Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Bay Area Job Search, Sequim Newspaper Article

Maggie and Me
Mount Shasta, CA
Hi everyone.  I'm "holed up" in the San Francisco bay area.  Planning to spend the winter here with the herd.  I've been the guest of my generous friends, Anton and Federika, at the deluxe boarding facility they operate here called "Somerset Farms".  I celebrated my birthday with great new friends after a week of filing applications, renewing my CA nursing license with the BRN, and taking an ACLS class to renew my Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification.  Now it's time to send my resume out on the airwaves, in hopes I can find a nursing position that pays well enough to allow me to get back on the road in the spring.

I've got some other ideas as well for fund raising, so stay tuned and wish me luck!

While I was in Sequim, WA, I gave a presentation to a group of interested horse enthusiasts, and among them was  Karen Griffiths, a reporter for the local paper:  the Pennisula Daily News.  She wrote a nice article about my journey, which was recently published.  Here's the link if you're interested:

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111019/NEWS/310199998/karen-griffiths-horseplay-column-farm-tour-equine-nomad-highlights


Thanks to all my blog readers who submitted suggestions and support.  I am held in the arms of Love, and I thank you all for being here with me on this journey.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

EponaShoe Testimonial Video

EponaShoe Video Release

Hey everyone!  Check out the new EponaShoe Video.  Just released, it explains the features and benefits of these great shoes.  Share the news with your horse loving friends!

http://youtu.be/Y6y1QAwVBq8

EponaShoes helped Moonlight to grow back strong hooves after they fell apart in chunks back when he was in steel shoes.  From bare sole to sound in only 4 months!  All my horses will always wear EponaShoes!

Two weeks after his feet broke off in chunks.
EponaShoes keep the pain down and help support the foot.

John, from EponaShoe keeps a close eye on the work.
EponaShoe glued on first at the Epona Institute in Paso Robles, August, 2011


Casting material applied to provide additional support to the right hind

Monique and the EponaShoe Farrier apply the finishing touches

To this!
In only four months...
Thanks EponaShoe!



Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The 13 Fish Hooks Caper: Vetrolin Detangles a Mystery

While I was traveling north through Oregon this August, I woke one morning to a crazy and confusing  situation.  The mystery was never really solved, but a product called "Vetrolin Detangler" saved Moonlight from injury.  It was so mysterious that I knew it would make a good story for the blog, so now that I have finally had time to write it, I sent it to the company as a testimony to this excellent product, and today I include a copy of the email to Farnam Products.  I'm never without a bottle of Vetrolin in the trailer tack room now, and have used it for years with great results.  My horses all have thick, coarse, easily matted tails and manes.  Vetrolin has always been my product of choice because it simply makes grooming those thick tails a no-brainer.  In fact, the worse the tail condition is, the more fun it is to see how well Vetrolin works.

Here's the story of a morning I'll never forget:

Dear Farnam product manager:

I just wanted to tell you an amazing story about your product, Vetrolin detangler.  I am the Equine Nomad, with a goal to ride 200 miles in every state.  I travel with four horses and usually tent camp in wilderness areas.  I have been on the road with my herd for 14 months now, having ridden more than 2000 miles thus far, in 6 states.

Recently I was camped overnight at a state campground in Oregon.  There was no shower at the horse facility, so I went over to use the facilities at the regular campground, leaving my 20 year old son in charge of the herd. 

As the location was quite remote, he did as we often do, and released the 3 geldings to graze, leaving the mare tied to "emotionally tether" the rest of the herd nearby.  When I got back, he had already gathered them up and they were tucked away each in their own sturdy log corral.

We bedded down just as darkness fell, but were awakened early to the sound of heavy equipment operators moving right through camp, building a road.  We decided to break camp and get on our way, as the environment had quickly become unappealing due to noise of diesel trucks and swearing working men.

Not my favorite animal to see in the wild...especially at 700 am!

