So your new horse has arrived, now what?
Your horse comes with a story. You may know everything or very little about your horse, where it came from , how many owners it had, how old it is, what riding experience its had, how comfortable it is around dogs, trucks, people etc?
With time your horse's story will emerge. If you pay attention and get to know your horse you'll be able to get insights into what your horse has learned through previous experiences that have created positive or negative behaviour.
My horse Pretty Boy was very anxious every time I asked him to pick up his back legs. He would tense and hold his breath as if waiting for something terrible to happen. When I touched his back fetlock (ankles) I noticed a horizontal scar about four inches wide. I found the same identical scar on his other back fetlock.
I asked a client who used to be a cowboy if he knew what would have caused the scars on Pretty Boy's legs. He said that one of the ways cowboys would get the horse to raise his back legs was to tie a rope around the fetlock and then to the horn of the saddle acting as a pulley.
This made sense, Pretty Boy probably fought against the rope and the rope cut into his flesh. Obviously he still held the memory of it in his body.
After figuring this out I made sure to be very calm around Pretty Boys back legs,
I kept my movements slow and confident. I took my time with him and handled him daily.
Within a few weeks he displayed less anxiety around having his back hooves trimmed.
I had to show him that I wasn't a threat and that he could trust me. I kept my behaviour consistent.
Give your horse time to settle in, don't put immediate pressure on your horse, let the horse decompress and get to know and trust you. Remember horses are social beings, they like hanging out!
Jackie and Ruby PMU rescues
Jackie and Ruby, photo by Randi Berez
Friday, July 16, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Chosing the perfect horse
When choosing the perfect horse here is something to consider;
how would it be if the horse chose you?
I've had strong gut reactions around horses coming into my life even if it's not me that is to be their owner. For instance I met and got to know a horse called Blue who has lived in the neighborhood for a few years. Blue is an attractive palomino quarter horse. I witnessed Blue go through three different owners.
One of the previous owners would ride this horse ragged, Blue would fall and hurt his knees so I would give Blue Reiki treatments. Blue is receptive to energy medicine and we connected through this exchange.
One time Blue called out to me as I was walking past his corral. When I went to see what was up I noticed his water trough was empty, his owner had forgotton to fill it and it was 110 degrees!
This owner sold Blue to a couple who ended up having a baby and didn't have time for Blue anymore. Blue's health deteriated until he could barely walk. Watching Blue go down hill was rough, I knew I was to be an influential energy in his life but adopting him was out of the question as I already had enough horses to look after.
This is when Taylor entered the scene. Taylor signed up for my horse mentorship program and fell in love with Blue the first time she met him. When the owners were ready to let him go, (by this time Blue had been diagnosed with navicular a degenerative hoof disease) Taylor adopted him.
To watch Taylor and Blue come together was like seeing two old friends reunite. We even suspected that Blue was Taylor's child hood dog returning through Blue in order to reconnect with Taylor.( Read Did Taylor's childhood dog Penny 'walk in' to Blue the horse?).
Within six months Taylor was able to ride Blue out into the mountains using just a bareback pad and a rope halter. Blue is a part of my life, I see him everyday as he lives outside my house.
how would it be if the horse chose you?
I've had strong gut reactions around horses coming into my life even if it's not me that is to be their owner. For instance I met and got to know a horse called Blue who has lived in the neighborhood for a few years. Blue is an attractive palomino quarter horse. I witnessed Blue go through three different owners.
One of the previous owners would ride this horse ragged, Blue would fall and hurt his knees so I would give Blue Reiki treatments. Blue is receptive to energy medicine and we connected through this exchange.
One time Blue called out to me as I was walking past his corral. When I went to see what was up I noticed his water trough was empty, his owner had forgotton to fill it and it was 110 degrees!
This owner sold Blue to a couple who ended up having a baby and didn't have time for Blue anymore. Blue's health deteriated until he could barely walk. Watching Blue go down hill was rough, I knew I was to be an influential energy in his life but adopting him was out of the question as I already had enough horses to look after.
This is when Taylor entered the scene. Taylor signed up for my horse mentorship program and fell in love with Blue the first time she met him. When the owners were ready to let him go, (by this time Blue had been diagnosed with navicular a degenerative hoof disease) Taylor adopted him.
To watch Taylor and Blue come together was like seeing two old friends reunite. We even suspected that Blue was Taylor's child hood dog returning through Blue in order to reconnect with Taylor.( Read Did Taylor's childhood dog Penny 'walk in' to Blue the horse?).
