Browbands ~ Jeweled

Update: March 7, 2013

I went to Micheal's Craft store and picked up some supplies, determined to make my own browband for Ella. After I got home I played around a bit with the different options I had for a design then decided on one and set to work. Some photos of the different options I had. 

FIRST Option

SECOND Option 

THIRD Option

FOURTH Option

It didn't take very long, but it was hard threading the needle threw the leather. I managed to prick myself a couple of times and drew blood, ha ha. BUT, with a bit of determination and persistence I was able to sew and glue on (combination of both) the beaded design. NOW, I will determine how secure the gems are and whether or not they will hold up or withstand constant use as I will be using it often ~ at which point I will determine a better method of adhering the jewelry to the leather browband, IF necessary. Here are a few photos of the progress and finished product:

Original Post

I want to make Ella a jeweled browband. I'm not sure how to do it, but I have a few ideas. Researched some examples and looked at some supplies. Will update this post when I pick-up her bridle and start working on it.

Some Supplies I picked up: 

Farrier Appt ~ Feb 24, 2013

Farrier came by Sunday to trim up Eli and Ella. I was so impressed with both! Eli stood quietly while the farrier worked away trimming his feet. You would never guess he was a Thoroughbred who has tendencies of being 'hot' and a little high strung.

Ella did amazing as well. She's come a long way from when we first got her and she couldn't stand still while being tied in the barn. She stood quietly a little bit more fidgety then Eli, but she wasn't trying to bite on the bars or move away.

The Farrier said Eli's front left looks like it will be ok, nail appears to have just gone into the over grown frog. We are going to work on correcting the shape of his front feet, they seem to be flaring out a bit ~ more than likely due to being shod for most of his life and then going barefoot, hooves are too soft and weak to support his weight. We will more than likely put shoes back on the fronts either next trim or the trim after.

Ella's feet are good, they are pretty bit, but nice and strong. SUCH a nice feeling when they're feet are trimmed and you know they feel better about it. I got a great impression from our new Farrier, he's calm and relaxed (which you can see makes it so much easier for the horses) he steps aside periodically and overlooks their stance/conformation and following the trim assesses their walk/trot in the arena. Look forward to more work and correction on the ponies hoofs

I think the Farrier was pleasantly surprised as he said at the end I have two Very Well Behaved Horses! Yes, lets keep up the good work horsies!! To reward such manners I fed them their warm Soaked Beet Pulp afterwards and then gave them a few treats!

  ~ No hoof No horse! 

Eli having his back foot done

Ella having her back foot done

Look at Ella's TAIL ~ it almost touches the ground! 

Monday's Stable Visit

Went out to the Stable Monday. Thought we would take advantage of the Family Day stat and spend some time with the ponies. While there we tended to some chores, filling the hay nets, organizing our lockers etc. Jesse brought Eli in while I was in the barn and turned him out in the Arena to burn off some excess energy and stretch ~ somewhat of their routine.

After finishing up a few things I decided to join them. Jesse worked on some ground work exercises, leading, turning and practicing space (personal bubble) then decided he wanted to hop on Eli for a ride. Normally I bring Eli in and tie him up in the cross ties, groom him, tack him up and then bring him into the arena. Today we had company with us and decided there was more space for me to tack him up in the Arena, so I grabbed his bridle and his saddle and brought it over.

In the Arena I fist put on his bridle with little to no trouble, he dropped his head and didn't make a fuss. Next I threw on the saddle pads while Jesse hung on to the reins and then the saddle, when doing up his girth he was a bit girthy. Before asking Jesse to walk him a bit so I could readjust the girth I picked up is feet to check them prior to Jesse hoping on GOOD thing I did because the first foot I picked up (front left) had a nail sticking out of it - OUCH! I was quite surprised BUT so happy that Jesse had decided to ride as it appeared it would save us even more trouble. Typically, when Jesse brings Eli in to turn him out he simply walks him threw the barn, into the arena and then back out again to his paddock when they are finished. I'm pretty sure that Eli picked the nail up in the arena dirt when he first came in, before I put his tack on he was running around playing and had already rolled in the dirt two or three times (wasn't showing any signs of lameness) so to think he picked it up and we might have walked him back through the barn on the concrete leads me to believe it would have pushed the nail in further. As indicated in the earlier post "Why it's important to check feet" I called the trainer for advice. After removing the roofing nail we walked him around, no signs of lameness, then I tightened up his girth and Jesse hopped on. With the extra weight on his back we checked to see if maybe it would make a difference. It didn't appear to, so Jesse went for a relaxed walk around the arena with him.

When I got home last night I called the Farrier and spoke to his wife, she advised to keep an eye on it, check for heat and soreness or him going lame and assured me that Brenden would investigate further come Saturday when Eli and Ella are scheduled to get their hooves trimmed. She didn't think it necessary to give him penicillin, or to soak the foot in Epsom Salt as it sounded as though the nail went into the excess frog skin that the horses shed and perhaps as he is a bit overdue for a trim it will be ok. That being said, horses step on things, things we see such as the nail, things we don't see - sticks or rocks out at pasture - when this happens they usually end up getting an abscess. It can always be much worse, I've stepped on nails before - not fun but happens.   

