tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post3290681420215918403..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: AfricaMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-79620516453927314282008-10-09T21:01:00.000-06:002008-10-09T21:01:00.000-06:00Yea--that phrase came from the owner. Anyways this...Yea--that phrase came from the owner. Anyways this horse cam be toatlly fine one minute and the nexted trying to rip the post out of the ground. The round penning and desensitizing would be to teach him the forward movement and that not every think wants to eat him. He is an extremly disrespectful horse, he will walk all over you to get back to his buddies. This is the only time I have everworked with this horse, so I am just looking for input. I was going to try tieing him to a tree with about 5 or 6 lead rope and leave him there while I work.~FreedomRider~https://www.blogger.com/profile/01825313311241128092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-39139943070178701092008-10-09T10:16:00.000-06:002008-10-09T10:16:00.000-06:00lasting light-you're horse is aggressive to other ...lasting light-you're horse is aggressive to other horse because he is dominant over them. He also knows he's a horse. Which means he doesn't translate his behavior towards people. He knows he is expected to respect all people. That's the way it should be. Always.Sounds like you have a good horse.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-43578363545127566162008-10-09T06:39:00.000-06:002008-10-09T06:39:00.000-06:00Just a response to the comment about why keep hors...Just a response to the comment about why keep horses in separate pens. I do this because I get tired of them dinging themselves up and though I haven't experienced any severe injuries from keeping horses together in big pens or paddocks (which I have done, many times over the years) I do know of horses that were very severely injured that way. And its hard to make sure each horse gets an appropriate amount to eat when they're kept together. So, currently I keep the saddle horses each in their own pen. And mugwump is so right. Its always the ones you value that get hurt (that's why I keep em separate).Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-90790443841136052452008-10-08T13:31:00.000-06:002008-10-08T13:31:00.000-06:00Ezra- Perfect! Keep at it, it will work.justaplain...Ezra- Perfect! Keep at it, it will work.<BR/>justaplainsam- I'll get my bitting segment done I swear.....<BR/>sydney-bolters are the worst as far as I'm concerned. That will take an entire post....I'll get there.<BR/>Lasting Light- What's your favorute forum?mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-48270491857080819762008-10-08T12:44:00.000-06:002008-10-08T12:44:00.000-06:00Mugs, this is how I found your blog: Someone on m...Mugs, this is how I found your blog: Someone on my favourite forum referred to Fugly Horse of the Day, from where I went to Very Large Colt, which has a link to you!<BR/><BR/>I would <B>never</B> put my horse in a stall/stable that is completely enclosed. I think that is cruel. In our current setup at night he is in a stable with a tubular metal gate, two rows of stables facing each other so the horses can see and hear each other. <BR/><BR/>My problem with 24/7 group turnout if my horse has to be fed concentrates, is that he is a glutton and a bully. If he has access to other horses' food he will chase them away and eat it. <BR/><BR/>Actually this personality trait raises another question I've been wondering about. Why would my horse be really friendly with people, extremely tolerant of my 6 year old daughter, yet aggressive towards other horses except for his special buddies?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-67872496074170086522008-10-08T12:24:00.000-06:002008-10-08T12:24:00.000-06:00Hey mugs, another question. How would you go about...Hey mugs, another question. How would you go about re-training a confirmed bolter?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523660446608394720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-61348873490777948202008-10-08T11:16:00.000-06:002008-10-08T11:16:00.000-06:00fd, yeah, we tried riding alone and with other hor...fd, yeah, we tried riding alone and with other horses in there. She still runs laps around everyone, even our other 23ish year old mare who cares about nothing and is calm as heck. She had 5 geldings running full fledge across their pasture right at her with only a little thin wire fence between them and she didn't even blink. My mare on the other hand, we were at the other end of the arena, like way far away, and she was prancing around, head in the sky, just waiting. She calmed down right away, but that's how she is and indoor she just goes goes goes. So I'm working on the relaxing inside after a good outside workout. Yesterday went ok, but took her awhile to calm down just stand for a second. She kept balking, even on a loose rein at a walk and kept prancing with her head in the air, ears straight up and forward. Just wouldn't calm down. Finally when she did drop her head and slow a little(after about 15-20 minutes) I stopped her and hopped off and loosened the cinch