Saturday is PhoBlog Day! Today… well, it was just one of those days…

July 31st, 2010

First of all, TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to help The Golden Carrot through the Bucket Fund.  Please, please help these wonderful folks who take in the older and forgotten horses.  Please offer your Starbucks money or your pocket change to purchase senior feeds and mushy hay for these older ladies and gents of the equine world.  Thank you.  It means so much to the lovely elder ones… ($1 – infinity, no donation is too small…)


school fundraising ideas

Um... could you help me here?

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO ME ON THE WAY TO GET A DRINK…

I saw this a while ago on FB.  There were at least 60 photos posted of this event.  The photographer was all over the place and the documentation was incredible.  I imagine that the photog was laughing a few times…

The ol' rope around the butt move...

Awww, whatja do that for? Now I'm all wet...

Nooooooooooooooo!

I told you, Nooooooooooooooooo!

Hey, is someone graining over there?...

Oh, I see where you're goin' with this...!

Don't pull so fast my legs are still in there!

Ouch! Geez, hold on, hold on!

Am I out?... I need to shake. Quit pulling!

I coulda done it on my own, y'know...

What I garnered from these photos (without any knowledge or proof) is that this young horse got himself into a trough.  He is just standing there, perfectly dry with the, “Can you, uh, fix this please?” look.

Who knows how he got himself in the trough, but he seemed to not be able to get himself out.

A bit nervous to see their prized youngster in peril, the ranch hand and the owner (probably the guy in the cream colored boots) try to get him out.

First the butt wrap.  Nope, that didn’t work.

Of course, the dunking… (I love this one!)

Then the rearing.

At this point the owner, who was earlier afraid to damage the poor baby, now is getting frustrated and starts yanking.

The horse pulls back…

Whoopsie!

And, finally, mid-rear, the humans realize that the colt will come down outside of the tank.

Yay!

The horse figures it out and walks off.  No worse for the wear, maybe a bit embarrassed and a lot smarter, hopefully…

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

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Women’s Horse Industry Association Conference.

July 30th, 2010

Have you heard of this?

First of all, there is the Women’s Horse Industry Association.  If you are a woman who owns/runs/works for an equine business, you might benefit from going to this website.  Check it out and see if it seems like a good idea for your business.  There are lots of pages with information, networking opportunities and ads.  You’ll get a good idea of how this Association boosts awareness of your company.

If you want to join the Association, it isn’t very expensive.  The woman who runs it, Catherine Masters, is very much into networking and keeping things evolving and flowing.  So, she is a good person to know about your business.  And, once you join, your business is highlighted front and center!  Everyone is introduced to you and you are given a huge packet of collateral to keep as a reference tool.

Personally, when I contacted Catherine, she immediately hooked me up with a few other individuals that she thought I should know.  This woman thinks fast and is very active in promoting women in business.  Having your business on her radar is good.  Here is Catherine’s resume.

THE CONFERENCE – Marketing your business, social networking and online marketing

This is an event you should review and consider.

The WHIA Conference, which is all about promoting your business through advertising, social networking and online marketing, is in Louisville, Kentucky – Sept. 22-23, 2010.  I wanted you to be aware of this event in case you think your business could benefit.  Again, it isn’t expensive.  (Southwest flies there and they have great rates at neighboring hotels…)  If you find that this is a good idea for you, I just read that discounts apply if you sign up by July 31st.  (I do not benefit; I’m just passing this on.)

What I like about this conference is that the room is set up for networking.  You are able to listen to all of the speakers and visit all of the vendors without missing anything.  I really appreciate when they set up conferences in this way.  And, they even have created time for simple “networking” where you can mill about and really meet people.  I find that sometimes at these events, you only have to meet that one person who can help your business radically.   Here is a link to learn about the details.

SHOWTIME!

Here is the lineup for the Conference as it stands today… but please go to the website to see updates and added speakers.

SCHEDULE
September 22, 2010    9:00 am – 4pm
CLICK ON SPEAKER TO READ BIO

WHIA – FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS
Colleen Pace-American Association of Riding Schools
MARKETING YOUR HORSE INDUSTRY BUSINESS Part 1
Lynn Baber
Jo Ann Challberg – DressageTrainingOnline.com
Lua Southard -Equine Resources International
Nanette Levin – BookConductors, LLC
Kate Richards Wilt – My Racing Heart, LLC

MAKING THE MOST OF SOCIAL NETWORKING
AND ONLINE MARKETING
Kimberly Kincheloe -BB&T Insurance
Cathy Ebsen- Web Services, Etc.
Tamara Meier- Riding Arts, Inc.
Sheryl Kursar -Equestrian Aid Foundation

MAKING MONEY IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY
Janet DelCastillo- Backyard Race Horse
Jennifer Foster – EQ Bookkeeping
Marie Taulbee – Laraedo Horse Farm Software

OPEN NETWORKING- DOOR PRIZE GIVE-A-WAYS
Registration is open starting at 8:00am
There will be a luncheon on this day with open networking

September 23, 2010   10:00 am – 4pm

KEEPING YOUR HORSES HEALTHY AND SAFE
Deb Metcalfe-Stolen Horses/Netposse

MARKETING YOUR HORSE INDUSTRY BUSINESS Part 2
Reisa Bonetti – DressageTrainingOnline.com
Wayne Hipsley – Hipsley and Associates

NEW TECHNIQUES/PRODUCTS THAT KEEP YOUR HORSE HEALTHY
Pat Cleveland – The Balanced Horse Project
Linda Rubin – Your Health 321, LLC

OPEN NETWORKING/ DOOR PRIZE GIVE-A-WAYS
There will be a luncheon on this day with open networking

TOTALLY FUN VIDEO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN WOMEN IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY

Click on image to see funny video of babysitting dog!


