It's Been A While

It's been a while since I've posted to this blog. The most important reason is because I've been riding almost every day and that's a good thing. My horses are much happier and better behaved when they're ridden on a regular schedule.

Horses enjoy a routine as well as a job to do. They're really not much different than we humans; except  maybe they're a little smarter. The whole equine, human experience is not only a spiritual connection, but regular exercise keeps us all fit.

Enjoy this beautiful spring weather. Go ride a horse. If you don't have a horse to ride, go visit a farm and ask the farm owner if you can offer some of our equine friends a carrot or two. I'm sure the horses will appreciate it.

Happy trails.

Make Time

It's been a week and a half since I've been out to the barn. It's been since August of 2011 since I've written a post to this blog. I'm not too sure what happens to the time, but I do know that I miss my horses very much. I'm very fortunate to be able to board my horses with capable people, so I don't have to worry about them, but still...I miss them. With a responsible work load, holidays, family get togethers, and the daily house chores, time easily slips away. So, my 2012 resolution is to make more time for my horses by learning to say, "No," more often to people, places, and things that sap my energy.

Time with my equine companions is important. I need to plan my days better so I can enjoy their   unconditional love, exuberance for life, and their need for socialization with me. I always feel energized and positive after spending time with my mares, setting the tone for the rest of the day.

The spirit of the horse is good for the soul.

People Problems

Years ago, 60 to be exact, a riding instructor told me, "There is no such thing as a bad horse, just bad riders." She was right. Instead of people learning to fix their problem horses, our horses need help fixing their people problems.

Everyone needs to spend at least a weekend observing horses in a pasture with their mothers, other foals, and other herd members. They have an amazing social order. It's pretty simple, but very effective. Something from which we can all learn.

In order to establish dominance with an equine, it's important you do it within the first two minutes of handling. Horses really don't care who the leader of the gang is, they just need to know quick. First, they need to respect your space, then you can start educating them in other areas. Once you've established a comfortable distance between the two of you, the beginning of a trusted, respectful bond starts to occur.

A well-trained, educated horse starts with hours of groundwork. It's the basis for everything you'll do with your equine. It's safe, fun, and stress-free for both you and your horse pal.

Happy trails.

Focus

"A true horsemen does not look at a horse with his eyes, he looks at a horse with his heart." ~ Author Unknown

Silver and Sadie

It's amazing how quickly time passes when I'm with my horses. The moment that turns into minutes that blend into hours are a small part of the equine experience. When I'm with each of my mares I have complete focus and fall in love all over again with that magnificent spirit called "horse".

Hay: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

People ask: "What's better; first cut or second cut?" The answer to that question varies according to growing region, weather conditions, type of hay, and type of soil. I like to keep it simple; if it smells sweet, looks green, and the stems are soft and palatable, then it's good hay regardless of anything else.

Your horses are the best indicators of good hay. If they turn their backs on the sweet feed and walk over to eat their hay, you know you've got some excellent hay.

You'll find guidelines below for good, medium, and poor quality hay provided by the University of Maryland Cooperative Extentsion. 

 

Hay Evaluation Guidelines

  The score sheet below is a guideline for evaluating hay. The sheet indicates the amount of importance

to place upon each quality factor. Note that maturity, at 30 points, is the most important factor.

Leafiness, color, and odor and condition each receive a possible 20 points. Foreign material has a

possible 10 points.

Sample Score Sheet

Possible Score

score given

Maturity

30 ______

Alfalfa should be cut in the late bud or early bloom stage,

clovers at 20 percent bloom. Most grasses should be

cut in the boot to early heading stage. These stages of

maturity score highest (25 to 30 points). Alfalfa and clover

cut at full bloom and grasses cut between late heading

and full bloom score low (1 to 10 points) because

they have lower feed value.

Leafiness

20 ______

Hay with a high ratio of leaves to stems and a substantial

portion of the leaves attached to stems scores high

(5 to 20 points). Stemmy hay and hay with shattered

leaves score low (0 to 5 points).

Color

20 ______

Hay with a bright green color scores high (15 to 20

points). Golden yellow to yellow hays score 5 to 15

points. Dark brown or black hays score 0 to 5 points.

Odor and Condition

20 ______

Smell of new mown hay scores high (15 to 20 points).

Hays with musty or other off-odors score 5 to 15 points.

Moldy or unusually dusty hays score very low (0 to 5

points).

Foreign Material

10 ______

Hay with noninjurious foreign material should receive a

lower score than that without. Hay with injurious foreign

material should not be fed to animals.

TOTAL 100 ______

Hope this helps. If you have further questions, email me.