Dusty Rose Equine Services

15/08/2024

Always cool to find these little gems out in the fields! Can you guess which hoof this shoe came off of?

18/05/2024

Tried to get a photo of the cute moment happening in the background, but June Bug just HAD to be front and center. Doggone dogs being dogs!

18/05/2024

You know it is May long weekend when... ☀️❄️

15/05/2024

Today marks Patsy's 22nd birthday! 🥳

Patsy is the mare who "started it all" for us. She came to Ingrid as a 2-year-old (Ingrid was 12) and the pair learned to ride together, enjoying the trails in Southeastern Ontario. In 2017, Ingrid brought Dusty from Alberta for a visit to her parents' acreage, where they found that Patsy had long hooves and was lame. Dusty used some old cattle trimming tools that Ingrid's Dad still had from when the family ran a dairy farm and gave Patsy a trim. Patsy felt like a million bucks and was ripping around the field as fast as she could! It was then that Dusty decided that being a farrier would be the most rewarding career he could ask for. To see a horse struggling and be able to help them and make them feel better is a feeling like no other!
Six months later, Dusty Rose Farrier Service opened for business, with the first client being Ms. Patsy, as she had just moved to Alberta! Two years after that, Ingrid learned about equine massage and how much it could help horses feel more comfortable and resolve various inconsistencies owners noticed about their horses. She practiced the Masterson Method on Patsy, who showed incredible results! After receiving her Equine Sports Massage Certificate, Ingrid practiced (and continues to practice) massage on Patsy, who continues to teach her new things.
We can't thank this mare enough for all that she has taught and will continue to teach. She is a superstar for us and many others! Happy birthday Mrs. P! 💕

22/04/2024

⭐️Improvement!⭐️
This is a broodmare whose hooves Ingrid has been trimming since August 2023. Her heels were underslung and had long, overgrown toes. Her hooves were very flat and had a "pancaked" appearance.
After her trim today, she showed shorter pastern angles, more hoof concavity (less flat) and a more balanced heel/toe ratio.
Looking forward to seeing her foal in the next week or so!

17/04/2024

We are so thankful for the beautiful weather last Sunday for the stretching clinic with The day was filled with learning, laughter and happy horses and owners! Thank you to Pat Koosey for providing us with the space for learning! 🙏❤️

If you would like us to host a stretching clinic at your facility, reach out via text, email or phone call.
📧[email protected]
📞403-497-5070

03/04/2024

Trimming c**ts in the mud today. Sometimes you just gotta do what needs to be done.

**t

16/03/2024

It may look like Patsy is looking back lovingly at her farrier- she really does love Dusty! But really, she is looking longingly at the lawn because there is another horse eating grass there.

14/03/2024

Stretches and kisses with Jack! 🐴❤️

29/02/2024

💫Don't forget to brush your horse, folks!

💫Brushing is a great time to learn and understand more about your horse and their body!

💫Not only should you brush your horse before and after riding, but also run your hand down your horse's back and legs to identify any heat or sensitivity.

💫Brushing is also a great way to spend time with your horse when not riding and help create a deeper bond.

💫Book and appointment with your bodyworker and/or veterinarian if you notice any abnormalities in your horse's body so they can be addressed before they become significant.

26/01/2024

🫏🫏Really excited to see the new store!! So many good products! Milk, freeze dried deliciousness, great tea and much more! I highly recommend stopping in when you're in Cochrane to support some great people! 🫏🫏

26/01/2024

Working hard or hardly working?

24/01/2024

We are SO EXCITED about the Stretching Clinic we are teaching this weekend at Diamond Willow Stables1 ! Obviously the weather won't be this nice, but it is looking promising with the temperatures in the positives!

If learning to stretch your horse and helping them feel their best is something you would like to add to your horse's program, give us a shout!

🐴Horse Model: Patsy the Paint
💆‍♀️Therapist: Ingrid Meldrum

19/01/2024

Throwback to a while back when I made a quick drawing on paint (yes, Microsoft Paint, which is why the drawing is not to 'scale', so please excuse my paint skills) to show how placing the saddle too far forward can damage scapular cartilage and impede forelimb movement, amongst other arising inconsistencies.

