Natural Horse Care in an Unnatural World

In the 16 years I have owned my horse (a now 27-year-old Paint), I have boarded him at barns that fall into just about every category imaginable. He has been at large barns with rules so strict I felt suffocated, private barns with rules that rivaled big barns and some that allowed me to do as I please, and just about everything in between. We have moved 13 times in those 16 years, sometimes repeating barns we thought "had gotten better." The very first barn my horse was boarded at was also the same barn where I volunteered as a trail guide 40 years earlier. Seeking riding lessons, I naturally started there (by this time the riding stable it once was had become a privately owned boarding and lesson barn). I bought my horse (who had just turned 11 years old) while I was there as a lesson student. I boarded him there on "outside self-care" board. A show horse most of his life, he now lived on a 75-acre natural pasture with 20+ horses. This was a first for him and ...

I've done a lot of thinking and research on many topics since my 27-year-old Paint, Kobeejo, underwent colic surgery for a strangulating lipoma last month. Mostly, I have gotten deeper into my already existing research on the horse's most unique digestive tract. The very first thing I wanted to fully look into was the ulcers the hospital discovered my horse had. Every veterinarian and nutritionist, even at Tufts, insisted the way to prevent ulcers was to feed 24/7 free-choice hay/forage, always provide fresh clean water and make sure your horse gets plenty of movement (living outside with a shelter being ideal). I had always learned that, if a horse has this, plus the companionship of other horses even nearby (and no excessive medications such as Bute), they would be good to go. My horse always had all of this! So, why did he develop such severe ulcers? As it turns out, studies show that horses in stressful situations, such as moving to a new barn, being taken away from the...

After Kobeejo colicked (a strangulated lipoma, which is unpredictable and unpreventable) and they also found ulcers in his stomach, I decided I needed to look into this further. I have always been a huge fan of 24/7 forage and no grains (just a ration balancer) and was always taught that this would prevent ulcers in horses. Even at the vet hospital, I asked them "How can a horse on 24/7 free-choice forage get ulcers?" They had no answer. The head of veterinary medicine even said to me, "Everything I would normally tell you, you already do." So, as is my habit, I began to research... a lot! pH Levels in the Stomach: The normal "cut-off" for equine intestinal pH is >4.0. Neutral is 7.0. So 4.0 is acidic. But, in the bottom layer (glandular), pH levels are naturally going to be low because that is where hydrochloric acid is produced and stored. Kobeejo's ulcers are located, typically, in the squamous (upper, or non-glandular) layer of the stomach. ...

When I arrived at the barn today, I noticed Kobeejo just standing in his small paddock (cut down while he recovers from his surgery), which is not normal for him. He's almost always eating when I arrive. I noticed his hay had been picked through but not as much as normal. So, I removed his blankets because it was a hot day (70 degrees, which is very warm for March) and he was a tad sweaty. I decided he needed a walk and grazing, so I took him out and walked him to where the best grass is (this winter has been the warmest on record, with no snow since December). His appetite for grass was normal. I brought him into the barn and put him on the cross ties so I could clean his stall and put him in. My friend Wendy noticed Kobeejo's right knee was swollen. I didn't feel heat in it, but it was observably larger than the left. Also, he was showing some signs of stocking up in his sheath and both hind fetlocks. Wendy mentioned infection and said I should take his temperature...

Today was the big day. Kobeejo came home!! 😀 The hospital people were sad he was leaving, as he was everyone's favorite, but happy he was going home. He was known as "the famous Kobeejo" up there, which is ironic, because when he used to show, he had the moniker. Dr. Minuto, the Resident in charge of Kobeejo, walked out to the trailer with us. As usual, he got right on. Once he was home, he was all wide-eyed with head as high as it would go, ears propped forward. I think he was in awe that he was home. I placed him in his stall and he immediately tried to come back out. He ate no hay on the way back and he was not interested in the hay in his stall. He just wanted to know that he was not the only horse there as all others were outside. He was weaving and anxious, as you can tell by this video . So, I took him outside to see his friends in their paddocks, grazed him for a bit in the field, and once a couple horses came in, I put him back in his stall. He was still a...

Finally, Kobeejo is coming home tomorrow! IVs are all out and he's back on free-choice hay. Wendy picked me up about1:30pm and we went up to see him. Otis was back in his stall across from Kobeejo today, so he was moved to another wing and now he's back. I don't know why; they don't give info on other horses. There are two other horses in his wing as well now. A pretty mare named Cher who nickered every time Kobeejo walked by, and the mare who came in yesterday next to him. I spoke to a tech, Jason, who came over while I took Kobeejo out for his walk and grazing. Jason had been part of a "Toxic Plant Tour" to teach people all about plants that are toxic to pets and horses. He saw me out there and left the tour to come talk to me. He told me he was in the operating room when KJ had his surgery and he was in charge of keeping KJ's intestines wet while they were out on a table during the surgery. He told me the lipoma "stalk" was wrapped p...

Wendy decided to drive me up to see Kobeejo today. She said she missed him. I was grateful not to have to drive as I had a bad night and was too tired to drive far. We left a bit later than I like... around 2:30. Once again, the traffic was not too bad, so we made it in an hour. Before we left, Dr. Minuto called. She said Kobeejo was eating well, and if he maintained this level he could go home Saturday. I was thrilled! Last night, I went up to the barn and filled a hay bag full with the first cut hay he loves, and a smaller one with the second cut. So, I brought all the hay in the net with me and, once in his stall, he immediately dunked his nose into the top of the hay net where I had it open. So I started filling the metal hay bin with his first cut and he was thrilled. Top of pic is his sheath, bottom his front legs. You can see the incision on the right, though the pic is a bit off center. They had removed his bandage so I got a good look at the incision under his belly....

