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Posted on 02/24/2006 9:12:25 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we 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 previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
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 MissTargets will now be pinging everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets 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 previous threads, 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.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread EIGHT
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
Send some of that rain down here, wouldya??
I second that motion! We are supposed to hit 100 today with no rain in the foreseeable future.
Tuffy, I found some really nice coastal outside of Bonham. Small bales @ $7 each. My feed store now has coastal (new cut) but they want $8.50 a bale for it. I am planning on driving up to Bonham with a friend on Friday morning. We will both fill up our horse trailers as we aren't very optimistic that coastal will be in good supply this year again and want to get some while we can.
Hope the Mabank hay works out for you!
Man, what ever the chiropractor guy did to Harley, and the massaging and stretching exercises we do has made a world of difference. He is moving as smooth as silk. I even did some circles in the arena at the lope, I didn't even feel like we were moving at all it was so smooth:)
Becky
Terrific...
You think you'll have him out again from time to time? Maybe right before the next ride?
I wasn't real thrilled that he just drove up with a trailer and the conversation was a little stilted because I basically accused him of abuse, although not in those words. He said that he'd bought the horse for his little girl back in October or November and it basically looked like it does now, but that he had fattened it up and everything was fine until he got a hold of some bad feed and the horse got real sick and got back down to looking like this. He said that the vet (the same one that I use) had told him that he couldn't prove it, but that he thought that it was some kind of parasite that can get in feed. I've never heard of any such thing, but what could I say. I sure as hell am gonna ask the vet about it though. I also told the guy that I'd talked to the lady at the Humane Society about the horse and that she had told me that she would take him in down at the shelter where he could be with 5 or 6 other horses that had been seized from people who were starving them. I said that last part rather pointedly too. I told him that I'd thought about worming the horse but was afraid to because he was in such a bad shape that I was afraid that it might kill him. He said that he'd wormed him 2 or 3 times in the last 3 months and was feeding him 14% feed, along with cotton seed meal, which is supposedly 40-something percent protein. I told him about some of the stuff that I was feeding and he said he go get some of it today. Now whether he will or not is anybody’s guess.
He seemed like a nice guy and seemed to genuinely care for the horse and said he was really ashamed that the horse looked this way but that he was doing everything he could think of to get him back in shape. So I don't know what to think. He offered to pay me for taking care of the horse and I told him that it was no trouble and hopefully he’d return the favor some day if any of mine ever got out. He told me his name and where he lived and it's within a mile of my barn. If that’s actually were he lives, I’ve ridden past his house several times. I had never noticed any fence or anything, but the house is up on a hill and the fence may be behind the house. He’s got a big ol’ dog that comes out and barks at me and the horse, so I haven’t exactly tarried very long, if you know what I mean.
I felt bad about letting the horse go, but when you’ve got a 300 pound man standing in your pasture saying that the horse is his and you’re all alone, what else can you do. There are some people who live in that area that you just really don’t want to mess with and I’m not saying that he’s one of those people, but didn’t want to run the risk of getting on the wrong side of the wrong person and having something happen to MY horses. I hope y’all understand.
I do understand, and you don't have the power to stop him if it's his horse. Too bad you can't see his horses from the road and keep an eye out for improvement or not.
I'd report this, and the pictures, and where he lives, to the humane society lady... maybe she'll do a welfare check on him from time to time. Let the guy know that people are watching.
He is suppose to come out soon and try Belle, I'll ask him what he thinks. But, IMO, as long as Harley continues to move like he is now, I'd say that's an indication that every thing is as it should be. I know now that when he starts to feel rough, there is probably a problem.
I had him go over that bar too, and he didn't bang it at all with his back legs. I'm wondering if he was out longer then I thought and it just hurt to raise his leg that high...??? He didn't hesitate at all and went over as easy as pie.
