Hello out there everyone!  

Remember my blog of October 3, 2011, "A Note About the Legalities of Buying and Selling A Horse" and my final words?  

• "For me, it's pretty cut and dry.  Sally should win this case hands down.  She did nothing wrong.  Barbie, however, gets an "A" in stupidity and an "F" in responsibility."
  

Well, Sally wins the case and doesn't have to pay Barbie the buyer a nickel.  That is how it should be.

So I'll say it again, read up on the legalities of horse buying and selling and protect yourself from the sellers and buyers out there who are not willing to be ethical and responsible when it comes to buying and selling horses.

- Happy Happy Day, Sally ;-)

Since the last blog on horse boarding, I discussed various options regarding boarding fees, the amount of turn-out time, feed, etc.  Today I would like to address the differences in various types of housing for your horse.

When determining where you will board your horse, housing is a key factor.  Here are some important factors you need to keep in mind;

Will the horse be able to move around and not have to stand in manure and/or mud for long periods of time?  What to do for thrush is more about making sure a horse has the ability to get out of wet areas.  While thrush is a very common condition it can be painful and cause lameness issues if left untreated or if a horse has to stand in wet earth and manure for any length of time.

So if you will have a horse in a stable with little turnout time – I don’t recommend a horse ever be left in a stall all the time unless there is a medical or other necessary reason for it – you need to make sure the stall is cleaned at least once daily.  If your horse will have access to a run-in shed you need to make certain the area surrounding the shed is lower so that water is unable to pool inside the shed.  The shed should also contain sandy, gravely soil so that urine will drain.  It too will need to be cleaned of manure, but not as often as a stall.

STALL or RUN-IN SHED: Pros vs. Cons

Stall Pros:

• A Stall provides a great space for tacking your horse.  
• It’s a good place for the farrier to work.  
• It’s a nice place to groom your horse in inclement weather.  
• If your horse should require stall rest due to a medical or lameness issue a stall is the ideal spot. 
• It may be easier to determine just how much your horse is consuming and how much he is pooping and urinating.
• Stalls keep dominant horses and passive horses separated when you are concerned about a horse’s safety.
• While your horse will likely not appreciate it, it will stay much cleaner than if left outside to roll and play in the dirt and mud.  

Stall Cons:

• Horses are built to move.  They are happier and healthier when they can move around and get exercise.  Horses are herd animals and enjoy the company of other horses. A horse in a stall should be exercised daily.  
• Stalls require more maintenance, including mucking stalls.
• Stalls are more costly because they require regular bedding changes. If someone is hired to maintain them there is an extra cost for labor.
• Because they are enclosed there is more dust, more concentration of ammonia due to poorer ventilation.
• Stalls are an easier place for flies to gather.
• If stalled too much horses can very well develop vices such as cribbing or pawing, not to mention they just get painfully board being in a stall for long periods of time.

Run-In Shed Pros:

• A run-in shed is much cheaper and easier to build.  Some can even be movable.
• Horses can come and go out of shelter as they please, allowing them to be happier and healthier.  
• Run-ins are less expensive to maintain because they do not require regular bedding changes and mucking. Every few days the shed will require manure removal and a few times a year it will need to be cleaned out with a tractor and new sand or gravel added, depending on the number of horses using it. 
• Being more open, sheds have far less dust and ammonia concentration than stalls. 
• There is far less chance of a hose developing vices such as cribbing when they are free to move around and run.

Run-In Cons 
(some of these will not be issues if your horse is the only horse using the run-in*):

• You will need a place to groom, tack, and have a farrier and vet work with your horse, such as an empty stall or other covered shelter with a flat surface.  Run-ins are not good candidates for these things.
• If there ever is a bad storm, a run-in will not protect your horse as much as a stall from heavy, driving winds and blowing rain, snow, or hail. 
• If there is a dominant horse, that horse may prevent your horse from entering the shed, as well as eating and drinking. This can be a very stressful situation for a horse. *
• You will need access to a stall if your horse should ever require stall rest. 
• Since your horse is with other horses it will be difficult to determine how much your horse is eating and drinking. Monitoring poop and urination will also be very difficult. *
• Being allowed to enjoy life as a horse, your horse will be dirty more often than clean.

