http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2016/04/girth-matters.html?m=1#comment-form
Was is the bugs?
The girth?
Lack of ground work?
Btw, if you aren't an equestrian...rarely does a completely made and experienced pony in their 20s need ground work before each ride. Merlin is basically retired. He has done it all and seen it all, including being a breed ambassador at the Kentucky Horse Park.
There's something amiss if he actually is bucking up a storm. I'm curious how her tack fits (remember the bridle incorrectly put on Jasper?) as well as what size/type/fit the bit is.
I cringe thinking of that video of her on Pattys horse, she is so rough on their mouths.
It would behoove her to take some lessons.
I was thinking of the same thing.
ReplyDeleteMy heart hurts thinking of any animal in her care. She'd almost certainly view any acting up on Merlin's part as defiance, an opportunity to assert her control and dominance over him. Her animal skills have always been sorely, grossly, LACKING. I had forgotten about that vid of her on Patty's horse but you are spot on.
ReplyDeleteI think she's trying to claim the bugs were bothering her pony, which is classified as a pony because of its height, not how much it weighs. She is rough with her hands and weight, if you have poor balance and/or a bad saddle you can cause a lot of pain.
ReplyDeleteShe's the beginner, not the pony, so maybe she should do ground work or take time to warm up. Then she might notice stiffness, soreness or lameness, but I have my doubts.
JW beats the shit out the vehicles she drives, until they breakdown and need repair or replacement. Merlin is JW's play-time vehicle.
ReplyDeleteOne day Merlin might accidentally put his hoof right down on a big 'ole pumpkin head. Squish. Squash. Ops! Another one bites the dust.
Then Merlin trots back to the prison-farm, to let out all the animal-inmates. He can open latches with his mouth, and kick down fences with a single bound. First the sheep take off through the woods...
That is in really poor taste. However much you may dislike someone, humorously implying that a horse kick will cave their head in is really tone deaf.
DeleteA helmet would protect her head during a fall, it's her choice not to wear one.
DeletePonies are notoriously stubborn in my experience, so ground work is never a bad thing, no matter what the horses age. Neither is stopping about 5 minutes into the ride and tightening the girth a bit (my horse used to inhale as I tightened it the first time, so it always ended up loose after several minutes of riding). As for bucking on the way home, that sounds like he's just barn sour, something that can be fixed with more time under the saddle and diligent training. Sometimes it takes a broken arm or collarbone or even a concussion to figure that out. At least she admitted they were HER mistakes, not his. As the saying goes, there are no problem horses, just problem riders lol. It's to bad there's no way (or desire on her part) to ride in winter, that's a long time for a horse to go with not being ridden and I'm sure it takes awhile for them to work out their relationship again in spring.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who can be as disrespectful to their animals as to joke about their deaths during harvesting is psychotic and capable of any cruelty- be it to man or beast.
ReplyDeleteTime to post names, addresses of places we can write, email and/or call to get this place evaluated and shut down if necessary. Does she have the right permits, etc. to do what she does with the workshops, to sell goods and services, etc. Someone that preoccupied and lazy is not following through on those type of issues, guaranteed. If someone can point me in the right direction, names of the county, the county departments, etc., I will get the information myself and post it here. This needs to stop and it needs to stop now. Great job with the blog Meredith!
Also, many states require business licenses for home businesses, which requires a lot of paperwork and inspections. Anyone know if it's required in her area? For a graphic design business out of her home, separate from "farming"?
DeleteDoing graphics arts from your home, that's probably fine. It's the workshops and selling meat and animals and such that probably is lacking in proper documentation and such. Just my thoughts.
DeleteHas she *ever* had his teeth floated? Does she even know what that is?
ReplyDeleteI wondered the same thing. I doubt it, and a lot of vets don't do a great job, you really need someone who specializes in equine dentistry.
DeleteWhere is the video? I haven't seen it.
ReplyDeletemeh, nevermind, I found it. UGH.
DeleteAwwww. common She's an expert in anything she spends a half hour on. You should know that by now. She was a champion dressage rider once. After she cured cancer. And saved those kids from the orphanage. Oh yeah, and wrote a best seller. In Norse. In her dreams. Or was that WOW. Hmmm.... Well, you know, she's an expert and has considered ALLLL those things about her ornery pony that just wants to be cranky and needs to be whipped. That's all. We'll just tie him to the God poles overnight and that will teach him and make the evil spirits flee. Yup.
ReplyDeleteDon't give her any ideas.....
ReplyDelete