Within six months Taylor was able to ride Blue out into the mountains using just a bareback pad and a rope halter. Blue is a part of my life, I see him everyday as he lives outside my house.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Where do I find a rescue horse?
Rescue horses come in all sizes, shapes, breeds, colors and characters. Basically a rescue horse is a horse that is no longer wanted. I've seen horses get passed around from one person to the next. The movie Black Beauty illustrates this well. Black Beauty goes from riches to rags having several different owners until eventually he ends up doing slave labor. As a kid I found this movie disturbing,it upset me a great deal, yet it is an excellent depiction of what it's like to be a horse that has a life span of about twenty to thirty years.
Nowadays unwanted horses end up with the meat buyer who will snatch up horses for next to nothing at auctions and sell them for human consumption in countries such as France, Belgium and East Asia where horse meat is on the menu.
So where do you find a rescue horse? Here are some ideas:
In the local newspapers
Notice boards outside feed bins, veterinarians, commercial stables
Craig's list
Horse Auctions
Horse rescue facilities such as theanimalifarm.com where I got three of my PMU mares
animal care and control
Bureau of Land Management This is where you can adopt wild mustangs and burros
Word of mouth and from emails
Three of my mares came from a rescue organization called The Animali Farm. This non profit organization saves horses from going to the the meat buyer. They deal exclusively with the Premarin Industry (Pregnant Mares Urine)in Canada.
Don't expect to get a free horse from a rescue organization. People have looked at me astounded when I told them how much I paid for my mares. There is an expectation that because the horse is a rescue it should be free or cost very little. This is ridiculous because it costs money to feed, transport, vaccinate, trim and care for the horse. Many times the horses that the rescue organizations take in are in terrible condition and need medical attention as well as around the clock care.
This is not to say that you can't get a free rescue horse. Four horses I have (one has passed) were given to me. In one case I asked the previous owner to give me money to help me feed the horse which he did.
Nowadays unwanted horses end up with the meat buyer who will snatch up horses for next to nothing at auctions and sell them for human consumption in countries such as France, Belgium and East Asia where horse meat is on the menu.
So where do you find a rescue horse? Here are some ideas:
In the local newspapers
Notice boards outside feed bins, veterinarians, commercial stables
Craig's list
Horse Auctions
Horse rescue facilities such as theanimalifarm.com where I got three of my PMU mares
animal care and control
Bureau of Land Management This is where you can adopt wild mustangs and burros
Word of mouth and from emails
Three of my mares came from a rescue organization called The Animali Farm. This non profit organization saves horses from going to the the meat buyer. They deal exclusively with the Premarin Industry (Pregnant Mares Urine)in Canada.
Don't expect to get a free horse from a rescue organization. People have looked at me astounded when I told them how much I paid for my mares. There is an expectation that because the horse is a rescue it should be free or cost very little. This is ridiculous because it costs money to feed, transport, vaccinate, trim and care for the horse. Many times the horses that the rescue organizations take in are in terrible condition and need medical attention as well as around the clock care.
This is not to say that you can't get a free rescue horse. Four horses I have (one has passed) were given to me. In one case I asked the previous owner to give me money to help me feed the horse which he did.
Monday, July 12, 2010
How to obtain a rescue horse cont...
Once you have prepared a place for your horse to live the next step is to find the perfect rescue horse that will match your needs regarding what your intention is for adopting a horse in the first place.
This step is important and will save you a lot of headaches later.
Ask yourself this question and be honest about your answer.
What do I want my horse to do for me?
Obviously everyone has different needs. You may want a horse you can ride, compete, breed, love, travel with, perform tricks, pull a cart or you may want to give a horse a nice retirement where they don't have to do anything.
No ask your self,
How realistic is this?
For example you may want a horse you can ride but you may have never ridden before. If you get a rescue horse who is green or inexperienced this could be a recipe for disaster unless you plan on getting help so that you and the horse can both get training. Even in this situation my advice would be to forget this idea. The best option would be to adopt a rescue horse who is older, who has many years of experience in riding.
The same goes for if you want to adopt a horse for your kids to ride. Older experienced horses are calmer and make good teachers.
Once you know what you want you expect from your horse the next step is to start looking.
