Brrrrr

Winter wraps her big, cold arms around me! The wind has picked up and hail pelted us for 4 full minutes - thankfully, tiny hail! Our horses are in a field and a paddock with no shelter - the trees that made Summertime shade are bare. So, they are kept warm with free choice Bermuda hay, flakes of alfalfa and warm bran mashes with sunflower seeds, yams, beets, apples, sea salt and flaxseed oil. We cover them (now with the wet & the cold & the wind) with turn out rugs and take warm mashes out to them in the frozen night. The ice is lifted out of their water tubs and hot water added to keep them drinking! Gut motility is vital to avoid impaction/colic this time of year. I watched a colic surgery years ago where the large intestine was opened and warm water was "poured" into the gut to moisten and move an unbelievable amount of compressed food! How much better it is to have the horse SWALLOWING the water in the first place! Our horses are moving with us in a few weeks to another farm where they will have shelter. We love them so much, we will still do our winter rituals!

Habits with Horses

Horses expect us to be predictable - it gives them confidence. I know several owners who are quite nervous around their horses and, to avoid leading a "spunky" horse to turn out, they just have gates or doors to open and their horses run out into the field or paddock. That's all okay when they are the ones caring for the horses or when they fully inform a "horse sitter" or friend who will handle their care. If a person unwittingly tries to halter and lead the horse that is used to charging out into his field on his own; disaster can occur for the person and the horse. If someone teaches their horse to pull carrots out of their pocket; rear up when they pull on the reins; walk into the house uninvited; graze when on a trail ride, etc. the horse will have a hard time if he ever gets a different owner companion who punishes the behavior. Truth is - horses need to have some basic, universal good habits (since they don't know the difference between good ones and bad ones, only what is allowed) and if you are relocating a horse, tell the new people about his background; if you get a new horse, ask about his habits and expectations. It's good communication for all.

Small Things

I had a student years ago who put her horses' blankets in the dryer to warm them before use on bitter cold winter nights. Lucky horses; they really appreciated that small gesture. She rode a gelding named "Glad", another friend rode a mare named "Joy" and I rode a mare named "Happy". We were a positive trio!!!