My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
After 28 days of force-feeding Zelda her ulcer meds, I’m happy to report that the latest endoscopic exam showed that healing is happening. In fact, she is able to taper off the Omeprazole over the next week, and will finish off the container of Sucralfate. Zelda has been a very good girl but she is […]
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It may be winter, but we still have golden afternoons. Even with no leaves on the trees, the sun caresses the branches and stops you in your tracks with the sheer beauty of nature. My horses’ barn is one of the loveliest places, and I feel privileged to visit it every day. Especially now, when […]
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Treating ulcers is only the first step of fixing the problem; preventing them from recurring is the tricky part. For the last few weeks, as I use medication to heal Zelda’s ulcers, I’ve been thinking about feeding to prevent ulcers in the future. The tricky part for me is that Zelda doesn’t fit the mold […]
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Although they can be very cute (and this one is), never forget that pony is a four-letter word. Of course, I can totally see Zelda behaving the same way. She wouldn’t be spooked by any of the elements but would totally try to eat the shrubbery. We all need something to make us laugh today. […]
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Yesterday, Curly and Zelda staged a jailbreak, knocking down the electric fence and wandering through some thick brush. When the ground is frozen the electric fence doesn’t work that well, and with winter blankets to protect them, I doubt they felt much of anything. Unfortunately, Curly did not emerge unscathed. She managed to slice her […]
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Zelda has always been a good girl about accepting oral meds. The occasional wormer, the odd tube of Banamine, none of those have caused a problem. Same with the first dose of omeprazole. The problem is, this isn’t a one-dose situation. Or even two doses. It’s once a day for 28 days. We have just […]
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Hermès has posted a charming animation showing how to create a Christmas origami horse, based on their window displays from 2012. While technically not origami (it requires the use of scissors, which makes them kirigami), it’s cute and easy. Might even make a good ornament or as a replacement for a gift bow. Hermès suggests […]
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Research has shown that among racehorses and performance horses, ulcers are very common. More than 90% of racehorses (thoroughbreds and standardbreds), more than 60% of endurance competitors (in season) and more than 50% of show horses typically have ulcers. The risk factors include limited turnout, prolonged period without feed, and stress — including competition, trailering […]
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