like mugs said. Gave her a pat and off we went to eat. Hopefully it will take less and less time. <BR/><BR/>Her old stall, where was never let out of, was on the end where no one walked much and the walls were solid slats. She could see through the cracks, but not much. Her stall now has the wire grating so she can see EVERYTHING that's going on and she's on a corner where almost everyone walks by so she's got lots to see and occupy her. I don't know if she just doesn't like the big space with walls because she doesn't know what might be on the other side or what. I don't think she's herdbound as when I take her away to ride outside by myself, she's ok. Doesn't call out or look for other horses, just plods along minding her own business.ezra_pandorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04626213285612235702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-1675744788108258382008-10-08T09:45:00.000-06:002008-10-08T09:45:00.000-06:00I got a question for ya! How do you do your progr...I got a question for ya! How do you do your progression of bits? I noice that you said snaffle, boasal, bit ect. but im really intrested in the bosal-snaffle thing. Ive never really used them, and was looking for some background on them. Like how are the cues different (to bump or not to bump) when do you decide a horse is ready for it/ready for somthing else? Ive used a side pull if that helps....<BR/><BR/>Ive progressed horses with bits but ive skiped the bosal because my lack of knowledge but Im going to congress in a week and I'd like to pick up a good one if I knew what one is! any tips/tools that you could pass on? Thanks!Justaplainsamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399124494395034612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-31757068309737956402008-10-08T09:37:00.000-06:002008-10-08T09:37:00.000-06:00I love your blog, it is so interesting and you hav...I love your blog, it is so interesting and you have so much knowledge.<BR/><BR/>My horses are let outside every morning by 6am, they get their stalls cleaned and come back in around dinner time for their feeding and they stay inside at night. I just feel safer with them inside at night. My one is a weaver from his previous life of living at a training facility but has gotten a TON better with his new set up and seems quite content and happy. He only weaves occationally and usually it is because he wants FOOD! He is kind of a big piggy.<BR/><BR/>Blankets I use them only when I have to. I have them just in case but prefer not to use them, they can be dangerous outside if ripped and hanging off to one side. I am also a bit person. My one horse will ride in a hackamore as well or a sidepull, the other I wouldn't even try I don't think, maybe in an indoor arena to be safe first.hope4morehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16406204960272774108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-29282227435051620112008-10-08T08:49:00.000-06:002008-10-08T08:49:00.000-06:00Mugs - A rig is the UK word for cryptorchid: a ho...Mugs - A rig is the UK word for cryptorchid: a horse that has apparently been gelded, but has one, or two retained testicles.<BR/><BR/>You know - I agree with you, that you should be able to do anything with a stallion that you could with a gelding, but I personally wouldn't trust a stallion in quite the same way - and I say this when I used to have a morning post-ride cuddle routine with my 18hh Dutch WB breeding stallion. I'd sit on the shavings bank and he'd lie down and put his head in my lap while I drank my coffee.<BR/><BR/>They are generally just that bit sharper, and more likely to take advantage than a gelding. I was brought up with the old adage: "You tell a gelding, ask a mare, discuss it with a stallion." I don't believe in that; mine all do as a say, period. However, I do automatically take more care with a stallion, especially unfamiliar ones.<BR/><BR/>ezra - I believe horses can be claustrophobic, or a least afraid of enclosed spaces. But as yours is stallable, I would say that the issue with the indoor is more a training issue - or maybe herdboundness - is she like that with other hoses in the indoor with her?<BR/>I've had a horse come to us as claustophobic before - snow weight had caved in the roof on his (closed upper door) box stall. They didn't find him till morning, still trapped under the wreckage. You could get him into the stall - shaking and sweating all the way, but if you shut the top door, he'd go berserk. That's the only genuine case I've come across - all the others were naughtiness / pilot error.FDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485030894416936129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-35181712377151643222008-10-08T08:45:00.000-06:002008-10-08T08:45:00.000-06:00Rig is yet another term for retained testicle....Rig is yet another term for retained testicle....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-2519879427922945812008-10-08T08:22:00.000-06:002008-10-08T08:22:00.000-06:00If I had my way, and the room, I would probably do...If I had my way, and the room, I would probably do the pen/shed arrangement Laura Crum has for my really expensive horses. They could socialize over the pipe rail that separated them, and I'd be OK. Because I can't tell you how nervous it makes me to have my yellow horse running loose. It is a fact(fate) of life that the value of any given horse directly correlates with the extent of the injury they're going to sustain.