http://www.arabianbreeders.net/Forums/index.php?autocom=blog Community Blog List Syndication Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:09:58 -0400 WebMaster@ArabianBreeders.Net (Arabian Breeders Network) IP.Blog 60
September 11th, after some new bleeding but before the major incident:


September 15th, the picture speaks for itself:


September 18th, getting back on track:


September 22nd:


September 26th:
]]> Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:17:00 -0400
I tied him and brought the saddle out (an english saddle) and let him sniff at it. When he seemed to figure it was harmless, I slowly and carefully put it on his back. He didn't do anything except to look at me as if to ask "What are you doing?". So I tightened up the girth. Like most horses he didn't appreciate the tightening part but during the weeks before this I had gotten him used to having a western saddle blanket strapped on his back and tightened, so it wasn't a problem.

Then, I decided to go for a walk with him to see what he'd do. I'm sooo proud of him he didn't buck, kick, nothing. Just like when I put the saddle blanket on him the first time. I have to add that the saddle looks to be too big on him lol as if he was a pony with a horse saddle and the girth was almost too big (keep in mind that this saddle is used for a 16 hh, 16 yr old standardbred mare, and he's a 15.2 hh, 3 yr old arabian colt so that's why).

I had such a fun time and ended it on a good note. I hope to do it again tonight and get him to trot and canter with it on. The only things he hates about it so far is the noise of the leather moving lol the little sqeaks (he's always cocking one ear back to make sure nothing's behind him) and the girth. Tonight I hope to also put the stirrups down and walk him just to see if he'll do fine.

PS I'll be continuing the whoas and such aswell as I'm really committed to this association.

Rachel]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:39:00 -0400
Tamerlynn (*Tamerlan x Trishia by *Procent)
NM Rostalgia (RV Rostov x Namusca by *Nariadni)
MM Lada (Saratov x *Amira-Lada by Abdullah)
DYN Amber Myst (*Muscat x Modnitsa by Nabeg)
Amarretta (*Princip x Amarilla PR by Maryk)

It is shaping up to be another exciting foal crop for *Nefison, who will be 27 next year! Most represent what are now well proven crosses, with the addition of Amarretta this year- as detailed in the entry below we are expecting that she will be yet another great cross with *Nefison!]]> Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:20:00 -0400 Tumor time - this will have pictures of tumors on a gelding's sheath and penis







Spot is my 23 year old Appy gelding . He, as you can see, is mostly pink skinned, he is also sedated in this picture .




He is now suffering from a pretty typical Appy problem of Squamous cell carcinoma or skin cancer . Appy’s and other light skinned horses get this either in their sheath , vulva area or eyes . Spot started his chemotherapy Cisplatin today , which is injections into the tumors . This is the first round the next round will be in 2 weeks . It was a bit worse than expected , we knew about the tumor on the outside but not the tumors on the inside . After he was sedated my Vet found the additional tumors and after a call to UC Davis determined how much of the drug could be injected at one time .

After the first round of chemotherapy





Day 2

Quite a bit of swelling today . I am putting on a combination of Antibiotic ointment and Cortisone cream mixed 1:1 on it twice a day to help with swelling . Last night I brought him up and put him the wash rack and had Brian hold him. I wasn't sure how painful it would be or how he would react to me touching it . He was fine and didn't offer to kick me . Today I just treated him in his turnout and even with all the swelling he was fine with me touching it . My Vet said I wouldn't really see any changes until the second or third treament in the actual tumors .

later

The swelling continued through the day until it was just huge . When I called him to come up to get treated at night the poor thing moved like he was just gelded again . I buckled and gave him 1 gram of bute .

Day 6

Well it's a gory goopy mess . The swelling is down , it's been cooler at night so that might be helping . He is moving around well and eating like he's starving . I'm still treating twice a day and that's what's making it a goopy mess . I'm not messing with it and so far he is ok with me smearing the cream over it . I have a system down now and can get it covered without having to touch it much . I'm not sure how painful it is and don't want to handle it much in case it hurts and I don't want to get kicked .


I will continue to update Spot's progress through this - check back to this entry for the updates
2008 all pictures and content ]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:53:00 -0400
The illusive Lp gene is my next topic. IT IS BELIEVED................

that the appaloosa can be either heterozygous or homozygous for appy characteristics. Research is still being conducted by The Appaloosa Project. But here are the basics...

