The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Horse talk for mature people over 40

2M views 29K replies 352 participants last post by  Blue 
#1 ·
I thought I would start a new thread for people over 40
who love horses.
This thread is open to owners leasers an people who
love horses

I will start I am 48 years old and I never yet owned a horse
mainly because of finances.
I have been around horses most of my life. I have ridden
all kinds of horses first ponies then horses
I have ridden Arab, Quarter Horses, Morgans, Appendix Quarter horses.
Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, American Saddlebreds and Paints and lots of mixed breeds too and all sizes 14hh-17hh
I have ridden both English and western
here is are pictures of me riding my friends Pinto 14hh
and my friends Half Arab

My husband knows how much I would love my own horse so in the spring we are looking in to leasing a horse
 

Attachments

See less See more
2
#25,541 ·
Ooh it feels good to get up and not have to get ready for work! I'm off to the Mane Event this morning for a day of horse everything! There are two dressage clinics / presentations I hope to see. One is classical, the other WD. Also looking, forward to perusing the booths. I wonder what kind of horsey farkles I will find today? I'm driving the truck so the possibilities are endless.:shock::lol: (DH is worried...)

I spoke to the boxer breeder last night. She is doing a formal evaluation on her litter tomorrow to determine which will be show dogs and which will be pets. I should know on Sunday which one she thinks will be suitable for us. She wants me to take a show male, which I am open to, but I don't want to ear crop, so she will have to decide if she has a male that she thinks is correct enough to show natural eared. Unfortunately, cropped ears are still preferred in the show ring here. She thinks she has two non-show females, but it is harder to find show homes than pet homes, so she is hoping we will be a show home. She is trying to get the mother dog (can't use proper term here) a Dam of Merit award from this litter.

As for visiting the pups, she is waiting until after the first vaccination to allow visitors, so hopefully soon. Pups should be ready to go around the third week in May. So excited!

Have a great day / weekend everyone!!
 
#25,543 ·
Hey, I've done this. :evil: DH was NOT happy, but I felt better!
Well, if we are confessing, I will admit to doing it too. Not as much as I wanted too, but I have wacked a few mowers.

They tolerate it quite well.

My current mower is "whack free" and has been sitting in the shed for three years now. If i ever manage to have my yard sale, it will look good and hopefully start up so it can find a new home.
 
#25,544 ·
Yay, Tracey! That sounds like fun...may you happily fill your truck bed (& pictures pleez, of the upcoming treasures).

Looking forward to pictures of the puppy "upcoming Treasure". Hope you & the breeder find the perfect puppy-fit for you & your family.

Happy riding, Rick! Glad your rain is going on it's way.

Nicker, I've been wondering...how did Rainn pick up pink eye in the first place? Is that stuff airborne?

I couldn't deal w/getting up way early to find my way downtown to get a parking place before places were loaded up, so am going to do that early Monday morning. So...getting my laundry & housework done, then will go to the store, then want to work on the butt-popper on the lead rope. (This was my original idea before assistant chief threw in the ringer "you GOTTA go downtown & get that done". Well, Monday will be good enough...& raining anyway.)

There WILL be a sunny (or at least just cloudy) Monday soon!
 
#25,545 ·
This morning it was 30 degrees with a real feel of NINE.. made me not sorry at all to have picked up some hours at work. The "couple hours" turned into a 7 hour shift, but seeing as its still cold and miserable, I didn't mind. Picked up a shift tomorrow too, figuring if I can't be at the ride, I might as well get a paycheck (and Mia's bill is nowhere near paid off yet).

Look forward to hearing more about puppies and tack store shopping trips and riding adventures for the weekend!

:wave:
 
#25,547 ·
Ooh it feels good to get up and not have to get ready for work! I'm off to the Mane Event this morning for a day of horse everything! There are two dressage clinics / presentations I hope to see. One is classical, the other WD. Also looking, forward to perusing the booths. I wonder what kind of horsey farkles I will find today? I'm driving the truck so the possibilities are endless.:shock::lol: (DH is worried...)

