The Gift of Mutual Respect

CeeCee is an older mare, somewhere in the range of 20 years old.  She is a broodmare and appears to have been one for a number of years.

She came to the barn a little over a year ago from her former owner who needed to find her a home. What I first noticed about her was how she clearly didn't want anything to do with me but it was clear that she knew better than to argue.

From the moment she arrived viewed me with suspicion and when I would go near her she would immediately walk away.  Right away she struck a chord in my heart as do all of the underdogs.

The other two mares that came in with her were more compliant and very sweet. What made her stand out to me was her spirit.  At first glance, her appearance  is unremarkable--a sorrel, with okay conformation but the years have been hard on her and she is very crippled up in both her front end and hindquarters.  Her pedigree is impressive and I am sure she was a riding horse of substantial talent in her day.

Every time I have brought her in to the barn to have her hooves trimmed she was clearly unhappy and had a very short time limit before she became antsy and made it clear that she wanted to leave.

It was hoof trimming day yesterday and I brought her and a buddy in.  She was very uncomfortable due to the tight tendons in her rear end and was protesting about lifting her hind legs.  Thankfully our farrier is very much in tune with the horses and was very sensitive to how she was feeling.

My normal reaction would be to grab the rope and hold the horse still but for some strange reason I listened to my instinct and instead placed a light hand on either side of her neck and just calmly stood with her.

What happened in that moment makes me rather emotional.  She was completely shut down.  You could see it in her eyes and when I took a moment to not only trust her but to comfort and respect her, a miracle happened.

Her eyes changed and with it, her demeanour.  She instantly settled in spite of her discomfort and became calm.  She allowed the farrier to work on her hooves in short spurts instead of fighting.  I left her side to grab a shovel and the instant I did so, her head came up, and she began looking for me and whinnying even though her buddy was right beside her.  

I returned to her and she instantly nuzzled me, resting her head against my face and blowing into my nostrils.  I immediately placed my hands back on her neck and watched her instantly calm down.  Every time I had to walk away she would repeat the same behaviour, acting all worried and calling me and on my return she would rest her face against mine.

I was given a huge gift.  The trust of a creature who in an instant decided to come out of a state of self preservation and open herself up to receive the love that I offered.  I believe that in the moment that I didn't try to restrain her and chose to comfort her it broke down her last defence.  That day, CeeCee was shown respect by two human beings and it was her undoing.  I don't take what she did lightly.  

This little mare has reminded me that sometimes we need to love and respect others in spite of themselves and to leave them the choice to either run or stay.  

When You Become Your Horse's Safety

I have been making some observations about the horses in the past few days.

I brought in two horses who are very special to me last night to get their feet trimmed.  One of them used to be very uptight and high headed when I would bring him in.

The other one, a sweet mare, used to fuss and carry on the entire time she was inside.

Last night they were both calm, low headed and I could tell that they felt completely safe where they were.  The gelding, who would get all uptight and worried when I stood near his "riding zone" on his body, last night pressed his barrel against my stomach and leaned in to me relaxed while I gently leaned against him, his eyes soft and his head low.

The mare seemed uncomfortable and was standing with her hind legs way underneath her.

I massaged an old injury site, breaking down her scar tissue.  She handed me her leg so I could really get at it.  I stretched out both of her hind legs and pulled her tail.  After I was finished she stood all relaxed with her hind legs in normal position.  It was interesting how she "spoke" to me and I listened, helping her.

Today, Nugget, the new guy was feeling anxious when he was getting his feet trimmed.  I observed how he rested his head against me and instantly calmed down when I was beside him.

Story who is usually fidgety and difficult when her feet are being done, stood calm and quiet, resting her head against me when I came and stood near her.

I love that these horses all view me as their safety.  I am thrilled that when I am around them, they feel drawn to my energy and that they can feel its soft, gentleness.  They can truly feel my love and it is so amazing.

They are such amazing creatures.

Never Set A Horse Up to Fail - A New Job for Nugget

There is nothing quite as humbling as being around equines.  They continue to amaze, surprise and uplift me day after day.

A new horse has come into my care; his name is Nugget. He comes from a loving home, however due to circumstances he couldn't stay in his current living arrangement and his owner only wants the very best for him.  He has been with me for just over a week and I cannot believe the progress he and I have made.

The first day I met him, I remembered the advice that I always give to others. To not set him up to fail and to have a completely open mind with him. Every single day, he shows me what a hidden gem he is.

He loaded in the trailer with only brief hesitation.  This horse hasn't seen the inside of a horse trailer in over a decade.  It actually didn't surprise me because whenever you assume a horse will or won't do something, they almost always surprise you.

He has gone from being herd bound and disassociated, to showing me what a huge heart he has.  He is very smart and willing, a true gentleman.  

