"They will trim their feet on rocks..."

[Fork]

I was browsing on Google today and came across a peculiar ad.

http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-224127

20 year old mare and gelding BLM mustnags looking for acreage to retire on. Easy keepers, need pasture and hay in winter, a shelter and a water source. Wormed through their feed.
These are not horses that should be kept in small paddocks. They roam around and will trim their feet on rocks. They get along with and bond with domestic horses. Both are excellent with foals, mares and geldings. Neither is dominant.

Can go separatley but must have the company of another horse. These are lovely majestic horses, who should rightfully still be in their native atmosphere. We just would like them to retire peacefully, with someone who will respect their heritage.

Is this even possible, or have you seen it done successfully? I don't think there's an asking price, but they seem relatively untouched for 20 year olds.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, given enough room and the right terrain, yes. Wild horses do.

I wonder where they've been up until now. How does a pair of 20 year old unhandled mustangs end up needing a new home now?

[Fork]

Well, given enough room and the right terrain, yes. Wild horses do.

I wonder where they've been up until now. How does a pair of 20 year old unhandled mustangs end up needing a new home now?How is it performed outside of the wild? Do some pastures have giant rocky terrains? :p It has to be rare in Ontario, unless it's manmade.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, it would be rare here too... They need a lot of hard, dry rocky land to self trim and not end up with elf-feet or some other problem. Where I am, it's the land of small acreages, 10 acres is considered a big pasture, it's very soft, and I can't imagine it working well here.

[westmanfarrier]

Of course the mustangs, being wild and better than their domestic brothers and sisters, will find the two rocks in the pasture and will bang their feet repeatedly on said rocks until they are properly trimmed. ;)

From the wild horse research center's website newsletter. They are studying the brumbys in Australia.

"The desert horses water every 2-4 days and often feed 30-50 km out from water. The desert looks barren but provides well for the horses which are mostly in good condition. Some middle age mares, however, nursing big foals, were poor in areas where they were forced to travel over 30 km between feed and water. There were 2 types of country: sandy desert and rocky desert. Therefore, 2 types of feet were also present: the short upright foot from the rock country and the longer slightly splayed foot from the sandy country. The long distances traveled across the sand seems to have prevented the wall from growing excessively, as there was no breaking away at the distal hoof wall.
http://www.wildhorseresearch.com/Images/still/camel.jpg

Provide these conditions and I have no doubt they will self maintain.

[WashingtonBay]

Of course the mustangs, being wild and better than their domestic brothers and sisters, will find the two rocks in the pasture and will bang their feet repeatedly on said rocks until they are properly trimmed. ;)

:D

[JackieB]

How is it performed outside of the wild? Do some pastures have giant rocky terrains? :p It has to be rare in Ontario, unless it's manmade.

Keep in mind that wild horses are traveling 20 ish miles a day on rocky terrain. We never used to have to trim our dog's nails when we walked on the pavement each day. Same principle.

[Fork]

Ah okay! Thanks guys! :) I've learned a lot.

[Equine_Woman]

My first horse was NEVER trimmed until I bought Sterling. We rode miles and miles and she naturally trimmed her hooves. They looked fantastic. I don't know how she did it (other than the gravel roads we rode on) but she was never lame. . until the first time she was trimmed. It was like Samson cutting his hair off after that. The vet even commented on how fantastic her hooves were on more than one occasion (prior to her first trim). I wish I had taken photos of them but I just didn't know enough then to know I'd want them someday.

[westmanfarrier]

My first horse was NEVER trimmed until I bought Sterling. We rode miles and miles and she naturally trimmed her hooves. They looked fantastic. I don't know how she did it (other than the gravel roads we rode on) but she was never lame. . until the first time she was trimmed. It was like Samson cutting his hair off after that. The vet even commented on how fantastic her hooves were on more than one occasion (prior to her first trim). I wish I had taken photos of them but I just didn't know enough then to know I'd want them someday.

Don't blame the fact you trimmed, blame the trimmer.

[Equine_Woman]

Don't blame the fact you trimmed, blame the trimmer.

Absolutely 100% agree with you there!!! ;)

[dustys_girlly]

where i live i have front shoes on my mares and the back are bare. when the farrier comes out he rarely has to do anything to the back hooves, they keep them trimmed down nicely on their own with all the rocky ground here.

[Fork]

where i live i have front shoes on my mares and the back are bare. when the farrier comes out he rarely has to do anything to the back hooves, they keep them trimmed down nicely on their own with all the rocky ground here.Must be nice.

Come to think of it, Tiara didn't have her feet trimmed for 3 years when she was in clay-like soil/mud. It is possible then. :)