I believe they actually disbanded some time ago.
I’ve just held on to the hope they’d get together on horseback again.

Once upon a time,

in the magical world of horses, there were three sisters, very close in age and living not too far from eachother. As kids they all had always loved horses and then during mid-life they found themselves each with a horse and boarding at the same barn!

For many years the three of them would meet at the barn three time a week, rain, snow or shine. Together with their four-legged partners, they would ride, school or just sit and talk, catching up with each other’s lives. They went on excursions together, laughed and cried together, shared losses, accomplishments, and dreams.

And then there were the trail rides, both local and afar. Adventures where they truly became ‘The Three Musketeers!’ You might have seen them, riding together through fields and forests, each one living her horse dream.

But alas, as often happens in fairy tales, time passes and some dreams fade as priorities and passions change. As fate would have it only one Musketeer remains with her dream but now, sadly, without her partner.

A wise woman told her why she could never give up horses:
“Horses are in your soul” she said.
And the Solo Musketeer knows that to be true.

The post Dreams Fade to Reality appeared first on City Horse Woman.

“Aah… you’re doing better” said the horse. “That’s good.
Time helps such things.”

Yes. the pain is lessening. My first time back to the barn was really rough though. When I saw your nameplate, taken off your stall and put on the tack trunk, the loss hit me all over again. I’m sorry, I know it’s self-pity, but 24 years was just not enough time with you and I miss you terribly. I still automatically go to your stall with apple slices…. But what you told Kristen really has helped so much.

“I knew it would.
That morning when I felt something strange, like a tearing, in my gut  I knew things were about to change. And you needed to know I knew.”

As we’d grown older, I’d think about the inevitable and hope the end would be an easy decision for me. Severe colic, bad injury etc. making it obvious what had to be done. Tragic, but a no-brainer to end your pain with no guilt. But a few weeks ago I realized how wrong that thinking was: your pain should lessen my pain/guilt? NO, that’s just not acceptable.

I now know I would have been wrong not to let you go. I know you knew it was your time, that this was the way it had to be. You let Jimmy know, and both of you were ready. I needed to let you go peacefully.

Over the years I’ve loved so many companions who I’ve had to put to sleep. It’s always been hard, but it was always obvious it was time to release them from their suffering.

It’s was so much more difficult, heart wrenching,  to make this decision. There you were, standing in the sun, coat warm and shining, happily gobbling up grass. I could have easily fooled myself into thinking all the colic pain was over, you’d gotten thru it, and you’d be OK. But you knew you couldn’t get better. You knew it was your time…. “Better a week early than a day late.” It was so hard to let you go but I couldn’t let you suffer more.

“Ah, you humans complicate everything don’t you?” said the horse.”You know how much I loved my life with you. But it was simply time for me to go. And now it’s time for you to heal and move on.” 

 I’m so blessed to have had you as my partner for 24 years, so grateful for the connection we had. I can’t imagine finding another horse who can compare to you – I suppose it’s not fair to set such a high standard.

“You’re the most loving person I’ve ever known. You need to give that love to another horse. Not a replacement, a new being to get to know and enjoy time with.”

But I feel like I’ve lost part of my soul.

“You know that can’t happen. My soul is entwined with your soul, always.”

“Do you remember what you asked me awhile ago?” said the horse.

Yes, I do.

The post Never Alone appeared first on City Horse Woman.

‘Hay, Welcome back’  said the horse.
‘Where’ve ya been?’
Aw, you know how it is, life gets in the way. It’s so overwhelming at times.

‘No, I don’t know how that is. You humans spend so much energy with busy-work and worrying… you don’t take time to LIVE.’
You’re right of course.
You’ve always seen things more clearly than I.
…What am I going to do without you?

“I’m not gone, my Anam Cára,
you know I’ll always be with you.
Look to the yellow Cilivia flower.
No self-pity.
Live each day.
I’ll be waiting for you at the
Rainbow Bridge’ 

The post Saying Goodbye….Again appeared first on City Horse Woman.

My first direct experience with death came at an early age when my kitten was hit by a car. Back in those days cats were indoor/outdoor pets, today I’d never think of letting my cat outside. Heartbroken, I cried for days and pleaded with God to give her back to me. But of course that can’t happen.

Over the years I’ve brought many animals into my life. Each one enriching my life and then passing, leaving a hole in my heart. I’m sure my heart looks like swiss cheese as I said goodbye to another beloved pet.

