Tuesday, June 14, 2011

two gorgous seniors and a company I love!!


Late last week I had the pleasure of giving some business to a company I love: Whinny Warmers!  Long-time readers will remember a hard winter we had several years back when I worried and fretted over Salina's arthritic knees in the cold.

Late one night I sat fretting, thinking, if only there were leg warmers for horses! Lo and behold, I googled and there they were. Whinny Warmers! I ordered two cobalt blue pairs for Salina and hoped when they arrived they would actually work.

They arrived very quickly and they were gorgeous. I wanted to wear them myself! But we breezed through the learning curve of getting them on, and Salina immediately knew they were something good, so she cooperated completely. They worked perfectly and her stiffness during the cold winter months was much decreased.

Not only did the Whinny Warmers work, they turned out to be a durable, easy to take care of product. We have washed and dried the 4 whinny warmers many, many times. They have gotten muddy, caked with shavings and dirt, stretched, and generally have been very well used. And right now as I type they are clean and packed away for the summer, ready for another winter season. (although I am told the new Whinny Warmers are far superior to the pairs I ordered several years ago - frankly I don't see how, but I trust that they are - this company never stops working to make better products)

As if this weren't enough, shortly after I blogged about the Whinny Warmers those years back, with a photo of Salina wearing hers, I got an email from the owner of the company, thanking me for sharing the word about my satisfaction with their product. He also asked if I would send him the name and address of my favorite equine rescue so he could send a donation of Whinny Warmers in my name as a thank you.

I sent not one but two, asking that they pick whichever they preferred - and Whinny Warmers generously sent numerous pairs to both Primrose Sanctuary and the NC Equine Rescue League. I was incredibly impressed with the product, the customer service, and the generosity of a small company whose bottom line was helping horses and donkeys.

This year, this summer, we are having the worst flies I've ever seen. Our fly predators are doing the best they can, and even at its worst here on November Hill, it pales in comparison to what I've seen in other barns who don't use fly predators. BUT... it's bad enough that I decided I had to kick in with some extra protection for the horses.

We don't use chemical sprays. The herbal concentrate we use for mixing fly spray does a good job - it's not perfect, but normally we don't have that many flies so it works well.

Late last week I realized Salina was being harangued by flies on her lower legs. With her arthritic knees she doesn't stomp. She just bears it. I had gotten an email from Whinny Warmers a few months back about their new Summer Whinnies. I went online and ordered a complete set of 4 for Salina.

Within a few hours I had an email with the subject line: Billie!!!

It was Whinny Warmers. They had recognized my name when the order went through and were emailing to offer me the discount they'd offered way back in the spring - the email I'd read but forgotten - and even though that offer has come and gone, they offered to apply it anyway. When my order arrived this weekend, there was a second pair of Summer Whinnies enclosed! They said they appreciated my support in the early years of the company and wanted to say thank you.

This kind of attitude is why their company is thriving. Great products, great customer service, and a truly personal, genuinely caring attitude toward their customers - and the horses who ultimately use their products.

I'm happy to report that we put Salina's Summer Whinnies on for the first time yesterday. Once we got the first one on, and she felt the immediate relief, she lifted up the next two hooves before even being asked. We had to work a little to get the last one on - her right leg is always the hardest b/c lifting it means she is bearing the weight on her left knee - the most arthritic - but she continued working with us so we could get it on.

Last night I was in the barn and she looked like she had lost at least a decade of age. Between jiaogulan (I'll write about this later) and the Summer Whinnies, she's a brand new horse.

Cody will get his later today, and as soon as my budget allows, I'll order sets for every equine here. This is a terrific product. Check out the gorgeous Hanoverian seniors on November Hill! Salina, left, is 28 years old. Keil Bay is a spring chicken senior of 22.  He told me last night he wants his own Summer Whinnies - he always wanted to sport a little "flash."  :)  Redford donkey felt the photo was not complete without his handsome self there too...


