Re: starting young horse
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Denise and All- Long time no post. I've been busy enjoying my Fjords. Tommes & I had what was probably the best solo trail ride ever, this morning. The first few minutes of the ride, he does what I call "the drunken horse," just like what you describe with Quinn. Once he settles down and we get past his least favorite spots (like the scary pig and spotted cow!), the ride is very enjoyable. He does a fair amount of wandering, and I allow him to do this. I like having a loose rein, with Tommes going in the basic direction I want with a relaxed demeanor. When I try to over-control, his head comes up and the worry buttons get pushed. Took me a year to learn that his mouth softens when my hands soften- duh! But at least I got it... I just started using mecate and really like them. I adjusted the reins long and hold them at the end. That way, if I startle and do my usual human reaction of tightening my grip, I don't yank on his mouth. He stays calm, I stay calm, end of problem. Brigid Tommes & Rafael
Re: hi everyone
This message is from: "Jacob de Bruyn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> hi carol, no this won't be my first horse. when i was 6 years old my parents bought me a thoroughbred x quarter horse, whose name was gypsy, but she died a while ago. i'm 15 now, almost 16, and i still love horses. and as far as i know, there are a few fjord breeders in australia, just don't know exactly where. take care, from jacob. Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
Re: Barn Swallows
This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Jon & Mary Ofjord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Do you allow barn swallows to nest in the barn? We just put up our > new barn (If you build it, they will come) and almost immediately a > couple barn swallows started putting up a nest [...] I have heard > that the birds can carry lice that can fall onto horses and cause > problems, not to mention the droppings on everything. [...] I > realize the birds do a great service by eating insects, but does > that benefit outweigh the potential problems? A couple of weeks ago, my husband and his buddy went turkey hunting. In the process of plucking the bird, both guys ended up with turkey lice crawling around on them. The buddy (a professor of fish and wildlife at OSU) said that bird lice won't bite a mammal---they just give you "the willies", crawling around on you. I suspect that they might cause an equine to rub itself, but that's about it. Barns seem to be irresistable to swallows. I tend to knock down nests that are in inconvenient places (like over doors), or put up 1/2" netting to make such areas inaccessable. Otherwise, the swallows are welcome. I like watching them dip and swoop, and I like the reduction in bugs (like mosquitos) that they cause. For comparison, go look up all the diseases that mosquitos can carry Marsha Jo HannahMurphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 15 mi SW of Roseburg, Oregon
Re: Feeding grain & Barn Swallows
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mary, >UGH! I wouldn't > feed > it to my horses! I've actually have fed quite a bit of this (to the thoroughbreds, not the fjords) and have been very happy with it. It's good stuff. Purina suggests feeding 1/2% of body weight to > mature, > idle horses, so a 1000 lb horse would eat 5 pounds? Plus hay,of > course. Don't compare this with grain. Grain has mostly carbohydrate as the energy source. Strategy uses fat with less carbohydrate. That is why the lbs./body weight is higher. If I were to put one of the fjords in heavy training I would prefer them to be on Strategy than grain. Much less problems with it. >I knocked down the nest every day for about a week Shame on you. Don't you know it's good luck to have a swallow nest in your barn. This spring a pair were trying to build a nest in our barn and seemed to be having a bit of trouble getting it to hold. So, I took a small piece of wood and nailed it to one of the rafters to create a ledge. They had it built in no time then. We're glad to have the pretty little birds especially since they are the mosquitoes worst enemy. I wouldn't worry much about any health risks. Hi Jon! Steve White Waterloo, Nebraska USA
Okay a joke....
This message is from: "Catherine Lassesen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > The Lone Ranger and Tonto walked into a bar and sat > > > > down to drink a beer. After a few minutes, a big tall > > > > cowboy walked in and said "Who owns the big white horse outside?" > > > > > > > > The Lone Ranger stood up, hitched his gun belt, and > > > > said, "I do...Why?" > > > > > > > > The cowboy looked at the Lone Ranger and said, "I > > > > just thought you'd like to know that your horse is about > > > > dead outside!" > > > > > > > > The Lone Ranger and Tonto rushed outside and sure > > > > enough Silver was ready to die from heat exhaustion. The > > > > Lone Ranger got the horse water and soon Silver was starting to > > > > feel a little better. > > > > > > > > The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and said, "Tonto, I > > > > want you to run around Silver and see if you can create > > > > enough of a breeze to make him start to feel better." > > > > > > > > Tonto said, "Sure, Kemosabe" and took off running > > > > circles around Silver. Not able to do anything else but > > > > wait, the Lone Ranger returned to the bar to finish his > > > > drink. A few minutes later, another cowboy struts into the > > > > bar and asks, "Who owns that big white horse outside?" > > > > > > > > The Lone Ranger stands again, and claims, "I do, > > > > what's wrong with him this time?" > > > > > > > > The cowboy looks him in the eye and says, > > > > > > > > (...I JUST LOVE THIS...) > > > > > > > > "Nothing, but you left your Injun runnin'."
