[sanhestar]

Rod,

I can’t say anything about the yoke fit. Is it the picture or is the ox in the front in less good shape than the one behind him (judging from the bit of coat that can be seen from the nigh ox – more glossy)?

[sanhestar]

@Hal 7747 wrote:

I don’t know much about silage/baylage, but after reading these replies, I am wondering why you would feed it at all. It sounds potentially dangerous and more expensive than hay, so what are the benefits?

you have higher nutrient value, it’s made faster – if weather, especially rain is an issue in your region during hay-season.

[sanhestar]

Well,

on the other hand – a good baylage (assuming it’s the same we in Germany call haylage: almost as dry as hay but not quite) is a good feed for horses that have developed an allergy to dust or mold in the hay – chronic bronchitis, etc.

The problem with large silage or haylage round bales is that you have to feed them in a very short period of time – days only to avoid second fermentation setting in which would cause the problems that Gwyneth mentioned.

But proper made haylage will have lots of probiotic bacteria in it.

Poorly made or wrapped haylage or silage on the other hand – with mold, not fully fermented, dead animals (mice, etc.), dirt – is a source of serious infections like listeriosis or botulism.

[sanhestar]

Sorry for the latin – couldn`t remember the english term….

You can also try linseed OIL or another vegetable oil (start with small amounts) or molasses for energy.

Are his teeth ok? (haven`t re-read your original post, so maybe you said that already)

[sanhestar]

well,

if he has stress because of the changes in his life he could (!) have stomach problems – you know that horses can develop stomach ulcers?

It’s a long time ago but I treated a horse once that chewed excessively on wood – turned out he had ulcers due to stress.

Can you change to his roughage ration to ad libitum for a couple of weeks to see if there’s any change if he can eat as much as he wants?

[sanhestar]

Hello,

have you wormed him? It seems too obvious but I just returned from a friends cattle herd where a heifer almost literally starved to death because of worms.

[sanhestar]

Patrick,

what may also happen, when livestock owners accept that their animals are not as simple in their feelings as they thought (or would want them to be) is that livestock keeping, selling, slaughtering would be done with more consideration.

Granted, I can afford this point of view as I only slaughter for our needs but it’s a heart breaking decision every time – because I know, have observed that f.e. the mother of a slaughtered lamb, kid (sheep and goats) will grieve.

But I have also observed that this grieve will be overcome with next years lambs – all prey animals accept that some of them have to serve as food for predators.

But if I know that I will cause grieve, I have a chance to say “thank you” to the animals that have to go through this emotional experience, develop more respect for them and therefore change my view of the world and – maybe, in the process, when I live this view open for others – the view of a few more people, as well.

Another example: I will never again buy an animal that doesn’t “speak” to me when I’m on the lookout. Been there, done that – didn’t do any participants any good.

Not to say that it was always easy with the ones where the “connection” was made – live is there to learn and make new experiences – but it’s more gratifying to work/keep an animal that wants to be around you and that you have a connection with.

And I try to do the same with animals we sell.

[sanhestar]

Hi,

it’s also very common behaviour among geldings (who are former stallions). They play more and more roughly because that is what young (!) stallions would do.

Having a mare in the same group gives them more “cause” to do these competing games.

[sanhestar]

I don’t like the look in the eyes and the body language of the oxen in the first two videos, especially in the first video.

[sanhestar]

and, of course, you could also get a pair of good sized, well bonded and well trained wethers (castrated goats)

http://www.harnessgoats.co.uk

[sanhestar]

Hello,

Dartmoor, Exmoor and Shetland ponies have been used as draft ponies and hard workers (mining ponies). Shetland ponies especially – if you choose the “old stocky type” not the show type – can pull a lot more relativ to their body weight than larger horses.

[sanhestar]

@Rod 6623 wrote:

The same design should be adaptable to a double yoke.

I thought that, too.

Vicky: a hame would look differently

[IMG]http://i18.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/21/e1/f13d_1.JPG[/IMG]

if that’s what you mean with a hamen (I know it as oxen collar)…

But maybe padding would be necessary. Someone from the german draft forum already pointed out that the flat bows could cause sores

[sanhestar]

I believe that there are people that are inept with animals in general.

f.e. people that lack f.e. empathy for an animals state of mind, that tend to humanise an animal (that is often the case with dog or cat owners), that can’t learn to registrate body language or can’t relate to body signals given from the animal.

People that have their head not in the game, no matter, how much you tell them to.

My hubby was and still is to some extend this type of person. He loves animals and loves to be around them but he can’t “read” them well enough, fast enough, accurate enough. For him it’s ok with the goats and to some extend with the dogs but he was at a total loss with the horses. They would pick up on his absentmindedness and took advantage of him.

And then there are people who simply are cruel to animals and can’t overcome this or are unwilling to learn other ways of treating animals. Or are afraid of large animals (like horses) and can’t shake this fear like a friend of mine. People that are very insecure – they will show this insecurity in their body language.

[sanhestar]

Hello,

with Ozzies size and age I can imagine that he may have developed some back problems that could cause pain when you try to lift his rear leg over a certain point (or extend the joints). Such things are often located in the hip, knee or the sacral joints of the spine.

If you can get hold of a good physiotherapist for horse, have him/her check this out.

[sanhestar]

Hi,

it’s not only history, it’s safety, also. And it’s still done. If you find footage of the Queens birthday parades, you will see that some carriages still have the additional rider

http://unterhaltung.t-online.de/t.gif

In German the near horse is also called “saddle horse” because it was the horse the rider would sit on.

Carriages/transportation without a seat for the driver would also ask for riding one horse.

[Author]

Posts