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Horse Channel Newsletter

Sheath Cleaning Stallions & Geldings

Horse.com articles

The Barefoot Life

The Barefoot Life

Not all Equine Heart Abnormalities are Abnormal

Safe Winter Shoeing

Study Evaluates Pheromone Gel's Calming Effects on Horses

Heart Rate's Effect on Equine Performance

How Did My Horse Get Thrush?

10 Winter Health Care Mistakes to Avoid

Once-Over Grooming

Weaving Worries

Shop For an Older Horse

To Blanket...or Not

Older Horses

Rattlesnake Bites in Horses

Ask The Vet

HorseBooksEtc.com

New Horse Sports for the 21st Century

Keep your senior horse happy and healthy

Get a Perfect Lope

Shedding Light on Shingles in Horses

Slow Feed Hay: Make Hay Last Longer and Prevent Horse Boredom

By: Eleanor Kellon, VMD

RIDING 101

Horse Slaughter Funding Issue

Hoof Care Mythbusters

Question of the Week: How much weight can a horse carry?

discoverhorses.com newsletter

discoverhorses.com

A Horse Owner's Guide to Saving Time and Money

Groom Your Horse Like a Pro

Western Horse Training

Horse Health College

Do You Trust Your Horse

Western Saddle Buyer's Primer

Creating Sustainable Trails for Equestrian Use

DiscoverHorses.com

Webinar: Bits and How They Function

Webinar: Bits and How They Function

Do You Expect To Keep Feeding Hay?

Do You Expect To Keep Feeding Hay?

Avoiding Tricky Situations on the Trail

Looking Good: 10 Homemade Grooming Aids

Good Eats Mean Glossy Sheen

ALL ABOUT HORSES

Good Eats Mean Glossy Sheen

What’s Your Horse’s Favorite Flavor?

ALL ABOUT HORSES

What’s Your Horse’s Favorite Flavor?

Danger Zones Around the Horse

Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak Update, Biosecurity, and More...‏

If you are considering pulling your horse's shoes, or have already gone the barefoot route, three hoof care experts offer their advice.

Don't know a poll from a croup or a trot from a gallop? Check out the horsemanship primers here. Even if you’re already riding, there’s lots more to learn.

2012-01-30T10:40:00.000-08:00

Understanding Potomac Horse Fever

Potomac horse fever (PHF), or equine monocytic ehrlichiosis as it is currently termed, still occurs in areas of the United States. It can often pose a diagnostic challenge because of its varied clinical presentations. Read More

Ask The Vet

Early Pregnancy Loss

While my 21-year-old broodmare was being treated for a guttural pouch infection last year, she was successfully bred. Two months later she lost the embryo. Could the guttural pouch infection be the reason?

Read the vet's answer

2012-01-26T17:38:00.000-08:00

Read the Horse Channel Newsletter...Click here

2012-01-22T08:59:00.001-08:00

Diagnosis and Treatment of Kidney Diseases in Horses

Acute kidney injury is the current term for compromised renal function that often is reversible if treated appropriately. Clinical signs of horses with acute kidney injury can be as nonspecific as anorexia and lethargy. Read More

• Causes of Red Urine in Horses Reviewed

Ask The Vet

Coggins Test for Equine Infectious Anemia (Swamp Fever)

My horse was turned away from a horse show because we didn't have proof of a current negative Coggins test. Is it really that important?

2012-01-18T16:32:00.001-08:00

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In This Edition

January 12, 2012

•	The most-read news items of 2011 From touching to tragic, here are the news stories that captured reader attention last year. More »
•	Video: Building Partnership Jonathan Field demonstrates how to keep your horse focused on you, even when distractions arise. More »

Videos

Games

Club Horse

How to be a Horseless Rider"No, we can't afford a horse"... Those words are hard to hear as a child, and grownups even find that particular financial reality difficult to cope with. But even if you are horseless, there are loads of ways you can incorporate them into your life.
Read more »

Techniche HyperKewl Phase Change Cooling Neck Band
Keep your cool on hot days with a neck band designed to maintain 58 degrees F. Simply soak in ice water for a few minutes to enjoy hours of cooling. More »

War Horse Collection from The Blue Cross

Thanks to the film adaptation of War Horse, there is a wave of interest in the historic use of horses in war. The Blue Cross has answered that interest by opening its collection of war horse memorabilia for free viewing online.
Read more »

Ask the Expert: Long Take-off
A hunt-seat riding expert tells you how to help your horse find a safe take-off spot.
Read more »

Soft hands to engage your horse's hindquarters
Here's how to use the right aids to get hind-end impulsion from your horse. Read more »

Horse Channel Newsletter

BowTie, Inc. 3 Burroughs

Irvine, CA 92618

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2012-01-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

Cleaning the sheath of a male horse is a somewhat unpleasant, but often necessary task. Learn why, how, and when to clean a stallion or gelding's sheath with Dr. Christy Corp-Minamiji of Davis, Calif.

Video: http://www.thehorse.com/Video.aspx?n=sheath-cleaning-for-male-horses-how-to&vID=533

2012-01-12T09:35:00.001-08:00

Video

Cushing's Disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Three veterinarians discuss equine Cushing's disease, equine metabolic syndrome, and associated laminitis. Watch Now

2012-01-08T10:01:00.001-08:00

Diagnosing Equine Ataxia: Go Back to Basics

Most clinicians can intuitively recognize an ataxic gait, but for some owners or in subtle cases it can be challenging to distinguish an ataxic horse from a lame horse, one researcher explained. Read More

Ask The Vet

Dirty Mares

Are there any new treatments on the horizon for "dirty mares"? I have a mare that is having trouble conceiving and was diagnosed with this problem.

Read the vet's answer

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Video

Cushing's Disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Three veterinarians discuss equine Cushing's disease, equine metabolic syndrome, and associated laminitis. Watch Now

Horse Physiology Knowledge Helps Protect Animal Health

Owners have a better chance of detecting disease and stress in a horse if they're familiar with what's normal. Read More

AAEP Health Link

Wound Care & Bandaging

Join AAEP in the new year as we return to answer your equine health questions during AAEP's "Ask the Vet" forum. Pose your health questions concerning wound care and bandaging for January's expert, Dr. Erin Denney-Jones.

Monitoring and Preventing EPE on Endemic Farms (AAEP 2011)

Researchers are helping horse farms control and detect equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). Read More

Blogs

Horses and the Law

And the Winner Is

Readers decide which equine law topics were the most important, interesting, or controversial in 2011. Some of the winners are the usual suspects; others are unexpected. Read More

Across the Fence

Growing Researchers

Smart Horse Keeping

Take Winter by Storm--On-Farm Emergency Preparedness

Adoptable Horse

Callie

Live and Let Live Farm

Concord, N.H.

She is an 11-year-old Pinto mare who loves attention. She'd do well with an intermediate rider. Learn More

• More Adoptable Horses

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2012-01-05T09:13:00.001-08:00

The Horse: Health Newsletter, 1/3/2012


		Horse Health
	Tuesday, January 3, 2012

View this e-mail in a browser		Like Us on Facebook • Follow Us on Twitter

Top 5 Horse Health Resolutions to Keep in 2012

Experts say one reason we fail to keep resolutions is because our goals aren't defined well enough. To combat this challenge, TheHorse.com compiled five specific New Year's resolutions to help owners maintain or improve their horses' health in 2012. Read More

Ask The Vet

Thrush Prevention

We have been getting a lot of rain and flash floods lately. My 13-year-old Paint gelding is out in the pasture year round, but he has a run-in for shelter. How do I treat thrush and how can I keep his feet dry?

Read the vet's answer

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Vaccines so trusted, they're guaranteed.
Pfizer Animal Health has launched an equine Immunization Support Guarantee program. If a horse properly vaccinated with one of our antigens contracts the corresponding disease, we'll help with the expense of reasonable diagnostic and treatment costs. Visit PfizerEquine.com/ISG.

Video

Late-Term Mare Care, Foaling, and Young Foal Care

What breeders need to know to keep broodmares healthy and deliver strong, healthy foals. Watch Now

Dysphagia in Horses Difficult to Diagnose

There are more than 100 possible causes for dysphagia--the inability to swallow--in horses. Read More

AAEP Health Link

Wound Care & Bandaging

Pose your questions this month to Dr. Erin Denney-Jones on AAEP's Ask the Vet forum as we return to answer your equine health questions concerning wound care and bandaging during the winter months.

One-Sided Runny Nose: Is Sinusitis to Blame?

Though there are many causes of runny noses in horses, one-sided nasal discharge is often caused by sinusitis. Read More

Blogs

Horses and the Law

The Also-Rans

Trainer liability for rider injury, noneconomic damages, and slavery for whales were among the topics that failed to make the cut for the "Best of 2011" list. Read More

Weird Horse News

Living Skeletons

Horse Sense (and Sensibility)

From Gawky to Grand

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Adoptable Horse

Jamie

Hidden Springs Horse Rescue

Marianna, Fla.

She is an adult bay Thoroughbred mare with hunter/jumper training. She has a great personality. Learn More

• More Adoptable Horses

• List Your Adoptable Horse

• Feature Your Adoptable Horse Here (registered 501(c)3 nonprofits only)

2012-01-02T16:32:00.001-08:00

By Marcia King

You’ve decided to let your horse go barefoot but are receiving conflicting advice on how to best manage him. You thought you could just have the shoes pulled and let your horse go, save for the occasional trimming.

Before you decide to pull your horse's shoes for good, consider his living and working conditions.

