horses

[Saje]

So, my two horses are still near my parents but we are renting 160 acres.... Mom is worried that the fencing isn't good enough where we are (there are parts that need to be fixed) and so she hasn't given dad the ok to bring them out. Well, I think she's silly because they are mine, I love them and of course I'm going to make sure they are going to be safe. Steve and I have decided to keep them in our front yard (which is fenced w gates) until we can check through the whole quarter section for loose wire. After that I'll probably still bring them up to the yard at night so I can make sure they are safe and give them treats... I wrote my dad an email to that affect and hopefully he'll bring them out during the christmas holidays. Cross your fingers!

 

[Kaleigh'sAdrienne]

Wow.. you have horses?? Thats too cool Horses scare me.. I have no idea why.. lol but their so pretty!! Are they expensive to take care of?

 

[yuckaduck]

Fingers crossed for you. I know you have wanted them home for a long time now.


Yes very expensive to care for and maintain, but they are loads of fun.

 

[Saje]

that all depends. there are a lot of variables. I know with my situation I'll buy a round bale of hay for $25-$50. For two horses that will last almost all winter. Then I'll get some bags of grains (sweet feed/oats...) but that will just be a treat. Probably $10 every two weeks? roughly. Vaccinations in the spring are about $30-$30 per horse. hoof trimmings cost ... I can't even remember but I'll have to find someone new to do it. Deworming $20 every few months in the summer and a couple times in the winter.

Not horribly expensive really.

 

[joce]

Hope they make it up there! And give them big hugs for me,I hate not having a horse(ok in this weather its not that bad!). I'm sure they will be ok. There are some horses you can't keep in anything but there are others that wouldn't step over a thread If its wire fencing she is worried about it would she feel better if you tied the orange ribbon on it. Wire makes me nervoues but if they know were it is they should be ok. I saw a frineds horse after he ran right into it once,it was bad.

 

[yuckaduck]

Costs of owning a horse in Ontario!

This was my schedule so not always the same.


January

deworm with eqvalan $17.99
vaccinations including rabies and west nile $89.99 [does not include trip fee to farm]

February
trim feet [always took shoes off in winter unless I was showing] $20

March

Coggins test if showing $50

April
deworm panacur $19.99
feet trimmed and put shoes back on $65

June
feet trimmed and shoes if used same shoes $40

July
deworm eqvalan $17.99

Aug
feet trimmed again and shoes $40

Oct
deworm safe guard $15.97
feet/ if show season done--shoes left off $20



I bought round bales of hay at $25 a bale and found in summer it last 2-3 months in winter it lasted 1 month per horse. They eat more in winter because it is colder and they require more.

Grain and all that neat stuff varies depending on what you are doing with the horse; whether it is an easy keeper, or not; many things to consider.

Example:
Jenny B Good [Arabian Mare] Never wore shoes, never recieved grain, she got a bran mash once a week and the rest was hay and grass.

Spots Hired Hank [Quarter Horse Gelding] Shoes on front only 4 cups grain a day which is not much, bran mash once a week,

Indiannas Starlite [ mom's Standardbred Mare] Shoes on front only, a handful of grain, bran mash twice a week...she coliced alot.

BTW Star never raced!


These were simply horses growing up and that was their routine. My show horses were alot different.

None of these prices count shipping, board if required, emergencies should any arise.
Colic surgury is $2500+ if it happens and usually requires shipping fees, board fees at the hospital....

Lots to consider. Now Saje knows alot about horses so alot of the vet required things she can likely do herself too, which saves money.

I always bought the deworm and did myself. Needles were always done by vets, just because I needed a record of it being done to show. That is something that you can do yourself if you are able.

Also remeber from Province to province and country to country things cost more or less, different vaccines are required, worming schedules may be different. Winter times and grass pasture times may vary too which adjusts cost.

 

[Saje]

Hope they make it up there! And give them big hugs for me,I hate not having a horse(ok in this weather its not that bad!). I'm sure they will be ok. There are some horses you can't keep in anything but there are others that wouldn't step over a thread If its wire fencing she is worried about it would she feel better if you tied the orange ribbon on it. Wire makes me nervoues but if they know were it is they should be ok. I saw a frineds horse after he ran right into it once,it was bad.

Barb wire is evil. I've cleaned some pretty nasty cuts from it. The only reason I'd keep them in this pasture is because it's so big I doubt they'll even see the fences much!

Ribbon is definitely an option but not all the way around I don't think. Mostly I need to fix up a few spots where the wire is broken.

 

[yuckaduck]

I did the fences thing on another forum so here is the link to it:

http://heather.forumup.org/viewtopic.php?t=37&mforum=heather

It has the many many different options available.

I know around here the most popular is electric fence but that never worked. They use to stand right beside it and listen for the beep and then run through it. Smarty pants.

 

[joce]

i felt bad for the lady I borded with last. she bought that white plastic fence that was supposed to be great and it was horrible,it sagged and looked horrible and she put so much money into it. I'm still not sure what my favorite type of fencing is.

 

[yuckaduck]

i felt bad for the lady I borded with last. she bought that white plastic fence that was supposed to be great and it was horrible,it sagged and looked horrible and she put so much money into it. I'm still not sure what my favorite type of fencing is.

High maintainance fencing. You have to go and tighten at each post once a month otherwise it sags. I tried it on a small paddock and it hit the garbage after the first couple of months. Thank goodness I did nto do much with it! Way to much fence.

I use the dreaded wood fences. I know I have heard of horses freaking out and jumping it but I have never had that problem. I did hear of a neighbours colt jumping wooden fence, smashing both knees on the way over. The story was that both front legs were broken. No idea if it was true or not though.

I use wooded fence and I put electric along top and bottom of it. It seemed to work great for my uses.

 

[panzer426]

just make sure there are no holes for them to stepr in, nothing like garden hoses and stuff to get tangled in, and be sure that none of the plants you may have in the yard are poisonous to horses. also be sure they cant get the gates open. windows are a problem too, they could easily bump a head or kick a hoof through them. not trying to talk down at you as if you dont know any of this stuff, but anything that could ever possibly hurt them probably will.
good luck.

 

[Love4Pits]

So, my two horses are still near my parents but we are renting 160 acres.... Mom is worried that the fencing isn't good enough where we are (there are parts that need to be fixed) and so she hasn't given dad the ok to bring them out. Well, I think she's silly because they are mine, I love them and of course I'm going to make sure they are going to be safe. Steve and I have decided to keep them in our front yard (which is fenced w gates) until we can check through the whole quarter section for loose wire. After that I'll probably still bring them up to the yard at night so I can make sure they are safe and give them treats... I wrote my dad an email to that affect and hopefully he'll bring them out during the christmas holidays. Cross your fingers!

I hope you get them too. And then I want to see somem more pictures of them lol because I just think their dolls.

 

[Saje]

I hope you get them too. And then I want to see somem more pictures of them lol because I just think their dolls.

You know I will. We just have three now. Lyndsay's horse, bey, got re-adopted by his first owners. They are thrilled to have him back. I feel sort of sad about it but at least he has a good home.

Don't worry Panzer, I know what to look for.

 

[Sirius]

yay! I live in the middle of a gigantic city, so I can't exactly keep them in my backyard, now can I?