Nelson waterers
This message is from: Claudia cava...@bloomer.net The lids require a human with opposable things to get off--no way a horse could do it.. We were en route back to Wisconsin from the National Drive a couple years ago, and stopped overnight at a boarding farm. They put Vergel in a paddock by himself with a Nelson waterer. They asked if he knew how to use it, or if I wanted him to have water buckets. I said, We have one at home, so he knows. He'll be fine. In the morning, the top was off. Sitting sideways in the waterer. This is the same Vergel that jumped over the hood of the car. If I get tired of him, I can sell him to the government as a weapon. I didn't know a short in the fence could make the Nelson waterer give shocks. Can that happen with other brands, too? I can hear little snaps on my fence line quite often...very faint. I don't usually pay much attention unless I can see something has fallen on the fence, like a branch or something. My electric fence is just on the small pasture and paddock, and I can see it all from one spot, so it's easy to check. The horses never seem reluctant to drink, and I see them using the waterer all the time. I do have one rubber mat in front of it, but their hind legs would still be on the ground. Our ground here is very rocky. Does that make a difference? Claudia in Wisconsin Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Fence Shorts and Waterers
This message is from: Frederick Pack friendlyfred2...@gmail.com Steve, the spark from fence wire to some kind of ground will travel through the water in the pipedepending on the mineral content. Solid metal pipe to the waterers is LESS apt to shock through the water as the metal pipe acts as an excellent grounding system. The electrical impulse from the spark will be dissipated over a larger area. The impulse through a PVC pipe will be channeled to the easiest point of release..I.E. the horses nose...to ground...his feet on the earth (if un-insulated from the ground). The conductivity of the soil also plays a partsand will not conduct an impulse as easily as iron rich soil. Fred On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 7:20 AM, Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.comwrote: This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com Fred, Can a short in the fence cause shocks from the waterers if the water supply line is PVC? -- Steve I Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Fence Shorts and Waterers
This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com Since PVC is a good insulator, how can the electricity get to the water? Sorry about the untrimmed reply, but I'm writing this on my tablet and it won't let me position the cursor to do so. On Apr 15, 2013 8:44 AM, Frederick Pack friendlyfred2...@gmail.com wrote: This message is from: Frederick Pack friendlyfred2...@gmail.com Steve, the spark from fence wire to some kind of ground will travel through the water in the pipedepending on the mineral content. Solid metal pipe to the waterers is LESS apt to shock through the water as the metal pipe acts as an excellent grounding system. The electrical impulse from the spark will be dissipated over a larger area. The impulse through a PVC pipe will be channeled to the easiest point of release..I.E. the horses nose...to ground...his feet on the earth (if un-insulated from the ground). The conductivity of the soil also plays a partsand will not conduct an impulse as easily as iron rich soil. Fred On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 7:20 AM, Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com wrote: This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com Fred, Can a short in the fence cause shocks from the waterers if the water supply line is PVC? -- Steve I Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Fence Shorts and Waterers
This message is from: Frederick Pack friendlyfred2...@gmail.com Steve, it is true that PVC is a good insulator. However, unless you have a continuous run (no joints) between the source and the waterer, it will pick up the impulse in the ground. If some part of the water line contains a metal joint (brass, iron, or preferably stainless steel), that metal part will conduct the impulse within the water line. If you had only distilled water in the line, it would never conduct any electricity. My water softening system leaves traces of salt in the waterwhich conducts electricity VERY welllet alone what iron is not caught by the softener. I check all electrical connections at the Nelsons twice a year for corrosion as the heaters are fastened to the hot line with twist locks and subject to moisture condensation within the sewer pipe that they are mounted on. I clean the wires and install clean twist locks... A dirty ground wire connection will put residual 115v into the water. Poor connections in the fence wire will cause an audible small snap, but not short to ground. Hope this helps... Fred I finally figured out how to trim using google mail on the web. On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 8:35 AM, Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.comwrote: This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com Since PVC is a good insulator, how can the electricity get to the water? Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Waterers
