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Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 27: Siouxsie and the Solitary Witch

Siouxsie Head Shot

This episode gets a little personal, and that’s Helena for you! She is the kind of “girl” who wears her heart on her sleeve, welcoming anyone who is willing to listen to join in on her story.

As a horsewoman who spends a lot of time alone with her horses, Helena has learned so much about herself as a human being. In this short episode, she shares a particularly important observation that many horse lovers will appreciate. Listen in!

This episode is dedicated to American Indians.

Please take a few minutes to read an updated overview of their history and current state of affairs, here.

The American Thanksgiving holiday, in our opinion, should focus on giving thanks to the American Indians who shared, advised, welcomed, and sacrificed so much for the European settlers who came to these lands so long ago. Instead of dwelling on the conflicts, the Stall and Stable family will be spending this holiday giving thanks to our Native American friends for their great gifts to our ancestors.

One of the greatest of all Sioux indians was Chief Sitting Bull, a Hunkapa Lakota leader. If you fancy yourself a “real American”, read the book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Knowing even a little bit about the history of the sacrifices American Indians made will bring you a new appreciation for what it means to live comfortably in this great nation of ours; especially at a time when many American Indians are still suffering on reservations that are rife with poverty and staggering rates of addiction and suicide.

 

 

 

Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Photo: David F. Barry, Bismarck, Dakota Territory – original period albumen print, Daniel Guggisberg historical photographs collection
Many Horses with her baby
Sitting Bull’s daughter, Many Horses

One of Sitting Bull’s daughters was Many Horses. Her Lakota name was Tashunke-ota-win, which, when translated literally, means ‘Horses-many-woman’.

Helena’s horse, Siouxsie, is named, in part, in honor of the people of the Great Sioux Nation. Yes, there’s an homage to a special punk rocker as well, which was also born out of admiration for the First Peoples of the Americas.

This special episode is NOT about Indians. It is about the MAGIC of horses; something for which we are very, very grateful.

 

Equine Lameness for the Layman
Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 20: Equine Lameness for the Layman

Is he off? He feels a little offfffff.

Our guest this week is Dr. Bob Grisel, DVM, an equine lameness specialist and author of the book, Equine Lameness for the Layman; a must-have book for any serious horseman’s library. With a helpful glossary of technical terms, lots of illustrations, and the brilliant use of QR codes and videos that complement specific sections of text, you will really appreciate the in-depth knowledge that Dr. Grisel’s book literally puts in your lap.

“It’s very, very, rare that you would see a horse just decide they want to be naughty under saddle when otherwise they’ve been fine.”

We talk with Dr. Grisel in this episode about ways in which we can better observe our horses to catch lameness issues as early as possible, which can help us actually improve our horses’ long term health, soundness, and wellbeing.

Dr. Grisel helps Helena with some next steps as she endeavors to find out what’s making her new TB mare shake her head and trip behind. Listen in!

G. Robert Grisel, DVM

 

 

Manure Pile
Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 17: Manure Management for the Small Horse Property

If you are plagued by a growing manure pile and no solid plan for disposal, you’ll appreciate today’s chat about ideas that can relieve your manure pile stress. In this episode, Helena welcomes back her horse husband, Buck, and they discuss some of the more popular options for manure management and removal, what they tend to cost, as well as the pros and cons of each. What did the Harrises choose for their small horse property? Listen in to find out!

