Horses... It's always something.

[gsganzer]

I swear that horses just look for ways to keep you poor. My daughter's palomino developed a hoof fracture where he chipped off a portion of bone that would have left him lame and fighting abscesses for the rest of his life. So, they had to go in and remove it and any other developing infection. They did this surgery on Sunday and he's doing well.

My daughter was a vet tech for this particular vet, so they've traded some labor. She's had some really interesting stories to tell of some of the cases she's worked on.

 

[Jstpssng]

Yikes! Friends were into barrel racing years ago. They paid $6000 for a horse. One day it broke it's foot while walking into the barn and had to be put down.

That was a lot of money to lose in 1993.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’ve learned from being around pleasure horse owners there is always something and often expensive coming up...

 

[Wagtail]

I understand, Mate.

Next 'door' to me is the (affectionally called) "Mad Horse Woman"... and I have the (also affectionally called) "Mad Agisting Horse Woman" [and Daughter] on my property.

 

[ponytug]

Best of luck on your daughter's horse's recovery! Sounds like the horse is in good hands. Nice shoe!

All the best,

Peter

 

[drizler]

Nags, they’re always broke and seem to live forever in a useless condition. I saw one once that scalped itself on a nailhead itching. When I looked at the nail I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a wide head roofing type nail and up less than an eighth of an inch. He physically couldn’t dig all the way to his skull on that but the fool did. Dumber than a rock.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

How do you become a millionaire raising horses? Start out as a billionaire.

 

[Fixastuff]

I made $50k pounding posts with the excavator for horse fencing one year(all labor customers bought materials). 2 customers. One had horses they never rode just looked at, the others daughter did barrel racing, had a 30k horse and a young not rideable one that they didn’t want to admit the price on. Lol.

Then they the big truck and a horse hauling camper. Neither of which was inexpensive. Cool if ya got the dollars and like it I guess.

 

[bigtiller]

I heard about plastic horse shoes recently for the first time. Is that a plastic shoe?

 

[NoTrespassing]

Two of my fondest memories are when my ex picked up her horse and the day I was able to sell mine.

 

[scootr]

When I was cowboying the best horse I ever had was a $500 bay with a roman nose. He gave me 10 yrs of work and never got sick until he died.
Mad horsewoman wife and her friends ride $$$ Warmbloods aka dumb bloods that colic when the wind blows, take yrs off for leg problems, cost a fortune to keep and show. Some people know how to take the fun out of everything

 

[jyoutz]

When the boys left home the horses were sold. My vet budget has shrunk considerably.

 

[ponytug]

I heard about plastic horse shoes recently for the first time. Is that a plastic shoe?

Yes, probably an Easy Care Fit,

EasyCare Fit Kit

EasyCare Fit Kit

easycareinc.com

There are lots other kinds fromEasy Care, and from others. These are a nail on version;

I believe the original was one called a sneaker with an aluminum plate embedded in plastic. (Personally not a fan of nail on shoes of any kind.)

These are from Renegade, as a glue on. They and Easy Care both make great strap on hoof protection as well.

All the best,

Peter

 

[QRTRHRS]

Let's just say that when my wife and I pass, the vulture's won't bother hovering, lol!

We are down to four, all older. Knock on wood, no accidents for a long time but with age comes health issues just like people. Joint supplements, etc. make for a good living for some people $$$$.

 

[sd455dan]

Yep, son went out to feed the 2 horses last night. Found Kera dead in the run out. She had been laying down quite a bit a few weeks back and just had the vet fix her scratched eye check her out and put on antibiotics, teeth floated and a tooth removed, just got another 8 tons of hay in for the two horses less than a week ago.

Other horse Zena is still eating but does seem off a bit. Vet coming eventually to check her.

I dug a grave and we buried her this morning. She lived a fairly long and happy life at 32 years. Still a sad event.

ps. as a bonus, apparently the Ford 550 fuel gage is lying and I ran out of diesel before completely finishing , so I get to bleed the injection pump before it is going anywhere.

 

[oosik]

Thirty years ago I got a horse. Thought it would be fun - riding around the property. Very quickly this horse developed a really nasty habit. She would ride under my large pine trees and the branches would sweep me off of her.

I promptly sold her to a family with a young girl. The horse and the little girl got along great.

I just love a story with a happy ending.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Yep, son went out to feed the 2 horses last night. Found Kera dead in the run out. She had been laying down quite a bit a few weeks back and just had the vet fix her scratched eye check her out and put on antibiotics, teeth floated and a tooth removed, just got another 8 tons of hay in for the two horses less than a week ago.

Other horse Zena is still eating but does seem off a bit. Vet coming eventually to check her.

I dug a grave and we buried her this morning. She lived a fairly long and happy life at 32 years. Still a sad event.

ps. as a bonus, apparently the Ford 550 fuel gage is lying and I ran out of diesel before completely finishing , so I get to bleed the injection pump before it is going anywhere.

Sorry Dan, how old is your son and how did he take it? We had a dog die a few months ago and my 12 year old found her. He handled it very well, it didn't seem to bother him. We knew her days were numbered and it was a blessing that she went when she did.

 

[ruffdog]

Spend $100k on a tractor just to ride around the property? It would be cheap compared to getting into horses as a hobby.

 

[sd455dan]

Sorry Dan, how old is your son and how did he take it? We had a dog die a few months ago and my 12 year old found her. He handled it very well, it didn't seem to bother him. We knew her days were numbered and it was a blessing that she went when she did.

Thanks for the kind words, Actually the Horse was my moms originally, my sons are stepsons but consider them my boys as well as my nephews, she gave the horse to one nephew, but he lives several miles away and has no barn so we took care of the horse after mom passed. He is coming over to pay respects this afternoon.

I am more worried about the other horse- she was the follower of the older one that was an alpha.

 

[BnRidge]

The farm across the road has what seems like 30 horses, a zebra, mules, alpacas. They have a small riding ring, pastures, loads of hay coming in every week. I was told most are "rescues", with some that are boarded. After reading all this, it makes me wonder. Apparently they like animals, but 50+ hay burners?
When I was 8 or so we got a Shetland pony. It was a pleasantly incorrigible beast. But before we got rid of it, it managed to jump the fence, run a 1/2mile away to a neighbors paddock, got in with their horses, got beat to pieces, then back home again. I remember the horseshoe punch marks all over it's backside. My aunt also told of her horse that did the same thing in the 40s, ran across town to another paddock and proceeded to get his leg broken by the other horses. Grandpa had to drive over and "take care of it".