This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com On Sun, Apr 14, 2013 at 7:15 AM, valerie pedersen oneponytwop...@gmail.comwrote: This message is from: valerie pedersen oneponytwop...@gmail.com We built a new barn and put expensive Nelson waterers in each stall and one in the paddock. The horses refuse to use them. One of the Fjords will use it if there is nothing else, one Fjord mare will not use it at all. The old Morgan has already had an impaction colic but it may not be the waterers fault. I have tried treats in them, no one cares. I am trying to make my life easier. Any ideas? Valerie Now in Virginia âDo the waterers have electric heaters? If so are they connected through ground-fault circuits? We once had an instance at a boarding barn where the horses suddenly stopped drinking. We found that there was a short in the water heater that was giving a mild shock. We finally spotted it when it got bad enough that it knocked my Morgan to his knees and then threw me across the pen when I touched it. -- Steve It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.-- Aristotle 384-322 BC Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
More on Nelson Waterers
This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com After I answered Valerie's message, I Googled Nelson Waterers because I was curious about how the price compared the non-electric freeze free waterer we use. I still haven't found the price, but I did stumble on this comment in a thread on horseforum.com. There were a few small installation problems in the beginning, but they were worked out easily enough, and you absolutely can adjust the amount of water you want in the bowl. The lids require a human with opposable things to get off--no way a horse could do it. The heater seems to work pretty well, but when it's super cold and windy the outside waterer has had a thin layer of ice develop on it (nothing the horses couldn't easily break with their muzzles, but we only have mild to moderate winters here, too). The waterers have not broken down and require no maintenance, except for when *the builders who put them in wired them wrong and caused our horses to get a shock every time they got a drink*but you can't blame that on Nelson. -- Steve It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.-- Aristotle 384-322 BC Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Waterers
This message is from: Frederick Pack friendlyfred2...@gmail.com Valerie, I have the Nelsons...and have had them for years. With the heaters, they MUST have a good ground system. Even with a good ground system, a short in a nearby electric fence will feed through the water itself (unless absolutely no mineral content...i.e. pure) ... I use an AM radio headphones to listen for shorts and track them down. On my water system is also a water (gallons used) meter, which I monitor daily for water consumption. Allowances made for hot or cold days and accessible puddles to drink from. Good luck finding the problem My Nelsons are invaluable... On Sun, Apr 14, 2013 at 6:15 AM, valerie pedersen oneponytwop...@gmail.comwrote: This message is from: valerie pedersen oneponytwop...@gmail.com We built a new barn and put expensive Nelson waterers in each stall and one in the paddock. The horses refuse to use them. One of the Fjords will use it if there is nothing else, one Fjord mare will not use it at all. The old Morgan has already had an impaction colic but it may not be the waterers fault. I have tried treats in them, no one cares. I am trying to make my life easier. Any ideas? Valerie Now in Virginia Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l -- Fred Pack Packs Peak Stables Wilkeson, WA Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Non-electric Freeze Free Waterers
This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com Since the waterer thread has sparked some interest, I am going to put in my two cents on what I believe is the smartest waterer design going. We have had a waterer from Bar-Bar A (http://goo.gl/Ez5tv) for about five years and I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. These look familiar at first glance, there is a paddle in the bowl and when the horses push their noses in it turns on the water for them to drink. That is where the similarity to other waterers ends; the water stands in the bowl for about a minute, then a valve opens and the water drains. Therein lies the advantage to these things, in the summer there is no standing water to grow algae and mosquito larvae, and in the winter there is nothing to freeze. There is of course the additional benefit of no electricity usage and no need for an electrician to install. The drain operates on the same principle as frost free hydrants. The valve system which allows water to flow up to the bowl and then drain back out is installed below the frost line, so water never stands long enough to freeze. When the waterers are installed, a gravel-filled sump is dug below the level of the feed line and valves which catches the water as it drains. So OK these things work in New Mexico, but I live where there is real winter. The Bar-Bar A Website has plenty of testimonials from New England, Canada, Alaska and even one from Norway where the writer says they worked at -32°. I should mention that in the five years we have had one of these waterers installed, the only maintenance required has been to replace a filter one time; a job which took all of twenty minutes. I do not work for or receive any kickbacks from Bar-Bar A, I just believe they have a great product. If you are in need of a practical non-electric freeze free waterer for your horses, I urge you to check them out. -- Steve It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.-- Aristotle 384-322 BC Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Waterers
