Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Donna Powell — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:29:07 GMT

What a wonderful article and how very lucky those horses are to be under your care. Keep up the good work and certainly hope to hear your views again in The Final Turn. These great horses deserve so many more like you in their corner.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Sandra Warren — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:28:09 GMT

I keep 28 horses, and every morning I set out trying to be as efficient as possible, because I have to go to work after the chores are done. But every morning I find myself dawdling doing exactly what you are doing: feeding each horse, looking at it for overnight wounds or signs of bad health, giving each one a scratch and a hello. I find as I get older that I simply can't zoom into overdrive anymore like I used to, because the frantic pace of my life has just overwhelmed me. Those 120 minutes that I spend feeding and cleaning (that used to take me only 75) are the parts that I look back on fondly at the end of the week, and wish I had more time to enjoy.

My boss has told me that he intends to incorporate lean manufacturing techniques in our service company. This morning I read in the Wall Street Journal that Starbucks is striving to shave eight seconds off of the 45-second beverage preparation time. I wouldn't give up those two hours in the morning for anything right now, and I wish I could stretch it out longer. We could all stand to slow down a little and smell the roses.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

whoapony — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:48:44 GMT

Wonderful article. I can't tell you how many times I've caught a potentially disasterous (and expensive) problem early because I observe my horses every day and can usually recognize problems before they get bad. My vet appreciates that I know my horses better than he does so he takes me seriously when I say something's wrong. It's no accident that I have had to call the vet for colic only 3 times in the past 18 years. Only one of those horses even needed surgery and she recovered to return to competition. There's no replacement for knowing your horses.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

needler in Virginia — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:28:31 GMT

Karen...you're absolutely right! We had two alpacas for a long time and the community poop pile was VERY impressive.....also incredibly easy to shift! However, since they both have died, we just lost our 25 year old Morgan horse and are now down to just 1 1/3 equines, the order of the day seems to be the number of piles each can make in a given 12 hour period!! PRODIGIOUS seems to be the best description I can come up with! But I STILL can't get either to back up to the bucket and cut loose for me..........more's the pity!

Ah, well....in another life I'll potty train horses........

Cheers and safe trips.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Karen in Indiana — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:34:11 GMT

needler in Va., there is a retirement home/llama farm (for real) down the road from where I live. After seeing the llamas all lined up along the fence intently watching the construction workers building a new bridge, I decided to learn more about them and alpacas. This was interesting - alpacas pick a spot and use it as a communal waste area. So there's just one big pile to clean up.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

needler in Virginia — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:56:14 GMT

Roberta, well done and well said! I have chosen vets on their capacity to TRUST that I know what I'm saying. If something is "off" about any of my animals, I see it first because I spend time watching them eating, sleeping, playing, creating the fill for the muck bucket (WISH I GET THEM JUST TO BACK UP TO THE DAMN BUCKET!!) and just doing their thing. If I call my vet and cry "HELP!" it's because something is off and I want a pro to check it out for me. If the vet doesn't trust me to recognize a problem with my own animals, I find another vet. There really is nothing like the on-the-ground observations for seeing the first signs of a problem, and a casual observer or one who never spends any down time around the critters cannot possibly know that there is a problem at all. You know exactly what I mean, and so does anyone else who has seen the pig-out champion kitty look at the food like it's well......something unmentionable, or seen the shy guy suddenly become aggressive and nasty, or the Secretariat wanna-be become a carbon copy of a bronze statue. Those observations are made by hands on caretakers and not by the ones who spend all their time worrying about the shoe leather they save by riding in their golf carts. Now if someone wants to offer me a nice little pony trap, I might consider THAT................

Thanks, Roberta; it's nice to know I'm only one among the many who pay attention and don't care if I "waste" 15 minutes watching foals play!

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Horseguy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:20:50 GMT

If one is running a hobby farm, no disrespect intended to those that do, fair enough. But if one is working with horses for a living, and it is the sole source of income. One better be efficient with their use of time. If not they will have little to no personal time, down time if you will. And it will be quite easy to get burnt out in short order and over look things. I don't care what the business is one should always be reviewing how they go about things and see if there is a better way. Not necessarily a cheaper way, or looking for short cuts. This is called good management. The BEST piece of equipment we bought was a gas powered golf cart that had been modified with a lifted suspension, mud tires, a cab that can be enclosed, a two person seat in the back for taking around clients and friends that folds down into a platform that can carry 4 bales of hay and it can haul a wagon. We don't just drive by the field feed buckets and dump in the feed. Rather drive up, get out feed each horse and look each one over. Look for broken fences, what ever. We have over 100 acres and a horse population of between 35 and 45 run by my wife and I and 1 full time employee. We work our butts off but we do have some free time when we want to. Our farm always looks good and our horses even better and are all well mannered. We foal and raise about 15 to 20 mares a year, break and train flat horses at the farm, train steeplechase horses, re-school ex-racers as fox hunter and show. Even in a good market one would go broke with out a efficient use of time.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

gatewatcher — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:47:18 GMT

Golf carts would certainly take away the joy of working hands-on with horses, but doesn't it also take away the joy of walking in the early morning on the soft beautiful grass of a golf course? Who thought of those things anyway? I love to hear about people who love to be near their horses and share in their world.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Lou in TX — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:44:02 GMT

