Spring is a time of welcoming the new. New plants, new animals, new energy -- and perhaps most of all -- new ideas.
In this newsletter I hope to share the new ways and information that are changing my life with my horses as well as my life in Skode's kitchen! My goal is to offer information rooted enough in common sense -- yet tethered enough to your dreams -- that you might also feel inspired to, gulp, try something brand new.
In this newsletter: Skode's Let Us Try Something New April Newsletter!
"In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."
-- Eric HofferIllustration for Skode by Deanna Daffodil
Casting Aside OUR Agendas
It's a good thing that life-changing people and events so often come cloaked in unsuspecting packages.
I know when I first clicked on Kris McCormack's blog, Words About Horses, I thought that I was simply in for some more feel-good-about-your-horse articles. I mean, that's what horse blogs are about, right?
Ha!
An innoucously titled blog post called "Scratching an Itch" changed Vashka's life and Raya's life -- and my life -- forever.
The article starts out subtly enough:
Please take a few moments to imagine yourself in a horse’s body. You are suddenly without arms, without hands, without fingers.... without fingernails. Imagine all the places you can reach on yourself with your teeth, or perhaps with a gentle rub of your hoof. Now imagine all the places you cannot reach -- your ears, the top of your head, your withers, the mane line, the insides of your hind thighs, the dock of your tail, the midline of your belly..... The list of places you cannot reach is long and all those places are particularly susceptible to being itchy. What’s a horse to do?
Next, Kris explains how scratching an itch for a horse is so much more of a big deal than it appears.
Everyone knows that horses do this for each other, and sometimes a human will scratch an itch for the horses in his life. What’s the big deal?
Part of the answer is that this ordinary little act, the scratching of an itch, is actually extraordinarily powerful. It can be a wonderful gift to a horse. It’s a way of putting our love for horses, or for one particular horse, into action. In other words, scratching an itch is an act of love.
Nothing threatening or life altering here. But now for the thoughts that ended up cracking the foundation of absolutely everything:
Skode Interviews Dr. Juliet Getty
Author of the new book,
Feed Your Horse Like A Horse:
Optimize Your Horse's Nutrition
For a Lifetime of Vibrant Health
SKODE: You talk in your book about the method of feeding a horse and how important this is to the natural design of the horse. Why is the method of feeding -- specifically slow, small and steady feedings -- so important?
DR. GETTY: Horses and other equines have a unique digestive physiology. They are considered "non-ruminant herbivores." They are non-ruminant because they have a simple stomach and can digest carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the early part of the digestive tract (the foregut) just like humans. Their hindgut consists of a large fermentation vat (the cecum), as well as the large and small colon. Within the hindgut are billions of microbes that produce enzymes capable of digesting forage (fibrous plant materials). Compare this to ruminant animals (e.g., cows, sheep, goats, llamas) that have a fermentation fat (rumen and reticulim) in the first part of the digestive tract (see illustrations of horse and cow digestive tracts). This area is nearly eight times larger than a horse's cecum and is very efficient at completely digesting hay and pasture. Therefore, the horse must eat much more hay to get the same amount of energy (calories) as a ruminant.
The horse's cecum as well as the rest of the digestive tract, is made of muscles. To keep these muscles in good shape, they need to move all the time. Therefore, a constant source of forage must be in the digestive tract to provide motility and prevent colic.
Take a look at the stomach (see illustration of gastrointestinal tract). It is quite small compared to the rest of the digestive tract. Therefore, meals need to be small. If you're feeding any concentrates (e.g., oats, commercial feeds made from cereal grains, byproducts, soy, etc.) it is critical to not overload the stomach's capacity. No more than 4 lbs per meal for a 1000 lb horse, otherwise the feed will not get adequately digested within the foregut, and end up in the hindgut to be fermented. Colic and even laminitis can result. Weighing your feed is critical -- do not rely on a scoop or coffee can -- they measure volume, not weight.
Horses need to chew. In the wild, they will eat virtually all day -- they will take short naps throughout the day, but are awake and grazing nearly 22 out of every 24 hours. The reason for this is simple. A horse's stomach produces acid all day long -- unlike our stomachs that only produce acid when we eat. Chewing produces saliva, a natural antacid. If a horse has an empty stomach, he will look for ways to chew to reduce his physical discomfort caused by acid bathing un unprotected digestive tract. He'll chew on fences, trees, even his own manure, to help alleviate his problem. An empty stomach is a sure way to create an ulcer. To avoid this problem, a steady supply of hay and/or pasture, offered free-choice, will keep his digestive tract healthy.