Goodbye Harley     RIP

The post Saying Goodbye appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Have you ever
French Kissed….

a HORSE?! 

Equine Affaire 2023, Ohio: Julie Goodnight tells spectators not to kiss on their horses faces… that’s not the way horses show affection, and you run the risk of being bitten.

The only incident I’ve encountered while nuzzling my horse’s muzzle was not a bite, but startling just the same. While brushing her face we just happened to turn toward each other at the same moment. I was talking to her, as I always do while grooming, and she had her mouth slightly open……. The rest is history. Perfect set up for the French Kiss!

Maybe that’s why our bond is so strong!?
We were both a little startled.
It was not necessarily a bad experience,
but we agreed not to make a habit of it.

Photo: istockphoto-1199486942-612×612

The post On Kissing Horses appeared first on City Horse Woman.

•The Cadbury Bunny?     no

                         •April Showers?    no

  •Crocuses Budding?   no

                  •The 1st Robin?     no

•Bees a Buzzing?            no

            •Colored Easter Eggs?       no

 •Toads on the Roads?       nope…

YES!

Credit: Rural Avenue LLC – check out their website 

The post Spring Has Sprung appeared first on City Horse Woman.

The post When Tricksters Ply Their Trade appeared first on City Horse Woman.

It’s been called

“The Hardest Act of Love

you’ll ever carry out,
and the toughest decision you’ll ever make.”

Of Greek origin, the word Euthanasia literally means
‘a good death.’

This week I had the good fortune to come upon the ‘End-of-Life Decisions’ Seminar produced by the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. This topic has been on my mind as the owner of a 34yo horse. It was not easy to watch. I had only a rudimentary knowledge of how a horse is ‘put down,’ having seen one shot between the eyes many years ago.

I’ve talked only briefly with my vet. My greatest worry, after having to actually make the decision, was how will my horse feel when the initial injection makes her fall to the ground. How painful will hitting the ground the be? Will she be scared, confused? How long will she be conscious laying on the ground, possibly panicked, before the final injection?

Cornell has an excellent reputation, ranking 3rd in the list of 100 Best Veterinary Universities In The World according to vetreport.com while the National Library of Medicine ranks it 2nd in the US. And they did not disappoint with this excellent presentation. Exceeding my expectations, they put my fears to rest with their clear, thorough explanation of the process.

I recommend it to all horse owners.
Look for Past Seminars on the Cornell Equine Seminar Series page.

The post A Good Death appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Today is St Patrick’s Day! And what better way
to celebrate than with horses?

Yes, you read that right. Horses and St Patrick’s Day go together like green beer and regrettable decisions.

The Irish have always had a thing for horses. Maybe it’s because they both have a reputation for being a bit wild and unpredictable! But seriously, the ‘capall’ (horse in Old Irish) has a tremendous history in Irish culture and folklore. Having originally been used for transportation, peat harvesting, agriculture, and as a symbol of status and wealth, horses today are still an integral part of Irish life.

Ireland’s rich history of horse breeding and horsemanship dates back centuries, and Irish breeds of horses have long been prized for their strength, versatility, and intelligence and beauty.

• The Traditional Irish Horse (TIH) is the original indigenous Irish Sport Horse breed which was developed in Ireland 200-300 years ago using the Irish Draught, the Thoroughbred and, to a lesser extent, the Connemara Pony.
• The Connemara Pony, which most consider to be the only native breed of Ireland, has a bit of a mythical origin, just like the leprechauns, but they are thought to have arrived with the Celts in Ireland around 2,500 years ago.
• Along with the Kerry Bog Pony, Irish Draught and Gypsy Vanner (originally bred by the Romani people of Ireland). Irish breeds of horses are diverse and versatile and often excel in many different disciplines from show jumping, eventing, fox hunting and racing to driving and pleasure riding.

So this St Patrick’s Day, raise a Guinness to
horses everywhere.
And if you happen to see a green horse, not to worry –
you’re probably just Blootered! *

*Irish slang for drunk

The post St Patrick’s Day appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Women are problem solvers

In honor of women solving problems by the choices they make I’m sharing excerpts from a story on Horse Network about a woman who took the reins to finally end disagreements with her husband over her horses.

“Despite more than a decade together, three shared dogs, and thousands of dollars spent in couple’s therapy… I spent years looking inward, being asked to reevaluate my love of horses, the sport, and whether their cost—which we all know is rather high—was worth the stress on my marriage.