Can you afford a composting system, manure spreader, or dump trailer? Use the Stall and Stable Financial Planner to find out!
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From this episode:

  • Manure Spreader – as narrow as 4’ wide 
    • Available in a stainless steel body (impervious to urine and moisture)
    • Start at $3,000
    • Can handle 1-4 wheelbarrow loads
    • Tow with lawn tractor or ATV
    • Need more than 3 acres to be useful
  • Composting System
    • Low cost or no cost to set up
    • Requires time to manage (turn, aerate, process, move)
    • Makes awesome compost that you could sell
    • Takes up more space than you think
    • Flies still an issue
    • Disposal/disbursement/use still an issue
    • UMass Amherst Composting Page
  • Dumpster 
    • Moderate cost (lowest we could find in New England was $189 / month for a 10 cubic yard dumpster)
    • Removal is low stress
    • Easy to remove, at your interval
    • Ugly
    • Takes up space
    • Unloading a full wheelbarrow into dumpster requires some innovation
    • Wholesale Nationwide Dumpster Rental
  • Removal by 3rd Party
    • High cost
    • Manure pile tends to get very big, drawing flies and taking up valuable space
    • You’re at the mercy of the 3rd party’s schedule
    • The pile must be easy to access with equipment like front-end loader, etc.
  • Dump Trailer
    • High cost
    • Low stress
    • Requires tow vehicle
    • Saves time and space
    • Must be moved when trailer gets full
    • You need a distribution or disposal plan
      • Local dump or transfer station (check your town or city’s Organic Waste Recycling options)
      • Local gardeners/growers who would like to use it
Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 6: Keeping the Grand Prix Dressage Horse

“Routines are important, not only for us, but they give great comfort to horses.”  – Nikki Alvin-Smith

Paul & Nikki Alvin-Smith of Willowview Hill Farm, are British international-level Grand Prix trainers who have successfully competed in Europe to scores over 72% at Grand Prix. This husband and wife team have also trained several horses of various breeds from birth to Grand Prix, and trained many students up through the ranks of dressage in their careers. While both have worked with more than a few icons in the dressage world, their training has been most influenced by their work with Olympic trainer, Raul de Leon, and Grand Master Herbert Rehbein, of Germany.

In this episode, I chat with Nikki Alvin-Smith about their dressage training program and how their farm stable routine supports their equine athletes at the highest level.

Nikki Alvin-Smith

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Nikki and Paul Alvin-Smith
USPC Manuals D,C,B,HA,A
Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 2: Best Practices in Horsekeeping

The best way to be safe around horses is to become an educated horse person and follow good safety practices. This is especially important in the stable, where our horses spend a lot of their time. Today’s guest is author, illustrator, and international clinician, Susan E. Harris. Susan wrote and illustrated all three U.S. Pony Club Manuals of Horsemanship – the closest thing the U.S. has to documented standards in care for horses. In this episode, Susan and Helena talk about, and expand upon, the essentials of horsekeeping that Susan wrote about as part of the USPC Horsemanship series, including:

  • What kind of fencing is best for horses?
  • Should you freak out about empty water tanks in turnout?
  • Is feeding hay on the floor or in a haynet better?
  • What kind of turnout regimen is best for the grand prix dressage horse? How about the backyard trail buddy?
  • How to prevent rainrot and lice in horses turned out “naturally.”
  • What’s up with the “Paddock Paradise” system, anyway?
  • All this and more in Episode 2 of Stall and Stable!

About Our Guest

Susan Harris is an international clinician, riding teacher, equestrian author and artist. She has taught all seats and styles of riding, and has trained, shown, and prepared horses and riders for competition in many equestrian disciplines. Susan has been active in training and establishing certification standards for American riding instructors since the l970’s. In 2004 she was honored as a Master Instructor by the American Riding Instructor Association.

A Senior Centered Riding Instructor and Clinician, Susan apprenticed with Sally Swift, the founder of Centered Riding®. Today, she teaches clinics in Centered Riding and “Anatomy in Motionâ„¢”, in which she paints the bones and muscles on a live horse. These innovative clinics have been popular attractions at equine expos and clinics around the world, including EquineAffaire,  Equitana Australia, the American Quarter Horse Congress, the George Morris Horsemastership Clinic at Wellington, FL, and others. It is an honor to get some time to chat with such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic horsewoman. Join us!

Horses grazing
Is barbed wire a good option for fencing?