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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
   
Location: Montana | Well, I'm selling my gelding, and when he is gone my mare will be alone (she won't be for sale, she's a keeper). I'm looking for something relatively easy to take care of and doesn't eat a lot to keep her company...and prefer something that isn't an escape artist! LOL. We keep fences up, but the fences are made for horses with some wire paneling at the bottom so "should" be able to keep something small in. Thanks in advance! |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
 
Location: Kansas | goat, or a pig |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| A mini horse or donkey. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
Location: Texas | A mini!! Not only are they good companions but they are cute too!!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | My Gelding loves his goat.  |
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| had great luck with a mini-donkey. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | Thanks! Only concern I have with a mini donkey is I hear they make a lot of noise...true or false? I've thought about a mini horse because they are cute, and I know of a mini mule for sale and it is the cutest! Anyone have experience with them?
Do goats ever climb out of their pens? My dad's family had goats when he was a kid for milk, and they would climb on any and everything (including cars). Also, some people won't sell goats or kids as singles, only as pairs...where it will be with a horse if I go with a goat do I need to get 2 of them?
Anything I get that is small, anyone ever have a problem with them being able to drink out of a stock tank? Thanks! |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bump |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Our neighbor has a mini donk and you rarely hear him. Maybe once a week but I think it's really a lot less than that. He is with a mare and a mini stud. |
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  The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | Has your mare ever been around goats? Some horses HATE them and would just as soon stomp them into the dirt as look at them. (Even after being around them for YEARS.) If you do end up trying "a goat", get 2. Even 2 big goats don't eat much. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Only problem with mini's is that they founder easily. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 683
Location: Ohio | I've had good luck with goats and donkeys. That being said I do have one mare now that HATES goats with a passion and got nasty around them.
Edited by GrittyCowgirl 2015-08-02 7:05 PM
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | RacingQH - 2015-08-02 4:17 PM Has your mare ever been around goats? Some horses HATE them and would just as soon stomp them into the dirt as look at them. (Even after being around them for YEARS.) If you do end up trying "a goat", get 2. Even 2 big goats don't eat much.
No, my mare has not been around goats, and I'm afraid she would hate them because she hates sheep (terrified of them).
Where I'm at, I don't *think* founder would be an issue with a mini as there isn't a whole lot of grass, what grass there is isn't green and lush. It has been so dry this year that I'm already feeding hay. I know minis are prone to that though. |
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| You and your feed bucket are your mares best friends ....
so why mess up a good relationship by getting your mare buddied up with something to create drama in your life??
You can founder a mini just by letting them read the label on a feed sack and goats are not tolerant to copper but they will find an old penny to suck on to create a vet bill for you or the start of a family graveyard ... lol |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 956
Location: Washington | Love our Mini Donkey! Best thing ever for my guy! And really he doesn't make a lot of noise...only time he really talks is when he thinks you are not moving fast enough during feed time, when we are hauling and we stop he will let out a bray, and if you not giving him enough attention (if JJ gets brush Gary MUST get brushed also...). But other then that he isn't an obnoxious brayer.
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | There's lots of older ponies that would love a good home... |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | FlyingHigh1454 - 2015-08-02 5:27 PM Only problem with mini's is that they founder easily.
Not true.
We have four mini's and they all stay with different large horses...and eat from the same trough. Our mini's have been excellent companion animals for our young horses, old horses, or anything else that we don't want running with another big horse. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| rachellyn80 - 2015-08-04 10:54 AM
FlyingHigh1454 - 2015-08-02 5:27 PM Only problem with mini's is that they founder easily.
Not true.
We have four mini's and they all stay with different large horses...and eat from the same trough. Our mini's have been excellent companion animals for our young horses, old horses, or anything else that we don't want running with another big horse.
I've always been under the impression and from experience, ponies tend to founder more than mini's. I dont know why that is but we had two mini's with no issues but ive seen ponies founder quite a bit. |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | stayceem - 2015-08-04 11:05 AM rachellyn80 - 2015-08-04 10:54 AM FlyingHigh1454 - 2015-08-02 5:27 PM Only problem with mini's is that they founder easily. Not true.
We have four mini's and they all stay with different large horses...and eat from the same trough. Our mini's have been excellent companion animals for our young horses, old horses, or anything else that we don't want running with another big horse. I've always been under the impression and from experience, ponies tend to founder more than mini's. I dont know why that is but we had two mini's with no issues but ive seen ponies founder quite a bit.
That could possibly be the case. My mini's have perfect little feet and haven't ever shown the slightest issue. They are pastured full time if they aren't babysitting a big horse in a stall. Anytime we have one that's a little nervous or has to be on stall rest they get a pony to keep them company.
They get Omnis cubes with the big horses, they have even gotten Bluebonnet Omega Force at times. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | Thanks for all the advice! Mini sounds like it may be a good option for me. :)
Part of the reason I'm looking at a pasture mate for my mare is because I have some plans of going to school and I know I won't be giving her as much attention as I should throughout the year. |
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