“My husband never gave it a rest about the vet bills or the farrier costs. He was constantly after me about how much I spent at horse shows, or on my saddle, or new riding clothes…or organic carrots.

“My therapist was adamant that I really hone-in on the relationship that mattered in my life, and I’m happy to say that I’ve finally done it.

Just maybe not in the way he was expecting…”

Read the full article on Horse Network

The post International Women’s Day appeared first on City Horse Woman.

March 1st was National
Horse Protection Day?

Unfortunately horses, both domestic and wild, have been subjected to neglect and abuse for decades.
In American horses have always signified freedom.
It’s tragic, the symbol for freedom is not free itself!

In 1971 the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act federally protected horses and burros inhabiting public lands in 10 western states. We see how well that’s worked out. They continue to be rounded up, abused, neglected, malnourished, and even slaughtered.
National Horse Protection Day, also known as. World Horse Day, was first observed in 2005 and we are still working to protect our wild horses and rescue, rehab, and rehome unwanted horses. Yes, National Horse Protection Day WAS March 1st but the need is so great EVERYDAY must be a horse protection day.

YOU can help:
•support a horse through a charity
•donate to your local horse sanctuary
•support organizations that protect and care for horses
•get involved in lobbying efforts to improve legislation on animal welfare

Follow Scott Beckstead, Animal Wellness Action.
https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction/ and  https://www.facebook.com/scott.beckstead1

Photo: Hilary Halliwell 

The post Protecting Horses appeared first on City Horse Woman.

“When I can’t ride anymore,
I shall still keep horses as long as I can hobble about with a bucket and a wheelbarrow.

When I can’t hobble,
I shall roll my wheelchair out to the fence of the field where my horses graze and watch them.”

The post Time Marches On appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Or rather, it happened again…..

When you fall off your horse it’s one thing. You’ve got an excuse. After all you’re dealing with a thousand-plus pound animal with a mind of its own, and misunderstandings happen. When you fall while just walking around the grounds that’s quite another matter. To be clear, I don’t just randomly fall down – there’s always extenuating circumstances. Like a mud patch, on the slope that leads down to the arena, with just a little bit of invisible ice. Yep, that’ll do it. I do have those grippie things that clip on the bottom of my boots, and they’re great on the ice, but was I wearing them? Of course not….because ‘it was only muddy.’

I’m blessed that I’ve never been seriously hurt in one of these incidents, other than my pride. Seriously hurt, no. Painfully hurt, yes….very bruised and battered.

I find it amazing the bizarre colors a bruise goes through during its life cycle. And of course, the larger the bruise (say from above the elbow down to the wrist and most of the way around the arm) the more spectacular the ‘artwork.’ An ever-changing display of colors and hues, from very dark purple to sickly shades of yellow-green as the days progress.
Quite the sight to share with friends
if they’re not too squeamish.

But I digress…. You’re flat on your back so you pull yourself up and assess the situation: nothing’s broken, you’re not feeling too bad, so you continue your day at the barn. But there’s a Bonus down the road. In the following days every muscle in your body lets you know it did NOT appreciate the impact, abruptly coming to a stop, splayed on the ground. Now you’re dealing not only with a large, painful, swollen bruise but body ache, soreness, and stiffness. You don’t get much sympathy for those injuries which are unseen, only reflected in your zombie-like movements, occasional moans, and your seaming overdose on ibuprofen.

At least the ice season will be over soon….

The post Mud & Ice appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Birthdays….. funny as our outlook on birthdays changes as we age, from excited anticipation to dread, denial then just accepting the inevitable as one has to comes to terms with the ticking clock and the ravages old age can bring, no matter how slow. I can attest to this – I hit a significant birthday last year.

So we make the best of it, taking the best care of ourselves as we can – what else can we do?

And likewise, as our horses age we try to give them the best quality of life. We seek the best veterinary care but sometimes there’s just not much help. Take deteriorating teeth. As teeth wear down and wear out their chewing ability is comprised, often causing older horses to regularly spit out ‘quids’ -wads hay/grass they can’t chew fine enough to swallow, and unlike the ‘doggie dentures’ TV commercial from aways back, there are no ‘horsey dentures.’

