Simple fact, riding horses makes me feel good. So I thought why am I not doing it more often? Usually my excuse is there is not enough time. Starting this week I am making the time and decided I am going to get on every day. AND you know what I feel better for it.
After the horrible winter this spring has been very nice to us. Not much rain so the mud dried up, not too hot yet so it is comfortable most days to ride. I started trail riding again with my lessons, friends and boarders. Here are some shots of us having fun.
All of my horses are barefoot. This video is makes a compelling case for going with out shoes. It also goes with what my ferrier does. He doesn’t cut the horses frog or pare out the sole.
Warning this video is graphic. It is an actual horses’ hoof cut in half, so there is some blood, tissues (lamina) and bones (coffin) involved.
Great article. I really need to stop, listen and observe more. “Calming signals in horses are somewhat similar and include looking away, having lateral ears, yawning, stretching down, licking lips or eating to calm themselves. Can you recognize them? Calming cues communicate stress, and at the same time, release stress. It is modeling behavior for us; they want us to drop our stress level, or aggressiveness as well.” Next time your with your horse look for these calming signals.
If you are standing next to your horse and he looks away, do you think he’s distracted or even disrespectful? When your horse yawns, is he sleepy or bored? If he moves slowly, is he lazy? These are important cues from your horse, are you hearing him correctly?
When it comes to communicating with horses, some humans are a bit like a self-obsessed rock star who throws a temper tantrum and trashes the room, but then assumes everyone wants his autograph. By equine standards, we ignore those around us and begin by screaming bloody-murder and escalate from there. Part of respecting a horse is remembering that their senses are much keener than ours. We can whisper.
It is just like man’s vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions. ~Mark Twain.
Horses give us calming signals, just like dogs. Norwegian dog…
Cecilia, she’s taking your heart, She’s shaking with confidence daily. Oh Cecilia, she’s down on her knees, She’s begging you please take her home.
Looks like the farm is rehabilitating another lost soul. Cecilia is an owner surrender that we picked up from the SPCA yesterday.
Here is the write up from her previous foster mom.
Cecelia is a very pretty, active dog. She loves to play and can jump, but has stayed in her pen. She will dig under the gate to get to play with the other dogs. She did OK with cats in the house, but wants to chase them when outdoors with them. She seems very tolerant and easy-going, but again, on the hyper side. She needs leash-training as was apparently kept in a pen most of her life.
Cecelia appears to have had at least one litter of pups. She was OK when she was in a crate, but does not like to get in it. She has been outdoors in her foster home
Cecelia and I are still in the getting used to each other phase. She doesn’t appear to have lived with many rules, boundaries or limitations, but she is quickly learning them here at the farm. Today we worked on sit for 15 min, she is a smart dog and after we pushed through her stubborn streak she sat! More work to be done but it was a great break through for us.
At a little under 40lbs, this 2 year old girl is a petite lab mix (with maybe Whippet?). We will be working on manners, basic commands, and gaining some weight. Please share her if you know of anyone looking for a loving friendly dog.
“Put horses first. If you have ever been rescued by a horse, and most of us have, return the favor. Make some room in the barn, please adopt or foster.”
This is a great article about the ups and downs of horse rescue.
In the spring I will be looking to rescue again. I decided to give the donkeys Nash’s stall for the winter. Last year they had to hang out in the barn aisle on the coldest nights.
It is a quiet day here on the farm. Yesterday’s 12hours of snow lays a beautiful blanket on the farm. My mom and I went out to feed this morning. We distributed the hay around the pasture paradise track in the back. Trying to get them out of the muddy mess caused my the melting snow.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I hope you enjoy your day and take a moment to think of all the things you are thankful for. I sure did and my blessings are many.
How are your Pastures?
Hard to think about pastures when all I have is a soppy mess, but taking care of your horses pastures is like grown a crop of vegetables. I don’t have a green thumb but am trying to give the Farm horses the best quality grass. Here is where you start.
Golden Spike Farm's Plog 
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