About Me

Putting Natural Horsekeeping Into Practice

Basic Introduction

Hmm... where to start? Well, I live in central New York where I was born and raised. I'm a software engineer by trade, planning to one day become a full-time, AANHCP-certified practitioner.

I am married with two great step-kids, a husband (also great), a dog, three cats and four horses (see my new arrival here). I'm fortunate enough to live in a rural area with a pond, hills, breezes and beautiful views. And ultra-lush grass, soft footing and a generous amount of rain. It's a picture-perfect location to raise horses. Or is it?

It's a far cry from the arid, rocky, sparsely vegetated basin the wild horse thrives in. I am currently in the AANHCP certification program and acutely aware of how dangerous these lush fields can be to a horse.

This web site is my attempt to document my goal of converting my farm into something much safer and much more satisfying for my horses.

How Did I Arrive Here?

I am new to natural hoof care. Sort of. Actually, growing up, we cared for our ponies in much the same way that is now recommended by the natural horse care community. Most of the year, the ponies had 24/7 turnout in a twenty acre field with a running stream. They sought shelter under trees during storms, but otherwise were pretty happy to be out in the open.

While my father’s motives were different from today’s horse naturalists, grain, wormers and blankets were totally foreign to our herd. And we never, ever put shoes on any of them.

If you have some free time, read “Colt’s Story” to understand how I got sold on the natural hoof care paradigm. Colt continues to improve, not rapidly, but steadily. My mare that seemed pretty comfortable and moved beautifully shod moves just as nice barefoot. She strides right out on gravel without batting an eye. Fortunately, it appears that she hasn't worn shoes enough to do any irreparable damage. I put them on her when we started working (after she'd been on a 2-3 year vacation). I put them on because her feet were a mess, breaking apart along all the quarters. Now, I look back and say “well, duh!” But at least things have been rectified.

So, now I’m on my “natural hoof care mission”. Once I started educating myself, I immediately made some changes in my horse management. At the time, only Junior and Colt were home and I changed their schedule so they were both on 24/7 turnout. This was the middle of winter and they were able to come into a run-in, built into my barn, at will. I cut back their daily pellets and oats until they were only getting enough oats to mix their supplements in. This was the first year I didn’t blanket Colt (he hadn’t been blanketed yet at the point I started this conversion. He was retired, so I hadn't been blanketing till he started shivering, usually around Jan-Feb). Well, what do you know – they both maintained their weight beautifully and Colt never did shiver!

At the same time, I started trimming their feet myself. Now that I knew what I was looking at, it was awful to see how contracted Colt’s fronts were. His feet landed, as they always had, toe first. His frogs were nowhere near reaching the ground. No wonder he’d been so uncomfortable! As soon as we had temperatures above freezing, I soaked his feet as Marjorie Smith recommended on her web site www.barefoothorse.com. I was pretty sure he had the fungus she spoke of and I wanted to do everything in my power to get those frogs healthy. He responded well, he became more lively even picking fights with his turnout buddy, Junior. His eyes had a bit more life in them. I think the chronic pain was starting to diminish.

The rest of this web site is a documentary of my attempt to provide my horses with what Jaime Jackson refers to as “paddock paradise”.

‘Nuff About Me

I want to take a minute to introduce my horses since they are an essential part of who I am. At this time, there are three: Colt, Junior and Beatrix.

Colt is my retired AQHA show horse (registered name is The Terminator Too). He's a 12 year old, 16.1H, sorrel gelding. He's generally pretty sweet and mellow.

Junior is my dressage wannabe horse. He's a 7 year old, 14.3H red dun, solid Paint. He looks like the quintessential cow horse, but I dress him up in dressage tack and we both have fun working.

Beatrix is my 15 year old, 15.2H, black Trakehner mare (registered Rappenhof Beatrix). She's an awesome animal with her own interesting history, which is a story for another time. She is currently in foal to Feuertanzer, an ATA stallion, for a 2005 foal.

I once posted on a thread on the UDBB in which the posters gave a brief excerpt of what they believe goes on in their horses' heads while interacting with their "parents". I am reproducing my posts here because I think this is a great way for people to get an idea of a horse's personality.