In this economy there is an abundance of unwanted horses. I get emails all the time asking me to take horses because the owner can't afford their board or the horse has gone lame and the owner doesn't want to invest anymore time or money into their horse.
What I'm saying is that there are plenty of horses out there that need adopting.
My suggestion is this; declare to the universe that you are ready to meet the perfect horse for you. Imagine visiting the soul of your horse and tell this horse what you intend to do together. Show the horse where you plan on putting them and ask them how they feel about this arrangement.
Tell your horse that you are committed and you are excited about having them in your life.
Once I made the decision to get a horse it happened within two weeks. I also had a powerful dream where my horse Silver visited me and we had an adventure. This was before I met Silver in person. When we did meet I knew that he was the horse in my dream and shortly after the owner of Silver asked me if I would take him because she could no longer care for him.
This step is important and will save you a lot of headaches later.
Ask yourself this question and be honest about your answer.
What do I want my horse to do for me?
Obviously everyone has different needs. You may want a horse you can ride, compete, breed, love, travel with, perform tricks, pull a cart or you may want to give a horse a nice retirement where they don't have to do anything.
No ask your self,
How realistic is this?
For example you may want a horse you can ride but you may have never ridden before. If you get a rescue horse who is green or inexperienced this could be a recipe for disaster unless you plan on getting help so that you and the horse can both get training. Even in this situation my advice would be to forget this idea. The best option would be to adopt a rescue horse who is older, who has many years of experience in riding.
The same goes for if you want to adopt a horse for your kids to ride. Older experienced horses are calmer and make good teachers.
Once you know what you want you expect from your horse the next step is to start looking.
In this economy there is an abundance of unwanted horses. I get emails all the time asking me to take horses because the owner can't afford their board or the horse has gone lame and the owner doesn't want to invest anymore time or money into their horse.
What I'm saying is that there are plenty of horses out there that need adopting.
My suggestion is this; declare to the universe that you are ready to meet the perfect horse for you. Imagine visiting the soul of your horse and tell this horse what you intend to do together. Show the horse where you plan on putting them and ask them how they feel about this arrangement.
Tell your horse that you are committed and you are excited about having them in your life.
Once I made the decision to get a horse it happened within two weeks. I also had a powerful dream where my horse Silver visited me and we had an adventure. This was before I met Silver in person. When we did meet I knew that he was the horse in my dream and shortly after the owner of Silver asked me if I would take him because she could no longer care for him.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
How do I obtain a rescue horse?
If you feel that your ready to get a rescue horse but don't know where to start here are some tips.
What you will need:
1. Somewhere for your horse to live.
When I got my first rescue horse, Silver I was lucky enough to be able to make a corral for him next to my house on the lot where I live. I was given some corral bar by a neighbor who no longer needed the fencing and was happy that I took it away. A friend who is a carpenter, designed and made an overhead shelter for Silver (legally you have to provide this for your horse). I paid for the materials and traded the labor with my friend for table (healing) sessions.
Although initially Silver was by himself there were two horses that lived across the fence that kept him company.
Important! Horses are social beings (herd animals) they need companionship from other horses. One of the worst experiences for a horse is to be isolated from other horses. As a prey animals it goes against their nature to be alone as they become vulnerable to predators.
If you can keep your horse where you live consider adopting another horse as a companion, or boarding a companion horse or horses that belong to someone else.
The other option is boarding your horse in a facility. It serves the horse to live in a large space so that it can move around freely. It usually serves the owner to put the horse in a confined space (stall) as it's easier to keep the horse clean and free from the possibility of getting injured from another horse.
Generally horses get along unless they are stressed out by being in a space that's too small and with too many horses. The other reason that horses don't get along is that one of them or both of them may not have the social skills as a result of being isolated from other horses.
I have seen this with stallions who were kept away from the other horses. Even after being gelded (castrated) they acted aggressively when placed with other horses.
Generally it is cheaper to board the horse in a corral (large open space) than a confined stall as it requires less maintenance.
If your only choice is to board your horse in a stall then it is essential that you turn your horse out (exercise) regularly. Imagine a mouse in a cage, and then a horse in a 12 by 12 pen, the ration of space that the mouse has by far exceeds the ratio of space that the horse has. I recommend turning your horse out once every 24 hours. If that is not possible then you can pay someone to do that for you or ask a trusted friend/family member who will be happy to exercise your horse for you when you are too busy.