He used to walk away from me when I went in his pen and now he waits at the gate for me.  He used to rear and balk when he got to the barn door, now he enters willingly.  He tried to walk over top of me, now he maintains a respectful distance.  He only has to be told something once and he is immediately respectful and compliant.

Last night I tried a little experiment with him.  I stood at his shoulder, and slowly backed up.  He matched me step for step.  I did everything with him at liberty, which means he could have run off at any moment.  We ended up doing a very neat little mimicking dance together.  He was bright and engaged and I can see how willing to please and kind he is.  In taking the time to get to know him and allow him to settle in and feel comfortable, we are forming a relationship of mutual respect. 

Because he hasn't been put into use for a long time, he and I have been doing lots of ground exercises and stretching, backing and getting him back in tune with his body.  

He is a senior citizen, somewhere around 20 years old or maybe slightly younger, so I am taking extra time with him as I don't want to stress him unduly.  In a short week, he has made real progress physically.  In the beginning when he was disengaging his hindquarters, he wasn't able to cross his hind feet without literally stepping on himself.  Last night, I was able to get him to cross over on both sides.  His left hind leg was very trembly when I lifted it to clean his hooves and I am already noticing that it is improving and loosening up.

He is stunningly beautiful and very well put together.  He has a huge, graceful floaty trot.  He does have a swayed back, but I believe as he gains muscle and a topline, most of it will be gone.  He has huge bone and great feet, a huge muscled hindquarter and a very nice head and neck.  He is a registered appaloosa, although you would never know it looking at him.  He is a dark golden palomino and has 3 or 4 small white spots on his body.  

Once he has some regularly scheduled maintenance done, I will do a riding assessment on him but I am in no rush.  I will post more on his progress once we are farther along.   

The Gift of Trust

There is that moment of magic between horse and human when the horse feels safe and trusting enough to want your touch.

I had that moment happen with my little mare Story about a week ago.  I went to see her and took a moment to rub her under her jaw.  

Up until that point she has submitted to touch but hasn't enjoyed it.  

I noticed a change in her right away.  She leaned into my hand and her eyes softened.  She stood there quietly, enjoying the affection that I was there to offer.  When I moved my hands to the top of her head, she stood quietly still, just enjoying the attention.

To me it was a huge breakthrough for her.  She is giving me her trust inch by inch.  It so rewarding to see how far she has come in the past 2 years. 

 

Right from the moment she arrived, I instinctively knew that this was a horse who just needed time, something that is precious and important.  

Some horses can be turned around in a very short time, but with others due to circumstance you need to earn it.  I have had a few of these types and once they trust you, you have an amazing relationship.  A bond stronger than most.  

I know that it comes down to dollars and cents for people so many times horses are discarded because they haven't come around quickly enough.  It really makes me sad.  

When I go out with the herd, I spend lots of time gently touching their faces. What I have observed is how much they actually like it.  I use very light pressure and massage their entire head, even their nostrils and gums.  It's really neat to watch them lower their heads and now they will come up and rest their faces up against me and just stand all quiet.

I love going out and spending time with them, no agenda in mind other than being there.  It is such a peaceful and wonderful experience.  The only sounds are the odd sneeze or the birds singing in the distance.  These moments are magical.  They take turns coming up to greet me, most of them moving on after a few moments.  Some come over specifically just to stand near and touch me with their noses.  It is a great feeling to be chosen as their place of comfort.

It feel so lucky to have the honour of being in the midst of these amazing creatures who continue to amaze me and to fill my heart.  They are such a gift.

A Little Foal Time Is Good for the Soul

Last night I went out and spent some time with the mares and foals.

For me there is nothing more calming than to be in the midst of a herd of horses.  I'm sure that strikes terror in the heart of some people but I have been around them all my life and being in their presence brings me so much peace.

I haven't been able to spend as much time with the wee ones lately due to travel so I made a point of getting out and spending some time with them.  All three of them came to greet me and have a nibble.  One was pulling on the straps of my top, one was chewing my hair and one was giving me kisses.  

I love how friendly they are with everyone who comes out to see them.  They all leave their momma's side to greet visitors.  One little guy will even run across the field to say hello.  So adorable!  Being around them just  warms my heart.

I especially have a soft spot for one little guy who was all crooked and twisted at birth.  He and I bonded when I had to give him antibiotics and massage and stretch his poor little contracted tendons.  I am so pleased to say that he has dramatically straightened up and should turn out just fine.  Oh the resilience of youth! 

They are all growing like weeds and I will be weaning them near the end of October.  

