The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread

[HairOfTheDog]

Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?

A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!

I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.

I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.

[Beaker]

Is this mustang gelded? Wow, as scary as that is, that must have been some sight!

[CindyDawg]

Yeah he's a gelding. He was wild though so I don't know at what age. He's a gorgeous horse.

As for the shoes, realistically that isn't doable around here. We have thunderstorms that will just pop up and move thru here fast and my horse pastured. If we were say flooding or something I could pay by the day and put mine in the stalls (if space available) but I'm about 15-20 minutes away at work and by the time I got there it would be over. Most of the horses wear shoes and no problems. It just seems strange that in this day conductive metal would be used. You would think they could be made out of some hard rubber or plastic.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Here's some pictures of Grizzly. He is turning out to be a very good dog. He now goes with me on rides.A few times I actually think he was "protecting" me when other dogs came barking at me. I wish I could take him when I go to other places too ride like this weekend. But in parks they have to be on leashes.

You can see behind him he has dug out a spot up aganist the house, I think it's cool there with that vent above the spot. I've got a kids swiming pool for him, but he only drinks out of it, he won't get in. That surprises me because he loves sitting in the creek on rides.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Here's the garden pictures:

The tree from porch step.

The morning glories from the outside of the fence.

It maybe doesn't seem like it in the pictures, but it's getting that overgrown look again to me. But I'm not sure I want to go cutting on stuff now.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

He pretty much gets free choice of hay. She had a round bale delivered here and I pitch fork hay off it. She said give him all he'll eat, but don't let him waste it. It's not bad hay, but it probably doesn't have alot of anything in it like some would, its just prarie hay and bermuda mix.

He gets that dailey wormer in his oats every day, but that's it.

I use a complete pellet made by Purina. I swear by it. One of the best advantages is that you don't have to feed hay, it's in the pellets. You feed by weight of the horse. Rusty get's about 16 lbs a day, which is really more then I should have to give him but because of his medical problems he has had he's a bit of a hard keeper. I think that will change as he gets better, he has been gaining weight since I've had him on the thyroid med. Rocky gets about 12. I feed 3 X's a day, which I know is hard for some people but you can do it 2X's a day. I just do it 3 because I can, and it gives the horse something in the afternoon. I only have a tiny bit of pasture for them to nibble on in the summer. But this feed gives a horse 100% of everything he needs, but is low in protein so they don't get loony. I may be a bit prejudice:) but I think my horses always look real good. No big hay bellies, not to fat, not to thin. It's just alot easier to maintain that on these pellets. And there is no waste. You get no grain in their poop. It is all digestable. You also don't get as much poop:)

Most people really freak out when I tell them I don't feed "hay". They just can't grasp the idea that it is in the pellet.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I think this gelding, right now, would need to be fed about 21 lbs a day of the pellets I use, which is about 150 lbs a week, $24 a week. With the amount of oats she's pouring in him AND the hay I bet she's spending more then that. I just don't know how to approach the subject with her, or if I even should.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Maybe you could ask her if she wanted to add pellets while just with you because of all the energy his training requiring.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I wouldn't want to "add" them. Not only would that be way to much, it would also be a waste of money. Which I think she's doing now anyway on the oats:). Her thing is to be economical. Round bales cost less then square, but if you give thehorse free choice of a round bale they do waste alot. That's why she pitch forks it the horse. But even that makes me worry. Once you start tearing the bale apart and it gets rained on it molds in places. But she wants it ALL feed to him. She threw him some that I wouldn't have given him the other day.

Well it probably isn't for me to say, I'm not a boarding stable really. So it's her choice.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

I know. Whether add or change I just meant that maybe she might accept while at your place he might need more or a different nutrition. She knows he's working out and expanding more energy. Just a thought.

[Beaker]

Yeah that's a tough situation. If he starts to look sick, then take it up with her, but until then.... if he's pretty healthy, then just keep an eye on him.