This message is from: Fred Pack friendlyfred2...@gmail.com On 4/14/2013 3:38 PM, Julia Webb wrote:Fred, How does that work, exactly? And will it work on fencing? (I have Electrobraid knock-off). Thanks! Hi Julia, any spark will broadcast a signal through the air. The first telegraph/radio/amateur radio transmitters were simply a spark producing unit. I am sure you have heard the snap of lightning in your AM car radio, or the snap of an electric fence when you drove past a field. You will only hear the snap on the AM radio frequencies as FM is broadcast in a different way. I have a Sony FM/AM walkman headset. It has a vertical antenna for FM but...this is important...the AM antenna is built into the headband. Not to get too technical (I'm a ham operator) the headband acts like a loop antenna and can be used for direction finding. When I exactly face the radio station (or sparking short in the fence) the signal/volume is at a minimum. If I hear a snap in my headphones (while listening to talk radio) I go to the center of the field, or ranch area...tune the AM radio to the lowest frequency where there is NO commercial broadcast radio station...IE 540Khz. Then, slowly turning my body until the snap volume is at a minimum. That gives a close directional indication where the short is. The short MUST be fixed ASAP as the kids won't drink out of my Nelsons until they will no longer get a mild zap... Clear as mud??? It will work to find ANY sparking Fred Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
RE: Horse waterers
This message is from: Frederick J. Pack [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lisa, More than happy to have been of help. Fre All Mail is scanned in AND out by Norton Anti-virus 2004. Fred and Lois Pack Pack's Peak Stables Wilkeson, Washington 98396 http://www.geocities.com/friendlyfred98 This message is from: Lisa Wiley [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fred, Thank you that is so helpful.
Re: Horse waterers
This message is from: Lisa Wiley [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fred, Thank you that is so helpful. My husband is a civil engineer and very handy but did not understand what I was trying to tell him. This is perfect. He has the water but will put the electric out there. The place for the second one has nothing but our septic has to be redun and he said he would do the water and electricity at that time. It doesn't get below zero very often in CT. but I will have him put the insulation in. This will be a spring project so the ground will not be frozen. It sounds like it is very worth spending the money. Lisa Wiley Turnabout Portuguese Water Dogs Connecticut State Director Ponies With Purpose http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/ponieswithpurposeinc/ http://www.geocities.com/summerct/horses.html http://www.geocities.com/summerct/Turnabout.html
RE: Horse waterers
This message is from: Frederick J. Pack [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lisa, You have most of the hard work done already, as you have the water line in. Did you lay an electric wire along with the water line? If not, you are going to have to trench in an electric line (protected by a circuit breaker somewhere). It must be deep enough that should the ground become soft (muddy), a horse stepping in the area will not damage the line. The sewer pipes are 5 footers, 4 feet of which is below the surface...one above with the Nelson on the top. This allows ground heat to rise UP the pipe to assist in preventing freeze. The electric heaters are 200 watts and quire adequate in temperatures down to 0 degrees F. We have not had temperatures below that, so I do not know how well freezing will be prevented. Some people have lined the INSIDE of the sewer pipe with fiberglass insulation with success. I had ONE that tended to freeze the pipe (at the shutoff valve when the outside air temperature was a sustained 10degrees F or below) INSIDE the sewer pipe leading up to the Nelson. I tried filling the pipe with Styrofoam popcorn packing pellets...but forgot that they FLOAT if water gets inside the pipe. Don't do it. Use some fiberglass if you think it is necessary. Fiberglass worked, even if it gets wet. Never any freezing problems with the other 9 Nelsons. Be sure to install a shutoff valve AT the Nelson (inside the sewer pipe). Should you have to clean a valve you will find the shutoff extremely valuable. The concrete sewer pipes ARE heavy and require a 4' deep hole. We absolutely LOVE ours... Fred All Mail is scanned in AND out by Norton Anti-virus 2004. Fred and Lois Pack Pack's Peak Stables Wilkeson, Washington 98396 http://www.geocities.com/friendlyfred98 Horse waterers This message is from: Lisa Wiley [EMAIL PROTECTED] Where they hard to install?
