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Yes! Allot of improvement to fencing, pasture grass will be attended to. This guy has not even approached the fence, since I put the flags on it. I'm guessing that he was previously contained with an electric fence, flagging is a common way to mark an electric fence in this area. I did discover that while he will not "try" the fence, he does know what a gate is for. Yesterday I used the tractor to remove some tools from his enclosure, opened the gate, turned around to reboard the tractor, he followed me out. I was between him and freedom, I clapped my hands, he turned and went back in. Stuck in a rut right now, working 12 hour shifts, due to the very cold weather we had last weekend and the beginning of this week. I work in a Utilities water plant, trouble starts at 32* F.
The crack in his front right, it does not seem to be through the whole thickness of his hoof. And it stops just millimeters before it enters what you call the coronet band. Sorry about not knowing all the proper terms, but I am taking a crash course here.
When you made your first reply, my first reaction was "here we go again!!!!!" Then evidently you went back and read over the entire thread, of which many responses have been deleted by the moderators. I think you understand now that I (quoting a previous reply) am not trying to be "cavalier". Each and every one of you guys at one time in your life, got your first horse. Barring the fact that some of you guys were born into families that have always owned horses, you have gained whatever experience and knowledge you have by living it. Well this is my ( wife's) first horse. As stated earlier, I am not without the common sense, nor the resourses to make sure that this guy gets proper care.
I hear ya. I too was a greenie like we all have been, being the only person in my family who wanted horses and got my first at 20. I have been soaking my head quite thoroughly in this sport since then, learning everything I can shy of going to actual vet school, so that first post kind of slammed me in the chest because I actually do know people who really are that "cavalier" in their approach to this. They really are out there, and there are a lot of them! So went "eep!" at that first post. I've seen some hellish accidents with horses and some terrible injuries on both horses and people. I've also been graced with the good fortune to have owned the horse of a lifetime as my first show and riding horse, who had to be put down at 27 but was something of a local legend during his own lifetime. I hope this one proves to be that kind for you. PM me if you have any questions, I have already sent you a PM...some of my knowledge has come by pretty expensively, but I have had some good folk share it with me and so I will share it too. My first trainer/mentor was in his eighties and still riding and driving, and his condition of schooling me was for me to share what I learned with at least 10 people to help keep our sport going.
Flagging the fence is definitely a good idea in any event...many injuries happen to horses because they simply can't see what they are running into or because they don't perceive it as posing a problem to being run into.
DL
I have responded to your PM, and have read your further responces since then. Both my wife and I had horses when we were children. My wife actually having more experience with "real" horses. As you know when you are a child, even being charged with taking care of your horse. It's really Mom and Pop that spend the dime and make the decissions.
What I have discovered so far is their are people like you who will freely discuss and share their experience. Then their is the group of people who look down their noses because some one doesn't have the experience they have. I have been told on this very thread, to bring the horse back to where he came from. Yes! I can see, upon self examination that my original post on this thread was not worded very well, and could be considered "stupid", but not more so than some of the responces I have recieved. I think at this point in this thread most every one understands that I am genuine. Maybe a genuine tenderfoot, but genuine never the less.
