#back-to-bays

[back-to-bays]

21. A bitta Life

Living in Lexington has been such a crazy experience so far... I still don’t understand the weather but I’m hoping it’s done with the snow, and we’re going to get a bit of heat! 

So far, since we arrived here, 60 mares have foaled out.. the time is literally flying! But, we still have 40 to go, so I still have every second week of, well, no sleep at all! The farm I’m working at has been having an okay season so far. Yeah, the novelty of taking baby temps and cleaning baby butts gets old! But, foaling will never fail to give an adrenaline rush. And that occasional sweet foal that comes up to you for cuddles, or neighs whenever you go to the door, makes it all worth it. 

I’m here two months already, and next week I’m moving t another farm (this place has like 4 farms...). And there, I will still be working a little bit with some of the mares and foals we had early in the season, but it’s mostly barren mares there so that should be interesting! But I’m a bit nervous, because its nearly like I’m starting somewhere new, and I have such a big amount of responsibility where I am now. I’ll be working with all new people and different vets and it will all just be super crazy!

Aside from work, I’m working on getting my full drivers license, so I can have a bit of freedom while I’m over here. I want to see more of Kentucky while I’m here! Once the breeding and foaling season is done, and things start to quieten down before jumping into yearling prep, we will be doing some tours around the stud farms around Lexington (particularly looking frward to Lanes End, Ashford (Coolmore America) and Jonabll (Darly/Godolphin)). Also thinking of giving up the occasional once-a-week sleep in to go to Keenland to take pictures of some f the horses training early in the morning. And, now that April is coming up we have the Keenland meets and the Kentucky Rolex coming up so really looking forward to that!!

If any of you guys have been to Lexington, or live here, and know some must things for us to see or do, please let me know!! I need to see the place while Im here!

[back-to-bays]

20. Who is this?

I’m just a mini human, who has remembered that Tumblr is a thing!! 

God, its been crazy! I have barely been on this in 3 years.. and I still have followers? What is life! The last time I wrote one of these things, I was starting a 1 year course for my BHS... SO LONG AGO!!

I’m now done that course (BHS ✔ 2 years of teaching kids to ride ponies ✔), and nearly done my second year of university? Think I’m getting old! But I guess the biggest bit of news is that I just moved to Kentucky for the next 9 months! As part of my college work placement, I’m over here working at a thoroughbred stud farm - and I’m loving it ♥ Gotta love playing midwife to horses for the breeding season, taking mares to their sugar daddies, and eventually, yearling sales! So I guess I’ll be posting some pictures of thaaat! Something to look forward to for the people who even know I exist!

[back-to-bays]

Opinion?

White or Navy Fly veil/Bonnet for a Dark bay horse?? Keeping in mind that it would be handy to be able to use for future horses...

I want to impulse buy at the Dublin Horse Show tomorrow

[equine-aid]

Back Conformation in Horses

Ideal Back

An ideal topline can vary between different breeds of horse. This here is an ideal back in a warmblood. An ideal back is when the whither and the highest point of their hip are level, and the horse is neither roached or swaybacked. --- The length a horse or ponies back may affect smoothness of gait, their ability to collect and agility. It also limits how much weight the horse can carry, and can impact if a horse capable of being gaited. The height of the withers also varies and affects freedom of shoulder movement and length of stride.  

Short Back

If a horses back measures less than 1/3 of its overall length from whither to tail, it would be considered short backed. It is common in  American Quarter Horses, Arabians, and some Warmbloods, but can be seen in any breed. If their spine is short, they may have a difficulty with bending, have less flexibility, or even develop arthritis. Overreaching is more common in short backed horses. However, these horses can be very agile, and are good for polo, roping, cutting, and reining as they can change direction with ease.

Long Back

If a horses measures greated than 1/3 of its overall length from its whither to tail, it would be considered long backed. It can be seen in  Saddlebreds, Thoroughbreds, Pase Finos and some Warmbloods. It is also common in gaited horses.  Usually associated with long, weak loins. The horses ability to engage its back depends on its ability to elevate its back, which requires a strong back and abdominal muscles. Long backed horses often have more difficulty collecting engaging their hindquarters, which affect upper level dressage, cutting, reining, barrel racing, and polo. However, their long back gives a quieter and smoother ride. Because long backed hoses have more difficulty building strength in their backs, they can become swayed more easily

Roach Back

This is when the area where the back and loins join the croup has an upward convex arch in the spine.  Often a result of a short back, or injury or displacement of the lumbar vertebrae. Horses are unable to collect or elevate the back. They have a reduced step in their hind legs because of the arch in the spine. The horse is stiffer and less flexible, and being roach back often causes back pain. Agile sports (polo, cutting, reining, barrel racing, gymkhana) are difficult because the horse is stiff and rigid. They may also have difficulty with dressage and jumping.

Sway Back

A swayed back is where the back dips noticeably in the centre, between the whiter and the hindquarter.  It often causes the horse to carry their head higher, and their neck stiffer. It is often associated with weak ligaments in the back, and occurs easier in long backs than short. It can also happen in old age, as the ligaments weaken overtime. Broodmares who have had multiple foals can also become swayed with age. It can also be caused by overuse or misuse of a under conditioned or young horse. A sway back positions a  rider behind the centre of gravity and is unable to elevate to collection correctly, or collect speed, and are therefore unsuited to majority of disciplines. Riding can cause pain to sway backed horses.

Downhill

Downhill is when a horses hindquarter is higher set than its whither. It is common in many young horses when in a growing stage, but their front catches up in many cases. It is common in draft-type horses. In adult horses, downhill is a conformation fault that can lead to front lameness and back problems. Collection from behind can be more difficult.

________

I do not own any of the above photos. 

[back-to-bays]

[equine-aid]

Photo credit to horseandhound.co.uk.

Splay Footed: Toes turned outwards. Creates a longer stride, which is less efficient in forward motion. Can often cause hard or soft tissue damage, if one leg is hitting off the other. This is not uncommon in foals, as they are not finished growing. Often corrects itself with growth. Splay foot puts more pressure on the knee, causing stress or strain to ligaments, tendons and joints, as well as splints.

Pegeon Toed: Toes turned inwards. Causes horse to make a paddling motion in front steps, causing strain to tendons, joints and ligaments. Can cause a horse to develop a side bone.

Knock Kneed: Arched in at the knees. Often called crook-kneed, or in-at-the-knee. Occurs with uneven growth of legs in foals. Causes deformity in splint bones. May cause lameness problems.

Base Narrow: Close set legs, noticeable at the cannon bones. This also causes a paddling motion in the front knees. It gives the horse a narrow base and causes stress on the outside of the knee. Horses with this fault have less support of its upper body. 

Base Wide: Wide set legs, noticeable at the cannon bones. This causes stress on the inside of the knee. It takes the support away from directly under the horse. Often leads to shoulder soreness from mis-use or over-use.

[back-to-bays]

Hey guys!! I need you help!

One of the mares on my yard had a little filly about a week ago! And she needs a name!

She’s golden colour (no leg markings) and lighter than she appears in the picture. We had suspected that she was gold champagne, because of her blue eyes, but they could very possibly be wall eyes! She’s a thoroughbred X Irish sport horse, and should make 15.2 - 16.2hh. 

She needs a pretty/delicate name, and hopefully something original!

[back-to-bays]

Photo: itssweetphotography