Years ago, when my dear friend was sick, she told me that I had to take over being their "mom" when she could no longer do so.  It was a very difficult and sad moment and I was honoured and touched that she trusted me to take over the job.  They hold such a special place in my heart as do their dams.  I have known these mares for 10 years and have raised a few crops of their foals, not to mention I own a few of the babies.

They have taught me so much and continue to teach me all the time.  Hours spent with the herd, observing their subtle and silent communication is such a gift.

Giving Them A Chance

It is truly amazing how strong and resilient horses are.  A strong survival instinct coupled with the malleability of youth can make all the difference.

I know a foal who was born this spring that many would have written off.  He so big and his dam had a very tough delivery.  Due to his large size, the poor little guy was twisted and completely exhausted from his difficult entry into the world.  

A team of very dedicated people worked tirelessly to give the little fella a chance by lifting him to his feet, milking his mom and syringe feeding him until he was strong enough to stand on his own four legs.  

Without this help he would not have pulled through.

It has taken time and lots of care but this little guy is thriving.  He ended up with a nasty case of foal diarrhea, so his introduction to me was to receive a needle every day as he needed antibiotics to clear it up.  From his time of not being mobile he developed a huge bed sore which is close to being healed. He had a very crooked rear pastern and we have had to do some corrective farrier work which has helped tremendously.  He also had very contracted tendons in the front.  Luckily because he has been handled so much, he allowed me to stretch and massage his front legs.  He would lay down and allow me to stretch and rub him and massage his crooked little spine. 

What I have noticed is that the youngsters develop a real body awareness and I see that he now stretches his own forelegs when he is napping and as a result, they have straightened dramatically.  

He has been bathed and handled quite a lot and we introduced essential oils to calm him in the beginning.  He now loves them and almost goes to sleep the second I bring them near.  I have yet to halter him as I don't believe that it is something that needs to be rushed, however, when we need to work on his feet, he only requires a light touch on his neck to hold him still.

He moves away from gentle pressure and is such a good little guy.  

A lot of people would have written him off but I am sure glad that they didn't.  He is growing into a beautiful and strong young horse and I look forward to watching him continue to thrive and become an amazing partner to someone.

The Greatest Teachers

Just what can a horse teach you?

Well, they can teach you infinite lessons, you just have to sharpen your senses and pay very close attention to them.

They speak very loudly if you know how to listen.  

They have taught me to watch and listen closely as far more is said by what is not actually verbalized.  Because horses are very subtle creatures you have to rely on viewing the smallest of gestures and movements that they use to communicate.

It has also taught me to be more aware of the subtleties of human body language as well, not only in the message that I convey to the horse or other people but also to the messages that I receive from the people around me.

So much is said in the world by what is not said.

I am still learning so much each and every day that I am with these magnificent animals.  They are the most amazing teachers.

In working with so many different horses, you have to learn how each of them communicate.  Although similar they do have subtle differences between them.  I rely on my intuition when I work with them as well and it is a great tool.

They have taught me to let go of my day, and just be present.  You can't work with a flight animal when you are all tense and worried about something else. They will feed off of you and you will open yourself up to injury simply because your edginess will be passed on to them.  

They have taught me that you can't win a fight with someone who outweighs you by 1,000 LBS.  If they want to win, they will win.  Instead you need to respect them and in turn teach them to respect you. 

Many horses are disrespectful, pushing themselves into your space, turning their rump toward you or in some cases completely ignoring your presence which can be very dangerous.  It is vitally important to remind them that they must stay out of your space unless you invite them in.  And in that vein, when you are working with a horse, your full attention should be on the horse, not on everything else that is going on around you.  Your safety depends on it because horses are very reactive and should something frighten them, their first instinct is to flee.  If you are busy texting someone or daydreaming, you may be laying under a set of hooves.

They have taught me to be more compassionate and to recognize the subtle signs when they are not okay.  They hide their pain and discomfort unless it is really severe.  I check in with my horses before a ride to see if they are acting normal.  There are days as well, where they are in a mood that is not conducive to going for a ride.  If you disregard the signs, there is usually an issue or a wreck coming.  I know that every time I have disregarded my horse's signs, I have paid in one way or another.  

It has made a huge difference in my life.  This body awareness has transformed who I am out in the world and in my everyday life. 

And many people say it's just a hobby...  

The Photo

So the other evening I had a brainstorm that I would like to have my picture taken with my 5 lovely horses--something that I have never done before.  It actually went pretty went considering.  So to get to the end result, here are some of the not so great photos.  

Thank you to my patient friend Val who humours me in my impulsive moments.  :)

(My horses from left to right:  Sully (Arab), Sonny Boy (Appendix QH), Jacob (QH), Cleo (Paint), Story (Paint)

A Clean Slate

I hear  these statements time and time again.

