Horse Talk

[ShrekDawg]

Bunny answered pretty much the way I would have on most of that. I haven't had any health issues with the mini other than a mild founder (caused by previous owners feeding lots of junk like moldy preserves and dry corn on the cob) and he gets thrush pretty bad from the way his feet are shaped (cupped really deep so that the dirt and mud stay in there rather than falling out like a normal flatter hoof). The big horses are nice to the mini and haven't ever kicked him hard enough to damage him and he hasn't ever had reactions to his shots, but it CAN happen.

We bale our own hay and mostly feed round bales. Our rounds are put up in the barn just like the squares so they are horse quality, just a lot easier to handle as you grab them with the tractor rather than having to lift by hand.

I hadn't heard of the deeper foot thing but then again I haven't been around horses in a while. Is that common or more rare? I worry about the shot thing now but I suppose a little pain medicine or rest isn't so bad. When I first heard allergic I was paranoid it was like hives or some serious problem that would need a vet

Yeah, I did some research on Google and Craigslist and it seems most of the bales here are like $5 or $6 but some are like $7. And some of those prices are for delivery of like trailer loads of bales at once so it might be cheaper. But I did notice, at least around here, it seems there are a lot of horse quality rounds that people put up in barns and stuff or feed to their own horses. I don't think I would need a round with only 2 minis though and maybe goats.

I was thinking of getting some slow feed bags though. From what I've read there are a lot of benefits?

Also can I house goats with the minis or should they be separate? I'm not sure which one I want but if I end up with both, I'm not sure I want to have to separate and large pens for each. Especially with only 2-4 animals each. Though we certainly have enough property so it is possible if it's necessary. I was thinking 2-4 wethers and they'd probably be dehorned. Either Nigerian Dwarfs or full size dairy goats or maybe a boer. The minis I'm thinking 2 geldings.

I'm assuming the main problem would be the goat minerals? And the feed? But I'm planning on mostly feeding hay and grass/brush (species dependent).

I found the perfect trio today of 2 geldings and a mare, father and offspring (so I'm assuming the father was gelded after). They were adorable but obviously I'm not ready yet. Also found 2 mares, mother daughter. But I heard geldings were better? And also the mare was like early 20s but the daughter was only 3? So 1. Maybe I'm prejudiced (idk if that's the right word for animals?) But idk if I want a 20 year old horse and 2. Isn't the mare a little old to have had a foal so late? Also found lots of single horses but then I'd need to do intros. Speaking of which, are intros hard? Or is it better to just get 2 that have been living together?

 

[PeepersMama]

Bunny answered pretty much the way I would have on most of that. I haven't had any health issues with the mini other than a mild founder (caused by previous owners feeding lots of junk like moldy preserves and dry corn on the cob) and he gets thrush pretty bad from the way his feet are shaped (cupped really deep so that the dirt and mud stay in there rather than falling out like a normal flatter hoof). The big horses are nice to the mini and haven't ever kicked him hard enough to damage him and he hasn't ever had reactions to his shots, but it CAN happen.

We bale our own hay and mostly feed round bales. Our rounds are put up in the barn just like the squares so they are horse quality, just a lot easier to handle as you grab them with the tractor rather than having to lift by hand.

Ginger has that issue, her hooves are super deep. *sigh* I could probably leave Smoke's feet untouched without any major problems, as long as he got out on the trails to wear the edges off once in awhile, but Ginger.... She's expensive.

 

[Kusanar]

I hadn't heard of the deeper foot thing but then again I haven't been around horses in a while. Is that common or more rare? I worry about the shot thing now but I suppose a little pain medicine or rest isn't so bad. When I first heard allergic I was paranoid it was like hives or some serious problem that would need a vet

Yeah, I did some research on Google and Craigslist and it seems most of the bales here are like $5 or $6 but some are like $7. And some of those prices are for delivery of like trailer loads of bales at once so it might be cheaper. But I did notice, at least around here, it seems there are a lot of horse quality rounds that people put up in barns and stuff or feed to their own horses. I don't think I would need a round with only 2 minis though and maybe goats.

