Land O' Lakes Purina Food Recall

If you belong to a message board you may have seen many emails recently about Purina food recalls. According to 'The Horse' a reputable magazine on horse health, the recall is voluntary and precautionary. It affects feed manufactured at three eastern plants that contain above acceptable amounts of mycotoxins.

From Thehorse.com:

The recalled feed was produced at:
Purina's Statesville, N.C., plant between Nov. 3, 2007, and Feb. 8, 2008;
Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 1, 2008, and Feb. 8, 2008; and
Guilderland, N.Y., Jan. 1, 2008, and March 10, 2008.
Dealers in the following states might have sold affected product:
Connecticut,
Delaware,
Georgia,
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New York,
North Carolina,
Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island,
South Carolina,
Tennessee,
Vermont,
Virginia, and
West Virginia.

For those of us on the west coast, there is no need to be worried. If you live in these areas and use Purina products, please check with your local feed store where you purchased for more information. Your dealer is BY FAR your best resource.

Precious cantered!

So, first, for my Oregon friends, I am NOT going to the Parelli tour stop in Redmond next weekend. My brother Anders is graduating from High School on Monday the 12th in Anchorage, Alaska so I will be there instead. I'm super sad, but really glad to see the last of my 5 siblings graduate from high school, now if they could all just get through college. . .

Today I did two more Parelli workshops, Level 1 and 2 Tasking Online and Level 2 Freestyle. I did the first with Phaedre and the changes she is going through is AMAZING! I am getting her with her head almost on the ground. Ann taught us how to teach the horse to turn off the friendly game by dropping their head. Phaedre figrued it out quickly, so I finshed every task that way. She easily comes up into forward/right brained/fear based, and I want her to learn to go down just as quickly. I am DEFINATELY going to teach this to all my horses ASAP. We also sidepassed a pole, put her feet on a plastic bag, drive from zone 3 (middle of the horse for those who are not familiar with Parelli) through cones and some other stuff that I can't believe we accomplished so quickly and easily.

In the afternoon we did riding and Precious kept stalling out, so I had to work on her maintaining gait. I finally got the message through when we were about to stop and do 1 at a time cantering. Part of the way to ask your horse to canter is to use your hands to mimic the canter in a BIG motion which gets your body moving the right way. So, when my turn came I though-yeah, right, I really doubt this is going to work. I spent a year working on the canter and never had any luck without rushing, crossfiring or just not getting it. I NEVER got the left lead before-maybe twice, it was so frustrating and I knew I was mostly to blame, my lack of cantering being the biggest problem.

But I have done some great cantering with Lily the last couple of weeks and finally found the balance point that made it easy and fluid. I had really built my confidence, so when I went out on the rail to get the canter, I brought her up into gait, starting moving my hands and VIOLA! I got the canter. Correct lead, instantly, both directions. AMAZING. I can't wait until tomorrow.

I am an official level 1 graduate

I used my lesson time Friday with 2 star Parelli instructor Ann Kiser to finish my level one assessment and I am complete. To celebrate I started Saturday morning with beginning level 2 online seminar on Saturday morning.

I completed with level 1 with Precious, but plan to start with Phaedre for the rest of my journey. Ann really helped with the big problem I was having so far with Phaedre (bracing!). It is SO GREAT to get off on the right foot with this horse and take her very loving personality and maintaining that while giving her confidence and leadership.

And yes, to answer Julie's question, she is indeed a Right-Brained Extrovert.

Omolene University

I first read about Omolene University back in February with an ad in Horse Illustrated. I checked out the site, but it wasn't yet live, it is live now and hosting classes on various aspects of equine health and nutrition.

You can earn 'Omolene Hours' as well as coupons for Buy 2 get $20 off. Although I don't feed Omolene products, I have used Purina products in the Omolene line. Specifically, Ultium which is a low-carb performance feed. I have always been very satisfied with what they offer.

If you sign up today you can try to name the mascot and earn 5 Omolene hours. My submitted name was Whoa Joe.

Rethinking pressure

When I first started learning about horses, pressue was such a buzz word. I was told that horses move away from pressure, which I have finally learned is not true. Instead, I believe they are programed to move into pressure, we TEACH them to move away from pressure and some of us are better at that than others.