I spoke to the boxer breeder last night. She is doing a formal evaluation on her litter tomorrow to determine which will be show dogs and which will be pets. I should know on Sunday which one she thinks will be suitable for us. She wants me to take a show male, which I am open to, but I don't want to ear crop, so she will have to decide if she has a male that she thinks is correct enough to show natural eared. Unfortunately, cropped ears are still preferred in the show ring here. She thinks she has two non-show females, but it is harder to find show homes than pet homes, so she is hoping we will be a show home. She is trying to get the mother dog (can't use proper term here) a Dam of Merit award from this litter.

As for visiting the pups, she is waiting until after the first vaccination to allow visitors, so hopefully soon. Pups should be ready to go around the third week in May. So excited!

Have a great day / weekend everyone!!
Yes you can use the correct terms
A female dog is called a B I t c h
A male dog is called a dog. That term has be directed at me from time to time along with a few others that really can't be mentioned here. In fact, I answer to almost any thing except Stanley. When I hear that name it reminds me of when a was a kid a few years back and it always meant ,a spanking which as a child I did not get many of. I learnt early to avoid when the name Stanley was being used.

Back to the ride on mower I have just put it through its paces for the second time and all is going well in fact it is romping along so I will have to put a safety harness and roll cage for when SWMBO takes on the lawns again. I have told her time and time again its against the law to drink and drive but she insists on her premixed bottle of gin and tonic. The mower has provision for two bottles, not to mention the ones in her pockets.

Cheers
all
 
#25,548 ·
Need your input!!!

I just got back from the barn. I was there all by myself, so I had a chance to really look around. I confirmed some of my suspicions, sadly enough. First you should know that I grew up around show barns. Horses wore blankets, were fed 2x per day, hay and pellets (if working hard enough) , had clean water buckets always and a trough in the field. They were turned out regularly.

This is what I observed today. The horses are out 24/7 with shelter (good), they drink from a pond where I have observed animals swimming (beavers? not sure) and eat from a round bale. I've been going out there for just 2 weeks now. Today was the first time I saw a round bail out. There was (what I though) straw all over the ground where it was quite mucky in the pasture. Nope, that was remnants of a hay bale. That means they have been eating just little grass shoots for the past two weeks. I inspected the "new" round bale. I could smell it's musty odor before I even got my nose down there to sniff. It was musty, dusty and all yellow. There was no green to be seen. Buster was eating the inside of the bale. It's a small round bail, maybe 3 ft around. He had his head all the way inside, looking for the good stuff. Everything that he pulled out was yellow. I am sick about this!

How is Nike supposed to gain weight on that crap? While I was brushing him, I noticed that he still had a lot more long heavy hair than the other two. I know every horse is different, but it made me wonder, could this be cushings? It's long and wavy, especially around his withers. It could be just a result of him being under fed all winter as well.

LeeLu's coat is thin and she is all shedded out and has good meat on her bones, she looks fine, really. Buster looks a bit thin to me, not too bad. Am I over reacting? It's so different from what I know. I left the barn feeling sad and confused, and a bit frustrated. I just don't know what to do. They are his horses, have lived that way for years (except Nike). I really don't have any right to question his methods. No Authority would look the place over and fine him or take his horses, it's not that bad. I really could use your input.
 
#25,549 ·
Yes you can use the correct terms
A female dog is called a B I t c h
A male dog is called a dog. That term has be directed at me from time to time along with a few others that really can't be mentioned here. In fact, I answer to almost any thing except Stanley. When I hear that name it reminds me of when a was a kid a few years back and it always meant ,a spanking which as a child I did not get many of. I learnt early to avoid when the name Stanley was being used.

Back to the ride on mower I have just put it through its paces for the second time and all is going well in fact it is romping along so I will have to put a safety harness and roll cage for when SWMBO takes on the lawns again. I have told her time and time again its against the law to drink and drive but she insists on her premixed bottle of gin and tonic. The mower has provision for two bottles, not to mention the ones in her pockets.

Cheers
all
My mower runs better when I have a cocktail in hand :wink:
 
#25,550 ·
Sledgehammers & duct tape: an urban single woman's best friends.:lol:
I could not let that one slip by.
Tj You disappoint me. I thought a women of your calibre, plus being urban and single, would have it sorted by now. If there are no single urban young males to do the repairs for you, pick on some of the married ones. Their wives would love to get rid of them for a few hours. And, you have the added benefit of sending them home when you have finished with them. Duct tape and a sledge hammer, really!


