Talkin Pets

Full schedule of events includes ASPCA Adoption Day, appearances by ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors,
animal loving celebrities & top riders

NEW YORK—For the sixth consecutive year, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) will sponsor the 37^th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show, held in Bridgehampton, N.Y., from Sunday, August 26 to Sunday, September 2, 2012.

On Monday, August 27, the ASPCA will host the Third Annual ASPCA Adoption Day at the Classic, focusing on helping rescued, at-risk horses, dogs and cats find permanent homes. Six local animal shelters and rescue groups, including Animal Care & Control of New York City, three local equine rescue groups, and one pig rescue group will have animals on site. Celebrity hosts for this event include Animal Welfare Advocate for NBC’s “Today” and ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassador Jill Rappaport, as well as ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors and top international riders Georgina Bloomberg, Brianne Goutal, and Hayley Barnhill.

“Many people, including those in the equestrian community, are unaware of the serious threats facing horses today,” said Valerie Angeli, senior director of equine and special projects for the ASPCA. “The ASPCA has an impressive history of equine protection and continues to focus its efforts on improving the lives of horses across the country. The Hampton Classic celebrates the tradition of excellence in humane and responsible horsemanship and provides a wonderful opportunity to not only educate the community but also find permanent homes for at-risk animals."

Other highlights during the week-long event include the ASPCA “Champagne for Horses” Equine Welfare Celebration and expert panel discussion, both of which take place on Thursday, August 30. Sponsored by Louis Roederer Champagne and hosted by actress and ASPCA supporter Aida Turturro, the event will raise awareness about the many grave issues impacting horses today, including horse slaughter, homelessness and neglect.

Visiting animal-loving celebrities and top riders, including ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg, Brianne Goutal, and Hayley Barnhill will make appearances throughout the week at the “ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station” located near the VIP parking and across from the public grandstand of the Grand Prix Ring (please see schedule included below).

“It’s an honor to serve as an equine welfare ambassador for the ASPCA,” said Ms. Bloomberg. “The ASPCA has a deep-rooted commitment to promoting equine welfare around the country and works hard to protect at-risk horses through legislation, advocacy and grant funding. This world class horse show is a great opportunity to serve as the voice for these noble animals.”

The presentation of the ASPCA Maclay Award will take place on Friday, August 31. The prestigious ASPCA Maclay Championship was established in 1933 by former ASPCA board member and horseman Alfred B. Maclay to encourage junior riders to excel in the art of responsible and humane horsemanship. It is the most coveted award in the U.S. for junior riders under 18 years of age.

The Hampton Classic is one of the country’s largest and most prestigious horse shows and draws many of the world’s top horses and champion riders. For more information on the Hampton Classic, please visit http://www.aspca.org/About-Us/events/hampton-classic or www.hamptonclassic.com.

Schedule of ASPCA Events/Expert Appearances at the 37^th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show

Sunday, August 26:

• Please visit the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station for schedule information.

Monday, August 27: Third Annual ASPCA Adoption Day

• 11 a.m.–3 p.m. – The Third Annual ASPCA Adoption Day at the Hampton Classic will feature local dog, cat and horse rescue groups with animals available for adoption. The event will feature VIP hosts Jill Rappaport from “Today” and ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg, Brianne Goutal, and Hayley Barnhill.
  • Participating dog and cat rescue groups include: Animal Care & Control of New York City, The Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center, Southampton Animal Shelter, Almost Home Animal Rescue & Adoption, Inc., ARF of Southampton, and Gimme Shelter. Adoptable dogs and cats will be available in the Kids/Exhibition area across from the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
  • Participating horse rescue groups include: Kaeli Kramer Foundation, Project Sage Horse Rescue, and Seraphim 12 Foundation. Rescued and rehabilitated horses also will be on hand for demonstrations. Adoptable horses will be available in the Aspinall Ring and VIP presentations will be from 12-2 p.m.
  • Book signing with Georgina Bloomberg, author of My Favorite Mistake, with proceeds from the sale of the book benefiting the ASPCA Equine Fund.
  • Jill Rappaport will be showcasing her newly designed equine halters and leads to benefit at-risk horses and promote equine adoption.

Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29:

• Please visit the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station for schedule information.

Thursday, August 30: ASPCA “Champagne for Horses” Equine Welfare Celebration and Expert Panel Discussion

• 1–3 p.m. (ASPCA Ringside Chalet, north of the Grand Prix Arena) – The ASPCA will host the ‘Champagne for Horses’ Equine Welfare Celebration and expert panel discussion brought to you by Louis Roederer Champagne, with celebrity host Aida Turturro and ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg, Brianne Goutal, and Hayley Barnhill. This event is by invitation only and space is limited. For information on how to obtain an invitation, please contact the ASPCA’s Valerie Angeli via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Friday, August 31:

• Late morning (Ring TBD) – ASPCA Maclay Award Presentation.

• Time TBD (After show jumping event in the Grand Prix Ring) – Olympic Equestrian Peter Leone will be signing copies of his book, Peter Leone’s Show Jumping Clinic, and DVD, Ride the Body, with proceeds benefiting the ASPCA’s horse protection efforts.

