Hubby was schooling my Clyde when this came down the hill and went by. I was pretty surprised he basically ignored it as he startles quite easily, because he’s deaf. Could be because he saw it coming.
3 Likes
They are very pleased with their new dirt pile 
2 Likes
We call activities such as dump trucks arriving “Horse TV” around here – my horses are always interested, but not frightened. Glad that yours were the same.
6 Likes
They really wanted to climb to the top and pee I’m sure lol
2 Likes
Horse TV! Love it!
1 Like
Yeah, they’ll line up to watch whatever is going on, lol.
1 Like
Yep those horses are going to spread it for you. Just not where you want it.
I would have suggested no drugs but go to TSC and buy the nicest bale of Standlee alfalfa and put it out just before the trucks arrived. The horses might spook but not for very long with that horsie crack lying there.
2 Likes
That’s a good idea too! Mine eat too much good hay to be distracted by it.
Horses currently pouting that the skids tree is smushing their dirt piles lol
1 Like
It is a concern. As above, I did have one that was terrified of dump trucks. Even one coming down the road while I was riding. That was a butt clench moment that we lived through but some of them do have issues.
The current horse has a real issue with tractors with the bucket up in the air. I don’t know where that fear came from and I have worked with her as able but she still has a big reaction if a tractor with the bucket up goes by or comes toward her. Horses… 
.
I am glad your guys found the work a big non-issue.
3 Likes
Probably disappointed that the Full Body Mudbath op was ruined 
3 Likes
They do kinda look like monsters with their big monster arms up.
4 Likes
I am glad they didn’t get sedation. I find that when the big machines are " up close and personal" and deliver interesting things( like dirt, gravel etc) it is usually no big deal.
It is the stuff far away that they can’t quite see well enough that causes a blow up.
3 Likes
And we are all done!
The horses were most upset about being locked in the back paddock while the skid steer was working. I dunno if they didn’t like the skid steer or if the didn’t like being locked out of the barn paddock.
At any rate, I’m real happy with the work and the horses are too.
7 Likes
Glad all went well.
I moved to a new barn at the first of the year. My guy has been around tractors, mowers, four-wheelers, and even lived next to farm fields with combines working right beside his pasture.
For whatever reason, the skid steer at the new barn that does a lot of work moving dirt IS. THE. DEVIL. to him. He goes bonkers no matter if it’s running, not running, working in the distance, working nearby. He hates it.
Go figure.
1 Like
Looks good!
I confine my herd to the bigger field when I need to let anyone w/equipment have access to the barn.
Pasture faces the barn, fencing runs along that side.
Inevitably they all congregate at the fenceline, looking pitiful because they NEED to get into the stalls they were avoiding until the gate closed them off from access 
1 Like
I was glad to have a corner five acre lot where my horses saw everything go by at one time or another. My hot Hackney pony was fine with the road grader, fire truck with lights and siren, garbage truck compressing trash, and my neighbor’s son’s 18 wheeler, air horn and all. It was the stuff that didn’t move that caused problems. Black trash bags (but white ones were OK), mailboxes, political signs. I finally got him trained to stand at the mailbox while I got the mail, but it was quite an effort.
My other driving pony, you’d have to wake him up to scare him with anything on the road. I never encountered any vehicle or equipment that bothered him, either, and he had no fear of mailboxes and trash bags.
Rebecca
1 Like
