Happy February from Skode's
Placing special attention this month on the
special needs of the "sensitive" horse.
     
In This Month's Newsletter:
We have become so accustomed to rebutting people's generalized horse care advice with "Yes but my horse is sensitive so I have to do X, Y and Z" that we barely even notice the clucking tongues and rolling eyes of those with "normal horses."

What is "normal" anyway? With our horses, we seem to have forgotten! For we're the ones with horses who have teams of helpers: Herbalists, energy workers, equine nutritionists, veterinarians, trimmers, hay balancers, saddle fitters, dentists, animal communicators....

We know that nothing beats the exquisite friendship and well-earned trust of a sensitive horse whose needs are met. Knowing this, we give -- and settle -- for nothing less.

Perhaps yours is the horse who requires special low sugar/low starch hay trucked in from out of state. Or maybe you are owned by the horse who must have that one particular and very expensive organic herbal formula to manage his delicate digestion. Or you care for the horse who needs to be blanketed right before it gets cold, not too soon before but absolutely not after. Or -- do we all have this horse? --  you tend to the one who must have her feet trimmed and balanced every three weeks, not four weeks -- and then touched up in between!

As the owner of a specialty horse treat company I know and have become a staunch supporter of those who go to any end to meet their horses' special needs.

In this newsletter I hope to help support you in your care for your amazing companions.
SKODE: What is something we as horse owners of special needs horses can do to support our horses emotionally?

CATHERINE BIRD: Be responsible for our own thoughts, words and actions.

As a generalization, horses with special needs -- such as Cushings and Insulin Resistance -- either have a weaker energy field or are more sensitive to their environment than are other horses. If the owners or people who are around these horses are careless with their energy, this carelessness can have a negative impact on their horses.

Some of the more detrimental emotions that we splatter over our horses are anger, fear, over concern, jealousy and impatience.

SKODE: Is it possible to give examples of how certain emotions translate into diseases in our horses?

CATHERINE BIRD: We all are quite unique in how we fall into different patterns with our emotions. Situations that involve inflammation can be related to inflamed situations in life -- but how each client plays out their "inflamed emotions, or how they suppress them will vary.

Because Cushings is linked to the endocrine system and the endocrine glands are the spiritual turning keys within the body, each gland can be linked to a specific emotion. For example liver = anger; kidneys = fear. But again, you have to be careful not to get locked into just one emotion. How many ways do you express anger just in one day? How often do you get nervous or anxious in just one week?

If you stop and reflect you will find it is a multi-layered expression and sometimes we would prefer not to look too closely. That is because once we are aware of what patterns from which we generate negative emotions, we have to take responsibility for them and the effect they have on our horses.

SKODE: Why do horses want to pick up and help us with the energy we can't deal with ourselves?

CATHERINE BIRD: I tend to adhere to the biblical notion that God gave us animals to serve us. Be it for food or to assist with survival. Today many people are struggling with their own spirituality as well as their ability to take responsibility for their emotional and mental health.

To fulfill their roles of service our horses take on where we leave off. If they reflect back to us that something is not right in our lives, for example, just maybe we will get the hint and make a conscious effort to change.

SKODE: Are there any simple exercises or precautions we can take to clear ourselves of negativity before spending time with our horses?

CATHERINE BIRD: Start to become aware of the effect of how you are thinking and feeling impacts those around you.

Consider how many of know someone who can walk into a room and effect the mood of everyone in that room -- for better or worse. We all do it. If we splatter our emotions around they land somewhere and unfortunately most of the time it is on the people or animals who are closest to us.

This awareness of how we create our own environment is key to reclaiming what we have dumped everywhere. We have to own it.

SKODE: How do you help people heal the effects of this emotional baggage?

CATHERINE BIRD: The spiritual tools I use have been given to me by my teacher. So I can tell you what I do but unless you are aligned to that energy you can not duplicate what I do. What I can explain is that I use these tools to help people reclaim some of their own energy so that they can integrate it and it can be healed.

SKODE: Is there anything we as horseowners can do to help our sensitive horses strengthen their energy fields?

CATHERINE BIRD: The less you "dump" on your horse the less he will feel he has to carry for you. This gives his energy body an opportunity to recover the the shock that may have been created from taking on that baggage in the first place.

As you recognize and reclaim your own stuff -- thus demonstrating to your horse that he no longer needs to help -- then ideally his energy field can become stronger. The problem is that we are consistently generating negativity and it takes dedication and effort to rise above it.

