Settle Back Easy Acres

08/11/2024

08/11/2024

Shift your mindset and grow your sensitive horse’s pressure-handling skills to improve his confidence and your riding enjoyment.

08/09/2024

YOU ASKED ABOUT:
MASSAGE GUNS

I have a love/hate relationship with this tool and let me explain why…

#1 they are only as effective as the person using them which means in the wrong hands used the wrong way they can be very counterproductive and in some cases harmful.

#2 they should ONLY be used over larger muscles, NOT over bony areas and NOT over leg tendons/ligaments or anywhere near the horses head.

#3 they do NOT replace professional bodywork or hands but can be a very valuable tool to complement both.

I have owners that are directly instructed how to properly use a massage gun in an area in between professional sessions when appropriate.

I have students and fellow therapist friends that have physical restrictions that make a deeper more percussion stroke manually hard for them-and they use a massage gun to help.

I bought a really nice gun on Amazon a few years back and it’s still working today.
It comes with multiple different heads that are a firm foam and very easy to disinfect.
I typically use the largest roundest head and the flattest one-I stay away from pointy ones because I have other tools that are easier to control with a point.

So-in short, massage guns can be great but I encourage you to ask a professional how to best use one if you’re an owner.
If you’re a professional, know when to use them in place of your hands.

I’m always happy to help guide you either way.

I’d love to make occasional Friday sharing posts so feel free to comment about anything you’d like to know more about as an owner or a professional and I’ll do my best to cover it!!

08/03/2024

Don't wait a minute longer to relieve tension in your horse's shoulders 🐴❤️

08/02/2024

Strong winds and tornados can have a devastating impact on horse farms. Here are a few tips to help you prepare ahead of a storm.

🏠 Remember, human safety comes first. Take cover when severe weather is near.
⚠️ Have a way to receive severe weather alerts.
🐴 Have a plan for your horse. Barns may protect horses from debris but can trap them if in the path of a tornado. Large open areas with little debris potential may be better for leaving horses outside but horses may get trapped in fencing or become loose.
🖊 ID your horse (e.g., microchip, livestock paint) and remove their halter
🧰 Prior to severe weather, restock your first aid kit, make sure your horse is up-to-date on their tetanus vaccine, and secure a three-day supply of feed, water, and meds.

For more info on tornado safety visit: https://extension.umn.edu/horse-pastures-and-facilities/preparing-barn-disaster -and-strong-winds-3093460

07/30/2024

Delicious Creamy Coconut Cake ☺️
Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package white cake mix
Must express something to keep getting my recipes.... Thank you.
Recipe in (c.o.m.m.e.n.t ).👇👇

07/27/2024

Let’s go back to basics:

1. Horses are not machines, tools or performing monkeys. They are living, breathing animals who feel pain, fear and stress just as we do.

2. It is not a right to work with or ride horses, it is a privilege and should always be treated as such.

3. Fear and force based training has no place in our sport, even though many governing bodies turn a blind eye in the name of “performance”, the bottom line is, fear or force may get you there faster, but it won’t get you there to stay.

4. We are not superior to horses. Our aim should always be for our horses to want to work with us, not for us. We may have a degree of control, but that is not a free pass to exploit it for our own gain.

5. Politics, world rankings, titles and experience are completely obsolete when it comes to calling out behaviour that does not align with horse welfare being a priority.

6. Horses are forgiving, more forgiving than we often deserve. We should be aware of this and always seek to reciprocate that forgiveness when they don’t understand what we have asked of them and respond in an unfavourable way.

Arguing amongst each other simply furthers the negative perception of our sport for those on the outside looking in. The internet doesn’t actually need your opinion.

Let’s all agree that changes are needed, but that change starts at home. Stop wasting energy shouting from either side of the fence. Redirect that energy into being the change you want to see, let’s return our sport to the basics and remember what it always has been, and always should be about:
THE HORSE.

07/26/2024

07/23/2024

The summer heat and sun won't be letting up any time soon, so make sure your equine friends are adequately protected from harmful UV rays. ☀️

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

A lot of equestrians love some chrome on a horse, but it's important to remember that those beautiful white markings and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils.

In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your horse protected this summer.

07/20/2024

🐴 Aquí hay 15 hechos interesantes sobre el cerebro de un caballo:

1. El cerebro de un caballo es relativamente pequeño comparado con el tamaño de su cuerpo, y representa sólo alrededor del 0,1 % de su peso total.

2. A pesar de su pequeño tamaño, los caballos tienen cerebros muy complejos, con una corteza cerebral altamente desarrollada, la parte del cerebro responsable del pensamiento consciente, la toma de decisiones y la memoria.

3. Los caballos pueden aprender y recordar tareas complejas, como navegar por un curso de salto o realizar una rutina de doma, a través de un proceso llamado aprendizaje asociado.

4. Como los humanos, los caballos tienen un hemisferio izquierdo y un hemisferios derecho en el cerebro, cada uno con funciones especializadas. El hemisferio izquierdo es responsable del procesamiento de la información lógica y analítica, mientras que el hemisferio derecho está más involucrado en el procesamiento emocional y el pensamiento creativo.

5. Los caballos tienen una gran memoria y pueden recordar personas, lugares y experiencias concretas durante muchos años.

