Fever Rings

fever ring 1

My blacksmith calls these ridges fever rings. Rodney has them on his hind hooves. Mathilda has them on her fronts. He estimates they represent 4-5 months growth, closer to 4. He doesn’t know why one horse has them on the front and the other has them on the hind, unless Rodney’s front rings have been filed off during shoeing.

Causes could be fever, i.e. inflammation (hence the name), moving to a new barn, colic, diet changes, or whatever. Something happened within the horse’s physiology to cause swelling in the coronet band which translated in the pronounced bump as it grew out. Four months would represent spring grass. However, Mathilda has been on the same grass for 18 previous Springs (really?!) to no effect. Rodney has seen the grass twice before. Five or so months would be when we added yeast to their diets.

Everything I have Googled indicates that such rings are formed due to stressors. I disagree. All the adaptions to the yeast have been positive. Rodney is fat and appears not to be suffering from digestive ailments. Mathilda cleans up her breakfast instead of saving a portion for elevenses. She’s still at it even after we switched half her ration to a less palatable but more nutritious senior feed. Rodney is so slick he feels as if he has been sprayed with Showsheen. It’s not from excessive application of elbow grease, I can promise you.

fever ring 2

Plus, I think they are growing better quality hoof, best seen on the black hoof above. Blacksmith says it looks better because it’s new. OTOH, I’ve never met a blacksmith who was a dewy-eyed optimist. I’m sticking with my unfounded, positive interpretation. We’ll see what manner of hoof they have in a year.

Thanks again to Karen Briggs of Writing from the Right Side of the Stall for recommending the yeast supplement [Tiger Whistle].

Show Report: Southeastern Charity, Conyers GA

Saddleseat continues the tradition of impressive ribbons. These grand specimens are over 2' long.
Saddleseat continues the tradition of impressive ribbons. These grand specimens are over 2′ long.

Willie and I took first & second in the two Adult Walk/Trot classes and fourth in the open-to-all-comers Championship class. The winner was an 8-year-old who Instructor said I probably could not have beaten anyway. On this particular day, I wiggled. I thought I had moments throughout the day when horse and I were smokin’, but apparently at cost to my riding style. Ah well. Next show.

As we rode from warm-up, I felt the minute Willie saw the ring. ZING! ‘I’m going in the ring!’ I explained that the ring had been sectioned off with a staging area and that we weren’t actually starting the competition just yet. ‘Nope. I know this. I’m going in the ring!’ Saddlebreds are show-offs at heart.

During the victory pass for the first class, Willie cantered off. I couldn’t tell if he was revved up or spooking. Turns out it was the latter. During the second class, he spooked every time we went past that spot on the rail. It was a gentle hop or two but enough to ease me out of first place. Still, not my fault. When a horse is gonna take exception there’s nothing you can do, right? However, the owner rode in the next class and proceeded to trot and canter past the same spot without Willie turning a hair. Phooey.

ribbons closeup Conyers Fall 2013

Would you rather have a bad ride and win or have a good ride and not? I remember asking this to a hyper-competitive friend. She looked at me as if I was from Mars. Still, I’m undecided on the question. Of preference, both. And I can tell you that having neither sucks. Fourth out of ten is no shame if one rides well. Fourth out of ten and Instructor giving me the stink eye because I keep making the same mistake? That makes for a long ride home.

Spotted on the ride home with my drying gloves & bow. Yes, I have a bow. No, I don't understand it either.

Spotted on the ride home with my drying gloves & bow. Yes, I have a bow. No, I don’t understand it either.

Few onsite, personal photographs due to little time and lots of rain. The barn drove over for the Academy classes. We rode. We turned around and came home. No spare time to photograph. Plus rain and therefore poor light for my autofocus p&s method of photography. We lucked out in that we got into the staging area in the ring before the rain started. However, a gloomy day and a wet scramble to get loaded for the trip back. Professional photos c/o Doug Shiflet >View Proofs button on header or Horse Show Proofs icon > 2013 Southeastern Charity > Saturday Afternoon > 095 – Aca Equitation WT Adult, 096 – Aca Showmanship WT Adult, 108 – Aca WT Championship > chestnut with big blaze, blue vest, helmet. Download rant, per usual [Photo Disclaimer Rant].

Thanks to Grace Kehoe and the Kehoe family for letting me ride Willie. He’s a sweetheart and a star.

Academy Medal
Academy Medal

Why Green?

When I posted about the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville [Radio Silence], Writing From the Right Side of the Stall asked why the shavings are green.

The color is iconic. The phrase “green shavings” refers to L’ville the way “Rolex” refers to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. First time riders will often take a handful of shavings home to display as a trophy.

When I couldn’t find the answer, I asked the source, Feeder’s Supply.

Thanks for your interest in the green shavings supplied by Feeders Supply to the Kentucky Expo Center! We are very proud of that product. The green shavings were “created” by Roy Gibson, the founder of Feeders Supply Co.

The company had secured a contract with the Kentucky Expo Center in the early 1970s and was supplying feed and bedding for the livestock events at the KEC. Roy was asked to come up with something special for the show ring. After much experimentation and sourcing of just the right colorings, the green shavings were born. It was important that the coloring used would not stain the animals’ feet and it needed to be safe in case an animal consumed any of it. Plus, it needed to adhere to the wood shavings so that the show rings would stand up to the use of hundreds of show animals. The green color was not in common use at that time. Thus was born the “tradition” of the green shavings at the Kentucky Expo Center shows. Today, when people in the livestock business see a photo or video of a show on green shavings, they most times assume that it was happening in Louisville. What they don’t know is that all the shavings come from Feeders Supply!
 
Warmest regards,
 
Linda Brock
Marketing Director

Thank you Linda for a prompt and informative response.

According to the webpage, the green shavings are not unique to the World’s Championship.

We also supply feed, bedding and our famous green shavings for the Kentucky State Fair, the North American Livestock Show, the Arabian Horse Show and 4-H exhibitions.

But, don’t try telling that to a saddleseat rider!
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Gratuitous Cat Picture

Reason
Reason
Yes, we have a towel deliberately placed in the middle of the front lawn so that Pudge has a place to sleep. Your point?

More Ladies Only

breast-cancer-awareness-cakeI had a mammogram last week. I don’t seem to have as bad a time as some, but still not my favorite way to spend a morning.

As the technician did a kind and efficient job of arranging my body parts, I was struck by how much it sounded like riding lesson: put your hands here, aim your feet this way, turn your hips, shoulders back, chest out. She told me to hold my breath. When riding, I do that automatically.

Go now. Get tested. And monthly self checks. I want you around to read my blog for a long time. Cake and photo by Been There, Done That: Breast Cancer Awareness.