smellshorsey

If the Grass is Green, Can Hay be Far Behind?

Praise the Lord! It's raining. Pouring. We need it. (This photo is not local.)

I'm down to my last five bales of hay. My friend and hay supplier is bringing me 10 more square bales in the hope that it will last me until first cutting. The only hay that's been cut in my part of S.C. is hay grown in irrigated fields. The farm where Lily takes her lessons is out (but they have large grass pastures). A wholesaler we rely on in the next county is out. I paid $12.99/bale for two bales of alfalfa a few days ago, hoping to stretch out my coastal (I really don't know what I'm doing here, but I wasn't going to buy the timothy for $16.99. Not yet at least). I guess alfalfa cubes might be a better choice -- and I do know to soak them.

It will be a few weeks still before first cutting from my supplier. Somehow, we'll make it until then.

And yes, I know not to stock up on first cutting -- too many weeds. But after the past couple of years, it will be hard not to stock up on anything I can find.

But I'll try to be strong, have faith, all that. I'm just glad I only have to feed two horses.

And you've never seen people more grateful for the rain than S.C.'s horse owners. If it weren't lightning right now, I'd go dance naked in the rain.

Sometimes You Need to Get Away from Your Horses

This photo is of a time-share houseboat on Lake Powell, whose shoreline touches both Arizona and Utah. I've never been, but the photos are breathtaking. You can find out about getting a houseboat timeshare on Lake Powell at Sunrise Peak's Lake Powelll Houseboats

It was already humid when I was cleaning the stalls this morning. School gets out next week, and I can't wait to go somewhere where there's a large body of water. I love my horses, but I love me more. Sometimes you just need to get away from your horses. (And they probably need a break from you, too.)

I always thought houseboats were kind of silly and for old people until some of our good friends got one and we've had the pleasure of boating with them on Lake Lanier in Georgia. It really is so much fun and a great way to really get away from it all. However, they spend all of their free time maintaining their boat. While I think they enjoy it, like I enjoy cleaning stalls (sort of), maintaining a boat wouldn't be the thing for me.

Our friends own their monstrous big fancy boat (whopping big investment) but you can also get a timeshare on a boat at Lake Powell. If I lived closer, I'd certainly look into it.

Big Brown Has a Quarter Crack but Will Still Race

Big Brown, whose owners are hoping will win the Triple Crown after his wins at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, has developed another quarter crack. They're giving him two days off, then fixing the quarter crack. They plan to run him in the Belmont. Here's a quotation from the referenced article:

"This is a very, very minor crack," hoof specialist Ian McKinlay said, adding the fissure was about five-eighths of an inch long. "We will put a set of wires in and patch it up."

"Ian keeps telling me it's nothing and he'll be fine in a couple of days, that he will be able to fix it up by Thursday," Dutrow said. "I am sure he will be 100 percent, yes. If we get to breeze him Tuesday or Belmont week, or even Wednesday, we can live with that."

Big Brown has had problems with quarter cracks before. In fact, he had to take the month of January off to heal a quarter crack. Here's an excerpt from a Suite 101 report dated two days ago about how Big Brown has been free of quarter cracks since then:

McKinlay treated Big Brown's first quarter crack by lacing the crack together with wire. Curl used the same technique in the colt's second quarter crack, which developed in his left foot. After Big Brown' s first race this season, Curl told Dutrow he thought rubber cushion Yasha glue-on shoes, developed by McKinlay, would work for the colt.

A set of Yasha glue-ons were anchored to Big Brown's feet 21 days before the Kentucky Derby. Dutrow says the colt's feet went cold within 24 hours of the shoe-fitting. Although the Yasha glue-ons are expensive, as much as $550 a pair compared to regular nail-ons at $25 a pair, Big Brown hasn't had any further problems with his feet.

Curl's philosophy is when the feet are right, the rest of the horse does well also.

So now, Big Brown has his third reported quarter crack. Fortunately, my knowledge of quarter cracks is all academic. To refresh my memory, I went on a search. First I went to my out-of-date Illustrated Veterinary Encyclopedia for Horsemen, which gives you a summary of things with pretty good illustrations. It didn't educate me much other than to learn (1) a quarter crack is not a good thing and (2) it must be pretty serious if they're having to wire it together.

What causes quarter cracks? The Suite 101 article says:

Curl notes that quarter cracks are not unique to the Thoroughbred racehorse. Any breed can develop quarter cracks. The causes of quarter cracks range from running on hard surfaces, to concussion, to thin hoof walls, to imbalance of the medial lateral foot.