A little story I spent several years in between marriages before SWMBO stole my wallet.
One of the single ladies I knew phoned with "My Mower won't start" I did not feel like going out so I told her to throw it in the boot of her car and bring it over. Thinking that will sort that. Well she did. I get it out of the boot and while listening to her explanation of how she had tried to start it I pulled on the cord and it roared into life. What was I to think. Well, what was I to think.
 
#25,552 ·
HappyPlace - is Nike the grey? The situation may not be ideal, but it may also not be as bad as you think.

IMO, most horses are actually healthier turned out 24-7, so long as they have shelter, water and food. Even in our crazy cold winters (-40), our horses stay outside. We blanket mainly for our convenience, but I also blanket DD's horse because she is a harder keeper. Sam has never worn a blanket or lived inside in all his 25 years. You would be surprised how healthy and robust outdoor horses can be compared to their stalled counterparts.

As far as water supply, if the pond is spring fed, it may be cleaner than it looks. It is not uncommon around here and where DH grew up for horses to drink out of the dugout all summer long. It wasn't spring fed, and became discustingly stagnant and low in the late summer. The horses also shared it with the cows, who poop everywhere and they were fine with it. I doubt my FIL invested in regular wormer back then either. Obviously a freshly scrubbed trough is preferred, but remember that horses evolved to survive on natural standing water sources.

With regards to the feed, I cannot comment on the quality of the hay, but again, sometimes it is surprising how much better it is than it looks. The sun causes even the most beautiful green hay to yellow and bleach out. Mould and dust, however, might be an issue. Can you smell mould or see signs of rot? In my experience, mouldy hay is usually marked by a white or greenish gray film on the stalks. It may be that the hay was overly dry when it was baled, or it is composed of different grasses. To know for sure about the nutrient content you would have to have the hay analyzed. The horses should have steady access to hay or grass.

What I see in the gray is a horse that is pot-bellied and underweight, with a poor topline. Did you mention this horse was a more recent acquisition /rescue? Is he/she older? Th cause of the gray's condition could be worms, teeth, previous malnourishment, Cushings or something else. He certainly looks like he could use some extra TLC, but what can you do? Are you willing to deal with these issues at your expense? If so, you could ask the farmer if he would allow it and explain what you would like to do. I would start with worming and a concentrated feed to help him gain weight. A teeth check / float would be next and if you are willing to spend the $ to test and treat, you could have a vet do a Cushings test. Treatment is easy, but not cheap.

My horses are still shedding. Koolio still has quite a winter cost and he has been blanketed (for my convenience) all winter. Keep up with the grooming you are doing and maybe start offering some concentrate if you can might help. Can you gently remind the farmer when the horses run out of hay?

Just some thoughts for now...
 
#25,553 ·
HP, here's my two cents....for what it's worth.

Where I grew up, we owned a 100 yo farm. IT had a spring feed pond and a swamp around it. We also had a old bath tub we would fill with water.....but the horses AND cows (together :shock: some people think that is wrong) preferred to drink from the pond. We had ours turned out and still do 24/7. They always had shelter or a wind break. Healthier in my opinion. fresh air and movement.

1/4 of the pasture was swamp, like I said.....NEVER have I experience thrush until Jay came along. For those who worry about wet.

Many people around here do throw out a round bale for their horses, personally they seem like they waste a lot of hay, but many people say no.....

I am not giving my opinion, just examples of where maybe not in the BEST environment....but the horses thrived just fine.

My drive to the barn I pass several horses that wear halters in the pasture, are bloated with.....worms? Don't know...... Are super hairy cause I am sure this old guy has cushings......

That being said, although I would love to stop and give those people the best of my mind....they are not starving and they are not mine.

