First and Last Farm

10/06/2024

Some weeks it is like they play this game...

09/24/2024

We have been radio silent for a while because our one and only unicorn has been through a hellish nightmare over the last couple of weeks, and his fight really has only just begun. I’ve been riding horses my entire life and had never heard of Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) until It absolutely turned our world upside down. Despite having him at a hospital within hours of anything being wrong (head tilting and stopped eating) and transporting him to a surgical hospital within 48 hours, his condition (eventual facial paralysis and ataxia of the hind limbs) continued to progress to his vestibular nerve until he finally got the surgery he needed (ceratohyoidectomy) 7 days later. He is now permanently deaf in at least one ear. His eyelid has lost nerve function and therefore has to stay sutured shut to protect the eye which had already developed a corneal ulcer in the time it had been exposed. His lips are partially paralyzed and hang down on one side and his left ear is also paralyzed. It’s a rare condition and cannot be prevented. The cause is unknown. It will leave most horses with at least some residual permanent damage and some will never return to work again, especially when the vestibular nerve was damaged. But THO has never met a horse like Mardi…The mighty TB that has kicked every single issue he has ever faced right in the butt and come out fighting even harder on the other side. There is so little info out there on rehabbing this disease that the hospital hasn’t been able to offer me much guidance on a rehab plan, so I will be researching, asking around online communities, and making educated stabs in the dark for as long as it takes to help him. It could be weeks, months, or even years before we will know just how far the healing will go. So stay tuned to follow his journey. 🙏Share his journey. 🙏The more followers we have, the better chance we have of coming across someone who may have useful info. Tell your friends about our product. Not only is it just a good product, but buying it now will support Mardi’s healing journey. (pic from before facial paralysis)

07/13/2024

i LOVE THIS GUY!

Send a message to learn more

07/13/2024

young people getting into horses really need to take this to heart......put in your time with good mentors,and learn some marketable skills. Too many think they should be riding not cleaning, and most don't even know how to longe a horse/pull a mane/apply a stable wrap/fit tack correctly/this list goes on and on........

07/13/2024

Bill Steinkraus, 1968 Olympic individual gold medallist

04/29/2024

My mare Sadie had a giant tangle in her tail, I'm ashamed to admit. Broke out the Unicorn Grooming Spray and it took care of it! My boarder also tried it for the first time on her mare, she is ordering some for herself! Wonderful product in every way. Very natural product, smells great, and works on so many grooming and skin care issues. And the shine!! 🦄🦄🦄

Send a message to learn more

04/29/2024

Thoroughbred horses are the best!

Congratulations to the T.I.P. winners at this weekend's Defender Kentucky Three Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian!

Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L
🥇 Sorocaima ridden by Bruce Davidson Jr.
2011 b.g. ROCK HARD TEN - SANKOBASI
Breeder: Machmer Hall & Poindexter Thoroughbreds (KY)
Last Race Owner: Ronald Rex Connelly
Race Record: 43-4-8-2 $82,396
Overall Place: 6th

🥈 Artist (NZ) ridden by Monica Spencer
2011 b.g. Guillotine (NZ) - Maxamore (NZ)
Breeder: Windsor Park Stud, LTD
Unraced
Overall Place: 7th

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S
🥇 Sea of Clouds ridden by Olivia Dutton
2011 b.g. MALIBU MOON - WINNER'S TICKET
Breeder: Betz/Kidder/Blackburn/Lamantia/Davidson (KY)
Last Race Owner: Qatar Racing
Race Record: 2-0-0-0 $200

🥈 High Tide ridden by Rachel Lawson
Registered as Walker My Boy 2010 b.g. MR. MABEE - VIEWY
Breeder: Jo Ann Ernst, Lawrence E. Ernst & Polish Rose Stables (IN)
Last Race Owner: Martinez, Robert A. and Ralph
Race Record: 11-1-1-1 $8,246

Read more about the weekend at https://useventing.com/news-media/news/townend-takes-his-fourth-defender-kentucky-cci5-l-win-on-a-special-mare

PC: USEA/Lindsay Berreth photo

03/13/2024

He Saves Horse off Kill Truck for $200. But Has No Idea He`s Just Bought Three-Time Champion...

The tale of Raven, a horse once doomed for death on a kill truck, is one of triumph and redemption. Drew Boies, an amateur roper and farrier, first noticed Raven's unique grulla color and saw beyond her scrawny appearance. Despite being abandoned by a breeder unable to care for her, Boies sensed a special quality in Raven.

Boies invested $200 in purchasing the yearling and dedicated himself to nurturing her back to health and mending her shattered spirit. At the age of 3, Raven commenced her training, and by 2016, she had already achieved the remarkable feat of becoming a 3-time Congress Champion under the name Ravens Silver Angel.

The Boies family is looking forward to future competitions for their champion, and have already begun talks about Raven's well-deserved retirement. "Naturally, she will retire with us at home and eventually bless us with some lovely foals," Victoria mentioned.

Instances such as Raven's emphasize the importance of putting an end to unnecessary horse slaughter in the United States. The Humane Society reports that "over 100,000 horses are slaughtered annually, and most of them could be rehomed; not every horse destined for slaughter requires rescue."

