A classic example of exactly what I talk about every day…
Sep 21 2007
One of my readers sent me this story and pictures and it definitely deserves to be shared. It is just a classic example of what I talk about here every day – yet another tale of a stallion that shouldn’t be a stallion, fencing that isn’t stallion fencing, and a moron owner who is breeding horses willy-nilly for absolutely no reason. Allow me to quote:
“This email is just to confirm that you are so right about idiot owners and their stallions.
Today I caught a horse running across a major roadway near where I keep my horse. On closer inspection after getting the frenzied animal off the road I found him to be a 6 year old (TB i guess) stallion, the bay in the photo. The property he is kept on is disgusting, barbed wire everywhere, at one point while I was there he managed to rear up to fight the stallion on the other side of the fence and got his forleg stuck in the wire. A friend and I had to try and free him, thankfully he had enough brains not to struggle too much.
He has been kept in a box (photo included), without water i imagine, for most of the day, while another stallion and a group of mares run in the paddock the box is in. His moron owner has no clue, rejected veterinary attention for his bleeding horse (we had a vet there), and hurried us from the property. Yep, this A grade asshole has 2 stallions, a bunch of mares and most of them underweight. All that seperates horses from main road is a dodgy barbed wire fence, and there are rolls of the stuff just lying in the paddock. All all that seperates 2 stallions is a wooden door to the most disgusting stable ever.
I have called animal protection, but my guess is this horse will be at the slaughterhouse by now. Or in his words (owner) “I have someone to take him, I guess they’ll geld him and hack him around”. Hmmm, 6 years old and still entire, he ain’t gonna be anyones hack is my guess. He also claims his vet told him his horse is skinny because it had scours, and to stop “soft” feed. He says the horse must have got some bad hay, my guess is he just started to eat his own manure that is 6 inches thick on his stable floor. I can only hope he gets his own back, threefold. I feel so bad for the horses, and can’t wait to see next years foal crop!!!”
OK, everybody. We see this every single day. Do you think there are any real solutions? What is the best way to discourage this kind of careless horse (or animal in general!) ownership? Is there any real way to educate someone like this or is praying that animal control will confiscate the animals our only hope?
Is the only solution to teach kids what is and is not responsible animal care/husbandry when they’re young, because by the time they’re adults, it’d take a lightning bolt to get a new idea through their heads?
Have you ever successfully changed someone’s mind about their sacred right to breed all of the fugly animals they want? What about converting someone from a poor horse owner to a good one?
P.S. Apologies for the slow week, I can’t seem to get my Internet hooked up where I live now. The folks at CenturyTel are clearly not the sharpest knives in the drawer. I’ve only had my Blackberry, and I can’t post from that – posting requires Java.
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Gah. I just read a sale ad – 5yo TB that has been going to Pony Club for three years, and has done hacking, dressage, jumping and eventing – “many shows” “many ode and hack shows”
I hope that when that little TB was going to PC as a 2yo, that he was just taken to walk around and get use to the atmosphere and company – not actually join in with the working group.
My TB is 7 this year and he’s been to four low ODEs, one showjump round, two hack shows, plus a couple of clinics.
On topic…goodness, those poor horses. Really makes you wonder about the world doesn’t it.
Was talking to this guy who has this really sweet little black and white pony. He picked it up for $50 ($100 bucks for a pair actually). Completely unhandled, just running loose in a paddock – the owner didn’t know a thing about horses at all…but was breeding them…
*sigh*
Annette said…
Everybody has to start somewhere and better to have good sane advise instead of how I started. Heck I still am in horses despite the “mentor” I had and through my own study, most importantly, I’m still alive and functional.
————
Maybe there is hope yet for my neighbour yet! Sounds like a similar scenario with the “alive and functional” issue. Meh, who needs unbroken bones? *rolls eyes*
My neighbours cottoned on to a “trainer” (cough cough). This trainer encouraged her to buy a HOT 3yo TB mare – she was a then 14yo who’d only ever leased a 13hh 16yo pony.
When that didn’t work out she bought another 4yo OTT TB. That didn’t work out either, and thanks to the trainer the TB went from a super-quiet sweetheart to a scared ‘dangerous’ problem horse (Luckily I was able to buy him and he’s back to his normal self now).
Neighbour now has a more expierenced horse but still isn’t at the levels she’d like or winning everything. Maybe as she gets older she’ll realise why, and adopt some different methods with a different mentor.
