Confession - Extremely stupid things we do for our horses

[*JumpIt*]

Ok I know I can't be the only obesessive horse owner who is always doing wierd things because of their horse.

Probably the weirdest things I done are trying my Mare's supplements. Though I'll admit only the ones that smelled good. First was SmartCalm, it smelled like cake but tasted pretty nasty. Then not really thinking another day I tried her electrolyte, it really smells sweet like lemonade or koolaide mix but it didn't even occur to me that it was nearly completely salt. -duh- :dead:

What wierd, crazy, stupid, things have you done because of your horses?

Edit: whoops this was suppose to go in the OT forum

[TheOrangeOne]

I was biting my nails the other day thinking about how not half an hour before, I had just spent 20 minutes picking rain rot off. :dead:

[Proffie]

I have an allergic reaction to my horse's favorite liniment, it makes my hands and arms red and itchy for about an hour after I use it. But my horse loves it!

Every night I come home from the barn with red, itchy hands and my husband (God love him) asks me why I continue to use it... must he ask? I always give the same answer. "My horse loves it, and I know the itching will be gone in an hour."

[Brio]

I have an allergic reaction to my horse's favorite liniment, it makes my hands and arms red and itchy for about an hour after I use it. But my horse loves it!

Every night I come home from the barn with red, itchy hands and my husband (God love him) asks me why I continue to use it... must he ask? I always give the same answer. "My horse loves it, and I know the itching will be gone in an hour."

Maybe a dumb question here but have you thought of wearing gloves? Then you could put the liniment onto some cotton and use that to apply it to the horse without getting it on you.

[Kiwayu]

My horse has always eatten his dinner so much better when I stood next to him to eat in his stall, now I've taken to just holding the bucket for him every night. He's a picky guy and always looks for me. :rolleyes:

[3 is the limit]

I've tried Fat Cat...pretty tasty...like cake batter.
Tried the electrolites...barf! Like sweet, nasty salt
MSM-don't ever try if you can avoid it. I only put 6 or 7 grains on my tounge and it was the most bitter thing I have ever put in my mouth. :eek:
I was affraid that the horses wouldn't eat it, but they don't seem to mind.

I agree, we do all do dumb things in the name of our beloved horses.

[SFrost]

I too am allergic to my horse's liniment. (Well, all liniment actually.) However, when he needs it I still put it on. I itch for a few hours but he is happy.

I have tried his supplements and feed as well.

I think the thing people think I am the craziest for is that I will not move overseas. (I could go livein so cool places.) I will NOT leave my horse and he would not do well in an overseas adventure. So, here we shall stay.

[FLeckenAwesome]

TheOrangeONe.... at least you didn't just finish cleaning sheaths!!!!!!!

Hee hee....

I've also tried the lytes... not so good. The himalayan salt lick...also tastes like salt. But the lik-its...now those are GOOD!!

[cholmberg]

I've tried Fat Cat...pretty tasty...like cake batter.
Tried the electrolites...barf! Like sweet, nasty salt
MSM-don't ever try if you can avoid it. I only put 6 or 7 grains on my tounge and it was the most bitter thing I have ever put in my mouth. :eek:
I was affraid that the horses wouldn't eat it, but they don't seem to mind.

I agree, we do all do dumb things in the name of our beloved horses.

I tasted the msm. . .and I concur, it's absolutely nasty. :eek:

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I tasted my horse's electrolytes because they smelt like apple candy but tasted completely like salt.

The Himalayan salt lick was also pure salt. Who would've guessed? :lol:

Cool Calories 100 also has a sweet candy like smell and didn't really taste like anything.

I've tried random pieces of grain as a kid as well. I used to like the oats in the sweet feed.

I tried a bite of Carb Guard and wasn't impressed and I thought the alfalfa pellets tasted like overcooked vegetables.

[slight]

How about the weather I am willing to go out in to rescue them?!

[rascalboy]

Lol, use the blue chemical gloves and you won't itch from the liniment anymore! :D I use them, and I'm perfectly fine. I just wash them and reuse them till I decide to take out a new pair.