You may have all already seen this video of the dog babysitting the baby.  I just think it is adorable.  Even Hubby watched the whole thing with a huge smile.  Enjoy!
HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

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Zenyatta Fans come hither! … And, the most distant equine to Zenyatta, the Poitou.

July 29th, 2010

ZENYATTA HELPING OTHERS!

First off, I wanted to let you know about the Ebay auction going on right now for Zenyatta’s halter.  You get the halter (which she wore in April and May of 2010), a signed letter of authenticity plus 10 unique photos of her wearing the halter.  Also, the halter is signed by the trainer and warm-up jockey.   The bonus is that all the proceeds go to Southern California TB Rescue.  Cool!

Here is the auction link.  Go for it and help the other TBs out there who aren’t so lucky!

FROM ZENYATTA TO… WELL… NOT ZENYATTA, THE POITOU DONKEY.

Have you heard of this rare and endangered breed of donkey?  You may have seen the photos.  They are really big (14′ – 16′) with strong joints, large feet/legs and really long hair for a donkey.  But, not only is the hair long for a donkey, it is also very soft which leads to dreadlocks if they aren’t groomed.  The coat is black or brown with a grey underbelly, a white nose, white eye rings and no cross on his shoulders. The head is quite large and long, as well as his back, set on a strong neck and low wither.  The ears are often so large that they fall sideways.  Hee.

GENESIS

Poitou Stud

No one really knows how this breed started, but they do know where they were bred.  It was the Poitou region in France, hence the name.   Breeding records go back to 1717.

The idea behind this massive donkey was to create an even better mule through a hybrid cross with the Mulassier horse.  And, they were right because this mule became the mule to have and a phenomenal success for farm work.  This very large and very manageable mule hybrid became very, very  popular.  So popular that records indicate thatt 30,000 of these mules were sold per year!  Wow.

(The sad part is that not

Mulassier Draft Horse

only are the Poitou donkey and the Mulassier horse extremely rare and endangered, but I could only find two photos of this hybrid mule.  And, the name of the mule is in dispute as well.  I think it is Poitevin Mule, but not sure… )

Anyway, this very popular mule was big, strong, easy to manage, hearty, sure-footed and did I say, BIG…  The creation of this mule was quite a boost to the economy of the Poitou area of France.

Unfortunately, like with all previous uses of working equines, the engine came along so subsequently the demand for the Poitevin mule

Poitevin Mule

declined.   And, to add insult to injury, then came a few wars and the French started eating their Poitevin mules, Poitou donkeys and Mulassier horses.  I guess you can figure out what happened.

Yup, in 1977, there were only 44 Poitou Donkeys in existence anywhere.  There were even less Mulassier horses and I’m not sure if there were any of the hybrid mules.

Luckily, some wonderful folks decided to save the Poitou donkey from extinction!  Man taketh away, man giveth back.  And actually, there are now several preservation societies out there.  One of the main goals of the preservation societies is to keep the genetics honest.  So, the French have created two genetic books.  A and B  (simple enough).  The A Livre (means “book” in French, again simple…) has purebred Poitou donkeys and Poitou donkey sires.   The B book is open only to part-bred females who are the offspring of a pure-bred (inscribed Livre A) male and a female of unknown or Livre B status.  Partbred males are not allowed to breed female Poitous of any percentage.

Click on image for Donkey Sanctuary Webcam

So… only the purebred males can breed.  They are really trying to keep the genetics true.

SAVE THE POITOU

Up sprung an agency called SABAUD (Save the Baudet which means save the curls…) with a program designed to save the breed from extinction.    This group was joined by THE DONKEY SANCTUARY in the UK who brought aboard artificial insemination and modern advancements in genetics to help boost the levels or reproduction.

The Donkey Sanctuary group of Poitous are doing quite well.  In fact, you can read all about them and also you can view them on their Poitou webcam.  Cool!  I wish the webcam was closer but maybe they eat right below the camera.  I didn’t watch it for that long…  But, I do think it is really wonderful that we can watch animals that are facing extinction.  Nice.

There is also a private breeder in the UK that had four foals last year!  That is remarkable!  I’ve attached a few photos of the adorable babies.

IN THE UNITED STATES

In the US, there is a breeder in the Northwest.  I’m not sure if they sell any yet, but they are very serious about breeding.  It is called, The Northwest Poitou Donkey Institute.  I contacted them to ask questions about my very shaggy donkey, Norma, and Maryon was very kind.  So, if you wanted to learn more or help with the Institute, you could contact her at this link.