It appears to be a sentiment among some horsemen that these horses do not need to be turned out in a grass pasture. “Logical” (business) thinking would seem to say ‘why give an old horse a spot in premium pasture space if they can’t actually eat the grass? Better to put a younger horse there who can benefit more.’

Isn’t it all about Quality of Life?

So the old horse is relegated to a barren ‘dry lot’ with a pile of hay and no opportunity for fresh grass. But something is being overlooked here: as well as the physical needs of an older horse, shouldn’t we provide for his psychological needs? We can supplement their nutritional needs, compensating for un eaten grass/hay, but horses confined to a dry lot are deprived of one of the key elements of being a horse: grazing. Nose down, slowly walking around, sniffing out those sweet stalks of grass. I believe there’s significant emotional satisfaction in smelling, chewing, and tasting the fresh grass, even if it’s not all swallowed.

That’s what I want for my horse.

The post Do Elderly Horses Need Grass? appeared first on City Horse Woman.

34 years ago I could never have pictured my life as it is now. Yes, I’d always loved horses but growing up with few opportunities to ride, the thought of owing a horse was not on my radar. But still I never give up The Dream – I never sold the saddle I’d bought while taking riding lessons during college.

I can’t remember exactly what I was doing on Saturday Feb 4* 1989, but being a Saturday, with two little kids (2 & 3), I’m sure I was busy. As I went about my day I had no way of knowing that a little bay filly, just being born that day, would become my Forever Horse.

It took 10 years but she was worth the wait.

Playing off her family tree they named her ‘Pins.’ Her mother was ‘Florida Needles,’ grandmother ‘Needlette’ and her great grandfather was the famous ‘Needles,’ one win shy of the 1956 Triple Crown with 2 wins and a second place.

Pins, being well-bred, won races for a few years, but for most equines, being a ‘Race Horse’ is not such a great career. She was one of the fortunate ones, figuring out how to get herself out of the racing life. She’d noticed horses who didn’t win didn’t stay at the track for long…she knew her way out and was off the track at age 5. After being introduced to ‘normal life’ she dabbled in showing, served as a brood mare for a time (she loved taking care of babies) and spent a year as a ‘backyard’ riding horse.

We found each other on a cold, windy March night and the rest, as they say, is history. We’ve been together for an amazing 24 years.

Happy Birthday Pins,
Thoroughbred Extraordinaire!

*Of course the OFFICIAL birth date for ALL Thoroughbreds in the Northern Hemisphere is January 1 (August 1 in the Southern Hemisphere). This system was devised for convenience: when every horse born in a given year has the same birthdate they are easily identified as they enter various age restricted races.

Image: istockphoto-948072996-612×612.jpg

The post Happy Birthday! appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Always Be Change-able:
Have a Plan B… Plan C… Plan…

As I drove to the barn, Plan A was to take Pins for a walk outside in the crisp, fresh winter air then in for a quick groom and a ride. That was the Plan anyway.

BUT the ground was choppy, frozen and slippery, so we nixed that Plan. No problem, we’ll just switch to Plan B. We’ll take our walk in the arena, not as scenic but it’ll still limber us up before grooming and riding. Nearing the end of our walk a rider entered the arena. No problem usually as Pins is very good being around other horses and we’d been in the arena with them before.

BUT this time her horse was more than a little feisty and she remarked on controlling him.

Humm….. knowing she usually schools her horses for a fair amount of time, our quick grooming would put us back in the arena while she was still riding. Unsure if she’d still be having a difficult ride we opted to err on the side of being considerate and let her have the arena without the distraction of another rider.  We moved on to Plan C.

Aah… a relaxed grooming session. Yes, Plans fell apart but the day was not disappointing. On the contrary. Being leisurely pampered, Pins was so affectionate it was an amazing experience. Couldn’t have planned it if I’d tried.

And what’s that they say about ‘good deeds”? More often than not I see good deeds pay off.

Plans & Serendipity. Yeah, ya just never know!

Photo: istockphoto

The post Serendipity appeared first on City Horse Woman.

He died not long age after celebrating his 40th birthday at Mitten Misfits Farm Sanctuary in Grand Ledge, Mich. They said he was 138 years old in human years, but how did they calculate it?. I’ve seen different formulas to calculate a horse’s age on the web and it urns out it’s not as simple as calculating the human equivalent of a dogs age by simply multiplying by . This is because horses mature more quickly when they’re younger. It’s widely accepted that the first 3 years of horse life equal to an average of 6 human years each and each subsequent horse year is equal to 2.5 human years.

