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Duration : 2 min 27 sec
Archive for February, 2009
Wondering how much you pay to get your horses shod on all four feet. A friend of mine is going to farrier school in Oklahoma, and I'm wondering how much he's going to make at this job. He has a lot of horse experience, so I know he'll do a nice job. And he lives in Idaho, where everyone who uses their horses must put shoes on them regularly.
What does your farrier charge?
In kentucky it cost around 50 for all 4 shoes with borium. In Colorado it costs 115 for all 4 shoes with borium. And if your friend is going to the farrier school in Oklahoma he can charge more than the average farrier. It is the best school in the country and people will pay more if they know he is certified through Oklahoma. I just looked into going to school for farrier but in colorado the schools are crappy and most farriers do not have any kind of certification. The only way it would have been worth my time would have been to go to Oklahoma, which im not willing to do
Finding the right medication for horses is a tricky business, taking into consideration the possible side effects and for racehorses, making sure that the drugs taken would not affect the horse’s performance in the race. However, the challenge definitely does not end there. Getting the drugs into the horse’s mouth (and making it stay in) is a different matter altogether.
Besides having to maneuver the 1,000-pound body to get a pill inside the horse’s throat, you’ll have to deal with the possibility of having that same pill spewed back at you in a less distinguishable (and practically unusable) form. Of course, the chances of this happening depend on expertise at handling horses and in experience at giving medication.
Seasoned ‘horsekeepers’ have come up with all sorts of ways on administering medicine to their horses. These different methods are ‘tested and tried’ but not foolproof. Giving medicine to a horse is much like coaxing a child (only, a much stronger one with a longer mouth). Thus, the approach that works best for one horse may not be effective at all for another or merely to a certain extent, like only during the first try.
One of the easiest (but most likely to fail) approach would be to mix the medication with the horse’s usual food. If this works for your horse, then you’re pretty fortunate. But if mixing the pills with grain, applesauce or molasses does not do the job, one might revert to the age-old syringe. Truly reminiscent of dealing with an unruly preschooler, pumping the fluid medicine into the horse’s mouth and holding it shut until the medicine is swallowed is not a comfortable task. It requires strength and patience as the horse will not make it easy.
An alternative to the syringe is something more friendly looking a plastic mustard dispenser. It won’t guarantee that all of the liquid medication would stay inside that equine mouth but it would get it all in, after all a condiment bottle is more appealing rather than threatening.
Some horse owners also testify that pills dissolved in strawberry Kool-Aid juice or vanilla yogurt make irresistible concoctions. It appears that just like us, these medicine-repellent creatures have certain indulgences. Once we discover what makes them forget their repulsion to medicine, it’s an easy ride from there.
It is not only the horse’s health that should be considered when giving it medication. One should be careful in handling drugs that may have adverse effects when ingested by humans. Another technique in horse medication is to crush the pill into powder and placing it directly on the horse’s tongue. Airborne particles that might be inhaled while preparing the powder may be harmful. But (phenylbutazone, equivalent to aspirin), in particular, causes aplastic anemia in humans.
Ultimately, horse medication also involves training and discipline. No matter how stubborn the horse is, it can eventually be trained to receive medication with little fuss. Making the drugs look and taste good requires more time and effort but is fulfilling too!
Paul Kramer
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/a-beginners-guide-to-horse-medication-609353.html
I live in Texas we have land, I have 2 horses and a mini donkey. They are un trained until later this summer, I am curious of what others may be feeding and how often etc? Looking for ideas thanks
I know the horse barns here at my college feed Alfalfa hay, a couple flakes per paddock a day, depending on how many animals are in there.
While trying to contain a tragic accident site on Long Island last month where a horse trailers became disconnected from its truck, rescue workers felt woefully inadequate trying to handle the injured and dying horses. Clearly, they had no experience with the large animals, and some were moved to tears when explaining how helpless they felt.
To remedy such situations and to prepare rescue workers for handling horses in emergency situations, the Connecticut Horse Council initiated the Horse911 projectâ??a series of workshops geared toward teaching Connecticutâ??s firefighters about basic horse-handling techniques while promoting fire prevention and preparedness among barn owners.
According to a recent article in Connecticutâ??s Journal Enquirer, more than 70 firefighters from six Connecticut firehouses attended a recent three-hour workshop on saving horses from barn fires. With the help of accomplished horsepeople, firefighters learned how to approach, halter and lead nervous horses amid the noise and bright lights emanating from the fire trucks.
Facilitators described horse behavior and anatomy so that firefighters would have an understanding about how a horse is affected by smoke inhalation or in its reluctance to flee a burning barn. The workshop facilitators hope that the training will help firefighters feel comfortable handling horses in situations other than barn fires such as loose horses or in the event of a trailer accident.
The Horse911 project is conducted in partnership with the Connecticut Horse Council, the Career Fire Chiefâ??s Association, the Connecticut State Fire Academy and the Connecticut Animal Response Team. In addition to providing firefighter training, the Connecticut Horse Council also offers seminars in fire prevention and emergency response for horse and barn owners. At the request of a barn owner, the council can also arrange for an area fire chiefâ??s inspection of a local barn to further fire prevention safety procedures and practices.
