Ferrell Hollow Farm

Fundraiser for Senior Horses!

A Fundraiser to benefit Senior Horses!

Ferrell Hollow Farm (FHF) is a dedicated retirement farm in TN for senior horses over the age of 20, most of who arrive with special needs. In keeping with our passion to help as many senior horses across the country as possible, we have selected a non-profit sanctuary also dedicated to caring for senior horses to help!

Traveller’s Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary (TREES) is a non-profit rescue located in VA.  They are not your typical non-profit horse rescue organization though. Many of the residents come to the sanctuary from backgrounds of neglect or abandonment, but TREES does not dwell on the past.   Instead, they celebrate the personalities that emerge as their elders return to "just being horses" in a low stress environment. http://www.equineelders.org/index.htm  “Honor the Wisdom”!

For a limited time, Ferrell Hollow Farm will donate a portion of its proceeds from sales on their website’s store page to TREES!  Any web order placed from June 1^st thru June 14^th qualifies!  Just go to http://www.ferrellhollowfarm.net/Store.html to begin shopping!

Ferrell Hollow Farm’s Natural Horse Care line was developed out of a need for non-chemical products that actually worked.  All formulas are developed and tested by Cindy Daigre on the senior horses at our retirement farm.  Only pure grade essential oils and pesticide free herbs are used. FHF also has a natural body care product line for PEOPLE! As with all of our products, only cruelty-free ingredients are used (no animals are harmed)!

TREES has created a wish list of FHF items they would love to have.  So help them double up on the benefits by not only receiving a monetary donation at the end of this fundraising period from your purchases, but consider ordering something just for them to use on their elder residents!

Wish List of Ferrell Hollow Farm Natural Products:

*Herbal Skin Gel            *Fly Spray    

*Fly Balm                       *CS Wound Spray         

*CS Wound Gel              *Mosquito Spray

 Use this link http://www.ferrellhollowfarm.net/Store.html to begin shopping!

*Ferrell Hollow Farm releases NEW Body Care Products!

Ferrell Hollow Farm is excited to release an all NEW natural body care product for people: Lavender Body Scrub!

 

The response to Ferrell Hollow Farm’s current horse product line has been very well received, and so it is only natural that their care-takers should be pampered by these exclusive herbal products as well. Cindy Daigre, owner of Ferrell Hollow Farm’s Equine Senior Retirement Farm, is continually inspired by the beauty of the gardens she lovingly cares for and regularly creates unique herbal blends based on the plants surrounding her home. As with all of our products, only cruelty-free ingredients are used.

 

Cindy’s latest creation, the Lavender Body Scrub, has been used with extremely positive feedback from a number of people, including those with sensitive skin conditions. The product’s sea salt has detoxifying and muscle relaxing properties, while lavender reduces stress and uplifts the mood.

 

Lavender Body Scrub 8 oz jar $12.50

Sea Salt, Sweet Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Lavender Oil

 

 

Contact:

www.ferrellhollowfarm.com

Cindy Daigre 615-409-6071

 

Summer Herbs for Horses

Ferrell Hollow Farm has chosen four wonderful herbs to blend together for its Summer Herbal Blend.  Not only is it very beneficial for the skin and digestive system, it is beautiful and aromatic!

 

 
 

Calendula is a beautiful golden orange flower that is widely used for all types of skin conditions.  It also contains anti-inflammatory, blood cleansing and antifungal properties.

Cleavers is often found growing in hedgerows and fields.  It is rich in silica and will help the coat and skin.  It is very useful for supporting the lymphatic system.  It will also help minimize fluid retention and soft swellings.

Eyebright is an astringent and anti-inflammatory herb.  It is excellent for any conditions of the eyes.

Peppermint has a wonderful aroma and is beneficial to the digestive system for use in ulcers, colic or gas.

Summer Herbal Blend can be purchased here:

http://www.ferrellhollowfarm.net/Store.html

Gardening Naturally

When I walk out my back door, I see beauty in front of me.  The gardens that I designed four years ago are bursting with color and life.  It is inspiring.  Each year I put more in place and have more to tend.  It is therapeutic for me to work close to the earth.  Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees love my garden, and so does my cat Pookey.  She is my little helper :)

I grow many herbs and plants for the benefit of the horses.  When it is time, I will harvest, dry and store them for my horses or herbal blends for customers.  I do not use pesticides or chemicals in my garden--hand weeding and hand picking the old fashion way.  It is better for me, the environment and the animals.  Have a look and my hope is that you will smile and enjoy!

http://s1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/cdaigre/FHF%20Gardens%20Spring%202010/?action=view&current=9d321bf3.pbw

http://ferrellhollowfarm.net/Store.html

FHF Natural Fly Sprays

Ferrell Hollow Farm has developed two natural fly sprays and I have been asked what's the difference between the two.

