Thought this was handy
http://www.thehorse.com/features/35909/natural-disaster-are-you-and-your-horse-ready
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Age is Only a Number
Found this article from HorseCity.com and thought it rather interesting. It discusses the age of a senior horse.
http://www.horsecity.com/articles/care-health/16724-senior-horses-age-is-only-a-number
http://www.horsecity.com/articles/care-health/16724-senior-horses-age-is-only-a-number
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Euthanasia Article
The following is a link to an article about euthanasia. It's never an easy topic to discuss but it's better to be informed.
http://horseandrider.com/article/euthanasia-when-its-time-to-say-goodbye-13204
We have had to say goodbye to a number of our sanctuary residents. But I can say I've been blessed to have known them even if it was for only a short time.
The article was provided by horseandrider.com
http://horseandrider.com/article/euthanasia-when-its-time-to-say-goodbye-13204
We have had to say goodbye to a number of our sanctuary residents. But I can say I've been blessed to have known them even if it was for only a short time.
The article was provided by horseandrider.com
Friday, April 24, 2015
10 Poisonus Plants for Horses
I found this in my email from EQUUS magazine: 10 Poisonous Plants for Horses
With the pastures just starting to green up in our neck of the woods, I thought I would share the same information in case you didn't surf through the EQUUS magazine website (www.equusmagazine.com) No affiliation or promotion.
http://equusmagazine.com/article/poisonousplants_041105-8208?utm_source=EQUUSNL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter
The article goes into much more detail but I thought it a good idea to list the plants anyway. We've been blessed at the Sanctuary to avoid these poisonous plants (knock on wood). I hope your area doesn't have these plants either but if it does, this article does point out ways to irradiate the plants.
Good luck.
With the pastures just starting to green up in our neck of the woods, I thought I would share the same information in case you didn't surf through the EQUUS magazine website (www.equusmagazine.com) No affiliation or promotion.
http://equusmagazine.com/article/poisonousplants_041105-8208?utm_source=EQUUSNL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter
- Bracken Fern
- Hemlock
- Tansy Ragwort
- Johnsongrass/sudan Grass (also known as sorghum)
- Locoweed
- Oleander
- Red Maple Trees
- Water Hemlock
- Yellow Star Thistle/Russian Knapweed
- Yew
The article goes into much more detail but I thought it a good idea to list the plants anyway. We've been blessed at the Sanctuary to avoid these poisonous plants (knock on wood). I hope your area doesn't have these plants either but if it does, this article does point out ways to irradiate the plants.
Good luck.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Horse Needs Retirement
In case you don't read the Borderlands Horse Sanctuary blog, here's the information and request.
**********************************************************************
I was asked last October if we had room for a mare. At the time, I had just accepted Junior into the Sanctuary so we couldn't bring the mare in. I asked if the owners if they were in a rush to rehome her. They said no and said they'd hang on to her through the winter and check with us again this spring. She's been on my waiting list ever since (and has been on my mind ever since as well).
Well, spring is here and we were asked if we could take her in.
She doesn't fit all of our criteria but she deserves a retirement. The current owners know of her past and know that she was used hard. She's now lame and only 13 years old. To almost anyone else, she's "useless and unwanted". She is unrideable because of the limp and most likely can't bare much additional weight (i.e., can't be a broodmare).
I'd seen pictures of this mare before the current owners got her. She's now had three homes in one year. ONE YEAR! Can you imagine? She deserves more. She's a beautiful mare and from the pictures and video I saw of her a year ago, she reminds me a lot of Queen and Babe. There's something about her that I can't put my finger on. I think it might be her temperament. Calm. She's the Mother Type. The Heart Horse. She's the one you go to, to cry your eyes out, to soak their mane with your tears. I'm not sure how many people have had horses like that. I've only had one and that was Queen. She knew when something was wrong and sought me out to provide comfort. I have a feeling this mare is the same way (although I dont' know because I've never actually met her in person).
But she deserves a home. Not just a place to live but a HOME...a FOREVER HOME.
Would anyone be willing to help sponsor her?
If you can't, can you help spread the word?
**********************************************************************
I was asked last October if we had room for a mare. At the time, I had just accepted Junior into the Sanctuary so we couldn't bring the mare in. I asked if the owners if they were in a rush to rehome her. They said no and said they'd hang on to her through the winter and check with us again this spring. She's been on my waiting list ever since (and has been on my mind ever since as well).
