[sanhestar]

this seems to be the complete study:

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/5238/1/IJEB%2045%285%29%20459-464.pdf

[sanhestar]

Hello,

this is a great story.

I’ve used a chiropractor years ago for a packgoat that got hurt badly after a fall over a fence (got caught, flipped over and landed on his back stuck between young trees, laying there for quite a while maybe hours) resulting in a neck trauma. She brought him instant relief.

This year I got a chiropractor to work on the young mare we bought a few weeks earlier. I noticed that she didn’t move her pelvis equally on both sides and she confirmed that she has a slightly twisted pelvis due to a long lameness (deep hoof abscess) while she was younger. She may have to have regular checks once every year but I think we can manage that when these checks will keep her in a good working shape.

[sanhestar]

Hello,

we have a similar situation right now in Germany but I looked at next weeks weather forecast and it projected rain for a whole week. So I still have hope.

[sanhestar]

There are several types of hoof boots available. They are often used by distance riders so they are build to resist wear. I would contact several manufacturers about using them on a logging horse and hear what they say.

[sanhestar]

same here in Germany.

Way to dry. It’s warm enough for the grass to grow but not enough rain in many parts. We ourselves had a half-week or so of afternoon showers and thunderstorms (imagine that in April). We are now having the cold weather spell that is common for the first two weeks of May.

[sanhestar]

@sickle hocks 26573 wrote:

The four year old is tough to read, he is with me and paying attention and respectful, submissive, following, and then with no really obvious trigger he throws his head up and leaves. Not very often either, but sometimes. He doesn’t give a lot of clues before it happens. He gets a bit stiffer and he is leading not following, just for a few seconds, and then decides to go.

Hello,

a four year old is – for all intents and purposes – still a four year old. A youngster, teenager. Maybe he simply comes to a point where he can’t hold his concentration any longer and hasn’t yet learned how to cope with that.

I would work on recognizing his clue – as you describe it – giving him a short break before (!) he decides he can’t take no more, let him breath, relax, look around (whatever) and then ask him again.

[sanhestar]

Well,

I could pinch in with the same about Highlandponies and most likely Fellponies, too.

I had a Highlandpony mare, about 14h, never felt she was too small. These ponies have a very wide chest and you don’t feel like sitting on a small horse.

They are also easy keeper, adjusted to the poor feed of the Scottish Highlands and can work around the year with grazing resp. hay only.

[sanhestar]

Hello,

you might want to check out the smaller breeds: Haflinger, Fjord or Highland pony.

[sanhestar]

Hello,

I remember back when I had Iceland horses that our stallion and one mare where a couple. Both met first time on a breeding pasture and the moment the mare laid eyes on the stallion she came in heat and stood. They produced a foal out of that mating, too.

Both kept close over the next years but, as life sometimes is, I had to sell the mare. I kept the stallion, cut by that time for 1,5 years longer and then sold him, too, to the same place. He wasn’t out of the trailer when I heard a loud whinny – the mare had recognised him.

[sanhestar]

@Does’ Leap 25661 wrote:

Regarding the portable anchor, anything I can pick-up and muscle around, the horses can (and then some) even with their heads. I want to know when I do tie my horses to something, they are not leaving it, no matter what.

George

just for clarification.

I didn’t mean the horses to be tied to the “marker” but tought to stand quietly next to the marker without being tied. The marker is something that will help make them the generalisation that they have to stand quietly everywhere because they take a bit of “home” with them.

[sanhestar]

Hello,

I wouldn’t allow her grazing while hitched. You could consider unhitching her for grazing but don’t let her make the connection that grazing is allowed while “working” aka “being hitched.

Standing reliably has to be trained. Horses don’t generalize easily. If they stand one place, they have to relearn it on other places.

You could train her to certain markers, though.

Teach her to stand beside a pole that you put in the ground always, or ground tied to a dangling leading rope, or next to a traffic cone, etc.

Use that marker first at home next to the barn, then move the marker to other locations and retrain her there.

If there’s grazing around, make sure she’s not hungry – this makes it easier to train her. And take into consideration that after the winter they are so much more craving for anything fresh.

[sanhestar]

Hello,

many small livestock farmers (and also larger ones) in Germany that have their stables in the middle of a village have to find a solution to pile the manure outside of the village to not upset the sensitive noses of neighbours. If you live in an old farmstead there’s often little room left, too, because the land directly enclosing on the farmstead has been sold over the years to build other houses and sometimes only the house, stables and a small yard remain.

[sanhestar]

I know! Just wanted to mention that you need to make changes there, as well, as soon as you put weight in the baskets 🙂

[sanhestar]

Hello,

nice!

You’ll also need a system that offers more padding along the spine and/or a thicker girth that connects the baskets. This right now is putting direct weight onto the spine on a very small section.

[sanhestar]

Hello,

I don’t think that we’re a “regular” herding operation. Because of the goatpacking I train all goats to be tame and respond to names resp. commands and to stay around me.

The dogs very often now simply act as an enforcer while we move from pasture to pasture and/or keep the goats out of orchards and fields while grazing.

The goats know the herding commands by now and often respond faster than the dog can put them into action.

It took me and our first dog about 1,5 years to become a team, every part of the trio – human, dog and goats – without any herding experience.

The actual herd responds very good to the dogs that have enough confidence. With the younger dogs or if I move long distances I take two dogs. Also because the goats have become so used to the dogs it’s not so easy for one dog alone, especially as all except for the youngest male don’t want to go toe-to-toe with the goats that often.

I remember the first year when our late herd queen still lived. She and Sioux – the first Aussie – had regular “battles” while we were on the move. Saeta – the goat – wanting to run ahead and Sioux doing the best she could to keep her with the herd. I appreciate the ability of the Aussie (and to some extend the ES) to work with body checks in these situations. BTW – our ES girl gets the goats moving by jostling them from behind with her front paws. She has even less eye than the Aussies and doesn’t like to use her teeth.

I think that this is one part of the intelligence of the ES – they have a way to work around a problem that they can’t solve with specialized ability (like eye in the BC) and come up with a very individual solution.

While I had to train the Aussies to move to the front of the herd while driving to block a direction at a crossing, the ES showed this from the beginning. She determines from my position behind the herd in which direction we will go and blocks the other path, leaving bringing up the rear to the second dog.

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