Dear Kirri and Doitright,
I posted a reply about overchecks at the bottom of FHOTD’s last blog before this one, so scroll on down and give me your thoughts. In a nutshell, it has been my experience that overchecks cause no pain when the horse is trained and the bit is adjusted correctly (don’t believe EVERY word of Black Beauty, it’s not like that at all in the modern world). In the Morgan world we are asking our animated park and pleasure driving horses to perform brilliantly for short periods of time on flat groomed surfaces. Indeed, our carriage horses carry a lower headset and no overcheck.
I think, dear Kirri, that you are of the persuasion that spurs, curbs, and whips are all cruel devices (could be in the wrong hands). Would you have us herd our horses into a corral al scruffy and naked of leather to be judged?
Ohh, ohhh, I wanna see all the scruffy people herding their horses! Would they be plumb nekkid or just nekkid of leather?
Hi there. I’ve been lurking for a couple of weeks now. Love the blog!
LMFH -
You are correct about Galvain’s groove. It’s the best (and easiest) way to age older horses.
Dear FHOTD and Everybody,
I can’t stand it! While we’re in a lull I’ll make a shameless political plug for Morgans!!! Go to http://www.jaygoss.com and work your way to Harvestime PNW (I think you get there by clicking of the “current” show which is “Eddie Macmurdo” and then scroll down to Harvestime. THEN go to “show proofs” and “forgot your number” where he’ll list owners and entry numbers. Just click on a NAME or NUMBER to see the proofs. I’ll get you started:
Lovik: this is a homegrown 20 yr gelding who trail rides all year and goes to one show in the summer. Your basic BYB Morgan. Nicest disposition on the planet.
Bullard: Royally-bred eastern stallion owned & shown by amateur family. Gives pony rides to kids, is on his way to Nationals next week.
Stevenson: Pretty nice English Pleasure horse
Tretter: Quality Morgan hunter
Goldmann: Top notch 3-yr-old gelding (on the small side)
Wilkinson: Older gent enjoying his two homebred Morgans.
If you’ll look at a selection of horses from this show, I can tell you that they a good cross section of Morgans from the Pacific Northwest, several of them national contenders, many of them backyard pets who came to the show. You’ll see the same horse ridden by his trainer and then his kid, and the difference in style and performance. They tend to adjust to the circumstances, and if Kiddie won’t make him stay on the rail and work, he’ll be just as happy to jog into center ring and doze. Morgans are the best, and here’s a selection to ENJOY!!!
whoop’s. I believe you spelled it correctly LMFH. Galvayne’ groove. I mispelled it.
luvmyfuglyhorse said…
cuillin said…
.you only age by bottom teeth, not top ones,
Ok, I am real green at this aging by teeth thing… What I do know is that the black centers on the bottom incisors fade by 10 or so, is that right? After the age of ten, I look for the Galvayne’s groove, located on the last incisor. It starts at the gum line at about 10 and extends down each year, reaching mid point at about 15, and about down to the bottom at 20. Then it starts to disappear, starting from top to bottom. Completely gone by 30.
This is what I was taught. Is this total malarkey?
You are pretty much correct. Aging a horse (after 5 or a full mouth), can be done by the cups in the incisors, the upper corner incisor, the angle that the teeth meet, the hook on the bottom corner incisor, and the shape of the surface of the teeth. The cups usually start to disappear around age 6 on the lower teeth first, center, intermediate, then corner. They then disappear on the uppers, center, intermediate, then corner. They are usually gone around 11. The bottom corner incisor cups usually disappear around age 8.
The upper corner incisor can be watched for the Galvayne’s groove at 10 to 30, as well as size. Generally speaking, you can look to see if it is wider than it is long, square, or longer than it is wide. The horse is older the longer it is compared to width.
The incisors in front will meet with less angulation as the horse ages. Meaning they will appear to slant forward and outward.
There is the ’7 yr hook’ on the bottom corner incisor. It is not ALWAYS there at 7, but it is commonly found due to how the teeth meet and wear at that age. It may also reappear around the ages of 12-15.
The shape of the surface of the teeth can be used as well. If you are looking down at the tops of the bottom incisors, they will be wider than they are deep (or tall) in young horses. They will then become oval looking around the ages of 8-12, triangular around 15, and then deeper (or taller) than they are wide around 20.
Sorry for the long post. lol It was supposed to be short and sweet. I guess my fingers ran away with me.
