Need HORSE HELP- <<UPDATED - PICS pg 3>>

[Fudgie]

Quote:
Thank you for giving some REAL ADVICE.....that is what they need to hear not this is wrong and that is wrong and don't do that and don't do this. Please people, don't just "rag" on them, give them sound advice. Tell them don't do that, do this instead advice. They are learning just like you all learned at one time. Man after reading this thread, if I even had a small thought of getting a horse, there is no way I would now. Lord, you make horses out to be just like a large mountain lion. I have had chickens and dogs do way more damage than my 6 horses I have owned over the years ever thought of.

They are not thinking everyone wants to eat them. Working with horses takes trust. That is all just trust. You trust them, they trust you. They learn you feed them and care for them and ride them. If you mistrust them, they learn you are bad, then problems happen. If you keep them safe, they learn where their safety place is. I agree the area to keep her in needs to be larger but man, they have to start somewhere and it is not like they are getting a wild mustang that has never been around people. It will not take that much time to get an adequate place to house this horse. I do agree if you can afford to board or have it stay at a neighbors, that is way better till you get the corral done.

Good luck with your new family member and don't be discouraged by some of the harshness here. Everyone is just trying to make this as positive of an experience as they can. Sometimes that comes off as harsh when time is of the essence.

 

[Foxhound lady]

Sorry FF and Tessie are two different horses the body sturturces are different as well as the shape of the star. both of them are great looking creatures though.

I have seen a twenty year old pony spock at something bolt through the arena fence fly through the barn with his rider on his back only to have her fall off on to the hotwalker. she was wearing a bike helmet and was in the hospital for 4 days. A proper riding helmet can save your life/

When you ride please wear a helmet no matter how uncool people think it is. We had this problem at my barn the western people wouldnt wear 'em and the english people would.

My horse was a very well grounded girl she would follow you like a dog, stay put like a dog, stand next to cars with not a flinch, but cross tie her and she would have a problem. Learn what works for your horse, because each one is different.

On her stall make sure that the boards go all the way to the floor, if she ever lies down and gets her feet under those boards she will do a lot of damage to herself and her stall trying to get up. the British horse asscations have great protacal for those wanting to learn.

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

One thing I hope you got from this is that there are a thousand people waiting in the wings to give you advice, some wrong, some right, some polite, and some overbearing and rude. The best thing you can do for yourself and your horse is to educate yourself and find someone you trust who can give you some real good hands on knowledge. Im really excited for you to have a horse. they are wonderful and so much fun, and just remember you can never be too careful, but you will be amazed at how much you will learn on your own. And dont ever worry about being featured on a forum like fugly. I checked out that website just to see what I was being compared to and boy, talk about some condescending people. Id sit with my horse tied to a fence anyday while those people take pictures and mock me all they want. Just not my kind of people. Everyone I know (and pretty much everyone out here has horses) would fit into their description of moronic. Just be careful and have fun.

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

yeah, what foxhound lady said, definitely wear a helmet!!

 

[Momo]

Fugly rocks! I don't always agree with her 100% but I'm glad she's out there doing what she's doing and she's obviously a capable horse person. As for tying your horse to a fence, sure, it's done all the time. No problem. But I once saw a mare who pulled up a big section of fence (yes, pulled some posts out of the ground) in the act of strangling herself to death. I remember her tongue sticking out, and a fly crawling on her eye. Her young owner, who was so thrilled to have her first horse and who loved that horse to death, was absolutely devastated. Her horse died because of her ignorance - she meant well but she just didn't know any better and she hadn't had a chance to learn enough basic safety yet. And where horses are concerned, prevention is worth a pound of cure and there's an awful lot to learn. I think they're probably the most complex domestic animal we have. Anyway, that was an event I'll never forget, and because of that experience I've never tied to a fence. It's better to learn from the mistakes of others whenever possible.

 

[CarriBrown]

Quote:
I was taught from the beginning never to coil the lead in your hands. If for whatever reason the horse takes off or pulls hard, your hands and fingers could get caught in those coils and bad things could happen.

I guess everyone is taught different but I was always taught that it was dangerous to coil the rope up in your hands. Not saying you are wrong, just stating that I was taught differently.

Yeah, that could be a problem if your inital reaction isn't to drop a coil. Maybe "coil" isn't the correct word... it's more like two to three big loops?

 

[Bec]

Yes I agree, a few big loops is good!

 

[patandchickens]

Those last few posts were a very good demonstration of why you just CANNOT learn good horsemanship and safe horse care from reading, hence the value of a boarding barn

Similarly, is it safe to tie to a fence? Yes, if you're tying a horse that ties well to a well-set strong fencepost (NOT fence rail) using a safe length of safe rope and safe knot and a safe halter not a bridle. Otherwise, no.

Is it safe to have the wall boards of a pen/shed/stall stop above the ground? No, if they're low enough the horse can get a foot or lower leg trapped in there; yes, if they're high enough he can't; no, if they're basically all the way to the ground but a small gap or soft ground creates space for a foot to slip under and get stuck (this is the most dangerous scenario; is why well-above-the-ground is safer than poorly-built-touching-ground)

Knowing what a horse is and isn't likely to hurt himself (or you) on, and knowing what is and isn't likely to be strong enough to stand up to things that he is or isn't likely to do to that particular object, is NOT obvious from common sense, it is not always obvious from reading either, and honestly it takes a lifetime working with hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of horses in lots of different sites and settings to start getting kind of up to speed on it (which is the best anyone's ever gonna do).

They really are MUCH MUCH harder to be RELIABLY safe with, and safe for, than dogs or cattle or whatnot.

Pat, with *half* a lifetime (so far) working with hundreds and hundreds of horses in lots of different sites and settings, thus, movin' along the learning curve

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

Quote:
so true, Patandchickens.

 

[gaited horse]

needmorechickens! :

Time for an update!
I have continued Tessie on her same hay and pellets that her previous owner had her on. She is doing very well.
I called the vet to get her vaccinations and they said "oh we will just sell them to you over the counter and you can give them yourself." I said ok, then I called my mom and said "call your friend that has horses! I cannot give this horse a shot!" Anyway, she gave me the number and i called and she came out today. She used to train horses for a living and she still owns horses. She showed us how to pick her feet out and some ground work to do with her.
I had noticed that Tessie forced us to walk too fast with her, so I asked her about that and she taught us how to keep her from bullying us. She has some space issues that need to be worked out, but she learns fast.
She gave her the shots she needed while I held Tessie by the halter! Tessie barely flinched.
She said we got a pretty good horse that has not been taught her manners.
The boarding facility is still planning to come get her on Saturday. I am really gonna miss seeing her out there, but she will enjoy the space and shelter. They have a round pen too, so we will be able to work with her.
I don't think I will be able to turn the boards horizontally. When I get my fence up, I plan to use the barn as a run-in. So she won't really be confined in there like she is now. I am just going to open the gate into that stall and tie it open.
Thanks for everyone's advice.
~Rebecca

Can you show us pics of the boarding stable I love to see all kinds of stables and stuff mabe later I will post pics of my boarding stable​