“I need a hippopotamus for Christmas, Solely a hippopotamus will do…” Okay, your OTTB most likely doesn’t need a hippopotamus for Christmas, however listed below are 10 different issues it DOES need.
Welcome to the subsequent installment of Thoroughbred Logic. On this weekly sequence, Anthropologist and coach Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, presents perception and coaching expertise relating to working with Thoroughbreds (though a lot will apply to all breeds). This week experience alongside as Aubrey shares her logic your horse’s Christmas want checklist.
Completely happy Holidays, Of us! Whereas I typically purchase my horses sweet canes for Christmas round right here, and that’s a fairly thrilling time on the barn, there’s an entire lot extra your Thoroughbred may need for the Holidays. In no explicit order:
1. Their Personal Human
Every year I’ve sufficient Thoroughbreds by the barn to know that all of them desire to have their very own human. I’ve a handful who’ve in some way chosen me (and get hilariously jealous of one another — right here’s taking a look at you, Rhodie, Needles, Wolf, Neil, Koops, and many others.), however there are oodles of them who do fairly nicely total in a coaching barn, however you may simply inform that they need that one particular person to bond with and to belief — and I’m not it. Certain, most benefit from the time I spend with them and so they get pleasure from my working college students, however there’s the sense that they’re nonetheless a bit adrift till they discover that particular person. Their very own human sits proper a the highest of their vacation checklist.
This gorgeous factor (Mojito Margarita) continues to be looking out for her personal human for the vacations. Picture by Lily Drew.
Even on days that aren’t all sunshine, unicorns and rainbows, I nonetheless assume try to be your horse’s favourite particular person (or at the least actually, actually near the highest of their checklist). Their ears ought to shoot up once they hear your footfalls or whistle, and they need to need to are available in while you head to the gate. Nothing is ever excellent and there are at all times days or months of discord, however nonetheless every Thoroughbred deserves that one that thinks they hung the moon, goofy antics and all.
(Hyperlink under: Indy (Star Participant) displaying off his common ridiculousness round feeding time.
2. Cookies & Boundaries
And what comes with loving a horse, however ample cookies. They want you to determine which they like most, search out the most effective German molasses muffins and maintain these readily available always. Forrest (Don’t Noc It) received the lottery when my good pal wanted a Newbie Novice horse for her daughter. I despatched him south on a lease and he landed on an attractive farm and in a teenage lady’s coronary heart. I’m fairly positive if that horse may speak it will be a horrible, obnoxious loop of “Hey younger girl, I such as you, treats?” “Hey girl, treats?” “Hey hey hey hey… treats?”
Forrest (Don’t Noc It) residing his greatest life with Adela Narovich, featured at a Kivu clinic at Simmons Sporthorses. Picture by Daybreak Lynch of Dawnlight Images.
And in order a lock step to treats, additionally they want boundaries. The Thoroughbreds I do know are good sufficient to attempt to depart that one off the checklist; nonetheless, they’re happier with them. They want somebody who is evident of their communication and is ready to set parameters earlier than simply doling out the cookies they so need. Constant boundaries and clear guidelines maintain them capable of perceive of the lay of the land, and thus calm and sane. So seize the cookie jar however don’t dole them out to maintain them in line — achieve this as a result of they continue to be there toeing mentioned line like good 4 legged children.
3. A Thoroughbred-Loving Coach
And when you get to be their human, your Thoroughbred doesn’t realize it, however they need their human to have a solidly good, knowledgable coach (who additionally likes the breed). Thoroughbreds — particularly the younger, inexperienced, off-trackers — want somebody who will assist act as a information by the labyrinth that “getting the Thoroughbred proper” could be.
