Rio Gets a Pedicure...

Rio had a visit from one of his favorite people this week! Vince the farrier. I have to say I never fully appreciated my good experiences with farriers until I moved to Central Florida. In over 20 years of horse experience and ownership I think I've used maybe 5 farriers all of which have been absolutely wonderful. Every time I changed farriers it was almost always due to a move, never a farrier problem. And, I can't even count the number of times my farrier has saved a horse from bigger problems. My mare Katie would not have remained as sound or ridable as she did up to the very end of her life if it had not been for good farriers. 

I never knew just how lucky I was until I moved from Tallahassee to the central Florida area 2 years ago. In our first year I think I went through 4 farriers in the course of a year and my "never lame" horse had more issues in one year with his feet then he has in his entire life... see previous blogs for just a few examples of our trials and tribulations. I thought maybe it was just me and my bad luck, but after talking to several other people in the area I realized not so much! Apparently its hard to find a decent farrier in this area. 

Even my non horsey friends probably have heard the saying your horse is only as good as his feet, If you stop to think about it you have to question God's design of this beautiful animal. Horses weigh easily 1000 plus pounds on average and they carry all that weight on four relatively small feet... its the equivalent of you or I walking around on our fingers... I kid you not... check out dressage Trainer Jane Savoie's awesome comparison of the horse and human skeletal system.

Not only do you have a problem with their feet if they aren't being trimmed correctly, or if the horse develops some sort of foot issue, but how they move and stand with foot issues can translate up the body to bigger muscle skeletal issues causing difficulties when being ridden, and potential soreness or injury to the horse in other areas. 

For the last 10 months Rio has been trimmed by Vince our barefoot specialist out of Ocala and I have never been happier with his feet or his performance then in that time frame. Add to that the bonus that Vince is very patient with the horses, and takes the time to explain everything he is doing to the horse  and you can't ask for much more. He is always honest with you, only trimming the horse if it truly needs it, and able to explain ins and outs of his job in English as apposed to farrier talk so that even the most beginner person can understand the concepts.

I love my farrier for all those reasons, but Rio just loves him because Vince always offers a good scratch before and after he finishes trimming him...

If you're looking for an awesome barefoot farrier Vince travels from Florida up the coast to Virginia on a regular basis! I highly recommend him!

Equine-nomis (Part II)

We all know horses are expensive to keep. I myself have struggled to keep my own horse over the last year and a half with the loss of a steady job, and the horse market in Central Florida being on the higher side of expenses in comparison to other places I’ve lived.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had the experience of keeping my horse on my own property, on smaller backyard properties and at the big expensive show barns… and just about every other option in-between. I’ve seen a lot of good and a lot of bad ideas when it comes to horse care and management and the economics of it all. And, I’ve spent a lot of time reading, and researching in the last several months.

What I’ve come up with is a list of ways to help cut equine costs. Some are only appropriate if you own your own property or do self care while others are better for boarding, but none the less here they are:

Feeding

·      For easy keepers:

-       Feed grass hays like coastal which are often cheaper then T&A or Alfalfa

-       Feed more hay and less concentrates

-       Think about feeding a balance ration as apposed to grain

·      If you buy your own feed - buy in bulk

-       Feed is generally cheaper if you buy in bulk

-       Ordering your grain through a mill as apposed to buying it by the bag from a feed supplier is almost always cheaper

·      Buy your winter feed early! Often there will be a shortage of hay in the winter which leads to higher prices

·      Streamline your feeding and care and management in general!

-       The more organized you are the less time it takes which is huge if horses are a business, but maybe not your full time job

-       The more consistently a horse is cared for the more likely they will be healthy… no surprise vet bills!

·      If you have to feed supplements and you can order in bulk with a friend or the whole barn you’ll save and maybe even get free shipping

Tack, Equipment, Grooming Supplies Ect…

·      Don’t be cheep!  Buying quality equipment initially will mean that the things you buy last longer.

