Even when I'm not actually "shopping" for a horse, I still like to browse the online horse ads occasionally (okay, so every day).  I've seen novel-like ads that include everything but the horse's favorite color, and then I've seen the bare minimum ads ("Black Horse $150, Call xxx-xxxx"). But which way is the right way, you ask? Well first, let's examine some of the "wrong way" examples of horse sales.

Here's one I've seen a few variations of, and it always gives me a little chuckle:

"13 year old thoroughbred gelding for sale. I have too many horses, and not enough money! ...  I might consider a trade on a paint."

Do paint horses cost less to feed?  


"Pasture Companion - $450 obo"

So you're gonna pay me $450 to take the horse that you can't afford to retire, right?

"I never had the time for her since i rescued her from some hick!...rebreeding by stud for extra 75$ thank you...please bid higher then the meat guy. he has offered 200$ for each horse."

Wait...what? You rescued this poor little mare, but you're willing to sell her to the meat guy? I'm not sure which part is worse - that, or the fact that they are still breeding these poor animals!

Now those are just a few of the many great examples of what not to do. 

For my full list of "How-To"  horse advertising essentials, Click Here!


Make sure to list your "Horse for Sale" ads on these great websites!

Horse Classifieds - FreeHorseAds.com

Horsetopia Classifieds

Cowboy Logic of the Day

"Comin' as close to the truth as a man can come without actually gettin' there is comin' pretty close, but it still ain't the truth."

After many months of shopping, waiting, searching, waiting, prepping, and waiting, we finally have an outline of a barn!

I know it doesn't look like much now, but in 10 - 14 days (knock on wood), we should have a horse barn! And then the real work starts (we have opted to install the flooring, stalls, pasture, and tack room ourselves)!

For more information on our horse barn builder, who has literally been building barns for as long as I've been alive, see K&K Builders of Ann Arbor.

Cowboy Logic of the Day

"It's best to keep your troubles pretty much to yourself, 'cause half  the people you'd tell 'em to won't give a damn, and the other half will be glad to hear you've got 'em."

Thank you to the 2010 Oakland County Fair for sponsoring the "Horse Sense" blog for June & July!

The annual fair will be held at the Davisburg fairgrounds this July 13 - 18.

As one of the oldest fairs in the nation, the Oakland County Fair has been an educational and entertaining event for Oakland County families since 1880. This year, the fair will offer a variety of different family-oriented events, such as:

Small & Large Animal Auctions, Family Fun Day, Free Circus-3 shows daily, Globe of Death, Racing Pigs, Show Me Petting Zoo, 4-H Farmer for a day, Farmer John, Kids Contests, Bike Giveaway, Animal Exhibits and much more!

The 2010 fair will also feature horse shows in a variety of disciplines:

• Hunt Seat
• Saddleseat
• Western
• Pole Bending
• Dressage
• Reining
• Halter
• Driving
• & More! 

 For more information about fair events, discounted tickets and directions to the fairgrounds, click on the OCF ad at the top of the page to be redirected to the website!

"Curly" is a 14 year old Bashkir Curly** horse. He walks, trots, and canters with no problems. He has also ridden down the road with no problems and is not afraid of cars. Will make a good 4-H horse. He is a hypoallergenic horse, so he'd be a great fit for people with allergies. 

For information on adopting Curly or to see the other adoptable horses that EARTH Services has to offer, go to their Petfinder Page.

**Also referred to as the American Bashkir Curly, American Curly horse, North American Curly horse or just Curly Horse, the true origins of this unique breed are unknown (though there are many theories). For more information on Curly Horses, go to the American Bashkir Curly Horse Registry Website.

Sometimes it seems that the farm life is a magnet for abused, neglected, injured and otherwise homeless animals. There are always the natural catastrophes - a baby fawn separated from its mother or a nest of turtles buried too far from the water (like the one buried in our horse pasture this spring). But from time to time, a desperate pet owner will dump their unwanted animals down the back roads in hopes that a goodhearted ol' farmer will be kind enough to add another one to the herd.  

Over the years I have learned that there is only so much you can do. My overzealous attempts to save all of the animals were eventually met by the reality of personal and financial responsibilities. And sometimes the risks that you may bring to your family or current pets may outweigh the potential benefits of rescuing a needy animal.

As the no-kill rescues overflow with abandoned animals and the number of pet ads has come to exceed the number of prospective new owners, it is important for pet owners to weigh out all of the options before choosing to leave pets out in the wild. Sometimes a humane euthanasia is better than the alternative.  

• Though from time to time a back road good Samaritan may be able to take in a needy animal to become a part of their farm, quite often these abandoned pets will just end up as another sad story on the side of the road. 
• Indoor pets are often desensitized to the dangers that wild animals face on a day to day basis. Natural instincts like predator awareness, hunting for food and fight vs. flight may not come so easily to an animal that has spent its life indoors. 
• Feral cats and stray dogs can pose a danger to a farmer's poultry and livestock. These animals are sometimes trapped and/or killed to protect the others.
• Pets are also susceptible to many dangerous diseases that might not have been included in their standard yearly vaccinations. For example, Leptospirosis is a deadly disease that can be transmitted from simply drinking contaminated water than an infected raccoon has urinated in. 

