Training the Haflinger’s – Horses of the Ozark Hills

It’s been awhile since my last update on the halfies. My newest followers may not know that I am training a team of Haflingers. Working with Rosemary & Jasmine has been a slow and steady process. We have had some rough days, and some really amazing ones. My last training session was one of those really amazing days! For the most part, I worked the halfies in a smaller training paddock, but one day when the weather was beautiful, my little sister and I decided to ground-drive the team in one of our nearby fields. The halfies did a wonderful job listening to my cues and turning as one unit. This was a big step in the training process, one that marked their readiness to pull the cart for the first time. I couldn’t have felt more excited or proud of them at that moment. 

And while it brings me great joy to share about their progress, it also saddens me to tell you that their progress came to a halt when I discovered Rosemary had foundered. Founder or Laminitis is a condition of the foot caused when the pedal bone rotates towards the horse’s sole. There are many causes of founder, but in Rosemary’s case it is due to eating too much rich grass. Her resistance to move, limp, and the constant shifting of her weight lead me to believe that she had foundered. My horses had never foundered, so I did a little research and moved both the halfies into a dry lot until the vet could come out. 

More Horsey Posts: Training the Haflingers- It Takes Two

The vet not only confirmed my hypothesis, but told me that he thought Rosemary had foundered before. This came as a surprise to me as this knowledge could really have helped me avoid this situation. Nevertheless, I was reassured that Rosemary could recover and that when she did it would not affect her ability to pull. To help her recovery, Rosemary is on a hay only diet, and is being given a supplement and anti-inflammatory medication, which is a powder added to her feed. *I am currently looking for a better feed alternative for Rosemary that is low in carbohydrates, sugars, and starches. I have heard that a feed balancer might be the way to go; I would love to hear from some fellow equestrians! Comment below and tell me what feed brands you use or if you use a feed balancer!?* 

I put Rosemary’s hay into a slow feeder hay ball to encourage movement and extend meal times.

Getting Rosemary better and keeping her that way will mean that full pasture turnout is probably not an option for her future which is why I am so thankful for the stable being built right now. The horse barn is still under construction. The stalls and tack room have yet to be finished, but the outside is complete. I have always kept my horses on full turnout, but I am looking forward to having options that will help provide the best care routine for Rosemary and my other equines. 

*Don’t forget to comment and tell me about what horse feed brands you use or if you use a feed balancer?* 

Tails & trails, 

Reese