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Spring/Summer 2016 - Vol. 3, No. 1
Here's the Rub By Cheryl L. Detamore, DVM You eagerly anticipate the riding season. Unfortunately, your excitement is overshadowed by your mount's persistent tail rubbing. Indeed, nothing can spoil your day faster than seeing your horse shove his rear against the fence and rub until he has literally ruffled his tail feathers. Although hard on fencing, rubbing is particularly damaging to the tail you've vigilantly groomed. So what can you do to put an end to tail rubbing? The answer lies largely in determining and treating the underlying cause of the behavior. Here are some common reasons for horses rubbing their tails, the clinical signs that lead to a diagnosis, and treatment tips. Pinworms Although numerous reasons cause tail rubbing in horses, pinworms are mentioned most. Unlike other gastrointestinal
parasites, pinworms are primarily an external irritant. Most prevalent in stabled horses, they spread rapidly between horses that are housed together. Adult pinworms inhabit the cecum and colon, but females migrate out of the anus to deposit their eggs on the surrounding perineal area. The eggs then adhere to the horse's rear end before randomly falling to the ground, contaminating pastures and feed sources. These eggs ultimately hatch into larvae, which are ingested and, once inside the body, mature into adult worms. Pinworm eggs contain an irritating substance that causes an intense pruritus, or itch, when they adhere to the horse's skin. The resulting rubbing is limited to the tail and rump. When the condition persists, affected horses eventually exhibit the characteristic "rat-tail" appearance, with broken hairs and matting.
Diagnosis is usually based on outward signs that respond to treatment. One way to detect pinworm eggs is to apply clear tape to the skin surrounding the anus, and examine the pulled-off tape for eggs. Your veterinarian can confirm your suspicions through microscopic examination. When pinworms are the culprit, ivermectin dewormer is the treatment of choice. To determine the appropriate dose, follow package directions as they apply to your horse's weight. One treatment is all that's necessary, provided a regular deworming schedule follows. Practice good stable management to prevent further spread of pinworms. Quarantine and deworm new arrivals. Muck stalls daily, and regularly pick up or harrow manure in pens, paddocks and pastures. Also separate animals that appear to have tail-rubbing issues. Continued on Page 4
2/HORSE NEWS Contents Page 1
Rocky Springs HORSE NEWS
Here’s the Rub
Spring/Summer 2016
Vol. 3, No. 1
3 BRCTH moves 4 Here’s the Rub continued
Publisher/Designer … Claudia Swisher
6 Eagle’s Wings
Editor ………………. Joan Kibler
8 Manure 10
Equine Extravaganza Highlights
11
Valley of Tears
14
Hay
15 Directory listings 16 Calendar
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HORSE NEWS /3 Therapeutic Riding Center moves to a new location By Joan Kibler, Editor The Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship has a new home. BRCTH operations moved to Marley Grange Farm in Millwood, Va., in late December 2015. “We are so excited to have access to the facilities at Marley Grange Farm,” said Marjorie Youngs, executive director for BRCTH. “This is a top-notch farm offering a large barn with several stalls, wash areas, feed rooms, and a heated and airconditioned tack room. It has a large riding arena and several paddocks for our horses and ponies.” Youngs is quick to credit the owners – Robert and Elissa Goshen – for leasing the farm for therapeutic riding. “I fully anticipate that with this larger facility, we will be able to expand BRCTH operations, diversify our programming, and serve even more students with disabilities,” Youngs said. “The owners have been generous and gracious in accommodating our needs, especially in granting us use of much of the barn to carry out our work.” Youngs said that BRCTH had outgrown its former facility on Russell Road, which it had leased for three years. “We are grateful that the owner – Andy Boutivas – gave us unfettered access to his property, allowing us to serve more students and bring on more instructors. When we arrived there in 2012, we served approximately 12 students, and last spring we served 22 students.” BRCTH is a member operating center of the Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship, Intl., and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It was formed in 2006 to provide therapeutic riding instruction to students with disabling conditions. BRCTH also offers equine facilitated learning, which emphasizes psycho-social learning through observation of and interaction with horses in mostly unmounted ground activities.