 So if you happen to know someone who is thinking about dumping their unwanted animals, please urge them to consider the risks it may pose to their pet.  

On a more positive note, here are some of adorable baby animals that we have been able to help (so far) in 2010:

 These week old raccoon babies and their ninja-like mother were recently relocated after the barn cats' food was mysteriously disappearing. Though these fuzzy little babies look harmless now, raccoons are known to carry a multitude of infectious diseases that can be transmitted to pets and sometimes even humans (such as rabies, distemper, raccoon parvoviralenteritis, & canine hepatitis).

I wrangled this sweet little fawn in the horse pasture this weekend after she caused quite a commotion trying to find the exit. After about 20 minutes of stumbling & launching herself at the fence, she finally settled down long enough to let me carry her to the local vet. Once we determined that her limp was due to a healed past injury, she was released back into the wild to be reunited with her anxious mother. 

Mama kitty and her three little babies came to me a few weeks back, just hours before they were to become homeless. Though the little ones quickly adopted out to good homes, young Mama kitty is still waiting to find her forever home.

And last but certainly not least is little baby Moe, a Romeldale lamb born at the farm this spring. Although he was not one of our spring rescues, he just didn't want to be left off of the adorable baby animals page, so here he is learning to take his first steps.

As a child, I remember reading the story of Justin Morgan.  Known to some as the first "All-American Horse", the Morgan breed traces back to one famous bay stallion, Justin Morgan (known by his owner's name). Justin Morgan (or "Figure") was foaled in 1789, and thought by some to be the product of a Thoroughbred sire (others believe the sire was actually a Welsh Cob) and Arabian dam.  

Though there are many different opinions on the true origins of the first Morgan horse, there is no doubt that the Morgan has played a significant role in the development of other breeds.

A compact, yet muscular breed, the Morgan horse generally stands between 14.1 and 15.2 hands high. Best known for their athleticism, beauty and versatility, Morgans are great as pleasure or performance horses.

Click here for Morgan Breed Standards from the American Morgan Horse Association

Horse Breeds at www.HorseChannel.com

Earth Services is holding a

Farm Adoption Event

this Saturday on the Terpening Farm in Bellevue!

Earth Services has many nice riding and driving horses for adoption. Many of the horses are very well trained and will make great trail, show, or just good ol' pets. Adopt any riding horse and adopt a companion horse with NO ADOPTION FEE!!! Donkeys, Ponies, Goats, Chickens, and Rabbits also available for adoption.

There will also be many Dogs, Cats, Puppies, and Kittens for adoption. Cat and Kitten adoption is by DONATION ONLY! Many Dogs are small lap type dogs, also a few non shedding dogs. Most dogs are house trained or on there way to being house trained. Senior Pets (6 years and over) are $25 to Senior or disabled citizens. 

Dr. Dolan will be microchipping and giving rabies shots from 10-1, as well as free health check on all animals adopted.  Microchip $25; Rabies Shot $10; Microchip + Rabies Shot $30

 

Earth Services Farm Adoption Event

15323 Jenkins Road
Bellevue, Mi 49021
SATURDAY, JUNE 12TH, 2010
10 AM - 5 PM

 For more information on Earth Services, check out their website at http://www.earthservices.org/

In one of the most shocking stories of horse neglect that I have ever seen, the Humane Society of the United States recently assisted in the rescue of 49 severely neglected horses, donkeys and mules from a farm in West Virginia.

Many of the animals were seriously underweight (one at almost half of its healthy body weight!) and suffering from a variety of illnesses and infections.

The Humane Society, together with the Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter, removed the sick and starving animals and provided much needed food and vet care.

If you'd like to be a part of the effort to help rescue neglected and abused equines, you can sign up for the June 13th "Ride for the Rescues" National Trail Ride. All proceeds from this national event will go toward equine rescues and charities across the US. The Michigan trail ride will be held at the Fort Custer Recreation Area in Kalamazoo. 

For information on "Ride for the Rescues" trail events in other states, click here.

Click Here to Read the Full HSUS Rescue Story 

Congratulations to:

CarolSue

Winner of the $40 Gift Card Giveaway from CSN Stores! 


See? It PAYS to read Horse Sense!
Keep following for future opportunities and giveaways!

Bred to both ride and drive, the Haflinger is truly a versatile breed. With the strong, stoutness of a draft horse and the elegant, intelligent face of the Arabian, Haflingers can be found anywhere from the farmer's field to the show ring.

The breed dates back to 1874 in the Tyrolean Village of Hafling (which was once a part of Austria and now belongs to Italy). The first Haflinger was bred from a half Arabian stallion and Tyrolean Mare. Though relatively small in the horse world (Generally range from 13.2 hh - 15 hh), Haflingers are known for their impressive versatility and striking good looks (golden chestnut coloring with a flaxen mane & tail).  

Breed Standards from the American Haflinger Registry

If you are looking for your next work horse, show horse or all around family horse, make sure to check out some of these local(ish) Haflinger Farms:

New Horizons Haflingers

Genesis Farm 

Woodward Performance Haflingers