Franciscan Acres

20/12/2025

Many of our veterinarians are taking a long overdue and well deserved break over the holidays. At Franciscan Acres, we use Allatoona Equine, and they are excellent at pairing with other practices in the North GA area so that some coverage remains available via an emergency line. However, it is unrealistic to expect that the very few vets covering this massive area with thousands of horses, will be able to make it to each and every call in the time we would like. Prayers especially for those who are working these days, that they have quiet and uneventful shifts.

This weekend is a good time for us, as owners, to check our stock of medical supplies, make sure our trailers are in safe working order, and practice loading with horses that might have gotten a bit rusty.

Ultimately, the responsibility to provide care to our horses fall upon us, and the ability to haul in an emergency can be the difference in a positive and not-so-positive outcome.

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to be confronted with a medical emergency (even during the holidays). Are you prepared?

Having a clear emergency action plan will help you stay focused and effective if a crisis strikes. Below are some basic guidelines that can help you prepare for an equine emergency:

1. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours. Ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available for emergencies.

2. Have a plan for transporting the horse if necessary and know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center.

3. Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place. Keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle as well and be sure to check your supplies periodically and restock as needed. First-aid kits can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like; seek your horse doctor's advice on what to add, especially regarding any drugs that could be included and how they should be administered.

14/12/2025

Ready for a cold 24 hours!

13/12/2025

Bucky the goat has lived the last few years with a small band of minis and ponies. Im pretty convinced he had no idea he was a goat until this afternoon. When I got word from my friend that he was mostly likely to be votes of the island, due to his excessive head butting, I agreed we could make room for his impressive stature amongst our resident goats.

This afternoon, we are still settling in, but overall I think this will prove a good fit for everyone. Welcome home, Bucky!

13/12/2025

50 degree temperature drop in 36 hours? What could go wrong...
Its colic season, and we are heaping on the salt and encouraging lots of extra water intake by offering some flavored water options.

12/12/2025

5 weeks with all the wet and mud. These shoes got us through the Deb Davies Equine Self Expression clinic and a trail riding trip to Broxton Bridge Plantation.

The softer ground reduced wear and I was able to clean then up and rest for another round. This package - Speed shoes from EasyCare Inc. Protective Hoofwear with soft wedges from Cavallo Hoof Boots, have really helped Jabbar's posture and movement on the back right where he damaged his extensor tendon years ago.

11/12/2025

A rare early afternoon = Salalah spa day!

30/11/2025

December weather predictions are out, and it looks like we have cold and wet ahead. Its a good time for a winter trimming protocol review for myself and my wonderful hoof care clients:

* I work on rainy days, but not IN the rain. Obvious discomfort aside, my tools will rust in the rain. Nippers alone cost me $200+. Protecting my tools is one way I help control the cost of trims to my clients. I don't need a fancy barn, but I do need to work in a shelter that blocks rain.

* Your horse and I need a safe and appropriate
work surface. Mud, sand and other debris clog my rasp. A shelter full of mud and p**p is not conducive to a good trim. I do have to replace rasps every 20 or so horses ($29+ each), but mud can greatly reduce not only the life of the rasp, but my ability to leave good finishing work on your horses' hooves. I've tried in the past to trim on inappropriate surface, and not only does the horse struggle to stand his best, but each time the hoof plops back down in the mud or wet sand, we are starting back at square one picking/cleaning again. Its an unfair ask of the horse, and an unreasonable situation in which to do my best work.

* Imagine trying to chop vegetables with a newly sharpened knife, but the handle of the knife is covered in oil. Thats a bit of the stress I feel when horse's legs are covered in slippery wet mud. My gloves, chaps, pick get covered and the ability to do fine detail work is greatly diminished, as well as increasing the risk of injury. I carry towels in my truck for my clients who cannot be present for trims. I appreciate their trust and accommodation and assume the responsibility to prepping the horse for trims.
Where clients prefer to be present, the environment and horses should be ready for us to get to work. Amazon, dollar stores and even thrift stores are great places to pick up rags and towels to be designated for barn duty. ***Please wipe off mud, rather than hosing unless there is enough time before the appointment to dry the legs.***

* Older horses, horses that struggle with stiffness, or horses with previous injuries or arthritic change have a harder time in cold weather. I'm a huge fan of CBD from https://www.bravehorsecbd.com/ for these situations, but sometimes a little walk and some gentle stretching can help these horses warm up enough to stand comfortably. Horses are masters of compensation, and some discomfort may not be noticeable until we ask for something out of the normal every day motion- like standing prolonged on 3 legs. If you find your horse is struggling beyond what you are able to help them through, it might be a good time to discuss additional options for comfort with your vet.