Dear Farmer’s wife,
I love how passionate you are about Morgans! I am the same way with Paints. You should bring a couple of yours down here and teach me the error of my ways, while I try to lure you into the world of stock horses. lol
Farmer’s Wife, I went to a show at the arena this weekend. Morab Nationals & United Classic Horse Show. In addition to Morabs, they had Morgans, Arabians and Saddlebreds. Some really beautiful horses. I didn’t take my camera into the arena because I never get decent pictures in there. Lousy lighting. But I loved the driving class today, the winner was the most wonderfully regal looking ASB. Dark bay and absolutely gorgeous. It was so nice to see the horses particularly the SB doing their natural beautiful gait without any of that big lick crap.
There was also a palomino Morab that I would have stolen in a minute if I could have. It was a really nice show.
Dear Kay, glad you enjoyed the show. Nothing like a big going harness horse to get the blood pumpin’! I’ve seen some pleasant Morabs and they have their own registry (or three) though I still prefer a pure of either breed.
Dear Athena, I’ll make you a deal. You come up to the PNW and drive an upheaded Morgan for the thrill of a lifetime, and I’ll come down (where?) and ride one of your stock horses.
Farmer’s wife,
That sounds fantastic! If only the time and money were available. *sigh* I’m in Arizona.. not TOO far, but just far enough.
I’ve flirted with the idea of teaching my youngsters to drive, but I just don’t have the expertise (nor equipment) in that area. It always looks fun (and expensive)!
The only thing about “upheaded” Morgans that seems strange to me is the feeling that their head would be in my lap if I rode one. lol I bet the feeling like the horse is going to fall on it’s nose is probably similiar.
farmer’s wife,
If I ever get to the point where I want to buy a horse, I will consider a Morgan. They seem for the most part to be smart and sane and sound and *small* (I prefer 15 hands or less.)
Of course this completely contradicts what I envision myself doing, which is eventing, but given that I’m never going to go to high levels, certainly never more than Novice, maybe a nice Morgan would work just fine! I’d rather have a horse that I am comfortable with than a horse that fits the “picture” the judges want, typically a Warmblood at least 16.2 hands tall. Sooooo not my thing!
Dear Athena, you are exactly right. In a saddleseat horse you WANT the neck upright and “in your lap.” The best ones carry themselves that way naturally. This is an issue with saddlebreds because some are so long necked that at rest they look like gangly giraffes, but collected up they improve immensely. Morgans being more baroque their curvy necks are prettier at ease.
If you look at the western and hunter horses on that jaygoss.com/Harvestime PNW site, you’ll see a lower carriage than the saddle & harness horses generally, but still not a peanut roller in the pack. In fact, when a friend brought her western Morgan to a local show he performed perfectly but couldn’t get around the herds of low headed stock horses in his classes. As a political statement when it came to the costume class, I walked in front of him with a large gunny sack labeled “peanuts” and dropped them (tiny carrots in truth) on the ground in front of his nose with each stride. I don’t think the judge was amused but we sure were.
I know the feeling, I normally hate WP, I can’t stand a lower than level headset and the awkward unnatural slow gaits. That is why if I have to watch a pleasure class I prefer English Pleasure.
But with the Morabs or Morgans or Arabians the WP classes aren’t bad the head is held up and the horses move naturally. They don’t look like they are 99 percent dead.
Kay said…
I know the feeling, I normally hate WP, I can’t stand a lower than level headset and the awkward unnatural slow gaits. That is why if I have to watch a pleasure class I prefer English Pleasure.
But with the Morabs or Morgans or Arabians the WP classes aren’t bad the head is held up and the horses move naturally. They don’t look like they are 99 percent dead.
^^^Exactly what I have always said. It is really frusterating though, when I show open with my Arabian in WP, and the judges won’t place us because he has a natural headset and movment(while still being collected). I can’t tell you how many times a peaunt-pushing quarter horse that was very obviously lame in the hind end placed first in the class just because his nose was in the dirt and he “moved slow and collected” Collected my but ! Anyways, I wish open show judges would be more accepting and stop not placing horses just because they aren’t stock type.
Uh-oh, here we go… lol
Just kidding. I know there are/have been problems in the stock horse pleasure classes. Some of us are working to improve that. I have never agreed with the peanut rolling type of head set. I have always had my horses carry their polls at or around wither height. At most I’ll let them carry their head with the tips of their ears at wither height. Most of the pleasure bred horses carry their head there naturally, anyway.
If you look at my picture, to the side, that is about as high-headed as my colt gets when moving. He had something he just HAD to look at in that picture. (The judge in a chair, lol).
I actually judged a couple of park horse and gaited classes at the last show. I don’t think I mangled it too badly.
