*rap, I just bought a horse

[Cup of Joe]

I did not plan on it. The stables next to my property has not been doing well the entire time I have lived in the house and down sizing over the last 4-5 years. I have on occasion (particularly in the winter) been feeding the horses hay, carrots, apples etc. One horse in particular is incredibly thin so I have been feeding him quite a bit lately. I took him out of his pasture yesterday and let him graze for a while on my land which is growing like crazy right now. While he was grazing I bush hogged his field since it was overgrown with last years brush that a horse will not eat, it was a mess. Now the junk is down but there is no viable grass for a horse to eat yet.

Boda-bing boda-boom I now own a riby bag of bones that has to be a couple hundred pounds under weight. I never should have told my wife I would buy him if they where willing to sell him.

I am going to have to put up fences when I get back from a business trip so he can be moved between pastures on my property. Not huge but should be more then enough for 1 horse. It is unlikely he will ever be able to be riden so I guess it will be the good life of graze and poop all day.

 

[mrsilv04]

Woo Hoo! Someone has a hay burner...

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: TaterandNoodles
I did not plan on it. The stables next to my property has not been doing well the entire time I have lived in the house and down sizing over the last 4-5 years. I have on occasion (particularly in the winter) been feeding the horses hay, carrots, apples etc. One horse in particular is incredibly thin so I have been feeding him quite a bit lately. I took him out of his pasture yesterday and let him graze for a while on my land which is growing like crazy right now. While he was grazing I bush hogged his field since it was overgrown with last years brush that a horse will not eat, it was a mess. Now the junk is down but there is no viable grass for a horse to eat yet.

Boda-bing boda-boom I now own a riby bag of bones that has to be a couple hundred pounds under weight. I never should have told my wife I would buy him if they where willing to sell him.

I am going to have to put up fences when I get back from a business trip so he can be moved between pastures on my property. Not huge but should be more then enough for 1 horse. It is unlikely he will ever be able to be riden so I guess it will be the good life of graze and poop all day.


Very Kind of you.
By the way, I know some people who lead the 'good life of graze and poop all day'....some have a few drinks (or even drugs) in between...all the while collecting SSI...what a country.

 

[jarmstrong]

I don't know where you are but I'm a horse shoeing if you need help with his hooves.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Here's a couple of things you probably need to do soon:
1. Confirm when his last shots were. Make sure the Coggins is up to date and find out when it is due. We do all our shots in April as a matter of convenience. Being in NC, you may need West Nile shots/booster twice a year. If you can, get a copy of his records from the stable.
2. Start a worming program soon; if this horse hasn't been wormed in a while, part of the weight loss may be in this area. Start with a dose of ivermectin and then choose a rotational worming program.
3. See if you can get a vet out to do a good check up. Let the vet evaluate whether the horse can/should be ridden. I would not assume this guy would only be a "pasture ornament".
4. Hay and grass won't supply all the supplements a horse needs, so feeding a good feed like Purina Strategy helps provide a balanced diet. It also helps get the horse to come to you at feeding time, and just about any other time.

Good luck on your horse ownership. A horse can be a good source of learning for everyone.

 

[GMBoy]

I, too, own horses. You get attached to them. Good of you to help the poor horse -you'll be rewarded with a great horse "buddy"!

 

[Cup of Joe]

Records? I don't believe there are any records. The stables are right next to my property so I am aware of coming and goings or lack of. I found him without water 2 days ago.

There will be a vet at another stable on the 22nd but I don't have a horse trailer and my F150 has a class III hitch, add to that I will be out of town. I will have him looked at by a vet before to long. I could not tell you the last time his hooves have been touched honestly. Not in the last 2 years for certain. The trainer at the other stable works with rescue horses and knows the horse in question. She feels he can recover and is working with my wife on his needs besides hay and water since I am going out of town.

I greatly appreciate all the advice. No problems with him coming at the moment. He is used to seeing us and to him that means meal time. If we are taking to long he will let us know.

 

[Cup of Joe]

Any cheap easy fence ideas? I don't see him jumping a fence or trying to get out. He just needs a visual barrier just like my Rotties.

 

[doitmyself]

My kids did some horse stuff during their 4-H years through the thoughtfulness of other horse owners.

I envy those who have lots of disposable income to afford horses. Well, maybe I just envy the disposable income.

Watch for colic if changing their diet.

 

[Steve S]

My wife and daughter have horsies. I haven't been on a horse for years I think about it then say naah!!! I enjoy them and take them for doggie walks.

 

[addyguy]

I wouldn't count him out as 'unrideable' yet. Horses are tough, loyal animals that with proper care can and will bounce back amazingly.

You may not think you will end up riding him, but I bet he'll come 'asking' once he's well and knows you care for him.

Good luck!

 

[eljefino]

Wife was worried when her crazy grandmother died. She was on the board of trustees on a hobby/museum farm and had this mean, unridden old horse. We thought we'd inherit it and have to shell out for boarding etc! Luckily, no.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
My wife and daughter have horsies. I haven't been on a horse for years I think about it then say naah!!! I enjoy them and take them for doggie walks.


Yeah, I enjoy "walking the horses" more than riding because I'm, lazy and hate saddling up

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: TaterandNoodles
Any cheap easy fence ideas? I don't see him jumping a fence or trying to get out. He just needs a visual barrier just like my Rotties.

There is electric fence "tape", instead of a thin strand its 1/2 or 3/4" wide and easy to see. If he's like most grazers I know, the grass is greener on the other side some days, so you might need a small charger too, to keep him from leaning on the fence all the time.
If he's never experienced electric fences and is "jumpy" you might want to try something else, spooked horses are no fun...

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Originally Posted By: Steve S
My wife and daughter have horsies. I haven't been on a horse for years I think about it then say naah!!! I enjoy them and take them for doggie walks.


Yeah, I enjoy "walking the horses" more than riding because I'm, lazy and hate saddling up

That is it!!!When I had a boat I would hook it up to go to the lake which was 16 miles from home an half way there I would say to my self whay am I doing this? I no longer own a boat.