Savvy Dreams Farm LLC

06/05/2025

Knowing your horse's normal vital signs is VITAL —pun intended!— to detecting distress and a possible emergency! 🩺

Practice taking your horse's vitals often (T.P.R.: temperature, pulse, respiration rate) so you can get to know what's normal for your equine friends and recognize what is abnormal. If your horse seems a little "off" and his values are outside the normal range, a call to your equine veterinarian is definitely warranted!

The typical ranges for adult horses are as follows:
🌡️Temperature: 99.0-101.5°F
❤️Heart rate: 28-40 beats/minute
🫁Respiration rate: 12-16 breaths/minute

Keep in mind that very hot and humid conditions may cause small variations, so be sure to have a conversation with your horse doctor about what is acceptable and about how to properly assess your horse's vital signs.

Thank you to the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information!

06/03/2025

04/23/2025

Turnout is one of the most polarizing topics in modern horse keeping. So, let’s skip the debate. We’ve gathered some results from veterinary science, peer-reviewed journals, and international welfare assessments. These are real numbers, from real studies, so you can make strategic decisions rooted in evidence, not tradition.

-A 25% reduction in soft tissue injuries was found in adult horses turned out for at least 12 hours daily, compared to those kept in stalls greater than 12 hours daily. (Reilly & Bryk-Lucy, 2021)

-Comparing turnout duration, a study found that horses with only 2 hours of turnout exhibited significantly higher energy levels, anxiety, and behaviors such as rearing, bucking, and fence running, whereas horses receiving over 12 hours of turnout were more likely to walk, graze, and remain calm. (Hockenhull & Creighton, 2010)

-Foals receiving inconsistent turnout (9 to 23 hours per day) had 4.6 times more musculoskeletal injuries than those with 24/7 access to turnout. Furthermore, for every extra acre of turnout, there was a 24% reduction in injury risk. (Brown-Douglas et al., 2022)

-A study on 2-year-old horses found that those kept in individual stalls required more time to get used to training activities and showed more unwanted behaviors, like resistance or agitation, than horses kept on pasture. The stalled horses needed an average of 26 minutes of training time, while the pastured horses needed only 19 minutes, to complete the same task. Additionally, the stalled horses were more likely to show unwanted behaviors during training (8 instances on average compared to just 2 for pastured horses). (Rivera et al., 2002)

-Stall-kept livestock experience a higher incidence of hoof-related issues, including uneven hoof growth and lameness, while those with access to turnout demonstrated healthier, more balanced hoof development. (Black, R.A. et al., 2017)

-A European welfare study using the AWIN protocol assessed 315 horses in group-housing turnout systems. Only 2.3% of these horses exhibited signs of lameness, compared to lameness rates as high as 33% in stalled horses across various studies. (AWIN Welfare Assessment, 2023)

-Within just one day of moving from group turnout to individual stalling, equine cortisol levels spike, and their white blood cell count shows significant changes, including a 25% increase in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and a decrease in infection-fighting cells like monocytes and T cells. Additionally, behaviors indicative of stress, such as oral manipulation, neighing, pawing, and apathy, became evident in most horses within a week. (Schmucker et al., 2022)

-Horses with regular turnout showed higher heart rate variability, indicating improved balance in their autonomic nervous system and greater stress resilience. (Rietmann et al., 2004)

-Welsh ponies who received daily pasture turnout in a herd exhibited fewer stress-related behaviors, were significantly calmer, less fearful, less reactive, more interactive with humans, and more adaptable in learning tasks compared to ponies housed in impoverished environments (stalls with limited turnout). Even three months after the study, ponies in the enriched group retained these positive behaviors and demonstrated higher curiosity and superior learning performance. (Lansade et al., 2014)

Can you find a single peer-reviewed study that shows horses kept stabled 24/7 are sounder, healthier, or happier than those with regular turnout? Even the most finely tuned, performance-focused horses are still horses. Just like any other, they require room to roam, stretch their legs, and engage in natural behaviors such as grazing and socializing.

It’s important to recognize that no horse truly dislikes turnout. If a horse resists going outside, it’s due to improper conditioning, previous negative experiences, or being overwhelmed by a sudden change in environment: what’s known as "flooding." Horses who’ve been confined for extended periods or who’ve never had proper exposure to outdoor spaces may react with anxiety or reluctance. These reactions stem from fear, not from an inherent dislike of turnout. With patience and gradual exposure, every horse can be reconditioned to embrace the outdoors. After all, instincts tell them to roam, graze, and move, it's in their nature.