SKODE: How is this impact of specific concern to an Insulin Resistant horse?
Dr. Juliet Getty
Raya!
Until recently, my understanding of feeding a horse to maintain his or her coat color was limited to the feeding of minerals -- specifically copper and zinc.
However just a few weeks ago, I met an herbalist by the name of Katharine
Chrisley over at www.NaturalPaths.org . Katharine suggested I try Nettle Tea. Since Nettle is an important ingredient in the Meadow Mix formulated for Skode's by Australian Herbalist Catherine Bird, I just happened to have some on hand :)
I took a small handful and not thinking much of it, created a tea of it to pour over Raya's evening hay pellets.
Well!
Ten days later my little Raya's coat was significantly darker and glossier. I emailed Katharine to ask her if a single-ingredient herbal infusion really could work that fast. What she said was enlightening and I feel worth sharing, since the Sensitive horses Skode's treats are so often, well, sensitive. And herbs, when used appropriately, are just about as natural as you can get.
KATHARINE CHRISLEY:
It is common for the Nettle tea to work quickly because steeping the herb as an infusion allows the minerals and volatile oils to become bio-available. They become dispersed into the water molecules and are more easily absorbed into the bloodstream - then are more available to the body's cells. Nettles are full of chlorophyll, silica, potassium, organic iron (in trace amounts) and vitamins A and C. These are all nutrients required for healthy skin and hair (coats, hooves and nails!). The silica and chlorophyll (which is the "blood" of plants) are responsible for restoring and maintaining pigment and creating "dapples" in the hair coat. We do feed the dry, cut and sifted Nettle herb in horses' feed (never fresh, the "stinging" nettle must be dried to neutralize the histamine and formic acid that cause rashes!) if time is a factor for tea making. The small amount of nettle herb fed means that the potentially "heavy metal" effect of the iron is not a factor. And, since the Nettles contain potassium, there is a possible chelating effect that helps prevent build up of any mineral in inappropriate tissues (it is inorganic iron that proved fatal to mice).
With the sea vegetables: Kombu, Kelp/Nori and Bladderwrack - we have a "pharmacy" as well as skin nourishing food! These sea vegetables have the silica, potassium and traces of organic iron as do Nettles, but they also have good amounts of copper, zinc and organic iodine; other pigment enhancing minerals. The iodine helps keep lungs healthy. The Bladderwrack "seaweed" is used in feed to help cleanse the endocrine/glandular system and as a joint soak for arthritis in fomentations and baths. Kombu heals skin internally and externally (soaked pieces can be used as antiseptic wound coverings). Of course, always consult a holistic health practitioner for cases of illness or injury, but the information about these herbs (while not approved by the FDA) is fascinating - how they have such effect on the skin and hair.
* Feeding tip from Skode: Many fresh sea vegetables have a strong odor your horse may object to in the beginning. A nice way to soften this is to cut up the sea vegetables into tiny pieces, mix in with hay pellets, and then add hot water and allow to sit with another herb that your horse finds tasty. Skode's OCEAN Herbal Terrain Hay Mixer is a great mix to start out with, as it is already blended by Australian herbalist Catherine Bird, into a VERY tasty formulation.
Katharine and her horse Magic
New, Senior Equine Tips Corner!
This month's theme: How can horse owner’s best prepare their horses for the weather changes of Spring?
Cindy Daigre: While these tips may seem obvious, they are deceptively so in that people say they know them already. But the problem, they don’t think to carry these steps out.
My message here is: "Don’t overlook the obvious as all these tips are actually preventative measures.
There can be as much as a 40 degree fluctuation in temperature from cool nights to warm days when Spring arrives. Senior horses in particular can be very sensitive to seasonal weather changes. Here are a few things that you can do to help ease the transition for your horse.
1- Shelter: It is important to give them a place to take refuge during the day and protect them from the cool air at night. A three sided run in shed in the paddock will work well.
2- Hydration: Have access to clean, fresh water at all times. Soaking hay cubes in cool water for mid day or afternoon snacks is one way to help hydrate.
3- Diet: Remember to make any dietary changes gradually. A tasty way to start the day is by soaking low sugar/starch hay pellets in an herbal tea. Herbs of Dandelion, Nettle and Rosehips are good choices for a spring detoxification.
4- Grooming: Help your horse shed the wooly winter coat by having daily grooming sessions. Not only will he enjoy it, he will thank you for getting those hard to reach itchy spots! Use this time to inspect for any bites, cuts or scrapes that may need attention.
