Hearing about all those precious horses today in the New Jersy fire got me thinking about my little pony, and I realized I haven't posted in some time. An update just to let you know I didn't just up and die...
I peek in here everyday when I get a chance, but I've barely had time lately to post, and then it's sually late at night to prayer threads. We've been finalizing our yearly ag plans, and it looks like we're going to need to leave our big pasture (the one where I had planned to paddock Ranger) in hay production this next year. It's just too rare in Texas and with our drought-stricken neighbors clamoring for more hay, we've decided we'll hay it out this year and keep Ranger in my neighbor's pasture next door with his buddies for now.
We feed him everyday separately and work with him in the round pen, and he's socializing really well. Halter work has started, but the fun's been tempered by the fact that some of Ranger's pasture buddies are the ornriest pregnant mares I've ever met. They aren't just mean, they're **tchy. They bite and chase the stallions, and they nearly run everybody out of the pasture. Fortunately, they don't seem to care about Ranger one way or another, but I am going to ask if he could be relocated to the pasture next to them instead. I haven't met these mares before pregnancy (Ranger was put in with them three weeks ago) but neighbor says they are usually gentle. Perhaps it's just the late pregnancy blues, but I think they're just evil. Of course, they aren't MY babies... but they better not bite MY baby, Ranger.
Anyhoo, here's to hay. I hope we got enough rain to produce some. We're going to donate 10% to ranchers affected by wildfire, save some for Ranger, and share the rest of the roundbales with our neighbors as needed. If I have any extra to sell after that, that'd be nice too...
But first, feed the horsies!
I had to move my mare out of the mare pasture. Horses in the pasture usually don't bother me. Those girls had meanness in their eyes though. I would make them back up but never turned my back because they would sneak up the other side. The boys, no problem.
What part of Texas are you in?
My daughter's mare, Winnie, is in heat right now and it's too funny. She sticks her butt in Tuffy's face, spreads 'em and winks, Tuffy takes a sniff then turns around for her to sniff his butt. He just doesn't get it.
Glad things are coming along with your colt and working him in halter and ground work. Did you get him gelded yet?
Contrary to popular belief, in wild herds the mares run things and the stallion is barely tolerated :~D The older he gets, the more he'll tangle with other horses, right now, he's got the pass of being a baby. If there are really stallions in the group next door, I'd be real hesitant to put him out there.
Hey, glad things are going good, and glad you've gotten to the halter stage:)
As far as the pregnant mares, I've heard putting a young stallion, in with pregnant mares is the best way to teach him manners:). It might look rough to you and me, but the stallion (are you going to leave him a stallion), learns to mind his manners.
As far as the bites and kicks he gets, that's pretty much going to happen any time horses run in a pasture together.
Becky