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Posted on 01/02/2007 9:57:39 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
Well, it might be better to just keep yer mouth shut and leave them in the round pen anyways. It’s always easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission. You’ve got a somewhat dangerous situation there, with the colt possibly wandering off and getting hurt, or the mare freaking out and hurting you or herself and you shouldn’t have to have to go to the trouble or take responsibility for halter breaking the little cuss, or risk getting hurt. It’s not going to hurt either one of them to stay in the round pen for a few days, so I say make a command decision and tell her about it when she gets home. After all, she left you in charge so she should accept what ever decisions you feel you need to make whils she’s gone.
You know what:), I think your right. It’s only till Sat. I think that’s what I’m going to do. The mare was really freaking, I think she even kicked out once, it may have just been her really prancing, but then I was trying to stay out of her way...I had a feeling this might happen. I think I’m just going to leave them there. Thanks for the advise. I just don’t like making decisions about other peoples horses, but it would be best for everyone.
Becky
It is easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission. :~)
Are the other horses all out too in those neighboring runs at night, so they wouldn’t be the only ones out?
I wish this forum had an edited button like the HF does:)
I forgot to add, Last night when I was moving them from the pen to that stall, the baby got behind the door after it was opened, and I was leading the mom out. The little bugger couldn’t figure out to go around the door, I stopped just outside and waited but the dummy was trying to rear up and come thru the bars on the side of the pen...I was heading back when he finally figured out how to come out:)....he’s a cutie, but it’s been a good reminder of why I don’t want any more foals to raise:) I’m as past raising foals as I am kids:)
Becky
Oh, yeah. Nobody is staying in the barn at all except at feed time.
Julia’s here, see you later.
Becky
The other risk is whether the owner would be mortified to learn they spent a night or two outside, but if the others stay out, it’s not like she thinks horses will die left outside.
I’d say unless there’s a risk of a bad thunderstorm or something, there’s no NEED for baby to be in. The only fear might be night predators if any, but with no one there to hear the commotion, they wouldn’t automatically be safer in the barn would they? They’re just trapped in a smaller space. That round pen doesn’t have a way for loose dogs to get in it easily does it? Isn’t it solid to the ground even at the gate?
Foals are really funny and they do have very linear thinking when they’re real young. All they think about is “I’ve got to get to mama by the shortest possible route”. I’ve had them do almost the same thing and think about coming over the fence instead of through the gate if they weren’t just right on their mama’s tail when she went through. You’ve just got to plan for that when dealing with them. Thankfully they do wise up after a few months. Working with them is like playing with a Jenga puzzle. You’re always wondering “If I push this or pull that will it work out like I want it to or will the whole thing come tumbling down?”
Even if there are thunderstorms, unless it’s hailing or coming a tornado or something, it’s really not going to hurt them to be out in it. Seems like I remember that that round pen is solid half way up, even the door, so it’d be real hard for them to get hurt in there, or for anything to get in, but not impossible. You know how that is, they can hurt themselves in a padded stall! ;o)
Yeah the round pen is probably 4ft solid high walls and gate. There is no way a dog could get in, I don’t know how aggressive anything else is about getting in, i wouldn’t think anything would. Even so they would have momma to contend with.
I really think all in all they are better out there. If the owners would show up...well they would most likely think I just hadn’t been there yet to move them, and really I don’t think they will be coming. They know Debbies out of town. And if it would be a problem...well they can come move the baby. I don’t think I’m going to anymore.
Becky
I don’t think that’s an unreasonable executive decision, since we aren’t sure of how halter trained the baby is and you weren’t shown how to do that.
The risk of something going bump in the night is small, the risk of the baby getting seriously hurt while cavorting around loose is much higher.
I feel pretty sure I could get the foal back and forth on a lead, my problem with that is I can’t move both at the same time, and the time they would be separated would be the problem, the mom in the stall the baby in the pen, or vice versa...one or both would probably try to come thru something. Altho the stall is entirely enclosed...but it would be difficult getting the one in the stall haltered if they were freaking out.
I’m just going to leave them where they are at now. My problem with that is securing a feed bucket. There isn’t much to hoot it too and feeding on the ground it would just get spilled and then they would be picking it out of the dirt.
I’ll have to figure that out tonight when I get there.
Becky
Have any rubber ground pans around?
I used to lead both momma and baby at the same time but we practiced at it.
In fact... I ‘proved’ Cadence on giving to pressure by tying her around her mother’s neck when she was about as old as this one is... big enough to be getting too strong to pull when she fought. Then I’d lead momma from the other side. If she was gonna pull, momma could hold her. Get what I mean?
I did the same thing riding the momma, but with a quick release just in case... if she pulled back, I spurred momma forward and we’d trot.
Okay, chocolate zucchini bread it is. Not until this weekend though. Thanks for the link to recipes.
Hope you had a good ride. I got to get a root canal today (tooth pulled yesterday) so I’m hoping everyone had more fun than that :)
I’ve had good luck with that website. Be sure to read the comments first before cooking the recipe . . . lots of times they contain helpful hints.
I haven’t really looked around to see what there is to feed them in.
I thought about tying the baby to momma, but they aren’t my horses, and the momma isn’t all that great at being lead. Very pushy, crowds, pulls ahead...as I said she is nothing but a patting pet for the owners. I have no clue why they bred her. They need a baby less then even most backyard horse owners need them.
When we raised Dot, she was halter broke and leading well by the time she was a month old, and I ponied her around the arena by 2-3 months old. Not hard, and not for long periods. Just enough to get her use to being lead. When it came time to tie her, she was fine with it because she had learned to give to pressure.
Becky
Understood... They’re in a safe place now... I think if you’re increasingly nervous about moving them without a wreck, they’re safest where they are, at least as long as they’re under your watch.
I agree just LEAVE those two bad brats in the round pen, rather than risk injuring one of them or yourself.
Thanks to everyone for the support:) It’s nice to know that I’m not just being a wimp and a scardy cat:). I feel like I should be able to handle it. I’m worried for the foal, but also for myself. I hate that. But this has disaster written all over it, IMO, and I’m just not risking it anymore. But it’s made me feel better about it with everyone here agreeing that this is the right thing to do.
Becky
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