I can help people begin this process by helping them to identify some of the patterns. However we have taken a long time to create our current environment so it has to be re-created with care and gentleness to ourselves. It is unrealistic to think you can read this interview, for example, decide your anger is undermining your horse's health -- and change it NOW. You will need mindfulness over time to recognize the many ways you behave when you are angry and there will be layers to distinguish between, such as which of your behavior is actually yours and which is perhaps is a behavior you may have taken on from your parents. This is an ongoing journey of discovery and personal responsibility.

Catherine Bird is a natural therapist specializing in Spiritual Kinesiolgoy, Medical Herbalism, Equine Massage and Aromatherapy. She is based in Sydney, Australia.
Ms. Bird is available world-wide for spiritual kinesiolgoy sessions and phone consultations. Please visit her website at www.happyhorses.com.au
She can also be reached personally through email by Clicking Here
Special Needs Horse Care -- A World Unto Itself
The Emotional Care of the Sensitive Horse
an Interview with
Equine Herbalist & Author Catherine Bird
Looking back I can certainly see how my own sensitivities contributed to the sensitivities and health issues of my Russian Arabian, Vashka. In fact, it is hard to say which came first -- my sensitivity to his sensitivity or his reaction to my sensitivity about his sensitivity!

Years ago, in Oregon, I know we both suffered tremendously. It seemed that the moment I had a bad moment, my attention focused on his bad moments. This, of course, intensified my experience of whatever was wrong and therefore my worry, which muddled my ability to see how best to help my horse. Round and round we went.

The help of professional herbalist and spiritual kinesiologist Catherine Bird -- author of A Healthy Horse The Natural Way --  provided the clarity and guidance we needed to break free from the sticky wheel upon which Vashka and I found ourselves so firmly stuck.

I give much credit to Ms. Bird for Vashka's lasting health and I am grateful to share my interview with her about the Emotional Care of the Sensitive Horse:
Catherine Bird, world-renowned herbalist,
author of A Healthy Horse the Natural Way
TM
Money Saving Horsecare Tips!
Illustration of Skode's horses, Sunny and Vashka, by Skode's illustrationist, Katy Wicks
Networking with horsecare experts is one of my absolute favorite parts of my job at Skode's These horse care providers freely share their tips with me on a regular basis and I, in turn, get to share them with you.

Here are a few that have helped me save some substantial amounts of money over the years.
Use Granular Salt to Clean Water & Feed Buckets!
This is so much less expensive -- as in about 1/3 to 1/5 of the cost -- of the sheath cleaners available at the feed store!

Walmart and Walgreens carry them for about $3.00 a tube, which is enough to clean one horse's sheath. Just make sure to get the water based generic brands and not the oil-based ones, as those can irritate your horse.

Since this is considered a "personal/ sexual product" some stores keep these products locked behind a counter so you have to ask for them. I once told a Walmart cashier that I needed a few for my horse and I got the strangest look! :)-

This tip was passed on to me from Claire Cox-Wilson at www.Witcheyladycreations.com

Clean Sheaths with a Generic Brand K-Y Jelly
This is a really simple and CHEAP way to clean just about anything that holds water or feed around the barn. The salt works just like a commercial detergent (like Comet) -- but without any chemicals! Just sprinkle the salt -- the bigger the crystals the better -- on a sponge and scrub. Lots of feed stores carry very cheap salt, as does WalMart, where I like to buy Kosher salt for less than $1 a box. (It has large, abrasive crystals).

This tip was passed on to me from  Dr. Eleanor Kellon, DVM
Treat & Prevent Thrush -- Naturally --  for 1/2 the Cost
Thrush is an air-born fungus that once entrenched in your horse's hooves, can become very difficult to banish. Many people buy over-the-counter treatments that promise to kill the fungus. The problem is that the treatments kill live tissue as well. Since the fungus thrives and spreads on dead tissue, this creates a vicious cycle you want to avoid in your horse's feet!

One of my trimming clients bought a thrush treatment at the feed store and applied it routinely to her horse's hooves. For a few days the thrush seemed to get better. Then it got worse. Much, much worse. Her horse's frogs were covered in white fungus and they literally rotted off. She called me, panicked.

Linda Love, owner of Earth Horse Essentials, a company that specializes in natural health care products, recommended a thrush treatment recipe that is the equivalent to a very well known natural -- and very expensive -- brand name product. It is a fast-acting treatment that works on even advanced cases of thrush and is very similar to White Lightening.