〰️The yellow shows scapular cartilage, with the scapula bone directly beneath. The orange line shows where the saddle had previously been placed on this horse, impeding scapular movement and, in turn, movement of the joints below. The pink line shows that placing the saddle slightly farther back allows the scapula and enire forelimb to move freely.
〰️This image shows how saddle *placement* is as important as saddle fit. A saddle can fit perfectly, but that means nothing if it is not being *placed* properly
〰️The second photo is more to scale and is from a drawing I took from Google Images. Notice that the pink line is not directly behind the scapular cartilage. The scapula moves down and back when the forelimb is in protraction. This action must be accounted for when placing the saddle on the horse's back.

Saddle fit is a hot topic and can be very frustrating. Book an appointment today for a tack assessment, and we can chat about what is best for you and your horse! Questions?? Dm or comment below! 🦄

📞403-497-5070
📧[email protected]

Questions?? Dm or comment below!⬇️

29/11/2023

With the outdoor riding season finishing up (except for you die-hards out there), many horses will be taking some time off. We wanted to take a minute to talk about horses taking a break and what that means for owners. Time off will allow your horse to rest and rejuvenate- just like us! Giving their mind and body a break will allow them to recover after a long season of riding and give them the opportunity to come back feeling refreshed. To make the most of your horse's holidays, here are some tips to help keep your horse mildly active both mentally and physically.

-Stretch! This can not be said enough. Stretching will help keep muscles supple and prevent tightening of muscles with a slowed down exercise regime. A little yoga never hurt anybody!

-Movement. Lunging, walking or even some light riding with your horse periodically during their time off will give them a chance to stretch out their legs (rather than just stand at the feed all day), promoting blood flow and stimulating their mind. Sitting around doing nothing all day gets boring for anyone; a change of scenery is often refreshing!

-Quality time. Horses who are used to getting attention more often than not will crave that connection. Brushing your horse and going to visit them in their pen/paddock/stall will reassure them that they are still loved and cared for. Just "hanging out" with your horse will give you BOTH quality time and even improve the connection you have.

-Massage. Don't skip your horse's appoinment just because you're not riding. Your horse has worked hard and deserves the time off- why not give their body some TLC? Massage will help relieve areas of tension while promoting healing and rejuvenation to the muscular, circulatory and immune systems, making it easier for your horse to get back in shape after taking time off!

10/11/2023

Just goofin' with Porfin! 😆

04/10/2023

Spent some time hanging out with our elderly injured lady and her support crew today. She has been struggling with the lack of movement, being on stall rest. Patsy usually gets ridden a few times each week and is always ready to go- and go hard.
She has been calm and well-behaved throughout this whole process. She understands our intention when it comes to bandage changes and stands quite still. Even our mule, who is normally quite timid has come over to support Patsy during bandaging.
It's amazing how much horses understand intention and what humans are doing. They can pretty much read our thoughts, which is why when we're having an "off" day, our horse(s) will often reflect that with their behaviour, acting "bad" or "naughty". When we show up with love in our hearts and clear our mind of outside stresses and drama, our horses also show up for us.
Hope you are all enjoying these beautiful fall days and are able to get some quality time with your horses! 🦄

04/10/2023

Spent some time hanging out with our elderly injured lady and her support crew today.  She has been struggling with the lack of movement, being on stall rest.   Patsy usually gets ridden a few times each week and is always ready to go- and go hard. 
She has been calm and well-behaved throughout this whole process.  She understands our intention when it comes to bandage changes and stands quite still.  Even our mule,  who is normally quite timid has come over to support Patsy during bandaging.
It's amazing how much horses understand intention and what humans are doing.  They can pretty much read our thoughts, which is why when we're having an "off" day, our horse(s) will often reflect that with their behaviour, acting "bad" or "naughty".  When we show up with love in our hearts and clear our mind of outside stresses and drama, our horses also show up for us.
Hope you are all enjoying these beautiful fall days and are able to get some quality time with your horses! 🦄

14/09/2023

Grateful.

🙏 Grateful to be able to work together and do what we love.

🙏 Grateful for owners who trust us with their horses and want what is best for their animals.

🙏 Grateful for horses who appreciate what we do and enrich our lives everyday.

🙏 Grateful to be part of such a supportive community of equine practitioners.

🙏 Thank you for your support!

