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So I acquired this mule for free on November 9th of this year. I knew he had trust issues and I was prepared to help him. He's had a lot of improvement over the last month (been tacked up, trimmed, etc) and a half but his biggest issue is bolting when being led and I can't seem to figure out what to do. He's been physically abused to the point where everything frightens him.

This mule is fine until he's taken out of his comfort zone and then he just explodes. The first time he bolted I just had him on a regular 10 ft lead and he easily tore out of my hands. After this I purchased a lunge line and gloves to lead him with. He will lead just fine when he's confined in his paddock and that's what I've been doing with him. Today, I decided to take him out of the pen and just lead him down the driveway and back. He was absolutely fine for a few minutes and at one point I just stopped him and let him stand and look around. I noticed he was trembling slightly and quite nervous so I was simply going to let him stand and figure out nothing was going to happen. In a matter of seconds he lost his mind and bolted. I let the line feed out through my hands and when it came to the end I pulled back. No good. He was absolutely butt turned, running the other way and he easily pulled me off my feet. I couldn't do anything but let go.

So any suggestions?? I can't seem to pull him back no matter what once he gets scared. He's obviously much stronger than me and can pull me weight easily. I have another horse who is fine that I would have liked to take along but I'm the only one competent with horses at all. I unfortunately don't have a round pen or anything of the sort. Just a small oblong-shaped paddock that I keep my horses in. I'm currently using a rope halter. Not sure if a chain is a good idea considering the issue.

I bought a mule a few days ago so that my horse could have a buddy since he's been alone for the past few months and has gotten very anxious. I thought everything would be fine seeing as my horse does very well with others but it's been a totally different story with the mule. I was just recently told that some horses don't take to mules at first because they smell different.

So my question is how I should approach introducing them and when would it be a good idea to put them together. I have a small paddock with a single shed attached to it. My horse is currently in the shed which has a door and the mule is in the adjoining paddock so they are able to interact over the door. The mule hasn't shown any aggression and is actually very submissive in nature but every time he comes near the stall door my horse pins his ears and bares his teeth. He's even gotten a few bites in. It's gotten to the point where my horse has pushed against the door so much it's on the verge of breaking where the latch is, which I need to fix today.

Any suggestions?

My dog, Halo, is a Husky mix that we rescued a few weeks ago from the shelter. We have mostly just kept small dogs such as chihuahuas and I've never really had to deal with jumping before. Halo is more of a medium size, possibly around 40 pounds or so. She's very sweet and does not jump on kids which is good but she will jump on adults, especially ones she hasn't met. If I pull her down and say 'no' she'll usually stop but I want her to stop jumping period. Is there a best way to do this?

I own a 14 year old Tennessee Walker. Previously he was a Racking horse and I have found that I had to completely re-teach the canter. We're still working on it and we practice at least once in each arena session. This week We had about 4 or 5 sessions in the arena so I cantered him a bit each day just trying to get him more collected. On about the 4th day I found that after we canter he would suddenly pull his head down at the Running Walk as if he were hurting. I've checked his feet, legs, and everything. He doesn't limp or show any other sign of lameness he just pulls his head down constantly. What is the reason for this? I notice if we don't canter this behavior stops completely.

I'm planning on showing my Tennessee Walker in pleasure classes and will need the usual apparel for English saddleseat (day coat, vest, jods, etc) How exactly do I calculate what my size is for each of these items?

We just bought our first horse trailer today (normally we borrow) because I'm moving in exactly 2 weeks and taking my horse. About 4 years ago we were taking my horse to a friend's riding ring to go ride and on the way he slipped in the trailer and got hung up. We wasn't hurt but I haven't tried to trailer him since then. Now I'm using this time to get him used to the trailer again.

When I first led him down to the trailer he immediately became tense. For today, all I did was have him stick his head into the trailer and sniff around. He was nervous so I led him back and forth. When I thought he seemed calm with his head in the trailer I walked him off about 15 feet then led him back and had him put his head back in. We did this about 5 or 6 times and sent him out to pasture after.

Any tips on how to carry on? I want to get him in the trailer as stress-free as possible. Not sure if this matters but he is a 14 year old Tennessee Walker gelding.

I had a TB skin test on tuesday and today I noticed a red spot around the injection sight along with another spot above it and yet another spot above that one. There are 3 good sized spots going up my arm and it looks like another one is forming in the crook of my elbow. Is this a normal side-effect? The spots are not extremely raised...

I have used both these bits on my horse before and he prefers the first one but I was wondering exactly what was different about them in terms of action...?

http://images.google.com/imgres?q=wonder+bit&num=1...

This is the other he does not prefer:

http://images.google.com/imgres?q=wonder+bit&num=1...

Thanks!