·      Maintain your equipment! Regularly cleaning tack, and keeping all equipment in a safe clean environment will limit ware and tare

·      Repair things that “break” if possible. There’s no reason to throw out a blanket with a tare in it if it can be stitched and patched. 

·      Share! My saddle needs to be reflocked.  Can’t afford it so I borrow my leaser’s saddle to ride in an exchange for a discount on her lease. Eventually I will fix my saddle, but in the mean time we both save on some money.

·      Swap! Need something, but don’t have it, have something but don’t need it? Swap! Do a barn swap or go to your local tack store and see if they have a resale or swap day.  For those who are in central FL check out Saddler of Orlando! They have several of these a year including one this Saturday!

·      Don’t waist! Use grooming supplies like shampoo or conditioner sparingly.

·      Use alternate grooming tools to cut costs

-       Dawn soap makes a great alternative to expensive shampoos, won’t irritate the horse’s skin and does its job quite well!

-       Swav Shampoos and conditioners also work very well!

-       A mix of Apple Cider Vinegar, Mouth Wash, and water makes a great and very economical fly spray in comparison to $20 a bottle and up at the tack store.

-       MTG while not cheep makes a great conditioner and works! It can be used very sparingly… a lot goes a very long way!

Vet & Farrier Care

·      If your horse can go barefoot I highly recommend it! I have a great barefoot farrier who charges a bit more then your typical farrier, but he comes less often because I maintain my horse’s feet by rasping them periodically myself between trims. However this is something my super farrier has taught me to do and should not be done with out knowledge or in place of trimming all together!

·      Team Up! Save on farrier or vet trip fees by having your horse treated or trimmed with a larger group of horses.

·      Maintaining proper vet and farrier care. Ultimately doing so will save you an emergency trip from the vet or farrier.

Showing, Training, Lessons Ect…

·      If you take lessons try taking a group lesson

·      Cut out lessons. If you can’t afford it like me at the moment take a lesson here or there and work on things in between on your own… only good for people who are not beginners of course!

·      Cut down on showing and work on sharing transportation to shows or other events

·      Make your own clothing as apposed to buying everything… I wish I had some talent here!

Barn Vs. Pasture & General Management Tips

·      If you can keep your horse outside do it!

-       This is a more natural environment which equals a healthier horse

-       It saves you shavings or stall mats

·      If your horse is in a stall buy shavings in bulk. Sometimes you can even get them FREE if you know where to look!

·      Sell your manure!  It makes great garden compost! If you have to get rid of it anyways sell it!

Lease Your Horse

I offset my costs by partially leasing my horse. Always have and probably always will. However its important to keep in mind your horse’s capabilities, and the rider you choose to pair with that horse.  When I buy a horse I don’t just look at it for how it meets my needs and skill level, but how hard it will be to lease the horse if needed. The less complicated the horse the easier it will be to lease it out. I also lease to more then one person because it makes it more affordable for all parties despite the frustrations of having to juggle schedules.

Lastly – Teach & Pass On What You Know

I am not a professional horse person. Horses are a hobby for me. I consider my skill level to be on the higher spectrum of intermediate.  I am lucky enough to know enough about solid basics, and horse care to be able to teach. Teaching beginner lessons and helping first time horse leasers/owners helps me offset my cost of equine care.

For Those Who Don’t Have A Horse Yet…

Consider lessons and leasing before you buy, and when you finally do take the plunge make sure that you know the cost of horse care in your area!

I am sure that I’ve forgotten something or that there is something to be added to this list that I have not come across so for my few loyal readers feel free to sound off and share your suggestions for saving $$ when it comes to owning a horse. For those thinking about getting a horse and wanting to know the average cost ask away! I am happy to share my  own experiences.

Equine-nomics (Parte 1) For All You Crazy Horse People Or The Normal Ones Who Don't Understand Us!

