Bright Side of the Barn

April 21, 2023

Re Homing Horses - Mariana's Ranch

Last fall This photo hit me like a ton of bricks...

We decided to rehome our pony when I realized my Granddaughter was getting to big.

We love our pony and it was a really hard decision to make.

I had fostered a couple horses before. 1 - restored to healthy condition and found a retirement pasture home. The other I lost track of and wonder about even still.

This time, it's OUR pony, not my horse. So I had to be even more picky. Lil Star chose me at the rescue. While in the pasture with the horses she stood between me and the others. It took a few weeks just to get a halter on her to bring her home.

Rehabilitating her after the rescue was about 3 years of hard work. To go from a wild pony that had been abused to a pony that trusted all kinds of people again. Big and little alike.

Getting her feet done was the biggest obstacle. I went through 3 farriers before I found a farrier that would work with me to work with her. It took us a while, but now.... Any farrier that is GOOD at their job - can do her feet!

So, when this sweet little lady with a house full of foster children came to meet my pony.... I found out about this wonderful rescue Idea she had formed into a non profit. A place for foster children and their parents and foster parents to all feel safe and comfortable.... AROUND HORSES.!

My pony was going to 'go to work' helping children.

And so her new story began. It's been a few months now. We keep in touch. I get to enjoy her progress and see how much she has blossomed into the amazing UNICORN I knew deep down inside that she was.

And even still today, I can call and say hey, and go see her for myself. It's so scary to rehome your horse. It's your baby, it's one of YOUR OWN. and the thought of your baby going to a bad place is a night mare no mama wants to have.

Our little girl got a wonderful new home!

And a new big sister!

Please, visit marianasranch.org/

To learn more about this amazing program.

Make a donation, participate with your own foster children..... attend an event.....

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time Stay safe and Happy Trails.

April 18, 2023

Spring ~ Horse Maintenance

After a long cold, wet winter...

Spring is finally on the horizon around here. My girl is shedding, which means there are little hairs flying around. Some getting ingested with her food and hay.

She had a serious case of Rain Rot when I got her years ago and every time we pasture over the winter, she gets a little bit on her back. {She's not a fan of blankets, we've tried.} So we use our medicated spray when we groom. And the blanket... makes a good BBQ cover.

We use Absorbine Fungasol Spray, for that Rain Rot

easily ordered on line from Statelinetack.com.

In addition to all those little hairs flying around, there is the fact that it's been wet and muddy. The grass is low and the ground is more brown than green...

Even using hay bins and feeders, horses still eat off of the ground. They ingest mud along with their grains and hay. Add that to the little hairs and you can only imagine what's going on inside their tummy in the spring. So it's time to run a week of SandClear.

I actually go to TractorSupply to pick this one up. That would be one of the few stores I actually like shopping in, it's always nice to see what's new for the barn.

Something I do a few days before adding the SandClear to Miss StarBright's diet is - her spring worming. This way we can get rid of the worms and really get her belly cleaned out.

Everyone has their own preferences and Vet recommendations regarding wormers. I personally like to order again, from Statelinetack.com . They have a great AUTO SHIP program so you never forget or miss a worming!

And they carry a large variety of wormers for every type of horse, and location. Yep, your location and weather play a part in the types of worms you have to watch out for.

https://www.statelinetack.com/Search.aspx?query=wormer

Here is one Deworming Schedule

APRIL: Deworm all moderate and high horses with an Ivermectin product or Quest. Deworming of low horses is optional.
JULY: Deworm all moderate and high horses with Strongid. Do not deworm Low horses.
OCTOBER: Deworm all horses with Quest Plus.
DECEMBER: Deworm only High horses with Ivermectin.

Other than Spring and Fall routines,

My girl is really an easy keeper:

* Lots of fresh water

* Good Timothy and Alfalfa-2 flakes 2x day

* Fresh Pasture 4 - 6 hours daily

LUNCH

* 1 1/2 lbs Senior Kibbles

* 1 Scoop HORSE GUARD

* Fresh fruit/vegetables

* Mineral Salt Blocks - 2 flavors.

I love what Purina Senior Kibbles and HORSEGUARD has done for her the past few years. She acts half her age and looks it too! We don't lose as much weight over the winter months either.

I call it a KISS diet! Keep It Simply Satisfying!