 "My horse is a rescue" 

or

 "My horse has been abused"

I almost cringe when I hear this depending on the context.  I love to hear someone saying that their horse was a rescue and that they are out in the world riding them and having a successful relationship.  In that context a rescue is no different than any other horse.

What I don't like to see is how people automatically want to label their horses because maybe they are skittish, unhandled or more sensitive than the average horse.

And yes, kudos to all of the horse rescues who are out there taking in unwanted horses, or outbidding the meat buyers at auction.  You are amazing, selfless and dedicated people.

What I want to differentiate here is that horses are by instinct sensitive, high strung and flighty creatures.  

Many times horses come from circumstances where they have been virtually unhandled and they are absolutely terrified of humans.  

I have worked with many of these types of horses.  They were not rescues.  They were well fed and cared for.  However, they were not handled at all and wanted nothing to do with people.

They hadn't been exposed to anything so every single experience was scary.

All they needed was time, handling, patience and more time.

I don't like to give any animal a "label".  Even if they are a rescue, they deserve to come to me as a clean slate.  Their life is starting anew.  I don't want to label them for they become whatever that label is.  Same goes for people.

I am a strong believer in that.  Even when horses have a name that labels their temperament as something, I immediately change it so they can become who they are without any preconceived notions.

I have a little horse named Story who I have written about in the past.  She could be labelled as a rescue.  My friends outbid the meat buyer at auction.  She had major trust issues for sure but I knew that she wasn't abused.  I actually chose to call her a project. And I didn't mean a horse I was taking in to flip.  I meant it more as knowing she was a horse that was going to need a lot of time to get through to.  Today, she is a confident, kind 4 year old who is going very well under saddle.  She and I are strongly bonded and I love her to pieces.

My gelding Sonny was a very difficult horse who could have mistakenly been labelled as "abused".  If someone bought him at auction not knowing his history, I guarantee you they would have said he was beaten which is entirely untrue.

He had extreme issues with being touched around his head and poll.  When tied in certain places, he would throw himself over backwards or just kick at the barn wall for no reason. Because I know his entire history, I can tell you that he was never abused, hit or beaten in any way.  

The truth?  He had a horrible case of strangles as a yearling.  It came out all over his face, on his forehead and below his eyes were rivers of disgusting discharge.  He was a very sick baby and lost a tremendous amount of weight as a result of his illness.  Even pumping the food into him didn't help for a very long time.  His full recovery took a few years.

He had a lot of behavioural issues over the years and I took him on as a long term project. He was supposed to be sold, but I couldn't in good conscience sell a horse like him because in my opinion he would either hurt someone or end up being canned.  It took me a few years to get him sorted out and he still has days where he is all silly about his head being touched.  I have approached him with an attitude of not trying to fix specific problems, instead ignoring them and just working with him in general.

I ended up purchasing him a few years ago and he has become such an amazing and beautiful horse, his problems disappearing much to my delight.  For the most part he now lowers his head for the bridle instead of losing his mind on me.  It just changed one day.  I can't really say why specifically.  He is the horse that I can take anywhere and he is calm and wonderful.  He is happiest if I am within sight, but still behaves himself regardless. He is cold backed but I found something called a "Back on Track" therapeutic pad that goes under his saddle pad and since using it, he is no longer bracy or humped up when I get on him.

So all I am saying folks is everyone deserves a chance without being painted with a particular brush. If you look at and work with each and every horse (and person) as an individual and keep an open mind, listening to what they have to say, you will be amazed with what you discover.

Just my two cents...

A Heartwarming Equine Friendship

I have a horse named Sully.  He is an arabian.  They can be a much maligned breed because they are incredibly smart, in most cases far smarter than their human counterparts.

He is a super cool guy and I love him in all of his arab-ness.  He is actually a pretty level headed man with a very strong spirit.  I completely respect that spirit and in doing so he has completely blossomed and is a pretty happy horse.  The one thing is...he is definitely an outcast in the herd.  

He prefers to be in the pasture as opposed to a paddock so I have come to respect that but I have always felt sorry for him because he was always off by himself.  I even saw another gelding in the pasture viciously put a run on him and chase him as far away from the herd as he could get him.  I'm not sure why he doesn't fit in but there must be something different about him.  Horses don't like different.  

Two years ago, I put him out in the pasture with another gelding named Royal.  Royal, in spite of being the largest horse out in the pasture, is one of the lowest in the pecking order.  

Strangely enough, the two of them forged a fast friendship much to my happiness.

I brought Sully up and had him in a pen away from Royal for over a year.  Sully hated being in a pen so I put him back out into the herd only to see him shunned once again.

