Re: Dear [Dr.] Ursula....
This message is from: Jon & Mary Ofjord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Frozen water ... Our horses are capable of breaking ice on streams and ponds with their hooves until it gets too thick to break easily. We keep a heated tank full so they can have free access. They still need about 10 gallons a day each and I do not like to make it difficult for them to obtain. Even though we now have a large animal vet in the area I do not want to risk dehydration or colic just to see if the horses are up to the challenge of finding water. Our winters are cold, sometimes -20 to -30, so we want well-hydrated horses in order to keep them healthy and happy. Occasionally frozen water may not be too big of a problem in a milder climate, but up here it can be risky. A tank heater is a good investment if your water freezes over regularly. Jon from North Coast Fjords where winter arrived today.
Re: Dear [Dr.] Ursula....
This message is from: John and Martie Bolinski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> My horses out back do not seem to understand 'break the ice' (Walker, QH, Arab). My 'ponies' (Fjord, Shetland) know how to get results. If it won't break with nose pressure, stick a foot in it. If it still doesn't break, kick the trough (old bathtub) until it bongs like a cathedral bell and if the owners aren't home, the neighors will come up and break the ice just so they can have some peace and quiet. Martie and Kilar in MD Jean Gayle wrote: > This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Dear Peg, re your stallion not breaking the ice in his trough. 1: He is > from a long line of upper crust who await the butler for such things. 2: He > is a throw back from the herd who when they gathered for a social could > never manage to come up with an idea to "break the ice" 3: He is obviously > a southern gentleman and has no idea what such a glass appearing object is. > I would be very careful about breeding him to a mare with similar problems > 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: Dear [Dr.] Ursula....
This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Dear Peg, re your stallion not breaking the ice in his trough. 1: He is from a long line of upper crust who await the butler for such things. 2: He is a throw back from the herd who when they gathered for a social could never manage to come up with an idea to "break the ice" 3: He is obviously a southern gentleman and has no idea what such a glass appearing object is. I would be very careful about breeding him to a mare with similar problems 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
Dear [Dr.] Ursula....
This message is from: Cynthia_Madden/OAA/UNO/[EMAIL PROTECTED] Peg, Well, I am not as knowledgeable as Ursula, I'll grant, but I have some first hand experience in this matter. I think your suggestion to your husband is correct. Several years ago, an automatic waterer used by our horses developed a short and they would get a slight shock when they tried to drink. The waterer was promptly fixed but the horses were not convinced. They would stand around the waterer, obviously thirsty, and snort and mill, but not approach it. They had learned their lesson. So I went up to the waterer and offered myself as sacrifical drinker and pretended to drink out of it. The head horse then got up the courage to try it and soon they were all drinking thirstily out of the waterer. Sometimes we just have to set an example for our horses and they so often do for us. Cynthia Madden email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear [Dr.] Ursula....
This message is from: "Knutsen Fjord Farm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi all - I have a wonderful idea! As a relative beginner in this business [pretty soon they're not going to let me say that anymore], I have many questions about the equine members of our family. I have found Ursula J. a wonderful source of valuable information. Therefore, totally unbeknownst to her, I"m writing a "Dear Ursula," note. Who knows, she may even reply. Dear Ursula, Our stallion seems to lack an important survival skill. He doesn't break the ice on his outside water tank, even when the ice is quite thin. My husband has fetched a long [very long] pole with which to break the ice for him. Since this stallion is new to our family, we have no idea why he doesn't break his own ice. Could it be that he has always had a mare [wife] around to do it for him? Could he be afraid of scratching his magnificent muzzle? Is he really stupid? I have suggested to my husband that if he really wants to teach our stallion how to break the ice, he should go into the paddock and bang his nose on the ice until it [the ice] breaks. He refuses to do this. We are concerned about our stallion and hope that you can tell us how such a problem could have developed, and also how to solve it. A longer stick doesn't seem to be the answer. Thank you so much - Peg Knutsen, Knutsen Fjord Farm
