Expert Horse Advise

Dear HH,

When I was about 9 years old my stepfather was a horse dealer. We would go to Chincoteague and he would buy up all the babies not sold. It was sad as they took the little babies away from the mothers and sold them. It was heartbreaking to watch. I don't know if it has changed or not. I do know they introduced other horses to the island. I am now almost 69 so I hope it has changed.

Ruthanne Allman

[Our article on Assateague herd management, coming up in the October/November edition of Holistic Horse should enlighten us!]

Dear HH,

I got my issue of Holistic Horse today and was strongly disappointed by the picture on the cover. ... Being a horse dentist myself, I know that if you take hold of a horse’s tongue like that, [you] could damage the delicate bones in the back of the tongue. If you damage them, the horse could have a balance problem and all the dental work in the world would not help. The horse would move with its head tilted to one side. I would never EVER hold a horse’s tongue for fear of damaging the balance of the horse. Please use better judgment on picking pictures for your magazine!

Read more: Feedback on Equine Dentistry edition

Q: Are therapy treatments like Equine Acupuncture and Massage deductible business expenses, assuming all other criteria for a business are in place?

A: Any tax deduction is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For horse owners who are engaged in a business rather than a hobby the expenses for equine care--veterinary costs as well as therapy treatments--should be treated as ordinary and necessary business expenses, in my opinion.

Read more: Farming Records and the IRS

[Several concerned readers commented on a picture that accompanied the article “Highfields Farm: A Model in Green Planning in Design” in the February/March issue. The concern was that the chainsaws presented a safety risk, with the horses in danger of being accidently cut by the chainsaw blades during transport.]

RESPONSE:

Read more: Our Readers Write: Chainsaw Concern and Fear of Founder

Dear HH,

I am shocked to find a Pro-slaughter article on your web site! That article [“Slaughter Legislation Impacts Unwanted Horses” in February 9 eNews] leaves out the FACT that unwanted horses of late are due to THE ECONOMY!

Read more: Our Readers Write

Dear HH,

I appreciate the concept of Holistic Horse — it is what everyone should be practicing. However, regarding your [Natural Tank Cleaner] article by Shari Frederick: I would like to know just how holistic it is to have goldfish in a water trough? Holistic for whom? Certainly not for the fish.

Read more: Reader Says Goldfish in Water Tank is "Inhumane"