EquiSearch
Cinnamon has some hair loss around her mouth that I think is either mites, ringworm or another fungus. It is in the form of circular patches that do not appear to itch. I'm going to try anti-fungal (since I suspect fungus) then hydrocortisone (which is supposed to treat mites and mange).
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Cinnamon's Two Month Pictures!
I've now had Cinnamon for just shy of two months now and she's doing great!
Here are her two month pictures! Special thanks to my Mom for coming out to be the photographer!
We've been focusing on walking, trotting and cantering in the arena in both English and Western tack. She's been doing amazing and has been enjoying her rides a lot.
Next month will be devoted to getting her used to riding on the trail!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Here are her two month pictures! Special thanks to my Mom for coming out to be the photographer!
We've been focusing on walking, trotting and cantering in the arena in both English and Western tack. She's been doing amazing and has been enjoying her rides a lot.
Next month will be devoted to getting her used to riding on the trail!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Fostering a Horse
Welcome!
This blog is about my Foster Horse, Cinnamon. I am helping Cinnamon get into adoptable shape so that she will find a loving, forever home.
If you are a horse person that has the time, resources and energy to foster a rescue horse, I encourage you to contact myself or Falcon Ridge Equine Rescue to learn more about the opportunity!
What is Horse Fostering?
Fostering a horse means that you take on responsibility for feeding, boarding, caring for and sometimes training a rescued horse. The purpose of fostering a horse is to get the horse in better shape and more accustomed to being handled and/or ridden so it is adoptable to a wider range of people.
Why Foster a Horse?
Why Foster a Horse?
Fostering a horse is a great way to be involved with horses without taking on the long term commitment of owning a horse. Fostering helps rescued horses become adoptable to a wider range of people, which improves their chances of finding a great home. There is currently an overabundance of rescue horses looking for homes or foster care. Without sufficient space in local rescue organizations, many horses are being sent to slaughter.
Foster Care Cost
Foster Care Cost
The cost is about $400 per month, which includes boarding, feed, supplements, farrier and vet care. This is heavily dependent on where you plan to keep the horse and varies by location and boarding amenities.
Time Commitment
I spend on average one hour per day with Cinnamon, five days per week. Usually, I groom and exercise her five days per week, then give her one day off completely and one day that I just check on her and hang out.
I hope that the total process with her will take about 3 months, at which point she'll be ready to be adopted.
Benefit to You!
Not only are you helping a horse, but you're donating to a worthy cause and getting the benefit of a wonderful and fulfilling hobby! It is an incredibly rewarding, soothing and fun experience that I am very grateful for.
How to Get Involved
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email me at cdobransky@gmail.com or visit http://www.falconridgerescue.org/ to learn about the Falcon Ridge Foster Program and the horses.
Thanks!
Claire
858-200-6609
Essential Grooming Tools
These are my favorite grooming tools to date. Click on the title links to see where to purchase!
Grooming is a very important part of bonding with a horse for me. I also find that it's a great way to channel energy and relax. For the first two weeks all I did was groom Cinnamon every day then turn her out. This was important because it got her used to being handled every day and her coat really needed it. It's a great way to connect with a new horse and get them looking great!
Ultimate Groomer
This is what I start with every day to remove any mud, extra hair, etc. Even sensitive horses seem to love it. It's like a massage and it helped Cinnamon get used to being handled and to start to enjoy grooming.
The Best Shedding Tool Ever
This can take some getting used to with a skiddish horse, but it takes the old hair off like nothing you've ever seen. It makes any coat shine. Warning: don't get it wet or it will melt, but each block should last at least a month or two, and at $3.99, that's pretty good.
Grooming is a very important part of bonding with a horse for me. I also find that it's a great way to channel energy and relax. For the first two weeks all I did was groom Cinnamon every day then turn her out. This was important because it got her used to being handled every day and her coat really needed it. It's a great way to connect with a new horse and get them looking great!
Ultimate Groomer
This is what I start with every day to remove any mud, extra hair, etc. Even sensitive horses seem to love it. It's like a massage and it helped Cinnamon get used to being handled and to start to enjoy grooming.
This can take some getting used to with a skiddish horse, but it takes the old hair off like nothing you've ever seen. It makes any coat shine. Warning: don't get it wet or it will melt, but each block should last at least a month or two, and at $3.99, that's pretty good.
I put this on every hairless patch, scratch or wound every day and it miraculously clears them up. The horses seem to like the soothing feeling and it's much cheaper than Cortisone. I even use it on my own scars. If you're worried about flies, put SWAT on top of this.
This is the best fly spray I've found. The horses (and people) don't seem to mind the smell, but it repels flies for several days. I spray about 4 sprays per side, then wipe the whole horse down with a rag to evenly distribute. You really only need to use it every other day.
This is the coolest little tool in the world, and it's only $1.89! If you're like me and you don't want to torture your horse with clippers or scissors, you'll love this! It's a little one sided razor with a protective siding that you slide over your horses muzzle and it shaves their whiskers. Cinnamon even likes it! I haven't found it online yet, but they have it at Mary's Tack and Feed. You only need to use it about once a month and it takes about 5 mins.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Cinnamon's One Month Pictures
Here are Cinnamon's One Month Pictures! She's gaining a lot of confidence and she's more calm and curious in general. She is still very human-attached and has a little bit of separation anxiety, but she isn't barn sour anymore and now she likes to go out for grooming or for exercise. She is getting used to riding and getting better every day!
When contrasted with the "Before" Picture...
I can't wait for her to improve more for the 2 month pictures!
Here are the changes I see...
