Few farm vehicles are simpler than a hay wagon. While this design is simple and concise, there are times when you wish hay wagons offered slightly more in terms of features and amenities.
“Mats, which should be thick rubber, are particularly important—especially if you are transporting horses any distance—because it reduces fatigue on the animals' legs, causing them to be calmer and more rested when they arrive,” Hall says.
Pros These carts are small and easy to use. Let's explore some of the pros and cons. I've used small lawn mower carts many times for picking up fallen leaves and tree branches, and let me assure you that a typical small cart will reach its capacity quickly,...
In 1981, a rancher named Leo Kuntz purchased several horses that had been removed form the park. In the 1970s, the National Park Service adopted a policy of removing most of the wild horses from the park, leaving only a very small herd behind for historical...
The influence of the Arabian eventually became such that nearly every modern breed today traces back to this early desert horse. His beginnings are mysterious, which seems fitting considering the romance behind the rest of the breed's history.
After I spent 5 minutes trying to catch him, I did a little detective work and figured it out: I had inadvertently left his stall door unlatched. Even though the stall gate was closed and flush against the fence, Rio had discovered it wasn't secured and...
In a harsh part of the country called the Argentine Pampas, the tiny Falabella was bred to survive in the desert. Special Considerations/Notes: Miniature Horses easily contract laminitis if given food that is too rich or if they are allowed to become...
They are usually black or grey, although sorrels, bays and roans are not uncommon. Percherons stand anywhere from 15 to 19 hands in height. Use: Percherons in America still do heavy draft work on farms, especially those owned by the Amish.
Roughly 2,000 Caspian horses are registered throughout the world, 600 of them in North America. Conformation: The Caspian horse breed is small, but it's not a pony. Additional conservation breeders are needed to grow this horse breed's population.
The colors most often seen in this breed are bay, chestnut, black, brown, and gray. Approximately 37,000 Thoroughbreds are registered annually with The Jockey Club. Use: Thoroughbred Horses are bred primarily for racing.
Now I just want my horses to behave properly: don't step on my feet, don't bite me, don't buck me off — that sort of thing. I so wanted this to happen for me. For most of my horse-loving childhood, I rode rental horses at stables near my house.
The breed nearly died out. Special Considerations/Notes: Suffolk Horses are large and need sturdy housing. The only color allowed in the breed is chestnut, and can range in shade from light golden to dark liver.
The white also tends to look scattered or splashed. Through theft and trading, Indians from other tribes in the U.S. soon acquired horses. The Pueblo Indians, who had lived here for centuries, learned to ride and became excellent horsemen.
In an effort to preserve the breed, a group of horsemen formed the American Quarter Horse Association in 1940. The Quarter Horse is a versatile breed, used for everything from trail riding to dressage.
I got the sense that both Teddy and Milagro were happy at that moment, enjoying our human company and the proximity of each other. With Milagro still licking my left hand, I reached my right hand out to Teddy to pet his nose.
An organization called the U.S. Trotting Association was created in 1939 to keep track of the pedigrees of Standardbred horses and promote the sport of harness racing. History: The Standardbred breed developed in the 1800s from the Thoroughbred, Canadian,...
A handful of breeders dedicated to the breed hung on desperately, and continued to keep the Clydesdale alive as a show and exhibition horse. While not as popular as the Belgian and Percheron, the Clydesdale was in some demand during the late 1800s in...
In 1938, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was formed to protect and preserve the Appaloosa horse. The only tribe to selectively breed horses, the Nez Perce valued the Appaloosa for his willingness, ruggedness and spotted coat.
In most cases, however, today's wild horses are descendants of ranch horses that escaped into the wild over the last several decades. These first wild horses, descended from pure Spanish blood, came to be known as Spanish Mustangs.
These horses were asked to pull coaches, and were bred for pulling carts. Special Considerations/Notes: The Shire is a large horse that needs sturdier living quarters than standard-sized horses.
The European horse is heavier and stockier. The European Brabant on the other hand, is usually red roan with a black mane and tail. Use: Belgian horses are most often used for draft purposes.
This is one of the many reasons why a miniature horse is an excellent animal for the hobby farm. Tucker is the solemn, little professional man, who all but salutes us when we put on his halter.
In cooler months, a horse at rest drinks on average between 5 and 12 gallons of water a day. This article originally ran in the July/August 2016 issue of Hobby Farms. Follow these tips to keep your horses thriving when the summer heat is at is its worst.
Sometimes veterinary textbooks describe foaling as “explosive.” While that might be a bit extreme, relative to other livestock species, it is fairly accurate. Retained placentas in mares sometimes occur because of hormone imbalances and are frequently...
DR Power Equipment 7. Tractor Supply Co. This story originally appeared in the January/February 2018 issue of Hobby Farms. The Mini Mill is a compact milling attachment for your chainsaw that lets you cut logs into lumber or beams.
Here on my Wisconsin farm, it rained a lot last week. (Believe me: Been there, done that!) So I strongly recommend that you tackle the post-storm cleanup process as quickly as possible.
They are balanced in such a way as to be easy on the back. When we do need to haul our animals , we don't have to try to borrow or rent a trailer, and in between animal trips, we use it to haul firewood, feed, hay and lumber.