There are many patterns of color - some with spots, some without spots, some that cover the entire body, some that just roan the body, and some that only leave the very minimal few white pieces of hair. There are certain characteristics that indicate the presence of the Lp gene on an otherwise solid horse. These are mottled skin around the muzzle, eye, and/or private areas - striped hooves - white sclera in the eye (kind of like some arabs). If a horse has all of these characteristics but seems otherwise solid in color, it is still most likely a carrier of the Lp gene (either heterozygous or homozygous). The various white patterns are the more illusive part of the equation here and there is also a hypothesis that talks about additional white helper genes that help when it comes the expression of the patters (loud or flaky).

An Lp gene does not guarantee a pattern - all the Lp gene guarantees are the appy characteristics (mottled skin, striped hooves, white schera). The expression of a pattern (butt blankets, leopards, fewspots, snowcaps, appy roans, etc) depends on the type of pattern genes and possibly white helper genes associated wit the Lp gene. Unfortunately this part is still being researched but I'll give you examples.

I know of a foundation appaloosa mare that is a solid bay but she has produced two foals with loud color - one leopard and one blanket. There is believed to be two specific leopard pattern genes right now according to the research. This mare came from a long line of leopard to leopard breeding so most likely carries the leopard pattern genes even though she does not express them herself (which could be due to either Lp genes or white helper genes?). The stallion she was bred to both times was not a leopard and had no leopards in the first five generations.

The dam of my buckskin half-arab/appy gelding appeared to be just a roan buckskin appaloosa mare. What she was really hiding was the genetic make-up to produce loud color when bred to the right stallion. Two previous foals, when bred to a Witez II stallion, were solid half-arabs. But when bred to the last stallion (Padron Psyche line - know sabino producing line - possible contribution of white helping genes), my very loud gelding was the product.

It is not known if the appaloosa roaning characteristic is heterzygous or homozygous but does seem to be a distinct pattern.

In addition to the appaloosa, it is important to pick the right arabian. A small amount of sabino (star and/or socks) can go a long way to helping produce a loud colored half-arab foal. A solid black arabian with NO history of white markings in the lineage can be a bad choice. If there are white markings on the arabs anywhere in the lineage, however, you are still ok (because of how the illusive nature on the inheritance of the sabino patterns). A chestnut arabian with white markings, bred to a loud appaloosa will be the best chance at getting loud colored foals. This line of reasoning goes along with some specific research that indicates that chestnut, bay, and black DID, somehow, have an impact on the expression of the appaloosa pattern. Black being the most suppressive and chestnut being the least. So in fact, a loud colored, black appaloosa (because it is the most suppressive) is a very potent producer of loud color - the reasoning..... if all that white is expressing on the most suppressive color, it must have a significant number of white helper genes, pattern expression genes, etc to make it that loud which means it has a lot to offer the color gene pool.

Long story short - if you want appy color on your half arab foal - breed to a fewspot or snowcap (an appy with none or very few spots) - this will nearly guarantee a spotted pattern. Also look at the sire and dam of the appy you are breeding to determine the possible patterns they may contribute to your half arab foal. Also look at any progeny, if available, to get an idea of what kind of patterns that appy produces. If either parents are roany or flaky, or if the appy has produced roans and snowflake patterns, you may want to scratch that appy off your breeding partner list. Pick an appy that has a history of loud color to breed your arabian to.

If you want big spots on your half-arab - pick a fewspot appaloosa whose parents had big spots and who has foals on the ground with big spots. If you want big spots, do not breed to an appaloosa that has little spots. If you want guaranteed color on your half-arab, do NOT breed to a spotted appaloosa because you will only have a 50% chance of getting those spots. A leopard will not always produce leopards - just depends on the patterns that horse carries, the amount of white helper genes contributed by the parents, and the base color of the horse. There are alot of variables in the equation that produces the appaloosa patterns and it is nearly impossible to predict the outcome but you can at least try to narrow the possibilities.]]> Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:56:00 -0400
After a long and difficult journey and now with another long road to recovery ahead, the straight Russian mare Rare Sensaytion has arrived to join our broodmare band at Kakagi Arabians. She is sired by the imported Topol son *Novator, known as a sire of athletes including 5 National winners in Dressage (Training level through Prix St. Georges) and Stakes winners on the track. Her dam, PR Sensacja, placed in all 6 starts on the track and has produced a multiple Regional winner in Dressage, Training through 4th level. PR Sensacja's sire *Mandat was an imported Aswan son out of Miest, the Salon daughter who produced the Kossack Stud's Peleng son Gomel, winner of 44 out of 53 starts in Dressage when competing against warmbloods in Europe.

