I have been using heated water buckets in the winter since they became widely available. This year, however, I reverted back to the black rubber bucket. Partly because I didn't feel like snaking the plugs around through holes and hooks so the horses don't get themselves caught on them, but mostly due to the recent economic times. I do like the heated buckets because I know my horses always have water to drink, but they do have their drawbacks. I mentioned the snaking of plug wires. This poses a problem when it comes time to dump and refill. You have to have a second bucket to empty them into since they are now pretty much affixed to the wall. Another issue I have with them is that they seem (to me anyway) to get slimier faster, even to the point of having algae growth. It is odd to have to scrub algae when it 10 below. Finally, there is the cost. I try to unplug them when the weather is going to be above freezing, but even then there is a noticeable jump in my electric bill.
So, rubber it is! That is not to say that I will never go back to heated buckets. Rubber just made more sense to me this year. They may be heavier and freeze solid in this weather (6 below this morning), but I think I kind of enjoy beating the heck out of them with hammer. It makes me feel like I'm getting back at Mother Nature.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
America's Obesity Problem
I just saw an ad for a weight loss system for dogs. Seriously?
Yes, Science Diet has a new weight loss system for the portly American canine. It claims a 94% success rate in the first thirty days. It comes with pre-measured meals (because apparently measuring one cup twice a day is too much for some people) and...wait for it...pre-measured "snacks". Do dogs need snacks?
FEED THEM LESS! My dog gets a cup of dog food in the morning and one in the evening and maybe a cookie in between. She still looks at me like she is famished, but that is all she gets! I would love to give in to those sad eyes, but I love her and want her to live as long as possible. She would eat until it came out of both ends (which happened once when she was left home alone with a ten pound bag of cat food). That is what dogs do! It is up to us to stop them from blowing apart. The woman in the ad says "this weight loss system is easy!". Of course it is! Its like having a pet, but without all the nasty responsibility of actually having to care for them. Its one thing if you can't stop yourself for over-eating, since we don't keep our food locked away in a bin in the kitchen, but, please, have some self control for your pets!
Yes, Science Diet has a new weight loss system for the portly American canine. It claims a 94% success rate in the first thirty days. It comes with pre-measured meals (because apparently measuring one cup twice a day is too much for some people) and...wait for it...pre-measured "snacks". Do dogs need snacks?
FEED THEM LESS! My dog gets a cup of dog food in the morning and one in the evening and maybe a cookie in between. She still looks at me like she is famished, but that is all she gets! I would love to give in to those sad eyes, but I love her and want her to live as long as possible. She would eat until it came out of both ends (which happened once when she was left home alone with a ten pound bag of cat food). That is what dogs do! It is up to us to stop them from blowing apart. The woman in the ad says "this weight loss system is easy!". Of course it is! Its like having a pet, but without all the nasty responsibility of actually having to care for them. Its one thing if you can't stop yourself for over-eating, since we don't keep our food locked away in a bin in the kitchen, but, please, have some self control for your pets!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Horses Drool!
So lets talk about drooling horses today. Drool can be both good and bad. If you are riding dressage drool is good. It shows that your horse is responding to the bit. White, frothy, and dripping, the more the better! It is not uncommon to see a horse in a grand-prix test with masses of white froth on their chests.
You should also expect to see a certain amount of drool while a horse is eating, even fairly dry foods such as grain or hay. Its when your horse has that frothy "dressage" drool and is standing in the corner of the stall that you have problem.
Black Patch is a fungal disease that affects red clover, the plants develop black lesions on their leaves, which will cause excessive drooling in horses if ingested. Optimum conditions for its growth are rainy days with high humidity. It can be ingested in the pasture or from hay that contains the infected plants. So it is wise to know where your hay is coming from and inspect it closely. Horses will recover quickly once the causative agent is found and removed.
If you have checked your fields and hay and can rule out Black Patch, then it is probably a tooth problem. It may be as simple as a a piece of hay stuck in the gum line or something more serious like an abscessed or infected tooth. Either way, it is probably time to call the vet. They can flush the horse's mouth out to remove an offending object or worst case, put the horse on Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), or similar antibiotic if they there is an infected tooth.
Just know that horses do drool, but it is up to you to determine a cause!
You should also expect to see a certain amount of drool while a horse is eating, even fairly dry foods such as grain or hay. Its when your horse has that frothy "dressage" drool and is standing in the corner of the stall that you have problem.
Black Patch is a fungal disease that affects red clover, the plants develop black lesions on their leaves, which will cause excessive drooling in horses if ingested. Optimum conditions for its growth are rainy days with high humidity. It can be ingested in the pasture or from hay that contains the infected plants. So it is wise to know where your hay is coming from and inspect it closely. Horses will recover quickly once the causative agent is found and removed.
If you have checked your fields and hay and can rule out Black Patch, then it is probably a tooth problem. It may be as simple as a a piece of hay stuck in the gum line or something more serious like an abscessed or infected tooth. Either way, it is probably time to call the vet. They can flush the horse's mouth out to remove an offending object or worst case, put the horse on Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), or similar antibiotic if they there is an infected tooth.
Just know that horses do drool, but it is up to you to determine a cause!
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