NOt helpful....but like I said, my two cents. :wink: What is your relationship with this guy? Can you offer to pay to have the vet come in? Do you want ot go there? My last vet bill was over $400. :shock: That doesn't count this last time with the eye.....nor her coming back Tuesday to check Jay and give shots. :shock:

Again........just talking here.:wink:
 
#25,554 ·
HappyPlace - is Nike the grey? The situation may not be ideal, but it may also not be as bad as you think.

IMO, most horses are actually healthier turned out 24-7, so long as they have shelter, water and food. Even in our crazy cold winters (-40), our horses stay outside. We blanket mainly for our convenience, but I also blanket DD's horse because she is a harder keeper. Sam has never worn a blanket or lived inside in all his 25 years. You would be surprised how healthy and robust outdoor horses can be compared to their stalled counterparts.

As far as water supply, if the pond is spring fed, it may be cleaner than it looks. It is not uncommon around here and where DH grew up for horses to drink out of the dugout all summer long. It wasn't spring fed, and became discustingly stagnant and low in the late summer. The horses also shared it with the cows, who poop everywhere and they were fine with it. I doubt my FIL invested in regular wormer back then either. Obviously a freshly scrubbed trough is preferred, but remember that horses evolved to survive on natural standing water sources.

With regards to the feed, I cannot comment on the quality of the hay, but again, sometimes it is surprising how much better it is than it looks. The sun causes even the most beautiful green hay to yellow and bleach out. Mould and dust, however, might be an issue. Can you smell mould or see signs of rot? In my experience, mouldy hay is usually marked by a white or greenish gray film on the stalks. It may be that the hay was overly dry when it was baled, or it is composed of different grasses. To know for sure about the nutrient content you would have to have the hay analyzed. The horses should have steady access to hay or grass.

What I see in the gray is a horse that is pot-bellied and underweight, with a poor topline. Did you mention this horse was a more recent acquisition /rescue? Is he/she older? Th cause of the gray's condition could be worms, teeth, previous malnourishment, Cushings or something else. He certainly looks like he could use some extra TLC, but what can you do? Are you willing to deal with these issues at your expense? If so, you could ask the farmer if he would allow it and explain what you would like to do. I would start with worming and a concentrated feed to help him gain weight. A teeth check / float would be next and if you are willing to spend the $ to test and treat, you could have a vet do a Cushings test. Treatment is easy, but not cheap.

My horses are still shedding. Koolio still has quite a winter cost and he has been blanketed (for my convenience) all winter. Keep up with the grooming you are doing and maybe start offering some concentrate if you can might help. Can you gently remind the farmer when the horses run out of hay?

Just some thoughts for now...
Nike is the gray. He has only been there about 3 or 4 weeks. He was rescued from a bad situation, malnourished, standing knee deep in muck. They are all due to get wormed, hopefully this week. Without a perm. job, I cannot afford to take over his care. The best I can due is keep an eye on him, groom him and I have started hand walking him to get his muscles built up a bit. He is really a nice guy, I think he would be a nice looking guy once he is back in shape. BO does not have their teeth done, but he does worm regularly. Nike is 15 yrs old.
 
#25,558 ·
Ok, I have a question. I recently started giving my mare "Mare Magic". She just gets so bit chy. Not trying to suppress her cycle, but just level out her mood. Anyway. I've had her on it for over a month and it seems that her personality has changed. Yeah, she's calmer, but she no longer comes to greet me and when I go to halter her to go for a ride, she walks away from me! Never done that in 5 years! And she's gone back to hard to bridle. (she was horribly head shy when I got her, but the last couple of years have been great until now)

Any one else have experience with "mare magic"? I'm ready to take her off of it. I liked her better before.
 
#25,560 ·
Ok, I have a question. I recently started giving my mare "Mare Magic". She just gets so bit chy. Not trying to suppress her cycle, but just level out her mood. Anyway. I've had her on it for over a month and it seems that her personality has changed. Yeah, she's calmer, but she no longer comes to greet me and when I go to halter her to go for a ride, she walks away from me! Never done that in 5 years! And she's gone back to hard to bridle. (she was horribly head shy when I got her, but the last couple of years have been great until now)

Any one else have experience with "mare magic"? I'm ready to take her off of it. I liked her better before.
Never tried it, but wouldn't like these changes either. Maybe she is just adjusting to it and will get better.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top