Ferrell Hollow Farm

2012 Natural Fly Control Measures at FHF

Relatively mild winter weather, above average temperatures and lack of rainfall this spring are all expected to create a worse than normal fly season in our area.  Ferrell Hollow Farm has implemented many natural methods of fly control over the years and continues to research and try new things to keep our senior retirees comfortable.

Diatomaceous Earth: This is a fine white powder that can be sprinkled on manure piles to decrease the breeding fly population.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Use only the organic, raw vinegar with the "mother".  This can be poured over the feed meals or in the water buckets or troughs at a rate of 1 cup per day, introducing the flavor slowly.

Vitamin B1: Thiamin has been thought to be a natural insect repellent.  We are feeding 1,000 mg a day to all of the horses.

Fly Spray: We use natural fly sprays made with high quality essential oils, sprayed at least once a day.

Fly Gear: Fly masks, fly boots, and fly sheets can be quite helpful in keeping the horses comfortable during the day.  I find the soft breathable mesh material and belly bands to be the most comfortable for the horses.

 
Willie, age 32, and Maggie, age 31, outfitted with fly gear for the day!

Fly Traps: The only effective control I've found against biting horseflies are traps such as the Epps Biting Fly Trap and we have made several varieties of our own versions to keep it more economical.  One trap in each horse pasture has been necessary.

Epps Biting Fly Trap in front of Buddy and Slim's run in shelter.

Fans: All of our pastures have large run in shelters with electricity so that we can run fans to keep the air circulating during the heat.

Shade Screens: Hanging shade screens in each run in shelter cuts down on the sun streaming in the sheds, which not only deters insects, but keeps the horses more comfortable during the heat of the day.

Siegfried enjoys his large run in space outfitted with fans and a large shade screen!

Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Middle Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses.

She provides Equine Nutritional Consultations, has developed a specialized line of Natural Horse & Body Care Products, Herbal Blends and Seed Mixes for Horses, and has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine.

www.ferrellhollowfarm.net

 

Soaking Problematic Horse Feet

Today was the day to do a Clean Trax soak on Mary's front feet.  CleanTrax is a deep penetrating hoof cleanser used on tough hoof infections, and does not harm healthy tissue.  It is a lengthy process to use this product.   The horses feet need to be cleaned first (I pick them out then put the foot in a pan of water, add a couple of drops of dish detergent and scrub the foot).  Once the solution is mixed, the horses foot is placed in a reinforced bag, the solution added and the bag sealed to lock in the vapors for 45 minutes!

Mary is a 26 y/o Standardbred, retired from life as a NYC carriage horse. She quietly nibbles at hay while her feet soak.  I use duct tape to reinforce the seams on ziploc bags and vetwrap to seal them closed.

Once it is time to take the feet out of the solution, the next step is to place empty bags back on the feet, seal them again, for 45 minutes so the vapors can continue to penetrate the crevices of the hoof.

It is very helpful to have a horse, such as Mary, who is calm and stands nicely for the entire treatment :)

It was necesssary to clean Mary's front feet with the Clean Trax as a preparation for canker treatment that is beginning this week.  Hoof Canker will be a topic for another blog entry ;)

Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses. In addition, she provides Equine Nutritional Consultations, has developed a specialized line of Natural Body Care Products, Herbal Blends, Seed Mixes and has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine.  http://www.ferrellhollowfarm.net

 

 

Calendula Special *2 days only!*

For 2 days only, when you order a Calendula Balm, you will receive a FREE sample of our NEW Calendula Cream, soon to be debuted!  If you have sensitive skin or require fragrance free products, this one is for you!  This offer lasts thru midnight Tuesday April 10th, 2012!  All proceeds from the sales help us care for the special needs horses we have adopted and retired at Ferrell Hollow Farm!  Our vet is coming this week for x-rays of 3 of the drafts feet and hocks, and to assess our mare with hoof canker.

Ferrell Hollow Farm’s Calendula Balm is very beneficial for healing wounds, soothing dry, cracked or chapped skin in both people and animals and taking the sting out of bug bites!  It has a very mild, natural scent with no essential oils added, making it exactly what those with sensitive skin need.

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.

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

A Day at Ferrell Hollow Farm

Saturday March 17, 2012

One woman, 10 horses, 8 cats, 2 dogs and 2 goats.  It just took 2.5 hours to care for all of them.  So?  The horses are spread over 6 pasture/paddock locations.  The cats are in 4 different areas.  Every horse receives a bucket meal with necessary supplements, and then enough hay until the evening meal comes around.  Poop is scooped or sprinkled with DE to deter breeding flies.  Nets and buckets are prepared for the next meal.  Everyone is checked over.  Yesterday we had a colicky horse related to ulcers.  This morning that is better. Whew!  A draft has active laminitis.  Another draft comes up lame and is blowing out an abcess.  If you've never worked with drafts, they are quite large and every thing is exaggerated with them.  The mare with hoof canker has a foot that is separating.  The gelding with the stifle injury is not quite as comfortable as he was a week ago.  The 2 Cushing's horses are way too hairy for our unseasonable 80 degree weather.

