The Life of a Natural Horse at Camp Rusk
Land and animals go together. They mutually need each other. Animals provide fertility and plants convert that to food for the animals.
LARGE AREAS - The land at Camp Rusk provides large areas for horses to move about and be with each other. Small hills, woods, meadows, and lakes.
EXPLORATION - The horses are moved to fresh areas as appropriate to break the worm cycle, provide new areas for them to explore, and for land improvement.You support the horses, the horses support the land.
DAILY CARE - Each horse is seen to each day.
VET REVIEW - A vet visits quarterly to look over the entire operation and write a report regarding the operations.
UPDATES - Email updates are sent out regularly and each quarter one is done for every horse with pictures. In between, horses and reports are done at request and a guest house is available upon invitation for your visits.
GROOMING - At shedding time, horses are helped with shedding as needed. Throughout the year horses tend to keep themselves clean and and in good shape. At farrier visits and inbetween when needed, manes and tails are checked for seeds and burrs as needed.
HANDLING - Gentle handling techniques are used. Our objective is to be the lead horse and followed voluntarily.
HOOF CARE - Hoof care is provided and each horse is seen to individually. To date we have been able to provide a shoe free natural life for all horses.
FEED - Feed is provided as they need and we have special programs for horses that have lost their teeth or other conditions as they age.
TEETH - Typically a horse has no need for a vet other than a teeth float once per year.
PROFESSIONAL CARE - No standing fees are added. Any additional professional costs (such as vet and farrier) are passed along at cost.
WEATHER - We are at the 33.47 latitude which means a generally mild climate. Warmer in the summer and short winter moments.
BEING A HORSE - Above all, the horses are allowed to run and socialize as they wish with good eyes and hands watching over them.