Owner: MidWestHorse URL:www.midwesthorse.blogspot.com Join Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 10:33:09 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: A blog written by two women who own and love horses for others who own and love their horses reguardless of discipline. Site statistics:Click here
Paranoid! 2007-03-31 18:00:00 Having had a few colics over the past seven years, I tend to be a bit paranoid. I remember that it took me several years owning Dakota that sometimes he was just taking a nap. I've never seen Misty lay down. And poor Kola today, just laying down to sleep. I watched her closely and her head was still up. I thought, "She's just sunning herself." Then I noticed her head down and flat. I knocked on the window and she alerted and held her head up again. Her head was down again and I became worried, so I went out to see her, stethoscope in hand. Walked up to her slowly and called her name. She was in rem, I'm sure. Her closed lids twitching and hooves twitching. Then I startled her, not intentionally. She got up and wobbled a bit. Looked at me like "you jerk" "I was sound out and asleep" "Now you had better feed me!" Poor Kola putting up with my paranoia.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
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I'm A Case 2007-03-31 01:18:00 Alright, what a sappy sow I am. I just bought the Tim McGraw version of Flicka on DVD and sat down and watched it by myself because no one else in my family will indulge me and join me in the enthusiasm I have for everything horses including the movies, found myself balling my eyes out at the end, even though it's a happy ending and then went out and hugged my horses for 30 minutes while they were eating and I'm sure the horses were thinking, "What the hell?" OMG, I'm a nut, either that or I'm starting early menopause. Geese!Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
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Shires 2007-03-29 22:23:00 I mentioned before that I had gone to a Shire Farm in England. Here are some Shires doing a demonstration for the crowd. Gosh they're huge. I really enjoyed visiting this place and it was perfect timing as that next spring when we were back in England there was an outbreak of Hoof and Mouth disease and places like these were closed to the public to prevent spreading it. They killed and burned infected animals, mostly sheep to keep it from spreading and often on the country roads there were check points so to speak and you would drive your car through a huge antiseptic sponge dug out in the middle of the road. Any place that you visited say a ruin or such you were required to walk through antiseptic sponge things as well. It was weird and very sad as well. Farmers losing their livestock and livelihoods.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
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Muddy Girls 2007-03-29 21:15:00 Muddy, muddy girls. Managed to get all my fence mended today and a good bleach out of the troughs and the goat water bucket. Really need to get the winter garbage picked up from all over the yard. Noticed the daffodils starting to pop in the yard. It is such a transitional time of year. I'm really looking forward to seeing some green grass soon. And some buds on the trees.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Muddy
, Girls
An Easier Way To Relieve Your Horse's Aching Muscle Pain 2007-03-29 17:40:00 This post was contributed by Sierra Lynch. you can find her website address at the bottom of the article.When a horse takes a direct blow to a muscle, we say he has suffered a contusion. Contusions are almost always followed by swelling. Your knee-jerk reaction is apply ice to the injury. Good choice. But if you don't have an ice pack available, there is another option. I'll tell you what I do in a moment. But first, let me tell you a little about these kinds of deep bruises. It will help you understand why we treat them the way we do.When it comes to contusions, horses are a lot like us humans do. A direct blow from a blunt object crushes the underlying muscle fibers, perhaps even bursting some blood vessels. The blow may not break the skin, but the tissue damage can be significant. And it's always painful for your horse.You want to relieve his pain as quickly as possible. For horse injuries like contusions, think "cold." Decreasing the temperature of the injured area should be th Read more:Horse
Big Red Truck 2007-03-27 19:47:00 My truck and trailer. I love my big red truck. My husband bought it for me as a Birthday present a few years ago and then the following year he got me the trailer. I only use it to move the horses or to fetch hay or equipment. I'm better now at backing and parking it all. And lining up the hitch. At first I really sucked at it. It all comes with practice. It's funny when I go to hitch it up, the horses get all excited. "Where are we going now?"Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Truck
Girlfriends 2007-03-27 03:32:00 I came home from one of the most horrendous nights of work I've had in a long time. Extremely stressful. Saving children's lives and such. Mean screaming Doctors, not enough staff to carry the load, and a number of strong personalities including my own. I didn't even turn on my radio for the drive home. The first thing I did is go out and greet my girls and they just knew. Kola nuzzled her head in my chest, lips wriggling over the palm of my hand and Misty head to head with me, gentle nose presses on my face. I love my mares. Both of my mares. Where Misty I can always trust, a very even tempered girl, never mean and I can trust her to get me through anything. And Kola who always greets me in the morning for a smooch and a treat, who's learning to trust me and who I think will do just fine out on the trails this year. I couldn't ask for a better bunch of girlfriends.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Girlfriends
