The official newsletter of Horses for Clean Water published by Alayne Blickle, HCW Program Director
Message from Alayne: My Fabulous Summer of Horse’n Around
If my horses could talk I’m sure we’d have a blast listening to them tell stories about their fun and busy summer. Like the ride though the 5,000-cow dairy in Eastern Washington. That was with our good friends in Moxee who live next to the huge commercial dairy. We spent the better part of a week in August at their ranch working their cows, riding the desert hills, trail riding through tall corn fields and riding past their neighbor’s sea of black and white dairy cows. The horses thought THAT was the scary part. And judging by the way the cows lined up to watch us, bucking and hopping around, apparently they thought we were pretty strange, too. There was the camping trip to Mount St. Helens’ Kalama Horse Campground. We went with hubby Matt’s brother in-law Hugh, a novice horse person, and my good friend and reining buddy Sheri. Together we took four horses that we rode four or more hours each day (to the dismay of Hugh’s hind end)! It was great food, great horses, wonderful campground facilities, incredible scenery, excellent company. Pair that with a campfire and you have an outdoor experience par excellence. Then there was the time spent with my 13-year-old niece (actually my cousin’s daughter, but she calls me “Aunt”). We gave Catie her own horse while she was here to experience the responsibilities along with the privileges of horse ownership. She fed her horse and cleaned his stall and paddocks, groomed and tacked up by herself and always wore the appropriate riding apparel (helmet, boots, jeans). We rode for hours each day, taking long rides in the state land bordering our property, King County’s Taylor Mountain Forest, Squak Mountain State Park, a friends’ majestic ranch in the Cascade Mountains or Bridle Trails State Park. For a little over two weeks Catie learned all about horses while Matt and I learned about living with a teenage young lady! Our horses were generous guest horses for Matt’s sister and her three 11-year olds. We hauled to King County’s Taylor Mountain Forest (a favorite place of mine to ride), did lessons in the arena so they could practice trotting and cantering—all that even in the rain! Our grand finale for their visit was a breakfast trail ride in the woods where the kids hunted for donuts hung on tree branches. My favorite Aunt and Uncle also visited our farm for a week. Even though they are seniors, they, too, went for a nice long trail ride with us—Annie and Harley took special care of them. They pitched in to help with chores, like cleaning out the cobwebs in our hayloft to prepare for our winter hay delivery. Life down on the farm! But one event of the summer is paramount in my mind: the reunion with my high school riding buddies. We were best friends through the high school years although our common thread wasn’t school, it was riding. We all rode together at Gene Oder Riding Stables in Wheaton, IL where we grew up. Those years with my friends, spent around horses and at the stables, were some of the most significant ones of my life, central to who I am today. Over the last 30 years (30!!) my riding buddies kept in contact, albeit loosely, seeing each other briefly every few years or so. For the most part the demands of life, career and family pulled them away from horses. This reunion at my farm was a chance to reconnect with each other, to relax and visit, to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Pacific Northwest; all of this centered around our earlier passion of horses. I called it Cowgirl Horsecamp and they teased me by calling me Sarge, mostly because of my ambitious agenda that began each day at 7am. Well, it was supposed to be “camp,” right? That meant everyone up early to do chores and take care of their horses! Then there was breakfast on the deck, clean up and off to ride for the day. Every day I had a scrumptious menu planned for us to enjoy—sautéed chicken and sun-dried tomatoes with tortellini, Snoqualmie pancakes with freshly picked blackberries (everyone up early to pick berries!), grilled fish straight from Pike Place Market (field trip one afternoon) along with fresh organic, grilled veggies, like corn on cob. We did two rides each day; a trail ride through our neighboring state forest in the morning and a lesson from Matt in the afternoon. A few nights, after dinner we did demos of natural horsemanship techniques or watched horse videos (including my all-time favorite, Man From Snowy River). I had arranged for each of my friends to have her “own” horse. I took great care to match personalities and tack to reflect each person’s special interests and needs. In the end, the horses turned out to be therapy horses deluxe: teachers and friends, sharing kisses, hugs, stories, treats and good-by tears. Once again, I was so proud of my horse crew. My Aunt summed up my time with my friends best by saying, “I bet when it was over you thought to yourself ‘I remember now why these women were my friends; they are great people!’” She was so right. So how was your summer? What kinds of adventures did you have? I’d love to hear about it. And whatever you did, I hope there was plenty of horse’n around!
One Person’s Journey to Paddock Paradiseby JoAnn Johnson, The Green Horse reader Fall is the time when we think about either updating our current winter paddock situation or creating one if you don’t already have one. In this article, an enthusiast of Paddock Paradise, slow feeders, and Horses for Clean Water strives to create a system that works for her, her insulin-resistant horses and the environment.