But some friends have given you a big, fairly complicated Must-Do list, culled from various sources, and now you’re not sure what to do—which is no surprise to Walt Taylor, certified farrier, Albuquerque, N.M. Taylor knows a thing or two about hoof care: He’s been a farrier since 1948, is the founder, former president and current secretary of the American Farrier’s Association (AFA), and creator of the World Farriers Association. He says, “I am a bit nonplussed by all the fuss over this subject. It seems that we are making the proverbial mountain out of a molehill, in the worst possible way. When we intellectualize and extrapolate some of the most simple subjects, they become much more than they actually are.”
To help you skirt those unnecessary mountains, Taylor, along with Lisa Simons Lancaster, who is a DVM and farrier, and Jeff Ridley, a certified journeyman farrier, give you practical advice you can use. Dr. Lancaster, of Eden Prairie, Minn., is the author of The Sound Hoof: Horse Health From the Ground Up. She has also collaborated with Robert M. Bowker, VMD, director of Michigan State University’s famed Equine Foot Laboratory. Ridley, of Leighton, Iowa, has earned the AFA’s Therapeutic Endorsement, a program that addresses strategies for horses with specific lameness problems.
Barefoot or Not
The most important issue is, can your horse go unshod? If health and conditions are such that hoof wear does not exceed hoof growth, the answer is yes. If the hoof wears down faster than it grows, then you’re either going to have to shoe your horse or alter the conditions that lead to excess hoof wear.
Good candidates for going barefoot are horses that:

have sound, healthy, normal hooves
have reasonably good conformation
live and work on the same surfaces: If a barefoot horse lives on soft bedding 23 hours a day and is then expected to work one hour a day on hard terrain, he’s probably not going to do well. But he might be fine if he works only in soft, even footing.

Dr. Lancaster explains the benefits of working and living on the same surfaces: “In the dry rocky terrain of Colorado, I had many clients whose barefoot horses were living in hard-packed dirt paddocks, and they were sound on the most rugged terrain.”
In general, unlikely barefoot candidates are horses that:

have poor conformation: Taylor cites conformation examples including severe to extreme anterior or posterior and/or medial or lateral imbalance, angular limb deformities affecting fetlocks, knees or hocks, et cetera.
work extensively and/or primarily on hard, abrasive surfaces
work on a surface that’s different than their housing surface

There are exceptions to these rules, of course. Due to genetics or other unknown factors, some horses just cannot seem to tolerate going barefoot, even under ideal circumstances. And then there is the opposite: A few years ago, the late Emil Carre, former AFA president and certified journeymen farrier, recalled a Quarter Horse endurance mount he once owned. “By the time [the horse] was 23, he’d gone on eight 100-mile rides, and over 3,000 miles in National Trail Ride Association competitions, and that horse practically lived barefoot. We trained him four to six months a year barefoot. He had thick walls and thick soles. It was through genetics and breeding.”
“There is no sure way to know ahead of time if the horse will do well barefoot,” Dr. Lancaster explains. “Generally, owners curious about barefoot just go ahead and try it!” That said, prior to pulling the shoes, have your farrier or veterinarian examine your horse, as they might notice something questionable that you were unaware of.
If you can, wait until the off-season before removing your horse’s shoes, Dr. Lancaster advises. “That way the horse has some time to adjust before being asked to perform,” she says. “For horses that perform year-round give it a try any time, but be prepared to reduce the workload for a while.”
Note that while some horses have no problem adjusting to being unshod (usually those that work only on soft ground), other newly barefoot horses can become lame. “Sometimes a perfectly sound horse becomes quite lame when the shoes first come off if the owner rides on hard-packed terrain; these horses will need a period of adjustment with a slow-riding, easy workload before the feet toughen up,” Dr. Lancaster says. “How long that adjustment takes is difficult to predict and depends on many factors—how much work they are getting, how different the terrain is from their living surface, in what condition their feet are in to start off with, whether the owner wants to do light pleasure riding or compete in a hard-terrain 100-mile endurance race. But keep in mind that some horses never adapt to hard surfaces. The feet look good, the horse is sound on soft surfaces, but [the hooves] just never get tough on the dirt roads or rocks.”
Maintaining the Unshod HorseNumerous variables dictate how you will manage your barefoot horse, but here’s what you can expect:

Altered farrier schedule. “Frequency of farrier appointments for the barefoot horse depends on how the foot wears,” Dr. Lancaster says. “Some horses need to be trimmed more often (as frequently as every three to five weeks) because you can’t take as much hoof off; they become sore post-trim if more than 1/8 inch is removed.”
On the other hand, some barefoot horses do best with a longer interval of eight to 10 weeks between trimmings, according to Ridley. “Many barefoot horses can go a little longer because they are wearing off foot daily.”
“I have not found any need for different angles or other trim parameters in horses to be shod compared to those left barefoot,” Dr. Lancaster says.
Taylor agrees, as does Ridley. “Angles will remain the same, but the foot should be left a little a longer as it must maintain concavity, and vertical depth will be more conducive to staying barefoot,” Ridley says.
“Trimming the foot that is to be left without shoes should be more conservative than if the horse will be shod,” Taylor adds. “Extra length of wall, less frog paring and removal of less dead sole are all indicated. The hoof-pastern axis must be kept straight or slightly broken forward.”
Seasonal adaptation. Your horse’s trimming schedule—and even his ability to go barefoot—could change with the seasons. For starters, hoof growth varies under different weather conditions. Seasonal changes can also alter the terrain, thus affecting the feet.
This can be challenging if the horse has a tendency to be sore on variable terrain,” Dr. Lancaster states. “Many horses have trouble in the winter on uneven frozen ground, and may need shoes if they are expected to work on such ground. The wet spring and dry summers can also cause horses some foot pain if they work on ground much different than what they live on.”
Then, too, Ridley points out, a change in season sometimes brings a change in the work schedule, which, in turn, could affect hoof wear, trimming schedule, or the need for shoes. If hoof wear exceeds growth, it’s clear that the horse needs hoof protection and that may mean shoes.

A different work schedule. “Sessions may need to be altered when you first start a horse barefoot,” Lancaster says. “You have to give the feet a chance to adjust and to get used to the new demands. Keep in mind that it is not practical to remove shoes during the middle of competition season and expect the horse to continue the same level of performance.”
Even after a horse adjusts, you may sometimes have to back off your schedule if hoof wear exceeds growth; reducing the horse’s work or training allows the hoof capsule to regrow to a comfortable length, important for protecting interior sensitive structures, Taylor says.
Monitoring your horse’s hooves. “Wear on the hoof wall is the critical factor, in my opinion,” Taylor says. Watch for signs that your horse is beginning to react to too much wear or ground injury; signs include an unwillingness to move out, tender-footed or lameness, changes in his way of going, et cetera.
“Bare feet should be examined or trimmed by a competent farrier to determine if the hoof capsule is withstanding the wear that it is being subjected to,” Taylor suggests. “Look for collapsed or underrun heels, a broken wall that threatens sensitive structures, corns or sole bruises, or a torn or injured frog.”
Good Advice
So can your horse go barefoot? Perhaps the only way you’ll know for sure is to give it a try. “Put the horse in the best conditions that you can provide, and evaluate whether or not he can be maintained barefoot,” Ridley says. “It is great if your horse can stay barefoot—some can, some cannot.”
Read more expert opinions on care of the barefoot horse.
Marcia King is an award-winning freelance writer based in Ohio.

This article originally appeared in the November 2006 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe.

2011-12-29T09:50:00.001-08:00

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In This Edition

December 29, 2011

•	Safely Change Your Horse's Diet A vet explains how to switch your horse to a new feed. More »
•	War Horse giveaway Enter to win a copy of War Horse: The Making of the Motion Picture. More »

Videos

Games

Club Horse

Equine Nutrition Fact or FictionShould you avoid feeding bran mashes? What happens if you don't soak beet pulp before giving it to your horse? Is alfalfa hazardous to your horse's health? There are plenty of myths surrounding the topic of equine nutrition. We sort them out and give you the facts.
More »

First Aid for Common Equine Injuries

Your horse comes in from the pasture with a cut, abraision or a puncture wound. What do you do? Here is a vet's advice for dealing with these common situations to minimize the risk of infection and help your horse recover quickly.
Read more »

Avoid Impaction
The risk of impaction colic increases in winter. Learn how to prevent this potentially fatal condition. Read more »

Companion Animals
Goats can be great companions for horses. A vet explains what health precautions you should take before bringing a goat to the farm. Read more »

Horse Channel Newsletter

BowTie, Inc. 3 Burroughs

Irvine, CA 92618

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2011-12-25T09:24:00.001-08:00

Not all Equine Heart Abnormalities are Abnormal

Ever since the death of Olympic Champion Hickstead, there has been an increased amount of public interest in the secret lives of horse's hearts. Luckily, not all murmurs or rhythm abnormalities are career- or life-threatening. Read More

Ask The Vet

Wetting/Soaking Hay for Horses with Respiratory Problems

My vet recommended I soak my mare's hay for an hour, but I see some indications to just wet it down. Is it just unnecessary to soak or actually harmful in some way?

Read the vet's answer

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2011-12-21T14:26:00.001-08:00

Safe Winter Shoeing Riding in the snow can present shoeing challenges. What shoes, if any, you choose for your horse is a decision made with your farrier. But if you’re looking at options, here is some advice from on what to consider when deciding how to handle hoof care in winter weather.
Read more »

2011-12-18T13:26:00.000-08:00

Study Evaluates Pheromone Gel's Calming Effects on Horses

Semiochemicals--chemical substances animals produce and use for communication, such as pheromones--created by lactating mares might help some horses learn and perform better during or immediately after exposure to stressful situations. Read More

Ask The Vet

A Kick to the Throat

My horse got kicked in the lower throat area (esophagus) a while ago. Lately his breathing has been vigorous, and he takes deep breaths. I can feel unusual blood flow upon palpation. Should I be worried?

Read the vet's answer

2011-12-12T09:03:00.001-08:00

Heart Rate's Effect on Equine Performance

A new show ring and a new environment could equate to stress--and even poor performance--for your horse. Because according to Danish equitation scientists, the faster a horse's heart rate in a new environment, the more likely he is to perform poorly. Read More

Ask The Vet

Lethargic Horse, Trouble Urinating, What Is It?

My 13-year-old Quarter Horse gelding is lethargic and has trouble urinating. He stretches a lot and lies down; he's just not his jovial self. He has been eating, but he doesn't show enthusiasm about his food. What could be affecting my horse?

2011-12-07T11:55:00.001-08:00

How did my horse get thrush?
A vet explains this common condition, how to treat it, and how to prevent it from coming back. Read more »

2011-12-04T10:51:00.001-08:00

10 Winter Health Care Mistakes to AvoidCold weather brings its own set of horse health care concerns. Find out how to avoid some of the common mistakes horse owners make during the winter and keep your horse healthy and comfortable all season long.
More »

2011-12-01T09:57:00.001-08:00

Once-Over Grooming

Grooming gives you visual and tactile information about your horse's health, and if done on a daily basis it can help you catch potential health problems early. Familiarize yourself with your horses so you can detect when something isn't quite right. Read More

2011-11-28T09:00:00.001-08:00

Ask The Vet

Weaving Worries

I have a 12-year-old Tennessee Walker who weaves. I recently noticed lameness in the right front leg. How does weaving affect the lameness, and what treatments can I use to stop or decrease the lameness? Would steroid injections help?

