How we conduct ourselves around our horses establishes a relationship with them.  Wether we are doing chores, are enjoying petting them, brushing them, leading them, talking to them, riding them and every other activity, our body language and attitude is processed by the equine(s).

My horses know me and I know them.  I imagine it is like knowing your child.  Recognizing their voice, knowing when they aren’t feeling well and when to discipline them.  For me, awareness is the key.  My mind and senses need to be available and alert but relaxed.  I am the leader when I am with my herd and they recognize me as such.

Many times I have heard someone say “my horse is herd bound”.  What does that mean exactly?  What that means to me is that a herd bound horse does not consider the human to be its leader.  It feels safer in the herd or on the home place.  What kind of relationship do you have with your horse(s)?

Although it has taken me many years of odd hours here and there, I can proudly say that I don’t have herd bound horses.  I am so blessed to be able to ride each one alone, down the drive, off the farm, down the road for miles, while leaving the rest of the herd behind in the pasture or tied to the trailer without incident.  It is truly amazing to watch the curiosity and enjoyment that my horses have when we travel alone and create a new memory and “train”.

Today, June 1, 2011, Theeo learned more confidence.  He would prefer to jump over a creek then to wade through one.  He would prefer to turn around and go home rather then face his fear and conquer it.  Today we built more confidence and it was awesome to see how he reacted to his experience.

Theeo & Honor stopping for a photo

At first, I ponnied Theeo from Honor for 5 miles at walk, trot and canter down the road.  We walked and trotted through water crossings several times. Granted, they weren’t rushing deep rivers, but this is a start. No hesitation at the onset, so I was really pleased.  Perhaps Theeo knew that he could trust Honor and me and that it was too wide to jump, who knows.  What I know is that we went without incident and I was very proud.

Stangind In The Water

Behind The Scene

After the 5 miles, I left Honor and rode Theeo alone.  Off and down the road we went.  He saw some new sights that had been unseen and wanted to go home, but with a bit of confidence building reassurance, we kept on going.  I don’t use Parelli or any particular training method.  I try to anticipate my horses reactions, observe them and give them reassurance.  I don’t need some special “carrot stick” or other device, but usually just rock my seat to encourage forward movement and squeeze a bit.  Squeezing is not the same as kicking.

Theeo and I ended up walking and trotting two miles.  We encountered two dogs that were not happy and they weren’t responding to their owner to return home, but Theeo remained completely calm and so did I.  He stood as though they weren’t even there.  What I think the key is here , is that as leader, I remain calm at all times and then my horse thinks everything is fine.  He observed the huge cattle yard and we headed on our way.  I find it so rewarding to be able to experience these times with my horses.  Each horse has its own personality and capabilities.  They are very interesting and precious individuals.  What an awesome end to another great day.

Honor & Me, 2004

my first horse, and I boarded him at her place.  She taught me how to take care of him and gave me riding lessons as part of her training program.

In December of that same year, I adopted 5 month old Theena from a rescue situation.  At the trainers acreage, Theena occupied a stall for little over a month to recover from being starved and when she was well enough to be turned out, she lived in her own paddock that was foal friendly.

In March of 2005, I graduated from my trainers self care program and moved Honor and Theena to a boarding facility called McCarty Farms.

Theena & Honor at McCarty Farm

They lived in their own paddock until May when I purchased Rowdy.  When Rowdy joined them, they were moved to a different paddock on the same property.  That paddock was shared with my friend Jill’s horse Cat.

The month of October 2005, McCarty Farms decided to close and I had to move 200 small squares of hay and find a place for my horses.  I found a barn to store my hay in and a friend offered to board my horses through the winter.  The hay was stored about 20 miles away from the horses, so I tried to bring 100 bales of hay at a time to my friends for feeding.  I had purchased a 20′ flat bed trailer so that I could do less travel, loading and unloading.  Needless to say, I bet those $3 bales ended up costing about $20 a piece when all was said and done.

Rowdy, Theena, Me & Honor, October 2005

Reinbow Stables became Honor, Theena and Rowdy’s new home in March of 2006.