When I judge an open show I always keep in mind breed when looking at the horse’s self carriage. I would’ve loved someone with your sense of humor. (probably would’ve had the announcer make sure EVERYONE knew what you were doing, and why too.. lol).
arabians4ever… Looks like my comment had good timing. lol
Farmer’s Wife,
I think I’ve put up links to these horses before but I still would like your comments on them. This is my photo bucket account and on the top four pictures three of them of my friend’s Morgan team. Although they are being ridden here. There are two pictures of Zeus and one of Apollo.
I’d really like to hear your comments on them. This summer I have been amazed by them.
At the top of page two there is also a picture of a Eclipse a black Morgan belonging to another lady I know.
Just curious what you think of them.
Okay, C-nile virus strikes again.
I forgot to put up the link.
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k38/KayFellows/
Dear Penelope,
Let us just leave the horses nekkid and you can wear your chaps and sequined top, or whatever the latest fashion craze is. Truth to tell, it could be an interesting discussion about “where to draw the line” on artificial appliances. Or maybe that Russian guy has already taken it to that extreme from a few weeks ago?
Anyway, it seems each breed and discipline defines “unnatural” differently, hence my brilliant idea of herding ‘em into a ring as God made ‘em. You can be the judge (both horses and people, okay?)
Let’s see: snaffle vs curb, kimberwicke vs pelham, martingale vs tie-down, shin boots vs polo wraps, shod vs barefoot, pads vs open soles, overchecks vs side checks vs no checks, whips vs voice commands, we could go on indefinitely.
But I think you’ve hit on the answer of drawing the general public to the shows by advertising the “nekkid & scruffy” classes. I’ll sell tickets.
Dear Ann,
Hooray for you making the choice for a Morgan!!! You’ll never be sorry. When the time comes I recommend you look long and wisely at programs who are producing the Morgan with the skills & abilities you’ll need for eventing. I agree about height—I favor a shorter horse on the theory they are easier to climb up onto and closer to the ground to fall off of. I will happily steer you towards reputable breeders & trainers of Morgans suited to sport disciplines!!! Welcome aboard!
Dear Kay, if I can call it up I’ll give it a shot. My computer is having cyber issues tonight. Will get back to you soon. Thanks for asking my humble opinion.
Okay Kay, here goes. Hope I have the right horses:
Zeus: typy Morgany face, wide chest, crested neck, all over round appearance, nice and curvy. Sould love a side conformation shot to really judge, but this is a Morgan for sure.
Eclipse: Rounded frame with a sturdy old-style look to him. Seems to have a nicely set on neck and good hip, but hard to tell from the angle of the shot. Kind expression and straight legs. Looks to be an easy keeper (we call the ones in our barn “air ferns” as they stay plump on a fencepost and water diet).
Percheron/Morgan teams of blacks: Near horse looks to have some Morgan type.
Not sure which horse is Appollo. Could he be the chestnut with the (ouch!) roached mane?
Apollo is the third horse on the top row, ridden by Heather in the picture. The chestnut with the roached mane is one of the other chariot horses. His name is Caesar and he is a quarterlinger. LOL
On Page 7 I think, the last page anyway there is a picture of Eclipse parked out.
Athena,
You mentioned working towards your APHA judges card. A few years ago, PFHA had “toyed” with the idea of allowing other breed judges to judge our specialty classes. That went over like a lead balloon. Some individuals (aka snobs) seem to think that judges from other breeds wouldn’t understand gait….oh, please, what a bunch of malarkey! Anyway, so we have been stuck with judges that don’t understand the difference between a lope, canter and hand gallop. Most of them don’t seem to realize that there is a rear lead that goes with the front lead, when the horse is loping! Two years in a row (not necessarily the last couple), we had National Champions that crossfired at the lope! ARGGGHHH! Or we, get stuck with certain judges that think Pasos that are shown in the specialty division (WP, Trail, Driving, Versatility & Costume) are inferior to those that show only in Fino or Performance, etc. One judge even snarkily referred to the specialty classes as “disability classes”! Of course you can’t make him understand that my horse has MORE training than most Fino or Performance horses, and can do ten times the things that they can do.
Okay, rant over….;-)
man was KILLED riding his motorcycle to work when her horses were loose and ran out in front of him at 5am.
Same thing happened here…only it was truck vs. Clydesdale. The driver and the horse were killed instantly.
A Clydie has roughly the same dimensions as a moose.
This is my soapbox…if you aren’t willing to “step up” your horse ownership game and learn about drafts, DO NOT OWN ONE. They are NOT the same as draft crosses. They require patient, diligent, firm training from a young age, and considerably more fencing, food, water and work than a light horse.
