Meet Pearl, New Horse

[Amelie the Bee Keeper]

Can you take a close look of the bump on Pearl's back, about where the back of the saddle would be? I tried looking it up and found something called "hunter's back" and that a bump like that can be caused by an ill fitting saddle, which would be the more likely conclusion. Do you have any knowledge or experience about that? Most of what I was reading said that their horse had no pain from it. I have pressed down with my hands and she doesn't react.

That bump is natural (looking at the skeleton) so since she is underweight, I would wait until she has more weight to judge

 

[goatgurl]

wow, your pig weighed almost as much as pearl. congrats bay, she is going to be a beautiful girl. she is one lucky pony. I miss my horses so much. like the others i'll be anxious to see what she looks like in a few months.

 

[Baymule]

This morning Pearl was pacing the fence wanting HAY! And FEED! She tore hay out of my hands before I even got it in the trough. Now she stands at the fence, pawing impatiently while I get her pellets. She is feeling much better, I know it's a bad habit, but I can't help but be amused that she now feel good enough to be pitching a little hissy fit.

 

[B&B Happy goats]

This morning Pearl was pacing the fence wanting HAY! And FEED! She tore hay out of my hands before I even got it in the trough. Now she stands at the fence, pawing impatiently while I get her pellets. She is feeling much better, I know it's a bad habit, but I can't help but be amused that she now feel good enough to be pitching a little hissy fit.

 

[B&B Happy goats]

"She is your horse and you are not required to defend her behavior to anyone" if she is at the fence demanding her feed....then i say she is happy as hel... you saved her butt from the glue factory...enjoy her your way Bay

 

[frustratedearthmother]

First thing that comes to mind is "fat and sassy." She might need a reminder that it's Bay's way or the ... well...it's Bay's way!

 

[Bunnylady]

She tore hay out of my hands before I even got it in the trough.

"She is your horse and you are not required to defend her behavior to anyone"

The behavior that Baymule described and I quoted here is simply unacceptable, no matter how hungry the horse is. It is a behavior that folks who do rescues often encounter when refeeding a starved horse; they are "soft" with the animal because they feel sorry for it, but the horse sees that as weakness, so as soon as it feels strong enough, it begins challenging them, often over food. This isn't a behavior that Baymule will have to defend to anyone, it's a thing she may soon have to defend herself from (food aggressive horses are just plain dangerous), so I'm sure she knows she needs to nip it in the bud.

 

[B&B Happy goats]

@Bunnylady, my comment was a reference to something i had posted on another thread, it was ment to amuse Bay and in no way was a reflection to anything that you had said. Or posted.... im sorry if you took it that way as i hadn't read your post, please accept my apologies Barbara...just went back a few pages and couldn't find the post you are referring too ?
But since my comment was not meant to be a reflection or a reference to what had said by you, i guess this is a mute point.

 

[Bunnylady]

@B&B Happy goats Yes, I know you were joking, but there are horse greenhorns reading this thread who may not realize how serious a matter this is. I worked as a feeder at a barn for a few years, and I know first hand that, when you just come in, put down the feed, and leave, an awful lot of horses will assume that they can push you around. I lost count of the number that I had to remind that it ain't their feed until I says it's their feed . . . and believe me, there's nothing like snarling at a skinny horse for trying to grab a mouthful of hay to make you feel like a bully. But having had to carry a weapon (usually a lead rope) into a stall for weeks because the horse inside would attack anyone carrying feed or hay really drove home to me how bad food aggression can be.

 

[Baymule]

@Bunnylady I couldn't agree with you more. We bought a skinny gelding in January 2017 and as he felt better, he got some nasty manners to go with it. I put my hand on his chest and made him back up. I poured out his feed and stood in front of it, and made him back up some more. Only when he stopped fretting did I step aside and tall him Take it. He got over being pushy real quick. I still do it every so often just to remind him who the "lead mare" is. LOL LOL I never let him reach in the bucket to get a bite of feed before pouring it in his tub, either. You might remember him, a pretty chestnut with blaze face and stocking legs. he is fat and roly-poly now.

I put the hay in through an opening, thus not walking in the pen/shelter. This is my pig pen, designed to feed and water without me having to go in there and risk getting bit by a hog. We built it less than a year ago. Some of the pigs are friendly and I am ok with them, some of them give me the creeps and I would never walk in their pen to feed/water without my husband being outside. I also carried a pipe to fend them off. So this pen is wonderful for raising pigs and much safer. That is why Pearl was able to start eating the hay before I even dropped it in the trough.

I do make a point of taking her feed in there, talking to her, petting her and making her wait as I pour the feed in a tub. She does not back her ears or act out. yes she is impatient because she is hungry, but not in a pushy, ill mannered way. She is feeling better, she paws when she sees me coming with feed. I don't like a pawing horse. I am amused for now, but hoping that she calms down when she gains weight. The little chestnut gelding did.

I have even made horses stand away, while I pretended to eat their feed, just to show them that I was the boss. I made smacking noises, telling them that it was delicious and MINE.