I have some more of your horse health care tips today – please do keep them coming!
“I have a 30 year old horse, and in the spring and summer he has 5 acres of forage. In the winter he is on hay. Last winter I switched hay sources and you are right, he looks and acts ten years younger. I had no idea how much the change in diet would effect a horse! I hadn’t been riding him for a couple of years because he was so old – and now this year I have been riding him again and I can hardly hold him down to a walk!
Bonnie”
Horse health care tips
“Many “un-natural” horse owners (LOL!) just have not been shown the way, so to speak. Not shoeing your horse means it is free-er to move “naturally” and much cheaper than buying that iron ever so often. I searched and found a wonderful farrier who trims my horses’ feet when they need it…..not when he needs to make a house payment. Bitless bridles just plain make sense unless you are TRYING to hurt or piss off your horse. And GOOD hay is another no-brainer! I thank God (and my husband who had to fence it all in) that I have lots of pasture for my horses to graze on grass, but they are provided with hay and some grain “just because.
Kristy”
Horse health care tips
“I recently acquired a horse that threw his head around as soon as the bridle went on. He was all over the place, jumpy and unhappy. I decided to give my bitless bridle a try. He was a new horse! More responsive. More calm. And much happier.
Cathy”
Horse health care tips
“Weaning TW12 XO this week in a closed stall has been stressful and when I came into clean his stall and freshen his feed, he became anxious and continued to stomp, strike the stall door & charge towards the door throwing his wild eyed head over through the opening.
I sat across the aisle and pet a kitten where he could see me. I talked but did not look at Xo and calmed not only the colt but myself..
When I approached the stall door, if he misbehaved, I turned and went back to the kitten. Then when he calmed, I reached over the door an gently rubbed him with a small towel. He turned so I could reach all his favorite spots. I lifted the metal latch which signaled that the door was going to open but until he relaxed, I just turned and walked away.
Eventually, Xo slowly came to the stall door, gently raised his head eye level, with out his nose over the edge and said, “I am ready to behave. Would you like to come in and put my halter on so you can lead me out and clean up the mess I’ve made in here?”
I used the hand on his poll and hand on his face to put his halter on and he knew he was going to be okay. I am so gratful for all the sharing on this blog.
Candice”
Horse health care tips
“Hi Alastair,
I’m so happy to be getting your horse tips again. Life just wasn’t right when things went quiet. I really enjoy and appreciate all your horse tips. I am a first time horse owner as of yesterday and need all the help I can get! Thank you for your time and effort in helping those of us who love and adore horses to be the best owners for our equine companions as possible.
Your Horse Whispering Secrets and is a great resource of information. So happy I found you!
Thanks,
Karen”
A big thank to everyone for sharing horse health care tips – please do leave a comment below if you can add to them, or you just to reply to one.
That’s all this time. Please do keep them coming.
And don’t forget their are hundreds of posts like this on the blog, but the only way to see them all is to jump on the newsletter.
Best
Hi There,
I am a first time horse owner since June 2012. I bought a mare who was pregnant and she is due any day now. It will be her 3rd foal. I am affraid – I will miss her birth. Is there anything I should worry about? I have her bedding ready. With extra straw. Mom’s doing great. She is kinda ribby, but her belly is big and her udder is full. I am so excited, I can’t wait. I am worried she never recieved the shots she should have had. Is it too late to get one now? Thanks for all your advice and I plan on going the natrual route as well. Thanks all! 🙂 April
Hello,
I’m 13 years old and I have helped mares deliver foals loads of times. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Mares deliver healthy foals all the time. In the wild they don’t have any help at all. just make sure yu keep her in a nice warm stable with fresh bedding and lots of hay and plenty of water to drink. mares tend to get very thirsty after giving birth.
