#hay slow feeder
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derbyoriginals · 18 days ago
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Owning a horse is a wonderful experience, but it also brings important responsibilities. Ensuring your horse stays comfortable and healthy, especially in cold weather, is crucial. This is where horse blankets become essential. If you’re looking for horse blankets for sale or exploring horse winter blankets, this blog will guide you on their uses and benefits.
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What Are Horse Blankets?
Horse blankets are coverings designed to protect horses from cold, rain, and wind. They come in different materials and thicknesses, suited for various weather conditions. Lightweight blankets are ideal for cool nights, while heavy-duty horse winter blankets keep your horse warm during freezing winters.
How Can Horse Blankets Benefit Your Horse?
Horse blankets offer numerous benefits. Let’s look at how they help your horse:
Protection From Cold: Horses may grow thicker coats in winter, but extreme cold can still affect them. A good winter blanket provides warmth and prevents health issues like colds or stiffness.
Shield Against Rain and Wind: Wet and windy weather can make horses uncomfortable and even sick. Waterproof horse blankets are perfect for keeping your horse dry and cozy.
Maintaining Cleanliness: Mud and dirt can stick to a horse’s coat, making grooming harder. A blanket acts as a barrier, keeping your horse cleaner for longer.
Support for Older Horses: Senior horses often struggle to stay warm due to weaker immunity. A winter blanket provides the extra care they need.
Health Recovery Aid: If a horse is recovering from illness or injury, keeping them warm can speed up the process. Blankets play a key role in ensuring their comfort during recovery.
When Should You Use a Horse Blanket?
Not all horses need blankets all the time. Here are situations where blankets are most useful:
During Harsh Winters: Horses living in regions with very low temperatures benefit from blankets.
For Clipped Horses: Horses with trimmed coats lose natural warmth and need extra covering.
Older or Sick Horses: Aged or unwell horses need additional warmth and protection.
Rainy Weather: Waterproof blankets are helpful to keep horses dry in wet conditions.
How to Choose the Right Horse Blanket?
When buying horse blankets for sale, consider these factors:
Size: The blanket should fit your horse perfectly. A poorly fitted blanket can cause discomfort or even injuries.
Material: Choose a breathable yet durable material. Waterproof options are ideal for outdoor use.
Weight: Select lightweight blankets for mild cold and heavy blankets for freezing conditions.
Features: Look for adjustable straps, reinforced stitching, and padding for maximum comfort.
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Where Can You Find the Best Horse Blankets?
Many stores offer horse blankets for sale in various designs and price ranges. You can check tack shops, online marketplaces, and specialty horse care stores. Before purchasing, read reviews and compare prices to find the best deal for your horse’s needs.
Why Are Horse Winter Blankets a Worthy Investment?
Investing in a quality horse winter blanket ensures your horse remains comfortable and healthy during the colder months. By protecting them from harsh weather, you save on potential vet bills and improve your horse’s overall well-being.
Final Thoughts
Caring for your horse involves more than feeding and grooming. Providing them with the right protection, especially during winter, is essential. Horse blankets not only keep your horse warm but also enhance their overall comfort and health.
If you’re looking for horse blankets for sale, explore options that suit your horse’s size, lifestyle, and local weather conditions. A well-chosen blanket will ensure your horse stays happy and healthy all year round!
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donkeywhisperer · 7 months ago
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What Hay Has The Lowest Sugar
Looking for hay with the lowest sugar for your donkey, mule or horse? Donkeys evolved from the desert their diet needs to be hay testing 10% or lower in sugar and protein with portion control to avoid obesity and a slow death. Please understand that all forage hay and straw can test high in sugar. Many factors play to get low sugar forage for our beloved equine. Did the farmer add enough…
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handyhaynets · 8 months ago
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Transitioning Your Horses to Slow Feeding: The Benefits of Handy Hay Nets
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Are you looking to improve your horse's feeding routine while enhancing their overall well-being? Transitioning to slow feeding hay bags could be the solution you've been searching for. At Handy Hay Nets, we understand the importance of providing your equine companions with a natural and sustainable feeding method. With our range of hay nets and bags designed specifically for horses, you can ensure that your beloved animals receive the nutrition they need while promoting healthy eating habits.
Why Choose Handy Hay Nets?
Handy Hay Nets is your trusted partner in transitioning your horses and other farm animals to slow feeding hay bags. Our dedication to providing high-quality products and valuable resources sets us apart. Whether you're a seasoned equestrian or new to the world of slow feeding, we have the tools and expertise to support you every step of the way.
The Medium Size Slow Feed Bag: Perfect for Your Horses
Our medium-sized slow feed bag is a versatile solution for horse owners seeking to optimize their feeding routines. With the capacity to hold 4 to 6 flakes of hay, this bag is ideal for hard-to-keep ponies, minis, mini donkeys, and dwarf goats. Additionally, its convenient size makes it perfect for day trips to riding grounds or arenas, allowing you to provide your horse with nourishment wherever your adventures take you.
Variety of Netting Sizes: Tailored to Your Needs
At Handy Hay Nets, we understand that every horse is unique. That's why our hay bags for horses, are available in a variety of netting sizes, ranging from 0.5" to 2", to accommodate different feeding preferences and requirements. Whether your horse prefers finer or coarser hay, you can find the perfect netting size to suit their needs. Plus, with our 1" HD (heavy duty) option, you can rest assured that your hay bag can withstand even the most determined eaters.
Durability Guaranteed: Built to Last
Our heavy-duty hay net is crafted from a durable netting material designed to withstand the rigors of daily use. Unlike traditional hay bags that may succumb to wear and tear over time, Handy Hay Nets' products are built to last. With reinforced seams and quality construction, you can trust that your hay bag will remain intact, providing your horse with reliable access to forage day after day.
Hanging Ring Option: Convenience at Your Fingertips
To enhance the usability of our hay bags, we now offer a hanging ring option. This innovative feature allows you to easily hang your net in muddy or snowy conditions, ensuring that your horse always has access to clean and fresh hay. Whether you're stabling your horse or traveling to a competition, our hanging ring option provides added convenience and flexibility.
Transitioning to Slow Feeding: Resources and Support
At Handy Hay Nets, we believe that transitioning to slow feeding should be a seamless and stress-free process. That's why we offer a wealth of helpful tips, guides, and videos to support you along the way. From introducing your horse to their new hay bag to troubleshooting common challenges, our resources are designed to empower you to make the switch with confidence.
Experience the Benefits of Slow Feeding with Handy Hay Nets
Make the transition to slow feeding hay bags and experience the difference it can make for your horses. With Handy Hay Nets by your side, you can provide your equine companions with a natural and sustainable feeding solution that promotes optimal health and well-being. Join the countless horse owners who have already made the switch and discover the benefits for yourself. Order your Handy Hay Nets hay bags today and revolutionize your horse's feeding routine.
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oneforthemunny · 7 months ago
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1, A, ! (You don't have to write this one. 😈)
for the mind who came up with this game idea??? yes i do. your roll: cowboy!eddie, over the knee, and hand ;)
minors dni. dom/sub themes, spanking, a little mocking. teasing/meanish!eddie.
Eddie huffed, tossing the shovel down with a dramatic grunt. "You're just gonna stand there?" You didn't need to see him to know that his gloved hands were on his hips, jaw ground tight in annoyance.
You kept your back to him, defiant and furious. Too stubborn to retreat to the house in defeat that you hadn't got either things you wanted, so you stood, making him painfully aware of your displeasure.
"I told you I'd help you after 'while-"
"-It's been after while." You snapped, eyes rolling hard. "You always do this-"
"-Oh, don't you even start-"
"-You don't want me to do anything because I'll hurt myself, but then you put the things I ask you to do at the very bottom of your to do list." You turned, glaring at him pointedly.
Eddie's lips rolled, eyes slitting in a glare. "I do not." He snapped. "I told you this morning, I'd help you when I got done with everything I needed to. There's things I need to do, and I told you that."
You scoffed, starting to retort. Eddie stepped forward, boots heavy on the wooden barn floor. "And you're just mad I didn't help you when you wanted to."
