Horsy News, Views and Attitudes Vol. 1 Number 16 November 5-11, 2007

Local Farm Honored Nelson's Farm & Barn - photo by Jeanne Betancourt Two hundred tons is a compost pile as big as a barn. But that's what James Nelson has saved from going to local landfills. This week Nelson's Farm got an award from SCCA, the Southern Connecticut Composting Association. "We have been composting our own dairy waste for years," Nelson said, "Then Reggie Olson asked us to take his farm's output, too. It took off from there." Nelson's farm now composts green waste for all of the Wiggins area. Last year Nelson started to bag the finished compost and sales took off. Nelson then offered pickup service to local horse owners. "Mr. Nelson drives by once a week and to pick up our pony plop," said young Anna Harley. "He doesn't charge horse owners to take it away, and we're glad he can recycle it into compost." Locally Nelson's Compost is available at Kline's Hardware, Feed and Tack. Look for the green bag with a picture of Nelson's barn.

"Just Passing Through" Bird Hike Next Weekend Next weekend marks the annual bird watchers' hike on Mount Morris, lead by Park Ranger Jack Stranton. "Every fall birds fly south to the Caribbean for the winter," Stranton said. "Mt. Morris is one of the places they first stop to rest. November is a great time to see lots of migrating birds." After flying all night, these birds stop to rest and eat before they start again. Ranger Stranton looked downhill from his ranger station. "This area has always been a favorite spot for songbirds, while the swamps around Lake Appamapog attract waterfowl." This year's five-mile trek will be from 10 am to 2 pm next Saturday, November 10th. Hikers can meet the Park's Ranker Station at the top of Mt. Morris. Everyone is should wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring a picnic lunch. The hike route will follow the north side of Badd Brook to Lake Appamapog and stop at the Town Beach for a sack lunch. Hikers will return following trails along the brook's south side. A local youth riding group, the Pony Pals, will follow the same path an hour later. "We volunteered to ride last in case anyone gets into trouble," Pam Crandal said. "We will make sure the other hikers get home safe!"

Thought for the day - - Oliver Wendell Holmes

A mind that is stretched by new experience

can never go back to its old dimensions

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Horsy News, Views and Attitudes Vol. 1 Number 16 November 5-11, 2007

LEARN TO SPEAK HORSE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q. Q. Can a person really tell what an animal is thinking like Pam in Super special #5? Your fan, Isabelle Dear Isabelle, Humans and horses think differently but as you get to know a pony well you can certainly tell what is going through their mind.  That is one of the secrets of good horse riding and care. Super Special #5 is one of my favorite Pony Pal books for that very reason. In that book Snow White is practicing for the Winter Festival and Acorn gets jealous. Pam Crandal 'reads' Acorn and Snow White's thoughts to help her Pony Pals. Almost anyone can learn to do the same thing if they try. Anna and Lulu wrote down Pam's steps 1. Clear your head 2. Breathe deeply and Slowly 3. Focus on the animal 4. Relax and listen 5. Believe what you hear. Using these steps, ponies and horses will tell you many things. They can smell and hear things that are very far away.

When you work with them to find what they are feeling, remember to think in pictures, not words. Ponies and horses remember things clearly, and will tell you when something has happened that they were afraid of or hurt by, even when it was a long time ago. Sometimes they can even show you an image of what is going to happen before it does. To learn how to read your pony's (or any pet's) mind, you need to think about how they see things and focus on their point of view. In the book, Pam takes her time and is very quiet, giving a pony time to calm down. Just like when something is bothering you, whatever is on the animal's mind will come to the top very soon. If you are waiting for it, you will see what it is. Sometimes it is simple, like when a pony is missing it's best friend and begins to worry about where they have gone. If the pony is in pain from an injury or illness, you will sometimes sense that, too. Even if it is just that your pony is hungry or wants a treat, they may tell you that. It is better to try this when you don't have a big problem with your pony. It can be fun to try and see if you can tell what they are thinking. Let me know how it works out. Communicating with your pet is not as hard as you think.

Thought for the day -

If you have a hill to climb, waiting won't make it smaller.