They are NOT all as sleepy as they look.
If you’ve owned a sleepy, easy draft, great…but until you’ve rescued one of the “bad” ones, don’t EVER tell me they are all like that.
Fabulous animals if you have what it takes to train and keep them…but they are a heck of a lot easier to give up on when they don’t hit the ground “perfect” because they bring so much from the meat man (poundage).
graywolf,
Oh boy, do I understand your frustration. I’m not sure how many stock horse type people really do understand gaited horses… or the fact that all gaited horses don’t necessarily have the same ‘gait’. I judged an open show that had a “Gaited class”. I said, um… what kind of horses do you normally have in it? They didn’t know. *sigh* I ended up with horses that had 2-5 gaits each. The only way I could figure to judge that class was individual work. I had visions of the saddlebreds riding right over the top of the Walkers and Foxtrotters. It was NOT a large arena. lol
All it takes is research and a desire to do your best when judging. I’ll admit that I’m not the best judge of gaited horses, but you better believe I research conformation, gaits and breed standards before EVERY show.
…. And how can someone be a judge if they can’t see a crossfire, or understand that in order to do more maneuvers one must have more training???!!!
Wow. Now I know what my horse would look like if he hadn’t been gelded and if I stopped feeding him for a few months.
He’s a TB cross with exactly this coloring; the conformation differences are mostly in the hind end (mine has a typical Lusitano butt), which of course these photos don’t really show. I should print one of these pics to remind me how different my own horse’s life could have been.
And OMG, that’s a stall where horses are actually kept? [shudder]
the farmer’s wife:
Can you please give me some homework to look up on Morgans. I’d like to learn more about them and the current trends/types. My email is: borderbratz@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Hello FHOTD Bloggers…
Long time reader, living horse free and vicariously though this blog……….
Went to an agricultural high school, and during the summer months we were out of school in April for the year as long as we had a job lined up that pertained to our major. My major was Equine husbandry/Horse management. I think it was Sophomore or Junior year, there was a job posting for a part time job at a day care center they needed someone to care for 2 ponies. Sounded pretty normal, and I was going to stay at the school to be an assistant riding instructor for the freshman class that year, and training the school’s horses. So a part time job would have rounded out my requirements for the year. Anyway, went to go “interview†for the job at this day care center. (Remember this is all in the presence of children…little children)
I will NEVER forget those ponies….two grade ponies about 10hh each…maybe…their “paddock†was a combination of mud hole and a poo hole. Piles and piles of poo about knee deep. Everywhere. A muck bucket full of what I imagine was supposed to be water, it looked like rain water actually, (I’ve seen sewer’s cleaner)
Both ponies had rain rot, hadn’t been groomed in forever, I’m still not sure what color they were supposed to be as they were trying to shed out. All of their feet were elfin – like…I went over to them, and they tried to come over to see me, couldn’t get to the fence for all the poo.
Manes and tails all matted and knotted. Their backs looked beyond painful for the rain rot and the dead hair that was stuck to them.
They had a run in shelter type of thing and that looked even worse, I can’t imagine they went in there very often for the stink of urine and poo. No food of course, except for sweet feed mixed with poo in a tub on the ground.
I spoke with the woman who owned them, (and she was just another ignorant person), she was concerned about how much it would cost to care for them properly, she “bought them for the children†and had no idea how to care for them…..ugh…..I tried to tell her that they were in terrible shape, and the 1st thing she needed to do was to get a vet out here, worm them, float their teeth, give them a good once over, get a farrier out there as well, hopefully at the same time to get their feet in better shape, get a “backhoe†and dumpster to clean out their paddock and shed ( yes it needed a backhoe, no way one person could get it clean by conventional means) she looked distraught and concerned, upon learning all that she needed to do. If I remember correctly she was also very ashamed of herself for not caring for them properly.
I suggested that if she wanted to try to keep them and care for them properly she NEEDED to learn about basic care, I would help her, but those initial things HAD to be done ASAP. BUT if she didn’t want to “deal†with the cost, she needed to call the MSPCA and have them come get them (Massachusetts Aspca).
In the end she wasn’t sure yet what she wanted to do, she did seem taken aback by the costs she would incur which made me extremely nervous for them. I have no idea what kind of training these two had, I have no idea how old they were…couldn’t stay there long enough to find out, had a hard enough time seeing my way back to the car for the tears flooding my eyes.
