Most people who enjoy sharing their life with horses also enjoy other outdoor activities, and for a great many of us, that includes gardening. I have always loved gardening with herbs and heirloom flowers, and enjoyed finding ways to incorporate the herbs in beneficial ways with the purebred dogs that I bred and exhibited. Now, I am having to relearn everything as my focus has narrowed on our horses.
When we moved from our old homestead, I left behind my herb garden. In the "new place" (how many years does it take before the 'new' wears off? We're in the 7th year now and I'm still not really settled in...of course, there were three generations of roots at the old place) I haven't been able to get anything really established, although I do have little "mini gardens" here and there with groupings of the herbs that I use the most. I have lots of friends who herb garden that luckily are generous with their clippings, and there's always my friends at www.herbalcom.com to fill in the gaps with affordable bulk priced herbs.
When you're choosing plants to grow in your garden, you'll need to do as much research as possible before you head for the nursery. There will sometimes be several species of the same plant available (if you're lucky and have a well stocked herb nursery nearby, certainly the array of possiblities online is staggering). The last year I had my old herb garden I had almost 20 different varities of mints in a special "mint garden" made up of different heights of concrete pipe standing on end on top of concrete blocks (mint likes to travel, and it likes to marry outside its race, so its roots must be kept contained and above ground as much as possible). Sometimes one variety of an herb may be more potent than others. Know your species!
Most herbs like sunny beds, so be sure to choose a spot for your herb garden that doesn't get more than a couple of hours a day of shade. When the plants are newly set out, they'll need lots of water and some tend to be very tender so may need temporary "roofs" made out of tented newspaper. (After they get stronger, simply tear up the newspaper and poke it beneath the mulch, it's a great source of vitamins for the soil.) If you set out plants before the last threat of frost is gone, cut the bottom out of milk jugs and large soda bottles and place the bottle over the plants. Remove the lids during the day and replace them at night. You can also make slow waterers out of small plastic soda bottles. Take a nail and punch small holes in the bottom of the bottle. Bury the bottle up to its neck near the roots of the plant. Remove the lid (they can be recycled) and fill with water. The water will soak out slowly to the roots and you can easily refill the bottle when it's empty. This is a great water saver as well, since y ou're not watering a lot of unnecessary area. This works for the garden, potted plants and hanging baskets using bottles of any shape or size.
If you're growing your own herbs, you have to absorb a lot more information than someone does who just opens a jar and measures. Different herbs must be harvested in different ways, including what part of the plant is beneficial and what is not. With some herbs you use just the seeds, flowers, roots, leaves or stems, and in some cases the whole plant. Some are most beneficial when fresh, some need to be dried. You'll also need to learn the best time to harvest each part. Some leaves should be picked early in the morning on sunny warm days, most roots can be dug almost anytime and stems should be picked according to how potent you want them to be. Before you begin harvesting, it takes a while to prepare a place for the drying or bottling and gathering the supplies that will be necessary.
During the year, I rinse out every small plastic or glass bottle and jar that I empty, run it through the dishwasher and store it in a box I keep under my sink. When it's time to harvest my herbs, I have a supply of interesting sizes and shapes of containers without having to purchase any. Recycling at its best! I ask friends to save me their baby food jars, fruit and veggy jars, wine bottles, even interesting shaped drink bottles. Everything has its use eventually.
I use a lot of herb vinegars for both human and horse consumption, so I try to keep a lot of wine bottles on hand. If I die in an accident and someone comes in to clean my home (may the Lord have mercy on their soul) they're going to be certain I was a closet wino, for I have box after box of wine bottles. I hope they notice that the labels have been removed (unless they were interesting or humorous) and they're washed and ready to be reused. I also am always on the lookout for good quality apple cider vinegar on sale, and when I find it I stock up. I'm sure an "outsider" might wonder why anyone would need 10 gallons of vinegar. Must be making a looooot of pickles! Remember when you're dealing with vinegar, that "icky" stuff that floats in it is a VERY good thing, and the more it has the better its healing qualities. That "ick" is called the "mother" and if you are lucky enough to have found vinegar that is growing it, you can take out small quantities of it and add it to wine, cider or cheaper vinegars to produce good quality vinegars.
One good standby vinegar for a tonic for daily feeding that will help build up a horse's immune system as well as aid digestion and increase strength in hooves contains apple cider vinegar, rosehips, garlic and fenugreek. Mix together well and store in a cool dry place. Feed a little more than a tablespoon for an average sized horse. If you have a horse that has kidney or bladder issues, try adding a bit of apple cider vinegar to his drinking water. Most horses love the taste, so they drink more which helps flush the system, and the acid in the vinegar helps heal the damage.
There are lots of different ways to "prepare" herbs for use - infusions, decoctions, tinctures, teas, fresh herbs, wilted herbs, dried herbs, poultices and compresses, salves and ointments, essential oils, and flower essences. There's no 'right way' or 'wrong way' there's only what works best for you. Do your research and ask a lot of questions, then do what fits your lifestyle, your horse's individual needs and in some cases, your pocketbook.
The most important thing to remember, whether you purchase your herbs or grow them, is to work with a veterinarian when diagnosing and treating your horses. Be sure you always tell your vet that you are treating with herbs, so he does not prescribe something that could have an adverse reaction. Some herb and drug combinations can have fatal results.
I firmly believe we are killing our planet with our careless use of pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers and other chemicals. Try to keep your herb garden as organic as possible. Certainly if you're a horse-owner you won't need to purchase any fertilizer!
Grow in good health!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Dr. Nature I Presume?
One of the things of which I am most proud in my life is that I have been able to help make a difference to some very deserving animals that were destined for death or worse.
When a newcomer arrives that is distrustful of humans and other animals and is unable to believe his good fortune in waking up into a world with plenty to eat and little to fear, the first thing we do is not to smother him with kindness or stuff him with tasty tidbits, but simply put him in a natural landscape and allow him to assimilate all the new knowledge of his surroundings.
With little fanfare, he is given plenty of grass, a few flakes of hay and a full barrel of clean water. We allow him to stay there a day or two, either alone or with a well-socialized horse, before attempting any kind of physical contact that he doesn't ask for. (If a horse is yearning for attention, they let you know without any doubt, and of course we are all ready to step in and offer as much as they can handle!)
