Equine wellness
Equine
Your natural resource!
wellness
Ireland Diet foryourtips easy keeper
– land of horses Explore the Emerald Isle and its love of all things equine
Project Blue-green algae
Panda
Good nutrition in a small package
equine Wellness Magazine
Miniature horses for the blind
Titan’s Therapy triumph
horses
Understanding an “aggressive” horse
Making lives better
Don’t get Is it colic? mushy!
What how to dotoabout softhorse feet while awaiting the vet Here’s help your
Making Horses & heavy metals
waves
Out on a limb Leg swelling and what it means
Yoga for riders
Discover therapeutic ultrasound How to protect your equine VOLUME 65 ISSUE 26
Know your herd hits Holiday
What we can learn from herd dynamics
Display Displayuntil untilJanuary June 14, 31,2011 2011
Creative gift ideas for every budget!
$5.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 6 5 ISSUE 2 6
EquineWellnessMagazine.com
Contents 14
34
features 14 Titan’s triumph
When your equine partner starts acting out, is it pain or a training problem? Follow one horse’s journey from being labeled as aggressive to revealing his discomfort and showing his guardians what he needed to thrive.
18 Knowing your herd
How studying the way of the horse can help people with corporate leadership and teamwork.
22 Don’t get mushy! Ever wonder what your farrier means when he says your horse has “soft feet”? We spoke with hoofcare expert Jaime Jackson for the answers.
4
equine wellness
28 Out on a limb
There are several reasons for leg swelling in your horse. Knowing the difference between lymphangitis and lesser causes can save his life.
34 Ireland – land of horses
Explore the Emerald Isle and its love of all things equine.
50 Is he herd bound?
It’s a common and challenging issue. But increasing your awareness of herd dynamics and developing a more effective leadership role can help it become a distant memory.
54 Horses and heavy metals
No, we’re not talking about rock music. These toxic substances are everywhere and can negatively impact your horse’s health. Learn what to do about it.
56 Good things in a small package
Blue-green algae is a single-celled food that’s brimming with nutritional value. It can give your horse’s health a big boost.
60 Crystal clear
These stones aren’t just pretty to look at – they have healing properties too. Horses can be especially open to their beneficial energies.
54
18 Columns
Departments
10 Neighborhood news 26 Holistic veterinary advice Talking to Dr. Cheryl Detamore 32 A natural performer 42 From agony to ecstasy 66 Did you know?
8 Editorial 21 Heads up 46 Equine Wellness resource guide 59 Book reviews 63 Marketplace 65 Classifieds 66 Events calendar
28
22 equine wellness
5
Isle
Trekking through the Emerald R
iding through a field of mauve heather high atop Ireland’s Slieve Bloom Mountains, our guide Noel Cosgrove brings us to a halt to experience another stunning view. It’s a panorama of emerald green fields bordered by crumbling stone walls that stretch to the horizon. “You can see five counties from here,” explains Noel in his lilting Irish accent. I can’t help but wonder if there’s anything more romantic, more perfect than this moment. I know I’ve asked myself that question a dozen times since landing on this magical island. And only four days into the trip, I expect it won’t be the last. Ireland is like a photo album of perfect pictures and there’s no better way to embrace its sometimes rugged, always peaceful beauty than from the saddle of an Irish horse. The country offers something for every level of rider and every pocketbook, as my husband Tim and I found out on our recent tour. While Irish equine adventures usually range
from seven to 14 days at one or two locations, we enjoyed a sampling of four different tours and venues over a week and a half. Along the way, we met up with families, groups and other couples who, like us, were looking for a memorable riding experience as well as a chance to step back in time. Ireland delivers both in heaping measures.
An Sibin Riding Centre Ireland’s horse country, for the most part, is located in the southwest and south-central part of the island. We flew Aer Lingus from JFK in New York directly to Shannon Airport in County Limerick. Our first stop was An Sibin Riding Centre in County Clare, a family-run operation set deep in the countryside. “An Sibin” is Celtic for “The Speakeasy”, explained host Bertie Cummins as he chauffeured us from the airport to the farm. Apparently, the property was locally infamous for its potcheen stills – potcheen is a form of Irish moonshine! These days, An Sibin is a friendly, cozy spot that draws guests from all over the world. The original 300-year-old farmhouse has been lovingly restored and added on to by Bertie and his wife, Nicola, and now boasts 11 rooms.
Photos clockwise from top left: A picture-perfect cottage at An Sibin; horses grazing in front of the romantic main “house” at Mount Juliet; the author takes in the views atop the Slieve Bloom.
34
equine wellness
An Sibin’s 50-horse herd is made up of Irish tinker horses (which look very much like Gypsy Vanners), Cobbs, Connemaras and various crosses. The first day out, we drove to the field where the horses were grazing, easily caught our mounts and tacked them up ourselves. We headed straight into the surrounding forests of the Slieve Aughty mountains, meandering through neighboring farms and down gravel roads with views as far as the eye could see. Our sturdy horses seemed to enjoy the ride as much as we did and when our guide motioned for a trot, they simultaneously burst into a big, athletic gait that took me a bit by surprise (never mind that they understand sign language!). I have to admit this was a far cry from the easygoing, sometimes lazy quarterhorse I ride back home.
An Sibin offers three packages: Residential: For beginners or those getting back into riding, this one sticks close to home. Castle tour: This takes you further afield as you explore buildings from centuries past. Galway and Clare Trail Ride: This extended ride meanders through the Slieve Aughty mountains, with views of Lough (Lake) Derg, the River Shannon, working turf fields and the Connemara Mountains. It eventually ends at the famous cliffs of Moher on the Atlantic coast. You’ll spend several nights in wonderful little Irish villages as you make your way to the shore. An Sibin’s horses live a pretty natural lifestyle. They enjoy 24/7 turnout in the pastures on and adjacent to the farm. Nicola ensures the horses are fitted with gel pads so they’re comfortable on long rides. In high season, they work two weeks on and have one
week off, so they’re never overridden. Any breeding is done the old-fashioned way, with An Sibin’s Connemarra stallion turned out with the appropriate mare. So far, it’s working very well, according to Nicola. An Sibin’s intimate atmosphere and communal seating at mealtimes means you get to know your fellow riders. We met some European women traveling on their own, a couple from Germany, and a group of women who belonged to a Hunt Club back in the States.
Birr Equestrian Centre Our next stop took us to Kinnitty Castle on the outskirts of the lovely village of Birr. Kinnitty is a Gothic revival castle hotel situated on a large well-kept estate on the lower slope of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The impressive red-carpeted stairs leading up to the check-in desk are lined with a series of standing candelabra and suits of armor, which set the tone for the décor throughout the hotel. No wonder it’s a favorite with certain rock band members! One of our favorite spots was the nook in the dining room, where dramatic windows look out over a field of grazing horses. Next morning, we met up with Noel, the charming country gentleman who owns Birr Equestrian Centre, and our guide for the Slieve Bloom mountain ride. In an effort to protect the area’s natural beauty, he explained, Irish authorities control the number of people allowed on the range. Noel has one of the coveted trekking licenses. The mountain trail leads through replanted forests and past ancient stone homes in various states of collapse. Unbelievably, the last inhabitant didn’t leave here until 1962. Our big horses made the ride easy. When we came to a partially buried stone wall, we were up one side and equine wellness
35