Horses In My Back Yard

Horses In My Back Yard				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
HORSE LOVERS: During my thirty years of selling				dentist "float" his teeth. This removes sharp edges so
rural land, I have frequently found that folks want some				that he can chew his food properly and be
acreage so that they can own and ride horses. They				comfortable with the bit.
LOVE horses in their own mind but have little if any of
the real knowledge or experience necessary to raise				GROOMING: Horses love to be brushed and bathed.
one or more horses. Far too often, they have				Spend lots of quality time with your horse when you
knowledge based on little more than an idyllic dream				first get him and each time before and after you ride
and that dream based for the most part on romantic				him with gentle loving hands and lots of brush
novels and movies. This article will give you some				grooming. Pick the stones and dirt from his feet before
basic information which may save you and a horse				and after a ride to keep him from getting bruised feet.
some bad or even terrible experiences.				Check him for ticks after any ride in the woods or tall
				grass -- especially in warm weather. Keep all your
HOW MANY ACRES?: If you do want horses; a good				tack clean and the leather saddle-soaped and lightly
rule of thumb in good pasture areas is 3 to 5 acres of				oiled. Wash your saddle blanket after each use and
pasture per horse, and ideally another acre or two of				rinse his bit well too. He doesn't like a hard, dirty blanket
paddock per horse. The wise Equestrian will thus plan				on his back or a crusty bit in his mouth. Keep your
about 6 to 10 acres per horse they want to keep in				brushes clean too, rinse, wash and pull the hair out of
the purchase of land. The paddocks are smaller				them periodically.
fenced pasture areas close to the barn used for
training, saddling up your horse or getting a new horse				NUTRITION: Nutrition is a powerful factor in the life of
acclimated to his new home.				a horse, just as it is our own. Often a problem horse
				can just be suffering from some nutritional deficiency.
The risk of injury to animals increases where horses				Often a horse that is "cribbing" that is chewing on his
are overcrowded, and competition for food, water and				stall or on the fence has a nutritional deficiency. This
space may lead to fighting. You must provide an				should be handled quickly as the swallowed wood
adequate number of paddocks or yards to permit				splinters have obvious danger to your horse. Horses
incompatible animals to be segregated. The number of				need vitamins, roughage of course, minerals, protein,
horses and their grouping in each paddock or yard				oils, carbohydrates, enzymes and trace elements in
must be appropriate for their compatibility and for the				their diets to be at their best in health, behavior and
ground conditions, taking into account the climatic				attitude... and sometimes even if they are getting the
conditions pertaining at the time.				correct food they may not be digesting it to get the
				proper use of the nutrients... just like us.
You also need room for the house, barn, hay storage,
tack building and a loafing shed for them to get under				Horse Hair Analysis is a very useful tool to find the
when the weather is not quite acceptable to them. In				realistic needs of your horse. The hair is a long term
any yard or shelter, each horse must have adequate				record of the horse's nutritional health and the analysis
room to lie down, stand up and turn around. There				will tell the most accurate story as to what your
should be a clean, dry area for the horse to lie down,				particular horse needs... or what he is getting too much
the surface of which protects the horse from				of -- especially if he is ingesting some sort of toxic
abrasions and capped elbows and hocks. Paddocks				substance.
which expose horses to items of machinery,
equipment or rubbish (especially wire) likely to cause				TRAILERS and TRAILERING: For most people
serious 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
FENCING: There are numerous types of fencing that				un-populated areas, especially if you purchase property
are designed for horses. Board fences are deadly				on a long dirt road or network of such roads -- you
dangerous if not constantly maintained. The horses				may be able to do a lot of riding without trailering. You
can break a board and end up impaled on it. Wire,				will still likely want to have a trailer eventually, so that
especially barbed wire can entangle your horse's leg or				you can take your horse to a trainer, pick up another
neck and seriously injure him or worse. There are				horse, or take your horse to join a friend for a ride.
several kinds of fences made for horse pasture.