Collaboratively, horses in the United States have the opportunity to lead a complete and thriving existence, provided they are raised appropriately in their native habitats. The Human Society's website emphasizes that the resolution for horses facing risks and homelessness lies in restraining excessive breeding, enlightening owners about alternative rehoming possibilities, and enhancing adoption efforts.

It is highly likely that equines such as Raven eagerly anticipate their second opportunity in life. Victoria conveyed her admiration by stating, "She is an extraordinary mare who consistently puts forth her utmost effort. We consider ourselves fortunate to have her presence in our lives."

09/08/2023

If you are going to own horses, please train them.

Even if you can't train them under saddle, train them to lead, tie, load in a horse trailer, and other baby basics.

You cannot imagine the number of emails and Facebook tags we have received in the past month of horses age 10-20 "in need of rescue" that have simply lived like wild mustangs their entire lives on their owner's property. Now that property values have skyrocketed, the farm is being sold and ole Blackie needs a new home.

Reality check: Absolutely no one good will end up with your horses. 98% of rescues are not set up to safely catch, load, haul, unload, and train your untouched 15 year old horse. 1% will attempt it, potentially with serious injury to a volunteer, employee, or horse. 1% will get it done, but not without sacrificing time and space to another animal in need that is more critical or more conducive to volunteer safety when handling. Not to mention the amount of money the organization will spend on professional training to give the horse a future. (Multiply times whatever number of animals on the property). No, most people who might be equipped to remove your feral, fat, half-foundered herd would be the local kill buyer who will rope them, drag them into a stock trailer, and head for the border.

Wouldn't it be easier to spend a couple of months when they are young giving them the basics, and then continue to at least keep up handling and hoof care over the years?

If you can't do so, pay someone to do so.

If you can't do that, please don't own horses. Even pasture pets need handling, hoof care, and veterinary care. What happens when they come up with an injury or decide to colic? If you can't touch them, halter them, lead them, or put them on a trailer - they will potentially die a very painful and preventable death.

https://www.safeharborhorses.org/from-the-horses-mouth/rehoming-your-horse-safely

06/20/2023

06/10/2023

As we approach Memorial Day we remember Sergeant Reckless – a war horse for the Marines during the Korean War. The mare carried both ammunition and wounded soldiers from the front lines to the return trip. Sgt. Reckless was loved and respected by the Marines she served with and because of her amazing performance throughout the war, she was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. She was also given two Purple Hearts along with many other military decorations for her service.

06/09/2023

11/29/2022

"So I’m driving down the road this morning and the cars in front of me are driving over a black thing in the road. It’s going between their tires so I’m guessing it’s a box. It’s a kitten just sitting upright shaking like a leaf. And some as***le had spread glue on its paws and stuck it to the road. I thought maybe it walked through glue somewhere but after looking at it, that was totally spread into her paws. She was wet and freezing and literally glued to the road. And NO ONE STOPPED. 😳 What the f$&k people??? I slammed on my brakes and stopped all the traffic and put my hazards on and got out and pealed her off the road. People were honking and all pissy....really??? It’s a kitten glued to the road!! So after a goo gone bath and some food and cream we have a new kitten. Luckiest kitten in the world!" Source: Chuck Hawley

10/30/2022

BY ANN JAMIESON He was the first horse inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. His principal rider was the most successful show jumper in history, a member of 16 Nations’ Cup teams and ten World Championships, winning over 70 Grand Prix in his career. In 1987 he was the AGA Rider of the […]

08/21/2022

What does it mean to “be educated” in terms of horses?

In the entire world there are only a few “masters.” Some of these are people who can select a mare, select a stallion, produce a foal, and train that foal to be world class.

Other”masters” are those who have brought numerous young horses up through the levels to be competitive at Olympic or corresponding levels. The point being “numerous.”

Others are those who have taught numerous riders to the highest levels.

No true “master” is rough. None is angry, impatient, uses drugs, harsh and restrictive devices, because, in addition to being decent people, they know other ways through having become deeply and thoroughly educated.

Education requires deep study, huge time commitment, and a willingness to be open to learning rather than being arrogant, smug, self-satisfied.

All over the place, in every nook and cranny, there are not well educated people setting themselves up as horse trainers. Who are the professors at Oxford, Stamford, MIT? Are they people who dropped out of high school?

And yet in the world of horses there are so many out there teaching and training who are the equivalent of high school dropouts. They avoid reading like the plague. They don’t take lessons. They don’t attend clinics. They have only competed at entry levels. They know little about theory or pedigree or the history of their chosen disciplines or methodology.

Those being taught by uneducated teachers are similar to horses being trained by uneducated trainers, unlikely to become proficient beyond a basic level. But just go try to persuade an uneducated but self-proclaimed “teacher/trainer” to seek a higher level of knowledge----See what response you get---.

90% of the time you will be told to mind your own damn business. The other 10%? Those are the ones who might make it some fine day.

