Pied Piper Farm

05/20/2023

They don’t get it. And you know what? Maybe they never will.⁣
⁣
When you have a highly sensitive or traumatized horse, you hear so much about how she needs to be pushed, exposed, forced, and never coddled.⁣
⁣
You hear about how you’re being too meek, too soft, not enough of a leader to her.⁣
⁣
But… you’ve seen the terror in her eyes. You know she needs compassion and thoughtful, methodical training in order to heal while she tries to survive the human world.⁣
⁣
Not more pressure, more constriction, more force, more projection.⁣
⁣
It’s not that you’re too soft. It’s that you have soul-deep empathy for your equine partner you cannot ignore, no matter how intense outside pressure becomes.⁣
⁣
People misinterpret your kind heart for weakness.⁣
⁣
In reality, the strongest thing you can possibly do is hold true to your values, not conform to the harsh norms around you, and therefore face potential rejection from community.⁣
⁣
The pain of both you and your horse being so fundamentally misunderstood by those around you can be indescribable.⁣
⁣
But… over time, you will be able to see yourself as you are, regardless of what the people around you say. You will come to know yourself so deeply that when someone tells you you’re being weak, it feels laughable. ⁣
⁣
When people say your horse is being stubborn, sassy, disrespectful, etc… you can know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she’s just a pure animal soul trying to make it through in the only way she knows how.⁣
⁣
When you stand so firmly in your own values, you will begin to draw in people who understand you. Who understand your sensitive horse. Who value compassion in the same way you do.⁣
⁣
You are strong.⁣
⁣
We commend you. We respect you. We see you.⁣
⁣
Keep going. The world needs so much more of you ♥️

— by the MM team 💫

05/20/2023

https://stevehuddleston.tripod.com/horsetraining/id21.html

This method puts the knot on the back saddle ring, out of the way of the riders leg. It also puts 2/3rds of the tension on the front saddle ring.

04/06/2023

“The moon rested right above the mountains, a place I call home.” — Daniel Wallock

There's no where better to call home than Ocoee Country! Visit us for a day, or two or five or a week, and you'll see what we mean! You just may never want to leave!

📸: Bridget O'Grodnick Lilley

02/16/2023

*DRAFT CROSS*

8 month old filly, sire was a Belgian stud... dam was 16.2h dapple Grey warmblood mare... halter broke, stands tied, loads, has manners... sweet & sassy personality... very nice baby. Low ###x

02/16/2023

10 month old, grade,appaloosa, filly...very low ###x

01/31/2023

A reader writes: “How do I recognize a horse with heart?”

***

First off, let’s agree on what we mean by the term ‘heart’. Is it what you think of when you tearfully watch race horses battle it out on the home stretch? A ranch horse that quietly, resolutely works its way through a long day in the branding pen? The horse that faces the puissance wall when it can see nothing but a solid fence looming… and yet, he jumps anyway? The plucky pony who, though challenged in size and strength, finishes the driving marathon stronger than when he started? The horse who never, ever gives up?

A horse or pony with ‘heart’ is a cut above. He or she—and this is so often a mare—chooses to use its considerable powers for good over evil. This is the animal that would go and go until it dropped dead with exhaustion. This is the horse that does not need to be asked twice. He or she will never scotch, refuse, cheat or run out. This is the horse of legends.

The first training of such a horse can be somewhat of a leap of faith.

The horse with heart is often a handful in its early years. Remember, this is the horse who never, ever quits. This same sheer grit that keeps it going can be the same resolve that resists our guidance.

“Oh, yeah?” this horse challenges us. “This is a good hill to die on!” Old-time horsemen used to say they could recognize these horses by ‘the look of eagles’, a gaze holding them mesmerized by something far beyond the distant hills.

This horse can fall through the cracks if it lands in the wrong hands. It can take a dedicated and knowledgeable rider to see this kind of horse through the stormy years, a person who believes it will all be worth it in the end. A person who, like the horse with heart, will not give up.

A horse with a huge amount of determination can be made to do things but oh, my, what it can do when it loves its job! This truism may apply to all of us, man or beast, but with tough horses, a job they believe in can result in magic. This is when we get the feeling that they don’t really need us, that we’re only holding the reins to fulfill the requirements to compete. The horse with heart can pretty much get stuff done on his or her own. Larger than life in many ways: quirky, opinionated, stubborn, without ‘bottom’… all can be used to describe this horse.