While this work load may not seem like much to some, realize that I am operating on less than 100%, still rehabbing from ACL reconstructive surgery 9 weeks ago, with continued physical therapy for at least another 2 weeks.

What does the rest of the day hold for this lady?  My house needs to be cleaned.  My farm house also needs to be cleaned-baths, kitchen, appliances, laundry room and windows cleaned before showing to prospective new tenants on Monday.

The laminitic horse needs a watchful eye and increased care, and the abscessed foot also needs more attention.  It is a 7 day a week job with long hours.  A labor of love.

If you would like me to work with you on getting your horse healthy thru a consult, but don't want to pay for it, don't ask.  If you would like me to board your senior, retired, special needs horse for less than my monthly boarding rate, I can't.  If you do however, see the value in these things, please contact me, as I would love to work with you and your horse(s).  This is how I make my living.  This is how I can take in special needs horses that need this level of care and pay for their upkeep myself.  It is not easy work.  It is a true labor of love.  These horses need me and I need them.  They are here to teach me things and I remain open to listening to them.

Please visit my website for more information and support our passion if you can, or share with others--thank you! Cindy Daigre

www.ferrellhollowfarm.net

Lavender Fact Sheet-for people and animals!

Lavender

 

 

 

Lavender is grown mainly for the production of essential oil of lavender.  Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile oils that can be extracted from aromatic plants. The fragrant, pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in a water-and-steam distillation process to extract the oil. It is best to use organically grown plants, free from chemicals.

How to Grow Lavender

Lavenders flourish best in dry, well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils in full sun.  All types need little or no fertilizer and good air circulation.

Using the Dried Flowers

Dried and sealed in pouches, lavender flowers can be placed among items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance. Flower spikes are often used for dried flower arrangements, potpourri and in sachets.  Floral water (hydrosols) can also be made from the flowers.

Using the Essential Oil

Lavender is a favorite for the herbal first aid kit and is typically for topical purposes; not given internally. It speeds the healing process of wounds by encouraging cell growth. A few drops of the essential oil of lavender can be diluted in water and used to clean wounds. It can also be mixed in a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, for a relaxing massage.

Lavender has a very calm and soothing aroma which can be beneficial when inhaling it.

Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Middle Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses. For more information on her equine business, including nutritional consultations and natural products, visit: www.ferrellhollowfarm.net

 March 2012

Help Support Ferrell Hollow Farm's Effort with Senior Horses!

Ferrell Hollow Farm has chosen over the years to adopt senior horses that might not otherwise have a chance for a happy retirement.  Currently we  have 4 retired Carriage horses (2 from NYC and 2 from Michigan) and 1 retired Jousting horse (from NY) that we lovingly adopted into our Retirement Program so they could have a comfortable forever home! All of these horses are aged, with the exception of Buddy, and they all have special needs requiring lots of care and attention, not only from myself, but other equine professionals (vets, dentist, trimmer) which adds to the cost of keeping them comfortable. And that is our goal: to do whatever we can to make sure they have a happy, healthy and comfortable retirement until the day they decide to leave this earth.  They are such a joy to care for and we hope they benefit from many, many years here under our loving care.

Not only does it take dedication, commitment, unconditional love, and energy to make this happen--it takes a great deal of money to provide them with the standard of care we wish them to have.  Here is a bit of information on just how much it costs to upkeep these 5 horses:

Feb 2012 Vet Bill  (Blood work and Fecals) $400

Dentist (once a year-March) $375

Barefoot Trimmer (monthly) $200

Supplement Costs (monthly) $550

Hay Cost (monthly in winter) $450

Feedstuff (monthly) $200

Of course there are other things such as supplies, and the cost varies for those each month, but you can see that it is not an inexpensive endeavor that we have chosen to undertake.

Please share and thank you for your support of our passion of caring for senior horses!

Copy and Paste this link into your web browser for an update on the horses and link to the Chip In:

http://ferrellhollowfarm.chipin.com/fhfs-adopted-retired-draft-horses

For every $25 you contribute to Ferrell Hollow Farm, you will receive a high quality logo t-shirt!

Buddy: 11 y/o Percheron gelding, retired Carriage Horse-right hind leg-severe osteoarthritis

Siegfried: 23 y/o Percheron gelding, retired Jousting Horse, ongoing Laminitic issues

Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses. In addition, she provides Equine Nutritional Consultations, has developed a specialized line of Natural Body Care Products, Herbal Blends, Seed Mixes and has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine.