Nature can heal wounds that many of us may not even know exist. I know when my soul is damaged or my heart is aching, a walk in the woods can bring a peace when nothing else can. Listening to bird song is greater therapy than any professional can give, and the feel of the breeze across your face is far more relaxing than any masseuse's fingers. Hearing the leaves crunch beneath your feet is therapeutic as well, as is sitting in a patch of wildflowers feeling the sun on your face. Whatever life doles out, nature can counter if you give her a chance.
We have seen horses heal from wounds that should have killed them, and recover from abuse that we had thought had surely damaged their psyche for life. While we are proud of our part in the healing, we can actully take almost no credit for ourselves. We simply exposed them to a natural lifestyle and let them heal themselves. We were there to offer support and daily maintenance, but nature provided the rest. We are constantly seeking new information and learning old ways to provide the things that have been removed from a "modern horse's" life. We urge everyone we meet to "try natural first" from training to diet to daily maintenance.
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" indeed, but a few teaspoons of this, a tablespoon of that and a little pinch of those helps make everything better still. :)
Right now, we're trying to get everyone fat and happy before winter sets in. With hay at an all-time low around the southeast, our horses may have to rely on bagged grains and pellets to get through at least the last part of winter. For now, we're building and fixing fences on our home property and moving everyone we can up to feast on the bermuda grass and fescue along with a plethora of wild herbs and other beneficial flora. We expect to see some bemused and grateful faces as they realize what bounty is being set before them.
We give thanks too...for being given this chance to "make a difference."
When a newcomer arrives that is distrustful of humans and other animals and is unable to believe his good fortune in waking up into a world with plenty to eat and little to fear, the first thing we do is not to smother him with kindness or stuff him with tasty tidbits, but simply put him in a natural landscape and allow him to assimilate all the new knowledge of his surroundings.
With little fanfare, he is given plenty of grass, a few flakes of hay and a full barrel of clean water. We allow him to stay there a day or two, either alone or with a well-socialized horse, before attempting any kind of physical contact that he doesn't ask for. (If a horse is yearning for attention, they let you know without any doubt, and of course we are all ready to step in and offer as much as they can handle!)
Nature can heal wounds that many of us may not even know exist. I know when my soul is damaged or my heart is aching, a walk in the woods can bring a peace when nothing else can. Listening to bird song is greater therapy than any professional can give, and the feel of the breeze across your face is far more relaxing than any masseuse's fingers. Hearing the leaves crunch beneath your feet is therapeutic as well, as is sitting in a patch of wildflowers feeling the sun on your face. Whatever life doles out, nature can counter if you give her a chance.
We have seen horses heal from wounds that should have killed them, and recover from abuse that we had thought had surely damaged their psyche for life. While we are proud of our part in the healing, we can actully take almost no credit for ourselves. We simply exposed them to a natural lifestyle and let them heal themselves. We were there to offer support and daily maintenance, but nature provided the rest. We are constantly seeking new information and learning old ways to provide the things that have been removed from a "modern horse's" life. We urge everyone we meet to "try natural first" from training to diet to daily maintenance.
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" indeed, but a few teaspoons of this, a tablespoon of that and a little pinch of those helps make everything better still. :)
Right now, we're trying to get everyone fat and happy before winter sets in. With hay at an all-time low around the southeast, our horses may have to rely on bagged grains and pellets to get through at least the last part of winter. For now, we're building and fixing fences on our home property and moving everyone we can up to feast on the bermuda grass and fescue along with a plethora of wild herbs and other beneficial flora. We expect to see some bemused and grateful faces as they realize what bounty is being set before them.
We give thanks too...for being given this chance to "make a difference."
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Remember to Forget
The biggest part of being a good horse owner is simply realizing what your horses really need. The small things that mean the least to you are likely the things that mean the most to them.
Remember that they don't really care how fancy and expensive the saddle is that sits on their back, and they don't care if their saddle blanket is new, so long as their old one was comfortable. They couldn't care less if their halter matches their blanket, or if their tack is all oiled and shiny. They aren't going to be embarrassed to drive up at a ride or a show in a trailer with a little rust showing. They don't care if you wear designer jeans, or where you bought your boots. They probably wouldn't notice the difference if you showed up naked. They only notice that you showed up. They don't notice if their tack is dusty or worn or old or mismatching. They only notice that the hands that fasten that tack to their body stops working occasionally to pat them. They don't care if your hair is brushed or that you have on no makeup. They only notice when your face has a smile for them.
Don't get so caught up in horse ownership that you forget about the horse. The most important thing to remember when you own a horse (or any other animal for that matter) is to focus on what really matters. To them! Forget what the neighbors might think if you ride by their house on a horse with a pink striped halter and red plaid blanket. Stop caring so much about whether other saddle club members are going to say if your tack is a little dusty. No matter how busy you get, remember to spend quiet time with your horse. Work with him often so you continue to be a team, and remind him that you are his best friend.
They say the best way to learn to train a horse is to first learn how a horse thinks. Once you've done that, all the matching tack in the world won't matter to you, because you'll realize what is truly important. The welcome post when you join Yahoo's "Healthy Horse" E-Group packs a lot of thought in one line in the sig file "A horse doesn't care how much you know, but he does need to know how much you care"
We're busy here getting the horses moved into winter pasturing, so my posts may be a little shorter and not as sweet for a while. Am impending tax audit for the stable certainly isn't adding any time to my schedule. Please send positive thoughts this Friday. *shivering*
Remember that they don't really care how fancy and expensive the saddle is that sits on their back, and they don't care if their saddle blanket is new, so long as their old one was comfortable. They couldn't care less if their halter matches their blanket, or if their tack is all oiled and shiny. They aren't going to be embarrassed to drive up at a ride or a show in a trailer with a little rust showing. They don't care if you wear designer jeans, or where you bought your boots. They probably wouldn't notice the difference if you showed up naked. They only notice that you showed up. They don't notice if their tack is dusty or worn or old or mismatching. They only notice that the hands that fasten that tack to their body stops working occasionally to pat them. They don't care if your hair is brushed or that you have on no makeup. They only notice when your face has a smile for them.