As soon as I got home, I called the MSCPA (anonymously) …When I got into school the next day, I told my teacher what had happened, and what I had done, she agreed wholeheartedly with my choices (of course) and the school made a phone call as well the MSPCA regarding the ponies.
I can only hope and pray that they were taken out of there and either re-habed or put down…those poor ponies couldn’t have survived much longer after that. (to this day I still have nightmares on occasion)
Ann said…
farmer’s wife,
If I ever get to the point where I want to buy a horse, I will consider a Morgan. They seem for the most part to be smart and sane and sound and *small* (I prefer 15 hands or less.)
Of course this completely contradicts what I envision myself doing, which is eventing, but given that I’m never going to go to high levels, certainly never more than Novice, maybe a nice Morgan would work just fine! I’d rather have a horse that I am comfortable with than a horse that fits the “picture” the judges want, typically a Warmblood at least 16.2 hands tall. Sooooo not my thing!
September 23, 2007 8:50 PM
Ann,
You absolutely cannot go wrong with a Morgan. Saddleseat and driving are definitely what people first think of, but there are plenty really great Morgans out there that will excell at eventing.
Kay said…
So Luvmyfugly, tell us about the sweet little sorrel mare you picked out. We need all the details. LOL
SO – After we left “Sweet No Teeth” we headed out to view horse #2 – an AQHA reg gelding. At least here we’d be able to tell the age! I called to confirm that we were on our way, and was told that horse had been sold. DANG
So we turned south and went to a well-known Maine dealer who leases out camp horses for the winter. If you like the horse and the camp hasn’t put a deposit on to hold for next year, you can buy it. This place has horror stories and happy endings. I own one of their happy endings, but I have seen some of the horror stories. So, when shopping there, you do have to be on your toes.
We first tried this big-honkin’ chestnut gelding. To me, anything over 15.2 is big. The handler told me this guy was 15.3 – BUZZ -WRONG. This clunker had to be 16.3 at least. But in his defense, this guy was a solid beginner horse. A little on the lazy side (ok, you had to pick up the slack rein as if you were going to give him a “whack” before he’d move…) but he was a good babysitter. Big goofy thing with jughead to beat the band. My friend was a bit intimidated, as she is barely 5’2″ feet tall with little stubby legs!
NEXT ~
Finally comes the sweet mare. She is your every day, unremarkable, but reasonably pretty mare. Barn manager and I both agreed mid-teens. When the handler got on her for a demo, I thought “nope.” Her eyes rolled back, showing the whites, her mouth gaped as the girl whirled her quickly through the w/t/c, reins in a death grip. But I climbed up on her anyway. And we sat for a minute (BTW, stood stock still for mounting- Nice beginning.) I Let her reins go loose and she walked off calm as could be. All the poor girl needed was a loose rein and she was so good. W/t/c both ways. No problem. Albeit, it was a small little demo ring. But you could tell this mare was quiet and willing. nothing fancy at all.
I asked a different handler if she’d hack out alone. He said, “dunno, let’s find out.” and she did, flawlessly, cars horns, big scary stuff. Not a problem.
This 14.2 mare was much more appealing to my friends, and they all tried her out with equal degrees of success.
Check was written, papers were signed, horse now has a new, very excited owner! Of course, we went right into the dealers store stocked to the rafters with everything you need. Came out with buckets, brushes, pretty new halter and lead, fly spray, and a manure fork! All set!
So, she’s being delivered today and I will have to update you once again to see if this “princess” turns into a toad after settling in to her new home.
BTW, friends worked their butts off all day yesterday, ready-ing fences, finishing touches on the run-in shed, asking me zillions of questions and listening intently to the answers.
The saga will continue, I will keep you posted.
I did convince one person to not get into willy-nilly breeding – kind of. This is, I’m ashamed to say, my mother. She bought a colt at the Alberta Quarter Horse Breeders Group sale, paid way too much for him (he’s hammerheaded, narrow chested, well, just not too great) because of a trendy stallion. She intended to keep him a stallion and breed him to her done-nothing mare. Luckily through much convincing she did geld him. I used the argument that no matter how friendly he is, he will not be a pet if he is a stallion (not that any horse should be a “pet” per se), and she would have to spend a fortune training and showing him before she would ever be able to charge a nickel for a breeding fee. She buckled under pressure. But, of course, the Done-nothing mare that she had was already in foal when she bought her, and the nasty little sorrel that hit the ground has become my mother’s broodmare now. This wickedly mean sorrel mare is now in foal to some done-nothing stallion from northern alberta. RRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr! It makes me angry. I told her a done-nothing mare plus a done-nothing stallion equals garbage, but apparently she thinks that some sight-unseen palomino is going to create a miracle baby that has a nice personality???? What???? I no longer talk horses with her, it’s like banging my head against the wall. So is my success in convincing her to geld the fugly black colt really a success???