"You said-"
"-I said, when I was done." Eddie snapped. "I'm not done, and your whining is only slowing me down." You pouted at him, petulant and little embarrassed.
Eddie softened at your grumpy look, arms crossed over your chest, lip jutted in fury. "Why don't you just sit out here, and keep me company while I finish this, alright?" He nodded towards the small stool in the corner. "Talk to me nice while I finish this up."
"Why don't I just go do it myself?" You grumbled, stomping towards the stool in the corner. "It can't be that hard."
"Quit that." Eddie clicked. "I've told you now. I'll help you put the feeder in, just let me-"
"-I can do it." You snapped stubbornly. "You act like I'm incompetent-"
"-What?-"
"-Like I'm stupid," You sneered. "I am more than capable of putting a feeder in the coop-"
"-I never said you weren't, so don't start puttin' word in my mouth that you know I never said." Eddie was beyond annoyed now, teetering on furious, patience running thin at your little bratty attitude.
"But you're not letting me." You scoffed, throwing your hands up in annoyance, giving him a furious eye roll. "That makes soo much sense. Wait for you, even though I can do it, but wait for you because-"
"-Why are you being so hateful?" Eddie snapped, voice booming loud enough to have Medusa stopping in the pastures, looking at Eddie with caution. "I told you I'd help you when I got done, you've come out here and been nothin' but mean-"
"-I don't understand why I can't just do it-"
Eddie gawked at you, disbelief, annoyance, all mixed up and apparent on his face. "Are you- You're seriously fightin' with me about this still? When I've told you why?" He blinked at you. "What? Are you just wantin' a spankin'? Wanting to get on my nerves and piss me off so I'll spank you? Is that it?"
Your cheeks burned with embarrassment, fused with furious heat. "No," You snapped. "I want you to help me." Maybe it was a little true? At least he'd give you attention.
"Alright," Eddie pulled his gloves off with a huff, tossing them on the wheelbarrow of hay besides him. "I've had enough. Get over here."
"What?" You squeaked, an excited thrill rushing through your body straight to your core. "No!"
"Yes," Eddie snapped, heavy soled stepped bounding towards you. You stood up but didn't back away, letting him catch you by the arm, hand firm on your upper arm. It nearly had you drooling, dominance oozing out of him, it was magnetic.
"You've been acting awfully mean all day," Eddie grumbled, sitting on the small wooden bench by the door, pulling you over his knees. "Shoulda known this was what you were wanting."
"I don't." You huffed, a half hearted wiggle over his knee in protest that he saw right through, shoving your little sundress up.
"Right," Eddie scoffed sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "You've just been mean for fun then? Just to piss me off."
"You're pissing me of- ow!" You pushed against his leg, body bucking in the air at the first sharp smack of his calloused hand on your ass.
Eddie gritted his teeth, wrestling you back into place, before delivering two more searing swats to each cheek. You wiggled, writhed, put up on helluva fight- which he was used to, loved it, really. He'd told you at the beginning of your relationship, when you'd first started exploring your little dynamic, that you rivaled even the wildest broncos. "Rode and tamed them before, so I'll do the same to you," Eddie had grinned at you. "You're a lot wilder than them, baby, I'll give you that."
Your hips lifted when Eddie gave a harsh smack to the center of your ass, vibrations of pain and pleasure shaking right into your core, leaving you whimpering desperately.
Eddie snickered lightly. "Knew it, look at you." He tsked lightly. "Like a cat in heat, Christ almighty."
"I am not!" You whined, palms pressing into the wood of the bench, Eddie's hand pressing you back into place. "Stop it, Eddie." It was half-hearted, your body betraying you with every deep arch of your spine towards his touch.
Eddie scoffed, squeezing the fat of your ass firmly, grinning at how you squealed, your skin raw from his assault. "Should've just told me you wanted a spanking instead of bein' mean." He slapped your ass again, swallowing at the recoil.
"I didn't." You whined.
"Hmm," Eddie pulled your cheeks apart, looking at your drooling, puffy lips between your legs. So painfully wet, he could taste it, licking his lips at the thought of burying himself between your legs right here.
You shuddered, turning your face into your folded arms in front of you in excited shame. Eddie continued delivering sharp smacks to each cheek, a steady rhythm building, not missing the way your hips rose and fell, grinding desperately onto whatever was beneath you for friction.
When Eddie finished, giving you a final smack to the center of your ass that had you crying out, you looked at him with an exaggerated pout.
"Aw, look at you, baby. Just a pitiful little thing, aren't ya?" Eddie cooed nearly mockingly. He pinched your jutted lip lightly, grinning when you whined. "You gonna be good for me?"
"Yes," You purred, smug- you were finally getting what you wanted.
"Good." Eddie pushed down your dress, patting your ass. "Take a seat and wait for me. I'll be done soon."
Your mouth fell in shock, watching him adjust himself before grabbing his gloves and going back to work.
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ilovechuuy4 · 4 months ago
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⋆ˊˎ-•̩̩͙- *̩̩̥͙ 200 Follower Special !! 9/7 - ??? (Requests open)
╭┈──── ◌ೄ◌ྀ ˊˎ
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ೃ⁀➷
Hai! Im Eli the creator of ilovechuuy4!! First off i wanted to say thank yall SOO MUCH FOR 200 FOLLOWERS!!! I wasn’t ever really big on writing it was always; “I’ll read this book and put it away” I never thought about writing fanfics for anyones joy / comfort etc etc. But if i had to say, i truly wouldn’t ever be writing if it wasn’t for @luvfy0dor . They are so super duper supportive and are always around / up to proofread my fanfics and creator all my banners and boarder. This is just a small thank you for all the stuff you’ve done for me. Back to the main point, i just wanted to thank all of y’all for supporting me even if it’s just silly fanfics filled with fictional character we all love. But again, THANK Y’ALL SO SO MUCH FOR 200 NOW PLEASE REQUEST, SIT BACK AND ENJOY MY 200 FOLLOWER SPECIAL !!!
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: ̗̀➛ Event special RULES!
- No incestuous / stepsect / selfcest related topics
- Please respect the main prompt and / or side prompts
- No pedophillia
- No Character x Oc (My request)
- No pet play…
- Im allowed to deny any requests im not comfortable with!
- 2 characters PER request
- 2 prompts PER request
- You ARE allowed to do 2 different character from 2 different fandoms
- Wont do character x character
- 2 : 3 requests per person! (Putting trust in yall)
- You are allowed to request, follower or not !!!
- All genders / sexuality is allowed ; mlm, wlw, gn!reader, fem!reader etc
- READ THIS > 200 special rules
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༊*·˚ Prompts!
Main Prompts ; Tropes !
- Bully x Nerd
- Soulmates
- Drunken Confessions
- Coffee Shop AU
- Rivals > Lovers
- There was only 1 bed
- Omegeverse (?)
- Vampire x Feeder > Lovers
- Fake Dating
- Royalty AU
- Friends > Lovers
- Friends w Benefits
- Love @ 1st sight
- Forbidden Romance
- Cowboys / Cowgirls
- V!rgin (?)
- Modern AU
Side prompts / add-ins
- Cuddling
- Baking 2gether
- breakfast in bed
- bathing 2gether
- lazy make outs
- slow dancing in the living room
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*ೃ༄ Fandoms I’ll Write For
Bungoū Stray Dogs
Most confident 2 least :
Chuuya, Dazai, Fyodor, Akutagaws, Sigma, Nikolai, Atsushi, Kunikida, Yosano, Ango, Oda, Fukuzawa, Bram, Lovecraft
Genshin Impact
Keaya, Diluc, Zhongli, Tartaglia, Xianyun, Scaramouche, Raiden Shogun, Yae Miko, Kaveh, Alhaitham, Wriothesley, Neuvillettee, Arlecchino, Kinich
Honkai Star-Rail
Dan Heng, Blade, Dr. Ratio, Kafka, Jingliu, Caelus, Stella, Aventurine, Himeko, Gepard, Black Swan, Acheron, Argenti, Fu Xuan, Gallagher, Boothill
Creep Pasta
Jeff The Killer, Ticci Toby, Laughing Jack, Eyeless Jack, Masky, Hoodie, Slenderman, Clockwork, Nina the Killer, Jane the Killer, Jason the Toy Maker
Death Note
L Lawliet, Light, Misa, Mello
A/n: IK THIS IS LIKE RLLY BIG AND THERE IS ALOT TO CHOOSE BUT PLEASE EVERYONE FEEL FREE TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING YOU PLEASE IN THE EVEN JUST MAKE SURE TO READ THE RULES, HAVE FUN!!