An Opinion 2007-03-26 23:27:00 I'm saying this and it will probably piss some people off and being a Pisces person, I don't like to upset people but I also feel passionate about certain things and if I could take all creatures in and give them a home I would, but I don't have the facilities yet and I can't so at the risk of being hated can I just state this opinion. With all the new legislature and attempts to slaughter the slaughter houses. Does anyone agree with me that Breeders need to take a certain amount of responsibility for this mess? I mean I'm for breeding and breeding programs and such. What I'm talking about is the willy-nilly breeder.The person who breeds without a purpose to make a quick buck, not considering what the animal will be used for or how it may be kept. Not that I'm for the slaughter of horses but I'm much less for the prospect of more and more unwanted horses abandoned in fields and dry lots and starving to death and mistreated. I think it needs to be a more collaborative effort. No
Dirty Girl 2007-03-26 22:58:00 Miss Misty Mud Pie.............What can I say? I should get out there and brush her. I think I will in the morning.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
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Jumping Off Point 2007-03-24 11:50:00 This is a rather funny story from days gone by. Oh to be young and fearless and not worry about healing. When I and my friend Jess were about 18, 19, 20......Somewhere around that age, Jess had a big quarter horse gelding named TC. I can't remember if he was her first or not. Anyway, it was late November and I was going to go riding with Jess on TC. So we set off through the slightly snowed over fields, double bareback. The ride was quite nice and we'd been out long enough to have red noses from the winter chill and headed back to the farm where Jess kept TC. Well, TC had a different plan which did not include our leisurely ride back to the farm. He wanted to get there faster, so as we rounded the bend and the farm was within sight, TC took off in a dead out run. Jess could not stop him no matter what. The next thing I knew, Jess was dismounting during mid run as she was shouting, " I don't know about you, but I'm jumping!!!!!" And she was gone. I was right behind her screaming "Wa Read more:Jumping
My Tack 2007-03-24 09:15:00 I love this photo of my tack and my Border Collie, Spot. Yes, I use the dining area for a tack room and the coat rack next to the ground floor entry for extra halters and lead ropes. What?Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
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Equine Massage 2007-03-23 20:22:00 I've recently read an article in John Lyon's Perfect Horse about equine massage. This is something I've been doing with my horses for years. Every one of them, even those who were just passing through. I especially concentrate on the their shoulders and the horses have never complained. I find that it is a great way to bond and build trust. I've never read an instruction book or anything on how to do it. It just came naturally and seemed to work. You can tell whether they enjoy it or not. They really like the shoulder area. I start at the top and work my way in a counter clockwise circle, using the heel of my hand and walking the circle larger with my fingers and back to the heel of my hand. They love it. Before you know it, they've got sleepy eyes and their head has dropped. Wish I could afford one for myself, a massage, that is.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Equine
, Massage
My Little Piece of Heaven 2007-03-23 02:49:00 Our love for horses. Unless you're one of us you wouldn't understand. It comes from deep within and becomes an addiction. One cannot get enough of them. Those wonderfully soulful, heavenly creatures that represent freedom and spirit and strength. I could sit out in the middle of my horses on the ground for hours in any season and have them mill about me. My little piece of heaven.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Heaven
Learning Curve 2007-03-22 11:15:00 Another valuable lesson I've learned is that no matter how smart you think you are there is always something to learn. I've met horse people throughout the years and most share that same philosophy, but there are always a few that know it all and feel it necessary to share their advice (opinion) with you whether or not you're asking for it. I've learned that for the most part those people really don't know any more than you do. They just believe that they do. Of course I never fail to see my own short-comings and gladly welcome advice from those horse people that are truly experienced and knowledgeable because I'm always ready to learn more.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Learning
, Curve
, Learning Curve
British Grey 2007-03-22 11:00:00 This is a British
bobby on his horse. Not sure what kind it is but if I were to guess, maybe a thoroughbred of some type or a warmblood. They're tall horses over 16 to 17 hands. I got this picture once again while I was in England. In the background is Buckingham Palace and this during the changing of the guard. I didn't get a picture of the Guard's horses but those are the Queen's greys and the Queen's blacks. You have to be at the right time and place to catch the changing of the guard. There are crowds of people and it takes at least 30 minutes to wind up for it all and probably another 30 minutes for it to happen and the crowd dispersing. Buckingham Palace is huge as well. It was really neat, though, and I can't wait 'til we get back there again.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources.