I introduced Royal back to the herd as well and the two of them immediately resumed their friendship.  It is one of the most heart warming things that I have ever witnessed in inter-horse relationships.  They are inseparable and it seems that now that they have each other, the rest of the herd leaves them alone. They stand close together, grooming each other or sometimes just resting a muzzle on the other guy's back.   They are usually off by themselves within sight of the main herd but very content in each other's company.  The strange part is, they are not really herd bound. If I take Sully out to ride him, Royal is okay with it.  

You don't often see equine friendships that stand the test of time, I think because horses are very much in the moment creatures since in the wild, their very survival depends on it.  I think these two have something very special, very special indeed.

Here are some pics of the two of them.

Taken 2 summers ago

Taken this summer

The Value in Knowing Your Horse's History

Don't you wish that sometimes your horse could tell you exactly what their history is?

Right now I am lucky to own five horses and I know the complete history of four of them. It makes everything so much easier when you are working with and training them.

This is not a post that is against taking a horse on with an unknown history for I am all for it.  It just means that you have to listen so much harder to what your horse is telling you if and when they do have issues.

For example, we have the sweetest little shetland type pony out at the barn.  She is fairly young, likely around 5 or 6, a very pretty little girl.

The sad part is she is so fearful of adults.  It is tough to know if she was abused or if she is afraid of us because she is so small and we're so big.  

She is difficult to catch and when you finally do catch her, she stands there compliant, but you can just feel the tension in her body and you can tell that she is ready to flee at any second.  

About once a week I have been going in her pen and doing rudimentary ground work with her just to get her accustomed to contact although I may need to step it up and do it daily so her family can enjoy her.  I also choose to do it at liberty at this stage so she doesn't feel all trapped and panicky.  

She came from auction so we really don't have any history on her at all.  I feel awful for the poor little beast as she is very kind, just very afraid.  We can trim her hooves and everything, but she is so scared the whole time, her little body tense and on alert.  I know she will come around and honestly it will just take time and patience.

I look forward to the day when she is happy to see me and comes up to visit of her own free will.  I just wish she could have told me her story.

Just my two cents...

The Power of Equus

When life gets me down, there is an invisible thread that draws me toward my horses. They are my peace, my anchor.

When I feel like I am lost, a few hours with them and I am found.  The more I am with them, the more I respect them.  In respecting them, I have found a whole new relationship with them.

It is based on such a deep, unconditional love for they give back far more than what they get.  

It is miraculous how predator and prey are able to relate to one another in such a deep and profound way.

Spending time with the foals brings joy to my heart.  Watching them explore, learn and play, so innocent and precious.  That moment when they tentatively come over and summon up the courage to touch you for the first time.  It just brings the biggest smile to my face.

Time spent in the pasture with the main herd, well it's like catching up with old friends. A number of the horses follow me around, nuzzling my hair or nibbling my ear.  Some just like to rest their velvety noses against my shoulder.

I have raised a few of them from foals and they just like to be in my company.  There is a mare that I have nursed through a nasty injury and an illness and she is so bonded to me. She lays her head against my legs or in my arms and just snuggles in.  She trusts me and understands that I am there to help her.  She is one of the sweetest mares that I have ever met.  

The power of their presence in my life so profound and pure.

Just my two cents...  

Catching Game...Or Not!

I am a person who gets bored easily.  Thankfully, being around horses is ever changing and always keeps my interest.  

If you have the privilege of working around multiple horses, you begin to realize that although you can do similar things with each one, they are all individuals and can't be treated exactly the same.

I have this young mare who likes to play the catching game with me.  If she was a typical horse (which she is not) I would chase her until she got tired of being kept moving and she would give in.  

Well, I happen to know if I tried to play that game with her she would definitely outlast me.  So today she decided to challenge me and started playing her catching game.  I kept her away from me for a while.  Every time she would try and come past, I would chase her away.

Eventually my mare who is the sweetest and most compliant horse I have ever had the privilege of owning came up to me and I put a halter on her.  I turned away from my game playing mare and took the sweet one toward the gate.  When she realized that she had lost my attention, she came up and stood quietly to be haltered, which was exactly what I hoped she would do.  

She made me smile.  They are such funny creatures sometimes but the bigger lesson is that you just can't treat them all the same.

If nothing else she keeps me interested.

For Those Who Cannot Speak

When it comes to the welfare of the animals in my care, I don't always win popularity contests.

But honestly, I am completely fine with that.  In particular, I am talking about the horses in my world.  They do not have a voice and somebody has to look out for them.

People who know me well, understand and respect this part of me.  I make decisions first and foremost with welfare of the animal(s) in mind and secondly the happiness of the customers.

It is not an easy job and do I make the odd enemy over it?  Yes, sadly I do.  Will that change me or how I operate?  Absolutely not.

Everything I do and say comes from my heart--whether people get that or not it is completely their choice. 

