ContendWithSkip

I have a 16 foot 3H SL BP horse trailer with a tack room in the front. It is in bad need of a paint job. I am planning on stripping the paint down and painting it this spring, but I need to get all the tools in line.

Now I have several questions....

What type of paint is best for horse trailers? What are the pros and cons of each type of paint? I understand that tractor paint is the easiest/most durable, but I have heard that the finish/gloss isn't very nice on it. What is some advice on paint? Which needs more thinner in a sprayer, and which requires better primer? etc.

There is quite a bit of surface rust on the trailer... Either I was considering sandblasting, or taking some of it off with a power sander/belt grinder. Which is reccomended for both simplicity and cost?

Rust converter- Use or don't use?

I also have a hole that needs patching... what would be reccomended? The hole is around 5 inches wide and is near the floor. Its the perfect place for a horse to catch a leg in... And it is in harms way if a horse decides to take out frustration on the trailer. What would be best/easiest way be to patch something like that? I also need to take risk of damage by the horse into consideration.

Only for people who study Parelli please... Does anyone have any opinions on the new parelli patterns and success series home study courses? I know that I have heard that many people who do not have enough background in the system have trouble with it. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with them.

I felt obligated to report a farm to animal control the other day, in which there are horses that are in poor shape. After showing them picture evidence and after answering a few questions, the told me there was nothing they could do. They did pay a visit, and I am not sure what they saw, but they informed me of a legal issue. They said that if a person has a vet, even if the horses are dropping dead from starvation, if she is following her vets protocol, then they cannot act. This woman happens to be dating her vet, and he keeps several of his horses out there in poor shape. I would think that it is a question of him being biased with no regard for the welfare of many of the animals. I am very worried about a mare with a foal at her side out there, and was wondering if there is any other route other than animal control? I had helped this woman out for years, and this does it... it is a "nonprofit" in NC. Any suggestions? Pics are here: http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/contendwi...

I just got an offer on a filly that I cannot ignore. I wanted to know really how good her confirmation is so everyone can go in informed. She is only a year old... she went through starvation a while back at another boarding facility so she is not completely filled in yet (the last pic in the album is of her about 5 weeks ago)... the pics with her winter coat are her at about 10 months old...my farrier said her topline and neck should finish filling in, but no telling. Any answers are appreciated....

http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn252/contendwi...

I was wondering what has seemed to be the most effective treatment for coccidia or other related protozoan infections in horses from first hand experience. I have heard of people injectable, albon (injectable, liquid, and boluses), Di-Methox powder, and corid. Does anyone know of anything else that has been know to treat coccidia infection in horses other than the sulfur drugs and amprolium? Either that, or what dose has people seen effective against coccidia? I am just interested in the subject and any insight would be helpful. Thanks! :-)

I am currently building a new barn and I moved my little filly over to another farm for a few months. Lets just say she has dropped over a large amount of weight. Is this a legal matter or should animal control be involved?

Whenever I go out there, she has no hay and I end up having to give her some (yet all the woman's personal horses have plenty of hay and feed). Also, I have evidence that she has been beaten... I had her going so good on her training and she is very headshy now (the accuser says she would get beaten everyday because they wouldnt feed her and she would try to take other horses' food).

I hope to get her out of there within the next month, but I think something needs to be done to prevent her from hurting other horses. Is this something rescues or animal control can get involved in? I an in North Carolina.

I have a yearling that needs some sort of supplement for her hooves, coat, etc. I got her free a few months ago but now that I think I have gotten rid of most of her worms I need to work on her poor condition (poor coat/hooves/muscling/body condition/weight).

What is the best supplement (in terms of value) that everyone has had success with. Please keep in mind this is a yearling, I am not going to show her, but would like to bring her to a healthy state (she has one really cracked up/soft hoof in the front)

I know biotin, met. etc is good for the hooves/coat, but none of my textbooks (i am in vet school) are conclusive on the dosages. Recent journal articles come to no conclusion also.

I wanted some first hand experience with supplementation... what is the best value for my use?

....also, the more natural it is the better, I was having custom made herb balls for my horses at one time by my herbalist, but the hay costs, and cost of vet school does not allow me to do that any longer

This is a mare I am looking at... Out of a superior halter stud. Her grandmother skippin fantasy has produced several world or reserve world champions, and her father has produced several reserve world and superior halter horses (pinto and paint).

She has gray badger II (AQHA hall of fame), Impressive, conclusive, skippa lark, three bars, sockett, top moon, etc on her pedigree (for those of y'all that know of QH and paint breeding).

The rest of her information is on the page... I was wondering what people would pay for her... Most of her siblings can go anywhere from 1000 (for solids) to 25000... The price seems pretty low to me, but she looks like she is a bit "off" can anyone seem to pinpoint this? Also, the pics were taken over a year ago, according to the owner... I know healthwise what to look for in a horse (in vet school) but the confirmation on this horse is getting me a bit. Is it worth even looking into?

Any input would be appreciated! :-

I am taking care of 31 horses at the moment... and I am looking into getting hay racks for them. They are all out in pastures (no stalls), and I put out rolls of hay. Right now as you all know, there is a hay shortage, and I currently go through 500 rolls a year. I was wondering what sort of hay racks people have had success with that hold rolls. I am currently getting 1200 pound rolls. Has anyone ever had success with the hay racks with horses? The main thing is I want to keep the horses from walking all over the hay (and pooping/urinating on it also). They waste large amounts of it and with the shortage, hay is anything but affordable. Thanks for any input! :-)

I just ended up with another paint filly, and I was wanting to change her registered name, because I absolutely don't like it... its currently electric fax, but i was having trouble coming up with anything else. Anything I have come up with is already taken, and I was wanting something original. She is out of a world champion halter horse entered in the paint breeders trust, is a solid sorrel with a star on her forehead, no socks, and will be about 16.3 hands when she "grows up." Any suggestions? Thanks! :-)

I am currently in the market for a horse sling. I have about 30 horses, many of them being elderly, and it is a recurrent problem for them to go down. I was needing a sling that is both somewhat affordable (as compared to other slings) but is of a relative good quality. Does anyone know anything about the different types?

I am looking at buying a paint filly, and on both sides, her great grandfather is Sockett, the famous 3x Nat’l & Resv Nat’l Champion Halter; APHA Champion, Superior Halter & WP; Sire of 48 World/Reserve World & Nat’l Champ in Halter & Performance, Versatility Champions, Youth Superior Champion, etc.... I am not too familiar with horse genetics, and I was not too sure how viable the filly would be with the common ansestory on both sides... I have never encountered this problem before and was wondering if anyone was familiar with the issue.

He is about 14.3 hands right now, I am in the Liberty/Greensboro NC area, does anyone know the local prices?