One of the Things I've Learned 2007-03-22 04:30:00 One of the things I've learned over the past seven years of owning horses is that you learn as you go and to trust your instincts and what may work for someone else, may not work for you. For instance, for me it is better to give a new horse to your property significant time to adjust and build trust. And by this I don't mean a couple of weeks, I mean it took Misty about a year to know me and me to know her. I purchased Kola in September '06 and we are finally making progress towards trust. The example being that I've learned that Kola is a titch head shy and didn't take too kindly to worming. Now I wormed the girls this week and Kola brought her head down, took the wormer without even a flinch and she's beginning to allow to clear the occasional eye booger. Of course Misty witnessed the wormer being given and immediately stepped away, but just one "whoa" and my hand on her halter she too took her wormer without issue and that's normal for her. I know it's baby steps but anytim Read more:Learned
Suffolk Punch 2007-03-22 03:00:00 Here is a real SuffolkPunch
, original. I took this picture one of the times I was in England with my husband. He took me to a Shire Farm not far from Stratford Upon Avon. They had lots of animals and did demonstrations of the huge drafts and this boy was one of the rare real Suffolk Punch blood lines. I thought he was awesome and just gorgeous. Look at how stocky he is. To me he looks like a Punch should look like. When I compare him to a picture in a book of what one should look like, he's nearly perfect. Amazing!Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
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Auction! 2007-03-21 12:30:00 I've got a friend whose ex-husband sold two of her three horses last year during a divorce and she's fought hard to get them back only to find that they have been moved out of state. I know she doesn't have a lot of money to spend so I'm going to take her to a dispersal sale coming up this April at the PEC Sale Barn right near Jess's house. I've told my husband to make sure that I'm going without money in my pocket because I'm bringing my trailer and these horses go cheap these days and I'm a sucker. The horses are coming from a breeder in Iowa I believe and he bred mostly for color from what I hear and now he's getting out of the business. There is supposed to about 50 head of horse. Anyway, I'm kind of looking forward to it. I might find something irresistible. Don't tell my husband!Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Auction
Spring Means Mud 2007-03-21 12:15:00 Now that all the snow has melted and it's begun to rain, there is MUD! I hate the mud. My horses may like it. They love to roll in it. And it's a good excuse to get groomed. Of course when I'm out there I always manage to lose a boot in it. I can't wait for it to get a little warmer and dryer.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Spring
, Means
New Space, The Pasture! 2007-03-21 11:45:00 I have to laugh whenever I open the pasture. The girls usually get out there and start rolling and that triggers the dogs to bark and starts the girls moving which is funny because the two of them are as different as apples and oranges. Kola with her head held high, tail straight up in the air, legs flying outward and gaiting along. I'll then hear the thundering hooves of Misty who looks like a little wild mustang, neck stretched forward, ears pinned back and running with all of her might. Oh, I love to watch that! They just crack me up.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources. Read more:Space
, Pasture
My Big Sister's Horse 2007-03-21 11:30:00 Red is the one who probably started it all for me. My sister was about 11 years older than me and when I was about 3 years old, my Dad and sister, Roxie, got their horses. Big Red was my sister's quarter horse gelding and my Dad's horse was Ernie. Ernie was an even bigger light palomino gelding. I remember being sat upon Red and ridden around the yard. Dad and Roxie were always in the local holiday parades in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Ernie was beautiful to watch in the parades. He was always high steppin' and "dancing" in the parades once the marching bands got going. Of course then, Ernie was dancing, but I have no doubt now that my Dad's horse was more than likely a bit freaked over the noise in the parade and it took all that my could do to control the horse and keep him from bolting. There is an all horse parade every August in Clinton, Wisconsin. I might bring Misty or Kola up to that one this year. I think it would be fun and alot more safe than a noisy holiday parade locally.P Read more:Horse
Toots 2007-03-21 06:13:00 This is my friend Todd's Arabian mare, Toots. I borrowed Toots for about a month because my husband had a moment of interest of owning his own horse. A very fleeting moment of interest and we all thought Toots would be the perfect horse for him to learn on. He may have ridden her once, but his daughter, Becs, rode her a few times while she was here. Becs and I took Toots and Misty out to the local trails a few times. Toots is awesomely trained and well behaved. She self loads, backs out of the trailer, is easy going and is content to do whatever you ask of her. A very sweet little mare. Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources.
Thank-You All! 2007-03-20 01:47:00 I just wanted to send a Thank
-you to all I've contacted and allowed me to link. And a big Thanks! for those of you reading and commenting. :)Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources.