My sister has on more then one occasion told me that all horse people are crazy.  Now, I have to admit that I've run into my fair share of crazy, bipolar horse people particularly in the last 2 years, but  I've always argued that that's not a fair generalization. "Look at me" I'd say. I know I'm not perfect, but I'm a pretty stable, level headed person. I think most people who know me would agree with that. She just looks at me and shakes her head every time... nope you're crazy! Gee thanks!

But, lately I find myself questioning even my sanity. Could she be right? Where am I going with this you ask? Money... horses cost money and lots of it. Its not like having a dog and spending $50 a month on food and $100 a year on vet expenses that may or may not be taken care of depending on the owner's level of responsibility to their pet.

If you own your own property you might save a little bit of money, but you end up having to pay for property upkeep, and liability insurance. If you keep other horses to offset your own expenses be it horse care, feed, property upkeep, or a mortgage payment you are basically saddling yourself with a full time year round job... no vacations... its a year round every day commitment to care for those horses.

If you choose to board your horse and let someone do the work for you you're looking at anywhere from $1200 a year to $12,000 depending on the barn you choose and the region you live in. 

Then there's foot care, vet care, tack and grooming supplies, training for the horse if you are not at a level that you can do this yourself, and lessons, never mind the expenses of showing if you choose to compete. Oh and did I mention the truck and trailer you need to be able to go anywhere with your pretty pony? What happens if there's an emergency...you could be looking at hundreds to thousands of dollars to save your best friend. 

A couple of things have happened of late that have made me sit back, look at what I spend to keep my horse, and question my sanity. 

One, I've met a few families through trying to lease my own horse who, having no horse experience, and you guessed it, no money, have gone out and "rescued" a horse that they know next to nothing about. They end up with a horse that's way too much for them and they can't afford the horse once they find out what they really need to put into its care, training, and lessons that they didn't take into account prepurchase.

As I sit and lecture them about doing everything backwards I realize that at one point I did the same thing they are doing or I guess my mom did. My first horse was a half starved $200 rescue that would have been bound for slaughter or euthanasia. I was a few steps ahead of the families I'm helping having at least taken 2 years of lessons and keeping the horse at my trainer's facility as apposed to an open grass field with no place to ride, and no knowledgeable person to help educate. Luckily the story has a happy ending. Through years of struggle Katie did eventually be come a good match for me or I guess you could say I grew into her. I even taught lessons off of her when I was in college. And, she lived 17 years longer then she would have had I not taken her. But, unfortunately, this type of situation does not always turn out for the best. 

The second thought provoking event has come in the form of a recent job offer. As a teacher it is very hard in Florida and in this economy to find a teaching position that will stick if you are not tenured. 

I'm taking a homeschooling/nanny position for the next year, or at least I'm 99% positive I've made up my mind to do so rather then holding out for a teaching job that would pay a lot more and give me benefits if I can just hold out long enough to find the right teaching position for me . I've spent the last year tutoring, driving all over creation, and working a part time job that's minimum wage and has kept me from looking for better work. Why?Because, at least in part, any money is better the no money and as long as I bring in some income I don't have to sell my horse.

That's right folks I'm making crazy career decisions to keep my horse! In fact I've lived at home with my mom since loosing my last teaching position because I can't afford rent, but I wouldn't sell my horse. 

And, this is not the first time I've made crazy decisions for the sake of a horse. I spent $1000 to move a 26 year old arthritic horse across the country rather then put her down or place her free to good home... because at 11 years old I made a promise to that horse that I would never let anyone abuse her every again, that she would die with dignity when it was her time, and always be loved. 

And, I know I'm not the only one who's done similar things. I've got quite a few friends who live pay check to pay check, but will do just about anything to keep their horse. 

So in retrospect, yes I supposed I am crazy too, but then again there's a trade off. My horse is better then any therapist I could ever hire. He provides me a focus and an intense passion and love Riding offers exercise and a social outlet. You spend your money on a gym membership and movie tickets... potatoes - potautos, tomatoes tomatos... 

