As winter winds down and warm weather is imminent, I wanted to take a moment to offer everyone Westwood's policy on water usage. We only have one well here at Westwood, so water conservation is very important as we enter the warm, dry months ahead. Horses will be drining more water, owners will want to use more water to bathe and rinse, and as in years past Mother Nature may not bless us with the rain we need to stay ahead of the curve!

Here are a few practices we ask you to observe in order to help us ensure there is enough water to go around:

1. Rinse horses out of a buckets only. Fill your bucket, and use a sponge to rinse your horse off instead of spraying the water hose. (Rinsing is normally done after you ride, to rinse the sweat from your horses body.)

Sidenote: Empty your bucket outside of the barn after use, as it will help to keep the dry well from filling up. The water from the wash rack drains into the dry well and that means the faster the dry well fills, the faster it will stop draining and the sooner it will have to be pumped.

2. If you need to bathe your horse, ensure you have a nozzle on the hose so that the water flow can be turned off and not left to run when not is use. Washing is normally done prior to an event, or as general maintenance of your horses skin and hair coat, but not necessary after every ride)

3. Use the outdoor arena vs the indoor arena whenever possible. The indoor arena needs to be wetted down before use. The outdoor arena does not.

4. Don't allow water to overflow out of water troughs...I am guilty of this myself from time to time, but do your best to remember to turn the water off before overflow.

That's about it....We appreciate your cooperation! Looking forward to the warmth and sunshine ahead!!!!

Here is a Pic of Fiddle, our 4 month old female Pygmy Goat. Yes, she is perched in a horse feeder about 4 feet off the ground, and Yes, she got in there all by herself! She, along with her little buddy Banjo, have the great task of keeping all the 'bad' weeds away....We are especially hopeful they take a liking to Poison Ivy and Thistle Bushes!!! Banjo is only 2 months old and black and gray in coloring. They have the cutest personalities and are already super friendly...stop in and say hello next time you come by....they LOVE to chat! More pics on our wesbite under PETS!

We have a lot of movement at Westwood this month and last to report!

Just a friendly reminder to please clean up the common areas (lounge, tack room, bathroom, breezeway) before you leave....there is a broom and dust pan in the lounge, so please do a little sweep up or rake before you go so you are leaving the facilities just as nice for the next person :)

HAY UPDATE...I have acquired about 300 bales of alfalfa/orchard hay from a farm in northern Virginia...yeah! The horses seem to love it....

Now, for the important stuff....

PARKER, KNIGHT & I-JIN....Parker is leaving us this month. His owner will be moving him, of all places, to my former Farm in Spotsylvania! It's a small world! Hope he continues on his road to recovery and gets lots of the TLC he deserves! Knight is good on supplements...I actually did not realize you have refilled them for about a week, so you may have a little left over when your next shipment comes in...I can always double him up if that occurs :) I-Jin is back in good health, but due to age and soundness issues, her competitive jumping days have come to an end. As such. Julie and Celilia have been on the hunt for a replacement (although I-Jin is not going anywhere) and may have found one in a little gray mare names Raven! Raven will be vetted this month and arrive at Westwood if all goes well...she will then depart again for some formal training in preparation for her new life as a show pony. Stay tuned!

PEDRO....is good on supplements and grain, but needs some more hay in the feed room, please!! He was introduced to Fiddle and Banjo the pygmy goats (more info to come about them later). Can you say waaaaaaaaaaaay over excited to meet them??? LOL...I had to put him in his stall because he was spooking the horse in the arena with his antics...That's right, the horse in the arena could care less about the goats, THAT is how much ruccus Pedro was causing over them....LOL....I think he wanted to pick them up and toss them around....very funny!

LEGEND, BUGZ & BUCK ....Supplements look good. Still on the last container....Per our discussion, Buck will be leaving us at the end of March to go back to his old stomping grounds at the Pond's house. Legend and Bugz are separate currently, but Legend will replace Buck in the large pasture and join Potter and Bugz at the end of the month. Reunited, at last! Legend tore his back leg strap on his blanket, FYI.

CASH is still on ulcerguard mon-wed-fri and a scoop of powder every night....you are good on both. He is still getting the boots on his hind legs before turnout, so let me know if that needs to stop at some point.

JAX is still good on beet pulp and supplement...I saw he got a rip in the top of his sheet....just a small one....it's still on him.

