??? About Purchase, Care and Tack for Miniature Horses

[Gale Hawkins]

The one mare that ate the brick size mineral salt block in about a day was spitting up clear liquid when we went to look at her and the colt and did it two or three times in the hour or two we were there. I have not seen her do that the any more since eating so much salt. The daughter read up and said clover and some types of weeds could cause that. Both mares stool looked like cow piles the first few days we got them home but the daughter reported *after scooping" they were starting to look normal now.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Got a lead on some square bales of Timothy, Orchard grass, Clover mix. It was sown just last year to be for horses the guy said by phone and is very clean plus it didn't get rained on which is rare locally this year. High quality horse hay supply is kind of tight locally already.

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate. Firstly, I know that you've been flat out settling your horses in... Pictures are needed on this thread for the enjoyment of all (in a way, we're all in this together ).

Secondly, I hope that you recognise that the advice we're offering is not just for you but for anyone else who drops in to view this thread (now & in the future). Mind you, you're experiencing a hectic pace setting up so we're trying to make sure you don't miss anything.

The 'cow pat' droppings and the eating of the mineral block are both signs of stress from the big move & new environment. You've already observed that the droppings are returning to normal so that's a good thing. It's also going to take a while for your 'herd' to sort out the pecking order. This is normal AND an on-going dynamic. Once that happens the group will become very contented as they need 'order' whithin the herd. Oh, there will be future arguements between them but this will be to re-enforce (and re-assure) the pecking order.

Keep an eye on the mare who is/was "spitting up". Horses do not normally have a vomit reflex. I've been advised (by a friend who has forgotten more about horses than I'll ever learn :laughing that if a horse does vomit then there is something seriously wrong & to get the vet out right away.

Oh, and the last bit of advice (for now) is: relax, have fun & enjoy them.

 

[QRTRHRS]

G'day Mate. Firstly, I know that you've been flat out settling your horses in... Pictures are needed on this thread for the enjoyment of all (in a way, we're all in this together ).

Secondly, I hope that you recognise that the advice we're offering is not just for you but for anyone else who drops in to view this thread (now & in the future). Mind you, you're experiencing a hectic pace setting up so we're trying to make sure you don't miss anything.

The 'cow pat' droppings and the eating of the mineral block are both signs of stress from the big move & new environment. You've already observed that the droppings are returning to normal so that's a good thing. It's also going to take a while for your 'herd' to sort out the pecking order. This is normal AND an on-going dynamic. Once that happens the group will become very contented as they need 'order' whithin the herd. Oh, there will be future arguements between them but this will be to re-enforce (and re-assure) the pecking order.

Keep an eye on the mare who is/was "spitting up". Horses do not normally have a vomit reflex. I've been advised (by a friend who has forgotten more about horses than I'll ever learn :laughing that if a horse does vomit then there is something seriously wrong & to get the vet out right away.

Oh, and the last bit of advice (for now) is: relax, have fun & enjoy them.

Exactly!

That said, you and your family need to be up on your tetinus shots. Horses can harbour the virus.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I have to figure out photo bucket again to post photos since the site no longer offers copy and pasting of photos the best I can tell but I do understand why.

We found some high quality timothy, orchard grass and clover mix hay yesterday. Pulling out from buying the hay the daughter spotted a horse trailer 1/2 mile up the road yesterday evening and traded for it. We are going to pick it up later today and if we have time get a truck load (at least 70 bales) of the hay tomorrow since it is on a trailer the owner wants it to use next week. Still working on finding a hay loft for it is possible so we do not have to tarp for the winter.

As was posted by another the two mares are still working on the pecking order thing. One may just be mean. This morning when giving them some apple treats the silver dapple mare even knocked back her 3 month old filly with her head. The black mare kind of mothers 's her colt and the silver's filly too.

The horse trailer is old but heavy and solid it seems. It was reconditioned/repainted by a vocational shop class as a class project about 5 years ago we were told and got four new tires then. When the guy ripped off the For Sale signs I expected the red paint to pull off but it did not so I think the paint job is solid even if it does not look like a car/truck quality job.

I have already been told exactly where to park it since it will serve as a tack and feed storage solution until we can get a barn. Since she spotted it and did the deal with the owner I am fine with it. I have to say it was the best we would have expected to find for $740. It is not one you would try to park on the back side of nowhere.

In less than a week with a lot of good input from this site we are in the mini horse breeding business with two bred mares, 3 mo old colt and filly, hay until next hay season and a two horse trailer on the cheap that I am not ashamed to have parked in the front of the house. Oh I forgot about the fencing we did so they have a place to stay. They have cedar trees for protection and a lot of shade trees too so not bad in the first five days of being in the mini horse business starting with not even a building or fence on the place. By taking part of the yard/woods it lets us keep an eye on them and puts them about 20 feet from a year round water hydrant.

I will have to say at this point it has been very positive for the family yet not over the top cost wise. We have some coming vet expenses and will build a building/shed of some type. Since the trailer dose not have a divider it could serve as a stall if one is required near term. It has swinging double doors vs the ramp like some and will be about an 8" step up I expect. I will also have to say 100% of the new people we have met over the past week related to getting the horse have been so wonderful and helpful. The daughter stated last night it was unreal things have come together so fast thanks so some many helpful people. We have not been taken the advantaged of that first time. In fact all have been excited to help a 15 year old girl get started with horses and have been in the teaching mode as well. As an older father with physical limitations it has been very touching to witness the help and the positive impact on our daughter.

Keep the thoughts coming. Since we will be breeding and the fields that we have (out of view from the house area) have fescue now we are looking at just feeding hay the rest of this year vs the cost of fencing. If we still have any horses next year we will cross that bridge then.

 

[whistlepig]

Be careful with the fescue and brood mares.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Generally, horse people love to share experiance and help out. (Most hay sellers might not agree, lol!) You are always going to run into someone that you won't agree with but you will agree to disagree. Glad to hear the venture is working out and you are having some fun. You are going to have days that test your fortitude (an injury) and days that the sound of munching is most relaxing after a perhaps long day.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Be careful with the fescue and brood mares.

Endophyites! Also, red clover more so than white can get a fungus that will cause abortions.

 

[whistlepig]

Horses are a true pleasure. What little upkeep we do is well worth the trouble. Anyone that hasn't had the privilege of working around horses in their day to day life is truly missing something. After a long day the sight of horses grazing in the pasture makes it all worthwhile.

 

[whistlepig]

Endophyites! Also, red clover more so than white can get a fungus that will cause abortions.

In the past we have bred some mares. We nuked the fescue and reseeded. We won't let brood mares graze on fescue although fescue is very good graze for horses that are not in foal. The clovers we weren't so concerned about.