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/

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/

Worst Frigging Ice Storm of the Century and now Firggin Snow Preditcted

We have not had power since 5AM on Sunday morning. We broke out the generator and have been doing as well as can be expected with a totally electrice house. We have a forced air insert in the fireplace and have been keeping everything pretty toasty. God blessed us with plenty of frigging wood in the yard around the house, let alone down the drive and pasture.

Got up Mon. and normal 5AM to see what was going on. They activated the danged EOC at 5:30 and for some fricking reason expected ME to be there! I called in and told them that I would be at work when I could get out of my drive, and that I needed to get off the danged phone while the limbs were falling on my house! So I wasn't in the bestest mood when they called at 10AM wanting me to do damage assement! Limbs were still falling. I am jsut thankful that we had some trimmed a couple of months back. It would have been much worse if we had not had that done.

Tues. Rick finally got the drive cleared enought to pass. He siad he flet like a rat in a trap. He would cut one tree free and two more would fall. The picture above is our driveway.Got more gas. Got wood and stuff in place so the kids could keep the fire going while we were gone. I came to work yesterday, but we had no power here and I was wondering why the heck I was not at home. Our silly building has back up power, but we are not the important folks, so I had to go down a floor to read email and such. At least today we have power and heat and internet. We ahve all those things at home, I just seem to be constantly doing things and not having time to check in here.

I have pictures I need to load on the internet somewhere. I think I will add a page to my web site and post the link here.

I still haven't gone to the EOC. Figured that sending all my employees was enough. Well, best get back to the real job. At least pretending better to doing it. Hope you all are doing great! Sending hugss and hhhhmmmmmsss to those in need.

Sierra Ranch News – November 2007

Welcome!

Welcome to the seventh edition of the Sierra Ranch News! I know lots have folks have been taking advantage of the wonderful fall weather and riding. It is now deer gun season so riding has ceased until the first part of December in most places. And now we are finally getting the seasonable cold weather that makes you not want to ride.

Sierra Ranch is starting to make more preparations for the winter. Check out the articles below for more helpful hints on how to make your horse more comfortable when the nasty winter weather hits. Several of our horses don't make much fur and are blanketed on and off. Make for a fun time trying to keep up with the weather and what it will be doing.

Tell us what you where you plan on riding this winter. Many folks stop riding in the winter, but sometimes this is the best time of the year to ride. Let us know what information you would like to learn tips on horse keeping, latest horses for sale and any other info you find interesting. As always you can email me and let me know what might interest you to learn about.

Sierra Ranch Logo!

I know you thought I would never actually get this done. But at last here are two different Sierra Ranch Logos. We are changing our tag line from "Come test ride your next horse today!" to "Where your equine experience begins!" Part of the reason for doing this if the fact that Rick finally came to the realization that he really doesn't want to sell any of the horses we have. So in order to keep them they must earn their keep and be leased, used for lessons, or trail rides. We will have more on that in the coming months.

I have been working on a couple of logos. This is the first one. Next month we will have the second one. Rick thinks the horse looks a little mad. I tried to make it not so mad, but then Rick thought we needed something different, since we changed our tag. The one I am still working on incorporates all the different aspects of what we do. We have raced, loved to ride, jump, and do performance events. Most of our horses are good at all these things, so we should show this off. The picture is attached to this email or you can visit the Yahoo Group site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SierraRanchOK/ or at the Sierra Ranch Multiply site at http://sierraranch.multiply.com/ or at the blog at http://sierraranchok.blogspot.com

Let us know what you think about this logo and shortly we will post the other one for all to critic. Soon we will have set up a CafePress site with stuff to buy. Until then please check out the HorseMatch.net CafePress store. Check out the link: http://www.cafepress.com/horsematch. I am working on getting calendars and posters on the store. You never know whose picture will be on the calendar. We also made some t-shirt at a local t-shirt shop to sell at the ranch. Look for more stuff to come along the way. We want to get our name out and about on the trails around Oklahoma and other places.

Check this out!

Winter Care: Use Caution When Changing a Horse's Rations

Some horses might need more feed to replace energy loss brought about by cold, harsh weather conditions. Equine owners must practice sound management in altering their animal's rations to avoid problems with colic or laminitis. To read the whole article, click the link below:

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10826

Laminitis Studies Financed by Barbaro Fund to Commence

Two projects focusing on the equine disease laminitis will be launched soon utilizing funds raised by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association in memory of the late 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. The projects, at more than$100,000, will be conducted by researchers at the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University, according to a release from the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation. To read the whole article, click the link below:

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10784

The Business of Horses – So You Want to be Involved in the Horse Industry?

