ConfidenceEQ is an exact copy of the equine appeasing pheromone that mares produce as they nurse their foals. The appeasing pheromone helps the foal feel safe and secure when encountering new situations and unknown environments.
I decided to try it on July 4th.
I went through my usual July 4th routine, feeding wet dinner tubs earlier than usual to get that good wet meal into their guts, set them up at the barn with hay pillows and clean water buckets with Rescue Remedy mixed in, separated the two big guys from the pony and the donkeys into their respective sides of the barn and paddocks (which share a fence line so they could hang together if they wished), and closed off all the pastures.
My chair was close by where I could keep an eye on them without being in the middle of things, and just as I heard the first distant boom we applied the Confidence EQ gel to the outer edges of 10 nostrils.
The gel doesn’t have a strong odor at all, but it clearly meant something to them as we applied it. They were very interested in the smell, a couple of the herd weren’t thrilled, but for the most part it was an easy application that didn’t upset anyone. We didn’t use the full recommended dose on any of them.
The first hour was quiet and when the louder/closer fireworks got going I applied another partial dose to all.
My herd don’t go totally crazy on July 4th, but there is always enough agitation that I end up moving them into the arena all together where they can run safely. Our barn, paddocks, and arena are in the center of our farm, so it’s the most interior space, the furthest from any close-by fireworks, and the arena gives them room to move without much risk.
I figured I’d end up doing this again this year, especially when our neighbors across the street started up.
As it played out, they all stood quietly munching hay from 8-11 p.m. The most serious reaction? A few soft snorts when there were louder booms or longer-lasting noises. This is a first for this herd - they’ve never been this quiet. They were also super responsive to me calling them over for peppermints, which I did about once each hour, which showed me they were relaxed and able to focus on me instead of the noise.
Fireworks still seem like a bizarre way to celebrate freedom to me. They sound like war, and what we’re celebrating (at least for me) is peace. The noise and toxic smoke have serious negative impacts on many humans, animals both domestic and wild, and the earth herself.
But Confidence EQ made it much easier this year and I’ll absolutely keep this on hand from now on.
6 comments:
Sounds like a good product. Glad you didn't have anything dramatic going on due to the fireworks. I don't like them either. I watched the "professional" fireworks on TV. I don't understand the firecrackers and other loud bangs.
Glad things were not too bad your way!
Well, we’re definitely buying some of that salve. J. Texted me this morning to let me know that the people who run the horse farm across the street from our farm were shooting off tons of fireworks last night. Our horses were going nuts and she had to go out and keep checking on them. So around our area by the farm apparently not only can’t they read but they can’t count either. July 4 was on Saturday! And who sets off fireworks on their own farm? Hard to believe.
Wow - I cannot fathom setting off fireworks on a farm with horses. Good grief. Is the farm across the street as nice as yours is? Let me know if it goes on the market. We continue to look for options northward, all the way up into Canada.
It has a nice house but I don’t know about the barn I’ve never been over there. The pastures are nice.and they have kennels with hunting dogs that bark most of the time. I’ll let you know if it comes on the market. She divorced the husband a while back so who knows.
Can you tell I am wishing for kindred spirit neighbors? :)
Post a Comment