positions. Volunteers must have experience handling horses to be a leader, but they do not need horse experience to be a side walker. “We also welcome volunteers to help with stable duties, fundraising activities and administrative tasks. There is certainly something for everyone. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, and there’s no upper age limit,” she quipped. “I’m so touched by our dedicated volunteers. We could not have moved from the Russell Road farm to our new location without a tremendous outpouring of work from these volunteers. To think that we could make such a major move during the busiest of holiday seasons! They did everything from pack up and transport everything in the tack and feed rooms, to transporting horses and hay, to cleaning and setting up in our new facility.” The remaining, and a most crucial ingredient in this therapy program, consists of the equines. There are two ponies – Rusty and Honey; and three horses – CJ, Hershey and Classy. Sadly, BRCTH lost two of its original equines – Bluesman and Skipper – in recent months due to infirmities of old age. But even horses get to volunteer, and instructor Tiffany Neel made her horse Ginger available to therapy students! These
horses and ponies are loved by students, instructors and volunteers alike.
BRCTH is now in the midst of the spring session at Marley Grange. Volunteer orientation and training occurred in March in preparation for the eight-week session that began April 16. Plans are also being made to again offer summer day camps – the weeks of June 27 and July 11, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – for children ages 7 to 12 with mild to moderate disabling conditions. Youngs said that she is pleased to announce that more instructors are being added to accommodate this year’s spring session. BRCTH instructors are certified through PATH and have strong equestrian backgrounds as well as experience teaching children and adults with diverse needs. “At the core of all of our activities is a tremendous group of volunteers, and we always are happy when new people join our ranks,” Youngs said. “We welcome volunteers to support our therapeutic riding lessons, in horse leader and side-walker
For more information, see www.brcth.org and look for the center on Facebook. Contact Margie Youngs at 540-533-2777 or brcthinc@hotmail.com.
4/ HORSE NEWS Here’s the Rub Continued from page 1
Lice Lice infestation is another cause of persistent scratching, particularly during spring months. Classified as ectoparasites, lice attach and complete their life cycle solely outside the host's body. Two types of lice, biting and sucking, affect horses. In the case of biting lice, their conformation allows them only to chew, whereas sucking lice have a mouthpiece that enables them to extract blood. Direct contact is necessary to transmit lice from one horse to another. An affected horse appears unthrifty, with a rough hair coat. Loss of body condition, due to the horse's excessive devotion to scratching, is another common side-effect. Anemia is a potentially serious consequence, especially in young and small horses harboring large numbers of sucking lice. An anemic horse appears dull, with pale mucous membranes. If anemia is suspected, a veterinarian can draw blood for testing. Horses with lice usually exhibit generalized pruritus, but they often tend to scratch, rub and bite at their rear ends in particular. That's because the rear is simply more accessible. Louse eggs are visible with the naked eye and attach to individual hair shafts, making diagnosis fairly straightforward.
Discuss your findings with your veterinarian; then treat the affected horse with a topical insecticide. Pour- and spray-ons or powders, labeled for delousing, are available over the counter. Treat the affected horse at least twice, two weeks apart. Additional treatments often are necessary to kill subsequent hatching eggs. Gnat Sensitivity Cullicoides hypersensitivity is another cause of equine itching and tail rubbing. Also known as sweet itch or Queensland itch, this seasonal, recurring dermatitis is caused by an allergic reaction to gnat saliva. Gnats, also known as midges, no-see-ums or sandflies, are bloodsucking insects that inhabit stagnant water. Most prevalent in warm weather, they feed at dusk. Horses with Cullicoides gnat hypersensitivity primarily develop uncomfortable, bumpy lesions over the top surface of their bodies and tails. The condition grows more severe each season, leading to skin damage in lingering cases. Since gnats can fly only up to a half mile from water sources, house your horses a significant distance from standing water and muddy areas. Gnats generally don't enter barns, so stable the horses before dusk. Gnats also avoid areas with fans. As a rule, gnat-sensitive horses should wear fly bonnets and sheets to help diminish contact with these insects. Chemical fly repellents aren't very effective for gnats. However, adding garlic to the horse's diet might help deter gnat contact.