Well, spring is here and we were asked if we could take her in.
She doesn't fit all of our criteria but she deserves a retirement. The current owners know of her past and know that she was used hard. She's now lame and only 13 years old. To almost anyone else, she's "useless and unwanted". She is unrideable because of the limp and most likely can't bare much additional weight (i.e., can't be a broodmare).
I'd seen pictures of this mare before the current owners got her. She's now had three homes in one year. ONE YEAR! Can you imagine? She deserves more. She's a beautiful mare and from the pictures and video I saw of her a year ago, she reminds me a lot of Queen and Babe. There's something about her that I can't put my finger on. I think it might be her temperament. Calm. She's the Mother Type. The Heart Horse. She's the one you go to, to cry your eyes out, to soak their mane with your tears. I'm not sure how many people have had horses like that. I've only had one and that was Queen. She knew when something was wrong and sought me out to provide comfort. I have a feeling this mare is the same way (although I dont' know because I've never actually met her in person).
But she deserves a home. Not just a place to live but a HOME...a FOREVER HOME.
Would anyone be willing to help sponsor her?
If you can't, can you help spread the word?
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Improving Your Pasture
This is really more for me and the Sanctuary but figured I'd share the information for anyone that is interested....
Five Ways to Improve Your Horse Pasture
1. Improve your pasture's soil
2. Fix unproductive pasture areas: overseeding and renovating bare spots
3. Establish and maintain a sacrifice area
4. Manage your horse's grazing patterns
5. Control weeds
http://equimed.com/health-centers/healthy-barn/articles/5-ways-to-improve-your-horse-pasture
Five Ways to Improve Your Horse Pasture
1. Improve your pasture's soil
2. Fix unproductive pasture areas: overseeding and renovating bare spots
3. Establish and maintain a sacrifice area
4. Manage your horse's grazing patterns
5. Control weeds
http://equimed.com/health-centers/healthy-barn/articles/5-ways-to-improve-your-horse-pasture
Thursday, March 5, 2015
When It Comes to Senior Horses
I was puttering on Twitter and I saw an interesting question. It made me think. So I'm going to ask a similar question and I'd love to hear from you.
When it comes to senior horses, I'd like to learn more about ______________________.
I'd love to hear from you. You can leave a comment, post your information on our Facebook page, comment on Twitter, or email me at borderlandshorsesanctuary@yahoo.com.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Chronicles of Junior
We are just a few days short of three months since we opened our doors to bring Junior "home". As always, there's a learning curve with each horse that becomes a member of the Sanctuary. Add to that learning curve, Mother Nature, and life gets even more interesting.
I have only had Junior in with the mares (except for the brief half an hour when the mares broke out and Junior was in with the big herd, but disguised because everyone was wearing green blankets). Junior has had the opportunity to meet the big herd with the safety of a fence in between. I think he would be at the bottom of the herd but would be best friends with Zeke and Junior. I've already seen Zeke grab a bite of hay and take it over to Junior to share.
When we first got Junior, we were told he was hard to catch. If there's no grain involved, he is hard to catch. The way to that boy's heart is through grain. For the first two months, we grained Junior nightly. In January, with all the sickness that ran rampant throughout the Border household, I wasn't able to grain every night. I know, that's not right and it shouldn't happen but it did. I'll take the blame for it. Unfortunately, with that month of no grain and a round bale instead of high quality grass hay, Junior did lose weight. Or at least so I think.
We are back to graining him nightly and feeding high quality, dairy grass hay. Because he's in with the mares, I have to pull him out and stall him so that he has time to eat. I've gotten lazy. I simply put a halter on and open the gate so he can wander over to his stall. Now, tell me if that's a horse that's hard to catch! Unfortunately, he's taken to dumping his grain onto the floor so I'm going to have to come up with a different way to feed him. I stopped adding calf manna because he hated it and feeding time would take a solid hour for him to get through his grain. Now it's simply senior feed, although I want to look at other grain options the next time I can get into town.
I know Junior is settling in well. I was told that he's very non aggressive and when I first put him in with the mares, I was worried that they would push him away from all food. Any time either of the mares gave him the stink eye, they'd run to the other side of the pen.
Not any more!
