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Horses In My Back Yard

Horses In My Back Yard				and by not putting him into situations that
				hurt him or scare him badly.


by Jody Hudson, with Extensive Collaboration
From Chris Hudson				EQUINE DENTIST: Horses need dentists too! At
				least once a year, some horses require to
				have the equine dentist "float" his teeth.
				This removes sharp edges so that he can chew
HORSE LOVERS: During my thirty years of				his food properly and be comfortable with the
selling rural land, I have frequently found				bit.
that folks want some acreage so that they can
own and ride horses. They LOVE horses in
their own mind but have little if any of the
real knowledge or experience necessary to				GROOMING: Horses love to be brushed and
raise one or more horses. Far too often, they				bathed. Spend lots of quality time with your
have knowledge based on little more than an				horse when you first get him and each time
idyllic dream and that dream based for the				before and after you ride him with gentle
most part on romantic novels and movies. This				loving hands and lots of brush grooming. Pick
article will give you some basic information				the stones and dirt from his feet before and
which may save you and a horse some bad or				after a ride to keep him from getting bruised
even terrible experiences.				feet. Check him for ticks after any ride in
				the woods or tall grass -- especially in warm
				weather. Keep all your tack clean and the
				leather saddle-soaped and lightly oiled. Wash
HOW MANY ACRES?: If you do want horses; a				your saddle blanket after each use and rinse
good rule of thumb in good pasture areas is 3				his bit well too. He doesn't like a hard,
to 5 acres of pasture per horse, and ideally				dirty blanket on his back or a crusty bit in
another acre or two of paddock per horse. The				his mouth. Keep your brushes clean too,
wise Equestrian will thus plan about 6 to 10				rinse, wash and pull the hair out of them
acres per horse they want to keep in the				periodically.
purchase of land. The paddocks are smaller
fenced pasture areas close to the barn used
for training, saddling up your horse or
getting a new horse acclimated to his new				NUTRITION: Nutrition is a powerful factor in
home.				the life of a horse, just as it is our own.
				Often a problem horse can just be suffering
				from some nutritional deficiency. Often a
				horse that is "cribbing" that is chewing on
The risk of injury to animals increases where				his stall or on the fence has a nutritional
horses are overcrowded, and competition for				deficiency. This should be handled quickly as
food, water and space may lead to fighting.				the swallowed wood splinters have obvious
You must provide an adequate number of				danger to your horse. Horses need vitamins,
paddocks or yards to permit incompatible				roughage of course, minerals, protein, oils,
animals to be segregated. The number of				carbohydrates, enzymes and trace elements in
horses and their grouping in each paddock or				their diets to be at their best in health,
yard must be appropriate for their				behavior and attitude... and sometimes even
compatibility and for the ground conditions,				if they are getting the correct food they may
taking into account the climatic conditions				not be digesting it to get the proper use of
pertaining at the time.				the nutrients... just like us.



You also need room for the house, barn, hay				Horse Hair Analysis is a very useful tool to
storage, tack building and a loafing shed for				find the realistic needs of your horse. The
them to get under when the weather is not				hair is a long term record of the horse's
quite acceptable to them. In any yard or				nutritional health and the analysis will tell
shelter, each horse must have adequate room				the most accurate story as to what your
to lie down, stand up and turn around. There				particular horse needs... or what he is
should be a clean, dry area for the horse to				getting too much of -- especially if he is
lie down, the surface of which protects the				ingesting some sort of toxic substance.
horse from abrasions and capped elbows and
hocks. Paddocks which expose horses to items
of machinery, equipment or rubbish
(especially wire) likely to cause serious				TRAILERS and TRAILERING: For most people
injury must not be used.				learning to trailer your horse is mandatory.
				If you are fortunate to purchase a place far
				out in the rural un-populated areas,
				especially if you purchase property on a long
FENCING: There are numerous types of fencing				dirt road or network of such roads -- you may
that are designed for horses. Board fences				be able to do a lot of riding without
are deadly dangerous if not constantly				trailering. You will still likely want to
maintained. The horses can break a board and				have a trailer eventually, so that you can
end up impaled on it. Wire, especially barbed				take your horse to a trainer, pick up another
wire can entangle your horse's leg or neck				horse, or take your horse to join a friend
and seriously injure him or worse. There are				for a ride.
