Horse News You Can Use - September 2011

It is getting a bit cooler and things are getting more active around Sierra Ranch. We hope to be sending out the newsletter on a more regular basis. Below are some topics that have wieghed on our minds recently and thought you might enjoy reading about.

Wildfires: When Evacuation is Not an Option
Thanks to record summer temperatures and persistent drought, several wildfires have flared in Texas this year, according to information contained on the Texas Forest Service website. Since Sept. 1 the Texas Forest Service has responded to 181 fires. Read More

Senior Horse Care – Keeping Your Senior Horse Healthy and Happy
Senior horse care is a subject near and dear to my heart. My own senior horses, Annapolis and Star, are now 32 and 20 years old respectively–and still going strong.
Read more »

Study: Horses Prefer Nonacidic Water

A team of Canadian researchers recently revealed that horses tend to prefer water with neutral pH levels rather than low pH levels, meaning your picky drinker's problem could be due to acidic water's sour taste. Read More

Don’t forget to come see us out at the ranch. We are open Monday thru Thursday and some weekends. Call us to set up a time to meet your next trail horse.

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
http://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/

Horse News You Can Use - May 2011

We are still working on getting things going at the Sierra Ranch. Have had a few trial rides go out and expect more whe school gets out. Call us and set a time to come pick out a great horse to ride.

Here is cool news from the horse world:

DO HORSES RECOGNIZE THEIR PEOPLE?

Does a horse respond differently to "his person" as opposed to a stranger? The results of a recent French study indicate that horses use auditory and visual information to recognize specific people, and that they expect certain behaviors from those people based on previous experience. Continue reading...

BLM OFFERS TOUR OF OKLA. LONG-TERM HOLDING FACILITIES

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is hosting an all-day public tour of two wild horse long-term holding pastures in Hominy, Okla., about an hour from Tulsa. The tour, which will take place on June 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., will give the public an opportunity to observe wild horses roaming in a natural setting across thousands of acres. Continue reading...

THOROUGHBRED 'PERFORMANCE GENES' FURTHER EXAMINED IN STUDY

The genetics behind the athletic performance of Thoroughbred racehorses has been a popular area of research in the past few years. A large-scale study was carried out recently in Japan, the results of which corroborate those of previous studies: Identifying specific "performance genes" on equine chromosome 18 could identify the ideal distance for a Thoroughbred to race. Some industry veterinarians, however, suggest that this information should still be evaluated and used with caution. Continue reading...

Hope you enjoy the news. We will be posting pictures of the horses available for lease in the next day or so. Don’t forget to come see us out at the ranch. We are open Monday thru Thursday and some weekends. Call us to set up a time to meet your next trail horse.

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
http://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/

Horse News You Can Use - April 2011

We are getting Sierra Ranch, LLC back and going so you will be seeing more postings here and the newsletter should be going out more regularly. :) Here is some news that we are getting ready for at the ranch. Tomorow the vet is coming for coggins and shots. Should be a fun day. So glad I will be missing it this year. ;) VACCINATION BASICS FOR HORSES Vaccination used to be simple. You bought a couple of vaccines at the feed store and gave them once a year to your horse. Today there are so many vaccination options that if you still administer vaccines yourself without at least talking to your veterinarian, you might be selling yourself, and your horse, short. Continue reading... BATTLING BOREDOM: STUDY PROVES FOOD-RELATED ITEMS MOST SUCCESSFUL The old saying goes, "Idle hands are the devil's tools," but horse owners know an idle horse's lips can cause just as much mischief. For many owners it can be a daily challenge to keep curious horses occupied when not being ridden or handled. In her recent study, Grete Helen Meisfjord Jørgensen, PhD, of the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, observed horses' reactions to several types of "enrichment items" and determined that food-related items helped battle boredom best. Continue reading... Don’t forget to come see us out at the ranch. We are open Monday thru Thursday and some weekends. Call us to set up a time to meet your next trail horse. Deb Stowers Sierra Ranch, LLC http://sierraranchok.com/ http://sierraranchok.net/

Horse News for June...

From the "and ya'll think TB's are silly" file...