Winter is a great time to reassess your business and why you are in it. Here is a great article about getting into the horse business and what is required. Not everyone can be the trainer, sometimes you have to do the other jobs required to make a successful horse business profitable. Hope you find this informative. To read more of this article by Ralph Bain from www.businessofhorses.com, click the link below:

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Business-of-Horses---So-You-Want-to-be-Involved-in-the-Horse-Industry?&id=734973

Upcoming Rides and Other Events

It's time to send in events for the upcoming year. Send them to me or to the link on Oklahoma Horse Online. Many of these came from listing on www.oklahomahorseonline.com. Check it out!

December 8-10 Wild Horse Trail Camp Last Chance Ride, Honobia, OK. Contact: Sherry Wright 918-755-4570 Electric & water hook-ups available. Cabin rentals also available. Camp sites & cabin rentals available year round.

December 8 Lake Carl Blackwell 2nd annual POKER RUN, Stillwater, OK. This is a pleasure ride event with prizes for the best hands collected, hamburger cook out. Point of contact is the Lake Manger, Chad.Meisenberg@okstate.edu, www.lcb.okstate.edu

January 1, 2007 BGTRC New Years Day ride at Bell Cow in Chandler, OK. Contact Deena Wilson at (918)766-3402.

January 26 Practical Horsemanship Clinic Series, Bridlewood Equestrian Facility 5300 N Air Depot, OKC, Oklahoma. A bi-monthly Series of Equestrian Educational Speakers & Clinicians 9-5 Bring your own chair. $20. Audit fee Door prizes. Western & English Disciplines, Health & Nutrition, contact: Bridlewood 405-771-3606 (c) 213-9772

March 8, 2008 BGTRC Back in the Saddle Ride Bell Cow Lake –Contact Deena Wilson at (918)766-3402.

June 14-15, 2008 13th Annual City Slickers Trail Ride Sponsored By The Bad Girls Trail Riding Club, Robber's Cave State Park Friday (June 13th) bring your hotdogs and marshmallows and join us at the campfire. Saturday (June 14th) Cloverleaf ride (OETRA approved mileage). Leaving at 9AM returning to camp at noon for lunch. Afternoon riding out at 2PM and returning about 4:30PM. Saturday evening: 6 p.m. Dinner by the BGTRC BOD and 7 p.m. Karaoke with a Karaoke Contest for Cash Prizes and City Slicker Buckle Raffle ($1/ticket) Breakfast and lunch Saturday can be purchased at a minimal cost from the BGTRC BOD. Sunday (June 15th) on you own!! Registration before June 1st is $25.00 each. Registration after June 1st is $30.00 each. Children under 12 are $10.00. Registration includes camping Fri. & Sat. nights as well as Sat. dinner and entertainment! For information contact: Deb Stowers deb@sierraranchok.com Phone: 918/341-5799 Cell: 918/607-6094 DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS GREAT RIDE! Children under 6 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. ORIGINAL current negative coggins required - No stallions. No alcohol on the trails - Horses should be shod. Check out: http://www.sierraranchok.com/bgtrc/cityslicker.html for flyers and registration forms.

October 4th, 2008 - 2nd Annual Hooves for a Cure Charity Trail Ride, J-D Trail Riding Camp, Octavia, OK - Come ride in the beautiful Kiamichi Mountains and help raise money to fight breast cancer. Ride fee is $10 with a potluck dinner on Saturday Night, Silent Auction, and Raffle Drawing. Come for the day or spend the entire weekend! (Camping fees not included in ride fee) Non-riders are also welcome! Located just 10 miles East of Honobia on Hwy 144. For camping reservations, contact Jo Harrington (580)244-7261, or visit www.j-dtrailriding.com . For ride information, contact Andrea Fowler (918)231-9911, afowler@trustok.com. For more information about Hooves for a cure, visit our website at www.Hoovesforacure.com Wear PINK and put pink on your horse!

Riding Lessons

A Horse is not a Puppy
By Rick Stowers
Check out Rick's Riding Lessons at http://www.horsematch.net/Rickstowers.html

We all know the scene... A child receiving a new puppy and forming a bond growing up together. Well, back to the title. Most young people simply do not have the years of patience it takes to train a 2-year old horse.

All of us who are mature in our equestrian lives know that before a horse is five or so his attention span is short at best, and possibly nonexistent on some days. Just like it takes our children years to go through the growth process - mentally as well as physically (some take longer mentally, our equine companions take years not months to mature.

My student was totally horrified when I answered the question of "How long will it take for my horse to be trained as well as the lesson horse I am riding?" with an honest 2.5 years or so.

