Spring/Summer 2012 • Volume 13 PUBLISHER & EDITOR-In-CHIEF Joni Gleason GRAPHIC DESIGN Joni Gleason COPY EDITOR Jacquelyn Laitala Julie Savola CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Scott Jandron DVM, Josh Lyons, Cori A. Noordyk, Sam Norman, Sharon Maahs, Gretchen Preston, Julie Savola, Joy Smith Pet Set Horse Source is a magazine for the pet lovers of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is published twice yearly—spring/summer & fall/winter—and is available (free) at veterinary offices, tack and feed stores, pet shops, grooming salons and other various businesses across the U.P.
Questions? Comments? Advertising inquiries? Or to submit an article or photos: Contact Joni Gleason (906)361-4456 jonigleason@att.net Published by: Companion Publishing 255 W. Water St. Negaunee, MI 49866
To view this issue online go to: www.heritagehillshorseba ckriding.com click on magazine Join us on Facebook! Spring/Summer 2012 • Pet Set Horse Source • Page 1
A REVIEW The world outside of a child's own life seems so exciting. How can time spent in Michigan compare to visiting an amusement park, backpacking in Colorado or making a trip to Italy. Haylee discovers that a summer in Michigan, spending time with family and discovering the magic of Michigan, with stories, wildlife and her own family go far beyond what she would have ever expected. The discussions that will follow the reading of "Haylee's Treasure" will encourage connections between the students and the stories of their own communities. The stories and the relationships that have created their local stories are personal. Students cannot connect with amusement parks and far away vacation spots in the way they will connect with people and places they learn to love through time. Through the CPR Program (Cultivate, Preserve & Read) students will experience reading and discussions that will strengthen the child's ability to make connections between what they read and what they have experienced. These connections, in the form of inferences and creating their own questions, will enrich the students reading and understanding of the text and their own world experiences. Lastly, students will come to know that the real treasures of life cannot be bought. Life's true treasures are largely free. The treasures of life are the smiles, hugs, time and caring that are shared with those who love them. As a parent, grandparent, retired teacher and elementary principal, I find the story of Haylee's treasure compelling and a "Must share" for all children and their lucky adults. Sincerely, Steven Barber Kalamazoo Public Schools
Haleey’s Treasure is available for purchase at various locations in Marquette & Munising or online at www.historycpr.com FREE trail ride at Heritage Hills Horseback Riding ($30 value) with a 6-book purchase for a school library or send your books as gifts. Books can be shipped to 3 addresses for a special Pet Set Horse Source price of $125. To redeem this offer visit historycpr.com and select 6-Pack Trail Ride when shopping. Please include additional addresses. Sales tax is applicable; shipping is included for the continental United States only. Offer expires December 31, 2012. Page 2 • Pet Set Horse Source • Spring/Summer 2012
Photo by Sarah Toutant
Daisy
C ON T E N T S 6
LASERS FOR PET THERAPY? BY SCOTT JANDRON, DVM
IS KEY 17 CONCENTRATION BY JOSH LYONS
9
RODEO CATS BY GRETCHEN PRESTON
20 ENCE INSTRUCTOR • VOL. 4
TALES FROM A DOG OBEDI-
BY JULIE SAVOLA
COVER PHOTO: ‘GLORIA’ by Sarah Toutant SDawn Photography
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PUTTING A PANIC ATTACK IN A BOX BY SAM NORMAN
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A GIRL AND HER HORSE BY CORI A. NOORDYK
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CHILDREN AND PET LOSS BY JOY SMITH
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The Great Lakes Rodeo is back again and ready to swing open the chutes for another great year. This year will be our 7th Annual Event, held Fathers Day Weekend, June 15th through June 17th, 2012. We will be providing a weekend full of great events: 2 Rodeo Performances, a Barn Dance, Team Penning, Speed Show, Camping, Trail Riding, and even Cowboy Church! We will be bringing you some new surprises and the old surprises back so make sure that you get your tickets in advance! Tickets can be purchased at: Lake Superior Partnership in Marquette, or Ishpeming/Negaunee Area Chamber in Ishpeming. Advance tickets are $10 for an adult or $5 for a child; or $12 for an adult and $6 for a child at the gate! Don't forget the Great Lakes Rodeo is a fundraising event for Youth Development in Marquette County, while keeping a rural tradition alive and providing the community with a fun filled activity. Over the past 6 years because of your support we have been able to donate over $13,000 back to the youth in the area!