(photo---two masters, De Nemethy and Steinkraus)

08/17/2022

Meet cute Olive Reins at the Secretariat Center . This 15.1 hand 5 year old mare is short on stature but tall on work ethic. Dedicated to getting better every day, she is a joy to be around and just wants her own ❤️ person to love. https://www.secretariatcenter.org/horses/olive-reins

08/14/2022

08/13/2022

Yes, please remember.

www.foxrunequine.com

(724) 727-3481

We’re for the horse.

08/11/2022

08/10/2022

07/06/2022

Does someone have to compete in order to be a good horseman/horsewoman?------NO

Does someone have to ride or drive to be a good horseman/horsewoman?------NO

If we take it a step further it should become clear that those who neither compete, ride nor drive but who are in some other ways involved with horses are the underpinnings of the entire world of horses.

Here are just a few of the contributions made by that huge group, without whom there would scarcely BE much in the way of anything involving horses. And while some of these roles are filled by those who also ride and drive, many are not---
In no particular order---

Land owners. Tack and equipment providers. Hay and grain farmers. Parents who ferry kids to the barn. Volunteers who run the activities. Breeders. Farriers. Dentists. Veterinarians. Those who run the veterinary universities, and who teach there. Van drivers. EMTs at shows. Officials at all manner of competitions and horse activities. 4-H and Pony Club leaders. Employees of breed and discipline organizations. Magazine and on-line writers and editors. Truck and horse trailer builders and sellers. Employees of pharmaceutical companies. Employees of insurance companies. Farm workers. Grooms. Hot walkers. Race track employees. Contractors in the farm building industry. Carpenters. Electricians. Plumbers. Roofers. Auto mechanics. Writers. Artists.

There are hundreds more, and feel free to add to the list, but even this cursory list suggests that for every one single hands on participant, there are many more who create the “net” that supports them.

In my posts, I tend to feature those more hands on, because that is what my personal “thing” has been, but I realize that hands on is simply one part of a huge and interlocking mechanism.

06/29/2022

When you own a horse, you are responsible for its future.

There are 2 things we, as a rescue, can do to help owners keep horses out of the auction pipeline or neglectful situations.

1. Provide castration services to owners of stallions.

Very few colts deserve to keep their reproductive organs, and even fewer owners are properly equipped with the skillset and facility to own a breeding animal. Good stallions make great geldings, and we'll pay the bill to make them.

2. Provide euthanasia assistance to owners of older, ill, or unsound horses.

For some owners, getting the couple hundred dollars at an auction makes more financial sense than spending a couple hundred dollars for the vet to euthanize the horse. We are here to close that gap and pay that bill for you. We'll even facilitate the veterinary visit.

Simply visit safeharborhorses.org - click the About Us / Charlies Fund link, and we will be in touch.

05/30/2022

THE REAL RULES OF DRESSAGE
1. If you really want to get better at dressage, take it up at an earlier age - and grow an extra 3 inches of leg.
2. A dressage test is a test of your skill against another competitor's luck.
3. Dressage is about achieving a harmonious working relationship with your horse, whose only idea of harmony is eating grass in a field with his buddies.
4. If you want to end a drought or dry spell, wear a new jacket and hat to an outdoor arena.
5. Untalented, difficult, aggressive horses have robust health, good hocks and long lives.
6. Talented tractable horses are accident prone and have OCD lesions.
7. You will ride the best test of your entire life just prior to being disqualified for not wearing your gloves.
8. Never keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your head before a test.
9. Never keep less than another 300 separate thoughts in your head during a test.
10. Horses do not improve their paces because you are wearing expensive German breeches.
11. If you chose a disco theme for your dressage to music test then the judge will be more than 90 years of age and Swiss.
12. The less skilled the rider, the more likely they are to share their critique of your test.
13. If you are considering the services of a horse clairvoyant to help you with training then you have reached the point of total desperation - try the German breeches.
14.Your horse has never heard of Podhajsky, let alone read the book.
15. No matter how badly you ride a test, it is always possible to ride a worse one.
16. If it ain't broke, try shifting your position and it will be.
17. Judges only suffer from temporary blindness (or kindness) when they are judging someone else's test.
18. If you fall off your horse in the arena you will have paid to have the test videoed.
19. If you are feeling confident before a show then three of the GB dressage team will turn up to give their young horses some "experience."
20. Your horse will perform its best piaffe ever when you ask for extended canter.
22. Since runs of bad competitions come in groups of three, the fourth competition is actually the beginning of the next group of three.
23. No one cheats at dressage because no one has worked out how to do it.
24. It is surprisingly easy to end a test with a perfect square halt once you have scored a four for every other movement.
25. The result of an expensive lesson from a top pro is that you will stop believing in that tiny piece of innate ability that was holding your riding together.
26. Remember when buying a dressage horse advertised as "needs experienced competitive rider" this really means "needs the skills of Isabelle Werth just to stay on board."
27. If you think your test was better than someone else's, it probably wasn't.
28. If you pay £60,000 for an imported WB, you will be beaten in Prelim by a Welsh Cob, ridden by a 9 year old.
29. Clinics given by someone with an interesting accent are not necessarily superior to those given by the homegirl.
30. If you go to the expense of raising an expensive WB foal, he will have a talent for jumping and no walk worth talking about.