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January 13, 2022

Treats & Fly Masks From the Great British Equinery- Product Review – Horses of the Ozark Hills

Have you ever heard of the Great British Equinery of Indiana? I am so glad I had the opportunity to learn about the Great British Equinery through The Backyard Horse Blog and receive their products by winning The Backyard Horse Blog’s 2021 Winter Contest! Whether this is your first exposure to this wonderful company or you’ve already purchased their products, I hope this review inspires you to go check out the Great British Equinery’s website & take advantage their latest sales! The Great British Equinery sells several different brands of high quality horse tack and horse treats including Harrison Howard Fly Masks and Hilton Herbs herbal supplements, which are both products I will be reviewing in this post!

I can happily say that I was very pleased with the Great British Equinery’s customer service and shipping process. I received email updates to keep me informed on my products’ shipping and my email inquiries were answered quickly by Debbie of the Great British Equinery. I definitely plan on ordering again!

For me, blogging has led to trying a lot of new things, including using a fly mask for the first time! I have owned horses for many years, but up until recently I had never used a fly mask! In answer to your question of why I had never used one before; I think it is simply because fly masks weren’t on my list of necessities so I never thought to purchase one, not to mention I was content to just do what I have been doing every summer for the past several years to combat the flies. Nevertheless, I was thrilled to try out this product that I won’t necessarily have purchased myself!

Upon opening the fly masks from their very nice & labeled packaging, I was surprised by how large the masks looked! I was worried they would be too big, and sadly they were just a little too big for my Haflingers. I had gotten two cob sized masks for my half-sized Halfingers, however; since their cob size halters are kept on the tightest whole, I figured that the masks might not fit. Luckily I have four other normal sized horses to use the fly masks on! Max is the smallest of the four boys so the red mask fit perfectly and is officially his! This was his first time wearing a fly mask. After a few head shakes, he was good to go and spent the rest of the day in his Harrison Howard 60% UV Fly Mask.

Obviously, I am no fly mask expert, but I do have the ability to tell when a product is good quality. The fly masks I received from the Great British Equinery were very well made and I could tell they were very durable. A fellow horse blogger reviewed these products on her blog and wrote, “I have masks that are almost a year old and have no tears yet.” *You can read The Backyard Horse Blog’s full review here!* The material of the masks appears to be easily clean-able as does the fleece covered nose band that adds a comforting amount of padding to prevent rubbing. The masks are secured by velcro straps that stayed securely in place! Max didn’t seem to mind his ears being covered much to my surprise. The only thing I did not particularly like about the masks was the mesh nose covering. My dislike may be solely based on looks; however, I think that unless your horse needs his nose protected from the sun, he could do without the mesh nose extension.

More horsey posts: Does Your Horse Need A Fly Mask?

I think Tatum would have eaten the whole bag if I let him!

Max wasn’t the only horse to benefit from the Great British Equinery! All of my horses enjoyed the Hilton Herb treats that accompanied the masks!! These organic herb balls are officially my horses and I’s favorite horse treats! I absolutely love the fresh herbal smell they gave off the second I opened the bag! Proudly made in the UK and favored with oregano and mint, these treats contain all natural ingredients and no molasses or added sugars meaning they are great for horses with laminitis. These treats will be great for Spartacus who has laminitis and my chubby horses & pony that do not need the extra sugars! The bag of treats I received was very large and contains a good quantity of treats that I hope will last awhile! My horses really enjoyed these tiny treat balls! Even Max, who generally isn’t a fan of horse treats, eat his share!

As summer roles around the corner and the pesky flies come out of hiding, I will be glad to have added the Great British Equinery’s fly masks to my reservoir of fly fighting products! A big thanks to the Great British Equinery, I look forward to purchasing more products from your site! *Speaking of fly fighting products, I am all out of fly spray & before I purchase more would love to know what brand of fly spray you use to combat the flies? Comment with the brand of fly spray you use!*

Tails & trails,

Reese

January 13, 2022

3 Reasons I LOVE My Happy Riding Lesson Binder – Horses of the Ozark Hills

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“My Happy Lesson Binder is a super fun, creative, and successful way to keep track of all your lessons. I have had nothing but good experiences with this binder and would love to share my three reasons why I love this binder as well as some of my favorite pages…”

These are the beginning paragraphs of a guest post I recently wrote for the colorful & fun equestrian blog Sparkles, Rainbows, and Unicorns. I hope you click on the link below and read the rest of the post!

