This last month has been a hard one. I've barely been online at all, much less able to keep up with my blogs. The stable has officially closed, all of the horses and 90% of our personal stuff is moved and we are looking forward (albeit through a mist of tears...it's hard to say goodbye to a dream).
A large majority of our horses have found new homes. I hope we have been good stewards in finding places for them...I have done my best, and if everyone is who they appeared to be and if no references etc were forged, then all of our hooved friends should have very happy futures.
The crippled mule, Junior, was the latest to leave. He is the newest companion of a 13-year-old boy, home schooled so has lots of time to spend spoiling Junior the way he deserves to be spoiled. Jessie the Paso will be joining him as soon as we can find the time to load her and deliver her. All these holidays looming makes planning everything difficult.
We are left with six horses that appear pretty permanent. A couple of them would be available to the right home, but if one doesn't turn up, we will be happy to continue to share our lives with them.
Freckles is not doing so well....his esophageal tear or blockage is creating problems and I thought we had lost him a week ago. He was down and not breathing...but when I checked on him an hour later, he was standing up. A few hours later he ate supper. He is truly a "walking miracle" although I know that his time is very limited. He is a sweet wonderful boy and I wish I could do more to make his life better.
We are trying to focus on a new dream instead of dwelling on the one that is now passed. We are laying out the land readying for earth moving equipment to come and create the pad for a 20x95 greenhouse to be installed. We will be offering organic herbs and heirloom flowers and vegetables in late spring 2009. As if we didn't have enough to do already!
Our Thanksgiving Day will be spent building fences and getting the animals ready for the new pasture layout, making room for the new buildings. Five of the goats are about to burst with new life, and I'm dreading the bad weather that will surely hasten their deliveries. We've got to get some sort of shed built to house them when they get here. I feel VERY unprepared. A little like Prissy in Gone With the Wind. While I do know something about "birthing babies" I'm just NOT ready! Do you think I could talk them into waiting until spring to deliver? Nah, didn't think so.
I will try to keep up with my blogs better in the future, sharing things I learn as we use the herbs we're growing with our horses, rabbits and goats.
There are so many stresses in life at the moment, it's easy to get overwhelmed....when we started moving we found that someone had stolen over $1700 worth of tools from the stable. Only a handful of people knew they were there, or had access (it's back off the road, through a gate that is always locked when no one is there, and only a few keys) so it's been very disturbing to have to admit that it's very likely that someone we trusted is a thief. In a way, I want to know who and how and why, in another, I think I'd rather just not know. Sometimes knowledge is a bad thing.
With all the bad days that come along with bad weather, when you have a body that's riddled with arthritis and fibromyalgia, sometimes it's hard to find a reason to get out of a warm comfortable bed in the morning. I was sent this poem that brought tears to my eyes, with the realization that truly my horses ARE the best therapy in the world. When I was going through breast cancer treatments, there were many days when I cried into my horse, Story's, mane and afterwards saw things a little clearer. Story is in another home now, where I hope she is much happier than she was here once other horses started coming along, but I hope somehow she knows how much I appreciated her 'being there" for me. Now, Whisper is my "go to" horse, the one who listens when it seems that no one understands me and I am causing problems with absolutely no intention of doing so. He reminds me that my heart is in the right place and those who love me will continue to do so, and those that don't...don't count. I have had many offers to buy him, but he will remain here as long as he is happy here. And I hope that will be for the rest of his life.
Anyway, here is the poem, I hope you enjoy it as I did, and I hope it gives you reason to take your horse(s) a special treat and say thank you, just for being there.
The Warmth Of A Horse
When your day seems out of balance
and so many things go wrong
When people fight around you
and the clock drags on so long
When some folks act like children
and fill you with remorse
Go out into your pasture and wrap
your arms around your horse.
His gentle breath enfolds you as he
watches with those eyes
He may not have a PhD
but heis,oh so wise!
His head rests on your shoulder
you hug him good and tight
He puts your world in balance
and makes it seem all right.
Your tears will soon stop flowing,
the tension will be eased
The nonsense has been lifted.
You are quiet and at peace.
So when you need some balance
from the stresses in your day
The therapy you really need
Is out there eating hay!
