Blogs

Out of My Mind ~ by Kathleen

NOVEMBER 11, 2011

Cheryl and I just sent the November-December 2011 issue of Honest Horses Magazine out into the world, both in print and online (see it on the home page of this website). Now that it's out, we're getting to work on our January-February 2012 (can you believe we're zipping toward yet another new year?) issue of the magazine. 

Please contact us if:

• You have ideas for topics you'd like to see us address in future issues.
• You know of an "every-day horse enthusiast" you'd like to see us feature in an upcoming "Living the Equestrian Life" column.
• You'd like to tell our readers about a favorite Northern California public trail-riding location you enjoy.
• You know about an awesome and deserving Northern California horse or dog rescue, therapeutic riding program, or other non-profit, equine- or canine-related organization you'd like to see us feature in an upcoming "Paying It Forward" column. 

 As I write this, the counter figure showing the number of visitors to this website is 1,997 (that's an HONEST 1,997; we've never-ever nudged the number up artificially). Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to check out our website and learn more about us!   -Kathleen

WORDS OF HORSEDOM: "You've got to be awake and alert every minute, every stride, because you're working with something alive that thinks and feels. He makes decisions. If we're not there to help him, he may make a decision we don't want him to make. Then we blame it on the horse. But, I grant you, it's not the horse's fault."

-Ray Hunt, from his book, Think Harmony with Horses, published in 1978.

On the Trail ~ by Cheryl

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

My husband Craig had an exciting experience this last week with our barn cat Captain Jack Sparrow-killer.  I was at the Draft Horse Classic in Grass Valley and called home to see how everything was going as I am the one who usually does  all the animal care.   After the passing of our old black barn cat, "Baby Kitty", Captain Jack took over possession of the garage.  He decided being a full time inside cat was not to his liking.  He never leaves the yard so I always let him out in the morning when I go to the barn to feed the horses and then bring him back in again before dark when he gets his dinner (he only gets fed in the evening when I feed the horses because it insures he is always eagerly waiting to come in).  Craig put him in for the night as usual  (or so he thought) but somehow the back door was slightly ajar and Jack decided to go on walkabout after he ate his dinner.  When Craig went out after dark to lock up the chickens after they had gone to roost for the night he discovered the back garage door slightly open.  He went around calling for Jack (because he actually does come to his name just like a dog)  when all of a sudden he heard something  splashing and thunderous dashing past him in the dark on the deck.  It was then he realized it was Jack flashing by soaking wet.  He had fallen into the pool and was quite indignant about being soaking wet!  Craig checked him over, he was fine so he locked him up and went back to the pool to see if the lining was ripped when Jack climbed out.  It was there he discovered a dead bat floating near the edge.  He got the old pool scoop and put the dead bat into a jar and called animal control.  They said to keep it cool and they will pick it up the next day to test it for rabies.  They questioned him about Jack and all the other animals, it they had their shots etc.  He told them our vet was Art Colyer and all the dog and cat records were there at the clinic. Everyone was up to date.  After a few days we got the test results from the county and it was negative (to our great relief!)  Jack has become quite the hunter and he is very proud of his kills.  Last month he killed a HUGE ratzilla and dragged it to the back porch where the dogs immediately tried to take credit for it.  All the birds around here are in jeopardy if they fly low and I don’t think we have a single lizard on the place with a tail anymore.  Jack even got a big gopher snake (which Craig saved from a certain death and relocated across the road to a safer location in the field) Jack is quite a character and loves to spring surprise attacks on our Blue Heeler Magee when she is out in the yard.   Jack relates better to our dog Magee than any of the other cats and the two of them actually play really nice together.  More accurately, the other cats are not very tolerant of Jack and Baylee, my other Heeler is not very fond of him either!  She gives him the snarky face when he comes too close, Poor guy!  Jack showed up in our garage when he was just a few weeks old. It was obvious that someone (some disgusting individual) dumped him here because we do not have close neighbors. He was tiny and terrified and completely traumatized by our old barn cat Baby Kitty.  She was a small black cat with a huge Panther-like personality.  She even drew blood on one of my horses when he came to check her out.  She was fearless.  She routinely beat the stuffings out of Jack as he grew and kept him in mortal fear of her even though he grew to be a huge leggy lean cat of 15 lbs and she was a mere petite 7lbs.  Her presence was so strong it lingered long after she was gone. He would always make a big circle around where her bed was located in the garage for several months after she passed.  She loved her family though and I still miss her.