several kinds of fences made for horse
pasture. Barbed wire and narrow gauge (2.5
mm) high-tensile steel wire, because of their
cutting, non-stretching and nonbreaking				There are several types of trailers; they are
properties, can cause severe injury to				of many sizes from small to huge. Some of
horses. They should be avoided when				them even have owners quarters or a
constructing fences for horses, as should				groomsman's room adjacent to the horse
internal fence-stays or posts, which are a				section. There are the horse carrying motor
common cause of injury.				home style vehicles too. For highway speeds
				and to go any distance, it is best to use a
				large towing pickup truck specialized for
				such use. The best are the dual tired big
Fences should be readily visible to horses				pickup trucks called Duelies. You then get a
and properly maintained. The ideal fence for				big sturdy support hitch mounted in the
premises designed mainly for horses is the				pickup bed and the trailer has a long hitch
synthetic, strong, flexible, post-and-rail				stalk that projects into the truck bed. This
type, with rails treated or painted with				type, called a goose neck trailer with a 5th
nontoxic preparations. A popular alternative,				wheel hitch, will give you excellent
which also provides a good visual barrier, is				stability and a shortened turn radius. It is
a single top rail attached to a conventional				also virtually impossible to have a trailer
post-and-wire fence. I like the Australian				disconnect from the truck -- which is a worry
Sheep Wire fence as it has a grid that is				with pull-behind trailers.
very small at the bottom and larger at the
top. The small grid size at the bottom
prevents the horse from stepping through the
fence and getting tangled. I also like a				Before you take your horse for a first
charged electric wire just above the highly				trailer ride; you should ride in the back of
visible top rail to "convince" the horse to				the trailer, while someone else drives the
not lean over that top rail to get grass on				truck, so that you can experience the
the other side. Such leaning by such a strong				cornering and braking calamities that the
and heavy animal is a major cause of fence				horse will experience. Some folks put leg
breakage. There must be no sharp objects				wraps on their horses when trailering to help
projecting inwards.				protect the horse more from accidental
				braking, cornering, or bumping. After you
				have ridden in the moving trailer yourself,
				take a few practice runs with you and the
Your large animal Veterinarian or Horse feed				horse -- so you can see what the horse is
and tack store can help you find the right				experiencing as a driver drives, turns and
fencing and an installer that knows what he's				brakes. And it would be a good idea to next
doing. Ideally your pasture will have fence				have someone else ride with your horse while
corners rounded on a large radius to prevent				you drive. One of my friends had a good
your horse from injury if he is cornered by				technique; she put a long stem wine glass on
another horse or is just running with				the dash of her truck and filled it with
exuberance and misjudges the distance to the				water. She then learned to drive without
corner. I have occasionally seen a horse on a				spilling the water or turning over the glass.
tether chain or rope, as some people do a				Personally I think it is a great technique to
dog. Tethering is a practice which has a high				practice.
risk of injury to horses. It is not
recommended and should be used only when
other forms of grazing or containment are
unavailable and when close supervision of the				You also need to keep the trailer clean,
horse can be maintained. Only placid horses				especially keeping it free of hay dust and
and those adequately trained to accept the				dirt. Remember when the trailer is underway
practice should be tethered.				and if the vent windows are open, whatever
				hay and dirt there is inside will start
				whirling around in the trailer. Keep
				everything well tied down inside too;
FORGET WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM NOVELS OR				falling, and swinging articles in the trailer
HOLLYWOOD: Contrary to all the horse stories				can spook your horse and cause him to jump
and films, your horse will not respond to you				and hurt himself.
the same way a dog or cat will. He will
respond and perform best when his owner is
consistent and has a routine. Forget all
those stories about Flicka and Black Beauty;				Service the trailer at least once a year.
it only happens in the movies.				Check the brakes, tires, tire pressure and
				all hitch welds and bolts carefully. Make
				certain that the floor is solid. Practice
				driving, backing and turning. Practice using
Horses do have personality but you must				the mirrors. Mirror use is difficult to learn
remember that they are very big and strong				and of utmost importance. With proper mirror
and you cannot make them do anything unless				use however, you can easily back your trailer
you have convinced them and then they choose				into a space only a few inches larger than it
to do it. Proper ground manners are a must				is.
and the rider must know how to ride. Take
some lessons if you are a first time owner.
