Re: Sun Loving Fjords, Chat reminder
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello List! I was going to relay a note about our trials with Santa Ana Winds here, but after reading Peg Knutsons post regarding her depressed/kissable/overweight/goat loving Fjords, I cant stop laughing... Congrats, Peg, you are the first person to actually shut me up here on the list! ( I just woke up both cats and one parrot, who are all giving me the evil eye! ) I will just remind everyone to join PAV AUSSIE and I at Fjord Chat, Sun. night at PetsandVets. It starts at 9:00 EASTERN time, in Horse room # 1. I would send a link, but crashed my computer and lost all my favorite places and links... W! Please send me Fjord/Driving links !!! Lisa Pedersen PAV FJORDS
Re: Stabling preferences/options...
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This message is from Susan Heyvaert, Minnesota: Could you tell me how you reply without repeating the entire message you are responding to? I know it is something I need to do but am not sure how. Regarding stabling preferences -- I have 4 horses, 2 Quarter horse mares, 1 26 year old Arabian, and my "new" 3 yr. old Fjord. Unfortunately, I live in suburbia (not so good for horse keeping but great for driving to places!). We have 2 very large paddocks. In order to keep mud to a minimum, we installed about 8" of ag lime ( the stuff they use on country roads). At first, it is soft, but soon it turns harder then softens up with rains, but not so much that it ever becomes muddy. When they roll on it, it easily brushes off with the flick of a brush. After boarding for several years before we had our own place and spending "forever" cleaning my horse before every ride, I vowed I'd never do it again. Granted, this is primarily for our convenience, not because the horse likes it better! We put sand in one corner which they either pick to urinate in or lie in or both! It splashes less! I keep my Fjord out all night even in very cold temps -- even though we haven't had much of a winter yet, it does get awfully frigid here in Minnesota. When it drops to 10 degrees or below or even a windchill of 10 or below, I start thinking about bringing him in. Depends on sunlight that day, too. He despises being in the stall and makes me pay for it by churning it up sufficiently that I might as well shovel the whole works out. I have a question for everyone-- How do you cure the impatience of a 3-year- old Fjord who will only stand sweetly tied to the trailer if he has a full hay bag in front of him? I introduced him to hobbles in my round pen this summer, then used them when we'd go to shows and he had to stand at the trailer for several hours. You know how fast they go through a bag of hay so I'm not about to keep running back to the trailer to refill it. He has dinged the hec out of my fender on my nice trailer. The hobbles work when I have them on but when they're off, he goes right back to pawing. I'm wondering if it's just a young horse -- impatient thing he'll grow out of??? Any advice?? Thanks, Susan
Re: water quality
This message is from: GAIL RUSSELL <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Had an interesting experience today with our iron-rich water. We give the "iron water" to the horses - turns the tank water very red after a time. They drink it OK - but... Yesterday, through terrible miscommunication between our two horse-feeders and the trainer - we ended up leaving two horses without water for 36 hours - (they were locked in the pipe panel corrals where they are fed, and no one noticed that they couldn't get out to the field for water). In an effort to head off possible impaction I turned them into our new paddock where the grass is full of water - trying to get as much water into them as possible. As there are no automatic waterers there yet I filled one 5 gallon bucket with a hose (iron water) and took another bucket filled with rainwater out to them. Later that afternoon, when I came back, the rainwater bucket was drained to the bottom (but still upright) and the "iron-water bucket" was still full. They clearly prefer the rainwater! So what is this air injection filter - ozone injector - or just air injection? Asking because I need to upgrade our system. Private address for water filter info is [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gail > >We have very similar water here. Our water, before it's been through the >filter, is a rich walnut red brown. We used to send unfiltered water >over to the barn and it never hurt the horses. We did that for years. We have an air-injection iron filter which is great >at removing iron, and uses no chemicals either. > >Lori Albrough >Bluebird Lane Fjords >Moorefield, Ontario > > Gail Russell Forestville CA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Barns and bedding