[Petstorejunkie]

I play mama bear in new horse interactions, and intervene if anyone pins their ears at my horse
I will get up in the middle of the night in a storm, go fetch him in my jammies, and sit with him in his stall until he's calm.
I once bought a peppermint lickit for him. I thought he was eating it (and I was chomping on it too) turns out he wasn't eating it, it was my working student!

[MyReality]

So funny about tasting horse food.

I used to try to feed my horse regenerex. I always knew he hates it. He would eat around it. So we mix it really well with his dinner, but sometimes he didn't want to finish his dinner... he would take some bites, then eat hay, then go back to it, or sometimes not even.

Then I tried it. Regenerex is vile. It is disgusting. Not only does it taste very bitter. It has a very gross odour. I switch him to a better tasting one... and I make sure I tasted it and passed.

I cannot be there when he is being grained or else he would not eat his dinner. But he likes me there when he eats grass and hay. What a wierd guy. We also share oatmeal cookies.

[Tee]

Electrolytes are NASTY!!! Like super salt. LOL

I've tried many munchies and most of them are pretty good. Some have a funny aftertaste.

The one thing I tried that blew my mind was the Nutrena Lite pellets. They smelled like coconut...mmmm. One pellet - one itty bitty pellet. It tasted kind of bland but it was sooooo dry. I almost choked because it sucked all the moisture right out of my mouth. Not sure how they eat it! I haven't been brave enough to try the Safe Choice. :-P

[veebug22]

I have an allergic reaction to my horse's favorite liniment, it makes my hands and arms red and itchy for about an hour after I use it. But my horse loves it!

Every night I come home from the barn with red, itchy hands and my husband (God love him) asks me why I continue to use it... must he ask? I always give the same answer. "My horse loves it, and I know the itching will be gone in an hour."

I would agree with using gloves, allergic reactions can be mild for say 46 times and then out of nowhere, the 47th time may be very severe.

When sheath cleaning, I don't feel like I can get the bean or do as thorough a job/feel if all the cleansing stuff is out through gloves. I always start with the gloves that go above my elbow, get frustrated, and end up just using my bare hand and scrubbing afterward! Ewww, I gross myself out.

[dbadaro]

hmmm i have tried hay before. just to see if it is as sweet as it smells. it's also good to chew on during trail rides. i've used my horses hair cair products on myself-with good results! lol

my husband put some absorbine showsheen moisturizing detangler in his hair by accident the other day. he comes up to me later and says, "honey, i really like that hair stuff you have on your counter. it makes my hair so soft!" should have seen the look on his face when i told what it's really for!!!! :D

[jn4jenny]

Many a times while writing my monthly board check, I have thought to myself, "This is stupid and crazy. Am I doing all of this for one horse?" :lol:

[Grataan]

I might have ridden from Kentucky back to our home state in the trailer with him when he fell ill at US Nationals (oh he was treated by Dr. Dougherty-I'm useless when it comes to my own horses) He was fine btw. Did I mention we have a camera system in our trailer? So I could have ridden in the truck and been able to stare at him the same way?

[Grataan]

When I take Sweets to an endurance ride, she gets really nervous if she can't see me. She calls to me, and stands on high alert, scanning the property for me. So when I go up to register, go talk to someone, etc. I always take her with me.

Also, she wants me RIGHT next to her when she's in her paddock overnight. I won't park anywhere that I have to build her paddock away from my truck. I park where I can use the trailer as one side of her paddock. I sleep in the trailer at night, and she gets as close to the trailer as possible, and she won't go eat her hay if it's not RIGHT THERE. So I make sure to put the pile of hay right by the trailer, so she can look in the window and see me inside. If she can see me, she's happy. If I get out of view, she starts looking for me.

I bought a portable toilet to put inside the trailer so I don't have to leave her to go to the porta potty.

Both my Arabs are that way. It must be something about the breed being so human-oriented, I don't know.

Maybe its spoiling, but I don't care. She's my baby and I love her, and I don't want her stressed out any more than necessary at those events.
She's probably wanting to get in your tent like her Bedouin ancestors did :) I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does things like this !

[hitchinmygetalong]

How about the weather I am willing to go out in to rescue them?!