Horses do not like you to hang onto the reins
for balance. Learn how to balance yourself in				WHO IS THE BOSS?: If you don't watch out --
the saddle and to gently guide the horse with				your horse will TRAIN YOU, for instance... I
the reins. There is no faster way to make a				knew this lady who trailered her horse to
horse "sour" than to pull on his mouth				various lessons and rides... but he knew he
roughly. Learn the horse language; the way to				did not have to get into the trailer until
communicate to your horse is through the				the third attempt each time. First she would
balance of your body, your seated position,				lead him to the trailer, he would stop and
the position of your feet and legs and lastly				she would pet and coo to him. The second time
the position of your hands.				she would coax him a little more with carrots
				and baby talk. When that, of course, didn't
				work either (he liked that sweet talk and
				especially the carrots) she would try the
STABLING: He does not enjoy being locked in a				third method. By now she was a little tired
stall every night. He would much prefer the				and frustrated with him, she wanted to go
open fields and the starry nights! A three				home or get on with the lessons; so she spoke
sided shed (preferably with the open side to				firmly, put the chain across his nose,
the southwest) will due just fine. Horses do				tightened it a bit, and... he'd get right on.
need protection from the sun and rain. Horse				But he always knew that he didn't have to get
blankets/rugs make us feel better; nature				on until the third technique -- besides he
however, has equipped him just dandy with a				would miss his carrots and sweet talk if he
real fur coat. Those horses that are unlucky				got on the first time!
enough to be put in a stall every night could
probably use a rug unless the barn is REALLY
COZY. But, when it is 30 degrees or lower and
it is blowing and wet, he does appreciate a				Here's another one. Some horses raise their
stall to eat his grain and hay. And it will				head and clamp their teeth and will not
save you a lot of cleanup in your paddocks.				accept the bit. I have seen people strike the
				horse about the face or swing the bridle and
				hit him -- this only teaches him that the
				bridle is a mean, scary piece of equipment
PASTURE: Plant a pasture with a mixture of				and that he'd better raise his head up out of
proper grass seeds. Check with the local				your reach for his own protection. The
Agricultural Substation or horse feed supply				solution to bit shyness takes a while; it
store for the seed mix. Build several				will take a little patience, some sweet talk
paddocks to keep your horses in for short				and some sweet syrup on your fingers. Play
times, so that you can rotate the pastures				around with his mouth with your fingers and
and periodically give each one a rest to				let him wear the bit awhile when he is in his
replenish the height of it's grasses.				stall to eat and drink. Put it on him
				sometimes while you are grooming him too.
				Make sure that the bit is adjusted correctly
				for tightness in his mouth and that it is the
Horses are poor utilizers of pasture,				right size and style. And especially be
compared to cattle or sheep. Most horse				certain that when you ride him that you are
pastures contain a large proportion of weeds				not always holding tension on the reins,
and "roughs" where horses are the only				using them when you should be only giving
grazers. Horses will not eat pasture that is				body language directions, sawing them back
contaminated with horse dung. This usually				and forth from left to right or in any way
causes the contaminated area to become larger				being rough on his mouth.
and the grazing area smaller. The pasture
growing round the dung patches is usually
lush and looks to be the best feed, while the
patches in between will look overgrazed.				MOUNTING YOUR HORSE: Training your horse to
				stand still as a statue while you mount is a
				MUST! If your horse likes to walk about while
				you try to mount up -- have someone hold him
Where possible, horses should be grazed in				while you get up and properly placed in the
conjunction with cattle or sheep. In addition				saddle. Once you are mounted -- sit well in
to helping calm the horses; the other species				the saddle with an erect posture, take a deep
will clean up the "roughs" while also				and cleansing breath and sink into your
reducing the worm contamination on pasture.				saddle with poise and assurance before you
Although harrowing can also be useful to				start off with him. Take time frequently with
spread the dung around, in moist conditions				just you and him; when no one is around,
and when the grass is long it may spread worm				mount him inside the pasture or paddock fence
eggs, making a larger area of the paddock				and just stand there in the saddle with him
infected. Where no cattle or other grazers				for several minutes. Then after quite some
are available, it is essential to remove the				time, ask him to walk. Of course you will
manure or spread it around regularly during				need to spend the time needed to train him to
dry periods, when the sun and ultraviolet				stand quiet and still while you are on him.
rays will tend to destroy eggs and larvae.				And you must each learn the particulars of
				how to open the pasture gate while you are in
				the saddle.

Your horses will leave some big manure piles
around the pasture and especially in the
corners. Spread the horse manure out on the				RETURNING FROM A RIDE: There is always the
pasture with a drag harrow and rake out the				temptation on your horses part, to run back
pasture corners to break it up in smaller				to the barn at the end of a ride. He will be
pieces; it helps to keep the fly larvae in				tempted to trot instead of walk; canter
the manure from hatching out and bothering				instead of trot; or run instead of canter. Be
your horses.				careful or you will be allowing him to learn
				or to think you are teaching him to run home.
