Miscellaneous

• What do I do if a fawn is in my yard?

• What exactly are the HAHS Summer/Winter Hours? Is it an event or what?

• Why does HAHS show graphic photos of the abused animals in their Hoofprints magazine?

• What are some techniques for keeping my pastures graze-worthy all summer long?

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Miscellaneous

Question
What do I do if a fawn is in my yard?

Answer
If a fawn enters your lawn it is critical to act wisely and cautiously. To ensure the safety of both you and the fawn, capturing should not be an option unless absolutely necessary. Deer can die easily from stress and capture (capturemyopathy syndrome), even days after the event. Keep the animal calm and quiet. Fawns should not be rescued unless they are injured or you are sure that they are orphaned. A fawn’s protection is its ability to lay motionless. Watch form a distance for at least 4 to 6 hours to see if the mother returns. If the mother does not return, contact your local animal control. (This information was taken from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine (Wildlife CPR’s HOW TO HELP WITHOUT HURTING).

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Question
What exactly are HAHS Summer and Winter hours?

Answer
HAHS Summer and Winter hours are more like an open house. During summer the HAHS farm will be open each Saturday June through August from 9am to 1 pm. Don’t forget HAHS will be closed for the July Fourth holiday. Winter hours are from October until May on the 1st Saturday of each month from 9am to 1pm.

You can tour the farm, and when you have seen everything outside, come inside and browse the Tack Shop. We carry lots of used tack items, including brand name saddles and bridles. And while inside, be sure to pick-up your copy of the latest Hoofprints. Whatever you do this summer, don’t forget about HAHS!

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Question
Why does HAHS show graphic photos of the abused animals in their Hoofprints magazine?

Answer
HAHS sometimes chooses to show graphic photos of the abuse that is inflicted on the animals we encounter because we feel obligated to keep our members informed of the abuse and neglect that is still occurring today despite our efforts to stop it. It is not our intent to offend any of our readers with these pictures, and we do try to choose the least offensive photos if possible. In order to stop the abuse we feel that the public is entitled to see what some of these animals go through and perhaps we can come closer to putting an end to it.

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Question
What are some techniques for keeping my pasture graze-worthy all summer long?

Answer

• Prevent overgrazing. Rotate pastures if possible. Restrict grazing to a few hours a day if you cannot rotate. Keep stocking densities low to about 1-2 acres per horse.

• Use weed control. Mowing minimizes weed spread. Keep your pasture grass healthy and dense by not overgrazing. Use chemical herbicides.

• Fertilize. Pastures can be fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to maintain productivity and health. Beware allowing horses to graze fertilized pastures until rain dissolves the fertilized into the soil. Ideally, rotate and fertilize unused pastures.

• Avoid toxic plants. Toxicity is usually caused by horses eating large amounts of the poisonous plant over long periods of time. These plants usually multiply when pasture grasses die out due to overgrazing, drought or disease. Horses generally won’t eat toxic plants unless grass isn’t available. Know the poisonous plants in your area and the signs of toxicity!

Additional Resources:
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/horsepastures/
http://www.noble.org/ag/forage/horseforage/page15.html


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