What Is One Tip You Can Pass Along To A Newbie?

[Jill]

The other day, I was thinking it would be nice to have a tip thread where we can each pass along one simple tip that would help a newbie.

One thing I remember when I got my first horse (a riding horse) was learning to tie a quick release knot. It actually took me some practice where now, of course, it is just second nature.

It's important to tie horses with quick release knots, so that if something happens and the horse panics or whatever, you just have to jerk down the end of the lead rope and the horse is no longer tied.

Knowing that many people who are new to minis are also new to horse ownership, I would bet there is a good percentage of mini owners who are tying their horses in an unsafe manner not even knowing about quick release knots.

Here is a link that shows how to tie a quick release knot:

[SIZE=18pt]How To Tie A Quick Release Knot[/SIZE]

Please share your tips! Let's see how big a thread we can make

: There is a vast resource of knowledge and insight available from us LB members!

 

[wade3504]

Don't wrap the lead around your hand. They may be little but they have power. Ask those who have been drug by them.

Amanda

 

[Mona]

Don't wrap the lead around your hand. They may be little but they have power. Ask those who have been drug by them.

Amanda

:aktion033: This is a favorite saftey tip of mine that I have been TRYING(unsuccessfully) to teach my non-horsey husband for MANY, MANY years now! Some days I just feel like

: . He just doesn't get it! I guess he thinks he is stronger than a miniature horse, and I just hope he never has to find out!

:

 

[Jill]

Good tips so far!!! This is great

About the wrapping the lead rope thing around your hand, that is true! And they can do more than drag you, they can break your fingers. One thing I don't like about many of the mini leads that are sold is they are really dog leashes, with hand loops. So it just begs for newbies to start a bad habit.

 

[targetsmom]

Be sure your grain is stored in a place that there is ABSOLUTELY no way the minis can get to, even if they get "loose".

And if your minis have figured out how to untie a quick release knot (like ours have) stick the end of the rope back through a second time!

 

[backwoodsnanny]

Find a mentor if you can someone knowledgable and willing to help you. Read everything you can about miniatures and their behaviors. This forum is a great place to start but also other links on the net books etc. LISTEN AND LEARN!!!!! even if you dont always agree.

 

[user 488]

#1. I also agree about finding a MENTOR. But be careful about the so-called mentor you choose. They might not know what they think they know and a newbie is easily fooled.

#2. Learn how to CARE and handle a Miniature Horse BEFORE you purchase one. Work or spend time on a reputable farm with reputable people.

#3. Learn about CONTRACTS. It will save you a lot of heartaches in the long run and save you from getting into a bad situation. (like the buyer who bought the colt with no testicles and no sperm count...another thread on the Forum right now)

#4. Learn about proper CONFORMATION. It's amazing to me what people call correct or good. Even if you want a pet you should buy something that resembles a horse.

So I can't count......that was four instead of one. I could go on..............

 

[Jill]

Carol, you SHOULD go on! But I know this isn't the only place you have to spend your time and energy

: You've really helped me with good advice and I am thankful for what you've shared with me

:

 

[Miniv]

Don't use Quest Wormer on your minis!

There are a lot of other wormers to choose from.

MA

 

[love_casper]

DON'T GIVE THEM THE WHOLE SALT BLOCK AT ONCE! or, don't leave it with them too long!

when charm was 4 months, he had an aweful bout of salt poisoning! :no: each step he took, his butt would :smileypuke: yeah same projectile motion and everything. ewe. we tried everything we could think of, but this was lasting for days! then while i was brushing the horse in the stall next to him, i found the culprit. his over generous mother was noticing him struggling with the salt block (he hadn't quite grasped the concept of "lick") so she'd stomp on it to break it for him, and he was eating WAY too much! no wonder the salt was dissapearing!