What I found really interesting is that on the East Coast, there is a reproductive agency called, HAMILTON RARE BREED FOUNDATION who has some Poitous for sale!  I’m guessing that since they specialize in artificial insemination, they must have a jenny and they must produce babies.  Anyway, here is their sales link.  They specialize in rare breeds like the Dales Pony, Choctaw Mustang, American Creme Draft (sounds like a light beer…) and the Poiou.

I think it is humorous that they have a Poitou gelding named, Nuisance, for sale…  Geez, not much of a chance of getting adopted with that name, eh?  But, this guy is Livre A which means he is purebred.  However, being a gelding, he cannot reproduce.

REGISTRY

There is a group in the US that helps donkeys in the US get their French registration.  A Poitou Donkey cannot be called a Poitou unless it has its French registration.  So, if you have a Poitou in need of registration, the Franco-American Baudet Breeders Association (FABBA),  in conjunction with the American Donkey and Mule Society (ADMS) is the official breeders liaison between the French Studbook and the American and Canadian breeders of Poitou Donkeys.

HOW MANY NOW?

The official French count is 800.  But, there appear to be maybe around 2000 if you include all those that are not registered.  Several zoos are now housing Poitous including Boston and Philly.

Oh, and the Poitous have a FaceBook page, imagine that…

So, all in all, the almost totally devastated Poitou Donkey is doing much better…  Yay for the good guys!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

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Engraved Horseshoes. Horse shoes as gifts. I had no idea…

July 28th, 2010

I’m glad that horseshoes mean good luck.  I mean, it is nice that something other than a weird little green man is our good luck charm.  At least I’ve seen wild horseshoes on occasion whereas I’ve never seen a leprechaun.

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW

But that in itself confuses me.

You see, when I find a horseshoe lying around, I get upset.  I don’t see the luck in it.  I see the, “Oh great, who lost a shoe now?”  And the, “I sure hope I get all the nails”… and the “Now I can’t go riding today or ever again since the farrier is so hard to get ahold of…” feelings.  I’m actually exasperated and a bit panicky when I find a random horse shoe.  I don’t see the good luck in it at all.

In hindsight, I guess it is good luck for the farrier.  But for me, that notion of good luck with a horseshoe has never stuck.  It wouldn’t occur to me to gift with a horseshoe when someone is moving into a new house or getting married.

“Here, I picked this horseshoe up off of the ground and I’m giving it to you.  Um, Finn lost this, which is bad luck for me, but if I give it to you, you will have good luck, I think…”

Still, having said that, I have to acknowledge that my barn has one hanging in the first stall and my back door has one cemented into the pavers.  I didn’t put them there, the previous owner did.  And, we’ve been fairly lucky.  So, maybe they do work.  Dunno.

I guess my point is that horseshoes as a good luck gift have not been on my radar.

Jim Brandvik, the artist

So, when I stumbled upon this guy who engraves them, I was like a monkey with a foreign object.  I kept looking at the website and turning the photos all around…  I was fascinated that someone thought to do this.  And, not only as a good luck gift, but also as a keepsake.

JIM BRANDVIK

That’s his name, Jim Brandvik,  and this is his website.  And, you really should CLICK ON THE  PHOTOS in this blogpost to see the items larger.  The detail is really amazing!

As a kid growing up on a ranch, he liked to draw.   As time went on, he melded the two together by drawing on horse shoes.

In his own words, “An engraver must be part metal-smith, part alchemist, part artist and part machinist. Any one of these vocations would suit me, but the amalgamation of them all suites me completely.”  Cool.

Now after perusing his website, I get it.  I understand how horseshoes can be a lovely gift…

FANCY

The design I liked the best was the first picture I’ve added here.  These are very fancy and a tribute to Roy Rogers.  You really need to click on the photo to see the detail here.  They have gold inlay, gemstones and are just gorgeous!

Mico's shoe

I really don’t know where I would put this in my house since I wouldn’t want to cement this into a walking path or hang it in a dusty barn.  But, I’d sure like to have it…  I’d figure out the place later.  And, if I had this horseshoe, I certainly would have good luck!

KEEPSAKE

I loved this idea… A woman gave Jim the last pair of shoes that her beloved horse, Mico, had worn.  The story made me weep.   She sent Mico’s shoes to Jim and she asked Jim to engrave them with her sentiments.

Wow.  I wish I had thought of that when I lost Aladdin.  It makes total sense to me as a keepsake.  Often a horse is not buried at home.  Or, if he is, you still might want a keepsake inside the house.  I know that I have a photo of Aladdin on my desk.   But, if I had known about this at the time, I would have kept his shoes.

Horseshoe nail pendant

I like this idea because it holds his memory.  He actually wore them.  They are a part of him…

Anyway, Jim polished up Mico’s old shoes and engraved them.  Lovely.

WEDDING GIFT/HOUSEWARMING/ANNIVERSARY

I really had no idea how many ways you could use a horseshoe.  And, it is amazing to me how an artistic hand makes such a difference!  I can totally see how a polished and beautifully engraved horseshoe would make a fine gift!  Here is a link to his designs.

JEWELRY

I think, if you are around metal and horseshoes, you probably see lots of horseshoe nails…

I loved this sweet design for a pendant made out of a horseshoe nail.  How clever!  And, I really appreciate when an artist has a piece that is relatively inexpensive so that most of us can share in his creativity.