*I would love to take a moment and give a little Rosemary Update. She has fully recovered from her founder episode and after taking a break for over a month, I am going to start their official training back up this week. Thanks for the all the advice & concern you all have had for Rosemary!! I always enjoy reading your comments! Comment below on a topic or blog post you would like me to write! I actually really enjoying doing research, so hit me with your most pondered horse related questions! I would love some blog inspo right now! Thanks so much! Enjoy your day!

Tails & trails,

Reese

January 12, 2022

Spring Cleaning – Horses of the Ozark Hills

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The days are getting longer and the grass greener, sure signs that spring is almost here! And what a better way to kick off spring than to have a SPRING BREAK! This is especially helpful for equestrians who have lots of preparations to make for the good weather and growing grass. Plus what a great time to ride horses in cool, sunny weather!

Let me just say that that is what I wish spring break looked like for me- 100% horses!! However, my break is usually 100% snow, because my family has gone skiing every spring break I can remember. I love to ski, and was super bummed when my once a year snow vacation was cancelled due to the corona-virus outbreak. But hey, at least I will get to ride horses all week! Yet to my dismay, rain is on the forecast for EVERY day of spring break! I am determined; however, to still get things accomplished despite the dreary weather. So instead of conquering the snowy slopes, I will be conquering my tack room!

We all know how it is. You go into it every day, you see the mess, but everything else seems to get in the way of cleaning your tack room! Well, I plan on using this rainy week to tidy up my tack shed and use the small space to its full potential. So here’s some things I did, hopefully you can use them as inspiration for your own tack room!

Putting winter stuff into storage

Putting your winter accessories away during the warm season frees up valuable space. Make sure that you clearly label your stuff and store it in a way to keep it in good condition- away from bugs & rodents. The rain subsided some, so I took the opportunity to wash Charles’ winter blanket so I could store it properly. I also brought my sprays and soaps back to the tack room. *had to bring em inside for the winter so they didn’t freeze.*

Scrubbing Charles’ blanket I used a wagon to bring “all my chemicals” back to my tack shed

Medicine and chemical storage

Speaking of soaps and sprays, I had previously stored my spray bottles in a box container. Caring for seven horses means you have lots of bottles and the box is currently over flowing, so I started to look into other ways to store my show sheen, fly spray, wound spray, and detangler. I haven’t decided which route I am going to take yet, but for now the box will work. I did found some cool ideas on the web. *Maybe you have a unique way you store your sprays! Feel free to share it in the comments!*

I also have several senior equines and a partly lame horse, so I have a few medicine bottles, pills, and some syringes that needed storing. I put them into a cool, little teal plastic box to keep them separate and easy to find.

Ask yourself two questions: Do I need this? Do I use this?

Of course as an organizer I also swept, cleaned up trash, and went through some stuff. Equestrians just accumulate A LOT of stuff: bits, girths, random lead ropes, brushes, you name it! With such a small space for my tack room, I don’t have room for unnecessary tack. So as you clean and tidy up, have a bin/pile to put stuff you don’t need or use. *Personally, I had a bottle of spray paint, some random hocks, and two old brushes that I relocated out of my tack house.*

Keeping a trash can in your tack room 24/7 helps to keep things tidy!

Location matters

As I looked at the outline of my tack room, I realized I needed to do some relocating. I needed to make the stuff I use daily more accessible and easier to get to. I placed the halters I use the most on the hocks nearest the door, and rearranged the feed bins. *I also spent part of the morning at the store getting a month’s supply of feed just in case. I don’t want my horses to go hungry because of the corona-virus outbreak.*

The bridles, on the bridle holder my father and I made, needed some rearranging.

In all, though it was wet and cold outside, I had a productive morning cleaning my tack room. Hopefully you can take the time this week and tidy up your tack space too! You’ll apprentice having a clean, neat space to store your tack!

Tails & trails,

Reese

Zeus watching we tidy up!! *what a cutie!*

January 12, 2022

Horses of the Ozark Hills – Page 2

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Exactly one year ago, I shared this DIY horse popsicle recipe to help you keep your equine cool & hydrated all summer long! I hope this repost will inspire you to show your horse some love this summer by making these DIY frozen treats! Horse popsicles are not only safe for your horse, but aid […]

Do you remember the first time you put a fly mask on your horse? I do! I just recently started using fly masks, and it was not shorty afterward that all sorts of questions regarding this new piece of tack popped into my head! I knew very little about fly masks to begin with. I […]

January 12, 2022

A Special Place in My Heart – Horses of the Ozark Hills

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Senior equines have a special place in my heart. They are trained to serve us; they work hard their whole lives, and when they come to their end days- it’s our turn to serve them. Sometimes that means spending money on medicine or a special diet, or sometimes that means ending their suffering.