Junior is finally figuring out that he doesn't have to be pushed around. The other day, I saw him sidle up to Rabbit. She pinned her ears but Junior did run in the other direction. He simply wandered on to the next pile of hay. Then Mayhem decided that she wanted the same pile of hay. Junior pinned his ears and that sent Mayhem packing. I was so proud of Junior.
And then last night! Mayhem was harassing Junior. So he snacked his neck out, pinned his ears, and tried to take a chunk out of Mayhem's neck. That sent Mayhem running. But she came back and Junior decided to turn his butt to her and let both hooves fly. Of course, there was no impact because he wasn't TRYING to hit her. But it was nice to see that he's finally putting the smack down and not getting pushed around. I figured Rabbit would be the top dog in the pen, but it pleases me that Junior is finally feeling comfortable enough to put other horses (even if it's only Mayhem) in their place.
With this cold snap, Junior is tucked into his blanket. Luckily the leg straps can (and have been removed). I don't think we'll ever be able to resolve his back leg issues. But it doesn't seem to bother him. If I'm not out to grain him as early as he thinks, he's pacing the fence.
I also know he's getting used to me as well. During some of the mornings and evenings, he'll let out a low nicker. That nicker warms my heart. It may be that I'm simply bringing food and that's why but I'll take it no matter what.
Junior has become a fixture at the Sanctuary and I'm so glad and blessed to say that we are the lucky ones to be able to take care of him in his final years. Feeling blessed.
I have only had Junior in with the mares (except for the brief half an hour when the mares broke out and Junior was in with the big herd, but disguised because everyone was wearing green blankets). Junior has had the opportunity to meet the big herd with the safety of a fence in between. I think he would be at the bottom of the herd but would be best friends with Zeke and Junior. I've already seen Zeke grab a bite of hay and take it over to Junior to share.
When we first got Junior, we were told he was hard to catch. If there's no grain involved, he is hard to catch. The way to that boy's heart is through grain. For the first two months, we grained Junior nightly. In January, with all the sickness that ran rampant throughout the Border household, I wasn't able to grain every night. I know, that's not right and it shouldn't happen but it did. I'll take the blame for it. Unfortunately, with that month of no grain and a round bale instead of high quality grass hay, Junior did lose weight. Or at least so I think.
We are back to graining him nightly and feeding high quality, dairy grass hay. Because he's in with the mares, I have to pull him out and stall him so that he has time to eat. I've gotten lazy. I simply put a halter on and open the gate so he can wander over to his stall. Now, tell me if that's a horse that's hard to catch! Unfortunately, he's taken to dumping his grain onto the floor so I'm going to have to come up with a different way to feed him. I stopped adding calf manna because he hated it and feeding time would take a solid hour for him to get through his grain. Now it's simply senior feed, although I want to look at other grain options the next time I can get into town.
I know Junior is settling in well. I was told that he's very non aggressive and when I first put him in with the mares, I was worried that they would push him away from all food. Any time either of the mares gave him the stink eye, they'd run to the other side of the pen.
Not any more!
Junior is finally figuring out that he doesn't have to be pushed around. The other day, I saw him sidle up to Rabbit. She pinned her ears but Junior did run in the other direction. He simply wandered on to the next pile of hay. Then Mayhem decided that she wanted the same pile of hay. Junior pinned his ears and that sent Mayhem packing. I was so proud of Junior.
And then last night! Mayhem was harassing Junior. So he snacked his neck out, pinned his ears, and tried to take a chunk out of Mayhem's neck. That sent Mayhem running. But she came back and Junior decided to turn his butt to her and let both hooves fly. Of course, there was no impact because he wasn't TRYING to hit her. But it was nice to see that he's finally putting the smack down and not getting pushed around. I figured Rabbit would be the top dog in the pen, but it pleases me that Junior is finally feeling comfortable enough to put other horses (even if it's only Mayhem) in their place.
With this cold snap, Junior is tucked into his blanket. Luckily the leg straps can (and have been removed). I don't think we'll ever be able to resolve his back leg issues. But it doesn't seem to bother him. If I'm not out to grain him as early as he thinks, he's pacing the fence.
I also know he's getting used to me as well. During some of the mornings and evenings, he'll let out a low nicker. That nicker warms my heart. It may be that I'm simply bringing food and that's why but I'll take it no matter what.
Junior has become a fixture at the Sanctuary and I'm so glad and blessed to say that we are the lucky ones to be able to take care of him in his final years. Feeling blessed.
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