u/SureDoubt3956

Do they just do this sometimes when the scritch is just the right spot? 😅 It's just strange to me, so I want to check. I have a wether who I figured out loves to be scratched inbetween his front hoof. Like in the skin between both claws, and around his little dew claws. He started pawing at me randomly (doesn't have a habit of this otherwise), and I think I figured that it's him asking for scritches there. But when I do, he whale eyes a little. Still though, he's not restrained when I do this, he holds his hoof up for me, and he seems relaxed otherwise. Is this normal? Weird quirk? Or...?

Title. They're out and about where I'm at, but the season always feels a bit different in different parts of the state. Is now a low fly time for Assateague or are they active there now too? don't want to go soon if they're still about.

Title. I feel like I've seen really variable opinions on this. Would love some more insight on why.

Hello. I have a doeling I want to train to the stanchion. She's a runty mini and stunted on top of it, and a non-productive animal, so she doesn't need a ton of feed. A little bit of grain and some hay pellets is all she gets. She hoovers food up super fast though, and then when the food is gone, wants to be let go. Like before I even get 1 hoof done, let alone 4. I'm thinking of getting one of those slow feeders to put in the stanchion bowl, but I'm wondering if any of you have any recommendations for styles that work well for goats?

Hi everyone. I have a yearling wether who has persisting underconditioning after dropping BCS to 2 due to our late spring parasite (bpw) boom. It's been about 2 months now with no change in condition, despite fecal egg count showing a drop in egg count after worming. He gets 24/7 pasture and horse quality timothy hay when the pasture gets eaten down. Since dropping condition, he's been on the label ration of 17% Nutrena goat feed (I know it's higher protein% than you want, but he's been recovering from a mite infection at this time, so we figured more protein wouldn't be harmful for his recovery). We wanted to pull when he started putting weight on since the pastures are rich this time of year, but he just... never did. We aren't really sure what's going on. FAMACHA is A score and he doesn't seem to be lame or otherwise have issues foraging.

I've read that Calf Manna is good for improving condition, but I'm fearful of adding new things due to the risk of UC. His line doesn't seem prone to it, but he's my personal pet, so... I worry! Do any of you have any experience with Calf Manna in wethers? If it's fine, should I add it IN ADDITION to his grain ration, or in place of? Or have any other recommendations/thoughts on the situation?

Okay, hear me out...

Can anyone foresee any safety issues that might happen from a goat wearing one of those GoPro vests? I'm willing to possibly sacrifice the GoPro to getting dislodged and lost in the field for the chance at some goat POV footage, but not willing to risk my actual goat for it.

These things (or something similar)

https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/mounts-accessories/fetch-dog-harness/ADOGM-001.html

Hello. I am trying to transfer my files (photos and videos) from my 2023 g play to my PC. It isn't working.

The issue is somewhat inconsistent. Sometimes, when I plug my phone into my PC, my PC does not register it at all. My phone will charge, but the folder for my phone does not appear on my PC. Sometimes, my phone will be recognized by my PC, and I can try to transfer my files over, but it will load indefinitely and no progress will be made in transferring files. Either way, when I plug it in, I get that "device connected" and "device disconnected" sound prompts constantly and randomly as long as the phone is plugged in.

I've tried: installing motorola device manager software (there doesn't seem to be an app I can use, just drivers?), tried both file transfer and photo & video transfer modes, enabling file transfer control via connected device (it will try to switch, but then say there was an error switching, and stay on 'this device' control setting), plugging my cable into every USB port on my PC (both connected directly to the mobo and not), trying multiple different cables from different brands, disabling my firewall.

Any help? My phone is literally full on storage...