Don't get so caught up in horse ownership that you forget about the horse. The most important thing to remember when you own a horse (or any other animal for that matter) is to focus on what really matters. To them! Forget what the neighbors might think if you ride by their house on a horse with a pink striped halter and red plaid blanket. Stop caring so much about whether other saddle club members are going to say if your tack is a little dusty. No matter how busy you get, remember to spend quiet time with your horse. Work with him often so you continue to be a team, and remind him that you are his best friend.
They say the best way to learn to train a horse is to first learn how a horse thinks. Once you've done that, all the matching tack in the world won't matter to you, because you'll realize what is truly important. The welcome post when you join Yahoo's "Healthy Horse" E-Group packs a lot of thought in one line in the sig file "A horse doesn't care how much you know, but he does need to know how much you care"
We're busy here getting the horses moved into winter pasturing, so my posts may be a little shorter and not as sweet for a while. Am impending tax audit for the stable certainly isn't adding any time to my schedule. Please send positive thoughts this Friday. *shivering*
Sunday, September 7, 2008
At The Polls
If you scrolled down to the bottom, you saw an informal poll asking the question "What was the original reason people put shoes on horses?"
While this was an opinion poll, there IS a right answer. And, it's behind door #2.
In the times of war in the Middle Ages horses had to be massive beasts able to bear enormous weight, for knights rode into battle wearing full body armor and the horses themselves had vital organs protected by metal plates. Guns had not yet been invented, so these warriors had to create unique weapons for hand-to-hand combat that would not only cause damage through armor, but would cause a rider to lose his balance and fall from his steed. To increase their chances in battle, these men trained their horses to help them fight, and since the horse's only weapon was his hooves, they clad the bottoms with heavy iron so that each strike would cause more damage. Kicks from hind feet could knock a man from saddle and once he was on the ground, the front hooves could pulvarize him. If the horse couldn't reach the rider, it could still do damage to the opposing horse, and once a soldier was on foot he didn't stand much chance.
Over the years, weapons changed, the need for hand-to-hand combat was not so prevalent yet still horses were regularly shod with these iron weapons. Over time, owners tried taking these weapons off their horses' hooves only to find that the horses oftentimes limped. They believed that the shoes were then necessary and they nailed them back into place, instead of remembering how surefooted those horses had been before their feet had been trimmed and nailed to strips of iron, and thus didn't give the horses time to grow their feet into their natural, tough shape.
In the generations to come, horsemen shared the story that a horse's feet must be trimmed to fit these U-shaped irons to keep them surefooted and to avoid lameness over long journeys. And each generation passed the belief to the next.
There is no question that there is a time and a reason to shoe a horse. There is also no question that shoeing is not necessary for a huge percentage of today's horses. If you have queries and concerns about natural hoof care, mustang trims, etc. check out the links at the bottom of this page on the subject. Read some current issues of Horse & Rider, Horse Illustrated, etc. that have articles praising the natural trim.
We do own a couple of horses that wear shoes on our vet and farrier's recommendation because of medical issues (founder, etc). The rest are trimmed regularly into a natural, "mustang" shape and then left alone. The only time we have had foot problems is when an unscrupulous stable helper kept horses in very unclean stalls and the horses developed abscesses. Occasionally (and I do mean rarely!) a horse will get a stone bruise that puts him out of commission for a day or so, but the rest of the time they happily go on long trail rides (on pavement, gravel and dirt) without a hint of a problem. We never have to lead a horse home because he threw a shoe and our horses aren't able to hurt each other (or us) as easily with their feet (through accidents or on-purposes). It's an added bonus, the cherry on top, that our farrier bill is quite a bit lower.
Remember, no horse was ever born with iron shoes on his feet. Through the ages they managed to travel long distances on rough terrain, fight off predators and still be surefooted as a goat without intervention from a farrier. Generations and ages of misinformation and "we do it this way because we've always done it this way" have trained horsemen into believing that keeping your horse shod is some sort of "good horsemanship seal of approval." Do your homework and make your decision. If you make the decision to go natural, remember that it will take a while for your horse's feet to adjust to not carrying the extra weight and it will take time for his hooves to grow into a natural shape that keeps the tender part of the hoof off the ground.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to take part in the poll. Y'all come back soon!
- 22% of the people who responded said "To protect their feet."
- 25% said they were used to aid their rider in combat in ancient battles
- 0% thought it's done to make them sound pretty on pavement
- 2% said it was done to help dominant horses keep order in the herd.
While this was an opinion poll, there IS a right answer. And, it's behind door #2.
In the times of war in the Middle Ages horses had to be massive beasts able to bear enormous weight, for knights rode into battle wearing full body armor and the horses themselves had vital organs protected by metal plates. Guns had not yet been invented, so these warriors had to create unique weapons for hand-to-hand combat that would not only cause damage through armor, but would cause a rider to lose his balance and fall from his steed. To increase their chances in battle, these men trained their horses to help them fight, and since the horse's only weapon was his hooves, they clad the bottoms with heavy iron so that each strike would cause more damage. Kicks from hind feet could knock a man from saddle and once he was on the ground, the front hooves could pulvarize him. If the horse couldn't reach the rider, it could still do damage to the opposing horse, and once a soldier was on foot he didn't stand much chance.
Over the years, weapons changed, the need for hand-to-hand combat was not so prevalent yet still horses were regularly shod with these iron weapons. Over time, owners tried taking these weapons off their horses' hooves only to find that the horses oftentimes limped. They believed that the shoes were then necessary and they nailed them back into place, instead of remembering how surefooted those horses had been before their feet had been trimmed and nailed to strips of iron, and thus didn't give the horses time to grow their feet into their natural, tough shape.
In the generations to come, horsemen shared the story that a horse's feet must be trimmed to fit these U-shaped irons to keep them surefooted and to avoid lameness over long journeys. And each generation passed the belief to the next.
There is no question that there is a time and a reason to shoe a horse. There is also no question that shoeing is not necessary for a huge percentage of today's horses. If you have queries and concerns about natural hoof care, mustang trims, etc. check out the links at the bottom of this page on the subject. Read some current issues of Horse & Rider, Horse Illustrated, etc. that have articles praising the natural trim.