A few days ago, my father, sister, and I went out to ride horses, but that didn’t happen because we found Charles laying down in the field. I went to go get him, but he couldn’t stand up. After many attempts with human and tractor help, and a call to the vet, we got him up, but he fell right back down. He was too weak to stand and had exhausted all his efforts. We gave him food, water, and time, but this sweet guy was just too weak, not to mention he is at least 36 years old.

When we came back to check on him, it was pouring and cold. It was a tough call to make, but for a horse who had worked so hard and lived so long, it was the least I could do to not let him suffer.

Charles, my first Tennessee Walker, was always a happy and content horse. He had a positive disposition about him that made you want to smile. I will/do miss this guy a lot, and will visit his grave often.

Horse’s truly are wonderful creatures. I am so glad that I have the privilege of having them in my life. The responsibility of caring for such majestic animals is trying at times. Domestic horses are completely dependent on their owners for their livelihood. Caring for equines is a big, yet rewarding task. The passing of Charles got me thinking about my history with horses and all that these special animals have taught me. It really is a privilege to have horses in my life. Because through the years, horses have taught me a lot. When I think back to the first horse I ever got, I see how much knowledge and experience I have gained- and still have to gain. Sometimes it takes looking back, to realize how far we have come (said some famous person I am sure). So buckle up, because it’s time for a story.

Roomer

Before I even got a horse, I got a saddle. I wanted a horse soooo bad. Sevenish year old me had been going to horse riding lessons at a little stable in Ozark MO. I had learned to stop and go, to weave in between poles, and I had even cantered once when the pony I was riding got spooked by a dump truck passing by on the nearby road. I could totally handle my own horse by now I told my parents. However, my parents pointed out that even though I could ride a horse, I didn’t know what it took to care for one. So before buying me a nice, well trained horse, they found a $75 horse on ebay. I think this was so that I could understand what it meant to care for a horse. We got in the truck and picked her up on a warm fall day. She was super old and her owners were moving and couldn’t take her with them.

Her name was Roomer. I never did put a saddle on Roomer. *I was sevenish so I couldn’t have reached if I tried * My father would lift me up to sit on her back, but for the most part I brushed her and gave her baths in the summer. She was my first horse and really sparked my imagination & desire to care for and love horses.

young me with Roomer

Penny

This stubborn, sorrel quarter horse was named by my sister. She is still alive and is currently “owned” by my other sister. After my family moved back to our farm in southern Mo, we got Penny so that I could continue to ride horses. (we moved too far away for me to keep taking lessons at the little stable) One thing this horse did teach me was to keep on tracking: to never give up and to always get back on.

Penny is now my sister Quinn’s horse

Penny might have been the first horse to buck me off, but NOT the last. While I truly enjoy the memories I have made and continue to make with this horse, I realize all we have been through together. I remember all the times her stubbornness or my own failure made me cry. But Penny never gave up on me, even when I wouldn’t ride her for long periods of time or brush her like I knew I should, she hung with me and I with her. She taught me that if it’s been a month since our last ride, to just go for it. To get back on and see what happens, and even when it all goes wrong, to get back on.

Phoenix

As time progressed, beloved and gentle Roomer passed away from old age. I kept learning more and more about horses by attending a week long summer camp a few years in a row, went on some great long trail rides with family & friends, and picked up a few extra horses. *ya know how it is, ya can’t just stop at one. Who can just have one piece of pizza when the whole box is right there!?!* So for my 11th birthday I got a new horse, giving Penny to my sister. His name was Phoenix. Read more about this amazing guy here.

This beautiful Rocky Mountain horse taught me a huge lesson- patience. Let’s face it, I was a little girl on a BIG horse. This horse has a big personality that requires a lot of patience to keep in check. Because of this, I have learned to be patient with my equines. They aren’t people; they are animals and will act as such. It took some tears and some falls, but with the help of Phoenix, I learned to be patient with my beloved equines and respect their horse tendencies while still being in charge of them.

Max

Max was purchased by my parents when they bought a nearby farm about 3 years ago. Small in size, yet big in heart, Max is still teaching me this very important lesson: relationships take work. You would have thought it was a no brainer really. You can’t just feed your horse, ride it, and except to have a relationship. Yet this is often the case, with people too I think. Relationships take work, take time, take effort, take resources.