: crazy mare! we took the salt out and he was better the next day.

another....DON'T TIE HORES TO ANYTHING THAT ISN'T STURDY!!!

even for just a second, a chair or door is not a good hitching post.

oh and CLOSE GATES ALL THE WAY!!!! which fits nicely with DOOOOOOON'T LEAVE HALTERS ON!!!!! (i promise i'll stop now

i had a thoroughbred dressage horse totally mess up his face, while his owner was out of town and he was in my care. The gate wasn't all the way closed, and his halter was on. for litereally (or maybe less than) two minutes, I left the horse alone to throw some hay into his stall. He stuck his nose through the two bars that weren't all the way closed, his halter got stuck, and when he pulled back, it pulled the two poles together into his face, smashing it and breaking a bone! i was at the barn till 1 am, holding his head while he got surgery on it. yeah his owner was very happy with me

:

 

[zoey829]

Great thread! ALex I read your story and it is so touching. I am nearly in tears. Good for you and lucky horses.

My tip is always watch your horses esp the foals when they have halters on them.

If you dont show you dont need that expensive shampoo infusiom shampoo and cond work great.

 

[love_casper]

Great thread! ALex I read your story and it is so touching. I am nearly in tears. Good for you and lucky horses.

My tip is always watch your horses esp the foals when they have halters on them.

If you dont show you dont need that expensive shampoo infusiom shampoo and cond work great.

awwww thanks!

:

 

[Bassett]

Jill, Thanks so much for the link on the quick release knot. I definately will be practicing it. All these tips are great. More please.

:

 

[Kim~Crayonboxminiatures]

1.Treat your Mini like a horse, teach it manners. These little guys will (literally) walk all over you if you let them. Educate yourself on how to lead a horse, pick it's feet, and how to teach them manners, etc.

I know my vet appreciates my well behaved Minis, they are taught to stand still, even for the "unpleasant" stuff. You will have better luck getting a good farrier & vet for the Minis if they are taught to stand for trimming, etc.

2. If you are new to horses (no horse experience, or very little) don't start with a young colt!!!! I hear of this so many times, either have him gelded before the spring of the year he will turn 1 year old, or start with an older horse.

Lots of good things listed here!

 

[Irish Hills Farm]

A newbie's first horse should be a gelding or a mare, not a stallion. Thats my two cents.

 

[Cathy_H]

Mini's need less room at the bottom of fences & stalls & the ground. In the 80's we had a mare get her head hung under a stall gate while she was foaling. Fortunately we had an intercom in the house & heard the ruckus.................. Had another mare shoot the foal through the stall boards into the barn isle. She tore down a 5 foot high gate to get to it. Needless to say we redid all of our fences & stalls so that foals cannot get hung under them.

 

[shane]

dont think your colt is too good to geld when your barn blind, get an expert opinion!

 

[Songcatcher]

Read the "NINE COMMANDMENTS for Buying a Miniature Horse" on page 141 of the June/July 2007 Miniature Horse World.

 

[VernB]

Lots of good sense here :aktion033: One BIG thing I have seen with way to many new owners is that they leave the halters on their horses. I've seen terrible things happen when they do this, Don't treat it lightly, I saw a mare that killed herself by getting her halter caught on her feeder, and another mare that grew up with a halter on, and it literally grew into her nose.

Another thing I've seen is when a newbee buys a horse and they don't think before they throw some kind of weed to them that is poison like tomato or something. Check your pastures for anything poisonous, learn what is and what isn't.

 

[susanne]

Beware of well-meaning neighbors and passers-by who feed "treats" to your horses...toss lawn clippings...or... They need to know absolutely never to feed them anything without your specific permission.

Beware, too, of secret barn visitors...kids and others. When we lived in town, we had an adult neighbor who was convinced our horses should have more grain. (We feed 2 cups twice a day each, and they were far from thin!) She visited frequently, so we began storing our grain in the house, just to be safe.

On the other hand, enlist your neighbors, horsey or otherwise, to help keep a watchful eye out for unauthorized vehicles or visitors, stray dogs, loose horses, etc.