Also, I thought this WIDE cuff was beautiful!  If you click on the photo, you can see the detail…

The last photo of the smaller cuff bracelet shows the engraving on the inside and the outside.  Plus a little diamond on both sides as well!  I think any Cowgirl would love one of those!

Awesome!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

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We’re PUBLISHED! And, that sinking feeling…

July 27th, 2010

WE ARE PUBLISHED!

WAHOO!! We are published! Horse and Man, the blog, got a full page in the August issue of Horse and Rider (page 16)!

Yay!

They did edit the story in order for it to fit, but that’s OK by me!  Yay!  We love you Horse and Rider!

If you don’t get the magazine, and haven’t already read the story, here is the original link for, “THE HARDEST FIX”.

THAT SINKING FEELING

Knife through the heart.

I’m in that phase with BG, who is new to trail riding, where she turns tail and vanishes if I have a halter in my hand and the truck is running…

Now, that might not seem so bad to you all, but it devastated me.  She used to looove to see me.  She’d wait at the gate with her big bro, Finn, and be so eager for me to put the halter on HER instead of Finn.  OOOOhhh, pick me, pick ME!

But now, if I start the truck and then indicate that she is the one who is going in the trailer with me… she runs.  She runs fast.  I’m lucky if I see anything of her besides a huge dust plume in her wake.  Big Brother Finn just stands there chuckling like Muttley.  Heh Heh Heh.

Finn and BG, as they usually appear..."Pick Me!"

And I know this always happens.  The newbie green trail horse always goes through this “I’m not gonna” phase.  It happened with Aladdin and Gwen and Tess and Damien and Finn.  They all do it.

Still, every time, it breaks my heart.

HOW I SEE IT

It always happens the same way.  First, the brand new riding horse is eager to go into the trailer for his first, new adventure!  Exciting!  Then, when he arrives, he is excited and is looking forward to whatever happens.  You saddle him up and make him work.  Wha?  Huh?  “I have to lead?!”  And, it goes downhill from there…

Any other horse they see, they call out and try to join.  Any person, any dog, any living entity — rabbit, squirrel,  is better than having to walk, alone, down a trail with Mom on your back…  She’s so heavy.  He knows a lion is sure to get him with so much weight on his back…  And then, the bikers and strollers!  Oh My!  Trail Riding is a lot more fun in theory than in practice for a new horse.  He has to do so much thinking!  And then, when his little horsey mind is so tired that he just wants to stick his nose into someone else’s tail, you ask him to cross water!  After that gauntlet, you hose him down – yikes – and then put him back into the bouncy trailer on jelly legs.

And so it goes with the newbie green trail horse.   They see you coming; they run.

SAD MONSTER

So, when I started the truck this morning and meandered over to her pasture calling her name, you can guess what I found.  Nothing.  Yup, she was GONE.  I could see the dust, however… and Finn was doing his Muttley impression.

I felt like a horrible monster.  HERE I COME LITTLE HORSEY…    (the music looms) dum de dumdum   And my little mare says, “Eeeeeeee, she’s coming for me!!  I’m gonna die.  She’s gonna hurt me!  Hide me, little tree, hide me. (The little bush is obviously too small, even to her… so she runs to Finn) Ohhhhh, hide me Big Brother, hide me!  (Finn looks at her and smiles and laughs, No Way Little Sis!)  Ahhh gasp!  dum de dumdum…

Sigh.

BG, she's new at the whole riding thing...

I’m not a monster.  I treat her really well.  I know that her tack fits and I know she has a good life.

I also know that they all do this when playtime starts becoming worktime.  I know this.

But, even though I know this is a phase, and, even though I know they all get over it, and even though I know that I do everything I can to make sure they are comfortable and happy, it crushes me.

HER POINT OF VIEW

Of course I have no idea what she is really thinking…  I just try to surmise what she is thinking as I walk away, lip quivering.  And to me, it is something like this…  My little filly is growing up and I’m asking her to think/lead for herself.  No herd.  No Mommy.   Snort!  What?  No Leader?  How can I follow YOU when you are sitting on me?

She looks right at me and I can hear her little fuzzy voice, “This is too hard, you are stoopid and I’m not going to do it.”    Sound familiar?

TEENAGERS

BG contemplating if she should run away RIGHT NOW!

For those of you with 12-13 year old humans in your household, you know EXACTLY what I mean.  This is the time in their lives where they become sullen, incredibly forgetful and “I don’t know” is their mantra. “What happened to the cat?”  I don’t know.  “Why didn’t you do your chores/dishes/brush your hair?”  I don’t know.  “How do you expect to collect on your allowance?”  I don’t know, but I need money.  “For what?”  I don’t know.

And, it continues…

Truly, in my mind, this is the pattern of a young person who thinks they are rebelling against you but actually, they are rebelling against growing up.  They want to have all the powers of the leader without having to actually lead.

She runs to the furthest corner and I'm crushed

Oy.  Obviously I have a teenage horse standing in her pasture, checking her email and totally ignoring me while she visits the chatrooms of her mind… hoping I will continue to give her treats but not make her do anything responsible.

OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE AND INTO THE FIRE

Now, part of me can understand her reluctance.  She did come with me on the last three trial runs.  And, she didn’t have the best time.  We had a few trailer rides, we met lots of other horses, she had to lead, she met inconsiderate biker people (which I wrote about previously), she had to cross water, go around boogeyman corners, remember her gaits, walk uphills and downhills slowly and remember to breathe. And worst of all, she had to eat a Granola bar when everyone knows that her favorite treat is an apple.

Did you want me?

Ugh.  Hard work.  No thank you.  I’d rather not.

So she runs away when I, who used to be her hero, comes into the field with a halter and the truck running.

REDEMPTION

I knew I couldn’t just let this go.  I knew I had to go back out there and try again.  No matter how hot it was outside or how much my feelings were hurt, I knew I had to break through this temporary phase.

So, I walked to her pasture with just the halter and no truck running.  Yup.  She ran over to me.  BG was her same lovely, teenage self.  As I rubbed her I spoke softly and told her that we had to do this.  We had to build our bond and it would mean a lot to me if she enjoyed trail riding as much as I did.  And, I told her we were going to go out first thing tomorrow morning, no matter what form of trickery I had to use to catch her…  She was listening and nodding earnestly.

Then I told her how hurt I was and asked her why she ran away from me this morning…

She turned her soulful brown eyes onto me and with the very familiar expression of my 13 year old daughter, she sighed, “I don’t know.”

Figures.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

Posted in Horse Stories, Humor | No Comments »

A Sponsor’s Golden Heart.

July 26th, 2010

Giving to horses in need is a very noble thing…  I honor anyone who helps the horses.

For me, I tend to dump my Piggy Bank when I hear of horses in desperate situations.  You know the type… THIS HORSE IS GOING TO SLAUGHTER IN AN HOUR or, THIS MARE IS GOING TO FOAL ON THE WAY TO MEXICO or, THIS HORSE WHO WAS A KIDS’ PONY IS GOING TO THE KILL BUYERS TONIGHT!…  You know the drill.  The ones in immediate peril usually pull on my purse strings.

But, what about all the other horses who need ongoing help?  Who helps them?  Who are the tortoises in the human group, eh?  Who are the people who drop a coin in their horsey bank account day in and day out?   The Sponsors.  Those who sponsor a horse have decided to put their pennies together for the slow and steady long haul.  God bless ‘em!

It is the sponsors who guarantee the rescues.  It is the sponsors who pledge to keep the sanctuaries running.

So, today, I’m going to tip my hat towards a couple of wonderful sponsors of THE GOLDEN CARROT, our Bucket Fund Equine Charity for this month.  (If you’d like to learn more about THE GOLDEN CARROT, a sanctuary for the old, sick and abandoned horses, please click here.)

Now, onward to these very moving stories of why these women help…

First up, in her own words Shela tells us why she sponsors both Cha Cha and Duke.  Cha Cha is a 34 year old Appy mare whose previous owners called her anorexic because she was losing weight in a paddock with three other, younger horses who were stealing her food.  Luckily, with the great care at TGC, Cha Cha recovered from her “anorexia” as soon as she was fed alone.

Duke is a 22 year old QH who is very crippled but is thriving at TGC.

“I came to TGC about 6 months ago…only at the request of a disabled friend who had heard about it and wanted to see the horses.  The person who left the ranch that day was a different person than the one who entered it a couple of hours before.  I had no previous experience with horses…I’m a dog person…and a little intimidated by the bigger guys.

Cha Cha, the "anorexic" 34 year old Appy mare...

But, there I was, in the middle of a herd…having a tour…seeing horses that had been worked to the point of injury, used-up and discarded…some would see them as broken-down old nags…I saw beauty, grace, dignity, spirit, love, gratitude, trust.  Their stable area, which is more about function than form and Casey jokes about its less than pristine appearance…well, I saw a clean, safe place to have dinner and spend the night out of the weather.

Duke, the old but handsome, crippled gentleman

And the woman with the long strawberry braid down her back…she had so much to teach, I could tell…the way the horses responded to her…her skill with them…the mutual trust.  I didn’t want to leave this place. What happens there is something quite extraordinary.

I first thought of sponsoring a TGC horse as a Christmas gift for my grandniece, so it didn’t start out as being about a particular horse. I went to Casey’s website to read about each of the horses…which one needed us the most?  I chose ChaCha Native Dancer because she was very old, a little scraggly looking and somewhat aloof…I guess no one else had thought her particularly appealing.

Shela and Duke

She is beautiful to me…and I don’t mind that she doesn’t want to nuzzle…it’s not about me, after all.  This old gal has enough spirit and leadership qualities to compensate for her disabilities and oversees the other mares with confidence.  I respect and honor her.

Later, as I got to know more of the horses as individuals, I chose Duke because I didn’t want him to leave us without a sponsor. He’s so old and disabled, yet you can see his desire to keep on moving through each day, one at a time.  He’s kind and sweet and patient…I’ve spent hours grooming him…and he allows me to hug him.  I adore this horse and feel so privileged to know him. I’m very grateful to Casey for watching over him and allowing him to spend whatever time he has left with dignity and knowing he’s loved.  When it’s Duke’s time, he will let me know which of his friends he’d like me to sponsor in his place, and I will do it in his memory.”