HORSE NEWS/5 Compulsive Behavior Surprisingly, the most overlooked cause of tail rubbing is habitual behavior, or a vice. A vice is a behavior that becomes physically, mentally or socially addictive, often leading to health issues, loss of condition and poor performance. Attributable to confinement and boredom, a vice is a form of compulsive self-mutilation. The horse obtains a high from its endeavors and often discontinues other, healthier aspects of his routine in favor of the vice.
When all other causes are eliminated and a horse continues to rub his behind, a behavioral issue is possibly to blame. A horse's rump-rubbing obsession might have begun as a result of a legitimate medical ailment but persisted beyond the cure, or perhaps the behavior evolved socially from an early age. Whatever the precipitating event, the activity is now gratifying, even exhilarating, to an afflicted horse. Such cases are often the most difficult to treat. As with any other vice, keep the tail-rubbing horse busy with other tasks. When stalled horses exhibit this behavior, turn-out is a must. If a horse persists in rubbing his tail, run electric fencing at butt level around trees, inside existing fences, and around the outside of buildings. Treat the tail of a horse who has rubbed himself raw topically, just as you would any other minor skin irritation. Clean the area, apply a topical salve like MeliHeal, and observe until the area is healed. Whatever the cause, tail rubbing is disheartening. Nonetheless, good husbandry and close observation help ensure your mount will again sprout a luxurious tail.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ Cheryl L. Detamore, DVM, has practiced equine integrative medicine in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia for more than 17 years. She now resides in Kansas. Learn more about her honey-based healing salve at MeliHeal.com and follow her blog at horsedoctales.wordpress.com.
Lessons, boarding and training are just part of our services for the horseman. We also do tack and saddle repairs and saddle fitting. We are proud to carry Meliheal in our shop along with many other fine products and supplements for your horse. Located at 116 Pinetop Rd., Gore, VA 22637 540-858-3090 or visit us on Facebook and like our page.
6/HORSE NEWS Hyper Horse Festival: Eagles’ Wings Horse Show Series Story and photos by Jeannie Hellem-Ramsey Exciting things will be happening for the 2016 Eagles’ Wings Show Series. Last year was our first show series with lots of hard work and success. We transformed the Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds into a beautiful and fun place to showcase the talents of horse and rider. As we capitalize on what we learned, we expect to bring to the Tri-State area one of the best places to compete with many different classes and divisions to challenge and grow riders. We have combined our efforts to dominate two separate weekends billed as a Hyper Horse Festival at the Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds in Martinsburg, West Va. Keep in mind that this is a fundraiser for our nonprofit, and we invite all to come out and compete with us and enjoy a refreshing, new experience.
Show weekends are: Saturday, May 14 (All Day English) and Sunday, May 15 (Western) Saturday, Oct. 22 (English) and Sunday, Oct. 23 (Western) Also included will be all-day concessions and vendors selling all sorts of horse ware as well as unique items; raffles; giveaways; and selling of our hog raffle tickets. (The hog raffle is for a 200-pound [market weight] hog that is ready for the freezer and will be raffled on Oct. 23.) Why come out and compete with us? What makes our events different and special? In a nutshell, last year was our first show series endeavor. We had excellent ratings from all competitors, vendors, spectators and sponsors.