So I orginally thought about the pressure of my hands on a horse on the ground or my legs when riding, but now I think about pressure in terms of ALL the things causing a horse to do what they do. The rattling flag, the panels of the round pen, my direct stare, the dogs running behind them in the field, all create pressure on the horse.

So lets say we use two forms of pressure, our body and the panel of the round pen. A horse can feel trapped trying to go between the two. I have seen it plenty in the way I was first taught to use a round pen and even tonight. So, now how can I use a tool like the round pen to help my horse learn about the maintenance of gait without feeling panicked or pressured?

I think it is about observation and experimentation. Tonight, I found the liberty of the round pen was too much pressure for Zapa who was panicked. So I actually put him back on the lead where he immediately became comfortable, so next time I will put him on the 22' lead to experience the round pen without so much pressure. I'll let you know how it goes.

Phaedre Photos

Ok, I have to admit, I don't know how to spell her name (not that she officially has one since she isn't registered), but you begged, you pleaded, you asked and here they are!

The reasons I bought Phadre:

First, the legs

Second, the profile

Third the balance

Fourth the suspension of the trot

Did I mention the suspension of the trot

Oh me, oh my so many horses I want to cry!

Actually, that isn't true, but Saturday we went from 7 horses on the farm to 10. Yup. That is what they say, if you have the stalls you'll fill 'em!

So here is the breakdown of what is happening:

Lily goes home in May. I just want to say hats off to Simrat (her owner) for doing such an amazing job with this horse. If I ever had a serious lesson program, I would absolutely lease her back. Lily is the horse who will give people confidence-no lie! She is easy going, does her job and is just a steady, steady girl. I will miss her.

El Arco is a new Paso Fino that is here for a brief makeover. We have had our 3rd session and this is a sweet little guy who will make someone a great partner. If you know anyone looking for a nice Paso Fino trail gelding, this is the guy. He might not be too shabby at a show or two with a little extra tune up.

Red Velvet (or yet to be named Filly) is a nine month old filly who will be raffled off to benefit the Northwest Paso Fino Horse Association. She was donated and I hope you finds a really good home. More details on how to buy tickets as they come together.

Zapa is coming right along in gait. Every day I get a little bit more, so I am hoping he will go to his forever home by early summer. I am getting gait without the bit which is just what I hoped for. He has hit 15 hands, so he is a good size paso although he still has filling out to do. I know I am biased, but I think I raised the perfect horse! Everyone thinks I am crazy for selling him because he is my best horse, but you know what? I am really proud of the work I have done (and supervised to have done) with him. I have learned SO much and enjoyed so much of it. I might do it again someday (raise a baby that is).

And finally. . .

I BOUGHT A NEW HORSE!

Her name is Phadrae, she is a 15 hand 6 year old morgan mare, bay with a star and snip and NO WHITE FEET!!! She is green broke, although I haven't ridden her, I mostly just checked out her disposition, willingness and temperment, all of which are amazing. She is SO sweet and willing. In her 'test' session, I got her to do everything I wanted including a jump, tarp, poles, sideways all 7 Parelli games, so either someone has done this with her before, or she is a super star!

And if that wasn't enought, she has lots of legs and some really nice gaits. She is a cute little package.

I am going to use her to work towards my Parelli level 3. Pat Parelli suggests you go through level 3 with just 1 horse first before working with another. I had planned to work with Precious and I still plan to 'officially' finish her level1 (although I would most definately say it is unofficially complete), as I dive into Level 2 I realize it will be difficult to go 'all the way' with Precious. First, I would say she is a very challenging horse, but mostly, her gait will get in the way and make it much harder for us to progress. I need it to be the easiest the first time, so a Walk/Trot/Canter horse is a better choice.

So, that is the news on this front. I have another couple of weeks at home without travel and I have been riding like crazy (so many horses!) and I am loving it!

Silent in the shadows

Bringing the horses back in from the pasture at night has helped me realize how quiet they can be. Hidden in the shadows I only see them when I am within 50 feet and can only hear them when they run. Who knew a 1000 lb animal could disappear before your eyes.

It only helps to reinforce to me what a prey animal they are. Their instinct tells them to remain hidden. It makes it more and more clear why they need to trust in us and to look for us for leadership.

And although we are a predator, we too have a strong flight reflex which I think is why so many people get out of horses so quickly after trying it. Rather than stay and 'fight', if they fear for their own safety, they will 'flight'. Ironic isn't it?