Let’s help her out, eh?  Let’s support TGC and their sponsors who love the unwanted horses…
Next up we have Margaret who sponsors Sara, the 21 year old Belgian/TB mare.
“I had a horse when I was a kid.  But was stupid and let my high school activities come between Bayla and I.  My father sold her to someone.  Who, I do not know.  My horse “bug” was dormant for years.  I got back to horses when I was watching the Kentucky Derby when Eight Belles went down.  For some reason her death really bothered me.  I went online to search for information on her.

Sara, the very sweet BIG older gal...

I found the Alex Brown discussion forum and began to read.  What an education I received.  I learned for the first time about the horrors of slaughter.  I learned about horse rescues and rescurers.  I learned about horses who were thrown away when they, for whatever reason, became inconvenient to their owners.  One day I read on that forum about a horse that had been abandoned in a California desert and about the rescue that took him in.  I found that rescue’s website and started reading.  I read about Casey and the residents of The Golden Carrot.  Then I saw the picture of Sara.  Oh wow!  She looks a LOT like my Bayla.  I read about her.  Oh wow!  She crashes through things, just like my Bayla did.

Sara nudging Margaret, the carrot lady...

I contacted Casey to see if Sara was unsponsored.  Low and behold, Casey still needed a sponsor for Sara.  Unfortunately I do not earn enough money to do a full sponsorship of Sara.  But each month I send what I can.  I told Casey that I wanted to sponsor her FRONT half!  I also have a “Spare Change For Sara AKA Miss Piggy” jar on my desk.  I throw my coins in it and when I get to $20, I send it to Casey to use however she needs.  I work at a music store and several of my coworkers and customers add their change on occasion.

I had the opportunity to visit TGC last year to meet Casey and Sara.  That was the first time I was in the midst of a herd of horses just wandering around.  I loved it!  I was covered with horsey slobber!  What a wonderful experience that was!  I am hoping to get back there one day, possibly to actually ride Sara.

Thank you HORSE AND MAN, for picking TGC as your Bucket Fund recipient!”

I know the horses at TGC are already “saved”, but care doesn’t end there…  I really want our July Bucket Fund to help shoulder the load for these folks who take in the abondoned horses during their golden years.

Please let’s band together and fill the Bucket with our appreciation. I’m asking you to donate to the Bucket Fund now.   Just put a drop in the bucket (anything from $1 to infinity) to hold the hand of those lovely few who carry the weight each month.

Thank you, everyone, for caring about the forgotten ones! It is so appreciated.

If you feel moved by this and wish learn about all the levels of sponsorship, please click here and meet the older horses that need you.
HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

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Totally Hysterical Dog Video and My Kinda Belt Buckles!

July 25th, 2010

OH MY GOSH!  I spit up my coffee when I saw this video.  You have to look at this.  It is called, “Not a Morning Dog”.  OMG.  The owner is trying to get his sleeping dog to “go outside” in the wee hours…

Click here or on the photo to watch the video.

SWEETBIRD STUDIO, MY FAV!

Well, a while ago I told you about Sweetbird Studio because they make bridle/saddle charms that can be personalized.  I have one for Finn and I just love it!  Here is a pic of the charm.  You can order one here.

Anyway, while flipping through Cowboys and Indians Magazine today, I saw this photo of belts.  Of course my eyes screeched to a HALT as I scanned the print to see who made these.  And, of course it was Sweetbird Studio!  Actually, it says Anderson and Allison… So, there are two artists involved here (other website to be reviewed later).  But the buckle images were on the Sweetbird Studio site.  I went there.

This was the ad in Cowboys and Indians Magazine

Yowsa!!  There were so many one-of-a-kind belt buckles, I almost had to go breathe into a brown bag.  I was hit with the vapors as I feasted my eyes upon the plethora of wonderful, waistband decor!  Ooooohhh, lala!  Ladies, I suggest you peruse the site to find your favorites!  I will list several here.  I tried to pick a rounded selection but obviously, I picked what I liked.  So, please go check out the buckles and …  if you don’t see what you like, she can probably whip somethin’ faboo up for you!

OK, I don’t know where to begin so I’ll just start.  Enjoy!

As Tony the Tiger would say, “Have a GRRRRRReat Sunday!”

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

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Saturday is PhoBlog Day… And today, a PhotoJournal of the Mustangfilly kind!

July 24th, 2010

ANOTHER BABY MUSTANG IN THE ORPHANAGE

Mike calling Shirley

Mike finds a newborn, entangled in the sack and umbilical, abandoned.

Remember our Bucket Fund baby, Iron Man?  (If not, you can read it here…) Well, Shirley has taken in another tiny baby foal filly.  This baby was found on the lot where the entire herd of 169 rescued Mustangs were transported after they were saved by an incredible group of great people a few weeks ago (link).

Mike untangling the baby

Well, now the number of rescued mustangs has moved to 170…

The newborn filly was found yesterday, tangled still in her sack and umbilical cord.