Becky
Actually there is a parasite or fungus that can get into corn. There was a dog food brand (Diamond) that a lot of dogs died while eating it a while back from this parasite or fungus. Maybe that was what he was talking about. Give the guy the benefit of a doubt, the horses feet looked decent, right? Also I took care of an Arabian mare for a friend of mine for about a year and we tried everything to get weight on her, it was a long drawn out process but finally we were able to fatten her up with Calf Manna. We are not all blessed with easy keepers, don't beat yourself up over it Frog. I know it is hard not to be suspicious but it sounds like he was trying in his own Alabama country way.
Well, I know ~people~ who swear by chiropractic work, it must do something for them!
I second everything Hair says:). It can be a pain, but I'd really keep after the humane society to keep after him. And I'd check with the vet too to see how on the up and up the guy was with you.
Policing is no fun, but sometimes we just have to bite the bullet and do it. We had a similiar incident around here, and you just have to be consistent with keeping after the officials.
Becky
Until one has felt the difference between a supple horse and a stiff horse, one doesn't know what they are missing! Glad to hear Harley is feeling good and the chiro helped.
When they feel smooth like that, they are moving over their topline and bending the joints of the hind legs well. Stiff joints in the hind legs is what feels so jarring to a rider. When a horse stiffens those joints, all the concussion created when the foot hits the ground travels right up those legs and joints and is transmitted into the rider's body. When a horse takes the weight behind and bends all the joints of the hind legs, the rider immediately feels a difference. Better for the horse AND the rider!
Definately follow up with the vet.
I drove by frequently and drove up the driveway of my 'friend' with the starving horses. I had told her I would. I said I wanted to see full water troughs, recent farrier work, hay in the barn, and evidence of hay in the paddock. I never talked to her again, I just drove up and looked.
She only had temporary custody of those horses, she was keeping them for someone who was working in Alaska for a year or two and would return. When they returned and took the horses back, who did not look too bad by then, I shared with them what they had been through.
I still drive by there once in awhile, just to make sure she doesn't have horses again.
I was actually planning on doing this. The humane society lady really sounded nice and like she'd actually DO something. I know there's been several articles in the paper here lately about her seizing starved horses and that's why I mentioned her to him. I'm fairly sure if I'd gone ahead and taken the horse to the shelter that she wouldn't have let him have the horse back and he may not have even tried, for fear of being charged with abuse and fined.
I'd thought about paying him a visit the next time I ride by his house, but that darned dog would probably eat me up. I'm gonna call the other man down the road who raise walkers and ask him what he knows about they guy, but I'll have to be careful coz you never know who's kin to who around here.
I really think getting a CPA will work to your benefit. They can handle all the stress and paperwork for you :)
Follow up on the vet.... That conversation will mean everything. If the guy is telling the truth, you can relax a little. If you get no comfort from that conversation, then it's time to take your pictures, and your information, back to the Humane Society woman.
I know you are a bit afraid of pissing him off, I understand and would feel that too. But let me share this insight, from a cop who I talked to about this when I was discussing my fears of retalliation (remember the guy who dumped all the trash next door illegally? I had a bunch of pictures of him doing it. Pictures he'd know I took).
He said people who are trying to evade punishment don't make waves. They don't seek revenge, if that guy thinks you have something on him, he'll go out of his way to avoid you, and yours. Strangers you turn in for neglect like this don't usually seek revenge... Revenge comes from righteous indignation and they don't have that.
She'd have seixure rights you don't have... and police backup... You did all you can. You can't stop him.
Ahem.... say again? She'd have ~seizure~ rights.
Around here, driving up in strange people's driveways and poking around will sometimes get you shot. I want to do all I can to make sure this horse is really being taken care of, but I really don't want him to know that it's me that's causing him trouble, now that he knows where my barn is.
I called the vet's office this morning and he's out of town for the week, but I'm definately gonna call him next week.
Frog is right, some of these back country people would not hesitate to shoot you or your animals. Our neighbor lets his dogs run loose, they tease my horses and poop in my yard (on my front porch too!) but we are afraid to say or do anything for fear of retailiation on our dogs or horses. We cannot even leave shoes on the front porch or they end up in the neighbors yard chewed up. We have no leash laws where we live, the price of living in the country I guess.
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