Congratulations to 2011 Great Lakes Rodeo Queen Brooke Grandquist, Princess Emily Bertucci, and Lil’ Miss Gracie Dale. Page 4 • Pet Set Horse Source • Spring/Summer 2012
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LASERS FOR
PET THERAPY? by Scott Jandron, DVM
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y first exposure to lasers was many years ago when I watched Star Trek on TV. On a few episodes, I had seen Dr. McCoy wave this handheld device over patients to “cure” them of whatever alien illness they might have had. With all the flashing lights and beeping sounds, it seemed that this was a science fiction instrument that I would not see in my lifetime. Much to my surprise, new technology has arrived and what I thought was impossible has become a reality. l thought lasers will not be able to cure “alien” illnesses, we now have the ability to treat real world ailments with the use of them. When we hear about lasers, we often think of their use by the military during war or by surgeons for cosmetic procedures. Fortunately, there is a type of laser that can be used to help the healing process for many types of injuries, surgeries, and chronic medical conditions. The laser therapy units now available use a special type of light wavelength that stimulates certain cells in the body. These cells are responsible for the healing and repairing of tissues, along with decreasing pain and inflammation. Laser therapy also increases blood flow to affected areas, which provides additional support as the patient heals. Laser therapy can be utilized to stimulate trigger points, thus providing pain relief with “needle-less” acupuncture. When a pet receives this type of therapy, the end results include a reduced recovery time and increased comfort during the healing process. Think of
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laser therapy as a non-drug approach to treating medical problems. Although veterinarians use medications for many conditions, it is beneficial to be able to have nondrug options available to use instead of, or together with, our traditional therapies. What should you expect when you bring your pet to a veterinarian for laser therapy? The session is conducted in a quiet area in order to keep the patient as comfortable as possible. Your pet is able to sit, stand or lay down, depending on their preference or comfort level. The doctor or certified therapist then takes a handheld device and gently passes it over the affected area for a prescribed amount of time. It is a non-invasive procedure that takes anywhere from 3 to 30 minutes, depending on the severity of the condition and the number of areas being treated. The number of therapy sessions required is also dependent upon the individual case that is being treated. What patients are candidates for laser therapy? This type of therapy is available for
a wide variety of conditions. It can be used with acute conditions such as orthopedic and soft tissue (muscle/ligament/tendon) injuries or surgeries that have the potential to cause pain, inflammation, and tissue damage. Many acute skin conditions such as wounds, burns, surgical incisions respond well to laser therapy. Chronic diseases of the skin can also be effectively treated. These include chronic ear infections, foot infections, hot spots, feline acne, or lick granulomas. The most exciting option for laser therapy, however, is with its use on our arthritic patients. Up until now, the only traditional treatments available for arthritis were supplements and medications. Veterinarians still are, and always will be, dependent upon medications to keep arthritic patients comfortable. Since the rise of laser therapy, we will be able to decrease the amount of drugs needed to help our patients. As I mentioned earlier in the article, I never dreamed that we would get to the point of medical therapy that resembled what I had seen in those episodes of Star Trek many years ago. Even though the Star Trek version is fictional, real world therapy with lasers has arrived and it is exciting to see where it goes from here. As always, our goals with our patients include the relief of symptoms, restoration of function, reduction in the use of medications, and ultimately a higher quality of life. Laser surgery has the potential to help us do that.
Dr. Scott Jandron has been practicing companion animal medicine in the Ishpeming-Negaunee area since 1993, and is currently co-owner of Northern Veterinary Associates in Ishpeming. He is a regular contributor to Pet Set Horse Source. He welcomes your pet-related questions; send them to: Scott Jandron, DVM 661 Palms Avenue Ishpeming, MI 49849 Or e-mail: srjandron@chartermi.net Spring/Summer 2012 • Pet Set Horse Source • Page 7
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Rodeo Cats
by Gretchen Prestson
Stories from local author, Gretchen Preston’s Valley Cat series of children’s books wil be an ongoing feature in Pet Set Horse Source magazine! Her beautifully illustrated books are about Boonie and River, two house cats who are adventurers here in our U.P. backyard.
