Good news!

Rushtawin · Postby **Rushtawin** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 5:31 pm

Well, to make a long story short, it's much cheaper to live off campus than it is to live on campus, and thus, I was able to talk my dad into supporting my quest to find an apartment off campus. After visiting several properties and talking to myriads of landlords/landladies, I was pleasantly surprised when I visited an 80 acre property with two houses on it.

To make a long story short, rent is the right price, for a bedroom in the one house (it's fully furnished, includes utilities, and there are common areas for myself and the other rentor). They're going to let me board my horse on the property for $100-150 a month (negotiable) once they put up fencing and an adequate shelter.

It's only 3 miles from campus, and it's beautiful out there. I'll be living there mostly year round, caring for my horse myself and supplying her grain and shavings, I think they said hay was included, but the pasture looks good to my (inexperienced) eye. This means I'll be able to see her daily and be able to pick up her training once it ends in mid September.

We're planning on electric tape as the fence of choice, because it's easy to install, my horse respects electric fencing, and because it's easily moved as needed. We're still working on what the barn or shed will consist of, but I hope everything goes well so I can bring my mare 'home' to where I'll be living soon!

henthorn · Postby **henthorn** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:05 pm

What a bonus, Rushtawin! So glad you get to bring your horse to your new home!

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:35 am

That IS a great thing. One of my pals uses carports as shelters in her fields; she puts sides on them. They are inexpensive and easy to assemble. I think hers were $800-900.

Rushtawin · Postby **Rushtawin** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:55 pm

I actually had been considering that as an idea, but carports out here generally run around $1095 or so. What does she use on the sides? And how would I best be able to weather proof it for our freezing cold winters?

ragsdaj1 · Postby **ragsdaj1** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:52 pm

Rushatwin,

Will your mare have some four-legged company or will she be a lone horse?

JonR

Rushtawin · Postby **Rushtawin** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:54 pm

Well, I'm looking into a companion animal at the moment - I'm not sure if it will be of the equine or caprine variety yet, but either way, she won't be totally by herself.

The problem with keeping another horse with her is that's another animal I have to pay for, and I'm not thinking that I'll be saving much money (other than gas) keeping her there - as now I have to cover grain costs, shavings, and probably hay too, not to mention the supplies needed for her care and maintenance.

However, the landowners are looking for me to reintroduce them to the world of horses, and find them (down the road) horses that are beginner friendly that I can excercise or school as needed and teach them about basic equitation (they are mainly interested in trail riding from what I gathered)... so in the long run, she'll definately have equine companions.

I'm looking for suggestions about companions for her that are affordable for a college student :-P

I'm hoping to have her moved by mid September at latest.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:49 am

Rushtawin wrote::D I actually had been considering that as an idea, but carports out here generally run around $1095 or so. What does she use on the sides? And how would I best be able to weather proof it for our freezing cold winters?

I believe she puts plywood on three sides. She also purchases some sort of added height kit with the carport to get the roof taller, which she said is $90 more. I just saw one in the parking lot of a pawn shop for $795. Shop around/look around. Weather proof is not necessary, provided you face the back of it to the north and select a spot that may already have a bit of shelter. The most important thing is the wind and storm shelter. Horses love the cold. Do not put it in a low spot. To do it right, a small dump truck load each of stone, pea gravel and manufactured sand would put in a "floor" that you could keep clean, and provide better drainage. You could get a simple metal farm gate and voila enclosed stall. However, there would not be a spot for hay & grain storage, unless you divided the interior. If you're doing the work, I would think $75 is a more normal price for pasture board.

KamiBrooks · Postby **KamiBrooks** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:50 pm

Caprine may be cheaper to feed, but you'll need a farrier that will do their hooves (many in my area don't) and they can be hard to keep fenced in if they're not happy. On the good side, they don't compete for same forage as the horses and keep brambles down. The ideal would be if the farm owners also wanted a goat and you could plan on leaving the goat with the farm if you move back to a stable situation.

You might also consider a senior mini who's reached the companion stage of life.

skeenan · Postby **skeenan** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:59 pm

We have two goats and they're super easy. Neither are horse tail chewers, either (which I was told some goats are notorious for). You can trim their hooves yourself—the hoof part only grows on the outer edge, like a fingernail. If you have a rocky or rough area, they'll keep their hooves worn down and they like that kind of terrain, anyway.

Just depends on whether your horse takes to them... my gelding did, until we got our mare. Once he had a "real" companion, he didn't care for the goats any more... but we still like them!

Rushtawin · Postby **Rushtawin** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:30 pm

I miss having goats, I used to show an Anglo Nubian and cared for a few Nubian x Oberhasli wethers. The hardest part about trimming their hooves yourself is restraining them (then again, I was a lot tiner way back as a preteen) but it is relatively easy if you take your time.

Is there any way to find out if my horse will take to a goat or not before investing in one?

Rushtawin · Postby **Rushtawin** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:24 pm

I figured I should keep everyone up to date -

I talked to a goat breeder in Maine about trying to find a good doe to start a small goat herd with, and while he won't part with his older does, there are two that are between 3-4 months of age, and chances are, that I'm going to buy one of them (if only the emails would get answered sooner!). And I'll acquire a cheap goat because I heard it's best to keep at least two goats - especially if my horse doesn't take to them!

I have some of my stuff moved into my bedroom in that house, and my friend's renting the room across from mine. I still haven't met the other person renting a room, but she sounds nice from what the landlady was saying, and my first visitors will probably show up Sunday night (or sooner!)

I got ahold of my longtime riding trainer, and she's agreed to come out to the farm 2-4x a week so that we can keep myself and the filly progressing. The run in shed, electric fencing, and goat shelter (a calf hutch probably with welded wire panels for now - to prevent coyote attacks!) should be up by Sept. 15th, and I'm looking forward to it.

Now I just need to focus on moving all of my stuff into my apartment before school starts (August 28th) and filling out job applications!