Many horse owners are familiar with the term “sacrifice area,” or “dry lot.” The sacrifice area gets its name from the idea that it is a portion of land separate from that used for grazing. Horses can be kept on a sacrifice area during times that the grass is more fragile, like during rains or droughts, preventing damage to the grazing field’s root system. In other words, a small section of grass is sacrificed to protect and effectively manage the balance of the grazing system. Dry lots—a small turnout with no plant life—are quite familiar to many owners of insulin-resistant horses and are absolute lifesavers for laminitis-prone horses. Both terms are similar, and you can easily find more information about dry lots and sacrifice areas online. A new alternative sacrifice area design is based on Jamie Jackson’s book, Paddock Paradise. Jackson’s intention is that horses move along a contained area about twelve feet wide around the perimeter of a field. The inner field can be used for hay farming, a riding area, a house, or pasture. The track surface can either contain grass or be intentionally barren. One variation of Paddock Paradise is essentially a long, narrow sacrifice area, or track, which encircles a pasture. One benefit of creating a track includes the land and grass-management aspects of a dry lot—utilizing the sacrifice area for your horses in keeping pastures from becoming overgrazed. By stretching that dirt rectangle into a loop, an engaging area can be created for the horse which provides mental enrichment, physical exercise, and—especially for barefoot horses—hoof stimulation and natural wear. The premise of Jamie Jackson’s Paddock Paradise book is “to stimulate horses to behave and move naturally according to their instincts” from the back cover. I created a wiki for natural boarding enthusiasts to gather online and share their experiences, ideas, and DIY advice at Paddock Paradise Wiki. We are actively adapting Jackson’s template to suit our individual requirements. Several wiki members own insulin-resistant (IR) horses and need to house them on grass-free areas. Other members’ IR horses can handle a small amount of grass when combined with sufficient exercise. The turnout track is also a tool for generating spontaneous exercise. I incorporate slow feeders into my confinement areas because they provide a measure of entertainment for the horse as well as dispensing forage at a more natural rate and tension. They are a popular first step toward an enriched equine setting. Slow feeders can also be placed along turnout tracks to create more “natural” stimulation for your horse. Many of the tips about maintaining dry lots can be used along a grass-barren turnout track for insulin resistant horses can be found elsewhere, such as web sites and other books. Additionally, sections of hoof-conditioning gravel serve double duty for the dry Paddock Paradise by reducing mud and dust and discouraging grass growth, especially when that gravel is spread over a sturdy barrier of geotextile fabric. My Paddock Paradise turnout track began with a dry lot, using a Horses for Clean Water tip sheet as a starting point. IR horses like my Jewel can wear grazing muzzles during their initial turnout time on track until the grass wears away or is replaced by gravel. Others have begun building tracks by scraping and covering with the desired footing. I recommend reading the book to better understand Jaime Jackson’s Paddock Paradise philosophy, and I invite you discover the gallery of ideas on our independent wiki: Paddock Paradise Wiki. You may even be insired to contribute your experiences.
JoAnn Johnson is an enthusiast of Paddock Paradise, slow feeders, and Horses for Clean Water. While she’s neither a professional horse trainer or farrier, she does trim her own horses and believes that anyone who interacts with a horse is essentially a trainer. JoAnn began studying hoofcare and the mechanics of the horse’s foot while living in Okinawa, Japan. In 1998, with a foundered lesson pony and very little access to traditional farriers, JoAnn’s goal became the long-term soundness of her pony. She discovered that natural hoof wear and movement contributes significantly to healthy hooves, so she worked to promote turnout time. In 2006, her Haflinger, Jewel, was diagnosed insulin resistant, requiring reduced grass intake and increased exercise to compensate. She began experimenting with Jaime Jackson’s revolutionary new Paddock Paradise natural boarding concept. In 2008 she created a wiki community and gallery of ideas. This year, her turnout track was featured on the Natural Horse Resource blog. JoAnn and her family recently moved with their three horses from central New York to Alabama.
Lime, Calcium and Magnesium for Horse Pasturesby Gudrun Mahrt, Columbia River Carbonates The health of your grazing livestock, especially horses, can depend greatly on how you manage your pastures. Good management considers the grazing behavior of your animals and knowing how fertilizer, soil amendments and manure affect your soil system. Farmers utilizing only natural organic growing systems speak of “feeding the cow underground before you can feed the grazing animal on top.” This is a hint to remind us about the huge microbiological community—the underground ecosystem found in every acre of pasture. Soil, organic matter, and earthworm numbers are simple indicators for you to monitor soil health. We can improve thee systems simply by providing organic matter change (composted manures or other natural composted materials) and adjusting soil pH with natural calcium. This provides a great environment for a healthy underground ecosystem supporting strong forage growth. Synthetic fertilizers are overused, especially on horse pastures. But while using fertilizers may be unnecessary, using lime is crucial (see Clark County Conservation District publication “Healthy Horses, Clean Water”). How do you know if your pastures require attention? Taking a soil test is easy and inexpensive. The results can help improve pasture condition and yield by providing you with an exact analysis of what amendments are needed to optimize grass plant growth. Contact your Conservation District if you need instructions or help on how to take a soil test. Some Conservation Districts offer this service for free. Or visit one of the many university soil testing services on the web for test instructions and pricing such as http://www.umass.edu/plsoils/soiltest/. Analyze your soil for the following:
Soils west of the Cascades are naturally acidic and lime applications to your pasture will increase grass and legume (such as clover) growth. Determine the need for lime by soil pH or calcium (Ca) test. The amount of lime required can be determined by the SMP buffer test. Ultra fine limestone (ag-lime) below 200 mesh in size increases pH and calcium levels faster than coarse liming materials. Do not use hydrated lime since it can burn and be toxic if not used correctly.
