Alfalfa is the question!

The Colonists brought alfalfa is our shores in 1736. Its been around for a long time! Taking a survey from your horse it will prefer Alfalfa. They love it! Its the most energy rich of all the hays and you can feed 10% less then other hays with virtually no waste. However it must be thoroughly air and sun dried before its baled. Its high in protein and Calcium thus good for nursing mares.However it lacks Phosphorus & Magnesium and a supplement will be needed containing these minerals.Always research your hay and supplements before you invest in feeds .See what is best for your horse ,how much energy it uses , how much grain and protein he will need for the energy he is burning ,and remember docile horses need much less feed then one that is worked a lot!

How does your saddle fit ?

An ill fitting saddle can cause problems we are unaware of : here are some things to check to see if you have a good fit or not!
Examine your saddles underside for lumpiness and a gullet channel of at least 2 inches.
After you girth up make sure the front bars arn't pinching your horses shoulders:
Lift the fenders or stirrup flaps to feel under the saddle bars for even contact along the length of your horses back.
After you mount Check for at least 1 1/2 " clearance under the fork or pommel.
Make sure the saddle neither rocks from side to side or front to back.
After you ride and remove your saddle look for uneven sweat spots or dry spots on your horses back or any rub marks... Also observe cinch area for rub marks....
Sometimes new riders tend to buy a saddle that is too narrow for their horses back . Have an experienced rider go with you when you purchase a saddle. Better to get advise then make a mistake and be stuck with a saddle that doesn't fit your horse!

Some smiles from the Barn

You Know you are a horse person:

When you click to your car when going up hill.
When your house is a disaster but your barn is neat and clean:
When your good clothes are the ones with out the horse hair :
How do you:

Cure your horse of constipation: Load him in a clean trailer:
Get your horses feet clean: Clean your water trough and fill it with fresh water.
Horse Turms:

Auction: A popular social gathering where you change your horse from a liability into an asset.
Colic: The result of eating at a horse show food stand:
Endurance riding: The result of when your horse runs away with you:
Feed: The expensive substance that your horse makes into manure.
Hock : The financial condition of most horse owners.
Lounging: A training method in which a horse exercises its owner by spinning him in circles until he is dizzy.
Fresh Bedding: is a place where your horse shows its appreciation for your hard work by urinating in the middle of it.

Please Book Mark us!

Book mark is if you wish ,We update several times a week with horse info ... If you love horses like we do come in and share your horse in the comments ... We would love to hear from you! Also check out our other sites listed on the bottom of the page or check agricultural NEWS also at the bottom of the page..

Building a Bond

Grooming your horse gives you the perfect opportunity during quite times to bond ,taking him for walks leading him with out demands will give you both time to learn trust in each other & build a bond that will benefit both horse and rider. The more time you spend with your horse the better you will understand each other but remember you are the alpha in the relationship . Never let your horse control you!

How important is ground work?

The more ground work you do with your young horse the easier it is to put them under the saddle! Leading, round pen exercise, backing them up , picking up their feet ,sacking them out ,all adds up to a gentler horse , John Lyons states do the same exercise over and over again until they get so familiar with what you are doing it wont bother them... When I start saddle training ,I must hop up and down in the stirrup 50 times , when I finely swing abord my horses usually turns and looks at me as if to say well finely you got up there! It takes time and more time! If you have the determination and patience the rewards are great... Happy training!

The Paso Fino Horse

The Paso Fino horse is the longest lived Horse . Its life span approaches 40 years. Owning a Paso can be truly a life time experience!
There sizes range from 13/2HH to 15/2HH . They complete their growth in the 5th or 6th year.
They are spirited but gentle and bond well with their human owners,some even prefer people companions to equine.They are naturally gaited and have a four beat lateral gait. You can travel for hours with out the bumps! They almost never buck.
In the 1400 the Conquistador's brought the Paso Fino to Central America In the 1950's they started importing them to the U.S . They are a willing learner and a pleasure to own.

For sales info on the horses listed on this page email pasohorsegal@yahoo.com or call 719-353-2539

Do Horses understand words?

Some trainers say No ,its body language they understand, after all ,its how they communicate among other horses. I contend they do both. Its natural to want to be able to talk to your horses and to have them understand...They can! First its important you have bonded with your horse and you have its trust.
I have had great success with mine with word response . Just to note in the old days when horses were used to plow the fields the farmer had to have both hands on the plow with the reins looped around his neck . They taught their horse to turn right by saying Gee and to turn left by saying hawh.. Body language wasn't an issue the horses out in front could barely see the farmer behind them. Verbal command was essential. Today I have taught my oldest mare to back on command , pick up her feet , & when I say go to the barn she will head to the barn on command to mention a few .. to start your horse to back, on command put your thumb into their chest pushing and say back ,they will give to the pressure and step back .. when they do, tell them Good boy and give them a pet. You may have to do this 20 times but soon they will step back when you say back with out the pressure of your thumb. Then try the foot thing ,say foot and pick up their foot start with the front right and then go to each foot do this over and over .. Soon your horse will recogniser the word foot, and will pick up their foot when they hear the word foot... Mine will pick all four feet as I approach each foot when I say foot! To get them to go to the barn upon command from the pasture lead them first to the barn and say Go to the barn! You will have to do this a number of times before they will respond alone . I also gave them a horse cookie when we reached they Barn to reinforce good behavior. Now I can walk out in the pasture and pet my horse and walk away and she will go on grazing or I can say go to the barn and she will head for the barn. The trick is to give her a treat now and then when she follows your command...Many trainers don't agree with giving rewards to horses when they display positive behavior... But I have had success with the method, in fact I carry a few horse cookies when I go trail riding and when my horses see I'm getting ready to go on a ride ,they all compete to go... I try and make the ride as pleasurable for them as it is for me... Give it a try its fun to see your horse responds to your words...

