Hello! I've been browsing through the internet, looking for a smaller and slightly more "intimate" horse forum than the few others I'm a part of. This one really seems to fit the bill. It looks like a really friendly place, so I hope I fit in well!
(I LOVE the smileys, by the way!)
Anyway, my name is Christy. I live in Cincinnati with my husband (we were married in March this year), three dogs, two cats, two chinchillas, two degus, hamster and gerbil
I know that's a lot. I'm a total animal lover (as is my husband), and I also work at PetSmart...this means lots of little fuzzies end up coming home with me when people aren't buying them, or they're sick...etc...
My husband adores horses as much as I do, which is cool because, before we started dating in August 2006, he'd only ever even touched a horse once in his life. In fact, our first date consisted of me taking him to meet my Arab mare, and he fell in love with horses. He's a natural rider, much to my annoyance at times
We also have two horses. The first is Mikyah, a beautiful jet black, 15.2hh, 6 year old Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse. When we first saw the pictures of him from his old owner, we thought he was a friesian. We brought him home four months ago, on June 14. We actually traded my much-beloved Arab/Appy mare for him. I loved her to death, but we just didn't "click". She liked to rear, and I have a fear of rearing (mostly because she reared and fell over on me a month after I bought her). I had her for three years, but in the end, just couldn't continue being afraid of my own horse! So...we got Mikyah. He is my husband's horse. His first horse, and also his dream horse. The only thing he would've liked better was if Mik was a draft horse...instead of just looking like one!
And Ivy...whose racing name is Ibelieveinmiracles, hence my username. We got Ivy three months ago, on July 19. She is an ex-racer, didn't do very well racing. She's nine years old, and a complete sweetheart. When I got her, she was in a very bad state. She was emaciated and lacking energy. She cost us a whole $150 and I hate to think where she may have ended up if we hadn't gotten to her. I do believe her old owner loved her...she just didn't get the support she needed at home to take proper care of her.
We immediately put her on weight-builder and MSM for her arthritis. She has come a LONG way in the past three months, and her first ridden day was on the 19th...her three month anniversary with us. I am heavy, though working on losing, and she is still underweight, so the riding is VERY gentle. Walk and a tiny bit of trot, and only for about ten minutes. Plus, of course, some in-hand walks, stretches, bending, etc. I've been very ill, and can't really lunge or long-line at the moment, but hopefully will when I get better. She is, unfortunately, quite lame in her off hind due to arthritis in her hock. I've heard (and personally seen) people have great success with a joint supplement called Cetyl-M, so we will be starting her on that next month in the hopes that it will bring her 100%, or close to it.
Unfortunately, she always goes with her head up like a giraffe. That's the way she's been "taught". She's never been taught to relax. She's always been told or allowed to go "all out". I can't lunge her because she goes crazy, acting like a monster is after her...even if I walk out of the arena, she just runs and runs, like she's terrfied. Head up like a giraffe
We're going to teach her western to try to get her to really relax (not that they don't relax in english riding )
WOW!! That was a novel! I'm so sorry! Congrats to anyone who actually reads it!
Stopping by to introduce myself and my horses...from OH!
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