Re: Horse waterers
This message is from: Lisa Wiley [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fred, Thanks I saw that and it looked really nice. Where they hard to install? I already have a waterline out to my horses. My minis will get one this summer when we replace the septic. Lisa Wiley Turnabout Portuguese Water Dogs Connecticut State Director Ponies With Purpose http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/ponieswithpurposeinc/ http://www.geocities.com/summerct/horses.html http://www.geocities.com/summerct/Turnabout.html
RE: Horse waterers
This message is from: Jeanine Rachau [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have Bower automatic heated waterers in the barn stalls and my jacks pen. They are mounted on concrete poured pads with a heat well formed by a big PCV pipe that goes through the concrete for several feet down. This brings the earths natural warmth up along with the water pipe and then a plug in heater is mounted under the waterer to keep the unit itself from freezing. So I had the electrical and the water brought in from underground in the same trench when I was setting them up. Just rented a ditch witch for the day and it really worked out pretty slick.The only thing adverse about the Bowers is that the basin will rust - otherwise they are pretty maintenance free. Watch out if you have geese however, they like to pull the drain plugs and flood the barn. For the pastures I have 100 gallon rubbermaid troughs - set up beside those is frost free faucets and electrical outlets for water heaters. I like having the extra water available for large multiples of animals, even though it costs more to heat that much water at one time. I have had situations where I have temporarily lost my well water or electricity- and it's very comforting to know that the animals have enough water for me to get things fixed. I do have a donkey that routinely takes a mouthful of hay over to the trough then drops it into the trough to take their drink. Of course they don't pick it back up when they are done. Aaaagh! Keeping that particular 100 gallon unit clean is a chore in that section of pasture! Jeanine BLUE MOUNTAIN DONKEY FARM AMJR Registered American Mammoth Jackstock La Grande, Oregon, USA http://www.OregonVOS.net/~jrachau/ E-mail: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 10:57 AM To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Subject: Re: Horse waterers This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] We have a 100 gal Rubbermaid tank with a heater that goes in the drain plug. I fill it with a hose that I keep out all winter. We live in Minnesota, so keeping the hose from freezing is a challenge. After filling the tank, I drain the water out of the hose by walking along from the end to the beginning with it over my shoulder. Sometimes it freezes, so I bring it into the house to thaw. Usually it stays open. Suzan The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and though distant, is close to us in spirit --- this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden. b
Re: Horse waterers
This message is from: Lisa Wiley [EMAIL PROTECTED] Suzan, Thanks, I am trying to avoid the hose. Lisa Wiley Turnabout Portuguese Water Dogs Connecticut State Director Ponies With Purpose http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/ponieswithpurposeinc/ http://www.geocities.com/summerct/horses.html http://www.geocities.com/summerct/Turnabout.html
Re: Horse waterers
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] We have a 100 gal Rubbermaid tank with a heater that goes in the drain plug. I fill it with a hose that I keep out all winter. We live in Minnesota, so keeping the hose from freezing is a challenge. After filling the tank, I drain the water out of the hose by walking along from the end to the beginning with it over my shoulder. Sometimes it freezes, so I bring it into the house to thaw. Usually it stays open. Suzan The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and though distant, is close to us in spirit --- this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden. â Johann von Goethe
RE: Horse waterers
This message is from: Frederick J. Pack [EMAIL PROTECTED] All Mail is scanned in AND out by Norton Anti-virus 2004. Fred and Lois Pack Pack's Peak Stables Wilkeson, Washington 98396 http://www.geocities.com/friendlyfred98 Lisa, Take a look at: http://www.nelsonmfg.com/a300H_001.htm Ours (10 waterers), are the heated ones...the center picture where they are mounted on a sewer pipe set in the ground...bell side up). Love em If you do it the same way that I did, cement around the top of the bell to keep the waterers from being knocked off the sewer pipe. Enjoy the new puppies, and Happy New Year... Fred Subject: Horse waterers This message is from: Lisa Wiley [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Horse waterers