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journiland · 10 months ago
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Okay, so yesterday. (This is gonna be lonnng.)
I woke up earlier than usual and got the animals done, but Eclipse's udder looked really big and her tail ligaments felt like squish. (Mind you, I'm not great at feeling them.)
So even though it was 5 days early, it looked like she was going to go within 24 hours.
Vampire and I hustled and spent all day building the kidding stall (I'll get pics later), cleaning and putting clean hay on that section, and putting in a heat lamp, hay feeder, and waterer.
Meanwhile, Oldest was ALSO showing multiple signs of imminent labor all day, up in PA. And she really wants me there. (And again, she ALSO was early, not due for another month!)
Vampire and I worked until after dark, then went to clean the church. I had a bunch of milk that expired the next day, so I was making two batches of pudding, plus a double batch of the family favorite ham and potato casserole (for the fam), and ham, sunchoke, and broccoli casserole (for me, the nightshade-intolerant,) all at the same time. (New invention, it's a keeper.)
Oldest went to the hospital because her contractions were getting regular. She was 3-4 cm dilated and having regular contractions. They gave her multiple doses of meds, but she progressed to 5 cm and contractions weren't stopping.
She was really upset and really wanted me there. Her partner was not being very supportive. I hated to leave the goat, but video chat is a thing. I figured I could walk the guys through it if she needed help.
I can't drive in the dark, but I was about to try and just drive really slow. Vampire had skipped an entire night's sleep to build all the goat stuff. (He usually sleeps from early morning to late afternoon.) He wasn't any shape to drive, but he did call his mom, who was just about to go to bed (it was about 12:30 am at this point), and she agreed to drive me to PA. She doesn't mind driving in the dark.
I have distinctively different views than my MIL on many things, but I really appreciate her in times like this. We get along pretty well, though I have to censor myself a lot. (Especially now that the kids aren't little, so my language includes a decent amount of cursing 😂)
We left about 1:30am. Ish. It was very foggy. A few minutes after we left, Oldest said the contractions were slowing down a bit, but still coming. We kept driving, because 5 cm. But they kept slowing and finally stopped. We pulled over about 45 minutes after we left, and I was texting Oldest like mad, trying to figure out what to do. She finally told us to turn back and wait until morning. So we turned around and headed back. Fun little trip in the wee hours of the morning!
I was keyed up, but finally went to bed about 4:30 am. Woke up at 7:30. Goat not in labor.
Oldest was being sent home with a ten-day supply of anti-labor meds. After that, Grandkid will have cooked enough.
Although Grandkid is not due until right after April Fools Day, but he and goat were apparently both tricking me early! 😂
(I can't believe I stayed up and worked all day with no nap, and then went to bed so late. I did have the help of a good bit of caffeine. Possibly a bipolar thing. I was pretty keyed up the second half of the day.)
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wxldchxld · 11 months ago
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Shadows:
This is part one, and hopefully the longest part, of what should be two or three drabbles I'll be posting for Rán Malfoy (who is not an official muse on my blog but is Beck's daughter with @bokketo's Draco so this is where it is going) because she is the loudest muse in my fucking head and won't go away.
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The world was black and cold. 
She had left behind the golden, glowing warmth of the house. Tip-toeing past her mum, who had fallen into a fitful sleep on the couch, clutching her round belly. Shuffling by the door to Nippy’s rooms in slow-motion to keep the elf’s big ears from hearing the creak of floorboards. Angrboda had been the last guardian at the gate—sprawled on a windowsill, staring out into the moon-soaked wilderness and flicking her tail. Rán waited until the feline’s attention was caught by some small, unfortunate critter that made her spring up and dart off into the darkness. The coast was clear, and Rán pushed open the door.
The first breath of cold winter air was refreshing; it made the heat of the wood stove inside feel oppressive. As she crept across the lawn toward the barn, her little fingers began to grow stiff and ache, and she quickly forgot that feeling, but she didn’t turn tail and race back to the safety of the fire’s glow. 
It was cold, and she wanted to check on Scuffle.
Frost caked under her nails as she clumsily fought with the swollen wood that latched the barn closed. She grunted, hit it, and shoved all her weight against upward until it popped free and the door swung open just wide enough to squeak through. In the evenings, the barn was pitch black, but she knew where a lantern was. Sticking her foot out in front of her and tapping blindly as she shuffled along, she felt her way to a straw bale. The grasses crackled in protest and prickled her feet as she climbed up on top of it, then used the extra height to clamber up onto the door of a stall so she could reach the post beside it. Blindly, she waved her hand in the air once, twice, and finally tapped against metal the third time. She snatched the lantern from the hook and hopped down.
Icy pain shot up her legs as she landed barefoot on the stone floor of the barn, and she yelped, but she didn’t cry. Malfoys didn’t cry. Nor did she drop her precious lantern. The little girl took a deep breath, shook one foot, then the other, hopped up and down twice, and then knelt down to go about lighting her lantern. 
She fished the matches from her pocket and pushed on the little lever to raise the globe. The smell of sulfur tickled her nose as her aching fingers struggled to strike the match. It took three tries before it hissed to life. Carefully, she stuck it to the wick and watched it catch. A little halo of light illuminated the world around her, and Rán squealed with delight. She flicked the lever again, stood up, and ran down the aisle to Scuffle’s stall.
The pony was laying in a thick bed of pine shavings. His head shot up when light poured over the door and roused him from slumber. The flakes of wood that made up his bed clung to his wild hair. She giggled, and he whickered softly at the sound of her voice. 
“You ok buddy?” The barn kept out the wind, and his fur was thick, but she still worried he was cold. She pushed open his gate and looked into his water bucket. The icy water snapped at her fingers as she plucked some stray shavings out of it. He had plenty and it was clean. His feeder was still fat with hay too. Mum had made sure he was taken care of, just like she promised. 
He didn’t get up. The fat little pony watched her intently, but couldn’t be bothered to stand. He didn’t stir when she got close or spring to his feet in alarm when she crawled on top of him and warmed herself in his fluff. She laid on his back, feet buried in the pine shavings, fingers tangled in his heavy mane, and face pressed against the fur of his neck, until the stiffness faded from her arms and legs. If her mum wouldn’t have died of a heart attack, she might have stayed like that and fallen asleep.
Reluctantly, she gave him a little kiss on his forelock and left him to his beauty rest. She picked up her abandoned lantern and headed back toward the door only to stop abruptly. Something wasn't right at all. Where the door had been open just enough for her to squeeze her way through seconds before, now it was wide open. Not how she'd left it at all. And the wind was still as the frozen pond outside.
“Hello?” She called, thrusting the lantern out in front of her. Out of the darkness cast by the shadow of the barn door, came a huge, hulking figure. The thing moved and she heard the clatter of hooves. The fire in her lantern sputtered and struggled, then died altogether. There was no light left other than the weak splinters of the stars reaching through the open door at the end of the aisle, and it was being blocked by the thing that was still twisting and taking form.
It snorted a cloud of mist into the frigid air and she screamed. Without thinking, she threw the lantern as hard as she could. It sailed through the air a meager foot or two, then fell to the floor and shattered. She back peddled further into the darkness of the stable. The entity opened its eyes and they glowed a sickening red in the abyss. 
“MUUUUM!” She screeched. The thing was getting closer and closer. Horns protruded from its head---or was that its body---barely visible in the light cast by its own eyes. Too many eyes. At least ten of them, but she was crying too hard to see. Scuffle was pacing his stall behind her, whinnying in fear as it steadily crept closer. It filled up every inch of the space. It stood from ceiling to floor. It was all that existed anymore. Rán screamed, turning her back to the thing and running as hard as she could down the hall of the stables. Tears wet her face, and her whole body shivered. There was a back door to the barn. If she could just make it there.