New information

I am now able to except credit cards through PayPal for horse purchases . I charge the price of the horse plus 3% paypal charges. Email for horse info I also take part payment in trades . Email bettyfrancesrodgers@gmail.com On another note there is a transport site call YouBid. Its a site where you can post anything you need to be transported and transporters bid on your job. I have used it twice for horse transport, but its for anything! Its a competitive market and with gas prices one needs to get the best deals..
I also want to thank all my visitors that drop by this site ,do check in now and then. Book mark this site . I update all the time . Thank you again!

How about a little horse humor!

What do get when if you cross A........
Quarter horse with a buckskin ...A Horseskin
Cross a Halflinger with a Quarter horse....A Half quart
Cross a Fjord pony with a Gypsy vannere... A ford Van
Cross a Barbant with a Friesian ... A antifreeze.

What are the advantages of a horse:
1- They don't come with mother-in-laws
2-You never have to iron saddle pads
3- They smell good when they sweat
4-You can force them to stay in physical shape_ with a whip if necessary
5-They turn white with age but not bald
6-They don't care what you look like as long as you have a carrot.

Feeding your horses !

If you feed alfaha pellets, to prevent chocking ,as pellets sometimes cause that, moisten the pellets with a little water thus preventing choke! Simple but effective!

A fun bit of wisdom.

The mars candy company's snicker bar was named after the Mars family favorate horse Snicker in 1930. Today the snicker Bar is the most popular candy bar in the U.S.

A tip for a shedding horse

Now if you are like me , in the spring you get out the ole shedding comb and start to brush off the old winter hair from your horses coat. Its up your nose with hair ,on your clothes and an itch that will equal your horses itch as he sheds! I have twelve horses so I'm always looking for good shedding tools. I have found one that surpasses all, its simple a hacksaw blade. It catches the hair better then anything I have used . You can slit a piece of wood and slip the blade inside the wood just leaving the blade protruding out just a bit and tape or wire the ends to secure or invent your own device to hold the blade. All I can say it works!

Training Tip

Here is a tip you probably already know, but incase you don't .. Have a horse that is always pulling at the halter when you launge or lead him. Just get a rope halter and add a few extra knots at the pole and cheeks . You will find he will reluctant to pull away from you when he feels the discomfort of the knots.

Leather care tip

A great item for leather care is believe it or not WD-40 ... Just spray on your leather goods from Boots to saddles and wala! Nice soft leather . Its fast too ,Just spray and let sit 30 min. you will be surprised how good it works .

Sand Colic tip

We live in and area where the soil is all sand. One finds it hard to believe it can grow anything but we have good crops here. However there is a concern about sand colic in horses. For the past 10 years I have been using flax seed and I haven't had colic in my horses of any kind .

My recipe is as follows: 1/2 Cup of flax seed to a quart of water Cook until it has a white foam on top . Let stand over night ,it will be slimy!! Mix with a gallon of wheat bran . feed in the morning . Feed regular hay in about an hour I'd leave out the grain. do this for three days . I do this every six months.

Sugestions Please

I need to find a horse fly spray that is homegrown or organic .I'm alergic to all the commercial horse sprays even wipes something in them makes my eyes swell and burn . Any suggestions ?

Horse tips

Want to have a exceptional mane and tail ? Shiny and healthy, Just comb through Baby oil several times a week.

A tale of the trail

The sun is coming up ,got to get the trailer hitched to the pickup .That done I head for the corral to get my horse. He's standing in the corner soaking up the suns first rays, his sorrel coat shining in the morning light . I clip a rope on his halter and we head for the trailer, once loaded we head for the foothills of Sonoma County. we travel for about an hour and then make our way down a bumpy dirt road... I pull my trailer into a clearing that is lush with short green grass, lovely purple Lupons, and yellow Buttercups.
I unload ole Buddy and pull my gear out of the tack compartment of the trailer. Then run the brush over my horses back removing the dirt that is ever present. Tossing the blanket then the saddle on his back , he side steps a bit but doesn't really resist. I put the bridle on and mount . we head for a cow trail that gently slopes into a stand of oaks and brush. Buddy's hoofs hit an occasional rock with a sharp ping, we clear the stand of trees and start the up hill grade . I can feel my horse's front leg and sholders work and we move upward, we arrive at a level place on the side of the hill where and old stone homestead is crumbling , only one wall is standing . I dismount and walk over to the ruins, a blue belly lizard is bobbing up and down on a rock as I near him he darts for cover . Tying ole Buddy to a nearby tree and finding a rock to sit on , I try to imagine what it was like to live in this small rock house so many years past, a time that was hard but uncomplicated.... I sigh and listen to a blue jay and wish I had lived in the days so long ago...

For sale

Registered Paso Finos for sale all young stock ready to start! Good for all around riding even dressage or trail. Email pasohorsegal@yahoo.com

dry hoof treatment

Try baby oil on those dry cracked hoofs. It absorbers well and is less expensive then most all hoof treatments.