tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post8493665925211918046..comments2024-03-28T20:38:29.447-04:00Comments on honeysuckle faire: Stepping off sharply from the rank and filejuliettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-85804354076760632982010-04-25T14:23:00.437-04:002010-04-25T14:23:00.437-04:00Fantastic Post Juliette!
After only having Wa for...Fantastic Post Juliette!<br /><br />After only having Wa for 4 years...I have found, after one year with her being "pasture boarded" and having a "Run in Shelter"..she was the happiest there...better mind for riding and her weight was great. I set the profile for that barn(got kicked out doing it) and they rented my space for double the money! It works...they love the freedom of coming and going and less handing(for boarded horses).<br /><br />You are soo on the right track...and I imagine it may be difficult to change time in theories..but, you see through the other bloggers and the wonderful books you've scoured. Horses Need Freedom, they are not needing human comforts. <br /><br />We only bring the horses in for the winter more to save the land(though if I had my druthers...PEA GRAVEL the water trough area and gates and such)And to rest it for hay and grazing later. We have some dry lots and some rotation places.<br />Otherwise...24-7 out they go!<br />Though, our stalls are open too...with graveled paddocks..so they never are shut into a stall. Seems to haver made a huge-o- difference in my mare.<br />I never will subject her to boarding again now.<br />KKallhorsestuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301081722884351021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-66109629464610943142010-04-24T12:38:40.225-04:002010-04-24T12:38:40.225-04:00Growing up, I had a pony who spent his days on a r...Growing up, I had a pony who spent his days on a rope tied to a stake in the ground. He mowed our backyard, the neighbor's yard, and my grandfather's yard on a rotating basis all spring and summer. At night, he was in his 5x10 stall (plenty of space for a pony to turn around) which was harbored inside the old garage. <br /><br />Of course, now my ponies have run in shelters attached to small paddocks (20x20, or smaller when I divide them), and during the day they get some turn out time in the mud pit of winter or pasture in the summer. <br /><br />I'm always amazed at how adaptable horses are. Mine ran wild at one point in their lives, yet they transitioned beautifully into domestic boundaries.Traceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06045746044917443807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-2205115305607159192010-04-22T14:44:40.952-04:002010-04-22T14:44:40.952-04:00I'm impressed that you are considering it for ...I'm impressed that you are considering it for yours which are not in the "grazing muzzle" group.<br /><br />Let us know!lythahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01719586193059362084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-56254291590026241542010-04-21T18:55:11.939-04:002010-04-21T18:55:11.939-04:00Kristen - I am so glad Laz is doing well in his tu...Kristen - I am so glad Laz is doing well in his turnout situation. He is a happy boy! <br />Pie and Sovey have their pastures nibbled down to a safe level now. They do have access to all the hay they want, but they don't eat all that we give them because the grass is so much more interesting. We do spread the hay out. When I fence in the Paddock Paradise, I am going to have to introduce the hayfield slowly - as in 1/2 hour increments - but then the track system should work to encourage the movement to keep over-eating away. That is the plan - I will watch everything like a hawk though! From what I understand, the Paddock Paradise is a solution to horses who suffer from chronic laminitis, the reoccurent founderers, and the chubby "grazing muzzle" group. Touch wood, we don't have any of the above, but I still think it is a desirable system because it mimics their natural tracking movements. I will try to keep you posted!juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-82729614929369957182010-04-21T18:15:50.299-04:002010-04-21T18:15:50.299-04:00Ohhh I've been waiting for this post! I find t...Ohhh I've been waiting for this post! I find this SO fascinating b/c I too, was raised with stalled horses, no pasture, clipped coats, shoes on, sweet feed, etc etc. <br />When I first found Laz, he was literally dumped at the place I was riding which was pasture board. Although he was a calm boy and enjoyed his pasture time, I moved him to where we are now for a few reasons: 1. he was really skinny, 2. I moved him to a place where the BO had years of experience/knowledge so I could learn for us both and 3. I wanted a stall area with turnout for my comfort being his pasture board where I was at had no shelter, no trees and about 50 horses on 5 acres-yuck.