Max, more about this dude here, is a complicated fellow. My other horses are easy to catch, come right up to you, yet Max lingers back and plays it safe. Once caught, he is easy to saddle and mount, however; he acts differently than the other horses- less trusting, more like he just wants to get this over with. He doesn’t want me to be in charge, to control his body, his movements. This might stem from the fact that he was abused as a colt. Whatever the reason, I realized that in order to be able to “ride” this horse, I needed to gain his trust- to work hard to form a relationship with him. Our relationship is in the making, and I can’t wait for the work to pay off, but if it never does: if Max never comes to fully trust me, well I will still be glad for the life lesson he taught me.

These are just some of the things horses have taught me. I wanted to share them with you so that you could fully understand the place horses have in my heart. The place Charles has in my heart, because this guy taught me a lesson too. He showed what it means to be content, you could see it in his eyes- happiness for just being a horse.

Tails & trails,

Reese

January 7, 2022

The Stables – Horses of the Ozark Hills

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We all know a horse gals dream, riding into the sunset with her trusted horse, hair blowing in the wind. Her desire for a relationship, a friendship with her beloved equine; much like the horse movies she watched as a little girl. But for a country gal like me there was always another addition to this dream…a stable, with a stall just for my horse. Mucking stalls, the smell of horses & hay, and a barn that I can call my own. This has been part of my horse dream forever. The other parts are already fulfilled even better than I could have imagined! I have eight amazing horses and a pony I get to care for. I get to teach kids to ride and spread my love of horses through my writing on this blog, my social media, and with friends I have over to ride with me. Plus a wonderful dog named Zeus! Farm land and trails to ride on for miles. I couldn’t want more! Yet I am human, so I do… or did.

A stable, a barn, I place for my horses to call home. Not some field or fenced in grass patch. A wooden structure, with stalls, a feed room, Dutch doors for my horses to peak their heads out of! This was the missing part of my dream, the part I didn’t think would happen. But it is! That’s right, its real I tell myself, I am getting a horse barn. It’s being constructed on the property as you read this!

I must apologize for not posting about this sooner- after all construction is well under way. But its my dream, and I wanted to make absolutely sure that it was coming true before I got you all excited about it too! *Plus who wants to see a patch of dirt or concrete, this way you get to see actual structure!*

The Stables under Constriction. Notice the nice view of our lake!

The building of this horse barn has been one wild ride! My Father and I were the designers for this project. It was so neat to be able to cater the barn to our needs and put the space where we knew we needed it. Which is why the barn only has five official stalls. Despite the fact that I have nine equines, I know that each horse is different. The ages of my horses span from about two years old to 23 years old! Furthermore each horse has a different work load. And as the property has plenty of grass and fields, I still plan on giving my horses lots of turnout, even still keeping some on full time pasture. Yet I also knew my senior horses were in need of a stall to stay warm this winter, and that as I begin to teach more horse lessons, walking all the way out to the pasture to get my lesson horse is not always efficient.

I want to have stalls for my horses, but I also want to use the space I have been given to serve the purpose I need…..So my tack room is gonna be awesome! Currently; my nine saddles, blankets, feed bins, and everything else is being stored in a 12 foot by 12 foot “little house” that actually belongs to my sister…. who really wants it back! Thus, I designated a considerable amount of space to my tack/feed room, with a separate space for weekly hay storage and mucking utensils. Also included in the barn is a wash/grooming room with hot water excess and a carriage room to store my lovely wedding carriage and harnesses.

I am super duper excited about my Stables! And so very thankful for my Father and my family who have always supported my horse filled dreams & aspirations. They have helped to make them a reality. I have big plans for the horse barn, ideas and possibilities are running through my mind! I am also excited to share this information with you and invite you once again to join me on my equestrian journey. Expect more Stables updates & posts in the future!

Tails & trails,

Reese

January 7, 2022

Everyday Equestrians: Reese from Horses of the Ozark Hills – Horses of the Ozark Hills

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This past week I had the exciting opportunity to share my equestrian story on Decidedly Equestrian! Decidedly Equestrian is a blog dedicated to giving their audience honest reviews of equestrian products. Run by a team of experienced equestrian women, the product reviews include a convenient scoring chart, lots of pictures, and an honest opinion, making the reviews and articles of Decidedly Equestrian professional, informative, and relatable! Truly a great resource for every horse-owner, I encourage you to check out Decidedly Equestrian!

