The Running Horse

A Newsletter from Horse Play

May - June 2014

Horse Play

EIN: 05-0506340

Website:  www.hptrc.org

Email:  horseplayri@msn.com

Message from Aidan – the Alpha Mare

Spring! Grass! Warm weather? Shedding like crazy but I do enjoy the grooming time. Maybe a trail ride…

Down here in central southern North Carolina we are now paying the price of our plentiful winter rains.  The gnats are truly horrible.  Debbie has ALL of her 30 plus horses in face masks and she asked me 1) if gnats are poisonous since she has swallowed so many of them this year,  2) if gnats are good for anything, and 3) if there is any other critter that eats them.  I could not give her an answer, I guess I better start researching gnats someday.  Debbie even tried the spot…

As the weather continues to get warmer, you may be itching to get your horse out on the trails again. But if your horse has been out of work over the winter or if it’s been a while since you’ve been on the trails, you might be in for an interesting ride. Brush up on these important skills before hitting the trails to help make the trail ride more enjoyable for both you and your horse.…

This is for you, Mom, for all that you do for your horse-loving daughter. This is to say thank you for how you never told your daughter she’d “grow out of it” when she came to you at six years old with wide eyes and dreams of a pony of her own. Thank you for always slowing the car down when you passed horse farms so that she could press herself up against the window to catch a glimpse of the glossy-bodied equines and the brilliant white fencing and that beautiful, entrancing…

I had a wonderful week of riding all three horses.  We have had absolutely wonderful spring weather and everything worked out.

Last week I just got to ride once, on Mia, with the JP Dr. Bristol bit that I used with her before I tried the JP copper roller full cheek bit.  This ride with the Dr. Bristol was fine, but my next ride was a thorough review of all of Mia’s bit evasions and protests.  This was following a general deterioration of contact with Mia’s mouth that I…

Last year I was contacted by first time author Joyce Anderson,  who was researching and compiling information for her first book on horse racing.  “The Fancy Hat Veneer,” is the result of her research; it is a compilation of information proving the undeniable responsibility the racing industry and Thoroughbred breeders have for thousands of racehorses being sent to slaughter every year.  Joyce chose the  title because,  for many…

I am considering moving on from leasing into buy my own horse. I am trying to calculate the price of feed, vet bills ect. I was wondering how many times a year is recommended to de-worm your horse. Thank you so much!!!! :D 

Ah, little Mo.  She's really quite a cute thing.  I flew home on Thursday night, Friday morning, I worked the boys, then it was time (well, two hours past where I wanted to be), to take Mo over to the show and school.  Tack box in the trailer, Mo walked up and tested me... are you going to try and pull me into the trailer?  Not a chance Missy.  Slack lead rope the whole time,…

I had another wonderful week of three rides, and all my rides were in absolutely beautiful spring weather.  The only downside is that it is becoming more and more apparent that I’ve lost just about all the physical progress I’d made over the past 6-7 years.  I post the trot for maybe a quarter of the ring and I have to rest.  My previously taut muscles have lost all their tone.  I get off the horse and I am so tired that I do not walk well.  And there I am on Mia and she is…

Maybe the Universe is starting to smile on me again.  Maybe I will be able to stop the relentless degradation of my body.  Maybe I can finally start to recover from my MS exacerbation.

The first week of December 2013 I rode four times.  Since then the most I’ve ridden in a week was two times around a month ago.  I am walking a little better but my physical fitness took a big hit this winter, I am weaker and my muscles just won’t work as long as before.  Before December…

Today, a horse actually BIT me...  I mean REALLY!

No, it wasn't one of mine.  Mine know that it's a very big offence... Maggie used to grab my shirt (only!), if I was talking to someone and I should have been paying attention to her.  Havoc might miss a carrot or apple and graze my hand.  That's it.  So, how did I possibly get bit?!

I was taking Mo back to her paddock, a longer way than usual, because it's pretty wet out, and I was walking close to another paddock to stay on…

Humans are designed to thrive in a cycle of stress/challenge and recovery/rest. Tomorrows horse show takes care of the stress, but what really counts as R&R to perform at your best?

Is it:

• Kicking back at the exhibitor party the night before?
• Braiding, grooming, bathing at the stable with your horse and barn…

I just read a very interesting article in Equus... it was about how spending many hours with their human is stressful and hard on horses.  Made a lot of sense.  The example they gave was a weekend warrior, spending all day Saturday with her horse... I'd be pissed off with that woman too!

I know some folks that ride multiple horses in an evening, so the horses get a cursory groom, a ride, a cool out and off they go.  That may actually be a favour to them, not something to worry about. …

I finally got to ride on Wednesday, the first time in two weeks.  Between all the extra traveling I’ve had to do, the lingering effects of my MS exacerbation plus an absolutely horrible head cold I was too sick and exhausted to ride last week.

Wednesday dawned bright and cold.  Mia  was NOT happy to be brought in.  I could not really blame her, the wind was from the North and it was bitterly cold.  Debbie groomed her, but I did not rasp down her toes as I was just…