We do own a couple of horses that wear shoes on our vet and farrier's recommendation because of medical issues (founder, etc). The rest are trimmed regularly into a natural, "mustang" shape and then left alone. The only time we have had foot problems is when an unscrupulous stable helper kept horses in very unclean stalls and the horses developed abscesses. Occasionally (and I do mean rarely!) a horse will get a stone bruise that puts him out of commission for a day or so, but the rest of the time they happily go on long trail rides (on pavement, gravel and dirt) without a hint of a problem. We never have to lead a horse home because he threw a shoe and our horses aren't able to hurt each other (or us) as easily with their feet (through accidents or on-purposes). It's an added bonus, the cherry on top, that our farrier bill is quite a bit lower.
Remember, no horse was ever born with iron shoes on his feet. Through the ages they managed to travel long distances on rough terrain, fight off predators and still be surefooted as a goat without intervention from a farrier. Generations and ages of misinformation and "we do it this way because we've always done it this way" have trained horsemen into believing that keeping your horse shod is some sort of "good horsemanship seal of approval." Do your homework and make your decision. If you make the decision to go natural, remember that it will take a while for your horse's feet to adjust to not carrying the extra weight and it will take time for his hooves to grow into a natural shape that keeps the tender part of the hoof off the ground.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to take part in the poll. Y'all come back soon!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Intervention
There are many descriptions for intervention: in legal terms it means an interruption can be made in the middle of a lawsuit already in progress, in addiction recovery it is the actions of family and friends to bring a loved one to the realization that they need help and politicians can use the term as an excuse to muck around in the affairs of other countries.
In the horse world, I think intervention is simply best described in the words of D. E. Harken, as being "the act or fact of interfering with a condition to modify it or with a process to change its course." ie. Changing something that you think was not perfect before.
If one is trying to get an addict friend to lengthen and better his life by kicking a substance abuse habit, intervention is noble. If a better way of life can be found for another country's people,I can see the reason behind our interference. I can even see a reason for it in the legal community. However, I can see no reason for it in our horse community. Why would you want to change what was absolute perfection in its natural state?
In her paper "Herbs for Horses", http://www.horsejunction.co.za/sahorseman/images/acrobat/2006/health_herbs_apr06.pdf Jennis van der Byl states a quite unmistakeable (although sometimes unpopular) truth. "For millenia wild horses were able to develop an acute sense of which herbage to browse on regularly to keep them in peak health throughout the seasons of their lives. By domesticating horses, we have taken that privilege away from them."
Not only have we taken away that privilege, but as the generations go by, we are continuing that "domestication" by taking more and more privileges away from our horses until we are turning them into something far different than we have to believe Mother Nature ever intended. Just as the original dog differs so much as to be almost a different species from the foo foo lap dogs we have created through our generations of genetic fiddling, many horses of today are milestones away from their predecessors.
Genetics gave the original horse a tail to switch to keep away flies, a forelock to keep the sun and insects away from their eyes, tough hooves to maintain sure footing no matter the terrain and carry them for miles to safety, and to use as weapons when their predators were swift enough to make flight not an option. Their coats grew and shedded with the seasons providing the protection they needed against whatever environment surrounded them. If they became sick, nature gave them cures in the leaves and roots that they craved. They were given a sharp wit, keen mind and basic instincts to keep themselves and their companions safe.
We are lucky. No matter the generations of intervention much of the natural horse has survived in most of our domesticated breeds. Most still maintain the keen sense of preservation necessary in a prey animal in the wild. This can work in our favor if we train horses using natural training methods (Parelli, Anderson, Kuhn, etc) or work against us if we treat horses in a predatory manner. However, being humans, we constantly believe we know more than Mother Nature, can understand animal behavior better than animals themselves, and that we can not only change but we can improve.
And so, we use cruel and unnatural ways to train and mold our horses into our idea of the norm. They are blanketed against flies, sun, wind, rain and cold and kept in boxes that never allow them to know the true season or realize the passage of time. Natural maintenance of coats and skin are no longer necessary against the elements, so we humans must douse them with chemicals to maintain gloss and shine of coat and elasticity of skin. We spray them with chemicals to keep away insects, killing even beneficial ones in the process. Every injury, no matter how slight, is treated with concern and pampering and more chemicals. Because they are not allowed to forage for the foods they need to not only survive but to flourish, we feed our horses costly additives and supplements, most of which are bound together with even more chemicals. Hayfields are sprayed with chemicals in the form of fertilizers and weed control, adding even more chemicals into a horse's diet. Because our forefathers did so and we are told that it is what we must do, we mold our horse's hooves into unnatural shapes and then nail pieces of iron to them. Some breeds of horses are maimed and wounded in horrifying ways to fit the parameters of "perfection" that breeders and exhibitors and judges desire, and their owners are revered for their prowess in doing so.
Horses in the wild constantly are scraped and bruised and broken, yet they heal and continue the hard work of living. Their hooves are used as weapons and transportation over dozens of miles a day, and yet rarely show the ravages of wear. Their coats may show the scratches and dents of day-to-day life, but their hair is usually glossy and gleaming and their skin is tough enough to withstand accidents that would cause life-threatening injuries in our truly "domesticated" horses.
Screw around with Mother Nature long enough, and she's going to backhand us. She's giving us some gentle nudges now and then, with more and more problems arising that are brought about by our desire to change the perfection that was the truly natural horse. What can we do to appease her? Allow our horses to be at least near what was intended. Give them as close to a natural lifestyle as possible and treat them with the respect they deserve. Allow nature to heal and better what it can, and use discretion in intervening when it appears nature is failing. Find a balance in new and old medicine and diet.
There is a quote among herbalists, the author anonymous. "2000 B.C. "Here, eat this root."
A.D. 1000 "That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer." A.D. 1850 "That prayer is superstition. Here, Drink this potion." A.D. 1940 "That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill." A.D. 1985
"That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic." A.D. 2000 "That antibiotic doesn't work. Here, eat this root."
My interpretation of that is that herbs and "natural living" is where we began, and it is where we will end. What came in between is all beneficial, if we learn to find balance between the old and the new. If my animals have a health problem, I will spare nothing to heal them. I might chant, pray, wrap them in colored glass beads, practice reiki, feed them hand-prepared herbal remedies and even dance naked in the light of the moon if I thought it would help (luckily I have no close neighbors to shock)...but I will keep my veterinarian's phone number on my speed dial and first follow his instructions to the letter to the best of my ability.