I'm trying to decide whether or not to put my horse on a selenium/vitamin E supplement as people have talked about how much it improves their horses appearance and performance. I already have a bucket of the supplement that was bought a while back but never used.

Someone told me that horses pick up their selenium in the soil as they graze but other sources are saying it's in the hay/grass. My horse gets very little if any grazing time and is on free-choice timothy/alfalfa mix hay along with Purina Senior feed and a Lysine supplement. I know the Purina senior has some selenium in it but does his hay also have it or are the selenium levels depleted when the grass is dried? My region is not selenium poor but also does not have high levels (Eastern Kentucky). If someone could clear up this little confusion for me I'd greatly appreciate it.

I've had my gelding for over 4 years now and I got him from a farm that had 3 other horses besides him. I have no other horses so my horse has been on his own for this long. I got some goats about a month ago and put them in the horse stall and kept my horse in the adjoining paddock so they could get acquainted. My horse because aggressive toward them (he has never seen a goat before this) so I ended up moving the goats to a completely different part of our property.

My sister who lives behind us is getting a two year old mare pony (around 10-11 hands) for her kids and I told her she could use my stall until they could build a barn by their house. She would be staying for about a month or so. My horse had always been good and quiet around other horses with his previous owner and when I went on rides with other people, but the situation with the goats has me nervous now. I don't want him hurting her new pony. My horse is rather large, around 16 hands.

When the pony arrives next week I plan to take my horse (on a stud chain just in case) and let them lead the pony into the stall and lock the door. It's just a half door. Then I will lead my horse into the paddock that joins with it and I plan on seeing how they do. They'll stay separated for at least a few days depending on how my horse acts.

My question is, what do you suggest we do when we introduce them "face-to-face" for the first time? I'm trying to keep the horses' safety and our safety in mind. It's also important that the pony stay in my barn because I will be saddle breaking it before it gets seriously ridden by the children. They sat their 7 year old girl on the pony today while someone held it and it stood quietly so I know the pony has a gentle disposition. My horse is usually quiet but he can be snobby at times.

Thanks! I can provide more info if needed.

Just trying to get a rough value of my horse.

http://www.horseforum.com/horses.php?horse=7754 - pictures

He's a Tennessee Walking Horse foaled in 1998. Registered with the TWHBEA. He has champion bloodlines, includes the World Grand Champions: Ebony Masterpiece (grand sire), Sun's Delight D. (great- grand sire) and Midnight Sun. He will ride English or Western. Will turn with slight pressure of the reins. Can be ridden bridless. Stands well in cross-ties.

He will perform any gait but primarily does a correct, four beat flat walk (great head nod), running walk, canter, and gallop. Will soon be training for barrel racing. Has show experience from previous owner though I don't know how he placed. Extremely calm, beginners can ride. Lifts his tail to the set position when under saddle. Was not knicked or tied.

He's 16.1 hands high, chestnut.

Will also park out both on the ground and under saddle. Can do reining spins. Has been trained to bow and rear on command. Also been worked with classic Dressage patterns.

Thanks! Let me know if more info is needed.

My horse has a small spot of rain scald on his hip. Luckily, it's the only place he has it. I know that MTG is a good treatment for it but are there any home remedies I can use before ordering a bottle?

My 14 year old Tennessee Walker was trained to be a Racking Horse initially. I've decided this past year that since his rack isn't fast enough for my liking, I want to retrain the canter. It took a few months but I've finally gotten him to actually pick up the transition. At first he would go at a breakneck gallop but now I have him to the point where I can slow him down and smooth him out. We work on a steady (not very steep) incline which helps him pick up the canter.

Every so often when I try to slow his strides he gets a bit confused and goes into a hard pace. He'll pick the canter back up with a slight nudge of the heels but he starts a bit too quickly and doesn't much like to slow down.

Any additional advice on training the canter? Also, after establishing the canter I would love to do small jumps with him. How do I go about getting him to jump under saddle? I've seen him jump at liberty so I know that he knows how he just needs to learn how to do it under my command and under saddle. I often work him over raised caveletti and ground poles.

Thanks!

My Tennessee Walker gelding was severely underweight for a period of time and after much careful feeding and supplementing he's improving. His ribs are not visible anymore if slightly and he has a round look to him. I just can't get those hip bones to fill in and every so often he'll have days that his back bone is a bit more prominent than it should be but not every day and not severely. He's eating a bale or more of hay a day (he gets free choice), has 25 gallons of clean water at all times, is fed a 14% senior feed, has a mineral block, and is lightly ridden every day weather permitting. He's 14 years old and has teeth done regularly along with vet checks. He's perfectly healthy otherwise.