No kidding!:yes::lol:

[FoxChaser]

One of my three boys will wait as long as possible for me to take him out of his stall to pee during the day while he's inside. My husband and I joke about having to take him for a walk around 2pm. If I'm not home to do it, I feel soooooo guilty!!

[Maryanne Nicpon]

Every time I go into a convenience store I have to buy a Hostess apple pie for my lovely girl, Parlona. She loves them. An apple filled jelly donut will do in a pinch though!

[HoofHeartSoul]

I play mama bear in new horse interactions, and intervene if anyone pins their ears at my horse


petstorejunkie: I do that too, very protective of my baby. ;)

i have also tried my horse's treats/food etc.

i grind my horses flax everyday fresh, and also add 3-5 natural vitamin e capsules to his dinner.

if my horses gets stressed or tense about something i always worry about the free radical damage i am causing him and freak out LOL and give him extra vitamin E antioxidents that day.

I ALWAYS have to let him eat some grass or hay for about an hour or feed him some alfalfa cubes to buffer acid production before i ride,

so that the acid doesn't splash up into the sensitive part of his stomach (which causes ulcers). even though i know he has hay outside with him i have to MAKE SURE he eats his hay,grass cubes for at least an hour.:D:yes:




I NEVER ride if he already got his evening grain (even after an hour), because i thik they need way more than a hour to properly digest it. so i always leave the grain out before i ride. and give it to him after.

i won't stand him on conrete for long periods because if i stand on it for long perooids i start to get achey so i think he feels that way.

[tpup]

Stood in my gelding's stall on a cold night for hours, waiting for him to pee so I could take a sample to the vet - thought he had a UTI. He is a "shy pee-er" - yep, I stood there and watched him eat, then watched him take a nap - it was a small, not so great stall too - cob-webby, etc....(we since moved)...and there I stood with my big rubbermaid container just waiting....he finally woke up and peed and looked at me like I was an alien when I put the container under his "you know what"....BTW, it splashed ALL over me......I put it too close, LOL. Long story short, he was fine and test was normal!

[INoMrEd]

my husband put some absorbine showsheen moisturizing detangler in his hair by accident the other day. he comes up to me later and says, "honey, i really like that hair stuff you have on your counter. it makes my hair so soft!" should have seen the look on his face when i told what it's really for!!!! :D

Now that was a hoot!

[ljc]

My husband believes I am 100 percent certifiably insane because I spend at least one hour each day filling in gopher holes in the two-acre field I turn my horses out each day. We've tried every extermination effort known and nothing works. My motivation is simple: I lost my beloved mare to a broken leg in that field (although hers wasn't caused by a gopher hole) and am simply damned if I'll ever go through another trauma like that. Before we discovered what caused her injury, we thought it was a gopher hole and I swore to god that I would do everything in my power to keep that from EVER happening again.

Since I live in an area where the daytime temps are in the 100s, this mean I spend my evenings after dinner out in the field. Filling in holes. Instead of doing "civilized" things.

And we're now approaching acorn season. I have oak trees outside the field and two of them drop acorns, which last year caused the horses to colic repeatedly until we discovered the reason. We put up electric tape to block off that section ... but I STILL went out twice a day and picked up the acorns because I worried the horses would bust through the tape, eat the acorns, and die. (In my defense, the tape didn't stop my two minis -- they would push right through it.)

Yes, I am insane.

[JSwan]

And we're now approaching acorn season. I have oak trees outside the field and two of them drop acorns, which last year caused the horses to colic repeatedly until we discovered the reason.

You need pigs! Fatten 'em on acorns! Yummy!

Heck - some pig farmers BUY sacks of acorns - you could rake them up and sell them if there are any pig farmers near you.


I go out of my way to go to the only store in the area that sells big bags of gummi bears. One of my horses goes absolutely mad over gummi bears and well.... that's that. He Must Have Gummi Bears. :rolleyes:

[HalfArabian]

I had my gelding at a big show in Virginia and was feeling overwhelmed so I sat in the stall with him while he was laying down. This particular guy has always let me come into the stall while he was laying down and never bothers to get up until its "time".