- Author Unknown
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
What Does It Mean To Go "Natural"?
If you're a woman and you say you're going to "go natural" it most likely means you're going to let your hair return to its natural color. If you're on a beach in Spain it could mean you are going to leave your bikini behind and go for a truly all-over tan. If you're a horse owner, however, that is making the plan to "go natural" it means that you are going to attempt to give your horse a style of life as near as possible to that of its wild ancestors.
Granted, "natural" only goes so far. And, your horses will thank you for knowing where the lines are. While it sounds romantic and idyllic to think of your horse roaming free across the range, common sense should remind you that the death rate of wild horses is far higher than that of our domesticated horses. Horses in the wild have the constant threat of predators, injuries and illnesses with no caring owner to keep them safe, and when injury or illness does occur, to help nurse them back to health. Only a handful of foals born in the wild make it to adulthood yet foals born to domesticated mares have a very good chance of living to be a ripe old age. Old horses in the wild are targets for predators and illness, yet most people who own horses know the value of a tried and true teenager (or older) and give them the respect and extra care that they deserve. It is not uncommon for a well-loved horse to spend 40 years or more with a caring owner. Few wild horses become teenagers.
All that is true, but there is still much to be said for a natural lifestyle for horses. A horse that is trained using natural horsemanship methods. Horsemanship is the "relationSHIP between HORSE and MAN. It should not be a quest for dominance, it should not be a harsh breaking session that ends with a horse allowing a human to sit on him simply because he was dominated. There is a huge difference in 'breaking' a horse and 'training' it. A well-trained horse, trained using humane natural horsemanship methods will allow a human on his back because he feels that they are partners. Equals.
If you've spent a lifetime in horses, using methods taught to you by "old timers" to "break" your horses, it will likely take you some time to realize the difference. I would suggest that the first thing you should do before you attempt this natual lifestyle is to attend a seminar with Pat and Linda Parelli, Clinton Anderson, Monty Roberts, Linda Tellington-Jones or any of the other wonderful trainers that can open up your eyes (and your mind) to the differences in being a partner with your horse, and being simply an owner. These trainers can train you to understand body language, both yours and your horse. Learn how to use your own body language to give signals to your horse of what you expect from him. And learn your horse's body language to realize what he thinks, sees and feels. Once your eyes have been opened, you will literally ache to watch most people with their horses, knowing the mistakes they are making for which their horses will inevitably suffer.
I attended a Parelli weekend in Jacksonville, Florida last year, and I learned more about horses in those two days than I had learned in an entire lifetime (50 years and counting). A few months ago I went to a Clinton Anderson clinic in Georgia and learned still more. I personally am more attuned to Pat and Linda Parelli, but I believe that to be the best you can be, you can take away something from any natural horsemanship clinic or seminar that you can attend. Learn from the best, pick and choose that which will work best for you and your horse, and be amazed at the difference you'll quickly see in your horse's attitude.
It is sad to realize how much we humans are geared to act as a predator towards a horse. No matter how evolved the species is, horses will forever go through their life as a prey animal. Generations and ages of evolution for the horse created a species that is sensitive and highly attuned to every action, smell and sound around him. In ages past, only the horses that were wary and overly-sensitive managed to survive and breed. Their offspring carried these traits and soon it became simply ingrained in the DNA of the horse to be super-aware of everything that goes on around them.
Let's say you just bought a horse about which you know nothing other than perhaps its pedigree, color and name. You brought it to your home and turned it loose in a paddock. The next morning you go out to see it, and what is the first thing you do? You go through a gate or climb the fence and enter his space. Without asking permission. Would you do that to a new neighbor? No, you'd stand at their front door and ask for permission to enter their home. If the horse shows his disapproval at your action by running or walking away from you, what is your reaction? You likely will walk or run towards him. Probably holding out your hand with a tasty treat To a horse's eye however, you are stalking him, much as a cougar or wildcat stalked his ancestors. So, he runs faster. You try to corner him. He gets away. And you both end up angry and frustrated.
