Moon Star Horse Farm

11/15/2023

♥️♥️♥️

11/08/2023

We’ve received several questions regarding blanketing horses in cold climates. A healthy horse will continue to develop a natural winter coat until December 22 (Winter Solstice), as the days become shorter and temperatures become colder. Horses begin to lose their winter coat (and start forming their summer coat) as the days become longer (starting December 23) and temperatures start to warm (slowly). Blanketing before December 22 will decrease a horse's natural winter coat. The horse’s hair coat is an excellent insulator and works by trapping and warming air. A healthy horse with a thick, dry and clean hair coat can retain enough heat and be comfortable outside in cold climates.

11/08/2023

11/08/2023

I saw a post recently where a loving horse owner was expressing sadness and disappointment that her horse has social anxiety (due to past experiences) when being ridden with more than 1-2 other horses, making it difficult for her to take him on beach rides and group adventures.

She explained that he’s a very kind horse who takes good care of her otherwise.

Our horses are our friends first, right?

If you had a good friend who was suffering from social anxiety and/or trauma, would you even think about asking that friend to put herself or himself in situations that you know trigger their anxiety? With no way to leave or feel safe? For your own pleasure?

I would think (and hope) not.

How do we shift this pervasive mindset that a friendship with a horse is somehow supposed to be “superhuman” with none of the limitations and complexities and mutual understanding and empathy required for healthy human friendships?

Vulnerability is the currency of intimacy, but in order for another (horse or human) to trust us with theirs, we have to earn it. Every time we’re with them.

11/04/2023

Heading into day two of the first round of dissections and I now feel like I Can process and talk about everything yesterday.

First off, this dissection feels different. The people were different and it felt like there was a collective mutual knowing and understanding. Vets, trainers, body workers and saddle fitters all acknowledging the same thing and saying it out loud. That functional horses are becoming less and less “normal” that even horses who pass lameness exams still don’t seem right. That there is still dysfunction and it is negatively effecting our modern horses.

As someone who feels like I’ve been shouting into a void about this and how there really seems to be no such thing as normal anymore, that healthy horses are a diamond in the rough… it was like letting out a collective sigh. We were all here bc we had seen, felt and dealt with so many similar issues and want to do best by our clients and horses. I know it was felt throughout the room yesterday.

Why does this seem to be the case? First and foremost … horses were not made to be ridden! Their bodies evolved over millions of years to best suit their survival and NATURE played the biggest role in manipulating them over time to be what they were. In walks humans, and though we have been selectively breeding horses for thousands of years, they still very much so had to survive independently up until the last 2-500 years (what happened in history then…👀) and modern breeding went into effect. Selective breeding started to happen faster and faster and pretty soon horses were mostly used for sport and recreation instead of work. I say it all the time but breeding for fashion on top of people wanting to ride for their own personal benefit has put our horses in quite the predicament.

Because of what they now have going on due to breeding leaving them much more structurally unsound than their predecessors , and people either being uneducated or wanting to take shortcuts with their riding and horsemanship journey, horses who need more time to be developed aren’t getting it, and horses with long lasting pathology aren’t getting the support they need more often than not until it’s too late.

This is a man made phenomenon that is serving no one in the end. But since we are the cause, seems to me like we should be the ones to also mend it. And this is why I will never change my program, point of view and methods of progressive and ethical training. Putting the well-being of the horse first is taking the long road and understanding that the joy in it all is about the process, the partnership and love shared between you and the horse, not something conditional based on what service the horse can provide to you. Our horses didn’t ask to be put in this predicament, we put them there.

And lastly to the sweet horse providing a window for us all to look into, thank you. Thank you for being our teacher over these next few days, and for being a teacher and friend throughout your life. See you in a few hrs ❤️

So what are some solutions and steps that can be taken in the right direction? Acknowledging these issues, addressing pathology outside of the distal limbs and getting a better understanding of how they can be addressed is a good place to start. Having more properly educated professionals would be great! There shouldn’t be any means for someone to claim being a professional without having a certain level of education (and yes I’m talking about backyard trainers, instructors and riders… as well as farriers and hoof care professionals, everyone really but I feel our education seriously falls short in these professions). And more strict breeding and regulation protocols. I feel this is the bare minimum we could do here in the states, and even globally for our horses. Just because someone is a professional, doesn’t always mean that they know what they are doing, or they know what they are doing but don’t understand the repercussions. We seriously need to put the well-being of horses as priority and also need to truly understand what that means.