Barbed wire and narrow gauge (2.5 mm) high-tensile				There are several types of trailers; they are of many
steel wire, because of their cutting, non-stretching and				sizes from small to huge. Some of them even have
nonbreaking properties, can cause severe injury to				owners quarters or a groomsman's room adjacent to
horses. They should be avoided when constructing				the horse section. There are the horse carrying motor
fences for horses, as should internal fence-stays or				home style vehicles too. For highway speeds and to
posts, which are a common cause of injury.				go any distance, it is best to use a large towing pickup
				truck specialized for such use. The best are the dual
Fences should be readily visible to horses and properly				tired big pickup trucks called Duelies. You then get a
maintained. The ideal fence for premises designed				big sturdy support hitch mounted in the pickup bed and
mainly for horses is the synthetic, strong, flexible,				the trailer has a long hitch stalk that projects into the
post-and-rail type, with rails treated or painted with				truck bed. This type, called a goose neck trailer with a
nontoxic preparations. A popular alternative, which also				5th wheel hitch, will give you excellent stability and a
provides a good visual barrier, is a single top rail				shortened turn radius. It is also virtually impossible to
attached to a conventional post-and-wire fence. I like				have a trailer disconnect from the truck -- which is a
the Australian Sheep Wire fence as it has a grid that is				worry 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				Before you take your horse for a first trailer ride; you
stepping through the fence and getting tangled. I also				should ride in the back of the trailer, while someone
like a charged electric wire just above the highly visible				else drives the truck, so that you can experience the
top rail to "convince" the horse to not lean over that				cornering and braking calamities that the horse will
top rail to get grass on the other side. Such leaning by				experience. Some folks put leg wraps on their horses
such a strong and heavy animal is a major cause of				when trailering to help protect the horse more from
fence breakage. There must be no sharp objects				accidental braking, cornering, or bumping. After you
projecting inwards.				have ridden in the moving trailer yourself, take a few
				practice runs with you and the horse -- so you can
Your large animal Veterinarian or Horse feed and tack				see what the horse is experiencing as a driver drives,
store can help you find the right fencing and an installer				turns and brakes. And it would be a good idea to next
that knows what he's doing. Ideally your pasture will				have someone else ride with your horse while you
have fence corners rounded on a large radius to				drive. One of my friends had a good technique; she put
prevent your horse from injury if he is cornered by				a long stem wine glass on the dash of her truck and
another horse or is just running with exuberance and				filled it with water. She then learned to drive without
misjudges the distance to the corner. I have				spilling the water or turning over the glass. Personally I
occasionally seen a horse on a tether chain or rope, as				think it is a great technique to practice.
some people do a dog. Tethering is a practice which
has a high risk of injury to horses. It is not				You also need to keep the trailer clean, especially
recommended and should be used only when other				keeping it free of hay dust and dirt. Remember when
forms of grazing or containment are unavailable and				the trailer is underway and if the vent windows are
when close supervision of the horse can be				open, whatever hay and dirt there is inside will start
maintained. Only placid horses and those adequately				whirling around in the trailer. Keep everything well tied
trained to accept the practice should be tethered.				down inside too; falling, and swinging articles in the
				trailer can spook your horse and cause him to jump
FORGET WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM NOVELS				and hurt himself.
OR HOLLYWOOD: Contrary to all the horse stories
and films, your horse will not respond to you the same				Service the trailer at least once a year. Check the
way a dog or cat will. He will respond and perform				brakes, tires, tire pressure and all hitch welds and bolts
best when his owner is consistent and has a routine.				carefully. Make certain that the floor is solid. Practice
Forget all those stories about Flicka and Black Beauty;				driving, backing and turning. Practice using the mirrors.
it only happens in the movies.				Mirror use is difficult to learn and of utmost importance.
				With proper mirror use however, you can easily back
Horses do have personality but you must remember				your trailer into a space only a few inches larger than it
that they are very big and strong and you cannot				is.
make them do anything unless you have convinced
them and then they choose to do it. Proper ground				WHO IS THE BOSS?: If you don't watch out -- your
manners are a must and the rider must know how to				horse will TRAIN YOU, for instance... I knew this lady
ride. Take some lessons if you are a first time owner.				who trailered her horse to various lessons and rides...
Horses do not like you to hang onto the reins for				but he knew he did not have to get into the trailer until
balance. Learn how to balance yourself in the saddle				the third attempt each time. First she would lead him to
and to gently guide the horse with the reins. There is				the trailer, he would stop and she would pet and coo
no faster way to make a horse "sour" than to pull on				to him. The second time she would coax him a little
his mouth roughly. Learn the horse language; the way				more with carrots and baby talk. When that, of course,
to communicate to your horse is through the balance				didn't work either (he liked that sweet talk and
of your body, your seated position, the position of your				especially the carrots) she would try the third method.
feet and legs and lastly the position of your hands.				By now she was a little tired and frustrated with him,
				she wanted to go home or get on with the lessons; so
STABLING: He does not enjoy being locked in a stall				she spoke firmly, put the chain across his nose,
every night. He would much prefer the open fields and				tightened it a bit, and... he'd get right on. But he always
the starry nights! A three sided shed (preferably with				knew that he didn't have to get on until the third
the open side to the southwest) will due just fine.				technique -- besides he would miss his carrots and
Horses do need protection from the sun and rain.				sweet talk if he got on the first time!