Funny to think that while my daily decision to keep my best friend in my life may be crazy given the sacrifices I make, he is what keeps me sane in the rest of my life....

Stay tuned for part two in which I discuss ways I've found to cut costs and help cover your horses expenses... a timely blog given the state of our economy, and one that would make for some interesting discussion!

And just because he's beautiful here's a recent picture of my spotted money pit ... er best friend....

Until next time Rio sends his love to you all!

A Very Merry Un-Birthday To You... (And Rio)

Rio unceremoniously demanding more Birthday treats... as if 3 apples, a half a bag of carrots and umpteen peppermints weren't enough!

      

      You could say I am wishing my four legged best friend a belated birthday, but I prefer to ignore how horribly late this is and just wish him a very merry un-birthday… you know like in Alice In Wonderland?

            Yes, I am a horrible horse mom, and an even worse blogger at that. I haven’t written in a few months, not for lack of things to write about, or the enthusiasm to write, but definitely for lack of time and organization… But I digress... before I’ve even begun!... where was I?

            I feel like I’m in a time warp or a little bit like Alice falling down a hole and finding herself in world that doesn’t quite make sense.  It has been an absolutely insane year, both in horse related events, and in my life in general. Never mind the craziness... I would love it if someone could just explain to me where does time go and why does it disappear so quickly!?

            As of April 17^th my pony turned 13 years old, and this blog, or lack there of, turned one. I am a huge fan of celebrating Rio's Birthday because other horses I've had I never knew official Birthdays for. So Rio is never lacking in the spoiled rotten department on Birthdays. This year was lower key, but he did enjoy many treats, a good brushing and extra turn out time. 

 When I first Met Rio he was a rising 6 year old with not much training to his name, and very little real life experience. I was working my butt off trying to navigate college, work a full time job, and manage 2 horses at the same time.

A lot has changed in 7 almost 8 years. I officially bought Rio. Katie passed away leaving a huge hole in my life, I graduated, I got my first teaching job, I left that job after the first year and moved to Central Florida, took on a job that I absolutely hated, left that job and found myself not quite knowing what to do next, but fighting to make ends meet… mostly so that I never have to say good by to one of the best things in my life, my horse…. Which I’m sure only other horse lovers will understand.

After spending a good 7 or so years in one place Rio has now been moved to 3 barns in a year and a half to find just the right fit for us. But, boy has he learned to be a horse that goes with the flow. All the moving around hasn’t seemed to bother him one bit. We’ve done beach rides, and trail rides, and even attended a big group trail ride with hundreds of other riders 2 years in a row now. He gives lessons to beginners! He’s no longer the green baby; he’s teaching other riders how fun it is to ride, and how much more fun it is to ride a flashy spotted Appaloosa with an attitude. We are jumping. He’s gone from looking at the jump with a “dear in the headlights” look to actually enjoying free jumping though it takes a bit of convincing to carry my heavy behind over a fence. Riding seems an ever constant work in progress, but he Rio now rides on the bit mostly off seat and leg, and we are working on lateral movements and lead changes.  We’ve made Friends with Crystal and Christian who are partially leasing Rio and helping me keep him in regular work.

Through all of this, I look back at where we came from and I feel very lucky to have him and incredibly amazed at how far we’ve come.

This post may be a little late (bad mom bad), but is no less heart felt. Happy Birthday to my spotted boy and thank you to all those who share in his life and make it possible for me to have him in mine!

And, I know I’ve said it before, but I promise there will be updates more frequently for the 3 people who read the blog!... maybe someday I’ll have time to write more and we’ll gain a following… until then , at least its good therapy for me!

A New Years Resolution From The Horse's POV

I will not treat my stall like a litter box. I will pee and poop outside whenever possible.