Roberta

God bless you for caring for God's creatures the way you do.

Hope you have a long and happy life along with all your horses and your husband. Keep up the good work.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

doc — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:06:50 GMT

Efficiency isn't about how fast sommething can be done, it's about doing the best you can with the animals entrusted to your care in the time that have. I have seen efficient farmers that were terrible stockmen and "inefficient farmers that knew exactly how each of their animals were doing. Besides if there is no joy in what you are doing it won't get done well and the quality of what you do is more important that how fast you do it. Keep it up!!

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

WWSTP — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:37:53 GMT

What a great example of how the well-tuned, cold, detatched model of business does not line up with working with horses. The way you "see" your horses, the stewardship you give them, the Zen and meditative aspects of how you go about your work...all reflect heart and respect that is so often lost in hard cold efficiency. I believe what you do, along with running a business, can partner well and it does not have to be cut down to eliminating the needed interaction between living beings. Not only are you being present for the horses, they get to be present for you and I believe that is the majority reason you are in this business.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Freetex — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:03:32 GMT

Just keep doing what you do and continue to spread the word. I know I will. I am going to post your article to a few folks.

I admire your love and concern for your horses.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Roberta Smoodin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:35:35 GMT

Wow--thanks to all for the wonderful comments, and for seconding my approach. I love my horses way too much to deal with them from afar--I pet and talk to every foal at every feeding, and the joy of seeing them playing in the field makes my day. I wish I had the luxury of designing a farm from scratch--my farm is not a well-designed model of efficiency, but it works for me.

Thanks again!

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

da3hoss — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:32:34 GMT

You are being efficient through multi-tasking...feeding, observing, noting, maintenance checks all at the same time...taking only one trip and two hours.

Same with hand leading...training, confidence and handling preparing for other necessary procedures saves time and efficiency (and possible injury to horse, vet or handler).

Your friend needs to study the business model better, total lack of understanding the business of animals. His method is called a "puppy mill".

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Trudy — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:51:44 GMT

Amen, Sister.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

WMT — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:02:50 GMT

Hmm, the chute suggestion got me to thinking about how I've seen things change over the last 15 yrs. Roberta's hands-on approach is not as common now as it was then. It is quite evident at the yearling sales. Back then I worked the sales showing horses. Most were well mannered and were shown in a chifney or bit. Few would have a chain over the nose, and the rare "bad boy" would need a lip chain to go to the ring. Now it seems they are all in lip chains. All this says to me is these horses aren't getting the handling they should be getting and the lip chain is a shortcut and substitute for training. We used to work yearlings one-on-one in the round pen for conditioning and to teach manners. Now they are slapped on those exercisers where they learn nothing. There is no substitute for hands-on horsemanship, and it seems to me in an effort for many farms to become a more efficient " assembly line" they have sacrificed the quality of their product.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Phil Rynn — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:42:35 GMT

Great blog! Let your friend spend about a week feeding and watering and checking for horse problems, and maybe he would then better appreciate the way that you operate. It's amazing what you can miss when you are sitting in a golf cart, pleasantly driving around your property....take to your feet and walk the property, and suddenly, you begin to see, at 5-6 foot level, the things that are really happening on your farm....the fence that is about to give way, the malfunctioning waterer, the puddle beneath your feet that indicates a water pipe leak, the glint of aluminum a few yards away that tells you that a loose shoe is out there in a paddock...sitting in that golf cart, driving back and forth, makes it a bit insular.

Additionally, when you walk around checking on things, you also have the benefit of using SOUND to your advantage -- sound that is muffled by the whir of the golf cart motor-- the water pump that is about to quit makes a knocking sound, the horse cough that you might have missed under the buzz of the golf cart, the malfunctioning waterer that is overrunning with the sound of spilling water....all of you pasture walkers know what Im talking about! (smile)...understandably, a golf cart has its place on the farm, but nothing beats walking around to survey your business.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

newsline2 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:22:32 GMT

"My feeding times, twice daily, are not about efficiency, but about paying attention to each horse..."