Mike carries the baby to Shirley's truck

The good people tried to reunite her with her dam but the young mare was having none of it.  After a while the decision was made to treat the filly as an orphan and Shirley was called in.  The strong arms of Mike carried the baby to Shirley in her foal-proof back seat of the truck.

Once in the foal room,

Summer in Shirley's foal proof truck

“Summer” was administered to, fed the best colostrum other than Mom’s, and everyone was exhausted.  Nap time.

They’ve named the baby Summer because of the unusual season for a mustang birth.  So far so  good.

Much needed colostrum...

Hopefully, this little girl will continue to grow strong with the wonderful Shirleycare.  If you’d like to contact

Naptime for all...

Shirley and help this baby, click on the link and the donate button is mid-page on their link.  Enjoy the photos on this wonderful Saturday.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

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The Fabulous Zipper Sound and other short stories…

July 23rd, 2010

THE FABULOUS ZIPPER SOUND

The Fabulous Zipper Sound.  Do you know it?  My riding horses know it well… In fact, I think they tell each other to listen for it.  I think they pass down the knowledge from saged trail mount to newbie trail tripper.  “Have you heard it yet?  Well, wait for it… “

Yup.  And, it is entirely my fault.  I did this to them.  I created the sound that makes all activity stop.  I created the sound that makes my thundering horse screech to a halt.  And do you know how?  By storing Nature Valley Granola bars in my ugly zipper reverse fanny pack.

I digress.  Do you have an ugly reverse fanny pack?  I call it ugly, well, because it is… and I call it a reverse fanny pack because it really is supposed to be a fanny pack but I wear it in front – even uglier – because I got tired of squishing the contents.

Now, I pretty much think all fanny packs are ugly.  But, this one is especially ugly.  Not just because it is older than the hills, but because it is made of neon neoprene (which may be actually back in style now) and it is just small enough to look like a tummy tumor instead of a pack.

Why do I wear such a lovely fashion item when I’m riding?  Well, have you ever been separated from your horse when your horse is carrying the truck keys?  I have.  ‘Nuff said…

So, I carry the reverse fanny pack which always contains my phone, my keys and a food item.  Lately, it has been carrying Nature Valley Granola bars.

FINN frozen in his cookie stance, ear cocked towards the zipper sound...

Now, here is where the power of the Zipper Sound comes to life.  You see, if I so much as think about moving towards the zipper pouch tied to my stomach, the horse hesitates… “Is she going THERE?!  Will she give me some of that granola manna from horsey heaven?  Should I stop and look at her sweetly?!”…    So, you see how it goes.  I lean ever so slightly towards opening my pouch and whomever I am riding stops dead in their tracks and becomes a begging horse statue.  Hmmmmmm.

Interestingly, these horses o’ mine are not foolhardy with their sliding stops.  They have learned to not bother if they feel my phone buzzing first.  The buzzing is a precursor to me making the zippy noise but NOT giving them anything.  However, the even more annoying part about the bad behavior I have just trained into my horses is that they will do this if I am just checking my phone messages.

Finn, mid chew, still frozen... we both win.

You know why, right?  Because I usually do give them a bite if I’m checking my messages.  I’m a really good trainer.

Sigh.

But, the great news is this!!  Yesterday, Finn was acting like a goofball and I needed him to pay attention.  He refused to settle down when I was with a group of people.  I knew I needed to be subtle because I was worried that he was going to upset another horse in this novice group so I… wait for it…  just ZIPPED!  OMG.  He stopped rock-solid still immediately and ever so sweetly looked back at me.  It was Perfect!  Beautiful!  The best statue pose ever!

So now I know what to do when he is being a butthead.  Zippety Do Dah!

WHY WEAR FULL CHAPS WHEN IT IS SO HOT OUTSIDE?

Yup.  I can still hear myself saying that.  I’m one of those that never wears full chaps in the summer.  Ugh, too  hot.

But today, I learned a lesson.  Today, I had to dismount and walk for a ways to retrieve something I had dropped.  Prickly prick prickky pinch stab stabbbby pointy pin prick ouwwey prickery blach.

You will never hear me say, “I could never wear full chaps in the summer!” again.  Silly me.

ROY ROGERS ITEMS SAFE AT THE AUTRY MUSEUM

I know that many of you were terribly upset to learn that Roy Roger’s keepsakes and personal items from his museum were sold after the museum closed. 

Well, I know… but the good news is that many of his pieces were bought by the Autry Museum.  Here is a direct quote from the Autry:

“The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Archive, and key artifacts representing their entertainment career spanning more than 50 years, have found a permanent home at the Autry in Southern California.  The Autry s dedicated to preserving Roy and Dale’s legacy and our Western heritage.”

That is nice to know, eh?  Website:  www.TheAutry.org

Trigger and Bullet went to RFD-TV.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

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LAMINITIS Shoes and Clogs… Glue and screws vs nails.

July 22nd, 2010

(First up: I am making an order for LG bridles from Germany.  Anyone else want to get in on this order?  It takes about a month to get these.  Email me asap if you’d like one (horseandman@gmail.com)  Here is the reference link:  http://horseandman.com/tack-thoughts/go-bitless-and-feel-secure-i-love-my-lg-bridle-and-so-do-5-of-my-horses/)

Now, back to the original programming for today…  ;)

LAMINITIS.

