The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Nah, their about the same size as rabbit pellets.

We figured the cost, and it MIGHT be a tad higher then the grain/hay thing, but some things to consider. It's a whole lot easier to haul then hay bales. You don't have to take up your whole barn storing it. You KNOW your horses are getting consistent high quality roughage. That was my problem around here some years you paid $6.00 a bale for crappy hay. In reality I don't think it really does cost any more then hay grain.

One more thing:)...there are some other brands of complete pellets out there, Blue Bonnet, Tindle, I've tried them all and I will say Purina makes the best.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I have not seen it at my feed store.... But I am interested to check it out with the other feed stores around.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

The one draw back I see with pellets is that they do eat them up then have nothing to do till the next feeding. For alot of people feeding 3X's a day is impossbile. I feed about 7, 3, 9 o'clock.

They get to get out on pasture for 3-5 hours a day. My pasture is pretty sparse most of the time becasue our ground is so rocky. But there's enough for them to meander around picking. The rest of the time they stand in runs off their loafing sheds.

You can feed just twice, but that makes for longer periods of standing idle. That's why, even tho they don't need it nutrionally I give them hay on camping trips. Rusty, tho, doesn't really eat that much hay, They get where they really like them. One time I mixed some sweet feed in (I got a free bag), and they left the sweet feed in the buckets. Wouldn't eat it. It actually made me feel even more sold on them.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

The long standing in between wouldn't be that big of a deal for me, because I also have pasture that they can pick at for entertainment, that is usually short enough they aren't going to over-eat.

It is only lately, when I opened up the new 'back-forty' area they could be on, that I could rotate and rest pasture, and wondered about whether I could make the pasture sustainable for their roughage requirements and how to know when it is too much, before they just get fat ;~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

My feed store didn't carry it either. I had to ask them to stock it. It's not real popular. But if your feed store stocks Purina feeds, just ask them to get it for you.

But make very sure you either keep a week ahead on supply or make sure your feed store understands that if you run out and they run out your horses go hungry. The guy at my feed store and I went round and round one summer because since he wasn't use to ordering it he kept forgetting and would run out. I finally had to get very FIRM with him. I even called Purnia and asked them to give the guy a curtesy call to remind him how important it is for people to not have to change feeds often with their horses.

He has not run out in a long long time:) For awhile till I knew I culd depend on him, I kept a week extra all the time.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Wow, how much land do you have?

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh.... sorry. 'back-forty' is not truly 40 acres, that is only my pet name for it. Only seven acres total. I have one approx. 3 acre pasture, a one acre paddock, and another 2 acre parcel that I just fenced and call the 'back forty'. It is mostly woods, and is where I kept them all winter to let the pasture recover.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You've still got more then I do, I have five. I get embarrassed calling it pasture sometime:) I can't rotate alot, because I can't let mine run together. The stud thing you know. If I could rotate, I think what I do have would be better.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

It is small enough though, that I want whatever horse we get for ecurbh to get along and not have to be kept separated. Ideally a mare, because Bay has a stud complex where other boys are concerned and likes his mares better.

But at any rate, I am going to look into the pellets you use, I had forgotten talking about it before.

[CindyDawg]

Is it normal for a horses stomach to growl all the time? Okies does. I really notice it in the eving when I'm grooming him. His weight looks good but I don't know if he's hungry but he always wants to eat.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, it is normal! :~D - You should be more worried if you did ~not~ hear good stomach noises! He isn't hungry, he's digesting!

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh... he might want to eat all the time, but that doesn't mean he's necessarily ~hungry~ ;~D

[CindyDawg]

That's good then. Since I don't feed him I worry at times. He gets great care but I starting thinking what if he was out and missed breakfast or something.
Looks like we are going to stay here. Not where I want to be but oh well... so we have been looking for some acreage. I'll be glad when I have him nearer and can take care of him myself. Going to be awhile though caz I can't just pasture him. I have to be there.

[HairOfTheDog]

One of the signs that they are colicky is actually the ~absence~ of stomach noises.

[CindyDawg]

Got it. Stomach noises good. His ah intestines work just fine too :')

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well lots of rain here today:(. No riding.

Had a glorious ride yesterday, 4 hours. On Harley. I have yet to get that horse tired tho.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Ok, I've stopped at two places now to look at saddles. Few questions.
So what do I ask for? A hunt seat forward??

A lady at the saddle shop here seemed surprised when I said I want to look at a forward seat jumping saddle, for trail riding. Did I ask for the wrong thing? She said a dressage saddle would be better. I came back and looked at these pictures you posted, and the hunt seat one does look deeper, which is what I want. She said that a forward seat will not let my leg hang straight and so be uncomfortable.

Also are Kincaids (sp) a decent brand? I'm really not wanting to spend a lot. The dressage saddle she showed me was $1200, Yikes:). I found a Kincaide at Pet Smart, I think it was a forward jumping saddle (how do you tell the difference between hunt seat and close contact), for $299, by the time I get the stirrups, stirrups leathers, girt, and a pad it will be in the neighbor hoood of $450. Is that good or bad? Can I do better?

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

A "Forward-Seat saddle" with a deep seat.... or a deep seated "all purpose" is what you should ask for. The differences you are shopping for are between the "deep seat" which will have the higher cantel and pommel and the "close contact" which will look much flatter

She is sortof right about the dressage saddle hanging your leg straighter... But I wouldn't get one. I wear my stirrups long on trail for my knees, longer than someone would for jumping.

Your price on one sounded like a very good price. Here is the saddle I got... Arcaro's Saddlery Wintec 500 English Saddles - Page 1

[CindyDawg]

Going to ride tomorrow. I hope it goes smoothly. I haven't rode all week.

[HairOfTheDog]

I found your saddle on line I think. Is this it? Looks good... Calling it a close contact but it still has a nice seat. Price w/o fittings $335.

Catalog: Kincade Close Contact