To protect your horse's tail, you might try braiding and bagging the tail at night.  Starting at the end of the tail, braid it and tie the end off, Double it up and wrap it with vet wrap or something similar.  This can be left on until the weather gets warm and he then needs his tail.  You might also be able to wrap the rest of the tail to keep it more or less clean, not tight, just snug enough to keep it on and take it off in the morning.  Other than that, the only thing to do would be to rinse his tail out every morning.  Look for a product like Show Sheen, it puts a coating on the hair that helps keep the tail tangle free and repels dirt.  Can you cover the trough with a board or something at night so that his tail is kept out of it? 

Spotted Pony

Welcome Latavia!! Your horse is a beauty and it looks like you will be very busy with him and thats a good thing. The internet is such a great tool to use when you are in any stage of horse ownership. I have learned so much in the almost four years that I had my horse. There are so many experienced people on this website that can be an encouragement to you.

Happy Trails!  PJ

Thank You! We are having a lot of fun, that's for sure, and all this is about learning, learning and more learning. For us and for horse.

here are some new pictures of how we are doing - he has definitely lost some weight, is nipping less and less and the only problem still is that he wants to play all the time. (sorry for husband's outfit, but it is sheepskin coat which is great for nipping safety)

These are great pictures and yes, your horse has lost some much-needed weight

I have read up on the Latvian stock horse since you first posted because I love the history that is behind every breed of horse.

Here is one of the links I was reading.  Being a journalist, you know that "Freedom of the press belongs to those who own it" - lol lol.  I don't know how accurate this account is, but it was fascinating reading.

http://par.zirgiem.lv/enindex/envesture.html

I have also read that there is some infusion of the Friesian breed in your Latvian stock horses.  I can certainly see some Friesian in your handsome fella.

Your husband's sheepskin coat looks just fine.  My barn clothes and coat are atrocious

Thank you for posting.  I enjoy your updates.  I am facinated that I am seeing your horse and your country on this message board.  When I look at the Eastern European map, you are so far away.  The Internet is good for bridging that distance. 

Hi! Just my own personal bragg today!

I took him out just now by myself! It is nothing to do with horse, he was really patient with me, very careful and all in all - a piece of gold, it is me who I'm bragging!

To explain what's going on: Remember, we got hil less than a month ago and I had never ever before had anything to do with horses (except once in childhood at Zoo :) ).

And now I have overcomed my fears and I had build confidence up enough to be able to do that! Not actually that I want it, to be honest, but husband twisted his knee and is hardly limping from bed to kitchen, so there was no choice - myself or nobody. So i did it!

To take him out from his current box is not an easy task. Box is way too small for this boy, so he must be very careful to turn around and walk out through the door that is too low. And then outside there is a large concrete step and wooden bridges - one step on side and you are deep in mud.

So it is slow and careful job which needs very good cooperation (horse and human). And he was ideal - he waited until I got out, and only then followed very slowly, sholder by sholder until we got on stable ground, and then he was as good as any trained dog on lead. Husband said that he (horse) just likes me a lot and probably feels that I need more help.

Then I bought him bucket of water and with just hand and voice asked him to step back so I can put bucket down and he did! Three careful steps backI had no crop in my hand, nothing except bucket, and my voice!

While he was drinking I was rubbing his head between ears, and he was good as gold again.  

I feel so much better now - I know, it sounds very small archievements for you all who have experience and knowledge, but for me it is a huge step in the right direction!

Sorry for this silly bragg about actually nothing, but try to remember how did you felt when you started!

Congrats!  That is very exciting.  He sounds like a really wonderful and considerate horse and it appears your husband is doing a wonderful job with him.

Anna, you should bragg on yourself!  What a fantastic accomplishment

And kisses on the nose to Puika for being such an absolute gentleman!  Puika sounds to be very in tune to humans. 

I am so sorry your husband sprained his knee.  I hope he is feeling better soon.

Are you still planning to enlarge Puika's stall size?  Or is it possible to fence in an area by his stall, attach the the fence to his stall and fix it so he can run in and out as he feels like?

I am sorry I can't remember what you said

But again, a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you!  You are probably a horse person that's never had the opportunity to shine in the horse world.  I know several ladies like that

The current plan is to move horse from South east section of the stone barn to northwest corner - then he will be able to watch whatš going out in two yards - on west is entrance of ourneighbours house, on east - ours, se he will be able to see it all and will be not bored so much.

But there is no way to build him a pen as on the north side of barn is located our driveway, so he can not block the way for all farm machinery, delivery cars and so on.

But later he will be moved down to our large outbuilding - we have an old, empty pig farm building for 1000 saws with babies  - it is huge, and best of all - from West protected by our forest, building is on North line, so onsouth side of farm he will have great fenced area. It can not be done just now as there is a lot of rubbish in soil, left by soviet farming era - concrete blocks, wires, bits of glass... Until it will be perfectly cleared, we can not move horse there.

But about my talent... :) Thank you, I'm happy as I do not like to own a pet that I'm frightened. I had snakes, crocodile, different birds, even fostered chimpanzee for 4 long months, and all they were happy with me and I was happy with them. Horse is a completely new challenge for me... but maybe, maybe it will be possible. Until husband is laying in bed (his knee is just a bit better today, but he still can not walk by himself) horse is into my care, and today in the box I tried to hang on his back a bit. You know, he was kicking a bit, but it seemed to be more anticipation kicking, not panicking or anger. After few light small short kicks he calmed down and just looked at me, like, came on, just do it! :D But it is still to early, he must build up muscles to carry such big girl like me :)

But we really are staring to bond, and I do feel respect to his large and powerful feet, but not fear anymore.

