1. What is collic, and how do horses get it? I heard they can get it from feeding one a different time than others?
2. I have a 10yr old qt mar with only 30 days training (last year) and rode about 4-5 times after that. She was trained in western. I just want to know how easy it would be to train her in english - Should I do it after I finish her basic western training? Or do both at the same time?
3. Is it okay not to feed your horse any grain, or hay? She is staying in a pasture that has a small dirt area, and two large pastures for grazing. She is not being rode, or heavily worked with.
4. I plan on taking my mare out in the trails after she is a little more broke, should I find someone to go with me on the ride? She has this pony that follows her like he is in love with her.. maybe I could ask the owner to just lead him along?
5. Any tips on getting the bit in her mouth? I have tried putting my finer in her mouth, she let me do it a few times, then wouldnt let me.
Answers:
Colic is often excessive gas build-up in the horse's stomach, and is usually caused by moldy hay or grain. It's very important that hay be kept dry at all times, particularly when it's bailed. There are other types of colic as well as other causes, though. See:
http://www.equusite.com/articles/health/...
for a good definition and methods of prevention.
Moldy hay is easily identifiable once you know what to look for (and you should always examine your hay before you feed it to the horse). Look for discolored, dusty-seeming hay. Anything grayish or blackish, whereas good hay is typically a golden, greenish color, depending on what's in it (alfalfa, clover, etc.).
It's okay not to feed hay if you live in a climate where there is sufficient healthy grass, and where the horse can eat its fill all day. I would still probably supplement with grain, as nutrients are often added that they may be missing.
It's generally a good idea to take someone with you when riding. In case you fall, it's important to have someone around to take care of you. Horses are big, powerful beasts, and they have brains of their own. So unexpected things can happen. Just ask Christopher Reeve.
As for the bit, just keep being persistent and let her know who's boss. The more you do it, the more she'll learn that she doesn't have an option. Rewards always help when training animals.
Most of the horses I grew up with were used interchangeably with both English and Western saddles. They will learn quickly, as will you.
----------
Regarding your additional details:
Everyone I've known who had horses with specific bad habits worked them out through diligence and a LOT of time with the horse exposing them to the things with which they had problems. Once horses have a bad habit reinforced, they will keep doing it. They much prefer to be the bosses, and will be if you let them.
So, for example, I knew someone growing up who wanted to take their horse to parades, but their horse was very skittish, so she tied aluminum cans to him and played loud music while she rode, among other things.
As for the halter, just spend time putting it on and taking it off, and giving her rewards. An apple slice, a piece of carrot, a sugar cube: the usual horse treats. And the same with the bit. Put the bridle on and take it off whether or not you're going riding. She will start to associate the bridle with treats rather than with something she doesn't like from before she knew you.
I used this site when first starting out with my mare it has really good advice on just about everything
http://www.horsekeeping.com/
1. Collic comes when horses cannot digest something properly or it's sort of their version of the stomach flu but horses cannot vomit so they get sore stomachs. There are tons of different ways horses can get collic and there are different kinds of collic. Sand Collic, Clippers Collic (comes moved grass clippings), and tons more.
2.You really wouldn't have to 'train' her english. You can really just throw a english saddle on her and maybe lunge her a couple of times with it on her (depending on how she acts). It really is not that hard. If she does perfect with you walking her around with it on and lunging her with it on you should have no problem just riding her. It should only take a week or two.
3.I feed my horse different kinds of hay all the time. Most of the time pasture horses can take changing foods a lot. They eat all different kinds of grasses in the pasture. There stomachs can take the changing of food.
4.That would be a good idea to have your horses friend come along if the owners say it's alright. Just have the pony trail along with a lead. Make sure you try leading the pony around with her at your barn first to make sure it will work.
5.You can buy a kind of wipe called 'Apple Wipes' or something like that to wipe on the bit so that she will suck on the bit and notice that it is not so bad after a while. You can also try holding a apple up to the bit when you put it in her mouth. Then right when she opens her mouth her the bit and the apple pull the apple away and feed it to her once you get the bit in her mouth.
~GoodLuck and Happy Trails!
1. Colic is a serious condition that docotors have not discovered what really causes it or what it is. Some believe it is just like human colic which is when gas builds up in the stomach.