Anyone working with animals understands this intuitively. Your efficiency is in prevention and and as you so well said, your joy of the relationship to the animals, the place, and the moment in time. That helps you from becoming sick too.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Karen in Indiana — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:40:08 GMT

Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! And I agree with the_wiz - efficient can look very different depending on the goal. Your method is looking to nip potential problems in the bud. That's more efficient than treating a critically ill or injured horse.

There are intangibles involved that can't be put on a spreadsheet - the joy of watching foals bouncing around their mothers, the welcome the horses give you when they see you coming with food, birds singing & the sun shining, the satisfaction of knowing everything is well at your farm. I hope you enjoy these for many more years.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

the_wiz — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:50:30 GMT

Roberta,

I disagree that you do not give a damn about efficiency and you are wrong to say your business model is inefficient. You just have a different idea of what efficiency really is. A different description of the word. What you describe about your stable to me is the height of efficiency. Efficiency to me means attention to every detail not eliminating something because it saves time (ie. money). It's not at all efficient to ignore something that may lead to a bigger problem later on (aren't we all in a pickle because the housing problem was ignored until it blew up in all the worlds faces). Give yourself some credit and a pat on the back for counting the well being of your animals as part of being efficient. Nothing less than that is cutting corners. The next time this prported "efficiency expert" comes knocking tell him his boss would be far more "economically efficient" to can him and save the money than waste expenses on his salary and benefits when a simple phone call or email from the boss himself could get you the same information. I bet Mr. Efficiency Expert wouldn't agree that doing business that way is more "efficient." There has to be a personal tough in any kind of business for it to be successful. Don't lose yours because someone tells you it's more economical to rush through and get the days chores done faster. That's not being efficient its gambling you won't miss something to save money.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Stephi S. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:12:04 GMT

I agree with your premise that efficiency isn't the primary goal in the horse business, but I do agree with your friend about the cart. I have eight horses, spread out in four pastures with one pasture and two paddocks not in use. This makes rotating pastures easy, and gives me a hay field for round bales as well.

I designed the farm so that gates to all the pastures open onto one small paddock. This makes rotating pastures very easy. I can get the whole herd, no more than four horses in any one group, moved easily by opening two gates, the one in their pasture and the one in the pasture they are moving to and they go through the small paddock to get there, so I don't have to move them one at a time. I have two lanes leading in from the road, one to the barn and its paddock, and one to the pasture paddock. That way, any vehicle can come in and turn around by going in one lane and through an empty pasture and out the other lane. It also enables the vehicles to get to the area they need to be in easily. The second lane also separates two pastures with a wide lane, which is good for colts and any needed quarantines. When not in use for a colt or quarantine, the lane opens onto the pasture and the small paddock so it can be used for grazing. And unless the lane is opened for grazing, there are two gates to get through before any horse can get to the road. The paddock around the barn is also large enough for a big truck(not a semi) to easily turn around in. I also use a wheelbarrow to cart the feed, and any meds, down to them, that gives me more time to be with them, and less time I have to spend going to and from the feed room carrying buckets of feed.

This farm was designed with the idea that I could deal with it all alone. When we bought the place it was a hay field, and my late husband's hands were crippled so I knew that I would have to deal with it alone most of the time. It has worked out very well. I can see all the pastures and the horses in them from the back windows of the house, and can keep an eye on everyone all day long.

Efficiency is good, if things are planned for the best care of the horses rather than making money and saving time. With my efficient farm, I can spend more time with the horses and less time getting around a badly designed layout. Not saying yours is badly designed but I have seen a lot of farms that are.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Smarie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:19:55 GMT

Good for Ms. Smodin! She has the right ideas when it comes to working with and earning the trust of horses. All too often, animals are treated as non-feeling objects by human beings. This is 100% wrong. When you are dealing with animals, love and kindness always get the best results. As for the so-called "efficiency expert," let us hope he doesn't have any animals under his care.

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

Greg J. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:19:36 GMT

Roberta,

Kudos to you!!!!, I would hope EVERY Farm was run with your passion for these wonderful animals!!!

re: Efficiency Isn't Everything - By Roberta Smodin

sweet terchi — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:05:54 GMT

Kudos to you! You run your farm the way a farm should be run. While efficiency has its merits, it should stay in the production line. Horses are sociable animals, they need the everyday care one can give them, even in small ways. For one farm manager, we had to hand walk each horse, no "electric clothesline" for him. Instead of walking in endless circles, each horse took a different path each day depending on where we felt like going, plus it was very soothing for us humans just to get away from the hustle and bustle of barn life even for a little while.