Happy Thanksgiving

WOW ! Thats a Lot of Pink!

I'm Back !!!

Wow, has it really been 5 months since I last journaled? So much has happened around here that it would take me 5 months to catch-up! Needlesss to say, horses have been coming and going. The mare I got in January had a problem with rearing. It was associated with being herd bound, but it was even happening in her stall if she couldn't see the other horses. Fortunately her previous owners took her back. They had told me I could sell her or give her away, but there was no way I would give her to someone and not tell the interested person about the rearing. Would you knowingly take a horse that rears? I think not !!Mark arrived back from SC with 5 horses. He had not made any summer arrangements for himself or his horses so they were all living here for a couple of weeks. This brought my "herd" up to 7. One of his new horses was a starvation case that he rescued-body score of 1. She also had the worse case of rainrot I had seen in over 40 years of dealing with horses. A sweet little 2 year old mare. When Mark left for his new housing and employment location, the mare stayed here with me for some rehabilitation. As I've said before, it never ceases to amaze me that people can have a horse that looks this bad, and not think there is a problem. Here are pictures of her upon arrival, and then 6 weeks later.

Time Off

As you may recall, we fostered Merlin, a Percheron/TB for Dec. and Jan. After he was adopted, we fostered Wizard(shown in the photo), an Arab. Isn't he cute?Both horses were gray in color. Merlin was 17.2 hands tall, and Wizard was around 14 hands. Initially people driving past the farm thought Merlin had shrunk in size, which was rather amusing. Wizard was here for about 3 months and was also adopted. Wizard left on a Friday at around noontime. His stall was stripped and everything cleaned that he had been using during his stay with us. What a luxury to have only 2 horses. I should have known this wouldn't last. Mark had been up to MA on business the previous week, and during his drive back to SC, he stopped at the UCONN Auction. Saturday around noontime we get a phone call from Mark. "I bought a polo horse. Can you pick-it-up in CT before 5Pm today? Also, can I board him at your place for a couple of weeks before I move north for the summer?" Well, at least we

got to enjoy having only 2 horses for 28 hours!!!!

Happy Easter

Graduation

Zanita has been at DaCory Farm in Saratoga Springs, NY, for the past 2 1/2 years. She has come a long way. Her trainer, Emma, feels it is time for her to step-out into the world and start using all of her skills. I feel like I did when each of my children left for collage. As they were maturing they tried so many different things until finally something clicked. One eventually became a lawyer, one a mother and wife, and one a polo instructor and referee. With Zanita it was racing, polo, feedlot, trail riding and now dressage. I hope this will work-out for Zanita, and she doesn't do what so many adult children do nowadays and move back home.

New Horses

Being the "dead" of Winter, you would think things would slow down a bit. Who in New England gets horses this time of the year? I guess my sister, Mark and I are all crazy.
In a previous blog, I wrote about 2 very neglected horses in Aiken, SC. Mark has found a home for the skinny colt, and he has adopted the bay gelding, whom he has named "Unicef". It is the sad looking bay in the above photo. I suppose with the big wormy pot belly, and skinny body the horse does look like some poor refugee from a third world country. My sister, Emma, has just purchased a horse from Spain. She and one of her students went to Spain for 3 days of horse shopping. Emma was not planning to purchase a horse but when she saw "Urdi" it was love at first sight. He is an 8 year old Andalusian stallion. "Urdi" is the gorgeous gray. The photo is of my sister riding him in Spain. I will write about my new horse,Rosa, in another blog, as it deserving of more writing time and space. In looking at the above photos, guess which one was free, and which one was purchased with "real" money!!

How to Identify Horse People

+They click or cluck to their children to get them to move.
+Their nice clothes are the ones without horse hair on them.
+They know why there is a yard of string on the end of a horse thermometer.
+They have less closet space than their horse.
+They think nothing of eating a sandwich after mucking out a stall.
+They are the ones stealing all the socks for tail bags.
+They spend hundreds on a horse show just to win a ribbon.

Save or Waste Your Money??

It never ceases to amaze me the number of products that are available for horses. If every horse owner bought all these products for their horses, the US would no longer be in debt! This statement from someone (me) that was looking at the Stateline Tack website, for matching rainsheet, winter blanket, halter and lead, in the color burgundy. Is burgundy the same color as wine and maroon? I would hate to buy a burgundy color rainsheet and then have it not perfectly match my wine color halter!The following 2 items are featured in the "Stock and Trade" section of Feb. 2012 Equus magazine. "Water Bucket Cozy". Water resistant fabric padded with insulation, to wrap around your horse's water bucket. Apparently using this item will keep a water bucket from freezing solid in the winter. 4 sizes, ranging in price from $35 to $100. The ad reads "available in 9 colors". I personally like the burgundy. The next item is the "Draper Equine Therapy Stable Sheet". It is constructed of Celliant, a high-tech fiber that contains minerals which include Titanium Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide and Aluminum, to stimulate blood flow and oxygen levels in the muscles and joints. I'll let you Google these minerals, but think "sunscreen, toothpaste, sandblasting, aluminum production,jewelry polishing" The sheet is designed to reduce pain and stiffness". Comes in Black with 3 choices of piping colors. Machine-washable and dryer-safe. Price is $225. I wonder why washing the sheet doesn't wash away the minerals? If anyone has tried either of these products, or knows of someone that has, please let me know. I'll run right out and buy them. It will be my contribution to stimulating the economy and emptying my checkbook!