I've been training up a couple of pygmy/ND yearlings, and I think it's going well, because we are improving and having fun. Obviously they are quite young, so almost all of our training is on manners (no butting, no nosing treat bag, picking up hooves, etc), building confidence, patience, and trust, and just making sure that training is a positive experience for them. I'm curious where we are relatively on a training timeline. I'm more used to handling adult animals where expectations for things regarding learning are a bit higher. I'm wondering when y'all who have trained goats find them mentally/cognitively mature. Like at what age can you generally expect an animal to be, emotionally, an adult? For example in dogs you can expect puppy management until past their terrible 2s, give or take depending on variables.

I'm wondering, what podcasts are you all listening to? Would love some recommendations.

Hello. I'm recently learning that the gene for Appaloosas coat patterning is associated with vision problems. Specifically, they are predisposed to Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) and Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB). It seems there is a strong association of these disorders with the Leopard Complex (LP) gene specifically.

My question is about the 'predisposed' part. So I wonder, how predisposed is, predisposed I guess? Obviously not every Appaloosa has these disorders. Are they more prone to it if they are homozygous LP? If not, what is the general odds a heterozygous LP appaloosa will have vision problems? Do issues seem to run in lines? As in, is LP a large risk factor, but can be influenced by breeding away from horses with vision issues? Or does susceptibility just seem more environmental or luck-based? For those of you with experience with appaloosas, did yours develop these issues, and if so, how much did it affect them?

Thanks.

Hey everyone. I'm in a weird position. I am an adult who only discovered horses in her 30s. I have some years of horse husbandry and groundwork training experience now, due to my job (I am a petting farm manager). I also picked up a PT job at a stable, for lesson credits, as well as keeping horses in a different context.

Obviously, now I have the bug for riding. I'm still a super novice (learning to post atm!). I can barely afford lessons as-is. I can manage 1 lesson a week, and I can't take any less time at my actual job to work for more lesson credits. Hopefully my career will progress to something that pays more when I move on from my current job, but I'm not sure when I can do that; my current job is SUPER stable and I really value that at this moment in time.

I don't want to do this anytime soon, but eventually I want more hours in the saddle than my 1h a week. I don't want to quit my lessons, and I don't want to ride anything spicier than dead broke for a very long time, I just want space on my own to practice in a more unstructured way.

As a novice, I'm still not very familiar with how the horse world works. How do you get more hours in the saddle? To my understanding the usual pathways are 1. be born into it/have parents who support you growing up, 2. part lease (I would like to do this eventually, but not until I have better riding skills), 3. get good enough that people want you riding their horses to exercise or train them (this is fine, but I'm not there yet), or 4. get lucky with connections in some other way.

So, I have a lot of questions. Is this understanding correct? Are there any other ways for novices with minimal connections to get more saddle hours? At what 'skill level' do you expect you should be at for part leasing? Or for people wanting you to exercise ride their horse (I imagine this depends on the horse)? I know a lot of this will be area-dependent of course, but... ya know. Do you all have any advice for someone in my situation... other than "patience?" lol.

Thanks.

Edit: bolding a paragraph I don't think people read. I AM NOT LOOKING TO RIDE ANYTHING FOR FREE, OR UNSUPERVISED for the immediate future, and I am NOT looking to do this until I have more lessons under my belt. I'm wanting to understand horse access pathways for in the future. I am aware of and understand that this will be some time, I just want to have an understanding of the general pathway and riding level I will need to take the next step.

As stated, I also have basic handling skills. I can groom, bathe, tack up, administer all medical care short of a vet (including injections), bandage, recognize when a horse is lame, has symptoms of different diseases, etc. I have dealt with and personally trained out behavioral issues from biting to rearing to barging. I have experience handling neurological, dangerous horses. I am a novice rider, but NOT a novice handler.

New World Screwworm (NWS, or Cochliomyia hominivorax) has been detected in two US states, including an outbreak in TX. As mammals, NWS and its control is relevant to all of us. Because of this, I wanted to write a quick primer on what it is, how it behaves, and what to do if detected in your region.