<BR/>freedomrider- I'd get the proud cut label out of my head. If he was a stud I'd expect him to act like a gelding, so there is no difference in my mind. I'm not going to quibble about definitions, I know what you mean, and he doesn't get to be that way. I'm not sure what round penning and desensitizing has to do with sucking back. If I had a horse with this issue I would tie him up and he would stay that way until he got over himself.(See my Captain story) I know the risks. I also know how dangerous a horse like you describe can be. <BR/>While he was spending his life tied I would be working intensely on his ground manners. I would have mares in heat, or just other horses, tied as close to him as I could without getting anybody killed. I would ignore his behavior when I wasn't near, but would make it very clear that when I was around he was required to stand quiet, focus on me, and behave like a 30 year old dude horse while I was anywhere near him.<BR/>Same for when I lead him. <BR/>Same for when I'm on him.<BR/>Be very careful.<BR/>fd- What the hell is a rig?mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-49295550726202443782008-10-08T07:10:00.000-06:002008-10-08T07:10:00.000-06:00Cryptorchid = funny word for retained testicle! W...Cryptorchid = funny word for retained testicle! With gelding procedures what they are in modern times "proud cut" really doesn't happen. Proud cut in my understanding is an old timer's word meaning not all the testicular tissue was removed during the gelding process. I have seen many gelding procedures not likely this could happen in a horse with both testis that have descended. I think that phrase is also coined when talking about a stud-ish acting gelding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-16196019177331661182008-10-08T06:27:00.000-06:002008-10-08T06:27:00.000-06:00Freedomrider, what'd you mean proudcut? Is your h...Freedomrider, what'd you mean proudcut? Is your horse a rig? Because 'proudcut' is a fallacy. Your horse is a stallion, a rig, or a gelding. <BR/><BR/>I suit what I do to where I am, the climate, what the facilities are and what I require.<BR/><BR/>Ideally, my horses would live out 24/7 in small groups with a run in shed for shelter if they want it. <BR/><BR/>However, that's not practical for a lot of horses in heavy work, or certain competitive disciplines. So, next best is the 50/50 option - flipping day/night depending on the season.<BR/><BR/>I really, really believe in turnout for keeping horses sane and happy. I know I'm lucky, that I've never had to do so, (other than injury) but I never want to have keep horses in 24/7 as regular form of life for them. I think if that was my only option? I'd move. Or sell them. I believe it that strongly.<BR/><BR/>As for blanketing - mugs is right - if you're just talking cold, then as long as they have the calories they need, then blankets are not needed. People often underestimate how many calories they do need when it's really cold though.<BR/><BR/>However, if you are doing things like riding / grooming / bathing your horse, then sorry, but you DO need to provide them with shelter / rugs when it's wet and cold. All these activities strip the oils from their coats, and remove the waterproofing. That gone, they will get chilled, and then they will lose weight and they they will get sick. <BR/><BR/>Oregonsunshine - that's why if it's cold, I don't hold with turning out a wet/sweaty horse after it's been worked. If it's warm, then NP.FDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485030894416936129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-33664884154827122842008-10-07T20:51:00.000-06:002008-10-07T20:51:00.000-06:00I blanket because my horse tends to be cold-backed...I blanket because my horse tends to be cold-backed and the winters get damp and cold here. I've gone into the barn and it can be colder than the outdoors.<BR/><BR/>Also, due to timing of my rides, I clip Miss M in the winter for ease in cooling out after a work. Even with a cooler that adds time to my nights.<BR/><BR/>We tried going without a fly sheet this summer--she just got eaten up and now we're dealing with sweet itch. Not gonna do that again, for sure!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-90551537224013772142008-10-07T20:17:00.000-06:002008-10-07T20:17:00.000-06:00Sorry about the errors, I am tired.Sorry about the errors, I am tired.~FreedomRider~https://www.blogger.com/profile/01825313311241128092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-40104651960644603922008-10-07T20:13:00.000-06:002008-10-07T20:13:00.000-06:00Hey mugwump I have a question.I work with horses a...Hey mugwump I have a question.