Bringing home two horse tomorrow Pics added post 16

[Chickerdoodle13]

Personally, I would avoid using treats as a bonding tool. You are probably better off just spending time with them. The best way I've found to bond with a horse is through use of a round pen. As someone else mentioned, the sort of relationship you want to have with a horse is as a leader, not as a friend. However, if you just spend time at the fence or sitting in the pasture watching them, it will help you to learn their habits and tendencies, and will be a HUGE help later when handling and training them.

As for riding, my best advice would just be to go slow. If you don't know their history, it's possible that they've never even seen a saddle. So take one day to just throw a saddle on their back. Then if they do fine with that, put some weight in the saddle (And not your weight, but a feed bag or anything that will lay sit in the saddle). If the horse bolts off bucking and rearing when you put the saddle on (This is a bit extreme, but gets the point across) then obviously they probably do not have saddle training. Case in point, don't just jump to getting on their backs and riding. Feel them out first and gradually move towards sitting in the saddle. It's a slow process, but the safest for all parties involved. It's also great that you have someone knowledgeable helping you! This will be a great help when you have questions or need training advice.

Good luck and be sure to ask if you have more questions!

 

[debiraymond]

Personally, I would avoid using treats as a bonding tool. You are probably better off just spending time with them. The best way I've found to bond with a horse is through use of a round pen. As someone else mentioned, the sort of relationship you want to have with a horse is as a leader, not as a friend. However, if you just spend time at the fence or sitting in the pasture watching them, it will help you to learn their habits and tendencies, and will be a HUGE help later when handling and training them.

As for riding, my best advice would just be to go slow. If you don't know their history, it's possible that they've never even seen a saddle. So take one day to just throw a saddle on their back. Then if they do fine with that, put some weight in the saddle (And not your weight, but a feed bag or anything that will lay sit in the saddle). If the horse bolts off bucking and rearing when you put the saddle on (This is a bit extreme, but gets the point across) then obviously they probably do not have saddle training. Case in point, don't just jump to getting on their backs and riding. Feel them out first and gradually move towards sitting in the saddle. It's a slow process, but the safest for all parties involved. It's also great that you have someone knowledgeable helping you! This will be a great help when you have questions or need training advice.

Good luck and be sure to ask if you have more questions!

Hi Doodle!!! I am re-evaluating the treats, though I think they may be necessary to help supplement nutrition til they gain weight, then again I don't want them to count on it. I didn't give them any tonight, just brushed her really good and talked to her the whole time. I didn't even need the lead!!!! She just stood there.

As for their ridability: Duchess is completely broken. J was laying on top of her last night and she just stood there. Duke on the other hand, is gonna need some work, and I am glad he is Ken's horse. It's funny you told me all this, because this guy that has been raising and riding horses for the Sheriffs posse told us to just leave the saddle on for a day, then put a foot in a strirup and stand there for a while, etc., until you can mount the horse.

One more question: How can I add weight to them? Without getting them used to extra food all the time! They both could use some weight on them. There are pics at BYC.....

 

[big brown horse]

Congrats!

If you want to show us the photos, you can use your uploads that you have on BYC. You don't have to upload again over here.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Treats are actually perfectly fine to give, but I usually give them the treats in their buckets so they don't associate the treats with me. The horse we got last summer was downright nasty to her previous owners beecause all they did was give her treats! She had no respect for them at all. Once your horses have respect for you, then occasional treats out of the hand will be fine. Just be careful with any that are too sweet. If you like baking, there are some awesome healthy treat recipes out there! Too much sugar in their diet can turn them hot and aggresive.

As for weight, the best thing is just to take it slow. You can add some corn oil to their diet, but do it slowly because some horses do not like the taste and will stop eating the food altogether. We usually give our horses a couple tblespoons when they need to gain weight. You can also try a senior feed, but if they aren't that thin I would say just stick to a high quality pelleted food. Try to stay away from stuff with molasses in it because that also has a lot of sugar and can turn them hot. Not all horses are affected by it, but I find pelleted feeds to be complete than a sweet feed.

Just remember to introduce any new foods very slowly. Horses that are not used to new food can colic or become sick from it. Also, try to give them as much hay as possible. They will be fine on 24 hours of hay while you get them adjusted to whatever feed you are going to give.

Good luck! Glad to hear that if seems like you ended up with a couple of good horses. I can't wait to see pics!

 

[debiraymond]

Congrats!

If you want to show us the photos, you can use your uploads that you have on BYC. You don't have to upload again over here.

I never knew that! *runs to BYC*

Doodle - we bought carrots and apples. Are those ok? So far we have only been giving them 1 apple and 1 carrot each per day. I need a bucket.

 

[debiraymond]

Ken with Duke

The rest are J and me with Duchess:

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Beautiful! They both have very kind eyes!

They actually don't look all that thin. They could use some weight, but I think they mostly need some muscle on their topline. Once you start working them, you'll see them build it up fairly quickly. Do you know if they lunge?

 

[debiraymond]

Beautiful! They both have very kind eyes!

They actually don't look all that thin. They could use some weight, but I think they mostly need some muscle on their topline. Once you start working them, you'll see them build it up fairly quickly. Do you know if they lunge?

Not yet we don't know. Next weekend we are going to start doing that with them. We wanted them to get used to their surroundings and us a bit before we start lunging. Ken knows how to do that, I am clueless.

Their weight is pretty good, but they do need some. They also look better now that we brushed off half their winter coat!

 

[michickenwrangler]

Beautiful! They both have very kind eyes!

They actually don't look all that thin. They could use some weight, but I think they mostly need some muscle on their topline. Once you start working them, you'll see them build it up fairly quickly. Do you know if they lunge?

I agree. If you notice the necks are "ewey" meaning there is no muscle on the top. That comes from working in frame and a good trainer can get you started in that.

Once you guys get some condition on them, they'll be some pretty awesome horses.

Good quality hay will be the best way to get weight on them without hyperness. Walking up and down hills will also build up hindquarters and abdominal muscles, you can even do that in hand without riding.

 

[debiraymond]

I really appreciate all your help and comments SO MUCH!!! Ken is more of a horse person (more experience) than me, and I trust the BYC/BYH peoples opinions and answers alot. I will let you guys know how it goes. We are taking things slow so they REMAIN nice horses. So far, they are AWESOME. Very calm, people friendly.

Just don't laugh at me if I land on my backside!