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peg, We used the brushed concrete in our main aisleway, then have mats in the wash stall where we stand them for baths, the farrier and saddling up. It has worked well. Susan from Minnesota
Re: This and that
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) I am of the feeling that contentious people at least let you know what they think of things vs those who are too nice to let you know your fjord is standing on their feet. Id rather have both and not get so upset about it. Jean Gayle >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >In a message dated 12/10/98 10:24:09 Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] >writes: > ><< She grinned and allowed as how Fjords were probably the only breed that >could put up with some of these folks >> > >LOL! But to be honest, some of the Fjord people I have met have been some of >the nicest people imaginable. Ginny Cowles and all that I met in association >with her, Anne Appleby, Becky, Hallie Sanders. Can't believe I was lucky to >have met the only "nice" fjord people. I'd want to think that the contentious >folk are the exception, as opposed to the rule. > >Pamela >With the rose colored glasses on > Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline
Re: Botulism
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Steven A White) Thanks Steve for the reassurance and explanation. We have a woman here who has the hay put up in the marshmallow rolls and then when people order regular baled hay, unrolls it and bales it. I am skeptical about the process. Jean Gayle > > > >On Thu, 10 Dec 1998 11:07:57 -0800 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) >writes: >>This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) >> >>>This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Anneli >>Sundkvist) >>> >>Are we giving botulism shots here? Surprised I have not heard of it >>as I >>over do the shots my horses get. Jean Gayle >> >>Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline > >Jean, > >There is a vaccine for botulism but most people don't give it because >it's not a big problem here. There seems to be a local problem in >Kentucky with foals picking it up so a lot of people there vaccinate for >it. Most other areas don't have a problem unless you decide to feed >haylage/silage. The vaccine is a toxoid like tetanus so you are >vaccinating against the toxin the bacteria produces not the bacteria >itself. > >-Steve > >Steve & Amy White >Waterloo, NE, USA > Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline
Van Bon's book & harness for sale
This message is from: Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello all ~ I just received an email from Bob Van Bon's son Bjorn, and he said Bob has mailed a dozen copies of his book to me for re-sale. I don't yet know the full cost, depends on postage, but it should be under $20. Anyone who is interested in purchasing a copy should email me privately. I checked into videos of European horses but unfortunately the format would not be compatable with our VCR's. I have a brand new pair harness, custom made (Amish) per Dave McWethy's design for sale. This harness can be used single or double, and converts from a hame style to a breast collar style with the changing of a few parts that buckle on and off. It is biothane and leather and very attractive. Complete with bridles & lines, but not collars and bits. $1050. It was made for a pair of 14-2 hand rather drafty mares. Email privately if interested. Good night! Julie
RE: straw causing impaction
This message is from: "Frederick J. (Fred) Pack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello to all, I was interested in the comments regarding heated (warmer) water in the winter. We use Nelson automatic waterers that are electrically heated. The 200 watt heater kicks in to keep the water around 50o F. or 10o C. It is extremely important that they all be well grounded. Electrical problems DO occur when the electric fence gets shorted out such as the many trees that have blown over on my fences in the last two weeks. We have suffered through 3 major windstorms here. We narrowly dodged the bullet on the last one. A 70 foot fir uprooted and fell on one of my small barns with two mini-horses inside. Luckily, the Priefert steel panels that form the corrals took most of the blow and the tree did not slice the barn in half. It only sliced 4 feet into the roof.and stopped thereheld by the steel panels.Had to replace the barnlet, BUT didn't have to bury any horses. Two panels, each weighing 100lbs, had to be replaced on the barn