Why Steve no longer feeds the horses within their space. 2007-03-14 07:11:00 Sofia........Leave to me to end up with a horse who hasn't been fed properly prior to me getting them. And manners, well, what are those? Sofia was one of those horses. And when it came to grain, well, forget it. I don't think I've ever witnessed a more aggressive eater. The feeder would be smacked around with her face in it. Feet stompin' and diggin'! Ears pinned back. Beautiful little Morgan cross, though, especially out trotting in the pasture. At the time I had three. Sofia was the unweaned 10 month old that came free with the mare I had purchased. Alot of work to be done in the next couple of years. Never had been wormed, led, any of those basics, but not too bad, really. Sweet in her right, until it was time to eat that is. My husband, Steve
, completely inexperienced in anything to with horses would frequently feed for me as my work hours are long and at night and often I'm exhausted when I get home. He used to think of them, the horses that is, as big giant puppy dogs, ha Read more:within
My Very Patient Mare 2007-03-07 04:13:00 This is Misty, my very patient mare. I took her trail riding two summers ago with my new friend Todd, who was riding my gelding for me at that time, as it was the first time the gelding had been out on the trails and I wasn't sure if I could handle him. Anyway, this goes under that catagory....Won't do that again. Misty has a tendancy to hold her breath when you cinch up the saddle and I knew this, but I didn't bother to pull up the slack and mounted anyway( I used my trusty mounting bucket). As we're on the trail, probably about an hour into it, Misty moved left to side step a particularly large mud puddle and I leaned right to avoid the brush and low and behold, the saddle slid under Misty with me still in it and I was upside down head first in a mud puddle. She stood perfectly still. Such a good mare. Todd tried not to laugh and attempted to see if I was ok. I was fine, pride a little muddy, not to mention how stupid I felt. We ended up laughing so hard it took me a few tries to
Tony and Cassidy 2007-04-01 14:02:00 Tony shortly after birth.Tony at about 3 months old. Everyone with any connection to horses has an opinion on the closing of the "slaughter houses" With the government winning with these closings the horse industry has lost. No one has a problem with destroying thousands of unwanted cats and dogs. They get put down daily without making the news. Anyone that has to put down a horse and have it picked up pays $500.00 and up to "humanly" put down that animal. My dear mother finally confessed to me that it took 2 tries to put down Cassidy
's mother. I selfishly spent 2 days crying on the couch and she sat with my horse in her last moments. Even at my age I still need my mother, I can never thank her enough for all that she has done for me. I can hardly type through the tears and it's been three years. For some people it is easier to send them through an auction and not know for sure if the went there or not. My mare was in so much pain for so long I had to make the decision that still pai
Instinct and Advice? 2007-03-31 23:14:00 A few years back when I still had Sofia, she was about a 2 year old and had kicked through the lean-to. I had gotten up in the morning to feed to find this awful injury on Sofia. Her left rear hoof was cut to the bone right along the coronary band. Of coarse this was a weekend in muddy cold March so I call the vet and out she came. I made a small pen from training pen panels on the grass rather than mud, put Sofia in there and hosed off the wound. We sedated her , cleaned it thoroughly and wrapped it in a soft cast and gave antibiotics. Now Sofia was a free horse that came with her mother which I had purchased. She was nearly a year old when I got and still hadn't been weaned nor handled. Never imprinted. She'd given me my share of bruises, so even though we gotten pretty far with ground manners we still had a fair way to go so she wasn't easy to handle and the vets did not like her. When the vet suggested that I take her to a perfusionist to the tune of about 5 grand, I opted out.
On Groundwork 2007-04-05 01:47:00 When I had Sofia here without any training whatsoever, I enlisted the advice of many and one in particularly, Jeremiah taught me something that seemed to work quite well. We were working on leading and manners and respecting space. One thing he taught me that he had learned from his Grandad was to lead the filly facing her and walking backwards, a few steps at a time, gently putting both hands up in the air (not frantically waving them) and saying "whoa" at the same time. This stopped the horse. Reach your hand out slightly towards her and wait for her to bring her nose towards you and when she does, then gently touch her nose and face while stating praise. I did this with Sofia for several days a week and in about two weeks leading and respect was vastly improved. She began to follow me everywhere, even when I was just out walking the pasture. It was so very rewarding.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources.
Overcoming Fear 2007-04-03 16:29:00 After my accident last Spring, when Junior bucked me off and I ended up in the ER, naturally my shaky confidence was clearly shaken even more. It's important to be confident and relaxed when riding your horse because these animals are sensitive to their rider and if you're tense and nervous that will reflect on your horse's ability to listen to you and read the correct signals. That accident even made me hesitant over Misty who I've never really had an issue with and have always been comfortable with. So purchasing a new horse to ride last September made me think on how to overcome the fear of being injured, or doing a bad job, or being judged by others and I have semi-formulated a plan. I planned on not riding Kola until spring and letting her get used to me and her new home. And starting slow with her this spring, even if it means just getting her ready to ride and not actually going through with it until I'm confident with the actions of getting her ready ie: grooming, saddling
Kola's Nostrils 2007-04-05 11:42:00 This picture of Kola just cracks me up. All the better to smell you with. HeHeHe. Her nostrils look like big suction cups. Not her most flattering of pictures. Of course, I've got a few very unflattering pictures of my own. They say a person resembles their animals. I'm going to have to check out my nostrils in the mirror now. Of course the camera angle doesn't help.Please visit http://midwesthorse.blogspot.com/index.html
for more horse stories, information and resources.
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