Read the vet's answer

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2011-11-25T10:59:00.001-08:00

Shopping for an Older Horse
Don't overlook senior horses when shopping for your next riding partner. Here are some tips for finding a great golden oldie. Read more »

2011-11-20T16:18:00.001-08:00

To Blanket ... or Not?
It's on again, off again when you choose to play the blanketing game. Here are key factors to consider when deciding whether or not to blanket your horse.
More »

2011-11-17T16:31:00.001-08:00

Older horses still have a lot to offer a rider, but often they’re discounted as being past their prime. It’s understandable for someone to be wary of a horse whose retirement to greener pastures may not be too far in the future, but just like people, horses can be senior athletes. And there is plenty of research to back that up.
More »

2011-11-14T10:37:00.001-08:00

Keeping the Bitted Horse's Mouth Healthy

The ideal combination of factors to keep bitted mouths healthy remains just out of reach. According to one equine veterinarian and dentist, however, using gentle hands and bit seats--among other elements--can contribute to a healthy equine mouth. Read More

2011-11-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

Rattlesnake Bites in Horses: A Retrospective Review

Researchers noted a 9% mortality rate in horses bitten by rattlesnakes. Read More

2011-11-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

Deworming Dilemma

My horse lives alone in a two-acre pasture, but he is hauled to a public barn for exercising. Our vet has advised us to cut back on the every-other-month deworming schedule after a manure sample showed he had no worms. How often should we deworm?

Read the vet's answer

2011-11-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hurt Book Sale—New Markdowns Taken!
Only 3 days left of the BIGGEST sale we have to offer at HorseBooksEtc!
Save 50-75% off your favorite horse books, DVDs, and more at HorseBooksEtc.com Our Hurt Book Sale features "hurt books," which are slightly bent or bruised books. These imperfect books aren't returnable, and so they mean serious discounts for you! Stock up on how-to DVDs, horse care and health titles, and instructional training materials for less than half the original cost! Shop early for holiday gifts perfect for your favorite horse enthusiasts. Supplies are limited, and when they're gone, they're gone! Hurry! This sale ends November 7th!
Share the sale with your friends!

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2011-10-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

2011-10-25T19:22:00.001-07:00

2011-10-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Get a Perfect Lope
A reader asks how to find the perfect loping speed. Find out what our expert has to say.
Read more »

2011-10-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

Shedding Light on Strangles in Horses

Strangles is caused by a bacterium that gains access to the body through the nose or throat. Some affected horses suffer breathing obstruction due to enlarged lymph nodes that narrow the air passages--hence, the name strangles. For these reasons strangles causes considerable concern to horse owners and veterinarians. Containing the disease requires diligent biosecurity measures. Read More

2011-10-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons why horse owners would choose to slow feed hay to their horses. The concept of slow feeding hay is gaining popularity. The term "slow feeding" hay refers to methods to slow down the rate at which the horse can eat his hay. If you think about it, hay is a somewhat concentrated food. It’s grass with the water removed, so each mouthful is a more concentrated source of calories. In fact, hay contains seven to eight times more calories than live grass. Grass is 70 to 80% water, while hay is usually around 10%. Because of the concentrated nutrition in hay, it can be beneficial to slow feed hay.
Some horses will limit their hay intake to their need, but most don’t. This leads to overweight horses and necessitates hay restriction, which can cause horse boredom. Hay restriction leaves the horse with too much time on his hands, causing horse boredom and vices like wood chewing commonly follow.
In addition to reducing horse boredom, allowing the horse to eat more continuously has metabolic and other health benefits. Providing food in a few meals rather than spread out evenly can result in higher insulin responses to feeding. Owners of horses with metabolic syndrome know how important this is to their horse’s well being and health. When you slow feed hay, you also encourage normal intestinal function and keeps something in the stomach at all times as a buffer against acid. Click here for products that help you slow feed hay.
Make Your Own
We learned that some owners have come up with homemade versions that get the job done for a fraction of the cost. Something as simple as a galvanized ground feeder can be fitted with a piece of wood with circular holes in it to place over top of the hay. Even with 3" diameter holes, eating time is slowed considerably. The one in our picture was made with a ½" thick piece of fiberboard. The wood weighs between four and five pounds and the horses made no attempt to pick it up. U bolts can be added to the bottom of the feeder to adapt it to hold the hay bag of your choice, secured to the bolts with snaps.

Any wooden crate can be used as a hay feeder, and several people have made their own using half inch to 1 inch thick wood, reinforcing the corners on the outside with cut sections of 2x4s. For a grid, any type of suitably sized mesh or chain link can be secured to a wooden frame.
Easier yet is to use gridwall. Gridwall is a flat metal grid composed of usually 3" squares, used in stores on walls to mount shelves or displays. They come in a variety of lengths and widths, can be cut to the desired size and fasteners are available to hold sections together, if needed. Heavy racks from old barbeque grills can also work. Anything that’s safe.
You can convert your regular hay bags to slow-feeding bags by filling a bag then putting one or two more bags on top, overlapping the squares to make them smaller.
One Horse Journal reader hand made her own "hay pillow" by weaving together strips of heavy weight 2" binding, trimming it with heavy 4" binding and using ties of binding to close the top opening. This ended up costing about the same as a Busy Horse hay bag but you have the flexibility of picking the size of the openings.
Products
If you’re not inclined to make your own feeder, manufacturers are beginning to respond to the demand for slow-feeding products. We have included only systems under $500, and you can even save more with some ingenious do-it-yourself ideas.All these products claim to slow down eating, but the experience of owners is that any system that allows the horses to get hold of hay with their teeth doesn’t slow eating. To be most effective, the system must force the horse to tease out the hay using only his lips. If the surface is pliable, as in hay bags, you may have to get below 2" size openings to really slow them down. With more rigid surfaces, 3" holes or smaller will stretch out their eating time.
Bottom Line
The good old-fashioned small mesh hay bag wins hands down for price and the why-didn’t-we-think-of-this-sooner award. It works and holds generous amounts of hay.
Of the commercial feeders, The Grazer is our choice. The aluminum won’t rust like steel feeders eventually will, it’s lightweight and more readily portable. The 2.5" space between bars will slow feeding effectively. Only drawback we noted is that a smart horse might figure out that he too can lift that grate and get his nose in under it for easier eating.
If you’re not inclined to make your own feeder, manufacturers are beginning to respond to the demand for slow-feeding products. We have included only systems under $500, and you can even save more with some ingenious do-it-yourself ideas.All these products claim to slow down eating, but the experience of owners is that any system that allows the horses to get hold of hay with their teeth doesn’t slow eating. To be most effective, the system must force the horse to tease out the hay using only his lips. If the surface is pliable, as in hay bags, you may have to get below 2" size openings to really slow them down. With more rigid surfaces, 3" holes or smaller will stretch out their eating time.
Bottom Line
The good old-fashioned small mesh hay bag wins hands down for price and the why-didn’t-we-think-of-this-sooner award. It works and holds generous amounts of hay.
Of the commercial feeders, The Grazer is our choice. The aluminum won’t rust like steel feeders eventually will, it’s lightweight and more readily portable. The 2.5" space between bars will slow feeding effectively. Only drawback we noted is that a smart horse might figure out that he too can lift that grate and get his nose in under it for easier eating.

2011-10-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

2011-09-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Horse slaughter funding issue to go before U.S. Senate
A spending bill could allow funding for horse meat inspections for the first time since 2006. Read more >>

2011-09-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hoof Care MythbustersLike a bike with a flat tire or a tennis racket with a broken string, a horse with poor hooves has limited usefulness. But how to keep a horse’s hooves in their best condition is an often discussed and sometimes hotly debated topic. Find out what the experts say about some common hoof care misconceptions.
Read more »

2011-09-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

How do I know if a rider is too heavy for my horse?

A fit, healthy horse with a sturdy build can typically carry more weight than a horse with a finer build. Photo: Leslie Potter

Q: How do I determine what is a safe weight for a horse to carry? I have received several different answers ranging from 20% of the horse's weight (including tack) to any horse over 15hh can carry 300 pounds safely. Is there one rule of thumb or standard that I can use to determine if a horse can carry me safely? Does the breed or type of horse make a difference?

A: A black and white answer to your question was established in an article published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science in 2008. This study, done at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute took eight riding horses, loaded them with certain percentages of their overall body weights, ranging from 15 to 30%, then worked the horses and recorded their vital signs. The results from this study showed that all the horses in the study had no problem carrying up to 20% of their body weight (which translates into an average 1,200 pound horse being able to carry a total of 240 pounds). Horses carrying 25% and 30% of their body weight had higher heart and respiratory rates during exercise, and muscles that were more sore a day after exercise. So, in short, a good rule of thumb is that an average horse can carry 20% of his bodyweight (keeping in mind this is tack combined with the weight of the rider).

The long answer to your question is: it depends on the horse. The 2008 study noted, along with the 20% rule, horses with wider loins and those with relatively thick cannon bones were the least sore in the study group based on subjective scoring by the researchers and blood levels of muscle enzymes that are released into systemic circulation during times of excessive musculoskeletal stress. These findings clearly establish that a horse’s conformation also dictates, to an extent, how much he can carry. Overall fitness level of the horse also comes into play, as does what you are asking the horse to do. In general, if you have a fairly fit horse with large bone structure on a relaxing trail ride consisting of walking and the occasional trot, there’s no reason this horse can’t carry beyond the 20% rule – in fact this happens all the time as there are plenty of riders out there who push beyond the 240 pound limit on their 1200 pound horse, or the 200 pound limit on their 1000 pound horse but still enjoy a good ride while not worrying they are overburdening their mounts. Using common sense to evaluate your horse’s fitness level and keeping the 20% rule in mind should help guide you in determining what is “safe” for your horse to carry.

On a historical side note, the 20% rule has been in use for much longer than this 2008 study. The U.S. Cavalry Manuals of Horse Management in 1920 stated that no horse should carry more than 20% of his body weight in equipment and rider.