A Google search gives the average lifespan of a domestic horse at
20 to 30 years.

Of course some horses die much sooner while others live longer. The oldest horse whose age can be verified is “Old Billy,” foaled 1760 in the UK. Billy died on 27 November 1822 at the age of 62. But years lived is not necessarily years being healthy and active, years working or being ridden. As they age there comes a time in some horse’s lives that they are deemed no longer ’useful’ and become an inconvenience and a financial burden and some horse owners prefer to dispose of these unfortunate animals. But how does one define ‘useful’? I guess it depends on the reasons you got a particular horse in the first place.

Kudos to those people who care for their horses ’till the very end

The post Aging Horses appeared first on City Horse Woman.

I know people who love it but have never watched even one episode of the series ‘Yellowstone.’ So when I came across a recent article on the web I was curious. It talked about an episode where a horse is buried alongside a person ‘in accordance with Indigenous tradition.’

When I was little I often rooted for the Indians over the Cowboys/Calvary because they had better horses. I’m by no means very learned in Indigenous American traditions but I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of this custom at some point. Maybe I blocked it out because it involved killing horses!

Burying horses alongside human remains was a common practice among many Indigenous American nations well into the early 1900’s. Much like the ancient Egyptians, as part of revering the dead and providing for them in the afterlife, the Ute buried the deceased’s possessions with them. Often this included favorite horses who were sometimes killed on-the-spot as sacrifices for the deceased. Horses were vital in everyday life for Ute society allowing them to form large hunting parties, obtain big game from distant places and become an economic force in the area, dominating many other tribes. No wonder they valued their horses so highly and wanted to provide horses for their dead in the afterlife.

Photo: Indian istockphoto-517581785-

The post Yellowstone appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Here in Western New York, Winter has officially arrived. Our recent ‘Snownado’ left no doubt. Also called the ‘Blizzard of the Century,’ it brought up to 50 inches of snow, 6 foot drifts, canceled flights and a football game, downed power lines and unfortunately brought death.
As people worked outside clearing snow in the bitter cold and howling wind you can bet another ‘season’ is on it’s way: the sneezing, coughing, cold, flu season with runny noses, sore, raw throats and hoarse voices.

At the thought of these afflictions I wondered…..

Do horses get ‘horse’?

There are two horses in the barn where I board who, when separated, continually call out for each other with some force. I wonder if they kept it up long enough would they get hoarse?

Just something to ponder when you’re sitting around waiting for the snow to melt.

Photo by Dan Cook on Unsplash

The post Hoarse Horses? appeared first on City Horse Woman.

“Close your eyes
and image yourself
in a relationship…

Within this relationship you have no voice.
Maybe it’s your first one, or maybe the 10th one…

You meet and immediately you are told where you will live, where you will work, how you will exercise and who you will be friends with… if anyone.
When you try and express that you are fearful of the uncertainty, confused about the new life, and worried no one will ever hear you again… you are met with more directions… over and over… with no time to process or time to be still and be heard…

Imagine living day after day… walking on eggshells, not knowing what our partner will be like that day… often they use you as a means to feel better, dumping all the stress from their job and life on you… projecting all their insecurities and short comings right into you… blaming you for not being a better listener… even saying you are a jerk, stubborn, and even calling you stupid…

How do you cope with this? Do you shut down and stop trying?… do you try and run away, are you frozen in fear and anxiety, so much so that you are triggered by what seems to be “nothing”…and “out of nowhere”?

None of this is anywhere near a healthy partnership,
yet it’s where we expect our horses to live everyday…

These animals are gifts, accountability partners, and their behaviors and desperate attempts to communicate are a clear mirror to what is happening for us internally… they do not judge, they forgive constantly and love unconditionally… and when they don’t they are labeled as “problem.”

It’s time to take responsibility for our side of the relationship… they have no choice in this game, the least we can do is practice a little patience and empathy… manage our own emotions so they don’t have to navigate that energy… .