I will not tip over the wheelbarrow while you are filling it with manure, even if I think it’s funny.

I CAN walk and poop at the same time. I can, I can, I can.    

I will NOT stop and poop or urinate every time I pass the same spot in the arena.I 

I will NOT leave when my rider falls off.

I will NOT walk faster on the way home than I did on the way out.

I won’t spook at nonexistent scary things, even though it gets a great reaction from you.

I won’t flip out when my pasture buddy goes off in a trailer, even when I know he’ll be back soon.

I will NOT pull my new shoes off the very next day just to prove that I can.

I am neither a beaver nor a carpenter. I promise I won't eat or remodel the barn or the new fences.

I WILL forgive my human for the very bad haircut, even though I look like a freak.

I accept that not every carrot is for me.

I will not nibble the farrier’s ears or bite his but just because its there.

I will let the vet give me my shots without making like it freaks me out.

I will not tip over the big water bucket in the pasture just because I can.

I will not stomp on the salt block, breaking it into unlickable pieces.

I will not trot away when I see you come towards me with a halter. I want to play, really I do.

I will not pretend I have never seen a barrel pattern (jump, gate, etc.) in my life.

I will swallow wormer without objection and without getting any of it on myself or you.

 

I will get under you when you lose your seat, instead of seizing the opportunity to dump you in the dirt.

I will not blow up like a balloon when you cinch my girth.

I will NOT bite the butt of the horse in front of me during the trail ride just to say "Hi".

I WILL put my ears forward and cooperate when it comes to photos.

               ~ Author Unknown

                        Borrowed From NickerNews.net

Cowboy Magic is my HERO!

For those of you who have actually read my earlier blog posts or followed my pitiful face book statuses in the past couple of months you probably know all about my trials and tribulations with Rio's feet. For those who don't I'll try to give a quick recap... I apologize in advance for the size of this post. It was really met to be spread out as updates over 10-14 days, but lord knows I can't keep up with anything! If you've read the other posts you can skip over the back story and go straight to our verdict on the Cowboy Magic Product!

- Back Story -

Rio has lived most of his life on close to 100 acres of grass pasture. He's had a simple life, getting very little grain, only getting hay in winter months when things were dry, getting his feet trimmed every 6-8 weeks. He's never worn shoes, and he's never been on any other supplements. He WAS an uncomplicated pony until we moved to Central Florida. 

For those who live in Orlando you'll sympathize with us. There is pretty much NO pasture turn out for horses! So Rio moved into a stall with an attached paddock. He also went through a major diet change switching to free choice coastal and starting on grain... nutrition is a whole other blog post all on its own so I won't go into major detail right now, but I attribute the change in life style and nutrition and a slew of crappy farriers to the root of our problems. 

July through early October we lived through several re-occurring abscesses, and 3 changes in farrier. 

Just when I thought we had the abscesses cleared up he started to show signs of thrush.

 I tried cleaning his stall myself, putting down lime and extra shavings to keep things as dry and clean as possible. I tried soaking the feet in a 10% bleach solution. I tried spraying them with apple cyder vinegar. I tried pretty much every thrush product known to man. Nothing worked with consistency. None of the treatments were quick and easy. The chemical products like coppertox, dursoul and thrush buster were messy, dried the hoof wall out, iterated my skin and left it a pretty shade of blue green.

And then I found a trial for a new Cowboy Magic Thrush Killer product. They needed 100 horses to test the product and they were giving it to the testers for free. So we gave it a try... what could it really hurt? And, if you made it through reading all that bravo to you!  So what's the verdict on this CM product?

WE LOVE COWBOY MAGIC!

Cowboy Magic was looking to verify that (1) the product does indeed kill thrush, (2) that it does not dry the hoof wall and (3) that it does not stain or irritate your skin or the horses skin/feet.

And, unlike so many other products on the market it does exactly what it claims it should do!