HORSE THAT OVERCAME ADVERSITY ATTEMPTS GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

Lukas, a 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding who stands 16.2 hands, may well be the smartest horse in the country--maybe the world, and owner-trainer Karen Murdock is trying to get him into the Guinness World Records for "Most numbers identified by a horse in one minute." On June 16, Lukas was able to identify a correct number at least 18 times. Continue reading...

STUDY EXPLORES HOW HORSES VIEW THE WORLD

On the trail, in the dressage arena, at the racetrack, on the cross-country train--wherever horses may be, we've all seen it: the "Spook"--that sudden, bolting reaction of shock so particular to our equine friends. It might be because some animal runs up, or some object is blown in by the wind, taking the horse by surprise. But sometimes it's just something you're sure they've seen many times before--so why spook about it now? New research at the Aptos, California-based Equine Research Foundation now has answers to that question. Continue reading...

GULF OIL SPILL CALLED NO IMMEDIATE THREAT TO HORSES

The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico poses no immediate threat to horses residing in Gulf states, according to one Louisiana official. The massive oil leak began last month when a deep water British Petroleum water oil rig off the Louisiana coast exploded pumping millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill threatens coastlines in that state as well as in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Continue reading...

Hope you enjoyed this bit of news. Have a wonderful weekend!

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
http://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/

Join us in Riding to Save Babies!

Saddle up and make plans to attend the sixth annual “Ride to Save Babies” Trail Ride. For a minimum pre-registry donation of $20, riders can ride the trails then come back for some great food. All to help save babies and benefit the March of Dimes. Check out their website here!

On Saturday, April 17th, 2010, at Lake Carl Blackwell, horse lovers can enjoy a one-day outing, along with prizes and great food! All money is given to help the lifesaving programs of the March of Dimes. Individual prizes will be given for the adult and youth that raises the most money, along with all participants being registered for prize drawings. Registration is $20 and will include the entry fee, food, and a t-shirt. Late registration begins at 10am- 12noon, the ride will begin at 1pm from the equestrian campgrounds of Lake Carl Blackwell, located just 8 miles west of Stillwater on Highway 51. Riders will return for food, drinks and entertainment around 6pm at the campgrounds.

The “Ride to Save Babies” is a fundraiser for the March of Dimes, an organization which helps to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature births, and infant mortality. You can help to save babies from these threats to their health just by saddling up and joining this benefit ride.

For more information, registration, or any questions, contact Mendi Cronister by email rockin_mr@hotmail.com or call 580-370-8890 or 580-336-4945. Or visit their webiste here!

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy. For more maternal and infant health information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com, its Spanish web site at www.nacersano.org or call 1-888-MODIMES.

We look forward to seeing everyone at this year's ride!

Rick took several people with him on this ride last year. We are planning on attending again this year! If you would like to ride with us and need a horse or transportation, please contact us!

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
http://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/

Importance of a Tribe...

Some friends of mine have started a new site, Girly Gazatte. The site is about how women need to have positive relationships with other women, mostly. They have lots of cool articles about motherhood, fashion and many other things that make you think.

In their kick off week they posted an article about who is in your tribe. You can read it here.

I had left a comment about who I thought was in my tribe. I have a group of ladies that I have devoted a great deal of my time to in the past and I thought they would always be there for me. However, last weekend I had something happen that makes me question that.

I realize that relationships take some nurturing and work. However, I guess I may have not nurtured that relationship as much as I should have in the last year. Our family inherited a business and as any of you know that own a business the first year is often the most trying. So I have not been around for my friends as much as I used to be. Now understand that I had spent 7 years as the leader and resigned a couple of years ago to help raise my step kids. Our family was still quite involved with the group.

Our family helped with a couple of functions a year providing entertainment. Last year they came to me and said they would like to try something different at one function, and I understood. It was business and they needed to be able to pull a crowd. My hubby didn't understand and took it kinda personal. I discussed this with the group. I chalked this up to male egoism.

Then last week we offered to provide entertainment for the function we did last year and possibly the other one. I sent an email explaining the issue that that we would be giving up a gig at the new business to do these functions. I got no response. Then later in the week got a group email stating that someone else was hired.

I felt confused. On one hand I understand it's business. On the other hand just one email would have made me feel that they understood and show me the path they wanted to take. I don't expect to get every gig. I don't expect much. An email letting me know they received mine and wanted to do something different would have been the nice thing.