Regardless of which type of housing you choose, I strongly suggest – at the risk of sounding like a broken record – you ensure your horse has as much time as possible to be outside where he/she can move around and just be a horse.

-          Happy Trails

Like so many horse owners, you may not have the space to house and pasture your horse at your home.  So the question of how much board will cost, and where to find it are first and foremost in your mind if you are not already fortunate enough to have your horse at a good boarding facility. 

Prices can range from under $100 to over $700 a month, so pay attention to what is offered or not offered.  Read over the boarding contract and make sure you understand exactly what it includes.  Will you be charged extra if you want your horse blanketed or if you want any other special care out of the normal feeding, stall cleaning and turn-out?  Will you be charged extra if someone at the facility handles your horse for the vet or farrier? Often times, if you request supplements or grain to be given to your horse, you will have to supply them or reimburse the facility for them.

Let’s go over what you need to consider.  There is quite a range of choices available to you, depending on where you are located and what you can afford.  I would say the dominant deciding factor is going to be what you are able to pay each month.  Once you have a sound budget figured out you can determine what you can choose.

FULL BOARD (these are the usual things you get – always verify):

• Adequate hay given at least twice daily
  
• A constant supply of clean, fresh drinking water
• Cleaning/mucking of stall or run-in shed on a regular basis
• Regular turn-out on a daily basis, some facilities offer 24/7 turn-out
• Tack storage
• Scheduled vet checks (you pay the vet)
• Scheduled farrier visits (you pay the farrier)

FULL BOARD EXTRAS 
(some facilities will offer these – again, always verify):

• Regular, rotational deworming, administered about every 8 weeks
• Use of an indoor and/or outdoor riding arena
• Riding lessons
• An on-site vet
• An on-site farrier
• Trails for riding 

There are many facilities that will allow you to barter for the board fee, or at least part of it.  You can work out a schedule wherein you clean stalls, exercise horses, etc.  If you can instruct others in riding you may even be able to give lessons at the facility in exchange for some or all of the board.

SOME KEY POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND:

• How much turn-out will my horse have?  Horses are built to move.  Have you seen horses that sit in stalls day after day with little or not turn-out? They never look very happy do they?  The ideal situation is a set-up which allows a horse to come and go out of shelter as they desire.
• Does the facility provide good, quality horse-grade hay? Make sure the hay fed is not moldy, and has good color.  Make sure your horse will be fed enough hay.  Generally the average horse needs between 15 to 20 pounds of hay daily – depending on the individual horse.
• Does a farrier come on a regular basis to the facility?  You will want to make sure your horse’s feet are well-maintained. That will require regular farrier visits every 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the time of year and your horse’s needs.
• Does the vet arrive annually or semi-annually for check-ups and shots, and is the vet available readily in an emergency?
• Are the areas where the horses are kept free of protruding nails, screws, etc. that may cause injury to a horse? Horse owners frequently chuckle about how accident-prone horses can be.  Making sure a boarding facility is kept clean and free of anything a horse may be injured on helps to keep accidents from occurring.  Old farming equipment, metal, glass, etc in pastures and housing areas are accidents waiting to happen when it comes to horses.

As with anything it is a great idea to talk to other horse owners.  Who do they recommend? Who do they not recommend? Find out why and why not.  How do you relate to the people running the facility?  Do you feel comfortable with them?  Do you feel they will take good care of your horse?

Remember, it’s not just how fancy a facility is, or is not, that you consider when making a decision.  It has a great deal more to do with how safe and well-cared for your horse will be, what quality of life will be offered, and what you can budget yourself for.

Happy housing … and - as always - happy trails!

Recently a friend and fellow horse owner - whom I'll call "Sally" from here on -  was sued by a disgruntled horse buyer - whom from here on I'll refer to as "Barbie."