perimeter and two pasture panels. I can't praise these panels enough for their strength. They are portable and CHAIN together. Best investment I ever made. Back to the electric fences: When the fence gets shorted out (to ground) the electrical charge IS felt at the waterers. I make a practice of checking the electric fence operation every feedingOR THE HORSES WILL NOT DRINK. THEY GET SHOCKED by the charge traveling through the ground. If you have ANY kind of metal water containers (that touch the ground) AND electric fencescheck your fences regularly for shorts. Fred and Lois Pack Pack's Peak Stables Wilkeson, WA USA -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of jean gayle Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 1998 10:44 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject:Re: straw causing impaction This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) >Very interesting Brian re the warm water drinking vs cold. I use heaters in my outdoor troughs that keep the water warm. Occasionally electricity. low amount, may be present and my big horse is very sensitive and will woof and huff and not drink where both my Holsteiner and my little Howdy Fjörd would just drink away. Thanks for re-enforcing in my mind that straw and Fjö can be a problem. Jean Gayle Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline
Warning: could not send message for past 4 hours
** ** THIS IS A WARNING MESSAGE ONLY ** ** YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESEND YOUR MESSAGE ** ** The original message was received at Fri, 11 Dec 1998 00:16:33 GMT from mailing-list.net [192.41.59.89] - The following addresses had transient non-fatal errors - <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - Transcript of session follows - <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>... Deferred Warning: message still undelivered after 4 hours Will keep trying until message is 5 days old
Re: water quality
This message is from: Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thanks Lori ~ sounds exactly like our situation! I will have the iron filter hooked up before the water lines to the barn to avoid problems with the waterers. We had another problem with our waterers...stray voltage from the ground rods to our fence charger. We have a very high powered charger (will do 4 miles of fences grown up in high weeds) which is in the run-in barn where our waterers are. We had the ground rods just outside the barn, and apparently enough current was going to ground to feed back into the waterers. Darryl and I couldn't feel it (but we didn't take our shoes off and try) and our voltmeter for checking the fence didn't register a charge, but I could tell from the behavior of the horses that something was wrong. We checked and re-checked all the wiring for the waterers, it was fine. Finally I called the fence company and and he said they have had that problem many times, and for us to move the ground rods at least 50' from any parts of the water system and the electrical system ground. Now I am re-educating the horses to use the waterers by shutting off the water and putting grain in the bowl. Thank goodness they love to eat so much!
RE: Calendars
This message is from: john & martie bolinski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Hi there, This is Martie from Maryland, where I have received my 3rd Fjord calendar. I guess we have a little confusion over either how many I ordered, or how many you sent. I had intended to order 2 and sent a check for 2. I have recieved 3 in 3 separate mailings. I will send along another check for the 3rd one, but please do not send any more? I guess I will need your adress again; I seem to have deleted your original message with the address attached. Appologies for the confusion, Martie and the gang
Info on straw
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Hi" List!! Thanks for all the commentary on straw. In July my vet suggested I feed my Fjord straw along with his hay because he was so overweight and it would give him something to munch on but not add weight. Four months later he is still a little portly but is looking better and is not gaining. He does not really eat all that much straw - mostly roots around eating the oat hulls and little bits of grass mixed in and leaves the rest. Same with his stall - does not appear to eat the straw (it is all there to be cleaned!!) but more rooting around. However, after reading about impaction and the importance of drinking lots of water I will be more watchful. Luckily I have been providing water from a heated tank and he seems to drink alot. Linda in Minnesota where we STILL have green grass and temps in the 30's and 40's - surely this will end soon!!
