Horses!

[ILoveDaffy]

We finished up building the new round pen yesterday! We still need to grade more, add some course sand and in the spring after the treated boards have cured we will be painting it. My husband likes it’s so much he wants to put up the 4 board all around the property. View attachment 3975905

Beautiful! Looks like a great space to work in. How many feet high? And what's the circumference?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Beautiful! Looks like a great space to work in. How many feet high? And what's the circumference?

50’ diameter and 5’5” high. I wanted 6’ high, but when some of the posts settled they ended up being a little shorter. Every post was put in with concrete so I was not about to pull it out and re-do it for an extra 5”. It’s not huge, but I wanted a smaller round pen for now with only working from the ground and something for my kids to ride Apple around in. The plan is to build an indoor arena here in the next couple of years so that will be a much bigger area to work with when it’s time to start saddle work with the bigger horses.

 

[ShrekDawg]

50’ diameter and 5’5” high. I wanted 6’ high, but when some of the posts settled they ended up being a little shorter. Every post was put in with concrete so I was not about to pull it out and re-do it for an extra 5”. It’s not huge, but I wanted a smaller round pen for now with only working from the ground and something for my kids to ride Apple around in. The plan is to build an indoor arena here in the next couple of years so that will be a much bigger area to work with when it’s time to start saddle work with the bigger horses.

Awesome!!!!

 

[ILoveDaffy]

50’ diameter and 5’5” high. I wanted 6’ high, but when some of the posts settled they ended up being a little shorter. Every post was put in with concrete so I was not about to pull it out and re-do it for an extra 5”. It’s not huge, but I wanted a smaller round pen for now with only working from the ground and something for my kids to ride Apple around in. The plan is to build an indoor arena here in the next couple of years so that will be a much bigger area to work with when it’s time to start saddle work with the bigger horses.

Fantastic! An indoor arena is never a bad idea. That way you can work in all weather

 

[calicocows]

Do you prefer small horses or big draft horses?

i like at least 15 hands! I do love my drafts. i'm fairly short (5'3 ish) but I'm stocky and I don't want to hurt a smaller horse's back or legs, especially jumping.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

i like at least 15 hands! I do love my drafts. i'm fairly short (5'3 ish) but I'm stocky and I don't want to hurt a smaller horse's back or legs, especially jumping.

It must be a short person thing I prefer stocky tall horses too and I’m 5’4. My height preference is right in the 15.2hh-17.2hh range.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I was trying to get a picture of Drago’s mane because it has grown so much longer and thicker since I switched everyone over to Uckele supplements. Instead I got photo bombed by Ronin she kept sticking her face in my camera

I did manage to get one glamor shot of Drago’s mane blowing in the fan. As soon as Ronin decided to go to the other stall of course Drago just wanted to stand in front of the fan which of course made it impossible to get a picture of how long his mane is

 

[Farmgirl283420]

It must be a short person thing I prefer stocky tall horses too and I’m 5’4. My height preference is right in the 15.2hh-17.2hh range.

I like horses that are around 15hh. I’m also 5’4 but I think I have ridden so many small horses and ponies that I prefer short.

I was trying to get a picture of Drago’s mane because it has grown so much longer and thicker since I switched everyone over to Uckele supplements. Instead I got photo bombed by Ronin she kept sticking her face in my camera
View attachment 3976675
I did manage to get one glamor shot of Drago’s mane blowing in the fan. As soon as Ronin decided to go to the other stall of course Drago just wanted to stand in front of the fan which of course made it impossible to get a picture of how long his mane is

View attachment 3976677

The first picture is too funny! And Drago is such a handsome boy!

 

[littledog]

That is exactly why I had all of the fields completely tilled and completely re-seeded with a mix that had certified tested fescue seeds. Then did the re-testing. I don’t even have pregnant mares, but I didn’t want to run into that issue down the road. Also yes I completely agree with the time. We always used to make sure that we cut our hay early morning. I’m thinking about sending in a soil sample to Logan labs here for mineral content too. I asked if anyone in the area had any issues with selenium poisoning (because of the studies I read about it happening more commonly in the Midwest). They think I’m crazy I guess? Everyone here seems to just feed the pre-mixed feeds. I was looking at the labels at the local feed store and some of them were pretty high in selenium which is great if your soil is low in selenium, but not if your soil is high. Although I even was told to “just feed sweet feed to keep the yearling weight on”. I might as well just bake my horses a sugar loaded cake at that point I’m still having my soil tested for selenium levels. I noticed a lot of horses around here have brittle hair and hooves which could be many things, but I still have my selenium toxicity concerns. Based on the US soil data map our area is on the high side. I am a big Dr. Kellon fan I have been reading her work and articles since I was 13 and now I’m almost 30

