Any horse owners?

**Smoke Jaguar** · January 23rd, 2014, 04:34 PM

I'd be inclined to leave him out in the paddock in winter so that he can move around (better for circulation) and graze with head all the way down (better for respiratory system). Better to have quality of life for as long as possible than just life. I'd save stables for injuries or periods of illness where containment is recommended by the vet. If he's really not responding to feeds and the vet says he's not keeping adequately warm then you'll be closer to the kind decision to make. Then again, I'm disinclined to keep horses or dogs alive just because I have the means to prolong life, at the expense of the kind of life they'd like to lead.
We have an elderly horse who won't wear a rug and he hates them. So, as a black horse, he suffered without a cotton to deflect the heat of last week...but he would have run around to the point of exhaustion to rid himself of the rug had I put one on! So, he'll be rugless till he can't get about and keep warm/cool anymore. And definitely paddocked, where he's happiest.

**Mildez** · January 23rd, 2014, 06:37 PM

Shivering is good. Its a natural mechanism to warm themselves although does come at a cost of weight loss if its going to go on for a while. Can he have access to a stable without locking him in? Our horses have a stable in there paddock and choose to spend a lot of the day time in there and graze mainly early morning, overnight and late evening.

I feel your pain on handfeeding. I am handfeeding 3 clydesdales almost fulltime now as we are in drought with 2 of those heavily in foal. I am working an extra day a fortnight to pay for it. Totally worth it however. I love seeing them in such good nick when there is basically nothing left to eat in their 30acre paddock. The problem is the hay suppliers are running out of hay with no sign of any relief. I get a float full every fortnight as I am stock piling.

**Smoke Jaguar** · January 23rd, 2014, 08:57 PM

Heaps of hay in southern Vic atm - this season's for about $5 in Sth Gippsland. We didn't end up cutting off our own farm, but bought over 150 bales the other week (just cost of baling) that should feed the horses over late Autumn and Winter.

**Mildez** · January 24th, 2014, 05:02 AM

I wonder how much a truck load would cost from Vic to me. I recently got a quote to transport 34 round bales to me (that's all the truck could fit) 200kms and it was going to be $1200 on top of the price of buying the hay. Little squares in the produce store are $15-19 here depending which one you go to. Apparently Mudgee which is 100kms from me are up to $20 a little bale or $200 for the 8x3x3. Both my mares with a foal at foot will be consuming a whole little square each a day plus there biomare cubes. I am getting it locally at the moment for $8. Oaten hay which I prefer is all gone until next season so its Lucerne which is not the best choice. We have lots of food growing on the roads outside our property. I think I will have to start taking the mares down there for a pick every day.

**Miss.September** · January 24th, 2014, 06:24 AM

Thanks for the advice re the stable. I have some more thinking to do...

There's an abundance of hay around here too (outer Northern Melbourne), most I've seen in years. Not sure on price though. Most of the properties around here have a sign on their gate advertising it for sale.

ETA - Mildez, I just had a look on Ebay and there were a few places selling further north than me for $5 a bale. Maybe check there to see if there's anything more local to you. Gumtree even?

**Smoke Jaguar** · January 24th, 2014, 05:39 PM

If you're on FB, look up the Horses for Sale pages and there's likely to be one in your area

Heaps of hay being advertised in our local buy swap swell pages for horses, so I'd be surprised if there wasn't anything like that for your specific area. Good luck!

**Kazzo** · February 14th, 2014, 01:14 PM

Hey ladies, got a question to throw at you.

My Appy has a rash. It is not all over his body, more coming up in spots. He is using anything he can to scratch. I have been washing him in quit-itch everyday and dabbing it on on the days I can't for the last week. I have not seen much of an improvement. I went and got another wormer today and wormed him again (not very easy by myself and a very mouth shy horse) even though it has only been 6 months.

Would putting a light summer rug on him help do you think?

Any suggestions on what you have used in the past that might help?

Also, Joeve, how are you going? Been thinking of you.

**Miss.September** · February 14th, 2014, 01:41 PM

Kazzo, I follow Amanda Vella's Save A Horse Australia on FB and they got a horse with shocking Queensland Itch - big itchy lumps. They used suda cream and got an insecticide rug which covered his body and neck. They showed a photo a week later and the difference was remarkable. The horse was Harlow if you want to take a look but it might be worth a shot for your appy?

**Smoke Jaguar** · February 14th, 2014, 02:08 PM

Olive oil! Or any vegetable oil, but I put olive oil on our black horse who gets it pretty badly and it clears up when you leave rugs off. Wash the rugs in hot water, because they'll reinfect the area with the bacteria if you don't.

**Miss.September** · February 14th, 2014, 02:21 PM

Olive oil! Or any vegetable oil, but I put olive oil on our black horse who gets it pretty badly and it clears up when you leave rugs off. Wash the rugs in hot water, because they'll reinfect the area with the bacteria if you don't.

