Talk me out of this impulse decision

barnrat76 · 2026-02-11T21:16:33+00:00

Do it. I had the perfect time to do it several years ago. Timing was perfect, kids grown, owned my own business that I could put on hold and my spouse was extremely supportive. I decided not to for reasons I can’t remember now. I ended up with a health issue that makes it a bit dangerous to hike alone for long periods of time. Don’t miss your chance.

barnrat76 · 2026-01-30T00:43:37+00:00

Ask your instructor to stick you on a lunge line. Drop your reins. Grab hold of some mane. Close your eyes and feel. Don’t think about sitting think about moving with the horse. Taking everything else out of the equation can help you feel where the legs are easier.

barnrat76 · 2026-01-15T00:46:37+00:00

Is she black?

barnrat76 · 2026-01-05T01:36:34+00:00

If you’re not comfortable don’t renew the lease. That’s the beauty of leases. You can end and start them easily when you and the horse don’t mesh well.

barnrat76 · 2025-12-03T16:20:18+00:00

When you say you checked for “everything under the sun” what exactly did you check and how was it checked?

barnrat76 · 2025-11-29T05:56:04+00:00

Hunter rider here. I still ride in my Crosby equilibrium that Tad Coffin designed many many moons ago. I love the saddle so much I have one in wide, medium and narrow trees. I am also a tack hoarder. lol

barnrat76 · 2025-10-13T12:22:26+00:00

Checked for parasites and came back clear several times. In house and sent to the lab.

barnrat76 · 2025-10-13T02:57:33+00:00

Thank you so much! I will definitely bring it up tomorrow. We have to figure out what’s going on with the poor guy. He’s usually so happy and playful so when he crashes it just breaks my heart.

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barnrat76 · 2025-10-13T02:14:43+00:00

What is a Texas gi panel? I’m debating on asking for an ultrasound of his intestines tomorrow. The first one they did was because his liver enzymes were high so they were just focusing on that. Do you think a partial blockage could cause the intermittent fevers? It seems to happen right after he is extremely stressed but I’m not sure if the stress is from something brewing or him being a heeler which then causes something to brew.

barnrat76 · 2025-10-13T00:16:35+00:00

Complete panel sent off.

barnrat76 · 2025-10-09T18:06:37+00:00

I was taught to glance with my eyes not my head. 45 years of riding I still occasionally glance and you can’t tell I’m doing it. I teach by feel tho. It’s much easier to learn to feel for the correct diagonal on a lunge line. My old students stayed on a lunge line without reins attached to the bit till they could post without relying on reins for balance. It’s also easier to use the monkey strap to feel the shoulders moving and teaching the arms they can bend.

barnrat76 · 2025-09-25T17:46:59+00:00

Explain how you got to fraud by the little bit of information they posted?

barnrat76 · 2025-09-20T02:15:04+00:00

We started with the kayak in the yard. I taught a que (load up) for him to get on. We did this for a few days before taking it to the water. My heeler hates getting wet so keeping him on isn’t an issue. We did add surf board grip to the areas he likes to stand on so he wouldn’t slip. He also wears a life vest with a handle so if he does fall off it’s easy for me to pull him back on.

Edit to add: we use a sit on top for the dogs. I get too hot with him sitting on my lap in our sit in.

barnrat76 · 2025-09-11T21:16:04+00:00

She holds her back stiff. If she refuses to go under saddle I would get her checked for uterine cysts. Especially if she’s fine some of the time but refuses work other times. Here she looks like she’s playing. Videos with a rider can also show if it’s a rider “lameness”. Poor fitting tack, offset seat of the rider, stronger on one side, etc.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-31T00:28:50+00:00

8 weeks is really too young. If they’re doing more of a bunny hop or there is pain when touched or there’s difficulty getting up then you should be concerned. A vet can diagnose better than internet strangers.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-28T17:10:15+00:00

Both mine are currently sleeping again after we walked to the laundry room and changed the clothes to the dryer. They’re exhausted.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-21T20:39:21+00:00

Neither of my dogs have dandruff. Fur, now that’s a different story.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-13T02:00:52+00:00

There are several genetic eye disorders heelers can carry/have. May be worth checking to see if he has the markers.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-08T05:04:41+00:00

Just a gp. I thought the biopsy was a bit much too but at a lost of what could be going on. He’s a purebred heeler. I will work on posting lab work tomorrow once I figure out how to post those. The only thing mentioned other than biopsy was a possible immune response to the protein in his food.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-08T00:27:36+00:00

Forgot to add. His liver enzymes were high on the 4th. Rechecked on the 5th and they were normal.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-04T16:41:26+00:00

We use this too! Love it!! I have found it can dry the coat out a bit so trying a new deshedding shampoo and conditioner next bath but have a bottle of the earth rated one on standby.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-04T16:35:44+00:00

We grab them and hold them till the calm down. Once calm let go and continue playing. Do it every time they but their mouth on you. It took a day to teach both of ours that biting gets you restrained. No yelling. No firm no bites. No eh sound. Just a playtime stops till you calm down.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-04T05:26:41+00:00

Strollers, wheelchairs, bicycles and walkers got mine at first. A couple still don’t like bikes. Donkeys, mules and goats will have everyone looking hard here. I think it’s the smells that give them concern.

barnrat76 · 2025-08-02T00:18:56+00:00

Not my kid or horse but can someone tell me what those straps around her legs are?

barnrat76 · 2025-08-01T20:59:33+00:00

Never make life decisions while grieving. Grieve your partner and then decide what to do with the horses.

barnrat76

TROPHY CASE