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BetsyVtHorsy.Calm
This is an ongoing page updated as often as possible with information and references concerning horses' health, natural training, healing and of course, Mustangs. In other words our BLOG.
RE: Mustangs are part of our heritage to be preserved for the future. Scientists have and still are learning about domestic horses by studying Mustangs. Boy, have we blown breeding.
Mustangs' genes have been molded by survival's demands. Italy protects their wild horses far better than we do. The lands on which they live there may not be used for hunting, grazing or any use that would endanger the future and continued existence of those horses.
* Answers and Updates *
BLOG
Just got back from Saratoga where I was lucky enough to be a vendor at a DAS show...beautiful venue and the horses and riders seemed relaxed and enjoying themselves....the equipedic pads were a hit for the memory foam and the FreeForm saddles for youngsters .."no reflocking" .
Found an interesting article in equine wellness magazine, the January/February 2008 issue on Color Therapy by Lynn McKenzie. While I can't guarantee complete accuracy, I have seen colors affect horses, dogs, people and at least one goat. Read through the whole magazine. The articles make you think and look at your own beliefs. No, we are not affiliatedMustangs and burros should not be being managed by the BLM. I remember the wrangler we met who worked with the BLM on the side. He had adopted Mustangs for 20 years. They were his pack herd when he took hunters up to the mountains in Wyoming. He eventually got so disgusted with the actions the BLM took, he quit - with prejudice. If you have thoughts e-mail Bob@BetsyVtHorsy.com
Repetitive Stories, Comments, Observations / How I see it –– from conversations.
How to catch a horse - use round pen techniques, let the force of your nature along with clear directions get the horse to come to you ... OR use grain, treats, etc. - The real question is WHY isn't he coming on his own??
What do people do with him that he doesn't enjoy?
Are there ways to make his job more fun/likeable?
It is understandable if he only gets to graze a few hours a day that he might just NOT WANT to miss out!! Otherwise, what's the problem here? A 2 acre, 4 acre pasture is still being cooped up to a horse. He should want to go out with you!!!
§ SMELL §
I remember as a kid trying to figure out why my Anglo-Arab didn't like some cut down trees, but others she would jump right over --- Eventually I figured out it was the smell.
It was a whole lot easier to see with our adopted mustangs - sometimes Posh's eyes would get huge and he would back right off from you even if your arms were full of delicious second-cut hay.
Ah, yes, you had just started the fire for dinner. He was so reactive to smell that we took up wearing lavender water ... which helped. It reminded us to wash off strong smells ...so as not to waste the lavender and they appeared to like the lavender water if I didn't make it too strong.
They did not like me to put it or any bug deterrents on them -- I believe they don't want it to interfere with their sense of smell. I experimented with a lot of oils and "natural" store bought combos and can only put them on their tails.
I also used essential oil of lavender and Ylang Ylang on my Doberman preferably on a scarf around her neck for a year after someone rear-ended us in the car - She would crawl in my lap, keep moving around, shaking and trying to hide her head unless I had the essential oil. Then- she was fine. Go in the back and relax.
Then we took an introductory course in homeopathy - figured put a cure and didn't need the essential oil anymore.
YES! Homeopathy works, especially well on young animals and children - and all the time on acute cases ... BUT, although I agree it is safe, I would add that you shouldn't leave a patient unattended until you have given the remedy a chance to work --- I gave Nux to my horse once and Hum reacted by eating so frantically that he was choking on his hay -- Literally -- so I walked him around on short grass and gravel for half an hour until the aggravation wore off.
That's when I ordered and took a British Correspondence course on veterinary homeopathy. Actually Hum even overreacts to Arnica -- he rushes off to eat red maple leaves (poisonous) if he can. He and I are unusual in that we get aggravations -- consequently I suggest to interested people that they have peppermint, camphor and/or coffee handy to counter remedies if they "chicken out". Not that I have yet!!!