05/09/2023

Today's feature is Mickey the mountain mare whose owner phoned us up in early 2022 looking for help.  Mickey had flat hooves with no sole depth.  As well, the heels were run forward.  The forward run heels meant that the point of articulation (the breakover point) was farther forward than it should be, causing poor shoulder movement and in turn poor muscular development. The condition of the feet was also causing a hollowed out back and saddle fitting problems

We have never been good at remembering to take photos, so the "before" photo of the hooves was taken after a shoe had already been nailed on.  You can still see the excess length of toe and lack of heel.
Fast forward just over a year after the first photos were taken and the changes are incredible!  There is sole depth, downward heel growth and better posture. The reason why the hooves now have sole depth is because the hooves are now balanced.  Balance allows the heels to grow down (rather than forward) because of the decrease in leverage on the toe, which had been pulling the hoof capsule forward.  Mickey's movement and posture have improved significantly. She can use her muscles in balance, rather than having some that were strained and overworked due to the poor hoof angles.  She no longer has saddle fitting issues and has a top line again!

Mickey's maintenance program includes regular farrier, massage and veterinarian visits- not to mention an exercise and stretching program that keeps her fit year round!  The CONSISTENCY has been key to bringing this mare's feet and body to where they are today!!

24/08/2023

🌟Horse Highlight🌟

This beautiful little chestnut mare is named Sammy.
Sammy recently moved from B.C. to Alberta and has been placed in the care of a knowledgeable, compassionate horsewoman who is friends with Sammy's owner. She noticed something "off" about Sammy right away. Sammy would bite, kick and swish her tail when being brushed or just touched in general- she was especially unhappy under saddle and would keep her head high in the air and just seemed generally discontent. We were very careful for our first trim with Sammy; tip-toeing around her and being as soft and gentle as possible. She proved very difficult to trim...
Sammy's caretaker decided to try massage to see if that would help- and help it did! Sammy's body proved to be riddled with tension from head to tail- both physical and emotional. Massage has given Sammy a way to release tension and to heal. This past week, Sammy had her third massage since we first met her in the spring and showed a side to her that none of us had seen yet: she invited touch all over her body and stood completely still and RELAXED for her trim! She even followed us to the gate as we left her paddock, rather than running away.
What can we take away from Sammy's story?
🌟Massage is HEALING and healing TAKES TIME. Sammy has consistent massages- every 8 weeks. She showed significant results after each session, but the results were remarkable after her third session. Even her caretaker feels more comfortable and relaxed!
🌟Compassion from everyone involved in Sammy's care (owner, caretaker, farrier, massage therapist) allowed Sammy to heal. Rather than "correcting" Sammy's "bad" behaviour, we collectively decided that Sammy needed time and space to heal. She now LOVES being brushed and is much happier under saddle.

🌟We are truly blessed to be a part of Sammy's maintenance program and look forward seeing her groundwork and work under saddle progress!
🌟If you are interested in a maintenance program for your horse, please call, text, email or DM for more information!

03/08/2023

20/07/2023

Just a tid bit from today written by Ingrid:

The horse pictured is gelding named Chico who lives and works at a feedlot.  He was scheduled to have his shoes pulled and hooves trimmed today so that he could go on a two week vacation.  He is generally well behaved to have his feet done and is an all around gentleman.

Today, Chico was having trouble picking up his hind right. Each time I picked it up, he would very quickly try to take it away to put it back down. Once back on the ground, he would turn back and look at me.  He did this a couple of times and so I knew he was trying to tell me something. I decided to check for any inconsistencies: soreness, cuts, rubs, flies, etc.  It turns out that his lower back was a bit sore and had some tight bands on the right side, which would make it a bit painful for him to pick up his hind leg. 

I took 5 minutes to do some massage and stretching, to which Chico showed his appreciation with licks and chews and yawning and blowing- you name it, he did it.  Afterwards, Chico did not try to take away his hoof and allowed me to trim it without a fuss- as well as the other three.

Where am I going with this?  Chico had something to say and I listened.  He knows what I do (massage) and knew I could help him.  How did he know?  Horses are smarter than they are given credit for sometimes: they are energetic beings and often know more about us than we do ourselves.  Knowing this, I trust that horses have something to say and I do the best that I can to listen.  Today's story is just a small portion of what Dustin and I encounter on a daily basis.  We are so blessed to work with such amazing creatures who teach us something new everyday. ✨️

Hope you enjoyed the read if you made it this far!  Feel free to comment below with any questions or anec dotes you may have and share if you like!

12/07/2023

Tuesday Tip:
Restrict grass intake for miniatures.