Let's face it. Maturity comes with age and there is no magic potion to turn a two-year old into a mature horse over night. For most humans today our "instant gratification" concept and a young horse just doesn't make sense. Any trainer worth his salt will tell you that you can't have a fully trained horse in less than 1,000 hours of time. Working time, not pasture time. And how many of us want to put out that much effort.

Remember we are talking about OUR children. Is it really worth risking life and limb just to say you started and trained the horse yourself?

There are some unscrupulous people who pass themselves off as trainers. They say the can have your horse "broke" in 30-60-90 days. Well, let's examine the definition of "broke."

If you ask for that definition you might not like the answer. According to Pat Parelli in his book Natural Horsemanship. You should put only 100 hours on a three year old; another 100 hours when he is four and then when the horse is five you can "have at him."
Well, this is saying that you can't possibly be able to finish a horse until he is five. This is a three year wait, if you buy a two year old. Let's consider the cost of this endeavor.

Assume you pay nothing for the two year old horse. You need immunizations for the horse, plus halters and tack, plus feed, plus hoof care, plus vet care for this year. At three repeat this and add a saddle, plus time or expense to get him started (the first 100 hours) approximately 30 days of training. At four repeat this process again remembering the saddle may not fit now or halter or tack because he is growing, and add in the next 100 hours of training. Finally when he is five you can finish his training (approximately 800 saddle hours) and have him trained.

Deborah and I spend approximately $200 dollars a year average on vet care per horse. Trimming hoofs around here is about $25 per head, so at every six week trims you are looking at $400 per year farrier care. Feed and de-worming cost us about $2 per day for $730 per year - and this assumes you do all the training yourself.

So your free horse has cost you $1330 per year for 3 years or $3990 with nothing added for the saddle or tack. No colic episodes or other vet emergencies (which cost premium prices), no training fee and three years to get a trained horse.

Is it worth it? That is your decision.

We hope you enjoy our philosophy and will come visit Sierra Ranch.
LET'S GO RIDING TODAY!!!!

Horse Spotlight

Grace

http://www.sierraranchok.com/Grace.html

Need a trained show horse for the upcoming show season? Here she is! Grace has been there and done that and is ready to do it again. Grace has competed in local shows. She is a great jumper that has been used for lessons at her previous barns.
I have added more pictures of Grace riding and jumping. I am sorry that the jumping pictures did not come out well. I guess my digital camera isn't quick enough. They kinda look artsy when cleaned up. It didn't help that the light was not the best, but was trying to do it while I had riders. In addition, I didn't have the kids put one helmets. We usually ride in them, just was kind of a quick thing. Let me know if you need more information. And as always you are more than welcome to come ride Grace yourself.

Grace is a 13 year old thoroughbred mare. She is around 17 hands and about 1200 pounds. She is one of our boarders horses and has been used for showing and giving lessons at other barns that she has been boarded at. She is a quiet and smart horse. See pictures on her site at the link above.

Grace is a finished show horse that is trained in hunter/jumper type events. She is suitable for intermediate and experience riders. She has not been ridden by children, but by teenagers and young adults.

Grace is being offered for $15,000 — She won't be here long at this price.

Grace is a professional at everything that she does. She is easy to load and hauls well. Stands quietly for bathes, grooming, vet and farrier. She is up to date on her shots and gets continuous wormer. We encourage vet checks for each horse.

Comments

Let us know how you liked this issue. And again let us know about what you want to hear about. We want to make this newsletter for our clients, friends, and families. See you out riding!

Thanks,
Deb and Rick Stowers
deb@sierraranchok.com
www.sierraranchok.com

What a last few days!

Well, it's been kinda a whirlwind the last few days. Had so much going on don't know if I am coming or going. Only up to reading Wend. emails, have 168 to read and have way too much stuff to do. Hope to get some of it done in the next few hours. Who am I kidding!

Last Monday we had one of the pasture horses examined as well as Loud Forum. The vet found a mass on the pasture horse. He had been dribbling pee for a couple of months. We had done blood work and urine sample, but not physical exam. This time the new blood work showed an increased white blood count. It just didn't sound good and this vet didn't have a scope small enough to go up there. They suggested we take him to OSU. So Friday, I made arragements with the lady who had lent him to us and she agreed to met us at OSU and take him back. Everything was going fine. UNTIL...

The add coolant light came on. It was not running hot and I was in traffic talking to my boss, so ifigured i would pull into the halfway point and service it. Unfortunately the Chevy had differnt ideas. Just as I got on the turnpike the silly thing blew black smoke, lost power, and stopped. Just as Rick was calling. Yep, I blew up the Chevy. Luckily, Rick drives a Ford one ton and came to save me. Even though we did have to push the Chevy up hill to get it from in front of the trailer. So we get back on the road and are just a few minutes after 5PM at getting to OSU.
So we discuss on the way home what to do. The chevy has never been something that just anyone can drive. We have either blown the head gascket or something worse as it would not start. My car is almost paid off and we had discussed getting a SUV so I could get hay or feed on the way home from work without destroying my car, but it gets such good mileage. So we decided to look at truck on the internet.

