http://www.funnyphotos.net.au/husband/
Enjoy!!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
"Approved Home", huh?
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1204453478.html
This is a notable case of the seller trying to put one over on themselves. Looking for an 'approved home' is bullshit in the first degree.
When you take in a horse, unless you have some sort of binding contract, you canNOT dictate what happens to the horse the minute it's out of your hands. So, in my book, when I see an ad that someone says the horse must have an approved home, they are just trying to soothe their doubts about what is REALLY going to happen to their former horses.
My basic thoughts are, if it's my horse and I want to shoot him and put him in the freezer, then I can. As an aside, I wouldn't put a horse in the freezer no matter what but am stating this to make my point, so no hystrionics about this, okay?
So, when I take a horse on the pretext of an approved home, who's to say that I'll keep him there? I've actually bought horses that the seller had to check out the barn I was moving the horse into!! After talking with some friends, I didn't fight it, just let the seller look to make themselves feel better but there was nothing to prevent me from turning right around and selling to a kill buyer. (No, I wouldn't do that but again, making a point)
Actually, the Arab in the ad isn't that bad from what I can tell from the horrible pic. The price isn't stated but with the 'approved home' thing, you can bet, the seller thinks he has something really special there. The yearling is flat icky. A good worming would do wonders. If this colt is soooo special, why hasnt' he been taken care of, but I digress. He should be gelded on the way to the new home and he might make a nice plunk-around horse.
Okay, got that off my chest! Now, go ride your honey-dumpling horse!!
This is a notable case of the seller trying to put one over on themselves. Looking for an 'approved home' is bullshit in the first degree.
When you take in a horse, unless you have some sort of binding contract, you canNOT dictate what happens to the horse the minute it's out of your hands. So, in my book, when I see an ad that someone says the horse must have an approved home, they are just trying to soothe their doubts about what is REALLY going to happen to their former horses.
My basic thoughts are, if it's my horse and I want to shoot him and put him in the freezer, then I can. As an aside, I wouldn't put a horse in the freezer no matter what but am stating this to make my point, so no hystrionics about this, okay?
So, when I take a horse on the pretext of an approved home, who's to say that I'll keep him there? I've actually bought horses that the seller had to check out the barn I was moving the horse into!! After talking with some friends, I didn't fight it, just let the seller look to make themselves feel better but there was nothing to prevent me from turning right around and selling to a kill buyer. (No, I wouldn't do that but again, making a point)
Actually, the Arab in the ad isn't that bad from what I can tell from the horrible pic. The price isn't stated but with the 'approved home' thing, you can bet, the seller thinks he has something really special there. The yearling is flat icky. A good worming would do wonders. If this colt is soooo special, why hasnt' he been taken care of, but I digress. He should be gelded on the way to the new home and he might make a nice plunk-around horse.
Okay, got that off my chest! Now, go ride your honey-dumpling horse!!
Downright Stoopid Ad
http://medford.craigslist.org/grd/1204493124.html
An unbroke, in-foal mustang mare for light 'ridding' (whatever the hell that is...geez, learn basic spelling...) or for kids??? Honestly?? Registered as what? Who exactly is the sire?? What's HE done, other than knock up a plain, icky mare??
This is NOT a kids horse!! I'm thinking that the seller could be liable legally if they are selling her as a kids horse and a kid got seriously hurt or even hurt. Of course, this goes back to what I have said in the past, a buyer should be smart enough to do due diligence and know this isn't a good match for a kid but in today's market, people still seem to think that the seller should watch out for the buyer's interests. So, whichever way you think, just know this is NOT a kid's horse or anything similar to her. (I was so annoyed when I saw the ad that I posted here before getting all my thoughts together!! Hence, the ETA part)
Only One Thousand American Dollars 'rehoming fee' and she can be YOURS...
Damn... (Do you guys get the sarcasm here?)
An unbroke, in-foal mustang mare for light 'ridding' (whatever the hell that is...geez, learn basic spelling...) or for kids??? Honestly?? Registered as what? Who exactly is the sire?? What's HE done, other than knock up a plain, icky mare??
This is NOT a kids horse!! I'm thinking that the seller could be liable legally if they are selling her as a kids horse and a kid got seriously hurt or even hurt. Of course, this goes back to what I have said in the past, a buyer should be smart enough to do due diligence and know this isn't a good match for a kid but in today's market, people still seem to think that the seller should watch out for the buyer's interests. So, whichever way you think, just know this is NOT a kid's horse or anything similar to her. (I was so annoyed when I saw the ad that I posted here before getting all my thoughts together!! Hence, the ETA part)
Only One Thousand American Dollars 'rehoming fee' and she can be YOURS...
