Dawn Gilbert Show Horses, LLC

11/11/2025

❄️Annual reminder❄️:

To all clients and visitors- please call/message ahead for a weather check before traveling- particularly if you're unused to driving in heavy snow or are hauling a horse trailer.

You can also check our area's school closing. If our district is closed (Mexico Academy) then we are too. It may be sunny where you are, but a complete blizzard here. It may also be sunny where you are AND sunny here, but nearby us is a total whiteout and all it takes is a shift in the wind to include the barn area. We love all our visitors, and we have spare bedrooms, but we'd rather you didn't get snowed in here. 😉

Additionally, should schools be closed there is a fair chance we are utilizing the indoor arena to provide an indoor turnout option and the arena will be closed for general riding until evening so that EVERYONE gets a chance to stretch their legs.

Winter has officially arrived, but doesn't seem set to stay * yet *. I'm sure you'll see this reminder again the first time someone shows up in a blinding storm, or gets stuck in the driveway! 😂🚗🚜

Stay warm everybody! ❄️🥶❄️

11/10/2025

🥶 I admit it. I did not take my own advice. I did *not* spend a little time last week winterizing snaps and latches.

I fully regretted that this morning. 🥶❄️🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

11/07/2025

When you put off that one task, and when you finally get to it...
it turns out to be easier than you thought, and you wonder why the he** you procrastinated. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Finally made the new board. After 15 (or 20?) years the old one wasn't erasing ao well anymore 😅😅

11/07/2025

Tick tock..... ⏰️

11/06/2025

If you live in the Northeast then you've probably had at least two heavy frosts to date. That means it's time....
..time to treat for gasterophilus intestinalis, AKA: bots. 🤢

Every horse we've ever participated in a dissection on, or had scoped in the summer or later have had some bot larvae in their stomachs. A number of these horses have been under diligent worming protocols too! Unlike most other parasites, f***l egg counts rarely show up gasterophilus intestinalis due to their particular life cycle stages.

One difficulty in controlling horse bots is that an adult female will fly for MILES (several, but no studies have been done to find out just how far) to find a suitable place to lay their eggs. So that means you can be as diligent in your parasite control practices as possible, but if anyone near(ish) you isn't.... you might as well toss all your preventive measures out the window, at least as far as bots are concerned.

Secondly, bot flies don't land to lay eggs, making fly spray and chemical control a moot point.

So it's a seasonal uphill battle, but once the frosts have hit, you can finally get ahead. Don't forget to worm with a good boticide- ivermectin or moxidectin. 💪

11/05/2025

11/03/2025

Great for "sweating" a leg... not much else.

Show of hands if this was a staple in your tack trunk growing up? 🙋‍♀️

https://www.facebook.com/share/1MNpw26aZs/

🧴 It is Medicine Monday! And it is all yellow. That is right we are talking about Furacin or Fura-zone Ointment (Nitrofurazone). Not all wound products are created equally and may be a detriment to wound healing.

💛 Nitrofurazone is a topical water-soluble ointment with antibacterial properties for superficial wounds. And it is commonly used in combination with DMSO gel as a “sweat” for horses with cellulitis. Nitrofurazone should never be used on open wounds. Research has shown that nitrofurazone inhibits wound healing by as much as 24%.

☣️Nitrofurazone is associated with carcinogenicity, defined as the potential of a biomaterial to promote tumor formation. This has led to many horse owners throwing out their supply due to this risk.

🩺 We always recommend seeking veterinary advise and an exam when it comes to wounds. Wounds may involve important structures including bone, tendon sheaths and/or joints. It is important that wounds be thoroughly examined by your veterinarian so they can recommend appropriate diagnostics, treatment options and possible referral to an equine hospital.

❌ Now, Fura-Zone is no longer available; other nitrofurazone products are still available.

11/03/2025

Today's McGyver moment...

Needed an option to contain hay and minimize waste that wasn't our usual hay bags... but also checked the following boxes:

✅️ low to the ground. The lower the better.
✅️ safe for shod horses
✅ ️not an entrapment hazard
✅️ stays in one place, but is easily removable for cleaning in and around
✅️ allows for sifting and sorting

We had this Tuff Stuff small water trough kicking around. We experimented with it last night, and aside from it being relocated by morning, it worked perfectly... so today we had to come up with a safe way to fasten to the wall. A short chain, double ended snap, a couple washers and a short bolt with a teflon lock nut later.... and so far this is working PERFECTLY.

I probably won't be putting these in ALL the stalls (although not filling hay bags feels pretty nice) because they would just be in the way tying babies in their stalls. While they would still be safe to have them pawing at, or easy enough to remove and put in the aisle.... I'm not sure THOSE added steps during the day would be offset by not having to fill hay bags- plus I particularly like to allow the babies to eat (out of hay bags) while they are tied and waiting. 🤷‍♀️. However, for the couple older, mildly spoiled (they deserve it) ones, it's looking pretty perfect so far! 🤞

11/01/2025

It's that time! 🥶

Every year, i march this little tip out because it's a personal favorite. Take a small moment or two now, and a can of WD-40 and treat all snaps and.metal fasteners you have outside.

It will save you time and frustration, and keep you from having to taken your gloves on and off constantly to thaw them every. single. time. 💥

10/31/2025

Here's the full take of what Heidi and I were up to today.... she really is saintly.🦄 I have these INSANE ideas pop into my head and she's been game for every one so far.
Ride under a light up, inflatable (by a fan running), spooky CAT while wearing an LED cape, and most of the arena lights are off?? SURE THING. No tricks, and a lot of treats afterward! 💙🩶

HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!

(Full disclosure, she did look at me like I was a bit questionable when I turned on the cape the first time. It was BRIGHT!)