-- Anna O'Brien, DVM

2011-08-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

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IN THIS ISSUE:

8/19/2011

Join a Pony Club
Star on Equitrekking
Work To Ride
Breed Show Primer
Find It Here

Featured Video:
NCHA Cutting Spectacular

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Breaking news stories and great articles from our content partners are posted daily on DiscoverHorses.com. Today, check out: You Could Star in an Equitrekking TV Episode! Bayer Animal Health and Equitrekking team up to offer a lucky horse lover an equestrian adventure and a chance to star in an Equitrekking episode. To be eligible, nominate your favorite vet for Bayer's Legend of the Year Award.

ALL ABOUT HORSES
Learn about the fundamentals of horsemanship, breeds, disciplines, horse care, horse management and more. Learn About Horses the Pony Club Way Parents, if you want your children to learn about riding and horse care in a happy, safe environment, read this primer on U.S. Pony Clubs.

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Here's how to become a savvy spectator, volunteer, advocate, rider or driver--or travel the world on horseback. Philadelphia Kids Work to Ride Since 1994, urban youngsters have been learning to ride--and learning to win--in a unique community program.

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The DiscoverHorses.com rich content is due to partnerships with more than 30 equine organizations and the Equine Network's award-winning magazines.

Learn About Breed Shows
When you are ready to venture from open shows to breed-specific shows, Practical Horseman magazine has a primer of classes at Arabian, Paint and Quarter Horse shows.

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If it's Horse, it's Here--and we make it easy to find. Today, DiscoverHorses debuts a new resource, the Pony Club Finder, which makes it easy to locate a U.S. Pony Club near you.

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This newsletter is produced by DiscoverHorses.com. Contact us atdiscoverhorses@email.discoverhorses.com, or write the Equine Network, 656 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Copyright 2011 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media company. All rights reserved.

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2011-08-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

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IN THIS ISSUE:

8/12/2011

Sweeps Ends Aug. 15!
Youth in Action
Travel Tips
Pony Roundup
Cowboy Creativity

Featured Video:
AQHA Youth World Reining Champion

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Breaking news stories and great articles from our content partners are posted daily on DiscoverHorses.com. Today, check out: Young Riders In Action Even if you can't be in Kentucky for the Pony Finals or in Oklahoma for the AQHA Youth World Show, you can see all the action on video from the USEF Network and AmericasHorseTV.

ALL ABOUT HORSES
Learn about the fundamentals of horsemanship, breeds, disciplines, horse care, horse management and more. Three Tips for Traveling With Horses Charlene and Kent Krone offer good advice for when you're on the road with horses. From The Trail Rider magazine.

GET INVOLVED	Sponsored By:
Here's how to become a savvy spectator, volunteer, advocate, rider or driver--or travel the world on horseback. Annual Chincoteague Pony Roundup Learn about the history of the famous ponies and watch the video of this month's swim across the channel.

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The DiscoverHorses.com rich content is due to partnerships with more than 25 equine organizations and the Equine Network's award-winning magazines.

Use Your Cowboy Creativity
Bill Van Norman shows how a ride through varied terrain can be a learning experience that will carry over to the show ring. From AQHA's America's Horse Daily.

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2011-08-16T17:32:00.000-07:00

A Horse Owner's Guide to Saving Time and Money
Horse ownership is rewarding, but it's also expensive and time-consuming. Here are thirty tips for economical and efficient horsekeeping to help you enjoy the time you spend with your horse.
Read more »

2011-08-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

Learn about the fundamentals of horsemanship, breeds, disciplines, horse care, horse management and more.

Groom Your Horse Like a Pro
Writing for EQUUS magazine, Heather Smith Thomas describes how to take your grooming skills to a higher level. It's all about technique, not talent.

2011-08-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

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IN THIS ISSUE:

7/27/2011

Young Riders
Connemara Ponies
Watching Driving
Join a Trail Ride
Sweeps Ends Aug. 15!

Featured Video:
Arabian Youth Nationals

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Breaking news stories and great articles from our content partners are posted daily on DiscoverHorses.com. Today, check out: NAJYRC Competition Begins Today The North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North continue through the weekend with action in seven disciplines. Watch the videos on the USEFNetwork.com

ALL ABOUT HORSES
Learn about the fundamentals of horsemanship, breeds, disciplines, horse care, horse management and more. Learn About the Connemara Pony Ireland's only native breed first pulled war chariots. Today it's a versatile breed suitable for children and adults. Its largest market in the U.S. is middle-aged women.

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Here's how to become a savvy spectator, volunteer, advocate, rider or driver--or travel the world on horseback. How to Watch Combined Driving You don't have to be an expert to appreciate the skill involved in combined driving competitions, but it helps to know how the teams are scored in the three phases--dressage, marathon and cones.

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Find a Trail Ride Near You
The editors of Horse&Rider magazine have compiled information on great organized trail rides in 50 states. Sign up for fun with your horse and fellow horse people.

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2011-08-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

Visit: HorseChannel.com Western Horse Training Page

   Trail Riding   Pleasure Riding
   Halter Showmanship
   Speed Events
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   Cattle events

2011-07-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Horse Health College from HorseChannel.com! This is the place to learn about the program, meet your dean, and find out how you can qualify for the grand prize drawing after graduation. Click here to get started.

2011-07-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

By:

Lynn Palm in American Quarter Horse Journal

July 12, 2011--Problems linked to a rider not trusting a horse show up in a number of ways.
1. Inappropriate reprimands. I have no problem with strongly reprimanding a horse when due. Sometimes you must have a firm or assertive way to work with a horse.
If you reprimand a horse and he comes back and is better, he needed it. If he comes back and is worse, you should look at what you’re doing, because it’s not working.
However, you should never reprimand a horse in his mouth or by neck bending, which instill a dull mouth and are harsh.
2. Erratic performance. Any time you want a horse to perform – whether it’s a competition, exhibition or trail ride – you have to build a rapport and trust with him. Otherwise, he’s often unpredictable. One time he’s OK, the next time he’s not, because there’s no common bond or understanding between the rider and the horse.
Solid fundamentals are the key to success in the saddle. AQHA’s Fundamentals of Horsemanship will give you the inspiration, skills and confidence to create a more rewarding relationship with your horse.
I love this saying, and it relates to trust: When the horse isn’t doing what you want, he’s telling you something. And it’s usually that you need to get better at what you’re doing.
3. Asking too much too soon. One key to building mutual trust between horse and rider is to not ask a horse for something beyond his capability. Mentally, when a horse is not ready, you are only giving him a reason to be frustrated. Physically, you are fatiguing him and giving him a reason to not want to perform.
There are some disciplines that demand you have a high rapport – a mutual trust – with your horse or you can’t be successful. And riding that event can become downright dangerous without that trust.
It happens when he doesn’t trust you as the rider. He is begging you to slow down and give him time to learn. He wants to trust you to give him the tools he needs to have confidence to perform.
What to Do
You have to trust a horse first for the horse to trust you back. Then you’re building toward a win-win situation.
1. Take your time. You must spend time with your horse. That’s how you get a good understanding of his personality, temperament, age, knowledge and experience. Those all give you a formula for knowing what the horse will do in a performance, and how he will respond to learning.
I work on learning those basics first from the ground. From the ground, you can see how your horse responds to your commands. And that gives you an indication of his sensitivity and personality.
2. Plan for a positive performance. When you ask a horse to do what he’s consistently been doing well, you can anticipate a good performance. If you ask a horse to perform and you know that he is green, you have to be even more positive and always try to give him a positive experience.
But if you ask him to do something that you’ve done a little and he’s not consistently doing it well, and you continue asking him to do it without going back to something basic, you should anticipate a bad performance.
Do what’s good for that green horse, perform at his level, and give him a good experience at the show. You’ve already made the decision to go there and pay the entry fee, but if you do that and have a good experience in the class, you’re still building a positive in the horse. You’ve tried something new, working with what the horse already knows, and he still trusts you.
But if you insist he do something that he’s not capable of doing, he’s going to lose his trust in you very fast.
3. Match personalities. A horse and rider must be compatible to build a trust and rapport – their personalities must match.
See for yourself the amazing difference Fundamentals of Horsemanship will have for you and your horse. Don’t forget that AQHA members get a special discount! Order today!
In general, I have found that a timid rider on a sensitive horse is not a good match, or an assertive person on a shy horse is not a good match. A sensitive horse’s rider has to be very patient and have the time to spend with them, doing things gradually and communicating lightly.
If you have a horse with a stubborn, fighting attitude and you mix that with a person who’s moody, you’ll have a heck of a time bonding together.
I’ve had horses sent to me to train that I just did not get along with. But working with my husband, Cyril, we help each other out. I get along better with some horses and he with others.
4. Sometimes you have to back off. When I had Rugged Lark (the two-time AQHA Superhorse), I’d call his owner, Carol Harris, when he was doing well and when he wasn’t.
You know what she’d always tell me when he wasn’t doing well? Do nothing. Turn him out. Go for a trail ride. Take him out of his stall several times a day and let him just graze. Don’t do any training. And that horse would always come back and perform in what I was trying to get him to do.
Sometimes, if a horse isn’t doing what you want, stop trying to do what you’re doing and think about it. Spend time with the horse. That’s a trusting thing to do, to build a bond and partnership with the horse.
5. Get feedback. It often helps to have someone else ride your horse to give you some feedback. That can help to put pieces together or give you something new to try, and it may be a breakthrough. It also allows you to see the horse from the ground.
Take lessons from a professional who has a good reputation and trains and shows in your discipline. Or have someone video you. You can be your best teacher when you watch yourself and your horse.
From America's Horse Daily.

2011-07-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

By: Gavin Ehringer for Horse & Rider

Western saddleTrail & pleasure: Wide selection, padded seat, large skirt, light tree (usually plastic or new "flex" trees), in-skirt rigging, high or low cantle, not designed for roping or ranch work.

All-around: Flat seat for versatility; often padded, suede seats; close-contact skirting to assist in "feel"; reinforced rigging, roping-style horn, and wooden tree for light roping.

Barrel racing: High cantle with deep seat pocket for security, short skirt, high horn, in-skirt rigging, often with suede seat or tooled seat back and jockeys for added grip.

Cutting: Low cantle, high pommel and horn; flat seat with low rise at pommel; back cinch and slim stirrups; jockeys and fenders of rough-out material for grip.

