JBIT Ranch - Latest Comments

Re: Bridle Wise

jbitranch — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 10:42:58 -0000

Yes, you could stay in snaffle forever, but if you are going to be using two reins for stopping, backing or a little collection, a 3 piece snaffle like a Myler comfort snaffle would be much better than a simple, loose ring, two piece.
Todd

Re: Bridle Wise

Joao Otavio Ribeiro — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 09:39:14 -0000

Can I use my snaffle without be passing to a curb later? I would mean, after all the initial work if my horse goes well with a loose ring snaffle I continue with it. Thanks.

Re: Thar She Blows! Is My Mare Ready To Foal?

TamiMc58 — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:14:36 -0000

Thank's for the info on the signs and symptoms of the mare getting close to foaling, My mares foal is due in 19 days, and I was unsure as to when I needed to move her into the foaling barn,
she has no access to the outside in the foaling barn and I didn't want to move her to soon, so these hints will help me in making that decision. The extra stuff on stripping milk is a good idea tool. So thank you for expertise.

Re: To Shoe or Not To Shoe Your Horse?

Shannon — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:05:35 -0000

Hi Todd. Thanks so much for the great info. I will make a point to get some pics of their feet now and once they get trimmed again so I can send to you. I also am going to buy the rasp before the ferrier comes for the trim so she can show us the best technique to keep the Mustang Roll.

I've been giving them a few different supplements and currently using Biotin Plus. It's kind of pricey so I'm looking for an alternative.

Thanks again for the great info. I'm looking forward to reading some more of your blogs in my free time.

Shannon

Re: To Shoe or Not To Shoe Your Horse?

jbitranch — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:41:54 -0000

Hi Shannon - Thanks for writing. I appreciate your committment to doing the best for your horses naturally, and I hope I can help. First off, please feel free to send me some pics of your horse's feet at info@jbitranch.com and I'll be glad to take a look at them.

Surface chipping in the bottom inch of the horse's hoof, while not ideal, is generally not cause for terrible alarm either. The easiest way to fix and prevent chipping in the majority of cases is to keep the Mustang Roll touched up. This is as simple as buying a rasp or asking your trimmer for a used one (they are generally still plenty sharp for touching up a roll,) or there is a new tool by RidersRasp at http://www.ridersrasp.com/ that will do a fool proof job very quickly with little effort.

Any supplement with Biotin will increase the rate of hoof growth, and as the new growth from the hair line reaches the ground, it is likely to be somewhat thicker and of higher quality. It is possible, though, that your horse actually grows foot very, very fast, and that is why you are seeing chips. The growth rate may actually exceed the trim rate and chips are the body's way of getting rid of excess material. In any case, the hoof wall near the ground should have a very pronounced roll all the way around, most notably at the toes. As the hoof grows and the bottom of the hoof wears to more of a flat, sharp edge, chipping will surely occur.

If everything else about the hoof appears healthy and the horse is sound
and playful, I would focus on the Mustang Roll even ahead of supplements.
As I said, though, I'd be happy to look at some pictures.

I hope this has been helpful and I look forward to hearing more about your
adventures with your horses.

Todd

Re: To Shoe or Not To Shoe Your Horse?

Shannon — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:21:52 -0000

I am an amateur horse owner with 2 AQHA 5 year old geldings. I've had them barefoot since I've owned them over the past 3.5 years and I don't believe that had shoes before that. They have nice sound feet but one of my geldings is very prone to chipping, even a week or two after a trim. I've debated putting shoes on him but most of what I read online keeps convincing me to not shoe them.

I just want what's best for their health and want to do what I can to ensure they're around, remain sound, for the next 20+ years.

Since you've got experience with so many horses going barefoot you're bound to have a few that chip easier than others. Is there a supplement that you've found that works best and won't break the bank?

Our horses are out in a 60 acre pasture, get supplemental hay and SafeChoice on a regular schedule. They are easy keepers and have no health issues.

Any advice would be great!

