[AT] New 8N/Now hay, coastal bermuda

[Easley, Greg]

You've got it figured out Charlie.  All the enjoyment of the horses
without the
expenses!  I've not seen the beet pellets here, but the shreds are easy
enough
to deal with.  I keep the back stock on the hay pile and feed out of
30gal trash
cans.  I handle the sweet feed the same way.  The bins sit beside the
door to the
run-in shed part of my shop/garage/horse barn which makes it real handy
at feeding
time.

The barn is a 30'x40' with a 12'x40' shed on the south side.  I built a
10'x12'
stall on each end of that and left the middle 20' open.  On the inside I
have a
5'x12' hay rack centered on that space and a dutch door on either side
of the hay
rack.  When the weather's mild I'll open the top section of those doors
while I'm
working in the shop and generally have a horse or two keeping an eye on
me.  I'm not
sure if it's because they're curious or just hopeful that I might give a
handful of
apple treats.  Maybe a little of both.  Either way I enjoy the company.

I have to say that the beet shreds are nearly a miracle feed for a
broken-mouthed
animal.  That mare looked like a walking skeleton at the end of last
winter and I
was ready to put her down.  She was a rescue case, and daughter's first
horse.
Daughter wasn't at all happy with the thought of putting her down so I
started looking
for a solution.  Gal at the feed store suggested the beet shreds.  After
two weeks of
that stuff the spark started to come back in her eyes and it wasn't long
after that
she started to put some weight back on.  In ten months she's gained
200lbs, maybe a
little more.  She had been getting 3 gallons of senior feed and free
choice hay prior
to that, but due to the lack of mastication her gut wasn't working.  She
was basically
starving to death on a full belly.  The addition of the beets as her
bulk roughage
literally brought her back from the dead.

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of charliehill
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 9:43 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] New 8N/Now hay, coastal bermuda

Greg, have you seen the beet pulp pellets that are out now?  It's the
same 
shreaded pulp but compressed into a pellet.  You soak it in water for a 
while before feeding.  The pellets seem to make it easier to handle and 
store.

I have the best of both worlds with the horses.  I go by the stable
every 
day that I have time and most always get to help do something.
Yesterday I 
helped feed up and repair a fence.  I enjoy talking to the folks that
bring 
their kids to ride and absolute delight in watching the children work
with 
the horses.  It doesn't cost me a thing but some time.

 Tom's stable is not a fancy come and ride and go home place.  He
requires 
the kids to go out into the pasture and get their horse, tack it up,
clean 
the hooves and brush the horse down and put it back in the pasture after
the 
lesson. (of course the little ones and beginners get help until they can
do 
it themselves)  They even have to go get the wheel barrel and manure
rake 
and clean up the horses mess.  They learn to ride, they learn to care
for 
the horse and above all they learn to be responsible.  He let's kids
start 
at age 8.  He's got a range of horses to fit any kid and any ability.

Charlie