Merry-Go-Round Carriage Rides

What a great example!

The Houston Mounted Police Patrol Unit has been gaining global attention recently and is being acknowledged as a leader in the natural horse movement.

The Houston Mounted Police Patrol Unit has been gaining global attention recently for its leadership in the natural horse movement. After transitioning to barefoot years ago, the Unit has now also opted to go bitless.

The mounted unit herd was previously managed in a very traditional manner, however, the officers soon realized that they were frequently faced with hoof issues and other ailments that could be attributed to the use of metal shoes. Metal shoes on asphalt create concussive force that travels through the hoof and up the leg of the horse. In 1984, the Swiss Cavalry at the University of Zurich conducted a study on the effects of metal shoeing. The research revealed that the impact force on a shod hoof on hard ground is 10-33 times greater than that of an unshod hoof. The vibration caused by the shoe in the hoof is approximately 800 hz, a level that is high enough to cause damage to living tissue.

The metallic footwear was impeding the natural flexibility of the hoof under pressure, consequently reducing essential blood flow to the hoof and lower limb.

As a result of these challenges, the unit concluded that it was worth trying something different. In 2004, they decided to experiment by allowing one horse to go barefoot. The outcome was extremely positive, leading them to transition their entire herd (40 horses) to barefoot. They observed a significant improvement in the health of their horses, resulting in a 50% reduction in vet bills. Moreover, they noticed enhanced traction on slippery surfaces, contributing to a sense of safety for both the officers and horses during patrols. It is difficult to dispute the benefits of these changes! Furthermore, the force has recently made the decision to transition to Bitless equipment, which has been met with great success.

Hello friends… I need your help. On Sunday March 31st I had the worst trailer accident in my life. There was a weak spot in the wall of my trailer - likely from the past eight years of adopting, training and finding good homes for so many wild mustangs and burros. The wall split apart from the floor and my horse Millie got her leg caught in the crack. The wounds were horrific and we had to have emergency surgery that night. She pulled through the surgery and is doing well but we have a very long road ahead of us to recovery.

Some would say I should have put her down, because this is a huge financial burden and there is still the risk of infection and death, and for most animals I would have considered humane euthanasia. Millie is not most animals - she is one of the special ones. I got her three years ago for one of the mustang competitions that Amber Lynne Espinoza was hosting, and the two words she used to describe her are true to this day “quiet and curious”. My friend Amanda Egan who hauled her home from me asked if she was sick because she was so calm. From day one of walking into the trailer, and letting me halter her like any other domestic horse she has been special. I’ve never seen her spook at anything, she simply stops and considers scary things before doing them. From walking inside buildings, to walking down flights of stairs, through downtown Flagstaff, and right next to Forest while he was pulling a carriage past busy traffic she has tried every crazy thing I’ve thrown at her. She is a friend to every animal on the property and she doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. Her goofy antics always make me laugh, from splashing in the water trough, to grabbing the hose and spraying the other horses while I’m trying to fill up the water. She’s always the first to come say hi at the fence and I don’t think she’s ever met a stranger because she treats everyone as a friend. She is the horse I chose to bring with me across the country because I knew I would need a shoulder to cry on after the last court hearing against my ra**st, and she was my rock through the severe depression that followed. She is only five now and deserves every chance at having the next 20+ years of her life, and I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing her at the gate waiting for me.

Millie has given me her best try on everything I’ve ever asked and I owe it to her to do the same. I am asking for your help in giving her this chance. If you could help financially, that would be amazing and I’ve provided links to do so. I’ll be selling a huge amount of things soon - my old truck, my car, a few trailers, a lot of saddles, etc and every penny will go towards the vet bills so that would help as well. I am unable to do carriage rides without my trailer but I am offering birds of prey experiences with my saker falcon and my Eurasian Eagle owl if you would like to book me for that. If you would like to share this post that would help too. Please send out a good thought, prayer, vibe and wish to Millie for a full recovery!

https://gofund.me/b3c2cce0
Venmo: -Mudd-53
PayPal:
Zelle: 9283103080

Help Millie the Mustang recover from injury!, organized by Mary Ann Mudd Hello, my name is Mary and this fundraiser is to help my horse Millie. We h… Mary Ann Mudd needs your support for Help Millie the Mustang recover from injury!

Jason Aldean's 'Small Town' is part of a long legacy with a very dark side The 'anti-city' country song is a well-worn trope, one that pits idyllic country life against the corruption of the city. But Aldean's controversial song reveals the dark heart of the tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving from the humans, horses, and the birds of Merry-Go-Round Carriage Rides! We are thankful for the continuing support from our community and all the wonderful people we've met along the way!

(Photo from the Wisconsin Historical Society website - circa 1910 - "Painted on the side of the wagon: Birdsell, South Bend, Ind.")

Horses and humans had a fantastic day giving pony rides out at Warner's Nursery & Landscape Co. for their Pumpkin Patch Festival. Always a wonderful day putting smiles on so many children's faces! 🥰🦄🎃

Rain on your wedding day brings good luck!

The rain cleared up just in time for us to take this bride to her wedding!