The Horse Diary "Acuscope"

I would like to tell you all about an evaluation and treatment that I had done on my horse. Alaina Houpt of Equisport Therapy came out to the farm to evaluate Gus man. I knew of her services but was unclear of exactly what it is, I'm thinking some of you maybe thinking the same so here is my story, maybe it will help.
She test like 10 areas to measure the micro current running thru, if there is a low number , there is low cartilage or something amiss in that area. She takes a reading of the lung or “whole body reading” that give you basically an average number, Gus’s was 61, most of his area’s were in the 55-65 range his sacroiliac and hips and hawks were over 80 so his back end is really good. His front end however is really low, his shoulders were in the 35-40 range and his knees were 3 and 0, his fetlocks were in the 15-20 ranges. So instead of just doing a whole body opening she did a front body opening to get everything in the front going. After she did the treatment his 3 knee was a 72 and his 0 was a 4. But she said anything from a 0 is a good sign, meaning it can be revived a little, sometimes when it’s 0 if it has been that way for a while she has a hard time ever getting a reading. I am going to pay to have her come back to do the series of 3 and after the 3rd if he is not around 10 I will get something going with those knees. The fetlocks came up to around 70 also but she said as long as they are double digits after the 1st treatment they will go up to normal usually. I’m having her come back in 2 weeks,  she wants to do a whole body so he is balanced, and then the 1st week of May to check the front and do the front again and see where we are at.
It's really awesome information to have on your horse.

Once she started the treatment Gus was Yawning and Yawning and Yawning she said it was a natural release, also bit my shirt twice and did the upper lip flip  so he must have liked it.

If you would like more information contact Alaina Houpt, http://www.equisporttherapy.webs.com/ or 724-504-2280

Whatta week.....ups n downs

Whatta week. My barrel racing season is scheduled around the farm mainly because about 6 months after we "bought the farm" we were pregnant with Claire. So all the while I have had the farm and was back to barrel racing in my adult life we had had to plan A LOT so I was able to go. I show mainly end of winter, spring and until hay starts being mowed. Then I'm hit and miss, I am able to get there and run some but not usually all day care free. Then I get back into my groove September - November weather dependant.

I am in my season and I couldn't be happier that it has had it's 80 degree days the past couple weeks, I'm sure Gus man is not thrilled....he decided to start shedding just last Thursday!

It's also awesome the older Claire gets the more she can go, and she is all into her buddies, it really is like an all day play date for kids. I used to think of it as dragging her to them but the more she asks to go to horse shows it really is something she likes and has a good time at, in fact she is mad if she DOESN"T get to go!

Work has been intense for a solid 6 months, Claire gets smarter every day (more fun also), on and I had the flu....it's never good when mama is down for the count...... All I know is that my weeks no matter what the schedule, flu, stressed, or work day as long as I end up at a horse show with the people that understand me and my farmin life the most it's all good :) I hope everyone, no matter what the interest, has "their" people that they get to see, that makes their week worth all of the ups and downs. Have fun with your life!

Turkey Information

I wanted to give a little information about Starward Farm Turkey's. A couple years ago G and I were looking for an addition to the farm that wouldn't change the whole operation but would add something to it using the facilities that we have. Having horses we were already "down the barn" 2 times a day feeding at least.

Along with looking at something to add we also wanted something that was useful to us and while I do the grocery shopping and was purchasing more and more turkey meat at $5-6 a pound I thought, hey why don't we get a couple for ourselves, better quality and the same price....with the piece of mind of knowing where they came from.

And that has grown into selling Thanksgiving Turkey for any and all who want them. We are still learning the process at the farm, which are the best feeders and water-ers for the pens. The Turkeys stay in for 8 weeks as their bodies develop this gives them time to become immune to many things. After 8 weeks we raise the turkeys as free range, they have both an indoor and outdoor pen and do come in at night to protect them from predators.

We are rapidly approaching the arrival of our 1st batch of Turkeys. Instead of separating and bulk feeding certain turkeys to obtain a larger weight, we just get them earlier in the season so they have more time to grow. It's better for the animal as well as the consumer.

There is ground turkey and turkey breast available from last year if anyone is interested and we also are taking orders for Thanksgiving 2012.

It's like tax day for Farmers!

April 15th is the feared and fretted tax day for all citizens. Well, March 15th is the deadline for farmers to sign up for crop insurance.....I correlate the 2 because they are both on the 15th and a month apart. I feel like G is like a tax accounting or how I think they would be, staying up all hours of the night to get his clients needs met. Oh and now we can't get our own taxes done until March 15th is over LOL

He is talking to other crop insurance agents and specialists across the state, they are comparing acreage. He is also stressing himself out with his clients and weighing different farmers pros and cons for crop insurance. He literally will rationalize who needs what and why or why they would not get or need crop insurance. So if you want an agent that is looking at your best interest call G!

It's also the beginning of the long list of seasons, which is what our life has become revolved around. This would be the season of Crop Insurance, then of course planting and because we are extra special, we have hay season.........and a lot of it. Mix some wheat and straw in with some more hay (again extra special you can have 2-3 cuttings of hay) all the while we are in turkey season that lasts until NOVEMBER! Farming is year long no matter what anyone tells you.

