Training and keeping a horse is a commitment

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Horse trainer Dean Frazier finally got the cult to lie down after 30 minutes of tugging on her leg with a rope. -- Photo by Mindy Poehl

Jan. 27, 2005 - Horses are a common animal in Texas and they bring joy to people's lives and help them relax and relieve stress. It is no wonder that Texas is home to over 600,00 registered horses. And, each year, the horse industry adds $11.1 billion to the economy.

An assembly for new horse owners was held at the Heart O' Texas Show Pavilion in Waco on Jan. 18, as part of the 43rd annual Blackland Income Growth Conference (B.I.G.).

"The worst thing is to have a new person come into the horse industry and have a bad experience," Dr. Pete Gibbs, Texas Cooperative Extension equine specialist, said. "Little kids and young horses don't belong together."

Gibbs said the first thing a child needs to learn is how to ride a horse. Then, a horse can be purchased. But, don't get in a hurry to buy a horse, he warned.

"Good horses are hard to find," Gibbs said.

Select a horse based on what you would like to use it for. Gibbs explained that cutting horses are different from trail riding horses. Before buying a horse, take it home and see how it reacts to living on your property for a few weeks.

"We don't know what a horse is really worth," Gibbs said. "My dad once told a reporter that a horse is worth what you can get for it." He added, "Nothing is wrong if someone turns around and sells the horse you just sold them. That's just part of the business."

Shelly Switzer, equine coordinator at North Central Texas College, said the care of horses was important.

Switzer said that horses' 'feet' will need to be taken care of. Sometimes they will need to wear horse shoes and their toes will need to be trimmed depending on how quickly their feet grow.

"You also need to take care of their teeth when they are older," Switzer said. "It's important to keep up with things like that."

Getting to know your horse is important, Switzer said. Knowing their habits and behaviors can help in judging the condition they are in.

"Horses are prone to colic, so notice if they're feeling bad or acting different," Switzer explained. "Also be consistent with when you feed your horse because they are sensitive to their feed and their feeding schedules."

Dr. David Bade, Texas Cooperative Extension forage specialist, spoke about hay for horses. Horses need a good turf that is free of weeds, thorns and barbed wire.

"They need a good turf to keep good footing, too," Bade said. "Make sure water doesn't collect on the turf because the slime can get them sick."

Use a base grass that grows in the summer. Use rye grass in the wintertime, Bade said.

"Horses are spot grazers, that's why we like a turf grass," he added.

Bermuda grass, Tifton 85, Jiggs and Coastal, if managed properly, are good grasses for making hay. Fertilization is also important. Take a soil sample, which Extension agents can provide. Control weeds by chemicals or shredding.

"Cut grass at the time of grazing so the horse gets the maximum amount of leaf," Bade said.

Good quality hay uses a good species of grass. If cut too late, the hay will have seed heads and stems. Good hay is soft to touch and is easily digested.

"The hay quality can't be higher than the quality of the grass the day it's cut," Bade concluded.

Dean Frazier, a horse trainer in Cleburne, was also on hand to show visitors proper horsemanship. His presentation demonstrated how to train a young horse.

Frazier spent time roping a colt around its neck and then getting it used to giving into pressure by tying a rope around its feet while it walked around the pen. He tied a plastic sack to the end of a whip and ran it around the horse, making it spooked for a few minutes, so that the horse would learn not to be scared of unusual items. Frazier then taught the colt to lay down by tying a rope around the bottom of her front leg, while putting pressure on the rope and pulling it to the side.