It’s my belief that they are here to support us in our growth, hold us accountable and teach us the virtues we came here to embody…
It’s time to get present with them…
it’s time to stop taking their offerings for granted
With Love and grace”
Amber Lydic                                                                           Photo by Annie Spratt

The post A New Year appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Christmas nears, and for some Christmas Time conjures visions of Sugar-Plums or…but wait, what IS a Sugar Plum? I’d always pictured Sugar Plums as cute little girls in pastel color tutus dancing to the Nutcracker Suite. But no – SpecialityProduce.com says the Sugar plum is large oblong-shaped, purplish-blue skinned fruit with a confectionary sweet flavor. Well, I doubt many people are dreaming of pieces of dancing fruit in anticipation of Christmas Day.
Sugar Plums are also defined as sweethearts or lovers, but I don’t think that’s what Moore had in mind when he wrote The Night Before Christmas.
So back to the food theme. The site inliterature.net states “The Victorian sugarplum is essentially a preserved pitted plum rolled in sugar and baked at low temperatures for days until the plum is dried out and the sugar crust crisp”, apparently a delicacy. Other sources say the treats included toasted nuts and warm spices.

So this seems to be the famous Sugar Plums Moore was referring to. Interestingly back in the day sugar plums were also known as ‘comfits’ and started life as a medicine to treat indigestion. I guess it’s an appropriate image to come to mind in anticipation of over doing it at a huge Christmas feast! But I digress….

There certainly are countless different visions of Christmas.

For some Christmas Time conjures visions of Santa with his sleigh and reindeer running through the powdery snow, and for others a dinner feast, a bounty of gifts, the blessing of reconnecting with friends & family.  And for many the true meaning of Christmas is a shining star in the night sky, a Nativity scene and hope.

Yet not all is cheery and bright this time of year. This morning on the Today Show, Archbishop Timothy Dolan spoke of the current darkness in the world. Yes, there certainly is darkness but there’s also hope. I love Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s words, written on Christmas morning 1864:

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with
peace on earth, goodwill to men.’ ”

Photo Credit: Dorota Kudyba from Pixabay

The post Christmas 2022 appeared first on City Horse Woman.

I hate to burst your bubble but here are several
common misconceptions about Christmas beliefs/traditions:

• The song ‘Over The River And Through The Wood’ is NOT a Christmas song. The original title of the 1844 poem by Lydia Maria Child is “The New-England Boy’s Song about Thanksgiving Day” and the lyrics say, “Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!” NOT Christmas Day.

• Neither is the song ‘Sleight Ride’ (“Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling…”). It’s NOT a Christmas song. It’s merely a holiday song, celebrating the winter season, despite folks like The Carpenters and Sesame Street trying to change the lyrics from “a birthday party at the home of Farmer Gray” to a Christmas party.

• Rudolph, Dasher, Donner, Blitzen et al were NOT male reindeer (sorry boys!). After mating season in autumn, when the males no longer need their antlers to fight, they shed them. Only female reindeer still have antlers at Christmastime. And did you know of the 40 various species of deer on Earth, only the reindeer species feature females with antlers?
  BTW, I could find no scientific proof that reindeer can’t fly!

• Shepherds were NOT out at night watching their flocks ‘on a cold winter night’ as there was no need. Shepherds only watched and protected the ewes and lambs when they were most vulnerable during the February to March lambing season. 

• Santa’s original mode of transportation was NOT a sleigh. During Colonial times in America, St. Nick rode a white horse while giving children gifts. Santa’s sleigh and reindeer didn’t appear until in an 1821 lithographed children’s book, “Children’s Friend.”

• It’s said that at midnight on Christmas Eve all animals can talk…. I believe our animals don’t have to wait until a special day and hour – they can and do communicate quite well all the time…. it’s people who choose not to hear them.
  Before another year slips by we should start truly listening.

The post Christmas Myths 2022 appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Keeping a Horse Can Be a Waiting Game

As I drove to the barn recently on a cold, damp, rainy, miserable morning I wondered if the vet would arrive on time. And if not, I wondered how long I would have to wait in the damp barn on this cold, rainy, miserable morning. Stopping at the drive-thru for a hot cup of coffee to take was little consolation as I wondered how long it would stay hot, or even lukewarm. I knew not for long on this cold, damp, rainy morning.

As I sat and waited I was thinking: do vets and farriers even have ‘appointments’ in the traditional sense? Sure, weeks in advance they give you a time they EXPECT (hope) to arrive, but when it comes down to it ya just never know. So many circumstances/emergencies can come up to change the best laid plans. Personally, I’m a stickler about being on time and am uncomfortable when I’m late for appointments or meetings. Meetings especially – it drives me crazy when a late comer holds up the whole team and much of what had already been covered has to be repeated for the late-comer.