Damn... (Do you guys get the sarcasm here?)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Locking Eyes With Your Horse
This is something I've never been able to do. I keep hearing from TV trainers and everyday trainers that you need to catch your horse's 'eye' and you'll have some sort of power over him.
To this day, my horses didn't read the book or watch that program. Catching their eye so I can catch them seems to make them want to move away from me. I have far greater luck when I want to catch someone who's loose in a corral by walking up to his point of shoulder (the lower end of his scapula that is forward pointing) and putting the lead around his neck, then putting on the halter.
Of course, my horses know that when I walk around with a halter and lead, they better plant it and wait for me to grab 'em. I don't hold with a horse walking off from me and I've been known to walk a horse down (that means following at a walk till the horse stops and faces you, basically giving in) for several hours and then we don't have that problem again. Ever. But it all goes back to walking up to the shoulder, not catching their eyes and locking with them.
They know I'm there and what I want and do keep a bit of eye on me while I'm fooling around them or around the barn. I do want them to know I'm around and where I am but I don't want in their face and be threatening.
If this works for you, then by all means, go for it. I don't get it... :-)
To this day, my horses didn't read the book or watch that program. Catching their eye so I can catch them seems to make them want to move away from me. I have far greater luck when I want to catch someone who's loose in a corral by walking up to his point of shoulder (the lower end of his scapula that is forward pointing) and putting the lead around his neck, then putting on the halter.
Of course, my horses know that when I walk around with a halter and lead, they better plant it and wait for me to grab 'em. I don't hold with a horse walking off from me and I've been known to walk a horse down (that means following at a walk till the horse stops and faces you, basically giving in) for several hours and then we don't have that problem again. Ever. But it all goes back to walking up to the shoulder, not catching their eyes and locking with them.
They know I'm there and what I want and do keep a bit of eye on me while I'm fooling around them or around the barn. I do want them to know I'm around and where I am but I don't want in their face and be threatening.
If this works for you, then by all means, go for it. I don't get it... :-)
Regular Feeding Times??
This is something I've been meaning to post about but got sidetracked because of the email and trainer posts, so here goes.
By and large, I'm not a fan of super regular feeding times. It's been my experience that as long as I get out to feed within a certain time period every morning and evening, the horses do fine.
Now I have friends who would rather DIE if they deviated even 10 minutes (no kidding) about feeding. But it seems to me, when a horse is soooo regulated, they get kind of like Pavlov's dogs and start acting up in the barn, such as pawing and kicking maybe, when the internal clock goes off in their grapefruit-sized brain. I think horse's know what time you feed if it's a really regular time.
My way, when I go to the barn, I may fiddle around a bit or I may even be 'late' getting there or better yet, from the horse's point of view, feeding earlier in the morning. Keeping them a bit off balance and not anticipating when their feed is going to hit the bucket is way better to me. Also, if something comes along, such as an emergency or an important event, you almost know that your horse isn't going to go nuclear and hurt himself if feed is a little late.
What do I mean by 'within a certain time period'? In my book, give or take an hour at the very most, excluding emergencies. I used to be the right-on-time feeder till I watched a friend of mine who didn't ever get out to feed till around 10a.m. every morning and she never had a problem with hungry horses acting up. She fed late in the day too with plenty of hay and all was fine.
I do feed a lot of hay as I want my horses to 'graze' as I don't have pasture right now and I want them to keep busy and not concentrate on the feed time.
Another thing, when you feed late or at 'odd' times, you have a chance to watch your horse as he moves around the corral or stall or whatever you have him cooped up and make sure things are okay before you throw feed and hay. He's not going to stand at the fence and bang on it or pace or act abnormal, he'll just know in his mind that feed will get there and don't sweat the small stuff.
I'm sure you'll find all sorts of studies that say to feed at the same time every day but in my practical experience, it's not the best way for me or my horse(s).
Get out there and enjoy that caballo!! :-)
By and large, I'm not a fan of super regular feeding times. It's been my experience that as long as I get out to feed within a certain time period every morning and evening, the horses do fine.
Now I have friends who would rather DIE if they deviated even 10 minutes (no kidding) about feeding. But it seems to me, when a horse is soooo regulated, they get kind of like Pavlov's dogs and start acting up in the barn, such as pawing and kicking maybe, when the internal clock goes off in their grapefruit-sized brain. I think horse's know what time you feed if it's a really regular time.