I was thinking of getting some slow feed bags though. From what I've read there are a lot of benefits?

Also can I house goats with the minis or should they be separate? I'm not sure which one I want but if I end up with both, I'm not sure I want to have to separate and large pens for each. Especially with only 2-4 animals each. Though we certainly have enough property so it is possible if it's necessary. I was thinking 2-4 wethers and they'd probably be dehorned. Either Nigerian Dwarfs or full size dairy goats or maybe a boer. The minis I'm thinking 2 geldings.

I'm assuming the main problem would be the goat minerals? And the feed? But I'm planning on mostly feeding hay and grass/brush (species dependent).

I found the perfect trio today of 2 geldings and a mare, father and offspring (so I'm assuming the father was gelded after). They were adorable but obviously I'm not ready yet. Also found 2 mares, mother daughter. But I heard geldings were better? And also the mare was like early 20s but the daughter was only 3? So 1. Maybe I'm prejudiced (idk if that's the right word for animals?) But idk if I want a 20 year old horse and 2. Isn't the mare a little old to have had a foal so late? Also found lots of single horses but then I'd need to do intros. Speaking of which, are intros hard? Or is it better to just get 2 that have been living together?

Goats and horses are fine. There are a few issues but they're not big. Horned goats can and sometimes will gore a horse, happened to a friend of mine, but if dehorned or naturally non horned it should be fine. Goats can and sometimes will eat the tails off of horses for some reason, but that's more of a looks thing, not a big deal. The goat minerals SHOULD be kept seperate, but that could be done by having seperate eating areas and giving the goats access to their feed and minerals when they are in their eating area.

Horses can live a long time, so the 20 year old mare isn't likely to just drop dead in the next year or so, but she is a senior and may need additional care now or soon. The having the foal late in life, it happens, it's not good for them to have a 1st foal that late in life, but if they are bred every couple of years for their entire life then you can continue breeding them for quite a while.

I prefer geldings to mares, but that's a personal prefrence, I don't really get along with females of any species very well, well, I'm ok with cats, but that's about it... Some people swear by mares and won't have anything but a mare.

I have never introduced 2 minis, but, assuming they all have a personality like my guy it wouldn't be an issue to introduce them. If they tend to have personality like the big horses I have, they chase each other around to figure out the pecking order and it can look bad, and they get bite and kick marks on them, but as long as the one that is being chased has room to run and doesn't get stuck in a corner, it usually gets worked out pretty quick and no one gets hurt very bad.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Goats and horses are fine. There are a few issues but they're not big. Horned goats can and sometimes will gore a horse, happened to a friend of mine, but if dehorned or naturally non horned it should be fine. Goats can and sometimes will eat the tails off of horses for some reason, but that's more of a looks thing, not a big deal. The goat minerals SHOULD be kept seperate, but that could be done by having seperate eating areas and giving the goats access to their feed and minerals when they are in their eating area.

Horses can live a long time, so the 20 year old mare isn't likely to just drop dead in the next year or so, but she is a senior and may need additional care now or soon. The having the foal late in life, it happens, it's not good for them to have a 1st foal that late in life, but if they are bred every couple of years for their entire life then you can continue breeding them for quite a while.

I prefer geldings to mares, but that's a personal prefrence, I don't really get along with females of any species very well, well, I'm ok with cats, but that's about it... Some people swear by mares and won't have anything but a mare.

I have never introduced 2 minis, but, assuming they all have a personality like my guy it wouldn't be an issue to introduce them. If they tend to have personality like the big horses I have, they chase each other around to figure out the pecking order and it can look bad, and they get bite and kick marks on them, but as long as the one that is being chased has room to run and doesn't get stuck in a corner, it usually gets worked out pretty quick and no one gets hurt very bad.

Thanks for all the info and sorry for all the questions hah

That's good to know I could house them together. Although I just thought of something and idk why I didn't think of it sooner. I could just make one big pen and shed and just put a fence down the middle. It seems so obvious but I was thinking I would have to have two completely separate pens and sheds, which would obviously take up more room.

