I received this message from our local riding group. I thought it was really useful information so I’m passing it directly to you all:
WEBSITE AND SIGN UP FOR EQUINE DISEASE OUTBREAK ALERTS
www.outbreak-alert.com
If you travel with your horse to endurance rides, trail trials or show, this website provides you with nationwide disease outbreak information.
On the website, maps of the us highlight locations of confirmed cases of:
EEE
WEE
West Nile
EHV-1
Potomac Horse Fever
Rabies
You can sign up for free text or email alerts.
www.outbreak-alert.com
BLIND FILLY UPDATE!
Well, now that the owner knows there is a future for this cutey patootey, she has named her, “Cookie”. You see, her dam is named, “Oreo”…. Everyone loves this frisky little thing! Not being able to see is not stopping her from being rambunctious!
Cookie is having both eyes done! Thanks to their own fundraising and our donations, this little girl will see!
The equine hospital moved the surgery date back to June 16th because they are waiting for a special piece of equipment to arrive. We will update as soon as we have any news.
Here are some new pics! Cookie is growing like she should!
MAMA TESS UPDATE!
I wish I had some earth-shattering news, but nothing much has changed since the last time I updated about MT… Tess still has the split left hoof and a hole in her right sole. Those spots will take a while to heal, especially with her damaged blood supplies.
But, the girl gets around! She’s happy. And now she can travel around the place again because all the grass is gone already.
The other horses have eaten all the grass and since we are in a drought in CA, there is no lawn watering. So Tess can now be let out to roam. Pretty much everywhere is brown. Sad. But, good for a foundered mare!
I thought I would post some of MT’s early morning and late evening excursion pics!
Please excuse her ‘bed head’ look. MT naps around 6 times a day so she generally looks a bit messy. But, I do groom her daily – at some point.

This was very early morning yesterday… She loves this little knoll, for some reason. You’d think she’d stay off of hills with her sore feet, but she goes up and down this hill every day.

I was able to trim her weight down some – and the walking daily helps tremendously. It is amazing how a little exercise goes a long way with a horse! (Yes, I know the Soft Ride boot is on the incorrect hoof – we wore out the right one.)

Although huge and clumsy, the Easyboot RX on her left foot is working! The SoftRide did not accommodate her new heel bulb appropriately, so we had to become inventive. The Easyboot RX works great on her new, deformed hoof! (founder)

Mama Tess is fully engrossed in her sojourns and happy. I am so glad that I can now let her out to roam. This is the best thing for her body, mind and soul.

This was tonight. She had just left her barn and was grabbing at any hay shreds I had dropped while feeding. MT is now my new HOOVER! (The trough on her veranda is full of soaked hay.)

Mary Lu: Please tell me what article you are reading in Equus about stifle sticking. Also, please next time, ask your farrier what he is doing
to help your pony and I will pass it on.
–As far as the LG Bridle, ANY headstall should work. All you have to do is unscrew the Chicago screws, flip the flap over the outside spoke of the
LG wheel and then screw the flap back into place. Did you look at the instructions that were sent? And the pics? If you didn’t receive them I can send
them again, no worries!
I received my Bit Less bridle. Joy, joy! I am figuring it out but I have one question – what kind of headstall would you recommend? I have a Weaver leather, western bridle – expensive and fancy. I don’t think I could get the Chicago screws to fit into the spoke. I am not fond of this headstall. I will purchase a new one if I had a clue as to what works the best.
In a week or so my wonderful farrier will be here and he can help me. I do need to share another subject – Stiffle sticking as in my Slick look alike mini, Pretentious. The farrier gave him a trim that was suppose to keep his stiffle from sticking on April 20 and I have not seen any evidence of a stick when previously he was constantly dragging his back leg around almost daily. I have no idea how the trim works to keep the stiffle in place but it has thus far. It has been like a miracle. I also read the Equus
article this month that does not recommend surgery. Thank you so much for your advice and your wonderful Blog.
Mary Lu