<BR/>I work with horses and right now I have a 7 year old "proud cut" gelding, I am working with, that has an extreme pulling back problem. What I was thinking of trying was go back to the beginning and start all over, desensitizing, round penning, you know the whole works? what do you think. This horse has pretty much pull and 4ft deep post out of the ground. He has been retrained to ride twice,but not ridden in 4 year. He bucks and spooks and freaks. I don't know what else to do. I have a blog at www.trainingsweetness.blogspot.com~FreedomRider~https://www.blogger.com/profile/01825313311241128092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-73178054871320769962008-10-07T20:02:00.000-06:002008-10-07T20:02:00.000-06:00I'm surprised at how many people keep horses in se...I'm surprised at how many people keep horses in seperate paddocks and pens for fear of injury. I've always run horses together, from smaller bands up to bigger ones of 25+ out on 30 acres without any major injuries, at least from each other. There's some scuffs and scrapes, and introducing new horses takes some time and safe care, but they've always settled things out and are fine.<BR/><BR/>As long as they have the room to get away from each other, I find they will. A picked on horse will run out to the point the aggressor will back off and return. Someone will usually wander out to hang with the picked on horse, and together they mosey back to the herd. I can't imagine not seeing them out together, head to tail swishing flies off each others faces, grooming each other, or playing.<BR/><BR/>Right now, we have 8 horses in a 3 acre paddock. There are smaller paddocks about 1 1/2 acres, and all 8 go into one for "mud season", otherwise we split them up in groups of 3 or 4. There's a wad of ponies and an older horse out in one of the smaller paddocks, no real issues there either.Rhovahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699482930732661026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-17652520285111231142008-10-07T19:22:00.000-06:002008-10-07T19:22:00.000-06:00Michigan here...Summer fly masks (w/ear covering) ...Michigan here...<BR/><BR/>Summer fly masks (w/ear covering) and fly sheets...my mare reacts to bug bites with big welts, so I do what I can. This year the misquitos were awful...even strong repellant didn't help. My mini didn't need any..he still has a heavy coat (suspect Cushings, will see in the spring as he's also had an awful diet) but did get his fly mask because the flys bothered his missing eye (it tears up). <BR/><BR/>I put a turnout sheet on in the winter if it's raining/sleeting as my mare won't come in and gets wet to the skin, and shivers. My border gelding I'll learn about..he's arthritic, older, and has no coat to speak of, while my mare is already getting fuzzy. He also seems to be a hard keeper, but I hope that will settle down once he unwinds - he's very tense right now, and has been stressed for the past 9 years or more - love what people do to horses with talent. <BR/><BR/>I don't blanket unless it's 0 degrees, but I think he'll need it sooner. I also will blanket if it's in the teens or below and there is wind gusting through the barn (they come in after about 12 hrs outside at least..and have the option of getting inside out of the weather if they like). I doubt I"ll do anything with the mini. This will also be the first year I have more than one horse in the barn, so it may be warmer longer.<BR/><BR/>I have 10x12 stalls with half doors, and I put in a large "window" across from their stalls made of lexan so they can look outside when in. It's also an 100 year old dairy barn so it's wide open, airy, and light. My mini's stall has an regular "wire" type gate so he can see out all the time, and his walls are low enough he can see over (I read that mini's get depressed because people put them in regular stalls and they can't see out at all).<BR/><BR/>You really just need to observe your horses and your barn to determine what's best for them. I think that my border would be happiest outside all the time, but I don't trust him at all...he's already pushed open the fence gate (DH didn't chain it shut) and gone for a stroll...<BR/><BR/>Oh...I also pick feet when I bring them in in the winter...I hate having them stand in stalls with iceballs in their hoofs.HorsesAndTurboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607758320356759231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-48281573394665983222008-10-07T18:44:00.000-06:002008-10-07T18:44:00.000-06:00Just thought I would share what we do ... :-)I liv...Just thought I would share what we do ... :-)<BR/><BR/>I live in Australia. MOST horses here are kept outside 90+% of the time. It works. <BR/><BR/>We have stables, well they are pretty open with yards attached and no gates between the stable and adjoining yard - they can be altered pretty easily to make them bigger or smaller or whatever. We have them for if we need them for injury time/when it's raining or whatever. They are also fed in there. The gates are open all the time and the horses can go in and out for cover or whatever they want. <BR/><BR/>We have three paddocks (pastures?) that the horses can live in at any one time. One is left with no animals on it and the other two have two horses. Each of these is about 3 acres with plenty of shade trees and grass. <BR/><BR/>Our horses ALWAYS have rugs on. In summer they have fly mesh