The "Fleet of Angels"

We are now "Angels" for an organization called "Fleet of Angels". They are a network of people who are willing to transport at risk horses to safety. For example: a horse at Camelot in NJ, needs to get to a new home in northern ME. The new owner can search the directory Fleet of Angels to find out,if needed, layover locations for both the horse/horses and transporter/transporters during their trip. We can provide stabling for 2 equines (no stallions), and housing for up to 4 people. This network covers all of the United States. If you are interested in helping, even if just helping to maintain their Facebook page, or website, please go to the above mentioned website.

Bay Egyptian Mare

The following description is of an Arabian that is/was in a broker's lot in PA. As I have said many times, ANY horse can end up taking the one-way trip to Canada or Mexico. It doesn't matter how valuable, talented, attractive or loved a horse may be, it is still $300 in a killbuyers pocket.Here is a link to an old photo and a current video of her at the brokers lot

Tahnmara - Bay Egyptian Arabian mare FOALED: 1998
2008 this mare commanded a donation price of $100,000.00 now the first week of 2012 she was sold through auction. This beautiful horse was a rare gift to Best Buddies to benefit their foundation and help them reach their goal of enhancing the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. Don't miss your chance to own this horse and contribute to a wonderful cause.
Tahnmara is an Imported Straight Egyptian Mare by Qahtahn, a rare homozygous black Stallion. She is the granddaughter of Moniet al Saharaf, who set a record for the highest Egyptian Arabian stallion syndication in 1986 at $10 Million Dollars. She is directly related to the immortal Ibn Moniet El Nefous, a U.S. Top 10 Halter Stallion, Scottsdale Champion stallion, and multi English Champion who himself sired 11 National winners. Her dams sire, Imperial Immarouf, National Champion Stallion of Uruguay and Argentina - was out of Glorieta Maarqesa - U.S. National Top Ten Futurity Filly exported to Al Shaqab Stud in Qatar in 1993. Tahnmara is a descendant of U.S. National Futurity Champion Dalul, a son of the infamous Egyptian imports Morafic and Dawlat.
This mare was shown from 2001-2003. She took first in an AOTH Halter class at the NY State Fair. She has had five owners, and shows up as never having had a foal. She is so cute and sweet looking. Nice pedigree - has some lines to Babson in there - always a good thing.

I'll Trade You a Mutt for a Horse

Thought I'd try something new. Since it appears that no-one is reading my blog Craigslist Ads That Piss Me Off, I am going to include these ads in my Stony Bridge Farm blogsite. Ads will be in italic letters. Here's the first----------
Hello, my name is Sarah. Im looking for a free horse, preferably a foal. I have been riding since I was 4 and I am now 18. I have owned around 8 different horses. I also lived on a farm for 9 years. I dont care if your horse has behavioral problems and thats the reason why they are free. Please no lame horses. I saddle trained my last horse, and have dealt with many overly stubborn horses.

Or if you would want to trade, my dog just had puppies. I would trade. They are all white pit bull hound mixes.

Email for more information or with a perspective horse/foal.

Reporting Animal Abuse

On the property where ** is working there are 2 horses which are being neglected. Someone needed to get rid of their 2 horses and gave them to this person whom I will refer to as "asshole" in this writing.
Asshole is a big employer in Albany, NY. He owns at least 2 horse facilities, one of which is the property where ** is working. The photo shows a 1-2 year old(I checked his teeth)colt standing around 14 hands high. As you can see, he has a body score of around 1.5 out of 5. I don't think his hooves have ever been trimmed. He also has the worse case of rainrot I have ever seen on a horse. It covers his entire neck, back and rump. His companion is a gelding around 15 hands high. I couldn't get a look at his teeth so have no idea of his age. These horses are being kept in a field that is barely visible from the main barn. The 2 horses have no shelter in the field, and are never stabled in the barn. Probably this is why the colt has such severe rainrot. These horses had no water, and the field has no grass, only brush, due to the sandy soil. The horse's owner is ***s' boss. I know I would have no problem reporting this abuse to the local, and state authorities, even if it meant the loss of my job. I know in MA this type of reporting can be done anonymously. What would you do???

Merlin the Magnificant

Following Mark's move to Aiken with his 5 horses, Tom and I were left with only 2 horses. This meant that there was an empty stall in the main barn. One rule of thumb for horse owners is that all stalls should be filled with a horse. Why waste perfectly good space, or heaven forbid, put money aside to do things like paint the house, or go on vacation! There is a horse rescue a mile from our farm Bay State Equine Rescue which periodically looks to place rescued horses into foster homes until they can find permanent placement. We had the stall space, so why not give fostering a try. Merlin arrived during the week before Thanksgiving. Now, I had met Merlin before, and knew he was tall, but when he backed off the trailer I was astonished at his size. He is a Thoroughbred-Percheron cross, measuring 17.3 hands high. I can't even imagine what he must weight! Fortunately he has very good ground manners, and even lowers his head for his halter. He doesn't even mind that I need a step ladder to brush his back, and being white in color, he needs frequent grooming! The above photo is of Merlin with my sister, Emma. Emma is 5'8" tall, and she is dwarfed by Merlin's presence. So if anyone is looking for gentle giant, contact me, or the rescue.