Hey all. My dad recently bought a farm and told me I could finally buy my first horse and keep it there. And then decided he wanted 4 cows and bought them. We only have 1 6 acre pasture. I'm planning on buying my horse in 2 months or so. Does anyone have advice / tips on keeping them together? I know that some cow feed ingredients are deadly to horses.
First time breeding mini's Micro was born in May, so tiny and cute. I suspected he was a dwarf based on his headshape and size. His feet and legs also eventually became apparent that he was not "normal" but with the farriers help he really didn't have a bad time of things. I went out for morning chores and he was fine. Nighttime chores and he was very dead. He looked like he was sleeping but he didn't wake up. So sad, I just hope it was quick and painless. I'm glad he died on my watch when I know he had the best of care, and not when one of our helpers was caring for him because I would have always questioned the situation. Though I do feel all the happiness from his birth is just that much more negative as he is taken out and buried. He was a living angel, no one even knows the happiness that people got from just being around him. I'm so damned sad.
Yesterday, I showed up at the barn for my lesson only to find that my horse Josie was lame and couldn't be ridden. My trainer suggested I ride another horse, Dotty. (She's a fleabitten grey OTTB Mare). I was a bit nervous about riding her, as she is still somewhat young in training. The last time I had ridden her it had been not so good. I couldn't get her to slow down and relax and I took a hard fall eventually. As I brought her in and noticed her ground manners had improved SO MUCH. She was totally at ease and that was great. I took her in the arena to warmup with some groundwork and that went perfectly. I saddled her up after that and got on. I then had probably the best and most enjoyable lesson ever! It felt like riding on a cloud. I usually struggle to get my other horse to to anything I ask and riding her is fun, but exhausting. Dotty, however is just effortless. She obviously had been worked with a LOT to improve this much. I'm just still wowed at the difference between the horse that was zooming around the arena a few months ago and the horse I rode yesterday. Well, I just wanted to write this because I'm happy. I hope I can ride Dotty again next week!