But truth be told, as frustrating as it can be, I can’t really complain about the vet/farrier’s schedule. When it’s MY horse being seen I want them to spend as much time as needed with Pins, even if it delays ‘appointments’ later in the day. I imagine most horse owners feel the same.

Photo Credit: Andrey Grushnikov

The post Waiting appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Of course you’re aware that there are many words in the English language that sound the same but are spelled differently and have very different meanings. I wonder if the same is true in other languages. Being monolingual, I don’t have a clue…. But that’s neither here nor there.
Take for example the words ‘tic’ and ‘tick’ – or don’t take them as they both undesirable, things you don’t really want to have.

In humans, a tic is basically an involuntary, repetitious movement. Some horses display repetitious, seemingly obsessive movements like ‘weaving,’ rocking their head and neck from side to side while their chest and front legs follow along, shifting from leg to leg. Weaving is a ‘stereotypy,’ a repetitive, compulsive behavior that serves no purpose. This would seem to fit the definition of a ‘tic.’ Unfortunately, there always seem to be one or two horses in the barn afflicted by this vice, the cause being unclear, some attributing it to confinement, boredom, or stress.

And there’s another affliction horses are prone to – ticks.
Tiny but mighty!

Nasty little creatures that crawl through the grass (they don’t fly) and grab onto horses, attaching themselves by burying their sharp little teeth into their prey while they feed on the horse’s blood. Ick.

They are not insects as one might think, but arachnids, relatives of spiders, scorpions, and mites. Double ick. Tiny yet mighty, besides looking nasty, these parasites can be dangerous, transmitting serious illnesses like Lyme disease. Removing them can be tricky as you must be sure to pull the entire critter out without leaving the head behind, which can cause an infection.

Last week during grooming Pins was acting bothered, holding her left leg on the tip of her toe and the inside of her leg was sensitive. I always listen to what she’s trying to tell me and upon closer inspection I found something sticking out of her inner leg. It looked like a tiny beige plastic tab of some sort and was pretty well stuck to her. I had no idea it was a living creature– never having seen a tick feeding off a horse before. Luckily, we were able to successfully extract it intact, but I’ll never forget the unreal sight of it!

If you want more info on ticks horsehealthproducts.com has some good information.

The post Tics & Ticks appeared first on City Horse Woman.

This is always a tough time of the year for me – the transition from fall’s waning to winter’s approaching, to oops not here just yet let’s have a little more fall, to yep NOW it’s winter! Fluctuating winter temperatures when you live in the City far from your horse can be a real concern and you worry – at least I do. I’m constantly checking the weather/ temperature/winds. (I have my phone’s weather app location set, not for my home but for the barn!)

A few days ago it dropped to 21º at the barn. Although Pins wears a blanket due to her age and physical condition, I worry will it be warm enough? Should I have put her heavier blanket on last time I was there? This is constant conundrum: with the heavier blanket will she sweat if the temp goes up? With the lighter blanket will she be cold? And then I worry some more.

And there’s ANOTHER concern. The winter before last, as I led her down from the barn, she slipped on the packed snow. Then she fell. I’ll never forget it. It was horrible to watch because I couldn’t help her. Then she struggled to her feet. We’re so lucky that she wasn’t hurt badly, and I vowed I could not let this happen again. Of course there’s no such thing as I sure thing but at least I can rest a little easier this winter knowing I’ve done all I can to prevent a reoccurrence. My farrier has prepared her feet well for winter with cleat-like things on her shoes as well as snow pads.

But of course I’ll still worry….

The post Almost Winter appeared first on City Horse Woman.

The American Thanksgiving Day is commonly thought to originate in 1621 when the Plymouth colonists celebrated the harvest – a matter of life or starvation – with a feast, thankful that they had survived. Pretty heavy stuff back then. These days how ow many of us are truly thankful? We get so wrapped up in preparations for the big day that we often lose focus on the real intent of the holiday.

On this Thanksgiving holiday, after you’re stuffed with stuffing, will you count your blessings? Will you run through the list of what you’re grateful for?
– a loving family?
– your horse(s)? (my favorite)
– your health?
– all the friends in your life?
– a worthwhile job?
– or a comfortable retirement?
– fulfilling hobbies?
The list goes on and on and….

Do you consider
yourself lucky to
have these things?

