Horse Project Update 12/12/10
The last year has seen a lot of
construction associated with the
acquisition of horses. First was
the corral, followed closely by the
expansion of the corral, followed
by dividing up the cleared areas of
Boggybottom with fencing and
gates to control where we allow
the horses to graze.
Next we had another 3/4 acres
cleared down by the creek and
are currently trying to make more
graze and exercise area for the
horses.
What have we gained? Well, aside
from the pleasure of sitting on our
deck and watching 2 horses frolic
and run, their necks arched, and
manes flying, there has been the
experience of learning to train 2
young horses, and the caring for
those horses has added a lot of
structure to our lives.
construction associated with the
acquisition of horses. First was
the corral, followed closely by the
expansion of the corral, followed
by dividing up the cleared areas of
Boggybottom with fencing and
gates to control where we allow
the horses to graze.
Next we had another 3/4 acres
cleared down by the creek and
are currently trying to make more
graze and exercise area for the
horses.
What have we gained? Well, aside
from the pleasure of sitting on our
deck and watching 2 horses frolic
and run, their necks arched, and
manes flying, there has been the
experience of learning to train 2
young horses, and the caring for
those horses has added a lot of
structure to our lives.
This summer we purchased
this utility vehicle to make the
toting of hay and feed a little
easier.
It has proven to be more useful
than I expected. It has a 2 inch
receiver hitch and about 25
horsepower.
We use it every day to haul
feed and buckets of manure to
the composting area about 100
yards from the house.
The horses produce an
amazing amount of manure
which we are composting for
use in our organic garden
project.
this utility vehicle to make the
toting of hay and feed a little
easier.
It has proven to be more useful
than I expected. It has a 2 inch
receiver hitch and about 25
horsepower.
We use it every day to haul
feed and buckets of manure to
the composting area about 100
yards from the house.
The horses produce an
amazing amount of manure
which we are composting for
use in our organic garden
project.
Training
I had been through several
training sessions with both horses
and was making some good
progress but then one day Haylee
decided she was not going to be
lead to the training circle or
anywhere else. A total rebellion. It
was a blow to my training
motivation. She locked her knees,
and although I could turn her she
would not move forward or
backward. We finally got her back
in the corral by tempting her with
sweet grain, (which we did not
give her once in the corral so as
not to reward her for her behavior).
I tried to get the opinions of as
many experienced horse owners
as I could in order to try to
determine the best way to deal
with her attitude
One of the folks I talked to about
the problem was my neighbor, the
horse breeder I bought both
horses from.
I had been through several
training sessions with both horses
and was making some good
progress but then one day Haylee
decided she was not going to be
lead to the training circle or
anywhere else. A total rebellion. It
was a blow to my training
motivation. She locked her knees,
and although I could turn her she
would not move forward or
backward. We finally got her back
in the corral by tempting her with
sweet grain, (which we did not
give her once in the corral so as
not to reward her for her behavior).
I tried to get the opinions of as
many experienced horse owners
as I could in order to try to
determine the best way to deal
with her attitude
One of the folks I talked to about
the problem was my neighbor, the
horse breeder I bought both
horses from.
He asked me what my main training goal
was and I told him I wanted to be able to
ride both horses before I was too old to
do so, but that I would get immediate
satisfaction by being able to saddle the
horses before each training session.
He came over and we tied each horse to a
hitching post and did some 'flag' training.
Flag training is done with a rag or plastic
grocery bag tied to the end of a fiberglass
stick. The flag is waved at the horse and
it will shy and try to run away. The waving
is repeated until the horse gets used to
the motion and then the flag is touched to
the horses back and body until it no
longer flinches in reaction to the flag's
touch. By this time the horse has figured
out that although you are doing scary
stuff with that flag, you aren't hurting him
or her.
Once we reached that point we showed
the horse the saddle pad, let him sniff it
and then we touched it to his shoulders
and back and then put it on his back and
tied it in place with a piece of hay string
and then let him stand for a few minutes
until he settled. Then we did the same
thing with the saddle
.
was and I told him I wanted to be able to
ride both horses before I was too old to
do so, but that I would get immediate
satisfaction by being able to saddle the
horses before each training session.
He came over and we tied each horse to a
hitching post and did some 'flag' training.
Flag training is done with a rag or plastic
grocery bag tied to the end of a fiberglass
stick. The flag is waved at the horse and
it will shy and try to run away. The waving
is repeated until the horse gets used to
the motion and then the flag is touched to
the horses back and body until it no
longer flinches in reaction to the flag's
touch. By this time the horse has figured
out that although you are doing scary
stuff with that flag, you aren't hurting him
or her.
Once we reached that point we showed
the horse the saddle pad, let him sniff it
and then we touched it to his shoulders
and back and then put it on his back and
tied it in place with a piece of hay string
and then let him stand for a few minutes
until he settled. Then we did the same
thing with the saddle
.
In order to produce such prodigious
amounts of manure, horses must
consume an equally prodigious amount of
hay. Our 2 horses consume a bale per
day between them.
If you are home steading and have
animals, hay becomes a big part of your
life. You feed it to your critters, you use it
for mulch, you add it to the compost pile,
you stuff it in nesting boxes and you use
it for bedding so the animals don't have to
lay on the ground.
amounts of manure, horses must
consume an equally prodigious amount of
hay. Our 2 horses consume a bale per
day between them.
If you are home steading and have
animals, hay becomes a big part of your
life. You feed it to your critters, you use it
for mulch, you add it to the compost pile,
you stuff it in nesting boxes and you use
it for bedding so the animals don't have to
lay on the ground.
The pictures here show Haylee a few seconds after she was saddled for the first time in her life. We let her stand
and get used to the saddle for a few minutes and then lead her to the training circle and let her run for a while with
the saddle on her back.
and get used to the saddle for a few minutes and then lead her to the training circle and let her run for a while with
the saddle on her back.
You quickly learn all the locations where hay
is sold locally and who has the best quality
and who has the best prices.
You enter into group buying to get the lowest
possible price, and you construct or purchase
a building to store your hay in.
Finally you spend a lot of time digging it out of
your pockets and vacuuming it out of your
rugs, and sweeping it out of the back of your
pick-up.
is sold locally and who has the best quality
and who has the best prices.
You enter into group buying to get the lowest
possible price, and you construct or purchase
a building to store your hay in.
Finally you spend a lot of time digging it out of
your pockets and vacuuming it out of your
rugs, and sweeping it out of the back of your
pick-up.