I saw a significant difference in his feet with in a few days and continued improvement over about 2 weeks of treatments.  Further more it was very easy to apply, not messy or irritating, and the product lasts. One eight oz. bottle lasted 2 weeks of daily treatment. The CM product was the consistency of a thick hand soap so it tended to stay put until you could get it scrubbed into the foot rather then run off like so many of the liquid based products.  It was also very time efficient. I found the product worked weather I scrubbed the feet clean first with soap and water or simply picked it, brushed as much dirt away as possible and applied the medication. It did not dry the foot. It did not bother my skin, though in all honesty I never got any on my skin because the product stays where you put it! I'd let the product soak into the foot on a clean concrete surface for 2-5 minutes and throw him back in his stall. No half our soaking sessions. 

This is what the product looks like. It comes in a squeezable bottle. You simply squeeze a portion onto the foot and then use the back of a hoof pick with scrubbing bristles to spread the product over the entire foot. 

I took pictures of all 4 feet every day of treatment through the first ten days and then after his most recent trim about a week ago, but to post every single picture here would  make this post even bigger so what I'm showing you is a selection of shots over the ten days of the worst of the feet. 

Nov. 26, 2011 Prior to any treatment, but scrubbed clean with soap & water

Notice the black coloration, the cracking feet, craters in the sulci (sp?) of the frog, and the deep crack that goes up into his heal. Here his feet have been scrubbed clean with soap and water so you can really see the damage to the foot.

Nov. 25, 2011 worst of the four feet

 

Even after only one treatment the coloration of the foot is better & it may be my imagination, but that big old crack in the top of the frog/heal of the foot is looking a bit less nasty to me.

Nov. 28, 2011

Notice I'm getting lazy. I haven't scrubbed the feet with soap and water here. I've simply picked and brushed them as clean as possible The frog is slowly starting to heal and the cracks in the heal are less pronounced. 

Rio's best foot Dec. 26, 2011 One month post treatment

As you can see, sort of anyways.... this is not the best angle or photo the crack that goes all the way up his heal is much less pronounced if not gone. The frog isn't eaten away. What you can't tell from the photos is that the black discoloration and the yucky smell caused by thrush is most definitely gone! The foot is in the middle of shedding and the ground has been very dry so the foot looks a bit dry, but it's not so much from the product as it is from the those two circumstances. This is the best of the four feet. We are still having minor relapses in the back feet from time to time.

The good news is that the product works and I now have a fall back when we have relapses. I think I am still going to be in for a battle during the rainy wet season, and I am convinced that a change in nutrition will make a difference in prevention. I also FINALLY have an awesome farrier. 

We have a road ahead of us to get him to were I truly want him to be, but he has many more good days then bad and I think we are finally finding a balance with the feet. 

If you have had or are having issues with thrush I highly recommend this product. As soon as I find out when it will be on the market for general public you can bet I'll let you know where to get your hands on it!

Merry Christmas (better late then never) & Happy New Year!

Rio wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas... but alas I never seem to have time to write so nothing ever gets posted when it actually happens!... I have a list of blog topics a mile long! Oh well better late then never right? Not that it really matters because I'm pretty sure we have all of maybe 5 readers!

Since I was a young kid with my first horse Katie, I have always dressed the horses up for a holiday photo... much to their dismay and my delight! Christmas is one of my favorite times of year!

This year I  managed to talk a few of my fellow boarders into participating... I think they had a good time despite some groaning when I first mentioned it.  I brought cookies for the humans and carrots for the horses... Lynne contributed a veggie tray and Erica ended up buying pizza for all of us. And, we didn't look half bad for a last minute plan! Next year we'll plan better, but it was certainly not bad for last minute planning!

Thank you to my awesome friends for sharing in the fun & to Dan & Erica (the barn owners) for our Christmas present. Rio enjoyed the carrots immensely!

Happy Holidays &  Best Wishes for the  year ahead!