Horses are non-verbal creatures.  They mostly hide their pain and discomfort as a protection mechanism.  If they are showing signs of feeling pain it is because it is quite severe.  Sometimes they will limp or in cases of very severe pain, they will become sweaty and their heart rate will increase and respiration will be shallow and fast.

Over and over and over again, you see people accusing horses of "turning bad".  Horses don't just start bucking for no reason.  When their behaviour changes dramatically, the first thing I look for is pain and 9 times out of 10 I will find something is wrong.

For example, there was a horse boarded at our facility.  A sweet mare, owned by a very kind and caring lady.  This horse started laying down when she was being ridden.  She phoned a chiropractor first.  The chiropractor felt it was behavioural.  She asked my advice and I said I believed it to be pain as this mare was far too kind and nothing had really changed in her world.  She then phoned the vet.  The vet, who is very reputable brought some students along.  He asked his students: "do you think this is behavioural 
or physical?"  All of the students immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was behavioural.  The vet performed a nerve block and it was determined that this lovely mare had navicular disease.  So thankfully, the owner of this great little horse cared enough to fully investigate what was wrong before resorting to "correcting" her behaviour under saddle.

This sweet little mare has been retired and is receiving the loving care that she so deserves.  

How many times would a person have jumped to the conclusion that a horse is bad and disciplined them severely or even "canned" them for behaviour caused by discomfort?  Far too many times unfortunately.  They are trying to speak but nobody's listening.  

So please do right by your animals and if something ever changes dramatically in their behaviour, look for physical discomfort first.  They don't lie.  They only do the best that they can.   Get to know what their "normal" is.  Once you do that you will be able to tell when they are off.  

What they give you in return makes it all worthwhile.

Just my two cents...

Seller Responsibility?

A friend recently had her horse up for sale.  She wrote a very detailed and concise ad explaining that her horse, although quiet, still needed further training and was not a beginner horse.

She explained everything about the stage of training and the type of rider that would be suitable for him.

She received a response to her ad from a person looking for a second horse.  It was apparent from the moment they showed up that they were complete beginners. 

Their other horse was unbroke and they lived on an acreage.  They were very nice people and if they were at a facility where they were working with a coach, they would have benefitted tremendously over time.  However, they were planning to go it alone and learn as they went along which is a recipe for disaster, especially with untrained or green broke horses.

My friend who is a responsible horse owner and seller, refused to sell her horse to them knowing that it was an incredibly bad fit.  Her horse was just not trained enough to be a safe choice.  

I have sold a number of horses over the years for a friend and I actually regret some of the sales as in retrospect, I know that some of the horses, although of great temperament, were not a great fit for the buyers.  

I absolutely encourage people to own horses.  We all had to learn somehow.  My biggest advice to beginners is to buy a well broke, mature horse, at least 10 years old.  One who is calm and will be a great teacher.  A good horse will make all of the difference while you are learning.  If you are working with an experienced coach or teacher and you are willing to listen and take the time to learn, yes, you might be able to take on a bit more of a project but it is certainly better if you have had riding lessons on a well trained horse first.

A young horse takes years to bring along and to train.  It takes hundreds of hours in the saddle before a horse is considered well broke.  I, for example have 5 horses, none of which I consider well broke and they range in age from 4 to 14 years old.

The other consideration is, as a seller is it your responsibility to ensure that the horse you are selling is going to an appropriate home?  

Horses are very powerful animals and they can seriously hurt a person.  Believe me, I have had my share of wrecks and injuries over the years.  I feel it is extremely important that you take on the responsibility of finding the best possible home for your equine friend, not only for their welfare but for the welfare of the purchaser.  

I have also made some great matches and there is nothing that warms my heart more than to see a horse go to the perfect person.

We have successfully placed some horses with beginners and I am pleased to say that it has worked out and worked out well, but they also had a willingness to work alongside experienced people who were able to guide them.

Knowledge is always power and when you are seeking out your equine partner, make sure that it feels right and if the seller is in a rush to unload the horse, maybe you need to think twice.  A responsible horse owner will allow you to come back and try the horse a few times to make sure that it is right for you.  If you are feeling pressured in any way, please walk away.  

Just my two cents.

Righty vs. Lefty

Have you ever taken your horse past a scary object and gotten him used to it only to pass it from the opposite direction and your horse acts like he has never seen it before?

Well that is because "lefty" saw it but "righty" didn't.  

http://americashorsedaily.com/left-brain-right-brain/

http://www.jonathanfield.net/index.php?p=1_51

Unlike humans, horses don't have a highly developed corpus callossum, the thick band that runs from one side of the brain to the other.  In humans it is developed and allows us to use both sides of our brain at the same time.