I am not a radical. I do not think that all horses "must roam free as god intended" (the mantra of some welfare groups) nor do I think that we should turn our back on the myriad things that those before us have learned through co-existance with these magnificent beasts. I do not believe we should keep them as ornaments to look at, but should share our lives with them. Some of the more radical groups (I believe PETA fits this bill, but your own research can decide) believe that horses should not be "forced" to "work." Unless you are going to set them all free, then anyone who has spent any time at all with a horse knows that statement is hogwash. Horses live to work. They were designed to cover up to 25 miles a day foraging for food and finding shelter. Put them into a small enclosure (and few of us are landowners to the degree of being able to fence in an area large enough for that 25 mile daily stroll) and soon they will become "wild." And not "wild" as in natural, but "wild" as in insane. And some breeders and exhibitors will describe this temperament as "high spirited" and still be pleased with their results. Give your horse a job and share that job with him (be it trail riding, jumping, driving a wagon or cart, or just leading a small child about the pasture). And never be fooled into believing that you are the master of that beast because you are a superior being.
Intervention is not a bad thing, one must simply remember the mantra of all of those who have the ultimate care of others in their control... "In all things moderation."
In the horse world, I think intervention is simply best described in the words of D. E. Harken, as being "the act or fact of interfering with a condition to modify it or with a process to change its course." ie. Changing something that you think was not perfect before.
If one is trying to get an addict friend to lengthen and better his life by kicking a substance abuse habit, intervention is noble. If a better way of life can be found for another country's people,I can see the reason behind our interference. I can even see a reason for it in the legal community. However, I can see no reason for it in our horse community. Why would you want to change what was absolute perfection in its natural state?
In her paper "Herbs for Horses", http://www.horsejunction.co.za/sahorseman/images/acrobat/2006/health_herbs_apr06.pdf Jennis van der Byl states a quite unmistakeable (although sometimes unpopular) truth. "For millenia wild horses were able to develop an acute sense of which herbage to browse on regularly to keep them in peak health throughout the seasons of their lives. By domesticating horses, we have taken that privilege away from them."
Not only have we taken away that privilege, but as the generations go by, we are continuing that "domestication" by taking more and more privileges away from our horses until we are turning them into something far different than we have to believe Mother Nature ever intended. Just as the original dog differs so much as to be almost a different species from the foo foo lap dogs we have created through our generations of genetic fiddling, many horses of today are milestones away from their predecessors.
Genetics gave the original horse a tail to switch to keep away flies, a forelock to keep the sun and insects away from their eyes, tough hooves to maintain sure footing no matter the terrain and carry them for miles to safety, and to use as weapons when their predators were swift enough to make flight not an option. Their coats grew and shedded with the seasons providing the protection they needed against whatever environment surrounded them. If they became sick, nature gave them cures in the leaves and roots that they craved. They were given a sharp wit, keen mind and basic instincts to keep themselves and their companions safe.
We are lucky. No matter the generations of intervention much of the natural horse has survived in most of our domesticated breeds. Most still maintain the keen sense of preservation necessary in a prey animal in the wild. This can work in our favor if we train horses using natural training methods (Parelli, Anderson, Kuhn, etc) or work against us if we treat horses in a predatory manner. However, being humans, we constantly believe we know more than Mother Nature, can understand animal behavior better than animals themselves, and that we can not only change but we can improve.
And so, we use cruel and unnatural ways to train and mold our horses into our idea of the norm. They are blanketed against flies, sun, wind, rain and cold and kept in boxes that never allow them to know the true season or realize the passage of time. Natural maintenance of coats and skin are no longer necessary against the elements, so we humans must douse them with chemicals to maintain gloss and shine of coat and elasticity of skin. We spray them with chemicals to keep away insects, killing even beneficial ones in the process. Every injury, no matter how slight, is treated with concern and pampering and more chemicals. Because they are not allowed to forage for the foods they need to not only survive but to flourish, we feed our horses costly additives and supplements, most of which are bound together with even more chemicals. Hayfields are sprayed with chemicals in the form of fertilizers and weed control, adding even more chemicals into a horse's diet. Because our forefathers did so and we are told that it is what we must do, we mold our horse's hooves into unnatural shapes and then nail pieces of iron to them. Some breeds of horses are maimed and wounded in horrifying ways to fit the parameters of "perfection" that breeders and exhibitors and judges desire, and their owners are revered for their prowess in doing so.
Horses in the wild constantly are scraped and bruised and broken, yet they heal and continue the hard work of living. Their hooves are used as weapons and transportation over dozens of miles a day, and yet rarely show the ravages of wear. Their coats may show the scratches and dents of day-to-day life, but their hair is usually glossy and gleaming and their skin is tough enough to withstand accidents that would cause life-threatening injuries in our truly "domesticated" horses.
Screw around with Mother Nature long enough, and she's going to backhand us. She's giving us some gentle nudges now and then, with more and more problems arising that are brought about by our desire to change the perfection that was the truly natural horse. What can we do to appease her? Allow our horses to be at least near what was intended. Give them as close to a natural lifestyle as possible and treat them with the respect they deserve. Allow nature to heal and better what it can, and use discretion in intervening when it appears nature is failing. Find a balance in new and old medicine and diet.
There is a quote among herbalists, the author anonymous. "2000 B.C. "Here, eat this root."
A.D. 1000 "That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer." A.D. 1850 "That prayer is superstition. Here, Drink this potion." A.D. 1940 "That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill." A.D. 1985
"That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic." A.D. 2000 "That antibiotic doesn't work. Here, eat this root."
My interpretation of that is that herbs and "natural living" is where we began, and it is where we will end. What came in between is all beneficial, if we learn to find balance between the old and the new. If my animals have a health problem, I will spare nothing to heal them. I might chant, pray, wrap them in colored glass beads, practice reiki, feed them hand-prepared herbal remedies and even dance naked in the light of the moon if I thought it would help (luckily I have no close neighbors to shock)...but I will keep my veterinarian's phone number on my speed dial and first follow his instructions to the letter to the best of my ability.
