“Hi there! I appreciate your newsletters and horsey information. As a matter of fact, I am a firm believer in Traumeel, for humans or animals. However, please be careful when lauding something “because it is natural”. Many dangerous substances are also natural – opium, marijuana, tobacco, digitalis – these all come from plants. Mushrooms are completely natural, yet some of them are deadly! Being natural or man-made does not make a substance healthy or dangerous! Each one must be carefully studied, tested and evaluated in its own right!
Regards,
Jo”
“I’ve used the bitless bridles almost exclusively with my 3-year old TWH – not a hackamore, which can be dangerous – but a Nurtural bridle or Dr Cook’s bitless bridle, which use gentle “head hugging” pressure to guide the horse. Other horse people said I wouldn’t be able to control my horse, but the only times I’ve tried to use a bit my horse let me know he was not happy. If you watch videos or use a trainer that can teach you basic groundwork (lungeing, flexing, leading)you will have a respectful horse that can be controlled. I board my horse 2 hours away so can’t see him as often as I like and wanted to just ride without doing the groundwork. That was a big mistake! You must be comfortable on the ground before you ride! A very useful technique my trainer taught me was the “one-rein stop” or basically flexing your horse to one side to stop. This has saved me a couple of times when my horse got spooked. Do your homework, watch videos on natural horsemanship.
– Deborah”
“Biting can also be a dominance issue. This is what a dominant horse can and will do to keep a subordinate in line. I know it can really hurt but the best response is to immediately grab a hunk of skin and pinch/twist hard…I don’t like jobbing them in the mouth…it is to make her understand in hrose terms that biting is not acceptable. In future I would advise haltering,using a rope halter, and if either tries it again pinch/twist and then get in her face and FIRMLY but not jerkily bang on the lead rope and back her up…she will throw her head around and may even rise…so make sure you have a long rope…but keep after her…each and every time they back down and submit…make sure you give them a good rub and tell them in your kindest voice it’s…your not angry now…horses are immediate…your response must be immediate…and your acceptance of their submission needs to be quick too. Good luck and make sure yu use a long rope to give yourself space…be safe with them. Good luck
– lauren”
“Hi Alastair,
I would love any help anyone can give me. My mare gets bitten on the vulva by who knows what occasionally, which results in swelling. This last time it happened I noticed a bee buzzing around her tail. The swelling is the only reaction she has, but the side effect is she gets so itchy she rubs herself raw if I don’t get to see it soon after it happens. Can anyone offer some advice on what I can use to deter biting insects, as the area I need to protect is so delicate, I really don’t want to use any chemicals. I tried using a mesh rug last summer, but she still got bitten, and our summers are so hot I really don’t want to rug her. Thank you in advance for any solutions that are offered.
Kind regards
Deb”
That’s all for today.
Please do keep them coming.
Just hit reply to any of my mails if you’d like to share a tip.
Best
Al
My horse is really sensitive to insect bites and I have found apple cider vinegar makes a huge difference with the bugs. I start 1 month before bug season with 1 tbsp working up to 1/4 cup once a day in her grain. She doesn’t mind the taste and she has gone from being covered with scabs to just the odd bite. Also on the tender places on the belly I coat on conditioner and the bugs can’t get through to bite. Hope this helps
Me too!!! Well i had 3 horses and one pony get girth itch (it started only one of them but they all got it) and thats a fungus that loosens the hair on the coat… and it itches so they will literally rub bald… a few people said to get something from a vet.. i’m not much of a vet and doctor person and don’t really spend money there if i don’t have to… and a few neighbors said to give all my horses a bleach bath.. which is extremely painful for the horse… i was NOT about to do that… then my mother thought of raw apple cider vinegar… i put a cup or two in a fifty gallon tub and within a week they were cured… works AMAZING!!!
🙂 ive always trained bridle less.i never break horses to bits young horses need to learn to want to not to have too
Hi on the thread of ‘natural products’ for horses there seems to be alot of discrepancy about using DOLOMITE in horses feed to boost their calcium. I personally wouldn’t and don’t use it, but even some vets say that it is safe. Other horse nutritionalists say that it is very harmful and cannot be digested. Does anyone have any solid information on this? Cherie
Tea tree oil is good for keeping flies away too,put directly on skin area.
Rena said apple cider vinegar in grain was also good,however I don’t feed grain so I am assuming in a bucket of water would have same effect, right?
I have never used a bitless bridle before on a horse and want to know the benefits of using one. Thank you for all the horsey information, this site is grate. Thanks.
Hi in regards to what you could use on horses to deter insect bites and what you could do to protect your mares vulva from bugs and itchy things is,Garlic in their meals{just a small pinch to start with then up to a good teaspoon size,this will absolutly work as i live in Qld Australia{BITEY BUG CENTRAL}Should take about 2/3 wks to really work.I also like to use potties white oitment being careful not to get any u know where{Inside the Vulva}.This will form a barrier which is halmless to her and won’t hurt{warm the cream in your hand as she will be sensitative .As they use on cows udders to moisten from calves suckling.This really Works.Also great is white zinc{not for the vulva but very affective and very longlasting being a oily base.Good luck.GO NATURAL GUYS!!!! 😀 😀 😀
Hi Horse People
Does anyone have any tips on winter horse static cling? All it seems like all I do when brushing my colt & mare is move the dirt & hair around and around. Even bits of hay stick to the coat along with anything else that’s around. Brushing is starting to feel pointless..Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thnx Suci Willow & Storm
For winter static cling, dampen your brushes or a hand mitt. Don’t let it get soaking wet, just damp enough to catch the dirt. If you get too much water on the hair, just dry it off with a towel or paper towel.
I just bought a horse from an owner who had her for nine years. Apparantly, she regrets selling Skip to me as she emails me every couple of days saying how much she misses her horse and how if ever I don’t want Skip, she wants her back. In addition, the horse doesn’t want to be with me-ears back when I try to touch her and backs away when I come into her stall. Should I just give in and sell her back to the owner? I am heartbroken. It’s been two months. Please help.
give her back!!!