The horse isn't equipped to share information received from one side to the other, hence why horses are lateral thinkers.

Even thinking about the physical appearance of the horse,  his eyes are set in such a way that he can see everything from almost in front of him to his hind end.  He does have a blind spot right in front of him so for safety's sake, please don't position yourself directly in the middle of his face and expect him to see what you are doing.

Because of that eye placement what the left eye sees and what the right eye sees are two different things.

Our eyes are placed in the front of our faces so we essentially see the same things out of both for the most part.  

Because of this, you should teach your horse how to do everything on both sides and by that I mean, saddling, mounting, grooming, desensitizing and all forms of work on the ground.  It also makes your horse far more physically balanced if you do equal mounted work on both sides.  Just as people are right or left handed, so are horses.

Have you ever noticed that your horse always goes better in one direction than the other? Some horses will even struggle in picking up one of their leads when loping because it is not their dominant side.  If I am riding a horse with a very noticeably dominant side, I will make sure that I start with their weaker side first, then go to the dominant side and return to the weaker side.  In time it becomes easier and easier for your horse to become well balanced physically, but like anything it takes time and lots of consistency.

I remember working with some minimally handled broodmares.  In the beginning, many of them wouldn't even let me touch them on their right side.   If I went over to that side they would run away as though they had never seen a human before.  It took a very long time but with lots of patience, they now have a right and a left side.  

It is wonderful that our knowledge of horses keeps on growing because the more we learn, the more we can apply to have a successful relationship with our equine partners.

Beet Pulp - Debunking Some of The Myth Surrounding It

Beet pulp is the fibre left over from the sugar extraction processing of sugar beets.  It is very high in fibre, low in sugar and extremely digestible for horses because it is very low in lignans.  It is an inexpensive forage alternative and is a great feed for elderly or ill horses who have trouble chewing their hay.

If you've been around horses for any length of time, I am sure that you have heard all sorts of interesting stories on beet pulp or sugar beet.  

"It's full of sugar"

"It can blow up in my horse's gut"

"I've heard of horses colicking on it"

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10295/feeding-beet-pulp

The above link contains great information.  It's not for everyone but I always feel that knowledge is power.

I have fed my horses beet pulp  since the mid-1990's.  It started when I had two underweight standardbreds that I wanted to fatten up.  I have never had any issues with it and have very successfully fed beet pulp to all ages, breeds, shapes and sizes of horses.

A former boarder out at our facility had an elderly standardbred who had very little in the way of teeth, making consumption of hay difficult at best.  We fed the old boy a mixture of soaked hay cubes and beet pulp for many, many years, successfully keeping his weight on. We gave him a flake of hay per feed just to give him that chewing time that horses need but he received his nutrition from his mash.   I know some people would choose bran over beet pulp but honestly from what I understand, beet pulp is nutritionally superior and when soaked it is lighter and fluffier than bran, giving your horse less of a chance of impaction.

If your horse has dietary issues, then you are better off to not feed them anything out of the ordinary, except what your vet recommends, but if you have an underweight or elderly horse beet pulp is a highly digestible, forage supplement or alternative.  It is relatively inexpensive and I like that you can hide medicines in it that some fussy horses won't eat.

I also like it especially in the winter because it also helps to hydrate your horse, who is more reluctant to drink enough water when the weather is cold.  I feed it to my entire herd and they always look forward to slurping it up.  I mix some grain and minerals in it and what I have noticed is that their coats seem extra shiny if I feed it regularly enough. 

A couple of things that I have noticed is if you plan to soak it the night before use plenty of cold water and it will be nice and fluffy and fresh in 24 hours and ready for use.  If you want to soak it quickly, use warm to hot water and the pellets will absorb the moisture far more quickly.  The down side is that if you have leftovers the beet pulp soaked in warm water will go sour rather quickly and you will need to discard it.   

How you feed is definitely a personal choice but I always say knowledge is power and I get discouraged by the number of horse people who will dismiss something without actually having the proper information.  

The Danger of Feeding Lawn Clippings

Many people think that they are giving their horses a treat when they dump piles of lawn clippings into their pens.  What they don't realize is they could be making their horse sick.

You may think that it's "just grass" but unfortunately, when grass is mowed and collected, it begins to ferment very rapidly, turning it into a toxic snack for your horse.


http://www.equiculture.com.au/Equi%20rspca%20lawnmower%20clippings.pdf

If you ever stick your hand into the middle of a pile of cut grass, you will feel just how warm it is.  

Never mind the moisture causes rapid growth of toxic mold and with a little more time, even botulism which can be fatal.

Two summers ago, my mare was fed a huge pile of grass clippings by the owner of the property where I kept her.   Luckily I came out to see her that evening and I could tell right away that something was very wrong.