Buyer Barbie claimed the horse had been misrepresented to her by Sally, resulting in Barbie being injured.  Barbie was seeking restitution in small-claims court. She demanded Sally take the horse back AND pay Barbie the full price of the horse PLUS her alleged medical bills and other associated expenses.

Well, let me tell you.  I was there and witnessed first-hand most of the conversations between Sally and Barbie.  I also had my own conversations with Barbie.  You see, I boarded the horse involved in this transaction.  My personal view on this entire situation is that it is a complete fiasco.  

Here's why:

1. The ad Barbie put up for the horse clearly stated the horse was for an "experienced rider" only.

2. The ad made NO promises about the horse.  It didn't say he would never buck, rear, or that he was sound.  It made no promises.  No surprises, incidentally, to any of us who know anything about horses, right?

3. When Barbie arrived to see the horse, she asked Sally why she was selling the horse, Sally told Barbie the horse had too much go for her.  He was not a quiet, gentle horse - although that's how he was advertised to Sally - and was jumpy and moved out too quickly.  Barbie chuckled at this and said she liked a horse with some go.

4. Barbie was told the horse had tried to buck a trainer off when asked to lope.  She was told the entire situation IN DETAIL.  She was told about this situation not only by Sally, but by the trainer and by me.  Remember I know, I was there.

5. Despite being advised about number 4 above, Barbie wanted the horse almost immediately.  

6. Barbie watched as Sally rode the horse at a walk.  Then Barbie got on the horse and rode it.  She only walked the horse.  She was asked if she wanted to trot or lope the horse but declined. 

7. I told Barbie she was welcome to come see the horse anytime and to bring anyone with her, such as a trainer, to ride the horse and make sure the horse was what she wanted.  Barbie thanked me and said she just loved the horse and wanted him. She said she could tell, just by being on his back, that he was a good horse.

8. A few weeks later Barbie showed up with her husband, payment for the horse, and an empty horse trailer. She was obviously eager to take the horse home.  Barbie mentioned the bucking, but said it didn't matter. She said she wasn't worried about it since the horse was going to her trainer anyway.

Barbie and her beloved new horse pulled out of the driveway. All seemed good.   Sally was glad to have sold the horse and was now anxious to find a gentler, quieter horse for her to learn to ride on.

Thinking on Barbie's arrival the day she picked up the horse, I remember watching her maneuver around the horse and struggle getting him to load.  She used tactics like the old "rope behind the butt" and "here's a carrot, please get on?" techniques.  I was surprised at how inept she appeared.  The day she'd come to see the horse she bragged about her riding skills and her lack of fear.  She had commented several times on her own perplexity at Sally's fear of the horse.  

Well, there you have it.  There is the run-down of the events as I recall them.  

In a nutshell;
The horse was NOT misrepresented, 

NO guarantees about the horse were made, 

No lies about the horse were told, 

Every opportunity to ride the horse, have the horse vet-checked, have the horse ridden by a trainer or other expert rider were available to Barbie at any time.

So why then is Barbie demanding Sally take responsibility and blame for Barbie's failure to have chosen a horse better suited to her actual riding abilities?  Why did Barbie fail at every opportunity to have the horse ridden in all gaits and had it vet-checked, etc?  Why didn't she use a checklist, such as the one I highly recommend at Equine Legal Solutions?

Here's my tip, folks.  The next time you buy or sell a horse please protect yourself.  Go to Equine Legal Solutions and read-up on as much as you can about buying and selling horses.  Sellers - make sure you protect yourself against the "Barbies" out there.  Buyers - please do your homework before you buy.  It is YOUR responsibility and remember, "Let the buyer beware."  

Since the judge in this case was lacking in the legalities surrounding horses and the buying and selling of them, he is "researching" the matter.  So, the verdict is still out.  

For me, it's pretty cut and dry.  Sally should win this case hands down.  She did nothing wrong.  Barbie, however, gets an "A" in stupidity and an "F" in responsibility. 