Of course, there are times when limiting a horse's movement is necessary, such as during health issues or transportation. In these instances, it’s crucial to understand the physiological and psychological changes that occur so we can minimize stress and discomfort.

Turnout is a biological necessity. To support our horses’ overall health and well-being, we must prioritize their freedom to move. After all, a healthy, happy horse is one that has the opportunity to be just that: a horse.

04/11/2025

DOING NOTHING IS AN ACTION

Yesterday I published a post on something I termed "Inappropriate Touching" that went a little viral, being shared 3,000 times in 24 hours (you can read that post here https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1274647950690356&set=a.269604291194732).

It was about missing what the horse was offering, and instead trying to touch a part of the horse that they weren't offering. The picture I used was taken at the Horse World Expo in Pennsylvania recently.

Today I want to share a picture of a different demo horse from that expo.

This is a 10 year old Warmblood mare who was a broodmare, and has recently been started under saddle. The owner says she drags everyone around, has severe attention issues, and always has her head up looking around.

That's at home on familiar turf, so you can imagine what she was like at the horse expo. When the mare and her handler came in, the mare couldn't stand still, and her head was straight up in the air looking around. As I usually do at horse expos, if I have an hour session, I usually let the handler lead the horse around (or try and stand still) for the first half an hour, so the audience can really see that the horse is not settled , and isn't going to.

Then I take over.

With this mare, when I took a hold of the lead rope, she immediately greeted me with her nose, which I reciprocated with my hand (Action #1). She then walked off away from me and as she tightened the lead rope, I used my flag to draw her thoughts back to where her body was, so getting her to be present (Action #2). These 2 actions are part of a flow chart I have on my website, which is basically a flow chart for appropriate responses to things your horse does.

These 2 things happened twice more in the first 5 minutes of me handling her, so I did a total of 4 quite subtle things.

And then I waited.

The photo of the mare shows the result after about 20 minutes or so.

The next day I posted the photo on Facebook and said a little about it, and someone asked if I'd videod the session. I replied that I hadn't, and didn't really need to, as I didn't do anything I hadn't captured many times on video and put in my video library on my website.

They said they were in the audience, and that they didn't really see me do much, so must have missed something. I had to point out I only did 4 things (which was actually 2 little things, twice each).

It's more about what I didn't do, that the handler had been doing.

I didn't hold the lead rope short or try to control her (the handler had been doing quite a bit of this).

When she stood there and pawed the ground (which she did quite a bit) I didn't do anything (the handler had been trying to correct that).

When she stood with her head high looking around, I didn't do anything (the handler had been trying to get her attention). Actually I looked at what she was looking at, so I suppose there I did do something.

When she chewed on the lead rope, I didn't do anything (The handler had tried to get it out of her mouth).

When she sidepassed up really close to me, I didn't do anything (the handler had stepped away from her when she did this).

And in relation to yesterdays viral post, I didn't touch her, I didn't pet her, I didn't rub her, and I didn't console her (the handler had been doing quite a bit of this), except for the 2 brief times she touched me with he nose.

In the half an hour I was handling her, those 4 little things I did happened in the first 5 minutes.

The rest of the time I did nothing.

After a while she started having the big yawning releases one often sees with the Masterson Method work. She yawned. And yawned. And yawned.

Then her head started to drop into the posture you see in the picture.

And I said to the audience "Doing nothing IS an action", and it's a very powerful one at that. Then I sat down and crossed my legs, for no other reason than to prove to the audience that I wasn't doing anything to her to get her to stand there.

Many people struggle to be in the presence of their horse without doing something. If there's a problem, they want to fix it. if there's not one, they want to fiddle and groom and touch (remember yesterdays post). Many times these well meaning owners (and the handler of this horse was lovely and well meaning) are doing a lot of work to try to resolve their horses anxiety issues, and many times the incessant fiddling and grooming and touching is part of the problem.

Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is be a human being, instead of a human doing.

If you are interested in my work, everything I do is available on video and in courses at videos.warwickschiller.com

04/10/2025

🌱SMART GRAZING! 🌱 Spring is here, which means the arrival of grass, but knowing when to let your horses 🐴 graze and why and why can be confusing. 🤔

WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy, like sugar, that can be stored for later use; essentially, it’s how plants make their food. Sunlight directly influences when sugars in the grass are at their highest. Grasses accumulate sugars during the day, with sugar levels peaking in the late afternoon and evening.