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oonie woke up and went outside to find River lounging in the sun on his front porch. It was a beautiful, sunny, early summer morning. Many of the flowers were blooming, and the garden was alive with bees and butterflies. "What’s up, River, my friend?" Boonie asked as he stretched in the sunshine and lay down on the warm porch. "Let’s play cowboys today," River replied. He jumped up and ran out into the yard heading straight toward Grace’s old swing set. "Wait for me, partner!" Boonie called out as he rolled off the porch. "Yee Haa!" they both shrieked as they galloped across the yard. Soon they came to the swing set. It looked ominous and strange. They had watched the Valley children play on the swing, slide on the slide, and climb on the climbing rope. "Let’s have a rodeo like real cowboys!" River suggested. "We can have contests they call events, like they have in rodeos." He stood under the swing set climbing rope. "Watch this," River shouted as he jumped to swing on the rope. Unfortunately, he missed the rope and landed on his back in the sand. Boonie laughed until he almost fell over. The older and more experienced cat knew he could catch a ride on the dangling rope. He watched the rope swing above him and thought if he timed his jump correctly, maybe he could get a good ride. Boonie watched the swinging rope carefully. Then suddenly, he leapt up to catch it. He caught
it with both front claws and got a pretty good ride. River took another turn. But he couldn’t get a good grip on the rope, and it just slipped through his paws. "Looks like you have won the swinging rope event, Boonie. Let’s try the slide," River said as he scampered to the base of the slide ladder. They gazed up the rungs of the ladder. "First we need to climb up. Then we slide down. The one who can do it the quickest will win this event," Boonie said. The Rodeo Cats had watched Grace rub her slide with waxed paper just the day before. Grace told them this was a way to make her slide more slippery for a faster ride. The Valley children had played all day on the slippery slide. It was super fast. "You aren’t scared, are you?" Boonie asked. "Cowboys are never afraid," River boasted as he cautiously peered up the metal rungs. When he got up his nerve, he instructed Boonie to time his slide ride. He took a big breath and launched himself up the ladder and down the slippery surface. "Yahoo!" he screamed as he flew down the slide. He hit the ground hard. Boonie had been counting. "Five seconds!" Boonie exclaimed. The yellow cat knew he could do it faster. River positioned himself at the bottom of the slide ladder ready to count time for his older friend. "On your mark…get set…GO!" Boonie shot up the ladder. At the top, he slipped and ended up sliding down on his back. He was going so fast he flipped into the Spring/Summer 2012 • Pet Set Horse Source • Page 9
air and miraculously landed on his feet. "Awesome! Three seconds!" River yelled. The older cat had won another event. But River wasn’t discouraged. The swing would be the next event in their summer morning rodeo. River and Boonie caught their breaths as they looked up toward the swing. River knew he could win this event. He had been working on his balance. When his people were gone away during the day, River had been walking on the window ledges and along the edges of the kitchen counter. This would certainly help him with the swing event. River licked his lips and invited his older friend to go first. The swing would require both timing and balance. Each Rodeo Cat would have to jump up on the swing and ride it as it swung through the air. The cat who rode it the longest would be the winner. Boonie walked around the suspended swing while figuring out his jumping strategy. He decided to take his jump straight on. He backed away from the swing set and ran toward the swing. He jumped as high as he could, put his claws out, and grabbed wildly through the air for the swing seat. He caught it and suddenly found himself spinning around and around. The swing flew up in the air. He hung on for dear life. What a ride! River was laughing so hard he forgot all about counting. Boonie was totally tangled up in the swing. He was hanging upside down and looking quite surprised. "I think I jumped too hard," Boonie said with tears in his eyes. River helped him get untangled and got ready for his turn. "Now, let me show you how it is done," he boasted. River stood a few paces away from the swing and gracefully leapt onto the seat. He rode the swing until it came to a gentle halt by itself. He sat balancing on the seat grinning from ear to ear. "Sometimes slow and steady is the best strategy," River remarked. Page 10 • Pet Set Horse Source • Spring/Summer 2012
Boonie agreed. "Let’s go rustle up some grub," Boonie said. "I don’t think I would like to eat a grub," River admitted. He had seen grubs in the garden, and nothing was appetizing to him about eating a bug egg. Boonie explained that "grub" is cowboy talk for food. "Yes! Let’s go rustle up some grub!" River yelled as he ran back toward Boonie’s house. Lounging on the shady porch were the dogs, Lassar and Lucy. They were both sleeping. "Hey, River," Boonie observed. "Looks like our rodeo is not over. See those bucking broncos laying on the porch?" Boonie pointed to the sleeping dogs. "Let’s jump on their backs and see who gets the longest ride," Boonie suggested. River sat down in the grass and watched the dogs. He still wasn’t too sure about dogs in general. "Won’t they bite us if we jump on them while they are sleeping?" River asked. "You jump on the big dog, Lassar," Boonie instructed. "He is very gentle. I will take my chances with Lucy. She is less predictable," Boonie said as he began to creep toward the sleeping dogs. The Rodeo Cats crept slowly to the porch.