Feeding grain & Barn Swallows
This message is from: Jon & Mary Ofjord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Denise wrote:>.like purina strategy. it's not too hot." One of the boarders at our stable has us feed Purina Strategy to her horse. It is listed at 14% crude protien-same as most sweet feeds, along with 6% fat. The first ingredient on the label is "Processed grain by-products"just what the heck is THAT? Plus, the stuff molds quickly if any falls on the stall floor. We have to go in the stall and dig out the moldy stuff on the floor every couple days. UGH! I wouldn't feed it to my horses! Purina suggests feeding 1/2% of body weight to mature, idle horses, so a 1000 lb horse would eat 5 pounds? Plus hay,of course. Our Fjords would look like balloons on those rations. They look like balloons anyhow. Our vet calls them turnips. I have a question for any of you out there who have barns. Do you allow barn swallows to nest in the barn? We just put up our new barn (If you build it, they will come) and almost immediately a couple barn swallows started putting up a nest over one of the lights above the stalls. I knocked down the nest every day for about a week and they have now put up another nest in a less vulnerable area. I have heard that the birds can carry lice that can fall onto horses and cause problems, not to mention the droppings on everything.Is this true, or have the old wives been telling tales again? I realize the birds do a great service by eating insects, but does that benefit outweigh the potential problems? Any advice anyone ...and just where did these birds live before we put up the barn? Mary O. North Coast Equestrian Center Grand Marais, Minnesota
spoiled horses
This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I work with various human problems as a psychotherapist. When parents bring a child who is "uncontrollable" "will not obey" "does what he/she wants not what I want" I always check how they are doing in school, at Grams or in other words, with other people. Usually they are only problems at home. When they are problems at home and elsewhere then it is much more serious. So if the little monster Storm is good with the husband it points to the fact that he has learned to relate to you as he does. It also shows he is flexible, hooray. Not a gene, hormone etc problem. So get strict and let him know who is boss. Kindness is often a very controlling behavior and so you get rejection back. Jean Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of "The Colonel's Daughter" Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes & Noble Book Stores
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #164
This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >in regards to grain...i don't feed it. just good hay, and a couple of >scoops of stable mix like purina strategy. Isn't Purina Strategy a grain mix with fat, etc? What do you mean by a couple of scoops? Sounds like they're getting some pretty high energy concentrate! Jean in Warm and sunny Fairbanks, Alaska, another 80 degree, 21.5+hour day! Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #164
This message is from: "Denise Delgado" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> listers, in regards to grain...i don't feed it. just good hay, and a couple of scoops of stable mix like purina strategy. it's not too hot. the fjords don't need all that "fancy stuff." they're "wild horses from norway!! denisep.s. of course they do get an occasional apple, carrot or veggie trimmings from the grocer for treats, i must confess.mea culpa.dd
Re: hi everyone
This message is from: carol j makosky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Jacob de Bruyn wrote: > This message is from: "Jacob de Bruyn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > hi everyone, glad to be a new member on this list. well, my name is jacon > and i'm from melbourne, australia. i'm 16 years old and really like fjord > ponies. if any of you can tell me of a fjord stud/breeder in australia that > would be great! > well, glad to be part of your group. > from jacob. > > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com Hi Jacob, Welcome to the list. I wish I could help you out with your request, but I am from northern Wisconsin in the US. If you get a Fjord, will this be your 1st horse? I'm sure you will hear from someone in Australia soon. -- "Built FJORD tough" Carol M. On Golden Pond
Re: fjords...mule-like??