🐎 The smaller the horse, the less feed that needs to be provided.
🫏 Too much grass not only increases the risk of obesity but also laminitis.
🐎 Once an equine has foundered, their risk of another founder/laminitis episode increases.
🫏 Grass has tons of great nutrients but also a lot of sugar. It is a good idea to limit the daily intake.
🐎 Founder is usually caused by too much love (aka too much food); we can overload the horse/donkey's system by overfeeding, too many treats and not monitoring food intake.
🫏 Bottom line: understand what you are feeding your minis and how much. Contact your local veterinarian for more information on how to best manage your miniature's diet.

27/06/2023

Tuesday tip!
*Lameness does not always present in the hoof.*

➡️When picking up your horse's hooves to pick them out (or anytime), it is beneficial to run your hands down their leg. Feel for heat, bumps, cuts, swelling or any sort of abnormality.

➡️Taking the time to do this can help you catch lameness and discover cuts before they become infected.

➡️Get to know your horse's legs. Do they have scars? Are they swollen after standing for long periods, or living in small spaces such as a little paddock or stall? Do they have trouble picking up their front hooves but not the hinds, or vice-versa?

➡️All of the above mentioned are cues and clues about your horse's health and the more you know, the more likely you will be to catch abnormalities.

16/06/2023

Always a great day at Super Donkey Acres ! 🫏🩶

30/05/2023

Tuesday Tip:
Dandelions are more than just a gold mine for the herbicide industry! The entire plant has properties that are actually great for your horse's health!

🌼 Dandelion helps optimize the health of the urinary tract- it is a diuretic. Help keep your gelding's sheath healthy!

🌼 The root is an anti-inflammatory and aids in liver and kidney health.

🌼 Dandelions have been known to stimulate milk production in lactating mares.

🌼 All parts of the plant can be eaten: root, leaves, stem and flower. They each have helpful healing properties!

🌼 Often used as a natural remedy to support blood sugar management.

⚠️ Be careful not mistake flatweed (false dandelion) for the actual dandelion plant. Flatweed has long been thought to cause stringhalt in horses. Best to just stick to the real dandelion!

24/05/2023

A few firsts for us this May long weekend.
🏅 Carats had his first bath of the season, which he absolutely LOVED and stood perfectly still, falling asleep even.
🏅 Then, he was an absolute gem for our first EVER stretching clinic hosted at our place. Of course, we took very few photos because everyone was too busy having fun! Even the youngest learned something: how to braid!
🏅 Reata had her floofy mane braided for the first time ever. She is skittish about certain things, and brushing her mane has been one on that list.
🏅 Vader, the yard chicken, decided to come hang out with us rather than just by the chicken coop. She is a very talkative lady!

13/05/2023

Kailyn Simpson were so proud to be your sponsor during your barrel runs. Were also happy to be your friends! Go get em! We'll be rooting for you!

I’ll be posting the 3 lovely ladies competing for Miss Strathmore Stampede 2023 today! In alphabetical order, our 3rd contestant is Kailyn Simpson!

My name is Kailyn Simpson, I am an 18 year old graduating student of Strathmore High School. I am a resident of Strathmore, and I have lived here my whole life with my family. I, by no means, grew up in a rodeo family or had a connection to the horse industry; it was this town and some of the great families that brought me horse riding with their daughters and to lessons that introduced me to this lifestyle. After going to lessons weekly, I had fallen in love with the culture, being around horses, and learning new things from my equine partners! Soon, I had come to know that horses and rodeo were always going to be a part of my life from that point on.

I have completed the Green Certificate Program in Equine Science and Equine Husbandry. I also have won buckles in barrel racing at local jackpot events that I compete in regularly. I was a part of Wheatland Cowboys and Cowgirls Rodeo Society for 5 years, I have just recently graduated from that club.

Rodeo and barrel racing has been a big part of my life for the past few years. I enjoy the sport and I love my teammates; without them I would not be the cowgirl I am today. In my free time, I like to spend time with my horses riding them and training with them to better ourselves. I like to do fine arts productions in my spare time throughout the winter as well! I find myself to be a hard
working young individual that can multitask, promote, and support any type of business, organization, or person.

My goals after I graduate are to go into a career in the horse industry as an Equine Dentist and to travel throughout the United States and rodeo down there in the summers! I know I want to spend the rest of my life in the horse industry and be a part of the western culture.

23/04/2023

Pulled off a bunch of winter shoes and snow pads today. Guess that means winter is over..?

Probably just jinxed it with this post. Expect 3ft of snow next week. 🤦