Boonie nodded his head, silently telling River to make his move. The cats pounced on the sleeping dogs. River landed squarely on Lassar’s furry back. The gentle giant opened his sleepy eyes and just stared at River. Boonie was busy getting the bucking bronco ride of his life. Lucy was spinning around and around attempting to get the cat off her. Boonie flew off her back and hit the ground at the bottom of the porch steps with a hard thump. "Looks like I win the bucking bronco event," River said with a smirk from his perch still atop the big dog. River stepped down off Lassar’s back. Lucy curled up and closed her eyes. She growled at Boonie, letting him know she was not to be bothered by him again. "Let’s get out of here," River suggested. "What else do cowboys do in rodeos?" "They herd cows," Boonie answered. "We can pretend that bugs are cows. Let’s go find some bugs to play with!" The Rodeo Cats went off to find some bugs to herd. What fun the Valley Cats had playing rodeo. The grub would have to wait until later. For now, unsuspecting insects would join their rodeo fun!
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Summer Horse Camp The perfect “Spot” to have fun and learn safety around horses.
My name is Sharon Maahs and I am a retired Middle School Teacher who loves to teach youth through adults how to enjoy horses in a safe, comfortable setting. My many years of experience with horses and teaching have given me an understanding of how to communicate with people and horses.
Love horses? Love to ride? No horse? We match safe, quality horses with the riders skills and abilities to ensure the success of both the horse and rider. To reserve a “Spot” to ride call Sharon or Dale Maahs 906-282-0482 Campers range from 8 years old and up, unless pre-approved. An indoor arena is available, so we ride rain or shine. Campers learn basic horse care: equine safety, ground work, hoof care, proper feeding, stall cleaning, parts of a horse, parts of a saddle, English and Western riding, bridling, saddling, and have plenty of supervised riding time. We also discuss how much it actually costs to keep and maintain a healthy horse. Gentle horses and experienced staff are on hand to assist campers during the week long camp. Summer Horse Campers receive a look at all the aspects of the horse experience. Guest speakers visit to give professional views on the equine industry. Veterinarians, farriers, Rodeo Queens, Professional Trainers, are a few of the many presenters. We also take a trip to Ray’s Feed Mill. The last day of camp involves a short performance for parents and campers are given certificates of completions and prizes.
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Send us your photos or artwork and be part of this popular feature...
Juan Buddy Boy Preston
Thank You Stonehouse Window and Door for sponsoring our Pet Set Horse Source photo centerfold!
Joni & Dockers
Princess & Big John Ike & Nick photo by Thom Skelding
Drake
Reba RIP
E Chester Sue, Bill, Lynn Cooper
Anna & Bart
pencil drawing by Hannah Timonen, 16 Page 14 • Pet Set Horse Source • Spring/Summer 2012
Scout & Princess
Sarah & Daisy
Pookie & Lexi
Eeva & Storyb oy Lexus & Mylee - cows??
Daughter & Mom Sadie & Ollie
Lola
Critters at Garlyn Zoo Spring/Summer 2012 • Pet Set Horse Source • Page 15
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How well do you focus on what you are doing with your horse? Do you pay close attention as to how you send every signal?
