I saw a horse vac in a catalog that was quite expensive and it looked a lot like a "Dirt Devil" hand vac , so I took my "Dirt Devil" out to try it on the horses and that worked fine. Later when we were helping the next door neighbor set up his barn, he installed a big shop vac inside the barn, with tubing (plumbing pipes) overhead that comes out to the cross ties, so we can totally detail the horses. All the vacuum systems and water pipes are overhead and out of the way. We've never had a shock problem either, maybe the distance helps. We also have hot water for baths and that is sure luxurious. For that I am thankful.
The mule snapped the bungee tie in the trailer like a tiny thread. When a mule makes up its mind..... But the horses do well with the bungee tie ropes, the boinginess seems to give them a minute of respite in their panic, time enough to change their mind. I find them a useful tool in the quest to reform pulling horses.
We do keep a boarder that is a senior citizen TB from off the track with some very horrible abuse issues. He cannot be tied, be put in a starting gate, or trailered. So when we had major fires, he was the last one to be evacuated for the big fire, 'cause we had to get a person to lead him out...the other horses left quickly in the trailers. When he colicked recently...I prayed it wasn't surgical, because I don't know how we'd get him to the vet hospital in the trailer , almost an hour away. Luckily he recovered on his own...but his inability to do these simple things, really has endangered his life, and it is very sad.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Beth