Hope this helps,
Texas
can’t tell when your mare is due, so ask your vet if there are any recomendations.get in the habit of sitting in her stall quietly once or twice a day . she’ll relax with you there and you will notice slight changes in her physic or demeaner.she’ll bag up about a month prior to delivery, should wax about 24 hours before(I saw the very moment this happened with my first mare)she should foal within the next 24 hours.Mares are pretty quick about this , if she labors more than an hour you may want your vet who you’ll want to the new foal anyway.Bacteria can easily enter the navel. Strong iodine and a shot glass make it easy to immerse the navel for good coverage.Enjoy your new baby . your daily visits will make mom more comfortable with you handleing her baby.
At weaning time I always left the foal in familiar space moveing mom instead. If they are far enough apart to not hear cries things tend to quiet more quickly.I always weaned multiples at the same time so they still had a friend
Hey April, watching you mare give birth is exciting. Couple of good advise you received from “Texas” and Linda. My vet let me know within 2 days what to watch for re: pending birth. It’s being able to check her teet or nipples for a waxy film. The baby will be there that same day or night. Don’t leave her alone. You can rub her lower back, you may get to help deliver him/her. I did. Gently, GENTLY pulled on legs, it causes the contractions to push baby out further. Take pix eve if Selfies. LOL.
I love this website and I have downloaded your book. But I have not read it yet. I will let you know what I think. But I do have a problem with my horse. I have only had him four 5 months and we get along great. Ground work is great and we both were doing wonderful together. But, he is resisting going to the right. He goes good for a while in the arena and when we get to the far end he bulks and wants to go back and when I try to make him go to the right he pulls and tosses his head around. I have made him go around in circles to the right quite a few times but he still bulks about it. Any suggestions? Thank you, Nancy
Have you had his teeth checked and floated recently?
Thank you for this blog. Please let me know how I can get your book.
Thanks,
Candice
😆 I have a black mare ive bueen given wh was wild and halter broke i ve had her for 2 weeks we went from wild crazy fence basher to a pocket pony gelous fit throwing girl wen you halter another horse or ride another horse around her.
if i dont halter her and tie her to a tree when im
trainning for someone else she bashes fences bucks,kicks and whinnies,
if im in the pasture with her and 2 other horses she pinns her ears and chases them off.
any sugestions?
Hurray for the bitless bridle & for the lady on here who I had found out about it! Thank’s My new horse is wonderful with THE BITLES BRIDLE! Summer & Rosie
Have any of you got any tips for keeping a fidgety pony still while he gets his hooves trimmed?
thnx
Thanks for the tips but I need some advice. I have a weanling that I have been giving grain daily for the last month. She was never handled before I got her. Lately she has become a bit agressive towards me when I enter her pen, I have been bit and kicked; this is only when she receives her grain. Any tips on breaking this habit before she gets worse?
My brumby gelding was very pushy when it came to feed. I taught him to look away even for just a treat. It stopped him being pushy and he now asks by standing and looking away from me instead
Hey Lara,
I had appy x that could not tolerate grain at all, messes with his system, played up, became aggressive etc. Is there a reason you are feeding grain? I was told when i first got into horses many years ago that “grain isnt a natural source of food for horses so why feed it to them.” This was from a very old horseman here in australia. It may be a reation to the grain feed.
Best of luck
ann
Lara, you definitely want to stop this behavior. It sounds like she has decided to be the leader above you. My horses were never like this, but I was at a stable where another horse would attack anyone who was trying to get their horse. I used the pat parelli trick. Treat your horse like another horse would. When she gets aggressive towards you, turn your back end at her, raise your foot and kick back, imitating another horse. Your horse will be so surprised, she will stop immediately, and lick her lips. She will instantly understand that you are showing leadership. Even if you strike her it will not hurt, as you will only get the legs at best. It sounds funny, but it usually stops the horse immediately and makes them think. If you watch horses, as soon as one turns its butt towards another, the other one moves away or stops what they were doing. You are establishing your leadership without hurting her. Just make sure you turn your head to watch what she is doing. You should only have to do this a couple of times. You should never give her grain if she has tried to bite or kick you, that is rewarding bad behavior.
