Natural Pet Health

This recipe calls for pennyroyal. Believe it or not, Wal-Mart had some lovely pennyroyal plants this year and mine are growing and spreading beautifully. You can also buy dried pennyroyal leaf which would work as well.

Cut a large handful of pennyroyal (leaves and stems) and put them in a pint of water. Boil for 5 minutes. Strain the mixture and mix the liquid with an equal amount of mineral oil (I have used baby oil instead and it worked fine).

Pour it into a spray bottle and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid (I happen to use Dawn but I don’t think it matters). Then shake it up really well and spray it on the animals. Mine are in a field but you can also spray the stalls and the doorways of the barn.

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Your horse’s body often gets compromised by microorganisms. Aromatherapy can be used to help your horse with any infection, however it is adjunctive to your horse’s veterinarian care, so the suggestions in this article are for your information and not to replace his advice.

Microorganisms that cause disease are called pathogens and can include bacteria, fungi and viruses. They can cause infection and they actively reproduce causing damage to healthy cells, often being responsible for producing toxins in the body. Infection can be systemic where it spreads throughout the body, or localised, and when your horse’s body responds to an infection, the severity of this response is displayed by the symptoms you see. With the use of Essential Oils we aim to strengthen your horse’s own defence system and lessen the intensity of symptoms so your horse can recover with less Stress as his body destroys the offending microorganisms.

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Chamomile, Anthemis noblis or Matricaria chamomilla, depending on the species you select, is an herb that can assist you with your horse. Lets explore the use of the herb, the homoeopathic remedy which only contains the vibrational qualities of the original plant, and the Essential Oil made from the distilled flower.

Chamomile the Herb

Chamomile is a hardy perennial herb that was often used in Europe as a pathway plant or strewn along walkways due to its aromatic properties in the Middle Ages. It was an herb that was employed in a garden to help ailing plants in its midst, and nine times out of ten it would see a drooping plant recover when a chamomile plant was placed close to it.

The carminative properties of chamomile have been documented over centuries and in one veterinary text I have from 1886 refers to the use of Anthemidis Flores for its carminative and stomachic properties.

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Wesley’s Wonderful Bran Mash

1 1/2 cups uncooked oatmeal
1 cup Grape Nuts Cereal
1/3 cup molasses
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 package Oats and Honey bar, crushed
1 apple, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1/8 cup flour
1 tablespoon Cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Mix ingredients in a big bowl. Let chill before serving, and only serve 1 cup a few times a week; because you don’t want your horse to get a stomach ache. The good thing about this mash is that all the ingredients are optional. You may use whatever ingredients you want. This is just a guideling. I hope your horse likes it. My horse, Wesley, loves it when I give this to him!

Horse Tacos

Tortillas
2 cups molasses
Sliced carrots
Sliced apples
Sliced grapes
Bucket of sweet feed

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Sticky Treats

apple or carrot
corn syrup
quick oats

Cut apple in half. Take core out. Roll in corn syrup then oats. Do the same for a carrot. My horse loves this treat and it only takes 30 seconds.

Lizzie’s Rivendale Peppermint Treats

2 cups of flour
1 cup of oats
1/4 cup of molasses
10 crushed peppermints
2 apples

Mix flour and oats together. Add molasses if the mixture is not doughy. Add water slowly until it is doughy. Add peppermints and apples. Cook until golden brown at 350 degrees. Your horse(s) will go CRAZY.

Banana-glazed Apple

1 apple
1 banana
1 handful of ice cubes.
A blender.

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We all have pets we love and take care of. Unfortunately, there are some folks who forget our animals have feelings and needs. Where we board our horse there is one horse that has been sadly forgotten by its owners. This horse never gets to pasture or enjoy a horse life beyond its stall. How do you help a horse without putting yourself in a legal bind? has been a question that has perplexed many.

While many are trying to beat or go through the legal system this poor horse stands alone and wonders what he did to be forgotten. I searched, surfed the net, and e-mailed many for help. Most replies had to do with “legal ways” of making the owners take care of their animal or “legally” taking possession of the animal. This was all helpful information.

But while these steps are being taken the wait time in between still leaves this horse alone.

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Horse Owners Guide to Natural Hoof Care

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Its show time!! Well, it will be after I get my horse washed and cleaned up. Why is it, that the harder you try to keep them clean (and grays are the worst), the dirtier they become??

Wel, I can’t answer that. But I can give you a few hints on better washing technique, and how to avoid some of those show day mishaps (or at least how to cope with them).

Here is some equipment I like to have handy on washing day: - hose with adjustable jet, bucket, sponge, dandy brush, comb, body scraper, scissors, gum boots, hair bands (or horse bands), clean dry rugs, skinny hood (if required), vinegar (I will explain) and of course suitable shampoos, conditioners and highlighters.

Here is the procedure I have used for the ‘day before’ show washing of many State and National champions:

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Welcome to the delightful world of horses!! It is a wonderful thing to own a horse, to know the joy and unconditional love.

When first becoming involved within the horse world, it is good if you can equip yourself with some basic horse terms to help smooth the way.

No matter your horsey interest, these terms are regularly tossed about the barn; learn them and you will be well on your way to interpreting the horse world language.

Stallion – Entire male horse that has been used to father (breed) younger animals.

Colt – Young entire male animal, usually under 3 years old

Gelding – Castrated male animal of any age, no longer able to be bred from.

Mare – Female horse, usually over 3 years old.

Filly – Young female animal, usually under 3 years old, which hasn’t yet been bred from.

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