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Vol. 4, Issue 8
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August 2014
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HAVE A COW!
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...or better yet, herd one with your horse!
Come to this month's Cowmanship Class!!
Sunday August 17th!!
12-3 pm
Here at Freedom Farm.
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Dear Friends,
It is a summer of learning and lots of activity, to be sure! This months' edition features insights about healthy horse feet and diet, thanks to Pete Ramey's clinic last week, and next installments in two excellent series by Jess Crouch and Michelle Grimmer.
Best of a beautiful summer to you and your horses!
Mary
 
AUGUST DATES:
2 Bainbridge Island SC horse show
4-1 Summer Camp IV
7-10 Adult Beach Camp
17 Cowmanship, 12-3pm
24 Adult Horsemanship, 12-3
23 - Oct 24 Saturday Farm Tour Practice; 10 AM-12 PM
WEEKLY ONGOING CLASSES:
Tuesday 2 pm: Advanced Jumping
Thursday 1 pm: Dressage
 Friday 10:30 am: Ground Work 1 pm: Riding
CONTACT INFO:
Mary Gallagher
(360) 457-4897
freedomf@olypen.com
freedom-farm.net |
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Feet and Feed: Insights from a Pete Ramey Clinic
by Mary Gallagher
I had the pleasure of attending Pete Ramey's clinic at Scott Roger's place in Port Townsend last week, at which he emphasized the relationship between our horses' diets and their feet. I came away with a few insights to share with you possible improvements we can all make at home and here at Freedom Farm.
Before saying much about shoe removal and hoof care, Pete emphasized that that most of our horses' hoof problems come from imbalances in diet, and that most horse owners could become more 'feed aware'. The two main areas of concern are excess sugar, and mineral imbalances.
Restricting sugar in our horse's diet: He explained that if horses, like humans, eat too much sugar, it can lead to inflammation and funguses. Inflammation is generally a sign of compromised metabolism, and fungus usually manifests as chronic thrush in our horse's feet.
He recommends that we don't use feeds with added sugars, such as molasses, and also that we restrict grazing during high sugar hours (10 AM to 7 PM).
Regarding minerals: Pete recommended having hay analysis done to assure that our horses are getting the right balance of minerals. Our area's soils and water are likely to be high in iron, which suggests that we may need to supplement with copper and zinc as a counterbalance. (Also, those horses particularly sensitive to sugars might benefit from supplemental magnesium.)
Pete recommended talking to the folks at California Trace about proper supplementation. So I did just that: I talked to Sally Hugg, who in turn recommended I send a hay sample for analysis to Equi-Analytical. http://www.equi-analytical.com/default.htm
Note: If you are one of Jerry Schmidt's hay customers, I hope to have more information for you next month about the analysis, as well as any supplements recommended.
In the mean time, let's all become more feed-aware!
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Trailer Loading Tips: Approaching the Trailer
by Jessica Crouch
Over the last several months we've discussed several simulations to help you develop the foundation you will need to trailer load your horse. Having done those, how do you make the transition to actually asking them to get into the trailer? Horses are extremely sensitive to change, and often taking them to the parking lot where your trailer is to load is not near as successful as if you put your trailer in with the rest of your obstacles. (Or take your familiar obstacles out to the trailer.) That makes the trailer just another "toy" to play with.
A few words of caution: unless you have a big heavy trailer, it is best to load with the trailer hitched to your towing vehicle, even when you are just practicing. There is too much sway in a two-horse trailer resting on a typical block. Also, make absolutely sure when you open a trailer door it is firmly secured so it doesn't swing shut at an unfortunate time. I often won't even open the door when we first start playing near the trailer. And last, do not be surprised if your confident, cooperative horse suddenly becomes resistant and fearful just because you are now near a trailer. A horse with serious trailer issues will be sure you are going to FORCE him in (which of course you aren't.) Just take it from the beginning, slow and relaxed, and set him up for success. No pressure.
I like to spend a bit of time with a horse, reviewing the obstacles we've practiced with, using them to tune any problem spots, and then casually taking the same 'discussion' over to the trailer. Be sure you are not focused on getting your horse into the trailer. Instead, maybe ask him to step between you and the trailer in the same manner you asked them to squeeze between two barrels (April 2014). As with the barrels, you may have to start with lots of room and gradually close up the space. How about asking him to go sideways along the length of trailer? Then practice stepping his hindquarters over next to the trailer (May 2014). Maybe lay a pole beside the trailer, step your horse across it, then back him "out of the trailer" over the pole (March 2014). Practice asking your horse to lower his head right beside the trailer; make sure he can still come forward softly, off a feel on the lead rope, beside the trailer (July 2014). Take the objects you've had him put his feet on (Feb 2014), put them near the trailer, and play with that conversation a bit.
