The Fifi Foundation

02/03/2024

As colder tips approach us again it's always best to be prepared!

02/02/2024

We still have some cold spells ahead! Ensure your horse/pony has plenty of hay accessible to keep themselves warm and healthy.

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

02/02/2024

A very educational and helpful post on how to's of prevention of colic!

Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Colic can range from mild to severe but it should never be ignored, as many of the conditions that cause colic can become life threatening in a relatively short period of time. Only by quickly and accurately recognizing colic – and seeking qualified veterinary help – can the chance for recovery be maximized.

Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic, so management practices can play a key role in prevention. And although not every case is avoidable, the guidelines listed in the graphic can help you maximize your horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic.

As always, remember that every animal is different depending on age, breed and other health conditions, so be sure to work with your veterinarian to address any concerns specific to your situation!

12/10/2023

This is a great option for colic coverage as a plan for prevention through SmartPak . Thank you to those that shared this information to us so we can share it with others. 🙏🏼🩷🦄

ColiCare is a FREE wellness program that provides up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement. Learn more about our program, benefits and requirements.

11/27/2023

Cyber Monday deals!!

11/26/2023

Huge savings!! Stock up and save!

100X Equine

11/26/2023

Great sales for blankets and keeping your best friend warm this winter! Ensure they are comfortable and safe!

11/24/2023

Prayers everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. 🦃

🐎Tomorrow there are some great deals on horse blankets and supplements! 🐎

11/19/2023

https://www.thehaypillow.com/blogs/news/sand-colic-the-surprising-simple-cure-prevention?fbclid=IwAR3Hkt6AjexbFX02eYMOVS_TPcGbJqOi9r7Tvam-zLi6DAxHHa-6ac4XQ3M

10/02/2023

Pre and prebiotic and how the help improve the gut and reduce colic:

Explore the complex world of equine gut health in our blog dedicated to understanding probiotics and prebiotics for horses. Learn how these beneficial components, when added to a horse's diet, can support a healthy digestive system and particularly the hindgut. Delve into the specific benefits o...

10/01/2023

Did you know that 1 in every 10 horses experiences some type of colic?

10/01/2023

As the weather changes, it's very important to ensure we are providing electrolytes to to our horses to make sure they are drinking enough fluids to lessen a possible chance of colic due to dehydration. Here are some helpful early visual signs to looks for. These are going to be you "hmm that's odd, they don't do that normally" type of behaviors. There are many forms and types of colic which we will get into.

If you are out enjoying the beautiful weather today riding, serving a meal before a ride is ok but wait to give grain until the horse has cooled down after the ride and settled before feeding (besides hay and water). All information is provided based of research studies and universities. We will always do our best to find the most recent information and studies to help us be more knowledgeable.

Stay safe and be aware!

09/30/2023

This page is dedicated to our beloved Princess Fiona (Aka Fifi) who we lost on September 26th 2023 due to colic regardless of all efforts to save her. We are heartbroken forever, but we know that she wouldn't want any of us to stop spreading love and happiness as she did for so many. Though she was only here for a short time we cherished every moment with her and she had the most amazing life. This page will share helpful information, share knowledge from professionals, help continued education and also help us to raise funds to support continued education and help other horse owners in need of funds who struggle to afford the costly medical care to save their beloved family members. No family should have to be limited to medical care due to cost. As we know, here in Northern Virginia the average cost is $14,500 for colic surgery and recovery care sometimes more. It's also not a guarantee that they will survive. We want to ensure we give every fighting chance possible.

The Fifi Foundation is a non profit 501c3 so that all donations will be tax deductible. We are still getting all necessary paperwork completed and should have everything up and running withing the next couple weeks. We would be honored if you'd help share our story and others like us as well as help spread the word so that we can help those in need or an extra hand and help guide us to organizations Mayne we don't know of. We still have a lot to learn but we couldn't be more proud to do this for our angel baby Fifi. We know that she would want us to do something just as loving and amazing as she was for us all. We will miss her every day that goes by and never be forgotten.

Our PayPal is
Our email is [email protected]
Our phone number is 5714450623
Our website is www.TheFifiFoundation.com

We should be up amd running within a week. Thank you to all 🙏🏼🩷