Articles written by Deborah Messner

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About me - Deborah Messner

My name is Deb Messner. I'm 33 years old and currently live in western Pennsylvania. My current farm menagerie includes several horses, chickens, birds, cats and, of course, my beautiful one year old Rottweiler.

I have been an avid equestrian, competitor and

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Pets & Animals > Horse Care & Health Horse grooming: Mane and tails: 1 of 10
There is nothing prettier than a horse with a soft, flowing, luxurious mane and tail. Whether you are grooming your horse's mane and tail for the show ring or home, it's important to follow some important steps in getting that picture-perfect look.Mane and tail health begins with your feeding program. Like humans, horses will... More..
Pets & Animals > Horse Care & Health Horse grooming tips for show day: 1 of 5
Nothing looks prettier or more professional than a well-groomed and polished horse and rider in a show ring. What separates the would-be winners from the top-of-the-line horse show divas is attention to detail, for both you and your horse. Preparation and attention to detail are crucial for your success in the show ring!Wheth... More..
Pets & Animals > Dog Breeds Commentary: Breed specific legislation (BSL): 10 of 46
I am the owner of a beautiful 10-month-old neutered male Rottweiler. I purchased him from a breeder back in November 2007, after about 4 years spent dreaming of owning my first Rottweiler. As I type this, my Rottie is laying upside down on the kitchen floor, his new red Kong Wubba toy hugged happily between his front paws. He... More..
Pets & Animals > Animal Rights & Issues Should Eight Belles' Jockey be suspended pending a legal investigation?: 2 of 8
Just like any other athlete or sports team, the race horse industry is composed of many players; the owners, the trainers, the jockeys, the track officials, the spectators, the gamblers, the veterinarians, the farriers, and, of course, the racehorses themselves. When things are going well, these key participants spend a lot o... More..
Pets & Animals > Pet Ownership How to recover after the death of a pet: 10 of 37
I remember the very day that Beez was born - what the air smelled like, the way the sun was shining, and the sound of my neighbor's lawnmower. In fact, I was there when it happened. It was April 17, 1987 and I was just 11 years old. My neighbor's grey stray female cat, Sophie, was having kittens, and they called to let me kno... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: Living with asthma as an adult: 4 of 14
I was diagnosed with asthma when I was about nine years old, back in the 1980's, long before the disease was a common household phrase. Having spent so much of my childhood sick, in an emergency room, or in a hospital, the new diagnosis really didn't seem to bother me much. In addition to everything else, I now had an inhaler... More..
Pets & Animals > Birds Bird facts: Pigeons: 2 of 6
Never did I ever think I would be a pigeon mom. That statement made, I have been the dutiful caretaker of a brown and white Austrian helmet-headed pigeon for several years now. His name is Pierre, and you can't help but laugh when you look at him.One of my biggest downfalls (and joys) is that I am a volunteer for the WildBird... More..
Pets & Animals > Horse Care & Health How to cool down a horse after a strenuous ride: 10 of 28
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 si... More..
Health & Fitness > Asthma How to control your asthma: 7 of 19
Learning to live with and control your asthma can seem like a daunting task at first. I don't know a single person who would choose to live a life where you have unexpected bouts of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightening in your chest, pain in your lungs, and feeling like you're going to pass out at any second. T... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Economic News Starbucks is running low on bucks: 600 stores to close: 7 of 16
I admit it. I'm a Starbucks junkie. I am also a very practical person. And that leaves me, as well as many other people, in a bad situation at the moment. With the announcement that Starbucks will be closing the doors of 600 of its locations, and the sudden debates over the company and its ethics as a whole, Americans are sud... More..