Re: This and that
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 12/10/98 10:24:09 Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << She grinned and allowed as how Fjords were probably the only breed that could put up with some of these folks >> LOL! But to be honest, some of the Fjord people I have met have been some of the nicest people imaginable. Ginny Cowles and all that I met in association with her, Anne Appleby, Becky, Hallie Sanders. Can't believe I was lucky to have met the only "nice" fjord people. I'd want to think that the contentious folk are the exception, as opposed to the rule. Pamela With the rose colored glasses on
Re: water quality
This message is from: Lori Albrough <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > This message is from: Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > We have a new well at the new farm, and the water is very hard (65 grains) > with high iron (3.2 mg/L). We have very similar water here. Our water, before it's been through the filter, is a rich walnut red brown. We used to send unfiltered water over to the barn and it never hurt the horses. We did that for years. After we put in a Nelson heated water bowl in the run-in shed the "iron-y" and hard water started causing problems with the water bowl. The iron made a terrible mess in the bowl, and the calcium would form stalactites (or is that stalagmites?) on the pipe where the water comes out. We changed things to send filtered water over to the barn and that fixed our problems. We have an air-injection iron filter which is great at removing iron, and uses no chemicals either. The water that goes to the barn has not been through the water softener, but the iron filter must remove some of the hardness, because there is no more buildup. Lori Albrough Bluebird Lane Fjords Moorefield, Ontario
RE: This and that
This message is from: "Poirier, Jeanne L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I need to 'second' what Mike wrote to Margaret. Her post was excellent. I, too, am a 'lurker' and truly enjoy the stories and GREAT advise most people write about. But the nit-picking and bantering back and forth about the most miniscule details is really a turn-off. What *wonderful* advise... "We all need to act more like our Fjords--friendly, calm , and sensible." Happy Fjording and keep up the fun stories !! Jeanne -Berthoud, CO > > > > We need to look at how newcomers to the breed view us; this > >list is representative of us, and often there is too much bickering. > >Those of us who post to the list need to act more like our > >Fjords--friendly, calm , and sensible. Most of us are, but some are > >spoiling the fun > >Margaret Strachan > > Well said Margaret. I agree with you. I think we all need to think about > what we are saying to the whole list before we hit that send button. I > include myself in this too as I have not always been happy with what I > have > said afterwards. Sometimes private email is much more appropriate. > > > Just my .02 worth. > > Mike >
Re: Botulism
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Steven A White) On Thu, 10 Dec 1998 11:07:57 -0800 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) writes: >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) > >>This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Anneli >Sundkvist) >> >Are we giving botulism shots here? Surprised I have not heard of it >as I >over do the shots my horses get. Jean Gayle > >Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline Jean, There is a vaccine for botulism but most people don't give it because it's not a big problem here. There seems to be a local problem in Kentucky with foals picking it up so a lot of people there vaccinate for it. Most other areas don't have a problem unless you decide to feed haylage/silage. The vaccine is a toxoid like tetanus so you are vaccinating against the toxin the bacteria produces not the bacteria itself. -Steve Steve & Amy White Waterloo, NE, USA
SAD, water and salt
This message is from: Mark and Ann Restad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi, one more comment on SAD. I am a PA with a good number of depressed patients and I have lived in high latitudes in Alaska and Norway 15 winters and I do notice one thing seems consistent. people are more susceptible to SAD when 1) they didn't choose to live in Alaska (eg: Jean's example of military wives) and 2) they don't take advantage of any of the uniqueness/benefits of Alaska. People who have some interest in Alaska, get out and ski, snowmobile, go to the gym, do a lot of visiting and entertaining do not tend to have as many problems. My other theory to battle SAD is if you live up here, do not travel in the summer to somewhere southern (do it in the winter instead!). If you live a whole year in the high latitudes, you have the slow, dark wintertime, but also the energetic, light summer. I dont know about Jean, but I do so much in the April to September season that I am thankful when winter sets in, to some degree! Re water: Brian and others - what do you think about the salt factor in keeping hydrated? I am not sure that my tanks are 40 degrees, but they are ALWAYS full and salt is right there too. we just have floating tank de-icers. thanks Ann Restad
Re: Botulism
This message is from: Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I looked into botulism shots when I heard about Ceacy's horrible experience, but my vet said he didn't think it necessary since we don't feed haylege, and also that it costs about $200 per horse per year to vaccinate against. I looked at $200 times 28 horses, and decided not to pursue it further. Julie
Re: water quality
This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > We have a new well at the new farm, and the water is very hard (65 > grains) with high iron (3.2 mg/L). [...] I am wondering if the high > iron will be harmful to the horses. Does anybody have any experience > with this? Our well also produces very hard water, including iron (test results at home; sorry). However, the well pumps into a 5000-gallon storage tank, which then serves the house, barns, garden, etc. We find that much of the iron "settles out" in the tank---the only time we notice the iron taste is when the well has just run, and we don't have a problem with rust stains on plumbing fixtures. However, the calcium deposits are something else (The good news is that minor plumbing leaks soon "seal" themselves; the bad news is that drip irrigation hoses won't drip for long!) OTOH, the old mare *does* creak and pop when she moves---although at 29, I'd kind of expect that Marsha Jo HannahMurphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 30 mi SSE of San Francisco, Calif. ---
water quality
This message is from: Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> We have a new well at the new farm, and the water is very hard (65 grains) with high iron (3.2 mg/L). We are putting in an iron filter and softener for the household water, but I am wondering if the high iron will be harmful to the horses. Does anybody have any experience with this? (stiff Fjords that creak when they walk and rust if they stand still too long???) Thanks. Julie
Botulism
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Anneli Sundkvist) >>If I am not mistaken this is also what Ceacy Henderson was feeding her horses when she had all of the trouble. They decided (I think this is right) that one of the bales had been ripped open and it allowed some bacteria to get growing in it. I am not positive but I think it was botulisim.>> I'm sure it was, because there is a clear risk that the horses can get botulism when you use this kind of fodder, BUT since a few years only, it is also possible to give the horses shots to protect them from botulism, so we've done that. The horses were given the first shot early august, the second 4-6 weeks later and a third another 4 weeks later. They will need to have one new shot every year from now. Anneli
Caught in the act!
