Icy Paddocks

We recently had some freezing rain here and it has brought up a subject that I thought would make good blog material. Our alley leading from the barn to the paddocks is covered in ice. We didn't have salt handy at the time of the storm, lesson learned about preparation there, and so had to bring the horses in across that ice.
I am not a timid person when it comes to handling and riding my horses. A fact that gets me in trouble with my girl quite often. However, ice is one thing that makes me very nervous, both on the ground and riding. I am always concerned that one of my animals will fall and hurt a leg or ribs ect...
For that reason, I try to make sure there is always an ice free path to water and pasture for the horses to get around without having to cross ice. My arabians are quite sure-footed but the ice really makes them nervous. Of course, when horses get nervous, they don't think well, the instincts kick in and the flee instinct is especially strong at that time.
We made it thru the few days without any injuries but one boarder's horse fell four times. A fact that I was fairly disappointed about. The person brought the horse in and out of the barn repeatedly after she fell the first time. We love this person who is a dear friend, but sometimes people need to use more common sense. She should have done something different after the first fall. Now the poor horse is so scared of falling, she won't come out of her stall.
We had to really salt the alley to make it safe, and shoveled dirt on that. We don't salt the paddocks as the salt is hard on hooves and so we don't want them to have to stand and walk in it more than neccessary for their safety. I am told that barn lime applied after salt melts the ice will provide traction and dry up the water from the melted ice. Will try that next time.
So today, I will be chippin and shoveling ice from the alley now that we got it melted and workable. Just another learning experience in our horse education!

Winter

Winter is upon us and it's time to start winter feeding and care for the ponies. We went and got wood shavings yesterday for our stalls. We get our shavings free from a local pallet factory, they make great bedding. They are absorbant and keep the barn from smelling also. We have to clean both shelters every day now as manure freezes and we don't want our horses walking on it as they can turn an ankle or get bruises on their soles.
We keep them in at night as it gets very cold and we don't want them losing weight trying to stay warm. The manure has to be piled by the barn and will be spread in the spring as it jams the spreader when it's frozen. We have the farrier coming to look at a couple one more time for the winter. Have shoes on one horse that have to come off and want him to look at our boarder's horse. He has a front foot that's turned out and we want to see if some corrective trimming will fix it.
We are trying to get our own riding club started so that we can get the horse council to help us put in trails across the road on some state land. That project is now under way and if we can get it done, we may put some campsites in the back pasture for horse camping this summer. We would also be able to host a trail ride if we get the trails in so hope that goes well.
The horses are doing well, my arabian has put on weight and is rounding out now and looking great. So far, all is going well here at serenity ranch.

longeing

We have a new boarder at our place. A young lady named Sam. She has a nice quarterhorse gelding named Grey. A friend of Betsy's trained him and seems like she did a good job with him. Trouble is, Sam is a novice with horses, she is learning how to tack up, and we are helping her with her riding. She is a little nervous as most beginners are, and she has a green horse, which I really disagree with. I am a firm believer that a green rider should buy an older more experienced horse who can teach them what they need to know.
Sam takes Grey out in the round pen and "longes" him, and I think she is just letting him run one way and then the other with no idea of why she is really in there with him to begin with. If she is allowing him to be the boss in the round pen, it will transfer to other areas and he will not respect her. Yesterday she couldn't get his headstall on to go for a ride.He's been fine to this point, so I am thinking she is letting him call the shots when she's handling him and he's decided he's going to be the boss.
This happens a lot with people who see someone longeing a horse and think they can do it too. It looks easy if the horse is a seasoned longer, but the purpose of longeing is to establish respect for you in the horse. For him to learn to respond to and respect your commands and to learn gaits and direction and such. I see so many people letting horses do what they will in the round pen and then wonder why they don't listen well on the trail or in the arena.
Longeing is an aquired skill. It takes time to learn to do it well. I am still not as good at it as I want to be, but I am always working on my technique. I have a good trainer who is helping me with my technique but I always focus on making sure I am giving the horse the right signals. If you don't know what you're doing in the round pen, you can do more harm than good. I suggest learning from someone who is proficient at it before you try it yourself, and start with seasoned horses who will help you develope your technique not green horses who will only show you how much you have to learn!

