Back in Stride & Southern Sask Weight Pull

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

This post is a bit on the late side BUT thanks to Affordable Barns the horses now have shelter in their pasture. They even were kind enough to match the shelter to the barn colour wise 😍

I took a picture of before I stained the kick wall wood and after. Looks snazzy!

07/18/2026

Most of us, if not all of us have a dog. But the question now is how often do you look in their mouth and truly investigate their teeth and gums? For myself, not often, especially with my giant breeds due to never having an issue. My Great Dane has now taught me, pay a bit closer attention.

When a neighbour this spring stopped by to introduce himself, my dog was barking and growling and how he held his front lips up I noticed I could barely see his teeth. Right away I needed to look in his mouth to see and then I noticed I could barely see some of his molars.

I sent an email off to the vet with pictures to find out that my dog has Gingival Hyperplasia. What is an over growth of the gums, slow growing. Therefore this traps food in the gums, can cause bad breath(what he had), dental disease and infection.

My Great Dane is fear aggressive, to go to a vet is not easy on him. Luckily my vet prescribed trazadone and gabapentin what made going to the vet so much easier on my dog. It also helps use less drugs when the dog goes under anaesthetic.

It took 3 hours and 15 scalpel blades to clean up my dogs mouth. Yikes! I’m happy to report that his teeth look amazing, he didn’t need to lose any due to catching it soon enough. His breath already smells better. The first day my dog did not want to eat much, just a bit of raw diet. The next morning he ate his full kibble mean and has maintained his diet well. Pain meds for 7 days and antibiotics he came home on with me needing to send pictures in 2 weeks to the vet.

Now i need to find something my dog will chew to encourage that to help his teeth a bit. Will this grow back? More than likely. How fast? No idea. I now know to pay better attention. Even these giant breeds need some dental care time to time.

Moral of this, look in your dogs mouth. ☺️

07/10/2026

Donkey, if you know him you know, he’s kind of a big deal around here. Maybe he will get famous now 🤭

Happy Friday!

We hope your weekend is just as bright and cheerful as vet student Arden and Donkey! 💞🦓

Friendly reminder to assure your water buckets, troughs and bowls are clean and full and horses have access to free-choice salt. It’s going to be a hot one!!! 🥵

07/04/2026

If you feel hot, your horse feels even hotter.

Horses have a much harder time processing heat and humidity than humans. And among horses, foals usually cannot handle as much heat as adult horses. A mare may be fine, but her foal may be getting sick from being out on a hot day.

Horses with heavy muscling or excess fat or in poor condition will also be more susceptible to heat exhaustion. Keep in mind that exercise is a major source of body heat and strenuous work on a hot, humid day can lead to problems in a short period of time for even the best-conditioned horse.

Does this mean you should not ride on a hot and humid day? Not necessarily. It just means you should take precautions and use common sense. And remember: don't push it! If your horse looks tired, it’s time for a drink, a cold bath, and a break in the shade.

07/02/2026

A new shipment of Inukshuk Professional Dog Food is in and ready for you to pick up!☺️

In stock, Marine 26/16 $90 and Marine 30/25 $95

07/01/2026

Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦🍁

06/04/2026

Today makes 3 weeks since I put Mike down. He meant the world to me and was the true testament to getting “Back in Stride”. Unfortunately he sustained an injury that no one was able to fix this time. He was the first horse I have ever had to put down, my hardest loss. I’ve put a few dogs down in my time due to owning giant breeds. Moving on with their loss was hard, but losing Mike has been harder.

Over time I have been asked if I regret any of the money I have spent on Mike? Why didn’t I put him down and just buy another horse? There has always been something about him that said he wanted to live and be here. That made me want to do everything for him. He came into my care not 100% sound and needed my help, that’s what I did. I felt that being his owner meant I was his caretaker, he relied on me for everything to live. I gave him that. By doing that he showed he was a fighter.

The statement “I live in a Mike’s world” was very true. He had DDFT surgery May of 2020, that’s when I was really tested to see if I could get a horse back into their stride and I did. The surgery was needed but the rehab was key. It was long, lots of work, but I learned so much from the process and watched it all work. It also helped having a horse who wanted to go on in life and fight to be here.