This message is from: Doug Knutsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Jean Gayle, Jean Ernst, and all From: Peg [Blackstone] Knutsen Hi - Well Ms Gayle, you caught me in the act. Even though I was subtly trying to conceal it, you cleverly figured out that we are moving to sunny Ellensburg because our Fjords are depressed! I'm sure the only thing keeping them going is their generous daily ration of kisses. Their most obvious signs of depression are weight gain and increased appetite [most unusual for Fjords]. Also occasional crankiness. We did buy Clark [The goat formerly known as Prince] for Pepper, and they have developed quite a dance routine. As Ms Ernst mentioned, aerobic exercise and being oiutdoors, even it it's not sunny, both help with depression. So they seem to have stumbled [joke] onto their own treatment method. Even Rocky, who, most of the time, thinks he's a big, bad Stallion, dances with Clark. I'll have to get it on video! St John's Wort seems to help some folks, although none of my clients has found much relief with it. Perhaps the adrenaline produced by your innovative "moose therapy" would prove helpful. At least it should generate some endorphins, as do laughing and, strangely enough, crying. Thanks for your informative reply - glad you and your dog are OK. Finally, Barry, thanks for the info on the MD barns, now I'm really drooling! [This is not habitual for me, generally I have better social skills] All for now - Peg Knutsen - Knutsen Fjord Farm
Re: This and that
This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > "Barry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > We need to look at how newcomers to the breed view us; this list is > representative of us, and often there is too much bickering. Those of > us who post to the list need to act more like our Fjords--friendly, > calm , and sensible. > > Margaret Strachan Many years ago, in the midst of one of the "flaps", I asked my mentor how a breed that is as sweet and friendly as Fjords had fallen into the hands of such contentious people. She grinned and allowed as how Fjords were probably the only breed that could put up with some of these folks Marsha Jo HannahMurphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 30 mi SSE of San Francisco, Calif. ---
Re: tips on strengthening hind end
This message is from: "Starfire Farm, L.L.C." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Nancy, Pamela's suggestion about hill work is an excellent one. One thing I would add is to ask your horse to go "round" and somewhat on the bit rather than with his head up or simply with his nose poking out. This will help encourage him to use his back as well. Start slowly, as this is hard work for any horse. You can start by walking up and down a hill several times to build him up slowly. Walking is actually better than trotting for developing the strength you want anyway. Keep the sessions short, 5-10 minutes is long enough to start. The hill doesn't have to be steep at all for the horse to benefit. Ref: working on picking up that elusive right lead; After you have throughly checked for possible medical problems, and if you don't find any, thoroughly check your body position while you are asking for that right canter. Often we don't realize how much we disrupt our horses' balance with our own clumsiness and lack of balance. This is especially true with young and green horses. If more of your weight is on the outside of his spine, it will throw off his balance to the outside. Make sure that he is "in" and not "through" your outside rein before you ask for the transition to canter. If his outside shoulder is not in line with the rest of his body, he will pick up the outside lead. You might practice feeling if his body is in line by working in a square pattern instead of in a circle. Kyra Kyrkland demonstrates the use of the square in one of her training videos. Start at the walk and go straight across the arena to the wall. Stop at the wall and, using your leg and rein aids, turn the horse (either direction) then proceed for about 20 meters, stop and turn again (your trainer can help you with the correct aids.) While you are turning your horse, be aware of any leaning of his shoulders or lack of response to your leg or rein aids. Any resistance or sluggish response in this exercise will be multiplied tenfold when you increase the speed to the trot, so take the time to get it correct at the walk. When your horse is stopping and turning reliably, walk through the corners without stopping, all the time paying close attention to your horse's balance and response (and to your balance and timing!.) Your horse should feel as forward through the corners as he does traveling