combos, some of them have sensitive skin (love thoroughbreds) and need protection from the bugs. They also have rain sheets for when it's really rainy. Spring they have day rug combos and if it's cold they have winter combos on. It never gets under 5 degrees c here, it's not cold. ((My kids pony just LOVES to wreck rugs so this is GREAT))<BR/><BR/>You do have the occasional fence/runnign around injury but not that often. It is good that we have the stables for these times, a lot of people don't seem to have anything. <BR/><BR/>Overall they seem to be happy with what they've got. And we are happy to look after them this way :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15397930952854951412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-76859213407426132492008-10-07T18:05:00.000-06:002008-10-07T18:05:00.000-06:00Misty's mom and all-I'm not telling ANYBODY what t...Misty's mom and all-I'm not telling ANYBODY what to do. I'm telling you what I do. I don't live in a cold, wet, rainy climate.<BR/>The point of this was to share how we handle things......mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-3014047609887492472008-10-07T17:43:00.000-06:002008-10-07T17:43:00.000-06:00About the blanket thing; i'm curious to have your ...About the blanket thing; i'm curious to have your take on this. I live in CA in a part where it doesn't snow, but we get rain. And when it rains, it's cold, clammy, wet, and miserable. My horses are in pasture 24/7 with a tree for shade/wind block. When it rains, my 21 y/o TB gets very, very cold and begins to shiver violently. So he has a lightweight waterproof blanket that he wears only when it rains. I've checked on him in the middle of storms when he has a blanket on, and he's not shivering at all. So, according to you, should i not blanket him, and just let him shiver it out? Please bear in mind that he is also free fed, and even then he's not creating enough body warmth.ImaBronsonBearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02110014674920587654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-91263593133068648922008-10-07T16:29:00.000-06:002008-10-07T16:29:00.000-06:00my mum's 18 year old TB shivers even in a warm rai...my mum's 18 year old TB shivers even in a warm rain, and he drops condition easily so he's blanketed in winter, although not with a super thick rug, even though he doesn't grow much of a coat. the two welsh cobs get very hairy, beards, woolly bellies, the lot, but since there's not much shelter in the fields, especially since our lovely big hawthorn hedge got torn out by the highways agency, they get waterproof rugs by day and stabled at night in winter. As they're all pretty much retired, keeping them happy and interested whilst still safe is definitely the priority. Plus when we got the younger cob as a 5 year old, he hadn't been turned out in a field for at least 2 years, just a sand school for a roll, then immediately bathed and stood under heat lamps. now he's the biggest mud monster of the lot.<BR/><BR/>As for bitting, I like using a short cheek hackamore for hacking and schooling, in fact when i got my second welsh, he'd been overbitted in a fancy show gag from being broken, and was a different, less stressed and more settled ride with a hackamore and quiet hands. My older welsh will go in anything, from a headcollar or a rubber snaffle to a double bridle, but he's very light mouthed so he doesn't need much strength.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386998873768199907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-26694245587167756852008-10-07T15:49:00.000-06:002008-10-07T15:49:00.000-06:00I live in Louisiana and we have 3 months of bitter...I live in Louisiana and we have 3 months of bitter cold - usually December, January and February which are also very rainy and wet. My horses are out 24/7 with a run-in shed. Because it is both damp and wet and because my horses are older, 22 and 18, I blanket when it is going to be 40F or lower. The oldest gets 2 blankets and a neck/hood cover when it will be 30F or lower because though he's QH, the TB is strong in this one and he doesn't grow much winter coat. The red one grows a coat like a curlee so, a lot of times just gets a rain sheet to keep him dry. If it were clear and cold, like when I lived in NM, I wouldn't worry about it, but the damp cold is bad! <BR/><BR/>They respect fences really well - are old and wise and don't want to hurt themselves so they are easy to keep fenced.Redsmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473393390441394419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-25143216939627393672008-10-07T13:48:00.000-06:002008-10-07T13:48:00.000-06:00Ah the blanket issue….I'm sure healthy horses don'...Ah the blanket issue….I'm sure healthy horses don't need them after all they survive in the wild without. That said one of mine will stand out in the cold November rain instead of one of the run-in's soaked to the core ice sickles dripping off of her and shiver so violently it's hard to watch. Cold wet weather mine all get light waterproof rain sheets possibly more for my sake then there's. <BR/><BR/>Maine!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com