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Post by jenm on Feb 2, 2009 15:29:40 GMT -5
I am very excited to report that Jamaica will be going into training with a BNT at an Eventing barn. I've done as much as I can with her, and now it's time to step it up a level. Fortunately, the facility is only about 10 minutes away from where she is now, so I can easily visit her. The trainer is Meg Finn of Tally Ho Farms and she runs her program at Stanford University which is an amazing facility. tallyhofarms.net/The good part is, she gets to reside in the mare motel, not the barn, so at least she has a more open area and won't be locked in a stall. So here is my question: She will be moving from a 400+ acre pasture to the small enclosure and I am worried about how she will transition. Am I being too worried? She will be moving this Sunday and I will pick up some of their grain this week so I can begin the switch there, but is there anything else I should know about helping a horse adjust to a new environment? Thanks! I'm really, really excited about this opportunity and was very lucky to get this spot, but we only have it for two months. |
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Post by mickeyfan3 on Feb 2, 2009 16:32:07 GMT -5
When will they start working with her and how much turnout/excercise is she supposed to get daily until training starts, and after it begins?
And what's a BNT?
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Post by jenm on Feb 2, 2009 18:17:05 GMT -5
They will start working with her right away. She will be worked either under saddle or lunged 5 days a week and I will take an extra lesson when I can, so it could be six days a week. We both worked harder than we ever have in our lesson on Saturday, so I know she will get a good amount of exercise. Since she is so close, I can also take her out and hand walk her so I can still spend time with her. I don't know yet what they do for turn out. BNT = Big Name Trainer.  |
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Post by gratefulknits on Feb 2, 2009 19:05:23 GMT -5
How exciting! I don't have any answers for you but I can't wait to hear your updates as you and Jamaica progress. Pretty soon you will be a BNR and she'll be a BNH!
BNR = Big Name Rider ;D
BNH = Big Name Horse ;D
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Post by beckybee on Feb 2, 2009 19:43:18 GMT -5
Jamaica me Jealous!
Sounds like she'll get lots of exercise - I would worry about the lack of social interaction though. Unfortunately, I think most big barns discourage play time with horses because they can get hurt. Hopefully she'll be too busy to get bored and the mare motel will let her be close to other horses so she won't be completely isolated. All in all, it sounds like a really good situation.
Don't worry, mom, you can keep a close eye on her!
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Post by mkgbuegel on Feb 2, 2009 21:37:31 GMT -5
Congrats, I'm sure the two of you will have a ball. Regarding transitioning - When ever a horse arrives at my ranch, they are met with a feed pan of sloppy bran mash, with probiotics, a little electrolytes, and something to protect their stomach. If its a really nervous horse, then the stomach protection is ulcergard, if its a less nervous horse, then it Slippery Elm powder. If possible I have the new owner bring along a weeks worth of hay so we can transition slowly and it insures that the horse has something familiar to eat.
If the horse is still nervous the second day, they may get a second tub of mash with the extras just to be safe.
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Post by jenm on Feb 2, 2009 23:18:25 GMT -5
Ladies, I wish I could hug each and every one of you. I appreciate your words of encouragement and advice. I put a lot of effort into finding the right trainer/barn situation for Jamaica. Unfortunately, in this area, the BNT's don't have have pastures or turn out space and it was really important that I at least find a place where Jamaica wouldn't be "confined". I have stalled her overnight for shows and she's just not happy in a stall. Neither of us would be happy if she was in a barn with an inside stall! mkg, I really like your advice. Jamaica is a nervous nellie and my biggest concern was her getting upset and having stomach problems. I will post a picture of her new "crib" but I am happy that it's open and airy and there are no walls that will make her feel confined. Hopefully she will have good neighbors!  I feel like a mom who's kid is going away to sleep over camp for the first time. I guess I should start assembling care packages, ha ha! Thanks for holding my hand, everyone!! |
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Post by jenm on Feb 2, 2009 23:29:39 GMT -5
Haha, that's cute! I would worry about the lack of social interaction though. Jamaica is an interesting "bird". She is pretty high ranking in the herd of 30+ mares, but prefers being apart on her own. She has friends who follow her around, but she doesn't seek out any one horse as a buddy. She is really protective of her space, which REALLY shows up if we are in a crowded flat class in a show, ha ha! She absolutely HATES geldings and even gets pissy around her baby boy! I think the openness of the setting will be good for her as she will be able to see all the horses but won't have to worry about protecting her precious space. |
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Post by piopico on Feb 3, 2009 1:44:10 GMT -5
Stanford has one of those 'circle walkers' where the horse is put into a 'chute', and they have to walk or they get hit in the butt! Every now and again, I go out there and drool over the facilities. Lucky for me, as I'm an employee........I could board there for a discounted 800+ bucks!!! Not likely.........I'm sure your girl will get the best of care.
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Post by jenm on Feb 3, 2009 1:52:12 GMT -5
Stanford has one of those 'circle walkers' where the horse is put into a 'chute', and they have to walk or they get hit in the butt! Every now and again, I go out there and drool over the facilities. Lucky for me, as I'm an employee........I could board there for a discounted 800+ bucks!!! Not likely.........I'm sure your girl will get the best of care. My pals that came to watch my lesson were drooling over that walker. We learned it can even be set to a canter, but the horses have to be used to it first. Yikes. The waiting list to board there on a permanent basis has over 100 people on it...can you imagine?!!  |
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Post by jenm on Feb 8, 2009 0:40:12 GMT -5
Ah, slippery elm or ulcerguard...Dang. I knew I forgot something! I moved Jamaica this evening to her "college dorm". One of her neighbors is a pesky gelding and Jamaica HATES geldings!! He kept poking his nose through the bars and she kept snarking at him. She even raised a back foot once, even though he was no where near. She did manage to eat most of her mash and I did bring some of our own hay over. Each time I went to exit her enclosure, she kept trying to follow me out though, I felt so bad. I do have her on probiotics and will check on her first thing in the morning. If only she were in heat then that pesky gelding would be her new BFF!   |
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Post by halfwayhome on Feb 8, 2009 1:13:01 GMT -5
HI
Hope she transitions well, so glad you could find a place that she could be more "in the open" for her crib so to speak.
I had a thought when I was reading your thoughts about her and her "snarkiness" with geldings, and alone in a crowd, etc. We have seen this behavior in mares with ovarian cysts that do not resolve and if they get a large ovarian cyst it is both painful and also affects them hormonally. Yes, some will appear to cycle normally even, so that is not always an indication. Usually can only be seen using ultrasound. There is treatment, sometimes however it involves surgery, which has of course, varying risks. Just a thought, but FWIW it kind of struck me.
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