Horse blankets/rugs make us feel better; nature
however, has equipped him just dandy with a real fur				Here's another one. Some horses raise their head and
coat. Those horses that are unlucky enough to be put				clamp their teeth and will not accept the bit. I have
in a stall every night could probably use a rug unless				seen people strike the horse about the face or swing
the barn is REALLY COZY. But, when it is 30 degrees				the bridle and hit him -- this only teaches him that the
or lower and it is blowing and wet, he does appreciate				bridle is a mean, scary piece of equipment and that
a stall to eat his grain and hay. And it will save you a				he'd better raise his head up out of your reach for his
lot of cleanup in your paddocks.				own protection. The solution to bit shyness takes a
				while; it will take a little patience, some sweet talk and
PASTURE: Plant a pasture with a mixture of proper				some sweet syrup on your fingers. Play around with
grass seeds. Check with the local Agricultural				his mouth with your fingers and let him wear the bit
Substation or horse feed supply store for the seed				awhile when he is in his stall to eat and drink. Put it on
mix. Build several paddocks to keep your horses in for				him sometimes while you are grooming him too. Make
short times, so that you can rotate the pastures and				sure that the bit is adjusted correctly for tightness in his
periodically give each one a rest to replenish the height				mouth and that it is the right size and style. And
of it's grasses.				especially be certain that when you ride him that you
				are not always holding tension on the reins, using them
Horses are poor utilizers of pasture, compared to				when you should be only giving body language
cattle or sheep. Most horse pastures contain a large				directions, sawing them back and forth from left to
proportion of weeds and "roughs" where horses are				right or in any way being rough on his mouth.
the only grazers. Horses will not eat pasture that is
contaminated with horse dung. This usually causes the				MOUNTING YOUR HORSE: Training your horse to
contaminated area to become larger and the grazing				stand still as a statue while you mount is a MUST! If
area smaller. The pasture growing round the dung				your horse likes to walk about while you try to mount
patches is usually lush and looks to be the best feed,				up -- have someone hold him while you get up and
while the patches in between will look overgrazed.				properly placed in the saddle. Once you are mounted
				-- sit well in the saddle with an erect posture, take a
Where possible, horses should be grazed in				deep and cleansing breath and sink into your saddle
conjunction with cattle or sheep. In addition to helping				with poise and assurance before you start off with
calm the horses; the other species will clean up the				him. Take time frequently with just you and him; when
"roughs" while also reducing the worm contamination				no one is around, mount him inside the pasture or
on pasture. Although harrowing can also be useful to				paddock fence and just stand there in the saddle with
spread the dung around, in moist conditions and when				him for several minutes. Then after quite some time,
the grass is long it may spread worm eggs, making a				ask him to walk. Of course you will need to spend the
larger area of the paddock infected. Where no cattle				time needed to train him to stand quiet and still while
or other grazers are available, it is essential to remove				you are on him. And you must each learn the
the manure or spread it around regularly during dry				particulars of how to open the pasture gate while you
periods, when the sun and ultraviolet rays will tend to				are in the saddle.
destroy eggs and larvae.
				RETURNING FROM A RIDE: There is always the
Your horses will leave some big manure piles around				temptation on your horses part, to run back to the
the pasture and especially in the corners. Spread the				barn at the end of a ride. He will be tempted to trot
horse manure out on the pasture with a drag harrow				instead of walk; canter instead of trot; or run instead of
and rake out the pasture corners to break it up in				canter. Be careful or you will be allowing him to learn or
smaller pieces; it helps to keep the fly larvae in the				to think you are teaching him to run home. If you
manure from hatching out and bothering your horses.				persist in this permissiveness you may eventually have
				a runaway horse each time his head turns toward
You will need a manure spreader to spread the				home.
manure you shovel out of your loafing sheds and stalls.
