horse_apples
Well-Known Member
I just adopted two miniature horses in need of a new home. A good friend of mine had a relative/neighbor who had two mini's that her children (now teens) had sort of grown out of. She wanted them to go to a home together so I was able to get them as a gift. I know a little about basic horse care because my father has two horses (a halflinger and a shetland pony) and lives right across the road from me. I have 10 acres, 3 of which are pasture and have a large barn. This used to be an Amish farm. These mini's have totally won my heart and I want to give them the best home possible and have lots of questions!! They are such amazingly sweet and clever animals.
A little about them. They are mother and baby. Dolly, is an 18 year old mare who was at one time registered as Hocott's Party Doll (granddaughter of Shadow Oak's Paul Bunyan) Her daughter, Baby is a 6 year old who came with a filled out registration form with the signature of the person who supplied her Dad to Dolly. Baby's Dad is Double AA Cheyenne Chief who was Kokomo's Little King Supreme grandson - I was told this means they have good bloodlines in case I want to breed Baby one day - which I think I would only do so she'd have a buddy around when her mom inevitably meets her end. How long do minis live? Is 6 too old to breed or what is too old/too young?
Both are listed on their paperwork as "gurllo" but vistors to my barn have referred to them as Blue Roan. They are both very pretty and Dolly has an interesting "tattoo" on her rump of a fox's face. Dolly is 35.5", 280lbs. and Baby is 34", 240lbs. Their personalities are just darling, although they can be quite ornery at times. I never imagined horses would lick, sniff my face, try to pick up any and every little thing I carry around, and jump around like little goats when let out to pasture. I enjoy learning as I go and am glad to have people help me out.
I keep them in a 14"x12" stall during the day and overnight with two two hour trips to the pasture. Our pasture became severly overgrown this summer and I don't want to turn them loose on such lush green so as not to make them sick. I have been brushing their bodies daily, manes weekly and picking their hooves everyday as well. I never knew how much .... mess ... a horse makes in one day if you catch my drift - it's why I'm naming our barn "horse apple acres".
My questions:
-What is the difference between Grullo and Blue Roan?
-Should I increase the pasture trips by one hour each week until they can handle 8 hours a day in the pasture?
-How do I know if they are being playful vs. being mean? Sometimes Baby will run full speed at me then vear off at the last second. She likes our dog, but today I saw her stomp at her.
-Can/How do I register them?
-When/Should I breed Baby (I assume Dolly is too old at 18 though she acts clownish and youthful)
- I saw them licking/nipping each other's necks in what seemed to be a loving gesture?
- How do I give them a bath? Suppose one rolled in her own poo.... yeah she did!
- How long should they live if cared for well?
- How do I know they are happy and like their new home? It's been three weeks now and they seem at ease. They sometimes are a little pushy about being let out to pasture.
Thank you all for reading this! If you want to see pictures, here are a few links:
http://www.brushcreekstudio.com/baby.jpg
http://www.brushcreekstudio.com/dolly.jpg
http://www.brushcreekstudio.com/dollytat.jpg
A little about them. They are mother and baby. Dolly, is an 18 year old mare who was at one time registered as Hocott's Party Doll (granddaughter of Shadow Oak's Paul Bunyan) Her daughter, Baby is a 6 year old who came with a filled out registration form with the signature of the person who supplied her Dad to Dolly. Baby's Dad is Double AA Cheyenne Chief who was Kokomo's Little King Supreme grandson - I was told this means they have good bloodlines in case I want to breed Baby one day - which I think I would only do so she'd have a buddy around when her mom inevitably meets her end. How long do minis live? Is 6 too old to breed or what is too old/too young?
Both are listed on their paperwork as "gurllo" but vistors to my barn have referred to them as Blue Roan. They are both very pretty and Dolly has an interesting "tattoo" on her rump of a fox's face. Dolly is 35.5", 280lbs. and Baby is 34", 240lbs. Their personalities are just darling, although they can be quite ornery at times. I never imagined horses would lick, sniff my face, try to pick up any and every little thing I carry around, and jump around like little goats when let out to pasture. I enjoy learning as I go and am glad to have people help me out.
I keep them in a 14"x12" stall during the day and overnight with two two hour trips to the pasture. Our pasture became severly overgrown this summer and I don't want to turn them loose on such lush green so as not to make them sick. I have been brushing their bodies daily, manes weekly and picking their hooves everyday as well. I never knew how much .... mess ... a horse makes in one day if you catch my drift - it's why I'm naming our barn "horse apple acres".
My questions:
-What is the difference between Grullo and Blue Roan?
-Should I increase the pasture trips by one hour each week until they can handle 8 hours a day in the pasture?
-How do I know if they are being playful vs. being mean? Sometimes Baby will run full speed at me then vear off at the last second. She likes our dog, but today I saw her stomp at her.
-Can/How do I register them?
-When/Should I breed Baby (I assume Dolly is too old at 18 though she acts clownish and youthful)
- I saw them licking/nipping each other's necks in what seemed to be a loving gesture?
- How do I give them a bath? Suppose one rolled in her own poo.... yeah she did!
- How long should they live if cared for well?
- How do I know they are happy and like their new home? It's been three weeks now and they seem at ease. They sometimes are a little pushy about being let out to pasture.
Thank you all for reading this! If you want to see pictures, here are a few links:
http://www.brushcreekstudio.com/baby.jpg
http://www.brushcreekstudio.com/dolly.jpg
http://www.brushcreekstudio.com/dollytat.jpg