Cinnamon's Supplements
Here are the supplements I've been using. I selected these based on recommendations, nutritional analysis and value. I feed once per day.
I use a general multivitamin, a coat supplement and a hoof supplement because they all have different active ingredients. I mix them with Oat-Mo because it is relatively inexpensive and Cinnamon is a VERY picky eater, but she likes these when they're mixed with Oat-Mo.
I have found that Stateline Tack has the best prices, especially when you get free shipping during one of their sales.
General Multivitamin Supplement: For-A-Flex Pro-Vita
$12.99 for 5lbs or $0.17 per day
I like the idea of feeding a general multivitamin for overall health, immune system and organ function. This is fairly economical and has good nutritional content.
$27.49 for 5lbs or $0.35 per day
I believe this is the supplement that is making the biggest difference in Cinnamon's coat. It is much softer and is beginning to really shine.
Hoof Supplement: Source Focus HF
$19.95 for 3.5lbs or $0.53 per day
This is the most expensive of the supplements and takes the longest to see results. I am going to evaluate at 3 months and reassess whether I want to use this. I probably would not use this on a horse that already has good feet considering the relatively high cost.
I use a general multivitamin, a coat supplement and a hoof supplement because they all have different active ingredients. I mix them with Oat-Mo because it is relatively inexpensive and Cinnamon is a VERY picky eater, but she likes these when they're mixed with Oat-Mo.
I have found that Stateline Tack has the best prices, especially when you get free shipping during one of their sales.
General Multivitamin Supplement: For-A-Flex Pro-Vita
$12.99 for 5lbs or $0.17 per day
I like the idea of feeding a general multivitamin for overall health, immune system and organ function. This is fairly economical and has good nutritional content.
Coat Supplement: Grand Meadows Grand Coat
$27.49 for 5lbs or $0.35 per day
I believe this is the supplement that is making the biggest difference in Cinnamon's coat. It is much softer and is beginning to really shine.
$19.95 for 3.5lbs or $0.53 per day
This is the most expensive of the supplements and takes the longest to see results. I am going to evaluate at 3 months and reassess whether I want to use this. I probably would not use this on a horse that already has good feet considering the relatively high cost.
Training Tips and Best Practices
I'm by no means a horse trainer, these are just the tips and tricks I've picked up that have worked for me with Cinnamon and other horses and animals I've worked with.
1. Never use negative reinforcement. This hopefully is obvious to most people, but negative reinforcement will just not work for a rescued horse (or dog) because they've likely been damaged by abuse in the past. Not only will this not work, but if attempted, this technique will leave you with a nervous animal that cannot absorb any training for the rest of the session. If Cinnamon does something non-desirable, I just ignore it, and wait for a good behavior to positively reinforce.
2. Be generous with positive reinforcement. I use voice, physical touch (a pat on the shoulder) and treats in that order. If Cinnamon does something small that warrants a reward, I tell her "GOOD GIRL!". If she undergoes a somewhat stressful experience like picking up her hooves for the first few times, I give her a treat to reward her (which she considers a pretty big deal). This system has been pretty successful in getting her to learn desired behaviors.
These are Cinnamon's Favorite Treats, In Peppermint
They are only $2.99 a pack and the horses go crazy for them. I also like them because they're nutritionally complete.
3. Less is More. I try to always err on the side of less activity, especially in the beginning. This means for the first couple weeks I only took Cinny out for 10-20 minutes per day. When exercise started, that meant beginning with 10 minutes of walking and trotting. This allows the horse to adapt comfortably and it lessens the chance of the horse getting overwhelmed and having a bad experience, which I think is a big setback. The more positive training sessions, the more the horse enjoys going out, learning, etc.
4. Always End on a Good Note. This is another reason to keep training sessions short and sweet. I try to always end with Cinnamon doing something good, then receiving a big reward and ending the session. I think that horses remember the last few minutes of the training session the most and I think this is the part that "sinks in". I also always end with giving her supplements once she's cooled down and put away, which she looks forward to.
1. Never use negative reinforcement. This hopefully is obvious to most people, but negative reinforcement will just not work for a rescued horse (or dog) because they've likely been damaged by abuse in the past. Not only will this not work, but if attempted, this technique will leave you with a nervous animal that cannot absorb any training for the rest of the session. If Cinnamon does something non-desirable, I just ignore it, and wait for a good behavior to positively reinforce.
2. Be generous with positive reinforcement. I use voice, physical touch (a pat on the shoulder) and treats in that order. If Cinnamon does something small that warrants a reward, I tell her "GOOD GIRL!". If she undergoes a somewhat stressful experience like picking up her hooves for the first few times, I give her a treat to reward her (which she considers a pretty big deal). This system has been pretty successful in getting her to learn desired behaviors.
These are Cinnamon's Favorite Treats, In Peppermint
They are only $2.99 a pack and the horses go crazy for them. I also like them because they're nutritionally complete.
3. Less is More. I try to always err on the side of less activity, especially in the beginning. This means for the first couple weeks I only took Cinny out for 10-20 minutes per day. When exercise started, that meant beginning with 10 minutes of walking and trotting. This allows the horse to adapt comfortably and it lessens the chance of the horse getting overwhelmed and having a bad experience, which I think is a big setback. The more positive training sessions, the more the horse enjoys going out, learning, etc.
4. Always End on a Good Note. This is another reason to keep training sessions short and sweet. I try to always end with Cinnamon doing something good, then receiving a big reward and ending the session. I think that horses remember the last few minutes of the training session the most and I think this is the part that "sinks in". I also always end with giving her supplements once she's cooled down and put away, which she looks forward to.
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