Beatrix (schooling dressage):

"Well, it’s ABOUT time! I’ve been standing here, waiting all DAY! You have to work? To feed ME? That’s YOUR problem! I don’t have time to listen to you whine.
Yo! Ginger snaps!! You’ve been standing there HOW long??
You know, you only need one arm to brush with. You aren’t doing anything with your other. Hey, that’s a HINT! How about some TREATS!

OK, we are READY to go! Ready, ready, ready. My, I feel better now. We’re out where the action is! I am loving this! Did you see those folks over there? They’re checking me out. I look GOOD! Just wait til we’re really working, I’ll knock their socks off!
Trot? Now?? OK, let me get some momentum… ooh, we’re a little stiff today. OK, if you’d stop twisting to the wrong side, I could BEND a little bit! Ah, much better! Hey, do I look good or what?? We are rocking around this circle! What? Change rein? I’m BUSY! Oh, good lord! Fine, we’ll go the other way. OK, now bend your OWN butt and I’ll be able to get those kinks out. OK, much better. Change rein?? What is your PROBLEM?? Fine. Other way… Again? Ha! I was waiting for this! Now, if YOU had changed YOUR bend, we would have looked pretty nice! You are making me look seriously awkward, woman! OK, try again… Better, but Mom, you are WAY stiff today. One more time… OK, let’s do some more circles. Quit while we’re ahead, you know?
GASP!!! That HORSE!! He came within TWO HORSE LENGTHS OF ME!! HellOOOO! This is my SPACE! Please stay OUT of it!! What? Oh, yeah. What were we doing? Circling. Oh, OK. Change rein??? Would you lighten UP? I can’t pay attention to EVERYthing going on around me! Hey, those people are watching me. I AM something when I’m working, aren’t I??"

Colt (schooling dressage):

"You’re back? Heavy sigh… Yeah, sure. I’ll be right with you.
Walking, walking, walking… OK, so far, no sweat. More walk?? Not long ago, I was walking too FAST. OK, I AM walking. What??? I gave you two strides! OK, two more. MOM! Knock it off! Who do you think we are anyway? Rusty and Ulla??? Ouch! You HIT me?? There better be cookies at the end of this…
Trot? OK (skeptically), if you say so… Are you sure?? OK, ok! I was just checking! More trot? I’m a Quarter Horse, I don’t HAVE more trot! Yesterday? That was a fluke (to self – I KNEW I shouldn’t have moved out. Now, she thinks she can have it EVERY day). How ‘bout if we stay on this circle? I might be able to manage more trot if you don’t give me anything else to think about. Hey, we’re getting there. Well, it’s better than the one we STARTED with. Never good enough, is it Mom? Sigh… Sure, “good boy.” Whatever…
Hey!! Was that a half halt? Too much energy?? Here, I’ll back off. Really, I don’t want to miss a cue! Right on those aids, yup, that’s me! Hey! You smacked me?? Grrr, I am TROTting! Oh my god, I am so tired of th… Walk?? You SAID walk! I heard you! You shifted your weight! Well, it COULD have meant walk!! Ouch! Knock it off! I’m trotting, I’m trotting!"

Junior (schooling dressage):

"HEY, everybody! Hows it going? Bronson, good to see you! Birdie, looking good (wink! wink!). Mom, WHAT is your problem? I AM on a circle! Argh, youre too much! Yo, Dalton! Havent seen you in awhile, how you doin? Mom, I am NOT rushing! Will you chill out?? No, I can NOT bend to the inside, I cant see whats going on in the aisle if my body is bent that way. Sheesh!

Hey! Mrs. Stanton is laughing at me! I am TOO cute! This is too much fun, I love social hour!

AllRIGHT! Rhythm! Ill give you rhythm! For crying out loud, I good boy?? Im a good boy??? COOL! Hey!! Im a good boy!!! Mom, you really think Im a good boy? Oops, rushing again. Sorry bout that. Here we go rhythm! Another good boy?? Oh wow, this is too cool! Mom, youre the best! Anything! You can ask me to do ANYthing, Im right on it!! Trot? I thought youd never ask! Of course, we can trot. Lets hey, Hersheys coming out to play. Hey! Hershey! Look at me, Im trotting! Im a good boy! I what? Mom, did you say something? I was too staying on a circle. Yes, I was (sulk). Dont wanna bend. No. Nope. I dont want FINE! Heres your bend. Happy now? Really? Im a good boy? Cool! I love you, Mom!"

Obviously, pictures are in order and will be coming shortly!

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