Snow is NOT Water when it comes to equine hydration

Snow is not water. Sure, it is the frozen equivalent. But when it comes to proper hydration for your equines, snow does not come close to fulfilling their needs. “Absolutely true,” said Dr. Janelle Tirrell, of Third Coast Equine, when I mentioned that eating snow […]

Working Dogs Beware, Part II

Read Working Dogs Beware, Part I Here in Mancos, a small, rural community in southwestern Colorado, dogs of mixed and mysterious breeds rule. There are scores of rescued dogs, dogs from the Ute Mountain Ute or Southern Ute reservations, and ranch dogs whose owners may […]

Working Dogs Beware, Part I

When I brought skinny Peeko home from a Utah shelter, I knew only a few bits about her past: — she was about a year old — as a stray, she had broken her right elbow and it had healed badly. Two years later, I […]

Forage Fine Points

We asked Dr. Joyce Harman to contribute this guest blog post on forage. In 1990, the Virginia veterinarian opened Harmany Equine, bringing holistic healing to a wide range horses, from backyard retirees to Olympic competitors. In 2001, Harman wrote the first peer-reviewed paper on equine […]

9 Benefits of Slow-Feeding

We invited Monique Warren, the owner of Hay Pillow, to guest blog about slow-feeding savvy. Studying equine nutrition and the equine hoof health are her passions. She writes from her home in southern California. You can win a free standard-sized Hay Pillow by messaging us […]

Do you have a bench? Research and Nina recommend one

Nina Fuller, photographer and equine-facilitated mental health practitioner, once asked me during a visit if I’d walk with her to “the bench.” It seemed like an innocuous enough invitation, so I joined her. We walked with her dogs past the horse and sheep pastures, past […]

Perfectly Plump? Say it ain’t so!

I’m guessing you got this same catalog in the mail last month. It pictured three “happy” horses moving towards the camera. My immediate reaction: “Gawdalmighty, they’re so fat!” I shared it with some horse friends who thankfully agreed. I called Dr. Rebecca Gimenez, president of […]

Savitsky and Ballou on rider fitness

As part of our Focus on Fitness, we spoke with accomplished riders and teachers, Christina Savitsky and Jec Aristotle Ballou. When not running a ranch and raising a family, Christina Savitsky is busy with Buckaroo Balance clients. Buckaroo Balance combines good riding with therapy, mindfulness, […]

Beth Austin weighs in on rider fitness & core strength

As part of our Focus on Fitness, we spoke with accomplished physical therapist, Beth Austin, of Santa Cruz, California. A runner and dancer, Austin rode often as a girl and has an excellent sense of the horse-rider partnership. The therapist and seminar leader works with […]

A “Big” Scare

Since Sackett’s death, I’ve been more wary of our horses’ wellness, especially when it comes to anything related to possible sand ingestion. Read about sand colic and other forms of colic. Over the last month or so, Jolene seemed to be getting bloated. She was […]