While such horses are often said to be honest, being honest does not necessarily mean a horse has a huge amount of heart. Honest horses will want to serve us, whether or not they have high energy. They’re just good folks. On the other hand, horses with heart make far better friends than enemies! These are the ones that you’ll want to have on your side because if not, they can effortlessly make you look stupid… and they’ll get a kick out of doing so.

Horses with heart seldom get frail or lazy with age. They have a fire that burns from within.

As you’ll have gathered, not all of us are needing a horse with epic will. Those who aren’t prepared to die in battle are usually easier to school and get along with. If we’re needing a competitive machine, though, or one with which to share long, hard miles, this is our partner.

When it comes horses with heart, the good news is also the bad news.... They will never. ever. quit.

10/23/2022

10 things veterinarians want horse owners to know about Banamine.
1)Banamine is a brand name. Flunixin meglumine is the drug name but many people refer to it by the popular brand name “Banamine” made by Merck. This medication is available in injectable liquid and oral paste formulations.
2)Flunixin is classified as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which can be shortened to “NSAID.” NSAIDs reduce inflammation, pain, and fever by decreasing certain biochemical reactions in the body. Other drugs that are also classified as NSAIDs include phenylbutazone (Bute), firocoxib (Equioxx®, Previcoxx®).
3)Flunixin treats pain. By far the most common implication for the use of flunixin in horses is analgesia, or pain control. Flunixin provides good pain control for visceral (in the belly) and ocular (eye) pain. It is often used in cases of colic (abdominal pain) to make the horse more comfortable which reduces the risk of harm to the horse and handlers. It is important to note that flunixin does not cure the cause of colic; it temporarily relieves signs by providing pain relief.
4)Flunixin can reduce fever. A normal horse’s temperature is between 98.5 and 100.9°F. Like humans, horses can develop a fever secondary to an infection or illness. Many febrile horses will not eat or drink well when they have a fever but their appetite improves once the fever decreases. Flunixin can be used to reduce the horse's temperature often making them feel better. On a cautionary note, we often recommend owners take a temperature BEFORE giving flunixin as this can also a mask a fever.
5)Flunixin lasts 12 hours in the horse’s body. Some owners with a sick horse give a full dose of flunixin and then redose the horse a few hours later when he/she became uncomfortable again. This practice is not recommended for two reasons. First, overdosing can increase the risk of adverse effects including kidney damage and gastric ulcers. Second, if a horse's clinical signs do not resolve with a full dose, an examination by your veterinarian is likely warranted sooner rather than later and administering a second dose may delay treatment.
6)Flunixin can cause gastrointestinal and kidney damage. The same pathways that are down-regulated by flunixin to reduce pain and inflammation also partially protect the kidneys and stomach. At a normal dose the risk of these side effects is reduced. However, patients treated with an overdose or long term dosing are at an increased risk for renal (kidney) damage, gastric ulcers, and hind gut (colon) ulcers .
7)“Stacking” NSAIDs is not recommended. As previously stated, other drugs commonly used in horses that are also classified as NSAIDs include bute, Equioxx and Previcoxx). It is important to note that giving either of these medications together or in combination with flunixin can cause the same adverse effects as overdosing. For this reason,we do not recommend “stacking” NSAIDs or administering two of these drugs together. Many geriatric patients receive Equioxx or Previcoxx daily for pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. If this is the case, we recommend discontinuing that medication before starting another NSAID an allowing enough time for the body to clear the first drug completely.
8)Flunixin does not cause sedation or cure colic. Although we often use flunixin in colic cases, it is for the purpose of pain control. Alleviating the signs of colic by controlling pain is safer for the horse and handler when a horse is being treated and gives the horse’s body time to respond to treatment (ie oral fluids, IV fluids, motility agents). We often recommend removing hay/grain from a horse that has been administered flunixin for signs of colic until he/she can be examined by a veterinarian. In some cases, once the horse FEELS better he/she will try to continue eating and make the colic worse. If you think your horse may be colicking, we recommend calling your regular veterinarian and following her/his recommendations on medications and feeding.
9)Flunixin should NOT be given in the muscle (IM). Oddly enough, Banamine is still labeled for IM use in horses on the bottle but I strongly recommend against this practice. In rare cases, IM administration of flunixin (or phenylbutazone) has been known to cause a secondary condition called “Clostridial myositis” which can be fatal. The medication irritates the surrounding muscle tissue and bacterial spores can take advantage of the inflamed environment and cause a massive release of toxins. This disease is extremely painful and the treatment can be quite gruesome but horses that are not diagnosed and treated promptly may die from toxic overload. For this reason, we recommend only injecting flunixin in the vein (IV) or squirting the injectable fluid or paste in the mouth.
10)Flunixin injectable solution can be administered by mouth. The injectable formulation of flunixin can be administered by mouth at the same dose as IV use. Oral administration (either injectable solution or paste) takes about 20-30 min to reach full effect compared to 5-10 min with an IV injection. Oral administration does not take significantly longer than IM injection to reach peak absorption and is much safer for the horse.
Lastly always call your veterinarian if you suspect your horse appears off in any way before administering any medication.