Your Concentration is Key by John Lyons with Jeanne Wise Smith
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our concentration and your ability to focus are critical steps in developing consistent performance from your horse. It is natural to let the outside world distract your attention away from what you are doing and how you do it. Common examples are when someone comes up to talk to you when you are working your horse, something spooks your horse or there is something moving off in the distance. How you respond or not respond to these situations will have an effect on how consistent your horse will perform for you. Let me explain why. The signals or cues that you use need to be easy for the horse to understand, as well as given in a consistent manner. Whether you are asking for a walk, trot, canter, left turn, right turn, lead change, back up, sliding stop, etc. your signals should be given consistently. This takes concentration on your part. Once you have gone through a teaching process to teach specific cues to get specific responses, you need to ask the same way to avoid confusion. When we work with our horses we have distractions around us. This cannot be avoid-
ed. What is natural for us to do when a distraction occurs is to put our attention first on the distraction and then on the horse. It is natural because we are conditioned to do so to keep ourselves safe as well as our horse safe. This is fine for those particular situations where immediate safety is an issue. Often times, though, you will find that many riders will give their immediate attention to any distraction. When they do so, more times than not the signals that they send to the horse are not quite the same and they are then inconsistent with their cues. What happens is that you tend to shift your weight differently, move your hands differently, apply more pressure on the reins and don’t release at the proper time. The horse starts to question "what are you doing up there", therefore some confusion sets in. A simple example is when someone comes up to you to ask you a question while you are working your horse. Do you... A. turn and look at the person and answer while the horse keeps moving? B. turn and look, stop your horse immediately and answer? C. stop your horse immediately and answer?
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D. not respond immediately, continue to do what you are doing, prepare your horse for a collected stop, stop your horse, then answer? As you can see "D" is the best choice. Finish what you are doing then talk. If you do not want to be totally discourteous, you can tell your guest “just a minute” before you look up as you keep working with your horse. Every interaction that you have or movement that you make when you are on or near your horse (even when you look in a different direction) will change your body position and the signals that you send. You see, your horse is looking for a familiar cue, one that he knows how to respond to. If you stop him in a different manner when someone approaches you, he will think “oh, this is a new way that I am supposed to stop.” Then the next time you ask for a stop, the correct way, he may stop like he did the last time, the incorrect way (let’s say pulling on the bridle). Then you
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say to the horse, "What are you doing? I taught you better than this!" It is so important to keep your signals consistent in order to develop the best performance from your horse. Another important reason for developing your concentration is that you want your horse following your lead, not you following his. When you are focused and keeping your horse on task, he will have little time to become distracted. Your horse will not only improve with his responsiveness to you, his performance will improve and finally his concentration will improve. There may be those times when your horse becomes distracted and spooks at something. When this does occur, you need to get busier and focus on what you are asking your horse to do. You take charge and cue the horse to do something that will take his mind off the distraction. Never put yourself in a situation where a distraction could put your safety in jeopardy. If you have not taught your horse how to respond to your cues when distractions occur, whether the distraction is small or large, you need to develop this control first. Handle or ride your horse where you know you will be able to maintain control. I always train in a safe enclosure introducing distractions little by little so that I can develop the cues that I need to keep my horse in control. Keeping yourself safe is your responsibility. The person that enters the arena is a distraction. For most horses this is a small distraction but none-the-less a distraction. The louder the noise, the bigger the distraction, the more determination you must have to stay focused on the task at hand. Keeping my #1 and #2 training rules in mind (you can not get hurt and the horse can not get hurt), try to shut out the outside world and put your attention on your horse. Developing your concentration, being consistent with your cues and riding where you know you will be in control will help to keep you safe. Spring/Summer 2012 • Pet Set Horse Source • Page 19
Tales from a Dog Obedience Instructor Vol 4 – Timing Is Everything by Julie Savola