Big Browns' quarter cracks were atypical, says Curl. A hoof wall separation initiated the cracking. Possibly a bruise on the bottom of the foot prompted the beginning of a separation, Curl explained. This leads to an abscess which can't drain. The abscess pushes infection up the hoof wall. That, in turn, separates the hoof wall (the fingernail) from the laminae (the membrane that is at the core of a laminitis infection).

The separation of the fingernail is difficult to detect since it can't be seen. A horse can run a race, or perform workouts, and cause the infected area to heat up, but if it cools back down, a problem won't be detected. If a problem is susptected, and the horse is suspended from workouts for a short time period, his next work, or breeze can cause the abscess to break out through the top of the hoof.

Ian McKinlay, who is based in New York, and treated Big Brown's first quarter crack, said he sees the condition more frequently in Standardbreds. He believes tracks becoming harder may be a root cause of the trouble. Curl and Dutrow believe that a wall separation developed over time in Big Brown's case because he has always trained on good surfaces.

And another source says:

"A quarter crack is a stress fracture of the hoof wall and it is telling you that the horse has been overworked and needs a rest. But trainers know that these products are available and that they can, if they're used properly, keep a racehorse working. I'd only repair a wall injury if the wall is in such disrepair that it is not weightbearing or if the horse is standing on its sole. Then build the wall up, by all means, so the horse has something to stand on until the foot regrows." From www.hoofcare.com

What does this mean for Big Brown? Amateur speculationist (I made that up) that I am, I can only figure that his owners will do absolutely everything that they can short of killing him to give him a chance to win the Triple Crown. Will running on a quarter crack kill him? Not unless it indicates that the horse is breaking down in other places.

I assume he will get doctored on enough to run, and he might just win again. Then he'll spend his life getting to meet lots of lady horses, and we can only hope he's not passing on  genes for more bad Thoroughbred feet.

And if all does not go well in his future public races (after what happened to Eight Belles), as I have said before, the racing industry is handing their future to anti-racing forces. No one will defend them when they become indefensible.

Race sound horses in a safe environment, all will be well. Race unsound horses until they break down in tragedy on national television, you deserve what you get.

UPDATE May 26: The New York Times is running a story on this now, which you can read here.

And here's a photo of a quarter-crack repair of the type Big Brown has received.

Student Not Allowed to Graduate Because He Rode Horse to School

Okay, so maybe we all won't be riding our horses places to save money on gas (and to justify spending all that money on hay).

With a hat tip to Instapundit, here's a story about a high school student who wasn't allowed to participate in his high school graduation because he rode a horse to school. I'm a little confused by the presentation of facts. It appears that the student rode a horse to school to save money on gas and the principal wouldn't allow that, so the student missed an exam. His grades were high enough to where this didn't prevent him for qualifying for graduating. Then, because the student planned to ride the horse to graduation, the principal wouldn't allowed the student to participate in the ceremony. The student's uncle planned to ride a horse to school in protest. And in an unrelated story, another uncle died.

I think this story demonstrates a lot of problems with using horses for transportation. I didn't like to see the horse being ridden on pavement or kept in a small, uncovered enclosure by the school building. However, I think it makes a fine statement about current affairs. If you go to the first link, you can see videos and get updates on the story.

And one last thing. According to the pre-graduation story, horse droppings are considered litter, so you have to go back and pick them up. Does that mean that you drive to where your horse left a pile? Not much of a savings in that. I guess the solution would be to get your horse to wear a "diaper" like the carriages horses in Charleston.

Speaking of Riding Your Horse instead of Driving....

In my last post I mused about riding our horses for transportation. I came upon this NYT's story about a police horse who spooked at a backfiring motorcycle and threw his rider, then made his way through NYC to get to his home stable.

Surprised this doesn't happen more often. Here's the story:

After Throwing Rider, Police Horse Returns Home Alone

Aldo, a police horse on routine patrol in one of Manhattan’s busiest sections, may have lost his cool on Friday afternoon — but he didn’t lose his sense of direction.

      

About 2 p.m. at Prince Street and the Avenue of the Americas, Aldo bucked at the sound of a backfiring motorcycle and threw his rider, a veteran police officer.

The officer landed  on his shoulder and neck, as Aldo took off.

