I have a Horse.

ChrissyBz

Thanks Annamarie, I'm just going through my new experience paranoia. Pretty normal for me. I got some REALLY good advice yesterday from someone whose run cattle and used horses for the last 40 years. He even gave me a run down on the protien content on our grass3-4%, and the hay, Bluestem 10-11 %. It was nice to talk to someone here with practical experience in the tropics. I got advice on what kind of grain to ask for that's available here and he put her at about 10 months. I've been feeling better about it all since talking to him.

Inga

She is a pretty little girl and certainly looks like a Bay to me as well. Bay comes in many shades she is just a lighter Bay. I have owned 4 Bay horses myself. I love the color. She is getting very shiny now. Good food and brushing will do that. Is she missing hair under her eyes down her face? How are the flies by you. Maybe she would appreciate a fly bonnet while she is grazing.

ChrissyBz

He's a regular customer so I collared him when he walked in and dragged him straight back to see Brisa. LOL NO! You can't drink or eat till you come see my horse! Pretty bossy eh?!?

IDK for sure but I'm thinking rain scald. Either that or mange. I've been watching it. It's itchy, but I wanted to see if it would clear up with better nutrition, drier weather, and regular grooming. I was thinking about maybe usinf some of the listerine baby oil mix but wanted to wait another week as it doesn't seem to be spreading. I was thinking I might begin to see some regrowth by then.

Re the kicking. I think Juan was pulling her back leg up too high. I just pick up har foot and hold her by the pastern. No prob. He was getting under her knee and really pulling her off balance. I had to remind him she's only small. I got a measuring tape from my vet today so I'll be able to estimate her weight better and get a true height.

Rough_Collies2008

Chrissy, for fun, measure the top of the front of her hoof, to the middle of her knee, and tell us what she comes out to in inches.

Inga

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. Keep it moist, the hair should come back. Listerine and baby oil. Cure all for skin itch. LOL Wonder if she had dry eye and it ran causing a tear burn?
Rough wants to know if she is going to be big enough for riding. LOL She is pretty big for a 10 month old. I just can't get over that she just showed up. I mean, I have had dogs just show up, but a horse? That sure worked out well. At least it was a beautiful young horse.

ChrissyBz

Ohh I'll go measure right now! BRB

Rough_Collies2008

Inga, How did you guess? She does seem large for a 10 month old, I wouldn't be surprised if that is a 16hh horse in the making.

ChrissyBz

Ok, the tape says... she's 11.2hh she weighs 415 lbs+- and there's 13" from coronet to middle of the knee.

Rough_Collies2008

Alright, not a 16 hh horse LOL Pictures make everything look bigger, don't they

ChrissyBz

Yeah I had eyeballed her at 12 hh so not too far off. She weighs more than I thought she would.

Inga

Another way to measure growth (wives tale) with some accuracy is to measure from the ground to the elbow the from the elbow up to the top of the withers. It is amazing as to how often it is right. When the 2 are the same the growth is done. She is certainly going to be a ridable size. LOL

ChrissyBz

I always thought I was a fairly knowledgeable horse owner, until I came to Dog Forums.

I've decided I was a reasonably good rider, but not necessarily a knowledgeable owner. I have so much to learn. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge.

She's beginning to recognize me now, any time she hears me she neighs. Juan too. She was playing tag in the pen last night with Juan running and bucking and chasing him all over. He's younger and in better shape so they're a good match.

I'm still going to need two more horses.(ridable) so I'm still on the lookout. I'll just have to put in 3 stalls instead of 2.

Inga

LOL Isn't that the point? It is fun to share little tidbits of our knowledge. So many different experiences on here to share.

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Rough_Collies2008

Exactly.

One of the reasons I love animals is the fact younever stop learning. Many trainers I work with still go to clinics, and go to seminars to better themselves...and they are people I highly respect. Heck, I still take weekly lessons on well schooled horses so I can work on myself. Having Rhiatta at home, he is a great guy...but seeing he is young and learning, I spend most of my time helping him(i.e. not letting his shoulder drop in the circles etc. etc...baby stuff). My lesson is for me, to help myself!

Chrissy, when do you think you will go adding those two extra horses? Be careful, you will find you want more...and more...and more horses. Hard to hold back

Annamarie

If I ever got horses again I think I'd stick to just one. One was fun, two was work, and when I had 6 well.. let's just say that I was struggling to work full time, go to school full time, and just keep them fed and groomed every day. I never even got to ride! Of course if I ever got horses again my kid would need a pony.....

Shaina

I'd probably have two, just so they can be companions and I could take someone riding with me. Beyond that it goes from fun hobby to a job, unless you are really set up for it.

Of course it will be long while before I get to do that anyway. After I start my *real* job I might look into taking lessons to get my horsemanship up to a functional level. My groundwork is decent, and day-to-day care -- well plenty of experience there for a practical level anyway.

Love's_Sophie

I wouldn't mind having a couple of my own, as well as a couple of other people's horses for training, at any given time...mainly during 'non snowy' months...Lol!!! Course winter is a great time to work on ground stuff, so it's not 'all bad' when it's freezing out either!

Rough_Collies2008

Oh not me. Much rather have someone else do the hard part. When Tex is a bit older, off he goes to be trained

Annamarie

I'm too old to do training anymore. I don't bounce as well as I did in my younger years so that fearless streak disappeared years ago. I used to love "projects" but soon figured out that I did all the hard work only to sell them to homes that got to enjoy the finished product and reap all the rewards. And you rarely recover the amount of money you put into them in feed and care alone, never mind paying yourself for the time invested. I did it for fun back then HA! If I ever get another one it will be a nice bombproof plodder. Old horses are worth their weight in gold

Love's_Sophie

I do so much ground work with the horses that I train that when it comes time to get on, they don't even so much as bat an eye...Lol. Even my gelding, who was far from 'fearless' when I got him...let's face it he was a wimp (not his fault), but when I got on him for the first time he just stood there, ears at half mast, with hind foot cocked...ground work makes ALL the difference IMHO!!!