Another option for boarding is to find a private barn/corral that boards horses. If you go to a commercial boarding facility, they will require you to give your horse regular vaccinations. If you board privately they may be more relaxed about vaccines for your horse.
Personally I am not a fan of vaccinations. I feel that in the long run they are detrimental to the horse's well being and health.
There are many toxic substances and heavy metals in the vaccines that compromise the horse's immune system. I have seen horses with terrible allergies that have had a history of regular vaccinations ( anywhere from 4 to 10 a year).
Obviously there may be instances where your horse will need a vaccine, but my advice is the less the better for your horse.
What you will need:
1. Somewhere for your horse to live.
When I got my first rescue horse, Silver I was lucky enough to be able to make a corral for him next to my house on the lot where I live. I was given some corral bar by a neighbor who no longer needed the fencing and was happy that I took it away. A friend who is a carpenter, designed and made an overhead shelter for Silver (legally you have to provide this for your horse). I paid for the materials and traded the labor with my friend for table (healing) sessions.
Although initially Silver was by himself there were two horses that lived across the fence that kept him company.
Important! Horses are social beings (herd animals) they need companionship from other horses. One of the worst experiences for a horse is to be isolated from other horses. As a prey animals it goes against their nature to be alone as they become vulnerable to predators.
If you can keep your horse where you live consider adopting another horse as a companion, or boarding a companion horse or horses that belong to someone else.
The other option is boarding your horse in a facility. It serves the horse to live in a large space so that it can move around freely. It usually serves the owner to put the horse in a confined space (stall) as it's easier to keep the horse clean and free from the possibility of getting injured from another horse.
Generally horses get along unless they are stressed out by being in a space that's too small and with too many horses. The other reason that horses don't get along is that one of them or both of them may not have the social skills as a result of being isolated from other horses.
I have seen this with stallions who were kept away from the other horses. Even after being gelded (castrated) they acted aggressively when placed with other horses.
Generally it is cheaper to board the horse in a corral (large open space) than a confined stall as it requires less maintenance.
If your only choice is to board your horse in a stall then it is essential that you turn your horse out (exercise) regularly. Imagine a mouse in a cage, and then a horse in a 12 by 12 pen, the ration of space that the mouse has by far exceeds the ratio of space that the horse has. I recommend turning your horse out once every 24 hours. If that is not possible then you can pay someone to do that for you or ask a trusted friend/family member who will be happy to exercise your horse for you when you are too busy.
Another option for boarding is to find a private barn/corral that boards horses. If you go to a commercial boarding facility, they will require you to give your horse regular vaccinations. If you board privately they may be more relaxed about vaccines for your horse.
Personally I am not a fan of vaccinations. I feel that in the long run they are detrimental to the horse's well being and health.
There are many toxic substances and heavy metals in the vaccines that compromise the horse's immune system. I have seen horses with terrible allergies that have had a history of regular vaccinations ( anywhere from 4 to 10 a year).
Obviously there may be instances where your horse will need a vaccine, but my advice is the less the better for your horse.
Everything you need to know about having your own rescue horse
If you love horses and have wanted to adopt a rescue but have no previous experience with horses or how to take care of them I'm going to tell you how.
First you must realize that horses can live long lives, I've known horses to live to thirty five years plus, but generally the average life span for a horse is between twenty and thirty years.
Here are some very important questions you need to ask yourself before we go any further:
Are you ready to make this commitment?
Are you ready to be a horse person?
Are you willing to adjust your lifestyle to be available for your horse?
These are the three things your horse needs from you:
Commitment
Availability
Relationship
You may think that you have to be financially rich to own a horse or horses. This is not always the case. Obviously there are expenses needed to maintain your horse but it can be done on a budget. I know because I own seven rescue horses who are happy and healthy and I have found a way to keep them on a budget that is manageable for my lifestyle.
First you must realize that horses can live long lives, I've known horses to live to thirty five years plus, but generally the average life span for a horse is between twenty and thirty years.
Here are some very important questions you need to ask yourself before we go any further:
Are you ready to make this commitment?
Are you ready to be a horse person?
Are you willing to adjust your lifestyle to be available for your horse?
These are the three things your horse needs from you:
Commitment
Availability
Relationship
You may think that you have to be financially rich to own a horse or horses. This is not always the case. Obviously there are expenses needed to maintain your horse but it can be done on a budget. I know because I own seven rescue horses who are happy and healthy and I have found a way to keep them on a budget that is manageable for my lifestyle.
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