The Rebuilding of a Farm: New Stall Fronts

The farm has been vacant for at least a year, but seems to have been run down for many more than that. Repairs abound! We love it though despite all the little kwirks and needed repairs. The Visiting Barn has some new stall fronts - in the front of the barn. Go figure! In addition to beefing up the structure to make sure it lasts another 30 years (it was missing vital, structural supports), we cut some openings at the front for entrance both front and rear to the stalls with their runs. 2 stalls had front openings and 3 had rear openings. Sorry, I am way to fussy to waist time running front to back to retrieve horses and access stalls.

Stall fronts before - no access from the front

I have such a great hubby! He made some great stall fronts for us. They're not done yet, they are getting the big cross in the middle for additional support, but he wanted to wait until I picked out the paint colors for the barn and trim before he finished them completely. By the way, we're going with a little richer red and black trim around the doors and posts with the white gutters. I know it will look nice when we get it done ...

Stall fronts after - DOORS!

Crisis Time: Equine Pemphigus Dermatitis

Welts/bumps covering her neck, under belly and some on the legs. 

Oh my. Yes, it's been a bit of crisis time around the farm. In addition to everything else we have going on, our newest mare was recently diagnosed with Pemphigus Dermatitus. It is an auto-immune disease that seems to come out of nowhere. Within 1-2 weeks of bringing Krystall to the farm, she started getting what seemed to be a rash or hives. After another week with the condition getting worse, it was time to call out the vet.

Another week later with no results from the first vet's diagnosis, we went to the Idaho Equine Hospital for further evaluations. Further evaluation$...blood work, skin biopsies, hair folical exams and a team of specialists working on her ca$e. Can you $ee what's frustrating me? ;) In addition to this, she was also diagnosed with 3 bacterial infections. Yes, THREE.

This was where it started, with hair coming off by the handful on her back leg

I'm not at all convinced that this is a correct diagnosis, so I'm asking for help. 

The only things that have changed for her since coming to our farm, is new hay, which she wasn't thrilled with, new grass pastures (to her), she was also de-wormed. Her prior owner said she's never even had a runny nose in her 11 years (she has owned her since a weanling), so this is as much a mystery to her as well.

All those black spots are the hair folicals waiting to come off with hair attached

We've had the county extension agent over and walked the pastures to see if there was something she got into, but she said, no there wasn't anything poisonous for horses. Not sure though if that would mean she couldn't be allergic to a specific grass or weed ...Or in the new hay? Mind you, we also have Elsie Rose, who just came in as well, with none of these issues and was in the paddock next to her, sharing a water trough, until we quarantined Krystall.

Those aren't shadows, they are the lumps/welts/ whatever you want to call them, all over her neck, shoulder and chest

She has been in quarantine for 5 days now and we've changed her hay over to a simple grass hay with 3 cups of LMF Super Supplement.

She is now getting 250 mg of Prenisolone once a day (noonish) for the dermatisis, and 8,000 mg of Sulfamethoprim twice a day (morning and evening, 16,000 mg total) for the bacterial infections.

She started here about 250-300 pounds overweight. Her weight now looks normal at around 900/925 lbs, but she was about 950, 10 days ago when we went to the vet, so she has been losing weight. We have upped her hay so she always has it in front of her now to keep her from loosing too much weight as can happen with the meds.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Norwegian Fjord Care and Costs

Today, we're chatting about horses and their costs. We all know horses are not a "cheap" hobby, but many underestimate the costs. While one of my dear friends doesn't think twice about spending $150,000 on a good German dressage horse - she is a Grand Prix level rider, after all - most of us have more modest budgets.

this is not what you want your Fjord to look like

In this economy, when people see so many "free horse" ads, they wonder why on earth they should consider paying $4500 - $7500 for a Fjordhorse from a reputable breeder or owner*. I really do understand that, so here I thought I would write a little about all those unknown expenses that go hand in hand with horse ownership. I don't do this to scare anyone off of buying their first horse, but rather, to help give light and full disclosure to what you are really looking at.

