Childhood as it Should Be

by Lindsey Rains

The apartment is quiet. All around me I see spare water glasses, cereal bowls, hair ties, and half-completed coloring pages. I’m tired, but I feel full. This week has been different than most weeks because our life was pleasantly interrupted by two eleven-year-old Peruvian girls.

Full of sparkle, hugs and insight, the girls filled our lives with laughter and sweet company.

I work at a non-profit that finds sponsors for children who are orphaned or living in terribly adverse situations. Every year, upwards of twenty children from various countries around the world are chosen to come to the United States. They perform in a choir that raises awareness and sponsorship for other children in similar situations.

For several weeks out of every year, my husband and I host some of these visiting children at our home.

Of course, I’m always chomping at the bit to take any willing child to the barn. Most have never even been around horses, much less sat on one. This time was no different. My husband and I picked up the girls and headed straight to the barn. They were tired from a long day of practicing for their performance, but the kids insisted they weren’t too tired for horses!

When we arrived at the barn, Chip was in his sleepy post-dinner stupor. But he meandered out of his stall to enjoy all the pets and cookies the excited girls bestowed upon him.

Read more: Gratitude & Horses: Healing the Cracked Places

Kentucky Equine Research is proud to debut an improved version of EO-3™, its popular marine-derived omega-3 supplement, featuring a new flavor.

The benefits of omega-3 supplementation include anti-inflammatory effects as well as support of skin and coat health, and reproductive health for mares and stallions. Studies at the Kentucky Equine Research Performance Center in Ocala have also demonstrated changes to indicators of post-exercise recovery following supplementation with EO-3.

“EO-3 is one of our proven products for athletic and breeding horses,” explains Matthew T. Butler, vice president of sales. “With a dedicated customer base worldwide, it’s a top product in the line.”

One factor that limited the use of EO-3, however, was its palatability. While many horses consumed it without objection, others were turned off by its odor and flavor, particularly after it had been stored for long periods of time. Therefore, the research team launched a series of studies to understand and improve its appeal to horses.

Read more: From the Research Farm to Your Feed Room: Applying Study Results to Improve KER EO-3