Once all those pieces are working well-this does not need to happen all in one session-you can then casually suggest he put his foot in the trailer - just like you asked him to put his foot on an object. If you have a ramp, ask him to step on and across it; let him hear the hollow sound it makes. No rush. Next month, we'll go ahead and actually load your horse.
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The Transformation of Niko, part 2
A Series by Michelle Grimmer
If you've been around Freedom Farm much, you have probably seen my big gray horse Niko. He came to me extremely unsound, mentally and physically. He was very crooked in his body and when I rode him he felt like two different horses depending on which direction we'd be tracking in the arena. To the left, he felt somewhat ok, but to the right he was crippled. No matter what direction we went, he was extremely worried in his mouth and curled away from the bit while constantly gnashing his teeth. He had to wear boots on all four legs because he bloodied himself by whacking them together if there was no protection. His feet were completely out of balance, due to well-meaning farriers attempting to work with the way his body wanted to travel. Crooked body, crooked feet, crooked legs.
I kept him in Port Townsend at a client's 70-acre farm, and my first step in his rehab was to work on getting his feet back in shape (he was barefoot, but not being trimmed by a barefoot trimmer). His feet were like pancakes, very long, with flares. His heels were very bruised. Because he was so footsore, and this is what I have always learned to do, I put shoes on him to protect his feet (all you barefoot people are cringing right now!). Now he could run all over the place whacking himself with his crappy feet with no limping! Next, I got his teeth done by an Equine Veterinary Dentist, got him properly fitted for a saddle, and involved a Structural Integration (S.I.) therapist who began addressing the problems in his body.
The S.I. therapist worked through Niko's body little by little and soon he was feeling and moving better. The farrier was getting his feet in better shape, and he was whacking himself much less. I felt like I was on the right track, but there was something missing. He was still stressed when I rode him and he still had difficulty tracking to the right. The S.I. therapist really wanted him to have his shoes off. Mary Gallagher also recommended that the shoes come off. But I resisted both of them, and they humored me. Eventually I realized that they were right, and, that I needed to go deeper with his rehab, back to square one, which of course happens from the ground up. Literally!
On December 17th, 2013 I called Mary. "Niko needs to come to Freedom Farm!" The rehab I had done thus far took him a few steps forward, but his progress was halted due to problems in three key areas: Feet, teeth and human connection. While his feet were better, in order to become truly healthy, the shoes had to come off. While his teeth had been done by a dentist and he didn't have sharp points cutting his mouth anymore, his jaw was locking up because his teeth were not balanced properly. While he could be ridden and handled, he was often disconnected from his rider or handler and would become very nervous and aggressive, rearing or striking out. An extensive amount of groundwork was required, and I couldn't think of a better place for him to get it.
Niko's life was about to get a whole lot better.
To be continued.....
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Weekly Fitness for Riders Classes!
Get fit and build core strength to ride your best!
Join the Rider Fitness Workout on Mondays, Rider Bootcamp on Saturdays!
Every Monday and Saturday at 7 a.m., Anytime Fitness, Corner of Old Olympic and Sequim-Dungeness
Questions? Email Mary or call (360) 457-4897
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Arena Schedule
Here is a schedule that might help you plan your time at the Freedom Farm arena.
Sunday: Open until 11:30.
Reserved for Pony Club after 3 pm.
Monday: Open all day.
Reserved for Port Angeles Drill Team 6-8 pm.
Tuesday: Open all day. (Lessons ongoing, space is shared.)
Reserved for Port Angeles Equestrian Team 6-8 pm.
Wednesday: Open all morning.
Reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats 3 - 5:30 pm.
Thursday: Open all Morning. Dressage class 1-3 pm.
Reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats 3 - 5:30 pm.
Reserved for Sequim Equestrian Team 6-8 pm.
Friday: Open all Morning.
Reserved for Boarders & Hoof Beats 3 - 5:30 pm.
Saturday: Boarders and Hoof Beat members only 9 am - 5:30 pm.
Reserved 6-8 pm.
If you have any questions please contact Mary.
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New Hoof Beats Members:
TAKE 10% OFF
Your First Month's Tuition!
(Current members! Refer a friend and get the discount, too!)
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