That's crazy that people in your area just bale *whatever* and feed it to their horses! Even apart from toxic or nutritionally-useless weeds, who knows what chemicals end up in some ditch by the side of the road - definitely motor oil runoff and micro pieces of tires from the roads, maybe chemicals that the county sprays to keep the shoulders clear.
Interesting that your area is so high in selenium, here in the northwest our forage tends to be too low. I feed a vitamin/mineral supplement formulated for this area ("Northwest Horse Supplement") that is supposed to correct whatever mineral imbalances are in our soil - we get super nice tested hay grown in Eastern Washington, but not much you can do about the soil it's grown in, besides feed the right proportion of minerals. Still, I'd rather feed hay that I know is safe and have to supplement, than worry my hay has an unsafe level of something. Easier to add than subtract!
Sweet feed, LOL. Back in the day everybody fed COB, me included. My colt ended up having to have OCD surgery when he was 5, I know genetics adds to the likelihood, but I can't help but think too many calories compared to protein and roughage when they are still young contributed to it. I don't disagree with something like straight oats for a horse who's in heavy work, but never again will I feed anything containing corn or molasses to any horse of mine.

As far as grasses a lot will depend on your region. For grasses, I knew I absolutely did not want clover, limited rye and any fescue needed to be endophyte free. I settled on a mix that was Bluegrass, Orchard Grass, Timothy, Endophyte Free Fescue and was supposed to have only 1-2% alfalfa. Well that was a lie because my pasture is covered in alfalfa which I did not want. I have used seed mixes with as much as 20% alfalfa and I did not have as much alfalfa come up as I did with the supposed 1-2% alfalfa in the seed mix. Alfalfa has its place, but it’s one of those legume grasses that I think should be able to be used or removed from a horses diet as needed. I just don’t personally like to give my horses tons of alfalfa.

The only reason I brought up this old discussion about forage and feeding is because after reading some more recent research and discussing it with my vet, I was surprised to learn alfalfa is LOWER in sugars than orchard grass and even Timothy! Never would have guessed that!
So now both my older horses get about 2/3 alfalfa and 1/3 orchard grass for their hay. No actual "grains" at all, just rice bran pellets for my hard-keeper older OTTB mare, low-carb pellets for my 30-y-old gelding who has PPID (Cushing's) and I monitor their weight and add alfalfa pellets as needed. Both get the Northwest supplement that adds the needed selenium, enough phosphorus to keep the phosphorus/Calcium ratio within the 1:2- 1:6 requirements (due to the extra calcium in so much alfalfa) plus some vitamin E. I also ffed a biotin hoof supplement (my farrier laughed at me, but whatever, I believe it helps healthy hoof growth) Cosequin since they're both elderly, and a protein supplement to bring total protein for both of these oldsters to 16%.
Before we got my gelding's PPID under control with medication, his weight was fluctuating badly, and at one point I was loading him with soaked beet pulp. Really great food for weight gain, very low in sugars compared to sweet feed! But a pain to deal with every day, glad we got him stabilized with adding or subtracting alfalfa pellets.
And the vet cleared me to keep riding my OTTB mare, 26 years old!

But if I could go back in time to when I bought my 30-y-old gelding as a weanling, I would feed him a lot differently than I did then. Only Timothy and orchard grass for hay - total diet 12% protein or so, except when he was in growth spurt and looking leggy, add another 2-3% protein in the form of alfalfa or alfalfa pellets as needed. No feeds with corn, molasses, soy. Rice bran if he needed weight. Once he was in work starting at 4-5, maybe add straight oats if he needed energy to get fit.

I can't help but wonder ... if I'd fed him this way from the beginning: Monitoring the amount of protein according to his growth, supplementing protein only when needed.
Avoiding sugars like corn and molasses altogether, using healthier alternatives like rice bran or beet pulp when needed to maintain weight.
Only feeding limited grain (in the form of oats) when needed for energy, once he was 4-5 and starting to work...

