Advice for horses and horse owners from reader submissions. Cheeky, from the horse’s mouth, Dear Appy. Karen McPeak
Dear Appy, I'm really good to my horse. Why does she feel the need to fart at the precise moment I'm grooming her tail or giving her a good scratch? Flatulent Filly Mom Dear Mom, Geesh,you humans are so uptight about passing gas. I see you crouching in the corner of the tack room to let [...]
Dear Appy, My person takes so long to mount it’s hard standing still. Especially when she puts her foot in the stirrup I rock back or take a step back. She won’t mount when I do that. I’m not against her riding. Why do I do that and how can she teach me with positive reinforcement [...]
Dear Appy, My barn has a lot of windows, they provide great lighting and a way for the breeze to pass through. Unless the weather is really bad, the windows remain open. But I’m wondering if I need to close them. Last spring several birds used the windows to fly in and out of the barn, [...]
Dear Appy My name is Officer Bea. I live in the barn with 5 other cats and I am in charge. What I say goes. I’m tolerant until someone gets out of line, then I am quick to assert myself. I whip my tail back and forth until the perpetrator backs down. Its all about the [...]
Dear Appy, Why does my dog eat horse poop? Signed, Concerned Dog Mom Dear Concerned Dog Mom, Ew. Why do dogs do anything? Some of them eat their OWN poop (known as coprophagia for the uninitiated.) The human at my farm has a dog that eats walls. Figure that one out. But seriously, most humans with [...]
Dear Appy, Is there something wrong with laying down to take a nap? Several times a day, I stretch out in the grass for a good rest. However, if my person sees me laying flat out in the pasture, she comes running screaming my name. Her hysterics scare me so I jump to my feet. She [...]
Dear Appy, What are your thoughts on blanketing horses during cold weather? Does my horse need it? Signed, Don’t Know What To Do Dear Don’t Know What To Do, Aaand, that's how we know winter is coming. Humans have this ritual where they face off in teams to debate blankets vs no [...]
Dear Appy, I don’t understand what I did wrong. For many years I lived in a small barn in the backyard of a family with three little girls. They would come to the barn and brush me and braid flowers in my mane and kiss my nose. Sometimes they would climb on my back for a [...]
Dear Appy I have a rather embarrassing question to ask. I love riding and have a terrific horse. She is under 15 hands, just the right height for me. But I can’t get on her. I mean, I CAN get on but it’s a struggle and I don’t do it “the right way”. The way I [...]
Dear Appy, Why does my horse poop in his water bucket EVERY NIGHT? Signed, Rubber Gloved Dear Rubber Gloved, Ugh. Why do geldings do anything? Move the bucket. If it continues, put in a toilet and teach him to flush. Fondly, Appy