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ne of the biggest shortcuts for reaching your dog training goals quickly is to understand the importance of timing and appropriate feedback. These are skills that come with practice and forethought. You must first determine what your expectations are and praise for appropriate response at the correct time. In my many years of experience, I find most students do not praise enough when their dog is successful. C’mon folks, praise is free and can be your biggest asset in a training program. It is critical for your dog to know when he is doing it right. Your success will also speed up dramatically by improving your timing for praise. The praise or reward must come during the behavior or no more than a second after. For example when first teaching Fido to sit; ideally, as his butt makes contact with the floor-praise profusely. Act like it is the best thing he ever did. It does not matter that he jumps right back up during the praise, only
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that his butt made contact with the floor initially. We can build duration of the sit in subsequent sessions. Believe me when I tell you he will be trying to figure out what made you so happy with him and will try to recreate it. If your timing is accurate he will figure it out very quickly. If however, you don’t think to praise him until long after the behavior, he is left to figure out what random thing he did in the last minute you found so appealing. Timing and feedback for inappropriate behavior applies as well. When you correct your dog for barking for instance; as soon as the barking ceases you must praise, even if it is right on the heels of the correction. As soon as he ceases the incorrect behavior you must praise. It is your way of telling him “Yes! That is what I meant!” I must also mention inappropriate timing for praise as this tends to get people in trouble. Often this is unintended praise. For example: Little Fifi, the lap dog doesn’t like anyone
to sit by you when she is in your lap. You stroke her as she growls to reassure her it is OK and she shouldn’t be nervous about someone sitting close by. In her mind she is being rewarded for protecting you and the behavior escalates to biting. Clyde the 50 lb mix tends to be dog aggressive when you walk him. When a dog approaches you sit him as you have been instructed to do. Worried he will react, you stroke his head to distract him. In his mind he is doing the right thing by being reactive to the other dog since you are praising him with petting. You are unsure why his dog aggression issue isn’t getting any better. In the next issue we will discuss clicker training; a powerful tool that can provide yet another shortcut when used correctly Until next time- SIT & STAY.
Julie Savola operates her dog obedience instruction under the name K9 Basic O and has been helping UP dog owners train their dogs for over 20 years. She lives in Munising with her husband, Jerry, her Doberman, Doc, TBear, a miniature horse she is training for therapy work and two riding horses; Moe, a Tennessee Walking Horse and Byrd, a Quarter Horse she purchased for Team Penning.
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Putting a Panic Attack in a Box by Sam Norman
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middle aged man was holding onto the lead rope while a notably nervous gelding danced all around him. I watched them both as I pulled up the drive. I was there to pick up two horses that were going to Indiana and it looked like it might just get interesting. I opened the slant load trailer and secured the stall gates in the open position. After stepping out of the trailer I swung the door fully open and proceeded to latch it in place so it would not close in the wind. While I was securing the door, the man with the gelding
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decided to load the horse in the trailer. He took it into the forward stall and tied it off. He was fighting with the horse to get the stall gate closed, so I went around to the stall window to try to distract the horse long enough to get the gate latched. When the window bars were lowered, the horse managed to get one leg and his head out the window. I managed to push the horse’s leg back into the trailer and while the horse was focused on his escape attempt, the man in the trailer was able to close the stall gate. When the man stepped out of the trailer he laughed and said
“That horse hasn’t been in a trailer in seventeen years.” The second horse was a quiet little mare that just stepped into the trailer and stood there. Turns out the man raises cows and just packs his trailer full. If I had been afforded a preference on how this comedy would unfold, the quiet little mare would have gone on first. The gelding could then be placed in a stall closer to the rear of the trailer in case he needed more attention. It would have been great to just leave the cow guy in the trailer holding the gelding’s lead rope all the way to Indiana. Many horses find the loading and unloading process to be scary. This can prove risky for both the horse and handler. People vary in their method of unloading a horse. Some back a horse off and some walk them off forward. As a person who is often unloading an unfamiliar horse, I try to read the horse. For safety, backing the nervous or scared horse off the trailer is a better plan. Leading a scared horse off forward is a good way to get run over. I once had a nervous horse try to turn around in the trailer but he lost his footing and went down. There are not many good places to stand when a horse is trying to break dance inside a trailer. For the same reason I do not do roadside or parking lot exchanges. It is done all the time; but it only takes a moment for a scared horse to break loose and cause an accident or run over someone. It is not worth the risk. Ground work, trailer training, and sound judgment are the keys to safe, stress free travel for your horse; so you don’t have to put a panic attack in a box. Sam Norman has been working with horses for roughly 10 years. Not being entirely sure why he started transporting horses, he suspects it may be due to the fellowship he enjoys with God’s people. Sam served in the Air Force, the National Guard, and spent eight years at Cleveland Cliffs Empire Mine. He retired two years ago from the Michigan Department of Corrections in Munising. Sam has two children and two grandchildren, and lives with his wife Carol in Curtis, Michigan. Spring/Summer 2012 • Pet Set Horse Source • Page 23
