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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 09/18/2004 6:56:23 AM PDT by 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. In the last thread we had a great time and were a great help to each other working through lessons and training, horse lamenesses and illnesses, questions and challenges and always just our stories we like to tell.
I always have 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 also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. 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.
So... like the last thread, this is intended as 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.
Tempratures here have been great, we just keep getting occasional showers. I know if I don't go saddle it won't rain, If I do saddle and get about a mile from home then it will pour:) always does.
Becky
Becky - you were posting at the same time I was ... Do you think they are "happier" with another horse.....you know the herd thing... I grew up with an "only horse" but things I've been reading lately make me feel guilty about that now... Ours seem to like being within sight of each other.
I agree, stalled horses will develop alot more problems, mentally and physically. But if your horse has been stalled, it does take some management, to get them out on "spring" grass. Once summer hits, the grass loses alot of it's nutrition and moisture. I "think" the main problem with spring grass is it has sooooooo much moisture in it.
Becky
Sure they are happier, BUT you don't have to have a compaion. I know alot of people who have only one horse.
The herd instinct is, IMO, one of the hardest things to get a horse over. My riding horses are all kept in sight of each other but in seperate runs. IMO, that has been the best thing to help override the herd instinct. They learn to watch each other wonder off but can't follow, then learn that the one that wonder's off does come back.
I've had no trouble since setting up like this with herd bound or barn sour horses. I do on occasion let my geldings out together to play. But for the most part they are each in their own runs.
Becky
He's great (by the way, I love your Appy). How about naming him Medicine Man or Little Big Man or Crazy Horse? Well, maybe not the last - hate for him to try to live up to that.
Just finished entries for Play Day Show next weekend and will mail them off today. Also have to get the paperwork done and sent off on registrations for 2003 filly and 2004 colt. No - I just bought them, it's not my fault. I hate paying all the late fees, etc., really wish it had been done at the right time.
About the pasture - we don't have any here (Nevada)but in NC, took care to gradually build up on grass, founder or colic is possible if they get out on a rich field full time to begin with.
We have horses here that are stalled and horses that are in paddocks with another horse. When we have babies, we usually let all the mares and babies run together once everyone gets a few weeks old. It's good exercise for them. However, it's a lot easier to ride and work horses that aren't bonded and dependent on their pasture buddy. The ones here that are together are broodmares for the most part.
Hope everyone has a good day.
I have the same problem, no pasture. I have just enough to give thems something to pick at, more for mental purposes then nutrition.
Have you ever look into complete pellets? I've been using them for about 10-15 years, and love them. Takes the guess work out of knowing if they are getting the right balance of roughage to concentrats. I highly recommend them for those who don't have pasture.
Becky
For those who keep their own horses, I have a question:)
What kind if any of salt blocks do you provide for your horses. White, red, or yellow? Can a horse lick them too much?
Becky
Does your barn provide salt blocks for your horses? What kind, white, red, yellow?
Becky
Regular white salt block, that is just salt and Trace minerals with Selenium, a orangish (?) colored block. Our area is deficient in selenim.
Forgot to add - I don't think they can lick them enough to do any harm. Some horses like the taste better than others and I think some horses like the feel, plus get bored.
I think that is what is going on with one of mine. I have a stud that if he was human I would say he is obsessive cumplusive:)
When we got him he cribbed real bad. Still does given a chance. Everything he could crib on in his pen is hot wired, plus he wears a cribbing collar. But when we first got the cribbing under control (took us awhile), he then started hanging his tongue out the side of his mouth and making sucking sounds:). It was funny, but looked ugly.
When I gave him a salt block, (red one, minerals), if he wasn't sucking his tongue he was licking the block. And I mean ALL THE TIME, so much that it cause he to drink large large quantities of water, which of course made him pee alot, which made his run just nasty.
I have made his area alot bigger, and alot of this stuff has stopped. But I did take out the salt block for awhile. Gave him one yesterday. I've been wondering if the cramping he has done the last few times Jenny ran barrels on him was due to a deficincey of some kind, phospherus. But he has already licked a corner off.
It's not so much licking the block as the amount of water he drinks from licking it so much that worries me. I know you can actually drink to much water. I swear a year ago he was drinking 60-80 gallons a day. Really. He had a 20 gal. tank, and I was having to fill it constantly. I don't know if I should let him do that if it starts again. If I take away the block how much salt a day would I need to add to his feed?
Becky
Hi Becky,
Well, went to the expert with this (my hubbie). He said - don't take the salt/mineral block away, he needs it. Yes, will cause the tying up. Let him drink as much water as he wants but you may want to check to see if he is diabetic, some horses are (we have a mare that is borderline and she drinks alot of water).
It would be difficult to add salt/minerals to his feed and still make sure he got the correct amount.
We have a gelding that sucks air (grabs pipe corral, etc) and when he is not out in hot wire, we have to put a mussle on him. We also have a gelding that will crib if he's near any wood that isn't painted with nocrib stuff. Both do so from boredom and then habit.
Can you throw something in with him to entertain him? A ball, empty milk carton, we threw in a used bouy with one of them for awhile. He finally trashed it but had a ball doing it.
Okay, all that said. Horse Mineral 12:12 for Maintenance by Purina. (we have some and I'm reading the label/directions)
Feed free-choice in covered feeders or mix with grain ration to provide approximately 2 ounces per head per day throughout the year. Important: Feed salt free-choice sperately. Supply ample water near the feeding area. It is 4.5 to 5.5% salt (NaCl).
I buy the red mineral blocks. The pony licks at it a lot more than Bay, but one big block lasts a long time.
My friend Tiff got a salt/mineral block after ~not~ having one a long time, and her horses compulisively ~ate~ it for awhile too. Literally bit chunks off it. But after they binged in that first one, they seemed to settle down. I thought maybe they were getting up to some level they were needing at first, or the newness and novelty of it wore off.
I got Bay the pony as a companion for no other reason than he was lonely out there.. but some may tolerate it better than others, and it also depends how much time you spend with them and working them. Bay could go a couple weeks between times I ride him... that's just been the reality... and she's his only entertainment then besides meals, so I think she's been good to have... I always have to leave her alone when I go, and have sometimes had to give her a feed sedative to quiet her so I don't worry.... So there is a down-side.
On grass, founder would be the biggest concern on real rich grass in the spring. They can founder in just hours on too rich a grass. When I first got here I worried about founder, but my pasture is kept pretty over-grazed now.
We're off to keep working on the barn!
No salt blocks. It's mixed in with their pellets.
Thanks for the reply:), I had all that stuff checked awhile back when he was going after the salt blocks so much. I think it's a boredom thing. It seems this horse has to being doing something. He's a stud, and the poor guy has spent most of his time alone, and before we got him, when I think the compulsive stuff started he was stalled. Letting him out of the smaller pen has worked real good to stop alot of the stuff, but I was just wondering about the mineral block.
He wasn't "tying up", unless, and I'm not sure, that a mild tie up would be it. He just got a knot in the flank area on one side. I've seen several tie ups, and it didn't look the same, but that is one reason I got the block. Just in case that was the problem. I have given him that 12-12 powder by purina. Good stuff. But you still need a block soo....
Also, as soon as I took the block out, the excessive water drinking stopped.....
Is your husband a vet?
Becky
Do they just give plain salt, or something special? How much?
Becky
No - not a vet, although trained as a vet tech years ago. He's just raised horses for about 40yrs. Years ago, also rode cutting/reining horses and gamed alot (barrels, poles, etc).
How big an area is the guy in and can he see the other horses?
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