Mud Fight

Spring brings rain and rain brings mud and mud brings a challenge because horses love it so. My current strategy is to keep the horses in, let them dry out and start chipping away. I have a variety of grooming tools. One is shaped like a flower, another looks like a messager, and another is a rubber mitt with nubby bumps to loosen hair and break apart those dried up chunks of dirt. I use them all and sometimes with one in each hand.

I wear a dust mask to prevent back lung, so I look like a surgeon in a very dirty operating room. I then brush, starting with the most course brush to the finest, with "cookie" breaks for the horse because getting clean can be stressful and usually unwanted. Without hot water in my barn, I utilize a waterless shampoo as the final step.

I then rest up to do it all over again the next day.

Happy grooming, Kathy, Horsedrivensite.net

On the Road Again

The snow is gone, the roads are clear, trees have not yet leafed out which makes visibility good. It's time to harness up my Haflinger and to do some road driving. He's barefoot so this means dusting off his Swiss hoof boots. He knows the routine and obligingly lifts each hoof as if he were shoe shopping.

He's had many miles of road work and is a worthy road warrior. Our community has a few equine drivers, but for the most part, we have to be sure that we are visible to cars and try to take roads that are less traveled (like the name of the book). Semi trucks, motorcycles, noisy mufflers don't phase my Haflinger.

However, every so often there will be a killer balloon on a mailbox or a garbage can of a different color that catches his attention. Usually with encouragement he'll trot past. Of course none of these "monsters" give him the slightest trouble on the way home.

There's nothing like watching life glide by at 5 miles per hour.

Happy Trails, Kathy, Horsedrivensite.net

Fly Predators

The first year that I brought a horse to my property I was in shock one day when I went to my barn to find flies buzzing everywhere and I felt like I was in the fly version of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". Mind you I had one horse at the time. I might add that I am surrounded by neighbors who raise cattle.

Heading to Home Depot like an Indy racer, I stocked up on fly paper and traps in the hopes of outwitting those pests. We had some relief, but the last straw was when I saw hundreds of flies sunning themselves on my deck which is 200 feet from the barn. Did they think this was their version of Spring break? Was I supposed to serve cold beer?

Planning early the following year I ordered Fly Predators and eagerly awaited my first shipment. Fly predators sole purpose in life is to live on manure and eat fly larvae. It's a beautiful life. They don't bother anyone else, are barely visible and reportedly are in the wasp family but don't sting.

The package arrived with several small cocoons. I eagerly awaited for them to start to hatch before I sprinkled them on manure. It's not overnight magic, but having done this for several years I can tell you there has been significant improvement even with cattle surrounding us.

In addition, this year I'll be experimenting with hanging zip lock bags of water with a few pennies in them. Sounds like making a wish, but I've read several recent articles about how this repels flies. I'll keep you posted.

Kathy, Horsedrivensite.net

Fly Away, The Sequal

I did a little research on the Internet looking for the ingredients for the natural, homemade fly spray I wrote about. The ingredient that mystified me the most was the ploysorbate 20. This sounded rather ominous, but it turns out that it's an oleic acid derived from olive oil and is said to be non irritating.

There are numerous websites for essential oils, so you can price shop and shop for good shipping deals. I found a website named silkyscents.com which seemed to have a wide variety of essential oils. Another website named makingcosmetics.com is where I found polysorbate 20 which is used as an emulsifier for the spray.

Can't wait to smell all of these ingredients mixed together. If nothing else we'll come off the trail defying our usual post ride odor.

Happy Trails, Kathy, Horsedrivensite.net

Equine Affaire

There are only three Equine Affaires in the country. One in California, another in Massachusetts and the third in my home state of Ohio at the Ohio State Fair Grounds in Columbus. I've made an annual pilgrimage to Equine Affaire the past 12 years because I never fail to learn something new (of course the fabulous shopping doesn't hurt either).

This year EA starts April 8Th and runs through Sun., April 10Th. One admission fee entitles you to attend as many seminars as you wish that day. There are one day passes and passes for all four days. It's also opening season for funnel cake consumption, but my cholesterol level only allows me one funnel cake per year and I don't want to blow it all in April.

The seminar schedule will make your head spin there are so many choices. Here are a few that have caught my eye: "Improving Your Driven Dressage Score", "Equine Photography: Capturing the Horse in Still and Live Action" ( how about how to get ears pointing forward),"Improving your Horse's Hazard Driving Performance", "Emergency Care for You and Your Horse on Trail", "Equitreking, Top Ten Places to Ride Before You Die".

The whole experience is a blast, and it's a great way to rethink and to review your current horse care and riding practices. So see you there.

Kathy, Horsedrivensite.net

Fly Away

I can't believe that it's that time of year but I'm planning my war on flies already. It's me against them, take no prisoners. They may have the numbers but hopefully I've got the brains. Of course their species has been around longer than mine, but mine knows how to accessorize and that's worth something, right?

I recently came across a recipe for a natural fly spray you can make at home assuming that you can find the essential oils to do so. I'm curious to smell this concoction. No self respecting fly would want to land and fly away smelling like a potpourri. This formula was posted on equisearch.com so here it is:

2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups cold tea, sage or chamomile
20 drops eucalyptus oil
20 drops citronella oil
10 drops lavender oil
10 drops tea tree oil
10 drops cedar oil
20 drops emulsifier such as polysorbate 20

Can't wait to try this cocktail on the horses to keep the pesky flies away. I'll keep you posted on my success finding these ingredients.

Happy Trails, Kathy, Horsedrivensite.net

Back in the Saddle

It seems like an eternity since I've ridden when in fact it's been four months. I was released today from physical therapy for my Achilles tendinitis so I zipped home to load up my Fox Trotter for an indoor arena maiden voyage. Under all that mud was still my girl.

My mare loaded and unloaded with no problem, but the 60 degree weather and the remains of her winter coat set her into a series of yawns that made me chuckle. Imagine wearing your down parka while jogging in rapidly warming temperatures. My tack was not well organized nor was it clean, but what the heck, I had to seize the moment.

My Fox Trotter did everything that I asked of her and it was as if we hadn't missed a beat. At eight years old she's so sensible and so sweet. In previous years she wasn't that happy about arena exercises, but this year she was a willing partner even though her preference is to be on trail with an adventure around every corner. Our next ride will be on trail, although there's always the threat of a March renegade snow.

Thank heaven for spring, and happy trails, Kathy

Horsedrivensite.net