General horse banter

Well the holiday has come and gone. We are working on getting a ride organized at a friend's in bonduel in a week or two. It will be cold, to be sure, but it's a trail we haven't ridden yet and we are itchin to get out for a good long ride with our friends. My arabian gelding Blaze is doing great. He is putting on weight at a good rate and looking good.
I got gates put on all the stalls in the barn and it's much better for bringing in the ponies and for them to be in at night when the weather is bad. Have a few saddle racks to build and a storage bin to make for the wood shavings we use for bedding in the stalls.
Gun deer season will end this weekend so we will be able to get out in the woods again on the horses. Rode some short rides last week but had to stay on the roads as it is hunting season and we don't want to take too many chances on a pony getting shot.
I am already looking forward to April and the Midwest Horse fair. Want to pick up at least one good set of custom tack for my horses. Hope to be able to get two sets, one for each. A new saddle is not in the budget this year. Maybe next. Want a circle y flex ll. Really nice saddle but, the one I have will be fine for another year.
Still going to try to get permits and insurance to haul ponies for extra money. Want to put up wood fences round the pastures this summer too. Also going to build a large arena for riding lessons and team penning and ropin. So I have plenty to do to stay busy. Still trying to get funding for farrier school too. Doesn't look like I'm gonna make it in January.
We are taking in one boarder for the winter to help offset costs. Have seven horses already so one more is not much bother. Built another stall in barn for the new one, see how it goes. Nice kid with a blue roan quarterhorse. Both young, am looking forward to helping her with her horsemanship and riding. She's pretty timid as she just got back into riding a short time ago. That will go away in time ridin with us!
Any subjects anyone would like to talk about just drop me a line on my email guoleemonster@yahoo.com I am happy to address any topics of interest to anyone. If I don't have the info you need, I'm sure I can find it. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Boarding

We recently were contacted by a young lady about boarding her horse with us. We are not a boarding facility, but have the room and are considering taking in one horse and see how it goes. My girl Betsy used to run a boarding facility in Green Bay where she cared for 14 horses.
While she is very knowledgable in regards to caring for horses and running a barn, she is hesitant to get into it again as there are so many headaches when boarding other's animals. At her former stable, she had issues with arena time, and arguing between boarders about so many different things. We met with Samantha and were happy to find out she is a nice young lady who has been injured when she was younger by her horses and is getting back into riding after a long time off.
She is understandably timid about her riding as she has a young horse and hasn't been riding for long since starting back up.I have a lot of respect for someone who gets seriously injured and doesn't let it end their life with their horses. She was a child when she was trampled and broke her leg. I know quite a few people who would never have gotten on a horse again so kudos to her.
At any rate, we recently improved our barn stalls and are making more improvements to make things faster and easier for us as we now have seven horses between us.We take pride in the care and behavior of our horses and see so many owners who don't take the extra effort to give their horses the best care possible. They get grained twice a day, and get good hay twice a day as well. Have plenty of turnout room, with stalls for really bad weather and plenty of shelters.
This spring we will be discing and planting more pasture for them and building a large arena for ropin and eventing. I have seen some less than adequate boarding facilities where the bottom line takes precedence over the care of the animals. It happens more often than you would think. I don't mean to imply that most are that way, there are many really good facilities run by very professional owners, just that it is important to know what to look for as you want the best for your horse. I have learned a lot in the last year from Betsy about nutrition as well as training. We love our horses and are looking forward to helping Samantha get comfortable with her horse again. We hope this will be a good experience for us all.

