Christmas at the Ramm Barn
Cool December winds have come our way. As I look out the window I can see that the pond still has a thin layer of ice on it this afternoon. Soon the first true snow will fall and our Ohio region will look like a Currier and Ives picture! Stores are decorated for the holidays and shoppers are in full-swing hurrying to purchase gifts for loved ones. Inside our home, a warm cup of cocoa and a ginger snap tastes good. I’m saving some cookies for the horses, lettuce for the chickens and apples for the sheep and the reindeer. This is a time for giving...
Our horses are going to start Christmas early. Beginning this week, we will start working with baby Baxter. One of his gifts will be going to school as we will be getting him ready for some great riding when spring arrives. Hootie will also be receiving the same gift to smooth out the rough edges! We are all very excited for both of them and know that they will like school. Our ponies Caz and Wasabi will be on break until the colder winter months have passed. Our mini donkeys, David and Goliath, will be keeping them company. I'm very thankful for our horses and good friends that we see at the barn!
Tomorrow, all of the horses get their Strangles/5-way boosters as a 'gift'. Sophie, our sweet Bichon Frise that you frequently see on Facebook, is getting her booster gift next week. Since she has diabetes, she gets regular check ups and insulin twice a day. With all of that going on she is still a happy girl! This Christmas Sophie will be getting a new collar. The one that she currently has is wearing out. We want to be sure that when she is on a leash away from our home or office property, her collar will not break. I'm sure if you check out Debbie Disbrow or Ramm Fence on Facebook, you will see Sophie with her new bling necklace!
Soon all the horses will have their hooves trimmed. The reindeer, Ginger and Cocoa, will have to wait until January for their turn. We are waiting until they have shed their antlers. All of us get gifts ~ the reindeer get trims and we get antlers! Trimming and shoeing time of the year reminds me to make sure that I give de-worming medicine to the animals that need it... more gifts for healthy living out at the barn.
The barn kitties will get a feline leukemia shot when the card from the vet comes in the spring, but for now, a warm cup of rich milk will be a big surprise to our faithful 'mousers' that always greet us at the barn. The 'girls' in the hen house get a ration of chicken food mix and crushed shells to help with digestion and eggs. They always are happy for scraps and the last of the lettuce.
The gifts that we give to our family are the most precious. It's not about the money that is spent, but rather, the thoughtfulness that went into the gift. A gift of time or giving help can mean more than an expensive present. Home baked cookies or bread always warms cold hands after doing chores in a cold barn or after a long day at work. The true meaning of Christmas is the gift of love. This year may be the time to give a thoughtful gift to an unexpected recipient.
Take good care of your animals, the best that you can. Give them love and you will get unconditional love in return. Moreover, show your family, loved ones and the people that you come in contact with that Christmas lives in you by giving. You will be so surprised by the gifts that you did not expect to receive because you gave a little bit of yourself to someone unexpectedly!
Our staff and family wish you and yours, a very Merry Christmas! We thank you for your support and love hearing from you through out the year! Take a bit of time, whether in the barn or while standing in a shopping line to remember that love is the greatest gift of all! Merry Christmas!
Debbie has over 45 years experience with horses and equine-related businesses. She has owned, trained, boarded horses and run stables at various times in her career. She is a certified fence installer, has given balanced riding lessons, and has shown horses in Western, Western Pleasure, Trail, English, Hunter/Jumper, Fox Hunting, Hunter Trials, Dressage and driving classes. Debbie has been involved in foaling, and just about every aspect of horse ownership possible, and she welcomes your questions and comments. If you are interested in using any articles by Debbie, please send her an email.
RAMM Fence Systems, Inc. makes every effort to provide reliable and useful information on horse health, care and products. The statements made on this website are based on years of experience with horses, however, they are based on generalized situations and should not replace diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian or consultation by a professional. RAMM Fence Systems, Inc. does not assume any legal responsibility. Readers should always consult qualified health care providers for specific diagnosis and treatment.