They want an knowledgeable who will likely be there when their human will get caught, wants totally different workouts, or worries about the best way to sort out the brand new problem, drawback, or that transfer up. They want somebody who will knowledgeably assist their particular person determine the complexities of proudly owning, caring for and driving a TB — from diet to ft to soreness points and let down time. They want somebody who will encourage them to experience ahead and get their horse out in entrance of their leg and encourage driving by bungee elbows versus laborious fingers. They usually want somebody who will assist reinforce these aforementioned boundaries when too many cookies aren’t making the state of affairs any higher.
Muddy-mess Alfredo (Making Amends) might also have requested for a cat on his Christmas checklist. Picture by writer.
I caveated above a coach who likes the breed. Your horse will thanks for that added element. I can not inform you what number of pretty horses I’ve taken in who got here from barns the place the trainers neither wished Thoroughbreds there, nor understood their wants on the bottom or within the saddle. So do your horse a favor and discover a farm and an knowledgeable who thinks these horses are as superb as I do. Consider me, it makes a distinction.
4. Correct Becoming Tack
A part of that complete coach factor is the information to assist people discover correct tack and get it appropriately fitted. Saddle match could make the distinction in whether or not or not your horse is comfy, ridable and quiet below saddle. The bridle and bit could make a giant shift in how they really feel reaching into contact. I’m fairly positive all of us horse folks love having new, high quality tack — and that’s half the enjoyable of vacation purchasing (particularly if a tack retailer is on the route). Simply be certain that the gorgeous issues and the new-to-you-and-your-horse issues match nicely. So deal with each of you to a saddle becoming and get an knowledgeable opinion, even when all you find yourself buying is a top quality half pad or a reflocking of some wool.
Good saddle match (thanks, County Saddlery) and top quality girths (right here’s taking a look at you, Tapestry Equine Merchandise) make an enormous distinction in ridability with these guys and gals. Featured right here: Leni (Chooslov) at residence at Kivu. Picture by Lily Drew.
5. Excessive High quality Shoeing
And whereas we’re speaking about shopping for new issues, for that subsequent set of sneakers that your kiddo will get nailed, glued, or strapped/velcoed on (within the case of shoes), be certain they do the specified issues. Thoroughbreds often need sneakers (although I’m after all grateful for individuals who can survive barefoot for some time). However they don’t simply need any sneakers slapped on by simply anybody. They need a form, knowledgable farrier who can take a look at their angles and know the best way to deliver the toe again and assist their heels. They need a foot that grows with a impartial or calmly constructive Palmer angle and minimal flare, not one thing that units them within the negatives and causes knock-on ache by their joints and as much as their SI. So within the common spherical of cash we spend on these creatures each 5 weeks, add high quality shoeing to the checklist by somebody who understands Thoroughbred ft, not simply somebody who thinks all Thoroughbreds have crappy ft, so why hassle.
Koops can’t go with out all 4 ft in metal, and I’m grateful for the nice farriers who maintain him right. Picture by Lily Drew.
6. Alfalfa & Excessive High quality Diet
One other simple vacation reward for the Thoroughbred is that shiny inexperienced bale of alfalfa. After all, this should be the reward that retains coming all yr lengthy, however they’ll thanks for it every time. I’m not even going to get into the dialogue of “alfalfa makes them sizzling” right here. Nope, it provides them correct energy and packs on the right kilos — so, that mentioned, dish out the good things and your over-grown pony will likely be happier and more healthy year-round (however hey, its chilly exterior, no purpose not not toss a number of further flakes of their stall by the vacations).
Indy (Star Participant) noshing on his pile of alfalfa/Little’s s “mattress” whereas he frolicked as a non-compete on the 2024 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover. Picture by writer.