This message is from: Lisa Wiley [EMAIL PROTECTED] I am sitting around with two litters of new puppies so I can't go anywhere. I have been thinking about heated automatic pasture waterers. Next year my free help goes away to college and I don't want to be lugging water. Not sure I could do it even if I wanted to. So I need to know what you all have or like. One will be for five horses since my Fjord mare will be arriving soon. The other will be for a small herd of minis. Hopefully this will generate some messages to keep me busy I have been house bound for a week. Lisa Wiley Turnabout Portuguese Water Dogs Connecticut State Director Ponies With Purpose http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/ponieswithpurposeinc/ http://www.geocities.com/summerct/horses.html http://www.geocities.com/summerct/Turnabout.html
RE: National Western Stock Show and Nelson Waterers
This message is from: fpack [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Beth, We have 10 Nelson Heated Waterers around the farm. Each is grounded to the copper pipe coming out of the ground. Copper is used for the vertical part from the PVC to the watering head. As several feet of the copper is buried, it makes an excellent ground. Each waterer has it's own shutoff valve just below the waterer in the concrete pipe. We used 4 foot concrete sewer pipe with the bell diameter fitting the circular waterer. During our single digit weather several weeks ago.two froze at the shutoff valve. They were easily thawed. The two that froze were low usage waterers.one for a single Llama and one for two miniature horses.I opened the waterer and put in 4 insulation. It DID NOT HELP. The visible earth at the bottom of the pipe was frozen. I then filled the concrete pipe with plastic packing pellets.foam. No more problems. We must take care of shorting of our electric fence. A shorted fence WILL be felt at the waterer even with a good ground on our property. We twice daily check the fence for a proper spark.done easily with a wood handled metal rake. Meters and light indicators ARE NOT failsafe. The low joule charger that I am using right now will blink happily even if the fence is shorted. I use the low joule charger in the winter and use a high joule charger during weed season. The high joule charger WILL NOT blink properly when the fence is shorted. Nelson Co. is extremely good at providing new parts. The valves need replacement annually.a simple rubber tab on the end of the valve.takes only a minute. In seven years, I have replaced three heaterscracked plastic where it threads through the bowlcausing a leak...and a dry bowl. Sure saves winding hoses our hauling buckets. Fred and Lois Pack Pack's Peak Stables
Re: and Nelson Waterers frozen hoses
This message is from: Julia Will [EMAIL PROTECTED] At 09:18 PM 1/8/99 -0700, you wrote: Would those of you on the list who use Nelson Waterers let me know if you are pleased with them, what problems you have had, and under what circumstances? Hi Beth ~ We are a new user of Nelson waterers, and this is our first winter with them. We have them in 4 box stalls and 6 run-in paddocks that have 3 or 4 horses in each one. We initially had a problem with the fence ground rods being too close to the water system, but having moved the rods, everything is working very well, dispite some 0 to -10 degree weather. We carefully followed the instructions for freezeproof installation that came with the waterers, including installing an insulated ground tube that goes down below the frostline. I am thrilled to NOT have to deal with frozen buckets for 27 Fjords! Something else we discovered works well to solve the frozen hose situation: When we ran a buried water line and put a hydrant on it to provide water for two of our pastures, we also ran a 2 flexable innerduct conduit, just in case we ever needed to run electric out there for a light. The conduit comes up right beside the hydrant and sticks out about a foot above ground. It was put in the same trench as the water line, (5' underground) but was left empty. I discovered that I can keep a hose stuck down the conduit and it stays completely thawed. I leave just the end showing, and pull the hose out when I need to run water from the hydrant to the water tubs for the horses that are on daily turnout in the pastures. When I bring the horses in after a few hours, I dump whatever water is left in the tub and turn it over. The next day I refill, just enough to water them while they are out. (I use the shallow rubbermaid troughs which are easy to handle.) An inverted tin can over the end of the hose and conduit keeps the snow out. Another solution we used prior to Nelson waterers was a plastic trash can, fiberglass insulation in the bottom and a light bulb mounted on the bottom side of the lid. We kept this by the hydrant with a hose coiled inside. It kept the hose nice and thawed in the coldest weather. I found it easier to knock the ice out of a bucket and hang it up empty in the run-ins, then fill with a hose. Eliminates the cold water splashing down your boots. Needless to say you take precautions with your electrical set-up and make certain those nosey Fjords can't reach it! Good luck!
