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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.
LOL
Maybe I'll start calling him "Smutty":)
Becky
Yeah - really!
We feel really blessed to be here - walking distance to the Grandparents house - barn and pasture and stream just waiting for our horses!! They started taking lessons last Jan. and we bought the horses in May.... I agree about kids and horses - possibly because that's how I grew up... Keeps them out of trouble - and it's a wonderful part of their growing up ..... Thanks for the warm welcome -
I will post photos when I figure it out - I saw the instructions earlier in the threads....
Pony "teenager 'aww geeze' expressions are us" ;~D
When we were at the wedding I was sitting on the stairs with my mother in front of me, brushing her hair. I remarked that her hair reminded me of Okies mane. Shocked her and everyone laughed and started teasing us. I meant it as a compliment though. He has 5 different blended colors.
It's a great hobby for kids, because it's something they can do their whole lives.
My son still ropes and his wife runs barrels, Kristy in the above pictures. My daughter, Jenny in the other picture runs barrels too. Her husband enjoys trail riding. They just got back from a weeks vacation with his parents with the horses at a park in south Ok. We get together alot to trail ride here. I live where we can just saddle up and go. About 20 miles of trails thru woods. It's great.
Becky
My dad was reluctant to get me a horse for the longest time, and then mom said "it'll keep her away from boys" :~D That worked!
The pony making a fashion statement. You think she knows how blessed she is to live at your place?:')
All we know of his history is the riding stable we bought him from specializes in horses for children - mostly trail riding and that kind of thing.. they said they had not had any problems with his feet . We had a vet check before we bought him - no problems noted. The last farrier (the natural hoof one) stated that his hoof had been trimmed in such a way that the crack was getting pressure? I think that is what he said. We have had a very wet summer here in Ga. - he is out in pasture all the time - with access to shelter under our barn - where we had him boarded was pasture only.
The barefoot thing we picked up from the lady who gave my kids lessons... she is a believer in that .... you may know it is one of those "natural" things that is controversial.. but I also feel that our plans for the horses are consistent with them doing OK barefoot.
Mostly ridden in pasture, and on trails through our woods - we don't plan to trailer them or show them etc.
But if shoes would be better for his foot - I certainly would do that - they just seemed to get a lot worse with that first farrier we used.
Could you give me some specifics about diet? I've been reading on internet about different supplements for healthy hooves - biotin? Flax" Thanks again for the warm welcome and help!!
It's funny, I never realized how many differnt textures of hair horses have. Belles body hair was soft, never felt slick like Rockys does, her mane and tail were almost fizzy. She had tiny waves in her tail. Rocky's tail is like silk and very strong, when you brush it very little pulls out or breaks off.
Rustys mane and tail are not frizzy soft like Belle's was but is not silky straight like Rock's.
Becky
Yeah. Nothing to brushing his mane which is like silk. It's very uneven and Eddie thinks we ought to shape it up but so far he's left it alone. I think it looks natural the way it is. His tail right the opposite though. It's coarse and needs lots od de-tangler. The mare's mane takes a lot of time to get rats and mud out but her tail thinner. Actually I may have to trim it because it almost drags the ground.
I've had horses here now for about 18 years, and always kept them shoed. I tried this past summer to let them go barefoot, after I had one that seemed to do fine barefoot. But it didn't work. We have tons and tons of rock. And I ride alot, almost everyday. Their poor feet wore off so short they were just staying sore all the time, altho I never had any crack, just stayed wore off short. I finally gave up and went back to shoeing.
I've heard about the biotin, and asked the guy at our feed store about it. He said it worked good, but to be sure to give the right amount. "More" is not better. I never did try that. I did paint thier soles with an iodine, turpentine mix, and put vasoline on the coronet band to help moisturize. The farrier said their feet were good and hard, it's just I ride sooooo much, they were going to stay wore too short. I don't know why the one I had, which is the one Cindy has now, Okie, did so well barefoot here. He had never been shoed when I got him. I've heard that once you start shoeing you do change their feet and then will most likely have to keep shoeing. So I don't know, probably 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of another on what's "best":)
Becky
The farrier told me it was because it's so hot and dry (usually) here. Who knows?
I'd just let it drag. If you have to sell her, long manes and tails are real plus's, at least around here. I've seen people buy a horse just because they have a pretty mane and tail.
I kept Belles tail french braided all the time unless I was taking her somewhere. Her's tangled real bad because of the texture and would break easy when brushing. I'd wash and condition it and leave alot of conditioner in it then braid it. That helped and her tail brushed the ground. It was real pretty when it was down. Unfortunatly, I'm not as dedicated to keeping horses groomed as well as I did her. I was soooo proud of her. Can't wait till next spring:)
Becky
There are hoof-and-coat and hoof-and-joint supplements to choose from... Biotin will be in many of them, very good for hoof. Be a little careful, Biotin makes ~some~ horses a little hotter, temperament-wise, and you will want to watch for that adverse reaction.
Really, from here on out it is all about a good balanced diet... Unless they are especially bad, it will just take time and quality balanced feed. The hoof on the ground now was made by his diet a ~year~ ago. Really watch for drastic changes in protien and limit access to rich grass which will cause heat, pressure and cracking too, and in the extreme, laminitis/founder if they get too much.
If it is really constant wet, consider putting them inside for the night or good enough portion of it that their feet can dry out completely. I don't think they hold up well to being wet ALL the time. Just like our nails don't in a bath. They get soft, not to mention susceptable to funguses. Being in the great NW, I deal with that in winter/spring.
And if you want to, corn oil glopped in their feed is always good for hoof and shiny coat during dry months.
As for not shoeing, it's apparently a fad. Becky tried it earlier this year (she's so trendy).... Personally, I don't think many will have feet that hold up well, wear evenly and stay sound under any kind of work barefoot. Their feet will always be the weak link.
Yeah, I think weather conditions play a big part in how a horses feet do.
Becky
LOL never had that said about me:)
Becky
I thought that would make you laugh ;~D
I braided Okie once and tied the end in a knot. Guess you can figure how long that held:')
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