Peace, Joy, and Dark Days

"Through the days of love and celebration and joy, and through the dark days of mourning - the faithful horse has been with us always."   ~Elizabeth Cotton

Last week was was a tough week emotionally. I won't go into detail. The one, true constant was the horses. They are always there to remind me of  what's really important in life. There seems to be an "other world" spiritual connection when I'm around the power and graceful presence of my horses. All the emotional pain goes away. Balance returns. Peace returns. The world becomes...beautiful.

Horse Allergies

It's been over a year since I've posted to this blog. Life has thrown me some curves, but the horses remain constant. I actually thought about doing away with this blog, but my soul wouldn't let me.

For you equine enthusiasts or wanna be equine fans, I'll continue to supply you with facts, funny stories, spiritual connections, and tips on horse care.

Here's a tip for you horse owners. My mare, Silver City Sadie, affectionately referred to as "Sadie", developed allergies this winter. Sadie had a yellow discharge out of one nostril only, along with upper nostril inflammation. She was a little "off", but had no fever, was eating fine, and the discharge had no odor, so it was assumed she had either a sinus infection or allergies. The vet put her on antibiotics (SMZ) twice a day for two weeks. It cleared up for a while, but the discharge came back. Again more antibiotics.

To make a long story short, I took matters into my own hands and started giving Sadie a 1/2 oz. scoop of MSM in her daily feed. It cleared up the discharge and the nasal inflammation within a week. It's one of those supplements if tried and it doesn't work, it won't hurt anything.

Equine MSM supplement (methylsulfonylmethane) is an antiflammatory powder that aids in the reduction of joint inflammation. I figured, I'd put a 1/2 oz. scoop in Sadie's feed to see if it works on the nasal passages. It didn't surprise me that it did work.

It cost me $180 for the antibiotics, which didn't work, and $48 for a barn call. Not to mention the cost of gas for a 58 mile round trip to the barn twice a day. In contrast, the MSM cost me $15 for a two month supply. The best part is, it worked! Most important, Sadie is happier because she feels much better.

I'm not advocating taking matters into your own hands when your horse gets sick. By all means, call your vet if you suspect any sort of illness in your horse. Having been around equines all my life, my common sense prevailed, in this case, because nothing else was working.

Happy trails!

So, You Want To Buy A Horse?

People think horse ownership is glamorous. It's not. My day starts at 5:00 a.m. and ends at 11:00 p.m. Why do I do it? Because I'm passionate about equines. I've spent at least 55 years working with horses. It's in my blood. What most folks don't understand is the commitment of time, energy, and money that goes into the care of a horse.

Owning a horse is a big responsibility. Be prepared to spend time grooming, exercising, and caring for the animal or assume the responsibility to see that the basic care will be performed daily. Unless the horse is kept on the owner's property, travel time to and from the stable where the horse is boarded must be considered. The costs of owning a horse can add up quickly as the owner provides shelter, feed, bedding, medical care, shoeing, and riding equipment.

Before buying a horse I suggest you start taking riding lessons from a reputable local stable to assess your commitment to the daily chores of horse ownership. Some people start taking lessons once a week only to find out that even that much time ends up being more of a commitment than they realize, especially when the weather gets cold.

Before purchasing a horse, decide where to keep the animal and how much it will cost. The purchase price is minimal compared to all the other expenses you'll incur. If you live on property that can support a horse, both legally and physically, be sure you have adequate stabling. If you live in a cold climate consider boarding the animal, at least during the winter months, at a stable with an indoor arena. Riding in freezing weather is unpleasant and can be dangerous for both horse and rider.

The main point is to become knowledgeable before you purchase a horse. It angers me when I see horses fall into the hands of people who have no clue what they are doing. It's always the horse that suffers at the hands of uneducated handlers.

It is your responsibility to become a knowledgeable horse person. Your safety and well being, along with your equine, is of utmost importance. There is nothing more rewarding than a spiritual connection between horse and rider. That can only happen with years of experience or with someone who can teach you how to do it the right way.