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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.
Makes me cold looking at it.
Love the pics! And you're more than welcome to share your opinions. Lord knows I share mine with everybody who'll listen, and quite a few who don't. ;o)
Morning ladies!
We are watchin' the funniest squirrell out front... he's all worried to come down out of a tree and get the peanuts... and his little tail is spinnin' like a rotor blade on a 'copter.
Man! I didn't know there were so many poison plants out there. What's jimson weed, tansy and bracken fern and what's it look like?
Bracken is a wetland fast growing fern... these can sprout up in days. They grow in the wet months, not so much in the dry months and disappear in winter. I am going to try limited poison on them this spring, but they are easy to pull, you just have to do it every couple days. Horses do develop a taste for this, but it's only a huge risk if left totally uncontrolled, it takes a lot to do harm, and even goats are vulnerable to this. It will grow a foot a day, in these loose thickets they will row many feet tall, some overhead, but they weigh nothing.
Tansy Ragwort is more dangerous because they have a lifetime limit on it. It's toxicity is stored... One plant today, one next year, they add up. There are lots of yellow flowers, Tansy is distinctive with it's very strong red stalks, you have to pull it, bag and seal the flowers in garbage bags and get them off the place, because they will continue to mature to seed even after being tossed aside, and the seeds may even survive being burned.
The other, I am not familiar with.
I agree. We had the same situation with a navicular QH gelding. Oval shoes, and pads kept him sound enough for a very successful show career.
My Appaloosa gelding was seven years old when I got him, never been shod. Shoes were put on with borium, because of the amount of trail riding we did. If you don't have to put them on, that is wonderful.
Good pics. Bruce looks like he is having fun. ;)
Where is the Clemmons Trail Ride held? I have rode at Hocking, Beaver Creek and Smoke Rise. Do you belong to the Ohio Horseman's Council?
Very nice pictures of your horses and family. Thanks.
Thanks! We have both of these where I live. I never thought about a fern being toxic. Never even crossed my mind. Seems like I've even read some recipes for ways to cook the young fiddle heads of some types of ferns so I guess I just assumed they were all ok. And the cumulative effect of tansy poisoning is scary. It looks like what we call Bitterweed, and it's everywhere, but I'm not sure if it's the same thing or not. I'll have to find out.
"Description.—Jimson weed is an ill-smelling, poisonous plant with stout, much-branched, leafy stems from 2 to 5 feet high. The large, smooth, thin, wavy, toothed leaves are from 3 to 8 inches long. The flowers, which appear from May to September, are white, funnel-shaped, about 3 inches long, and have a pronounced odor. The prickly seed pods which follow are about the size of a horsechestnut. When ripe these pods burst open, scattering numerous poisonous black, kidney-shaped seeds"
Doggonnit, I've got this stuff growing in my pasture! I thought it was pretty and actually thought about saving some of the seeds and planting it around the house. Duh! Don't guess I'll do that now.
Dam it's cold. Back from town, I've got the horse trailer all set up now for the dogs, straw for them to burrow in, and the windows put in. Now if they would just go in there:) I think I'll lock Grizzly up in there tonight. Maybe he will get the idea it's a nice warm place, better then the swing on the patio. He's just too big and goofy to let in the house. I feel bad making him stay out there since the other two come in, but he's just too rambuctious.
Becky
Amazing huh? Good news is many of the poisons plants they instinctually avoid, but I wouldn't count on it. Foxglove too, is a pretty plant people have planted as a wildflower, that is toxic.
Oh dear, Becky... I'd make a mess of your house prolly with my good intentions ;~D But the horse trailer is a good dry spot. Getting out of the wet and wind is most of the solution. A small doghouse within the trailer would be warmest, if he'd learn to use it.
I've never heard of anything around here being toxic, I just assumed the horses would know not to eat anything that hurt them. Guess not.
Did I mention how cold it was:)
Becky
You did mention something bout the cold... ;~D
It's really warm here.... 45... I already mentioned that too. Are your horses seeking cover, or still standing out in it?
Well Mack actually said I could put a heater we have out there for him at night. I really think he'll be fine, IF he'll just go in there. At night right now tho, I'm not giving him a choice, I'll lock him in. Then after a few nights, see if he figures out that's the best place to be.
I wouldn't mind him in the house, but with the tree and presents right now...maybe after Christmas I'll try.
Becky
Rocky and Harley are in their stalls, Rusty, (he's as goofy as Grizzly) is standing out trying to get as close to Harley as the panel will allow. I'm trying to work up the energy to go out there and let him in the run with Harley till feeding time.
Becky
I just saw that it's 13 in the panhandle. Can you believe we may freeze Fri and Sat? I'm reserving a 3 day stall for the horses.
If he doesn't freak out at the change, the trailer is a good spot... A good doghouse on the porch where he likes to be might be the place he'd choose. Or some cover to block the wind on the swinging chair he likes.
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