Vaccinations may not be anymore.....

I know a lot of people that may be reading this are very concerned about their horses health and well-being during the summer with all of the bugs. Well I say that once the vaccination has been given to them sometime in their life then the titer is already in their system and they do not need the booster. All the vaccination is would be the live antibody that is injected into their systems to make it familiar so that their bodies can fight it off. For our five guys they have been given vaccinations once in their lifetime and I believe that there is no other reason to keep on injecting chemicals into their bodies! Many cases you will see the fact that the horses simply get the disease from the vaccination itself. They already have the titer in their bodies and unless being sold and taken off the property to come in contact with other horses there is really no other reason to go through with this action! Many articles out there will disagree with what I have to say about this issue but I think that this is something that many people will continue to do unless they are further educated. Many vaccines will have side affects or allergic reactions that are associated with this, and well this is something that I really do not want my horse to have to go through! Even the most common ones such as Tetnis and Rabbies once it is in their system the titer will stay there the rest of their life. There have even been studies where the mother carrying a foal was given her vaccination and the titer was passed down from the mother to the foal. The foal did not need his vaccinations due to the mother passing the titers down to the foal! The advancement that will bring the increased risk of alternate reactions (vaccinosis) as follows some of these are very serious, which appreciates the fact that they can be debilitating and even fatal in some cases! As someone that cares for our equine companions and looks out for the best interest for them we must manage the risk and the benefits that the vaccinations can yield!Most vaccines are intended to protect against very serious infections diseases!Why are we causing disease by weakening the immune system with more than frequent use of the combination vaccination products?!? Ask yourself these questions because the answer can sometimes be more logical and the doing of this task!

The many ways of "Big Ben"!

Its hard to believe that we have had Ben for going on three years now as his healing process, weight gain, and just his whole personality has been able to come out! Ben is the kind of horse that will hold all of his emotions in and go through the process instead of just putting it all out there for in the moment right then and there! When he gets concerned, afraid, or unsure of something then you will see him show it in the expressiveness of his eyes. They almost form perfect triangles and then his eyes get really big! He always manages to crack me up when he does that. After a while of realizing that nothing will harm him he's usually fine and then just carries on with his normal routine! He can never stand to be the last one out as our mare Dancer is the one I can see where he has really and truly bonded with. After he sees her go out he does a soft nicker and that's our cue to go ahead and let him out for the evening. He is the rock that holds everybody together in tense situations throughout the five guys that we have! Anytime we go on a nice trail ride he is the one that just goes along with whatever does not get spooked at anything and is honestly the kind of horse that you can say is "bombproof"! His aides are always spot on and can multitask among the different disciplines that we will have him be familiar with! He knows when there is somebody on his back and he takes care of that person weather it be one of us, me, or any dear friends that we will bring over to ride. He is never food aggressive and can stay in without getting anxiety. He is just such a blessing to me and my family as I am glad that we were able to help a lost soul. We not only helped him but he helped us in so many ways! It makes me sad to think that his previous owners would not have appreciated the greatness and such kind and gentleness that is and will forever be our "Big Ben"! As I hope one day I can continue to help and improve the lives of thousands of other horses out there. But by helping the five that we have, and the other ten that we care for then my job is already halfway done!

The Tendon......

Recently I watched an episode of Dr. Pool. Featured on that episode was a young throughbred who when the supposed to be "trainers" were trying to break him for a mounted rider, the girl was very young, as well as they were trying to break him in an enclosed space with little or no room to run if spooked. They set up round pen gates in the middle of the barn that were rusted, he tried to jump the rusted metal round pen gates and got his leg hung up on the gate. They called the vet and had said that he may have sliced his tendon, and if that was the case and I quote "We are going to have to put him down if this is the case. His racing career is over and he can't run with a sliced tendon." See to me this really upset me because first of all, Ben sliced his tendon in the same exact spot as this horse. He lived and his able to carry on his life running freely in the fields. All it takes is some time and patience to get him recovered. This was the first day that we got him; what his leg looked like the first week.

This was his leg after we treated it a couple months after it happened....

This is the picture from one year later after it had all the way healed up....

See most of the people that are in the racing industry are in it for the money, and racing the horse until he can't run anymore and collapses due to the amount of stress that is placed on these horses. Keep in mind of the 10 total deaths this year in the racing industry, because of horses with broken legs that have had to be put down right there on the track. Half of the horses that loose get sent to slaughter or are starved to death. I'm sure that everybody who reads this has an opinion either way of what I am writing, but I have seen first hand how unwanted race horses end up. Green Road Dancer was breed of very good blood lines as was the horse that was featured on the episode with the sliced tendon. She raced a total of 27 races in her life starting at the age of 3 and 1/2. (Fingerlakes, New York, New York is where she raced her entire racing career) Out of the 27 races she only placed first in two of them and last in the all of the rest. She did not win a decent amount of money, and because of her not bringing in the dough her and two other companions who were also failures on the track were also sent to an auction where they most likely end up in slaughter. Purchased from the meat man as a kill horse along with her companions. Only minutes from getting loaded onto the meat truck, Joe Diebel from Angel Acres Horse Rescue came and rescued her and her other companions from this terrible fate.

Thanks for reading and stay posted on the latest updates!

A day well spent.......

