Cougar Hill Training

01/24/2025

01/22/2025

Now Neptune's sullen month appears,
The angry night cloud swells with tears,
And savage storms infuriate driven,
Fly howling in the face of heaven!
Now, now, my friends, the gathering gloom
With roseate rays of wine illume:
And while our wreaths of parsley spread
Their fadeless foliage round our head,
We'll hymn th' almighty power of wine,
And shed libations on his shrine!
- Thomas Moore,
Odes of Anacreon, Ode LXVIII

[Image: Neptune's Horses (1892) oil on canvas by English artist Walter Crane (1845-1915). Neue Pinakothek, Munich.]

01/17/2025

Cheesy, yes... but amusing!

01/15/2025

I'm getting to end of horsey things that I have left to get rid of at the moment, but I do have 3 of these awesome, barn-safe fans for sale. $50 each or $120 for all 3. They're fully enclosed, 3-speed motors with a mounting bracket to hang on your horse's stall.

01/13/2025

Oh, so many pet peeves - most of mine are to do with taking good care of your tack, so I hate to see tack dropped on the ground (I was taught all of your items should never touch the ground besides the soles of your boots.), bits left unrinsed after your ride, using dirty saddle pads on your horse.... it all gives me the ick!! 🤢

01/08/2025

From the American Association of Equine Practitioners on EPM:

EPM is widely considered the most important infectious neurologic disease of horses in North America and is caused by protozoal infection of the central nervous system. Horses are infected by consuming food or water contaminated with opossum s**t containing sporocysts.

Horses with EPM do not present a biosecurity risk to other animals because the disease is not transmissible between horses. An effective vaccine has yet to be developed, so the best preventative approach includes eliminating access of opossums to feed and water in order to minimize contact with opossum s**t and improving your horse's immune defenses by decreasing stress and optimizing health.

To learn more about EPM, visit the following resources:

https://aaep.org/.../equine-protozoal-myeloencephalitis-epm/
&
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/EPM

As always, consult your veterinarian for more information and for advice tailored to your horse's specific circumstances.

01/06/2025

An outstanding, comprehensive discussion of blanketing from the Fenway Foundation:

TO BLANKET OR NOT TO BLANKET?? 🤔

The short answer is usually “No,” but let's look at why that is and under what circumstances blanketing may be preferred or necessary.

The question of whether horses should be blanketed during winter is complex and involves considerations of thermoregulation, coat characteristics, and management practices. Horses possess a natural ability to regulate their body temperature through their coat, which provides insulation and protection against cold weather. The density and insulative value of a horse's coat increase with weight, making it an effective barrier against winter conditions. Clipping the coat, which is common among competitive horses, compromises this natural insulation, potentially necessitating the use of blankets to maintain warmth. Horses that lack adequate fat stores, such as senior horses or those that are underweight, may also need a blanket.

Research indicates that in colder climates, horses can adapt to lower temperatures if they have an adequate coat and shelter. For instance, research has demonstrated that horses without blankets often preferred to seek shelter rather than rely on artificial insulation from a blanket. This suggests that providing shelter (natural or man-made) may be more beneficial than relying solely on blankets, especially in regions with variable winter weather. Moreover, the effectiveness of blankets can be limited; they do not replicate the insulative properties of a horse's natural coat and may not provide sufficient warmth in extreme conditions.

HOW DO HORSES STAY WARM?

Horses have developed very efficient ways to stay warm, even in extremely cold temperatures. Your horse’s coat consists of two types of hair: longer, stiffer guard hairs and a soft, fluffy undercoat. The guard hairs protect the soft hairs from dirt and water, shed rain, and collect moisture from sweat that could damage the undercoat. The softer, fluffier hairs of the undercoat trap warm air and act as insulation around your horse. Natural oils coat the hair to ensure it is water-resistant. Each hair connects to a muscle called the piloerector muscle, which allows the hairs to either stand up or lay flat. When they stand up, warm air is trapped between them, just above the surface of the skin. When they lie down, warm air is released from between them, cooling the area above the skin's surface.

IS NUTRITION A FACTOR?

Yes, it absolutely is! Besides the hair coat, given the right nutrition, horses will start to put on a layer of fat in late summer and early fall in preparation for colder weather to come. Some horses that lack fat storage may require a blanket. Nutrition and forage consumption also play a role during cold weather. It is important that your horse gets enough forage to eat. The fermentation of hay in the horse’s hindgut produces an incredible amount of heat. Horses also move around more in colder weather as a means to generate more heat.

HOW COLD IS TOO COLD?

In the absence of wind and moisture, horses tolerate temperatures at or slightly below 0° F. If horses have adequate nutrition and access to a shelter, they can tolerate temperatures as low as -40° F without a blanket. But horses are most comfortable at temperatures between 18° F and 59° F, depending on their coat. However, certain conditions do change your horse’s ability to keep warm. Rain and wind are the two most important. Rain will flatten the hair coat and prevent the undercoat from providing that layer of warm air. Wind will blow the warm air from the surface of the skin. Snow is less of a problem. In fact, snow will collect on your horse’s coat and act as a layer of insulation. Keep in mind if you do choose to blanket your horse, the blanket's effectiveness can be influenced by factors such as airflow and moisture, which can diminish its insulating properties.