She looked positively ill and wasn't eating her hay.  She began kicking up at her belly and I knew right away that she was colicking.  We got her walking and then called the vet. She began to burp (Yes, burp.  She is one of the only horses that I have ever met who can burp.  It is likely because she suffered a serious neck injury as a foal and my guess is the one way valve to her gut was damaged at that time).  

Her burps smelled rotten.  It was awful.  The vet came and gave her something to combat the gas forming uncontrollably in her gut and in the event that there was an obstruction also gave her a good dose of mineral oil and some banamine to relax her and reduce pain.  
Thank goodness I was able to be there to help her as there is danger of a rupture due to the rapid formation of gas.  She felt pretty rotten that night but seemed far better in the morning.  

With lawn trimmings your horse is also eating far more quickly and they are taking in large doses of sugar in a very short period of time which can also lead to laminitis (the inflammation of sensitive layers of tissue (laminae) inside the hoof which can lead to extreme lameness).

Honestly, it is just not worth the risk.  Why not add the trimmings to your manure pile where they will compost very rapidly and make awesome fertilizer for your pasture once rotted.

Just something to think about.

How Much Weight Can Horses Carry?

I am going to feature some important yet often overlooked pieces of information that I feel every horse owner should know.

Today's topic is how much weight can a horse comfortably carry?

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31900/how-much-weight-can-horses-comfortably-carry

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/24/big-riders-big-horses-obesity

As per the above link, a Japanese study concluded that an average horse can carry approximately 29% of their body weight, but found it increasingly difficult to carry adults who weigh over 209 LBS.  

Now conformation and breed are also going to factor in heavily in this debate.  If you are riding a 14HH sturdy, short-backed draft-cross horse and you weigh over 200 LBS, the horse is likely to be okay carrying you depending on its fitness and the distance in which you plan to ride.

Just because a horse is tall, doesn't mean that it is strong enough to carry a heavy rider. There are many factors contributing to this.  Again, conformation is a huge factor.  A long- backed thoroughbred type or even an appendix quarter horse type may not be able to carry much more than 150  - 200 LBS comfortably. 

The horse's fitness level and the rider's fitness level also come into play here.  

If your horse hasn't been ridden much in the past year and you decide that he or she can handle a rigorous trail or mountain ride, think again.  Horses are athletes just like people. How would you feel if you lived a sedentary life, and then someone expected you to go on an all day mountain hike carrying a heavy backpack?

They get sore just as we do.  If you plan to put your horse through rigorous work, then do the right thing.  Give them a rub down with liniment after that long ride.  The next day they are bound to be stiff, so why not walk them and when their muscles are warm, give them a good stretch and another rub down?  Even a few doses of arnica can help to soothe their soreness.

Are you an experienced rider with an active seat or does your horse have to carry you?  If you are inexperienced, or unfit, then likely your horse is carrying you and very likely you are an unbalanced load.  He will have to work that much harder to carry you, straining the muscles on one side of his body to compensate for your lack of self carriage.  

Imagine if you combine that with a sway backed horse or an ill fitting saddle.  The entire ride will be causing your horse pain.  At the very least, please ensure that you have a comfortably fitting saddle or in the case of a swayed back, make sure that your horse is wearing a therapeutic saddle pad with padding to ensure that the saddle isn't digging into their back or shoulders.  

People wonder why their horses don't want to be caught after having to work hard. Would you want to sign up for that type of use?  I think not.

If you want to create a great relationship with your horse, his comfort should be one of the biggest factors, for a happy horse means a happy owner!

Food for thought.

It's National "I Love Horses" Day

Today is "I Love Horses Day".

What is it that brings out our love for these magnificent animals anyway?

Is it their soft velvety noses gently touching your hand?  

Maybe it is when you are feeling blue and your horse comes over and gently rests her nose on your shoulder or gently moves her lips against your neck, providing you the magical comfort that you so needed.

Maybe it is watching the giant draft horses in their shiny harnesses pulling a beautiful rig.

Or two foals racing around the field playing with one another.

Or is it that feeling when a horse with a traumatic past finally overcomes his fear and reaches out to touch you with his nose for the first time and takes that one tentative step toward you.

Could it be the feeling of raw power beneath you as you let your horse stretch out at a gallop in an open field?

I think horses have the ability to reach us at more of a spiritual level than most other animals.  Their soft brown eyes contain a wisdom that cannot be explained.  Watching them run at liberty fills us with a sense of awe.

Horses have the ability to reach a place deep within us that not many other creatures can touch.  Perhaps that is why children with autism or people who have suffered immense trauma can relate to well to them.

For some they signify freedom, beauty and strength.  

Maybe it is their sheer size, their shiny coats.  

Whatever it is, it is undeniable.