We finally got above freezing yesterday and the sun was out, NO WIND, clear blue skies. I finally got to do what I had wanted for the entire week, RIDE AND WORK WITH THE HORSES! I decided that since I had accomplished so much with Betty already and had spent so much time with her, that I would focus some more on "Big Ben" . I focused more on slowing him down at a transition and taking the time to make him realize that I was not going to get on his back and race off into the sunset. That I was there to accomplish so many goals with him as well as love on him and be thankful that he is in my life. I rode him with a saddle instead because my usual routine with him is strictly bareback, but since I had not ridden him in a while and he was quite full of himself for the first couple of weeks that he had been off, I did not want to take a chance with him! Not that he would do anything because I have to put my trust in him, but just because he sometimes likes to take of and run through the field to fell the wind in his hair. I practiced slowing him down and making him do some collected movements. First, I focused on a nice slow walk, some stretching exercises and some nice clover-leaf and figure eight patterns. I also practiced with him on a transition to the trot but instead of a choppy and fast trot I did some stuff with him on a nice collected trot slow. I finally got him to go far and beyond and accomplish the jogging trot. I stretched him out really well warmed him up really nicely, did some pole work. When he was finally warmed up enough I did a couple canter laps around the arena and he was simply amazing! I was so happy that he finally was able to slow down. He is always the kind of horse that likes to start off really fast. A little background information on why he likes to start off really fast. His previous owner used him as a roping horse, so that should tell you a little something. Meaning they hold them in a chute with the cow next to them, they sound the bell/timer and they take off from the shoot at an astounding pace the rider gets off the horse and ropes the cow as fast as he can! I always like to take it nice and slow with him because of his pace to go really fast. I figure that I can take things nice and slow with him because we have our entire life together that I can accomplish certain things with him! :) :) Read back as I'm positing all the time! :)

My Gelding Diary......

Last night my humans decided to keep me in my stall with nothing but some dried dead grass to eat. I had to eat it anyways because I did not want to starve myself. They choose to come in the morning and turn me out in my field with my buddies after the fact that I had been in! They threw some more dried grass to eat and again I had to eat it. I did not want to die of starvation!! I was relatively hot underneath and to my relief they came up and FINALLY decided to take it off. I am still somewhat amazed at the fact though that when I am turned out I would think that this stupid herd leader is still trying to come up to the fence and harrass me but alas I have no choice but to continue to go up to him and tell him who is boss. These are my mares and I WILL PROTECT THEM NO MATTER WHAT! I mean I have to right I am their herd leader and ain't nobody gonna mess with them besides me. I simply run up to the gate and try to stand at a taller position to show him exactly who is boss. I stand with my head held high my big manly chest puffed up really high and also when I choose to leave and am simply disgusted at the sight of him I turn around and poop near or on his face. Well I at least like to think of it as "ON" his face. I must simply turn around and sniff it just because of how manly and awesome I am at the moment right now. So much cooler than him! NEIGH NEIGH! Hear me neigh you little girl. His neigh is simply annoying and it disgusts me so much. I hate looking at the sight of him. But I am glad that my humans have put a dividing spot between us because that way I can simply protect my mares and keep them all together away from the best man boy. I am also simply astonished that when I trash my stall every night because of utter disgust at the face that I have to be shut in that when I walk it, it is in perfect condition and is simply clean with fresh pine shavings right in the middle. Oh well more for me to trash, RIGHT? :) :) I will continue to write to all of my readers out there, that is if my humans will allow me some time to write on my special horsie computer! :) :) I hear them coming quick gotta run! NEIGH: THIS IS BEN AND YES I AM VERY BIG; DON'T MESS WITH ME!

Ben's exercise routine......

Since I have tried to focus most of my attention on my special girl. Ben hasn't been getting a lot of attention. However, my little sister likes to ride him and exercise him for me, which is much appreciated! Every single week Emma tries to at least exercise him for at least an hour on jumping over small ground poles, changing leads, and a lot of circles to strengthen that bad leg and work in improving his leg muscles! :) :) :) He has been doing great and his top-line is improving with every single ride. Since he is so smart and such a good boy he needs all the time in the world spent with him and all of the attention he so greatly deserves!!

I love to ride Ben as well but sometimes I have my hands full with Miss. Betty and when I am not constantly doing groundwork with her I am working with Ben and riding him, he also needs some occasional groundwork now and then. :) :) :) Since he in his past-life was a roping horse, all he knows how to do is go extremely fast and he does not go how to go nice slow and collected. He does not know how to relax, let loose, and enjoy being ridden!

Out on the trails.......

Recently me and Ben have gone on a lot of trail rides around the property! He has been really good and has been on his best behavior mostly every single time we go! I try to work with him first before I ride and at least try some hand lunging with him for at least a couple of minutes. It seems to make a difference and gives him a warm up before I ride. I also have switched his bridle to a mechanical hackamore before, he tends to be a little bit more energetic in the field. When I ride him in the arena he hates it in there so depending on how he is behaving I try to take him out in the field as much as I possibly can! The more exposure I can get him to face the better off he will be when he has to face new and exciting things! I also try to desensitize him as much as I can so if something unexpected happens he does not spook! I always ride him bareback and really only use a saddle if I am doing at least two hours of riding time! Which is usually very rarely but occasionally can happen! I always talk to him when I ride him so that way he feels more relaxed. He always is nice and calm! I can usually take him anywhere and he is always as calm as can be. He always own his own and is the rock for most of the horses that tend to be a little bit more higher strung!!!! He is always my boy and I love riding and working with him! He has the best facial expression and I can always know what, how, and when he is feeling what he is. In order for you to become one with your horse you have to learn how to read them, that will ensure a successful partnership! :) There are more pictures and videos to come! Thank you so much for reading my posts there is always more to come!