Pearl Snaps

Stories of a cowgirl living life by her own lights

Tag Archives: Tack ‘n Togs


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A Helping Hand

by Jesse Bussard

We all have had those people that came into our life and changed us forever. Most times these people didn’t even know they had such an influence. These acts of kindness could have been something as simple as a few words of comfort or as big as a loan to help you pay your college tuition.

For me it’s kind of like that Eric Church song “Loved Along The Way” where he sings “I wouldn’t be who I am today if not for those I’ve loved along the way.” Those words really put it in perspective for me. None of us would make it as far as we’ve gotten without the help of others along the way.

Me at about 15 yrs old with Dan and Buster, two of the best hitch horses I’ve ever known

For me those “people” have been both people and even a few of the four-legged kind. Life hasn’t always been sunshine and roses for me. High school and the few years after graduation were filled with a lot of family turmoil, frequent moves, and just general chaos. Through that time, horses and the folks involved with my equine activities played an integral role in getting me to where I am in life today.

When I was about 15, I got my very first paying job at a local stable that specialized in draft horses. I worked there throughout my time in high school. The man and his wife that owned this stable became like family to me and I still consider them that to this day. They took a chance on me when they hired me and for that I am ever grateful. I learned how to drive and handle draft horses and was exposed to a completely different side of the horse industry.

One of my fondest memories involved learning how to drive a truck and horse trailer. When I was studying to get my driver’s license this man took time out of his busy schedule to hook up his pickup truck and horse trailer for me every evening that I worked after school. We spent countless hours driving that truck and trailer through a field, with me learning how to back and turn that rig. He never once lost his patience with me.

After high school, I didn’t run off to college like the rest of my class. Instead, I worked part-time and had temporary jobs. I found jobs starting colts and riding horses for local horse owners. It took me three years and one influential woman that I worked for riding and training horses to make me realize my full potential. She saw something in me that had let go by the wayside. She encouraged me to follow my passion for horses and livestock and pursue a college degree. She gave me that kick in the rear I needed.

So what’s the point I’m trying to make by telling you these stories? Well, it’s like this. You may think you have nothing to offer others. I disagree. We all have something to give, even if it’s just a few kind words or minutes of our time. That one small act of kindness you give may be the defining moment in life for another. As a wise man once said, “Unselfish investment in people drives progress.”

This article was originally featured as my June View from the Range column for Tack ‘n Togs. You can access a pdf version here.


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Horse Slaughter: A Hard Sell

By Jesse Bussard

Reports of the reinstatement of horse slaughter have remained constant in news media since the passage of an ag appropriations bill by Congress in November of 2011 that lifted the federal ban on horse slaughter, refunding federal inspection of horse meat. Along with these reports have come recent announcements of plans to build horse processing plants in some states.

One plan for a processing plant slated for Mountain Grove, Mo., in particular has been brought to a screeching halt by local residents. Proponents of the plan did their best to sell the idea to locals touting jobs and tax revenue. However, stories of community stigma, foul odors, and environmental concerns via testimony and public records gathered while the last three horse processing plants in the United States operated were more convincing.

Residents told Wyoming state legislator, Sue Wallis, and Chevideco, the Belgian company to sponsor the plant, “Go home! If we have a horse problem we’ll solve it ourselves. We don’t need her (Wallis) and a Belgium company coming in here.” With that bold-faced response, Unified Equine, run by Wallis and Chevideco, announced they’d look elsewhere.

Since then a plan for a processing plant in Oregon has been announced and hints of the possibility of another in middle Tennessee. Whether these two projects will be met with the same opposition is yet to be seen.

As I’ve said in previous columns, I personally do not feel that there will be any horses slaughtered on U.S. soil anytime soon. The recent shutdown of the plan in Missouri shows me that it’s going to take more than the promise of some jobs and money to convince people that horse slaughter is a good thing.

In addition, a January poll conducted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), which telephone surveyed 1,008 registered voters, found that 80% of respondents were opposed to the slaughter of U.S. horses for human consumption. The ASPCA’s poll provides further evidence that the general public isn’t buying what horse slaughter proponents are selling. There is an element of questionability as to the demographics of the ASPCA sample pool, but with that aside, the evidence is still pretty convincing to me.