While blanketing can be beneficial for horses, in some circumstances, it is not universally necessary for all horses. The decision to blanket should consider the horse's coat condition, their fat stores, the environmental conditions, and the availability of shelter. Effective management practices that prioritize the horse's natural thermoregulation capabilities may reduce the need for extensive use of blankets.

Photo is mine.

01/03/2025

Oh boy... I'm toast! I love white feet!!

My farrier in Montana always said the more white/less color they have... the less brain cells. LOL

Has anyone else heard any similar horsefolk theories?

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!!! Anyone have any fun events planned for 2025? New horsey adventures?

12/30/2024

https://equusmagazine.com/riding/coolingout-10486?fbclid=IwY2xjawHPJVBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHegAtX58s7aYyXkQlx1Gj00TPspJcCxsB1SAlpNx3y8Jaj5w9j51zjwpNA_aem_mvX1xufWyctv62GxKii97w

Click to read on equusmagazine.com

12/27/2024

Horses give us so much joy, lend their strength, and give us "wings" to fly like we mere humans could not manage alone. The holidays can be draining, but I love this artwork that shows such joy!

THE WEARY CHILD WITHIN
“There is a tiredness, that cannot be slept away. A weariness, that cannot be refreshed with rest. And when it appears, look straight to your inner child, my friends. She is the energy, you see. She is the spark that lights the lamps within, and when your flames are growing dim, it is she who fires them up once more, with her youthful, effervescent, boundless supply of hope. If she is weary, that little girl, if she is not showing up with her light, you need to treat her better. She wants freedom, wide spaces to run, she wants cake, laughter and fun. She wants to play, my friends, let her play. There is a tiredness that sleep cannot fight, but laughing, in the moonlight, with your feet in the sea…very much can.”
- Donna Ashworth

Artwork: 'The Hope' by Laura Makabresku

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas to all!! 🎄

12/24/2024

What is your horse getting for Christmas? I promise not to tell!! ;)

12/23/2024

The Mari Lwyd is a Welsh Christmas tradition that involves a decorated horse skull carried around a village:
A hobby horse made from a horse's skull mounted on a pole, carried by a person hidden under a sheet. Groups of men carry the Mari Lwyd to local houses, where they request entry through song. The householders deny entry through song, and the two sides continue to respond to each other in this manner. If the householders allow entry, the team is given food and drink. Once inside, the Mari runs around neighing and snapping its jaws, while the Leader pretends to try to restrain it
The Mari Lwyd tradition is thought to have originated from Celtic mythology:
The name: The name Mari Lwyd translates to "Grey Mare", "Grey Mane", or "Grey Mary"

The pale horse is thought to be able to pass to the underworld. Some say the tradition is a modern version of a death or fertility horse. The white horse has been a powerful symbol in the United Kingdom for at least 3,000 years. The tradition is best known in Glamorgan and Gwent. Some Welsh regions also parade their horse skulls for other holidays, such as Halloween or May Day.

I didn't take these notes, but I'm sharing this interesting tradition. A second description of Mari Lywd:

Mari Lwyd is known as the Christmas zombie horse. A horse skull is hoisted on a stick, decorated with ribbons, bells, and is draped in a white sheet (so its bearers are hidden). A group with the Mari Lwyd travels from door-to-door asking for food and drink in rhyme. Traditionally, the Mari group knocks on a door and sings a song requesting entry, and the homeowners counter-song with a song refusing entry or challenges and insults. The Mari Lwyd group and the homeowners then engage in a battle of wits, trading riddles until one side loses. If the Mari Lwyd group wins, they are allowed entry into the home and given food and drinks.

12/20/2024

A horseperson never forgets their first horse. Whether it was a favorite lesson horse or a personal horse, the memory is always a happy one that encourages a smile and endless stories of delight and adventure....

I remember the first horse from my first riding lesson - a patient palomino gelding named Mr. Chips who good ol' Gabe definitely reminded me of - and my first personal horse - a grey Egyptian Arab mare called Zalima.

Who wants to share their first? ☺

12/18/2024

Donkeys are very popular pets to add to hobby farms these days, but new donkey owners should be aware that this equid has very different needs compared to our horses. Donkeys are desert animals used to low calorie diets and an arid climate, which poses two problems when they're placed on a Midwest horse farm with lush pastures and our cold, wet winters. Donkeys are easily overfed when allowed unfettered grazing rights and they don't develop the heavy winter coat that horses do to help them stay warm and shed moisture. Shelter and blankets are necessary for their health and comfort in cold. wet climates so donkey owners should pay close attention to their charges' needs.

Donkeys are not as able to keep warm as horses in the UK's cold, damp winters, according to a new study.