straight. When things are going well at the walk, move up to the trot, but go back to stopping and turning first. Once that is good, you can start trotting through your turns. When your horse feels really balanced, and is turning reliably on the lightest of aids, you are ready to ask for a canter transition.Ask for the transition during the time, in the square, where you are just coming out of your turn. Make sure he feels balanced, between your aids, and has that "almost floating" feeling that he is capable of . Everything should be easy, with light leg aids and light rein aids, if it's not, then you need to return to where things felt good i.e. go back to turning at the trot. Reward your horse for the slightest try. This means that if he simply offers to canter, but doesn't quite get there, take it, reward, go back to a balanced trot and ask again. If he offers his correct lead, great. If he doesn't, simply try again. Make sure he doesn't feel punished for taking the wrong lead. Make sure that you stay balanced on him, that when he offeres to canter you go with him and you aren't restricting his forward movement by pulling back! This may take a long time but, one day, he will offer the correct (in your case right) lead. When he does, let him go for a few strides (it doesn't really matter where he goes!) and end the session. It will be there again, when you ask for it in the future, though you may have to prepare him for it again the same way. It will eventually take less and less time to prepare him for it. I have found it interesting that, with Fjords, when they learn something, they learn is very well. The youngsters and green horses will usually have a lead that they prefer to pick up. After they have learned to pick up the opposite lead, the new one is the one they prefer! So I have had to teach them the pick up the first lead, which was their "natural" one, all over again! I have experienced this with other breeds, but fjords seem to be particularly tenacious to staying with that new lead! Good luck, and above all, have fun! Beth
Re: Botulism
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Anneli Sundkvist) > Are we giving botulism shots here? Surprised I have not heard of it as I over do the shots my horses get. Rabies, we have many bats and it is spooky when it rains and they come into the barn aisle when I am in there, Potomic Fever altho we have no confirmed cases here other than the vet who killed my fjord said that was what he had after taking only his temperature, ( h I am still very angry about his death) strangles nose mists,and the usual flue etc shots. They move a bit slow after all of this, but we stagger the shots over two weeks. Jean Gayle > >I'm sure it was, because there is a clear risk that the horses can get >botulism when you use this kind of fodder, BUT since a few years only, it is >also possible to give the horses shots to protect them from botulism, so >we've done that. > >The horses were given the first shot early august, the second 4-6 weeks >later and a third another 4 weeks later. They will need to have one new shot >every year from now. > >Anneli > Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline
Re: haylage
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Anneli Sundkvist) >>Maybe what they call "canned grass" in Sweden is put up differently han our haylage. Anneli, can you tell us how the grass is cured before it is put in the bags?>> Hehe...'canned grass' was my constructed name, since I didn't know the proper one. Actually we use the SAME word as you do - 'hösilage' or 'ensilage'. THANKS everybody who helped me with the name of this stuff! Somebody described the making of haylage in a previous post (my mailbox broke down so I don't know who it was). From what I remember it sounded that we make our haylage pretty much the same way you make yours. The grass is cut and left to dry only 1-3 days. It isn't turned over like you do with hay. Then it's put into these large bales by a machine and wrapped in plastic. After this, you have to wait for some weeks before you use it. We were lucky enough to have square bales, looking like a huge bale of hay, instead of these round 'marshmallow-bales' that are hard to handle. Haylage is getting more and more common as food for horses here in Sweden. This summer was extremly rainy and in the part of Sweden where I live few people who hasn't got an indoor hay-fan (another word of my construction!) to dry the hay got any at all. Haylage was the only solution for many of us. I wasn't to happy, but what can you do? The prices of hay (IF you were able to find any hay at all on the market...) was about 30 cents a pound + 25% tax in august which is at least twice as much as