December 11, 2025
Holiday giving started in November. For her birthday Heather Ogg wished to make $500 for the herd by gathering bottles and cans. I love over achievers! She raised $1350 for us by her birthday on December 1st. That is serious fundraising and it will help pay for medication. Trailblazers have donated monies for the boots. I just received a message from “SoftRide” and they are on their way.
Prince’s tablets (Metformin) have been wicked to process. 16 tablets twice a day. I cut, crushed and smashed with very little success. The light dawned and I resorted to my small hand coffee grinder. That is a lot of work, my shoulder complained, so Sixtine took over and she ground 6 portions. I posted our meagre success on Facebook. Sarah Read brought us an electric grinder on Sunday and so did Remington. So now I have one for the meds and one for coffee. My fat fingers and sore shoulder are very very grateful. The small hand grinder has been moved to a drawer, perhaps it will be useful when we lose power.
I am not especially happy to have unsound/lame horses at the Sanctuary. Although during the 40 plus years I have been doing this, we have had very few sound horses. The barn family quickly learn to recognize the pain. A horse that is sore will bob his head (like in an ouch) when they place weight on the sore limb. Once the leg or foot is identified we proceed with treatments.
If there are back problems, they will sometime carry their tail to the side. We do lots of tail pulls and carrot stretches to keep the muscles limber and strong, to maintain spine strength.
A lot of damage is done during early years of growing. Every foal should be taught to lead and tie. This should be done gently. There is such a fragile space behind the ears where the skull meets the spine. Rough handling can damage the nerve pretty easily.
At the ranch we would get the foals used to the halter and then attach the lead rope, loop it through the bottom of the mother’s halter. We would walk the mare and the foal would just follow. Sometimes you would need a rump rope and tug them along for a bit. (A rump rope fits around the butt under the tail). It helps if you have two people. I have seen agile trainers hook the rump rope to the lead line. When I was younger I could do it. To do that now would be too many lines, I would probably trip and fall. I am still not the bionic woman I would like to be. I could complain about age. Maybe just a little bit!
Fiona is still rearing her ugly head on the farm. There was so much tree shelter that unless it was an ice storm, the herd does quite well outside, and that is the best place for them if they (we have 3) have breathing problems. Now if the wind is coming from the NE or SE and it is 20 below, they need to come in for the night. If the sun is shining 20 below is not difficult, they usually have their heads stuck in the round bales. Night time is a little different. This of course give us more work in the barn, I am sure glad I have a barn cleaner. My barn heroes are very happy with it too!
I am trying to get into the Ho Ho Holiday Season spirit. It is taking me a while to get decorations up in the apartment. The stable will hold; I did not take them down from last year. I excuse my inaction with the thought, that red bows go well for Valentines day and Canada day too.
Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary Inc. has had a Facebook group page for a long time. Heather our very own webmaster has designed a new logo and a new Facebook page. The logo is a stylized horse I drew 35 years ago for the T-shirts; it is even more beautiful now. The new page is public and will have recent videos and pictures. I did not know there was a difference, my education continues with great speed.
Do check out the website HandibearHills.com that Heather designed and maintains, it is a true work of art. Heather works for TechnoMedia and the firm donates the hosting costs to the Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary is surrounded with the gift of giving. I am so very grateful to everyone that shares their time and money. It has been said that the only presents we need is our presence. So do celebrate the joy of all the holidays with friendship and kindness. The herd and I wish you all the best with our love and hugs.