USE CAUTION WHEN WEATHER IS COOL OVERNIGHT
During cool nights (below 40°F), plants use their sugars for growth at a slower rate, resulting in higher sugar concentrations in the grass the following morning. Spring and Fall are especially prone to temperature fluctuations, so use extra caution during these seasons.

HORSES AT RISK
- Overweight horses, including those with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) or insulin resistance, are particularly vulnerable to laminitis due to the increased insulin sensitivity caused by high sugar intake.

- Fructans, a type of sugar found in grasses, can contribute to digestive issues like colic and hindgut acidosis. Take extra caution if your horse's digestive system is sensitive to change.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES:
- Incorporate a dry lot or track system if possible to reduce/eliminate intake of high-sugar grass.

- Introduce horses to spring grass slowly if they are not on full turnout to allow their gut microbiome to adjust to the increase in sugars and avoid digestive upset.

- Use grazing muzzles during turnout to restrict grass intake and reduce sugar consumption, especially if your horse is at risk (see above).

- Avoid overgrazing and maintain pasture health. When plants experience stress, such as drought, overgrazing, or nutrient deficiency, they may store more sugars to conserve energy and survive until conditions improve.

**This graphic is only a guide. Factors such as location, weather, grass species, and your horse’s health history should be considered. Consult your veterinarian if you have questions.**

04/07/2025

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUCEMENT:
I've been very busy the last few days with trying to save a horse that got bit in the nose by a RATTLESNAKE. (I've not been trying to ignore anyone.)
For those of you that live in an area where there are venomous snakes.... Listen up......
If a horse gets bit in the leg.... it's Bad... but, if they get bit in the face, especially the nose... it's Life Threatening, and can be Deadly... FAST!
The nose swells up, the nostrils close up, and the horse will SUFFOCATE! A horse must breathe through his nostrils. They Can't breathe through their mouth.
I didn't see this horse get bit by the rattlesnake... but, when I found the horse, he was suffocating! I knew what must have happened.... and I knew what I had to do, and do it FAST! I had to get Air to my horse!
The nostrils were so tightly closed... the only tubes I could fit up his nostrils were the size of a pencil, which sure didn't give him much Air..... but, it was enough to keep him from dying. After he could get a Little Air.... he quit thrashing around so bad, and he was not in as much of a Panic. Then, I prepared some lengths of garden hose to put in his nostrils. I tried to trim the edges so they wouldn't be as rough... because I knew is was going to be tough to get them in place. A frightened horse in a lot of pain doesn't want anyone to touch him, much less push a lubricated garden hose up his nose, when there is barely enough room for a pencil.
By this time, I had him in the stocks to minimize his movement so I could try to get him more air.
I slid the water hose along side the tiny hose, and although I made him bleed... I knew I had to get him more air. After both bigger hoses were in place... he was frantically trying to breathe deeper, and the pain from putting the tubes in made him breathe heavier and it was still hard to breathe through the larger hoses..... but, at least he could breathe. The hoses are held in place with tape, but putting tape on a painfully swollen face has it's own set of challenges.
Once I knew he was getting air... the next step was getting veterinary help.

Well, this happened Saturday, and around here... the vet was closed.
A visitor to the ranch that drove up for her appointment ... arrived as the tubes were put in the nose. She called her friend in Texas, who was a Vet, and after the vet confirmed we already had tubes in his nose.... she told me the horse needed Dex, Banamine, and Pen G. I had several things on hand, so I did what I could do for him with what I had.... but, still needed to get my local vet here...

Many phone calls later, and leaving messages, and eventually reaching the Mother of one of the vets... I found out that everyone was out of town, but should be back later that night.

My horse's face was swelling even more, and he was becoming unrecognizable. (Photo from when tubes were put in) He swelled to twice that size at his worst.
When a horse has been bit by a venomous snake, it is critical to keep the horse calm and as quiet possible. I kept him in the stocks with a fan on him.
Note- A horse bitten by a venomous snake, should NEVER be sedated.
His lips, mouth, and tongue swelled so much that swallowing was impossible. I let him try to lick water from a hose, but he couldn't swallow it. He so wanted to eat and drink, but this was impossible.