HORSE NEWS/7
Experience the Hyper Horse Festival
This is not your typical horse show – this show series is a place where competition is welcomed from every aspect. You will be catered to and your horse will be pampered. We want all competitors to feel they are appreciated for their hard work. We want each rider, horse, parent, owner, operator, spectator and vendor to experience excellence with individuality in mind. Our events are open to the public and are advertised on radio, newspaper and social media outlets. We believe that competitive horsemen deserve that the public understand and appreciate the eloquent beauty of horse and rider. What better way than Eagles’ Wings Show Series 2016 Hyper Horse Festival!
o All weekend long competition for both Equestrian and Western o All classes will now include jackpot for each division with added money o Jockey’s Guild: Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Classes for Thoroughbreds in both English and Western o Dressage Classes o Open Field Hunter Course o English classes o Jumping classes o Lead line classes and children’s classes o Western Classes including pleasure o Speed barrels and poles (3D) o Jackpot with added money (3D) o Trail Competition Course o Peewee barrels o Exhibition Classes o Vendor spaces available for $25 o Tack swap space available for $25 o Spectators are free o Overnight accommodations for horses available for $5 per stall o Camping allowed but no hook ups for electric or water
Please check out our website for details about our nonprofit as we begin to make plans for this exciting year. www.eagleswingsgirls.org Facebook: Eagles’ Wings Horse Show Series and Eagles’ Wings Girls & Horses
Jeannie Hellem-Ramsey is Founder and Executive Director of Eagles’ Wings, a ministry focused on preparing girls for adulthood through horses and horse whispering techniques.
8/HORSE NEWS Manure Happens – Deal with it! By Claudia Swisher If you have ever been at a stable or owned horses, you know there is one thing for sure that happens – and that is poop. Yes, I said that dirty word. All horse people know this is an inevitability to deal with, but did you know that manure is more than just waste? It tells you something about your horse’s health. When I have students start with me at the barn, one of the first things I teach them – after safety techniques – is how to know if your horse is healthy. On a daily basis, you must know your horse’s condition, and one of the best ways is to get familiar with their manure. You have to pick up and clean stalls and tidy up your pastures, so why not learn what to look for. No, I don’t mean pick it apart with your fingers, but notice changes in the consistency and color and what you see in it and on it. Parasites can be discovered sometimes. At the time when parasites are leaving their host, they may be visible as the horse expels manure. Large roundworms and bots are good examples of parasites that you may see. Eggs and small larvae may not be visible, depending on the type. If you are seeing parasites, then you missed the mark on deworming your horse at the right time of the year. Call your veterinarian immediately for a full examination. This is also why you should isolate a new horse – from your pasture and other horses – for 14 to 30 days. If your pastures are relatively clean, you do not want to introduce these invaders.
On the left nice soft good colored manure which breaks up easily. On the right it is hard and dry. Consistency and color should always be noticed when mucking. Does it come out in a nice neat fairly soft ball and then slightly break apart or crack on impact when it hits the ground? Or does it come out hard and stay in a small hard ball when it lands? It should plop rather than bounce when it hits. What color is it? It should be a brownish green tinted color, depending on the hay or the grass they are on. If feeding alfalfa hay or if the horse is on pasture, manure should be greener in color. If feeding timothy or orchard grass, it may be browner depending on how green or brown your hay is. It definitely should not be black and hard – or runny and light green. By observing manure, you also can tell if your horse’s teeth are worn down and have sharp edges or even if there’s a loose tooth. How? If you see whole grains or large pieces of hay in manure, the feed isn’t being digested and there could be a dental issue. The manure should look like very fine compressed lawn mower clippings that have been shaped into a ball. Call your veterinarian or dentist if the teeth need to be examined and floated. Yes, you can tell a lot just by mucking. When your horse’s diet changes, you will see a change in the stools, but it should not be excessive. The average horse will eat between 25-30 pounds of hay or grass a day (or they should) to keep the stomach and intestines working properly. If they aren’t eating well, they will develop excess acid build up, and that can lead to ulcers and colic eventually.
In this pile you see one type of parasite crawling out.
You should have a lot of manure coming out if enough forage is going in. Remember that 25 pounds of what goes in will just about come out. Horses are expert extractors of their foods, and most of the food is in the form of or should be roughage.
HORSE NEWS/9 The average horse will drink 10 gallons or more of water a day – that is, if they have it available to them in the form of clean, fresh (non-chlorinated) water. In the winter, older and younger horses will drink better if the water temperature is warm and not freezing. They also cannot drink water if it is not available, foul smelling or frozen solid. Duh! You can tell in their manure if they are getting enough water by whether it is moist, glossy, soft and in a ball – or whether it is hard as a brick and small in size. Sufficient water allows the roughage go pass through the body correctly.