I discovered Decidedly Equestrian through Instagram; one of their posts encouraged me to share my story with Decidedly Equestrian & their audience! Complete with pictures of my horses that my followers will recognize and an overview of my equestrian journey, I invite you to READ MY STORY and comment below to share your own!

Tails & trails,

Reese

January 1, 2022

Training the Haflinger’s – Horses of the Ozark Hills

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It’s been awhile since my last update on the halfies. My newest followers may not know that I am training a team of Haflingers. Working with Rosemary & Jasmine has been a slow and steady process. We have had some rough days, and some really amazing ones. My last training session was one of those really amazing days! For the most part, I worked the halfies in a smaller training paddock, but one day when the weather was beautiful, my little sister and I decided to ground-drive the team in one of our nearby fields. The halfies did a wonderful job listening to my cues and turning as one unit. This was a big step in the training process, one that marked their readiness to pull the cart for the first time. I couldn’t have felt more excited or proud of them at that moment.

And while it brings me great joy to share about their progress, it also saddens me to tell you that their progress came to a halt when I discovered Rosemary had foundered. Founder or Laminitis is a condition of the foot caused when the pedal bone rotates towards the horse’s sole. There are many causes of founder, but in Rosemary’s case it is due to eating too much rich grass. Her resistance to move, limp, and the constant shifting of her weight lead me to believe that she had foundered. My horses had never foundered, so I did a little research and moved both the halfies into a dry lot until the vet could come out.

More Horsey Posts: Training the Haflingers- It Takes Two

The vet not only confirmed my hypothesis, but told me that he thought Rosemary had foundered before. This came as a surprise to me as this knowledge could really have helped me avoid this situation. Nevertheless, I was reassured that Rosemary could recover and that when she did it would not affect her ability to pull. To help her recovery, Rosemary is on a hay only diet, and is being given a supplement and anti-inflammatory medication, which is a powder added to her feed. *I am currently looking for a better feed alternative for Rosemary that is low in carbohydrates, sugars, and starches. I have heard that a feed balancer might be the way to go; I would love to hear from some fellow equestrians! Comment below and tell me what feed brands you use or if you use a feed balancer!?*

I put Rosemary’s hay into a slow feeder hay ball to encourage movement and extend meal times.

Getting Rosemary better and keeping her that way will mean that full pasture turnout is probably not an option for her future which is why I am so thankful for the stable being built right now. The horse barn is still under construction. The stalls and tack room have yet to be finished, but the outside is complete. I have always kept my horses on full turnout, but I am looking forward to having options that will help provide the best care routine for Rosemary and my other equines.

*Don’t forget to comment and tell me about what horse feed brands you use or if you use a feed balancer?*

Tails & trails,

Reese

January 1, 2022

Horses of the Ozark Hills

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It was almost a year ago that I began the training process with my team of haflingers. All my hard work reached its climax when I hitched my team to a buggy for the first time. After months of ground driving my team successfully, we were definitely ready when the time came to have them […]

For many people, fall is their favorite season of the year. The chilly weather begins, bringing hot drinks, warm clothes, and all things pumpkin! Not everyone enjoys sipping pumpkin spice lattes and enjoying a piece of pumpkin bread; however, there’s a good chance that your horse likes pumpkin! Orange pumpkins are a safe and healthy […]

Your a hobby equestrian with no experience training horses, until you buy a young horse who forces you to get some training experience! Or in my case, 4 horses & a pony who force you to! Some of my followers may remember that last year I lost three beloved senior equines, who spoiled me with […]

“I first heard about My Happy Lesson Binder by entering a giveaway held by Sparkles Rainbows and Unicorns. After receiving one of the prize copies of the digital binder, I became an affiliate of the program.” “My Happy Lesson Binder is a super fun, creative, and successful way to keep track of all your lessons. I have had […]

Shopping for horse tack (or anything really) can be a super fun occasion to look forward to, but it can also be a loathsome and time consuming experience. I always get excited about purchasing new horse related products! Nevertheless finding good quality products and brands can be a challenge. Which is why I’m so excited […]

The Ozarks have been blanketed in snow recently, with temperatures in the negatives some days. As I am writing this post it’s snowing! For many horse owners, myself included, winter and snowy conditions equals less riding. Lingering questions about the safety of riding in snowy weather go unanswered for many horse owners. Horseback riding in […]

The passing of an equine friend is never easy, as I know all too well. Recently, one of my oldest horses, Penny, passed away. This horse has been with me since 2010, for over ten years! She started as one of my first lesson horses at a riding stable, and later was purchased by my […]