My way, when I go to the barn, I may fiddle around a bit or I may even be 'late' getting there or better yet, from the horse's point of view, feeding earlier in the morning. Keeping them a bit off balance and not anticipating when their feed is going to hit the bucket is way better to me. Also, if something comes along, such as an emergency or an important event, you almost know that your horse isn't going to go nuclear and hurt himself if feed is a little late.
What do I mean by 'within a certain time period'? In my book, give or take an hour at the very most, excluding emergencies. I used to be the right-on-time feeder till I watched a friend of mine who didn't ever get out to feed till around 10a.m. every morning and she never had a problem with hungry horses acting up. She fed late in the day too with plenty of hay and all was fine.
I do feed a lot of hay as I want my horses to 'graze' as I don't have pasture right now and I want them to keep busy and not concentrate on the feed time.
Another thing, when you feed late or at 'odd' times, you have a chance to watch your horse as he moves around the corral or stall or whatever you have him cooped up and make sure things are okay before you throw feed and hay. He's not going to stand at the fence and bang on it or pace or act abnormal, he'll just know in his mind that feed will get there and don't sweat the small stuff.
I'm sure you'll find all sorts of studies that say to feed at the same time every day but in my practical experience, it's not the best way for me or my horse(s).
Get out there and enjoy that caballo!! :-)
The Email Thing
I'm about to chunk the thing and try hotmail or something. I can only access horseinfoperson@yahoo.com sporadically even though I have other yahoo emails that do just fine.
The gremlins are afoot, I just know it! Don't know if it has to do with my now-dial-up but if you've sent me an email and I'm slow to get back to you, please know I'm not ignoring you, just can't 'do' the email. *sigh*
The gremlins are afoot, I just know it! Don't know if it has to do with my now-dial-up but if you've sent me an email and I'm slow to get back to you, please know I'm not ignoring you, just can't 'do' the email. *sigh*
Need To Clarify About The 'Trainer' Post
I'm re-doing this post. I don't know why this bugs me, but it does.
Starving a horse down is not normal and I thought the practice had died out a long time ago but apparently, still happens at least this once. Years ago, people used to supply feed to their trainers instead of paying a flat fee and a lot of the feed was diverted to other horses. In my view, paying the flat fee is the way to go but that's not what I'm writing about right now.
Trainers are in the biz to make money and even saying something generally can get people to go elsewhere for their needs and hurt the 'trainers' business. The response that I allowed to be posted is correct in that I and any other blogger has to be careful to not hurt someone's business, no matter what it is.
So, rest assured, I do not target people and only use generalities in referring to trainers. I handled the situation personally but felt that maybe some owners didn't/don't know what to expect and so posted about it. This situation really got my goat. I guess I let the post get too personal because I was extremely bugged so I'll try and watch that from now on.
Another concern which I didn't realize, this blog started out on Craigslist as a regional thing but I know horsepeople from almost all over the world and talk to them quite a bit, dial-up or not. Just because I'm posting about something doesn't mean it's local to southern Oregon or even the PNW. Also, in the space/time continuim (sp?) things may have happened a while ago (or years) or yesterday. I have tried to keep things sort of generic.
Okay, the rambling has started so going to let it go...if I can... :-)
Starving a horse down is not normal and I thought the practice had died out a long time ago but apparently, still happens at least this once. Years ago, people used to supply feed to their trainers instead of paying a flat fee and a lot of the feed was diverted to other horses. In my view, paying the flat fee is the way to go but that's not what I'm writing about right now.
Trainers are in the biz to make money and even saying something generally can get people to go elsewhere for their needs and hurt the 'trainers' business. The response that I allowed to be posted is correct in that I and any other blogger has to be careful to not hurt someone's business, no matter what it is.
So, rest assured, I do not target people and only use generalities in referring to trainers. I handled the situation personally but felt that maybe some owners didn't/don't know what to expect and so posted about it. This situation really got my goat. I guess I let the post get too personal because I was extremely bugged so I'll try and watch that from now on.
Another concern which I didn't realize, this blog started out on Craigslist as a regional thing but I know horsepeople from almost all over the world and talk to them quite a bit, dial-up or not. Just because I'm posting about something doesn't mean it's local to southern Oregon or even the PNW. Also, in the space/time continuim (sp?) things may have happened a while ago (or years) or yesterday. I have tried to keep things sort of generic.
Okay, the rambling has started so going to let it go...if I can... :-)
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