Yeah, I was more worried about the senior care and added upkeep of either special food or vet bills, etc. I know theoretically she wouldn't just drop dead. Was more just the added care. Plus if she does only live 5 or 10 more years, then I'd have to find a friend for her daughter as opposed to having one 20 or 30 years. Not that it really matters and 10 years is still a long time. And ohhh that makes sense. I'm not sure how many foals she's had, if this is her first or not.

Yeah, I tend to like male animals too. We've always had male dogs. Although I've known a few female dogs, my family's dogs, and I do like them too. I just love all dogs lol cats females can be kind of moody or like, they only want to be petted on their terms. Our male used to want to be petted all the time. Although I do love my female cat now. But she's also gotten friendlier with age ha

Introducing doesn't sound too bad. I was mostly worried about serious injuries

 

[Kusanar]

Thanks for all the info and sorry for all the questions hah

Introducing doesn't sound too bad. I was mostly worried about serious injuries

I would MUCH rather see someone asking this many questions and considering all situations before getting an animal than seeing something about " I got this animal, now what??"

They CAN seriously hurt themselves, but, if they have room to get out of each others space, usually it's just some chasing with some (usually) minor biting and kicking which doesn't usually do any real damage. I had 2 geldings that were both very dominate and when we introduced them they went at it for about 3 days straight... they both had pretty beaten up hides, but they healed and never really fought again after that. They actually split the herd in half and created 2 herds with 2 leaders, but if one of the leaders needed help with something, they would team up and solve the issue together before going their separate ways again.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I would MUCH rather see someone asking this many questions and considering all situations before getting an animal than seeing something about " I got this animal, now what??"

They CAN seriously hurt themselves, but, if they have room to get out of each others space, usually it's just some chasing with some (usually) minor biting and kicking which doesn't usually do any real damage. I had 2 geldings that were both very dominate and when we introduced them they went at it for about 3 days straight... they both had pretty beaten up hides, but they healed and never really fought again after that. They actually split the herd in half and created 2 herds with 2 leaders, but if one of the leaders needed help with something, they would team up and solve the issue together before going their separate ways again.

Thanks! I see lots of people doing that so I try not to. I try to do tons of research before I get an animal. And sometimes it might just be a fantasy or a different animal every few months/weeks/whatever BUT in that time, I do as much research as I can. I've done it for most of the small animals (guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, rats, mice), birds (parakeet and cockatiels), and not quite as extensively but have done a little bit of research on reptiles (snakes, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos). And fish. I used to have bettas and now have 4 goldfish. My betta had a 10 gallon gallon tank, filter, heater, live plants, etc. Once I was told how to better his environment (he was in a barren tank before). That was until I lost interest. But he had a good life. My other bettas were sadly in bowls or whatever. But even before I fixed his tank, he was in a 5 gal. I figured why buy those cruel half gallon or literal cup things. My goldfish now are in a 20 gallon long with a filter and a few decorations. I had 6 but 2 sadly died almost immediately. Just weak from being in the feeder tank I guess. But the remaining 4 have a good life. Oh and I also feed the best food I can/read about, Omega One. The betta and the goldfish both ate it. I also did a TON of research on my chickens before I got them. I wanted them for like 7 years before I finally got them lol so I joined here like 2008, learned as much as i could, got them fall 2015. Still learning. And now the latest is doing research for goats, gerbils (which I already bought all the stuff ha), and/or mini horses. I even do it for dog breeds. I would never get one I couldn't care for.

But ANYWAY. Sorry for the rant but basically my point is I always try to do as much research as I can before getting an animal and sometimes I decide that animal isn't for me.

I see so many people getting an animal just because they want it or it's cool or whatever but imo that's selfish. Oftentimes they aren't prepared for the animal and/or it's too hard to care for.

Small animals and fish especially are abused. Tiny, cruel cages; junk food that may not even be nutritionally adequate; kept alone when they are a social animal (guinea pigs and mice for example). Fish in tiny bowls. It's sad.

