Citadel Equine

02/18/2025

Anyone out there with geese looking to add to their flock? A friend of mine has a single Embden gander looking for a new home with other geese. He has lived happily with other geese, chickens, and an assortment of other farm animals. Please reach out directly if you can help!

02/13/2025

Snow angels aren’t just for humans… Let’s talk about what to do if your horse goes down in the snow.

Thick snow can be hard for horses to deal with, particularly if they are older or have an orthopedic problem. Commonly, the horse innocently goes down to roll and finds themself in deeper snow than they anticipated. When they roll, they create a hole which holds their body, while their legs are higher than their body. It becomes impossible to get up (think, very large turtle on its back).

What do you do?
Step 1- Make sure you do not put yourself in a position to get hurt by thrashing legs or a flailing head (the average horse head weighs 100lbs and is very hard, trust me).
Step 2- Remove as much snow as possible from around the horse, especially its legs. If there is ice underneath, be prepared to sand after the horse is fully positioned.
Step 3- If you are on a hill, you will need to turn the horse so its legs are downhill of its body. You can spin the horse by pulling the tail one way and the halter opposite. Turning a horse over can be very difficult.
Step 4- Remove blankets, even if it is cold. Sometimes, they are just restrictive enough to make it harder to get up. If they are wet or frozen it is even worse. Note the changed blanket in the before and after of the horse below!
Step 5- Throw down the sand.
Step 6- Now you will have to get after your horse a bit. They are probably tired and have decided lying there is better than trying to get up, so you will have to convince them otherwise. Standing on the side away from their legs and kneeing their back can work. A crop is also handy. You might have to be a little mean.
Step 7- Many horses will jump up on their own once you have created a good environment for that to happen. Do not pull on their head much, as they need it to balance as they get up.
Step 8- Once the horse is up, take it to a flat, snow free place. Offer warm water to drink and small amounts of food. Monitor for the next 12 hours or so to make sure there are no ill effects from being upside down.

If your horse can’t get up after these steps, you probably need my help or there is a reason they are lying down that needs to be addressed so please call!

01/23/2025

Brrr... Is your horse cold?

The weather is changing all the time and we humans complain about it. A LOT. But, how do you know if your horse is cold (assuming they whine less than you)?

Signs of cold in the horse include:
- shivering
- a tightly clamped tail
- depression or lethargy
- a low hanging head with a lifted back
- low body temperature

Most horses really do not get cold and are very happy living at temperatures we would consider uncomfortable. Provided that they have shelter from wind and wet, they will be happy. Many horses actually choose to use their shelters more in the summer (to avoid flies and heat) than they do in the winter (to avoid cold). A horse with a pile of snow on its back is warm- try putting your hand in the space between their skin and the snow.

However, some horses do need help staying warm in the winter. Older horses, horses with poorly developed winter coats, horses that are clipped, and horses that are thin will need help staying warm at temperatures lower than 35 degrees.

One of the best ways to provide heat is to feed lots of high fiber hay. Fermentation of hay in the large colon produces heat. This is a great solution for horses that are not too fat. (Fat horses do not generally get cold). Slow feed hay nets are a good way to keep hay available all the time in cold temperatures, without too much waste.

Blanketing can also be helpful for older, clipped, or thin horses. Care must be taken to remove blankets when temperatures warm up in order to avoid overheating and sweating, which will result in a horse getting chilled. Additionally, a horse with a long coat may not be able to lift their hair in order to regulate their temperature if they are wearing a heavy blanket. For this reason, blanketing is best for horses that are clipped or have short coats (think Thoroughbreds). A wind/rain sheet or being naked is better for a horse with a heavy coat (ponies, Icelandics).

Closing up barns to generate heat can do more harm than good because higher humidity and dust promote respiratory irritation. In general, it is best for a horse to be able to decide whether it is cold and wants to move to warmer spot or not. Remember, your horse is a better judge of its comfort than you are.

Let's see some photos of your furry friends enjoying this winter weather!

12/10/2024

For sale: 2014 four horse stock trailer with one divider and tackroom. $15,000.

It is with very mixed feelings that I have decided to sell my trailer. My kids, father and I had so many great riding adventures in it though the years, but kids are now grown and I do not ride anymore (there is only so much time in the day). The trailer divides into two stalls, so it is great when you have horses waiting around at events etc. I have crammed six horses and ponies in, on occasion. We used to call it the Pony Clown Car. The number of mini donkeys you could fit is almost infinite. Everything works.
I would love for it to go to someone I know.
Let my know if you are interested on messenger.

06/27/2023

Here's some live action from the Badonka Dash!

06/26/2023

06/26/2023

Badonkadash 2023 was a success! Thanks to everyone who made it out for the day.

05/30/2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The time has come to ass-emble our most daring donks, bravest burros, and aspirational asses for our annual pilgrimage to the top of the Pinnacle. The date for this year’s Badonkadash is Sunday, June 25 and donations will go to the Lyme Utility Club. Please arrive at the lower barn across from 14 Franklin Hill Road at 9 AM for the race start at 9:30. Hikers and spectators are most welcome, and we will even have some donkeys for “hire” for those who (sadly) don’t have a donk of their own but would like to race.

If you are interested in bringing a donkey or burro-ing one for the event, please contact Kirsten Glass at [email protected]

The race will start promptly at 9:30. The course is roughly 5km through a mix of woods and field. Spectators are welcome to hike the route with our racers, take a wagon ride up the road, or find a shady spot to post up until brunch. There will be one support station at the top of the Pinnacle. We’ll have a few activities at the lower barn as well as brunch provided by the Lyme Utility Club starting at 11 AM.

Please RSVP here at your earliest convenience: https://forms.gle/PofJtcPBDY1PfJYSA and let us know if you have any questions!

Your Resident Badasses,

Kirsten, Sarah, and Helena

04/24/2023

Some days are boring and some days are so, so, so fun. I feel badly for this horse (because carrying 2 gallons of pus around in your leg can't be fun) but lancing it was so satisfying.