Being only the second month of the new year, your New Years Resolutions are probably still fresh in your mind. When committing to these goals, did you give a time frame of completion? Goals are often accompanied with a completion date in mind; losing 10 pounds in five weeks or not eating sugar for a […]

Hop in the truck and hitch up the trailer cause it’s time to go to the vet! I joined Penny and Rosemary on their trip to the vet recently! I enjoy going to the vet as I always learn something new and my horses get the medical care they need. Penny simply got a check […]

Did you know that one year ago today I posted my first blog post! Looking back it’s been one wild year, filled with ups, downs, masks, and quarantines! But it has also been a wonderful year of growth for my one year old blog and for me personally as an equestrian & horse owner! In […]

Do you get your horse a Christmas gift?? I usually make my horses homemade peppermint flavored treats for Christmas. But there are numerous gift suggestions & ideas out there, like giving your horse the day off or getting them a new stable toy! This is the first Christmas I will be spending with my Haflingers […]

With the price of everything on the equestrian market, horse girls often order for their horse before they order for themselves. Which is exactly why I was riding in a pair of hand-me-down riding breeches that had too many holes to count! Knowing I needed to upgrade my riding wardrobe, I began to search the […]

“Senior horses hold a special place in a horse owner’s heart. They’re the sweetest, the kindest, and the oldest….which sometimes means that it’s even harder for them to stay warm in winter weather. The icy chill isn’t always good for our senior horses, and while we want what’s best for our horse it’s not always […]

It’s been awhile since my last update on the Haflinger’s training. If you’re following me on Instagram you are probably more up-to-date. I am proud to report that Rosemary & Jasmine can stand tied, be groomed, lunge, and wear a saddle, saddle pad, and bit! They have come such a long way from the halter […]

Your about to read my first product review! The product being reviewed is a Standard Hay Pillow Slow Feeder Bag, 1 3/4 inch mesh size. I ordered this specifically for my Haflingers, who I have been in training; therefore, they stay in a dry lot to keep them close. They consume their hay very quickly […]

This might seem like a lofty claim, and I don’t have years of experience teaching students to ride, I only just started! But I have confidence in this game of my semi-own invention. That’s right I didn’t 100% invent this activity. It’s an already well known game that my six year old riding student and […]

Meet Tatum! This little pony just joined my equine herd! Tiny and sooo very fluffy, due to his winter coat, Tatum is my cutest & tiniest equine! This sweet guy belongs to my little sister Quinn, who has been diligently visiting Tatum since he was a foal! We bought him from our neighbors, so Quinn […]

If you drive through Southern MO there is one thing you’re guaranteed to see: round bales. In the fields, barns, and feeders, round bales are used by many people across the United States and for many different livestock including horses. During the winter months many of my pastured horses can be seen munching on round […]

Autumn weather is one of the many reasons why fall is my favorite season! The cool air mixed with the warm sunshine just make me want to be outside. It makes me wish that the this is what the weather was like all year round. Then maybe I would really ride everyday like I want […]

The training of my Halflinger trio has come to a semi-halt with how busy I have been recently. I am waiting to officially began training until I can devote myself to them everyday at the same time. (Basically when volleyball season gets over, for those of you who don’t know, I am in highschool!) Meanwhile, […]

Put on your sweater and grab your pumpkin latte, cause fall is officially here! Fall is one of my favorite seasons, I love the colors, the favors, and the weather that invites me to saddle up and go for a ride. Something else I love are lists! Lists create clear goals and concrete them in […]

As much as I don’t like to admit my failure, about 28 days ago I failed to collect the eggs for a few days. We have a rooster in our coop so all our eggs have the potential of becoming chicks- IF the mamma hen does her job and sits on the eggs, keeping them […]

What is it about Cowgirl Boots that make me wonna go for a ride? Slip em on and out the door; feeling free, strong, and sassy. Through the muck, in the stirrups, and eventually down the aisle. What is it about Cowgirl Boots that make we wonna smile! So my first attempt at published poetry […]

If you’re like me, then you probably have looked out into your horse pasture, pleased to see your grazing equines, your gaze only to be met by the body of blue in your field. You give it a questioning look and wonder,“Is it okay for my horses to be around that stagnant body of water?” […]

When people ask me if I am a morning person, I want to say yes. I love seeing the sunrise & drinking coffee; plus getting started early aids in the making of a productive day. Getting out of bed early is hard, but once I am up and going I am always glad I got […]

You may know that the 3 newest additions to my horse family are unbroken. So it is up to me to train these horses. I get the responsibility of establishing a foundation for them to build upon. I have never trained a horse before and am super excited and a little nervous to take on […]

