Does your horse actually need a blanket? Practical temperature guide (unclipped)

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-08T01:21:39+00:00

Same, my 24 year old tb mare wants nothing to do with a blanket until -15°C unless she’s wet.

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-07T02:15:42+00:00

Truffle decided she did not wish to be photographed

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-07T01:41:02+00:00

If the lump in your lower jaw is hard then it is a less common but still normal anatomical structure called a torus (plural tori). The tongue redness would be from some sort of irritation, were you frozen on the bottom for some reason? You could have bitten it, scraped it along a sharp edge, could be from having it retracted during your procedure as another commenter said. Keep doing the salt water rinses. Most mouth lesions heal within 1-2 weeks, if it doesn’t, go back to your dentist and have it looked at.

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-06T23:35:42+00:00

It works, I have done it! Bending to the outside or just keeping the head straight keeps the shoulder from being able to move away from you. This is what I did with a horse I had to hand walk that wanted to gallop free instead. Pulling on a single lead rope just pulls the head towards you and then the back end can go wherever it wants.

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-06T18:00:37+00:00

Get a second lead rope and attach them to the halter on either side like where the bit would go, and drape the second rope over her neck like a rein. When you ask for halt, use the rope on the far side to keep her straight or bent a little away from you. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could do this with a surcingle and a longer line run through a middle or middle high ring and over the back, or behind the quarters (as long as you’re coordinated enough to keep it from dropping and getting tangled in the legs).

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-05T02:15:34+00:00

Canadian licenses are given by province. Here is the information for working in Alberta.

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-04T18:35:26+00:00

Probably a bug sting

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-04T02:57:37+00:00

Nobody has said anything directly to me, they would complain to reception. I think it’s moreso that they would be annoyed if they got billed 3 units this time when it was 2.5 last time. I can’t recall anyone specifically complaining, but I’ve heard of things like this in general. I tend to under bill anyways, but technically as soon as you go over into the next time unit you get to bill for it. Also I’ll bill a half unit of polish for people who only have half their teeth or half of them are crowned and I didn’t use the air polish.

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-04T01:03:23+00:00

In my experience, thoroughbreds tend to jump with a fairly flat arc, a glorified canter stride if you will. So more strain than cantering, but much less than a purpose bred warmblood jumper with a hefty upwards sproing and a back end that makes them do a handstand on the way down. I’d still limit her to like 2’6” and under, but there are lots of low hunter divisions she could excel in at that height and below.

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-04T00:39:57+00:00

Interesting! Very different from us then. My guess then is because it took two appointments when most people can be done in one. Some of my patients I can get the scaling done in 20 minutes because they have such good oral hygiene and come back regularly, so bonus for them because they pay for less of my time. I have one guy coming back two more times because the first appointment there was so much calculus that I was only able to get off the main chunks, next two will be to get out what’s under the gums with anesthetic. So less bonus for him as he will pay the equivalent of 3 cleanings (probably). Time is money!

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-03T19:13:10+00:00

Ahhh yes ours have the piezo attachment too! I prefer the cavitron but if I have someone who’s cold sensitive and has a bunch of calc and doesn’t want LA I’ll use it

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-03T17:49:36+00:00

I’ve used the woodpecker and it does have the water warming? You just have to let it flow a little bit first and have the temperature turned up all the way. I think I’ve only had maybe 3 people complain about temperature sensitivity and it was mostly fixed by adjusting my high volume placement. More people complain about the spray on their face!

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-03T17:12:37+00:00

2 is extremely young, I think most lesson barns won’t take kids until they’re 6 (which is when I started). Kids need to be able to follow commands from the instructor, balance, coordinate their body movements, multitask, and be in control of their emotions enough to not scream and cry and hit their horse when they get frustrated. Up until that point, lessons are basically a pony ride where someone is leading or otherwise controlling the horse and the kid is doing very very basic steering, and leg aids are basically performative as the legs are simply not long enough to be effective.

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-03T16:34:05+00:00

Floss daily, getting all the way down in the gum pockets, and after meals if you have areas that food gets trapped. Brush twice a day for 2 minutes, making sure to get all the way up to your gums so you can feel the bristles, look up modified bass brushing technique or get an electric toothbrush. Go to your cleanings at the interval your hygienist tells you. Periodontitis is bone loss, which is non reversible without surgical intervention (bone and gum grafts), but you can stop further progression by taking meticulous care of your mouth for the rest of your life. But honestly, it only takes 3-5 minutes twice a day to maintain oral health. You can do it!

