Saturday, October 29, 2011

Training with Suri

I'm getting Suri ready for the november challenge (just to join in the talk about it on the blog:) and had a nice training ride today in the outdoor arena. I rode together with two others and Suri was doing good. Her energy level is not very high (not supercharged yet) but we had some nice moments. We worked on the dressage a bit and practicing the side passing.
The only thing was that she was very unhappy about the other horses in the arena having her ears all the way back when the passed her. I've never seen this with her beacuse we often ride out together. Suri was also being quite aggressive with Voelie last week. They almost ruined their shelter because Suri kept on kicking Voelie and Voelie was in the shelter and could not get out. Later they were grazing side by side looking very happy.. We decided to change the shelter just in case it happens again by taking out one of the side pannels (the shelter is now closed on two sides instead of three) so that Voelie cannot get caught in a corner without escape options.
Towards me Suri is friendly as ever so I hope her mood changes and she enjoys the other horses again too!

7 comments:

  1. I love your supercharged comment! Was Suri in heat or coming into heat?

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  2. Last autumn winter came with extreme chill very rapidly. Then Suri grew new and very thick fur in less than two weeks and she became so strange without any energy at all. I did not think about that the fur could be the reason at first, and called for the vet to take a bloodtest, which did not show anything. So my vet and I came to the conclushion that she could do with some extra minerals and vitamins.

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  3. Jessica giving Suri extra vitamins and minerals are a good idea. Sometimes like us our horses need may more iron for energy. You might talk with your vet about her getting something to help build up your iron. It does sound like something is concerning her. Keep us updated on her progress.
    All my best,
    Angie

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  4. Same with Lela last week ... Very rapid growth of her coat, now it is warm here and she appeared to be very powerless last week, so the vet came out as well, found out nothing and gave her a kind of "vitamine booster". She is getting some additional vitamins and minerals now, and I am still waiting for the results of a blood test as well ... maybe a similar thing. Best Caren

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  5. Thank you all for your reply. I noticed indeed that Suri was in heat and it also seemed to be the case with Voelie the way she was acting but she seems to be too young but I don't know what is the usual age for this to start.
    I am indeed giving Suri some extra vitamins and some kind of pellets with probiotica (that's at least wghat it's called over here) which is supposed to be good for her tummy. I hope this will indeed help her. Over here it is also a bit warmer now (18 degrees C) and before it was really cold and almost freezing so they really have quite a coat of fur allready! I will keep watching them both closely and I will just take it easy with the riding working on flexing and posture rather than working her into a sweat when she is low on energy.

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  6. It is the same with Lela ! So maybe sudden heat (being in heat and degree C) is the reason!
    Best
    Caren

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  7. Jessica,
    Are you giving Suri grain of any type now? If you are and if Suri is in good flesh, please consider stopping the grain. This is because most people over grain their curly horses. The extra and un-needed grain causes behavior problems. But please ask your vet to be on the safe side.
    I may be foolish to council you in this regard. But if the grain in not needed there is no reason to use it. You are using a mineral and vitamin supplement so that is another reason to cut out the grain. And please avoid ANY kind of "sweet feed" completely. The sugar and grain/protein mix is bad for most curly horses.
    Sincerely,
    Penny Johnson
    Bonners Ferry, Idaho USA

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