Endurance: Comfortable seat, lightweight, no saddle horn, minimal skirt, many saddle strings for securing equipment.

Ranch: Big, heavy; slick seat for all-day riding and easy care; sturdy tree for roping; high cantle and back cinch; typically with plate rigging, which is easy on the horse.

Reining: Close-contact saddle for rider feel and ease of providing leg, foot cues; low horn and pommel to facilitate rein handling; often highly decorated for show arena; flat seat for easy hip movement.

Roping: Strong, sturdy tree of wood wrapped in rawhide, bull hide, or fiberglass; reinforced rigging and back strap; "pocket" seat and suede material provide excellent grip and help strengthen rider’s position--standing or seated.

Show: Detailed tooling, often with silver work on skirts, cantle, pommel, horn and stirrups; equitation seats emphasize balance; deep pockets aide rider’s position; "turned" stirrups for easy foot placement; often close- contact.

Training: Reining-style saddle trees common; low pommels and cut-out skirts for close contact; padded, suede seats for grip; fenders and jockeys of rough-out leather for added grip.

SHOPPER RESOURCES

Horse Saddle Shop
horsesaddleshop.com
Phone: 866-880-2121

Online and catalog retailer carrying multiple lines of Western saddles from name-brand American manufacturers, including Fabtron, Dakota, Bighorn, Billy Cook, TexTan, Tucker, Circle Y and more. Offers online assistance for saddle-fitting and saddle-buying advice.

Horse.com (formerly Country Supply)
horse.com
Phone: 800-637-6721

Online retailer of farm, ranch, and equine supplies, including a variety of saddle lines, saddle accessories, blankets and horse tack.

Reinsman
reinsman.com
Phone: 423-559-8799

Maker of quality tack and American saddles for all disciplines, including trail, ranch, show, roping, reining, cutting and barrel racing. Featuring "flex tree," as well as traditional tree designs.

CowdogSaddles.com
cowdogsaddles.com
Phone: 760-451-2075

Online (and traveling) retailer of new and used, top-quality “boutique” and custom saddle lines, especially reining saddles, by makers including Bob’s, Donn Leson, Leddy and others.

Circle Y Saddles of Yoakum, Texas
circley.com
Phone: 800-882-5375

Major manufacturer of American-made saddles for all events and purposes; pioneer in “flex tree” saddle design and super-tough Kevlar-reinforced saddle trees.

American Saddlery Inc.
americansaddlery.com
Phone: 800-251-7288

Tennessee-based saddle company representing a variety of saddle lines, including recently acquired Big Horn Saddles; online dealer locator and product information.

Western Saddle Seat Sizing Chart by Rider’s Weight and Height
Courtesy of The Horse Saddle Shop
5’- 5’5” tall 5’6” - 5’9” 5’10”+
100-125 pounds 15” 15” 16”
126-145 16” 16” 16”
146-165 16” 16” 16”
166-185 16” 16” 16”
166-185*
*Pear-shaped women 17” 16” 16”
196-225 17” 17” 17”
226-250 17” 17” 17”
226-250*
*Pear-shaped women 18” 17” 17”
250+ 18” 18” 18”

2011-07-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

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IN THIS ISSUE: July 6, 2011

Heat Exhaustion
Safety Savvy
Pony Club for Adults
Rodeo Grand Slam
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ALL ABOUT HORSES
Learn about the fundamentals of horsemanship, breeds, disciplines, horse care, horse management and more. How Smart Are You About Safety? Spend a few minutes on this true-false quiz by Clinton Anderson and Horse&Rider magazine. You may not be as savvy as you think!

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Here's how to become a savvy spectator, volunteer, advocate, rider or driver--or travel the world on horseback. You're Never Too Old for Pony Club The U.S. Pony Clubs Horsemasters program provides the knowledge and skills you need to be an adult volunteer in your local Pony Club. If you miss the days when you were a member, here's your chance to be involved again.

FROM OUR PARTNERS

The DiscoverHorses.com rich content is due to partnerships with more than 25 equine organizations and the Equine Network's award-winning magazines.

Brazile May Win Unprecedented Rodeo Grand Slam
Trevor Brazile is the man to watch as he closes in on PRCA championships in team roping, tie-down roping, steer roping and the All Around Cowboy title--in the same year. Story courtesy of the on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

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This newsletter is produced by DiscoverHorses.com. Contact us at DiscoverHorses@aimmedia.com, or write the Equine Network, 656 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Copyright 2011 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media company. All rights reserved.

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2011-07-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

By: Susan Stormer of S&S Trail Services and Deb Balliet, of the Equine Land Conservation Resource

People have been riding horses on trails for millennia, and this activity can bring great joy to the lives of people and the horses they care for. A trail that was designed and built with an eye towards environmental and social sustainability can allow riders to explore beautiful landscapes with minimal impact and without evidence of their passing. A good trail can also provide an oasis of natural serenity within the confines of a largely urban environment—picture a bridle path winding through the trees in Central Park in New York City.

Conversely, a poorly built trail or one that was not designed but simply created through unplanned user activity can lead to a lackluster experience. It may simply be unpleasant due to bad choice of path within the landscape, or it can be downright dangerous due to many factors.

Building Sustainable Trails

The purpose of a sustainable trail is to provide users a way to access natural areas on a defined path that is resistant to erosion and causes minimal damage to the environment. Water is the primary cause of erosion on trails. This concept was summarized neatly by trail building professional, Mike Riter, “Water always wins, the trick is in not letting it play the game.”

Many trail building techniques have been developed to minimize the impact of H2O on the trail. A sustainable trail does not follow the fall line (the steepest route of descent down a hill), but rather goes with the contour of the land. This keeps water off the trail and minimizes erosion.

It is relatively easy to route a trail in the lowest elevation area of a particular landform. However, this is where water will naturally pool and the trail will remain wet and unusable for long periods after a rain event. Whenever possible, design and build trail on a side slope.

If damp ground must be crossed, then hardening the surface or raising the trail tread above the ground will make the trail last longer. Several rock armoring techniques can be found online at www.imba.com/resources. If bridges are necessary, design and construction for horses requires special consideration including load, approach and tread surface. Bridge load limits are a critical factor as the weight and way of travel by horses is far more significant than pedestrian or other trail users. For more information, consult the Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads and Campgrounds published by the USDA Forest Service in cooperation with the US Department of Transportation (see sidebar).

Animals will often wear a path by traveling from food to water to shelter, but this should not be considered a “trail” for horse and human recreational use. Usually game trails run too steeply down the fall line, so a more sustainable route should be chosen.

It can be human nature to want to follow the path of least resistance when building a new trail. Plotting the new trail where the brush and thorns are the thinnest does not constitute good trail building design and planning. It is important to build the trail with the contour of the land and with the use of a clinometer to determine the appropriate location for the trail based on the slope of the land.

Doing the hard, time-consuming work right from the beginning of the trail project pays off with less maintenance in the future. Proper construction greatly reduces the need to continually repair and maintain trails, which allows you to spend more time riding. The adage, “Do it right the first time.” applies to trail building as well.

Trail Maintenance

Even the best built trails need periodic maintenance. Once a season, or as needed, trim back branches and vegetation that encroaches on the travelled space and remove fallen trees to encourage riders to stay on the designated trail. For the health of the trees and shrubs, it is important to trim limbs properly. Tree branches should be cut back to the next main juncture, all the way to the trunk if necessary. Do not allow stray branches to “poke” into the trail, as these can cause serious injury to the horse or rider. The recommended clearance height for horse trails is 10- 12 feet of vertical or overhead clearance.

If puddles form on the trail, corrective action is needed. Cutting a small channel in the dirt is ineffective as doing so will simply fill in the channel with silt and eliminate the intended effect. Instead, install knicks and/or rolling grade dips. To do so, carve a wide, shallow drain (called a knick) the same size as the puddle which will keep the area drained in the future. A rolling grade dip (RGD) is a modern and more sustainable alternative to the water bar. On an older trail that is too steep, installing a RGD forces water off the trail by creating a raised mound of dirt immediately downhill of a knick.

Proper Use by Trail Riders for Sustainability

To extend the life of a sustainably built trail and to reduce the need for trail maintenance, follow this simple rule--don’t use trails when they are wet and muddy! Riding wet trails causes significant damage because it greatly magnifies the erosion process. Additionally, “post holes” that are left behind by hooves can also harden over time and lead to trip hazards for horses. Failure to follow this rule and lack of funds for maintenance is what often forces public land managers to close trails to equestrian use.

To help keep horse trails open, ride on trails designated for horses, stay off trails when wet and assist the land owner/manager by participating in sustainable trail planning, building and maintenance activities. Your participation in the sustainable trail activities will help create a win-win situation for all equestrian trail users and the landowners and agencies on whose trails we ride.

We hope that this information will help you to make your trails more sustainable, safe and enjoyable for horseback riding. If you have further questions or comments, visit the author’s websites www.sstrails.com or www.elcr.org. To contact Susan, e-mail her at susan@sstrails.com or to contact Deb, email her at info@elcr.org.

____________________________________________________________

2011-07-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

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2011-06-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

By:

Dr. Holly Spooner, West Virginia University

Summary
Selecting the correct bit for a horse is dependent on a number of factors including the horse's level of training and the rider's experience level. Knowing how a bit functions and distributes pressure on a horse's face is essential for determining what bit is appropriate. This presentation discusses the difference in direct versus leverage action of a bit, how the diameter and shape of the bit effects the bit's action, and will describe the pressure points on the horse's face that are affected by bits and hackamores. In addition, bit selection for different stages of training and training problems will be discussed.
Presenter Information
Dr. Spooner joined the WVU faculty in 2008 as an assistant professor and Extension Specialist focusing on equine management.
She teaches in the Davis College, which offers a minor in equine management for students who want to learn more about horses or pursue careers within the equine industry.
Watch the webcast.
Watch additional webcasts from My Horse University.