Total, good diet – high quality hay and grain – is a mainstay for preserving these guys wholesome and pleased to work. In the event you’re undecided if what you’re feeding is working, verify to see the place they’re on a physique rating chart. Are they a 4.5 or above, trying fats with topline and total shiny? If not, it is perhaps value reaching out to a nutritionist or a high quality feed rep to talk about what you’re feeding and what adjustments is perhaps wanted)
7. A Good friend or Seven to Play With
Thoroughbreds are social critters — they make associates, kind alliances, and type out hierarchy on a day-to-day foundation. An remoted TB could be one that’s extra vulnerable to behavioral points, ulcers and common grumpiness. Whereas herds positively improve the danger of goofy area accidents (particularly amongst younger geldings… right here’s taking a look at you, Alfredo (Making Amends)), additionally they improve equine happiness. So if you happen to want an excuse to do extra horse purchasing over the vacations, you may blame it on the truth that these guys do higher with extra buddies. And two horses can create a buddy-sour state of affairs, so higher to have three or 4 in a area… through which case, you’ll barely even discover the fifth or seventh horse. Completely happy purchasing, however you should definitely throw some idiot-healing wound care within the cart too.
Can’t beat associates and a roundbale when wintering within the north. Picture by writer.
8. Days and Workout routines that Break Up the Monotony
An affordable factor that may be gifted in the course of the holidays (and year-round) is a experience or set of actions that break up the monotony of coaching. Do you are feeling like all you do is go in circles? Your horse most likely feels the identical method. Tired of the identical serpentines and determine eights? Combine it up by getting out of the ring, exterior or on a path. Go hack someplace with associates. Add in a day of cross nation education (if the bottom will not be frozen). Go do a highway stroll (on again roads ideally). Or get exterior in hand and play some coaching video games. Cross coaching days the place they get to do one thing totally different, get out of the indoor, and fiddle with new abilities and new locations are simply nearly as good to your horses’ mind as they’re for yours. So change it up, have some enjoyable, after which return to the circles and patterns with a little bit of refreshed power.
It was lastly good sufficient out to get Snowman exterior to play with some small jumps for the primary time. Picture by Lily Drew.
9. Barn Workers with a Sense of Humor
Linked to the coach who likes your kind of horse is barn employees who not solely get pleasure from their job, but additionally have a humorousness. You need everybody who touches your horse and its atmosphere to take delight of their work and to have set of abilities to take care of the goofy, eye-roll-enducing horses. Oh, they pooped of their water bucket (once more)? That should be calmly comical versus bringing forth the expletives. Your younger horse is annoying and desires to chew on the pitchfork whereas they muck? Let’s hope that the employees cannot solely set boundaries, but additionally snigger at them within the course of.
These three from Georgia – Jules Burr, Alanah Giltmier and Greta Colley) are an excellent instance of laborious work, humor, and perseverance (particularly in opposition to the spiders). Picture by writer.
I’ve written this quite a bit, however laughter is likely one of the solely methods to take care of these massive, good, type, goofy critters. If in case you have nice barn employees who’s out breaking apart the ice this time of yr, bedding the horses deep within the chilly months, and kindly inserting a hand on their flank once they go, please please please do one thing good for them as a method to do one thing good to your horse. Good assistance is ridiculously laborious to search out, and these Thoroughbreds (sure sure, and all horses) have to be surrounded by people who care and might discover the annoyances of coping with 1200 pound toddlers to be comical.
10. All of the Different Issues…
This checklist may go on and on. They’d love clear, deeply-bedded stalls and physique work to assist kind out the caught areas and aches and pains. They’d love a rider who works actually laborious to have mushy fingers and good elbows and a leg that doesn’t inadvertently swing into their flank or clamp down in anxiousness…They’d love good footing of their arenas and riders who’re heat sufficient to remain mushy within the tack (so sure, go purchase that heated vest). They need blankets that match and don’t rub and a dry spot to get out of the climate in the event that they select (as a result of everyone knows it’ll be 35 levels and raining and so they’ll be standing exterior subsequent to the shelter… not in it)… and the checklist goes on…
Needles Freeway being his common nap-tactic self. Picture by writer.
So get pleasure from your holidays, people. Completely happy final minute purchasing and pleased caring for the horses by the chilly snap. And bear in mind to thank your barn assist.
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