ALLIE ...like the picture? We haven't tried THAT one yet! haha

SUMMER & FROSTY ....Summer is off her supplement now. Both are happy and healthy! Kevin Clements is working the electric to their cottage as we speak....it should be complete around the end of the month I suspect!

FEDE .....Fede and Sue are still getting along great! She is happy and healthy, nothing new to report! Meredith and Holly mucked their paddock the second week of March as well....they are working their way around all the paddocks and pastures.

BOBBY.....Supplements look good! I have been leaving his sheet on day and night since he is so slick now....let me know if you want that to change. Bobby's pasture-mate, Parker, is leaving this month, and Knight or Raven will be joining him after that. Raven is a mare, but is used to being turned out with geldings and gets along well. We'll see how it plays out.

CHARLIE, SUNNY, TWINKIE & SUE.....Sue has settled right in, although battling pulled shoes and an abcess has really put a damper on her work schedule! She looks to be on the mend now though. Sunny is getting ready to start his career as a hunter horse. kaitlyn has big plans for him! Your supplements look good. Charlie and Twinkie HAVE SOLD! They are going to live with Melissa Carwain, who just happens to e purchasing our old Farm in Spotsylvania. They are a great family and are going to a wonderful home. This means Sue will be moving up in life to a barn stall at the end of the month. She will be turned out with I-Jin and Allie. Hoping to get a couple more paddocks built this summer to spread them out a little better.

POTTER.....is good on supplements!

GRACIE.....has settled in nicely and seems to get along very well with her new pasture mate Fede. She just has her sheet on as long as it stays above freezing, and that seems to suit her. Do you want to add her to Jeff's Farrier schedule? When is she due for her next visit?

DE-WORMING: Just a reminder that we normally de-worm our horses at every ferrier visit...please ensure your horses are on a good rotation schedule.

FARRIER: Please arrange for the holding of your horse(s) if you are not available. Don't forget about your appts! Dates and times can be found on the online calendar. We have 3 appts now to service everyone!

On my side of the fence, Tacks has sold. She is in Kentucky as we speak, and headed to her retirement home in OH after foaling. We'll miss her, but I could not have hand picked a more suitable home for the old nag. She is charmed!

Woodie is still offered for sale. Abby Boldenow is riding him for me on occasion to help keep him conditioned....hoping to have him tuned up for some local shows this spring..pls pass thw word:

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1169370

Thanks for the opportunitiy to care for your horses! For those that find themselves on the show circuit, Best of Luck in 2008!

1. I am human. You are horse. What I say goes. Please take that into consideration when you are standing on my foot.

2. Spilled grain is not "fair game", especially when it is spilled in another horse's stall. It still belongs to that particular horse. You have no reason to go in and eat it.

3. Poop does not need to be hidden. I clean your stall every day. I will Find it. Do not hide it.

4. I do not need your help when I clean the barn, nor do I need your supervision, or even your presence. I have been cleaning the barn and stalls ever since you lived here. I know what I am doing. Standing at the door staring at me, will not make me clean faster.

5. There is no need to go into the barn and help yourself to the feed. Meals Are given at specific times of the day -am and pm. There is a feed schedule. You know the schedule. I know you know the schedule. You know that I know that you know the schedule. There is no need to help yourself.

6. Water buckets are not toys. Neither is the gate, pitchfork, wheel barrow, whatever is in the wheel barrow, fence,
or the occasional dog.

7. The wheel barrow is there for a reason. Please do not try to move it while I am cleaning your stall.

8. Just because I go into the Barn doesn't mean you automatically get food. There is other stuff in the barn. Stuff you don't want. Like de wormer and fly spray , shots, medicine.

9. Sheath cleaning will NOT be enjoyed...by anyone.

10. Water travels through the hose. If you are thirsty, do not stand on the hose. The water buckets will fill much faster.

11. Not everything has to be high drama. None of the following things will kill you: fly spray, plastic bags, balloons, hoses, chipmunks and other small rodents, or bright blue tarps.

12. Although I understand the need for you to go to the bathroom, it is not necessary to hold it in all day until the moment I finish cleaning your stall and put away the wheel barrow.

13. Accidents happen. However, I'm not altogether sure you're not trying to kill yourself. Next time you decide to impale yourself on some sort of object, please try to do it when it's not hailing, midnight, the weekend, or Christmas.

14. While I appreciate your need to be clean, pooping in your water bucket does not make my job easier, and it deprives you of water. Please find a new spot.