She anxiously dialed the phone number, anticipating the response, fearing it might be, "Oh sorry the horse has already been given away." What would she do then? She'd heard that response too many times already. One more let down might be the last straw that put her dreams of owning a horse finally to rest.

It wasn't that there was a lack of ads saying things like, "Horse for free to good home," "Pasture buddy free to a good home," or some other such heading. It was just that - never having had a horse - she was unprepared for the usual horse that she found once she'd responded to those ads. While what she envisioned was an older, gentle, quiet horse, she would find an untrained, pushy, biting and kicking version. So she'd politely thank the owner and walk away; another bite taken out of her dream of owning a horse.

She never thought what she wanted would be so difficult to find. She had loved horses all her life and, now finding herself a widow, this was what she believed to be her last chance at horse ownership. She didn't have the need to have one to ride. She simply loved the smell of horses, the sound of their whinnies and nickers, the sound of their hooves plodding along the ground, the warmth of their bodies and the swish of their tails. This was the point in her life where she longed more than ever for the opportunity to cart hay and feed out to a horse. It would be something to fill her days and give her pleasure. Something so simple, she thought. How could it be so difficult to achieve?

The widow had gone out and talked to horse owners where ever and whenever she found them. She'd pick their brains for all sorts of information. By now she'd learned so much about how to care for a horse she felt confident in answering "yes" to the question she'd asked herself for years, "Should I buy a horse?" She never, however, would have thought it would be so hard to find the right horse. The horse didn't need to be good under saddle, it didn't matter if it was lame, and it didn't have to have papers. It didn't even have to be pretty. It just had to be a gentle horse.

"Hello?"

There was a pause when she realized she had a live voice on the other end of the phone. "Oh yes I'm sorry. I was calling about your ad, 'Horse free to a good home' or something like that. Is the horse still available?" The widow braced herself for the answer.

"Oh yes Lucky is still here. I'm afraid he's not able to be ridden anymore. He's very old - we don't know how old since he's not registered. But he's a good boy and is gentle as a kitten."

Having heard all this before she found herself skeptical but still hopeful. "May I ask why you are getting rid of Lucky?" The owner told her the gelding had been her daughter's horse. The daughter was now gone off to college and other than providing food, water, and the occasional farrier care no one paid any attention to the horse. The owner seemed genuine and expressed a real concern about finding the horse a good new owner. She reiterated he would only be allowed to go to a good home.

The widow explained her situation to the owner in detail, assuring her that Lucky would be well cared for and loved.

They met later that same day. Lucky was everything the widow dreamed he would be. He was just as the owner had described and it was evident he had been well cared for. Lucky obviously loved people and seemed to connect with the widow immediately.

A week later, allowing for ample hay and feed to be purchased, Lucky arrived at his new home. The widow's long-standing dream of owning a horse was fulfilled and Lucky had found himself once again in the midst of lots of attention and treats. Widow and retired horse would now enjoy each other and their retirements.

If you find yourself in the same situation as the woman in this story - wanting a horse to care for and not needing a horse to ride - opportunities are out there everywhere for you to own a horse.

I'm amazed at the number of unwanted horses there are, whether they are rescue horses, horses too old to be used anymore, or horses left behind by children who have grown up and gone off to college. You can provide a great home for such horses and I applaud your willingness to do so. So, here's to your success and the new-found bond you will ultimately find with your horse.

Here are only a few sites you should check out:
http://horserescue.whitty.org/
www.horsenethorserescue.org/
www.2ndchancehorserescue.org/
www.savethehorses.org/
www.beautysequinerescue.org/
www.habitatforhorses.org/
www.heavencanwaitequinerescue.org/
Please feel free to comment and add sites for others to check out if you are aware of them. 

How do you train a horse? 

The most honest answer and best approach in educating yourself about horses, I propose, is to watch them.  That's right; just watch.  Watch them out in the pasture, watch them when it's feeding time.  Watch them when a new horse is introduced to the existing group.  Watch a mare and foal and how they relate to one another and other horses.  Watch when a human is doing anything at all with them; from feeding, to leading, to training.