sunday

took a friend and her step son for a ride sunday. Weather was beautiful and we were out for bout two hours. Didn't ride long as Alexis( my friend's step son) is not in very good shape and we didn't want him to be too sore monday for school.
Debbie rode Val, my girlfriend's tennesee walker mare, and Alexis rode my arabian gelding Blaze. I rode my arabian pinto Ice T. As is usually the case with teenagers, Alexis listened to less than half of what I told him, Blaze is an excellent beginner horse as I've been teaching with him for three years and he anticipates beginners very well and is patient with them.
Alexis did ok for his first time out of the round pen or arena. He made the usual beginner mistakes, leaned forward, held on to the horn, held his reigns to tight. All common beginner mistakes that are easily corrected. Had his legs too far behind him which throws off your center of gravity and balance. This is another common mistake that will get you a close up look at the dirt if your horse spooks. All in all he did ok, I like to start kids slow and let them gain some confidence before I start to advance them. Otherwise, they are to ridgid and nervous and the horses pick up on it.
He got a lesson in humility from Debbie as she was leading on our way home and cantered Val across a field with Blaze close behind. Alexis panicked and grabbed the horn which renders you helpless to control the horse, another point I made before we left that he didn't pay attention too.
So he got a little scared there for about a hundred feet or so. Deb took it easy on him and stopped Val before he lost his balance to much or Blaze decided Val wanted to race. He would have been in for a wild ride then as Blaze is a fast horse and loves to race.
Anyway, we made it home without any falls so it was a good ride for Alexis and he learned a few things.Also, the Packers beat the Cowboys so it was a very good day indeed. Will keep you posted on Alexis's progress as he will be taking lessons with Betsy and I.

today

Another beautiful day and more on the way. Have all our horses doing well. They are leading and dropping their heads for halters. My arabians are walking without getting flighty and wanting to go faster. I am almost done with the shelter for the phillys at our friend's and am starting on the gates for our stalls tomorrow.
Also have a young lady at the ranch where I used to board who wants to show one of my arabs at the fair next summer. It will be his first experience with showing but I think he will do well. He has done lots of arena work for the last few years. I use him for a lessons horse with young children and he is great at it. He will stay right on your shoulder at any gait.
Have some horses to trim this week for various customers. Am almost moved in completely now with Betsy and so can begin working on this place . We have so much to do for next year. Fields that need discing and fertilizing. patures that need work also. we are also trying to start our own riding club so that the horse council will help us put in trails on some state land across the road from our place. Lots going on.

today's ride

today it was really nice out so My friend Debbie and I took my two arabians out for a nice ride. We rode in only shirts, which is awesome for november in Wisconsin. Deb rode my sorrel Blaze and I rode my pinto T. We checked out some state land down the road and had one of my girlfriend Betsy's cats follow along for the ride. Lily made it home safe and sound, she was waiting close to home for us on the return trip. We stopped at a harvested carrot field and gave the boys a treat. Did a little trotting but no cantering or galloping as Deb is on the down side of a accident suit and can't chance a fall.
Saw a couple deer and got to ride part way back in the dark. It was really balmy and no wind so we really enjoyed ourselves. We talked about how the boys are trained to respond to neck reigning and leg pressure. I let lots of people ride my horses so they need to be easy to ride so I dont' have to give lessons when I take people riding. Anyway, it was a beautiful day and we had a great time.

Training your horse

I train my own horses for a variety of activities. My horses are mainly used for trail riding however, I find that the longer I own a horse and the more time I spend with them, the more things I want to try with them. I now have two arabians. One sorrel and one tri color buckskin pinto. They are both very athletic and adapt well to almost anything I ask them to do. I spend a lot of time with both of them though. It's important to develope a strong bond with your horse and trust if you want the most from them.
I know a few people who have five or six horses and don't do anything with any of them. They are not trained to even stand for tack or farrier and are not green broke to ride. I don't personally understand why someone would undertake the cost and work involved in having that many horses if they aren't going to do anything but be pets, but our relationships with our horses are different for many people. I certainly respect someone's right to have whatever animals they want so long as they are well cared for.
Of course, caring for horses involves more than just throwing hay over the fence and fillin the water tank. When an owner doesn't take the time to train a horse to trailer, stand, and ride they set the horse up to end up in a bad position. Not many people are looking for horses that are not easily handled. So if the owner comes on hard times, now they have horses that aren't marketable and they can't find good homes for them. Often times that spells disaster for the horse.
A horse that is well trained is almost always in a position to go to a good home. With the market what it is right now, you may not get as much for them as you'd like, but chances are good that there's someone out there looking for a good horse. I am in the position of having a horse that is not trained as well as he should be and that is my failure as I haven't devoted enough time to ground training. I have saddle trained him and must admit, I "cowboyed" him as I threw a saddle on him and rode him and didn't pay enough attention to ground work. So now I have work to do to get him where he needs to be to make someone a good horse.
That, or I will have to sell him for far less than he's worth to someone willing to do the needed work. I just sold a quarterhorse that I bought last year and I spent a limited amount of time on training him. He was a good horse and responded well for me with some patience and time. They are all different and some of the really stubborn ones will often turn out to be some of the best ones if you have the patience and perseverence to give them a chance. When it comes down to it, it's the owner's responsibility to make sure a horse gets the training they need to have a safe active life.

