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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Welcome Daisy Mae!

We don't have a horse trailer, so when John pulled in with one tonight I wasn't sure what to think. There wasn't a horse in it, but there was a beautiful black critter. John bought me a heifer yearling for my birthday! I think her name is going to be Daisy Mae, but I'm still feeling it out. Regardless, I love her!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Long in the Tooth

I learned last night that horses have to have their teeth "floated." (I think I was picturing denture-like choppers floating in a tub of water when I first heard it.) Apparently, their teeth continue to grow, unlike our own, and they become sharp over years of chewing, and sharp teeth don't allow for a proper grinding motion. Instead, a horse will try to grab hay, for example, and will be unable to properly grasp and chew it. From the pictures I've seen, it appears as though their teeth may become a bit misaligned, too, and floating them balances everything out again. I'm assured that the horse doesn't exactly love the experience, but that while it may be unpleasant it isn't painful. (Those of us who grind our teeth probably have a pretty good sense of what it feels like.) Hopefully I will get the opportunity to observe the process at some point.