The Castle Rock MARE-TERNITY WARD
Message Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: elizabeth.conder on February 17, 2017, 02:26:43 PM
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Hello
First off I am going to introduce myself and my horses. My name is Elizabeth Conder. I live in west Texas where it is much like a desert and you never know what the weather is going to be like. I have one stallion, Little Americas Secrets Crescendo. He is a bay appaloosa with Silver Meadows Phantom Storm and Orion Light Vant Huttenest bloodlines. I also have three mares, Rocky Top Aristocratic Belle Star (YP Branch of Africa, Boones Little Buckaroo), Aristocratic Big City Rhapsody (Gold Melody Boy, Boones Little Buckaroo twice), and Aristocratic Big City Flower Power (Boones Little Buckaroo, Lazy N Booger Man).
Here's my question, we have had some rather crazy weather for this time of the year. It has been in the 80's-90's during the day and mid 40's at night. One of my girls has a THICK winter coat. It is probably 3-4 inches long and she is not quite 30 inches. So she just stands there and sweats all day. I have been hosing her down but that only works for a short while. I don't really want to clip them this early because you never know with Texas weather, but I sure don't like watching them sweating so much. What would yall do?
Thanks
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Way too cold here in northern Montana, but our highs are only 40s this time of year (and this is an unusual weather pattern we're going through, usually barely around freezing for a high).
You might consider a trace clip or a modified trace clip to give her relief but leave her enough hair to stay warm. You might have to consider a blanket if your temps drop and stay below 40, if you do trace clip. I'll see if I can find you a picture or link for trace clip.
Even just the under side of the neck and lower portion of the chest could help.
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I just googled Trace clip and here's the selection I got:
https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=trace+clip&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZAG_enUS455US455&q=trace+clip&gs_l=hp...0l5.0.0.0.4236...........0.hZwjbwg4ThM
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Ok awesome! Thanks
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Here in Florida when it gets so hot early on, but before I was comfortable clipping all the hair away, I used to do a bit of a modification from the link. I would do the underside of the neck and the front of the chest with a 10 blade, then if not enough, I would clip most of the head area and right around the ears and under the mane. That usually took care of the sweating in the hot weather that would show up in the spring -- but before the summer arrived. Then, I would do a full clip once it was apparent summer had arrived.
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Thank you!!
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Welcome! I am in East Texas. I understand completely what your going through. I usually clip bellies. That seems to help a lot. Would love to see pictures of your herd!
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Welcome! I am in East Texas. I understand completely what your going through. I usually clip bellies. That seems to help a lot. Would love to see pictures of your herd!
And I would love to share!
In order Aristocratic Big City Flower Power AKA Lucy (29.75 inches)
Aristocratic Big City Rhapsody AKA Lilly (34 inches)
Rocky Top Aristocratic Belle Star AKA Susan (32 inches)
Little Americas Secrets Crescendo AKA Caspian (31 inches)
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WOO HOO!! I see some SPOTS !!
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Lovely! Do you have any mares in foal this year? If so please feel free to share their pregnancy with us !
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Yes, and you can start individual threads for each one if you'd like, so you'll have a reference on them for next year!
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I don't have any in foal yet. I am planning on breeding them this year. These would be my first goals so I am a little nervous. There are some people that raise minis right down the road from me and another several people that have full sized foals pretty often so there are plenty of people around. I'm just trying to decide which mares to breed this year.
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So glad you here! We have a lot of experienced members that are so willing to help with any and all questions. This is a very supportive group! Yes as Diane said start a thread on each mare, as they bred the changes they make and all the information will be here for you to reference.
Please keep us updated! And welcome again!
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So glad you here! We have a lot of experienced members that are so willing to help with any and all questions. This is a very supportive group! Yes as Diane said start a thread on each mare, as they bred the changes they make and all the information will be here for you to reference.
Please keep us updated! And welcome again!
Thank you, I will. The black mare is 4, the bays are 3. I do have a question, I am halfway nervous about breeding the little bay since she is under 30 inches to a stallion that is about 31 inches. How much of a problem, if any, could that be for a maiden?
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In my opinion, I have successfully bred mares down to 27" with no problems to a 30" stallion. How much "under 30 inches" is she? I usually wouldn't go more than 3 inches taller, so it will depend on her height AND, is the stallion "refined" or a chunky monkey, and I don't mean his weight. Some of the more "solid-built" stock-type horses would be of more concern to me if bred to a mare who was a refined girl without a nice wide hip for carrying and delivering.
If it's Lucy at 29.75" bred to your boy who's 31", I wouldn't anticipate a problem.
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As far as size goes, I'd go with what Diane says, as she's bred the small ones before (mine are all bigger); the only thing I'd add, is I'd wait a year longer on her to breed the first time so she has more time to mature before breeding.
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Thank you both. That's what I was kind of thinking. My stallion is definitely not very heavily built.