The hall was free of clutter, thankfully, allowing her to run without falling, but she couldn’t see where she was or how close she was to the back wall. When she turned her head, all she could see was the blood red of eyes. The hoofbeats on the stone were still unhurried, but there were too many of them, like she was being followed by a whole herd of horses, and the thing was gaining on her with impossible speed. She could feel hot breath on her neck.
“NO! No no no NO!” Rán smacked the darkness at her back, but didn’t touch anything of flesh or blood. “Mum! MUM! NO!”
There was a sudden grunt from in front of her, and she slammed into an enormous, furry body. She fell down wailing and screaming, kicking and thrashing with her hands. She wanted her mum. She wanted her dad. Her daddy had never let anything hurt her. Everything had been safe when he was here. Now he was gone and the—the THING was going to eat her. 
Through eyes blurred with tears, she looked up at the thing. But this thing only had two eyes, and neither of them were looking at her. Deep and guttural, the reaver bellowed. It sounded a bit like a horse and a bit like a dragon, and very very angry.
“Sugar!” Rán squealed, frozen in terror. 
There was a thunder of hooves as the reaver barreled forward, and then a shriek of pain that sounded like nothing she’d ever heard before. Hoof scratched on stone, flesh thumped against wood and it groaned as it splintered. The thing hissed, then screamed once more, and it was flying backward at breakneck speed. One by one its eyes were fading to blackness. And though she’d never heard it before, she somehow knew that the sickening, fleshy crack was one of bone. Spindly, shadowy legs flailed in the moonlight, but the blackness would flash before her and a heartbeat later, they laid twitching and detached from the thing they came from.
One final scream, but this time, there was something hauntingly human in it.
Light flooded the barn as every single lantern sprang to life. It was so sudden that spots invaded her vision and she had to squint and rub at her eyes until she could see again.
“Rán! RÁN!” Her mother shouted, and then she was scooped up into a suffocating hug. 
She sobbed. Harder than she’d ever cried in her whole life, clinging to her mother’s curls for all she was worth. Her mum petted her hair and rocked her, talking too fast for Rán to properly make out what she was saying. When she did pull away, hiccuping and blinking rapidly, she could see past her mother’s pale, panic-stricken face to the doorway of the barn. 
Red eyes were watching her.
Sugar was standing completely still and totally relaxed. His eyes half closed and his back leg cocked without a worry in the world. Something dark was drizzling off the tip of his muzzle. There was no carnage spread on the ground beneath him. The only evidence of the battle that had just taken place were splintered stall doors and viscous smears of black on the floor. As her mum stood to carry her back to the safety of the house, and they got closer to the reaver, she could see a shimmering sheen on his body. Up close she realized that he was wet---covered in the same thing spread across the floor.
It would be years before she understood what happened that night. The only thing her five year old mind knew for certain in that moment was that there was more going on in the dark than she’d ever imagined.
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madrivervalleyicelandics · 2 years ago
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❄️ Snowday! ❄️
8 inches was the prediction, but up here on the mountain it’s closer to a fresh foot. Everyone got some loose hay for a treat. They have a total of four 800lb bales in slow feeder netting out in their living space right now, but I still like to give them a snowday treat. It’s a lot of work to climb thru this fresh snow!
People ask us a lot of questions about feeding 24/7 forage like this - mainly, how do you manage different metabolic needs? Our stallion, Öngull, tends to be on the thinner side. A couple of our other horses (cough VIGRI cough) tend more towards chubbiness.
Here’s the thing. Restricting access to forage actually makes obesity worse in horses, because it causes blood sugar spikes and crashes. That’s the root of dangerous obesity in equines - the kind that causes inflammatory problems like laminitis.
Feeding quality forage at all times, in slow-feeder systems, allows blood sugar to regulate. This means that the horses with slower metabolisms and faster metabolisms alike benefit from not being constantly in flux.
They DO learn to self-regulate, also, and will take breaks from eating to play and rest. But horses are designed to spend most of the day eating. That’s where the slow-feeders come in very handy. The slow-feeder netting also prevents them from trampling the bales and wasting good hay.
When we have horses that are more likely to get chubby, there are a few things we do to manage that. We remove access to pasture, first and foremost, as that is sugary starch that is very unpredictable and the sugars in grass fluctuate constantly with weather and other factors.
We don’t feed grain - just ration balancer - and we have a supplement we love called SimmIRdown which we add for metabolic horses to help balance their blood sugar.
We don’t reduce their primary source of forage, the 24/7 access to hay in slow feeder netting.
On this program we have helped numerous horses with metabolic conditions stabilize & become asymptomatic, and we have successfully rehabbed laminitic horses for clients on this program, too.
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immortalecstasy-blog · 2 years ago
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THE MURDER HOUSE ON MOREHEAD 18+
Everyone knows that every Halloween ‘The Murder House’ puts on the best show. There have live actors in every terrifying room, a fully licensed bar, hot food, hell there’s even a hay ride through the woods, and this year, rumour has it, they’ve even got a swarm of zombie cheerleaders stalking the fake graveyard outside.
No one ever had Eddie Munson pegged to be a successful businessman. But he seems to have it all worked out. Until now. Until her.
WARNINGS: Period-Typical Homophobia / Bad Parent Laura Cunningham / Slow Burn / Hurt/Comfort / Eddie is a feeder / Henry Creel Exists/ Painful Break Up
Until that thing in the attic decides it’s had enough of its home being used a tourist attraction.
Eddie barked out a laugh as he beat the soccer mom into the only visible parking space. She shot daggers at him as he jumped down from the driver’s seat. His beaten up old Chevrolet van had seen better days. One of the sidepanels had a huge scrape down it, pock-marking the inside with specks of sunlight, the footwell was a driving hazard, piled with fast food wrappers and empty drinks cans.
It stuck out like a sore thumb. Just like its owner.
Hell, Eddie had never wanted to step foot back in this place.
Hawkins Highschool loomed ahead of him, and it was only the tide of the crowd that moved him inextricably forwards. He hadn’t been back here in years. The full 3-6-5 had looped the loop a couple times – three? No four. There was a leap year in the mix there somewhere too, probably. Honestly, he hadn’t been paying attention.
He’d baulked at the invitation and was already regretting being talked into it as the crowd swarmed the halls like a hive of fire ants.
It was all worth it seeing Dustin walk onto the stage with his stupid robe and his stupid hat.
It was even better when Dustin absconded from the ‘official’ afterparties and instead suggested they get blackout drunk in his garden. Dustin had invited the all the current and ‘legacy’ members of The Hellfire Club – an afterschool Dungeons & Dragons club that Dustin had been running for the last two years. It had been Gareth’s before that, Eddie’s before that, and Rick’s before that, though Rick had not accepted the invitation.
Eddie and Gareth had talked about it a lot before they’d handed Hellfire over to Dustin.
Mike had had more experience at running the game. He’d been taking on the role of Dungeon Master before he’d even hit Middle School. But Mike had a tendency to be oblivious as fuck to the world around him, accidentally rubbing people up the wrong way left right and centre. Hellfire Club was already a bit of a black sheep in terms of after school activities – and they’d joked Mike would run it into obscurity within a year.
Dustin, on the other hand, was… approachable, even if he was a little weirdo. Gareth said he had the same radar Eddie did, able to pick out the one lost sheep in the herd and shelter them from the wolves.
It was Dustin who had found them Erika Sinclair, and Erika who was responsible for the gaggle of Sophomores and Juniors sporting Hellfire shirts around the picnic table.
Every one of them was too young to partake in the alcoholic element of the celebrations – even by Eddie’s lax standards – but he said nothing as he watched the sixteen-year-old Sinclair abscond with a six-pack from the table and stealth it back to the group.
She didn’t know it yet, but Baby Sinclair was going to be the new face of Hellfire.
“You want to tell her now? Before she starts drinking?” Dustin asked.
Eddie grinned, “It’s your club man – she’s your protégé.”
“Yeah but, I kind of wanted you to…” Dustin made a weird jerk of his head, and Eddie understood.
