Archive for December, 2011

An old cowboy was riding his trusty horse followed by his faithful dog along an unfamiliar road. The man was enjoying the new scenery, when he suddenly remembered dying, and realized that the dog beside him had been dead for years, as had his horse. Confused, he wondered what was happening, and where the trail was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall that looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch topped by a golden letter "H" that glowed in the sunlight.

Standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like gold.

He rode toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. Parched and tired out by his journey, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.

'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'

As the gate began to open, the cowboy asked, 'Can I bring my partners, too?'

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The cowboy thought for a moment, then turned back to the road and continued riding, his dog trotting by his side.

After another long ride, at the top of another hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a ranch gate that looked as if it had never been closed. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

'Excuse me,' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Sure, there's a pump right over there. Help yourself.'

'How about my friends here?' the traveler gestured to the dog and his horse.

'Of course! They look thirsty, too,' said the man.

The trio went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with buckets beside it. The traveler filled a cup and the buckets with wonderfully cool water and took a long drink, as did his horse and dog.

When they were full, he walked back to the man who was still standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'That's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the glitzy, gold street and fake pearly gates? That's hell.'

'Doesn't it make you angry when they use your name like that?'

'Not at all. Actually, we're happy they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.' 
  
Sometimes, we wonder why friends forward things to us without writing a word. Maybe this explains it:

When you're busy, but still want to keep in touch, you can forward emails. When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep in contact, you can forward jokes. When you have something to say, but don't know exactly how, you can forward stuff.

A 'forward' lets you know that you're still remembered, still important, still cared about.

So the next time you get a 'forward', don't think of it as just another joke. Realize that you've been thought of today and that your friend on the other end just wanted to send you a smile.
 

We want to take this opportunity to remind you of our sponsor Bon-Vivante. They specialize in reasonably priced English tack including bridles, saddle pads, brow bands, nose bands, halters and great key fobs. The quality is great and it is reasonably priced. With Christmas coming up this would be a great time to shop for that horse lover in your family or just your friends.

If you click on their store icon please use the CODE: HORSESDIY and they will send you a great key fob free with every order of $26.00 or more. If you buy two key fobs they will send you one more free.

Please click on the store icon and look at their on-line catalog. It is great stuff and well worth the money. Don’t forget to input the CODE: HORSESDIY when you do.
 

Well, you can always buy one!  Yes, they are expensive, so why not just let your horse grow one?  With your help it can and will happen.

BEFORE . . .

First of all, stop brushing the tail.  I only brush my horses tail every few weeks.  Yes, I said weeks.  Begin by washing the tail.  Use a mild shampoo.  I like Pert Plus.  Dilute even the mildest shampoo with water in a bucket.  Rinse well.  Next, condition the tail with a lot of conditioner.  Again, I prefer human conditioner.  It detangles better.  Again, rinse well.  Towel dry.  Now use lots and lots of Show Sheen while detangling only with your fingers.  My favorite mixture  for horse tails is Listerine Mouth Wash and Infusium Leave-in Conditioner for people.  Use this mixture and your horses tail will be strong and flake and itch free.  Once the tail is detangled, comb it out.  Then trim the bleached or damaged ends off.  Not a lot, maybe an inch.

Then, beginning with the hair at the top of the tail at the tail bone, braid it tightly.  Tightly is the key here.  Braid it until at least 4 inches of the tail is hanging at the bottom, unbraided.  If you braid it all the way down you will turn the horse’s fly swatter into a whip.  Leave at least 4inches at the bottom unbraided.  This may only give you a few inches of braids but that is how you begin to grow a tail.  Now fasten your braid at the bottom with two or three rubber bands.

AFTER . . .

Preferably use a band that is coated with a fabric.  Make the bands as tight as you can.  Then put duck tape over the band to secure the band even better.  Now leave the tail alone for a few weeks, or even longer. 

Leave it alone as long as the braids don’t become matted at the top of the tail.  I have gone as long as 6 weeks without taking the braids out and re-doing it.  And remember, lots of fly spray and keep the stall cleaner than clean.  A tail swishing flies causes more breakage and the braids won’t last as long.  If you follow this procedure in a few months your horse’s tail will begin to grow longer and look fabulous in no time at all.

I am including a “before and after” picture of my horse’s tail after only six months!