Only when I stopped comparing my mare to my “once-in-a-lifetime” gelding did I realize just how special she is to me.
Recently I popped over to the barn hoping to squeeze in an afternoon ride. Storm clouds were gathering, but I thought I might have some fun before the rain started. Or perhaps the forecasted thunderstorms might go around us, as they so often do here in the valley where I live.
But as I was leading my mare, Sally, into the barn for her pre-ride grooming, the first few raindrops began to fall. The storm blew up quickly. Within seconds, trees were swaying in the wind. Thunder boomed and lightning forked across the sky. I decided it was far safer to stay put than to try to make it to my car.
As the storm continued to gather steam, the cracks of thunder drew close. The trees swayed lower to the ground. I cringed as I watched a sapling break over the fence of my riding arena. Rain pelted the tin barn roof, drowning out all other sounds. I had left my phone in the car. Only the two of us were in the barn, a point of calm in a raging storm.
Denne historien er fra February 2017-utgaven av Equus.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra February 2017-utgaven av Equus.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PROGRESS AND STRUGGLE IN SENIOR HORSE CARE
A study from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University confirms what many dedicated horse owners have long known: Caring for a geriatric horse with a chronic health condition can be a significant physical and emotional burden.
THREE WAYS TO PREVENT BLANKET INJURIES
Of all the things your horse could injure himself with, his blanket seems an unlikely candidate. But don’t rule it out. Blanket mishaps do happen and they can be serious. Here are three things you can do to avoid them:
PUT AN END TO BARN DRAMA
While it’s impossible to prevent all discord at the barn, conflict resolution techniques can help solve problems, restore calm and enable everyone to enjoy their horses.
The turning point
You don’t always get the horse you want, but sometimes you get the one you need.
A FOREVER HOME
How a Facebook post led to a midnight rescue and an unexpected partnership
Nice work if you can get it
A career focused on horses is not for the faint of heart but the rewards are many and can last a lifetime.
MAKE WINTER EASIER FOR YOUR OLD HORSE
The season ahead may be hard on aging horses in cold climates but with some planning and preparation you can help yours sail through until spring.
7 THINGS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT TETANUS
With modern vaccines and wound management practices, tetanus is almost a thing of the past. But the threat persists, so it’s wise to remember which horses are most at risk and why.
THE FIRST AMERICAN “SPORT HORSE” BREED
The very name of the American Standardbred reflects the performance requirement established at the inception of the breed. Here’s how genetics, conformation and training came together to create horses that could trot a mile in 2:30 or less, or pace it in 2:00 flat.
THE 6 WAYS HORSES LEARN
You’ll be more successful in teaching your horse new skills or maneuvers if your lessons, timing and tasks are aligned with his natural modes of acquiring information.