Next time, try the following. Walk quietly to the paddock and stand for a while outside the fence. If you have a treat for him, show him. If he comes straight over to the fence, give him the treat without asking him to share his space any further. If he shows interest in you, you can enter the paddock, quietly and slowly. If he walks away, find something to do. Pick up a water bucket, examine the nails in the boards, check the tautness of the fence. Anything except look at the horse. Soon, you'll likely feel hot breath as he walks up behind you. Again, don't enter his space without his permission. Once he gives it, then you two can begin getting to know each other.
Just as it would be rude to enter a neighbor's home and immedately start bossing her around and asking her to perform for you, it's rude to enter a horse's space, snap a lead on him and immediately start giving him instructions.
After you've given him some treats, rubbed his favorite spots (or searched for them, if this is a new horse) and made him comfortable with you being in his space, snap on a lead line and walk slowly away. If the horse doesn't follow, turn around and face him. Pull slowly on the lead, putting gentle pressure. As soon as he takes a step towards you, RELEASE the pressure immediately. If this is an untrained horse and this is likely a new experience for him, be lavish with your praise, and keep your admonishments for bad behavior to a minimum.
What you've just done is to take the first steps towards understanding what natural horsemanship is all about. Understanding a horse's feelings, and learning how to share your own with him in return. Learn to use your body language for both good and bad. Soon your horse will know when you are pleased or displeased by his actions without a harsh word having to be uttered. He will learn to watch for small signals that ask him for action, and you two will begin a long happy journey together, working as a team. True Horse-Man-RelationShip.
We have owned several rescue horses in the past that came to us because previous owners had abused them so badly that they were now believed to be beyond hope as riding horses. Most of them were victims of people who were too much cowboy and not enough man. Men (and women) who believed that you have to be dominant to be able to maintain respect from their horses. Owners who believed that to spare the rod would spoil the horse. In the end creating horses that had a severe mistrust of humans (who could blame them?) and who were considered lost causes. Most were headed to certain death or worse.
In almost all cases, as soon as we allowed the horse to just be a horse for a while, then started sharing his space only after he invited us in, and then after we'd gained his trust began slowly introducing training in a positive manner, we ended up with a horse that could be placed in a forever home with no problems.
Once you've begun the natural training process, you'll find yourself wanting to provide everything for your horse as naturally as possible. From his feed and diet supplements to his hoofcare. Since the dawn of their time, nature has provided everything a horse needed to survive. The least we can do is work with Mother Nature instead of against her!
Granted, "natural" only goes so far. And, your horses will thank you for knowing where the lines are. While it sounds romantic and idyllic to think of your horse roaming free across the range, common sense should remind you that the death rate of wild horses is far higher than that of our domesticated horses. Horses in the wild have the constant threat of predators, injuries and illnesses with no caring owner to keep them safe, and when injury or illness does occur, to help nurse them back to health. Only a handful of foals born in the wild make it to adulthood yet foals born to domesticated mares have a very good chance of living to be a ripe old age. Old horses in the wild are targets for predators and illness, yet most people who own horses know the value of a tried and true teenager (or older) and give them the respect and extra care that they deserve. It is not uncommon for a well-loved horse to spend 40 years or more with a caring owner. Few wild horses become teenagers.
All that is true, but there is still much to be said for a natural lifestyle for horses. A horse that is trained using natural horsemanship methods. Horsemanship is the "relationSHIP between HORSE and MAN. It should not be a quest for dominance, it should not be a harsh breaking session that ends with a horse allowing a human to sit on him simply because he was dominated. There is a huge difference in 'breaking' a horse and 'training' it. A well-trained horse, trained using humane natural horsemanship methods will allow a human on his back because he feels that they are partners. Equals.
If you've spent a lifetime in horses, using methods taught to you by "old timers" to "break" your horses, it will likely take you some time to realize the difference. I would suggest that the first thing you should do before you attempt this natual lifestyle is to attend a seminar with Pat and Linda Parelli, Clinton Anderson, Monty Roberts, Linda Tellington-Jones or any of the other wonderful trainers that can open up your eyes (and your mind) to the differences in being a partner with your horse, and being simply an owner. These trainers can train you to understand body language, both yours and your horse. Learn how to use your own body language to give signals to your horse of what you expect from him. And learn your horse's body language to realize what he thinks, sees and feels. Once your eyes have been opened, you will literally ache to watch most people with their horses, knowing the mistakes they are making for which their horses will inevitably suffer.
