Linda Eskin's Personal Site

Sabrina - Itchy/Ouchy Behavior and Swelling in January, 2000

This is a post I made to Equine-L on January 13, 2000. You can see what my thinking was at the time about Sabrina's strange behavior.

We've gotten out for a couple of rides this week, and have been having lots of fun.

On Sunday we got to go with Sabrina's evil twin - a cute, fuzzy, small (14hh?) Saddlebred/Morgan cross, and his somewhat-less-than-bold 50+ y/o rider. She's funny - she thinks I'm "brave to be riding such a big horse"! (Sabrina is 15hh.) This little guy wants to trot all the time, just like Sabrina - only if you don't let him he gets into this incredible high-action gait. He hates the bit (much worse mouth-gaping and head-tossing than Sabrina had been doing), and she uses the bit a lot, and not very judiciously, 'cause she's scared he'll get away from her. I told her to set the pace, since she is the more conservative of the two of us. So we walked out ("so they didn't get too excited"), and boy did they want to race home! Sabrina got so frustrated about all the "whoa-ing" that she gave her first ever little buck. I always leave Sabrina's halter on under her bridle (for tying or leading on trail, or for a backup if her bridle falls to pieces, as one of mine did once), and I've been using that more and more when I need her to calm down and walk back. She responds to it much better than the bit, and it has to be more comfortable than pulling on her mouth. Reins in the right hand, lead rope in the left. Works well for us. :-)

After all that frustrating walking, Sabrina was a lathered up mess, so I turned her out in the arena to blow off some steam. Waaaahoooooo! I've been keeping any eye on her to see if she uses both leads when turned out (we haven't cantered much under saddle, and none at all working on circles or turns), and she does - switches leads at the right times and everything. But she did the coolest thing this time - she went bouncing down the rail in a beautiful collected canter, and switched leads every 3-4 strides!

Yesterday we went out with Christi and Cooper. On the way out we had to pass the semi-trailer-sized poop-sifter and front loader, both operating (they make compost at the ranch), and Sabrina *had to* run past them this time. The sifter is a major boogie man when it's just sitting there, but it was making a huge racket, and that was more than she could stand. Not too bad - stopped after a few hundred feet and stared back at it. We also did some long hills, steep ravines, went past a scary pump house (also making noise), golf carts - all kinds of stuff. We got to do lots of trotting and some cantering this time. Sabrina was much happier about this ride! She even walked home with only a few reminders from me. Do your horses do that "shake like a wet dog" thing under saddle? My God that horse can shake! She did that twice on trail, and I was just dying laughing. Turnout after this ride consisted mostly of rolling, walking around, and more rolling. :-)

She was kicking at her stomach again after both rides (very sweaty both times), and I think it's the sweat/itchiness (not colic, or something) that's doing it. This last time I grabbed a handfull of towels, and rubbed her belly down really well, and she quit kicking right away. What do y'all do on long rides with a sweaty, itchy horse? As soon as I get back (from short rides), and dismount, she starts pawing (actually, she did it on trail when we stopped, too). I get her tack off and let her roll as soon as I can, 'cause I'd go insane if I were that itchy and couldn't do anything about it. But what if I go on a whole-day ride (which I haven't done yet)? I think I'll try carrying a saddle bag full of cheap washcloths, and rub her down with them from time to time. Any other ideas? She's on an oily coat suppliment (Select Nu-Image), looks great, but could there be something nutritional going on? Should I clip her? Use some kind of leave-in conditioner? I've never seen such an itchy horse.

Her udder was swollen and hard again after Sunday's ride, and a little bit last night - so it must be something to do with riding - heat, irritation from sweat, getting smushed between her legs a lot? The vet is coming out Monday for their shots & teeth - I'll ask her about too (a different vet from the one I talked to on the phone the other day).

I'm going to start working with Eeyore on leading and loading. We've been leaving the poor little guy behind, because he's unmanageable, but he just hates that. I owe it to him to train him so he can go for walkies and turnout, at least.

I've bored you enough. :-) Happy riding!

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