2. I would start her training english after she's done with western and comfertable in it. You don't want to do it at the same time, she might get confused.
3. It depends on the pasture you have her in. I have four horses on 200 acres that are all grazed. I would talk to your trainer and vet before you do so.
4. NEVER go on trails alone, too much could go wrong.
5. There is a spot inbetween her front teeth and her back teeth where there are no teeth. Stick your fingers in there and just lever her mouth open.
1. There are many ways a horse can get collic, but I only know of three- eating fresh mowed hay, switching grains too fast and eating too much grain.
2. I'm a horse trainer so I'm not really the person to ask this question to, but I would finish up her western training before you move on to anything else.
3. I wouldn't recamend sweet feed. It tends to make horses "hot". So do oats.
4. I would have someone go with me the first ride or two. I would also wear a helmet just to be safe.
5. Hold the part of the bridle where the ears go in your right hand while hold the nose band in your left. Hold the bit up so the it is touching your horses lips. Slip one of your left hand fingers into the side of his mouth where there are no teeth, but keep holding on to the nose band. You should be able to feel his tounge and when you do, tickle it a little and he said open his mouth.
Hope this helped! Feel free to email me anytime.
Collic is from them eating moldy hay, i don' t know if they can get it some how else, but as far as i know, thats it. it is deadly though
and a good way to get your mare to accept the bit is to put molasseses or honey on the bit. after a while, you should be able to get her to take it! this might not work for your horse, but it worked with our pony foal. hope it works out! we have tried this many times.
There are 4 kinds of colic, gas, sand, obstrouctional and twisted gut. Gas colic is the most commen of these it is caused when a horse gets gas in it's intestions from gassy foods.
Sand colic is when a horse eats food from the ground and gets a fair amount of sand in it's intestions and stomach.
Obsructional colic is when a horse bolts it's food. The food get's stuck in the intestions.
Twisted gut is really bad. It is when a colicy horse rolls and it's gut get's stuck in a knot. The horse needs surgery in the next 24 hrs.
Your horses will not get colic from being fed at different times.
2.)It shouldn't take a lot of training to switch. Just ride her english. There isn't a lot that is different.
3.) That is O.K. with high vegitation, but if there isn't give her hay.
4.) Maybe, but she could just get used to him coming and not go without him. Try riding with one of your friends on a bomb proof horse.
5.) Put your thumb in her no-teeth area. Wiggle it with the bit at her mouth until she takes it. Then praise her then take it out so she dosn't feel like the bit is a bad thing.
Good Luck!
1 - Colic can come from several things. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article... is one of many articles.
2 - if proper complete training is done there shouldn't be any difference. If you're showing in big shows it will - there's not many true versatility horses anymore. But being able to extend and collect shouldn't be just English or Western - and once given a solid foundation it's a difference of tack.
3. Just pasture is fine for a horse that is not worked heavy, providing the pasture is enough for her. Being able to feel but not see ribs is important for condition.
4. I'd train her to go out alone. If she gets used to having to have another horse there it's a problem if no one else wants to go.
5. It's not just getting it in - it's taking it off too. If she did at first and now won't did the bit hit her teeth when removing it? You can try rewards - if she likes molasses or honey drizzle a little on the bit - she gets it only when she puts it in the mouth. Be easy with it once it's on her.
3. It is okay to not feed you horse any grain or hay as lon g as there is plenty of good food to eat. Although your horse will enjoy a treat now or then.
4. Yes, when you go riding ALWAYS have a friend come with. It makes it more fun and a lot safer. I would have someone ride with you instead of just leading. Way more fun!
5. Instead of using a bit have you considered a bit less bridle? They have a rope in certain places that makes a pressure point so instead of yanking on their mouth to stop, they have a light bit of pressure. They have been know to work well. Go to a local horse and tack shop and ask an employee about them.
colic is when a horse has a stomach ache.
They can get it sometimes if you just feed them a difference brand of feed or if you feed them to much, or if their feed gets spilled on the ground and they eat some of the dirt or sand.
they can also get colic from eating moldy hay or hay that has sand in it.
On getting the bit in her mouth try putting honey on the bit.
Your does need some type of grain. She also needs to be feed hay some. She can't live on just grass alone.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment