Peppermint Candy
I was walking along today thinking of all the many things I want to write about over the next few months. I wish I had a hard drive in my head that could just take the thoughts and place them in files until it was time to put my fingers to the keyboard. Odd how all the mixed up thoughts will run through your mind while out doing horsey checks, filling water tanks, scratching your ear or picking your nose.. (not really but sounded funny).. But by the time you walk through the house door, kick off the muddy shoes, find a cup of hot java and sit in the chair its like someone came through with a Swifter and its all gone. POOF.. Now what was I going to write about?
Oh, peppermint candy. First off for those of you who dont know me, I personally cant stand peppermint. Don't ask why, something about the smell and taste of it. Same with vanilla. I can bake with it, but candles, candy, dryer sheets with it in it will send me reeling into fits of finding the nearest trash bag.
I see so many horses come in if they had owners or from other situations that someone has that 'they love peppermints' syndrome. They buy them by the bag, case or sometimes I swear 50# bags.. ugh.... Watching these horses come off a sugar high is like watching a crack addict detox in a movie about rehabilitation centers. I sit and shake my head.. What's up with that? Knowing that they have A: foundered or B: laminitis or a calamity of other illnesses why in gawds name would you give them candy? Behavior issues out the wazzo travel right behind that as just with an addict they will bowl you over to get to what they are detoxing from, they will beat the doors off the hinges, they will maul the next person to walk in the room. Im not saying every horse is that way but I sure get my fair share of 'addicts' to watch detox.
Most know I don't hand feed treats and if I ever do its to a horse that I KNOW its behavior, that I KNOW won't turn into the exorcist upon giving a treat and its VERY rare...I tell my volunteers all the time to 'drop em in their feed buckets'. You should see the looks I get. I watch other horses turn into these creatures that I don't know when they get those little devils called peppermints. I had to laugh to myself as I was pondering were all the 'wild horses or 'mustangs' out there on the plains planning a protest and secretly meeting to complain that they did not have peppermints? That they were living below poverty and so disadvantaged? I wish I was a cartoonist. The images that I have in my mind of these rallies or meetings of horses would cause you to roll in tears till you pee your pants.
Anyway.. Just so you know I don't like peppermint. Please don't put in my stocking Santa.. It will not get recycled to the barn either... Viet can plow through a bag of them as bad as the horses tho.. LMAO
RT
RT
Your post today was so cute and very enlightening.You know first hand the negative effect all the sweets have on the animals since you work with them on a daily basis. Whenever I visit my favorite rescue, I take a bag of baby carrots for the horses; never even considered taking candy. Just like children, it can't be good for them so why even give it to them in the first place.One suggestion about trying to remember those thoughts of yours, just jot them down on paper. You're much too young to have senior moments like me, but when you have alot on your mind, it's easy to get forgetful.Have a great weekend, friend.
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i had to laugh at your comment, but at the same time i feel a little guilty!! i train horses for a living, and although i do not condone feeding treats by hand...ANY treats, i do have a personal pet that is spoiled rotten! she was born here, i raised her and use her daily as a lead pony, she is sweet and personable and she gets peppermints just because! she is not pushy, nor does she demand, or even expect them, but she does love them and it is funny to hear her crunching them up. i am not sure exactly how we began giving her this treat, no other horse in the barn is allowed to be hand-fed any type of treat, but this little beauty works hard, gives me all she has when asked, and is healthy so, the next time i unwrap a peppermint for her, i will be watching over my shoulder to make sure i don't get caught!!
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Yeah I know what you mean. I still shake my head at the horses that come in with sugar issues. Heck one of them is that Equine Senior. OMG I have this filly that was eating the older horses senior and she was like a nutcase turned loose. After 4 days of low starch food and working to get some of the sugar out of her you can slowly see a difference in her ability to focus and she is not like trying to nail jello to a tree.
Glad to see you on the blog.. Drop by again...
RT
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