We have other natural, hand-made products for horses, dogs and people for sale on our website at:

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

 

 

Rosehips: Rich in Vitamin C

 NEW Fact Sheet written by Cindy Daigre February 2012:

Rosehips: Natural source of Vitamin C

What are Rosehips:

Rose hips are the berry-like fruits of the rose bush left behind after the bloom has died.  Although nearly all rose bushes produce rose hips, the tastiest come from the Rugusa Rose.  Rose hips have a tangy, fruity flavor similar to that of cranberries and can be used fresh or dried.  The fruits begin to form in spring and are best harvested after the first frost, which makes them turn bright red and slightly soft.

Benefits of Rosehips:

Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of Vitamin C, and with one to two percent by dry weight, rose hips have a higher Vitamin C content than citrus fruit! Rosehips also contain lycopene, (an antioxidant), Vitamin A, Essential Fatty Acids, and Biotin.  Bioflavonoids enhance vitamin C’s ability to strengthen blood vessels, and this encourages healthy hoof growth in horses. They are also beneficial for preventing illness or to restore the immune system after illness. Its natural antihistamine properties can also be useful for the allergy prone horse. 

Using Rosehips in Horses:

Rosehips are commonly used to make herbal teas, by boiling the dried or crushed rose hips for 10 minutes.  Use 2 tablespoons of berries per pint of water.  Always make sure to use rosehips that are clearly marked as being free from pesticides.  The tea can be poured over your horse’s meal once or twice daily.

As horses age, they are no longer able to manufacture vitamin C, so for senior horses, it is wise to supplement their vitamin C needs.  This can be done naturally with a daily dose of dried rosehips or tea in their meals!

*Rosehips are including in Ferrell Hollow Farm's Spring Herbal Blend which can be found at http://www.ferrellhollowfarm.net/Store.html

Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Middle Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses. For more information on her equine business, including nutritional consultations and natural products, visit: www.ferrellhollowfarm.net

February 2012

 

Herbal Skin Gel CLOSEOUT!

In an effort to streamline the natural products we make, Ferrell Hollow Farm will be discontinuing select horse products.  The Herbal Skin Gel is one of those.  While current supply lasts, this item has been marked down for clearance!

Ferrell Hollow Farm’s Herbal Skin Gel is very beneficial for soothing itchy spots, healing wounds, and soothing dry manes and tails!  Ingredients include Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, Tea Tree, Rosemary, and Lavender.

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

Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Middle Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses. In addition, she provides Equine Nutritional Consultations, has developed a specialized line of Natural Horse & Body Care Products, Herbal Blends and Seed Mixes for Horses, and has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine.

FHF January's Featured Product for Horses: Seed Mix

Horses on grass restriction or fed low quality forages may need to have additional vitamins and minerals added to round out their diet.  More forage is fed in the Winter when the grasses are gone, and essential nutrients are lacking in the diet.

Loaded with vitamins and minerals, raw, organic seeds are designed to supplement what is often lacking in a horse’s diet, the natural way!  Naturally low in sugar and starch, these seeds boast good amounts of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and zinc, as well as vitamins B and E.  They also contain adequate amounts of protein, fiber, amino acids and essential fatty acids.

(This blend was formulated by Cindy Daigre of Ferrell Hollow Farm, contains Pumpkin, Sesame, Sunflower and Chia seeds and has been analyzed by Equi-Analytical Laboratories for its nutrient content.)

The suggested daily feeding is ¼ cup and a one month supply is $35.00.

Monthly auto-ship orders qualify for discount pricing!  

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

Cindy@ferrellhollowfarm.com

Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Middle Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses.

She provides Equine Nutritional Consultations, has developed a specialized line of Natural Horse & Body Care Products, Herbal Blends and Seed Mixes for Horses, and has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine.

Calendula

From spring to fall, calendula flowers show their cheery yellow or orange faces, opening during the day and closing up at night.  It grows very well in pots and loves the sun.  I harvest them for all of their growing season and dry them on screens.  Calendula has some pretty amazing skin healing properties.  When applied topically, it quickly soothes cuts and wounds and moisturizes dry, itchy, chapped or cracked skin! 

It is versatile enough to be used on both people and animals.  When working with horses, the petals can be added to their feed or given as a tea.  It is very useful for animals with dry, itchy skin.  A balm can be made and applied to any scrapes or wounds.  The dried flowers are infused in a carrier oil, which becomes the base for making a balm.

Ferrell Hollow Farm has a very healing Calendula Balm available at http://www.ferrellhollowfarm.net/Store.html