Hauling Horses

Have you used a horse hauling company? What have been your experiences?
A friend was very unhappy with one company last year when it took an exceptionally long time for his filly to arrive at her destination.She was sick when she arrived as well.I need to send a mare to Colorado next month and have a quote from one company.Their website says they take the shortest route etc.etc. but who knows. The horse world needs an Angie's List so prospective customers might be able to more accuarately choose a service.

Will Winter Ever End?

February is almost gone but winter is not giving up without a fight.Colder again tonight.Dreary and snowy today. Riding in my arena is getting old and dusty.At the beginning of the cold weather I work compost into the sand to keep the dust down.It works for about 3 months and then it doesn't.I end up with a very dirty face.Soon I can add water to keep the dust down and the horses will be happier too.Have tried salt but have had no luck.Any ideas?

Selling Horses

Have you had any luck selling horses lately? The current wisdom is that you have to have a good one.How good? How much does the mare need to have won to make her offspring worth more? It isn't enough anymore to offer one sired by a good horse.Most of the cutting horse studs offered in the Chatter or Quarter Horse News have won over $100,000 but how to pick the right one? Maybe it makes a difference who you are and maybe where you are located?

Is Showing the Only Way to Enjoy your Cutting Horse?

I have the problem that I'm terrible at showing.I struggled for years to show reiners and finally got were I could do it without a total disaster.I never really enjoyed it. I tried showing cutting horses a few times.I know, I know ..not enough times but I wasn't very good and didn't enjoy it.
I like training two and three year olds.I like seeing them learn and grow.I like raising them and having them here.I even enjoy cleaning out their pens.When I turn out the lights at night on a clean horse barn with horses munching away it gives me a feeling of satisfaction like no other.However if I'm to sell them they need to compete and win and there's the rub! Hence my blog: Choosing a Cutting Horse Trainer

Darn Holsteins!

We are dairy farmers so I train on holsteins....sort of.They are exasperating! My husband doesn't ride but he is going to have to soon so he can turn back.Hope our marriage survives.They only move for the first 10 minutes when they run into the arena and then nothing. I guess that's great for the dairy barn.I would hate for them to run over me in the freestall barn but definitely not what I need for my horses.Will need to get a herd of beef cattle some day.

Smart Little Lena

Niccalena by Smart Liitle Lena out of Reminics Nicci by Reminic

What do you think a Smart Little Lena breeding is worth in 2010? The only semen left is icsi frozen straws. The icsi procedure is done at Colorado State University and is expensive. I have 2 rebreeds and I am considering the procedure using a donor mare owned by friends.

Letter to Lindy Burch

Lindy Burch is the chair of the Horse and Cattle Welfare Committee for NCHA.I wrote to her to ask questions about the NCHA's position on drugs.The way things are now the NCHA actually condones drug use but just doesn't want it out in the open. Interested to know their thinking.Will see if there is a response.

Are They Friends

Trainers are celebrities to many of us want-to-be trainers/non-pros/owners. I imagine we irritate them to no end. We call about our horses, we probably show up at bad times, we expect a bit of attention. In fact I think most of us are trying to buy a little friendship. After all isn't it just the kind of friendship we want because it involves one of the biggest thing in our lives?



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How Important is The Two Year Old Year?

Shouldn't a two year old get a well rounded education? I feel sorry for the colts that are tied to a fence half the day, ridden in a round pen for 30 minutes, tied to the fence again and the next day do it all over again. They need to go out in pasture. They need to be ridden out somewhere a few days a week so they don't turn into zombies.


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Location:County Road U,Waumandee,United States

Drugs

The AQHA uses the United States Equestrian Drugs and Medications Guidelines.
Check them out at www.usef.org
Isn't it time the NCHA adopted these guidelines instead of the "don't ask don't tell" policy they have now? Who's going to "rat" on a trainer for using drugs? Just seems it might be more painful for the whistle blower than the guy with the needle the way things are now.

How Do You Choose A Cutting Horse Trainer?

Tell me how you chose your trainer.
Did you ask for references?
Did you visit the facility?
Was it important how much the trainer had won?
Have you ever had a contract ?
Did you discuss the use of drugs ?
How often did/do you visit your horse ?

Should we wait until they are 4 years old?

Do you think that the cutting horses are shown too soon. Actually most of the three years olds have been shown many times before the futurities.They just call them pre-works! If you've paid a trainer you've been billed for these and you know what I'm talking about. Many of these young horses are exhausted and sick of the whole deal before they get to the big one in Fort Worth.It's no wonder that few of the entries in NCHA Futurity are ever shown again.It's a tough business for horses and trainers alike.