Later- the local vet arrived.... and after taking one look at the garden hoses sticking out of the grotesquely deformed face.... he looked at me and said I saved his life by getting the tubes in his nose when I did....
Meds, I.V. Anti-Venom, I.V. fluids, and Antibiotics were given. The road to recovery had begun.
I stayed with my horse most of the night, keeping him calm, and quiet.
The licking of water seemed to keep him happy, and was a distraction from being hungry.
Day two- The vets came back for more Anti-Venom, Meds, and I.V. Fluids. The swelling was now improving some...
Now on our 3rd day.... the swelling has improved enough that the nasal tubes have been removed, and although breathing is still far from normal... he can breathe without the tubes.
His upper lip and muzzle are still extremely swollen, but he can drink from a tub now, and I.V. fluids are no longer needed.

Eating is difficult, and water soaked alfalfa pellets (Mush) can be licked up. Eating will take a back seat to fluids for now.

He will have to be on Antibiotics for an extended time, because Snakes carry large amounts of bacteria in their mouth/fangs and this can be fatal.

I hope none of you reading this post ever have to experience what I've been through the last few days. But, I hope this information was helpful, and that if you or someone you know has a horse bitten by a venomous snake in the face.... you will know what to do until the vet can help.
Please Share to reach others that may benefit from this information. If one horse is saved.... it is worth it.

03/27/2025

Tuesday’s Equine Veterinary Fun Fact: 🐴🔬

Horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal! 👀 Their unique eye placement allows them to see nearly 360 degrees around them, except for small blind spots directly in front and behind. This incredible vision helps them stay alert and aware of their surroundings—an important trait for a prey animal!

⚠️ This is why eye problems are always an emergency! If you notice squinting, swelling, or discharge, contact your vet immediately.

💙 Brought to you by Barrow Veterinary Service
👩‍⚕️ Dr. Barrow & Dr. Connelly
☎️770-464-0890 - After hours press 1 to leave a message for the doctor on call.

03/01/2025

Interesting read.

👀🧠🐴 Here are 15 interesting facts about a horse's brain:

1. A horse's brain is relatively small compared to the size of its body, making up only about 0.1% of its total weight.
2. Despite their small size, horses have very complex brains, with a highly developed cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for conscious thought, decision making, and memory.
3. Horses can learn and remember complex tasks, such as navigating a jumping course or performing a dressage routine, through a process called associative learning.
4. Like humans, horses have a left and a right hemisphere in the brain, each with specialized functions. The left hemisphere is responsible for logical and analytical information processing, while the right hemisphere is more involved in emotional processing and creative thinking.
5. Horses have great memories and can remember specific people, places, and experiences for many years.
6. Horses can learn by observing and can often pick up new behaviors and skills simply by watching other horses or humans.
7. Horses have a very sensitive sense of touch and can detect even the slightest pressure or movement on the skin. This helps them respond to subtle cues from their rider or guide.
8. Horses can process visual information very quickly and accurately, allowing them to avoid potential danger and navigate their environment with ease.
9. Horses are social animals and rely on non-verbal communication to interact with other horses in their herd. This communication is facilitated by the horse's brain, which can interpret subtle changes in body language, facial expressions, and vocalizations.
10. Finally, like all animals, horses have unique personalities and individual characteristics that are shaped by their experiences, genetics, and environment, all of which are reflected in their brain function and behavior.
11. Horses have a very strong sense of smell and their olfactory bulb, which processes odors, is relatively large compared to other parts of their brain.
12. The cerebellum, which is responsible for coordinating movement and balance, is also relatively large in horses. This is because horses must be able to move quickly and efficiently to escape predators or navigate difficult terrain.
13. Horses have a very high pain threshold, which is thought to be related to the way their brains process pain signals. While this can be beneficial in some situations, it can also mean that horses may not show overt signs of pain, making it difficult for their keepers to detect and treat underlying health problems.
14. The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory, is particularly well developed in horses. This allows them to remember not only specific experiences, but also general concepts and patterns that they can apply to new situations.
15. Finally, studies have shown that horses, like other animals, are capable of experiencing emotions such as fear, happiness, and anger. These emotions are thought to be mediated by the limbic system, a group of interconnected brain structures that play a key role in regulating mood and behavior.

Info: Megan Bolentini Equine Bodywork

01/11/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee