June/July 2026 Issue

June/July 2026 | EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN 40 YOUR ONE STOP TRAILER SHOP, SINCE 1986 KINGSTON - HAWK FOUR STAR - SHADOW WE CARRY ALL TYPES OF TRAILERS! HORSE - STOCK - CARGO DUMP - EQUIPMENT -NEW YORK STATE PLATES & REGISTRATION ISSUED ON-SITE -TEMPORARY OUT OF STATE PERMITS USED -FULL SERVICE DEALER 2201 STATE ROUTE 17K MONTGOMERY, NY 12549 Go ahead... Ask da Mare Dear Mal…this friend of mine hates horses. I love them. So, as you can imag- ine, we have a few pretty intense discus- sions. Recently I told her that riding my horse filledme with a sense of peace with the universe. “Youmust be nuts,” she said. And then she listed dozens of reasons why horses are not our friends. Her final anti-horse insult was this: “Where do you think the term ‘nightmare’ comes from?” I didn’t knowwhether to laugh or suggest that she find a new friend. But she was serious! On and on she went about how people throughout the world call their worst dreams nightmares. Do you have any suggestions for me to get her off her high horse? Friend inNeed of Clarity Dear Friend…Wow! Sounds like your friend needs a bit of a history lesson. Peopletalkaboutbaddreamsandsaythey were nightmares. But the termoriginated back in the late Middle Ages and had nothing to do with horses. It referred to a demon; this demon (maere) would sit on the unlucky dreamers’ chests and cause a feelingof suffocation. Sadly for realmares, the nightmare moniker sticks to some horses. People (usually people who are not familiarwithhorses) talk aboutmares as if they were, at best, unpredictable and at worst, demonic! We know that horses, like people, dogs, cats, etc., have a range of behaviors and tendencies. It’s easy for people to look at a horse acting silly in the pasture and dismiss it as “crazy mare antics.” These shorthand observations can be useful; but they can also result in thoughtless chatter. It’s an unfortunate by- product of a creepy bias that runs like an undercurrent through our society--some people are all too eager todismiss females’ actions, ideas, etc. as irrelevant, silly, stu- pid. Your friend should get to know an actual horse and see that they are sentient beings with many gifts for their human companions. You would be an excellent ambassador for equines. Start by telling her about the origin of the termand help- ing her understand that it has nothing at all to do with horses. If you can get her close enough to touch your horse and stare into your horse’s eyes, it will be case closed on the “I hate horses” phase of her life. May the horse be with you! Dear Mal…I know that 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodi- ac. It has become an opportunity for me to sort of recalibrate and think about how to make sure my horse has every- thing he needs to be healthy and happy. I ride hima few times a week, and he has great turnout. He’s up to date on all his vaccines and the farm where he lives is beautiful and extremely well-run. But, I’m a worrier at heart and spend a lot of time doomscrolling about all the dan- gers lurking in the air, the water and the woods. Can you helpme figure out what is really worth worrying about? Nervous Dear Nervous…congratulations on being the loving “parent” of a very lucky horse! It’s true that you often find more stuff to worry about on the internet than stuff to comfort you. Many of your wor- ries canbe erased by important decisions you make about your horse. First, ask your veterinarian to do a basic “physical” screening on your horse. Check his gait, his eyes, his heart rate, his teeth, etc. Your vet may find things that need attention. Second, stay updated about health con- cerns that may be specific to your area. Some parts of the country are facing surging tick populations. Although not every tick is lethal, you should be aware of what’s happening tick-wise where your horse lives. Third, as the weather changes (sometimes, it seems that it’s winter in the morning and summer in the afternoon), make sure you keep an eye on your horse’s habits. If his appetite changes, or he becomes lethargic, or if he seems to have trouble chewing those carrots he usually loves, have the vet take a look at his teeth, and check himout for early signs of an infection. You are your horse’s most important advocate, and you’re clearly up to the task. But it’s a full time labor of love, as you know. Just so you keep your perspective about how perfectly aligned your goals are with this significant year, the Year of the Horse is saddled with a lot of symbolism. The Chinese believe the Year of the Horse represents intense energy, freedom, pas- sion and transformative change. Ride on, friend!