Observation is the best way to become familiar with the way in which horses read each other; the way they communicate with each other.  This is a key action for you to take since you will need to be aware of your own body language.  You will need to learn how to speak with that body language if you are going to be successful communicating with horses.

As humans we depend a great deal more on our vocal communication skills than on our physical communication.  To a horse, body language speaks louder than words ever will.  You must become aware and in-tune with your own body language in order to let your horse know what you are saying.  Look at it this way; if you don't know what you're saying with your body language, you'll have no idea what you are communicating to your horse.  Consequently, when your horse responds to that body language you won't understand why he is responding the way he is - since you are clueless to what your own body language has just said to him.

This is a main aspect in how to learn about horses, and makes up a large part of what is natural horsemanship.  You see, how to train a horse is as much about how to train YOU as it is about how to train horses.  How to get a horse to understand you is a key component in earning the horse's respect and willingness to be your partner. 

- Happy Trails

I just returned home from Clinton Anderson's Downunder Walk-About Tour in Columbus, Ohio.  Wow, what a great time.  As usual, Clinton was in fine form and amazed the crowd with his horse-training abilities and great sense of humor - a must for any activity concerning horses!

Clinton's life appears to be going well and he is as busy as ever these days.  It was good to see him doing well. 

He is truly a gifted horse/people trainer and I am always so amazed at how he can break down horse training into digestible parts so that even the new horse owner can gain an understanding of horsemanship and the level of responsibility it demands.  Whenever I watch Clinton work with a horse,  I gain more belief in myself.  This gift is what keeps me a Clinton-Anderson fan.

Horsemanship is a responsibility, as well as a wonderful and empowering experience.  Yes, I think even Clinton would agree, horses can make you feel humble and inept at times, and on top of the world at other times.  But what a ride, eh?

How about the heat wave, eh?  Some say it beats the heck out of shoveling snow.  True enough, but I would so much appreciate a little less humidity. Please?

Anyhow, back to talking horse breeds for trail riding.  I think by now we have pretty much established the fact that there really is no one perfect breed for trail riding.  It really does come down to the individual horse and the individual rider and how well they work together.

But, because it’s so much fun researching other horse breeds – after all, I am a full-blown horse lover – I just had to find one more breed to talk about!

This time ‘round it’s the Norwegian Fjord Horse, one of the world’s oldest (and purest) breeds! This horse breed is considered to have migrated to Norway over 4000 years ago and was first domesticated around 2000 B.C., according to Viking burial site excavations by archaeologists.

So what does this breed look like?  What are its traits? 

Cave paintings from the Ice Age bear a striking resemblance to today’s Norwegian Fjord Horses! Most are brown dun in color, at least 90 percent.  The remaining are either gray, pale dun, yellow dun (very rare), gold dun, or red dun.  Their markings include zebra stripes on the legs and the dorsal stripe running from the forelock down to the tail.  Often there are also dark stripes over the withers.

The mane is very unique in Fjords. The center hairs are dark while the outer hair is lighter.  They have a very graceful curve to their neck, and usually the mane is cut short and in a crescent shape to play-up the naturally curved neck.  Often the light (or white) outer hair is cut a bit shorter than the center darker (often black) inner hair to better display the dramatic coloring.

Fjords have a very unique look to them.  They are unique, I think, in many ways. As you can see from the pictures, they have medium-sized heads, and large eyes.  Their ears are small or medium and are set far apart.  Their bodies are very compact with very powerful legs. Fjords have great feet – always a plus for trail riding. Their withers are lower as compared to many other breeds, are level and strongly muscled.

A Fjord can often run anywhere between 13.2 to 14.2 hands, but can be up to 15 hands tall. Apparently most are between 14 and 14.2 hands – a good size for folks who like to easily mount a horse without having a step-ladder!  Fjords typically weigh around 900 to 1200 pounds. Some people refer to “draft-type” Fjords and “riding-type” Fjords, but I couldn’t find where there was any real distinction between the two types.

