tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post3628156958848418698..comments2024-01-27T06:46:56.744-06:00Comments on Paradigm Farms Horse Retirement: Retirement Case StudyMelissa-ParadigmFarmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274830693649851658noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-52904359119930348152010-01-17T02:24:25.859-06:002010-01-17T02:24:25.859-06:00This is really interesting. I wonder if a large g...This is really interesting. I wonder if a large group would also have worked for a similar horse I used to care for. <br /><br />The best routine we ended up with for him was to ride him twice a day, turn him out for as long as he would stay out, then take him for long walks whenever he got too antsy in his stall. He sure loved to be on the move. <br /><br />We tried various buddies, but they never made any difference... perhaps all he wanted was a larger herd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-20130921661479965672010-01-15T16:57:35.087-06:002010-01-15T16:57:35.087-06:00BET;
Yes, so far we have always had a happy endin...BET;<br /><br />Yes, so far we have always had a happy ending in terms of retirees adjusting to our system. I expect sooner or later we may run across somebody who just doesn't fit, but it hasn't happened yet. <br /><br />Yes, we have on occasion battled aggression, but we don't really do turn out except to introduce the horse to it's new group. There is ALWAYS some level of aggression within the group until the new horse finds his place in the herd. In our opinion, this sort of aggression is well within the context of normal herd dynamics. In our experience on-going aggression often occurs because the horse in question isn't comfortable in his position within the group. By switching the aggressive horse into another group we usually change up his position within the group and we have (so far) always been able to overcome this issue.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09092424684260339977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-71800438592586844082010-01-15T12:14:27.122-06:002010-01-15T12:14:27.122-06:00Melissa, What a great post! It is interesting to h...Melissa, What a great post! It is interesting to hear how different horses respond to different situations. Have you ever had any that are aggressive towards other horses in turn out? One of my geldings is currently in turn out by himself because he can't get along with certain horses. <br /><br />Have a great weekend!ZionFarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09153703930637178562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-61635071328051770982010-01-15T11:24:16.008-06:002010-01-15T11:24:16.008-06:00Hi there, well Jason answered the question I had a...Hi there, well Jason answered the question I had at the end of your interesting post in the comment he made. It was....do you always have a happy ending with every retiree? I think Kate is right about the way horses are handled/managed. I do believe also that our animals are reflective of our behaviors as well and we can actually learn a little about ourselves if we take the time to observe them. People have problems for the most part with their animals (any animal) because of a lack of knowledge in knowing what to do. It does not matter who's fault/or the cause...it's focusing on the solution which is what you two do beautifully....and mix that with a little tenacity Melissa! Good for you for not giving up on this horse when it would have been very tempting.LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18432986911571557592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-74945167547522816852010-01-15T11:16:09.454-06:002010-01-15T11:16:09.454-06:00This is a great idea for post topics! You present ...This is a great idea for post topics! You present a lot of very useful information, not just for retired horses but horse keeping in general. Thanks to Baby's owners for letting you tell his story! <br /><br />It's great that Baby's owners allowed you the flexibility to find the right situation for him rather than insiting on one approach like stalling. That's key, I bet.RuckusButthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14760056031442317243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-52221355551170173522010-01-15T10:29:16.923-06:002010-01-15T10:29:16.923-06:00what a great case study story. it kept going throu...what a great case study story. it kept going through my head today as i went about my day. i thought how he had these issues for so long, and the one thing he needed, he didn't know how to ask for. (a companion was not enough for him.) maybe he himself didn't know what he needed, but when you finally found his "cure" - it apparently brought him back to happier times in his memory. like black beauty as a foal, not a care in the world, just pasture and companions.<br /><br />i look forward to more case studies!<br /><br />~lythalythahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01719586193059362084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-15827387984751930162010-01-15T06:07:52.866-06:002010-01-15T06:07:52.866-06:00When I am very old and ready to be retired I'm...When I am very old and ready to be retired I'm coming down to live with YOU!IsobelleGoLightlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233377230754119180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-90515694865136148572010-01-15T04:27:55.065-06:002010-01-15T04:27:55.065-06:00I've seen amazing changes in horses that come ...I've seen amazing changes in horses that come to our barn - even though we do stall at night, the all-day turnout with herds does seem to make a real difference to many horses. I think so many of those strange behaviors are caused by how horses are managed and are the horse's way of telling us that things aren't right. My Noble was a serious cribber before we brought him here, but he hardly ever cribs now - a bit when we're in dry lot but that's all. Many other horses have become much calmer and healthier. It's fun to see the transitions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-59789786847857979232010-01-14T21:58:04.937-06:002010-01-14T21:58:04.937-06:00Sydney;
We're going to do a bunch of posts ad...Sydney;<br /><br />We're going to do a bunch of posts addressing the topic of real and imaginary problems we have faced with some of our retired guests.<br /><br />More often than not, whatever the owner said about the horse prior to coming here isn't valid after a very short time at our facility. I'm not for a minute saying the owners don't know their horses, but I AM saying they rarely know how their horse is going to behave in this sort of system because with rare exceptions neither the horse nor the horse owner has experienced this sort of system before.<br /><br /> I'm not going to say never, but after 50 tries we still haven't managed to find a horse that couldn't or wouldn't willingly adapt to our system of management and thrive while doing so. In every case, this involves treating horses individually while maximizing the positives that horses accrue in a semi-natural environment and minimizing or eliminating the negatives of same.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09092424684260339977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-64773916096837695332010-01-14T21:36:04.967-06:002010-01-14T21:36:04.967-06:00What a wonderful ending.
I cured my ponies cribbi...What a wonderful ending.<br /><br />I cured my ponies cribbing with 24/7 turnout, free choice grass/hay and constant contact with a herd.<br /><br />A lot of the time the "locomotory" stereotypies (weaving, pacing etc) are easily cured by providing that natural environment, not stalling them or keeping with with one buddy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523660446608394720noreply@blogger.com