There is so much more to say on all of this and I can go down some serious rabbit holes with it all but then this post would be a book instead of a short read! I just wanted to get this all down and don’t want to take for granted the people participating in this dissection. It truly means so much to me to see and hear everyone being on the same page and wanting to fo better and move forward for the benefit of all horses ❤️

* edited to add that these incredible dissections are hosted by Kayla Newning, put together by Pam Eckalberger and Diane Dzingle, and taught by Sharon May Davis! We are also lucky to be joined this year by Christine Gee, another wonderful vet! (It was early and I assumed everyone knew who and what I was talking about!). And I seriously encourage any equine professional who follows me here or is passionate about the work we do to take the opportunity to attend one of these dissections! They are so invaluable I can’t even put it all into words!!!

08/14/2022

Amy Trout manages the Warm Springs Ranch in Missouri, where most of the Budweiser Clydesdales live. She's been working with...

07/08/2022

How can you be sure your horse isn't in pain?

You can't. 😞

I'm sorry, it's true. 🤷

Until we can read horses' minds or they learn to speak, we can't say for sure whether a horse is in pain or not.

Let me share a personal story with you. 📚

My knee has hurt me for YEARS. As a kid, I twisted my knee terribly in a skiing accident. Later I hit the asphalt hard while running on the same knee. Then about a year ago, a running horse hit me from behind, causing me to land on the same knee on the asphalt again. 😫🤕

It's never been the same since.

HOWEVER... I walk and run normally, I'm extremely active (I can ride, squat, hike, swim, whatever normally), the knee palpates and flexes normally, and it's not reactive to any touches or movements... The doctor even told me my *bad* knee palpates better than my good one 🤷

But yet it hurts.

Just because the doctor can't find it (yet, we are waiting on further diagnostics), doesn't mean it's not there.

Now imagine if I couldn't communicate with the doctor in any way to tell them I'm in pain. If they could *only* go off of symptoms.

Now pretend that story was about a horse.

The moral of the story is... Just because your vet can't find the cause, doesn't mean your horse isn't in pain.

And the only way your horse can communicate pain is through their behavior. Sometimes that's a sour expression when the saddle goes on, and sometimes it's three-legged limping around. Sometimes pain looks like "laziness", sometimes it looks like a tail swish, and sometimes it looks like a rear. Sometimes it's as subtle as tension around the eyes and nostrils.

Believe your horse. Listen to them. If they say they are in pain, they are in pain.

06/14/2022

THE JUVENILES - FILLIES- COLTS 🐎🐎🐎

As they are referred to in the racing world starting blocks at two years of age .

These young horses are intensely trained well before they are even two years old . 😞

MOST ARE IN FULL TIME RACING AT 2 .
MANY ARE CRIPPLED IN BODY AND HOOF PAIN BY THE TIME THEY REACH MATURITY.
MANY DON’T SEE MATURITY.

Some of the lucky ones may be sold on to owners in a hope to turn away and rehabilitate to a comfortable level and sometimes successful level of eventing , this often depends on the type or severity of the problems they may have had to overcome .

Some unlucky ones may be pushed forward into other competition training and work early on potentially causing further damage and many are euthanised .

This juvenile training of course doesn’t just happen in the racing world .

Greed is a horrible thing , many spectators of the sport have little idea of the pain and misery and often early death this sport can cause to these animals .
Many just don’t really care 🤷‍♀️ .

SO AT WHAT AGE SHOULD HORSES BEGIN TRAINING.

This fantastic graphic below by Naomi Tavian () explains very well about a horses growth plate stages .
So is it any wonder they encounter pain at such young ages when pushed to work as babies while still in their main growing stages of life .

Graphic - Naomi Tavian .

05/05/2022

I DON’T KNOW YOUR HORSE…
…But I do know horses. Here are a few things I’ve learned that should help most horses, most of the time, with whatever problem you may be having.

DO LESS:
Whatever it is, just do less. Expect less. React less. Use less strength. Less contact. Less pressure down the rein/rope. Less pressure from the leg. Less driving from the seat. Less noise…

GIVE MORE:
More patience. More time. More benefit of the doubt. More rest breaks. More reward. More still. More quiet. More variety. More length to the neck…

DITCH YOUR EGO & LET STUFF SLIDE:
Your horse isn’t trying to get one over on you, (or if he is, ask yourself why he feels the need to). What you think is naughty behaviour is usually just an attempt to communicate something: Discomfort, distrust, uncertainty, anxiety, fear, none of which require ‘telling off’…

COUNT TO TEN:
Be in control of your own emotions before you try and control your horse’s emotions. Once you let your emotions change, the whole dialogue upon which your training is based, changes…