Rowdy & Theena at Reinbow Stables

It was a tough spring and management at the facility was having a difficult time.  There were several unhappy boarders, but I made due with what I had.  I enjoyed meeting new people and the use of the facilities.  The situation however, became worse, as horse injuries happened on a regular basis.  Mine were not excluded from the list of injured horses.  Theena, merely 13.2 hands was mounted by a 17 hand Dutch Warm Blood gelding three times.  Each time she became lame.  The third time was the worst time, as he ruined her hips and she could no longer keep her hind end leads.  After repeatedly requesting that gelding to be moved to a different pasture, nothing was done and permanent injuries are the result.  Management is key when boarding at a facility.  This last incident happened to Theena one week before Rowdy died.  After this incident, I was heart broken and decided to move my horses to a different facility.

Finishing out my boarding agreement, I kept my horses there through the last month.  One week after Theena’s injury, Rowdy died.  Rowdy’ death began with a culmination of events that started with an injury that occurred at this facility.  Management had not maintained the property to certain standards.  Accidents were happening on nearly a weekly basis from scratches to stitches.  If I gave you advice about boarding, it would be, “Get references from current boarders that have been with the facility form more then a year about what kind of care their horses are receiving before making your decision.  Also, find out what the Management is like”.

The professional management and restful situation at Cedar Ridge was a welcome relief January 1, 2007.  I moved Honor and Theena there and gathered my wits to recover from loosing Rowdy.  My horses settled in good and another year began.  Theeo joined my herd during the spring of 2007 and I started to get back into the swing of my equine life style.

March 29, 2007 Theeo's Arrival to Cedar Ridge

Realizing that no matter how much money I spent or how much care I tried to give to my horses, boarding facilities were not always ideal.  Yes, the indoor amenities were nice, but that doesn’t reflect the care that horses may or may not receive.  The winter of 2007 into the spring of 2008 proved to be another hard one.  Ideally, I wanted to move to a place of my own.

May 1st, 2008, I leased my first pasture.

The Gift of Zack, New Pasture & The Rainbow Promise

Talk about relief!!!  13 acres for my own use.  No more bickering among boarders, people “helping themselves to my hay”, horses fighting for food, or people and horses being just darn ornery.  Life was happy again because my horses were happy.  The stress of never knowing what I might find when I would come out to do chores at a facility, was GONE!  Thank you Lord!

Thank You Friends

What a GREAT new year!  Managing the pasture was a job that required daily work and maintenance, but with help from friends, it was very manageable.  I wouldn’t trade independently managing a horse property for commercial boarding, if I had the choice.  Although I missed my boarder friends and I could have ridden indoors while the weather was bad, my horses were happy and healthy.

Content

No worries.

When I leased the pasture in 2008, I expected to be there indefinitely.  Unfortunately for the owners, they needed to move, and put the property up for sale.  You may be asking, “why didn’t I buy it?”, it was out of my budget.  On the move again…..

God is great and good!  After searching for nearly a year while the property I had leased was listed for sale, I found a new place.  Thanks again to a friend, I now have a few new friends and nearly 27 lush acres for my horses to play and graze in.

Honor & Theena Checking Out Their New Pasture

Wow, I am so thankful!!   Several of us worked a couple of weeks to get the pasture ready for my herd.  On Friday, September 24, 2010, they had a new home.

Theeo, Theena & Zack Enjoying Relief From Bugs

As the full moon rose over the eastern horizon, I stood in peace and awe, praising the beautiful wonder that God provided.

Now my herd was grazing in a pasture with grass up to my waist.  With the lush expanse, I realized that my horses may not always want to come when called.  However, Tuesday night, they came RUNNING, with Theeo leading the herd, heads held high as if to say Thank You.  We are truly blessed and I want to thank everyone that has helped me and prayed for me along the way!  I don’t know if you counted, but I moved my horses 7 times in 6 years.  I hope we’re “home” for a while.  Happy Trails!

Platte Creek State Park Parking Lot

Being Watchful For Under Water Obstacles

July then August, same situation.  I wasn’t worried about the pasture drying up and going dormant like it usually would in July.  HaHa.  Now it’s September 22nd, and the forecast is for up to 3″ of rain in the next 48 hours.

Where once were fields of corn and beans, looks more like a place where rice would grow.