NWS is a fly about the same size as a common housefly. It is an incredibly painful infection. Unlike most maggots, they burrow into live, as opposed to necrotic flesh, to grow. An adult fly will lay her eggs in any open wound or mucous membrane of any mammal. This is why it's hard to eradicate established populations; it doesn't just affect livestock, but will infect and be spread by wildlife as well. Unfortunately, botflies and blowflies create similar wounds, so identification is only possible with an entomologist. However, mortality rate of untreated NWS infection is up to 100% from primary and secondary infections.

The NWS does not tolerate hot-dry and very cold climates well, so northern regions of the US are not currently at risk of establishing population. While adult NWS can fly on their own, and maggots are transported by mobile mammals, the primary way they are transported is via livestock hauling. After laying eggs on a mammal, the maggots will burrow into flesh for 7 days, and then drop off, where they will burrow into the soil and pupate after 7-52 days, depending on weather. Symptoms of NWS are:

• Maggots or white egg masses in wounds or body openings, such as the nose, ears, genitalia, or the navel of newborn animals

• Foul odor or the smell of decay

• Wounds that refuse to heal, and seem to get larger over time

• Signs of pain including irritated behavior, depression, not eating, and isolating themselves from other animals or people

Infected animals do not need to be destroyed. The eggs can be wiped off of wounds during cleaning. The maggots can be killed either through manual removal with tweezers (not recommended by non-veterinarians), or via spray on, oral, or injected anthelmintic use. However, because NWS is a reportable disease, do not use chemical treatment for suspected cases of NWS without professional consultation by a state or federal animal health official.* Reporting suspected NWS cases can be done here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm/report-suspected-cases-screwworm

Due to all of this, the best treatment is prevention. If NWS is detected in your region, begin doing throughout, intentional daily checks of your horses. Check for any new wounds, or signs of eggs laid on mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, genitalia). Wipe off any eggs detected on mucous membranes. Clean and dress any new wounds. It's important to create a physical barrier if possible to prevent flies from landing on the wound in the first place. For smaller wounds, a spray-on bandage is appropriate. Larger wounds needing more traditional wound dressing will require close, daily inspection for fly eggs. Antiseptic wound spray with insecticide is also appropriate and there are several on-label options for use in horses. Horse breeders should also take care to treat umbilical cords of newborn foals.

Here is a general guideline on NWS treatment and prevention in horses:

https://ker.com/equinews/screwworm-in-horses-surveillance-and-reporting-imperative/

Additionally, it would be good planning (and useful anyways) to implement general fly control IPM plans. While NWS control will not look like filth fly control, many generalist insect predators (dragonflies, mantises, insectivorous birds, etc) will eat any flies (and ticks!) that they can get their hands on. Due to this, creating habitat for them will help minimize risk as well by creating a first line of defense. As insect predators are highly regional, contact your local USDA extension and DNR for guidance on what you can do in this regard.

Here is a filth fly control IPM plan, which many of us will be familiar with, but is a good refresher. Again, contact your local USDA extension or DNR for creation of IPM plans involving habitat restoration.

Sources:

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/new-world-screwworm-cases-texas-rise-10-new-quarantine-zones-established

https://ker.com/equinews/screwworm-in-horses-surveillance-and-reporting-imperative/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/nws-myth-busters.pdf

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/pdfs/screwworm_fact_sheet.pdf

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/fda-issues-emergency-use-authorization-over-counter-injectable-drug-new

https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/new-world-screwworm/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm

Hi. I'm trying to research Vaquero-styles of horsemanship, just for fun. The problem I'm having is that a lot of it seems more romanticized than factual. None of the ones I've seen seem to distinguish between regional subcultures, either.

Do any of you have good resources (websites, books, research papers, anything) on these topics? I'm just looking for general knowledge, so any topic regarding horsemanship is fine.

So to my understanding, it's possible to get black base, dun, and cream genes. That's some serious color breeding at that point, so I'm not sure if it's been done, or if it's been done, if there are any photos. But I'm curious about how Cream and Pearl affect grullo. Does anyone have any pics of this in a real horse, ideally unedited? I've tried searching, but only getting grulla horses.