The reports of “officer down” sent officers of the Emergency Service Unit racing to the scene. Once the rider was determined not to be seriously injured, attention turned to the missing Aldo.

But the officers need not have worried. Within about five minutes, the horse made it back to the stable, where he was being looked at by department veterinarians, said Officer Martin Brown, a Police Department spokesman, who said Aldo suffered only a few minor cuts.

The riderless Aldo had gone south, then a bit west, a journey of about eight blocks, to arrive at his base, the stable alongside the First Precinct station house at 19 Varick Street.

The mounted officer, who was not immediately identified, was taken to St. Vincent’s Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries to his shoulder and neck, Officer Brown said. He has been on the job for 21 years, the last six of which were served in the Mounted Unit.

Aldo is 8 years old and has been on the job about a year. He came to the Varick stable in December after training at the Police Academy’s stable in the Bronx.

The police said that one 911 caller reported a riderless horse heading south against traffic on the Avenue of the Americas near Spring Street. Paul J. Browne, the Police Department’s chief spokesman, said, “You know, Aldo knows his turf.”

 

High Gas Prices Drive Farmer to Use Mules

I've often wondered if gas prices got high enough if I would start to ride Buddy or Lucy places instead of driving. Not exactly sure how that would work. For one thing, if I rode Lucy to the grocery store, where would I tie her? (As if I wouldn't have been dumped off on the way when she spooked at something.) And if I bought my groceries, how would I carry them?

She thinks grocery bags are the Plastic Bags of Death.

Buddy would do better because he's only half Thoroughbred. Unfortunately, that's sometimes the half he thinks with. Still, he's got the world's best brakes and has more mileage on him, so we could probably get somewhere and back in one piece.  Not sure where I'd tie him, either.

There are farmers who are already using mules instead of their tractor to harvest hay. The farmer says he's saving $70 a day by using the mules instead of the tractor. Here's the AP story:

MCMINNVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - High gas prices have driven a Warren County farmer and his sons to hitch a tractor rake to a pair of mules to gather hay from their fields. T.R. Raymond bought Dolly and Molly at the Dixon mule sale last year. Son Danny Raymond trained them and also modified the tractor rake so the mules could pull it.

T.R. Raymond says the mules are slower than a petroleum-powered tractor, but there are benefits.

"This fuel's so high, you can't afford it," he said. "We can feed these mules cheaper than we can buy fuel. That's the truth."

And Danny Raymond says he just likes using the mules around the farm.

"We've been using them quite a bit," he said.

Brother Robert Raymond added, "It's the way of the future."

 

 

I Love Your Blog Award!

I am touched and deeply grateful that two fellow bloggers, Grey Horse Matters and EveryRider, have given me the I Love Your Blog award! I'd give them the award, too, but they've already won it.

I love all the blogs on my blogroll, and then some I haven't put in a link to yet. But it was so much fun to receive the award that I'm going to pass it along to some of my favorites (if they haven't won it already).

If you're not familiar with Transylvanian Horseman, you're in for a treat. He and his soon-to-be wife, Scarlett, just moved back to England after several years in Romania. They're just such fun, thoughtful people living life to the fullest. Wonder if he'll change his blog name now that he's no longer in Transylvania? Whatever he does, he needs to keep blogging.

I also enjoy following the adventures of Beckz at I Will Jump Sweet Jumps. I've learned a lot from her posts on horse training and equipment, and laughed a lot at her honest posts about when things don't go quite right.

For beautiful writing and provocative thinking (and always gorgeous images) I go to visit Kimberly at I Gallop On. If you haven't seen her posts on Critter is My Co-Pilot, you must search for them. I'd put in the link but I can't find them. Where are they, Kimberly?

And if you have a secret fantasy life that involves living somewhere exotic with horses AND with an ocean nearby, you'll enjoy visiting Molly at Holamole'. It's unfair for anyone to live in a place that pretty.

Photogchic at Equine Mine always has good pictures and commentary about what's going on in her part of the world and beyond. Her horse, Maddy, no sooner recovered from a coffin bone fracture than she got a bad kick in the hock. Thank goodness both seem to have healed nicely and they're out trail riding, etc.

There are so many good horse blogs out there that it's always a treat to have a few minutes to explore people and places I've never visited before. Enjoy!

Looking for Hay Alternatives

My hay supply is dwindling and although my pasture is green, it isn't enough. I have to feed hay all year. The thought of doing what I have to do -- find hay and stock up for the coming winter -- makes me tired just to think about.