At one time, I was fully on the side of the pro-horse slaughter crowd. But over time, through various conversations and watching the progression of the pro- and anti-horse slaughter campaigns, I’ve become skeptical. Though I may understand the benefits of slaughter, the general public does not, and to be quite honest, I don’t think they want to.

The fact is the concept of consuming horse meat has become taboo and unfathomable to most in everyday society. Americans have not consumed horse meat since during the World War II era. And because of this, the reintroduction of horse slaughter into the United States is a hard, may I say almost impossible, sell.

I’m not trying to be pessimistic here, just realistic. We can sit and argue the pros and cons of horse slaughter until we’re blue in the face. But I have a feeling that all the convincing in the world won’t change the general public’s view of the practice.

In the end, arguing does neither side any good. The reality is we’ve got an unwanted horse problem in this country, and the sooner we stop arguing, the sooner we can start finding solutions.

This article was originally featured as my May View from the Range column for Tack ‘n Togs. You can access a pdf version here.

Related news:

New Mexico Governor to USDA: Deny Horse Processing Permit


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Are you ready for show season?

by Jesse Bussard

Well are you?  It may only be March, but in a few short weeks the show circuit will be heating up.  In many southern states it already has.  Along with this wonderful season, comes a lot of travel and stress.  To help manage this there are a few tips that will help to lighten the load and make matters more manageable for horse owners.

Biosecurity

Maintaining biosecurity measures should by far be the number one priority during before, during, and after show season.  Make sure trailers are cleaned and disinfected between haulings, especially if someone else used your trailer or you hauled strange horses in it.  When at the show some commonsense things you can do are not letting your horse touch noses with other horses, not sharing equipment with strange horses, and washing your hands after helping with other horses.

Probably one of the most important aspects of biosecurity and show season preparation is an effective vaccination program for your horses.  Horse shows pose one of the greatest biosecurity risks because horses are exposed to new environments and other equines that they may never have been around before.  This exposure can lead to your horse bringing home germs and sharing them with his pasture mates.  By having a vaccination program in place you are doing yourself and your horses a favor by greatly reducing their risk of in­fectious disease and lessening your veteri­nary expenses.  Consult with your veterinarian to find out what vaccinations would be the best for your horses in your area.

Trailer Prep

Once the horse is taken care of, the next thing to consider is the horse trailer.  It’s a good idea to annually inspect your trailer and this yearly checkup could potentially save you a lot of money and headaches in the long haul.  Not to mention, it might just help your trailer last a few more years.  The important areas to look at during a trailer inspection include the overall trailer structure, the undercarriage, the floor, tires, lights and brakes.

For trailers with living quarters it’s important to remember to “unwinterize” the living quarters.  This includes checking the water pump, air conditioner, and hot water heater to make sure they’re in good working order.  Also don’t forget to check the awnings for any wear and tear if your trailer has one.  The last thing you can do is give your trailer a good wash and wax.  If your trailer has sits outside all winter long this will help to extend the exterior finish and make it look good in the process.

First Aid

Having a horse first aid kit in your trailer can be a lifesaver in the incident of an unexpected injury or illness.  We all hope and pray that we won’t have to deal with something like that, but it’s always good to be prepared for those “what-ifs” in life.  The items in your first aid kit should help you to take care fo the most common problems you can deal with yourself, and help you cope with and injury until the veterinarian can get there.

A good first aid kit will include several key items.  A mercury or digital thermometer is a must and will quickly tell you if your horse is running an elevated temperature, which is a sure sign something is wrong.  Antiseptic wound cleaner and ointment are useful for washing and treating nicks, cuts, and scrapes.  Gamgee cloth, guaze diapers, cottons, or other forms of absorbent padding are useful for padding under leg wraps or wound dressing.  Self-sticking bandages, like Vetwrap or Coflex, are useful to hold wound dressings in place and work well as temporary leg wraps.  Clean leg wraps should also be included as they may be more suitable for some wrapping in some instances versus temporary bandages.  Don’t forget the scissors to cut bandages and wound dressing!   Lastly a good veterinary first aid book might be good to keep handy in case you encounter an issue you’re not sure how to deal with.

These are just a few of the many important things to consider when preparing for the upcoming horse show season.  My hope though is that by reading this you’ll think a little more intently about the things you need to do to do to be prepared when it comes time to load up the horse and head off to the show and being a little less stressed in the process.

This article was originally featured as my March horse care column for Tack ‘n Togs. You can access the online pdf version here.

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