*Novator:


*Mandat:


Rare Sensaytion herself placed twice in two starts on the track and was a Class A winner in halter. Her son Rizinshinecollin has also raced, starting 10 times and finishing as high as 2nd. After seeing what our stallion *Nefison has produced with the *Novator daughter Novaya, owned by Kim Cox of Caramea Stud, we were excited to find Rare Sensaytion available in Maryland. She represents what has been a proven cross with *Nefison both phenotypically and genotypically and is young enough that we are hoping to also try her with our young *Nefison sons.

Unfortunately Rare Sensaytion's journey to Canada was not an easy one, and after three legs of travel and two layovers, she arrived with a severed tendon in her right hind leg and various, more superficial injuries. The first leg of Sensay's trip went relatively well and she arrived in KY without major problems, but at this point we were now well aware of her aversion to trailer rides. We made a point to warn our next hauler and request that she be hauled in a box, but unfortunately it is our understanding that the warning did not make it on to the driver, and no box was available. This is not the end of what this particular hauler put us through, if anyone would like more details, feel free to contact me. Between KY and MI Sensay kicked the door off the trailer and put her foot through a window, resulting in the worst of her injuries. Less than wonderful vets along the way didn't improve matters, but we are grateful to both Cindi Nutter of Sport Arabians for laying her over in KY, and especially to Jim Andreson of Selket Arabians for caring for her in MI. There would clearly be no more haulers in her future, so with the help of Joanne Ogden (coming to our rescue yet again!) we picked Sensay up in MI and are now caring for her wounds at home.

This is the worst of them, pictured (before cleaning) August 29th, two days after arrival:




August 31st:


September 2nd:


And September 6th:




We have a long road ahead, but Sensay has proven to be a 'tough cookie' and quite the survivor to make it this far. When she has recuperated enough to spend a little time outside, I will share some pictures of the rest of her!]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:06:00 -0400 Around 1 month

So far so good . Amy is still on the in at night progam . She isn't happy about it and catching her at night now is a production . We get the old cat game of " just close enough to touch but not catch " . This morning she was only out a few minutes and brought out a kangaroo rat and started playing cat soccer with it . Foggy wasn't around this morning and I was worried she might have gotten eaten but after about 20 minutes of "kitty kitty kitty " on and off she appeared . I'm really happy with them and they are doing a good job of keeping everything away from my hay and outbuildings .


Day 10+

It's been 10+ days since the girls were let loose . I am keeping Amy in at night and that's working out well . Foggy has moved over into the hay stack and she's doing her job . I don't have any birds coming into my shed now and I haven't seen any walking around the shed area . I also haven't seen any of the various rodents that were moving in over at the hay stack .

Day 4

So far so good . I have been putting Amy in at night and Foggy stays nearby . Foggy is like a feral cat should be slinky and hangs close to cover . Amy is silly and comes right out in the open and has started following me around the shed area . I think I'll keep Amy on the in- at- night program

The next day

I did catch Amy and put her in the cage last night . I was worried about Foggy but hoped she'd stay nearby . This morning I was happy to see Foggy's little face watching me from under the shed . I turned Amy out for the day and they both headed over to the hay stack

Freedom

Today is the big day . The girls have been here for 3 weeks , the suggested amount of time before turning them loose . I opened the cage and let them out a couple hours ago . I'm a bit worried about Amy who turns out not to be "Feral Amy" but just " Shy Amy " , I can pet and pick her up . I will try and catch her at feeding time tonight and put her in the cage overnight , Foggy is feral and I know I can't catch her . Hopefully if Amy is in the cage Foggy will stay nearby under the shed where she will be safe . Feral cat project - part 1

Amy heads across to the hay stack



Amy sitting near my wheelbarrow next to the hay shed



Foggy deciding what to do



Foggy posing outside the cage



2008 all photos and content ]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:13:00 -0400
Looking back now I could have been better prepared but I lack self discipline . Saturday I only had one test 2-2 which is a pretty easy test, except for that stupid simple change at x which is difficult for me . I actually wore the boots for an hour on Friday, not to ride of course but to clean house . So we were good to go and entered at A . Second movement is medium trot across the diagonal . I usually post this at home, my back only has a couple in it and I just don't put myself through it . We were 4 steps into it and I felt something let go in my low back , we continued while I bounced and slammed poor Petes back doing my best not to fall off . She gave us a 4, a more generous judge would have given me a 5 . We finished the test and got a low score , marked down again for that stupid simple change I always time wrong .