<br />Anyway, with Laz's current situation he has 24/7 turnout with access to his stall for shelter being that is his only shelter. He loves it. His weaving-non existent unless he is being bratty and wants hay for the 2 minutes a day he may not have it. His body looks better and his mind is better, happier and I'm sure it's only doing good for his OTTB mind and legs to wander all around all day. He choses to come in his stall when it's windy and really cold I've noticed but I would say, he's outside 99% of the time.<br />I know Pie and Sovey are loving this set up!!! I'm curious about how it continues. I always worry about thunderstorms for some reason. Eek. But like you, I think I'm casting my fears on to them. Somehow, nature does know best and sets them up for what works<br />So I'm most curious about the hay vs grass feeding. Laz can't have too much grass being laminitic (although his was not caused by grass founder, it was chemical or drug derived) but do Sovey/Pie get hay along w/ grass? All day? Spread out to encourage the grazing movement? I supposed that is what the track path is for too. Wow, so much to learn and I love love love that you are documenting this for us all! Thank you!Kristen Eleni Shellenbargerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01458744919530540978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-76972345004228398412010-04-20T07:46:11.869-04:002010-04-20T07:46:11.869-04:00lytha - I think Baasha will love a track system an...lytha - I think Baasha will love a track system and (!) a new pony friend. I do think they need "a herd" to get the track moving. Our Sovey-Boy is a great pusher. He doesn't let Pie stop to graze too much as it is, before moving them both along to another pasture.juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-56823901639108812252010-04-19T08:01:25.088-04:002010-04-19T08:01:25.088-04:00I was thinking about how nice it would be to have ...I was thinking about how nice it would be to have a track system set up here, especially since it's half built already, but the principle of movement works because horses push each other around it from resource to resource. With only one horse, I am not convinced it would stimulate more movement. However, I've been putting ads out that we're looking for an old companion pony, I hope we find one. Then I'll have motivation to make the other half of the track and continue to use the center for hay making. I think the track would work great for your two horses.lythahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01719586193059362084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-24436640447337689622010-04-17T08:16:05.311-04:002010-04-17T08:16:05.311-04:00Michelle - I do think the show world is perhaps th...Michelle - I do think the show world is perhaps the biggest "instructor" of less natural systems. The bathed, clipped, blanketed, stalled world of showing is all I knew. I am trying to move in a different direction now with the horse's health and sanity in mind. Probably not too many horses in the wild "can't handle turnout". Makes me ask - what have we done?juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-5790277855790791892010-04-17T07:35:25.657-04:002010-04-17T07:35:25.657-04:00Once Upon - Yes, our neighbors still kindly leave ...Once Upon - Yes, our neighbors still kindly leave us apples!<br /><br />We do learn. We didn't blanket the boys this past winter and I don't plan on using blankets next year. I will change my plans with blankets and stalls if I run into a roadblock or if their weights change as they age. <br /><br />I think the Paddock Paradise might be the answer to Fjord weight watching! Mr. Marley might like that!juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-91810962437969494462010-04-16T19:39:26.208-04:002010-04-16T19:39:26.208-04:00I would think in your case, a bar stool would be p...I would think in your case, a bar stool would be particularly dangerous because your horses would want to turn around to find the apple while you are trying to mount. :-) Does your neighbor still leave apples on a stool for your boys?<br /><br />I cringe too when I think about how my beloved TB was boarded years ago. A show horse, he was always kept in a stall. Rarely did he even have a run with his stall. Gasp. I didn't know any better. I was young and followed what my trainer/barn owners did. No wonder my beautiful horse got navicular.<br /><br />Horses are tougher than we think. Misty & Marley don't get blanketed at all and we dropped below -15F at our place this winter. But 25+ years ago, when I moved my TB from California (where he had a heater in his stall) to Kansas (with real winter snow), I was so worried I bought the heaviest, thickest blanket I could...with a hood for his neck and head. That poor horse! But we learn.