Dolomite is a natural combination of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium carbonate. Most soils in the Pacific Northwest do not require additional magnesium. Dolomite is a natural soil compactor and therefore may be beneficial in very sandy pastures to help reduce water and nutrient run-off. If the soil test recommends magnesium or dolomite additions, alternative natural materials such as K-Mag might be better to keep your pasture soil structure intact. Limestone or calcium carbonate, a natural mineral, is available in coarse or fine powders and in pelletized form. Since powdered lime can be quite dusty, many organic farmers blend ultra fine calcium carbonate with their finished composts prior to annual field application.
The best time to apply lime to established pastures is in the fall. If sufficient rain falls by October and some new grass growth has started, spread compost and lime on your fields on a moist foggy day. You may want to follow up with your regular annual overseeding of Italian perennial rye, mammoth orchard grass, or other horse pasture blends. Pelletized lime is easily spread by spin spreader or even by hand. Gudrun Mahrt is the “Lime Lady” specializing in natural calcium applications for agriculture, horticulture, and gardening systems for Columbia River Carbonates. Years of experiments with different natural product applications have improved the pastures on her family horse farm in La Center in southwest Washington. One ton of ultra fine limestone per acre blended with composted manure from three horses are applied each fall and have resulted in four acres of beautiful soil, not only providing spring and summer pasture but now producing sufficient hay for the time her horses are off pastures in winter. Gudrun and her husband Peter are active members of the Mt. St. Helens Chapter of Backcountry Horsemen. They have fun riding with two of the greatest trail riding buddies, Tennessee Walker “Early” and their huge 16.2 hand Missouri Foxtrotter, “Blazie.” ResourcesFor more information about liming call Gudrun at (360) 225 4108 Healthy Horses, Clean Water—a guide to environmentally friendly horse keeping in Clark County Western OR and Western WA Pastures Fertilizer Guide, Oregon State University The Lowdown on Lime, May 2006 The Green Horse Washington State Conservation Districts
Washington State leads in equine West Nile virus casesAug 25, 2009 — DVM NEWSMAGAZINE National Report — Of 35 equine cases of West Nile virus (WNV) reported nationwide so far this season, 23 are in Washington state. The disease is most prevalent in August and September. As of Aug. 19, the latest update from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) showed 12 cases in Washington state, but state authorities there reported eight more cases in the following five days, most of them in Yakima and Benton counties in the south-central part of the state. Other states reporting equine WNV so far include Montana, with four cases; California, three; Kentucky and Louisiana, two each; and Mississippi, Texas, Utah and West Virginia with one each. Western states have led the nation in WNV cases the last few years. Last year, out of 179 equine cases in 30 states and Puerto Rico, 41 cases were in Washington state, 32 in California, 19 in Texas, eight in Utah and seven in Montana. The mosquito-borne virus began migrating westward in 1999. Humans and horses can become infected with WNV after being bitten by mosquitoes that picked up the virus by feeding on infected birds, but humans and horses as dead-end hosts don’t transmit the virus. The virus spreads to a horse’s spinal cord and brain, causing inflammation, with clinical signs presenting within three to 15 days, according to APHIS. Veterinarians recommend that their equine patients be vaccinated against WNV and other mosquito-transmitted diseases like Eastern and Western equine encephalitis.
Forest Service launches online clearinghouse for climate change in the WestPORTLAND, OR — The U.S. Forest Service’s three western research stations have officially launched a new online reference site for resource managers and decision makers who need information and tools to address climate change in planning and project implementation in the West. The Climate Change Resource Center (CCRC) is a site that connects climate change information generated by the Forest Service with those who need it. The site is online at http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/. The Web site addresses the oft-cited manager’s question, “What can I do about climate change?” by providing information on basic climate sciences and by offering materials and support needed to develop adaptation and mitigation strategies. The site offers educational information—including basic science modules that explain climate and climate impacts—as well as decision-support models, maps and simulations, and toolkits that address common Forest Service management and planning situations. Regular additions will be made to the site so that it reflects the state-of-the-science in climate change research. “Land managers understand that the climate is changing and now want to know how best to respond,” said Michael Furniss, a hydrologist and the Web site’s designer and lead editor. “Resource managers and decision-makers have always faced a wide range of issues they must consider. A changing climate affects nearly all of these, often in complex ways.” In addition to a more technical subset of educational resources, the Web site also features materials—like a primer on climate change and a growing suite of video lectures—that might be of interest to the public.
Educational EventsLearn about GREEN horsekeeping techniques to make your farm life easier and more eco-friendly by coming to the following educational events. Check out the web site, www.HorsesforCleanWater.com, for new events added regularly.
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