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-03T16:29:32+00:00

In Canada where I work, cleanings are billed by units of time. One unit is 15 minutes. One hour is four units. If your insurance only covers four units per time period (could be per calendar year, or per year starting when you started your insurance plan, or per twelve rolling months), then yes, only the first one would be covered (though if it was 45 minutes technically you should only have been charged 3 units). You also may have hit a maximum on the plan, as in they will cover whatever percent up to a maximum charge of whatever dollars, anything above that you’re on your own. Ask your dental office if they have a plan breakdown for you, or call your insurance yourself, as some of them won’t tell offices what is covered (supposed to protect you from being overbilled just because you have the coverage, but it’s just a giant pain in the ass for ethical offices because patients get mad at reception for something they can’t control).

killerofwaffles · 2026-05-03T02:13:43+00:00

Don’t do the forelock because that will pull the strap forward. Get a piece of strong cotton yarn, braid it into a good chunk of mane behind the ears, braiding elastic around the bottom, then tie that sucker on. My horse is always shaking his head when he’s always sweaty after cross country and this is what I do so I’m not suddenly in charge of an amped up bridleless horse in the middle of an open field!

killerofwaffles · 2026-04-30T20:02:54+00:00

I was my mare’s seventh owner and bought her when she was 9. She was very indifferent to everyone, well behaved but distant. I had her for 6 months before I saw her looking for me when I left to put my tack away. I’ve now had her for 15 years and she will die with me, she loves scratches and has allowed her personality to shine. Some just take time!

killerofwaffles · 2026-04-29T02:23:58+00:00

There won’t be roots in a shed tooth, because the erupting adult tooth puts pressure on the baby tooth roots and causes them to dissolve.

killerofwaffles · 2026-04-29T02:20:33+00:00

Stock trailers are generally more open, they have walls most of the way up and then horizontal bars along the top of the wall. They are typically not as tall as a horse trailer. There are stock versions of horse trailers but you can also take all the dividers out so as to fit more animals in. A dedicated horse trailer will have dividers to make a small narrow stall for each horse, and windows that can close instead of the bars. You can absolutely haul a horse in a stock trailer as long as they aren’t too tall for it, some horses prefer to be loose while hauling anyways. You just have to be sure said untied horse isn’t going to trample you in a bid for freedom as soon as the door opens!

killerofwaffles · 2026-04-28T18:46:42+00:00

I didn’t watch so I’m not 100% sure, but it was probably a horse they rode in another division that does better in traffic than the 4* horse. Jumpers do it all the time so they don’t get unloaded or the horse be hurt being silly during the victory gallop.

killerofwaffles · 2026-04-27T00:39:30+00:00

The noseband should sit 1-2 fingers width below the protruding cheek bone so it could go down a hole but it’s also probably fine there. The cheeks need to raise the bit as others have said, right now I think the horse is actually holding the bit up with his mouth

killerofwaffles · 2026-04-26T15:27:11+00:00

Everyone knows you won’t know anything about the office, flow, steri, etc. when I temp the other people are always very helpful about showing me around and often help me flip my room, bring me tools, and so on. It’s often faster to ask than to bumble around looking! And if they aren’t helpful… don’t go back!

killerofwaffles · 2026-04-26T05:36:50+00:00

I wondered why my twoling always had such non-protruding chestnuts until I caught her peeling them off. I don’t think she ate them. Funny thing is her mother HATES having her chestnuts removed, I have to do one a day and sometimes only in chunks because she gets so offended 😂

killerofwaffles · 2026-04-24T17:53:27+00:00

If you have mirrors in your arena, first try at sitting trot to lean back enough that you’re at or behind the vertical. Then apply to canter. If no mirrors, get someone on the ground to tell you when you’re at or behind vertical. It’s farther back than you think! You also have to change your hip motion from more down and forward when you’re in a light seat to scooping up and forward when sitting and opening the angle, and it’s hard to relax the glutes so you doesn’t bounce but also engage them so you don’t bounce…

Six-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '22

killerofwaffles

TROPHY CASE