Re: National Western Stock Show and Nelson Waterers
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 1/9/99 8:52:05 Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Would those of you on the list who use Nelson Waterers let me know if you are pleased with them, what problems you have had, and under what circumstances? If I remember you said you live in Berthoud. I have a friend (she bought our palomino baby) who lives in Longmont. Says the best thing she ever did was buy Nelson Waterers. Pamela
National Western Stock Show and Nelson Waterers
This message is from: Starfire Farm, L.L.C. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Susan kindly pointed out that I, once again, forgot to say that the National Western Stock Show is in Denver, Colorado. It started today or yesterday. Yikes! Only a couple more weeks before our performance! Would those of you on the list who use Nelson Waterers let me know if you are pleased with them, what problems you have had, and under what circumstances? We are planning to install automatic waterers in our shed row, paddocks and pasture, and would appreciate any comments you have about usage, etc. I remember the past conversation about proper grounding, and recall someone's waterers not operating in below zero weather. Anyone using a better product? TIA. Beth Starfire Farm
RE: Builidng the hind end, Impatient Fjord, Reintnroducing Waterers
This message is from: Cynthia_Madden/OAA/UNO/[EMAIL PROTECTED] This is slightly behind the times, but still timely - I forgot to send it on Friday. I am trying to sit on my e-mails and review them later before mailing them to keep me from saying something I might not really want to say. The weekend here in Nebraska was beautiful. I had to move my Morgan to another barn where his feed could be controlled better and he would get more grass hay. His laminits episode scared me good! Now we have horses at two facilities. Nancy, The dressage advice is very good. In fact, I intend to take advantate of Beth's advice in the future on lead development. Certainly, ridden dressage schooling will encourage hind end development. But since you drive also (I think), driving is great for developing hind ends. Two methods I learned from instructors for use in development hind end and collection: 1. Lots of of down the road trot work, alternating slow trot and road trot. The slow trotting makes the horse work a little harder. Once the horse has learned to slow trot well, you are preparing it for the being able to lengthen when asked. Work up the trot periods where you can do at least 10 minutes slow trot and 10 minutes working trot and then continue to build up from there. Good conditioning training as well. (Anyone who can improve upon this, please do) - this from Robin Groves 2) Another trick for a lagging hind end while driving is to gently tickle the lower hind legs with your whip to encourage more movement . Alternate your strokes. Don't do it constantly, but whenever he starts to lag, give him a hint. - this from Irene Graves Ground driving is also excellent for developing hind ends and getting that engine moving. Susan, Tank was extremely fidgety as a young horse, but as he has matured he has settled down. He does tend to be more fidgety at events, especially if his buddy, Pferd, moves off. It is just the excitement of being somewhere. I do give him some hay to settle down, but once it's gone I don't replace it. He is getting better every year (he is six, now). Reintroducing waterers - my successful method! Years ago, our horses were shocked by their waterer. After it was fixed, they would just stand around and snort at it, but were afraid to drink out of it. They would go up to it, but couldn't bring themselves to put their lips in it. After observing this and knowing they were getting fairly desparate, I went up the waterer and put on my hands on it while pretending to drink out of it. This finally gave one horse the courage to try it and when he didn't die, the others tried it to! My question for discussion now is - hobbles - what are the best type to use and how do you train horses to them. I think it might be a good idea to have a horse hobble trained though I have never had to use them yet. Cynthia Madden E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
