In the beginning of the horse’s pregnancy, there’s a high risk that the embryo will die or be reabsorbed. Keep the horse relaxed and minimize her activity. After the first 60 days, she can return to normal activity. Don’t ride your horse during this time. It’s normal and healthy for a working horse to carry riders during pregnancy. Maintaining the mare’s normal activity level will help her have a healthier, happier pregnancy. As long she is willing to hold you, you can ride your horse.  You can ride your mare until the 8th or 9th month of pregnancy. If your horse shows any discomfort or resists being ridden, don’t try to mount her. Additionally, call your equine vet to get her checked out to make sure she’s doing well. After the first 60 days of the pregnancy, your mare doesn’t need to rest and relax. In fact, denying her exercise could lead to complications and will make your horse very unhappy. Your horse will naturally start to slow down late in her pregnancy, so don’t worry about curtailing her activity. Let her tell you when she’s too uncomfortable for normal activity, which will happen in the 8th or 9th month of pregnancy when the foal is rapidly growing. You’ll notice that she’s slowed down and doesn’t want to be as active. A paddock or pasture is the best place to walk your mare. Gently lead her at her own pace, as she’s likely to walk slowly since the foal is getting big. It’s also okay to let her self-exercise, as long as she’s in a familiar paddock or pasture.  If you don’t have a paddock, your mare may get enough exercise just by grazing in a pasture.  Your mare will need less exercise during the final 3-4 months of pregnancy. However, she still needs to move around. Don’t ride your horse during the third trimester.

Summary: Minimize her exercise during the first 60 days of pregnancy. Resume riding your horse after the first 60 days, if she allows it. Return to your mare's normal activity level for months 3-8 of pregnancy. Walk your mare for 15 mins 2-3 times a day during the third trimester.


There are a few FDA-approved saliva test kits on the market. Make sure the label on the box says “FDA-approved” so you know the labs are testing with scientifically accurate information.  Use the OraQuick kit for an accurate HIV test.  MyLAB Box gives you the option of a blood test, urine test, or saliva swab. Make sure you don’t have any leftover food particles inside your mouth before you do your test. Don’t use toothpaste or mouthwash, or it could skew the results. If something other than saliva gets into the sample, it could come out inconclusive. Make sure to collect a lot of your saliva on the cotton swab for more accurate results. Swipe along the inside of your cheek and over your gums. Place the cotton swab into the sealed container that’s provided with the lab kit. Make sure your package is sealed securely and then send it back to the lab to wait for your results. You may get your results by email or in the mail, depending on the company. When you get your results, they will tell you whether you’ve tested positive or negative for the STDs you were checked for. If you have any questions, call the number provided on the kit or talk to your doctor.

Summary: Purchase an FDA-approved saliva test kit. Rinse out your mouth with water before you do the test. Swab the inside of your cheek with the provided cotton swab. Seal your sample and mail it back to the lab. Interpret your results based on the instructions in the kit.


As you begin changing your perspectives, acknowledge that you alone choose them and how they develop. Doing this will help you more actively take the steps to change your perspective.  Knowing that you have the power to form your own perspectives can be very freeing and may provide you a great deal of comfort to go forward in life.  For example, if you have a tendency to be negative, you can actively take steps such as only seeing the positive and letting go of negativity and negative influences to help change your perspective into a positive one. Part of reformulating any perspective is educating yourself through the consideration of a wide variety of sources and opinions. Without knowledge, you can’t grow or develop, and educating yourself broadly will help you to most effectively reformulate your perspectives. You can use a variety of sources to educate yourself. Taking classes, reading, traveling, or even just talking to another person can provide you with new information that will help you change your perspectives. Continue your education and training throughout life by taking classes, attending lectures, or getting additional professional training. Developing your intellectual skills will help expose you to different perspectives and may help you change yours.  You can attend classes, lectures, seminars, or other continuing education programs in person, or you can take them online. Many universities now post classes or lectures online for the general public. Look online for free or cheap lectures and tutorials from websites like Udemy or Khan Academy. Training and the type of development that comes from practical experience can also be very valuable to changing your perspective. Reading a variety of publications will expose you to different opinions and perspectives. This can help you reformulate your own perspectives.  Make sure you consult different kinds of media such as newspapers, magazines, websites, and books. Make sure that the sources you read come from a variety of perspectives. For example, if you read something from a liberal politician or news source, then consult something from a conservative politician or news source to see both perspectives of an issue or argument. Take the opportunity to see as much of the world as you can through travel. This will show you that the world, even if it’s a nearby town, is multi-faceted and has many different perspectives, which in turn can help change your own views. Traveling to foreign countries is the best way to see other perspectives, but domestic travel is also an excellent way to experience this. For example, if you are on the East Coast of the United States, you might be surprised to know that the lifestyle on the West Coast is quite different and could help change your perspective on how you life your life. Politics are inherently something in which people express different perspectives. Engaging in politics or the political process will expose you to these different perspectives and can help to change yours. Consider taking part in the politics of different parties to ensure that you expose yourself to as many perspectives and opinions as possible. Simple acts of kindness and helping others can do wonders for your attitude. Not only can you put things in perspective about your life, but it can distract you from problems and generally make you feel more positive.  Consider volunteering at a hospital or soup kitchen. Realizing that you are healthy and have the means to support yourself will put your life in perspective. Doing this can also help you to actively choose to change negativity in your life. Helping friends and family members can also help you change your perspective because you’re making someone else feel good, which in turn will make you feel good. Giving and receiving love and support will make your perspective on life increasingly positive. As you begin to formulate your new perspective, make sure to incorporate what you’ve learned through education, experience, and talking to others. You won’t be able to develop or change your perspectives without this valuable information.  See the big picture and focus on developing well-rounded views as you incorporate this new information. Understand that you don’t have to completely believe every person’s views. You can pick and choose what you like of their perspectives based on what you’ve learned in your research. You’re now ready to fully articulate your changed perspective and enact it in your life. This will not only help reinforce your own new perspective but will signal others that you’ve changed, too.  Put new perspectives into action to enact positive change in your life. Write out your changed perspectives on a piece of paper so that you have a tangible reminder of them. There are many different ways to enact your changed perspectives from including them in conversations to changing the world around you. For example, if you changed your perspective on women as heads of state or CEOs, you can weave this into conversations. If you decide to take a positive perspective on life, you can enact this immediately by keeping your interactions with others and even with yourself positive.
Summary: Acknowledge that you choose your own perspectives. Educate yourself. Take classes or participate in continuing education activities. Read a wide variety of media and sources. Travel as much as you can. Engage in politics. Volunteer or help others. Incorporate new information as well as the perspectives of others. Express and enact your new perspective.