During the COVID pandemic, when being outside meant pacing in our backyards or maybe making tracks to see if any mail had arrived, a British author named Katherine May wrote Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. The medium, Popsugar, wrote,  “Wintering succeeds in delivering a powerful, real-time account of what it is to experience life’s inevitable winters — both literal and metaphorical — and come out on the other side.” I hail from the central Midwest, where winters can sometimes be deadly and stretch out for six months. Living in the high mountain desert region ..read more

Marvel, a blue-eyed wild stallion, faced life in a holding pen and an uncertain future. Instead, he went to camp…Mustang Camp. The 22-mile gravel road leading to Mustang Camp follows the oldest parts of the historic Santa Fe trail and snakes its way along a dry riverbed. Pitted ruts 8-inches deep carved by flash floods, snow drifts or oil and gas trucks often make the road inaccessible. “Call when you leave the pavement, and check your odometer,” Read more about Marvel’s journey in my October 2023 article in Western Horsemen, Trauma to Trust ..read more

Rehabilitation techniques are only as good as the owner’s commitment to a protocol aimed at healing a horse’s injury. Walking, cold soaking a leg, or stall rest have a place, but sometimes your horse and you need a shock to advance healing. This summer, I learned about the benefits of shock wave therapy when my vet and friend administered the healing tool on my horse’s leg. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is classified as a physical therapy or rehabilitation protocol and helps to manage and heal several maladies in a horse. Tendinitis and other tendon injuries common in athletic horses, liga ..read more

The annual American Horse Publications conference is always a whirlwind of information, inspiration, and connection. Last Sunday, I returned from Tempe, Arizona, with a suitcase full of magazines, business cards, and ideas for the 2023 mid-year evaluation of where Equi-Libris has been and where I would like to go for the remaining months of this year. The AHP membership is a cornucopia of talent. Writers, photographers, book authors, and videographers comprise only part of an electric equine community. I am proud to be a member of an organization that will celebrate fifty years of success next ..read more

Living in the desert Southwest, I’ve learned a thing or two about sand colic. Sand colic isn’t limited to desert climes but is a real issue for horses grazing on sand lots as well. Writing about sand colic has been a particular interest of mine for a few years. Diagnostic tests and treatments are limited in the field, requiring horse owners and barns to step up with environmental management. Examining where and how your horse eats is the best way to minimize the risk of sand ingestion. This may require a multi-faceted approach and a dose of creativity from horse owners. Learn more about the wa ..read more

Accidental ingestion of sand by horses may be harmless in many circumstances, but can also lead to the dangers of colic. Consuming sand is not ideal for equine digestion because sand irritates and inflames the intestinal lining, disrupting the bowel’s efficiency in absorbing nutrients. Read more about diagnosing and treating sand ingestion in this June 2023 article, Suffering from Sand Colic ..read more

Spring ushers in open windows, birds singing, and a change of wardrobe for humans and horses. Warmer temps induce another change, but not a welcome one. Equine asthma. Respiratory issues are second to musculoskeletal complications in horses. Factors that exacerbate equine asthma vary depending on geographical region and time of year. Still, they often involve elements in a horse’s environment, including moldy hay, dust, poor air quality, or pollen. Seasonal triggers such as pollen often irritate asthmatic horses. Solving the equine asthma riddle requires investigation and treatment year-round ..read more

Last month, I signed a contract with The Horse Magazine to cement my role as a freelance writer for print and digital editions. Also, last month I started working with The Horse digital editor, Haylie Kerstetter, to write 1,000-word feature pieces for Horse.com. My piece concerning the relationship between dental pain and horse behavior may be viewed by clicking this link. If you aren’t receiving the Horse.com digital newsletters, please sign-up for more information. The featured photo credit is © Ilka Burckhardt | Dreamstime.com ..read more

I am pleased to share an AHP Member Profile written by fellow equine writer Jennifer Denison. I am resharing the piece from the February AHP member newsletter. Jennifer and I met at last year’s AHP conference in Lexington, Kentucky. I look forward to connecting with Jennifer and many other AHP members in Tempe, Arizona in June. Meet a Member: Anna I. Sochocky, CEO, Equi-Libris, LLC Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico Education: Hamline University, Graduate of Liberal Studies (GLS) Program, masters in liberal studies; Outstanding Creative Thesis Award; St. Paul, Minnesota, 1999. Macalester Co ..read more

Nigel Fennell’s recent project used 4,608 mini Secretariats to capture one of the greatest moments in horse racing history. Now, his incarnation of the greatest horse to race has captured the Lexington, Kentuck local media. Lex18, the local NBC affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky, caught wind of the story of Nigel Fennell and his steel reincarnation of Secretariat. The piece, written by Nancy Cox, a popular anchor, and reporter, profiled Nigel and his wife, Susie, on February 9, 2023, for Lex 18. After watching the interview, be sure to read my profile of Nigel, published in the Fall 2022 issue o ..read more