Your horses will eat a lot of the grass in your pasture				When you do return home; come down to a walk well
-- but you will still have to mow the pastures				away from the barn and let him cool down well as
periodically and you will need to use a weed-eater				you near the barn. If you are cantering in and he wants
under and along all the fences. You will need to keep a				to go faster, break down the gait to a trot and if
check out for any plants of the nightshade family as				needed down to a walk even if a long way from the
they are poisonous to your steeds.				barn. If he won't walk calmly but wants to jig and go
				sideways or tries breaking into a faster gait -- you
Grazing animals deplete soil nutrients progressively,				need to spend some time in the paddocks and school
which in turn leads to poor pasture quality and growth				him to walk and trot when you tell him too. If you still
rate. This should be regularly monitored by soil and				have trouble; get help from an outside equestrian or a
pasture analysis. Pasture should be top dressed with				trainer.
fertilizers to replace identified nutrient deficiencies.
Check with your State Agricultural Agent (each state				BUYING YOUR HORSE: When buying a horse be
has an Agricultural College and Agents attached) to				aware that what you see during the purchasing
learn to identify soil nutrient needs and to show you				meeting with the horse -- is what you will have when
how to destroy noxious plants properly. Make certain				you take him home. He is most likely on his best
that there is always plenty of clean fresh water in the				behavior at the barns and paddocks where he lives,
pasture and that the water trough is kept dutifully				so when you remove him to take him to your place
clean!				you are likely to get worse behavior not better. Unless
				you are a very experience rider with some good
VACCINATIONS: Your horses require annual booster				horse sense, you should purchase an older, settled
shots for Rabies, Tetanus, Flu Rhino and Encephalitis,				horse for a first mount and then as you improve get a
and Potomac Horse Fever. Check with your local				younger more spirited one.
Large Animal Veterinarian and maintain a proper
schedule of immunizations and regular checkups.				Look at the teeth to detect age and condition of the
Horses also require quarterly worming to keep the				horse. Horse newspapers have lots of ads and some
intestinal parasites below the danger level.				advice. There are auctions for horses too; once you
				find out about them you can get on the mailing list and
FARRIER SERVICES: Horses in the wild got along just				visit a few before you buy. Classified ads are a very
fine without a Farrier. They ran and romped over vast				good sources of horses for sale.
expanses, were chased by predators and often ran
long distances as a herd. But now that they are kept				When you go to look at a horse to purchase; take
and ridden mostly on soft sandy soil or grasslands --				along an honest and reputable person to help you with
the hooves need trimming every six to eight weeks.				that purchase. A good saddle horse should cost you
AND, yes some horses do need horseshoes of steel,				from $2,500 to $5,000. A trained horse can cost much
rubber or some other material. You will be able to tell if				more but may well be worth the cost. Specialty
your horse need shoeing; if he does he will walk very				horses of course -- Arabians and Thoroughbreds for
"tender-footed" and may have cracks and breakage in				instance can cost more than a nice home or in some
his hooves. The way he walks, stands and carries				cases more than a nice shopping center. You don't
himself in general will tip you off to his Farrier needs.				always get what you pay for... but you can count on
				paying for what you get.
INTENTION: Your intention is of great importance!
Horses can feel a fly on their back and they can feel				Watch for conformation (shape and bodily proportion)
your intent; when you really mean business. They learn				in the horse; which can be learned from books and
in a hurry who they have to respect and who they				then there is Attitude -- this is the same as for humans.
can play around with -- DON'T be fooled! Set yourself				If the horse has a bad attitude it's hardly worth owning
up to win his respect and keep it. Don't ask him to do				at any cost. The horse should be checked perhaps
anything that you suspect will be an argument unless				even x-rayed by a Veterinarian. This is called Vetting a
you have the time to make certain that he does it. Be				horse; done in a pre-purchase exam. This usually costs
firm. Being firm does not mean beating your horse; it				about $300 to $500. A lot of lameness can't be seen
does mean that sometimes you might have to put a				with the eye and will only show up with strenuous
chain a little too snugly across his nose to lead him if				training, or during work or competition -- just when you
he walks too fast and gets ahead of you at lead.				can't afford it. ===Happy Trails and best wishes to a
				lot of good horsin' around for all you readers who
TRUST: It is so important that your horse trust you.				want horses. Horses can bring out the best and the
Please don't abuse him by hitting or kicking him. Trust is				worst of a person and give you endless hours of
necessary for him when you want him to cross a				pleasure, exercise and frustration. But most horse
ditch or a fence or take him to water or take him to				owners and lovers wouldn't have it any other way.
ride with other horses. Trust is built by day to day
consistent care and treatment of your horse; and by				TALLY HO!

Buy Friesians

Horses In My Back Yard

Articles