Even dog breeds. So many people get a "cool" breed but then that breed is crazy high energy and/or intelligent and they can't handle it. Huskies, border collies, shepherds, etc. And then they just stick it in a crate all day when they are at work or wherever, barely walk it, don't train it and then they wonder why it is crazy and uncontrollable! And then the dog suffers. Either through rehoming or possible euthanasia if he's there too long or too "crazy" or they find the first trainer they see.

Sorry again for my ranting. I just REALLY wish people would do their research before getting an animal. There are plenty of animals I would love but I don't have enough time or experience and the animal would suffer. And for instance, I would LOVE a husky or a Belgian Malinois (amazing dogs) but they need WAY too much exercise and training for me so I haven't gotten one. Malinois in particular are really GO GO GO all the time. Like at least huskies are mostly just runners so they love to run so you could just take them 2 miles, 5 miles, 10+ miles, whatever, depending on the dog, and they'd probably be good. Malinois though are incredibly smart too and want to work so just running isn't really enough. I'm sure it probably helps a lot but they also want to work and be doing something all. the. time. And like even German Shepherds normally at least have an "off switch" if bred well and after they do their work and exercise they can chill in the house. Malinois from what I hear lack that. So I haven't gotten one. I would be annoyed. BUT. They are also amazing dogs and would do anything in the world for you. They are so loyal, intelligent, and just willing to work. It's nice. But I couldn't handle the drive.

But ugh. Sorry again. I just talk wayyyy too much and also tend to just go on tangents, especially cause I know a lot about dogs haha

Anyway, would love one but would never get one. But so many people might just go out and impulsively get that dog or another or a hamster whatever.

Also so many people get offended or are opposed to knowledge that could help their animal. He's "fine."

UGH.

Anyway, wow that is very interesting about your geldings! Did you have a big pasture or something they could split up in?

 

[Kusanar]

Anyway, wow that is very interesting about your geldings! Did you have a big pasture or something they could split up in?

They did have a lot of room, but both were very Alpha personality's and neither was willing to back down. Generally what happens is that they clash, one runs away, and the one that chases it "won" and is the more dominate of the 2 after that until or unless they clash again. But, neither of these wanted to run and lose face so they just kept going at each other... That doesn't happen often...

 

[ShrekDawg]

They did have a lot of room, but both were very Alpha personality's and neither was willing to back down. Generally what happens is that they clash, one runs away, and the one that chases it "won" and is the more dominate of the 2 after that until or unless they clash again. But, neither of these wanted to run and lose face so they just kept going at each other... That doesn't happen often...

Oh wow that is so interesting! So there was enough room to split the herd too?

And sorry for my literal novel above it's also very random

 

[Bunnylady]

But, neither of these wanted to run and lose face so they just kept going at each other... That doesn't happen often...

You just described the dynamic between a couple of horses at the barn where I worked. The owner complained about how one boarder's horse was always beating up on the other horses, but it was only his horse that was really getting dinged up. I so wanted to say, "if your horse would just back down, like everyone else, he wouldn't be getting banged up. But he's not accepting being second in the pecking order and keeps challenging this other horse, so he's getting knocked around."

 

[Kusanar]

Oh wow that is so interesting! So there was enough room to split the herd too?

And sorry for my literal novel above it's also very random

The horses split the herd on their own, one would go to the lower end and the other would stay closer to the barn, sometimes the herds would be about 10 feet apart, but if there were any issues, the herd leader of that particular horse or herd would handle it.

You just described the dynamic between a couple of horses at the barn where I worked. The owner complained about how one boarder's horse was always beating up on the other horses, but it was only his horse that was really getting dinged up. I so wanted to say, "if your horse would just back down, like everyone else, he wouldn't be getting banged up. But he's not accepting being second in the pecking order and keeps challenging this other horse, so he's getting knocked around."

We had one like that, but both of my dominants were smallish old guys and this new one was a big dumb warmblood so he technically had the upper hand, funniest thing was one day Doodle (mine) got in a fight with Windy (boarder) and was holding his own but not winning, then Thunder (my other one) comes trotting around the corner and they both layed into him together, once Windy threw in the towel then Thunder went back to his herd...