[Beaker]

Yeah the idea of the hay being in the pellet is odd... In the barn that I worked for, we fed Blue Seal pellets, Trotter and Senior, with sweet feed in addition to various supplements. A scoop of this, a pinch of that, a dash of whatever. We always fed hay beacuse it lines the stomach and prevents the grain from doing an number on it.... Does that pellet do the same thing? We fed by weight, but the first barn I worked for fed by volume. I'm not sure how my current barn feeds. I feel so out of the loop by just taking lessons. I don't really feel involved any more.
Your horses do look good from what I've seen from pictures that you've posted.

[Beaker]

She fed Trash moldy hay?

[Beaker]

As for the shoes, realistically that isn't doable around here.
That's understandable. I wouldn't worry about the shoe thing. I'm sorry if I misled you. You see, I have two brains. A science brain, and a horse brain. They clashed. :-) Half of my brain said: Sure horse shoes conduct electricity, and the other half said: Don't worry, everything is cool! :-)
So do you do a rough board?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm not sure what you mean by hay coating the stomach, or if the pellets do it or not. But I've fed these pellets for probably 15 years with no problem. In fact they have helped out a few horses I've had that had medical problems.

The first horse I had broke he jaw. I never knew it till he healed and started haveing a slobbering problem. It healed crooked. I took that horse to numerous vets, and the OSU veternairy clinic. They were all amazed how good he looked weight wise for the problem he had. It's because even if he didn't get the pellet chewed good, it was still digestiable. He would not have looked like that on grain and hay.

Another horse I had coliced if he was given anything except pellets. His problem was his age, over 30. He died at the vets, and they were amazed at how good he looked for his age. I didn't know he was that old, no papers. We were told he was 12 when we bought him, he died 6 years later.

I have several other stories of horses that did better on these then real hay. I kind of worried for along time about my horses developing ulcers, and when Rusty coliced a while back and the vet said it might be ulcers I was figuring it might be because of them. But the blood work showed he doesn't have them.

Anyway, I won't feed anything but them. And you can buy them in different protein levels if you need it life for growing foals. I just use the lowest for my grown ones. It's called Horse Chow 100, and comes in 200, 300. ONly difference is the protein level.

It saves me having to haul and store hay, The quality is always the same, I buy a weeks worth at a time so it's always fresh. (Have I sold you yet:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I wouldn't say it was moldy, but it was wet and had been wet laying on the ground for a few days:(

Becky

[Beaker]

I wouldn't say it was moldy, but it was wet and had been wet laying on the ground for a few days:(

The things that make you go "Aww... geez"

[Beaker]

Feeding hay first lets the digestive system start working before you feed grain, so that way the horse is less prone to colic. It's always been taught to me as well, that feeding hay first protects the stomach from acid when digesting grain, and protects the horse from ulcers. But hey, (no pun intended) your method seems to be working just fine! :-) If they're easily digestible, no worries. And actually, that seems like an interesting thing to try. If you don't mind me asking, how much does it cost you for a week's supply?
(Listen to me, I'm actually talking like I still have a horse! Old habits die hard, I guess) :-)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Around here it's between $7-8 for a 50lb bag. Most horses need at least 100lb a week. Rocky get's right at 100, Rusty gets about 112. Harley got probably about 120lbs a week because he was getting used so much. You have to adjust for things like that.

Becky

[Beaker]

Harley got probably about 120lbs a week because he was getting used so much. You have to adjust for things like that.

For my horse, I kept the the amount of pellets that he got pretty constant. The only thing I changed was if he got sweet feed or not. If he was working, he got sweet feed. If he was idle, he didn't. Of course, I tried not to let as few people ride him as possible. One of the stipulations was that he would be allowed to be used as part of the lesson program. A baaad idea, let me tell you. :-)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

There's no way I'd let a horse of mine be a "lesson" horse. I don't like alot of people riding mine either. The only reason Heather and her family is riding Rock is he was standing idle anyway. Jenny didn't have time to ride him, trying to work full time and keep her other one rode. I hated it that such a good horse was being wasted. If it wasn't for that they wouldn't be riding him.

I just let Heather ride Harley occasionally just because I knew he was going to have to have others ride him since he was a for sale horse.

Since my horses get nothing but those pellets that all I have to adjust. Like I said the amount of pasture I have is not really a factor.

How does the price of the pellets sound to you vs. hay and feed?

Becky