I will preface all this with a little background. From the age of 6, I was raised with horses. My parents owned a boarding stable and there were a variety of horses under our care. We had many, many free horses come through the farm. When I used the term "free" I also include those cheap horses as well. Can I start by saying, for the most part, the free horses are some of the most expenses horses people have ever had?

What you get with a free horse.
You are getting someone else's problems. Period. Very rarely, will a good horse be given away. Almost never out on the open market, but maybe between dear friends or loved ones. The free horse will need to be retrained. Board and train together cost between $600-$1000 month in the Seattle area. Less in other parts of the country, more in others. I know of a facility in our own town that charges $1600 month. And no, one month won't take care of these issues. You are looking at a minimum of 3 months and really, to do everyone good, 6 months is a more realistic approach.

You will also have farrier and vet bills. All horses need these, but typically, free horses have been neglected in these areas. Many horses need shoes (Fjords, by the way, are one of those few horses that rarely will need shoes). These are used to protect the hoof walls and keep the most important part of your horse safe and sound. "No hoof, no horse" as the old cowboys used to say. Shoes will run you $110-150 every 6-7 weeks. Vet bills ... well, with a typical farm call around $70 you know your bill will be well over $100 for the most basic of calls. Free horses will typically need vaccines, de-wormings, teeth floated and more.These are all things that need to be done regularly, but the free horses, typically need them NOW.

I'm going to leave it at that. You and I both know there are soo many more things we could discuss, but I'm going to leave it there for the moment to show you what you can have. :-)

A typical, good quality, Norwegian Fjord horse will set you back about $4,500. - $7,500. You may or may not be getting top quality for breeding purposes, but for this money, you should get a sound, reliable, ready to go riding companion. You will still have some time getting to know each other, but this horse shouldn't come with nasty vices or bad behaviors. How much were we just talking about for training costs?

One of the greatest joys I have found with the Fjord horse is their ease in care. We never discussed the cost of feed above as most barns will include up to xyz amount of feed for your monthly boarding cost. We keep ours at home and I cannot even begin to say how excited I was to know how much less they eat. We work our horses 6 days a week and other than supplements (like us taking vitamins), they get hay only. Good quality, but still, no grain, per se.

One of our other joys is not seeing the vet as often. As much as we love our vet - he's great - quite frankly, I would rather have the money in my bank account. Or buy a few extra treats for the ponies and the tack room.

Overall, the price you pay will have a direct correlation to the horse you will get. Think twice about that free horse you see in the ad....

Corinne

*You can find a reputable breeder or owner by doing your research: get on the Fjord email groups and ask. Ask the seller to provide you with references. Call breeders and ask about reputations - for the most part, this is a very small community and we know each other. There are many wonderful breeders and owners I would happily give a reference for - or even buy from myself. We are not out to "bash" others, but if we know of a particular person selling bad horses, we will not give a reference for them and put our own reputations on the line.

My very first ponies!

In all the packing and re-packing of the move, one thing I found and my heart jumped with delight, was an old Poloroid of my first pony ... or ponies to be exact. Nugget, or Nuggy as we called him, was my first pony, and Spicy... 

Nugget came trotting down Maltby Road right into our driveway. My parents drove around asking and found his owners. They came and picked him up. Two days later, he was back at our farm and this time, the folks offered to buy him. Oh what an adorable, rolly-polly pony he was. A Shetland Pony without as much of the attitude.

circa 1977

Later came Spicy. She's the one on the left. Looks a little like a mini Fjord, eh? She was a Shetland WITH the attitude! She was completely untrained and with a little guidance, she learned how to walk, trot, canter and buck with us riding her. I love her. And I hated her. Still, I loved her more. She was the one however, that I let my friends ride when we went out to play.