[asb_own_me]

I feel very normal now :D Glad to know there are other people who have repeatedly hand-fed their horse, sit in the stall with them, tried their food/supps/meds, stands in the psture during horsey introductions, etc. Thanks!

[Rhyadawn]

I pretty routinely sit in the boy's stall when I'm having a rough day and am feeling lost. If he's been standing he will lie down and put his head in my lap. He thinks he's a dog.

A few years ago now I was caring for a mare who was deathly ill. 6 times a day I made her sick mix and coaxed her to eat. She was handgrazed for as many hours as I could get her to eat, and pretty much given all she would eat. Now she won't eat unless you hold the bucket for her and stroke her ears and neck....

I swear, I didn't spoil her!

[doccer]

I tasted the msm. . .and I concur, it's absolutely nasty. :eek:

done the same BUT i'll admit, the pure glucosamine is sweet lol

[BrookdaleBay]

After I turn my boy out after I ride, I walk with him to the water trough and stand guard while he drinks so the other horses don't bother him. I also walk him to his hay pile in the paddock if he doesn't find it right away.
He also loves Skittles, so I buy him a package whenever I'm at the gas station.

[HoofHeartSoul]

just remembered:

Went throughout WHOLE arena(probably 3 or more times) measuring the amount of footing in places and noting where it was too deep and determined i would not being riding in it.


i always fluff my horses hay when i get it (with him out of the stall) to remove any excess dust,to go through it for foreign objects and to inspect it. (even on very good hay).


give my horse eucolyptes oil to smell to clear out his airways.

have to have certain color buckets in stall because my horse likes drinking out of certain colors.

Rinsed hay for a whole 6+months EVERYDAY (had to put in wheelbarrow, haul to wash rack, dump ,rinse, pickup, dump,take back, dump in stall and it was ALOT of Hay when fluffed it took up half the stall) because i thought it was a little dusty. he had no signs of coughing or lung issues. but i was concerned he would develop them, so i did it.

[asb_own_me]

I buy the 90-piece buckets of homemade salt water taffy at the Iowa State Fair each year for the Pupster. He LOFFS taffy but will not eat the store bought kind. So I load up at the fair :D

[hunter-eventer-hunter]

My retired mare lives at a great place (family friends) where she is well taken care of, out 24/7 with her boy friends. I go and see her a lot, but in the summer I will go out specifically to take her fly mask off for 5 minutes so she can rub her head on me.

She ALWAYS did that after a ride. Get off horse, remove bridle, rub head on me. What was funny was you HAD to get her bridle off on a hot day or is she was sweaty (she was an eventer-so that was almost every ride) so she could rub her sweaty head. If you did not oblige quickly enoguh, she would stop walking and just plant her feet until you did. Or she woudl just rub me with him bridle on...that hurts.

She only does it to me...and since she is a not affectionate animal I always let her do it. (Bad Owner)

[Acertainsmile]

I've tasted U7, and various other supplements!

My horses are brought in during rain storms, the cold kind, or if there is a hint of lightning....which usually ends by me being completly soaked, freezing and covered in mud. My horses appreciate it though, really.

[Tiffani B]

After every workout I carry a full bucket of water to my horse and hold it up at my shoulder so he can drink it while standing on crossties (he is a giraffe necked ASB). It's damn heavy and sometimes he drinks TWO. UGH!

Where is the whipped smiley? :lol:

[sjdressage]

OK, this isn't for the horse but pretty wierd. I had three birds fall into a water trough the other day. The two that were just flopping around I pulled out and layed in the sun (they eventually flew away). The third was face down but still alive. He was starting to keel over and die so I gave it mouth to mouth (mouth to beak?)!! I also tried a few chest pumps but his head flopped over and he died anyway. I'm felt guilty I guess. Now I probably got the bird flu!!!!!

[Go Fish]

Every time I go into a convenience store I have to buy a Hostess apple pie for my lovely girl, Parlona. She loves them. An apple filled jelly donut will do in a pinch though!

I have to stop at Albertsons each day to buy Goofball TWO maple bars.

[Sarabeth]

I have a refrigerator just for storing bulk carrots.