I am not a radical. I do not think that all horses "must roam free as god intended" (the mantra of some welfare groups) nor do I think that we should turn our back on the myriad things that those before us have learned through co-existance with these magnificent beasts. I do not believe we should keep them as ornaments to look at, but should share our lives with them. Some of the more radical groups (I believe PETA fits this bill, but your own research can decide) believe that horses should not be "forced" to "work." Unless you are going to set them all free, then anyone who has spent any time at all with a horse knows that statement is hogwash. Horses live to work. They were designed to cover up to 25 miles a day foraging for food and finding shelter. Put them into a small enclosure (and few of us are landowners to the degree of being able to fence in an area large enough for that 25 mile daily stroll) and soon they will become "wild." And not "wild" as in natural, but "wild" as in insane. And some breeders and exhibitors will describe this temperament as "high spirited" and still be pleased with their results. Give your horse a job and share that job with him (be it trail riding, jumping, driving a wagon or cart, or just leading a small child about the pasture). And never be fooled into believing that you are the master of that beast because you are a superior being.
Intervention is not a bad thing, one must simply remember the mantra of all of those who have the ultimate care of others in their control... "In all things moderation."
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Memory Lane
When I was mixing up the herbs for Sophie's new owner to take with her, it crossed my mind yet again what a wonderful addition herbs are to our lives; not only for what they offer in terms of medicinal value, aesthetics and culinary, but just to our overall senses. Every time I open up the container of rosehips, I can close my eyes and easily believe I'm in a luscious sunny rose garden. Sprinkle a little peppermint or spearmint leaves over someone's grain, and I can make myself believe it's almost Christmas. Almost every smell brings back a wonderful memory or can transport me away from the dreariness of everyday life to someplace special.
The scent of wormwood doesn't bring a lot of memories, but it does bring back the ahhhha moment when I first read that wormwood is the main ingredient in absinthe. For those of you that are interested in trivia, it might be interesting to note that Van Gogh was drinking a tea made from wormwood (some reports say he was simply overindulging himself in absinthe) when he cut off his ear, and throughout the ages it has been used as an enbalming aid. Obviously, wormwood is an herb we keep away from uneducated hands, but it's very advantageous when modern dewormers don't seem to be doing the job. Also, when a tincture or concoction of wormwood is worked into the skin of a horse suffering from fungal or bacterial issues it can work absolute wonders.
Dandelion doesn't have much of a scent, but when we're doling it out to our older horses who need a mild dieuretic or are suffering from inflammation of some kind, just seeing the label brings thoughts of springtime and those sassy little yellow flowers. I know that those of you that prize your lawn hate dandelions, but I have always loved them. Their cheerfullness in full bloom, their puffability when they go to seed, and for the benefits our horses reap from both their leaf and root.
Garlic not only keeps away vampires but should be a staple in any natural horse's diet. Of course after opening that cannister you may be transported in memory no farther than the local Italian restaurant, but the benefits of feeding garlic to almost any horse (or other animal) can't be disputed. Got a finicky eater? A sprinkle of garlic on their food may increase appetite. Bothered by insects? Most insects won't bite an animal that has garlic in its bloodstream (guess there aren't any Italian mosquitos and flies?) and most internal parasites apparently find it fairly non-tasty too. Garlic naturally contains Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a supplement that is commonly used on people and animals for joints and allergies, so it's a great additive for a horse that is feeling his age in his joints on cool mornings. Maybe that's why we all love pizza and spaghetti so much? Can I include it back in my diet now that we know that I'm really eating it for medicinal purposes?
Alfalfa leaf is an excellent choice for almost any diet. Bury your face in an open container and you're instantly in a sunny meadow filled with fresh-mown hay. It can be beneficial as a dieuretic and laxative, replaces vitamin K that is depleted during a lot of traditional medications (such as antibiotics etc), it acts as a blood purifer and detoxifier and is a great source of alkaline minerals that aid in digestion. It can be used in greater doses to treat ulcers (Dan was on a steady diet of it for a long time) because it includes vitamin A which helps to maintain the stomach's overall health and can help a horse with a problem balancing sugars to keep things in order.
One of my favorite places to visit used to be a true "herb shop." Not one of those pristine shoppes you see in the mall that have nicely lined up bottles of brightly labeled pills and capsules and tinctures, but the herb shops of old that have now, thanks to Uncle Sam and legislation been put out of business by the well-regulated and FDA-approved markets. When you opened the door to one of the old shops you became instantly able to travel through time to mystical, magical destinations, or maybe just back to your grandmother's knee as she washed her face with rose glycerine and patted her shoulders with lavender powder. The scents being used in today's products cannot come close to the smells of yesterday. I understand the need for regulation, and I understand how dangerous herbs can be in the wrong hands, but....I still long to be able to walk up a stone path, push open a creaky heavy old oak door and have those scents waft about for a moment as I stand there on the step in the sunshine and inhale as deeply as my lungs will allow. Occasionally, I still follow a hand-lettered sign down a dusty road to an almost-hidden greenhouse and garden where a smiling gardener may invite me in for a glass of tea before I head back home with my bounty (usually small pots of herbs for my own garden) and when we walk through that door and I inhale with a look of bliss on my face, for just a moment I can see my grandmother smiling at me through a veil of powder after she's blotted my nose with her powder puff.
Memory Lane. What a wonderful journey.
PS: Plagued by blackflies? They hate the smell of lavender oil. Put a drop or two on your horse's coat where the flies seem to be attracted and watch them scatter!
The scent of wormwood doesn't bring a lot of memories, but it does bring back the ahhhha moment when I first read that wormwood is the main ingredient in absinthe. For those of you that are interested in trivia, it might be interesting to note that Van Gogh was drinking a tea made from wormwood (some reports say he was simply overindulging himself in absinthe) when he cut off his ear, and throughout the ages it has been used as an enbalming aid. Obviously, wormwood is an herb we keep away from uneducated hands, but it's very advantageous when modern dewormers don't seem to be doing the job. Also, when a tincture or concoction of wormwood is worked into the skin of a horse suffering from fungal or bacterial issues it can work absolute wonders.