Oy.  If you have ever dealt with this, you know what I mean. It is difficult to catch on time and if you don’t, it can be very difficult to heal and treat.  The horse is sore so he doesn’t want to pick up his foot.  The unsore feet become sore because of excess use.  To top that, Laminitis can become chronic.  Oy again.  And, sadly, Laminitis can be fatal if it turns into fully rotated Founder.  So, the term Laminitis should not be taken lightly.  It sends shivers through the barn…

Click for rotation animation

Now, I’m not going to go into Laminitis except to say that it is not Founder (here is a link).  Founder is when there is bone rotation or sinking.  Laminitis is the inflammation of the laminae.  You can have Laminitis without Founder.  But, you cannot have Founder without Laminitis.  Laminitis is a precursor to founder.

Here is are two little movies that show how rotation and sinking differ.  Click on the photos and they will animate.

Click for sinking animation

Anyway, those of you who have fought chronic Laminitis know how difficult and painful this is for your horse.  In order to get better, he has to feel relief.  But, how do you get him the relief without creating pressure?

The long often used fix is to tape a styrofoam or stiff foam pad on the hoof, bed the stall deeply, cut out all protein rich foods and wait.  Many times, if the Laminitis was caught really early, this worked.

But if you don’t catch it in time, there are some new shoeing products that are out there which have been getting rave reviews!

Have you heard of the EDSS system?

EDSS SYSTEM

EDSS stands for Equine Digital Support System.   If you look on the website, there seem to be a lot of pieces and it may appear complicated.  But, it isn’t complicated if you are a competent farrier.  Even a layman can understand the basics.  Here are the Cliff Notes.

1)  Have a great farrier work on your horse using these products.

2)  The idea is to avoid nails (concussion) by using screws or glue, if possible

3)  The pad/lifts and support systems are added to the bottom of the shoe so you don’t have to take the shoe off to change the pads or the angles!

Let me say that again so it has the full effect… THE PAD/LIFTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS ARE ADDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE THE SHOE OFF TO CHANGE THE PADS!  Wowee!  This is the best thing since sliced bread!  That right there is the most awesome idea for sore hooves ever!  If you can apply a shoe ONCE and then change the supports at any time without more invasion, the horse is so much better off.  Yay Howdy!

I am a fan of this system because I know that my mare turned the corner when we used a hospital plate on her.  And this is far better than a hospital plate.  You see, the notion of not having to hammer on a sore foot to make a change is WONDERFUL.  And, you can make subtle changes much easier since you do not need to pull the shoe.  You just apply what you need to the outside.  So, less trauma, more healing.

The shoe can be glued on, screwed on or nailed on — whatever will work best for your horse.  And, if you don’t have any foot to nail, they have just created a plate that works for that, too!

Cuff shoe for when there is no wall

I’m so thrilled that these farriers and doctors who created EDSS have joined together to invent these systems that ease hoof pain.

STEWARD CLOGS

I had never heard of these.  Then, my friend told me how her horse, Angel (the same one who had the HBOT experience), due to an acute illness has been fighting chronic laminits for years and the STEWARD CLOG has been the answer.  Bar none, the Steward Clog has saved her horse.  You can watch Angel’s story here.  As you can see, her laminitis was bad.  Very bad.  Angel now wears the Clogs and is happily pastured with her buddies.  Unbelievable if you’ve ever gone through chronic laminitis…

The Clog has actually brought the rotation back to 0 degrees.

First though, you need a wonderful farrier to apply these (here is an instruction guide link).  They are rubber and are glued to the hoof.  Then, the series of wedges and supports are applied to the bottom of the clog depending upon the needs of the horse.  Again, no need to pull the clogs to change any angles.  This is a great benefit because the shoeing process alone can aggravate the situation.

And, the Clogs come in most sizes (pony to draft) or can be specially made if your horse is bigger or smaller.

My friend swears by these Clogs.  In fact, she sent photos of her horse, Angel, and the shoeing process.  I’ve attached one below of Angel in her Clogs.

Angel's feet after a Steward Clog application

As another testament to these Clogs, I know that a horse with chronic laminitis or founder will run to the back of the stall when they see the vet/farrier coming.  But, not with this Clog.  Nancy says that her horse is not sore or lame after the application at all.  Angel trots and bucks right after getting her new Clogs!  Imagine that. Her horse is NOT LAME OR SORE after the application and can be turned out immediately.  Wow.  (sorry for shouting…)

Angel, a horse with chronic laminitis who, according to Nancy, has all of her personality back — front and center!  She is doing great!

Angel (rear), with chronic laminitis, is living pain free with the Steward Clog!

NOT JUST FOR LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER – MANY SORE HOOVES BENEFIT!

These are for sore hooves of any sort… they even work for High Ring Bone, White Line Disease (when a resection is done), and Collateral Ligament Injuries, plus any other lameness that requires stable support and multi-direction breakover.

So, all you folks with sore hooves, please check into these shoeing systems.  Here is the link again.  Scroll down to see the Clogs.  And, if you know of a friend who has these issues with a horse, please pass it along.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

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