I attended a Parelli weekend in Jacksonville, Florida last year, and I learned more about horses in those two days than I had learned in an entire lifetime (50 years and counting). A few months ago I went to a Clinton Anderson clinic in Georgia and learned still more. I personally am more attuned to Pat and Linda Parelli, but I believe that to be the best you can be, you can take away something from any natural horsemanship clinic or seminar that you can attend. Learn from the best, pick and choose that which will work best for you and your horse, and be amazed at the difference you'll quickly see in your horse's attitude.
It is sad to realize how much we humans are geared to act as a predator towards a horse. No matter how evolved the species is, horses will forever go through their life as a prey animal. Generations and ages of evolution for the horse created a species that is sensitive and highly attuned to every action, smell and sound around him. In ages past, only the horses that were wary and overly-sensitive managed to survive and breed. Their offspring carried these traits and soon it became simply ingrained in the DNA of the horse to be super-aware of everything that goes on around them.
Let's say you just bought a horse about which you know nothing other than perhaps its pedigree, color and name. You brought it to your home and turned it loose in a paddock. The next morning you go out to see it, and what is the first thing you do? You go through a gate or climb the fence and enter his space. Without asking permission. Would you do that to a new neighbor? No, you'd stand at their front door and ask for permission to enter their home. If the horse shows his disapproval at your action by running or walking away from you, what is your reaction? You likely will walk or run towards him. Probably holding out your hand with a tasty treat To a horse's eye however, you are stalking him, much as a cougar or wildcat stalked his ancestors. So, he runs faster. You try to corner him. He gets away. And you both end up angry and frustrated.
Next time, try the following. Walk quietly to the paddock and stand for a while outside the fence. If you have a treat for him, show him. If he comes straight over to the fence, give him the treat without asking him to share his space any further. If he shows interest in you, you can enter the paddock, quietly and slowly. If he walks away, find something to do. Pick up a water bucket, examine the nails in the boards, check the tautness of the fence. Anything except look at the horse. Soon, you'll likely feel hot breath as he walks up behind you. Again, don't enter his space without his permission. Once he gives it, then you two can begin getting to know each other.
Just as it would be rude to enter a neighbor's home and immedately start bossing her around and asking her to perform for you, it's rude to enter a horse's space, snap a lead on him and immediately start giving him instructions.
After you've given him some treats, rubbed his favorite spots (or searched for them, if this is a new horse) and made him comfortable with you being in his space, snap on a lead line and walk slowly away. If the horse doesn't follow, turn around and face him. Pull slowly on the lead, putting gentle pressure. As soon as he takes a step towards you, RELEASE the pressure immediately. If this is an untrained horse and this is likely a new experience for him, be lavish with your praise, and keep your admonishments for bad behavior to a minimum.
What you've just done is to take the first steps towards understanding what natural horsemanship is all about. Understanding a horse's feelings, and learning how to share your own with him in return. Learn to use your body language for both good and bad. Soon your horse will know when you are pleased or displeased by his actions without a harsh word having to be uttered. He will learn to watch for small signals that ask him for action, and you two will begin a long happy journey together, working as a team. True Horse-Man-RelationShip.
We have owned several rescue horses in the past that came to us because previous owners had abused them so badly that they were now believed to be beyond hope as riding horses. Most of them were victims of people who were too much cowboy and not enough man. Men (and women) who believed that you have to be dominant to be able to maintain respect from their horses. Owners who believed that to spare the rod would spoil the horse. In the end creating horses that had a severe mistrust of humans (who could blame them?) and who were considered lost causes. Most were headed to certain death or worse.
In almost all cases, as soon as we allowed the horse to just be a horse for a while, then started sharing his space only after he invited us in, and then after we'd gained his trust began slowly introducing training in a positive manner, we ended up with a horse that could be placed in a forever home with no problems.
Once you've begun the natural training process, you'll find yourself wanting to provide everything for your horse as naturally as possible. From his feed and diet supplements to his hoofcare. Since the dawn of their time, nature has provided everything a horse needed to survive. The least we can do is work with Mother Nature instead of against her!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Growing Herbs for Horses
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!
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!
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."
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