Calculating Horse's Weight/Condition
This message is from: ewig...@mindspring.com Here is a good horse weight calculator: http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/anatomy/weight_calculator_052808/ And an article on body condition and further weight/fat calculations: http://www.equisearch.com/horses%5Fcare/health/anatomy/fathorse%5F102907/ Emily Emily Wigley ewig...@mindspring.com Vashon Island, Washington breezy and grey outside, but no rain in days! Instructions to manage subscriptions are found at: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e The FjordHorse List archives are found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
cold weather and crazy horse theif
This message is from: ewig...@mindspring.com Corrine, you are NOT a wimp! In your neck of the woods you have much more moisture in your air and I would be freezing to death there at those temps! No, she's a wimp! You know I'm kidding, right Corinne?!!! :-) :-) :-) It's really dry in the Seattle area with these cold temps, and the snow is so fluffy you can't make snowballs. Not our typical wet white stuff (or wet liquid stuff, which I'm really missing!). It's weird having such cold temps, isn't it, Corinne? My horses seem to be doing ok, and since the paddocks are frozen and I can't clean them daily, it's good that I'm getting some exercise carrying water to the nine equines in residence. Everything is rock hard and bumps are hiding under the pretty snow - not even good for a cold weather ride! Zany! As for the horse thief, check the California laws for livestock rustling; it may still be on the books as it is in some places. It's different from (and more serious than) simple theft (non-animals). Just a thought. Quick perimeter of electric fence (be sure it's posted as hot on the fence line) may deter this crazy human. She sounds awful, and sad and in need of mental health help too. If your neighbors who share the easement want to press trespassing charges, the more the merrier may help convince the local law enforcement that this is a serious, dangerous situation. Restraining order? I sound crazy, I know, but this situation calls for it, IMHO. Take care, Emily Fish Bowl Farm, Vashon Island, Wa, www.FishBowlFarm.com Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Heating Water with Compost
This message is from: ewig...@mindspring.com Have any of you clever Fjord people run water pipes/tubes through your compost piles to heat water? I have a neighbor who does so for her house hot water, and it just occured to me when reading the Fjord list digest tonight that this would be a great way to heat water for the horses. My paddocks are all far away from electricity, and I don't have a barn, so there is water near the horses certainly, but it isn't always liquid! Any thoughts? I'd have to install a new water pipe in a location very close to the compost pile, and run enough water through the pile to heat enough water for a 5 gal. bucket for each horse (x10 or x12 horses), and reheat a couple of times a day to be really easy. Compost heated water is usually around 115ยบ amazingly enough, from what I've read/heard. What do you think? If you've done this, do you have any plans, or a description of what you did? Thank you, Emily Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Rain Rot
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I've never had a horse on our farm with rain rot, but we do now. Sadly, a boarding Fjord has a good bit of rain rot. I'd love to hear how anyone has dealt with it. Also, in researching it, I've read that rain rot mostly effects horses with weak immune systems. This mare has always puzzled me (and my vets) with her condition and I've suspected something is going on that we haven't been able to figure out. She is clean for parasites, although she had a horrid infestation of coccidia last summer (treated and gone now, thankfully). She is skinny in the middle, with a fat and falling crest and a big fat pad above her tail. She is a puzzle. Any suggestions or similar experiences would be helpful. Many thanks in advance for all your good advice! Emily Emily Wigley http://www.FishBowlFarm.com Vashon Island, Washington Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: Very clumsy 4 year old
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Regarding the very clumsy 4 year old - put the saddle behind the shoulder and see if that helps. If it does not, have a vet out, as it could be anything from just developmental clumsiness to a neurological problem/illness such as EPM. Regarding the very steep hill that the Fjord skiis down with four legs straight and planted... if there is any way to get the hay and water up to the big pasture where this steep condition is not an issue, I'd strongly recommend it. Even though our Fjordies are tough and goat-like, that steep and slick invites soft tissue injuries such as a suspensary tear. If it's hard for you to get up and down, and the horse(s) take a long time to navigate it, I'd move their water and food to where they have easier access. Emily Emily Wigley http://www.FishBowlFarm.com Vashon Island, Washington Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