If you do not have the time to learn a little about homeopathy --- I agree with all the people who recommend Arnica 200 in your first aid kit.
When my sister got this impossible-to-cure fungus/ excema/psoriasis ... and the homeopathics didn't seem to work (they don't tend to if you are taking steroids which she was)...
We decided to try gemstones .. well we didn't cure her with moss agate, but it did seem to protect against accidents. An amethyst pendulum did bring out a blood boil on our Greyhound Carmen's gums.
She had been pawing at her jaw, but I couldn't find anything. So, I tried the pendulum and this big blood boil came up and popped - Carmen was very happy with the result.
We all like the rutilated quartz or tourmalated quartz for sore backs, ligaments, joints etc. Only Spacks, our goat, likes rose quartz - apparently raises everyone else's blood pressure and that makes them uneasy.
Anyway the experience has been fun and we are still working with them.
Hum likes the orange stones. Everyone likes the amethyst and the Botswana agate
So -- What's next?
Essential Oils
Bob finished his Essential oils course.
The animals aren't as happy with the aromatherapy as they are with the homeopathy and gemstones - sensitive noses! ---and if you dilute the essential oil with anything but water, it smells rancid even to my nose in a short period of time. --- (reminds me of the natural/real strawberry shampoos and lotions in the 60s when you would wonder where the rotten fruit smell was coming from, only to discover it was your hair. Betsy
I have my certification from the course in Aromatherapy - Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy - a group that takes the subject and the research seriously. Bob
Another person that takes his research seriously is Bob McKusik with his crystal catylst® beads and other resonators to protect us from discordant electrical vibrations ( We found them on Doctor Dodds web site.....and realised that Bob McKusik is right , most of us are surrounded and our bodies are always having to compensate.....how did we know?...It took us 2 years or more to get electricity up Camels Hump to our house and we did not have a generator but lived with beeswax candles etc.....and we all started to feel our age when we turned on the POWER . - now we wear the beads and enjoy shoveling and lugging water again...the animals feel better too and held thier weight over this winter....we reccomend them for everyone )
March 2008: Went to University of Connecticut as a vendor for the Conn. Horse Symposium. Typically for colleges, they perhaps know about teaching, but not much about business. I did meet some interesting people however.
Some members of the Governor's Horse Guard 2nd Company were trying to inform citizens who they are. The Guard will be celebrating 200 years of service this October. 2008 is a busy year for them and will not slow down until after the Presidential Inauguration in 2009. If you live in Connecticut, you should be proud of their history and their efforts. When they are appearing go out and cheer them, that and riding is their compensation.
Two other groups I happily met members of:
Second Chance Ranch - Equine Rescue - great motto - "Everything we do is for the horse". The ranch is in East Longmeadow, MA. They search for "forever homes" and by contract make sure they get back the horse if the fit is not right. Nice to meet people who live up to their goals and truly care for the animals. If you need a horse or would like to help go to Website and tell them I said Hello. Bob - CLICK.
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc - Old Lyme, CT. A volunteer organization aimed at helping people with a variety of problems by introducing them to horses, riding and those challenges which help with theirs. John Lyons used to tell the story of coming out of his house and seeing his very young, very small daughter joyfully leaping on to a horse from the top of the fence - she did not expect him to jump away (he did not). She also did not need a saddle or reins, for that matter. Horses tend to be forgiving and generous. If you get in touch, please say Hi for me, Bob. Website CLICK
EQUINE AFFAIRE is in November on the groundsof the BIG E in W. Springfield, MA. If you want to get a preview - Click
HOPE TO MEET YOU AT EQUINE AFFAIRE IF NOT SOONER!.. We plan to be at the NEDA Fall Festival-HITS On The Hudson, Saugaties N.Y.. Sept 10-14
NEW (to us) show – VIRGINIA EQUINE EXTRAVAGANZA – Richmond, VA. October 31 through November 2. Our booth is 221 in Richmond Hall. Stop in and say Hi! CLICK for web info