Pigs and horses…

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  • #40427
    jen judkins
    Participant

    I brought home my first pair of piglets last night, Spam and Hamlet. I decided to put them in the barn because of the weather (freezing rain here) to settle in for a few days. While I got the stall across the aisle from the horses stalls ready for them, I left them squealing in the back of my truck. The horses, having never seen a pig, decided to vacate the premises and ran off to the far end of their winter paddock.

    Ever curious, they carefully crept back to the barn area just in time for me to haul the first squealing pig to its new home in the barn…pandamonium set in and off they went again to the far end, nearing tripping over each other in their hasty getaway. Well, I waited for them to creep back close (they were afterall hungry and the hay is near the barn) because I am evil and enjoy the spectacle, before hauling the second pig out and bringing it into the barn:D.

    I proceeded with my remaining barn chores and it was pretty evident that the horses would not be coming into the barn under any circumstances despite the weather and insisted that I leave their hay outside. I tried to demonstrate the dimunitive nature of the pigs by picking one up to show the horses, only to finally convince them that these menacing creatures could fly!

    I settled for putting some music on to drown out the piglets constant snorting and this did seem to settle the horses down abit, but they still showed no interest in coming inside.

    This morning, I was greeted by five horses who appeared ‘hung over’, like college kids that stayed out too late partying on a school night. My thin skinned TB was particularly surley grabbing mouthfuls of hay from the bale I was hauling out for them. Nose pinched, he looked at me accusingly….’I’m wet, I’m cold, where have you been?’

    Meanwhile, the piglets were curled up in a corner fast asleep. I left the barn with Bob Marley inappropriately singing the words “Is this love…”

    #51522
    Robert MoonShadow
    Participant

    Oh, my sides! That is sssoooo funny! I can just picture them horses!!
    Manny: “So when are we going back into the barn??”
    Reno: “When pigs fly!”
    Peanut: “No! No! No!!! That’s why we’re NOT going back in, ‘member? ‘Cuz dem pigs can fly!!” 😮
    😀 :p :rolleyes:

    #51523
    Happy When Hitched
    Participant

    At least they never did here on the farm. 20+ years ago, neighbor had pigs in the lot at the foot of the driveway, where we turn up to get onto the trail. The horses living here were always terrified, and would hesitate to approach the pen, then want to scoot until they were past it. Some of them did learn to pretend they were calm, but their eyes would roll back in their heads, and sweat would break out in the usual places.
    They never got over it. Long after the pigs were gone, the horses still were determined to scoot, convinced that those leg-slashers were in hiding, waiting to ambush.
    It’s taken a whole new generation of horses, raised since the pig pen has been given over to calves and goats, to have anybody walk calmly around the corner.

    Thanks for the laugh, and the memories.

    #51518
    jen judkins
    Participant

    In the way of an update….apparently while I was out at the GMDHA meeting yesterday, my mom discovered the piglets loose from their pen.

    Bless her stout heart, she chased them down (over 10 acres) and tackled them like a linebacker, dragging them back to the pen. But not before the piglets had a run through the horse paddock. I guess the horses were not amused and tried to stomp them…to her horror.

    #51521
    Theloggerswife
    Participant

    Jennifer,

    Since pigs are carnivores, maybe the horses think that they are the pigs next dinner???

    Missy

    #51520
    gunslinger598
    Participant

    Some years back I had a similar instance.

    I was living in southern Colorado and a man from northern New Mexico brought me 5 geldings to start under saddle.

    I had a pretty good sized area there to turn them out in. On the other side of the fence where I located the stock tank was a hog pen.

    The 3rd morning after the hogs arrived I went outside to see one f the geldings looking gaunt and on the verge of colic.

    I called the owner in New Mexico to discuss the options. He wasn’t happy about a vet bill. I was standing outside talking on the cordless phone looking at the horses when it dawned on me.

    I told the owner I’d call him back in a while. I took some of those plastic barrels cut in half and filled them with water. All the horses came and took a long drink a good distance from the hog pen.

    I was able to call the owner and explain the problem and the solution.

    We both agreed with the horses.

    We don’t like to drink with pigs either.

    #51519
    jen judkins
    Participant

    @gunslinger598 8479 wrote:

    We both agreed with the horses.
    We don’t like to drink with pigs either.

    Agreed! :D:D:D

    #51524
    Robernson
    Participant

    I second that!:D:D:D
    ~~R

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