Dustin wanted the theatrics.
Grinning, he swung his leg around the picnic bench and vaulted up onto the table.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, can I have your attention please!” He yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth. The general chatter died, and someone raced to turn off the record player.
“First of all, a big congratulations to four of my favourite weirdos for graduating.” Eddie raised his beer can to Dustin and then searched out Will, Lucas and Mike in the crowd. “On the first try too! Good job boys.”
A little cheer went up and Eddie took a healthy slug from his can before crushing it in one hand.
“Now, I have to be honest, losing four members of my little ol’ club in one go – that’s pretty extreme. You know?” Eddie said, kicking at an imaginary football. “You boys get to play with the big guns again –” he admitted, grinning. Honestly, he was really looking forward to pulling them into the monthly sessions all the old gang still managed to pull off around their mismatched schedules. “but, what of Hellfire?”
Eddie tossed the crushed up can in air and caught it, before throwing it again and batting it right at Erika.
She flung her hands up just in time and knocked it away, “What the hell Eddie?”
“What do you say Sinclair the Younger? You ready?”
“For what?”
Eddie grinned as Dustin held out his Dungeons Masters Screen, Eddie took it from him and held it aloft.
“With great power, Sinclair.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I have to look after these losers for the next two years?”
Eddie cackled. Her mask of annoyance lasted less than three seconds before a grin was spreading across her face and she was jogging over to take the screen from him.
Eddie held it higher, putting out his hand to pull her up onto the table before presenting it to her and lifting her arm like she was a champion wrestler.
When he finally set her down and let her scamper back off to her table to get squashed into a group hug, Gareth was looking up at him patiently.
“Sup man?”
“I have an idea.”
Eddie grinned wickedly, “That’s dangerous. I’m in.”
Just as Eddie was about to jump down he caught Steve beckoning him over from the other side of the garden, looking haggard.
“Hold that thought.” Eddie told Gareth, “I’ll be back in a minute.”
He hopped down and bee-lined for Steve.
“I need to tell you something, and you need to swear you will never tell another living soul.”
“…O…kay?”
“Eddie, swear.”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Swear on Hellfire.”
Eddie baulked, “I… swear. I swear on Hellfire I will never breathe a word. What’s up?”
“I need you to do something for me – well, it’s not for me, it’s for Robin.”
“Okay.”
“You can say no.”
“Okay. Dude. What?”
“You swear.”
“Harrington, for fuck’s sake. Yes. Just… what?”
Eddie’s mind was still trying to reboot when he made his way back to Gareth, so he missed a lot of the minor details. But he caught the important parts. Creepy House. Keys. Halloween Attraction. Business Partners.
“We’d need an artist though.” Gareth was saying, stroking an imaginary beard.
“What about Will?”
“Byers?”
“Yeah man, he’s like… legit. He’s applying to art programmes and all kinds of shit.”
Gareth looked over to where Will was stood with Mike, hanging onto his best friends every word.
“Yeah, okay. Ask him.”
“You ask him.” Eddie laughed, “It’s your idea – and I need to um, I need to…”
“What?”
Eddie scowled. “Okay – fine. I’m going to go hit on Buckley.”
“You what?” Gareth scoffed.
“It’s about time, no?”
“I didn’t even know you liked her.” Gareth admitted, surprised.
Eddie shrugged.
“I thought… um, I thought she might be…” Gareth starts slowly, and Eddie saw red flashing lights and heard alarm bells. He had no come back, so he simply failed to let Gareth finish, standing up and walking away.
“Are you sure?” Eddie asked Robin when he got close enough.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she looked pale and unhappy.
“Are you?”
Eddie shrugged, smiling reassuringly at his friend. “I’m down. Whatever you want.”
“It doesn’t have to be for long!”
“Whatever you need Buckley.”
“But what if… what if you meet someone?”
Eddie laughed, “Me? Meet someone? In Hawkins?”
“Your chances are better than mine.” Robin joked weakly.
Eddie smiled half-heartedly. “Is Steve the only one who knows?”
Robin nodded. “Well, and you, and obviously I know, and—” She cut herself off, and he saw the physical strain it took to get the next word out: “Tammy.”
“Tammy Thompson?”
“I didn’t—it was—it doesn’t matter but just, I…”
“That’s why you want to do this?”
Robin sucked in a huge breath and then nodded.
“Okay, we’ll do it.”
“Tonight?”
Eddie re-examined her tear-stained cheeks and unsteady hands.
“I think you should sleep on it first, before you decide…”
Robin reached out and grabbed his wrist. “No, she only found out tonight, if I can… if I can prove she got it wrong, that she… she just had too-much-to-drink, she… that I-like-boys…”
Her grip was surprisingly strong, the words pouring out of her without a pause for breath. Eddie automatically stepped closer, cupping her face just to soothe his friend.
Her eyes locked with his, like this was the moment he had to decide. That for Robin, this couldn’t wait for another day.
Even if she changed her mind, Eddie thought, they could call the whole thing off and laugh away any comments from their friends about one drunk little kiss.
Eddie raised his eyebrows and Robin bobbed her head a millimetre.
“Urgh, this is going to be like kissing my sister.” Eddie whispered, pulling a face.
“You don’t have a sister.” Robin whispered back as they moved closer together.
“If I did, I would totally hook you two up.”
Robin laughed, and their lips met.
Someone whooped from nearby and when they broke away – Eddie’s hand still gently cupping Robin’s face – they saw Steve jumping up and down, pumping his fist like he’d just seen his favourite team hit a home run.
Eddie chuckled, pressing his forehead against Robin’s.
“You don’t think Steve would have been a better choice?”
“The serial dater?”
“Fair. Come on, let’s get a drink.”
Eddie pulled away and took her hand in his. She fell into step beside him easily as they made their way to the kitchen. Mrs Wheeler was inside, and Eddie knew from Mike’s droning monologues that she was best friends with Tammy Thompson’s mom.
Robin obviously knew that too, because before he’d even had a chance to plan a move she had spun him around and pressed him against the counter, her hands bundled in his shirt and her mouth enthusiastically crushing his.
“Robin! Eddie! There are children here!”
Robin backed up breathlessly and mumbled out an apology, her eyes twinkling triumphantly. Eddie wiped the spit from around his mouth and grinned at Mrs Wheeler, “I’ll wait until I get her home later.”
Mrs Wheeler threw him an exasperated look and left, leaving the two of them on their own.
“Have you ever kissed anyone before?” Eddie laughed, turning around to pour a drink.
Robin was cackling, clearly elated that such an opportunity had presented itself.
“Is it that obvious?” She asked, coming to stand beside him, and holding out the bottle of cola.
“Alright, listen, rule one: if you’re going to shove your tongue down my throat--- no, scratch that. Rule one: Do not put your tongue in my mouth. Ever.”
THREE YEARS LATER
Robin was late.
Robin was always late. But today, she was late late. Like, even Eddie was going to be pissed at her. It wasn’t all her fault. The platters of sandwiches and confectionary they’d ordered in advance hadn’t been ready when she’d arrived at the store, and then the cart she was using had wheels with a mind of their own, and then she’d forgotten about the road works. Eddie had told her about them, warned her to go another way, but… well, she had cream cheese on her top from where she’d nearly up-ended one of the platters, and she was sweaty from manhandling the out of control cart, and that stupid woman in the store had acted like it was Robin’s fault the store hadn’t fulfilled the order they’d had for an entire week.
She skidded up the gravel driveway, the hand-painted ‘CASTING NIGHT’ sign a blur in her peripheral as she skidded to a stop.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I-love-you-I’m-sorry!” She rushed as she spilled out of the van and into Eddie.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“Don’t be mad! It wasn’t my fault…”
As they unloaded the van, Robin explained about the store, and the cart, and the cream cheese, and the roadworks.
“Is Gareth mad at me?” Robin asked as she finished her monologue.
“Furious. But Will’s distracting him, I think you’re safe.”
They moved away from the large Victorian house looming over them and around the back to the much smaller, much simpler ‘guest house’ that they used as a backstage area for the cast and crew, as storage for whatever furniture or props weren’t currently in use, and generally as a giant shed. Which, co-incidentally is what Eddie and Gareth had christened the building as.