Our place is really pet friendly, and I'm sure, horse know that we shall never harm him.

For example (it is not horse story actually, sorry) today I found a stray cat in our cellar.

Today I went down to cellar, and my white cat followed me (which is quite unusual as he is not walking outside much)
Picked a jam jar, and spotted that our other cat, Minnie is already sitting in cellar. Then looked again - it is not our Minnie, it is stranger cat.
Asked him what he is doing here and he answered with loud purring. Well, picked jar and cat, and got him inside the house.
Dogs greeted him very happy like he is already their best friend, and cat acted the same way - with loud happy purr.

I put the cat down on the floor - dogs were licking like mad to clean the cat (he was wet and covered in mud), cat was happy purring. Then he jumped on cat shelf (were we are feeding cats, asked fior some food) and then went to husbands lap, and asked for more cuddles.
Nobody has cat like him in 3 km radius, so he has arrived from somewhere far away... 

He said yes!

You can see in left down corner Barry's nose - cat is not bothered at all.

I put him on our local lost/search page, but I do not have a big hope, that somebody will claim him. He is not lost just today, and we are living in very rural area.

Well, here you can see what I mean with "dogs love him and he loves dogs".

Here Barry is garding cat's bowl and pushing cat to eat.

Would you ever believe that this cat has just entered our house few hours ago?

I hope when I will be able to get into FEELING the horse, it will be great bond! If stray cat can blend instantly into our crew, why horse couldn't?

Hi Anna. Your horse is a handsome guy! Sounds like your husband is making real progress with him. Congratulations to you for becoming more comfortable around him, too. Keep up the good work. I love your dogs and cats, too!

Dang, if you didn't live on the other side of the world, I'd be asking what the heck are you doing with our cat Mittens.  But then she's sitting here on the computer desk while I use the computer.  Her markings are almost exactly the same as your new friend, she even has a black spot on her nose.  She too was a stray, I picked her up as she was hitch hicking along a busy four lane highway.  I stopped and walked back to her, I meowed at her and she meowed back.  I made a grab at her and she ran out on to the road and around behind me and up the bank, I meowed again at her and she replied and came down to me.  She then consented to come home with me and has been living here happily ever since. 

Good luck with your new friend.

Spotted Pony

Stowie is a tom cat so he can not be your Mittens :D But how about this one - it is our Minnie (she is tiny girl)

Time to go to take horse back in - it is so cold wind today. Keep fingers crossed for me as if I will be able to do that, I'm OK! And he is naughty today as he has some wind inside him... This morning he already was kicking around to get rid of wind, hope, now he got it out and it will be an easy task! :)

Awwww, what a wonderful kitty find!  And your dogs are gorgeous, they all look like such sweet critters!  Hooray for B&W kitties, here are my two boys, Jasper and Nemo.

This is the day for another small bragg!
Today was the first time when I walked him not only out and few circles around the house, but walked him properly up and down the road for nearly 2 hours!

I "lost" him only once, when car appeared. By some reason Puika wants to show off for any car except ours (ours he greets and licks gently, but for other cars he is reacting like he would see another horse - showing off :) ) So to calm down for the car cost as three circles around, and then he was standing still until car passed. (I was walking the horse, and husband was keeping eye on us, so he slowed the car down in case it is somebody who has no idea, local people always slow down by themselves and pass horse slowly)
Anyway, other than that he was very nice and obedient. We walked, stoped and were standing still on command, then walked again, then trotted a bit and stand again... turns on left, turns on right - he was veru good boy. No biting at all! Most of the time I was leaning on his shoulder (maybe it is not right, but it really helps me feel more confident with him, and feel about what is in his mind).

And then he returned in box without any discussions, put his head down to get the bridle off - again without discussions... He was listening me very, veru well. And I feel so much more confident with him now, really! I have that illusion that I'm starting to understand him better, I can predict now his next movement so I'm not frightened anymore. Still very worried, very cautious, but OMG! I walked him nearly 2 hours without any hassle!  

The bad news :winkgrin: - we tried the soap on his lead and it is not working! Believe or not, he just ignores the taste of soap and continues chewing the lead. I must really jerk the lead to get it out of his mouth and then for  awhile he is ok, but lead just must be in his mouth, and then he is happy. You know, he is something like these dogs who walk obediently along with owners and carry in mouth their own leads. The reins I must use only to turn him to the left or to the right, but it is so light thing, just a bit, and he does what you want. On direct line, with just lead, there he needed some lead jerking, few times, but noting serious, I use my voice more, from whoa! to Good boy, and he is listening, he really is!

But these moments when I feel that we are partners... It is really something!
OK, after the walk my hands were really shaky, not because tired, just overexcitement, but I'm ready repeat it tomorrow again! It is really exciting to discover a horse when you are 46! Instead of fear, and pulling myself together for such hard job, now I'm trying to plan my day so I can spend a bit longer time with him! I like it now!

For the chewing the lead, might you try some hot pepper powder?  He might not like the taste of that.

Anna, I am just now able to view your pictures.  What a beautiful crew of dogs and cats you have!

I like how the one German Shephard is trying to nudge the new kitty toward the food bowl.

You are doing wonderfully with Puika! 

I was also thinking about pepper.  RED pepper

Here in U.S.A. we have a product called Apple Granex that is for dogs to make them stop chewing wood.  Do you have anything like that?

From all of your writings, it seems to me that you have a natural born instinct to become an excellent horseman --- all you need is guidance and practice

I am trying not to give advice because I am not good at explaining things and don't want to confuse you.  Solaris, on the other hand, has been right on top of things and can explain things very well