normal. We started to give our horses shots to protect them from botulism (see my previous post 'botulism' for more info) as soon as we realised that haylage was what they were going to eat this winter. We started to feed the horses haylage a month ago. We needed to wait until the temperature sank below zero since we have only 7 horses at the barn. Otherwise the waste would be much. Once you've opened a bale it's fresh only 3-4 days if the weather is warmer. A temperature below zero gives you fresh haylage for c. a week. Of course, this isn't a problem if you got many horses. In larger barns like riding schools they use haylage even 'normal' years. It saves money and time and the horse actually LOVE haylage. Still, horses die from botulism every year. I hope the new medication can stop this (as far as I know, no horse who have had shots has gotten infected), because it seems like haylage as horse fodder is here to stay. Regards Anneli
Re: Used Barns in CA - Fjords on Horse Classified.
This message is from: GAIL RUSSELL <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hmm, anyone know how to find a used barn dealer in Northern California? Or close enough to the SF Bay area for shipping? I presume there are dealers in the Central Valley or? Anyone have any leads? Re Fjords - looked up all the Fjords for sale on the horse classifieds site. There is a two year old full brother to my drafty Fjord (Gunthar) for sale - Claylee's Tyler. I was surprised to see so many for sale there. Thanks, Gail > > >We have a MD barn that was purchased used from a used barn dealer. >It is a 2 stall shedrow, insulated, has windows, hay racks, feed >doors, waterers and even came with a misting system for $2500 >delivered and installed. It is high quality as it looks very nice >after many years of use. Our vet took one look at at and said it was >built by MD before they changed their name to MD. We have gone to >their showroom in Ontario, CA and the new barns are amazing. MD is >top of the line. This barn is at our old house, here in Nuevo we >have a tongue and groove wood barn and while it is nice it does not >have the insulation factor the MD barn does. >You should look into the purchase of a used barn. > Gail Russell Forestville CA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Life in wild Alaska, Part II: Moose scare
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Beautiful story! I'm printing it out for my 9-year-old adventure-loving son to take to class. Barbara Lyn--in rural Western New York where coyote's howling is the wildest noise around. On Wed, 09 Dec 1998, Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >I went out to feed the horses this morning and found a bunch of fresh moose >tracks. Well, that's pretty common in the winter here, but I was real >cautious when I walked down to the road to get the paper. Came back in the >house and forgot about seeing the tracks. > >A couple hours later I was getting ready to go into town to work out at the >gym, and roused the 15 year old little Siberian husky to put her out on her >rope (she's deaf and wanders) to go potty, forgetting to check for moose. >A couple minutes later I heard a lot of yelps and commotion and opened the >door to find a cow and calf moose standing over my poor old dog who was >whining and lying there in the snow. > > I yelled and the moose started to move away, but the dog's rope was looped >around the hind leg of one of the moose and it was dragging her along with >them. I thought she was done for, when I saw that, but the moose got its >leg loose after a couple of yards and moved away to stand on the bank >behind the house, only 15 -20 feet away, where they stopped to look at me. >By this time I was jumping up and down on the porch madly waving my gym bag >and shouting at the moose. I couldn't safely get to my dog and they weren't >moving. Finally after a lot more aerobics on my part and heaving a piece >of firewood toward them they moved off into the woods. > >I picked up my poor old dog thinking I'd better head for the vet, and took >her into the house. To my relief her tail started to wag and she wanted to >get down on her feet and with some support was able to walk, miraculously >there were no broken bones. > >I gave her some "Rescue Remedy" a Bach Flower homeopathic remedy that calms >and some "Traumeel" homeopathic remedy for traumatic injuries. This stuff >really works as I have used it after a bad fall off my horse, with the >result I didn't hurt in my neck and shoulders at all after going over his >head when he stumbled. > >Anyway, I stayed home for about an hour to observe her and she is stiff and >sore but seems to be doing OK. > >When I went out to feed the horses their lunch