Once Was A Corn Field

Miles and miles of water.  I can only imagine what the terrane must look like from the air.  Highways and roads closed for months at a time due to flooding

Water On Both Sides For Miles

and I have only experienced a small percentage of what others have endured.  Flooded property, flooded basements, homes being destroyed, cattle drowning, raw sewage being dumped into the Sioux River because of too much water and broken sewer pipes.  South Dakotan’s have it good compared to some parts of the nation and world!  Is this extreme wet year an indication of a winter packed with constant snow?  The squirrels have aerated my yard unlike any other year.  They buried a walnut about every 3′.  Never have I seen this many holes.  I thought moles had invaded.

With rain comes erosion, disease, mud, equine “scratches”, bugs galore, dormant wet lands in bloom, pasture production or dry lot mess.  Old barbed wire and metal debris make their way to the surface, surprise.  Noticing punctures and cuts on my horses, I ask myself, “where did that come from?”  Oh ya, I answer myself, they have been wading in the mud.

Yesterday, debris removal was in progress.  A friend and I pulled roughly 40′ of old buried barbed wire, 4 wood posts and 1 steel post out of the ground.  While preparing a new pasture area for the horses and pony, we found debris from tornadoes, remnants of farming from the past, spiders, ground squirrel mounds and rocks… large rocks.  Hmmm, maybe I could sell the rocks for landscaping….?

Today, trying to get some pasture chores done before more rain came, what appeared to be tall grass and a little water became a big mess quickly.

Burried

Knowing that quick sand exists in South Dakota, I’m always a bit cautious in areas along the Missouri and White Rivers.  Not so much the case in the Sioux Falls area, but today an area that looked wet but solid, ended up being soft like butter.  Tractor went down, buried up to its axels.  Oops.

Little Ford tractor meet BIG International tractor!  Thankfully with the help of another friend, the little tractor pulled out of the mud like a knife through butter.

Get'n Ur Done!

I’d like to think that this will be the last “stuck tractor” experience, but I probably haven’t learned my lesson yet.  I have yet to deal with it and snow…….

Shortly after we pulled the little tractor out, lightening  struck and it was time to head inside.  Back at the house, the sky looked like a monsoon

Looking To The East

and the rain came in sheets with wind blowing.  I’m sure glad that it is in the 60′s and not freezing!

SD Rain, September 22, 2010

September Rain

My vet wasn’t available until Friday, so it was suggested that I give him some “bute”, antibiotics if I had any, and check his temp.  We discussed the possibility of Potomac.  I gave him some “bute”, didn’t have antibiotics and his temp was unusually low.  I figured that he had already gone through the high temperature phase of Potomac and was nearing the toxic phase where they become anorexic and the body dehydrates.  Here are a couple links for reference:  Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) & Potomac Horse Fever

Thursday, when I checked on Honor, he wouldn’t come to the gate.  I brought him out of the pasture and his pasterns were swollen, so laminitis was becoming a possibility.  He still was having diarrhea and smelled bad.  His gums were starting to show the “toxic” line and his temp was 96.3.  He didn’t eat his grain and only ate very little grass.  He was obviously depressed.  In order to try to prevent further dehydration, I gave him a tube of electrolytes.  He had urinated in front of me, both Wednesday and today, so I figured that he was still drinking water.  The worry was that the diarrhea was going to dehydrate him quicker than he could maintain hydration by drinking and he wasn’t eating much of anything.

Because our pasture is in wet lands, I had vaccinated for Potomac Fever but after researching the symptoms of this disease, I realized that Honor had contracted it anyway.  Roughly two week earlier, I had seen snails in the pasture, but assumed that the carriers of this disease were flying insects.  Not true.  Ingesting a snail is a common cause of Equine Potomac Fever.  Because there are several strains of this disease, the vaccine in not 100% foolproof.

Honor Roughly 3 Weeks Before His Illness Competing In An Open Show

Friday, September 3rd, my vet installed a catheter and started IV antibiotics.  I put Honor in a pen by himself because of the catheter and for his own protection.  He was becoming weak.  I gave Honor another tube of electrolytes and prayers flowed.

Honor Receiving 1st IV of Antibiotics Friday, Sept 3rd.

