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| Discussion on Where should my horses ride? | |
| Author | Message |
| Member: Jlmule |
Posted on Sunday, Sep 21, 2003 - 11:59 am: We recently purchased two AQHA broodmares from a sale in Colorado. The one had a filly at her side which has just been weaned now about 2 weeks. We will be going out to pick them up in 3 weeks and haul them back to Indiana. We have a 4 "horse" stock gooseneck trailer with a center divider and we are unsure what would be the best way to position the three. These are broodmares and, as far as we know, have been running together in a large band. We know they have been hauled before because the ranch hauled their stock to and from large grazing parcels. However, we do not know how well they might get along, how well halter broke they are, or how well they stand tied. We will be traveling about 10 hours/day but will be stopping frequently (for gas ). We would like to offer them water at these stops. Now, here is the dilema. Do we tie both mares up front and leave the filly loose in the back or do we put the mare and her recently weaned filly together in the front and the other mare in the back? If we put the two mares up front, we may have trouble offering them water as we would have to use the escape door to either put a bucket on the floor and untie them so they can drink or squeeze in between these "range" horses and try to offer each a drink separately. If we put the mare and her 5 week-weaned filly together will she still tolerate her if she tries to suck (we really would not care if she started nursing again as we can re-wean her later)? Should we put the filly and the other mare together and hope that the mare would not trample her? Should we call the ranch and see if they can reunite the mare and the filly now? Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
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| Member: Jojo15 |
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| Moderator: DrO |
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| Member: Jlmule |
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| Member: Jlmule |
Posted on Saturday, Oct 25, 2003 - 5:24 pm: This is an update on our trip. We loaded the two mares in the front compartment and the filly in the back. The seller agreed this was probably the best arrangement also. However, when we arrived at our planned overnight destination (after driving 12 long hours) we found there was a rodeo going on and, although there were plenty of stalls available, there was so much confusion around the horse barns. We could not back our rig up close enough to the stalls because of all the other trailers around and we worried that the filly might not lead into and out of the stall. The mares were indeed halter broke but we could not get to them without getting the filly out first. So, we chucked the idea of trying to unload them and pulled around to the far end of the Expo Center and parked for the night. I was too tired and in no mood to try and find other overnighting arrangements. Watering the mares was indeed a problem. We could get a bucket in the escape door and were able to hang it there. After one mare drank we had to push and pull them around so the other mare could get to the bucket. In the end all three were able to drink a little although I was really concerned that the amount did not seem adequate. They made it through the night and so did we, sleeping in the truck. Once home they all hopped out and drank and looked great. If I had to do it over again though I would have not weaned the filly and I would have put her and her momma in the back and the other mare up front. I think all would have ridden more comfortably and then, if we had had to unload them, the filly would have been easier to handle as she would have likely followed her momma anywhere we led her. Hindsight is 20/20.
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| Moderator: DrO |
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