before leaving, I saw that >the Moose had been in the hay barn, which is only about 100 feet away from >the porch. I should have looked! And I certainly WILL look around before I >venture out next time. They had dragged a bale of hay off the stack; >conveniently it was one I had set aside as it looked like it would be moldy >or dusty. Maybe I'll leave it out for them. > >Moose hang around here each winter. The horses are not too scared of them, >so long as they don't jump INTO their corral! so far this hasn't happened >here, but other horse owners have had moose get into the pens, or tear up >the electric fencing, one reason I have wooden rails, in addition to >electric fence. In heavy snow years, moose can be a real hazard to people >as well as dogs! > >Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the moose and the wolfies do roam. >winding down to the shortest day. sun comes up at 10:40 am, goes down at >2:40 pm >** >Jean Ernest >Fairbanks, Alaska >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >
Re: Life in wild Alaska, Part II: Moose scare
This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Jean, Thanks for the moose story! It made our morning! Guess we should be thankful that all we have down here is black bear and coyotes in the back yard. (Although the coyotes are a nuisance when they start eating my barn cats, instead of mice and rats!) Years ago we drove the Alcan all the way to Fairbanks. Our truck and camper were properly outfitted for Alaska/Yukon travel - complete with extra thick plexiglass protector over the front window of the camper and a "moose catcher" on the grille. How our friends laughed at the idea of a "moose catcher". Obviously they had never been stationed in Anchorage! Wish they all could read your post. Actually, a "deer catcher" for the front grille would be in order down here lately - there seem to be a lot of deer on our roads. Maybe the coyotes will take care of that this year. Keep us posted on your Alaska wildlife adventures. Mary, in dark, rainy, Washington. You're right, it is much more dreary down here in winter! == Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
Status of colt drawing
This message is from: "Catherine Lassesen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> According to the Director of Hold Your Horses! Inc., ticket sales have picked up but still only 450 or so. (Limit 1500) The winning ticket will be drawn at 7pm California time and the winner will be called on the phone at that time, from the Round Table Pizza place. The press will be in attendance and a radio station will be broadcasting the results. Hope this helps! Thank you to those that have sent in for tickets! Catherine L. HESTEHAVEN - The Horse Garden www.thehorsegarden.com
Re: fjordhorse-digest V98 #272
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Joel a harman) Sounds like your oat hay was cut too late. Grain raised for hay should be cut in the "milk" stage, just as the heads are starting to form. That way there is still some nutrition in the stalk & it isn't as fibrous. Remember fjords are ponies & should be able to utilize "rougher" roughage than horses. This isn't scientific but maybe one should turn the horses out so they don't stand around & eat bedding. The mud & cold hasn't harmed my horses yet. I think it is mostly out of boredom that they eat it. Give them a big ball on a string or some such thing to play with. Happy Trails Joel Harman ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Re: This and that
This message is from: Mike May <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> At 08:56 PM 12/9/98 +, you wrote: >This message is from: "Barry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > We need to look at how newcomers to the breed view us; this >list is representative of us, and often there is too much bickering. >Those of us who post to the list need to act more like our >Fjords--friendly, calm , and sensible. Most of us are, but some are >spoiling the fun >Margaret Strachan Well said Margaret. I agree with you. I think we all need to think about what we are saying to the whole list before we hit that send button. I include myself in this too as I have not always been happy with what I have said afterwards. Sometimes private email is much more appropriate. You are also right that this is not the right way to bring an item to the BOD of the NFHR. This is not an NFHR members only list. In fact as a result of the NFHR BOD's meeting last night I am going to add email address's to the NFHR home page listing of the BOD members. I think this is a good place to discuss new ideas but don't expect the NFHR Board to discuss everything that is mentioned here. Just my .02 worth. Mike