If you don't know about the turkey season with our farm I will be informing you very shortly.

Congratulations Farmer G and all other crop insurance specialists for surviving "your season".....on to the next.

His and Hers

As we all know a farm is a busy place.......even if you don't have a farm I'm sure you home is full of activities, schedules, and time lines. I have posted before that I am boarding my horse to maximize my riding time by being able to ride my horse everyday at lunch time...but who's schedule are we on?? This could be where my husband doesn't understand why I don't just want a tractor to ride...here we have his farm equipment and hers

I rush to work most morning's, muddle through and can't wait for lunch, I rush to the barn to get ready to ride and I find this yesterday.....





His





Hers





Today I come across a freshly drug arena and promptly get my barrels out, even though I don't have as much time today I can't pass that up! Now I"m in even more of a rush, and I find this...



His



Hers



I add the His tractor because I'm sure if "he" were going to lunch every day to ride his tractor he would find the same exact thing every day, it sitting there waiting on him. I find something with it's own personality and it's own schedule. But it makes my whole day :P

p.s. I apologize for the poor picture quality of Gus man, I was obviously not expecting him to be snoozing BOTH days I got to the barn and didn't have the proper equipment to capture!

Stretchy

I am in a horsey mood today and want to introduce you to the 2nd biggest attitude we have, Stretch. Claire is officially over naps and asks if she can ride her pony on her birthday (February 7th) she and Stretch are on the road this year. As you can clearly tell she would much rather be on her pony, by herself than riding with me!

+

 While I have 1 stall reserved for this weekend at Grizzle, the closer and more excited Claire is getting about the show the more I'm thinking......that pony is coming with us. If Claire is outside while we are loading up, there is a no doubt in my mind that Stretchy willbe in the trailer. It is supposed to be nice 50 and sunshine she will get about 15 min of entertainment out of him so why not LOL

She says things like "My Stretchy has to get in da barn cause it's raining" or "Daddy you put my Stretchy out today?" Yes Claire, "Thank you he needed that"

While we were watching the NFR this year Claire fell in love with tie down roping, she says "My Stretchy can do that" I"m thinking JACKPOT I have a tie down ropin mini in my barn $$ :)

Good Luck Stretchy!!!!

Horse Diaries "The Concave Project"

For the past few weeks I have had Gus (my horse) at a boarding stable 8 min away from work, so I can ride on my lunch. I had a thought today after I was done riding of posting a new blog series once a week or so about new things I'm trying with him. It seems us horse people are always "trying" something. It will be a new way for me to document and keep track for myself what I"m trying and if it's working as well as giving you all information.

I have 2 projects going on now but I will start today with "the concave project". For the 1st year of owning Gus I used my regular blacksmith, we also had a very dry summer and we couldn't keep the shoes on.  I finished out that season working with him on the shaping, level, and angle he was shoeing then finally just pulled the shoes and ran barefoot for the last few shows of the season and into the spring.

That next spring I took a blacksmith on from a trustworthy referral, and tried him out in June of last year. John came out and did hot shoes for me after listening to me explain everything I was expecting from him and from my barrel racing season. Last year was the 1st year I was actually joined a group or barrel racing club and wanted to go to the IBRA finals on Gus.  Since his 1st shoeing was no until the 1st of June we started on a late note and were doing the shoes before the big shows, but Gus was still not being as consistent as I would like in shows because of the footing (deep, slick, wet, dry). John asked me to demonstrate a few times how Gus turns the barrels, because he was trained cutter, he doesn't keep the full running motion around the barrels he rocks back on his ass end and pivots on his hind, then lunges forward and out of the pocket. If I only had a video of me doing this right!? He mentioned last year his thought for concave shoes....... but it was too close to major shows for me to want to try something new.

This year I got an early start with both the shoes and riding, as I took Gus to the stable to board in early February, he was shawd just a few days after arriving there. John 1st did the regular hot shoes on the front, and was going to do the back but Gus had an abscess brewing so we made another appointment for a week later. During that time int he the barn John asked me to demonstrate in the arena how Gus ran the barrels again (video please...I know) He then asked if he could hand make Gus a pair of concave shoes, they are good for traction and would help feel more sure footed, and it is early enough in the year that if they don't work, we pull the shoes and go back to what we had. He put the shoes on during my lunch and I went back that night to ride. He hand made 4 concave shoes for Gus to try, and, he didn't even charge me extra because he is so interested to see if these will work for Gus Man!

I went for my ride, Gus felt like a new man, he was all hot and bothered and ready to run. 2 days prior to that I thought I was going to have to change my Congress entry to Novice Western Pleasure instead of Novice Poles!

And there is it, my clear pivot in the dirt in my pocket.

So far I am really excited for these new shoes, I have been hand walking Gus after every work out to check him over. I have also been taking snap shots of his confirmation to ensure that stays in check as well. I should be able tell a little more after the show this weekend at Grizzle Ridge!