I tied each horse in turn near their morning feed buckets, but when it came to my beautiful white arabian, I heard a strange sound - like a clanking of keys every time he swished his tail.  What the heck?  I thought, and then saw a colorful flash of something in his tail....

13 lures - a fishy mystery!

You can imagine my dismay when I found his tail to be loaded with fishing lures!  Many!  and worse, they were all treble hooks, getting more tangled by the moment as he swished and swished his tail, smacking himself with those sharp points with every swat!  He was dancing around like a cat on a hot tin roof.  Poor guy!

Well, there was no doubt about it.  As nasty as the campsite was, we would not be pulling out until every hook was removed.  This was a formidable task, and getting worse with every clanging swish of the jangled mess of his tail.  I was worried about him, but also worried I'd catch myself on one of those hooks.  As an ER nurse, I've seen quite a few nasty fish hook injuries, and had no desire to experience it first hand.

I have been a long time user of the Farnam product, Vetrolin Detangler however, so when I saw that all those hooks were stuck beyond my wildest nightmare, my only hope was that Vetrolin could help.

I grabbed my bottle from the trailer tack room and squirted a little on the first hook.  Wonder of wonders!  That hook and then the next were released easily within a matter of minutes.  In fact there were a total of 13 fishhooks removed from Moonlight's tail in about 15 minutes.  

I was so pleased, I took photos afterward with the hooks, and with the vetrolin bottle.  I'm planning to copy this story to my blog with photos from that memorable morning if you're interested.

Thanks so much for making such a great product, and saving my horse's beautiful tail that day.  Instead of a major hassle, it was only a mystery that ended on a note of amazement and renewed confidence in your wonderful product.  All of my 4 horses have long thick manes and tails, and combing them out is never an issue with Vetrolin around.  

Even when things get a little fishy...
  
Thanks again!

Trish Wild, RN, PhD
The Equine Nomad



Look how the brush glides through his tail!

Vetrolin to the rescue!  So glad he didn't lose his tail!

The mystery of the 13 treble hooks was never solved, but the tail was saved....

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Fun on the Olympic Pennisula

Unloading the packs at Horsehead Camp, Olympic National Park 
"Sacking out" a bit more with Maggie. 
Moonlight's first pack.  He loved it!

One of the many waterfalls along the way to Cat Basin, Olympic National Park

Our beautiful route through the tall trees...

Some nice guy took a photo for us.  Zak's first pack trip!

Our beautiful camp in Cat Basin

Nice view of the Olympic Range

The Olympic Range, Olympic National Park, WA

A little Equine Yoga, Heart Lake, Olympic National Park, WA

Equine Yoga over water!

Magic provides a good base for a great pigeon pose.

My first view of a black bear in the wilderness.

Moonlight loves the Cat Basin Camp

Olympic View Stables
Bareback jumping

Bareback jumping has a steep learning curve...

Our host in Sequim, WA - Dr. Bob, a retired veterinarian.
"Take your time leaving, and hurry back!"
Thanks for everything Bob!

Equine Yoga, Feng Shui and more photos from Capital State Park

While Zak was in Portland, my friend Michelle and I went to work to Feng Shui several rooms in her house.  We rolled up our sleeves and transformed her space from clutter, disorganization, and darkness to a light, bright, supportive and pleasing space.

The kitchen before..... 


And After....All surfaces cleaned and all cupboards organized.
The dog is very happy with the energy shift..
The Bathroom before 
And the bathroom after....

After leaving Michelle to continue her Feng Shui on her own, I met up with Zak and we camped and rode in Capital State Forest, near Olympia WA.  His friends came out to visit and enjoyed some rides with us.  Morgan even was brave enough to try some Equine Yoga....

First riders over the new bridge in Capital State Park, Olympia WA

A good river gallop!

Zak's friends Andy and Nick joined us for an afternoon.

Morgan tries out some Equine Yoga!

Not bad for a beginner!