And what do I find... The cutest truck inthe world. OK, so I am wierd and think that one ton dually deisel Dodges are cute. But it is really spiffy. Leather. Really sweet looking. Just to die for. So I do some checking and ther is jsut not much out there. It is at a great price. We have credit. And if I by pass it will I ever have another. Needless to say I couldn't sleep Friday night. I finally got up at 3AM and finished the research with carfaxes and all. It is a sweet deal. We showed up at the dealer at 9AM Sat. We check out the other dealer we like and I finally end up with the sweet pickup in the photo above. Yeah, I am spoiled, loved, and very lucky!

But there is more! As we have all predicted the kids (16yo that married an 18yo and then got pregnant) finally figured out that they could not afford to have their own place. With tails between their legs came to us and asked to live with us. We said yes with conditions. You pay off rent in helping with the horses. You will have a contract so that things are well spelled out and your pit bull can NOT live with us. She whined and Rick finally said OK to the pit bull. I spent the rest of Sat. rearranging the back bedroom to allow the kids to move in. Make the bunks into a king and do mucho general cleaning and tossing that goes with removing all little kid stuff from the room so that these two can move in. She shows up with her dog, tosses my dog out of his yard and put hers in. Starts bossing around her sister and is being a general pain in the ass. Now, it is 9pm ish. I have been up since 3 and am not in the best mod when I am tired. She throws a wall eyed fit and had her hubby find another place for them to live. I am not real sure why we talk to this child. She says her older sister is the drama queen. OH, PLEASE!! She can not even move in with out massive drama. For some reason she thought she could move in and rule. I just don't get it. But at least our world is almost back to normal. I ahve too much to do to put it all back today, but will work on it.

Back to the horses. We were really worried about Loud Forum last week. We have the vet look at him. He needs to take him into the clinic and xray. He has not foundered, but has bruised his toes. He should be fine. Needs meds, polises (like you really think I can speel that) and hand walking for a few days. Silly horse will not get it in his head that he is retired. He just plays too hard. Oh well, it could be much worse.

And work is getting more hectic. I have denitst and doctor's appointments this week and will b off on Friday to go to a ride so it will be even worse. Considering talking off a week in a few, but not sure if I can. I know I should and I need the down time, but dang it. Just don't want the massive catch up that will need to be done. It's a never ending story.

Well best get back to my working. Hope you all had a much less stressful weekend! If you see me and I am getting greyer then you know what is happening. Have a great week!

Leasing versus Owning

We are looking for some comments and suggestions.

Most of the horse people I know only use their horses in the spring and fall, then they are left to fend for themselves in summer and winter. Wouldn't it be better for both human and equine if the horse was leased rather than owned?

Especially if:

• The leased horse comes with a saddle that fits him and his rider.
• The leased horse gets regular farrier work as part of the lease.
• The leased horse gets regular veterinary care and vaccinations as part of the lease.
• The leased horse has access to horse transportation to and from events, trails etc.
• The leased horse can be changed at the request of his rider for another without a penalty.
• This means that as a rider progresses he or she can trade for a more spirited or performance oriented horse at any time.
• And finally, the horse gets care all year long.

Let us know what you think. I know the hoses we first had were not the same caliber as the ones we have now, partially due to the fact that we are better riders. That's kinda part of the reason we have so many horses. But, a lesson horse is not quite the same as leasing in that you never know who is on it. The leased horse would have pretty much one ride. Kinda leads to the whole owning without having to make that first big commitment.

Thanks in advance for you input.

Hoove for a Cure Website is updated!

Well, we finally did it. And have most of it updated. Well, kinda. We have our very own website. Whhooo! Whhooo! So come check out stuff on the new hoovesforacure.com site and let us know what you think.

Soon we will have pictures on the web of all the rides. We are soo happy and really excited to start working on the ride locations for 2008! So check it out and let us know what you think.

Web Site: http://www.hoovesforacure.com/

Group Site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HoovesforaCure

Blog: http://360.yahoo.com/hoovesforacure

Purchases of merchandise with the logo will be donated as well: http://cafepress.com/hoovesforacure

We have the “I rode” logo on some t-shirts on CafePress. We will have the 2008 logo on stuff soon as well as some things without logos. In addition, we are thinking about a 2008 calendar with pictures of the 2007 ride. Pictures from the rides are posted on the Hooves Yahoo Group site.

Thanks to everyone who came to a ride and everyone who donated!