Saturday Honor received another IV but he was still passing diarrhea and not eating much.  On a positive note, he was drinking a little water.

Sunday was a mirror of Saturday except Honor was loosing weight even faster now.  The diarrhea had become mostly liquid.  The consensus of the severity of this situation was that Honor would have passed on by Monday had I not noticed his illness when I did.

Monday, Labor Day Holiday, yet another IV and I noticed that the bit of sparkle that had been in Honor’s eyes was not there this night.  I spent two hours with him and feared the worst.

Tuesday came, the 5th IV administered, and I asked my friends and family for prayers.  Honor had lost roughly 300 pounds in just 6 days.  He was a rack of bones and I could hardly believe my eyes.  My gut was in my throat with worry.

Later Tuesday afternoon, Honor was down and didn’t want to get up.  I feared for the worst, feeling that Honor was giving up.  His eyes were dull and dark and I sat in the dirt with him, his head in my lap, me massaging his cheeks and bawling my eyes out.  I told him that he couldn’t go join Rowdy yet and that I wanted him with me for another 12 years, so not to give up.  He closed his eyes and didn’t appear to be listening and I felt he needed Theena.

Knowing Honor’s personality, I thought he felt abandoned and missed Theena’s companionship, the herd mentality.  The risk to damaging the catheter didn’t outweigh my fear for his life.  I called the vet and asked if I could put Theena in with him and I did.  I waited for Honor to get up and he didn’t.  He just laid there with his head flat on the ground.  One last thing I could do was to grain Theena.  Maybe Honor would rally to join her.

Honor 6 Days After 1st IV

Honor 6 Days After 1st IV

I gave Theena her grain, walked away, tears streaming down my face and attended to my other chores.  A few minutes passed and I saw Honor was up, standing at Theena’s side, trying to be interested in the grain.  I was afraid to believe my eyes.  Was this a turning point?  I was afraid to be hopeful, but hopeful I was.  Honor tried to nibble at the grain, stood by Theena until she was done eating and then he walked off to drink some water.  I watched him walk very slowly, with what seemed with every bit of energy that he could muster.  He started nibbling some green grass and was slowly eating it when I prepared to leave for the night.  Earlier in the day, the vet had drawn blood for a kidney function test to check for renal failure.  As I was leaving, she called me to tell me that the test was pretty good and she had hope for his recovery.  At least I knew now that I wouldn’t need to put Honor down on Thursday unless he took a turn for the worse over night.

Wednesday, September 8th, another IV and I saw Honor pass a stool.  It was mushy like a cow pie, so the vet figured that he was on the mend and one more IV on Thursday and it was up to Honor to eat his way back to health.  Honor ate a bit of his grain and then stood with Theena and ate some hay!

Honor Getting His Appetite Back With Theena

Another good sign, was that he was a bit obstinate when the vet was administering the IV so we knew he had some energy back.

Thursday the 9th, was a good day.  Honor received his 7th IV of antibiotics and the catheter was removed.  He made it through a night of pouring rain and had his appetite back.  Honor ate all of his grain and was zealous about eating the grass and hay.  I do believe in miracles and think that this was one of them.  Although there is still a chance for colic, I feel that Honor is going to heal completely now and hopefully gain his weight back before winter sets in.  He has given me 6 years of joy and equine companionship and I look forward to another 12 or more with him.  Many thanks to my vet and her assistant for the extra care they gave and to all my friends and family for your their loving thoughts and prayers through this experience!  Praise God!

Update, Friday, September 10: Honor’s greeted me with a nicker today and his appetite is back, almost ravenous.

Friday, September 10, Great Appetite!

Honor, Friday, September 10, 2010

I never thought that I would pay so much attention to stools, but in this situation, it is crucial that they become “apples”.  Today he still has cow pie consistency, but they looked much better in color.  Not brownish but a nice green representing the food that he is eating.  We have quite a ways to go regarding getting his weight back on, but it looks like he is on the right track.  Go Honor!

Update, Friday, September 17th: A week since my last update, Honor had a spring in his step and was happy licking his lips last night.  His eyes and coat are looking much better.  I took him and Theena out of the pen and he was so happy that he trotted, head bobbing and with a nicker.

