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

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

NEVER TIE a horse out to graze!!! EVER!
Hand walk if you need to graze a horse with a lead line, not a lunge line. Even when I worked my horse I would bring a lead to the ring to switch to after when I was walking him cool. And for after when he got to graze on the good stuff.

But never tie a horse with something long enough that they can get their heads down to graze. All it takes is the horse to step on the rope and then try to move their head and you have "panic" Or the horse gets the rope between its legs or wrapped around it's legs.
GODS. These arent dogs people. They are horses. Prey animals by nature. Flight animals,, like chickens. They are not the hunter. They are the dinner. Years of domestication has NOT bred that out of them.

When I was younger a family my family was friends with had a great pony that went by the name Raggedy Anne. Well they didnt have pasture fenced for her and they tied her out to graze with a lunge line. Went inside to have lunch. When they went back out an hour later the pony had wrapped herself up in the line. Run around the tree she was tied to and in a panic snapped her neck. Why? Because they didnt take the time to make sure EVERYTHING was done and done right before they brought her home.

Or the girl I grew up with that was killed by her first horse when she wasnt paying attention when working her. Kicked in the head. Her younger sister found her. Or the kid that was killed by a horse standing on the cross ties because the new owners werent paying attention and didnt know to tell the 5 year old to not walk behind the horse. Horse kicked with so much force it beheaded the child. right there. On a Sunday morning just after they got home from church. With ALL their friends there to see their new horse. BTW- both those horses were deemed "unsafe" and sent to the killers. It wasnt that they were unsafe. It was that the horse owners didnt know. They didnt get their first horse and board it someplace where they could learn.

Sure. Accidents happen. Even to experienced horse people. But I cant tell you the amount of times I have seen otherwise good, sound sane horse killed, maimed or otherwise ruined by people that just brought them home to their back yards without any horse husbandry knowledge. Or the amount of people that are hurt because they are beginners and quite frankly do something that someone WITH experience just would not have done.

I know this is harsh. I know "every horse is different" but for the love of all that is holy and unholy there are BASIC safety issues that should ALWAYS be followed no matter what the horse is like.
And yes, at some point in time everyone is a beginner. Beginner driver, bike rider,dog owner, parent, chicken owner or horse owner. Common sense is ALWAYS needed when in any of these "beginner" situations. And suggesting tieing a horse out to graze. .. well that is plainly foolish and just asking for something bad to happen. Stuff like that, and what you are currently doing.. ends up on FuglyHorse. And that is NOT where you want to be the topic of discussion.
Get a book or two. Get a magazine subscription. Join a horse board. But NOT horsetopia. Go to Equinesite.com Or Equine.com Ask there. Take lessons. BOARD THE HORSE OUT til you learn.

Like I said. I know this is harsh, but man. If you are going to be given poor and dangerous advice I have to tell you that it is poor and dangerous. To both you, your family and the horse.

 

[WriterofWords]

Your horse is beautiful and you're doing a good job getting set up. Breath and don't stress out so much it takes the joy out of having your new family member.
K

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

Youre right rhettandsarahsmom, Im sorry.
I just have an old dead broke horse that i tie out wherever i go. I didnt really ever mention a lunge line, i was talking about a lead rope, but you're right anyway, bad advice.

 

[CarriBrown]