Needless to say this really makes me question who is in my tribe? Who has my back? Who will be there when I need something or someone? How much does a tribe need to be nurtured? Do tribes change as you move to different places in your life? Do you need a sub-tribe for work friends, mom friends, fun friends, etc.?

I have never been one to have tons of friends, kinda is part of being a nerdy engineering kinda gal. Most of my tribe growing up and through school were guys. So dealing with a group of ladies has always been interesting, but kinda thought I had made headway. Gives me some new perspective.

So how do you nurture your tribe?

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
http://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/

Tale of Two Tails...

If you live on a ranch you know that things can get a bit on the weird side sometimes. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you know since before Christmas (maybe even Thanksgiving) I have been tormented by a possum. Well now I get to torment it, well them.

Rick laughed because I took pictures, but you need to know the situation, because I need help getting these danged things out!

Now there has been a hole in the heater room since we moved in April 2003. For several years there was a cabinet sitting there blocking the hole. I moved stuff around a couple of years ago and didn't realize that the hole went in to the heater room. Here is a view of the heater room.

The door to this room always has stuff in front of it since the washer and dryer are just outside of it. We don't store lots of things in it and I tossed some of them this morning. There was storm windows for the house, drying rack, some tables (that are ruined) and two windows to some truck that have been there since we moved in. Yeah, we are great at collecting things and not so great at tossing. LOL!

The picture above is after cleaning and spraying bleach in the area. We got to smell the bleach through out the house, but that is much better than the poo smell we had been getting a whiff of every now and then. ACK!

Last night Rick heard things moving in the garage. He had not believed me that the critters were in there, until he saw the one last night. We started looking and there were actually two possums. What fun. NOT!

We tried to get them out last night, but they got between the wall and the heater and us nor Bubba could get them to leave. So we left the door open thinking, OK they will leave since they have been found. NOT!

Silly critters did not to appear to be in there this morning. I got the old horse beet pulp soaking and started cleaning out the closet. I finally found something to put between the wall and the chest. I started moving said things above, when stuff moves. Yeah, fun. NOT! I keep pulling things out and get down to the big glass from some truck. The critters are sleeping on a towel back behind the smoked glass. Still not sure how the towel and other nesting stuff got in the room.

The possum were not so happy that I found them. I tried to shoo them out the door. Not thinking about the fact that the escape route that they were used to was the hole I blocked up so freaking well. (Sometimes it doesn't pay to be smart!) So the smaller one moves and I am thinking "Just please don't run up my pant leg!" and the silly thing runs into the wall and is clawing in the wall trying to get out. Dang!

The bigger one just sits there. I don't have any thing that I could loop him with and he is not scooping well with the shovel. So I figure I will leave them alone, go feed the old horses, wait for Rick to get up, and regroup.

I go out to start laundry and finish this thinking the danged things have left. Rick sees the silly critters up in the wall. So we place the auto glass between the heater and the wall. It's pretty heavy and I don't think they will move it. We blocked it up against the hole on the inside wall as best we could. I tried to get it tight and broke one pane. Oh well, not like we were ever going to use them. And with the coating it should not totally shatter. We will see.

I sprayed the area down really well with bleach hoping to run them out into the garage, but I think it just made them mad. I heard lots of hissing. LOL!

Later I looked the silly critters are still holed up on the wall, but I don't think they can get back into the room. I know these guys have been eating the cat food and I think they are moving onto the dog food. So, I may have to get the food source to go away for them to actually leave. I am hoping they don't have babies, and probably don't yet, but they so need to leave.

And yes we have the fire power to kill them. And we have numerous ways to kill them, but I can't do it. Even Rick was touched by their cute faces last night. Between that and running the risk of hitting the heater or TV (if it went through the wall). He is considering using the cross bow. Might sic the girl that feeds on the target. She likes killing small woodland critters, so maybe she could get them out. It's worth a try.

If anyone has any tips on getting the silly things out of our wall I would be willing to listen. Hate the waiting game, but right now that's the only way to do it. Hope you have enjoyed life on the ranch. Yes, some days are good ones and you get to ride a race horse. Other days you get to chase possum out of the cat food. All pays the same.

Hope you enjoy. Make it a great day!

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
http://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/