5- Fly Protection: Use of an effective natural fly spray, fly masks, boots and/or fly sheets are ways to help combat the pesky insects that will be emerging and bothering your horse.
Cindy Daigre has more than three decades experience with horses, including more than 15 years with Special Needs Senior horses. She can be reached for private consultations and all natural products at:
-- with Cindy Daigre, owner of Ferrell Hollow Farms
Cindy and one of her special horse's, Haley
What's NEW in Skode's Kitchen!
Looking back, I can see the idea was there all along.
"Is there any way you can make the cookie treats smaller?" customers asked.
No, I would write back, all the cookies are hand made and so it's impossible, labor wise, to make them smaller.
Talk about resistance to change!
Because when there is a will, as our parents always told us, there is a way. And though it took awhile to get the knack of it -- cookie creation really is an art -- I found the way.
Now when you buy Skode's New Applie Pie or Carrot Snip Cookies, you receive at least five dozen, perfectly bit-sized, crunchy cookies :) Here is a picture of their actual size:
They fit into your pocket very easily, won't crumble, and last a very long time.
A New (at least to me) Natural Way to Nourish
Your HorseIllustration by Katy Wicks
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SKODE'S SPRING TREAT SALE
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Illustration by Katy Wicks
Skode is having a very sweet Seasonal Treat Sale for your horse!
This means that on addition to Skode's Fresh-Baked Cookies, you can also take advantage of sales on fruit-based Cookie Mixes and Speciality Trail Mixes!
We'll start with the package deals -- where your horse enjoy a wonderful array of goodies if you so desire -- and then move onto the individual treat sales.
FRUITY TREAT PACKAGE DEALS!
"My Horse Will Take One Of Each Please" Deal
This combination includes:
* 2 lbs fresh-baked cookies -- your choice of Banana and/or
Apple Pie in any combination your horse desires.
* 1 lb Fruity Fandango Specialty Trail Mix
* 1 lb Sunny's Smile Speciality Trail Mix
Retail Price is $74.20 including shipping
Sale Price is $66.20, including shipping
You save $8.00 :)
"My Horse Will Take Two Of Each Please" Deal
This combination includes:
* 4 lbs fresh-baked cookies -- your choice of Banana and/or
Apple Pie in any combination your horse desires.
* 2 lb Fruity Fandango Trail Mix OR 2lbs Sunny's Smile Trail Mix
Retail Price is $113.50, including shipping
Sale Price is $103.50, including shipping
You save $10.00 :)
"My Horse Really Likes When I Bake, Too" Deal
This combination includes:
* 2 Fruit-Based Cookie Mixes -- your vhoice of Banana and/or
Apple Pie (we're premiering the Apple Pie mix today!) in any combo
your horse desires.
* 2 lbs pre-baked cookies -- your coice of Banana and/or
Apple Pie in any combination your horse desies.
Retail Price is $86.18, including shipping
Sale Price is $78.18
You save $8.00 :)
FRUITY TREAT INDIVIDUAL TREAT DEALS!
"My Horse Will Take Two Bags Cookies Please " Deal
Includes:
* 2 lbs fresh-baked cookies -- your choice of Banana and/or
Apple Pie in any combination your horse desires.
Retail Price is $47.20 including shipping
Sale Price is $43.20 including shipping
You save $4 :)
"My Horse Will Take Four Bags Cookies Please " Deal
Includes:
* 4 lbs fresh-baked cookies -- your choice of Banana and/or
Apple Pie in any combination your horse desires.
Retail Price is $83.20 including shipping
Sale Price is $74.20 including shipping
You save $9 :)
"My Horse Will Take Six Bags Cookies Please " Deal
Includes:
* 6 lbs fresh-baked cookies -- your choice of Banana and/or
Apple Pie in any combination your horse desires.
Retail Price is $108.00 including shipping
Sale Price is $110.50 including shipping
You save $12 :)
"My Horse Will Take Four Bags Cookie Mixes Please " Deal
Includes:
* 4 Bake-at-home Cookie Mixes -- your choice of Banana and/or
Apple Pie in any combination your horse desires.
Retail Price is $89.16 including shipping
Sale Price is $79.16including shipping
You save $10 :)
Sales prices are for subscribers only and are not available on Skode's website. To order, simply Email Skode and she will send you an electronic invoice via email that can be paid with any major credit card. This is a 72 hour sale, ending on Monday at 4 p.m. PST.
All orders will be sent on Saturday, April 17th (one week from today), arriving on your doorstep as early as two days afterward :)
"SKODE"