Dandelion doesn't have much of a scent, but when we're doling it out to our older horses who need a mild dieuretic or are suffering from inflammation of some kind, just seeing the label brings thoughts of springtime and those sassy little yellow flowers. I know that those of you that prize your lawn hate dandelions, but I have always loved them. Their cheerfullness in full bloom, their puffability when they go to seed, and for the benefits our horses reap from both their leaf and root.
Garlic not only keeps away vampires but should be a staple in any natural horse's diet. Of course after opening that cannister you may be transported in memory no farther than the local Italian restaurant, but the benefits of feeding garlic to almost any horse (or other animal) can't be disputed. Got a finicky eater? A sprinkle of garlic on their food may increase appetite. Bothered by insects? Most insects won't bite an animal that has garlic in its bloodstream (guess there aren't any Italian mosquitos and flies?) and most internal parasites apparently find it fairly non-tasty too. Garlic naturally contains Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a supplement that is commonly used on people and animals for joints and allergies, so it's a great additive for a horse that is feeling his age in his joints on cool mornings. Maybe that's why we all love pizza and spaghetti so much? Can I include it back in my diet now that we know that I'm really eating it for medicinal purposes?
Alfalfa leaf is an excellent choice for almost any diet. Bury your face in an open container and you're instantly in a sunny meadow filled with fresh-mown hay. It can be beneficial as a dieuretic and laxative, replaces vitamin K that is depleted during a lot of traditional medications (such as antibiotics etc), it acts as a blood purifer and detoxifier and is a great source of alkaline minerals that aid in digestion. It can be used in greater doses to treat ulcers (Dan was on a steady diet of it for a long time) because it includes vitamin A which helps to maintain the stomach's overall health and can help a horse with a problem balancing sugars to keep things in order.
One of my favorite places to visit used to be a true "herb shop." Not one of those pristine shoppes you see in the mall that have nicely lined up bottles of brightly labeled pills and capsules and tinctures, but the herb shops of old that have now, thanks to Uncle Sam and legislation been put out of business by the well-regulated and FDA-approved markets. When you opened the door to one of the old shops you became instantly able to travel through time to mystical, magical destinations, or maybe just back to your grandmother's knee as she washed her face with rose glycerine and patted her shoulders with lavender powder. The scents being used in today's products cannot come close to the smells of yesterday. I understand the need for regulation, and I understand how dangerous herbs can be in the wrong hands, but....I still long to be able to walk up a stone path, push open a creaky heavy old oak door and have those scents waft about for a moment as I stand there on the step in the sunshine and inhale as deeply as my lungs will allow. Occasionally, I still follow a hand-lettered sign down a dusty road to an almost-hidden greenhouse and garden where a smiling gardener may invite me in for a glass of tea before I head back home with my bounty (usually small pots of herbs for my own garden) and when we walk through that door and I inhale with a look of bliss on my face, for just a moment I can see my grandmother smiling at me through a veil of powder after she's blotted my nose with her powder puff.
Memory Lane. What a wonderful journey.
PS: Plagued by blackflies? They hate the smell of lavender oil. Put a drop or two on your horse's coat where the flies seem to be attracted and watch them scatter!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The More You Have...
My neice and her family lost one of their dogs today. Actually, that's a poor way to describe what happened. Why do we say we "lost" a loved one? Do we share with our ancient forefathers a magical fear of the very word 'death', or is it maybe because we have such a sense of loss that the phrase just comes naturally? They are lost, we are lost without them. We all seem to try to avoid simply using the phrase "he died." We have an entire dictionary of different euphamisms we may use instead of saying someone is deceased: they bought the farm, kicked the bucket, left us, went on, went with the angels, bit the dust, turned his toes up, cashed in their chips, bought the big one, gave up the ghost, croaked, went south, is pushing up daisies, is sleeping the big sleep, assumed room temperature (that one came from a mortician friend), or as Willie S. so eloquently stated "shuffled off this mortal coil."
We can't even bring ourselves to say that we made the choice to end the life of our beloved animals. We say we "put them to sleep," "put them out of their misery" or "had him put down." It's hard to admit you played god and made the choice of who lived and who died. Even when we know we have made the kindest choice we could make for a being that shared our lives and our hearts it's never easy...anyone who doesn't mist or choke up in the vet's office waiting for the blue needle to arrive (yet another euphamism) is a heartless bastard who doesn't deserve to own an animal! For your trivia file, the term euthanasia is an euphamism of sorts, being Greek for "the good death."
When our animals leave us for another plane, we can't stand the thought of them simply ceasing to exist, so we do our best to believe that they are waiting for us at Rainbow Bridge. If indeed there is such a place (and OH! how I hope that indeed there is) I am going to be one happy newcomer indeed when I get there. All of those furry faces so long past, so much loved while they were here, so much missed when they were no longer. My neice says she won't be getting another dog anytime soon. "The more you have, the more you have to lose..." She's right. I remember when my beloved Bookie died, I sat and cried for weeks. The song with the chorus "I always wondered what I'd do without you, now I know.." became my memory song for him, and I still cry every time I hear it. He died at Christmas time, and that was the last year I truly enjoyed decorating. And I'd been a decorating fool up 'til then.
We're still watching Freckles very closely. The vet believes for certain now that he has an obstruction in his esophagus. This can be a recurring thing (not a good long-term prognosis) or it could be a one-time thing, hastened by a bout of colic that kept him from drinking enough to keep his whistle wet (gee, when you get started with these colloquisms, you just can't stop can you?). He's on antibiotics and steroids and supposed to keep on a diet of nothing but grass. I'd love to put him our best grass field (lots of fescue and meadow grass, among a lot of weeds and herbs that have a lot of calories and other benefits) but a recent disagreement with a neighbor who used her love for and superior understand of animals as an excuse to not want a thin one grazing on or near her property (weird reasoning? I thought so too.) has made that impossible. I'll have to get the fence across the road back up and 'hot' and then there should be plenty of grazing over there for all the debilitated and needy guys that are having problems digesting grains.