What about their temperament? 

You couldn’t ask for a better temperament than that of a Fjord.  They are gentle and willing to work.  They have great stamina.  Fjords have been – and still are – used from everything from draft work, trail riding, jumping, and many other things.  The Vikings used Fjords as their war mounts. They have a reputation of being versatile, strong, and gentle.  Amazingly, even though they are tough and strong enough to work in the hilly fields, they movements are very light and smooth.  Now you can’t beat “light and smooth” when considering a trail horse, can you?

And then there is the fact that a Norwegian Fjord has a heavy coat and is an easy keeper.  One more of the many reasons one could find true happiness in a Fjord for trail riding – or anything that took your fancy!

-    Happy Trails!
Here are a few links for more info on this wonderful horse:
Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry
Horse Show Central

Once you have found the horse that fits you, it's time to get some riding under your belt. 

If you enjoy riding with other people - and don't have any riding buddies yet - it's time to find those with similar riding interests to your own, but that's not all you need to consider.

Riding your horse should be a pleasurable thing, right?  As with all things "horse" you want to be in an environment where you can not only have fun, but be able to learn more about you and your horse.  In doing so you will continue to develop and advance your riding skills.  Ideally you and your horse will become better partners.  The comfort zone for both of you will increase the more riding you both do, especially if you are surrounded by supportive riders.

SUPPORTIVE & POSITIVE RIDERS.

The last thing any of us need is to find ourselves out on a trail amidst a negative, aggressive, or cocky rider who is always fighting with the horse they are riding, or one who is constantly being negative about you and your horse. Having riders with you who are supportive and positive is important if you want to help ensure a good ride. 

Make sure you find out about potential riding buddies; will they mount up their own horses and take off without any regard for you and your horse if you are not tacked up as fast as they are?  If you run into trouble will they wait patiently for you and try to help you, or will they ignore you and continue on while you are left on your own? 

If you are a novice rider it's best to have at least one other rider with you who is experienced and HELPFUL.  Just because a rider is experienced does not necessarily mean they will help to build your confidence.  Some people have a burning desire to nit-pick over every little thing about a horse and/or a rider.  Unfortunately most inexperienced riders already have a lower self-esteem about their riding skills.  The last thing they need is a critic running them or their horse down.  So, leave the critic to ride with some other poor soul.

WELL-BEHAVED, WELL-BROKE HORSES

There are always those horses who will bite, have to be the leader on a trail ride, have to be next to another particular horse, will frequently go off a trail whenever the mood strikes - whether its rider wants it to or not - or those who will kick another horse during a ride. I've had the unfortunate experience of riding amongst all of the above. Avoid riding with such horses.  You want your ride to be enjoyable, not an exercise in trying to stay out of the way of a disrespectful, poorly trained horse. 

KNOW THE TYPE OF RIDE YOU EXPECT

If you only want to walk your horse, you won't want to go off on a ride with other people who will be trotting or cantering their horses.  If you are not comfortable yet in the faster gaits, the ride will not be a good one for you.  It will also be a boring ride for those who want to trot or lope along the trail from time to time.  Just make sure you discuss what you are comfortable doing, and find out what other perspective riding partners expect of a ride.  It's all about having fun, and a significant part of making it fun is riding with like-minded riders.

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS

Before you ride make sure the weather is comfortable for you and your horse.  Make sure you pack whatever it is you will need to have along the trail, such as snacks, water, etc.  Prepare yourself for emergencies as best you can.  Make sure you have some sort of first aid kit - one for you, one for your horse.  Carry a cell phone. 

Make sure your horse is paying attention to you before you ride.  You can never do too much ground-work.  If other riders balk at the idea of groundwork before riding, perhaps you should think about riding with someone else.

A good ride with good friends creates memories that cannot be measured.  So set yourself up for a great ride with great riding friends and great horses.

- As always, happy trails ;-)