Thanks,
Shannon

Re: Horseless Games Workshop

Terri — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:39:41 -0000

What an awsome workshop! I was able to concentrate more on what my horse feels when I am using my ropes ; trying to send the correct signal rather than the wrong signal. This was a really helpful workshop.

Re: Freestyle Trail Workshop

Carrie Darlene Negley — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:37:36 -0000

Sounds awesome! Wish i could have been there!

Re: The JBIT Ranch Expands!!

Brittany Young — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:24:16 -0000

Congratulations!!!!!!!!

Re: Are you a Match??? Horsenality-Humanality

Carrie Darlene Negley — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:45:38 -0000

I already did one for my horse and I! It was amazing and I have a new understanding of the horsenalities!

Re: What’s The Deal With Horse Bits?

Apachezmom — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:48:20 -0000

Great advice......thanks very much !!

Re: Whisper in The Wind

jbitranch — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:44:59 -0000

Thanks for your comment, Diane. I agree wholeheartedly. The concept I conveyed picks up where your third sentence leaves off - "His job then becomes to pay attention to you." By suggesting that this would apply to a horse that was Level 2 heading to Level 3 in the Parelli program, we should expect that leadership has already been determined and he is very happy to let you make the decisions. Whisper in the Wind is about refining and elevating the relationship to greater and greater levels. Instead of getting my horse's attention, being small and specific is about keeping it, never losing it, and instead of competing with his environment, becoming more interesting than it is. When you watch horses and humans doing wonderful, beautiful things together in clinics, demos and in otherwise hectic environments, what you're seeing is a horse that's tuned into the Whisper in the Wind and a human that has learned to become it.

Re: Whisper in The Wind

Diane Ayers — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:08:07 -0000

The whisper in the wind sounds very lovely and romantic, but my horses have told me something a little different. A horse's number one priority is safety and that is the job of the herd leader. If you train your horse to accept you as the herd leader, then he can relax his vigilance and leave that job to you. His job then becomes to pay attention to you. I have employed this paradigm over the last 4 years with both of my horses, one very dominant and the other kind of laid back and anxious, and it has been very effective. We have come to the point that all I have to do to get rid of the spookiness is get my horse's attention and he immediately focuses back on me and forgets about the squirrel/bird/leaf that was distracting him before. This works on the ground and in the saddle.

Re: What’s The Deal With Horse Bits?

jbitranch — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 06:32:29 -0000

With the largest eye of any land mammal on the continent, horses have incredible night vision. It is said that on a moonlit night a horse can see as well as we can see at mid day. Horses take longer than we do to adjust their pupils to great variations of light or dark, but are usually adjusted within a minute or two. That said, we've seen no evidence that a horse with normal vision is impaired in any way by a fly mask at night. As for whether a fly mask is really necessary or not, that can often boil down to the individual horse. Horses with light or white faces often aren't nearly as bothered by flies as horses with dark faces, also, as you said, a horse with a very long, full forelock is afforded much more natural protection then a horses with a thinner forelock. Finally, while some of our white faced friends fare alright with the flies, if that white hair is on pink skin they may need the protection of a full face fly mask to prevent sunburn more than to fight flies. Hope this helps. Todd

Re: What’s The Deal With Horse Bits?

Apachezmom — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:41:44 -0000

I have a question about fly masks. Can horse see OK in the dark when wearing a fly mask? Are fly masks really needed if a horse has a long forlock ?
Thanks

Re: Whisper in The Wind

Apachezmom — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:39:44 -0000

This is awsome advice. My horse acts this way all the time.....he spooks at the little things - a shovel ; yet will walk calmly past a running Tractor or ATV !! I love the idea of trying to get smaller and just Whisper. I will definitly try some of these tips and see what happens.!!
thanks Todd !!

Re: Whisper in The Wind

Carrie Darlene Negley — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:30:28 -0000

Love this! It is amazing how small you can get and it will make your horse really listen!

Re: New JBIT Ranch Website is Live!

Apachezmom — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:23:08 -0000

Awsome new website !! Looking forward to all the new info and going thru the new areas.

Re: New Pictures of Todd & Bubby

Granisharo — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:54:01 -0000

Nice!