HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer » horses

Get Off Your High, Horse

houndsgood — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:20:46 +0000

I am helping my parents fix up their home. It used to be a red house with cedar shingles and a dark red roof, but now it has blue siding. The red phase was before they bought the house. The home was built by the family who owned a local cider mill, so perhaps they felt their home should match. I just don’t know what my parents would have done should they have had to replace shingles on the side of the house on a yearly basis. I guess “quaint” comes with a price.

There have been renovations of barns and farm houses, many to either historical accuracy or to retrofit for a farm rescue. I know it is nice to have an authentic look for people who might come by to be touristy or volunteer, but don’t underestimate the allure of vinyl shutters. Afterall, they don’t rot away, and your horses won’t crib on them either.

What is cribbing? A bored horse can learn the vice from other horses of grabbing on to a fence or anything protruding on a barn, grab it with their teeth and suck air. It usually means that there are bites taken out of the wood as well, as chewing wood is a related habit. Why do they do this? Some say that gulping air like this is a horse’s version of getting “high.” There are many things you can do to curb this, such as a special mask over their muzzle, making the wood taste very bad, or of course, replacing your shutters, trim, and some fences with vinyl. Just like a cat can get the pleasure of stretching his/her claws on wood or fabric but vinyl or fiberglass is a killjoy, it is the same for horses. They really can’t sink their teeth into it.

So, he next time you are fixing up the place, I am not implying that you don’t provide your horses with enough attention and mental stimulation, but switching materials will sure help a new horse that comes into your home/barn that cribs from spreading the idea to others.

I am sure horse tongues and teeth is not covered under the warranty most household shutters come with, but most people who are installing them near animals don’t have as much concern for that as they do for the health of their pets.

Don’t Forget Your Gear When You Saddle Up

houndsgood — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:49:06 +0000

While talking about the great charity events to take your horse too, I almost neglected where to get some gear online. My (horse) riding boots have seen better days and my motorcycle boots just won’t cut it. Technically, they are a closed toe shoe and my feet would be protected from being stepped on, but I don’t like to wear shoes with laces that could get caught on something.

Cavender’s Boot City sells exclusively online. You can get everything from cowboy hats to tried and true Wrangler jeans, to, of course, boots!

You can’t keep a good horse down

houndsgood — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:08:09 +0000

Molly is a hurricane Katrina survivor who really illustrates what I believe. Just because a horse has a bad leg…or no leg…does not mean they automatically should be euthanized. Dear Molly’s leg was gnawed, and her new guardian took her to Louisiana State University, where they almost rejected her case

“But after surgeon Rusty Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn’t seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn’t overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.”

Molly’s new job is going to hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers to give hope to others who are overcoming illness and adversity.

Wherever Molly walks, she leaves a smile behind:

Now, she even has her own website so you can keep up to date with her.

http://www.mollythepony.com/