Do you love horse merch? Are you interested in a horse related prize box giveaway? In honor of posting 100 blog posts, The Backyard Horse Blog is hosting their first ever contest giveaway!! Win a horse related prize box by subscribing before August 20th! So hop on over to the Backyard Horse Blog and subscribe […]

In the process of planning a horse camp, I had to pick all the day’s activities for on and off the horse. It was honestly a super fun, yet challenging process. And even though the games and crafts I chose were for horse camp, I want to share them with you all, because I think […]

Something very exciting happened at the Morrison Farm this weekend! I hosted our farms first ever Horse Camp! Organizing a horse day camp has long been a dream of mine! This week I got to fulfill that dream and share my horses with 29 kiddo campers! I am super excited to share what hosting a […]

Flies are just part of summer. They plague our horses, buzzing around their face and biting their body. As horse owners it is our responsibility to make sure our horses live a comfortable life, thus fighting flies becomes our job in summer. Like anyone, we want to do our job as effectively and efficiently as […]

With summer comes hot weather and with hot weather comes a hot, sweaty horse! Keeping your horse hydrated and cool is important in the summer heat. There are numerous ways to accomplish this, however, horse popsicles might just be the coolest option! Let’s just face it, watching your horse lick a frozen fruity treat is […]

I have some exciting news to share- my horse family has gained three new members! They get their friendly spirit and curiosity from their Haflinger heritage, and their short stature from the tad of Welsh Pony in their blood. These three new additions are related, a mother and two daughters. I am so glad I […]

I step out the backdoor. Greeted by Zeus the dog, I carry a bucket of milk replacer to the tack house as I walk through the yard. A tractor is parked on the front lawn. A faint breeze blows past, taking in a whiff of air, I can smell I’m on a farm alright. I close […]

Do you keep your horse in your backyard? Because if you do you totally need to check out: The Backyard Horse Blog! One of the goals of this blog is not only to help all equestrians, but especially those that keep their horse at home. All five of my horse’s live on the property, so […]

I have sad news to share with you guys today. One of my horses, Holly, had a seizure and passed away. I witnessed the whole thing and I think the worst part was their was nothing I could do. I couldn’t get the vet here faster or give her the medicine I didn’t have or […]

1. Recognizing the wound As I was bringing Phoenix into his paddock the other morning, I noticed a piece of brown hanging on his lower leg, right above his hoof. With more inspection, I saw that he must have cut himself and that a piece of flesh was dangling on. My horse’s have definitely had […]

As horse owners, it is our job to ensure our horse’s well being and health. By performing a daily health check on our horse, we can keep our horses healthy and safe. So whether you’ve done this on your horses for years or you never have before, it is important to be refreshed on how […]

I went on a ride recently that didn’t go as planned. It was supposed to be a fun ride around the farm with my sisters and friend. The ride was fun and we all had a good time, no one got hurt, things just seemed not to go right, from the other horses getting out […]

“There he is right across from you, your horse. His feet beat the ground in a rhythmic pulse, his nostrils flare with his deep breathing, then suddenly there it is! He starts to hang his head low, licking his lips. Recognizing the signs of submission, you lower your eyes and take a tiny step back. […]

As equestrians, we know that horses and horse stuff are very expensive. So it’s important to consider the pros and cons, and ask ourselves if this is necessary before we purchase it. So when I sat down to consider if I needed to purchase a new breast collar for my horse Max, I did just […]

There I was, riding on Max down a dirt road. The sun was warm on my face and a slight breeze floated through the air. Coming to a fork in the road, I cued Max to stop. But He didn’t. Max has never really stopped when I say “woe,” but when I tighten the reins […]

If you have horses, chances are you have other animals to! Dogs, cats, maybe even a goat or donkey, and possibly you have some chickens? Or perhaps you don’t; maybe you should consider adding some chickens to your stable yard family. Not only are chickens low maintenance and provide breakfast, but it is astonishing how […]

Hay guys! The Horses of the Ozark Hills is now on Pinterest!! Now you can save your favorite posts and DIYs from Horses of the Ozark Hills as pins! Plus check out other things that inspire me and other equestrians. Like this super cool quote: There are some really great ideas & tips on Pinterest, […]

Have you never made homemade horse treats?!?! I had never baked horse treats till recently, when I wanted to try baking something new with my sisters. I wanted to make a treat for my horses, but also for my dogs! I wanted simple, yet healthy ingredients. So I kinda combined some different recipes I found […]

