Thread: wild horses to ride

Originally Posted by wardy1

"p.s cant wait to build my own mud run, and use the defenders bull bar as a dozzer threw the tress, hope no greenies are reading.It would be a planned cull."
I really hope that you are kidding with this part...... more vandals in the 4wd fraternity we DON'T need.
Oh, and rest assured, there are 'greenies' who DO read forums such as ours and they will LOVE to take your post and spread it in justification for their claims that our access to sensitive areas should be stopped.
THINK next time

I don't think the greenies have a claim on Wardy's own property - as much as they would probably like to think they do.

Originally Posted by Rangier Rover

Horses can eat around 3% of body weight per day. I doubt the area unless irrigated will support them. Cost of a farrier is around $160 to $200 per horse per 8 weeks. Then the price of good quality lucerne hay at around $14 a small bale for cold or dry periods. Horses are also selective crazers so if left in one place you will end up with a paddock full of weeds.
Just my experience but I only have eight of them. I call them Hay burners

Tony

Mate, you're getting ripped on the farriering, and we've used the best performance horse farriers in the Sydney basin
I have to say, we were a bit shocked at the Farriers in the Upper Hunter, 99% aren't as good as what we were used to and they charge more than the big smoke and aren't as reliable

I'm not big into lucerne hay, IMO a good quality pasture hay, barley hay and oaten hay is preferable in a lot of instances. We tend to feel lucerne should be used a bit more sparingly than most people feed out.

The times when feed really needs to be supplemented are winter and the changes of season when pasture quality is poor. For those times we just give our young ones (ie, those not in work) a mineral/vitamin supplement in pellet form to 'boost' what's lacking in the grass.

A big factor is what grass varieties exist on your place ?
What a lot of people think is grass, in actual fact are weeds for grazing animals. I know of paddocks around here that look lush to the casual observer that you wouldn't support a horse without quite a bit of supplemental feed.

My wife's horse "Snoopy" is around 38 years old. I get really annoyed at people who treat them as throw away toys.
And than to see horses in paddocks with coats on in 30deg+ heat. makes my blood boil.
There should be a course you need to do before you can own these wonderful creatures.

Nice to see the stereotype of Land Rover owners and horse owners rings true. This is prob' the next best place to get horse advice than a dedicated web forum.

Originally Posted by rick130

Mate, your getting ripped on the farriering, and we've used the best performance horse farriers in the Sydney basin
I have to say, we were a bit shocked at the Farriers in the Upper Hunter, 99% aren't as good as what we were used to and they charge more than the big smoke and arent as reliable

I'm not big into lucerne hay, IMO a good quality pasture hay, barley hay and oaten hay is preferable in a lot of instances

. We tend to feel lucerne should be used a bit more sparingly than most people feed out.

The times when feed really needs to be supplemented are winter and the changes of season when pasture quality is poor. For those times we just give our young ones (ie, those not in work) a mineral/vitamin supplement in pellet form to 'boost' what's lacking in the grass.

A big factor is what grass varieties exist on your place ?
What a lot of people think is grass, in actual fact are weeds for grazing animals. I know of paddocks around here that look lush to the casual observer that you wouldn't support a horse without quite a bit of supplemental feed.

Finally found someone that feels the same........I have had this argument at work many a time.

But I was brought up feeding hay in the uk never hard of lucerne till I came here.......but then in the uk we never really fed hay for the main feed it was fed as roughage to back up a quality grain and pasture diet.

Oh and I did wonder about the farrier prices.......

I have just paid at work $56 dollars for corecctive trimming.

Guess I should clarify something. I don't own an acreage property, I am NOT a part of any green group. I AM however a dedicated 4wder. I simply want to continue to enjoy access to as much of this beautiful country as possible. I don't believe that 'bulldozing through trees' will assist.

Other than nutrition and Farrier cost..... The other major cost I have are Veterinarian,Dental,Internal and external parasites. You may also consider land value tied up and rates to pay
As mentioned before they do have to be cared for and are a huge undertaking in numbers. Why I have eight.... Have Eight thousand acres to work them on. Mum and two kids ride. Some go to competition.
They all still have to be supplementary fed as feed quality drops off at times.

Tony

Originally Posted by dullbird

Finally found someone that feels the same........I have had this argument at work many a time.

<snip>

And we live near one of the biggest lucerne growing areas in the state.
You'd be staggered how much the studs go through.

We (or more correctly SWMBO) feel that lucerne is too rich and can be too acidic for the horses.
It definitely should be avoided (as should grain) if horses are prone to tying up.
It's also interesting to note the feeding habits of horses in a mixed pasture paddock.
When lucerne is growing they don't tend to graze it much at all when other yummy grasses are on offer.

We use boiled Barley and oats (as is only around $160 per ton bulk these days ),with Milled first cut lucerne & grass pasture hay. Some times add some Bran or pollard.
If turned out in a large paddock just a bicky of hay and a dipper of oats seems to hold them together.

Tony