This message is from: "Denise Delgado" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> dear mary, then, what i have been doing routinely with my horses before the loose round pen work IS halter training.!. i bring them into the round pen and do maybe 5-10 minutes of flexing and bending and giving exercises, both sides, (i'm still on the ground at this point). i tap them with my crop on the spot where my leg would be if i am on top. then trot them, still on the lead, talking all the time. i have them back, halt, walk, trot and do as many kinds of contorsions as possible TO MY COMMANDS. this seems to get them focused and pay attention to me rather then the goats or their horse pals. they're released from the lead at this point and then i do my regular round pen work, voice commands etc. then if i still have enough energy and it's not too hot, up i go and we finish with a little tool (sp?) around the neightborhood. (i live in a rural area out in the country). i do this two to three times a week. trail rides on the weekends, even if just an hour or two. gotta go, thanks for the info. you are really good at getting the message across in as few words as possible...you should write a book!! denise mary thurman wrote... > The 'halter driving' thing is an exercise you do - > like many other training exercises - to teach the > horse or mule the 'proper' response to your presence. > Once he learns the 'right way' to do things, you can > ask him to move away and give you some space
Re: hi everyone
This message is from: "Denise Delgado" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> welcome jacob
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #164
This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --- Sue Harrison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "Sue Harrison" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Well I have done it I believe...totally spoiled my > colt. Storm has now been > gelded for 3 weeks and tonight we undertook to lead > him to see if he was any > quieter.My husband > could lead him tonight with > no trouble...for once he did not try to bite...but > with me...oh dear...he > and I have had one too many tongue rubbing and nose > rubbing sessions. > What the heck do I do now? Looks like you have your work cut out for you! Try letting your husband work with him for a while on leading - until he leads really well. Also, cut his grain back some(don't know what or how much he gets, but most of us are WAY too generous in this department). I actually do not give my young horses "grain" when they are being trained - we use alfalfa pellets and a vitamin supplement. It seems that any real grain makes them too full of themselves - especially oats of any kind in any amount! Gradually cut out the 'tongue rubbing' routine - substitute a quick rub or light pat on the neck to show your approval when he is doing what you want(like standing quietly with his ears up-never ears back- waiting for you to do something). When he is behaving better for your husband, and paying attention to you like a 'big horse', then you can begin leading him. Don't take any nonsense from him - it's time to grow up! We bought a horse that was 14 months old and was gelded two weeks before we bought him. He was 'full of himself' for several months yet - the vet explained that it takes time for the hormones to all go away. He suggested the "no grain, use pellets" theory to us. My theory is if the > tongue is between the > teeth he can't bite. And you're right. However, there are other ways to teach 'no teeth!!' When he 'nibbles' at you, chuck him under the chin smartly with your fist. If you bait him, and your free hand is under his chin 'at the ready', he will learn that teeth=pain in the chin - and he'll never know you did it to him. Works much better than the usual 'haul off and slap him a good one' routine, as he sees the slap coming and associates it with you and not with what he did. Also, what > is a safe way to make him traffic safe? A good place to start with this is right in your yard. Start up a car and then lead him past it over and over again until he accepts it. Move on to more difficult things: have someone in the car changing the pitch of the engine as he goes by, use a noisey car or truck, lead him by farm machinery that is running, do the same with motorcycles, bikes, etc. Then - and here is where the fun starts - hold him quietly in place while these things are DRIVEN past him; walk him down the driveway or across the barnyard and have someone drive past him (both sides of him for all these things) with various things - both coming toward him and coming from behind him. He'll learn to accept these things as part of life and won't be terrified by them when you ride him. We have a well-fenced field next to the road where we put our youngsters to learn about traffic noise. They soon learn to ignore it. These things are much easier to do with a weanling, but can still be done with an older horse. It just takes longer. Good luck. Mary PS. Don't forget to teach him about those "horse eating umbrellas" people tend to carry when walking alongside the road in the rain!! = Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com
Re: fjordhorse-digest V2000 #164
This message is from: "Meredith Sessoms" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >This message is from: "Sue Harrison" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Well I have done it I believe...totally spoiled my colt. Storm has now been >gelded for 3 weeks and tonight we undertook to lead him to see if he was any >quieter. He was so bullheaded at the vet clinic where he was gelded that >they compared him to a Brahma bull! My husband could lead him tonight with >no trouble...for once he did not try to bite...but with me...oh dear...he >and I have had one too many tongue rubbing and nose rubbing sessions. He >wants to crowd into me I am no expert ... so if anyone with real experience has any problems with this post or has anything to add, please, please jump in! This fellow is so out-of-control that I would reccommend putting a halter on him and carrying a crop or a bat every time someone handles him, and smacking him with it - three times, real good on the chest - every time he invades your space, bites, or does some other rude/dangerous infraction. Hold up on the petting stuff, make him be a respectful horse first, and make him earn the right to be a pet again. Make him do something positive - like stand stock still for a spell, or hold up each foot for cleaning without jerking or leaning, or trot in-hand and stop along side of you - before he gets any pets at all. With dogs it's called denial. A puppy might be asked to lay down perfectly still and quiet at its persons feet for 30 seconds before it is given dinner or pets and hugs. But it is a lesson they must learn. It may be a while before your pony figures out you aren't kidding and he learns to work to earn his perks. That is my take on the subject of rude youngsters. You must be dillegent; he must learn to respect you. There is a lot of good advise in the Fjordhorse-L archives on young horses being bullys, mouthy youngsters, and other stuff because this is a very smart breed that will quickly take control if their people don't! >> >< << Meredith Sessoms >> >< << Tooksend Art >> >< << Moulton AL USA
Re: fjords...mule-like??
