I observed all this while looking out a window in our house. To the left are the horses and the kids. As my gaze pans to the right, I see my wife walking out of the barn, soon to arrive at this scene. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Timing is everything. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
So, you want to own a horse...
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Mosey
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No, actually I don't want to own any horses. I already have a full time job, I don't need another one! I prefer to let the neighbors own them and I take the kids over there so they can ride! One of these days I might try riding one myself, but I already have back problems, so I'm in no hurry. I know you guys love em' but I think your glutton for punishment!
AndyR
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When I went to an electric fence clinic last year, the advice on coyotes and dogs was simple but effective. On your new electric fence, hang strips of fresh bacon. The victim will only try to eat that once /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif OOWWW!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
bgott
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That's because she asked the kid next door instead! 
cowboydoc
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to continue with so you want to own a horse...
Yesterday up at 4:30 am to go feed horses and cattle. Get out to horses and the waterer is frozen up. Somehow it's quit working. Go get the tractor and load it and take it in the barn to unfreeze. Go finish feeding horses at one place. Go to next place to feed horses and their water is gone. Fill trough and this one has a big leak in it. Have to get a new one today. Go over to the cattle and they are out. Go back grab horse and Mesa, daughter gets the gator to get them back in. Finally get them all back in and get fence fixed where they got out. Now we're late so we hurry and feed cows. Get to work late. Spend lunch getting new waterer and tank heater. Work from 8:30 to 7:00. Back home and out to fix tank. Get new heater in and fill the tank. Now this tank has a hole too!@! Back to farm and fleet to get another new tank. Back out to fix it and put the new tank at the other place on the way home. Now it's 9:30 and still haven't eaten today. Finally get home. Get a call from sheriff that our horses are out on the road about 2:30 in the morning. Go over to the first place where the tank had a leak and I'd forgotten to latch the gate when I put in the new tank. Horse go back in easily, thank goodness. Back home and to bed to get up and do it all over a again today.
Yesterday up at 4:30 am to go feed horses and cattle. Get out to horses and the waterer is frozen up. Somehow it's quit working. Go get the tractor and load it and take it in the barn to unfreeze. Go finish feeding horses at one place. Go to next place to feed horses and their water is gone. Fill trough and this one has a big leak in it. Have to get a new one today. Go over to the cattle and they are out. Go back grab horse and Mesa, daughter gets the gator to get them back in. Finally get them all back in and get fence fixed where they got out. Now we're late so we hurry and feed cows. Get to work late. Spend lunch getting new waterer and tank heater. Work from 8:30 to 7:00. Back home and out to fix tank. Get new heater in and fill the tank. Now this tank has a hole too!@! Back to farm and fleet to get another new tank. Back out to fix it and put the new tank at the other place on the way home. Now it's 9:30 and still haven't eaten today. Finally get home. Get a call from sheriff that our horses are out on the road about 2:30 in the morning. Go over to the first place where the tank had a leak and I'd forgotten to latch the gate when I put in the new tank. Horse go back in easily, thank goodness. Back home and to bed to get up and do it all over a again today.
RichZ
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Mike, I'll make horse owning even more complicated for you. One of my horses kept getting eye infections. After the third farm call, our vet suggested taking down the hay rack I keep in her stall. She felt that she might be getting hay in her eyes (causing irritations leading to the infections), which she was less likely to do if the hay was on the ground. She hasn't gotten anymore eye infections since.
I've since removed the hay reacks from the other stalls. I keep hay in their stalls in ground feeders instead. No sense asking for more trouble.
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
I've since removed the hay reacks from the other stalls. I keep hay in their stalls in ground feeders instead. No sense asking for more trouble.
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
cowboydoc - I've had days like that too! Our horses have only gotten out once and as you did with your cattle, it was time to delegate. I sent my daughter to get some feed to entice them back into the pasture while I positioned myself between the horses and the road. Fortunately, two of them went back in almost immediately but the other one (the Appaloosa gelding) decided he wanted to explore. He never made it to the road, the grain was too tempting, but it made for some very anxious moments.
One of our neighbors had their horses get out late one night. They had bought a new horse, and they had no way of separating the new one from the other two they owned. (We always separate the new one so they can say their initial 'hellos' across a fence. Then we move one of our existing horses into the pasture with the new one. This doesn't eliminate the squealing and kicking once they are together, but it hasn't been as bad in our experience.) Well, their other two horses cornered it. It broke through the fence, ended up on a nearby road (55 mph speed limit) and was hit. I didn't hear of this until I saw the spot on the road where it happened. There were no remains left, but I knew something big had been hit.
RichZ - Our palomino had the same problem and we had to put her hay on the ground until the infection cleared up. But it only happened one time and just with the palomino, so we've stuck with the racks to keep the hay off the ground.
One of our neighbors had their horses get out late one night. They had bought a new horse, and they had no way of separating the new one from the other two they owned. (We always separate the new one so they can say their initial 'hellos' across a fence. Then we move one of our existing horses into the pasture with the new one. This doesn't eliminate the squealing and kicking once they are together, but it hasn't been as bad in our experience.) Well, their other two horses cornered it. It broke through the fence, ended up on a nearby road (55 mph speed limit) and was hit. I didn't hear of this until I saw the spot on the road where it happened. There were no remains left, but I knew something big had been hit.
RichZ - Our palomino had the same problem and we had to put her hay on the ground until the infection cleared up. But it only happened one time and just with the palomino, so we've stuck with the racks to keep the hay off the ground.
cowboydoc
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Actually most rec. are to feed on the ground for health reasons, esp. respiratory. But then you have to contend with the health problems of that. Personally I think it's kind of a wash feeding either way. Pros and cons to each one.
RichZ
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Good point, Richard. But, I think that if you feed on the ground, in a feeder that you keep clean, I think you avoid most problems. Of course I'm just a neophyte with horses (but I've had a good Cowboydoc teacher), so I could be wrong. But that's what commonsense tells me.
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
cowboydoc
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Yes that's true but also with the feeders it forces them to eat more slowly as well which is better for their digestive systems. Horse really weren't designed to eat a large meal in a short period of time; colic. With the feeders they have to keep pulling it out piece by piece whereas with it in a feeder on the ground then they can eat the same amount of hay in a short period of time. Another advantage is that because they eat the hay slower their time in a stall is taken up more from eating and they aren't as inclined to acquire a stall vice.