I remember so many fond memories, riding with my friend Patrice - and we're still friends today! Still both addicted to horses, but now with hubands and children to take on the journey with us.  To this day, thinking of these two ponies, warms my heart. I cannot even imagine my childhood without them. For those parents sitting on the fence, thinking only of the $ going out, think again. There is so much for a child to learn - both in responsibility as well as loving and caring for something so special.

Some Horse Humor for Your Day

Saw this on one of our local lists and LOL! (laughed out loud). Had to share as it will surely resonate with the horse folks - and for those of you who think we're a little nuts, this should surely seal the deal. Thank you Anchor Valley Farm.

Have an awesome day,
Corinne

Texting for Horse People

OOH - Out of Hay

LAS - lost a shoe

BBM - bastard just bit me

FOMHL - Fell Off My Horse Laughing

FTC -- Forgot the carrots

MIHA -- Mare's in heat, again

IPTI -- I'll pick up tennis instead

LWW -- Lesson went well

MSMBO - mud sucked my boot off

HSIH - Horse Snot in Hair

HAO - Hay All Over

HIMB - Hay in My BRA

PIHH - Poop Induced Half Halt

UD - Unplanned Dismount

PTTDG - Prayed to the Dirt God

MMM - Master Manure Mucker

OOM - Out of money

MHTS - More horses than sense.

BAHHFDP - bought another horse husband filed divorce papers

GBBF - Got Board Bill, Fainted

GFBF - got farrier bill, fainted

HRHCF - husband realized horse costs, fainted

SLH - Smell like horse

DQFOY - Dressage Queen fell off - yipee

HTNHFH - Hiding the new horse from hubby

WWFNS - Will work for new saddle

AROGC - Arena rained out - going crazy

SSB - saddle sore butt

BTLGR - b###hy trainer left - good riddance

ALIGAR - At least I got a ribbon

NLT - No lesson today

HGR - Have a great ride!

Open Barn - WEEK!

Well, I can't believe it, but Open Barn Week is almost here. It seems like just yesterday we were picking out what day/days would work for the farm and our family. Well, Monday, March 29 - Friday, April 2, from 10am to 3pm each day we will open our farm.

Why do we do this, you ask (we get that a lot). We want to be able to open our farm and share it with others who may not have the opportunity to go visit a farm. Horse farms are notorious for keeping their barn doors shut to the public. Unless you're willing to drop those big bucks every month, they really aren't interested in sharing anything with you. What a shame! We love to teach about our horses, how we manage them, their personalities...on and on we go. We also love to teach about chickens ... both their egg management as well as pastured poultry and how all that works and why it's different. Has Tyson Foods ever invited you to their farm? Probably not. I've never been to one of their "farms", but suspect I would leave in tears seeing all those birds in cages for their entire lives.

We really feel fortunate to have been blessed with what we have here on our little farm. Come on our and enjoy yourself. While we do not have a charge to come, we do, kindly ask for your generous donations. The donations are what help make our Open Barn and other events even possible.

Want more info? Visit our Open Barn page on the Willows Edge Farm website.

Wow... it's been a while!

Haha... I can't believe its been this long! The last post I did was when me and my brother first started our riding lessons, and we're now done with all 5 weeks of them! I can now ride the arena all on my own, while trotting! And I must add, posting is my favorite ;)

Little Staren is doing very well... boy is he getting big! He's also suckin Tina dry... shes getting skinny... so she is getting even more food. And it's funny, how Elsie is the one who we have to cut back on the food with, cuz shes a little piggy! hahah... She had a big ol' welt under on her tummy... we found out later that it was just a bug bite.. She only has one more month to go then our big mama will have the little baby girl that we've been waiting for(Keep your fingers crossed with us!) But man... less then two more months, and then we leave to get F.A. Ole in Wisconsin!! I have to admit, I'm excited!! lol

Well, thats all I can think of right now... I'm extremely tired and I've had a big day...(drove home from Spokane, WA)

ttyl, Chelsea