Monitoring your horse’s manure may also help you catch or prevent a colic attack. “Colic” is the ugly – and dreaded word – at any barn. If you are not checking the horse’s manure, you might have missed the early signs of impaction or the runs. Either one could warn you that something is changing in the horse’s gut. Most impactions come from insufficient water consumption or very dry hay or not enough hay. Other types of colic could result from moldy hay or grain or too much or too little hay or grain. However, there are many unknown causes of colic. Again, manure can let you know something is wrong. When in doubt, call your veterinarian. Have you started thinking differently about the value of mucking? My barn helpers learn what to look for when they are cleaning the stalls, and we keep a record of any disturbances or changes to an individual’s stools and urine. Manure is vitally important to monitor. It happens! If it doesn’t, there is something really wrong, and it’s your responsibility as the horse owner to remedy the problem.
Claudia J. Swisher is the founder of Balanced Awareness Horsemanship and owner of Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC. She is also publisher of the HORSE NEWS.
If you want to learn more about our certification course to be a horse trainer or an instructor, or if you would like to advance your skills using our methods of Balanced Awareness, please contact us.
10/HORSE NEWS Spring Equine Extravaganza Highlights of 2016 The Skyline Riders 4H Club hosted the sixth annual Spring Equine Extravaganza on Sunday, April 10, at the Warren County Fairgrounds in Front Royal, Va. It was a great success. According to information provided by the Skyline Riders Club, the event gave insight into the wonderful world of horses. The extravaganza featured demonstrations, such as bareback riding, jumping, bridleless riding, western pleasure, western dressage, trick riding, and the driving of Percheron horses. You also seen many different breeds like Norwegian Fjords, Paso Finos, and miniature horses. You could shop vendor alley with products from local artists, farms and businesses. Adults and children enjoyed gem mining, games, gate prizes and cake walks. Admission was free. For more information, see www.springequineextravaganza.com or find the event on Facebook. Contact Debbi Garrett at 540-422-1625 or Kelly Smith at 540-305-7466.
Visit the Double J Stables and like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/doublejstablesllc
HORSE NEWS/11 The Valley of Tears By Taylor Swisher Chapter 1. The rain stung her skin, Quill’s eyes strained to see the path. She had to make it to the palace. The kingdom of Diamond Sky was just over that hill. Quill brought up her last bit of strength and broke in to a brisk trot. She was almost to the top when a voice called out, “Hello Quill.” She spun around to see the face of a powerful horse, her mate. “Apache, what are you doing so close to the palace?” she asked. “I wanted to tell you that you shouldn’t tell our unborn foal, Tear, about me,” Apache said. “Why not?” Quill asked, but she already knew the answer. He sighed. “You know horses with wings aren’t allowed.” “Yes, and why is that?” she asked. The two horses stood facing each other. “Fine, I see you want history on the Pegasus,” he said hotheadedly. “We’re outlaws, thieves, stronger than horses and as most people call us, birds.”
“Teardrop, hurry up,” her mother called. Tear trotted down the aisle to her mother Quill. “We’ll have to hurry so we can have Pastel do your mane and tail.” Pastel was a dappled appaloosa with the power of beauty. Before she knew it, she and her mother were out on the street. “Hey, Tear!” Tear turned and saw a black Lusitania with a white stripe on each side of his flanks. “Oh, hey Strike,” she said as her best friend trotted up beside her, “are you nervous about the ceremony today?” “Yeah,” he said, “what power do you think you’ll have?”
Now Quill could see that she had pushed it. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I just needed to know.” Apache softened, knowing he had hurt her. “I just don’t want Tear to be born with wings,” he said. “It’s not her fault if she is.” Quill nipped his shoulder. “You better go before the guards realize you’re here.” She knew he understood. “Yeah, I’ll miss you,” she said. He looked back before jumping into the air. “Remember,” he said, “I never existed.”
“I don’t know,” she answered. “Fillies and gentle colts, you may lay down,” said Queen Sundrop. Tear looked at Strike, who had already lain down. Tear was nervous and the ceremony of Power School began. Finally, they started calling the names of the students A to Z style. Tear started to feel her nerves building. Tear said, “Are you scared?” Strike sighed. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I just don’t want to make a fool of myself.”
Three years later… Then the Queen called “Strike, colt.” It was finally the day, the day when she would graduate from Power School. Continued on Page 12
12/HORSE NEWS “Well, wish me luck,” he said as he trotted away to the stage. She watched as Strike focused on bringing his unknown power up. There was a blinding white flash. When it vanished, a white speck fell on Tear’s coat, then another and another. “Snow!” she cried with joy. “It’s snow!” The students jumped up and stood on their hind legs, nipping as the snow fell.
“YOU,” she said. “Where am I and why am I here?” He stared for a moment before speaking. “I came to see my daughter.” Her eyes froze on him as if he had said an apocalypse was upon them. “Yes,” he finally said, “I’ve been searching for you for a long time now.” “Why was I never told that my dad was alive?”
“Now everyone settle down,” Queen Sundrop said. “Our next name - Teardrop, filly.” Tear froze, unable to move. Then she took a deep breath and trotted to the stage.
He sighed and spread the wings on his sides. “This, this is why you were never told about me.” He paused for a moment. “And now you’re the same way: wings and all.” Suddenly it hit her. “What happened at the ceremony?”
“Go on, dear,” the queen said. Tear nodded and focused on bringing her power to being known. She felt a tiny tingle and a yellow light flashed. Tear looked around until her eyes fell on a dark brown stallion. It wasn’t the horse that she saw; it was the two massive wings on his sides that she focused on. When the light faded, she felt her legs give out. She realized the sun was glowing even brighter, but before she knew it her eyes shut and she was unconscious. When she woke up, she was lying on a bed of sand. She felt an added weight on her shoulders, but before she could look at her shoulders, the brown stallion appeared in front of her.
“No one knows your power, but I have an idea on how we can find out,” he said. “Come on.” She looked at him and sighed. “OK.” Then she paused and said, “Dad.” He stopped in his tracks, “You can just call me Apache.” As the two horses trotted out of the palace and out on the street, he stopped her with one wing. “Don’t talk about this to anyone.” She nodded and continued walking. “Tear?” she heard her name called and found that it was Strike. “What happened?” he said. “We saw the sun glow brighter and you were knocked out; the queen said you had the ‘POWER OF LIGHT.’” Well, Tear thought, I know my real power. Suddenly, Apache was at her side whispering, “We have to go!” “Why?” she said, but it trailed off when she saw the guards walking towards them. “Run!” she cried, spinning on her hind legs. “Tear!” Strike called. “I’m sorry, Strike, I have to,” she interrupted. He stopped her. “Why?”
HORSE NEWS/13 Her fear was building. “You want to know why?” she screamed. Her fear was now replaced by anger as she opened her new wings. He eyed them for a moment before crying. He knew that winged horses were killed on sight. “How?” “They grew at the ceremony,” Tear said. Apache was being held down by four guards. “Run!” he screamed. Tear looked at Strike. “You were more than a friend to me, Strike,” she said before jumping into the sky. Tear, as if it came to her naturally, flapped her new wings. Apache had thrown off the guards and also jumped into the sky. She smiled to know her father was free, but her heart fell to know that that black speck on the ground was her best friend.
“You’ll see him again,” her father said, flying beside her. She nodded, knowing that Strike was watching them fly away into the clouds.
To be continued…Look for following chapters of “The Valley of Tears.” Taylor Swisher is the 13 year-old daughter of Gary Swisher and Robin Shewbridge Barnhart and granddaughter of Tom and Claudia Swisher. She responded to the Kids Section of the Summer/Fall 2015 issue of HORSE NEWS, which encouraged youngsters to submit artwork or a story.
