A friend told me about a TV program on National Geographic Canada, “The Incredible Dr. Pol”. I don’t receive this channel, but I was able to find a DVD of season one on-line. When the DVD arrived in the mail we almost instantly started watching it. Talk about incredible! Dr. Pol is 69 years old. He and his wife work together in their Michigan vet practice which contains over 18,000 large and small animals.

The website has many short videos of Dr. Pol at work. If you have a few minutes, check them out at http://natgeotv.com/ca/the-incredible-dr-pol. I’m glad I did.

On the home front: yesterday our vet came to give shots, float teeth, worm, etc. This is her first visit since the horses have been using the slow-feeder haynets. She was pleased! She checked each horse and noted the reduction in fat. I told her that I often place a small flake of hay on the stall floor in addition to the slow-feeder haynet. Invariably the horses go to the net. I think they enjoy “playing” with it.

She wanted to know where I got them. I explained that I had two types in the barn. Turns out Pax (the Canadian) has put his dent in quite a few of the original nets that have one-inch-square holes. His owner, Ron, suggested a larger hole opening just might work better with Pax. Perhaps he wouldn’t pull so hard and break sections of the weave in the net. About three weeks ago I went to Greenhawk and found a slow-feeder (referred to as “small hole”) haynet. I really like it. The cost is just under $12. Every corner of each hole has a knot in it. The draw-string at the top is strong and substantial in size. At the bottom of the net the hole that I feed the clip through is a metal ring. This strengthens the opening. Pax has been eating out of the net and there’s not one sign of wear and tear. Another bonus is: when I use it outside in his paddock the haynet survives! The previous slow-feeder only lasted one day on his paddock fence. Pax was successful in breaking the draw-string. We’re constantly pointing out that Ron should create a line of horse stuff called “Pax Proof Products”!

My vet has watched me struggle with Zelador and Zeloso’s weight for years. Finally they’re eating over a longer period of time and slowly reaching a healthy weight. Whew!

During my vet’s visit I asked, “Have you seen Zelador sit on the bean bag?” She hadn’t. The bean bag was in the tack room. I took it to Zelador’s stall and he sat on it. She was impressed and requested that I send a photo via email so she can show it to everyone. Yeah, Zelador!

Finally, I gave her a “we’re almost through this tough winter” present!!!! It’s Marie-Lynn Hammond’s newly released CD, “HoofBeats”. Every song on it is about horses. I love it. The CD includes songs about:
1. a Chestnut Mare that keeps Marie-Lynn on her toes,
2. Reckless, the little mare that made fifty-one trips in one battle in the Korean War…most of them by herself (I always cry when I hear that song),
3. a Canadian,
4. a disabled child, Emily, who rides at the walk on a rescue horse entitled, “Emily Flies”
5. a naughty pony
…and many more songs that Marie-Lynn has written.

Her website is: www.marielynnhammond.com

Hope you get a chance to check out this CD.