Due to my rehab with him, my bond with him grew to where he felt like a giant dog, a best friend. I didn’t realize how much my world revolved around him until he’s been gone. There’s been avoid that makes me feel lost some days. I know in time the void will get smaller or maybe fully close or something else will fill it. But I’m ever so thankful that Mike ended up with me.

Through owning Mike I now have a much better understanding of the inside of a horses foot. Prior to him, it was a grey area of understanding. I now know what to watch for and look for better in a horse to see a problem, catch it early enough to have hopefully a better outcome. Confirmation, know it, look at it and realize that does play a roll into everything with a horses movement from walking to loping. That will affect their whole body, muscle and joints. My barn was built around what does a horse need when stall rested, what does the vet and farrier need. Now because of Mike I have 3 main things to help rehab horses such as, my stalls have windows that open for the air flow and light, there’s a sky light peak in the roof to allow for more natural light, the stalls mats are the comfort stall mats to make standing for long periods of time easier on a horse.

The COBIT it works! I’m a strong believer if it was not for Ross Smith and the cobit being used on Mike since his surgery May 2020 that there is a chance Mike’s front feet would of never gotten to where they were. Mike has had shoes on his front feet since 2020 and it was fall of 2025 that those shoes were able to come off and stay off. He trotted sound! I was so scared when Ross said take the shoes off, but Ross knew it was time I trusted him. Navicular is an awful, painful issue within the feet. BUT if you trim and shoe them right, I believe now they can still live and do things. Navicular is not always a death sentence, just look at Mike.

Mike helped to show me that I really can help a horse recover from an injury and come back to their career or some sort of riding. That you have to take your time, trust the process and don’t rush anything. Every body heals at a different pace and requires something a bit different during that healing period. That there will be the odd set back, but don’t stress about it, that’s part of the process. Don’t set markers to meet during healing, those are not realistic, it’s all about time.

Micheal to some you were a money pit, easily replaceable. To me, you were the best Christmas present I ever bought myself. I love you so much and miss you so much. I’m ever so thankful for everything you taught me. I’m so happy you got to live a life in a herd of horses, on a big pasture and be loved. Thank you for all the times in and out of the show pen.

Rest easy buddy, run pain free, till we meet again ❤️

05/21/2026

Can human kinesiology tape be used on horses?

Here’s something I found:

One tape does not fit all—especially for horses.
Research and field results reveal a clear truth. Tapes made for human skin are a risky choice for horses, no matter how many times you see them in tack rooms. EquiTecs starts with the facts about equine skin and hair: thicker, denser, and designed for movement. Human-adapted tape often pulls, irritates, or slips during a horse’s stride. The right adhesive chemistry is critical for both grip and safety. Equine tapes have
flexible backing avoids stiffness that can crease or trap heat.
Lower risk of skin issues, less disruption to hair and underlying tissue.
Always prep the hair you want it clean and dry.
This is not just about comfort. Proper tape means faster recovery and true protection for the horse’s skin.

Equine Tapes Move with Your Horse
Horses move in ways generic tapes cannot handle. Equine tapes are made with just the right tensile strength and elasticity to support muscles and joints through every phase of movement. You get even load distribution and better swelling care compared to one-size-fits-all tape and one-size-fits-all education.
Follow clear application guides for tension and region. This helps manage swelling and ensures every step supports natural healing.
Equine tapes work with the horse — alignment, lymphatic flow, and posture benefits are built in.
Track recovery by noting swelling changes and movement quality, so you can adjust with real data.

The Safety Stakes: Why Human Tape Misses the Mark
Non-horse tapes can trap heat, leave sticky residue, and cause skin reactions. Healing slows, comfort suffers.
Poor fit creates restrictions in the wrong places, raising the risk for more problems.

Rebecca who is part of Equitec says: “Horse-designed tape is not a nice-to-have. It protects the animal. Every part of EquiTecs is built so horses recover, stay steady, and feel better—with real evidence, not wishful thinking.”

Always look for tape tested for horses. Use only products designed for equine care and respect your horse’s unique needs.

Your horse is unique. Their care should be too.

If human tape does not work for horses it won’t work for canines either. Always use a product designed for them.

05/02/2026

It’s that time of year where the garden hose can come out and Mike can play in the water ❤️