Lesson learned. It was actually a 4-H leader from my past who notified me that “to assume, is to make an ass of u and me” (if you break down the word you get ass u me). I has assumed something to be true, and acted upon it…making an ass of myself and the person who had “apparently” enforced the rule. Again, lesson learned and an attempt at avoiding further assumptions.

Over the years, this saying has stuck in my head, popping out every once in awhile when and assumptive situation occurs. Never have I been more aware of it though than I was recently when  making a call on a high class very posh equestrian facility with performance horses ranging from broodmares and foals to top listed show horses.

As an equine nutritionist, I do a lot of feeding programs for people with horses ranging from backyard grazers to top performance horses. One would assume, that if a person owns expensive horses, and shows them in some of the top events in the country, that they would be well informed as to what their horse should or should not be eating….or would they?

This customer, who I was crossing my fingers behind my back at the prospect of her being my next new customer, had been in the industry for years. Slightly intimidated by her obvious equine knowledge, I let myself become over run with assumptions that she knew what was going on with the feeding program in the feed room.

So, rather than going over her program (as I would normally do), we made an hour or so of small talk, and left it with her sending me her first order via email in a few days when she figured out what they needed.

Indeed, my horse savy seasoned customer sent me her list of feeds a few days later. I sat looking at it in disbelief. It included 12 bags of sweet feed. What type of sweet feed I wondered. It included 10 bags of chunks. What type of chunks I wondered. It included corn oil. What the heck was she doing feeding corn oil I wondered. Lastly it included 10 bags of mineral. What type of mineral!?.

When I called to ask her what type of sweet feed, she just said “a 12%”. I can’t even start to expalin how many things are wrong with that statement. I began to realize that my assumptions could have cost me this account. Luckily they didn’t, but they did cost me a few hours and looking a wee bit silly when I had to return to the farm and review their actual feeding program. In the end, a few tweaks here and there bettered their horses nutritional intake, and saved them a bit of money.

That being said, I am proposing to start a series on equine nutrition, and the things you NEED to know when considering a feed for your horse as opposed to what many were taught years ago as important when feeding your horse. So, stay posted for an upcoming horse nutrition series….hope to hear some interesting comments on each of the topics!

Till next time….stay assumption free!

Tags: Equine Nutrition is knowing you have a balanced ration, Equine nutrition isn't as easy as it was once made out to be.

Riders  *   Rivals  *   The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous  *   Polo    *   Appassionata

This series by Jilly Cooper is a must have for any horse and horseman loving, woman’s bookshelf collection

At 800 pages each, and with characters that transfer from book to book, I can guarantee that you won’t stop reading until you’ve read right from Riders to Appassionata.

Jilly’s amazing way of capturing the horse show lifestyle, coupled with the philandering ways of it’s particiapants, keeps you hooked through competitions, crazy behavior, tear jerking horse moments and steamy romps in the hay.  Don’t miss the adventures of Rupert Campbell Black and his equestrian cohorts.

Don’t understand the game of Polo?  Not only will you learn when you read polo, but you will want to go buy a polo pony and get in the game! (obviously this was my favourite of the series.)

Anyway, I won’t spoil any more secrets, but I do recommend spending some of this seasonably chilly weather tucked up on the couch with Jilly Cooper.

Tags: Cowgirl Literature by Jilly Cooper, Horse Books about Equestrian Events and Equestrians

For about the last YEAR, I have been looking for a pair of lace up style cowboy work boots…for LADIES.

Every day, I get up, I put on my boots, and I go to work.  Somedays it’s at the barn, somedays it’s on the road.  Regardless, my boots don’t come off until I get home after dark and get ready to put my feet up with a cold one. 

They are my best friend attire wise, and it really stinks when they start to wear out.  You can really only fix them so many times.  They can’t be too narrow, they can’t be to girly.  They have to be comfy, and ready for a long day of work.