14/HORSE NEWS RUN OUT OF HAY? NEVER! By Hope O’Toole Spring is here. The grass is green and growing. You no longer need to feed hay. All you and the horses can think about is that luscious green grass goodness. This is also the time of year you should think about hay for next year. By now, you know how many bales of hay you have left. You should know how many horses and other critters you will have to feed next winter. You can calculate the number of hay bales you will need. Do not keep it a secret! If you already have a hay supplier – aka the hay man – now is the time to tell him how many bales you will need for next year. If you do not yet have a hay man, find one now. The folks who bale and sell hay start thinking about it in the spring. He is deciding how many acres he will need to produce the hay he expects to sell. He considers how much storage space he needs to keep all that hay dry. He wants to produce enough to meet everyone's needs but not so much that he will have old leftover hay. Now is the perfect time for you to commit to purchase your hay so he knows how much hay is considered sold and reserved for you. You are probably thinking, "I cannot possibly pay for all of next year's hay right now." Relax, you won't have to. But now is the time to talk to your hay man and work out how you will pay. If you have a good relationship with him, he will probably reserve all your hay and let you pay for it as you get it. If you don't know each other well, you may offer a deposit on the hay so he knows you are serious about keeping your commitment. He will likely decline the deposit. Whenever I have had to find a new hay man, I have offered a deposit but have been told it was not necessary. The idea is for your hay man to
reserve and store that hay for you, knowing you will pay for it. The delivery method influences the price you will pay. The less your hay man has to handle the hay, the less you will pay. Obviously, if you can pick up the bales from the field and store all of it yourself, you'll get the best price. Usually, the hay man collects and stores the bales for you, then delivers them when you need them. Work all this out now so that everyone knows what to expect. Now that you have arranged how much hay you want, how it will be delivered, and how you will pay, it's time to consider the relationship with your hay man. The goal is for your hay man to be happy; for you to be happy; and for your horses to be well fed. Be considerate of your hay man's time and efforts, and he will do the same for you. If you call during terrible weather like a snow storm, demanding hay be delivered immediately, he may deliver your hay, but he will not be happy about it. Give him as much notice as you can by telling him how much hay you need and when. That allows him to work your delivery into his schedule while meeting your needs. Let's assume you and your hay man are working well together. The hay is a consistently good quality, and he delivers it on schedule. What if you find hay somewhere else for 25 cents less per bale? You do the math and find out you can save $25. Is breaking your commitment with your current hay man worth $25? Will your next hay man supply the same quality hay with the same good service you are used to? When this cheaper source doesn't work out, what will your original hay man do when you want him to resume delivering your hay? Before you break your commitment with your original hay man, think about all the consequences. The summer, when you see hay being made in the fields, is a good time to contact your hay man and assure him you are still committed to buy his hay. Briefly discuss the amount, delivery, and price, so neither of you has any bad surprises later. If you have ever run out of hay, you know the panic it causes. You end up paying a higher price for hay that may not be the quality you want for your horses. Avoid all that heartache by finding and reserving your hay early.
Hope O'Toole is a certified equine and canine massage therapist. She massages all equines, from mini donkeys to heavy draft horses, in Northern Virginia, Central Maryland and Eastern West Virginia. For more information, contact her at 304-897-7073.