I hope these tips give you some ideas for coping with the upcoming winter months. I do my best to stay on schedule and keep my costs low but as my cost goes up, so must my prices, so I appreciate all the help I get from you all. In the case of dangerous road conditions, we will work together on rescheduling routes.

23/11/2025

Dreamer update:

Dreamer arrived home in Cochran, GA before noon today. We left early to maximize his daylight settling into a new herd and new routine.

When he first walked into the lot with his new herd mates, a loud and long cry erupted from little Josie, who has been missing her old pasture mate, lost to old age last year. Suffice to say she is obsessed.

Dreamer is a little more standoffish, taking it all in, but seems to appreciate her presence. I have a suspicion they will be fast friends.

We took some time going over the feed and care plan, but decided to duck out and allow everyone - human and equine- time to process and bond. The hand over can be the hardest part.

Its a challenge not to become too attached, and if I had unlimited time and resources, I would probably have a lot more horses 😅. Still, I'll be seeing Dreamer in about 5 weeks to keep up with his feet. His overall comfort has been greatly improved these last few months, and I'm committed to see him through.

Watch our page for his future updates.

22/11/2025

I like to be proactive rather than reactive, and planning our horses' diets for overall health - including immune system function- is vital.

We feed Vermont Blend Pro by Custom Equine Nutrition, LLC because it best balances our forage to not only eliminate deficiency, but to OPTIMIZE overall function from hoof quality to immune response.

One of the key benefits of Vermont Blend is the inclusion of the top 3 limiting Amino Acids, the most limiting of which is Lysine.

Use code FranciscanAcres at checkout for 10% off your first purchase of Vermont Blend or Vermont Blend Pro

https://ker.com/equinews/can-lysine-supplementation-help-treat-equine-herpesvirus-infections/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOOnSFjbGNrA46ctmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHrUPIhx9WHCKtsWNBs66ddoqzX2AvIGh2Ipfu3vtX9mGyBVEjwtvAQ1KIodk_aem_WUcIqQ2k95DUHR7oFJCXSg

In cats and humans, lysine supplementation has been prescribed for the treatment of herpesvirus infections, which can cause keratitis (inflammation of the cornea of the eye) or dermatitis. Equine herpesvirus-1 infections can cause severe neurologic disease, and supplemental lysine has been suggested...

19/11/2025

Its ribbon day ❤️

In October, Salalah and I participated in an online 30 day event through EquestriOn Challenges. We completed our activities, turned in our log sheets, and Salalah received her completion award!

Michael and Jabbar joined Beau and I for the fall challenge, where our team had to complete 20 activities each. Today, the boys got their ribbons, too!

Congratulations, Salalah, Beau and Jabbar!

16/11/2025

Wrapping up 2025 clinic with The Equine Documentalist, hosted by my amazing colleague Motivity Equine Track Rehab Distefano Whole Horse Hoof Care .

Everything is connected, and that's been the theme of continuity this season from all the wonderful clinicians that have taken time to share their talents and knowledge with us so that we can help more horses.

I am greatful Yogi shared his research with us, and I'm reinvigorated to double down on my own client documentation, applying what I have learned these last few days.

10/11/2025

Nothing to see here...
Early morning horse check. We don't tend to blanket at these temps unless it is accompanied by wet. Still, the first cold night of the season always has me second guessing.

I'm cold, so they must be cold...

The TNZ (Thermal Neutral Zone) is the temperature range in which an animal does not need to use any additional metabolic energy to regulate temperature.

In humans, the TNZ is 68-78F
In horses, the TMZ is 41-77F

Age, BCS, and general health of individuals can impact those numbers, but in general, horses are more tolerant of cold than humans. Rather than blanketing or reducing movement by stalling (which studies indicate slows gut motility and increases colic risk), we add more fuel to the furnace with extra forage. Our track system is the perfect place for horses to keep things moving as they travel to find more forage and seek out areas that create a natural barrier from the wind.