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.

What Does Horse Ownership Mean to You?

What does horse ownership mean to you?

For some, it is the idea of owning horses more than the actual connection with them.  Oh, they like their horses well enough, but don't spend much in the way of time building a deep, connected partnership.  They like to tell people they have horses because at least where I live, it is a pretty cool thing to be able to say that.

For others, horses are a hobby.  Riding is a sport to them.  They spend lots of time with their horse but only to ride them.  If they aren't riding, they don't go out and see them or spend any time on the ground with them.  They are usually very good riders but tend to pay others to do the day to day care and regular maintenance required to keep a horse in good shape.

Then there are people for whom horses are their passion.  These people don't have horses just to ride them, they have horses because they truly love them.  Riding is important but only part of it.  Sometimes they just come out to spend time with their horse, grooming them, doing groundwork or letting them hand graze.  

For some, horses are their livelihood and not only do they have the passion but they have a vested interest in ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of their herd.

For some it is also a great social outlet.  Like-minded people sharing an interest and going to shows and horse related events together or even just a beautiful day riding out on the trails and sharing your training progress and victories or even sometimes your battles.

Others like to take on unwanted horses or horses who have issues, spending the time that it takes to rehabilitate them and giving them the time they need to recover from their issues whether they are physical or emotional.  Some people devote their entire lives to saving them.  I commend you for it is a very difficult road full of sadness but there is also the rewards.  

I believe myself to be a combination of a few of the above and I am sure that many of you reading this are as well.

This is not a post on right or wrong, simply an observation that I have made from my many years with horses.  

Just a Horse

This has to be one of my absolute favorite poems written on the subject of horses.  I'm not saying that everyone needs to feel this way about them, just understand that I do.

For those of you who also feel this way......Enjoy!!

A Magical Connection

What is it about the soul of a horse that leads us to a place of peace?

Whenever something is troubling me, what is the first thing that I turn to for comfort? My horses.  I don't need to speak or put on a brave face when I am with them.

They seem to sense my sorrow and they become a comforting, quiet and soothing presence.  They keep me grounded.

I can be open, authentic and present in their company.

I feel such strength in my connection with them and it is only getting stronger with time. This is why I am planning my business around them.  They are the medium by which I want to convey a very important message.  They don't care if you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.  All they care about is who you are being when you are in their presence.  We are all equal in their eyes.

I have started interacting with them in a very different way lately and to my surprise, their reaction is so incredible.  

I will go out and spend time with them out in the pasture, sitting quietly in the grass, observing them as they act like horses.  I don't force my presence upon them--I am only there as an observer.

What I have noticed is the second that I am down low and vulnerable with them, they are very interested in being in my presence.  I am not at all threatening in this pose.  They could stomp me to death if they wished.  

They are very curious creatures so when there is something different they come to see what I am doing, thoroughly giving me the once over. Some of them choose to place their head at my level and gently rest it against me. Others nibble at my clothing and hair. Some of them will graze in a circle around me, even going so far as to eat right up against, my feet, legs or back.  One other peculiar thing they will do is they will rest up against me, their legs touching my body.

I don't ever recommend that anyone try this.  I have over 40 years experience with horse and I am fully aware of the dangers of what I am doing, plus I have worked with this herd for 10 years and have raised a few of them from birth.  I only sit on the ground if there is one horse near as when others show up, they tend to fight and that is when a person can get hurt very badly.   I have the scars to prove it.  

The horses seem to sense my calmness and peaceful demeanour of late and are responding to me in beautiful ways.

Cleo, my special mare, who loves her food will stop eating every so often and turn just to gently press her velvety nose against me and give me a soft and gentle look.  

Jacob saw me in the pasture yesterday and trotted across the field to be with me.  I had trouble catching him a year ago and now he just wants to spend some time around me. What an amazing difference.  It is something indescribable when a horse gives you their trust.

I am not certain that I can fully begin to express what this connection is like.  I can only say that it borders on the spiritual as they are subtle, non-verbal communicators who can read the slightest signals from our body language.  When you can begin to listen, really listen to them, and by that I mean read their subtle body cues, then the magic begins.