Eddie balanced his share of the platters on one arm and got the door for Robin. She stepped through the main door of The Shed and bee-lined for the kitchen in the back, she dumped the platters down and immediately rushed to fill up one of the giant urns with water to get it on to boil.
Eddie worked quickly to spread all the platters out across the battered old dining table that dominated the kitchen and then dragged some worn out bowls from the cupboards and threw the big share-size bags of chips down into them.
There was enough food to feed fifty and enough coffee to see them through the next world war but Eddie still frowned down at the groaning table.
“Will this be enough?”
“It’s twenty peoples worth more than we had last year, and we did okay then.”
Last year, everyone had managed to get a little something to eat, but Eddie and Robin hadn’t been the only ones piling into Benny’s for a burger at the end of the night. Eddie wanted everyone to be able to eat their fill this year, and if the buzz was anything to go by they were going to have even more people here than last time, especially if Steve’s little cheerleader plot came to fruition.
Plus, he’d like there to be leftovers for Jonathon tomorrow when he came to take photographs for the fresh promotional material. ‘The Murder House’ was open year-round, but the real fun (and the real money) only came at Halloween.
The rest of the time it was a cooky novelty bar with a function room for hire. They put on the odd gig, played horror movies on a screen outside. They had a handful of live actors dotted around but the ‘tour’ was mostly just to take in the creepy rooms and look at all the random creepy shit they had stacked in glass cases everywhere. They kept it ticking last year, scraping by long enough to get them to next Halloween for the real fun, but had finally decided the place needed a touch up, and the whole venue had been closed for a while now. They’d unanimously agreed it would be a smart move to coincide the re-opening with the month long Halloween spectacle.
Really, it was a good job Gareth’s parents had just gifted him the monstrosity of a house. There was no way they’d be able to afford their little passion project otherwise. Their original idea of kitting it out as a bed and breakfast in the off-season had come to a spectacular stand-still only three weeks in. In fact, if it wasn’t for the balls on Will Byers – and the already kindling soft spot he had for Gareth – the whole thing would have been down the toilet before it even started.
But they had the house rules now, and anyone who didn’t take them seriously either figured things out the hard way or were bodily removed from site with a lifelong ban and a reassurance that this was the most pleasant of the possible outcomes as they were thrown into the gravel outside.
HOUSE RULES
A BUDDY SYSTEM MUST BE IN PLACE AT ALL TIMES. YOU MUST NEVER BE ALONE IN THE MAIN HOUSE.
DO NOT GO IN THE ATTIC
IF YOU HEAR NOISES FROM THE ATTIC, NO YOU DIDN’T.
They had no trouble with rules two and three. The stairs leading up to the attic had been blocked off with a heavy-duty metal gate that was locked at all times. Gareth and Eddie each had a key, and it took both keys (and both of their strength) to get into the damn thing.
It was rule one new people seemed to have a hard time with. ‘it was only for a second’, ‘I just needed something from my car’, ‘I needed the toilet, my buddy is my boyfriend, you think I want him to hear me peeing?’. Every god damn excuse in the book.
But now they had guides for all the tour groups, the toilets were unisex, there were signs banning anyone from leaving the group unless there was an emergency, in which case they had to talk to their guide. Every guide and every member of the backstage crew was linked up with a radio.
Nothing had ever actually even happened to anyone outside of the attic, they were just being cautious, and maybe playing it up a bit for the spook factor.
“I need to let Gaz know the foods sorted. Will you come up with me?” Eddie asked.
Robin nodded, plugging in the urn and double checking the lid was secure before turning around. She automatically took Eddie’s hand as they left The Shed and headed outside and up towards the main house.
They’d been ‘dating’ for three years now, and it had become habitual by now, to the point where people didn’t have to be around for them to hold hands, or for Eddie’s arm to go around her shoulder when they were watching television, or for her to hold his waist to move him out of the way and just naturally turn into a hug.
She’d even gotten him to quit smoking (well, she thought she had anyway)
They did love each other, very much. Just not in the way everyone thought. Steve was still the only one who knew, even after Will and Gareth had come clean about their own relationship, Robin still wasn’t ready to come out to anyone but Eddie and Steve, and just as he’d predicted, Eddie hadn’t met anyone that made him want to put a permanent end to his faux-relationship.
They had ‘breaks’ sometimes. Their friends just thought their relationship was volatile, but really Robin was just giving him the green light to land a couple of one-night-stands without being branded a cheater if anyone happened to see him picking a girl up and start spreading rumours. This was their longest stint, it had been six months since their last ‘fight’. Eddie had bedded some girl in Indianapolis, and lay there afterwards, sweaty and itchy and came to the startling realisation that he would much rather be platonically big-spooning his best friend than lying next to some stranger in a hotel room.
There might not have been anything sexual between them, but there was still intimacy, and Eddie had realised he really wasn’t bothered about sex when it was ‘just sex’.
He’d snuck out and drove back to Hawkins, he’d let himself into Robin’s house, showered and climbed into bed next to her.
“Did you strike out?” Robin had asked sleepily, budging up to give him more space.
“No, but… she snored. Couldn’t sleep.”
“Ah. Better luck next time.”
Eddie had nibbled his bottom lip for a moment and then said, “Let’s not ‘fight’ anymore, okay?”
“Okay Eddie.” Robin had agreed sleepily, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze.
Eddie swung their hands between them as they walked up the steps onto the porch and through the stained glass front door, shouting out to the other two. “Yo, lovebirds!”
The next two chapters are already available on AO3
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tehkusogaki · 1 year ago
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A lot of the horse's problems aren't actually horse problems: they're people problems. I would assert that 90% of their maladies are from poor husbandry, not evolution. After all, horses have been wildly successful from an evolutionary standpoint. Especially considering that most other perissodactyls have become extinct, or are endangered. But horses? In places where they roam they have become so numerous as to be a problem.
It's true that they are built for one thing, running, but they do it very well. And when they aren't kept in a box with little mental stimulation you can see that their evolutionary adaptations suit them very well.
Horses are "insane" and "sickly" because we took a highly social grazing animal with strong self preservation and flight instincts and put it in a place without enough space to run, keep it in an enclosed barn that is typically dusty and poorly ventilated and dark, where it typically only eats a couple large meals instead of a constantly available food source, it is often isolated from fellow horses, and then given strenuous work when 90% of the time it is just standing around.
Of course horses suffer respiratory problems: they're supposed to be out in the open fresh air and they're not.
Of course horses suffer injury: horses are supposed to spend most of their time roaming and playing with herd mates, not standing around with only short but strenuous exercise periods.
Of course horses suffer stomach issues: they're meant to be grazing constantly, not fed large meals of dry hay and pails of grain.
Horses are neither suicidal nor homicidal, but their instincts and anatomy have one solution to danger: run.
And if they are in an enclosed space, or tied to fence, or have someone pulling on their face, they can't do that.
So of course the results are disastrous. Often ending in either injury to the animal or the handler.
But a well treated horse isn't usually aggressive. Horses are generally docile and sweet. If you have a horse that would just as soon kick you as look at you, either that animal has an usual amount of aggression (it happens, behavioral problems are a big reason why many animals are euthanized: fido is sometimes unsafe around people), or it has been horribly mistreated at some point, or it has just picked up some bad habits from bad handlers.
It is unfair and inaccurate to call horses cowardly when they have won humans empires.
"Fragile" is hardly an accurate term when horses are capable of amazing feats of athleticism. Watch stadium jumping: those horses are frequently jumping rails their height or near it. Watch team roping or reining: the sudden stops, spins, and changes of direction all done with a rider. Or even just a wagon pull: there's a reason that when we needed a term to describe the power of an engine, we called it horsepower.
But horses are athletes, and like any athletes in any sport, injuries are going to be common. Are basketball or football players more fragile than the rest of the population because they are prone to injury?
The most common injury to horses isn't them spontaneously shattering their glass bones: it's soft tissue and joint injuries (and a broken leg would be a death sentence for any ungulate).
