I don’t write here a lot. That’s because nobody reads here a lot. I started this blog in hopes that my experiences with my horses might help somebody else in their own efforts not only to love, but to serve and care for an equine companion. I am not much of a trainer, but I am trying. And so I write this stuff down here, when I can.

Training: I favor the Parelli program. I know there are a lot of people out there who are doing “training programs.” Parelli was one of the very first, and as far as I am concerned, this is the very best. My friends have gone to Clinton Anderson, feeling that he is quicker and more get it done. But I don’t believe in “quick and easy” relationships. Parelli is elegant and the psychology of the horse is respected – not just for the sake of manipulation, but for the sake of understanding. Horse owners have to take their responsibilities seriously – the mental health of the horse, and the safety of the owner depend on this.

I started using the program years ago, and it has given me a clear and wonderful way of learning to share the world with my buddies. Funny how, as you grow to know them, you can “see” the “looks on their faces” as clearly as if you were trying to decipher a human face. That means a lot to me. They know me now – and respect me most of the time. When I say no, they know exactly what that means.

Now, to sum up some things:

Sophie’s Foundering. It happens mostly in spring and early summer. I beat it completely last year, but it took work. When the grass came on, I only let her stay out on it for fifteen minutes at a time, long after i was giving the others half an hour to an hour. I’d let them all out but Sophie. Then I’d feed her a breakfast of hay and go home. When the time came to put everybody back inside, I’d go a little early and let her out. I’d take fifteen or so minutes to muck out or whatever (if you can’t find fifteen minutes worth of work around your place, you must have tons of money and lots of help).

After that fifteen minutes, I’d bring her in with the boys. My two older geldings keep very well, and for the first several weeks on the grass only need a half hour to forty five minutes of grazing the lush spring grass to maintain their weight and health. My older quarter mare needs far more time to keep her in flesh, and the colt has needed that, too. Now that he’s grown up, we’ll see. Spring this year will tell. All are in good flesh now. In fact, I fed them too much because it’s been too cold, and Dustin, the oldest and the alpha, colicked – we think maybe on the extra grass hay – as I have written in the post before this one.

We had no thrush this year, which was good. And the grass held out till October. Five horses on an acre and a quarter from end of April to end of October. Not bad management, if I do say so myself.

If anybody does read this, and has questions about what i’ve learned about training or feeding or managing, just post and ask, or write it in a comment, and I’ll answer. We sat on the colt for the first time in October. Geneva did the honors, and that colt was brilliant and gentle. But we’d put in so many hours of consistent work in both discipline and communication. It was good to see it all pay off.