Life’s complicated, and we’re all struggling with packed schedules and information overload. We blame technology (which changes faster than you can pay off your credit-card bill) and the current American lifestyle (which runs at full speed 24/7/365) as two of the main culprits.
But despite a busy lifestyle, we’re committed to doing the best we can for our horses. So we read everything we can get our hands on that we think applies.
What then happens is we have more information at our fingertips than we know what to do with, yet we’re afraid that we’ll miss something important.
We’re being hit everywhere with ”facts” and ”claims” and ”testimonials.” There’s simply not enough hours in the day to sort through it all, so we’re left more confused than ever.
Some people handle the problem by simply living in the ”ignorance is bliss” world. They figure that what was good 25 years ago is still good today. Maybe it is. Maybe not. Others research a topic so heavily they get too many variations and don’t know who to believe or where to even start.
The story about Kathleen and Joe (on page 15) really struck home with me. Joe is an insulin-resistant horse, but it took Kathleen awhile to recognize that fact. Kathleen had read articles on insulin resistance and knew Joe fit the profile, but she was in information overload. She didn’t know where to start in order to fully implement the insulin-resistant management routine that Joe needed.
It seemed more sensible to her to (understandably) follow the well-meaning advice of those around her. Her friends were skeptical about the information she had read, which didn’t help matters. It’s easy to have your confidence shaken by experienced horsemen who don’t bother to keep up with new developments in horse care.
Kathleen needed someone to get her started, to help her figure out where to get a hay analysis, how to balance the horse’s diet, and where to buy the recommended supplements. ”That’s actually biggest obstacle,” she said.
”You can read all about grass, insulin resistance and what you should and should not do, but until someone says, ‘Do this, and send this HERE, buy this and get it HERE,’ it is too overwhelming, especially when your horse is down and you’re beating yourself over the head with a 2 x 4.”
We know what you go through. So that’s what Horse Journal does for you every month:
We help you make the best decisions for you and your horse. We tell you what to do, where to buy what you need or where to go for further help. We keep it as short and focused as we can, so that you have the confidence to make the best decisions for your horse.
