Raven's First Shoes: Designer Brand?

My friend Kim truly believes in taking her time to develop a solid partnership and a trusting relationship with her horses.

Her mare, Raven, who is getting her very first set of the equine equivalent of Emilio Pucci's, was allowed to go barefooted as long as possible to allow for her feet to grow in really well.

Kim told me that she began Raven's training between the age of three and four years old. Since Raven was only ridden on ground with few rocks and also in a huge arena, Kim saw no need for rushing the process.

Choosing an excellent farrier is one of the most important aspects of horse care. I just loved this photograph that arrived in my mailbox last night.

But I wonder if horse shoes really carry good luck! What do you think? Leave a comment and let us know.

Horse Has Opinion? What Else Could it be?

I often wonder exactly what horses are thinking! Or are they actually involved in thought or attempting to scope out their environment and learn about the proximity of others of the same species?

I am sure we could come up with many "translations" of Kim's Quarter Horse  Bam's facial expression, but in reality she may just be trying to get a better "whiff" of an odor left by one of her equine companions.

While it appears that Bam is turning up her nose or laughing, this behavior is called the flehmen response (from the German, meaning to curl the upper lip). Horses, felines and other mammals draw their lips back to facilitate the transfer of pheromones and scents into another of their organs, called the Jacobson's Organ.

I have witnessed my cats engaging in this activity often when I am introducing a new food. Initially I thought that it was a negative comment about the product, but in reality it is giving them a higher degree of information. And I took it purrsonally for such a long time.

But don't you think that this is a funny face? If I didn't know better, I would be tempted to think that she might have been commenting on the recent Presidential Primaries!

Have you observed your pets displaying a flehmen response? What did you think it meant? Leave a comment and let us know.

Maternity is Bliss: Mare With Foal

Foaling season is upon us again.

I have seen many amazing photographs of mares with their babies, but this one unique picture stole my heart. Thanks to BarnGoddess2 for sharing this very unusual pose of a new mom and her baby, with us.

This mom really looks a bit "tuckered" out, don't you think? But maternity seems rather blissful to me, judging by the look on her face.

There is nothing more miraculous than watching a new foal come into the world. Horse lovers will become addicted to following their favorite mare's progress in their pregnancy and delivery times by visiting MareStare.com

One can join chats and message boards through this web site where sharing excitement and joy is welcomed.

But don't say I did not warn you! One can spend hours waiting for the arrival of a baby!

Enjoy!

Spooky Things For Horses!

Cow "muffins" are scary objects and need to be carefully watched", according to Breeze, Kim's Quarter Horse Filly.

She really does appear to be giving them a suspicious once over. Her body language says that she is getting into "flight" mode.

Years ago, Snickers,a Thoroughbred/Arabian/Welch Pony mixed breed young horse of mine, suddenly shied when he spied a pile of his own manure during an enjoyable  late afternoon ride. 

All hell broke loose and the bucking bronco show began. You should have seen the shocked expression on my face. I managed to hang on, fortunately.

In retrospect  I suspect that the  shadows which were made by the setting sun must have made his little "pile" very frightening to him.

Do your horses spook at what we think of as innocent objects? Share your experiences by leaving a comment.