Thought about needed SHTF info about Horses

[Hazcat]

Some of us have never really been around horses and have damned all little knowledge about them.

Just a good beginners course of info on them like Feeding and watering, How long to ride / walk, etc.  Sort of like a basic "drivers ed" course with basic maintenance like 'how to check the oil and change a tire' as well.  Maybe throw in things like how to make a quick halter (is that what it's called?) out of a rope so ya can ride him.

I would think there might be a market for a good DVD on this BUT at least if y'all "cowboys" would give us some basics here I would appreciate it.

[Big Frank]

I know which end the oats go in. That's about the limit of my knowledge. 

[Solus]

Here's a start for ya.


It answers the question:   "Do you know how long horses should be curried?"

And no, the answer is not  "The same as short ones."

[tt11758]

I know which end the oats go in. That's about the limit of my knowledge. 

Also important to know which end they come out of, and not stand there. 

[1Buckshot]

The Quick answerer her is if you rely want to know, Go get some riding lessons. Make it at lest five days worth at 1 1/2 hrs each day. The trainer will tell you most of what you need to know.
 OK! Here it is from Montana rancher how has had horses for over 45 years. 1; They don't need oats, only if they are being worked very hard. Day to day they can get by with the grass that they find in just a few hours. 2; Water., That depends on the weather and what part of the country your from. They get allot of water from the grass they eat, especially in the mornings (DEW). I had one horse that would only eat snow in the winter and would never take a drink of water. 3; Horse shoes, If the SHTF your not going to find them. Just trim there feet three or four times a year and they will be fine.( another thing to learn)
OK! Hear is the final bit of help I can give you. If you don't have at least one years worth of experience with horses.

GET A BIKE

[Sponsor]

[robheath]

Well I have horses and have had all my life.  Unfortunatally mine are all barrel racers.  Yhey are fas out of the allyway but short on endurance.  Quick bursts of speed but they won't make good pack or trail horses.  Both my daughters are champion racers and love there horses.  My wife loves her horse as well.  It's gonna be hard when we have to eat them.   As for how long to ride and how long to walk is up to the horse.  In other words you need to know what shape the horse is in.  Has the horse been just a pasture ornament or is it a worker?  What kind of worker is it? Cattle?  Pen up or roping, racing or drafting? Alot of variables here. No way to know without knowing the horse well.  Just my 2 pennies

[Pathfinder]

I've ridden stable horses, including some that were barn sour (don't like leaving the barn), but working ranch horses mostly. They are cool to work with. Some people have lived around horses their whole lives and don't have a clue how they think or how to work with them. Others need a few rides and have it all figured out.

I had a guy from Wyoming who boarded a horse with me for a short time, and he was absolutely clueless how to work a horse. Even I knew more than he did.

You need to learn how to watch a horse for the horse's reaction, checking its ears, its head, eyes, even the feet. Here's one of the first things I ever learned about a horse. If a fly lands on the horse, (a) the horse knows it, and (b) the horse can shake just that part of its skin to try to get the fly off. They are that sensitive. Remember that when you're riding - and stay of the horse's mouth!

Ditto the lessons. Most stables go English, I prefer Western, but that is like sitting in an easy chair compared to English. English is a few slabs of leather, Western has a pommel and a cantle and if you fall off, it is your own damn fault! 

I originally learned on English and it taught me a lot about feeling the horse through your butt and thighs than Western does. OTOH, I learned about real horsemanship and riding overall by working cows for 10 hours a day than I ever did in an arena with an instructor. See if you can work a deal where they teach you about the care and feeding of the horse after you're done riding.

When working with horses, expect to get bit, stepped on, even kicked. Hell I got thrown from a horse - and I was standing on the ground!!! It happens. The old adage about getting right back on is absolutely true.

The other adage about horses is also true - there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.

[jaybet]

You paint a pretty picture, Path. I grew up riding english and western, took lessons, did some riding competition but no cow work. I always liked horses, but you'll find that some of them don't like YOU. That can be a problem. I was never kicked but I was bitten and thrown several times- once I cracked my pelvis. I would estimate that about 60 % of my leg and back problems are from horses- the knees, well, that's from the 28 years of carpentry. But the BIG boo-boos came from equine intervention.

I like horses but they are big sumbitches, though not always tough- they're very sensitive to feed and conditions and for general travel you need to be concerned with their feet. Hoof maintenance is essential. They're better than walking I guess, but in a SHTF scenario you'll have to work harder on your horse than you will keeping your weapons working.

[Solus]

Ok...I've read what those who know have posted....

And I've come to realize the way to go is a two horse team and a buckboard.......the F150 of the equestrian world.

[Timothy]

Other than renting a few nags and on occasion jumping the fence at night at the horse farm near my HS and riding them bareback once in a while, I don't have anything to add.

My horse riding days ended after annoying the horses one night, I must have pissed one off cuz while walking past one, I patted it's buddy on the rump and he/she kicked me six feet into the air and onto a fence.  My thighs, butt and lower back were black and blue for a month!

I'll walk but they probably taste OK with the right preparation!