Matching horses and owners

A large part of the problems I see with people not being able to enjoy their horses and the riding experience, is poor matches of horses with people. If you are a new rider, it's not a good idea to get a young, inexperienced horse. You will not have the know how or the confidence to help the horse learn his job and will only confuse him. Then he will get nervous and that's a recipe for disaster. I see so many people who overestimate their ability both to ride and to train horses. Who loses? you both do, but often times it's the horse who gets the short end of the stick and gets blamed for bad behavior when he's only being a horse.
A beginner rider should look for an experienced quiet horse that has been there, done that so you can learn how to ride and care for a horse. You will both enjoy the experience much more. When you get more experience, you can start getting into more horses that need teaching and training.
Another common mistake I see is choosing the wrong breed of horse for the activity you are involved in. for example, as a general rule, quarterhorses and drafts are calmer than say arabians. Gaited horses are smoother than non-gaited. If you like to walk the majority of the ride and do a little trotting but not much more, an arabian may not be a good choice as they are more prone to want to move faster and get impatient if made to walk the whole way.
Conversely, if you like to do lots of trotting and cantering, a draft horse will be worn out after a couple hour ride. So it's impotant to know your riding preference and pick a horse that matches your needs. Once you have some experience, you'll find that with work and patience many horses can do many different tasks and activities, but you need to understand horse behavior and breed tendencies.
Also, don't try to train a horse if you are not absolutely sure you know what you are doing. You will only cause problems that someone else will have to fix. Many people think they can train horses and many are very good. However, there are many who consider themselves trainers who leave much to be desired. I train my own horses, for trails, lessons, trailering, and most basic things. However, I would not try to train my horse for dressage or show as I have no experience in either and would only ruin my horses chances of reaching his full potential. I would look for a reputable trainer for something like that. You must know your limitations. I also conceed that my girlfriend is a much better trainer than I, but I can out ride her! ha ha, just kidding honey.
Anyway, picking the right horse is very important for both owner and horse. There is always someone with experience who will help you. Horse people are a great group as a whole.

Buying First Horse

Buying your first horse is always exciting. The anticipation of things to come and having your own horse to ride is a big thrill. However, it's important to remember there are many things to think about and look for when buying a horse. Many people buy with their eyes and on impulse rather than thinking it thru and evaluating the animal for important characteristics. Here are a few basic things to keep in mind. First, if it is your first horse and you are fairly new to horses, an older more experienced horse is usually a better fit than a young one. An older horse will be calmer and have experience with a wide variety of things such as cars, tractors, snowmobiles, ect. than a young horse. An older horse will help you gain confidence and learn to ride better and you will enjoy it more if you can relax and enjoy the ride, than if you have to worry about what the horse may do next.
There are many different breeds of horses and many have traits specific to their breed. Do some research and decide what traits are important to you. If you are a large person, you should look for a large horse. You don't want to get a horse that will be too small to carry your weight on long rides. Check conformation of the horse. This means how the horse is balanced in relation to their body length and neck. The slope of the shoulder, the height of the withers and croup. I will explain all those parts in my next post, and check legs for straightness and sound joints.
You should try lifting all four hooves and hold them as you will need to inspect your horses hooves every time you ride. A horse should let you lift and hold all four legs without pulling away or stepping.This is especially important for beginners. Rub their face and round their ears to see if they are what is called "head shy." You don't want a horse you will have trouble getting a bridle on and off.
There are many more things to consider and it's a good idea to try to find an experienced person to help you and go with you to look at horses when you decide to get your first one. We horse people are always ready to help a "newbie" learn the ropes.

Welcome all

Hello everyone, welcome to my blog. I will be writing about horse related issues that concern us all as horse lovers and owners. From tack and farrier concerns, to riding and nutrition. I teach riding at the facility that I board my horses at as well as train horses for others and also work with "problem horses." (which, by the way, often is a people problem) If you love horses, you'll love this blog so check in tomorrow for my first blog"Buying a new horse".