I’ve come to believe ‘luck’ is not the proper word. These are not just lucky coincidences in a chaotic world. There is something else at work here.

I look around me and KNOW I am not lucky… I am ‘BLESSED.’
It’s a great perspective – I recommend it!

Want to comment? Click ‘Giving Thanks’ above
Photo by Ave Calvar Martinez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/fantastic-scenery-of-seascape-in-sunset-light-3663066/

The post Giving Thanks appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Photo credit: Kimerlee Curyl Photography

Today we celebrate Veterans Day

By no means downplaying the debt we owe these brave homo sapien veterans, millions of equids also served, although not voluntarily. One of the most famous, ranked as one of America’s greatest war heroes for her deeds and named by Life magazine among America’s top 100 heroes in 1997, is United States Marine Corps 1st Division, 5th Regiment, Sgt. Reckless. This small Mongolian mare served during the Korean War, was wounded twice, and decorated with two Purple Hearts. She was one of the lucky ones who returned to the United States and lived out her days at Camp Pendleton until she died in 1968.

Horses and mules shaped American history in tall our wars at home and overseas. So on this day when we are honoring the humans who served, let’s take a moment to thank the equine soldiers who have contributed to our nation.

Sgt Reckless at work

*Poll commissioned by the Cohen Veterans Network
You can comment by clicking on the link at top.

The post To ALL Who Served appeared first on City Horse Woman.

It seems appropriate just days after Halloween, one of the candiest times of the year, to think about horse treats. There are a lot of options: home grown (apples & carrots), home made (there are lots of recipes online), store bought or of course ‘people’ treats like peppermint candies. I recently read an excellent article that I’d like to share.

But first: I’ve heard some people don’t give their horse treats.

Nada.  None.
Never.
No Way Ever!

I’d guess they have more of a business relationship with their horse because other people believe that giving treats as a reward for coming when called, a good performance etc. is not only acceptable but helpful in the training process. Still others (I won’t name names) feel giving a treat is communicating affection for their horse, so the more treats the more love! But that’s not necessarily the case as the WARHorses article “Horse Treats 101 – Good Choices for Your Good Horse” points out.

While I’ve been offering my mare more treats in her later years (getting sentimental I guess) I have made age appropriate changes. Switcing to more healthy options and from carrots to apples as her ability to chew harder food declines. Now I find a LOT of options for healthy snacks and list of good treats/bad treats, and related explanations, is very informative (did you know horses are lactose intolerant?). But read it for yourself and let me know what you think. You can find the full article at: https://womenofageridinghorses.com/training/advice/horse-treats-101-good-choices-for-your-good-horse/

Image source unknown
Click on “Treats’ above to share your thoughts

The post Treats appeared first on City Horse Woman.

The post Myth or Reality? appeared first on City Horse Woman.

Yes, unfortunately I’ve had my share, probably more than my share, of ‘unscheduled dismounts’ over the years, most attributed to my inexperience and/or lack of awareness of where my horse’s mind was. No excuse for lack of awareness but when it comes to horses, I don’t consider inexperience necessarily a bad thing. Coming to the Horse World late in life with little experience I instead brought an open mind, always searching for information, techniques, and ideas, without prejudice.

This approach seems to have served me well. Before our first vet appointment I was cautioned that the vet the barn used was impatient and could be harsh and bristly. Seems she had many dealings with horse owners who were very opiniated and argumentative, often sure that they knew more than she. Reacting to these attitudes had given her a reputation.

However I never had a problem with her. Maybe I was over naïve back then but I’d started the relationship with a sincere confession: I was inexperienced being new to horse ownership, not entirely certain of what I was doing, but eager to learn and welcomed all the help and advice I could get. Judging by the manner in which she treated me during our relationship it was evident she appreciated the fresh approach.

That wasn’t the last time I asked for help/advice because of my inexperience. I’m still open to learning all that I can. They say “you catch more bees with honey”* and I’ve yet to be stung with a rude or snarky response.

Have a comment” Just click on ‘Unscheduled Dismounts’ above

*In popular imagining…bees, wasps, and flies are attracted to honey… Hence the saying “You can catch more bees [or wasps or flies] with honey than with vinegar.”  Source: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/429714/what-does-showing-as-much-interest-as-a-bee-shows-in-vinegar-cruet-mean

The post ‘Unscheduled Dismounts’ appeared first on City Horse Woman.