WARNING:  We see this everywhere, to the point of not even paying attention to it anymore.

We see it on labels, pill bottles, cleaning products, TV programs, even bedding.  Did you ever wonder why they put those labels on pillows?  “Do Not Remove This Tag! It’s The Law.  Why?  What happens if you do?  Do the pillow police come crashing through your door to arrest you?  Cigarettes I understand.  We know they cause cancer, but pillows?  Although who knows what they put in anything anymore.

You get so overwhelmed with cautions that you just tune them out.  The drug companies tell you how great this new pill is, and how it will cure your ailment right off the bat.  Then comes the disclaimer.  Yes, your original problem will be gone, but you’re going to die of the side-effects.  The list of side-effects take up most of the commercials time.

So I was watching a TV program Monday night, and before they cut back to the program (Swamp People) after each commercial they run the disclaimer that the visuals may upset some people.  Well they may, and it’s nice that they warn you.  I don’t like to see any animal killed, but gators aren’t at the top of my list.  Not after I’ve seen them kill hounds that I’ve worked with for years, or my friends Jack Russell.

So it made me stop and think.  What if horses came with disclaimers, what would it look like?

• WARNING:  Horses may be hazardous to your—–
• Health?  If you fall off a lot
• Wallet?  None of us can deny that
• Time?  It’s time that we enjoy, just don’t get much else done
• Relationships?  If the person isn’t involved with horses, it could
• Conversation?  If the person isn’t interested in hearing about your horse, it could
• Life style?  No explanation needed
• Landscape?  Again, no explanation needed

Well that’s dealing with how they change your life, but what about if a horse came with a real disclaimer.  I think most of us would make different decisions when purchasing.

• This horse bucks
• Eats your barn, fence, trees
• Eats your car – I had one that loved to remove the paint and lenses from the horse trailer, hub caps, mirrors
• Kicks
• Bites
• Does not like circles, arenas, horse trailers, cross ties, being tied
• Runs the fence line
• Takes down fences, doors
• Is an escape artist
• Hates men, woman, children, dogs, other horses

The list could go on forever, you just add what you have experienced to it.

They are wonderful, amazing animals.  We love them in spite of their oddities.  They make us who we are, and we make excuses for who they are.

I wanted to do a light, happy post this week, but it still comes with my original Warning.  Spring is coming, I know it is.  Even though I sit here in Florida with frost covering my beautiful green (yesterday) pastures (white and frosty today).

Your horses have been sitting idle for months, the thought of nice weather is popping in and out of your head.  Warning:  Take it slow.  Both for you, and your horse.  Too much, too soon, can cause problems with their body parts.  He may be game for a long gallop, but are his tendons, ligaments, and muscles.  You may just have to lay him up for months again with lameness.  Now that the weather is breaking, do you really want to do that?

Remember, he’s an athlete, condition him as such.  There will be plenty of beautiful weather to get out there and do what you both love doing the most.  Conditioning can be half the fun if you keep your ultimate goal in mind.

You’ve got to think of this as a pre-game warm up.  As my friend Stu used to say – “Inch by inch, any job’s a cinch.”

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!