Saturday night I was in a good deal of pain and decided to ride Sunday but only test 2 and not test 4 - test 2 was also scheduled earlier and it was hot . I decided to not even attempt the medium and just do a working trot and take the 4 she would give me but spare my back . We did get 4's but overall I tried harder and the score went up 11 points , if I hadn't had to throw away the medium trot and had gotten the timing on that simple change it would have been a respectable score . She gave Pete some very nice comments - just short of saying nice horse needs a better rider . Since I bred him and trained him I'm pretty happy when he gets nice comments . I was feeling discouraged on Saturday but got over it . If I work at it harder things will improve , next show is in Oct . and I'll try again .

Pete was the only Arab and for fun I thought if anyone asked I'd tell them he's a Middle Eastern Warmblood . Someone did ask and I did tell them Middle Eastern Warmblood ! my coach was standing there and she laughed and then told the lady he was an Arab - the lady totally bought my Middle Eastern Warmblood line .

This is my coach on a Hannoverian gelding , no pictures of me, we forgot the camera and Meralee had to work . He is the same color as Pete with similar markings but Pete is only 14.2 and this guy was around 17 hands



2008]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:43:00 -0400


The 'middle' of Amarretta's pedigree is no less impressive- her maternal grandsire Maryk produced both Marykov+/ and Neposzar+ when bred to *Nefison's half-sister *Nanna, and is a full brother to the dam of Metropolis NA, who is currently in Poland and now beginning to make a mark in the Pride of Poland Auction with one of his daughters sold this year heading to Toskhara Arabians in Tx.

Maryk:


With the proven combinations of *Mag and Antina producing Immagin, Maryk and *Nanna (x Nefisa) producing Marykov+/ and Neposzar+, and a beautiful filly on the ground by *Nefison and out of the *Princip daughter Magnoliah, we are extremely excited to see what Amarretta and *Nefison give us in 2009!

]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:17:00 -0400
Anyways, so now that things have calmed down, the birthday party is over and the horses are all happy, the vet has come and gone and life settles back into its new "normal routine" I finally have a minute to really post about my new boy. Let me preface this with saying while my life revolves around my horses for the most part, I am terrified of the critters. I'm not afraid to admit that. I never had an accident (believe it or not I've never even fallen from a horse but once in 20 years and it only hurt my pride *knocks on wood*) or other traumatic incident to make me this way. Every time I ride my heart pounds in my ears for a minute or two, and when I'm dealing with a new horse I get a little shaky until I get to know them. Even Neo, who I've owner for the last 6 years can make me jump backwards at the slightest unexpected movement. But it's a healthy fear and I accept it as part of my daily life. So while I always wanted to raise Arabians, I figured I'd have mares and pay for AI, and if I ever "became rich" I'd hire someone to handle my studs. Ko is changing all of that for me, and maybe he'll even cure me of the fear in the process.

I've never seen a stallion so laid back. Even when we put him with Halley, who he wanted to be with badly after watching her from his stall for three days, he only did a little jiggy prance as we put them together. When I go to feed him he politely backs up a full five steps to give me room, regardless of how hungry he is. His manners are better than any other horse on the property, and Cathy wasn't kidding when she said you'll forget he's a stud. I find myself forgetting already.

Today the vet came, as it was coggins time of the year for half the herd. The three that needed it were my three mares I'm breeding to Ko, and we did the first two without much fuss, although little Miss Allie had to snort and show off for the vet before he did his thing. Then we had to go get Halley, and the vet is all about "just visiting them in the paddock". Well, Halley wanted non of this catching nonsense, as she REALLY likes Ko. When Ko saw we wanted her and not him, he backed out of the way and watched. After four or five attempts of heading her off, he saw we needed some help. This stallion honest to goodness joined us in catching her, trotting after her and nipping her rear to send her back to us. He did this three or four times before he herded her to us, and with a final ###### to the hind quarters made her promise to stand and behave. The halter went on without an issue, and Ko watched us from beside me until we were done, waited until we left the paddock, then trotted off with her. Talk about a cow pony, he knew the job that needed done and helped us get it done. We'd probably still be trying to catch her now. lol!

Yep, he's got it all... manners, brains, and looks... well see for yourself. Not bad at all for such an old man.

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:29:00 -0400