If we put our other livestock though the same physical rigor we demand of horses, their injuries would be just as common. But the only thing we need a cow to do is get fat.
Rethinking how we manage horses is the best thing we can do for them. Making sure the majority of their time is spent in a big enough space with other horses would go a long way toward their welfare.
Trying to create a "grazing" feeding schedule by either pasturing, feeding smaller more frequent meals, or utilizing slow feeders/hay nets could drastically reduce ulcers and colic.
Taking time to properly warm up before strenuous activity like any athlete should, and making sure all equipment is used properly and fits the horse well, and that the horse is properly cooled down and stretched afterwards would probably reduce injury.
Making sure barns are well ventilated, cleaned frequently, large enough, and most importantly: that stalls are used as infrequently as possible with the horse given plenty of turnout, will help with a whole bunch of maladies from respiratory to mental.
The point is: nature does not need to rethink the horse, we need to rethink our horse husbandry.
I recall at least one of you guys having worked with livestock animals. Why are cows so damn indestructible while horses keel over and die if mercury is in retrograde or a dog barked in Kazakhstan?
gettingvetted here.
Let me tell you a story about how livestock animals work.
In the beginning, God created the horse. God looked at the horse and saw that it was beautiful and strong. “However,” God said, “it breaks too easily.”
Then God created the cow. God looked at the cow and saw that it was more durable than the horse, and tasted good to boot. “However,” God said, “it poops too much.”
Then God created the goat. God looked at the goat and saw that it was perfect.
God looked around and saw that he still had some spare bits of fluff on his work table, but no brains to put into it. So then God created the sheep.
Now let me tell you what my equine surgery professor said on the first day of class.
“Horses are only interested in two things: homicide, and suicide.”
And that’s all you need to know about horses.
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warningsine · 9 months ago
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Over the years, Cody Clements, a marine ecologist at Georgia Tech, has planted over 10,000 coral fragments across the South Pacific.
"You can just break off a branch from a coral, plant it into the sandy bottom, and it will grow into a whole new coral," explains Clements. "I have corals out there that I've planted and they were the size of my pinky — and now they're the size of a basketball."
As he was gearing up for an experiment in 2018 in French Polynesia off the island of Mo'orea, something caught his attention. It had to do with sea cucumbers — marine invertebrates that are distantly related to starfish but resemble soft pickles.
"They come in various shapes, colors and sizes," says Clements. "Some of them are very large." They're slow-moving scavengers, and collectively they hoover up truckloads of sand to feed on algae, microbes, and organic matter. (On a single seven-square-mile reef in Queensland, Australia, researchers previously found that the sea cucumbers there are processing the equivalent of more than five Eiffel Towers of sand each year.)
At the reef in Mo'orea that Clements was studying, there were quite a few sea cucumbers. Clements decided to clear them all from his study site to make things uniform for the experiment.
But a few days later, "I started seeing that the corals were starting to die from the base up," Clements says. "And I was just like, 'OK, this is pretty abnormal.'"
Clements wondered whether relocating the sea cucumbers had had something to do with it. And in new research published in Nature Communications, he and his colleagues demonstrate that when they removed sea cucumbers from a study patch, tissue death of Acropora pulchra, a species of staghorn coral, more than tripled. And mortality of the whole colony surged 15 times.
The reasoning, says Clements, is that sea cucumbers are like "these little vacuum cleaners on the reef that are cleaning things up," digesting and eliminating microbes that can lead to coral disease and demise — threats that are exacerbated by a warming and increasingly polluted ocean.
A hunch and a museum etching
Back in 2018, when Clements first suspected that clearing out the sea cucumbers may have triggered the mortality of the corals, he rang up his supervisor at the time — Georgia Tech marine ecologist Mark Hay.
Hay recalled an etching he'd seen years earlier in the Fiji Museum depicting an old sailing vessel transporting perhaps hundreds of tons of dried sea cucumbers. It's an amount nowhere near what he's observed in the modern ocean where these squishy animals have been harvested as a delicacy to near oblivion.
"And so they must have been super abundant at one time," says Hay. "And so we had wanted to [ask], 'OK, if there were that many of them, what were they doing? And what's their real role in the world?'"
With so few sea cucumbers in most places, however, there'd been no way to answer these questions. But off the island of Mo'orea where Clements was working, there were a few bays with enough of the critters to run a simple experiment.
This was the approach: The team would identify natural patches where sea cucumbers hung out. In some, they'd remove the resident sea cukes. In others, they'd leave them alone. In both, they'd plant corals and then watch what happened.
The question they were hoping to answer about coral health was this, says Clements: "Are they more likely to get sick when we've taken the cucumbers out?"
And so the study plan was hatched.
A rough and bloody start
In early 2022, Cody Clements was three hours into his field season. He was examining a large coral colony when a searing pain tore through his right hand. Clements looked down to find a giant moray eel had bit down and wasn't letting go. Instead, it was thrashing.
It all happened so fast, Clements recalls. And before he knew it, the eel — uncharacteristically — let him go. Clements thought he might bleed out, but fortunately he made it back to his boat and then to shore. The local hospital patched him up the best they could, but ultimately he went to Tahiti where a top-notch hand surgeon managed to reattach his thumb.
"He did a really great job! I mean, compared to what it looked like the day of," says Clements.
Ten weeks later, he was back in the water to begin his experiments anew. The rest of the field work went off without a hitch, and the results left no doubt. Wherever sea cucumbers were removed, there was "15-fold more death" of the whole corals, says Hay.
They ran a similar experiment in Palmyra Atoll — a small island about a thousand miles south of Hawaii with what Hay calls "no permanent human population."
"You have to get special permission to go within 50 miles of it," he said.
The reefs of Palmyra differed from Mo'orea in important ways — they're more isolated and therefore more intact.
"I remember getting in the water at this site that's called Crazy Corals," says Clements. "I literally gasped. I was like, 'Oh my god. I've never seen corals like this.'" Some were as large as buildings. Clements was immersed in a pageant of underwater life. "There aren't many places like that left in the world."
Clements and Hay found a similar result, though less pronounced, among the corals in Palmyra Atoll. "Part of the difference is that our time on Palmyra was limited," says Hay, "and the experiment did not run for as long." And of course, the Palmyra corals as a whole seemed to be in much better health.
Still, tissue mortality more than doubled without the sea cucumbers.
A slow-burning fuse
Hay thinks the reason for the increased mortality at both the Mo'orea and Palmyra reefs may be related to the vast volume of sand that sea cucumbers process.
"We think of these sea cucumbers as little Roombas that run around and take sand in," says Hay. "They digest microbes out of it. And so the waste that would otherwise accumulate on the bottom — it's not being left there to heat up and grow microbes, many of which could be pathogenic."
The idea is that fewer microbes mean less disease, which translates into healthier coral. But ocean warming and pollution encourage more microbes and more disease, especially as sea cucumbers have been overexploited.
Hay likens it to a slow-burning fuse that we lit 100 to 200 years ago when the massive harvests of sea cucumbers were well underway. What we may have been doing for decades, he argues, is removing these pudgy custodians of the reef at the same time we've introduced a barrage of other threats. "And all of a sudden," he says, "it's blowing up on us. We've lost huge amounts of corals in the last several decades."
"I have children that are in their mid to late 30's," Hay says. "I can't show them [a reef] anywhere in the Caribbean like when they were born."
Hay says a considerable amount of the global loss of corals is due to disease. The role that sea cucumbers play in suppressing coral mortality has been "just a missed part of the ecosystem that we didn't understand was important," he argues.
Kaylie Pascoe, a coral reef biologist currently in a PhD program at the University of Arizona, said the design of the study was elegant.
"We know sea cucumbers are the filters of the sea," says Pascoe, who wasn't involved in the study. "But putting the two together — looking at coal disease and sea cucumber abundance — I thought was really unique."
Pascoe appreciated that corals were planted for these experiments, but she'd like to know the impact that sea cucumbers have on corals growing naturally. Still, she says the research brings to mind a possible solution — the Hawaiian custom of "Kapu," which basically means a no-harvest time.
