Comments on: Two Month Report: Happy Healthy Mustang Joins Happy Healthy Herd; Life Lessons

By: admin

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:14:51 +0000

We’re doing fine so far. If you look closely at the photos you’ll see that our hillside pastures are anything but “rich” pastures, in the traditional mid-TN sense. They’re very mixed. When we arrived it was mostly fescue with weeds, brambles, trees, berries, etc. Some Bermuda. Some clover. We’ve been sewing orchard and Bermuda, a bag at a time, here and there, since last September. Probably a total of 12 25lb bags of orchard and three 50lb bags of Bermuda. We know that the pastures have not been fertilized for at least nine years (nor will they be while we’re here… chemical fertilizer is the worst thing you can do for a horse). And we use no chemical weed killers… just lots of bush-hogging. Trying to keep the overall pasture roughly between 4″ and 12″. Never shorter than 4″ to 5″… and trying not to let the weeds get any (much) taller than 12″. So there’s lots of diversity, lots of choices for the horses. They can pick and choose as they like or feel the need. To increase the diversity even more, our morning and evening feed base is a chopped forage. Triple Crown Safe Starch, guaranteed to be less than 10% NSC. We top it in the mornings with a bit of Source Hoof HF supplement, a bit of Probios powdered probiotic, Dr. Dan’s “Just Add Oats” (without ANY oats), Dr. Dan’s Bug Check, and a bit of Nutra-Flax by Horse Tech (better I think than horseshine because horseshine is grain based thus has a high NSC or glycemic rating) for Omega 3s… and they get free choice Dr. Dan’s Red Cal salt/trace mineral granules in a bucket in the barn. Plus each horse gets a bit of rice bran, some just a bit, some 4-5 cups depending upon weight needs. In the evening it’s the same drill except the only supplements are Bug Check, NutraFlax, and rice bran. The Safe Starch forage (we call it chopped salad) adds additional forage to diversify from the pasture grasses… and we are still putting out approximately a bale of orchard hay a day (Bermuda when I can get it) scattered in lots of small piles in the pasture to… 1) add yet even more diversity and… 2) to ensure lots of good movement by scattering it high on the hills, well away from the water pond. My belief is that movement is as important if not more so than any other element. No sugar period! Which means no grains period because they turn to sugar immediately once in the body. No pellets held together with molasses. Nothing whatsoever with sugar. What all that means is that we are trying to replicate the wild horse model as absolutely closely as we possibly can. There is no hoof lameness in the wild. None at all. And they eat grass all the time. Have a look at the Cloud Foundation’s PBS specials… at the beautiful mountain top pastures they live on in the Spring and Summer in the wild. But it’s natural pasture, with no fertilizer, mixed grasses and all that other stuff… and they’re moving 10-30 miles a day foraging, getting water, and staying away from predators. So my belief is that they can easily take the sugars in the grasses if they are not getting whacked by extremely high levels of potassium from fertilizers, if they are getting no other sugars in their diets, if they are getting the choices they need to balance themselves, and if they’re getting lots and lots of movement. I mean lots and lots. Enforced movement… not just leaving it up to the horses. So there you have it. Pretty much. We have six horses on approximately 23 acres of hillsides (the balance is VERY steep and wooded). Time will tell but I believe they’re going to do fine. Their hooves are terrific (we also have one of the very best natural hoof specialists who follows the wild horse model to the infinite). The only issues we’ve had have been allergic reactions to various plants and/or bugs they’ve never seen before but it looks like we’re getting all that under control as well. Takes two years (we’re told) for the immune systems to adjust. — Joe

By: Starr

Starr — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:21:07 +0000

How are you coping with the “rich Tennessee grasses”? I live in Kentucky with my four geldings in a 15 acre field. This spring I had to pull two of my geldings off pasture and keep them up in their stalls because they were starting to suffer from grass founder. The only thing I can think to do is kill the grass in their pasture and reseed with orchard grass or something other than the fescue and white clover that are present now. My stall bound horses would certainly appreciate any insight!! Thank you.

By: Suzi Armstrong

Suzi Armstrong — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:27:46 +0000

I have just completed reading your book and was so happy to find you have a blog site also. Our family enjoyed reading your book and look forward to the continued updates of your adventures with your babies. Your words are an inspiration to many! Thank you.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:27:55 +0000

It wasn’t lost on me Kathleen! :) I’m a New Englander and I still never stop seeing it and appreciating it.

I am a 40 something mom of two boys who has dreamed of doing what you and Joe are doing since childhood. I am in the middle of your book, The Soul of A Horse and I now am a firm believer in the wild horse model! How beautiful a way it is. When I finally have my horses it will be so exciting to live what I’m learning!! Much more to learn!

By: admin

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:03:25 +0000

Robynne… the short answer is yes. Let’s talk.

By: Robynne Catheron

Robynne Catheron — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:54:40 +0000

Hi Joe,

Wonderful news about Noelle, and she looks great. They all do. Gosh, you’ve got a pretty place- it looks so peaceful. Joe, would you and Kathleen consider joining forces with Equine Welfare Alliance? It’s approximately 60 groups and agencies, and a multitude of individuals trying to protect the rights and lives of our mustangs out west. It would be awesome if you and Monty could be part of it. You both have such powerful and profound love and compassion for horses, and people listen when you speak.
Please?

God bless you and Kathleen, and Happy Thanksgiving!

By: Sandi Quintero

Sandi Quintero — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:35:51 +0000

Joe – so much fun reading your adventures of the last two months. I’m Danna Beith’s friend who lives in San Diego. I’m so bummed I didn’t get out to meet the horses, Benji (and you) before you left. We spend too much time waiting for the right moment to do things. Your spread looks amazing — what I imagine Heaven should look like (but maybe not in the rain). Blessings to you and Katherine. When is she joining you permanently?

By: Kirby

Kirby — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:27:30 +0000

Hi Joe

I wanted to say that im reading ur book of the soul of a horse and hoook and stay up way to late reading it over an over again.. are u going to write another one?.. and the join up with getting trust is my new favorite thing i do it with my mare and gled and it so much better..

Kirby

By: Rhoda Reilly

Rhoda Reilly — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:51:52 +0000

Thanks for sharing your adventures and the fabulous photos of Noelle joining the herd. The last photo says it all . . . it all works out in the end . . . so just enjoy your coffee. Ah, the lessons the herd teached us about life. How smart of us when we listen.

Love the looks of all that grass; sure looks good after the continued drought here and notice of more water cutbacks. perhaps we will look for a place near you one day if Valley Center becomes too unmanageable for our budget.

By: Brenda Adams

Brenda Adams — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:40:34 +0000

I just finished reading “The Soul of the Horse” & want to thank you so much for sharing your experience!! I have a 3 year old gelding, Chaska, who was born in my back yard. It had been years since I had been around horses much, as the only friend I had who was into them had moved away. It is a long story as to how I acquired my horse, but fell in love with him from the beginning. Like you, I had NO experience except the limited bit while riding with my friend during high school years. I had been warned about folks who are heavy handed with horses, & being an avid animal lover of any species, I have sought to avoid any aggressive training methods. I live just outside of Chattanooga & will be looking for someone to train Chaska to ride come summer. I am keeping his feet natural & am so very glad I read your book before doing anything more than the ground work that has been done so far. If you have any other information to add to the links included in your book, I would be most grateful to know about them!

God bless you indeed, for your willingness to share what you have learned!

Sincerely,
Brenda