So, we'll take it easy until Saturday. In the meantime I am lucky to have support and nice people who have offered to help keep an eye on him. He's being checked daily by the Stable owner and the boarders who live on site so - is in good hands. Jesse enjoyed the quiet ride he had and we were lucky to have caught the nail right away

Why it's important to check feet!

Brushed Eli down, and when hoof picking discovered a nail in his front left foot. Yikes! I called my trainer for advice as to whether or not I should attempt removing it ( described where and how deep it could possibly be - hard to determine what size nail, etc ) deciding its better than leaving it in to be pushed in further we grabbed some pliers, took a breath and pulled it out. Will have to keep a close eye on it now, but luckily it was a relatively short nail and didn't seem to have gone in deep. Apparently it was a roofing nail and I think that he picked it up in the arena dirt.

Afterwards, as he wasn't showing any sign of lameness, we tacked him up and went for a ride to determine if he would limp with extra weight. I think I might soak it in Epsom salts just to be sure. Farriers coming this week so will show him thee photo and provide an update.

UPDATE: while waiting for the Farrier Appointment I made it a point to go out to the barn twice ~ the Wednesday and the Saturday to soak Eli's hoof. Wednesday the Stable/Facility owner kindly gave me a hand a some pointers on what to use and what to do. 

First of all I went out and brought Eli in from his paddocked, walked him across the concrete and then brought him directly into the Arena. In the Arena I turned him loose where he casually walked along but stopped to roll once before coming back over. I bent down and checked his hoof for any signs of heat. There was a slight difference in comparison to his other foot, but not much. After checking the temperature of his foot I lunged him in both directions at both a walk & a trot. I didn't seen any signs of lameness, limping or favoring his foot ~ he didn't stumble or seem to be any any pain. 

Following this assessment the owner and I proceeded to heat up some water, add some Epsom Salt and Iodine and a bit of cool water (making sure it's not too hot) we weren't sure how he'd react soaking his foot, I was pleasantly surprised when he didn't freak out. He was lifting his foot back up, but wasn't attempting to walk forward or yell about it. I grabbed his feed bucket and let him much on his Soaked Beet Pulp, that took him all of 5 minutes or so, but being full he stood quietly for another 5 - 8 minutes. 

After soaking for about 10 - 12 minutes we wrapped his foot using, duct tape (not on the fur) making a boot type pad by sticking or attaching the glued part of the tape to each other forming a square. Next we lined the squared shape duct tape with 2 panty liners (just as good as gauze), we added the paste that the owner made (table salt, iodine and water mixed to a pasty or sticky consistency). Once the paste was added to the liners the make shift boot was slapped on to the bottom of his foot (paste side up sticking beneath the hoof, duct tape side facing outwards to connect with the ground) then white gauze was wrapped around to help keep the boot on everything was wrapped with a self adhesive bandage similar to a tensor wrap. We were careful to:

• A. Not wrap it too tight
• B. Not stick the duct tape onto the fur 

The second time I went out to soak his foot I didn't wrap it afterwards. 

Farrier will provide an update once he's able to come out and start trimming away the hoof ~ maybe it will turn out to be a good thing that Eli's a bit overdue for a trim.

Farrier Feed ~ Double Dose

Started feeding Eli Farrier Feed for his hooves, to strengthen his thin walls and thin soles. I want them to grow strong and hard and if need be we will shoe his front feet this summer to avoid bruising.

We have a new Farrier who does hot shoeing and uses corrective pads coming out next week to trim both Ella and Eli. He can give an assessment on their feet at that point.

The company that produces the feed advises against using pine tar or turpentine. I agree in winter, but if it's a wet spring or summer I don't think either would dry out the hooves.

I am going to take a picture of Eli's feet now and periodically along the way to record any progress or change.

Beet Pulp

I picked up a bag of Beet Pulp from UFA. Did some reading on it and will switch Eli over from his Proform Step 6 - Senior feed to Beet Pulp as it is apparently highly used by OTTB owners for its low sugar content, low protein, low starch, but still high in Fibre.

I'm hoping this will still provide the calories needed but maybe change him to a more calmer horse eliminating the sugar content.

I did however read that it is better served soaked as it expands. One cup of pellet soaked generates 5 cups of feed after adding 3 1/2 cups of hot water and letting it sit for approximately 30 minutes!

Last scoop is one cup of dried pellets soaked in three cups of hot water for 30 - 45 mins. Produced about 5 cups, you can see one scoop ( 1 cup ) in the purple bucket.

Great News!

Some happy news, we met a really nice couple looking to buy a rescue horse, one they could work towards helping and build a bond with. As we had such a good experience with our Rescue Ella we put them in contact with Ella's previous Owner/Rescuer.

Not only did they find the right fit and get a horse, but the got TWO horses so they each have a mount - PLUS the horses are Mother and Son and therefore get to stay together. I love happy stories -can't wait to meet Cowboy and Bellatrix!

Cowboy ~ Son

Bellatrix ~ Mom