2011-06-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

By:

John Strassburger for the Horse Journal

If you expect to keep feeding hay, then we better save the land where it grows.
Late in 2010, Active Interest Media, which owns the Horse Journal, conducted a survey among about 1,200 readers of its various magazines and websites, and one asked, “Please rank the following in terms of how much each may impact your life as a horse owner in the future.”
The choices were 1) availability of land to trail ride; 2) cost of boarding; 3) distance to a boarding facility; 4) cost of land for horse-keeping on your own property; 5) zoning limita¬tions on horse ownership; 6) cost of feed, especially hay; 7) price of horses for your interest; 8) less time available for horses (work, family).
Of those eight choices, the three that by far concerned readers the most were: cost of feed/hay (36%), cost of boarding (21%) and availability of land to trail ride (19%). Actually, 60 percent ranked the cost of feed/hay as their first, second or third choice.
What’s significant? All three concerns are directly related to the loss of land to development. That isn’t a shock to those of us who lead the Equine Land Conservation Resource, where I’ve been on the Executive Committee for almost five years. Actually, they’re the reason for ELCR, but it’s been challenging to teach this relationship to riders and to convince them to join us in saving land for horses.
Look around your own area and ask, how are we going to feed our horses in the future? Where is hay going to grow? Where are feed companies like LMF, Purina and Penn-field going to get the grains they need? And how much is it going to cost us? In 2030 or 2050, is a bag of grain going to cost $50 and a bale of hay $75 or $100?
Each day, we’re losing 6,000 acres of agricultural, forest and other open land to development (according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture). That’s 2.19 million acres per year, when the USDA calculates that we need 36 million acres to provide adequate feed for the 9.2 million U.S. horses. At the current rate of development, in a little more than 16 years, that amount of land will be gone—forever—and I’m sure you can envision the impact that will have on the cost of feed. Hay and grain are one of the big three items in my farm’s annual budget—so prices like those above would require us to more than double what we charge our clients. That’s prob¬ably why “cost of boarding” was the No. 2 concern.
In the past three years, ELCR has been instrumental in conservation efforts for 44,237 acres of farmland and 985 miles of trails. We’re proud of those figures, but, as you can see, it’s just a pittance compared to what we’re losing.
So what can each of us do to help protect our own and our children’s future with horses? My answer is, simply, to support the ELCR, the only organization whose mission is to save land for horses, and your local land trust, especially if they’re a horse-friendly group. (Not all are.) It’s critical for everyone to join the battle with either their time and energy or with their checkbook.

Alfalfa: The high quality hay for horses

2011-06-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

By:

Jennifer Paulson for Horse & Rider

Proper planning can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying a trail ride. Without it, you can wind up in predicaments ranging from inconveniences to serious threats to your safety, as well as that of your horse and your trail-riding pals. Even with proper preparation unexpected situations can arise, and you must act quickly to keep all the horses and humans in your party as safe as possible. Here are a few common problems to keep in mind. If one of these situations sneaks up on you, you’ll also be armed with information necessary to get out of it quickly and with as little harm as possible.

HOOF BLOWS
Situation: Kicks to horse or rider.
Avoid it: Pay attention to your horse and those around yours you at all times, whether on the move or standing still. Before you leave on your ride, tie a piece of red ribbon into the tail of any known or suspected kick-prone horse. It’ll warn others not to come too close. Alert fellow riders if you need to stop, so that they can prepare their horses and avoid pileups.
Beware: Any stopping point, whether to retrieve dropped gear, tighten a cinch, or take a photo, poses an increased kicking risk, especially when you’re riding in a group of unfamiliar horses. The situation puts the horses in what is, essentially, a herd environment. Throw in that they’ve been on the move and are suddenly stopped and agitated, and the risk of a kick is heightened. At stopping points, don’t allow social herd interaction—sniffing, rubbing, nuzzling—which also can lead to kicks. Keep your horse’s attention on you, while you stay aware of what’s happening elsewhere. Position your horse’s hindquarters away from any other horse, and be sure that none of the other horses’ kicking gear is aimed at you or your horse.
Worst-case scenario: If horses do get a little friendly or frisky and another horse or a rider gets kicked, separate the horses immediately. Assess the injury. Will the horse/rider be able to continue on the ride? Will the items in the first-aid kit suffice for treatment, or is emergency help required? Kick-blows to riders should be regarded as potential emergencies, because they often strike bone or cause massive contusion.
SUCKED DOWN
Situation: Bogs and quicksand.
Avoid it: Bogs and quicksand can be especially dangerous for a horse—he could start thrashing or panic, leading to severe soft-tissue damage. If you’ll be riding a managed trail, call ahead to see if the trail is open and the terrain is suitable for horses. Often, a stretch of rainy, wet weather can lead to closed trails because the footing isn’t stable. If the trail is open in spite of a bog or quicksand, the trail service often will designate a safe detour around the poor footing.
Beware: If a boggy trail isn’t heavily traveled by horses, the trail service might not know about the situation. If you’re riding on private land, there’ll be no trail service to rely upon. Keep your eyes open and pay attention to what’s ahead. An unusually green area, for instance, indicates a water source, and the footing beneath that green may be boggy. Also, bogs can get deeper with each crossing, so traverse any questionable terrain one horse at a time.
Worst-case scenario: Stay calm. If you encounter a bog, keep your horse moving forward, as the longer he stays in one place, the less momentum he’ll have to get free. Stay out of his way— you might have to direct him to the safest area to exit, but try not to interfere with his head too much. Get up off his back, reach forward with your reins, and encourage him to keep going forward. It’s a very fine line: You don’t want the horse to panic, but you don’t want him to stop completely and bog down even more. With quicksand, horses often can’t get out without intervention or rescue.
SURPRISE STINGERS
Situation: Attacks by ground-dwelling bees or wasps.
Avoid it: Be aware that ground-nesting bees and wasps can be an issue on trail rides. There’s really no sure-fire way to anticipate where the underground nests lie, because you can’t see them like you Use caution in areas where ground-dwelling bees and wasps could be a problem, such as in pollen-laden meadows near a water source. H&R could if they were in a tree. But as a rule of thumb, these stinging insects prefer to nest in areas with plenty of pollen (meadows, for instance, or forested areas with pollenladen trees) and a water source nearby. The lead rider may notice insects buzzing a foot or so above a spot on the trail, indicating entrance to an underground nest. If you’re at the front of the pack, be alert for such a sight, and plan to detour around it, alerting those behind you to do likewise. This might be an argument for using well-frequented trails, as ground-dwelling bees and wasps generally won’t nest directly beneath a highly traveled path.
Beware: These insects get very agitated when horses tread over their nest, and their sting feels like a hot electric jolt. Often, the first two or three horses in the pack step on the nest and trigger a nestdefending attack. They might be stung in the belly or the flank, causing them to rear, kick out, buck, and panic. By the time the next few horses move ahead and the riders realize what’s happening, the insects can be in full-on swarm mode.
Worst-case scenario: If you see this situation develop or the lead rider yells, “BEES!” or “WASPS!”, move fast—either ahead or off the trail. If you’re on such a narrow trail that you can’t detour, be ready to high-tail it past the nest (at a lope, if necessary), and don’t hold up the riders behind you. If your horse gets stung and starts to buck, pull his head up and urge him forward to redirect his attention and lessen the chance of additional stings. The worst thing you can do is attempt to pull him to a stop, because that just gives the insects more opportunity to sting.
Extra caveat: You’re just as likely to be stung as your horse is. If you’re allergic to bee and/or wasp stings, always carry an EpiPen®, and be sure that another rider knows where you keep it and how to administer it.
WATER WOES
Situation: Water crossings.
Avoid it: When water runs high, or if your horse slips and falls while crossing water, things can get dicey. Always cross at a designated area, both for safety concerns and to conserve the surrounding environment. Even if a creek has a rocky, visible bottom, the entrance and exit should be clear if it’s an established crossing. Call the trail service, if there is one, to ensure that all the water crossings are safe, especially when the water is high and moving quickly.
Beware: In the event that a horse does go down in water or finds himself having to swim, he’s going to need full use of his head and neck. Before crossing, un-dally ponied stock and remove tiedowns, martingales, and any other ropes and straps that could entangle your horse.
Worst-case scenario: The majority of horses instinctively know how to swim, so it’s likely that the horse can take care of himself if you find yourself in unexpectedly deep water. If you can, stay with your swimming horse by holding onto the saddle horn. Give your horse his head so he can keep his balance and get you out of the situation.
If you can’t hang on or your horse falls, place all of your effort toward getting away from your horse’s feet as quickly as possible. A kick to the head could render you unconscious, which can be deadly in any situation involving water. Once you get clear of your horse, don’t try to stand up, even if the water doesn’t seem deep. Sit in the water with your feet up and pointed downstream in case swift water carries you away.
DROPPED OR BROKEN GEAR
Situation: Unsecured/damaged gear.
Avoid it: Dropped water bottles, cameras, and hats; lost Chicago screws; broken reins or cinches—any and all of these can cause inconveniences and wrecks. Know how to secure your gear to your saddle, or ask someone who does to help you. Be sure that your gear fits your horse well and is in good condition before you take off. Carry only the necessities. Discuss what other riders are bringing along—do you really need duplicates?
Beware: If you have to stop the ride to retrieve or fix something, the chance of something else going wrong increases dramatically. A horse may get loose, for instance, or get into a kicking match with a neighboring one.
Worst-case scenario: If you or another rider does drop something, or a piece of gear breaks, alert the riders around you that you’re going to stop and how you plan to solve the issue. If necessary, ask another rider for help. By keeping everyone apprised of what’s happening, you’ll help ensure that no one winds up in trouble; for example, none of the horses get loose.
RUBBED RAW
Situation: Girth sores.
Avoid it: Condition your horse well before taking him on a long or multi-day ride. Ensure that your cinch is clean, in good condition, and properly adjusted.
Beware: Check your horse for rubbing throughout the day. If he develops a sensitive spot, move your saddle and adjust your riggings.
Worst-case scenario: A saddle sore can get oozy and bloody and make the remainder of your ride very uncomfortable for you and your horse. Carry a few disposable diapers and ointment in your pack. Apply the ointment to the sore, and wrap a diaper (plastic side toward the wound) around your cinch to reduce friction and protect the area from further irritation.
UNSTABLE FOOTING
Situation: Loose-shale footing in mountainous areas.
Avoid it: It takes a steady, seasoned rider and horse to navigate this kind of terrain, so don’t attempt it if you’re a novice on a green horse. If your horse is quiet and familiar with the terrain, you shouldn’t run into problems. On most well-traveled trails, the footing should be fairly secure, so up your safety odds by staying on the designated trail.
Beware: Some mountainous trails have steep areas with loose rock that can be tricky to cross.
Worst-case scenario: When you encounter loose footing, stay out of your horse’s way. He might have to scramble up or down the path, but help him stay calm and encourage him to walk steadily. If your horse is emotional and runs through touchy situations, check and release him to keep him under control, but then let him have his head for balance. Don’t get off and attempt to lead him down a trail with loose footing, as you could be injured if he loses his balance and slides into you.
The editors thank Team H&R’s Julie Goodnight (juliegoodnight.com) for contributing advice and expertise to this article.