HORSENEWS/15 NEWS/15 HORSE Directory for Services and Businesses Blanket Cleaning & Repairs Rocky Springs blanket repairs & cleaning Boarding Double J Stables – Full care boarding 388 Vaucluse Rd. Stephens City, VA 22655 www.facebook.com/doublejstablesllc Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC – Full care boarding 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA www.facebook.com/RockySpringsRanch
540-858-3090 540-869-7770
540-858-3090
Clubs & Nonprofit Organizations Golden Horseshoe 4-H Frederick County, VA www.goldenhorseshoe4h.com
540-877-4935
Gore Spirits 4-H Club
540-336-2561
Gore, VA Aneta Swisher
Stars and Spurs 4-H Club
Warren County, VA
Shenandoah Valley Equine Rescue Network 501(c)(3) nonprofit assisting equines in the area www.svern.org
540-622-0390 540-247-2747
Farriers Sue's Farrier Service – BWFA Certified Farrier 703-401-7683 Correct shoeing & trimming for balance and performance HappyHorses1@comcast.net Feed & Supply Stores Southern States - Winchester Cooperative 447 Amherst Street Winchester, VA 22601
540-662-0375
Saddle Fitting and Repairs Rocky Springs Tack Shop - Claudia Swisher 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA www.facebook.com/RockySpringsRanch Tack Shops & Saddlery Rocky Springs Tack Shop – repairs/fitting/sales 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA www.facebook.com/RockySpringsRanch Tack Repairs Rocky Springs Tack Shop - 20 years’ experience 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA 22637 Therapeutic Riding Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship Therapeutic riding and equine-facilitated learning www.brcth.org Trailer Sales and Services W. F. Artrip & Son Trailers 1726 Front Royal Pike Winchester VA 22602 www.artriptrailers.com Training Team Barlow www.teambarlowperformancehorses.com
Hay Suppliers (Be the first to list your service here) Horse and Barn Sitter services ( Be the first to list your service) Heating * Cooling * Water Services Kangen Water Units – Making your water better www.wateriam.com
Physicians / Chiropractors /Physical Therapy Cheff Chiropratic Care 118 Fairground Rd Woodstock, VA 22664 www.cheffchiro.com
540-335-1919 540-325-9756
540-459-3900
540- 858-3090
540-858-3090
540-858-3090
540-533-2777
540-662-5028
540-869-7271
Veterinary Services Cheryl Detamore, DVM - Phone Consultations 785-846-7404 Meliheal creator - Healing Salve for Equines/Canines www.meliheal.com
Instruction/Riding Lessons/Academies Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC Balanced Awareness TM 540-858-3090 Lessons: Western, English, Dressage, Hunter – beginners/advanced 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA 22637 www.facebook.com/RockySpringsRanch
Schay Swope DVM – Mobile Equine Veterinary Services schswope@gmail.com www.facebook.com/schswope
Massage Therapy Hope O'Toole - Certified Equine/Canine Massage PO Box 40 Baker, WV 26801 donkeymomhope@gmail.com
__________________________________________________ 304-897-7073 540-878-8060
304-283-7421
If you are interested in being listed in the Directory, please contact us at 540-858-3090 or email rsr.cswisher@gmail.com
16/HORSE NEWS Shenandoah Community Calendar If you have a 4H club or horseback riding club and want to reach your members or maybe find some new ones, then you need to let us know when your meeting dates and times are, along with contact information. We will be happy to post them for you and add your shows and events to our calendar. Please send us your activity or event. We are happy to add it to the calendar, but you MUST let us know by sending an email to rsr.cswisher@gmail.com or you can mail it to Claudia Swisher, Rocky Springs Ranch, 116 Pinetop Rd., Gore VA 22637. May: May 14 May 14 May 15 May 15 May 28
Northern District Qualifying and Open Horse Show at Frederick County Fairgrounds; 540-877-4935 Eagles’ Wings Show Series, All Day English, at Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds Eagles’ Wings Show Series, Western, at Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds 2 p.m. – Rocky Springs Guided Trail Ride and Cook Out (fee $20) 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Mini and Horse In Hand Fun Show, Obstacles
June: June 12 June 20-24
June 27-Jul 1
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Bit and Rein Use and Effects workshop 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Children’s Horse Camp, ages 5 to 18; English and Western; beginners to intermediate level riders. Bring your horse or use ours. This camp will teach good horsemanship, safety, stable and horse care. Fun activities, lots of riding and education. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – BRCTH Summer Day Camp; 540-533-2777
July: July 11-15 July 22-24
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – BRCTH Summer Day Camp; 540-533-2777 Dennis Reis “NO DUST” Dressage/Obstacle Clinic, Flying W Ranch, Boyce, Va. All breeds, all levels, all discipline for Western, English and Gaited. Contact Claudia Swisher at 540-858-3090 or email rsr.cswisher@gmail.com
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