[becorson]

Some of the common causes of loose manure in horses are parasites, eating sand or dirt (“sand colic”), imbalance of the bacteria that normally live in the gut, and tumors. I agree w/ scott that you should get a vet to check it out if possible, but it can be hard, (even for a good vet,) to figure out what’s going on inside that big belly! for example, some of the most damaging parasites (e.g., cyathastomes) only shed eggs at intervals, so a parasite exam can give you a “false negative”. just saying don’t be too surprised if nothing clear cut shows up at first. good luck and let us know how it goes.
Barb Corson (VMD)

[becorson]

thanks for the reply!

[becorson]

Hear Hear!

[becorson]

Not too long ago I saw an article about someone making three pad cow or ox collars, but now I can’t remember where i saw it! (pathetic)
It might have been in Rural Heritage Magazine and the author/ collar maker MAY have been an American woman named Barb Lee…. I will do some “re-searching” and see what I can find.

[becorson]

Just to let you know that these calves sold quickly. thanks to everyone who contacted me about them.
bc

[becorson]

thanks for all the replies and input, it all sounds like a treadmill would be a good investment, espeically for someone like me who has horses that need exercise!
I think i’ll call the folks at Athens and see if they will let me put one on “lay away” . by the time i have it paid for, maybe i’ll figure out how to hook it up to a log splitter or something. (I’m not very clever when it comes to mechanical things but i know folks who are.)

[becorson]

Is the sore warmer than the surrounding skin ? Infections and insect bites are usually warm because of increased blood flow to the area.
If the sore is not particularly warm and is soft, it may be a hematoma or seroma … i.e., fluid filled, blister-like swellings. (of course a hematoma or seroma can get infected and then it would be hot …. )

like someone else said, the wrinkles on the collar face could cause a sore especially if the collar was a tad big. it has been a long time since i doctored a collar sore but rest and monitoring the spot sound like a good idea to me.
one other thought: does he have a current tetanus vaccine?
Barb Corson (VMD)

[becorson]

How did the workshop go?

[becorson]

Seems like a great idea. How did it go?

[becorson]

On the subject of safety: people do get killed by cattle, it’s true– although not as many as horses. And when cattle DO injure or kill people, most often the cattle are dehorned or polled. a big animal doesn’t have to have horns to injure you. I think dehorning gives some people a false sense of security.
Horns serve a purpose: they may help to regulate temperature in the brain.

[becorson]

congratulations on another sucessful class. i second what jim ostergard said about the value of hosting classes like this. probably a little early to ask, but is the next class scheduled yet?

[becorson]

Jason, one of these days i would relish the chance to brain storm with you about how to incorporate the best features of Scandinavian harness into American harness systems.

re: color genetics, there’s a new book out on that subject, written by a fellow Virginian, Phil Sponenberg (sp?) he would probably know what we’d get if we crossed Rudy with my mare ….
re: breeding horses that can work:
you all probably know more about this than me, but i think in most of the European countries, a stallion has to be “approved” before his owners can use him for registered breeding. I have been lucky enough to attend a couple of these events in Norway, for fjord horses and for the the “doele” horses of eastern Norway.
the tests include conformation, temperament, and work-related tasks as well: standing quietly while harnessed and while the driver climbs into the wagon, holding the wagon still on a hill, etc. very interesting to watch!

[becorson]

good work on standing a good “using” stallion. i don’t know how many people on this board keep draft stallions but where i’m from (central pa) there are still a number on Amish farms.
i used to see quite a few ads for morgan / percheron crosses , standardbred / draft horse crosses or other “draft chunks” for sale in local papers but not so much recently. today all the news is about the “unwanted horse” but those are largely pets, not working partners, right?
i wish i could clone my 15 hand, 1200 pound buckskin chunk. i’m afraid she is one of a kind. her daughter is a fine horse in her own way, but not a patch on the mother.

[becorson]

i would be interested in hearing more about generating electricity using a sweep, too.

there are folks that are currently making treadmills that transfer animal power into compressed air. the ones i’m aware of are in athens kentuck and gap Pa. At horse progress days in 2009 the athens ky folks had a whole wood working shop set up powered by two horses on a treadmill. at least that’s what the article in Rural Heritage magazine said?

[becorson]

there is a discussion board for folks who keep a family cow that you might find useful. do a google search for “keeping a family cow”. there are folks on that board that keep goats, too.

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