				If you persist in this permissiveness you may
				eventually have a runaway horse each time his
You will need a manure spreader to spread the				head turns toward home.
manure you shovel out of your loafing sheds
and stalls. Your horses will eat a lot of the
grass in your pasture -- but you will still
have to mow the pastures periodically and you				When you do return home; come down to a walk
will need to use a weed-eater under and along				well away from the barn and let him cool down
all the fences. You will need to keep a check				well as you near the barn. If you are
out for any plants of the nightshade family				cantering in and he wants to go faster, break
as they are poisonous to your steeds.				down the gait to a trot and if needed down to
				a walk even if a long way from the barn. If
				he won't walk calmly but wants to jig and go
				sideways or tries breaking into a faster gait
Grazing animals deplete soil nutrients				-- you need to spend some time in the
progressively, which in turn leads to poor				paddocks and school him to walk and trot when
pasture quality and growth rate. This should				you tell him too. If you still have trouble;
be regularly monitored by soil and pasture				get help from an outside equestrian or a
analysis. Pasture should be top dressed with				trainer.
fertilizers to replace identified nutrient
deficiencies. Check with your State
Agricultural Agent (each state has an
Agricultural College and Agents attached) to				BUYING YOUR HORSE: When buying a horse be
learn to identify soil nutrient needs and to				aware that what you see during the purchasing
show you how to destroy noxious plants				meeting with the horse -- is what you will
properly. Make certain that there is always				have when you take him home. He is most
plenty of clean fresh water in the pasture				likely on his best behavior at the barns and
and that the water trough is kept dutifully				paddocks where he lives, so when you remove
clean!				him to take him to your place you are likely
				to get worse behavior not better. Unless you
				are a very experience rider with some good
				horse sense, you should purchase an older,
VACCINATIONS: Your horses require annual				settled horse for a first mount and then as
booster shots for Rabies, Tetanus, Flu Rhino				you improve get a younger more spirited one.
and Encephalitis, and Potomac Horse Fever.
Check with your local Large Animal
Veterinarian and maintain a proper schedule
of immunizations and regular checkups. Horses				Look at the teeth to detect age and condition
also require quarterly worming to keep the				of the horse. Horse newspapers have lots of
intestinal parasites below the danger level.				ads and some advice. There are auctions for
				horses too; once you find out about them you
				can get on the mailing list and visit a few
				before you buy. Classified ads are a very
FARRIER SERVICES: Horses in the wild got				good sources of horses for sale.
along just fine without a Farrier. They ran
and romped over vast expanses, were chased by
predators and often ran long distances as a
herd. But now that they are kept and ridden				When you go to look at a horse to purchase;
mostly on soft sandy soil or grasslands --				take along an honest and reputable person to
the hooves need trimming every six to eight				help you with that purchase. A good saddle
weeks. AND, yes some horses do need				horse should cost you from $2,500 to $5,000.
horseshoes of steel, rubber or some other				A trained horse can cost much more but may
material. You will be able to tell if your				well be worth the cost. Specialty horses of
horse need shoeing; if he does he will walk				course -- Arabians and Thoroughbreds for
very "tender-footed" and may have cracks and				instance can cost more than a nice home or in
breakage in his hooves. The way he walks,				some cases more than a nice shopping center.
stands and carries himself in general will				You don't always get what you pay for... but
tip you off to his Farrier needs.				you can count on paying for what you get.



INTENTION: Your intention is of great				Watch for conformation (shape and bodily
importance! Horses can feel a fly on their				proportion) in the horse; which can be
back and they can feel your intent; when you				learned from books and then there is Attitude
really mean business. They learn in a hurry				-- this is the same as for humans. If the
who they have to respect and who they can				horse has a bad attitude it's hardly worth
play around with -- DON'T be fooled! Set				owning at any cost. The horse should be
yourself up to win his respect and keep it.				checked perhaps even x-rayed by a
Don't ask him to do anything that you suspect				Veterinarian. This is called Vetting a horse;
will be an argument unless you have the time				done in a pre-purchase exam. This usually
to make certain that he does it. Be firm.				costs about $300 to $500. A lot of lameness
Being firm does not mean beating your horse;				can't be seen with the eye and will only show
it does mean that sometimes you might have to				up with strenuous training, or during work or
put a chain a little too snugly across his				competition -- just when you can't afford it.
nose to lead him if he walks too fast and				===Happy Trails and best wishes to a lot of
gets ahead of you at lead.				good horsin' around for all you readers who
				want horses. Horses can bring out the best
				and the worst of a person and give you
				endless hours of pleasure, exercise and
TRUST: It is so important that your horse				frustration. But most horse owners and lovers
trust you. Please don't abuse him by hitting				wouldn't have it any other way.
or kicking him. Trust is necessary for him
when you want him to cross a ditch or a fence
or take him to water or take him to ride with
other horses. Trust is built by day to day				TALLY HO!
consistent care and treatment of your horse;

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Horses In My Back Yard