Saturday, September 1: Kid’s Day at the Hampton Classic

• 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. (ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station) – Book signing and meet & greet with Anne Hambleton, author of RAJA – Story of a Racehorse. The award-winning children’s book tells the story of the struggles and triumphs of a rescued racehorse.

Sunday, September 2: Grand Prix Sunday

• Please visit the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station for schedule information.

Throughout the week:

• ‘ASPCA VIP Rider’ lapel pins and ‘Horses on Sticks’ will be available at the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station for a donation, with proceeds benefitting the ASPCA’s horse protection efforts.

• The ‘Jump for the ASPCA’ fundraiser, sponsored by FTI Consulting, will trigger a donation to the ASPCA each time a rider clears the ASPCA fence on the show grounds.

About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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"It will be like having you in the barn with me..."  S.D., Illinois

"I am reading your book and it is fantastic! I love your writing style, its so easy to read.  Not at all like reading a text book, but full of info like a text book.  Back to your book!  God Bless,"  S.T., Ohio

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"I love your site and book! Your herbs saved our calf and that is just one example of the good they have done" S.P., WA

"Since using the Wounderful! Salve the wisdom tooth has straightened and come in correctly (it started out pointing almost completely toward my cheek) and the pain in my mouth has gone away." H.B., ID

"At last a complete herbal for our furry friends!

The Accessible Pet, Equine and Livestock Herbal by Katherine A. Drovdahl M.H. is destined to become one of the great herbals of the Century.  Kat in a true Vitalistic style no only lays out precise medical care for animals but also teaches the whys, the anatomical pathways and spiritual advantages of adhering to nature.  kat through personal experience can guide us, with great detail, in caring for our animals.  This is the herbal to acquire for school, nature companies and personal libraries.  While you are at it get another one for taking with you out to the barn."

David W. Christopher MH, Director of The School of Natural Healing

(please see our links to connect to the school if you decide to take courses from them- you'll get a discount and I'll get a referral).

"This comprehensive, practical, all text guide teaches herbal and essential oil use in animals- from bees to chickens to pets to reptiles and exotics.  It covers the basics of herbs and EOs, the animal's lifecycles, body systems, common challenges, and what to do to help a wide variety of animals naturally.  This definitive guide instills confidence and adheres to Nature.  It is well organized, well-written, and contains a handy index.  A great addition to the animal lovers library."  Natural Horse Magazine Jul/Aug/Sep 2012 issue

Imagine a generation of healthier & happier pets and livestock!  Imagine a generation of happier owners because maintaining their healthier creatures becomes easier and makes them more productive.    This book makes that possible.


"The Accessible Pet, Equine and Livestock Herbal" by Katherine Drovdahl is now available for $49.95 plus shipping and handling ($6.55) or include it with an order of products to make your shipping go futher.   We can ship worldwide (16.95 plus handling ($1.25)), Canada is 12.95 plus 1.25 handling.  See our shopping cart website for details.  It is a large book and is easy to follow for the beginner or advanced person working with herbs and animals.  Topics included are instruction in essential oil use, whole herb use, how to use this book for humans, exotics, reptiles all types of livestock including ratites and camelids, all types of pets, fish, and bees.  Information to help you build a sound foundation so that you are not confused by much of the conflicting data out there, building a pet or livestock herb garden, going through life cycles of your creatures, how to handle birthings, young stock care, exhibitions, parasites, senior care, and body organs and systems care and quite a bit more.  This is the only book available that covers this span of information and is in a user friendly format.   Look for future book and other projects from Kat.   I can sign the book at your request if that is something you would like,  I need an email from you immediately after I receive your payment.  Otherwise it may still get shipped without a signature.  If I am out of town I will leave some signed copies with my husband, they just won't be personal in that situation.

Watch here for more book reviews. They are starting to come in from the media.

To purchase this book you can make payment by clicking the shopping tab at the top of this page and then clicking on books under catagories.   You must supply your regular US MAIL address.   International orders please also pick the Canadian or other countryshipping.  Payment may be made by check.   Use the shopping directions above and select check as payment to get your total, invoice and place to pay.  Payments by check will be held 10 business days for check to clear.  US Post Office money orders will clear in one business day.    Click on the Shopping Tab above and then on the books catagory.

Welcome to Fir Meadow LLC.  We are located in the Siskiyou mountains of southern Oregon.      Kat has her masters degree in herbology and Master Herbalist (MH) designation and is a Vitalist.  Vitalism goes back to Hippocrates,  which is cause oriented rather than just symptom oriented (allopathy).  It is a small branch of herbalism,  but a very effective one.         Kat also is a Certified Reflexologist (CR) and a Holistic Iridologist (Dipl.H.Ir.).  She has completed studies in Aromatherapy (essential oils) with two different schools, is taking continuing education from a third school and has international  certification in that field.  She also is a C.E.I.T which is a Certified Equine Iridology Techincian and researcher. She is currently completing a book on pet and livestock herbalism with several more book projects lined up.  Her work is about evenly split up between human and creature herbalism and her training allows her to consult on any condition.  For creatures she also is not limited but can assist people with livestock, horses, pets, exotics, reptiles, birds, poultry, ratites, bees, fish and more (is there anything else?) to move them towards optimum wellness.


