For the love of horses

Mud season. Most of us backyard horse owners know there is no such thing as a farm in perfect condition. If it's mud season it's gross and sopping and you can only wish for sand and dry soil to drop from the sky in the worst parts.

 Yep, that's what I wish for. 

Then there is late spring when the bugs arrive. Mud wasn't so bad. 

Summer- it's too hot to breath never mind spend hours brushing the dry crusty dirt from your horse that has been rolling to get the bugs to stop biting. Walking to the barn you sweat and then poop picking and cleaning you need to take another shower. 

Fall- ah! finally relief, not so many bugs (minus the hornets) but then it's hunting season. Be careful going in the woods when you have a nice pretty big bay horse to ride!

Winter sets in... frozen toes, finger tips and water buckets ... brrrrrr. 

Why then? because in the dead of winter the sun will back on their backs and if you get close and smell them it's the most beautiful smell and a wonderful calmness waves over you. Yes, you do it all again. 

For the love of horses. 

Equestrian Open Barn Day!

Can you imagine! a day to celebrate horses and where horses live and work and loved?!?!?!

Could this be a better day? 

For us horse loving crazy folk I'm going with NO WAY!! 

This is my new favorite holiday!!!!

And to answer the question - HECK YES 

we are eager to share Dragonfly Farm and our place of Roux Camp 

tomorrow Sunday May 27th from 10am to 2pm.

For more information and other great equine participating facilities 

please see this link: Barn Listings for May 2012 Open Barn Day

Who New?

Increasing Popularity!

http://www.greenhorn-horse-facts.com/roux-camp-ownerdirector-teacher.html

http://maineriders.com/cgi-bin/classi/meridersconfig.pl?noframes;read=5603

April Session is right around the corner. Have any questions regarding the program? Need a registration form?
Call now - Few more spots open!!

Shannon : shannonmdalton@yahoo.com - 740-7244
Jamie: 450-1705

Keeping our Horses Healthy

With the upcoming Horse camps, horse shows, visiting horse barns, and just exploring the world of horses ~ Please remember that your thoughtful loving hands can be the spreaders of disease that can take our precious wonderful magical creatures. Let's remember to wash our hands or use hand sanitizer between pettings, or not to pet strange horses at all. There are many diseases that can be spread, but let's talk about Strangles.

Strangles is a highly contagious upper respiratory disease that effects the lymph nodes found in the jaw bone line and the upper respiratory track.

More information regarding this illness can be found here: (great reading!) http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0196stran.shtml

So my homework to you when visiting barns and out riding horses - take the time to make sure that you are washing hands and equipment between barns at the very least. Take the time to wash your hands before and after contact with any horses in your barn or barns you are visiting. If you don't know the health history of the horse, there really isn't a need to pet him/her (this is particular for those visiting barns on "Equine Open Barn Day" that is coming up May 27th.

Another great reminder is that there is no need to let your horse touch noses with another horse while you are riding or in hand. Remember your horse's job is to be with YOU not looking to make new friends. It could be a dangerous position you place yourself in if the other horse doesn't want to be friends, and it also could spread illness.

When you get a new horse in your barn, don't forget to isolate it for a period of time to just make sure he/she isn't bringing anything into your facility that could harm the other horses. A quarantine policy is never a bad idea!

Otherwise let's start some shedding of winter woolly coats!!!

Spring is here!

Riding season has begun! YEAH HORSES!!!

"The horse is a mirror to your soul. Sometimes you won't like what you see, sometimes you will." Buck Brannaman.

One of the most inspiring movies I have seen this year has been "Buck". It's very core is something that if shared with everyone that will be open enough to watch it, will make a better place.
Here is the link: http://www.buckthefilm.com/

I will be hosting a Roux Camp reunion Friday the 24th. We are going to watch Buck have some lunch and play horses! I can hardly wait to see my friends again and talk about how we are going to launch our way into a horse year for 2012!