Skunks Around The Barn Are Trouble
At one time, I actually managed a self-service barn. It wasn’t very large, just 10 stalls, a large tack/feed room, riding arena & about a 5 acre pasture. This property was one of several that was at end of the flight path to my town’s airport. The largest of the properties was about a 30 acre pasture. This made a significant greenbelt region in town.
The wildlife varied. In the spring & fall, there were the migrating birds that landed looking for food in the 
pasture. There was even a red fox that showed up but never stopped. It made its hurried travel through the pasture to get to cover in the next property. There were the urban possums & rabbits. You could catch a glimpse of an occasional owl at dusk in the fall. The one critter that seemed to make it’s home somewhere near (or under) the buildings was a skunk.
I was running late to feed Iggette one night. I turned on the light in the feed room and there I was, having a stare contest with a skunk. I almost killed myself backing out of the feed room before it decided to spray everything in sight. When safely on the other side of the doorway, I noticed that the skunk was not concerned with my presence. It was merrily eating the cat food that someone had left for the barn cats. I waited until the skunk had it’s fill and waddled back under the hay & out of sight.
For the next few weeks, the skunk & I came to an understanding. I had put my lunge whip next to the door. When I turned on the light & if the skunk was there eating, I tapped it on the back with the whip. It would look at me and then move under the hay. Fortunately, it wasn’t my hay so I could do what I needed to do in the feed room. Each time I left, it would reappear to eat. Each time I would come back, I would tap it on the back and it would move back under the hay. The amazing point is it never offered to spray me or the room. It was never aggressive.
One night, my husband came with me. I was behind him when he turned on the the light to the feed. I don’t think I ever saw anyone move as fast as he did getting out that room. He bumped into me, almost knocking me down. I thought he had seen a snake or wasp or something like that. My husband is irrationally wary of wasps, hornets, etc because of an unfortunate encounter with hornets as a young boy. I asked him what was the matter. He looked at me & replied “SKUNK!” I told him I knew there was a skunk. I told him to move and reached for my whip. By now, the skunk knew the routine and just moved back without being tapped. It stayed put until I was out of the feed room and then moved back to the food. My husband was utterly amazed at our strange routine, but he didn’t offer to help with anything that was inside.
This strange relationship went on into the winter. Then the skunk disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. I never saw it again.
With humankind ever encroaching on nature, some wildlife is adapting to urban ways. This incident gave me cause to do some research. Wild skunks usually stay away from humans. Skunks can carry rabies.
Where am I going with this? I highly encourage vaccinating your horse for rabies as part of your annual shots. I started giving my horse a rabies shot shortly after the skunk moved in. I continue giving my horses a rabies shot every year. I have persuaded most of my friends to give rabies shots to their horses, whether they board in town or have a place in the country.
You protect your dog & cat from rabies. Why not protect your horse.
As always, don’t forget to let me know what YOU think.
accompany each vet on calls and the barn manager who looks after your horse if he needs to stay for more intensive care. I really appreciate each & every one of these people. They do a great job. A presentation was done by each of the 2 new vets. One was on the importance of proper wound care. I could go on for days about this subject because my horses have given me plenty of practice. But I would like to talk about how you can possibly prevent some injuries.
looked for hours & did not find a spot of blood or the tell tale sign of horse hair on a fence post or tree branch. Zip’s injuries were costly & required weeks of stall rest to heal.
Dollar is my 6 year old palomino gelding. I named him after the horse John Wayne rode in his movies. Never mind that the movie Dollar was a sorrel, I am just one of those avid “Duke” movie fans. Anyway, Dollar is just about as laid back as a horse can get. I haven’t found anything that bothers him. He also has as much curiosity as any cat. He’s always looking to see what you are doing and at times it seems like he would really rather help you with whatever it is you’re doing. He’ll walk along side of the tractor while the pasture is being mowed looking like he’s trying to tell you how to drive & mow. He stands guard by a ladder while you are on the roof. He also likes to floss his teeth with the tail of the lead rope you have him tied with.
The Palomino World Show finished up it’s week long run. As always, it was a very good show. This is about my 20th year to volunteer for this show. When I started volunteering for this show, I didn’t even own a palomino. I didn’t purchase my first palomino until 2002. I volunteer for this show because I absolutely love doing it. I take a week vacation from my job to volunteer. I get to see some old friends that I have made over the years and I always meet new ones. 
The show then was only 3 very long days. I learned to read fast and on the run. The show has grown over the past 20 years to the 7 day show it is today. I still have to speed read and do it on the run. Some things never change. 
If you DO decide to volunteer, some things to remember are to always be pleasant & courteous to both exhibitors and staff. You may be a volunteer, but you are one of the many faces for the organization putting on the show. Help out for any job that is needed. If you are not sure of the duties, ask one of the staff members for some guidance before the show starts. If there is a problem, ask one of the staff members of the organization to help. Don’t take longer for meals than any other staff member. Don’t be in the wrong place or take a job that was not assigned to you. Be prepared by bringing your own pen, water bottle and possibly small snacks. There may not always be time to run to the water fountain. Unless you are instructed to wear specific clothes, dress comfortably. Don’t wear boots that pinch your toes or sandals. You are probably going to be on your feet and on the move all day long. At the end of the show, turn in any equipment that you were given. Also before you leave the show, make sure you check in with a staff member. They will appreciate knowing that you are no longer on duty.
The Palomino Youth World Show is now in full swing. If you live in the Tulsa Oklahoma area, THIS IS A MUST SEE!!!! No where else can you see so many beautiful golden horses in one place. No where else can you see so many different variations of the golden horse. Whether you like trail, English, Western or Halter, there is a class that will catch your attention. Come out to the Tulsa fairgrounds and see the kids guide these horses around the arena and put them through their paces. Go to 
The floundering economy has touched the horse industry in so many ways. My own personal concession is I had to sell one of my horses. I did this last November (before Iggette passed) to try to cut the rising cost of my board bill as well as the vet bill. I didn’t want to sell Princess (pictured) and it was a hard decsison to make. Actually I was supposed to sell one when I purchased my gelding over 2 years ago. I just didn’t ever get around to it. Quite honestly if we lived on our acreage instead of in town, I wouldn’t have sold her. But she has a very nice owner who decided to stay at the barn where I am, so I get to see her all the time. After Iggette passed away, I was left with 2 horses. Even with my board bill being reduced by 2 horses, the money crunch can still be felt. I have made some small adjustments in my horse keeping to save some money. Here are a few of the ways that I chosen to save money. Please keep in mind that my choices may not work for you. Make your decisions wisely.
This is where I come in. I had never owned a horse, I had never taken care of a horse and I had only ridden a few backyard pets that my friends had. I was a stupid 20 something and was just as horse crazy then as when I was at 4. Oh yeah, I was also recuperating from a very bad fall off a lesson horse trying to learn how to jump fences. I was told Iggette was going to the sale barn and I just couldn’t let that happen. I talked my husband into buying her. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with her, but I knew I couldn’t let her go to the sale where she might end up in the hands of the killers. I bought her without even going to look at her first. This is how I became a novice owner.