6. Los caballos pueden aprender por observación, y a menudo pueden adquirir nuevos comportamientos y habilidades simplemente observando a otros caballos o humanos.

7. Los caballos tienen un sentido del tacto muy sensible y pueden detectar incluso la más mínima presión o movimiento en su piel. Esto les ayuda a responder a las sutiles señales de tu motorista o guía.

8. Los caballos pueden procesar información visual muy rápida y precisa, permitiéndoles evitar posibles peligros y navegar por su medio ambiente con facilidad.

9. Los caballos son animales sociales y dependen de la comunicación no verbal para interactuar con otros caballos de su manada. Esta comunicación es facilitada por el cerebro del caballo, que puede interpretar cambios sutiles en el lenguaje corporal, expresiones faciales y vocalizaciones.

10. En última instancia, como todos los animales, los caballos tienen una personalidad única y rasgos individuales que se moldean por sus experiencias, genética y entorno, todo lo cual se refleja en su función cerebral y comportamiento.

11. Los caballos tienen un fuerte sentido del olfato y su bulbo olor, que procesa los olores, es relativamente grande comparado con otras partes de su cerebro.

12. El cerebro, que es responsable de coordinar el movimiento y el equilibrio, también es relativamente grande en caballos. Esto se debe a que los caballos deben ser capaces de moverse rápida y eficientemente para escapar de los depredadores o navegar por terrenos difíciles.

13. Los caballos tienen un umbral de dolor muy alto, que se cree que está relacionado con cómo sus cerebros procesan las señales de dolor. Aunque esto puede ser beneficioso en algunas situaciones, también puede significar que los caballos no muestran signos obvios de dolor, lo que hace más difícil para sus cuidadores detectar y tratar los problemas de salud subyacentes.

14. El hipocampo, una parte del cerebro involucrado en el aprendizaje y la memoria, está particularmente bien desarrollado en caballos. Esto les permite recordar no sólo experiencias concretas, sino también conceptos y patrones generales que pueden aplicar a nuevas situaciones.

15. Finalmente, los estudios han demostrado que los caballos, como otros animales, son capaces de experimentar emociones como el miedo, la felicidad y la ira. Se cree que estas emociones están mediadas por el sistema límbico, un grupo de estructuras cerebrales interconectadas que juegan un papel clave en la regulación del estado de ánimo y el comportamiento .

07/18/2024

Did wet weather or flooding cause you to pull horses off pasture? Now that some areas are drying out, resuming grazing is front of mind. But do you need to reacclimate horses to pasture using the 15-minute guideline? How long after removing horses from pasture does acclimation become necessary again?👇🐴⏰

Based on what we currently know, our best educated guideline is two weeks. Therefore, if your horse has been off pasture for two weeks or more, you will need to start over with the 15-minute acclimation guideline. On day one, graze for 15 minutes and then add 15 minutes each day until you reach five hours. Then, unrestricted grazing can occur, assuming you have sufficient pasture.

If you re-start grazing within the two-week window, you can do it more quickly. For example, you can start with 30 minutes of grazing on day one and increase grazing by 30 minutes each day until you reach five hours.

In both cases, the goal is to allow a slow introduction of pasture, or any new feed stuff, to reduce the risk of colic and laminitis by allowing the horse's gastrointestinal tract to adjust to the change in diet.

07/08/2024

Alfalfa for Horses Nutritional Composition Forms of Alfalfa Benefits of Feeding Common Concerns When to Avoid Example Diets Alfalfa is a popular forage choice for horses and an ingredient in many equine feeds. This legume forage can be processed and preserved in many different way

07/05/2024

lol! So true

06/23/2024

Ground Beef and Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes 😋

Ingredients:
For the Mashed Potatoes:
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Ground Beef and Gravy:
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: 1 cup frozen peas and carrots

Directions:
Prepare the Mashed Potatoes:
Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Add salt and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the milk and butter, and mash until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and keep warm.
Cook the Ground Beef and Prepare the Gravy:
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef, and cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle the flour over the beef and cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes to cook off the flour taste.
Gradually stir in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a simmer, and let the gravy thicken, about 5 minutes. If using, add the frozen peas and carrots during the last few minutes of cooking.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve:
Spoon the creamy mashed potatoes onto plates or into bowls.
Top with the ground beef and gravy mixture.
Serve hot.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

🙏Trust me! You’re missing a lot if you haven’t joined this page⤵️⤵️❤
https://www.facebook.com/groups/573774644911549/

06/14/2024

Welcome to The Horse’s Advocate Podcast episode 90: “Why Are Horse Vets Becoming Harder To Find?” By Geoff Tucker, DVM. Recorded on August 9, 2023It is a si...

06/13/2024

So true! 😆

I finished this fun piece recently 🔥 I’m sure the vet will get a chuckle when she walks in wearing her new bronc band 😂

06/12/2024

Paul Belasik talks about neck position, and it’s importance:
“To me, neck shape is a very important connection to a humane and beautiful dressage. Regardless of the constant new amendments of regulations and guidelines from the competitive dressage organizations, it might be a good time to go over the fundamentals behind neck shape and its relationship to correct dressage, based on 500 years of experience and evidence.”
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2023/03/collection-and-the-neck/

05/19/2024

Two veterinarians explain why horses develop hunter’s bumps and how to treat them.