The Connecticut Horse Council began in 1969 to defeat proposed legislation that would have banned the use of bits and spurs. Since then, the group has been involved in all areas relevant to horse industries in Connecticut. The councilâ??s motto is â??Horsemen United in Leadership, Service and Education.â?
Considering the spate of trailer and loose horse accidents across the nation, Connecticut has the right idea in getting its area firefighters more horse savvy. One would hope that more horse associations across the nation find example in Connecticutâ??s Horse Councilâ??s initiatives.
Michael
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/a-horse-course-of-course-for-rescue-workers-87276.html
Join the teachers and visionaries from the movie in a special FREE teleseminar series starting early January 2009. You are invited to join the experts and the maker of the documentary each week for 5 weeks and learn about the latest thinking in horse training and horse human relationships
Duration : 4 min 50 sec
Yeah…
My friend had horses and she and her mom used to use the shampoo they used on the horses and I guess it makes your hair grow really fast.
My aunt said the same thing I just don't kow what it's called.
Or where to get it.
Mane N' Tale
Having a horse is a major responsibility which should not be taken lightly. When deciding to buy a horse there are many factors to consider. It is a good idea to talk to current horse owners about their experiences, and even take riding lessons so you are more experienced with basic horse husbandry.
There are many places you can buy a horse from. These can include auctions and private owners. No matter where you buy your horse from it is important you get a thorough history from the owner, as well having a pre-purchase exam done by a veterinarian. Doing these two things can save you a lot of money and stress.
When choosing the type of horse to buy, there are over 350 different breeds of horses to consider. But the main thing to look for is the temperament of the horse. If this is your first horse you should choose a horse that is calm. It would also be best to buy a horse that is already trained.
The age of the horse is probably not as important as the temperament. But the age is an important factor to consider. Horses can live up to 30 years. Choosing a horse that has had several years of training is probably the most important factor.
Once you have purchased your horse you have to decide on where to board your horse. If you are lucky, you have a farm to keep the horse at. But a lot of people will have to keep the horse at a boarding stable which can be costly.
Another consideration you need to think about before buying a horse is how much time do you have to devote to the horse. Horses need to be fed twice a day, stalls need to be cleaned, and training needs to be done. Having a horse, or any pet is a major time commitment. Please give this serious thought before buying any pet.
Money is a big factor in deciding to buy a horse. There are many costs that people may not think about before buying a horse. Boarding fees, stable fees, feed, and tackle can add up to a big bill. Also, do not forget that if your horse gets sick you need to pay a large veterinarian bill as well.
These are just some of the considerations you need to think about before buying a horse. By doing research before you purchase a horse you can save yourself a lot of time and money.
Andi Wize
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/buying-a-horse-91765.html
I have a 13 hour trip to Montana to make with 2 horses (we are moving). How long do you think I can drive before having to give them a break? Plus, where do you usually stop to do so? I have searched for websites on horse friendly rest stops and can't find any. Thank you!
I have shipped show horses all over the country. A 13 hour trip can be made in one day.
I am not sure what a "horse friendly rest stop" is. I do NOT recommend taking your horse off the trailer during the trip, unless you are going to stable overnight somewhere.
When you stop for gas offer your horse a drink of water & make sure he still has hay. Some people bring water from home, some people use whatever water comes out of the hose at the gas station.
The longest trip I have made with horses that did not include stabling overnight was 22 hours.
Learning how to train a horse successfully starts with the right materials. You will need a guide to show you the proper training techniques that are proven to work with horses, from pint-sized ponies to spirited stallions. When you have the right material in hand, you will have the confidence you need to find training success.
Training your animal starts with your attitude. If you are scared of your animal, they will know it. A scared owner is never in control! You need to find a resource that will teach you how to harness the emotion you feel when you are around your horses, and use that emotion to your advantage. Intense emotions, such as fear or excitement, create a poor environment for training sessions. Learning how to train a horse starts with learning how to control emotional levels.
Once you have mastered the right attitude, a quality training resource will show you how to groom and care for your animals. Look for a training resource that ideally has illustrations along with instructions on how to properly groom your animals. Having illustrations makes it easier for you to compare yourself with what the resource instructs you to do.
Next, find a resource that will show you the proper way to mount. While this might sound like an obvious activity, many equestrians start every ride and training session incorrectly by saddling and mounting their horse in the wrong way. When you are working on training, everything must be done in the proper manner, with the proper attitude. When you are working with a new mount, your animal will need this predictability in order to learn how to trust you.
Learning how to train a horse also involves learning how to anticipate the animal’s actions. This means you will need to be able to “think” like horses do. You will not be able to do this without a training resource that explains the movements and body language of these animals. Understanding the animal you work with is the most important aspect of being a successful owner, trainer, and rider.
The best way to learn training techniques is from an experienced trainer. Many people can write about their opinions about training, but an experienced trainer will know what works and what does not work. When looking for a training program, look for one with qualified staff. Their experience will work toward your success.
Horserealm offers a downloadable book on how to train a horse at http://www.horserealm.com. The guide includes photographs that accompany the text on step-by-step instructions for riding as well as care and attention. The book covers various topics such as spooking, rearing, trailer loading, and familiarizing horses to unfamiliar environments such as beaches. The book is meant for beginners as well as experienced riders.
Iprwire Staff Writer
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/learning-how-to-train-a-horse-135852.html
