Double the Fun

There is a LOT of literature out right now that talk about the benefits of slow feeders for horses, Im talking: 

Reducing the possibility of gastric ulcers

Reducing the likelihood of colic

Reducing anxiety related to feeding time

Reducing undesirable behaviors

Reducing the length of this blog

Those are quite a few common problems being decreased just by mimicing the horses natural grazing patterns. Duh, right?

There are also A LOT of slow feeding products on the market now, giving horse owners a few choices. The Porta-Grazer is exactly what it sounds like it is, a portable slow feeder for your ponies. This is a larger "furniture" item, becoming a fixture in your stall or pasture. Another cool option is the Hay Pillow. The Hay Pillow is a feed bag that is safe enough to toss on the ground and has a small footprint for those who need the space. 

BUT. If you jump right into slow feeding your horse after they have been free grazing for years, then the potential for stress is pretty high and stress is what were trying to avoid. 

I am going to show you how to introduce your horse to the idea of slow feeding,. If you make it too hard, too fast you are going to have a pissed off and stressed out steed on your hands. Say hello to gastric ulcers if you jump in too quick! 

All you'll need is:

• 1 hay net with large holes

• 1 hay net with small holes

If your horse isn't accustomed to hay bags, that's a great place to start. Feeding out of a hay bag with large holes gets them used to the game but makes it easy enough to keep stress at bay.

Next, bring out a second hay net with smaller holes. By doubling the nets, we've introduced the concepts of:

Working a tad harder for breakfast AND  

Taking a bit longer to be satiated

...over time this is going to help them adapt mentally and physically to this new feeding routine.

After the horses are accustomed to eating from the doubled hay bag...THEN go nuts and find the slow feeder that fits your barn, your horse and your lifestyle. 

You Scratch My Back...

When was the last time you scratched a good itch? It's like number 4 on my list of favorite sensations. You just scratched something didn't you? Yesssssssss. 

If you have horses then you probably have, are, or probably are going to experience stall rest. Stall rest blows for everyone, but I am going to venture to guess that it's WAY worse for the pony on lock down. There are some pretty simple ways to make those four walls stop closing in and Im going to show you a simple one today.

It's raining in southern Arizona and I don't ride in the rain so its a perfect day for some new enrichment.  

Sensory enrichment is something that a lot of us forget to offer. You can swing by here to learn more about the different types of enrichment. We can offer toys for days, but sometimes you just need a good scratch and a jolly ball isn't the man for the job.

There are scratch pads available that are marketed specifically for livestock and you can find those here, but this is another option. 

Here is what you'll need:

• Clear car floor mat

• Drill

Put your mat bottom side (bumpy side) facing out and secure to the wall. That's it. Easy right?!

Try to attach it at rump level for optimal scratching goodness or fold it over a gate for some amazing chin rubs.

Viola! A bit of relief for those on the mend. 

Alright, I am going to breath in as much of this "rainy day in the desert" smell as I can before it's gone for the year. 

Filter Flowers for Days

I have seen two groups of animal lovers who are genius when it comes to enrichment.  The "parrronts" (parrot parents) and the Bunny folk. Serious talk, the best owners of these animals could teach us all a lesson about enrichment. 

Todays 5-minute friday is for bunny owners who need something in a snap. Rabbits are incredibly busy little things and when not provided with enough stimulation, they will find their own in the form of your remote, your wire, your walls...

Here's what you'll need:

• unbleached coffee filters

• wooden spoon

• sisal string

• scissors

• foraging goodies of you r choice. I used an herb mix and banana chips

The herb mix is beautiful with rose petals, linden leaves, dandelion leaves, and plantain leaves (who are great for aiding with digestion). 

Grab a stack of coffee filters and fold in half. Cut a hole small enough for the wooden spoon handle to push through. Separate the filters and slipping them on. 

Take your string and tie it around the base of the filters about an inch up. Start fluffing and filling. It's SO simple and a great foraging toy to knock around for special goodies. 

What did you fill your flower with today?