2011-06-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

From the tips of his ears to the bottoms of his toes, the horse is a moving dirt magnet. To keep him from carrying around more than his fair share of his surroundings, try the following tips. They'll increase his presentability without costing you a bundle.
1. To get rid of manure or grass stains on any white part of your horse's coat, all you need is some water and a bit of bran or soybean meal. First, wet the stained area, then make a paste with the water and bran. Smear the paste on the stained area, scrub it in with a fingernail brush and leave it for two to three minutes. Hose off the area and towel it dry.
2. One way to clean your horse's legs, especially if they are white, is to first wet them down, then rub them with sulfur. If they are especially dirty, add some sawdust, too. When the legs are dry, brush out the sulfur-sawdust compound and you'll find bright, white socks beneath it.
3. Stains on white parts, including manes and tails, can be removed by lathering them with water and a glycerine soap bar, the kind normally used for cleaning tack. In addition to removing the stains, the soap will help to detangle the tail.
4. A fine mist of silicone spray on matted manes and tails will speed up grooming and cut down on hair loss and damage. The treatment works wonders on pastured horses, who often come in with burrs and weeds tangled in their forelocks and tails.
5. White vinegar has a variety of grooming uses including stain removal. Simply rub the vinegar directly on the stain. Vinegar can also be used to detangle manes and tails. A combination of vinegar and olive oil can rejuvenate sun-faded or patchy, shedding hair. Sponge it on the horse from stem to stern and leave it for three days. Then give the horse a warm, soapy bath and admire the results.
6. If shedding presents a grooming dilemma, an old hacksaw blade, dulled by use, can replace the more expensive commercially sold shedding blades. A pumice stone removes ground-in dirt and dead hair from underbellies, legs and faces. Or anchor a burlap bag to your horse's blanket using strips of Velcro to speed underbelly shedding and provide additional warmth during the late-winter months.
7. Baby or mineral oils are inexpensive, indispensable grooming aids that have a variety of use. Rubbed directly into a dull, dry and flaking coat or added to a horse's bath or rinse water, these oils can replenish lost gloss and condition the skin. They can also help remove the last traces of a winter coat. Applied to the hooves they act as a polish; rubbed onto the muzzle, they lubricate after a shave; poured onto a brush, they detangle and smooth manes and tails.
A mixture of baby oil and mouthwash applied to a horse's mane and tail may alleviate rubbing. When water is unavailable, use baby oil to soften and loosen caked dirt so that it can be wiped away without picking or scratching. Fly bites and raw itchy skin can also be soothed with oils.
One caution, however. Oils are greasy and collect grit and dust if they are overused. They also lack many of the extra ingredients, such as lanolin and silicone, contained in commercial hoof polishes and coat conditioners. But because of their versatility and bargain-basement price, baby and mineral oils can be a handy substitute when regular products run out. Used alternately with a standard grooming preparation, baby oil can help you stretch the life of higher-priced horse products.
8. Petroleum jelly also has a place in the grooming box. Circle a fidgety horse's eyes with a thick ring of petroleum jelly when you're bathing him to keep shampoo out of the area and lubricating oils in. A dab of petroleum jelly or a bit of baby oil can soften and shine the nose of a show horse. For those who object to having lotions of any kind smeared on their noses, add a half cup of cooking oil to their grain rations, and they'll enjoy coating their noses all by themselves. Be careful, however, because petroleum jelly smeared on the nose to moisturize may cause sunburn instead.
9. Horses who spend a great deal of time outside during the summer will benefit from an application of the same sort of sunscreen you use. Zinc oxide ointment, aniline dye (such as gentian violet) or a racing hood may also protect sun-sensitive faces.
10. During the summer, when horses are bathed frequently, keep in mind that shampoo baths, given more often than once a week, deplete vital skin oils. Follow label instructions on shampoo bottles for dilution ratios or even cut back on the amount of shampoo since more is not necessarily better, only harder to rinse out. Mild dishwashing liquid provides an inexpensive alternative to expensive shampoos. An anti-dandruff shampoo, such as Head and Shoulders or Selsun Blue, used once a month, can help prevent ringworm from getting started.
Reprinted with permission from Is There a Better Way? Practical Facts At Your Fingertips, published on EquiSearch.com.

2011-06-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

Learn about the basics of horsemanship, breeds, disciplines,
horse care, horse management and more.

By:

Carolyn Heinze for The American Quarter Horse Journal

Even when you’re not competing in halter classes, keeping your horse’s coat clean and shiny is a crucial part of your overall presentation. Not only does it demonstrate the time and effort you take to pay attention to details; it also lets observers know that you are concerned with your horse’s diet.
What, then, should you be feeding your horse to establish and maintain that sleek, enviable shine?
The good news is that if you’re covering the basics, you’re most of the way there already.
Water
Beauty magazines the world over counsel woman that the key to healthy, glowing skin is drinking enough water – and the same goes for horses, notes Eleanor Richards, an equine nutrition consultant in Bulverde, Texas.

“If a horse isn’t getting enough water in their system, they’re not going to be able to utilize the nutrients in their feed,” she says. “Water is the most important nutrient and probably the most neglected, too.”
If you’re confused about vaccinations, equine nutrition, first-aid or anything else relating to horse health, then check out the “Your Horse’s Health” DVD collection. On this three-disk set, veterinarians Dr. Thomas Lenz and Dr. Kenton Morgan expertly guide viewers through the basics of keeping your horse healthy.
The average, 1,000-pound horse should consume five to 10 gallons a day, depending on his individual constitution and the temperature of his environment. Eleanor estimates that horses with grueling exercise schedules can consume 15 to 20 (sometimes 30) gallons a day, depending on how much they are sweating. Lactating mares must also drink a large amount of water.
The problem is that in many barns, water buckets may go for a long time without being cleaned out properly, which discourages water intake and can eventually promote a loss of appetite.
After all, when you’re thirsty, how much do you want to eat if you have no access to clean, refreshing liquids?
This is an issue in facilities with automatic-waterers also; and in this case, unless the unit is connected to a gauge designed to measure water consumption, it’s difficult to tell how much a horse is drinking.
Aside from judging water intake by the number of times you change the water in the water bucket, there are a couple ways to discern whether your horse is getting enough water by analyzing his physical condition – the old “pinching the neck” trick to see how elastic the skin is the most popular.
“You need to do that frequently so that you know what your horse’s normal skin elasticity is,” Eleanor says. “If you think your horse is dehydrated and you pinch, but you don’t have anything to compare it to, then it’s going to be hard to determine.”
Pressing your thumb against your horse’s gums to monitor capillary refill time is another way: Simply push your finger against the gum, hold it for a second and then remove it. The gum should be white, but it should fill in within one or two seconds. If the horse is dehydrated, his capillary refill time will be slower.
Daily Salt
We all know what might – or might not – happen when we lead a horse to water, and one way to ensure that he’ll drink is to include salt in his daily diet. Eleanor advises a daily intake of two ounces, and she favors loose, granulated salt as opposed to salt blocks, which make it difficult to monitor how much salt the horse is consuming.
“Of course, there is some salt in commercial feeds, but depending on how much grain you’re feeding, whether they are getting enough salt from the grain is questionable,” she says.
If the horse doesn’t eat the salt you mix into his feed, she suggests sprinkling a bit onto his hay, taking into account that some will slip down through it and onto the stall floor. If you are mixing electrolytes into your horse’s water, you should provide a second bucket of fresh, clean water beside it, in case the horse goes off his electrolyte-treated water.
“Remember that prevention is as key as is early diagnosis and treatment,” advises Dr. Thomas Lenz. From diseases and disorders to soreness and injuries, the “Your Horse’s Health” DVD collection will help you keep your equine partners out of trouble.
Whether you are feeding electrolytes or salt, however, it’s important to ensure that the horse has access to water at all times. Otherwise, all the efforts you are making to promote hydration will work in reverse.
Tasty Grass
There’s a reason that horses in nature rely on grass as their primary source of nourishment, and Brian D. Nielson, professor of equine exercise physiology at Michigan State University, thinks there aren’t enough good things that can be said about the benefits of fresh forage.
“In the springtime, if you get the horse out there, they will be eating some good grass,” he says. “That’s when horses begin to slick off and get some dapple into their coats.”
Protein is one of the main factors in maintaining healthy skin and hair, and it’s rare that horses--especially adults--are protein-deficient. A combination of fresh green grass, good quality hay and commercial feeds designed for horses generally contain all the protein that the animal requires.
Fat is also associated with healthy, shiny coats, and one of the best sources of fat is, once again, fresh forage. Unfortunately, not all farms boast expansive pastures, and some horse owners choose to incorporate essential fatty acids into their horse’s diet through the administration of supplements. Eleanor cautions people to carefully read the content of these products before feeding them, because they might not contain the type of essential fatty acid that the horse requires.
Hoof Quality
Healthy hooves are also a key identifier on whether or not the horse is receiving the nutrition he requires, notes Preston R. Buff, former extension equine specialist at Mississippi State University. Yet if you are feeding a balanced diet, then most horses should boast healthy hooves.
“There are some horses that do have some poor hoof quality, and you can supplement, on a pharmacological level with biotin, and it has been shown by research that it improves the health of a hoof,” he says. “If a horse already has a healthy hoof, then supplementing the biotin is not going to be effective in trying to improve the hoof.”
Supplements
“Some of these supplements are really high in Omega 6, and you have to watch out for that,” Eleanor says, citing black oil sunflower seeds as an example. “Horses don’t need that many Omega 6’s, and if they eat too many of them, it can cause some problems with arthritis. You want to avoid black oil sunflower seeds. Corn oil and soy oil are fairly high in Omega 6 fatty acids as well.”
Omega 3’s are the better option, and Eleanor notes that stabilized flax is the best source of this fatty acid.
Remember, however, that the purpose behind feeding supplements is to provide what is lacking. If a horse is on fresh, green grass and being given enough salt and water, the chances of him requiring a supplement is relatively low, because grass usually contains everything that he needs. If he’s only on pasture part of the time, and the other source of his forage is hay, have the hay analyzed to see what nutrients are in it, and which ones you have to supply through other sources, such as a commercial feed.
The danger with supplements is that if you’re not able to pinpoint whether your horse actually has a vitamin or mineral deficiency, you may indeed cause one by feeding him a supplemental product, even with the best of intentions.
“When you start adding all sorts of supplements, you run into a problem of disrupting the balance and potentially creating a nutrient deficiency,” explains Preston. Preston suggests that in addition to good quality forage and/or hay, commercial feeds formulated specifically for horses do a good job of balancing out the horse’s diet.
“All of the horse feeds that are specifically formulated are enriched with all of the vitamins and minerals that the horse needs, and they are balanced properly to do that,” he says.
Eleanor underlines that the feed must be designed for the horse you are feeding: Young, working horses, for example, have different requirements than elderly, retired ones. Once you choose a feed, make sure that you are following the directions. Otherwise, the horse won’t be receiving the benefits of all the nutrients that it contains.
“If the feeding directions say to feed five pounds a day, but your horse is obese and you only feed him one pound a day, in addition to cutting back on the calories, you are also cutting back on the vitamins and minerals that are supplementing what the hay is lacking,” Eleanor says. “If you can’t feed the amount that the manufacturer is recommending, you need to find another product that you can feed in a lesser amount. It might be just a vitamin or mineral supplement.”
Even if you are sure of every vitamin and mineral that a horse is receiving, the more elements you add into the mix – such as supplements – the more difficult it is to determine what’s working, and what’s not doing much at all.
“As we approach show season, that’s when we start to feed supplements so that the horses look better,” says Brian D. Nielson, professor of equine exercise physiology at Michigan State University.
Show season and the increased feeding of supplements often coincide with springtime, when the horse starts to shed his winter coat, undergoes a deworming – which improves rough coats considerably – and spends an increased amount of time on fresh pasture.
“You have all of these other factors, and trying to separate out what is causing the improvement in the hair coat is really hard,” Brian says.
While providing a balanced diet is integral to a healthy, shiny coat and strong hooves, a lot remains to be said for the application of good, old-fashioned elbow grease.
“Keeping a horse clean and keeping the dirt off of a horse’s body is going to help keep the coat shiny,” Preston says.
Sunlight can dull a glossy sheen or at least bleach out the coat if your horse doesn’t have access to shade. Preston suggests that for those trying to keep their horses in show condition, limiting the time the horse spends in the sun is one way of keeping the coat vibrant.
“You can do things like turning the horse out in the pasture at night or providing a shady paddock to minimize the amount of sun.”
Flysheets also help protect the hair from being directly exposed to the sun.
When the elbow grease wears off, Brian reminds horse owners that there are a number of products designed to temporarily bring out that glossy sheen, such as Farnam’s Vetrolin Shine.
“I look at that as cheating,” he jokes, “but it works.”
Find more feeding and showing tips on the AQHA's America's Horse Daily.