"Maybe that sort of practice could be applied to sea cucumbers," she says, to allow them to grow back and do their job — "filtering sand and microbes and bacteria for the coral's health, creating the habitat for all the marine organisms."
It's an idea that resonates for Cody Clements, especially for Holothuria atra, the particular species of sea cucumber that he examined in this study, which he and his colleagues argue has little economic value on its own.
"Sea cucumbers provide an extra level of insurance against the things that are causing coral decline," says Clements. "Doesn't mean it's gonna fix everything, but we want to give them as much of a fighting chance as we can."
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majesticallyproducts · 1 year ago
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Explore and Purchase Slow Feeder Hay Nets for Horses at Majestically Products
Slow feeder hay nets for horses revolutionize the way equine enthusiasts manage their horse's feeding routine. These innovative nets offer a solution to regulate and extend feeding times, promoting a more natural grazing pace for horses. By mimicking the natural foraging behavior, slow feeder hay nets facilitate a slower consumption rate, aiding in better digestion, reducing the risk of digestive issues, and minimizing hay wastage.
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stuntchicken · 1 year ago
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Horse Birthday Bash: Ruby's 5th Celebration with Her Herd and Slow Feeders!
Horse Birthday Bash: Ruby's 5th Celebration with Her Herd and Slow Feeders! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXizIigxHrc Join us as we celebrate Ruby's 5th birthday in style! In this heartwarming horse birthday bash, Ruby and her herd gather at the slow feeders for a day filled with joy, love, and lots of carrots. Watch as these magnificent creatures frolic and play, showcasing their bonds and the strong sense of community among them. Ruby, the guest of honor, radiates pure beauty and grace as she turns five. The horse herd, including her closest friends, couldn't be happier to share in her special day. They show off their impressive equestrian skills, enchanting everyone with their synchronized grazing and playful interactions. It's a sight to behold! But let's not forget the star attraction, the slow feeders! These ingenious contraptions allow the horses to eat slowly and mimic their natural grazing habits, promoting their overall health and well-being. As Ruby and her herd indulge in the delicious hay, one can't help but appreciate the thoughtfulness behind incorporating this beneficial element into the festivities. Of course, no birthday celebration is complete without a cake, and Ruby's is no exception. Along with the enchanting slow feeders, a few delectable carrots find their way onto the birthday cake, adding a touch of flavor and sweetness. It's a memorable moment as Ruby excitedly digs into her tasty treat, surrounded by her beloved herd. Join us in cherishing this heartwarming celebration of love, friendship, and growth among these magnificent creatures. Let the happiness of Ruby's 5th birthday radiate through your screen and remind us all of the beauty found in simple yet meaningful moments shared with those we hold dear. Happy Birthday, Ruby! May your fifth year be filled with endless joy, health, and an abundance of carrots! ✅ About StuntChicken?: Laugh it off with Mila, a delightful actress turning everyday quirks into hilarious sketches. Our channel features rib-tickling comedy skits, sharp-witted stand-ups, and unexpected parodies. Join us for your daily dose of humor. 🔔 Subscribe to my channel for more videos: StuntChicken.net ============================== ✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching: 👉 What Do Horses Love More: Apples Or Phones? A Unique Experiment | StuntChicken? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm4DHGsrg-U 👉 Captivating Horse Round-Up: A Showcase of Equine Grace and Power | StuntChicken? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9OdQq2ixcA ---------------------------------------- #horsebirthdaybash #herdlove #slowfeeders #horselife #equinecelebration #horselovers #partytime #horsedaily #horsefun #horselife #equestrianlove #horseloversunite #horseparty #horseevents #happyhorses CODE: S&1C$ via StuntChicken? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_qXPC5lE0dsdBUMtY-kRQ September 07, 2023 at 10:15AM
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townofcadence · 2 months ago
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Artair takes a moment to collect Valentine, patting her head and then lifting her up into the crook of his jacket on the side without the helmet. He does remove the rope, draping it over a shoulder so he had hand-space for Butch's hat. He knocks it against his leg to clear it of carrot remains and anything else that might've collected in there, before passing it to Butch. Back into the bag the helmet goes, as well at Butch's once he snags it.
"You can pass me your jacket and gloves, I'll stick them back in here." He offers. When he had them, he stuffs them inside too, before maneuvering Val until his jacket is pulled off to join them. He could put her down, but it'd only be a minute before he'd be picking her up again, and he didn't want her to scamper off. Once he manages, he starts for the porch steps.
"Alright. So first surprise is for Val." He levels a look behind him towards Butch. "I maybeee got her a setup like I talked about~." He grins as he leads him through, in a beeline for the backdoor. The inside of the house is clean and no longer dusty or run down. He'd removed his equipment, so it looks more like a house getting ready for sale with some sparse furnishings left.
Artair walks them through to the kitchen, and opens a repaired sliding glass door. It leads into a backyard, and to the left of the door is a large pen. It's built with a four foot fence of metal, reinforced with wooden posts and a layer of hog panels on the interior. The top is a thick log wide enough to perch on, and there's a metal door with a sturdy latch to get in and out.
The area inside is large, big enough for free-roaming but contained, with a hog house that reaches over the fence by a foot or so. It seems to be made of cinder-block, and there's hay scattered in the pen. A top-filling automatic feeder and waterer are set up over a pair of troughs. Near the wall of the house, there's a water spout with a constant slow trickle, the ground beneath it in the shade of the awning turned muddy. Perfect for wallowing!
"Ta da..... permanent structure! And built for Valentiny to grow into." He moves to seat himself on one of the logs that made the fence, since they had the width to hold someone scrawny like him, and he had the long legs to reach easy. He offers Valentine to Butch then, with a smile. "If you want to look around and check it out with her."
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Butch retorts dismissively with a playful smile, trying to match Artair’s volume so he can be heard. “….an’ then one big one, right?” He tries with a bit of smugness in his tone; as fun as it would be, he’s not truly expecting the other to show him anything. He’s just excited to be along for the ride!
When the bike lurches forward suddenly, his grip tightens just a bit on Artair’s waist, a noise of surprise escaping him followed by a small laugh. It was enough to make his stomach do an excited little flip. As they continue to ride, his eyes wander to their surroundings as they pass along a familiar path. He takes in what buildings and passerby’s he can before they’re far behind them and the beautiful autumn trees and foliage replace what had surrounded them previously. The cowboy basks in the fall air, only wishing he’s not wearing a helmet so he can feel the wind in his hair and his imp-like tail sways in the wind some ways behind him.
It’s only a short while before they come upon the gas station and Butch sits back in his seat as Artair dismounts to activate the doorway, watching him intently. Little Valentine pokes her tiny snoot out of the corner of the bag, sniffing at the air curiously for a moment. Artair is back on the bike before he knows it and he’s clinging to his back once more as their journey resumes. He feels a little better when they’re surrounded by nothing but nature and the only path before them is nothing but dirt. It felt far more familiar than the city, and the speed in which Artair hikes the motorcycle up to has his heart pounding in the best way possible. It’s thrilling to be going so fast, and he’s glad they’re not inside of one of those bulky driving machines and guarded by a windshield instead. The danger aspect made it all the more appealing to Butch, though he appreciated how steady and experienced Artair seems to be with his bike—he wonders to himself when he had started riding and how long it took him to get so good. He’d have to ask when he got the chance!
Butch spots the house as they approach and his leg shifts to touch the ground on the side the bike leans once Artair hits the kick stand and kills the ignition. His hands move to pull his helmet off as well, shaking out his hair and brushing his bangs back with his fingers. The cool air feels good on his face and he wiped some sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, his sights set on the house. After climbing off of the motorcycle, he hangs his helmet upon one of the handlebars and smiles at Artair when he takes the time to help Valentine out of his saddlebag. She squeals as the bag is opened, her eyes squinting and blinking at the light as they adjust but she’s excited to get out and run around once more. The carrots are long gone. She’s got a full tummy and energy to burn!
“Y’can take that ol’ rope off ‘er f’ya want. I don’ think she’ll go too far on ‘er own. Oh—an’ could y’grab my hat while yer at it?” He asks, leaning against the bike as he slides the over sized jacket off of his shoulders.
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