The original formula (#1) contains apple cider vinegar--not the watered down kind--the pure, raw form which still contains the pulpy residue that you shake up before using.  It also contains garlic oil, which I make from the garlic I grow in my garden.  I bet you are thinking--phew-that must stink!  But I suppose it is a matter of preference--I don't think it does.  Other pure grade essential oils are also blended in that have fly and mosquito repellent properties.  So all combined, it smells a bit like vinaigrette salad dressing :)  The reason that it works, is that it puts an invisible shield around the horses that the flies don't like!

The second formula (#2) was developed as some horses are sensitive to smells, like my Francis.  He snorts and carries on and steps away like it was the worst stuff in the world if he gets a whiff of vinegar.  The #2 formula does not contain any vinegar.  Instead it only contains pure grade essential oils chosen for their ability to repel insects as well as soothing coat conditioners.  It smells lemony fresh!

I do not use any essential oils that may cause skin reactions.  I have many special needs, sensitive horses in my care and my line of natural products are always tried on them first before becoming offered to others.  To date, I have not had any issues with skin reactions on any of them!  So I do consider them safe to be sprayed as often as needed.

Purchase a FHF Natural Fly Spray and receive a FREE sample of the other fly spray formula!  Good thru the holiday weekend--Monday May 31, 2010.  Order Now to give them a try!  http://ferrellhollowfarm.net/Store.html

Colloidal Silver for Wounds

Tess got bit by a very small tick last week.  When I saw the tick, the area around it was already swollen to the size of a quarter.  The next day there was a small hole in the middle of the circular area.  It appeared as though it was going to drain fluid, but it never did.  It did exude some sort of sticky bloody substance and it was itchy around the area.  It now looks like a protrusion of skin.

Since I have been cleaning it daily with Colloidal Silver, it has not been draining as much and is shrinking in size. Colloidal Silver is considered a Homeopathic Remedy.  It makes a wonderful topical healing agent for cuts, scrapes, abrasions, abscesses, or any other kind of wound. It can also be given internally to pets and humans to eliminate parasites and strengthen the immune system.  Haley receives it poured over his feed daily for that reason.  I use it to wipe discharge from the horses eyes as well.  It really is a wonderful addition to any first aid kit. Consider purchasing it from my site: http://ferrellhollowfarm.net/Store.html

A Little Customer Service Please

I am not sure what is wrong with people these days--but it seems like customer service training skills are lacking.  Young people who feel entitled--they should be paid no matter how they act, or are resentful that they even have to work.  Older people who are grouchy.  I am sure you have run into them.  My sister worked in retail management for many years and finally left that profession because she just got fed up with dealing with people all day long.  She also tells me I need to leave the farm more often.  Maybe I am becoming more intolerant ;)

Let me share an experience I've had this morning.  I was at a local farm supply store picking up a few needed items.  All of the staff know me and what I do and I know them.  They are polite and friendly and always ask how I'm doing.  We share animal stories.  One of the girls wanted to buy a Coat Spray from me to use on her horse this Memorial Day weekend as her horse would get sweaty during the ride.  She also has a dog she would like to use it on.  I described it's benefits, ingredients and let her smell it.  Sold!  She asked if I would take a check to which I said of course.  She said well I can give you cash, but not until I get off of work.  I told her not to worry--take the spray and I would collect another time.  She said Really?!  Of course.  But she didn't like the feeling of that and went and got her checkbook and wrote a check. 

Then the store manager and I started talking about how bad the bugs were this year.  She said mosquitoes were terrible in another area of the county that had been affected by the recent flooding where she was riding.  The horses were getting hives and anti-histimines and even a steroid shot was not working.  These horses belonged to a vet in my Murfreesboro vet's office, who I know.  She had bought one of my Natural Fly Sprays, which they carry, and the store manager said it wasn't working on the heavy mosquito infestation.  I told her that I could custom blend her one to target mosquitoes specifically.  She said, really?  How much would that cost?  I told her the cost of the fly spray and that I normally do charge more for any custom blending and would like to try and help her.  I told her I would bring it back and drop it off for her at the store.  She went and got her checkbook and wrote a check.  She had written it for more than the price I told her.  I told her that was not necessary but thank you!  She gave me extra--and you know what?  She will get extra from me in return!   I try to treat people the way I would like to be treated, and sometimes it just pays off :)

Senior Horses and the Heat

It has been unseasonably warm here in Middle Tennessee--who am I kidding--it's downright HOT with humidity-yuk!  Yesterday it reached 91 and the weather forecasters said we tied a record high set back in the 1920's.  Good to know.  In my opinion, anything hotter than 90 is just unnecessary!

Senior horses can have a particularly difficult time transitioning to such swings in the weather.  It is important that we do everything we can to make it as easy on them as possible.  So I will share how we are dealing with the spikes in temperatures here at Ferrell Hollow Farm.

Shelter is a top priority for the horses.  All pastures and paddocks have sheds--big and open front, large enough to handle the number of horses for each area.  Fans set on timers keep the air moving to reduce the flies and temperature.  The horses take advantage and really love to hang in the sheds when they get too warm or the pesky insects are bothering them.  Fly screens are a big help as well.  Fly masks and boots are a necessity.

Maggie and Willie taking advantage of the shed, fans and fly screen and of course outfitted in fly masks and boots.

Water is kept fresh and available to them in their large troughs and also in the sheds at all times.  As they begin to sweat, their water intake should increase.  Yesterday at lunch Francis just didn't want to make the effort to walk over to the water trough from his cool spot in front of the fan, so while I had the tap running to refill, he kept looking over at me.  I knew he wanted water.  I took a full 8 quart pail to him 4 times and that's how much he drank.  I am sure had I not been right there, he would have gotten himself to the trough, but why bother when his momma could do it for him ;) (To his credit, he is not lazy, but his hind tendons are aching and the heat has made him lethargic).

I mist my natural Coat Spray on their chests and under their tails.  It is very refreshing and helps to cool them off, and  brushes off any sweat marks they may have very easily.  Not to mention the pure essential oils it contains smell wonderful and soothing.  Even the horses who hate to be sprayed will stand still for this one! www.ferrellhollowfarm.com

Several of the horses are on APF, which is a liquid form of adaptogenic herbs.  It helps them deal with any stressful situations.  I would say 90+ degree weather in May would qualify.  I have increased the dose by 1-2 ml a day, depending on the horse.  Maggie (age 29) is very sensitive to weather changes in general and also has ulcers and Francis (age 27) is letting me know that he is very sensitive to the hea.  I also soak hay pellets and add herbs such as peppermint on these warm days and the horses really love it.

So if you are in charge of an elderly horse, please take note of whether thay may need some extra TLC to help them thru the seaonal changes.
 

Donations to Pets Alive

Pets Alive is a no kill sanctuary in Middletown, NY and where I adopted my retired NYC carriage horses,  Francis and Mary, from in September of 2009.  They are a grass roots organization and do wonderful work to save and adopt out many cats, dogs, horses and farm animals.

Tonight they are having a "Furball" gala event with a silent auction to raise money for homeless animals.  My husband, Alan, has donated one of his fabulous rope rockers to them--one he named "The Calico" just for them.  You can visit his work at www.alandaigre.com.

I also donated a gift basket of all of Ferrell Hollow Farm's Natural Products for horses and dogs for them to auction off.  You can visit my site at www.ferrellhollowfarm.com

We hope the Furball is a huge success!  Visit them at www.petsalive.com and consider supporting their cause!

We have a bleeder!

The feeding routine for breakfast took a bit longer than normal this morning.  Upon routine inspection, I see what appears to be a tiny bump on Mary's left hind pastern.  I part back the hair to inspect and blood starts gushing out, running down the hoof.  She seems completely un-bothered by it.  I keep first aid and other supplies in each run in shed as you never know when something might happen. It would not be convenient to run off in search of something, especially when you have blood pooling on the ground.

My first line of defense is to use Colloidal Silver to clean off the wound and the trail of blood down the hoof.  I did not have any sterile gauze so I used cotton balls.  Then I clipped away the hair around the area so I could really see what I was dealing with.  It looked like a torn piece of skin growth.  After the area was cleaned, I applied pressure for several minutes with a cotton ball.  When I lifted the pressure and the wound was still bleeding, I used Lavender & Witch Hazel spray on it and applied more pressure.  After a few minutes, the bleeding stopped.

In my opinion, every horse and pet owner's first aid kit should contain 1-Colloidal Silver 2-Lavender.  I will be putting together a natural first aid kit to sell in the store on my website soon!  For now, you can see what is already available at www.ferrellhollowfarm.com