Tea Time

Back on Furnace Street, when I lived on the side of a mountain, Winter could get really brutal! We had some ice storms and cutting, frozen winds. I used to fix hot (very warm) herbal tea by the bucket full for my horses and they drank it gratefully each evening before I went to bed. It made us all feel wonderful. I made Chammomile for calming my colt; Echinacea for everyone to boost immune systems; Meadowsweet for older equines with soreness or swellings; Rosehip tea for the Vitamin C to prevent or heal respiratory problems; Hawthorn and Linden to strengthen the heart; Nettle tea to add minerals and cleanse and/or Fennel to relieve gassy-ness! Brewing tea for horses is a special, healing thing to do any time of year.

Good Dogs, Smart Horses

I watched a horse figure out how to take off his fly mask by actually stepping on the very edge of it and pulling up with his head. My own gelding drifts over to the mounting block and stops with my foot right over it like "okay, time to dismount!" - one of our dogs checks on us all during the night, making her way through the house and looking at the people and other dogs... I wonder if she's watching to make sure we're breathing? I do that when a horse is lying flat on his side in the field, unmoving. I instinctively see if his side is moving with each breath. Animals and people can all be caretakers and "watchers" of those we love. And the acute awareness that I see in the dogs and horses that I know makes me certain that they understand us on multiple levels. They know what we say and they know what it means. No one could convince me otherwise!

The Basics

I cleaned my gelding's sheath yesterday and worked for over 30 minutes to soften and remove a giant, rock hard bean that had embedded itself. When I showed it to friends, everyone said that they intended to run home and clean their geldings' sheaths. That's a good thing. I haven't had my new horse very long and had just gotten around to the hygiene stuff - People forget things that aren't obvious. And I'll need to check him often just in case he forms these beans in a short span of time. Lots of horses do! The difficult thing out here is how many Veterinarians discount this sheath cleaning business. They have told many of my students that it isn't necessary... hmmm. My horse might disagree. I am certain that he is more comfortable and, truly, this may have prevented infection, blockage or even cancer. I think it's necessary. Maybe some Vets don't want to have to do it, especially on undisciplined horses. Here is where one of my most important theories holds true - We MUST accustom our horses to as many things as we can - in a loving, patient way. If they end up in a different home some day, a new human might become brutal with a horse who does not have what are considered basic manners and experiences. We have to give our horses the kind of education that keeps them safe and healthy!