| Abrazos Adventure Portales New Mexico offering family and individual recreation to Portales, Clovis, Cannon AFB and the surrounding area with horseback riding and lessons Wendy Toombs owner/instructor 575.607.7344 MEET FRED |
Although we had Fred when we started the school I didn’t use him. He was a lot fussier
than CC and Tag about how you rode him so I didn’t even try to use him. He officially
joined the work force in 2004 with experienced riders.
When I trained him I didn’t allow for his personality and I frustrated him in asking for
things. He would perform but there was a lot of agitation. After students riding him for a
period of time he learned that the days of doing lots of specialized movements were a
thing of the past and he didn’t mind the riding so much.
During our time together, we did a lot of trail riding. He has a nice soft trot and likes to
use it so we would go many miles that way.
Due to his conformation (build) he travels heavy on the fore (carries his weight on the
front feet rather than on the hind) and this causes him to stumble. He is a good
reminder for students on their responsibility for helping a horse balance.
He likes the people and although is not for true beginners can be used regularly.
Fred was born May 3, 1982 and is the oldest documented horse in the barn. He is a
registered Appaloosa and his name is Final Count Down. He apparently has what is
referred to as the graying gene. He was diagnosed pre-cancer when he was 15 and at
20 the cancer had to be treated. It seems that the Appaloosa is more prone to cancer
than other horse breeds.
The cancer is on his penis and caused by the UV rays of the sun. Apparently the sun
strikes the ground and reflects up under the horse and pink skin is susceptible to
cancer. Annually liquid nitrogen is applied to the tumor and that takes care of it for a
while. The vet doesn’t think it will progress to other parts of the body. On the March
2009 barn visit Doc commented that the site looks good. It didn’t last year.
For several years he would go lame at times when being ridden. I never knew until we
got to the arena. We had kept shoes on him all his life due to shelly feet. The farrier
finally recommended that we remove them and see what happened. Fred did okay. I
have to wonder now if – because the feet can wear – the change has relieved
something up in his shoulder. Once in a while he limps a little but nothing like before.
He is the second tallest in the barn at 15 hands 3 inches but weighs in at over 1200#.
We bought him when he was 13 months old June 3, 1983. When describing him we say
he is black with a white blanket. He does not have spots in the blanket.
He and my husband did not have a good relationship. One reason is pictured when
Fred managed to get his front feet over the bar of a metal gate. Of course, he couldn’t
get off either going frontward or backward. Consequently Ray had to dismantle the gate
then rebuild it. At that time he put in an extra bar in the upper space to keep it from
happening again. That worked but … we had one more pen that wasn’t fixed. You
guessed it, Fred did it again.
than CC and Tag about how you rode him so I didn’t even try to use him. He officially
joined the work force in 2004 with experienced riders.
When I trained him I didn’t allow for his personality and I frustrated him in asking for
things. He would perform but there was a lot of agitation. After students riding him for a
period of time he learned that the days of doing lots of specialized movements were a
thing of the past and he didn’t mind the riding so much.
During our time together, we did a lot of trail riding. He has a nice soft trot and likes to
use it so we would go many miles that way.
Due to his conformation (build) he travels heavy on the fore (carries his weight on the
front feet rather than on the hind) and this causes him to stumble. He is a good
reminder for students on their responsibility for helping a horse balance.
He likes the people and although is not for true beginners can be used regularly.
Fred was born May 3, 1982 and is the oldest documented horse in the barn. He is a
registered Appaloosa and his name is Final Count Down. He apparently has what is
referred to as the graying gene. He was diagnosed pre-cancer when he was 15 and at
20 the cancer had to be treated. It seems that the Appaloosa is more prone to cancer
than other horse breeds.
The cancer is on his penis and caused by the UV rays of the sun. Apparently the sun
strikes the ground and reflects up under the horse and pink skin is susceptible to
cancer. Annually liquid nitrogen is applied to the tumor and that takes care of it for a
while. The vet doesn’t think it will progress to other parts of the body. On the March
2009 barn visit Doc commented that the site looks good. It didn’t last year.
For several years he would go lame at times when being ridden. I never knew until we
got to the arena. We had kept shoes on him all his life due to shelly feet. The farrier
finally recommended that we remove them and see what happened. Fred did okay. I
have to wonder now if – because the feet can wear – the change has relieved
something up in his shoulder. Once in a while he limps a little but nothing like before.
He is the second tallest in the barn at 15 hands 3 inches but weighs in at over 1200#.
We bought him when he was 13 months old June 3, 1983. When describing him we say
he is black with a white blanket. He does not have spots in the blanket.
He and my husband did not have a good relationship. One reason is pictured when
Fred managed to get his front feet over the bar of a metal gate. Of course, he couldn’t
get off either going frontward or backward. Consequently Ray had to dismantle the gate
then rebuild it. At that time he put in an extra bar in the upper space to keep it from
happening again. That worked but … we had one more pen that wasn’t fixed. You
guessed it, Fred did it again.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  |