Could I have prevented his OCD at age 5 and maybe even his PPID now? And still be riding him today, at 30? Lot's of 30-y-olds still do light work.

Wish I could go back in time, but we all live and learn, and my lovely old boy doesn't care really. He trots and canters around his (dry lot) paddock, flirting with the mares, prancing and snorting, showing off his beautiful movement, which is still light, forward and expressive, in spite of his PPID sway back.

I'm now going to read about Dr. Kellon's research, thanks for the link.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

That's crazy that people in your area just bale *whatever* and feed it to their horses! Even apart from toxic or nutritionally-useless weeds, who knows what chemicals end up in some ditch by the side of the road - definitely motor oil runoff and micro pieces of tires from the roads, maybe chemicals that the county sprays to keep the shoulders clear.
Interesting that your area is so high in selenium, here in the northwest our forage tends to be too low. I feed a vitamin/mineral supplement formulated for this area ("Northwest Horse Supplement") that is supposed to correct whatever mineral imbalances are in our soil - we get super nice tested hay grown in Eastern Washington, but not much you can do about the soil it's grown in, besides feed the right proportion of minerals. Still, I'd rather feed hay that I know is safe and have to supplement, than worry my hay has an unsafe level of something. Easier to add than subtract!
Sweet feed, LOL. Back in the day everybody fed COB, me included. My colt ended up having to have OCD surgery when he was 5, I know genetics adds to the likelihood, but I can't help but think too many calories compared to protein and roughage when they are still young contributed to it. I don't disagree with something like straight oats for a horse who's in heavy work, but never again will I feed anything containing corn or molasses to any horse of mine.

The only reason I brought up this old discussion about forage and feeding is because after reading some more recent research and discussing it with my vet, I was surprised to learn alfalfa is LOWER in sugars than orchard grass and even Timothy! Never would have guessed that!
So now both my older horses get about 2/3 alfalfa and 1/3 orchard grass for their hay. No actual "grains" at all, just rice bran pellets for my hard-keeper older OTTB mare, low-carb pellets for my 30-y-old gelding who has PPID (Cushing's) and I monitor their weight and add alfalfa pellets as needed. Both get the Northwest supplement that adds the needed selenium, enough phosphorus to keep the phosphorus/Calcium ratio within the 1:2- 1:6 requirements (due to the extra calcium in so much alfalfa) plus some vitamin E. I also ffed a biotin hoof supplement (my farrier laughed at me, but whatever, I believe it helps healthy hoof growth) Cosequin since they're both elderly, and a protein supplement to bring total protein for both of these oldsters to 16%.
Before we got my gelding's PPID under control with medication, his weight was fluctuating badly, and at one point I was loading him with soaked beet pulp. Really great food for weight gain, very low in sugars compared to sweet feed! But a pain to deal with every day, glad we got him stabilized with adding or subtracting alfalfa pellets.
And the vet cleared me to keep riding my OTTB mare, 26 years old!

But if I could go back in time to when I bought my 30-y-old gelding as a weanling, I would feed him a lot differently than I did then. Only Timothy and orchard grass for hay - total diet 12% protein or so, except when he was in growth spurt and looking leggy, add another 2-3% protein in the form of alfalfa or alfalfa pellets as needed. No feeds with corn, molasses, soy. Rice bran if he needed weight. Once he was in work starting at 4-5, maybe add straight oats if he needed energy to get fit.

I can't help but wonder ... if I'd fed him this way from the beginning: Monitoring the amount of protein according to his growth, supplementing protein only when needed.
Avoiding sugars like corn and molasses altogether, using healthier alternatives like rice bran or beet pulp when needed to maintain weight.
Only feeding limited grain (in the form of oats) when needed for energy, once he was 4-5 and starting to work...

Could I have prevented his OCD at age 5 and maybe even his PPID now? And still be riding him today, at 30? Lot's of 30-y-olds still do light work.

Wish I could go back in time, but we all live and learn, and my lovely old boy doesn't care really. He trots and canters around his (dry lot) paddock, flirting with the mares, prancing and snorting, showing off his beautiful movement, which is still light, forward and expressive, in spite of his PPID sway back.

I'm now going to read about Dr. Kellon's research, thanks for the link.