This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --- Denise Delgado <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "Denise Delgado" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > so, mary, that means if a fjord crowds you, you > have to have a halter on > him at that moment to teach him that crowding is not > cool. if you have to > go and get the halter and put it on, he will not > put the two incidents > together in his mind; Denise, The 'halter driving' thing is an exercise you do - like many other training exercises - to teach the horse or mule the 'proper' response to your presence. Once he learns the 'right way' to do things, you can ask him to move away and give you some space at any time - whether he has a halter on or not. For example: one of our horses was fond of crowding me in the stall. Our trainer showed me how to 'drive him away'(just involves going around the stall with him circling/moving away from you around the outside of the stall) from me in the stall WITH the halter and rope on him. Once he learned that pushing me around in the stall had consequences - and learned to move away when asked to - I could 'remind' him of his manners without the halter and lead. Whenever I enter the stall with any of my horses, I ask them to please move over and give me room. And DON'T ever present me with the 'rear view', thank you very much! These things are more easily taught while the horse is still small, but can also be taught to the 'big boys/girls' as well. When I am with my horses - in a stall, in the arena, in the pasture, wherever - I want their attention on me!! They need to be paying attention and not jostling me around - that means they 'face up' and watch - no butts. They are friendly, agreeable horses and love attention, but they know-for the most part-that manners are required. I use the 'nail thing' at times on a particularly recalcitrant one who insists on 'laying over' on you in a tie stall or in a trailer when you need to get by them to untie or clean or whatever. Sometimes you just have to 'bite back' to protect yourself - other horses do. Remember how small a person is compared to a horse - and remember how horses treat each other in the herd. I double we could do much damage, and it does help with the respect thing. I've seen a woman pay the consequences of getting into a 'squeeze' with a horse in a trailer - what gave was her ribs!! Not fun! Mary = Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com
Re: Hurrah for Annie!
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 6/12/00 5:52:14 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << He suggested I give Annie long warm-ups and cool-downs. Also, he put rubber shoes on her front hooves and regular shoes on the back. I can't tell you how excited I am to have my sweet Annie back in action. >> This is great news indeed. I've been holding my breath hoping that it was nothing serious. Hope you enjoy a great summer riding! Pamela
HOW TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR FILLY (OR FJORD)
This message is from: Cynthia_Madden/OAA/UNO/[EMAIL PROTECTED] I THINK THIS APPLIES TO FJORDS ALSO: HOW TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR FILLY 1. Remove film from box and load camera. 2. Remove film box from filly's mouth and throw in corner of lot. 3. Remove filly from corner and brush dirt from muzzle. 4. Choose a suitable background for photo. 5. Mount camera on tripod and focus. 6. Coax filly into pre-focused spot and return to camera. 7. Find filly again. 8. Forget about pre-focused spot and remove camera from tripod. 9. Chase around after filly, trying to look nonchalant. 10. Focus with one hand and fend off filly with the other hand. 11. Get tissue and clean nose print from camera lens. 12. Find filly again. 13. Unfold tripod from scrambled mess in dirt. 14. Find filly again. 15. Put cat in tack room and put peroxide on scratch on filly's nose. 16. Find filly again. 17. Try to get filly's attention by squeaking a toy over your head. 18. Replace your glasses and check camera for damage. 19. Fix a drink. 20. Sit back, relax and drink and resolve to teach filly "whoa" and "stand" first thing in the morning. BY Lyn in Indy from cd-l typing one handed temporarily. i apologize in advance for brevity & license in writing style, Cynthia Madden Omaha, Nebraska email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