So here’s my dilemma.  I cannot find a good place to get a good pair of boots.  The last time I went shopping (I live in Ontario, Canada), I stopped at what was to be a very popular spot to buy boots.  Arriving in my jeans and t-shirt, with maybe a little poop on my boots, I was treated like I was missign all my digits.  Not to mention the fact that I found a pair of size 6’s that I liked…and they apparently didn’t have them in a size 8.

You’d think that a place that sells cowboy boots would welcome hard working cowgirls and cowboys…regardless of what they trail in on their boots.  Somehow I had the distinct feeling that at Kelahers, I would have had exceptional service if I”d walked in with a pooch in my purse and designer sunglasses.  Honestly, even if I had found a pair of boots I’d liked, I”m really not sure I’d have made a purchase just because of the snobbishness of the staff.

Anyway, I’ve looked online and decided that not being able to try them on might hinder the potential comfort, so I”m really not ready to try that route….unless anyone has some awesome suggestions?

So why oh why doesn’t someone open a kickass cowboy boot shop…oh…right about the middle of Guelph.  They’d have some dissappointed Kelahers customers knocking at their door!

Tags: Cowgirl boots are hard to find, Hard to find good cowboy boots with service in Ontario

Looking for the next best Cowgirl Bling thing?  I’ve found it and fallen in love with it. 

Have you ever gone out and wanted to accessorize with that one thing that will have everyone saying “wow, where did you get that!? It’s gorgeous!”

Handmade one-of-a-kind cowgirl concho necklaces.  Many are trying their hand at making an original, but they are lacking in the gorgeous WOW factor.  To date, the most stunning and original work I”ve found is that of Cowgirl Whimsy.  The chunky style coupled with original ideas and a perfect presentation have me wanting to stock their entire line in my jewelry box.

Whether you are dressing up, dressing down, showing, or out on the town.  These pieces are a must.  Made with a variety of stones including Jasper freshwater pearls, turquoise, sodalite lapis, Howlite orange fossil, and rhondite  - to name a few - their necklaces are to be admired.                                                       

    Rhondite & Freshwater Pearl Necklace with Antiqued Concho

 Multi-Strand Silver Chainb with Large Silver Concho

Available at the soon to open www.thecowpokestore.com

Tags: A Must have for any western cowgirl, Handmade Cowgirl Diva Concho Jewelry

 Our Thursday evening ritual involves enjoying a few minutes with the Friday morning Wellington Advertiser.  As we somehow rank enough to get it an evening early, we would hate to waste such an advantage by not scouring it’s pages of local business, and wedding announcements for “fast track” knowledge.

This past week however, the Advertiser brought with it a sense of excitement, and tingles as I read about the soon to be passing of all proposals for a world class Equine Centre only minutes outside Guelph’s City limits…practically our back yard!  The article was titled “Multi-million dollar Equine Centre near reality”.

Comparing it to the potential of the Kentucky Horse Park, known throughout North America as a mecca for equine history and events, has many equestrians in Ontario clapping their hands.

WithToronto bidding for the 2015 Pan-Am Games, it would be the potential site for all of the international equestrian events involved.  As well, it would bring between $50 - 70 milion annually in economic activities to the area through yearling sales, and other world class events.

Boasting partners with a large number of prestigious associations within the horse world, including the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, Ontario Equestrian Federation, Ontario Harness Horse Association, and Equine Guelph to name a few, the project has already turned the heads of every aspect of  our povincial horse industry.

Finally, it would give recognition for our equine potential north of the boarder, and a little more draw to the horse world in our spendid country.  It has been many years in the making, and it’s well deserved.  With the prospect of this project just across the horizon, the potential for the equine industry in Ontario is taking one huge leap to playing on the world class field.

Tags: Equine Canada, In association with the University of Guelph, New venue for yearling sales in Ontario, Standardbred associations, World Class Equestrian Centre on the Outskirts of Guelph