We now need a license in Maine to advertise puppies and kittens for sale. It is supposed to cut back on puppy mills, because the state will keep track of the amount being sold. There should be a test and a license to breed a horse.
I’m sorry about your back, I know how evil a wrecked back can be.
My favorate is people who have shinny horses they they don’t ride (mind you the lady I’m talking about’s horses are very ridable. She just doesn’t) who feel the need to “rescue” another horse again and again. Again, my particular example’s horses were not in nearly this bad a shape. However, even a little skinny any bitching about feed and hay costs might be a hint that you can’t “save” something else.
Love my Fugly horse…
Are you talking about Hemphill’s? I went there looking for a lesson prospect and after watching 3 horse get ridden by some yahoo, turned and left without a word. I specifically said I wanted a horse broke w/t/c, good ground manners, NOT hot, beginner safe, sound in mind and body, age didn’t matter. First they grabbed some poor elderly mare that could hardly walk… Then a young gelding that refused to move once mounted (I honestly don’t think he’d even ever been backed before), then they grabbed a crazy sorrel ex-barrel racer with no manners, that reared up and flipped over on it’s rider! Then the rider got up, got back on, brought the horse in to a full gallop with a few bucks here and there. Looking like a bronc rider with one hand slapping the poor horse on the rear, he flashed me a smile and said “this is the type of horse I would have loved as a kid. Lots of spunk”. I turned and walked out. DID THEY EVEN LISTEN TO ME?!!!!
The post about the travelling with talkative goat owner had me in tears of laughter.
Spotmesomecolour your post had me in tears again. Not because the horse had been so badly (ignorantly) treated, but because YOU took the time and effort to transform this animal’s life.
He must think that he has already died and gone to heaven.
The people who owned him were cruel in their ignorance, and that is awful, but the ones who really get up my nose are those that know better and just don’t care.
horsesandhounds – yep. Hemphill’s. I have found recent dealings to be a lot better than they used to be. When did you visit?
I do agree when they put the “kid” demo riders on the horses, they like to “showoff” and cowboy around.
I had an adult handler who showed us only truly beginner horses. Very calm, very quiet. w/t/c –
but I know of many people who came out of the there shaking their heads in disbelief. Guess it’s the luck of the draw!
Since Creighton died, the daughters have been struggling, but they’re gaining!
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My friends’ horse was delivered today and so far so good, though she did not want to stand to have her feet cleaned. Definite mild case of thrush, could be a little sore. We got the two front ones done and called it quits for the time being. don’t want to overwhelm her on her first day in her new home. Totally quiet though. Ignored the dogs and all the hubbub, did come over to the fence to greet people here and there. Likely checking for treats!
Qucick commwnt on horses being gelded late. tho gneerally true (gelding late won’t do much good)Remember still that it depends on the horse. My TB (grit) was pasture mates w/ a stallion until he was three. Grit was gelded at a very reasionable age (a guess, but I know he was out of the vet school’s breeding program. I take that as a good sign), but still shows some very stallion tendencies. Like, we can’t pasture him w/ any geldings if he’s been first allowed to stake his claim in that perticlar pasture. No mounting mares, but deff territorial. To the point of dangerous for some poor geldings.
Boz – 18 y/o Egyption Arab stallion that raced, showed and bred many a mare in his day. He edned up at an equestrian college who promptly gelded him. The owners of the barn I was boarding at bought him for, like, $800 from the school. He cold be pastred w/ geldings. He did try to mount mares. He did not run through any fences to get to them or act stupid around them. even when they were in raging heat. He ended up being leased by a confident beginner that adores him.
Hero – 9 y/o PMU thing that for some reasion was left a stud. He came in a shipment of canadian horses we brought in for potential hunt horses about 6 years ago, and we didn’t even think to check to see if any of hem had their jewls. Turns out hero did. He’s a great looking horse, and fits our needs beautiflly. The farm mgr. for a breeding out of him before he was cut. Both Hero and his filly, Breezy, are in the top 5 best hunt horses we have at the farm. You’d still never know he was EVER a stud. much less had a breeding. We should have kept that one.