A Girl and Her Horse Templeton Thompson seems to hit the nail on the head with her song, “Girls and Horses.” The opening lyrics are, “What is it? What is it with girls and horses?” I had been asking myself that question my whole life. This summer I finally got an answer. by Cori A. Noordyk
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ecently I had the opportunity spend every weekend in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado directing an equine day camp program for Girl Scouts of Colorado. In the early morning light I would make the two and a half hour drive up switch-backs, and winding gravel roads to a small barn nestled in a valley between Long’s Peak and Mount Meeker. There we had 20 horses of varying ages, ability and breeds to choose from. A couple wranglers and myself would pick our horses for the day and prepare for the girls to arrive. Eventually, through the pine trees we would hear the high pitched giggles and chatter of our campers anxiously approaching the barn. Girls between the ages of 8 and 14 would march up the driveway and squeal with delight as they spotted the horses. Seeing their bright eyes and eager faces would make my inner little girl jump up and
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down and squeal right along with them. After a thorough safety talk we would be off grooming, tacking and riding for the rest of the day. I have never ridden in more beautiful country. There were shaded trails with trees close enough to bump your knees on, hills that opened up to meadows with soft grass and wild flowers swaying in the breeze and rocky ledges that let go to the valleys below. The girls were so enthralled with their horses I doubt they noticed the scenery, which is exactly how it should be. One little girl and her mother made a deep impression on me. The girl was maybe 10 years old and had been adopted a few years before. She was quite nervous so I put her with a horse named Sandy, a chestnut with speckles of white all over. Sandy was quiet, old and lovely – the perfect horse for this timid rider. After they got acquainted, the girl
Meet Juan Deigo That’s what we named this little Chihuahua-mix rescue pup from Southern California. I saw his photo on Facebook and I just had to save him! The long distance rescue process was full of challenges. The first step was getting him out of the high-kill shelter and into a temporary foster home, then arrange for a pet transport vehicle. He spent two weeks on the road, traveling over 3 thousand miles to get to us. We also had to deal with an added complication as he was placed on the wrong van! To read more about Juan’s adventure “Home to the U.P.” see Pet Set Horse Source Facebook fan page.
- Joni Photo by Tara Truscott
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The death of a family pet is often the first death experience a child will have.
Pet Loss & Children
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s adults, we are often involved in our own grief. We forget how it is affecting our children and assume that it is advisable to shelter them from this grown-up experience we ourselves find so upsetting. This is often the wrong approach. The death of a child's pet will matter a great deal to them. If they are old enough to reason, they should not be left out of discussions regarding the loss. A childs reactions are much more varied and curious, depending on the age of the child. How your child responds may depend on the strength of the bond between them and the pet, as well as developmental stages in the child. For example: two to three year olds do not have enough life experiences to
by Joy Smith comprehend death and should be told the pet has died and will not return. Four to six year olds may have some understanding, but not a complete comprehension. It can be helpful to encourage them to draw pictures or write a letter to their beloved pet and include them in funeral arrangements if you have them in place. Seven to nine year olds understand that death is irreversible. They may ask questions; even morbid ones, but be sure to reassure them that they did not do or say anything to cause the death of their pet. Ten to eleven year olds know that death is natural and irreversible. You should be open with your children and be willing to discuss the death of the pet. Children will often ask many questions and they should be answered as honestly as possible. They may wonder if they will see them again or where the pet went; to heaven is always a good answer. As an owner of a pet cremation business, I often deal with children and the loss of their pet. I keep books on hand for the parents to take home and read to their children. Often times they wonder about God and angels with their pet. Let them know it is acceptable to cry and ask questions, and it is even okay for you to cry with them. Your children learn that tears can help with the pain.
Joy Smith is the owner of Rivers Edge Pet Crematory in Ramsay, Mi. She lives along the Black River with her two english labradors, one rescue blue heeler and 1 shelter cat. Contact her at 906-6634811or email joysriveredge@gmail.com Page 28 • Pet Set Horse Source • Spring/Summer 2012
Spring/Summer 2012 • Pet Set Horse Source • Page 29