>>> I am not an experienced horse owner--I've owned horses for just a bit over a year so I read a lot of books. I know reading and doing are not the same so I'm glad I can share my thoughts with experienced horse people here on the list--get opinions, hear what works and what doesn't.
I remember that feeling Virginia, and I think you're doing a fine job making the transition from newbie-dreamer to real owner. It just takes time - heck, I STILL feel like a newbie at times after pushing 20 years of horse ownership. >>> When I go visit my horses at the boarding barn I see them standing around nibbling--the pastures are rectangular blocks of land, not very large, so, are they bored? ... To me it looks boring compared to the farm where I bought them where the horses were rotated to different pastures. There were trees, little brooks, they moved around, it was nice. Those are good questions. But, we can make up for whatever we lack in pasture facilities to a large extent, and it doesn't take special pastures. It takes watching your herd to be sure the horses are compatible - I have to be sure I don't put some of the young, rowdy whippersnappers in with the old guys. It's good for the old guys to move too, but sometimes they just can't keep up, and start losing weight - and that will inevitably affect the health of their feet. If you have a compatible herd, even a small one, I think the horses will move themselves a good bit. They will play - mine do. Even the mares, not reputed to be as playful as the geldings, roam their pasture all day, not staying at the spot we put the hay all day. And if their feet are trimmed into balance, and they are well-nourished, wormed and healthy, then probably 90-99% of horses will have pretty healthy feet. I pulled that number at random, not from any study. I DO know that there are lines of horses who have been bred for certain traits and their feet have been ignored in their breeding, resulting in bad feet, but I'm really not talking about odd extremes. By the way, many people (especially certain people writing books and giving seminars) talk about horses having trees and streams in their pastures as good things, and I suppose they are. But, you know, I don't really think my horses find hills and trees so entertaining - they really seem to quickly become pretty oblivious to the "furniture." I think sometimes maybe that's more of a visual stimulation to their owners than an actual stimulation for the horses...but who really knows... And, is a horse better off neglected in a big pasture, or well-cared for in a small pasture, taken out for regular attention and 'playing." It's all a matter of trade-offs, with lots of viable, acceptable options possible. Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/622 - Release Date: 1/10/2007 2:52 PM