Here it is, in three different sizes:
Guaranteed Low Sugar/Low Starch Hay Pellets
Complete with Balancing Minerals
Now Available
in Southern California through Skode's
Illustration of Skode's horses, Sunny, Vashka and Harley by Skode's illustrationist, Katy Wicks
Close community collaboration has succeeded in allowing Skode's to offer its low sugar/low starch hay pellets for the first time in Southern California.

These Timothy and Orchard grass hay pellets offer a variety of wonderful benefits, including (but by no means limited to):

* A guaranteed low sugar/low starch analysis

* Minimal processing, which means minimal iron content
  (Iron is an inflammatory horses do not need)

* Minerals that match the hay analysis and thus
  balance the hay ration

* Bulk wholesale prices passed directly to you -- cost is
  currently $15.28 per 50-pound bag, including minerals
  (this is cheaper than I was able to buy them in a store
   in Oregon!)


Those who would like to order these pellets must be willing to pick up their pellets in Hemet, California or Temecula, California. Please Click Here to contact Skode for details.
   Product Spotlight
All Natural Coat Spray with Lavender Sprigs!
Winter is difficult enough without having to worry about keeping our horses clean! So thank goodness for Ferrell Hollow Farm's Natural Coat Spray.

This is a wonderful product that easily wipes of sweat and grime. It also:

* Softens dry manes and tails
* Soothes itchy skin
* And smells fantastic!

Ingredients include pure, essential oil of Lavender, Rosemary, Tea Tree and Peppermint. Blended into a base of Witch Hazel and Sweet Almond Oil.

Available at a special Winter price for a limited time only.
1 Gallon Water, 4 oz Oxine,  1 tsp Citric Acid
1/2 Gallon Water, 2 oz Oxine, 1/2 tsp Citric Acid
1 Quart Water, 1 oz Oxine, 1/4 tsp Citric Acid

  Ingredients available at www.revivalanimal.com
You will need to immerse your horse's feet in the solution in soaking boots for 20-30 minutes.

Once you have the thrush under control, a very good preventative treatment for the fungus is Sole Power, by Earth Horse Essentials. It is available now in Skode's Store.
Tips on Preventing & Easing
Winter Digestion Problems in Sensitive Horses

This Winter has been an extremely difficult one weather wise. Even here in Southern California, I found myself in my Toyota Tundra, trapped by a bank of snow on my way to deliver treats via the local Post Office!

All of you who were waiting on your orders were very patient and I appreciate that. Seems all of us were having weather related issues and so were quick to forgive and understand :)

A note from one customer in particular seemed to sum up how we were all feeling. "If my horse is okay, I'm okay."

We were talking about colic -- how to prevent it and in mild cases of simple unease (as opposed to the medical state of colic), how to prevent it. Of course hydration is key, and I want to some tried and true tips here:

* Wet hay pellet mashes (I drench my horses' hay in herbal teas of
  Chamomile or Peppermint, which are very tummy soothing.)
* Soaking or at least thoroughly wetting your hay
* Putting small handfuls of Alfalfa in water buckets and encouraging
  horses to play "dunk for hay."
* Flavoring your horse's water with a slice of fresh ginger or a drop or
  or two of essential oil of Peppermint, or a 1/4 cup of Apple Juice
  (Apple juice is mostly water -- don't overdo but don't over worry
  about the added sugar if you're trying whatever you can to get
  your horse to drink, either!) 
* Spraying salt water on your horse's hay.
* Upping your horse's salt rations to at least 1 tablespoon per
  wet pellet meal -- and then feeding as many of those pellet meals
  as possible per day (don't overdo on the salt as most horses won't
  eat more than 1 tablespoon per meal.)

Illustration of Skode's horses, Sunny, Vashka and Harley by Skode's illustrationist, Katy Wicks
Stay tuned for Skode's next newsletter, where Skode will be premiering her new, Spring cookie recipe!

You will also be privy to an interview with Dr. Juliet Getty, who will talk about her new book, Feed Your Horse Like a Horse: Optimize Your Horse's Nutrition for a Lifetime of Vibrant Health.

And Cindy McGinley of Black Horse Consulting, a personal life coach who is an expert horsewoman, will talk to Skode about actually acheiving all those goals we want to reach for our horses --  and ourselves!
SKODE :)
Trail riding with Vashka through the California desert