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:
I have saddle bags. And not the kind that carry your lunch. These are the kind a few over-indulgent lunches become. I will turn 30 in the Year of the Horse. I am determined to lose (and not find) ten pounds. I believe it will improve my riding. Studies estimate that horses can carry from […]
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 […]
Sharing horses with kids is a magical event. Being at my inlaws’ house, I’m having horse withdrawal. So I made a toy to woo the kids in the family. Nothing says “Cool Aunt” quite like a homemade hobby horse. What you need: Sock Yarn Quilt batting Buttons (two, or googly eyes if you prefer) Felt […]
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 […]
Do you know about the Equestrian Social Media Awards? Take a look at the acceptance videos from past winners and see the depth and breadth of how the equestrian community (businesses, thought-leaders, pleasure riders, charities, and professionals) is using social media. It’s no surprise really. Horse-people share a unique passion that transcends profession, age, riding style, […]
Horses are built to move. These powerful grazing herbivores are not adapted to a sedentary lifestyle. While most tolerate periods of time spent in a barn, horses (and people!) are healthier and happier with consistent exercise. To remedy this, we have to work both his mind and his body: to harness the feedback loop between […]
Have you heard of CurOST? Until a few years ago, I hadn’t either. In 2010, I had the privilege of watching the World Equestrian Games with friends and family. As we walked the aisles of gift shops and exhibits, I picked up several samples. Over the last few years, Nouvelle Research has emailed articles about […]
My mare is lame. Has been for a year and three months. We don’t know how she did it, but she came in from the paddock in August 2012 with two injured ligaments in her left front. So, she did a year of stall rest, and I have been bringing her back slowly. But some […]
You’re running late. There are two sub-reasons why it isn’t wise to ride when running significantly behind schedule. Why are you late? Perhaps the universe is trying to tell you that today is not your day. Stress. When you rush, you’re prone to make mistakes. A horse can sense an anxious human from a mile […]
It isn’t fun to brush dried poultice out of a tail. But then again, a tail is a horse’s best defense against pesky biting flies. My poultice regime starts with fashioning a less-than-attractive-but-cheap-and-effective fake tail. Step 1: Cut 2 foot segments of baling twine Step 2: Braid tail. Thread baling twine about halfway through the […]
It’s a new word, but an old phenomenon: Attorneys who ride. As most horse-people know, if you argue with a horse, you’ll lose every time. With most horses, it’s a matter of asking the right questions, in the right way, at the right time. The best lawyers would say the same thing about the courtroom. […]
Capital Cowgirl 