Appearing that he has most of his energy back now, I turned him and Theena out to pasture with the rest of the herd.  He still has a long way to go regarding weight gain, but every indication to a full recovery is apparent.  More updates to follow.

Honor, Thursday, September 16th

Update Friday, September 24th: It doesn’t appear that Honor is gaining any weight.  There seems to be some gastrointestinal distress, as he keeps holding his tail up and away as if to pass a stool.  I listened for gut noises last night and there weren’t as many as I would have liked to have heard.  There were some fresh “cow pies” in the pasture, but I think it’s because he is in a new, more lush pasture.  His gastrointestinal problematic symptoms were present last week Wednesday, before I moved him to the new pasture.

Honor, Friday, September 24, 2010

Today, Monday, September 27th, I gave him some banamine to prevent colic, just in case.  About 20 minutes after giving Honor the banamine, I saw him pass some “apples”, so maybe he is working through it.  He has a great appetite and some energy, so this is confusing.

Saturday, October 2nd, I took new photos of Honor.  He was still having gastrointestinal discomfort, but after eating his grain/fat supplement, he rolled, which released a LARGE amount of gas.  I was nervous about him rolling because of the chance for colic, but I felt as though he knew what he needed and it worked!  His tail relaxed and so did he.

Another condition I noticed accompanying this disease is the affect it appeared to have on his hair coat.  His coat went from shiny and sleek to dry, dull, flaky and shedding.  Granted, the horses are shedding their summer coats now, but his coat condition is exaggerated in comparison.  Taking into consideration the dehydration that occurred, this makes sense to me.  The other horses are barely shedding, not even a brush full of hair.  Honor on the other hand, is shedding 14x or more than the other horses.  This is a brush full of hair after the 14th brushing and he is still shedding like crazy.

Honor's 14th Brush Full & More To Go

Up until Monday, October 4th, because of Honor’s behavior, I felt as though Honor was still healing from affects of Equine Potomac Fever.  Although he was eating and starting to act like one of the herd, he was still “reserved”.  Monday however, he was licking his lips and bobbing his head when coming up for his grain.  He is starting to have noticeable weight gain now!!  I would like to say that other than putting his weight back on, he is totally out of the woods!  YEA!!!

Honor, Saturday, October 2nd

Honor, Saturday, October 2nd

Sunday, October 10th, Honor is still gaining weight.  I expect it to be another 2 months before he has gained his 300+ pounds back.  I am very thankful for this really nice, extended Fall weather!  Certainly freezing rain, snow and winter weather would have slowed down his recovery.  People ask how old Honor is and at 22 he is just in his prime.  Morgan horses thrive well into their 30′s if taken care of and used properly.  I hope this story gives you hope and belief in miracles.  Older horses have the lifetime experience of “been there done that”.  He should bring myself and future students many more years of joy.

Honor, October 10, 2010

Honor, October 10, 2010

Honor, November 28, 2010

Sunday, November 28th: Honor is fully prepared for winter.  His weight is back on, his hair coat is thick and his top line is getting better because of the application of a couple of exercises every day.  He has his energy back and is happy to take his equestrians for an enjoyable ride.  Just 3 days shy of 3 months of recovery, this is Honor now.

Thank you for following his story and for your good thoughts and prayers!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011:  Honor made it through the winter and is finally starting to look like the younger version of himself.

Last week I took him out for the first time this spring and we rode 4 miles at walk and trot, ponying a 2 year old for it’s first time too.  No matter what anyone says about an older horse, they are worth their knowledge and dependability in gold!  There isn’t much that can replace the wisdom and patience that the older equine learns through experience which only time can provide.

If you have an equine that contracts Equine Potomac Fever, I hope that you have as blessed an experience as Honor and I have had.  Please contact me if you have any questions or want to share your story.

God Bless Us and Our Horses!

Currently Betty and her horse Prince are featured in my header.  I am thrilled to have them grace this blogs site.  As I have time to update this post, I will be adding more photos of present and past events.

Betty and Prince on Sunday, August 1, 2010 competing in Team event.

Betty is very active in equestrian sports and I look forward to the day when we will ride together.