Nice, RC! Verrrrrr-y nice! Congrats! ~FH

[quote user="Solaris"]What's up with that crazy rig cranking her head in though?[/quote] Just looks like split reins snapped to some saddle Dees and looped back through the snaffle rings to make sliding draw reins to me. I can't quite understand how the running Martingale figures into that arrangement, though. Could it be some kind of demented homemade German Martingale? Inquiring minds want to know. ~FH

EVERYONE, regardless of body shape and condition, should be allowed to compete, be judged fairly and enjoy at all levels and disciplines of competition. Personally, I think a good weight-proportional relationship between horse and rider is a sign of good horsemanship. And I think it would be entirely appropriate for show judges to not award points or even deduct points for riders who severely abuse (by up to 100 pounds or more) generally accepted rider/horse weight guidelines. Not because they are

If you've only been riding this mare for a few weeks after several years of lay-off she may be getting cinch sore. Barring that, it could be ovarian cysts, kidney stone or some other pain issue she's trying to tell you about. Might be a good idea to have the vet take a look before repeated attempts to push her through this issue turns her sour to riding. ~FH

Criminey in a bucket, JG! I remember you saying the speed sensor was the problem. I don't remember anything about the sensor being MIA, though. That being the case, I can't help but wonder how that transmission worked at all. Did it get progressively worse or just screw up from the beginning? The electronic speed sensor does a lot more than just tell the tranny when to shift. It tells the main computer when to tell the tranny to shift. Plus it combines with manifold pressure to adjust the

Well... if nothing else works take a chisel and pry off all the Dodge markers, take a 2" brush and paint "Chevy" on the tailgate. ~FH

Unless there is something very special about this mare's bloodline that makes it important to get at least one more foal out of her, I'd let her be. As her vision fails her anxiety level will probably increase, too. And the blindness may be a bellwether for additional ailments on the horizon at her age. Breeding the mare, waiting out the gestation period while making sure she gets the proper feed and nutrition if she's expected to compete with other horses and then the additional anxiety

[quote user="WillowLark"]...there were matching dry spots about the size of a grapefruit on either side of the horse's backbone, just in front of the hips.[/quote] It's hard to tell what's going on without a photo. If the dry spots are right at the trailing edge of the saddle/pad and not completely surrounded by sweat, it would seem to be likely they are NOT pressure points but where air is getting under the saddle. If they are surrounded by sweat and the rest of the pattern

[quote user="Heather"] ...just wondering if anybody knew of the different ones I could go for. I want to get into horse genetics and breeding.[/quote] Most terminal degrees (PhD) in the equine fields are DVM with post-doctoral specialties. But there are a few doctoral programs specifically in reproduction and genetics that don't require completion of vet school first. The University of Colorado and Texas A & M are a couple that offer them. ~FH

[quote user="remmer"] [quote user="SeeingStarz"] I love the look the horses face, How would you caption that one? [/quote] "Does this tail wrap make my butt look big?" [/quote] "Is it MY turn to give YOU a wedgie now?" ~FH