Oh Rhett&SarahsMom... You've been there done that just like I have. I've seen people seriously injuried and killed, I've seen horses seriously injured and killed and 9 times out of 10 it is someone who has no business around a horse.
OP, we aren't trying to "rag" on your or knock you down, or steal your thunder, or anything like that. I'm telling you right now, for the safety of you, your kids and your horse, you need to get a professional in there to teach you how to properly handle and be around horses. I'm not saying that because I think I know it all. I don't. But I've owned horses and had them on my property for 30 years and have never had any major accidents because I was trained from an early age by professionals and my parents (also horse people). You have to know how to think like a horse in order to be safe around a horse. I always say that I know what my horse is going to do before he knows that he's going to do it. Sounds funny, but it's kept me from getting killed.
One thing you have to understand is a horse is always looking for a way out. Always. They may look comfortable, but they aren't. They are prey animals, someone is always out to eat them, and they are always looking for that way out.
I see that picture of your daughter leading the horse and I see several very dangerous things.
The first- and most major- thing I see is the horse is walking ahead of your daughter. There are so many problems with that, but the most obvious to me is: What if that horse saw something to her right that spooked her? She would jump or run left, right? Right into your daughter. If she were walking behind your daughter like she's supposed to, there is still a chance for a problem but it's less of a chance. She would knock your daughter with just her head, or neck maybe, and not her barrel or shoulder. I'd rather get knocked by a horse's head than it's barrel.
Second- when you lead a horse, you hold the line 6-8 inches BELOW the snap, not on the snap. Your daughter has no leverage. She can't control the horse's head with her hand where it is. A horse follows his head. With 6-8 inches, she can correct the horse if she needs to, she can pull the horse's head wherever she wants, and she has more control.
Third- The hand holding the rest of the lead line. The lead line needs to be in coils. If the horse spooks, and your daughter needs to release some line in order to gain control back, she can't do it with the line bunched in her hand. She needs to be able to release a little bit of line at a time (one coil at a time) in order to remain as safe as she can.

Again, I just want to stress that I'm not saying these things because I think I know it all or because I want to rag on you. You need to know these things to remain safe! I highly suggest you seek a professional to help you because it could save your, your daughter's, or the horse's life.

 

[CarriBrown]

Quote:
Yes, and that, too. A horse will run right through a fence like that. I've one do it with my own eyes. You have got to get something that is flexable, not breakable. It has to be something that can withstand kicking, ramming, bump ins and run ins, and not only that, but it has to withstand a horse that likes to rub it's face, neck, butt or whatever.
Another thing... horses LOVE to chew wood. If that fence were at my house, they'd eat through it in half a day!

 

[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

 

[seymore0626]

Your boards are just fine horizontal. Your shelter needs a roof (no tarps) and some fencing, and you'll be fine. A load of ag lime would make good flooring and if you keep it wet the first several days it will pack to almost concrete. You can then choose what type of bedding you want depending on the time your cute little mare is confined in her stall, or if your shed is used as a run in...then you really wouldn't need bedding.

You are getting lots of advice, and by now I'm sure your head is spinning. Being new to chickens, I have read and listened to lots of the advice posted here, and I am a little overwhelmed with advice in regard to my hens. So here's my two cents about horses and horse care, this coming frorm a life long horse professional, married to an equine veterinarian, living in the heart of the bluegrass.

Find someone to guide you, pehaps the lady that came to vaccinate your horse, and listen to her. Then watch, listen, read, and use good common sense. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has pamphlets for a very nominal fee on all the "bullet" aspects of horse ownership. Go to their website for a wealth of information, and details on how to order the pamphlets. If you can't find them then I will send you some. Subscribe to the magazine "The Horse". It has good info and is written in partnership with the AAEP.

I'll be happy to help in anyway that I can. I have made most of the mistakes a person could make with horses, and suppose that I have many more in my future. I bought my first horse off a killer truck for $100 (including papers) and brought her home and tried to put her in the garage. She took the top of my foot off when we put the overhead door down. We now have two farms, breed to the top stallions in the world, and race and show all over the country. I've owned many breeds and shown in many disciplines, and I learn something every day.

Enjoy your horse!!!!

 

[linebacker]

Quote:
Seymore
Very good post. I'm sorry but I did laugh when I read about the horse in the garage though. LOL! I was practically born on a horse and will probably make many more mistakes myself. I got kicked for the first time in my 40 years this past spring. (my fault)

I know all the posters are trying to give Rebecca the best advice and share their experiences to protect her and her horse, but I really liked your approach.

Brad

 

[MrsCountryChick]

Quote:
Wow this gelding in a Craigslist ad also looks like "Fancy Free" & "Tesse".

Here's a link to page the pics: http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/grd/898448929.html

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Rebecca, does Tessie have a raised scar on one of her rear gaskins, above her hock?

I have more photos of Fancy Free today. I'll load them and post more a little later.