I’m a new rider I have had my guy for a while got him broke but was nervous about riding so let him go for a couple years. then got him trained again and the trainer did a great job. I’ve rode him in the arena and in the yard he’s done great.i took him out a little farther and he panics and looks for his buddy’s yesterday he wouldn’t listen and went on to look for barn buddy’s.any suggestions would really help.
If you don’t get your “buddy sour” horse used to being away from his pal, you may create a monster that no one wants. I’d start with separating the horses with some distance where they can still see but not socialize with eachother. Feed him away from his pal. Gradually increase the time and distance. Lead your horse away and let him graze without his pal.
Hi I have my first horse I am 65years and I am totally amazed by my Liz, Liz was a rescue horse and as I have been involved with animal rescue for over 30 years, my friend who found Liz in an auction pen where horses were being sold for $1 – $100 (or they go to the place we don’t mention) Suggestered I give looking after Liz a go. I am so pleased she contacted me, my love for Liz has grown in the one month we have been together. I read the emails on this site and have found them very informative, I do have trouble stroking her in any way, I can hand feed her carrots this for only this week but try and put up my hand to get closer forget it. oh well I will keep trying I sit with her 3 times every day . some things are great when you retire like having time to love Liz Thanks Margie
Hi Margaret, Yes having time to love is fantastic! I have just spent four months sitting and singing to my abused girl as I waited patiently for her to trust me. At first she was so afraid she couldnt even see me. She would run into walls, etc at the slightest movement or sound. Now, today she is a much more trusting little thing. She plays and jumps around and will let me scratch her neck and rub her face . I ask a bit more day by day, taking it really slowly. Yesterday I started work on getting her to pick up her feet. I paid a lady farrier, trained in John Chatterton’s methods, to come pick them up for the first time, so I could watch and get it right. I will continue the work this week and she will be back to trim the front feet in a week. Then we’ll go for the back feet. Dont let time pressurize you. Or other peoples perceptions of whats right. You will learn when your Liz is ready for the next step. I would fantasize about finally being able to brush the knots out of my filly’s mane. Patience will get you there. She will tell you when you are quiet enough to hear…. enjoy the journey….
Wendy, Any Cream Rinse will soften the knots and allow you to brush or maybe even curry comb them out. If that doesn’t work, trim her mane; not hack mane off. It will grow back just like our hair does. Give Liz a hug from me and my girl, Eclipse aka “Baby Girl.” She is 18 years old.
I have 2 great horses, we are like the 3 amigos.
for 10 years we go everywhere together. I ride one and pony the other. but sometimes it would be nice to ride one out of view of the other, but I have created my own problem. my gelding does not want to be away from my mare. my mare is ok to step away from him as long as she is in familiar terriotory.
Any suggestions to make him get alittle independent??
“Bitless bridles just plain make sense unless you are TRYING to hurt or piss off your horse” said Kristy.
Where is that coming from?
Bits are like anything else used with horses – chosen suitably, fitted properly and used correctly, a “normal” bit will not hurt your horse.
I use a plain, solid, curved eggbut snaffle for my mare, for dressage, showjumping and XC, but, to quote an extreme example, a long-shanked Spanish or Western curb bit, used on a well-schooled horse, with sensitive hands, can be a kind and subtle thing.
Bitless bridles, incorrectly fitted or used, can inflict pain.
As long as the horses welfare is the first priority, here are very few things that are “absolutely right” or “absolutely wrong”.
how do i choose the wright bitless bridle. he will be ready for one soon. keep your tips comming. thanks rick
Just want to say I agree with the feed and the change it can make in a horse. Had a 35 year old thoroughbred and people usually thought he was 16 years old, I wish….. 😆
I’m first time owner, rescued mare and foal, have no idea how to wean foal. Max is now 4 months old (dob 9 July) when can I start weaning and how long does it take, I do not have large property, but have 2 camps to seperate mom and foal, when do I start seperating them? I also have 2 Ponies, shall I put ponie with mom and foal so they are not lonely? How long before I can put them in same camp again. and when do I start feeding mom normal food (currently on stud pallets) tx for your site, really helps alot
After my mare took her first foal back and was nursing him again after being apart for 3 mos, I asked one of the old timers when and how to wean, was told to wean by the moon, at the sign of the thigh, it worked and she’s had several more foals and never taken them back once weaned
Hi Al,
I would like to purchase your book, A Quick Guide to Horse Whispering. My question is: will I get the hard copy or do I have to download It off the website? I love your website and really enjoy reading all the wonderful stories and anecdotes.