15. Whinnying as loudly as you can in my face does not make me feed you any faster.

16. I have to wait patiently too while you are having your shoes tacked on. There is no need to bite me.

WE HAVE A NEW 'SICKY HORSEY' POLICY...

We have faced our first horsey sickies and have learned a lot! I want to thank Julie and Annette for their quick response to my concerns about their horses health! It enabled us to promptly treat Knight, I-Jin and Allie to help them get back to 100% as soon as possible! It also helped to contain the potential spread of said 'sickies' to the rest of the horses sharing their spaces. All in all, I think you handled everything very well!

For future reference, Westwood defines a 'sicky horsey' to be one that exhibits signs of the common cold, stranlges, respiratory infection, or other communicable ailment. Symptoms including coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, lethargy, or temperature.

Westwood's policy on 'sicky horsey's' is the following. When any of the above symptoms have been observed and are cause for concern, the owner will be notified and asked to contact a verterinarian for diagnosis and treatment immediately. The horse will be quarantined in their stall or in a private paddock through their full course of medication AND when all symptoms have ceased. This is to help prevent the spread of the sickies to other horses on the farm. If stalled, turnout can be arranged in the outdoor arena per owner request, but it is highly recommended the horse be handled by the owner on a daily basis, if possible, to observe the horses progression. Westwood will continue to observe the sicky horsey thru recovery and make final judgment on the horses suitablility to go back to regular turnout with the other horses. Veterinarian recommendation considered, of course.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Just a friendly reminder to please clean up the common areas (lounge, tack room, bathroom, breezeway) before you leave....there is a broom and dust pan in the lounge, so please do a little sweep up or rake before you go so you are leaving the facilities just as nice for the next person :)

HAY UPDATE...Still no round bales in site. Our alfalfa/orchard hay has run out and we are back to an Orchard Hayfrom PA for the majority. Cash and Pedro are still on Alfalfa, which is obtained localy. Our PA supplier is running low, even on Orchard, so I may be buying locally next month. We'll see how it goes....

Now, for the important stuff....

KNIGHT & I-JIN....Knight is back on supplements, I-Jin is not until her cough clears...both bins are full.

PEDRO....need more supplements for the big guy! Please keep 2 bales of your hay available in the feed room, near the supplements. You grain is running low!

LEGEND, BUGZ & BUCK ....Supplements look good. On the last container now. Thanks again for loaning the boys out for a ride last weekend. They were great and a good time was had by all!

CASH is still on ulcerguard mon-wed-fri and a scoop of powder every night....you are good on the powder. Since we discussed his weight looking good now, i will begin weaning him off the beet pulp.

JAX is running low on beet pulp and supplement...funny thing, he hasn't ripped a single blanket all week! Oh wait, that right, he hasn't had one on! hehe

ALLIE ...no comment. I jinxed myself last month!

SUMMER & FROSTY ....Summer is about half done with her supplement. I promise to do something about the mud for next winter....now that we know where is gets nasty, I will plan on bringing in some sand to backfill and help prevent it!

FEDE .....Fede has a new pasture-mate....see "Sue" below.

BOBBY.....Your supplements need replenished....You can look in the feed room for a grain bag to throw Bobby's hair in after you clip him if yo want.

CHARLIE, SUNNY, TWINKIE & SUE.....Welcome SUE!!! Sue is the newest addition to Westwood. Justin will be riding and showing her in reining! Congratulations and we are happy to have her join the family! Sunny is plumping up quite nicely, what do you think? I am going to keep him on the beet pulp this month and then he will probably be set to wean off in March. Your supplement is just under half full. Charlie and Twinkie are for sale, please contact Julia for more information.

POTTER.....is good on supplements!

DE-WORMING: Just a reminder that we normally de-worm our horses at every ferrier visit...please ensure your horses are on a good rotation schedule.

FARRIER: Please arrange for the holding of your horse(s) if you are not available. Don't forget about your appts! Dates and times can be found on the stable calendar.

After MUCH thought, I have decided not to pursue breeding anymore. The economy is down, which makes it hard to sell the prospects for a profit, and I am struggling ethically about adding more horses to an already saturated market! My broodmares, Tacks and Twiggy are now offered for sale. See more pics on my website under BREEDING:

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1169793

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1169785

Woodie was gelded on the 4th, and is on the road to recovery. He should be back under saddle next week. He is also offered for sale:

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1169370

Thanks for the opportunitiy to care for your horses! For those that find themselves on the show circuit, Best of Luck in the 2008 Show Season!