February 17, 2022
Breaking News: Trailblazers will officially begin Saturday February 17th, winter hours 10 to 2 pm every Saturday as long as weather and road conditions are safe for you to get here!
More stuff to keep your horse healthy: Check the Gums: We should do this on a regular basis, know your normals. Starting at the horse’s head, lift the upper lip and note “the colour of the gums. Normally, this mucous membrane surface is a healthy pink colour and slippery to the touch. A tacky or dry surface can indicate dehydration. Colours such as pale white, jaundiced, brick-red, bluish or purplish, or muddy are indication of a problem and tell us there should be further investigation. This is true of most animals, even ourselves.
In the spring I have always hosted a check up day. Until the last couple of years it was open to 4-H clubs, Pony Club, and everyone in the horse community. Of course Covid closed that down. It has been important to me that owners and caretakers, know temperature, pulse and respiration, when to deworm and how to do it, as well as knowing the injection sites. Also, how to draw the medicine from the bottle and where to give injections. If you have to administer medicines twice a day for 7 – 10 days, it is not economical to call your veterinarian to do this for you. Our Health day usually happens the first week of April when AVC clinicians and students (the presenters) are available just before their exams. I think it is the students comic relief from hitting the books. I am hoping this spring we will be able to gather again in the barn for education.
Haying season will soon be upon us, only a blink of the eye after the St. Patrick’s storm. This is the time to estimate next winters needs. This is the time to secure the supply, your supplier has to know your needs. This is the time to start setting aside the dollars for the big bill. Remember if there is a drought there is no second cut.
There is lots of weather technology available now. But I still depend upon the old lore. There are a few points in reading the weather signs of nature that should be kept in mind. These general rules were closely observed and followed by the most accurate early day weather prognosticators. To improve your own forecasting skills always keep in mind: 1. in forecasting weather the critical moments of the day are sunrise and sunset. 2. All weather signs fail in a drought. The same theory is true during a wet spell. At these times nature is caught in a rut and reverses itself slowly. 3. On most occasions the weather is very sure to declare itself by or before 11am. If the morning is unsettled wait until about eleven and you will know what the remainder of the day will be like. Old timers have said: You can tell between eleven and two what the weather will do. 4. Midday clouds and afternoon clouds, except in the season of thunderstorms (which we don’t get a lot of in PEI) are usually idlers and vagabonds. Pay little attention to them.
All this wisdom and I am sitting here wishing for better weather because of the herd. But then again my bones are not aching enough to forecast a weather change. Once again time will tell.
Remember to check the Facebook Page “Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary” I post information that I think is important to know when keeping a horse. Maxine is the picture taker and posts the shenanigans of the herd, especially Gracie the mini.
Do take care of each other. Love and hugs from Yogi and the herd.