The saying goes that a parent knows. I guess the same is true even when your children aren’t human. Last Saturday, my mare was in the wash rack giving me side eye to assess whether I brought treats. I noticed something. Her sclera (the white portion of the eye that shows when your horse’s head is facing forward but […]
Capital CowHorse came up significantly lame a few weeks ago. Her toes were long and the left front shoe was loose. The vet pulled her shoes for a thorough exam and recommended a decent trim. We discussed whether to reset and decided that if she can be barefoot, she should. I called the farrier, and left […]
My horse became the smelly kid this winter. I’m embarrassed, but I might as well own it. I am a disciplined groomer. But with the unusually long and intense winter and the copious mud, she became a dusty smelly fur-ball. Exhibit A: I coat her legs in poultice at the slightest hint of heat. It gives […]
Growing up in Florida, I very rarely wore gloves. I would throw on a lightweight pair for horse-shows only. I couldn’t stand them. My blistered hands wanted glove love, but I felt so far from the bit when wearing them. Over the last five years living in the Arctic North Mid-Atlantic, I’m learning to tolerate them. This winter […]
Chances are, your horse either has “feathers” year-round, or only during the coldest winters (depending on the breed). The fact that I left these “hairy heels” unclipped used to send my trainer over the edge. And with a little Irish draft in her blood, my mare sports perennial leg-hair. But feathers do serve a purpose. First, […]
Lots going on in the Capital Cow-house. Stay tuned. In the meantime, we’ve had dressage on the brain. And we are praying for spring. After a very wintry day and two successful dressage tests, here’s a new seasonal recipe. Your horse won’t complain if the Easter bunny hides these at the barn… Dressage Nests […]
A penny saved is a penny earned, right? Here’s a tool you must try: Google Shop. This handy feature from our friends in Mountain View, California aggregates the prices and links for various items in one searchable database. My mare has begun a monthly maintenance regimen of Legend hyaluronan injectable. (Read about the product and […]
Everything takes longer in winter. Us humans are putting on and taking off outerwear all day. And we’re doing the same for our horses. Once blankets get muddy, the task is even less appealing. Here’s a quick trick: Undo all straps and stand on the near side of the horse (the horse’s left side) Grab […]
No doubt you’ve been told to “dress for the job you want, not the one you have.” But have you ever thought about dressing for the ride you want? When it comes to the career world, the saying relates to how others view you. In the context of horses, dressing for success is about confidence […]
Am I right in saying that retired horses rule the roost? They have often won our loyalty with years of faithful companionship. My retired off-the-track-thoroughbred-turned-Pony-Club-championship-novice-level-eventing horse owns my heart and I will forever love him. Remember the song “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold”? That’s my mare […]
My mare has not truly been sound in a very long time. 2013 was not a great year for us. Two ligament injuries, stall-rest, and arthritis left her quite lame. Read more about our soundness struggle here. Just before Christmas, she came down with a respiratory infection that resulted in a week of stall rest and […]
It’s a belated Christmas and Year of the Horse gift to myself! My bridle and saddle are brand new. Scratch that. The leather looks brand new. For a fraction of the price. The buckles? My bit? Reins? Stirrups? Those will have to be the subject of another post. And the tack certainly doesn’t feel brand new […]
My mare’s been sick. I’ve been sick. And it’s been brutally cold out. Here’s how the horses are holding up:
2013 has been busy. As a result, I have purchased from several online vendors, and four have excelled in customer service: 2 horse-related, and 2 life-related. I highly recommend my friends, family, and readers give these companies a try. In no particular order: Zulily. This online discount store offers incredible daily deals for women, maternity, […]
Boarding barns are a little like daycare. If one horse gets sick, it’s just a matter of time before the whole barn is exposed. There is a mild viral respiratory bug (thankfully not Strangles and not Herpes) making the rounds in the D.C. Metropolitan area. I keep my mare at a very clean barn with […]
Having grown up mostly outside and in the barn, I was shocked to learn that I never knew mud until I moved to Maryland. Apparently what I had experienced was more appropriately titled “wet sand” or “semi-moist soil.” This year, I’ve been baptized by snow’s wicked stepsister: mud. And there are several different varieties that […]
Equine lameness can be discouraging and expensive to treat. I’ve been dealing with a less-than-sound horse for over a year. Several x-rays, ultrasounds, months on stall rest, shockwave treatments, two MRIs and a stay in the vet hospital later, as of Thanksgiving, she was still noticeably lame. Two weeks ago, I started the mare on […]
During the holidays, we wind up baking (and eating) lots more often. On yesterday’s menu: Apple-Spice Cupcakes for humans. Today: WHOA Cakes (With Honey Oats and Apples) for horses. And unlike the Cob Cookies I made earlier this week, Whoa Cakes are tasty enough for people, too! Whoa Cakes feature cinnamon. In addition to providing […]
It’s snowing. Weather like this keeps me out of the office, off the road, and away from the barn. But like many horse lovers, it doesn’t keep me from thinking of my four-legged friend. I created a new recipe for my first-ever batch of homemade horse treats: Carrot-Oat-Banana “COB” Cookies. Horses get the bulk of […]
Capital Cowgirl 