10/04/2022

09/29/2022

Whenever I bring a new horse home…

I am reminded of all the questions that my own clients must have, when they buy from me. Am I safe? Where are this horse’s particular ‘holes’? Will he kick me, or pull back, or panic in the trailer, or bolt when he first sees deer?

I am made to be more aware and empathetic of what it must be like to leave one’s home and people and therefore, everything one knows. Can this stranger be trusted? Where are her limits? Will she protect me from her dogs? Will I be fed when I am hungry?

I am given a new opportunity to learn, to add something to my tool box that, until this horse, I have not known I needed. Should I be finding a new technique for an old problem? Am I too short on patience? Do I need to see beyond what is taught in my favourite discipline?

Whenever I buy a new horse, I must stop myself from rushing ahead. Remember, I liked this horse well enough to buy him, in the first place! Why do I, on the first day of meeting, want so badly to instill ‘better’ manners? Who am I to say that this horse has been using the wrong bit, or has been so misunderstood? What is it, in Ego, that does not allow me to respect and hear what a prior owner or trainer has said?

When I bring home a new horse…

I am required to stop and think. To feel my way, to be quiet and listen. To watch and learn, to wait a while. To get to know him. Only then, can I form an opinion on this horse’s personality, his outlook and his issues. Only then.

09/25/2022

I DID NOT KNOW... by Alissa Kelly

I did not know a horse could bring people into your life that end up meaning the most to you.
I did not know a horse could make the hardest days of your life bearable.
I did not know a horse could teach you to put others first.
I did not know a horse could remind you time and time again that your gut is always right.
I did not know a horse could break your heart.
I did not know a horse could pick you up when you have fallen apart.
I did not know a horse could teach you to dream again, after you thought it was not possible.
I did not know a horse could make you believe in yourself.
I did not know a horse could teach responsibility, work ethic, and dedication.
I did not know a horse could make you believe in something when no one else does.
I did not know a horse could make you learn to forgive and forget.
I did not know a horse could humble you faster than you can say humble.
I did not know a horse could make you a winner.
I did not know a horse could also teach you how to lose gracefully.
I did not know a horse could instill patience in you.
I did not know a horse could make you listen better.
I did not know a horse could give you their heart.
I did not know a horse could change your life.
I did not know a horse could do all these things...
but now I know. ❤️❤️

Artist: Charlie Mackesy

09/14/2022

08/20/2022

The new bridge spanning the Ocoee River is truly a gateway to paradise . . . across that bridge are memories just waiting to be made!!

Come on cross it and see for yourself!!

📸: Rob Howard

11/17/2021

If you are fond of a horse, train him well.

10/25/2021

2.5 year old, mule C**t, already gelding and well started under saddle.

07/04/2021

Little something for your Friday...

04/20/2021

I have Several Horses Like this and Can Testify To The Truth of this! 🤩
Do You Know ABOUT Thumbprints?
A "Prophet's Thumbprint" is a birthmark in the form of an indentation, usually found on the side of a horse’s neck, and it is totally harmless although it comes with a lovely legendary story!
The Prophet Mohammed was wandering the desert with his herd of horses for many days, and as they approached an oasis he sent them forth to drink. But as the thirsty horses approached the water, he called them back. Only five of his mares stopped and returned to him, and to thank them for their loyalty he blessed them by pressing his thumbprint into their necks.
It’s believed that a horse with such a mark will be outstanding, being a descendant of one of these brood mares that the Prophet Mohammed particularly treasured.