Usually, the vet calls me every morning with a progress report on Kobeejo. This morning, as always, I kept waking early, waiting for that phone call. By noon it had not come, so I climbed out of bed, knowing I had a long drive. I drove myself up to see Kobeejo, as my usual rides were not available. My mom came with me, which helped tremendously. I am a nervous long-distance driver. Fortunately, the traffic was light. Having my mom to talk to made the trip quicker and easier. I took the highway all the way up, but perhaps tomorrow, if Wendy is not available, I might take I-84 to Rte 20 and follow that way up. It's only 6 minutes longer. Not a big deal and I can avoid the tolls and traffic of I-90. We arrived a bit after 2pm. There was a trailer parked in the unloading area and the parking lot was packed! Busy day, I assumed the vet had not called due to emergencies (and I was correct). We had to wait a bit longer than normal in the waiting room and there were more people there...

To update Kobeejo's progress: My friend Wendy gives KJ a kiss Though Kobeejo has come through the surgery to remove his lipoma very well, he just doesn't want to eat much. Because he has a cracked tooth, the vet wanted to get in there and check out his mouth as well as do an endoscopy to see his stomach. They found that the cracked tooth was stable, unmoving, but one half caused sharp points that rubbed against his cheek and the other half had points that rubbed against the inside of his mouth or his tongue, which may explain why he was getting hay balled up in the left side of his cheek... he was pushing it over there where it was more comfortable to eat. Also... and this is the surprise factor, they found TWO quarter-sized ulcers in his stomach! Ok, this is a horse that has always had 24/7 free choice hay, grass at times and alfalfa. He should NOT have ulcers. Ulcers are caused when horses do not eat enough forage to buffer all the acid that continually flows throug...

Today (the 17th) I went up with my mother and brother to visit Kobeejo, as I do every day. He seemed so much more depressed than he has so far. And he only took a peppermint, but reluctantly, which is very unusual as he adores peppermints. It has me concerned, but the vet had called this morning to let me know that, because of his lack of appetite, tomorrow they are going to scope him (pass a camera through and see if anything is wrong). Also, I think he has a bad tooth. Even before this happened, hay has been getting lodged into his left cheek. I had a dentist appt for him the day this happened, so he has not been able to see the dentist. The vet at the hospital told me, while he is sedated, they would look at his teeth and fix any problems. The vet who came to the barn the day Kobeejo colicked, looked in his mouth. He said he had a cracked tooth, but nothing too alarming. I wonder if the cracked tooth is causing him pain? She had also told me I could walk him today. Whil...

Though the Sunday hours at the vet hospital are 1-4, I am allowed to visit as long as I call first, anytime during the day. We arrived at 4pm. The first thing I noticed when walking toward his stall was that there is now another horse in the stall across from him... a tall dark Warmblood gelding. I knew that would make him happy. They told me when they were walking the new horse down the aisle to his stall, Kobeejo perked and nickered at him. I'm sure he was thrilled not to be the only horse there, as he has been for 4 days. Though I don't know why the other horse is there, I am assuming from the tube in his nose (as KJ had) and IVs, he was also a colic case. Though he obviously did not need surgery... his belly was not shaved, nor did he wear any bandages. Kobeejo had been rushed into surgery immediately. KJ's spirits were good. He was happy eating from the hay bag they put up, as he did not like the metal bin the hay was placed into. Up until today, I needed to wear b...

My friend, Wendy, who boards her pony, Missy, with me at the barn took me to see my baby today. We left at 4pm, right after the vet called to give me an update. The vet told me that Kobeejo is doing well, but she was still a bit concerned that the motility in his intestines, though good, isn't as good as she'd like, so they were putting him on another motility medication. She also said his heart rate was a tad high (48 bpm). I knew that was from the stress of being in a new place with no other horses. He is not a fan of new situations and he needs to be around other horses. But, the only other animals in the barn with him are a goat and an alpaca. He hates goats and alpacas. We arrived at the hospital at 5:10pm. After checking in, we were brought right to Kobeejo's stall. Wendy was amazed at the size and sterility of the place. Before going into Kobee's stall, I had to put on plastic boots and surgical gloves. The reason, they said, was to keep Salmonella away from th...

I was awakened by the telephone ringing this morning at 8:50am, after only 2 hours sleep. When I saw the name on the caller ID, I nearly panicked. It was the woman who feeds the horses in the morning, and she knows I work at night, so for her to call me, I knew something had to be wrong. I answered the phone quickly. "Kobeejo is not feeling well," she started. "He won't eat his breakfast (not like him) and he keeps laying down repeatedly." "I'll be right there," I said quickly. Kobeejo, my 27-year-old registered grey overo Paint/Pinto, is more to me than just a horse. 16 years ago, he saved my life and he's been my life-saving grace ever since. He's also my registered therapy horse, as I have autism. This horse is the blood that runs through my veins and I have always done everything I can to take the best care of him, give him the best (and correct amount and type) of food (24/7 forage, a ration balancer and alfalfa pellets soaked). ...

In the many years I have been heavily involved in the horse world, I have noticed a very disturbing trend. Most horse owners simply do not feed their horses properly! And I have to say, at least here in the northeast, a good 80% or more are guilty. Most people look at their horse and see that their weight looks good and think they are feeding properly, but on the INSIDE something else entirely might be going on... Just because your horse looks good on the outside doesn't mean he is eating properly. What a Horse Is!! Or, rather, how a horse's digestive system works. Your horse is a non-ruminant herbivore. Non-ruminant means the horse does not have a multi-compartmental tummy, like cows. As a matter of fact, a horse's stomach is very small in contrast to their body size and the whole of their digestive tract. They are also herbivores, as all horse owners (better) know! This means they do not eat meat! Or dairy! Or anything animal-based. Are they Vegan? Not exactly. T...