I don’t

That's crazy that people in your area just bale *whatever* and feed it to their horses! Even apart from toxic or nutritionally-useless weeds, who knows what chemicals end up in some ditch by the side of the road - definitely motor oil runoff and micro pieces of tires from the roads, maybe chemicals that the county sprays to keep the shoulders clear.
Interesting that your area is so high in selenium, here in the northwest our forage tends to be too low. I feed a vitamin/mineral supplement formulated for this area ("Northwest Horse Supplement") that is supposed to correct whatever mineral imbalances are in our soil - we get super nice tested hay grown in Eastern Washington, but not much you can do about the soil it's grown in, besides feed the right proportion of minerals. Still, I'd rather feed hay that I know is safe and have to supplement, than worry my hay has an unsafe level of something. Easier to add than subtract!
Sweet feed, LOL. Back in the day everybody fed COB, me included. My colt ended up having to have OCD surgery when he was 5, I know genetics adds to the likelihood, but I can't help but think too many calories compared to protein and roughage when they are still young contributed to it. I don't disagree with something like straight oats for a horse who's in heavy work, but never again will I feed anything containing corn or molasses to any horse of mine.

The only reason I brought up this old discussion about forage and feeding is because after reading some more recent research and discussing it with my vet, I was surprised to learn alfalfa is LOWER in sugars than orchard grass and even Timothy! Never would have guessed that!
So now both my older horses get about 2/3 alfalfa and 1/3 orchard grass for their hay. No actual "grains" at all, just rice bran pellets for my hard-keeper older OTTB mare, low-carb pellets for my 30-y-old gelding who has PPID (Cushing's) and I monitor their weight and add alfalfa pellets as needed. Both get the Northwest supplement that adds the needed selenium, enough phosphorus to keep the phosphorus/Calcium ratio within the 1:2- 1:6 requirements (due to the extra calcium in so much alfalfa) plus some vitamin E. I also ffed a biotin hoof supplement (my farrier laughed at me, but whatever, I believe it helps healthy hoof growth) Cosequin since they're both elderly, and a protein supplement to bring total protein for both of these oldsters to 16%.
Before we got my gelding's PPID under control with medication, his weight was fluctuating badly, and at one point I was loading him with soaked beet pulp. Really great food for weight gain, very low in sugars compared to sweet feed! But a pain to deal with every day, glad we got him stabilized with adding or subtracting alfalfa pellets.
And the vet cleared me to keep riding my OTTB mare, 26 years old!

But if I could go back in time to when I bought my 30-y-old gelding as a weanling, I would feed him a lot differently than I did then. Only Timothy and orchard grass for hay - total diet 12% protein or so, except when he was in growth spurt and looking leggy, add another 2-3% protein in the form of alfalfa or alfalfa pellets as needed. No feeds with corn, molasses, soy. Rice bran if he needed weight. Once he was in work starting at 4-5, maybe add straight oats if he needed energy to get fit.

I can't help but wonder ... if I'd fed him this way from the beginning: Monitoring the amount of protein according to his growth, supplementing protein only when needed.
Avoiding sugars like corn and molasses altogether, using healthier alternatives like rice bran or beet pulp when needed to maintain weight.
Only feeding limited grain (in the form of oats) when needed for energy, once he was 4-5 and starting to work...

Could I have prevented his OCD at age 5 and maybe even his PPID now? And still be riding him today, at 30? Lot's of 30-y-olds still do light work.

Wish I could go back in time, but we all live and learn, and my lovely old boy doesn't care really. He trots and canters around his (dry lot) paddock, flirting with the mares, prancing and snorting, showing off his beautiful movement, which is still light, forward and expressive, in spite of his PPID sway back.

I'm now going to read about Dr. Kellon's research, thanks for the link.

Alfalfa can definitely be a great option! My only issue with alfalfa is that out of the different forage options, alfalfa is one that horses can be more prone to have sensitivity to particular ECIR horses. The sensitivity often manifests itself through hoof problems. When I first get a horse I like to keep the alfalfa minimal until I can see if it triggers an inflammatory flare up. With having two drafts and a pony which all can be more prone to forage sensitivities this year I have tried to slowly introduce the alfalfa and have been monitoring their hooves, coat and gut health very closely to see how they react. So far I think in moderation with the other grasses available I don’t think it’s going to be a problem with the current feeding level of alfalfa. I just don’t want to feed a high alfalfa pasture, straight alfalfa hay and alfalfa pellets for their mash if that makes sense. As far as Dr. Kellon goes she is awesome! I switched everyone over to Uckele supplements that she formulated.