IT TAKES TWO TO ARGUE:
So rather than asking for something that goes against your horse, start by asking for things you’re already pretty sure the horse is going to give, and go from there. (This one takes a little figuring out but is totally worth it!) N.B.: Common sense required!…

EVERYTHING IS MADE UP OF THE BASICS:
More advanced work is simply an arrangement of the basics taken care of simultaneously…

NEVER DISCOUNT PAIN:
You can never truly ‘rule out pain’ as a cause of unwanted behaviour. No matter how much money you spend, or how good your vet is…

REST DAYS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS TRAINING DAYS: Overtraining can be just as damaging as under preparing. Horses only have so many jumps/steps in them - use them sparingly…

BREAK IT DOWN:
Most issues can be solved by taking a step back, breaking the issue down into smaller chunks, and taking care of those chunks one by one…

TAKE YOUR TIME:
You’ll get there much quicker if you do. Cutting a corner will only come back to bite you in the ass sooner or later…

ONE FINAL THING…
Horse training is subject to the same laws of physics as everything else. You can’t argue with either anatomy or physics, no matter how many medals you’ve won. Train with this in mind, because there isn’t a single instance where an unyielding or strong rein contact will benefit your training, or your horse…

04/21/2022

'Backing Your Young Horses'
Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS

"There is much info around which leads the reader to think horses age more quickly when they are young and slower as they get older. There is no evidence to support this. Why would the horse be the only animal in the world that ages in a non-linear manner? It doesn’t make sense and is used as an excuse for impatient owners to justify working their immature horses.

Sitting on a horse before maturity has many dangers. It is risking kissing spine, especially if the horse is not conditioned slowly. Sending a horse away as a three year old to go from unbacked to ridden daily in 6-8 weeks is a recipe for disaster. Riding in circles on three year olds damages the hocks. Jumping four year olds is asking for stifle injuries. Pounding the roads pulling traps with two year olds damages every joint in their legs. Any joints asked to take excess pressure before maturity increases the risk of irreparable damage. Maybe a young horse puts down more long bone in response to trauma, to work, but just because a child heals quicker than an adult it's no excuse to cause such damage. An adult is still fully capable of adapting to the work load, just slower, without the collateral damage to the rest of the body.

For every horse that is backed at three and lives a long working life until they are thirty, as a Vet I can show you thousands, tens of thousands that are euthanised before they hit their teens because their bodies are broken. The exception is not the rule.

Fact: A horse ages roughly three times faster than a human, so a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Some are still happily working but some prefer retirement and an easier life. Often depending on just how hard a life they’ve lived.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way back up:

A 1-1.5 year old horse is getting their first adult tooth, this happens at 6 years old in a human child.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child.
A child.
Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 year old horse can start a bit of light work experience to learn the ropes.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 5.5 year old horse has just cut their final adult tooth, this happens at 17 years of age in a human.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult.
Ready to work

An 8 year old horse has achieved full fusion of their final growth plates. This happens at 24 years of age in a human. This is the age it is safe to push a horse for their optimal performance.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in the failure of many body parts. Joints, spine, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting another year or two at the beginning could give your horse an extra 10 years of useful working life.
Be patient with your pride and joy!

04/12/2022

How aware are you when you touch your horse?

You don't just touch with your hands (physically). Most often, the intention/energy behind your touch is more important.

Have you noticed that your horse will often respond to your presence, your energy, your movement? Maybe they change their posture, their facial expression, or even move their body/feet. In this way, we "touch" our horse with our energy and intention... whether we like it (or mean it) or not, before we are even close enough to physically touch them.

When you physically touch your horse... are you aware of that energetic/intentional presence in your touch? Or are you just "blindly" touching your horse.

When you are at a distance that is too far for physical touch, are you aware of your energy and intention in that interaction?

One thing we can be certain of: there is no such thing as "no energy" when we touch or interact with our horse (or anything else, for that matter). But there is often "unintentional energy" in our interactions if we aren't aware of our intention or energy.

(Sometimes, some horses learn to completely ignore this if they spend enough time around humans that are unaware or rude with their energy, while some others may even get offended/defensive... and these learned compensations bring on entirely new challenges).

Much like a meditation, each time we are around our horses, we should start every interaction with setting our energetic intention. Even if that intention is just "to be" with our horse. Be intentional with everything we do. Because it will always affect our horses... whether we are aware or not.

Veritas Saddles * Flexible Fit Equestrian USA. * Bemer Group USA * Pilates & Horses