Svein
what is the best hay and grain feed for my new 12 year old mare,I am a new owner and want the best for my Flicka
I want to buy your book but I don’t know where on my computer to find it, store it, or get back to it whenever I choose. HELP??
All this talk about bit less bristles a I just have to speak up. Every horse is different. Mine won’t let me on if his saddle isn’t just right and won’t use a broken bit or bit less.I’m his first rider and he’s very attached to me even though my husband and kids feed and care for him more than I am able to. He is young so I try new things but he just wants to be dressed as I first trained him. Bits are only hurtful if person using it don’t know how to be gentle. I guess it maybe because I steer more with leg pressure or neck pats than reins. My point is its not the bit it’s the rider that hurts the mouth. Just like he would rather have shoes on than not. If you know your horse then you well know what they prefer.I have a mare who hates bits and shoes so that’s how kids ride her but she has to have a saddle our other mare wants bit but no saddle. Each horse is rode the way they prefer 4 different horses 3 different styles of dress.2 boys trained the same to mares each with their own style . Just had to put that out their people could get hurt if they know very little and follow your suggestion as the rule instead of your suggestion.
This is directed at Bonnie about the comment on switching hay sources. I find that quite interesting. Can you further explain the differences I the hay sources you had your horse on and then what you switched to from the new source. ❓
I have been the very proud owner of a beautiful 4yr old chesnut thoroubred mare and I just found out this too as I was tryin to save a few dollars by feeding grass hay until i started noticin behavior changes not to mention a slight drop in weight so I found a good quality hay and now shes back to her same ol self….P.S. I truly enjoy and apreciate all the daily tips sent to my e mail…THNX.
Hi, I need advise on how to stop my mare from sometimes deciding to stop quick, dance around go forward and then back up for quite a distance, and then start over again. I have put her in a circle, and when she comes out of this she`ll start again. Most of the time she starts this when her buddy is out of site, but has shown this when she is scared, and does not want to go on. Does any one have any advise? I so far have always eventually got her to stop, but I`m afraid this behavior might escalate to something I can`t handle. I have only had herfor 2 months. Can someone advise me quickly?
Good tips I enjoy reading them
Thanks
I want to tell you how much I really love your page is so informative to a lot of people it’s a great idea I wish you stay with it and it is I’ve had horses for years but I still learning things now and then . I just got an Apple iPod and I’m not used to it I think by mistake I unsubscribes somehow but I want you to know that I will would love you to reinstall my subscription please. Looking forward to future emails thank you. 😛
Bonnie, what hay source did you switch to? I too have an older mare and would like to know the secret to prolonging her health and life.
Hi
I would just like to know if it is true that field horses are not allowed to eat green grass as it will make them sick. Not too much in fact. I am new Have to horses, 1 eight month and 1 two and a half yrs old.
❓
Bonnie, we adopt Jack a 25 year old boy. Little old but the spirit is perfect. His legs are not good and miss some steps some times and his blue yes has had better days. But I love him to bits. Its my first horse and I’m very green to all of this. Please help me on some tips on feeding him what and specially his hoofs. He sleeps at night in a shelter but during the day have a big area he can walk and eat grass. 17:00 day he would stand at the gate ready to go to bed. 🙂
Anyone have any ideas for forming a bond with an older(18 years) horse who ever so politely snubbs people? It’s hard for me to enjoy a horse that won’t bond with a human. I don’t want it based on treats. That’s not a true bond.