 30 minutes with her but I'm tired.

01/29/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/s2B9nUMFAp8VpWRs/?mibextid=1oprz4

01/27/2024

I started Holly but Bryan got everyone trimmed on up.