Post by catherine on Aug 25, 2008 17:39:46 GMT -5
Hey folks...
I'm a rank noobie about horses. I have 3 children in NEED of a good horse or two, so I need advice on how to progress.
I grew up with access to a neighbor's horse, who was never ridden by anyone but me, and was told I had a "natural seat". Our 15 yr. old DS and 10 yr. old DD have had a few riding lessons and horse camps over the years, and have done well, and loved their mounts. Our youngest is 6 and is seriously handicapped. We did a bit of Hippotherapy with him when we were close to a therapeutic stable, but don't have one close now. It was amazing to learn how a horse's walking gait is very close to that of a person, and how riding can be invaluable in helping a handicapped child regain head/trunk control and even walking ability, not to mention the joy and self-confidence that contact with a big gentle animal that also makes him "big" can give! Our little guy who's 6, but more the size of a 3-4 yr. old, has fairly good head control now, but needs to be supported by a co-rider so he can sit the horse, while one or two other people handle the horse's head. I got to thinking I should write you guys for advice after reading KK's post about her horse, Ranger, who would stop when she tried to post because he thought she'd lost her balance! That's precisely what these therapy horses do, too!
Anyway, I'm just beginning to start learning what would be involved in keeping a horse or two and thought you guys might have some good advice, on that, as well as what qualities I should be looking for in a therapeutic horse, that could also be ridden by the rest of the family. We have 40 acres, 20 in woods, 20 in open pastures. We are practicing MiG with our herd of 12 cows, and we have all the other farm critters, too. We don't yet live on the property, but are doing our best to get our house in town fixed up to put on the market (hopefully for a Spring sale) and get living quarters sorted out at the Farm for us. We hope to be basically living out there by December, when our Jersey heifer, Elsie, is due to calve, but in the meantime, we live about a 30 minutes drive away.
I understand that horses and cows don't usually get along well together, but many of you seem to have worked that problem out. I gather that horses eat a LOT more hay than cows, and are harder on pastures, as well. We've had a neighbor lease our pasture in the past, and he had a small herd of Angus on the place, and one horse, Hattie who never got any attention or special feed. She was on pasture and grass, same as the cattle. My sister is all freaked about our even considering owning horses because she's seen stabled horses that are so incredibly tricky and finicky to maintain, but my theory is that the more naturally either cows or horses are kept, the better? Cows kept in confinement dairies have to have their diets strictly micromanaged, but on pasture with free choice supplements, ours do just fine. I'm thinking the same thing would hold true with horses?
So, I'm in need of some good horse mentors, that might also have some experience with therapy horses. Any advice will be most appreciated. Thanks Guys!
P.S. I didn't mention that the kids have had a "horse savings account" for several years, now. My Mom, from whom we've inherited the Farm, told them that she'd put up $100 for every $200 they saved towards a horse. She blanched (LOL) when she found out they'd saved $400 cash from mowing our lawn for the last few summers, but she came through with her promised $200! They had saved up an additional $200 when she passed away last July, and I've made good for her, so they now have about $900 in the bank (and with their approval, I've earmarked another $600 towards their "horse chest", since they decided they'd rather their own horse than to go to "camp" for a week with their cousins this year), and we'll pay for the therapeutic horse for our little guy, Iain, when we find it. My son told me the other day that much as he loves all our animals, he'd really like for our next animal purchase to be a horse, at long last. We have looked at Morgans, but that's the extent of our "shopping", so far.
I'm a rank noobie about horses. I have 3 children in NEED of a good horse or two, so I need advice on how to progress.
I grew up with access to a neighbor's horse, who was never ridden by anyone but me, and was told I had a "natural seat". Our 15 yr. old DS and 10 yr. old DD have had a few riding lessons and horse camps over the years, and have done well, and loved their mounts. Our youngest is 6 and is seriously handicapped. We did a bit of Hippotherapy with him when we were close to a therapeutic stable, but don't have one close now. It was amazing to learn how a horse's walking gait is very close to that of a person, and how riding can be invaluable in helping a handicapped child regain head/trunk control and even walking ability, not to mention the joy and self-confidence that contact with a big gentle animal that also makes him "big" can give! Our little guy who's 6, but more the size of a 3-4 yr. old, has fairly good head control now, but needs to be supported by a co-rider so he can sit the horse, while one or two other people handle the horse's head. I got to thinking I should write you guys for advice after reading KK's post about her horse, Ranger, who would stop when she tried to post because he thought she'd lost her balance! That's precisely what these therapy horses do, too!
Anyway, I'm just beginning to start learning what would be involved in keeping a horse or two and thought you guys might have some good advice, on that, as well as what qualities I should be looking for in a therapeutic horse, that could also be ridden by the rest of the family. We have 40 acres, 20 in woods, 20 in open pastures. We are practicing MiG with our herd of 12 cows, and we have all the other farm critters, too. We don't yet live on the property, but are doing our best to get our house in town fixed up to put on the market (hopefully for a Spring sale) and get living quarters sorted out at the Farm for us. We hope to be basically living out there by December, when our Jersey heifer, Elsie, is due to calve, but in the meantime, we live about a 30 minutes drive away.
I understand that horses and cows don't usually get along well together, but many of you seem to have worked that problem out. I gather that horses eat a LOT more hay than cows, and are harder on pastures, as well. We've had a neighbor lease our pasture in the past, and he had a small herd of Angus on the place, and one horse, Hattie who never got any attention or special feed. She was on pasture and grass, same as the cattle. My sister is all freaked about our even considering owning horses because she's seen stabled horses that are so incredibly tricky and finicky to maintain, but my theory is that the more naturally either cows or horses are kept, the better? Cows kept in confinement dairies have to have their diets strictly micromanaged, but on pasture with free choice supplements, ours do just fine. I'm thinking the same thing would hold true with horses?
So, I'm in need of some good horse mentors, that might also have some experience with therapy horses. Any advice will be most appreciated. Thanks Guys!
P.S. I didn't mention that the kids have had a "horse savings account" for several years, now. My Mom, from whom we've inherited the Farm, told them that she'd put up $100 for every $200 they saved towards a horse. She blanched (LOL) when she found out they'd saved $400 cash from mowing our lawn for the last few summers, but she came through with her promised $200! They had saved up an additional $200 when she passed away last July, and I've made good for her, so they now have about $900 in the bank (and with their approval, I've earmarked another $600 towards their "horse chest", since they decided they'd rather their own horse than to go to "camp" for a week with their cousins this year), and we'll pay for the therapeutic horse for our little guy, Iain, when we find it. My son told me the other day that much as he loves all our animals, he'd really like for our next animal purchase to be a horse, at long last. We have looked at Morgans, but that's the extent of our "shopping", so far.
)
I'll report back after another visit or two, esp. if we begin seeing more interesting animals. 
). I'm wondering if the kids and I can go mow her overgrown place, and trim her WAY overgrown hedges in barter, instead. I'm not interested in fancy, high strung, expensive horses like I imagine she raises and would love to sell, but learning more about horses and their care, in general, is all good. When we stepped out of the lady's office, we saw my 11 yr. old DD softly stroking the nose of her chief stallion, through the bars of his stall. I gulped, but the lady was absolutely charmed! She said you wouldn't know he was a stallion from the way he acts. Whew. 
