Bee Comes When Called and We Answer Your Horse FAQs
It has been a slow week with Bee, but we did catch a sweet little moment on video. For her weekly shot, I called her in from the pasture, and to my delight, she came trotting right up to me. Now, before you get too impressed, I am about 90 percent sure she was thinking more about the possibility of food than actually running to see me. Either way, it was a good reminder of how far she has come with our routine. Even better, the rest of the herd followed her in like a little parade behind the queen. [Check FB or Insta for a video, out of town and can’t get it to upload].
With my grandkids visiting last week, I missed lessons, and with another trip this week, we are skipping again. Since Bee’s been on light duty, I thought it would be the perfect time to answer some of the questions I get asked most often about horses and barn life.
Or as Bee would put it:
"Fine. I’ll answer your questions. But only if there are carrots involved."
🐎 Why do horses need shots so often?
Just like dogs and cats, horses need regular vaccines to stay healthy. They are exposed to things like tetanus, West Nile virus, and equine influenza, so their shots help protect them and the whole herd. Bee also gets a weekly hormone shot to keep her temper and cycle balanced, which is pretty common for mares with big personalities.
🐎 Do horses really come when called?
Sometimes! Horses can absolutely learn to come when they hear your voice or a specific call, especially if they associate it with food or something positive. Bee has learned that my call often means treats, her dinner, or at the very least a good brushing. When she was with the back herd she started coming to me regularly. Now that she’s out with the front herd and at best second mare to Vita who is first, she stays close to Neville the boss and Vita usually. So no, we’ve reverted to not coming when called and me walking the large pasture to get her most days, but it is definitely a partnership between training and motivation.
🐎 What do horses eat besides carrots?
Carrots are a favorite treat, but a horse’s main diet is built on good forage — hay or pasture grass. There are different types of hay, and the choice often depends on a horse’s age, workload, and nutritional needs. Grass hay, like coastal Bermuda or timothy, is lower in protein and calories and is great for most horses to munch on all day. Alfalfa is a legume hay that is richer in protein, calcium, and calories, making it a good choice for horses that need extra energy or are hard keepers. Many barns feed a mix of both to balance nutrition and ours does just that. Bee gets two “flakes” (A hay bale is made up of compressed layers of hay, and when you peel one of those layers off, you get a flake. Think of it like pulling a slice from a loaf of bread. Flakes make it easy to portion out consistent amounts of hay for each feeding.) of coastal in the morning and a flake of coastal and alfalfa in the evening.
Bee’s diet also includes a small amount of grain to supplement what hay alone can’t provide. She gets Renew Gold, which is a low-starch, high-fat grain blend with stabilized rice bran, flaxseed, and coconut meal. It helps maintain her energy and keeps her coat sleek without overloading her with sugar or fillers. She was on that with her prior owner so we just continued it.
On top of that, Bee gets three supplements from Formula 707: a fly-control feed-through that helps keep the pests down, a calming supplement to keep her hormone-fueled sass in check, and a hoof supplement we recently added because her front hooves are not growing as quickly as we would like, and her backs have taken a beating without shoes.
Treats like apples or peppermints are fun extras (hint: Bee doesn’t like apples), but the bulk of a horse’s nutrition always comes from quality forage. And yes, Bee insists on budgeting a monthly carrot allowance because, in her mind, carrots are not a luxury — they are an essential food group.
🐎 What do horses do when you are on vacation?
At a good barn, horses stick to their routine, but we’re at a GREAT barn. The barn staff feed, water, and turn them out as usual, and the herd becomes their family. Bee is well cared for when I am away with our barn family doting on her and making sure she’s not being aggravated by flys and her stall and water trough are clean, though I like to think she misses me a little. More likely, she just misses the extra carrots and cool-down baths.
🐎 Why are lessons important even for experienced riders?
Riding is like any other sport or skill: the more you practice, the better you communicate with your partner. Lessons keep both horse and rider tuned in and balanced. Even experienced riders benefit from another set of eyes on the ground to catch little things that make a big difference.
Our weekly lessons with Ashley Holland at Rock Solid Performance Horses have been a game changer for both me and Bee. Ashley is an accomplished rider who has built my confidence to not only ride but also to challenge myself. She has been integral to where we are today with Bee, offering guidance on everything from feed and hormone management to behavior and equipment. I can say without a doubt that without her, we wouldn’t be this far along in our journey.
One day, I still hope to join Clinton Anderson’s Method Crew to add another set of training tools to our toolbox. I am secretly (hint, hint family) hoping my family will splurge on that for my birthday — because you can never have too many ways to help your horse (or your own riding) grow.
It might have been a quiet week, but quiet weeks are good for reflection and answering questions you did not even know you had. If you have something you have always wondered about horses, barn life, or Bee, send it my way. Maybe we will tackle it in a future Weekly Buzz!
Until next week, may your herd be happy, your shots routine, and your horse come running when you call.
– Wise Market & Bee