<br /><br />I think the paddock paradise is fascinating.Once Upon an Equinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08807098276875052982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-91041583081708308272010-04-16T09:15:23.647-04:002010-04-16T09:15:23.647-04:00Very interesting perspective! I love all the info...Very interesting perspective! I love all the information that you have provided. It's interesting (and somewhat sad) to me that in my experience with show horses there have been quite a few of them that couldn't handle turnout. In fact, I had a couple of horses that we had to "teach" to be turned out and they never did get comfortable to the point where we could leave them out 24/7. Even with Tiny, I'm not sure about it....In theory, I like it, but she's got so many issues with the bugs it seems like she can't handle that during the summer months. Maybe it's just one of those things that gets worse before it gets better and I never get past the "worst." Hmm...something to think about. I'm going to check out that book, too.Michellehttp://www.fromthehorsesback.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-30010220756614206922010-04-14T14:00:56.657-04:002010-04-14T14:00:56.657-04:00Kate - Thanks for the comment - I worry and it mak...Kate - Thanks for the comment - I worry and it makes me feel good knowing that you think we are on the right track! Pie and your Maisie - the cutie faces.<br /><br />baystatebrumby - You and your Lilly and Bill's farm have had such a positive influence on me and my decisions with this new plan. You don't know the amount of times I would read your posts just soaking in all the photos of the turnouts and big field herd and stream for water and all of it! It really is a happy-horse-farm up there in Bear River. Thanks for all the support. You and Bill unwittingly helped me through this transition! Pie and Sovey thank you both too.juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-25747260281480669242010-04-14T13:34:56.681-04:002010-04-14T13:34:56.681-04:00Juliette, this post was most interesting to me. Wh...Juliette, this post was most interesting to me. When I took lessons at a local very nice stable , before I had Lilly, most of the horses were expensive and they had big stalls that they were mostly kept in. I saw the other horses outside on rough board (outside all the time) and felt sorry for them. Boy do I know better now! I have observed Lilly in all kinds of weather for 4 years now in her "rough" board at Bill's. Well, this is not rough for her! In fact, when I have kept her in stall for abscess reasons, it made her a crankypants. She only gets hay and has the sweetest temperament around. You cannot look at Lilly and her buddies at Bill's and think they want for anything. They are happy, healthy and outside every day of the year. I know this is how your guys are and will be wandering free in the weather! YEAY!!baystatebrumbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00157539477153261305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-92114048154782777262010-04-14T12:05:26.948-04:002010-04-14T12:05:26.948-04:00Good (no great) thoughts - so much of horsekeeping...Good (no great) thoughts - so much of horsekeeping is "traditional", like most training, and due for a serious rethink. Your road is the right one, and hope your horses do well on the new plan.<br /><br />(Love the pretty, sweet, Pie face!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-82245479005429697342010-04-14T06:57:24.768-04:002010-04-14T06:57:24.768-04:00Pony Girl - Your happy Boy has been a wonderful in...Pony Girl - Your happy Boy has been a wonderful influence on me and my decision to put the boys out all the time. Mom has been moving the hay piles around to encourage walking and we have 4 separate water troughs stations so they have to walk around for that too.juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632474743706899336.post-76797462893738583372010-04-14T01:44:04.090-04:002010-04-14T01:44:04.090-04:00Interesting thoughts, Juliette. I am glad your hor...Interesting thoughts, Juliette. I am glad your horses are out now, it seems like a healthy balance to me. My Boy would not do well in a stall. He'd have to have turnout during the day, and not just a tiny paddock, but something that would allow him to wander. He does wander a bit, I walk his pasture and find track marks and poop piles all over. He also does a lot of standing under his tree or near the filly's pasture.<br />We also feed our horses their hay in two or more piles, so they have to wander. Also, they are rarely fed near the water trough, so they have to wander to get that. It encourages movement.<br />My Boy uses his shed, mostly only at night. He usually stands in the rain or under a tree. But I find the shavings messed up and shavings in his tail so I know at night he lies down in his shed- I'm glad! I keep it nicely bedded for him. Luckily he hasn't been using it much as a toilet! When we had a deep freeze and the mud was frozen and hard to walk on, he spent a lot of time in his shed since it was soft ground. I also had to clean it more! ;)<br />Keep us posted on how your boys love their new living arrangements.<br />p.s. thanks for the info. about carriage houses- never really thought of them as housing horses!Pony Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02464088874054923635noreply@blogger.com