Odd isn't it how we can let our love for animals override our common sense? Take this neighbor (please). She knows we do horse rescue. If she has gone to our website, she has seen the success stories of what we've done to rehab and rehome abused and neglected horses. She knows I have 30 years experience taking care of animals, and I do so to the very best of my ability, with the aid of an army of vets that not only speak highly of me but consider me a personal friend as well as a good client. She should know that I would never just put a horse out to pasture to starve to death. The horse in question is our "Ethiopian Dan"...thin as a skeleton, and out-eats every other horse in the herd. He can put away a bale of hay a day (square) and 10 pounds of grain...but, he has ulcers which makes it hard for him to digest anything but grass. After spending close to a thousand dollars on special foods, medications, and supplements, all to no avail, the vet said "just put him on good thick grass and leave him alone and let's see what happens." What was happening was that he was actually beginning to gain weight. About 50 pounds (which on a 16.2 horse doesn't show up much, but does matter) in 2 weeks to a month. For now, to avoid further issues that can't end well, instead of debating property lines and the simple stupidity of some of her reasonings, Dan has been moved temporarily to a paddock where he's eating hay again. In her very insulting letter to me explaining her disgust and requesting that he be moved, she informed me that he shouldn't be in that pasture at all..."he needs hay and love." Actually, hay is not good for him at all, and he never was without the love. But, as I said up there somewhere, it's easy to let our love for animals take over our common sense. Or maybe any sense at all.
Anyway, the pasture in question is just a few acres, and it floods in the winter anyhow, so the horses will all be much happier across the road in the 20 acre field with its bermuda, fescue, and 7 acres of small trees that are growing up where timber was cut a few years ago. We would love to put some of our goat herd in there to help clean it up, but Tucker the Donkey is a goat-o-phobic and tries to kill every one he sees. So, we'll see how fast the horses can clear it out, and if they're not doing it fast enough, we'll let Tucker visit with Elizabeth the Cow for a while and let the goats take over the big place.
I love letting the horses and goats and cow graze down a meadow that hasn't had anything done to it in a while. All the natural plants are beginning to come back, there's no chemicals within acres, and I know that for a while at least, they are truly getting to live "all-natural."
We can't even bring ourselves to say that we made the choice to end the life of our beloved animals. We say we "put them to sleep," "put them out of their misery" or "had him put down." It's hard to admit you played god and made the choice of who lived and who died. Even when we know we have made the kindest choice we could make for a being that shared our lives and our hearts it's never easy...anyone who doesn't mist or choke up in the vet's office waiting for the blue needle to arrive (yet another euphamism) is a heartless bastard who doesn't deserve to own an animal! For your trivia file, the term euthanasia is an euphamism of sorts, being Greek for "the good death."
When our animals leave us for another plane, we can't stand the thought of them simply ceasing to exist, so we do our best to believe that they are waiting for us at Rainbow Bridge. If indeed there is such a place (and OH! how I hope that indeed there is) I am going to be one happy newcomer indeed when I get there. All of those furry faces so long past, so much loved while they were here, so much missed when they were no longer. My neice says she won't be getting another dog anytime soon. "The more you have, the more you have to lose..." She's right. I remember when my beloved Bookie died, I sat and cried for weeks. The song with the chorus "I always wondered what I'd do without you, now I know.." became my memory song for him, and I still cry every time I hear it. He died at Christmas time, and that was the last year I truly enjoyed decorating. And I'd been a decorating fool up 'til then.
We're still watching Freckles very closely. The vet believes for certain now that he has an obstruction in his esophagus. This can be a recurring thing (not a good long-term prognosis) or it could be a one-time thing, hastened by a bout of colic that kept him from drinking enough to keep his whistle wet (gee, when you get started with these colloquisms, you just can't stop can you?). He's on antibiotics and steroids and supposed to keep on a diet of nothing but grass. I'd love to put him our best grass field (lots of fescue and meadow grass, among a lot of weeds and herbs that have a lot of calories and other benefits) but a recent disagreement with a neighbor who used her love for and superior understand of animals as an excuse to not want a thin one grazing on or near her property (weird reasoning? I thought so too.) has made that impossible. I'll have to get the fence across the road back up and 'hot' and then there should be plenty of grazing over there for all the debilitated and needy guys that are having problems digesting grains.
Odd isn't it how we can let our love for animals override our common sense? Take this neighbor (please). She knows we do horse rescue. If she has gone to our website, she has seen the success stories of what we've done to rehab and rehome abused and neglected horses. She knows I have 30 years experience taking care of animals, and I do so to the very best of my ability, with the aid of an army of vets that not only speak highly of me but consider me a personal friend as well as a good client. She should know that I would never just put a horse out to pasture to starve to death. The horse in question is our "Ethiopian Dan"...thin as a skeleton, and out-eats every other horse in the herd. He can put away a bale of hay a day (square) and 10 pounds of grain...but, he has ulcers which makes it hard for him to digest anything but grass. After spending close to a thousand dollars on special foods, medications, and supplements, all to no avail, the vet said "just put him on good thick grass and leave him alone and let's see what happens." What was happening was that he was actually beginning to gain weight. About 50 pounds (which on a 16.2 horse doesn't show up much, but does matter) in 2 weeks to a month. For now, to avoid further issues that can't end well, instead of debating property lines and the simple stupidity of some of her reasonings, Dan has been moved temporarily to a paddock where he's eating hay again. In her very insulting letter to me explaining her disgust and requesting that he be moved, she informed me that he shouldn't be in that pasture at all..."he needs hay and love." Actually, hay is not good for him at all, and he never was without the love. But, as I said up there somewhere, it's easy to let our love for animals take over our common sense. Or maybe any sense at all.
Anyway, the pasture in question is just a few acres, and it floods in the winter anyhow, so the horses will all be much happier across the road in the 20 acre field with its bermuda, fescue, and 7 acres of small trees that are growing up where timber was cut a few years ago. We would love to put some of our goat herd in there to help clean it up, but Tucker the Donkey is a goat-o-phobic and tries to kill every one he sees. So, we'll see how fast the horses can clear it out, and if they're not doing it fast enough, we'll let Tucker visit with Elizabeth the Cow for a while and let the goats take over the big place.
I love letting the horses and goats and cow graze down a meadow that hasn't had anything done to it in a while. All the natural plants are beginning to come back, there's no chemicals within acres, and I know that for a while at least, they are truly getting to live "all-natural."
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