Did you know that there are, on average, 450 different breeds of horses and ponies?! If you are interested in a list check out this site. It lists 353 horse breeds and 100 pony breeds in alphabetical order. As I began to look over the list I realised I didn’t know as many horse breeds […]

It’s that time of year again, the grass is growing and the days are warming up, real soon the pasture will be ready for our horses. I know that my horses are ready to trade their dusty hay for the luscious grass. However, this time of year also causes me to evaluate my horse’s feeding […]

Not only is grooming good for your horse’s health, but it can be an enjoyable chore in which you get to know your horse better! Which is why it’s so important to know how to effectively groom your horse. Benefits of a good brushing A well groomed horse is a pretty sight, however; they’re many […]

As your leading your horse back to their pasture after a good ride, he whinnies at another horse in the next paddock over. So you both walk over to say “hi” and your horse touches noses with the other pony. “Aww they must be friends” you say, and you take a pic of your horse […]

January 1, 2022

A Trip to the Vet – Horses of the Ozark Hills

maximios Horses

Hay! A week or so ago, my farriers told me that Chestnut’s, one of the horses in my care, neck needed to be popped and that he needed to see a horse chiropractor. *Let me say that this was really surprising because I didn’t know there was such a thing for horses* So we called our vet feeling confident that he would know what to do. I also went on a test ride on Chestnut-whom I don’t normally ride. During our ride, I noticed that something was off with his gait and he kept moving his neck side to side, a problem I thought I had fixed. ( at the suggestion of our farriers, I had gotten him a bit with a copper roller. This gave him something to “play” with during the ride. This really helped him not to mess with his bit and move his neck during a ride.)

I woke up Friday morning and loaded up Chestnut, Holly, and Penny, who both needed exams. I love going to the vet! Yes, it does mean my horse(s) has a problem, which is sad, but it also means I get to see and experience cool things and learn new stuff! *like seeing my horse’s tooth get pulled, or watching a newborn foal follow her mom out of a trailer!* I was also excited to learn about horse chiropractic stuff. The equine clinic is kinda out in the middle of nowhere. A winding, narrow road brought us to the white and green building designed for helping horses.

Penny was the first horse to get checked out by the vet. She has respiratory issues, and hay particles get in her lungs making it hard for her to breath. To help this, Penny got prescribed some medicine, and I will start to replace hay with soaked alfalfa cubes. As I led the sedated, slow Penny back to the trailer, Holly was led into the clinic. I watched as the vet filed down (that’s what it looked like he was doing) her teeth. Other than some oral touch ups, Holly is in good health.

Holly getting her teeth worked on

It was Chestnut’s turn next. After explaining the situation to the horse doc, he had his helper lunge Chestnut in the round pen. As it turns out, nothing is wrong with Chestnut’s neck, but I did learn a valuable lesson. Dr. Shaw began to explain that what seemed to be a neck issue was actually a foot issue. Chestnut was limping in his front right foot. Doc proceeded to get some grain from the nearby barn, and used it as a ploy to get Chestnut to move his neck to each side and then to the ground. He did this easily, proving the issue was not the neck. With some more tests and a hoof examination, it became clear that the front right foot was the problem. Then why did Chestnut move his neck from side to side during our earlier ride? This is how he expressed his pain, the vet told me. During our ride and before when he had to put extra weight on his hoof while getting shod, he had no way to express his discomfort. So he used his neck to tell us something was wrong.

Chestnut’s neck is being examined by the vet

Valuable lesson: Horse’s can’t talk. When my horse is in pain he can’t just tell me what’s going on. This reminded me that as a horse owner, I must always be alert and looking for problems. Problems won’t always be there, but it’s important to notice them when they are. Which is why it’s essential for equestrians to know how their horse acts on a good day, so they can tell when something isn’t right. My horse’s actions tell me how he is feeling. If he’s grazing happily in the pasture, he is A-okay. Yet when he pins back his ears, loses his appetite, or even moves his neck side to side, I can realize something is amiss, and help my horsey pal out.

Luckly, with the help of my farrier and veterinarian, we were able to recognize Chestnut’s problem and help him out. He will receive anti-inflammatory medicine in his feed to help with the pain.

Overall, the trip to the vet went well. I now have the medicine to help Penny with her hay “allergies,” Holly’s teeth are good, and Chestnut is getting the help he needs for his limp. Plus I learned an important lesson: listening to my horse’s actions, instead of his words!

Tails & trails,

Reese

PS. Can you find the horse related homophone switch?!

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