October 9, 2002

The Person in the Mirror

This issue is directed to anyone that is responsible for the feeding and housing of a horse. Many of the points can be applied to other species of animals under the control of people.

The next time you see that person in the mirror, you should take some time to ask him or her some tough questions. Who should I turn to or believe when I have questions about proper feeding of my horse? Who should I turn to or believe when I have questions as to the best environment for my horse? Who should I turn to or believe when I have questions as to the best health care for my horse?

Do you rely on the person that is selling sweet feed for information about the grain portion you should feed your horse? Have you ever asked a feed expert that doesn't sell feed for their opinion? Do you rely on a person selling hay for information about the best hay to feed your horse? Have you ever asked a feed expert that doesn't have grass or alfalfa to sell for their opinion? Do you rely on a builder selling buildings for information about the best barn for your horse? Have you ever asked a horse health expert that doesn't sell buildings for their opinion? Do you rely on a horse health person selling vaccines and wormers for information about health care needs for your horse? Have you ever asked a horse health person that doesn't sell these products for their opinion?

Remember the person in the mirror knows what you are thinking and what you have done in the past. It is too bad that we cannot ask your horse what they think about how they have been treated. Remember that your horse is very dependent on you for proper feeding, housing and treatment. Horses in the wild have the ability to search out solutions that have served them best by natural selection.

I would like to help that person in the mirror a little bit. I do believe that commercial feed companies have made great strides in equine nutrition in the last 3-5 years. It would be great to search out someone that could be hired for their nutrition knowledge.

In this year of unfavorable weather for making hay, horse owners will have to sharpen their hay buying skills. Once you determine what type of hay you want to feed your horse, you need to search out that hay just as your horse searches out the hay they want in your pasture. If your horse sees some grass they do not like they just move on. When you look for the hay you want to buy, remember that a hay producer cannot change the hay once it is harvested. Your horse may go back to that undesirable grass if the best grass cannot be located. Again, someone knowledgeable in equine nutrition should be consulted as to the choices available if the best first choice is not available.

The housing of a horse can be the most expensive part of owning a horse. Remember that the horse did very well in the wild. In the wild, the horse has an abundant supply of fresh air. The horse takes every opportunity to be in the sunshine. In times of bad weather, the horse will seek out a location that breaks the wind and will protect them from adverse precipitation. Any housing that doesn't allow the horse these freedoms should be considered undesirable.

Because I am a part of the veterinary profession I will limit my comments to the person in the mirror to a comment made to me by Dr. Ken Tabberson, "Don't screw up mother nature". Dr. Tabberson was a mentor of mine and is why I chose to be a veterinarian. He was a great source of knowledge for the above questions.

I am seeing a lot of confusion and bad information coming to the surface. It's time to get back to the basics. It is time to turn to people that you trust and have a proven track record. Experience does make a difference. Education does make a difference.

It's time to look into the eyes of that person in the mirror and ask him or her if you are doing the right things for that horse whose life you are controlling?