The hay fields have been converted to corn fields to make fuel for me to burn in my car. Other countries are buying up our hay crop. I wonder if this summer will be yet another drought? The price of gas and fertilizer will drive the hay prices up whether or not we have enough rain. Ouch!

The two hay suppliers I consider friends have more friends these days than your average philanthropist. I may start baking cakes for them and other bribes. I do so hate to beg but beg I will. And then pay a fortune.

If you search for "hay alternatives" on the 'net you'll find out all kinds of information that basically says there are alternatives but none as good as hay (except maybe alfalfa cubes). Beet pulp is easy and readily available (and really fattening) but it can only be part of the solution. Shoot.

Many alternatives, such as haylage, apparently carry the risk of botulism. And I don't think I can get my horses to eat ground up peanut shells. I don't even want them to.

Anybody have any success with "alternative fuel" for horses? I hope some feed company is out there working for a solution, because we're certainly ready for one. I've checked several feed manufacturer sites and nobody's talking about developing a hay alternative.

I can't use round bales. Colic, colic, colic. It has to be good hay. Horse quality hay. Hay that was babied from the moment it sprouted to the day it was baled. I feed it to them on a swept concrete pad, which seems to cut down on waste.

Sigh. Since when did dry grass get to be such a rare commodity?

Comparing Horse (and Pet) Insurance Plans

You can buy all kinds of insurance online. I just found out you can also buy pet insurance online, at least if you live and keep your horse (or pet) in the UK and related islands. You can get coverage for other animals, too, including dogs, cats, hamsters (!) and exotic pets.

I've done a lot of work over the years for health insurance companies that cover humans. I had no idea about the varieties of insurance you can get for your pets. You can get coverage for the things you'd expect, such as replacement cost and medical coverage. I didn't know you can get coverage to board your pet if you're sick and can't take care of it. Or that you can get coverage for advertising expenses if your pet or pet horse wanders off.  (We had it happen years ago when Paul never could remember to latch the gate and the one-eyed Shetland pony was always alert for such events. He never went far but it was always scary.)

You can get coverage to reimburse you for your vacation costs if you have to cut your holiday short to come home because your pet was sick! I've had that happen, but didn't have insurance. My horse colicked and we were in Florida. Ouch! Vet bills and hotel bills! And if and when the worst happens, you can even get coverage for cremation or other end-of-life expenses.

And for horse owners, they even have special insurance for aged horses. And for riders without horses.

I don't live in the U.K. and I don't know that I would opt for these coverages, but it's fascinating to know that they exist and that you can go to one web site (link above) to compare multiple insurance plans and insurance companies, find out what you need to know about pet insurance in general and get online quotes. I really do feel like Rip Van Winkle.

This same site also has a page where you can shop and compare credit cards. Seems like a good way to get informed and get a good deal at the same time. And it's not pushy. Just straightforward information with the option to call a real person.

Fun with Extra Friendly Horses

I'm in love with Albert, son of Gilbert. Best of all, Albert's in love with me. I'll explain in a minute.

Jane's farm is so much fun. Here's a photo of Buddy with Jane's six-month-old colt, Albert, from our November visit.

We went out there Saturday to look at a horse that Lily's friend may lease for the summer (and keep here so they can ride together). All of Jane's horses were excessively friendly -- except, of course the one Lily's friend may lease. I would love to show you a good photo of Albert, who's now a yearling, but he was far too friendly to photograph. Or rather, you couldn't get far enough away from him to take his picture. He was like a cat when you're trying to read the newspaper. Wherever you are, that's where he had to be. You want to look at the miniature donkeys? Too bad. Albert's going to stand between you and them. You want to walk across the pasture? You're not going by yourself, not as long as Albert's on the job.

I wanted to bring him home. He didn't allow you to pay attention to anyone but him. Wherever we went, he went, too. We stayed there and scratched and massaged him for about an hour. In return, he offered us lots of love. He was still sorry to see us go. If I ever need to feel loved, I know where to go. Click on the photos to enlarge (except the one of me, which I only include because that is just the funniest horse face -- the one with the blaze). Please notice both the people's and Albert's expressions, especially his eyes and lower lip in the last photo of him.

And then, there was the friendly mini-jackass who stole my camera case. (He was formerly named "Bill" and his mate was named "Hillary," but Jane changed their names when she got them.)