Any advice on the hips and back? I was told to make sure he drinks plenty of water and he drinks 15+ gallons a day so I don't believe that's an issue. He's wormed every 2 months with wormer types rotated regularly. He has his own open paddock with a stall attached. His only vice is that he weaves sometimes if he happens to run out of hay.

Thanks!

Would someone be able to search my Tennessee Walker on iPeds? I was wondering if he has any kind of show record. his show name is Charmers Smart Choice.

Thanks! Will pick a best.

Today, I was talking to my best friend and where it's the holidays she's a bit depressed since her dad died 2 years ago. She was telling me that when she was younger her dad would buy her thee Andes candies. I assumed they were the thin ones you get at a restaurant but she said they're like the York Peppermint Patties but they're by Andes. Anyone know where I can get these? I've searched google but I'm not exactly sure what they are. I want to surprise her and get her some for Christmas. Thanks!

I bought my horse in Michigan and we trailered him to Kentucky where I live. We normally only keep one horse and never had a problem before but this horse came from a large breeding farm and I'm guessing this is why we're having a problem. He was in a pasture with four other horses and right now he's in his own paddock with an open stall attached. He just acts like he's depressed all the time. It started out with constant weaving and now it's extreme weight loss. I've given him free-choice, high quality timothy hay for a long time and he's also on a 14% protein grain and he gets soaked sugar beet a few times a week. He's mended slightly but not enough for him to have that healthy look he had before. I've exhausted all other options as to the reason of the weight loss. He's wormed every other month and he has a vet visit regularly. He's simply just lonely I think.

I'm on the search for a companion for him (as I cannot afford another horse right now) but I was wanting some more ideas. I'm making sure that I spend time with him and take him on rides for a change of scenery but I know it's not the same. Any other suggestions? Also wondering if anyone knows of any goat/llama/other small farm animal rescues near Eastern Kentucky. I'd like to help an animal in need of a home rather than buy from a breeder.

Okay so about 4 years ago I was a first-time horse owner. I took lessons for a few years and when I moved to KY I bought the horse I took lessons on. An at the time 10 year old 16hh TWH gelding. Things were great and the previous owner would give me advice over the phone if I needed it. She told me to feed him 2 flakes of hay per day. That didn't sound quite right to me but I did what she said. I believe she assumed he would be on pasture all the time. Well he began to drop weight slowly. I keep on on wormings, vaccinations, and teeth like I should. But it continued. Well, after talking to the old owner she said he needed more hay. . .ok. He is currently eating 1 full bale of grass/alfalfa mix hay per day. He was gaining for a while bu suddenly started dropping weight again. I called the old owner and after being yelled at for a while she said he needs selenium since he isn't grazing (I keep him in a paddock with an open stall 24/7) I ordered a Selenium/Zinc/Vitamin E supplement off horse.com which should be here in the next little bit. I'm also getting a brown mineral block and sugar beet pulp from tractor supply today.

Do you all have any advice? I know you'll say call the vet but, I've called this vet 3 different times and either he doesn't show up, or he just says...feed him more or give him corn oil and that just doesn't cut it. I'm currently searching for a new vet but for now I need to try a few things.

My horse is now 13 years old and other than his weight, acts and seems healthy. I don't ride at all at the moment because I'm afraid it will affect his health.

I usually let my horse run our land loose so he can eat all the grass he wants. He keeps weight on fairly well when I do this but the other day he got tangled up with my sister's goat. Long story short, the goat ended up with a crushed spine and hips. She'll be put down in the morning sadly. I don't want this to happen to any more animals (same thing also happened with one of my dogs) so I'm going to keep him in a paddock until we can fence in some pasture area.

My question is how can I keep weight on him? I normally feed 6-7 flakes a day but without the moisture of the grass his hip bones sink in. I leave a tub of water out at all times but it doesn't seem to be enough. I also feed one 5-gallon bucket full of soaked beet pulp once a day, and still the hips sink in. What can I do?

He's currently on a grass hay mixed with alfalfa. Would it be wise to increase hay intake?

I'm in an American Government class and we have a debate that has been going on for 2 days now. It concludes on Monday.

The scenario is that our class and teacher gets stuck on an island for a very long time (possibly forever) and we need to figure out what type of government is best so that we can survive. The choices are Autocracy (one person rules), Oligarchy (a group holds power), and Democracy (power to the people). At this point the entire class is for Democracy leaving me and 2 others in favor for Autocracy. My argument is that we are children and children are not mature enough to run a government and that the teacher should be our leader. They say in this situation they'd be mature, but yet they say that if it were the adult running things they would eventually stop listening and rebel. Well, isn't that showing immaturity?

I need more ideas to counter the things they say, They also mention what happens if the adult dies. I said by then we will already have a good organization over things and by staying on task we can survive.

I'm getting eaten alive in there. Help?