All of our livestock products Kat formulates.  Some of the herbs we ship in from pesticide/herbicide free resources that Kat trusts.  Some are organic, some are not,  as not all herbs can be acquired with an organic label,  and high quality wild crafted or naturally raised herbs Kat finds just as effective, without the higher price tag on them which would then have to be passed on to you.   She also raises many of her own herbs (over 70 at last count) in an organic manner.  You will find many of those in her livestock tinctures and salves.  You will find these products to have strong herbal smells and colors- we do not adulturate our products and use highly efficiacious herbs.  We use them here on our farm too- she NEEDs them to work!  She also places safety high on her list of priorities, and does not use toxic, habit forming, or poisenous plants.  We also offer steam distilled & CO2 extracted pure essential oils that she has sourced from wholesalers with integrity.

Kat offers consultations via email, in person and by phone for both human wellness concerns and for pet and livestock concerns.    Consultations must be prepaid before an appointment is set up.     Payments currently can be received by check, by money order,  or by paypal.    Appointments will generally be set up for Monday through Friday afternoons,  Pacific Standard Time.



Kat does speak at conferences and conventions and can offer Iridology and reflexology at many of those.   Contact her by email if you would like to set up a conference to find out her availability and details.

She also raises, along with her husband,  a nationally recognized and awarded herd of LaMancha dairy goats, with a couple of Toggenburgs thrown in for variety.   They are on a complete alternative health program,  yet are able to receive Best in Show, Top Ten milkers (in the US), and high appraisal scores.   We sell milking stock and breeding stock every year and ship US wide.   Please see that website if that interests you.  They also curently raise Norwegian fjord horses, great pyrenees guardian dogs, a barn cat, assorted chickens (mostly australorps), and a couple of pigs each year.  She has owned and worked with most types of farmstock and even exotics such as iguanas and geckos.   If the creature is important to you,  then it is important to her.

Your purchase or use of any product that we offer implies your taking full responsibility in use and in safeguarding them from children, creatures, or mentally inequipped persons from use as well as proper storage.     Per the FDA's requirements we do not make any claims of prevention, cure, or treatment with any of our products, nor can we or will we diagnose.  Kat is not a licensed medical doctor or veterinarian and makes no claims express or implied to be either.  She has claimed her 9th amendment rights to be able to offer  any products and services she chooses that are not expressly forbidden by law.   If a diganosis is wanted,  you may always consult a licensed professional for that service.

May you and your beloved creatures find Abundance in Wellness!

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever...

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— The most common ailment to affect a horse is lameness. A University of Missouri equine veterinarian  has developed a way to detect this problem using a motion detection system called the “Lameness Locator.”  Now, Kevin Keegan, a professor of equine surgery in the College of Veterinary Medicine at MU, has found that his Lameness Locator can detect lameness earlier than veterinarians using the traditional method of a subjective eye test.

The Lameness Locator, which is now in commercial use, places small sensors on the horse’s head, right front limb and croup, near the tail. The sensors monitor and record the horse’s torso movement while the horse is trotting. The recorded information is then transferred to a computer or mobile device and compared against databases recorded from the movement of healthy horses and other lame horses.  The computer is then able to diagnose whether or not the horse is lame.

In a new study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, Keegan and co-author Meghan McCracken, an equine surgery resident at MU, put special adjustable shoes on horses that temporarily induced symptoms of lameness. The horses were then monitored by the Lameness Locator as well as by a number of veterinarians using any lameness testing methods they wished. If no lameness was detected by either the veterinarians or the Lameness Locator, the special shoes were adjusted slightly to increase the symptoms of lameness. This process was repeated until both the Lameness Locator and the participating veterinarians properly identified in which leg of the horse the lameness was occurring. Keegan and McCracken found that the Lameness Locator was able to correctly identify lameness earlier than veterinarians using subjective eye test methods more than 58 percent of the time and more than 67 percent of the time when the lameness occurred in the hind legs of the horse. Keeg! an attributes this to the sensors’ high sensitivity levels.

“There are two reasons why the Lameness Locator is better than the naked eye,” Keegan said. “It samples motion at a higher frequency beyond the capability of the human eye and it removes the bias that frequently accompanies human subjective evaluation.”

Because equine lameness may begin subtly and can range from a simple mild problem affecting a single limb to a more complicated one affecting multiple limbs, veterinarians and horse owners know that early detection is the key to successful outcomes.

“If veterinarians can detect lameness earlier, before it gets too bad, it makes treatment much easier,” Keegan said. “Lameness often goes undetected or undiagnosed entirely, which can cause owners to retire horses earlier than needed, simply because they cannot figure out why the horses are unhealthy. The Lameness Locator should be able to help with that as well.”