My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Freedom has a kind eye, which reflects his gentle nature. Over the 16 years that I’ve owned him, however, his left eye has changed. Freedom started to lose pigment in the iris of his left eye a few years ago. It came on gradually until now it’s a quite a large spot, which is almost […]
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For many years my horses ate from hay racks or from feed troughs or buckets mounted in their stalls. I liked it because there was less waste and everything stayed more contained — or neater. But as with many “improvements”, sometimes it’s better to go back to what nature intended. Horses were designed to eat […]
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Sometimes you read something that just makes you feel good about people. Today I came across a post on Facebook by Ty Murray, considered to be one greatest rodeo cowboys ever. After retiring from rodeo competition, he has made a practice of retiring great bucking horses to his ranch in Texas. 12 grave markers sit […]
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Every year, right around now, the deerflies start to come out. Zelda is a sensitive soul. She really hates bugs. The problem is, none of the expensive and deadly concoctions appears to repel the bugs. Minutes, maybe even seconds, after I covered every inch of her body, the bugs were back. So far, I’ve tried […]
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I’ve only seen a horse with laminitis once. We had a pony at the barn who looked uncomfortable. She kept shifting her weight. She had appeared slightly off. Her symptoms were suspicious, but when I suggested she could be foundering, her owners were reluctant to call the vet. By chance, we had a potential new […]
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You’ve heard the expression, long in the tooth? That refers to the fact that horse’s teeth continue to grow, or rather, erupt out of their jaws as they age. Horses have about four inches of tooth crown below the surface of their gums, called the body or reserve crown. Just as well, as a horse […]
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When I know I’m going to ride Zelda I always feed her in the small fenced in paddock outside the barn. That’s because she’s wicked hard to catch once her stomach is full. If she’s hungry, she’s right in your pocket. If she’s not, there’s nothing she likes better than a game of tag. With […]
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A few years ago I was lucky enough to borrow a veterenarian friend’s cold laser to treat my tendonitis. It seemed to help reduce inflammation and the sensation was pleasant — mostly, it just made the area feel warm. I’d always hoped to try it on Freedom as she told me that many vets use […]
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