Recent content by SandyWI

My foals always get a shot of selenium within two days of birth, as it helps with lax tendons and horses who look down in the heels. I've also found that at as the horse gets older, the laxity disappears. I don't have my foal's hooves trimmed that early.

My husband and I have a business doing soil tests. (Perc tests). Since we are in a rural area we are often at farms, and at least twice every summer I run across a horse or pony or miniature that is in a small lot all by itself, with no other equines around. I always go up to them and scratch...

While I feel confident enough to check the placentas myself to make sure it's all there, I still have the vet come out to do the IGG. There's never been a problem, but as I often have maiden mares I get concerned that there is enough colostrum and milk. And besides, it gives me a chance to show...

I am associated with a horse rescue here in Wisconsin: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation. They do an excellent job with the horses and they are a real rescue rather than a hoarding operation: they don't take in more horses than they can handle. They are very thorough in placing horses, have...

Our hay does not have any alfalfa in it, so I feed alfalfa , but I don't really feed too much, and I only start feeding them in late October. I actually prefer the alfalfa cubes, but I'd never give them to my horses as they come out of the bad. Most of the cubes are too big and too hard. So, I...

The placenta does not look normal to me. There really should only be one hole. I have no idea what might have caused the second hole, but I think I would show it to a vet to be sure. Could there be any possibility at all that the mare was carrying twins, but one didn't develop, and is possibly...

Going through an unexpected delivery and finding a standing foal is a blessing, but having to worry about the lack of colostrum tempers the joy. I sure hope things will be Ok, Becky.

Hysterical stories, Marty and Tagalong! Cracked me up royally! I have one little two year old stallion who could compete in the show. ever since he was a little guy, he did the weirdest things. Like, he'd always walk up to his mother's side and then put his front hooves on her back, and stare...

I deworm with Safeguard at two months, and like miniv, I start the foals on regular schedules like the adults at 4 months, but that schedule includes Zimectrin Gold when they are six months old. Once in the fall, and once in the spring.

I don't have oaks around my pastures, but I have black walnuts right next to my dry lots, and have had my minis in there for five years. this time every year the leaves start falling and some of them get into the dry lots and the horses will eat them. I spent the entire first year madly raking...

There is a product that I think might be made by Farnum, but I could be wrong on the manufacturer. But it's called "Weight Gain." It's granular stuff, and you only feed a few ounces per day. I used it when I got a retired standardbred harness racer who had been kept at a "rescue" place and...

I grew up with big horses, and the term "stud" was almost always used when referring to a stallion that had been used at least once for breeding. In the miniature world, they are always called stallions, and not studs. I had to learn that, LOL! A term I am not sure about it "an own son of" such...

I feel so badly your foal got bitten, and I can imagine how sick you've been over it. And of course, the horses will always get bitten on the nose as that's what they're always sticking into business which isn't their's! Here in Wisconsin we have Timber rattlers and they can get extremely...

I love watching the horse shows! I love it more when it's my horse winning, LOL! I don't care to be the one in the show ring, though. It's not for me. I don't like getting dressed up and would prefer to be a spectator. That's why we hire a trainer. Also, there aren't many shows in my area. Most...

I agree about the Shapleys. The horse could have sweet itch, caused by mites, or it could have pinworms, which are not always easy to eliminate with regular dewormers. You might need something with Praziquantral in it. But another thing to consider is that perhaps he doesn't have a tick or...