18 comments:

Calm, Forward, Straight said...

Cooo-el!

Thanks for the excellent tip billie :)
The seniors are so shiny I need my sunnies ;)

Grey Horse Matters said...

They both look gorgeous and the shine would knock you over without sunglasses.

Great company I might look into a pair for Blue for the summer the flies just eat him alive.

billie said...

C, my dad always thought I had to be spraying them with something to get this level of shine... but this is what they do with a very quick, light brushing. They really gleam if I do a full grooming. No spray, just their inner light coming through. :)

billie said...

A, I saw an immediate relaxation from Salina. I know she feels better.

Victoria Cummings said...

They do look beautiful! Makes me want to go out and brush Silk -- she loves to roll in mud and get dirty after being a show horse for so many years where she was never allowed. She's my piggy girl. So, please tell us about jiaogulan. Have you tried it for Salina? I've been looking at Dr. Kellon's work with it and wondering if I should get in touch with her to see if it would be good for Silk's stiffness.

Peggy Payne said...

A pair of cobalt blue Whinny Warmers could take me into fall. Could be very hip.

billie said...

Salina has been on jiaogulan for about 2 weeks. I'm not sure she's up to her tx dosage yet but I'm seeing some results - brighter in mood and periods of looking like she's much much younger when she moves.

The best way to give jiaogulan is syringed 20 minutes before a meal, but you can also mix it in the wet tub if you add more (which you need to do to get the same effect). Right now I'm giving it in her feed but may try offering it earlier to see if she'll take it easily.

A few precautions: j-herb can stimulate abscesses if there is material in the hoof that needs to be cleared out. Not a bad thing at all, but something anyone thinking of using it should be aware of.

There are also a few things you shouldn't combine with jiaogulan - NSAIDs being one and sedation/surgery another. Jiaogulan is also contraindicated if there are known masses in the body as the increase in blood flow/circulation can cause the mass to grow larger.

There is terrific info on the Yahoo Cushings/IR list monitored by Dr. Kellon. I learned about j-herb there as well as in her Nutrition as a Therapy class.

billie said...

Peggy, they're lovely and look terrific on the goddess in residence. :)

Michelle said...

These sound perfect! I'm going to check them out, thanks for the tip.

billie said...

Michelle, the company is based in Florida so you might be neighbors!

ponymaid said...

billie - seniors? They look like two very shiny, healthy young horses! This company has my hoof stamp of approval - Amos at the Sanctuary very much appreciated the winter warmers they sent him.

billie said...

Sheaffer, your hoof stamp on approval on ANYthing would make me know it was a product I could buy without worry.

I will also say that if the Stud Muffin company is looking for a spokesman or sponsor I nominate you.

Victoria Cummings said...

Thanks Billie - SInce I'm still battling an abscess with Silk, I'm going to hold off on trying the jiaogulan. She's doing really well right now on all other fronts, so if we can just get this to drain, things will go back to normal. Dr. Kellon is such a great source of information!

billie said...

Good luck with the abscess. Not sure which is worse - abscess in winter cold or in heat of summer!

Máire said...

I must see if whinnie warmers are available on this side of the atlantic. I have read your description before and thought that they would be just the thing for Rosie this winter. Thankfully, we do not have your flies.

billie said...

Maire, I'm sure they would send them to you.

Raymond said...

Dear Billie, Thank you for writing about Summer Whinnys and Whinny Warmers. Its fun to hear the great stories about horses, mules, donkeys, ponies, all doing better either because they are no longer fighting flies on their legs or as with the Whinny Warmers, achieving a level of warmth and comfort in the cold winter months. Evie, the little mare that encouraged us to make our socks must be smiling down from heaven knowing her life with us created a great effect upon so many other equines. Raymond.

billie said...

Raymond (owner/creator of the Whinnies!), you are most welcome.

I love writing about great companies with superior products. So appreciate yours!