Yes! I put veg oil in with my old boy's feed daily and it cleared up his dry , flaky and itchy skin in no time. I've kept it up and his coat has a nice shine to it too. I can't believe I didn't think to say that in my post before!

**Mildez** · February 14th, 2014, 03:01 PM

Kazzo that sounds like QLD itch not sure where you live. QLD itch is usually worse in Feb/March and should start to improve usually after these months only to return as it heats up again. Definitely need a rug. There are a variety of other products that will help him as others have mentioned.

The count down is on for my two Clydesdales to foal. We are sitting at 296days and 318days pregnant. My collar/hames arrived today and fits brilliantly so it wont be too much longer before I have them going around in a slide/implements. I am not on the look out for a sulky. Its all happening here and its very exciting.

**Smoke Jaguar** · February 14th, 2014, 04:23 PM

Yep, QLD Itch and rainscald are bacterial infections - scabby, pussy things that come off easily enough with your nails when it sets in. I've only ever seen it get worse with rugging, because the heat keeps in the moisture that the bugs love.
Miss Sept, it's like a magical cure! I don't know how it works but it just does; my neighbour swears by it and put me onto it. My liver chestnut never used to get it but got it last year (might be spread from his bosom buddy black horse) so he got oiled up and cleared right away, too.
6-ish weeks to go of this pregnancy, then some rest, then I can get out to the paddocks to pat the ponies! Then getting my horse back in work...then...starting ground and in-hand work with my young fella

I'd love to do a clinic or two with him, and I'd like to get him over to Manolo's for some working equitation, cos I think he'll be super nifty, the way he's developing. The SJing and Dressage will follow on from that, naturally enough, so I won't push those things for a while, especially not while my old fella is still going, anyway.
Mildez, where do you look for harness equipment? I had a look on eBay and there wasn't much! Not that we have much to spend atm, but I'd really like to get our ponies trained to harness and get a trap for the shettie.

**Mildez** · February 14th, 2014, 06:28 PM

Smoke Jaguar I have Clydesdales so sourcing appropriate gear is extremely difficult. I only have knowledge about BIG horses so cant really advise anything for smaller horses. I have been keeping my eyes out for years to get the gear I have. I am buying a new harness for 1 mare with my next tax return. I am getting that from Mark Burton down near Canberra. He stocks all sizes. I think it will cost me around $1500-$1800 for a full set in extra draft size which is pretty affordable considering how much it costs to make. I was getting a collar made recently for another mare by Mark Porter. The cost was $1000 just for 1 collar and the hames to match were another $800. If I was buying the full harness I'd hate to think how expensive that would be. That was only a working collar not show so $1800 plus postage. Australian made is best but hard to source 2nd hand in good useable condition. I don't have a cart yet but am on the look out. I only buy things as I can afford it. I just got my 2nd hand collar today. I am very happy with it. Yes ebay has very very little.

**Smoke Jaguar** · February 14th, 2014, 07:07 PM

Looks like I might have to go down the Horse Deals road...I have resisted wading into that world all these years, thus far...!! Or just putting it out there on the forums. And l have already realised I will be venturing out of the local area to get anything worth getting.

**Miss.September** · March 6th, 2014, 05:15 PM

Kazzo, how did you go with the itch?

I'm looking for tips to have a seamless introduction of a new horse to my old boy. It's been a long time since we've done it and he was younger and fitter. I'm concerned there will be an initial fight and my old boy will get hurt. I am able to separate them in different paddocks but want this to be short term as I want them in together. Is it as simple as having them hang out together for a while on lead ropes or doing a gradual paddock separation intro?

The new boy is much bigger and while he is very patient and quite a gentlemen, I know he'll only take so much from my grumpy old man.

**Smoke Jaguar** · March 6th, 2014, 05:18 PM

Just put them in and see!
Don't put food in till later in the day

**Joeve** · March 6th, 2014, 07:32 PM

Mine all live together In separate paddocks but put them in together and they lose their minds for 5 mins! So I would just intro them on the lead... Stand back but be able to separate them if you need to. Mine are mares so they squeal and carry on, your boys will probably have a sniff and snort, decide whose boss and then just get over it

**Miss.September** · March 6th, 2014, 07:48 PM

It's hard to figure out what to do. When we introduced our second horse nearly 20 years ago, the first one pressed his body up against the gate and refused to move, didn't want to let him in. When we got him out of the way and let them go for it, they fought for a week until the second horse took charge as he was a much bigger horse. Once they got it all sorted, first horse returned to be the leader and they got along perfectly until second horse died two years ago.

I'm scared that old boy now being so old and possibly a bit brittle will get injured but it's obvious he's looking for company so I want to try it.