My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Here’s a useful article from the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources which I first read at http://www.thehorse.com. It seems particularly appropriate given that I just had to cross country ski to the barn today! Winter presents a challenge to horse owners when it comes to feeding their horses. Low temperatures, harsh […]
Read MoreWhile some horse owners resort to hair extensions and fake tails, Summer Breeze, an 11 year old paint mare has earned the distinction of holding the World Record for the longest natural equine tail: it’s 12 feet, 5 inches long. Summer Breeze is owned by Crystal Socha and her brother Casey, owners of Hoof Print […]
Read MoreThere was a post this morning on the Chronicle of the Horse Forums about a school horse that died after his nylon halter was caught on a hook in his stall. Unfortunately, I’ve known more than one horse that died due because they were turned out in a nylon halter. Nylon halters are inexpensive and […]
Read MoreBack in September, Stacey at Behind the Bit posed the question, “Co-op barns: why aren’t there more of them?” I’ve been thinking about a response ever since. I’ve been at a co-op barn for the past eight years. For the most part, it’s been an incredibly good experience. Before moving there, I drove 25 minutes […]
Read MoreLast winter hay was scarce and expensive. It doesn’t look like this winter will be much better; weather conditions this summer made it difficult to cut and bale hay, resulting in a shortage in many parts of the country. Here in New England, hay is about $350 per ton, so when you have two tons […]
Read MoreFreedom has been very depressed since Kroni died. As an off-the-track TB, he wasn’t used to being alone. After all, race horses are rarely by themselves. For the last two weeks he’s spent a lot of time staring longingly over the fence at the horses in the next pasture and looking glum. Well, it turned […]
Read MoreFreedom, my TB, recently suffered from a bad abscess. A rock worked it’s way under his hoof pad and the abscess came out the heel bulb. It was swollen and painful. I can remember soaking a horse’s foot before Davis Soaking Boots were widely available. Often times the process was more painful than the injury, […]
Read MoreKroni’s initial blood work came back yesterday afternoon and the tentative diagnosis is either Lyme or Ehrlicchia, both diseases carried by ticks. That’s the second time this week one of my animals has been infected by one of these tiny blood suckers and frankly, I’m tired of it. Actually, my strong anti-tick feeling surfaced early […]
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