This is Breezy
http://www.midlandfoxhounds.com/photo-archive/2006/Midland_Opening_Meet/Midland%20Opening%20Meet%202006%201061.JPG
Anyway. my point is it depends on the horse. some horses can be successfully gelded at a late age and even after being bread and turn out to be wonderful horses w/o any extra mile kind of effort.
OMG I appologise for my spelling. That’ll teach me to type in the dark. AND not proof read.
“When did you visit?”
I was there last fall.
Sometimes I wonder if you can change people, but then along comes luvmyfuglyhorse with her story of people actually willing to listen and learn.
Perhaps we should not give up hope just yet.
Yesterday I did something that I didn’t think I would ever do.
A lady came into our yard to show us a picture of a horse (from a local sale website) which she was hoping to get for her daughter.
By chance I knew the seller, and immediately tried to put lady buyer off. Not because there is anything wrong with the horse, or its current owner, but because it is a top grade showjumper (OTTB).
The ad stated that it would suit a CONFIDENT JUNIOR – which mum took to mean a beginning child.
I tried to explain to her that the seller meant someone in their mid-teens wanting a horse capable of taking them into the higher grades – it is already jumping 1.20m in competition.
Mum still wasn’t listening, so I bit the bullet and sent an email to the seller – warning her that the child in question had only just begun to ride their SHETLAND pony independently, and not to believe Mum’s bullshit that her daughter was confident junior.
This mother has already purchased 4 unbroken young horses for her daughter (that we know of) – and with the exception of the shetland all have been moved on, as they were far too much for this inexperienced child.
This morning I received an email from the seller, thanking me for alerting her to the childs true riding ability – and pointing out that, while the horse has no vices, he was in no way suitable for an inexperienced rider.
Hopefully Mum will not find out what I have done, as I would have to put up with some fairly high level abuse. She’s not known as Mad Julie for nothing.
horsesandhounds – we were there just this last Saturday. It was a 3-ring circus, but the barn manager, Mike, was calm and relaxed. Very much listening to us. Not allowing too many horses in the ring at a time. I was impressed, this time.
Now, as to my efforts – the local grain store owner is trying to sabotage me!
I carefully explained to the new owners that switching feed too quickly can possibly cause a horse to colic – not always, but caution is best applied here. We found out what the litte mare had been fed and checked with this local dealer to see if he had the equivalent – a 14% sweet feed (yikes, that in itself made me cringe) (Blue Seal vs. Poulin)- yes he had it, but suggested that this other grain ( a complete pellet, 11%protein /6% fat) is much better.- I agree, I am not one to feed too high protein and sweet feed when it’s not necessary. My horse do great on the 11% pellet….
anyway, the grain store dealer tells them there’s no need to wean her off the old stuff— just feed her the new stuff all at once, full serving – no problem. He argued so much with my friends that they finally relented, bought a bag of the pellets and came home and called me! ARGGHHHH – I told them, don’t even bother graining her tonight, just give her plenty of hay and to go back to the grain store today when someone else is behind the counter and get the 14% – we will slowly switch her over.
THEN – the grain store guy tells them it’s just fine to throw her out on the pasture 24/7 – excuse me? We have no way of knowing if this horse is used to grass. She’s been at this sales barn for at least a month, eating hay & grain only, no pasture. Before that she was at a kids’ riding camp – very likely no pasture there.
My vet and farrier agree (as do I and as I have been told for years and years) never just put a horse on pasture if it hasn’t been. Again, do it slowly, 20 minutes first day, a little longer each day. See how it goes….
Am I overly cautious? I am mind-boggled that this grain store guy, the son of an “old-school” farmer – BUT whose own son is a veterinarian – would tell these people that everything I have been telling them is wrong….
Fortunately, these newbies have been reading and studying, and researching —and called me to tell me this. I am grateful they didn’t take this supposed “expert’s” advice!
It is beginning to sound like these people really do have some sense and are on their way to becoming responsible horse owners.
I would say that this project should go on the FHOTD Challenge board.
What about it Fugly, we have training horses, training the next generation, how about adding a catagory of mentoring new adult horse owners.
Luvmyfuglyhorse,
You have a thumbs up from me as to how you are approaching the situation. I understand your frustration at being undermined by the feed store guy.
But,it does sound like these folks have good heads on their shoulders, and the common sense to ask questions. They will make mistakes no doubt, but sound like the kind that will learn from them.
Take a look at the pasterns on this poor mare and then of course the fact that she “has never been broke to ride, and is a good broodmare.”
http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-44873
Is it just me, or does that look like a classic case of a brood with DSLD being used for yet *gasp* yet more breeding?