March 2026 Issue

March 2026 | EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN 68 Go ahead... Ask da Mare Dear Mal…my beloved horse is more than 30 years old. We’ve been to- gether since he was six. I love him so much, and go to see him every day. I don’t ride him anymore, for a couple of reasons: he doesn’t owe me a thing. He has been a wonderful partner and we’ve had years of adventures together. Also, he is showing his age, and I don’t want to put him in a position where he could get hurt. So, here is my question: when I visit him, he doesn’t seem to re- spond to me the way he once did, and I’m wondering if he still knows me? Do horses forget the people they’ve known for almost 30 years? Sad and Curious Dear Sad and Curious…You are a wonderful horse partner! A lot of equestrians “trade in” their aging equines for younger, flashier rides. But you and your horse actually have a solid, enduring partnership. Perhaps his expectations have changed, since you’ve said you no longer ride him. Does he seem depressed? Is he still get- ting out for some time in the pasture? Does he have pasture buddies? Think about your routines—work, exercise, sleep. Imagine if your activities were suddenly dramatically altered. You change jobs or retire. You give up your gym membership. You have a lot on your mind and are not sleeping as well as you used to. It’s possible your horse’s mental state is changing, but too often we don’t give animals enough cred- it for what they know, remember and feel. They’re sentient creatures, with rich emotional lives. Chances are your horse has not forgotten who you are; he’s probably working through the rela- tionship changes you’re going through. But it’s always a good idea to have your veterinarian take a good look at your horse, to make sure he’s not suffering from any of the conditions that often affect older horses. Most often these conditions can be treated. Even though you are no longer riding your horse, you are still his most reliable advocate. Take a deep breath, give your beloved horse a hug and call the vet. Knowledge is power! Dear Mal…To be honest, I don’t know much about horses other than that they’re beautiful and inspiring. The farms I drive by on my way to work used tomake me happy, because I could see horses munching grass, running around or otherwise just hanging out looking like a bunch of philosophers. But these days, the weather is horri- ble. Cold and snowy. And the horses are still out in the pastures. How is this not neglect? There are piles of hay lying around in the pasture, and the horses just seem to be standing around. But I keep thinking they must be freezing. What do you think I should do? Worried Dear Worried…Thank you for be- ing a compassionate person, genuinely worried about the horses you see. Gen- erally, horses are pretty well prepared for cold weather. If you could look at them closely, you would notice they have thick fur coats—nature’s way of keeping them warm. You would be sur- prised at how effective the coats are in protecting horses from the cold. Horses have been roaming the planet for hun- dreds of thousands of years, and in that time they’ve developed survival strate- gies for all kinds of weather. Of course, the horses you see are not wild horses, roaming the plains without any shelter. So they’re more accustomed to access to shelter from the weather. There are probably run-in shelters the horses can get to in bitter cold; and most farms will bring their horses into the stables when conditions dictate. For instance, single-digit temperatures and driving snow would likely get the farm owners to bring the horses in. There are lots of resources you can tap to find out more about the care of horses in all kinds of weather. Penn State University has a wonderful equine program and online resources to learn about horses. There are also local equestrian groups you can reach out to. You can check the internet for equestrian groups in your area. Thank you again for caring about these wonderful animals. To Order Autographed Copies Contact: author@LorensReadingRoom.com 717-866-6581 BlueChipStructures.com