: About Me

My name is Deb Messner. I'm 34 years old and currently live in the southeastern United States. My current farm menagerie includes several horses, chickens, birds, cats and my beautiful two year old Rottweiler.

I have been an avid equestrian, competitor and horse lover for over 25 years. I've competed on a National and World level with Appaloosa, Paint, and Miniature Horses, and hold several National and World Top Ten and Top Five titles. After a horrible right ankle injury that has required 7 reconstructive surgeries in less than 10 years (the most recent involving a transplant), I have switched my focus in recent years to training miniature horses for performance events (driving, obstacle and hunter). I have been very honored to work with some very talented equines over the years, both big and small!

I absolutely love being on the road, and have traveled extensively in the United States, Dominican Republic, France, Mexico and Puerto Rico. I only have a few more trips to go before I can say I have visited all 50 USA states.

I have been writing for as long as I can remember, and attended both Penn State University and the University of Pittsburgh for Journalism. My biggest passion is animals, but I also love writing about any other topics that interest me as well! I currently work both as a Client Services Supervisor for a home health care company, and a Banquet Captain for a large hotel.  I plan to go back to school in the near future to pursue a degree in the Criminal Justice field with a possible Paralegal minor. I'm planning on finishing my current book project by 2011 as well.

My passion is ...

horses and just about any other animal. I also have a strong passion for writing and traveling as well.

I know too much about ...

horses! Owning, breeding, showing and training horses for over 25 years has left me with a mountain of information about them in my head.

My parents always told me ...

I should have been a ballet dancer and not an equestrian (ha ha). They have always told me that I can do anything I set my mind to.

My childhood ambition ...

to be a freelance writer or journalist, or to have a career with horses or animals.

Why I write ...

I write because there is so much information stored inside of me, that I want to let it all out. Writing has always come naturally to me, and I enjoy telling people about my experiences.

My first job ...

wholesale marketer for a flower company

Pets & Animals > Horse Care & Health How to cool down a horse after a strenuous ride

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Horses have similar needs to humans when it comes to cooling down after strenuous exercise and competition. If a horse makes an immediate transition from a vigorous workout to standing completely still, complications such as muscle cramping, shock, and colic can quickly occur. Preventing these potentially deadly hazards is simple, as long as you follow some guidelines to the proper equine cool down. Whether your horse is working hard in competition or on the trails, it's important to estimate how long it will take for its heart rate to return to a normal level based on age, overall physica...

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