2011-06-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

Learn about the basics of horsemanship, breeds, disciplines,
horse care, horse management and more.

By:

Christine Barakat for EQUUS magazine

What flavors do horses prefer? Not those you might expect, according to a study from England. In taste tests conducted at the University of Southampton, fenugreek (an herb often used in curry dishes), banana and cherry topped the list of flavors preferred by horses, ahead of more traditional fare, such as carrot and peppermint.
In the first phase of the study, which lasted for 16 days, eight horses received their usual forage every day along with six small portions of feed, each infused with a different flavor. How much of each flavored feed was consumed and over what period of time was observed and recorded.
Of the 15 flavors, only 12 were eaten by all the horses. In the study’s second phase, the eight flavored meals that had been eaten most quickly were then presented to the horses two at a time in all combinations to discern which they liked best.
Analysis of the final data showed that the top eight flavors were, in order of preference, fenugreek, banana, cherry, rosemary, cumin, carrot, peppermint and oregano.
By modern standards the results may be surprising, but a review of different cultures and historical records suggests that equine predilections are fairly consistent, says Deborah Goodwin, PhD, who headed the study.
“In India horses are routinely offered bananas, and the Greeks and Romans fed fenugreek to horses,” she says. “In the United Kingdom when horses worked the land, fenugreek and cumin were used to encourage fussy eaters to eat their food.”
Goodwin’s work may eventually lead to the formulation of tastier rations for horses, but she says she hopes it may ultimately have health benefits as well: “We know from previous work that horses prefer variety in their forage ration. Yet owners vary the concentrate ration with great caution due to concerns over colic. This work suggests that by varying just the flavor of an otherwise identical diet we may be able to provide the variety horses need without changing the nutritional content of the diet.”

2011-05-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

Be prepared! Know the safe areas around your horse and where you can stand without getting kicked.

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2011-05-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak Update, Biosecurity, and More...‏

The Horse Health Newsletter

To lonestarranch@ROADRUNNER.COM

If you are having difficulty viewing the e-newsletter, please see http://www.TheHorse.com/enews/05242011.html.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011


	EHV-1 Outbreak: Additional Cases Reported Over Weekend
	Understanding & Practicing Biosecurity on Horse Farms
	Horse Owners Encouraged to Vaccinate for West Nile Virus
	TheHorse.com Presents Ask the Vet LIVE Q&A: Conditioning Horses
	Ask The Vet: Confusion About Substitute Drugs

EHV-1 OUTBREAK: ADDITIONAL CASES REPORTED OVER WEEKEND

More than two weeks after the conclusion of the National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) Western Regional Championships--held April 19-May 8 in Ogden, Utah--reports of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) confirmed cases continue to trickle in. The outbreak, believed to stem from horses that attended the NCHA competition, captured the collective attention of the horse industry last week after numerous facilities quarantined horses. Continue reading...
More on the EHV-1 Outbreak:

UNDERSTANDING & PRACTICING BIOSECURITY ON HORSE FARMS

Biosecurity is a big word that many livestock owners don't fully understand. Let's break it down: Bio means life; biology is the study of life; and biosecurity is a term that literally means securing life. In the agricultural context we often hear government officials talk about biosecurity with the U.S. food supply (i.e., protecting U.S. citizens by inspecting food production facilities and imported food products). As horse owners, we also need to be aware of disease threats and do our part to not only prevent disease from infecting our horse herds but also to prevent it from spreading to others. Continue reading...

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With the help of your veterinarian and Pfizer Animal Health's complete portfolio of dewormers, you can customize an ID plan that addresses your horse's precise needs and helps it reach its true potential.
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All brands are property of their respective owners. © 2011 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved

HORSE OWNERS ENCOURAGED TO VACCINATE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS

A large mosquito infestation is expected in Kentucky this year after a rainy spring. Mosquitoes can carry West Nile virus, so the commonwealth's agriculture commissioner, Richie Farmer, is encouraging horse owners to talk to their veterinarians about vaccinating their horses for the virus. Continue reading...

THEHORSE.COM PRESENTS ASK THE VET LIVE Q&A: CONDITIONING HORSES

Hooray for warmer weather, more riding, and more training time! But before we hit the trails and arenas, let's not forget that if our horses have been in "winter storage," their bodies (and ours!) will need some conditioning before they're ready for a heavy work schedule. How does your horse's body adapt to exercise, and how can you tailor your conditioning program to maximize his fitness and soundness? How do you know when he is (or isn't) ready for more work? Find out during our free Ask the Vet LIVE online Q&A chat about Conditioning Horses on Thursday, May 26, from 8-9 p.m. Eastern U.S. time. Continue reading...

ASK THE VET: CONFUSION ABOUT SUBSTITUTE DRUGS

Q. Until approximately two years ago, I had my retired Quarter Horse on both Legend and Adequan. A change in our choice of vets convinced me that her "generic" MAP-5 and Chondroprotect were just as good and cheaper. Can you address this? Also, is it necessary to give both the Legend and Adequan injections, or is there any research showing that just one of these will work well enough alone?
A. Read the response from Joseph J. Bertone, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS.

TREATMENT COMBO

Results of Last Week's Poll
What treatments have you/your vet combined with platelet-rich plasma to help heal your horse's injury?

None, we haven't used it: 64.20%
Shock wave: 14.20%
Stem cell: 12.35%
None, we've used it by itself: 9.26%
Other: 4.94%

Total votes: 162
(Multiple selections allowed)
Poll sponsored by PulseVet.
View poll answers and comments.

PRP's WORTH
This Week's Poll
The Horse wants to know--How much have you paid for a platelet-rich plasma treatment for your horse? Vote here now!

ANTIVIRAL THERAPY OF EQUINE HERPES MYELOENCEPHALOPATHY

VIDEO | HORSE COURSE: Recent EHV-1 outbreaks have been alarming in their high neurologic attack rate in both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses. Therapeutic intervention with antiviral nucleoside analogs might limit the spread of the virus during an active EHV-1 outbreak while protecting infected horses from the crippling effects of severe neurologic disease.
Other Multimedia:

VIDEO: Horse Vaccination Basics
PODCAST: Western Radio Show Episode 54 - Summer Vacation "Western Style"
PDF DOWNLOAD: Equine Herpesvirus Immunity

AAEP HEALTH LINK: EQUINE PIROPLASMOSIS

Although primarily transmitted to horses by ticks, this blood-borne disease has been spread from animal to animal through mechanical transmission by improperly sanitized surgical, dental, or tattoo instruments or through the reuse of needles and syringes.
Get more valuable resources and up-to-date information on the current equine piroplasmosis situation.

MATCHMAKING: ADOPTABLE HORSE

Wyatt is a 3-year-old bay draft-cross gelding. He has a sweet temperament, but he can be shy around people. His training is limited. Wyatt is up-to-date on all vaccinations, deworming, and hoof care. Please e-mail or visit the Equine Voices Rescue Sanctuary website for more information about Wyatt and other horses available through the Green Valley, Ariz., group.
Are you a registered not-for-profit organization with an adoptable horse? Send a photo, description of the horse, and your website URL here to have your horse listed.
Check out TheHorse.com's All Breed Adoption Services, sponsored by Gainesway Farm and the U.S. Trotting Association.

BLOG: HORSE SENSE (AND SENSIBILITY)

EHV-1 Outbreak: Fight the Fear: First of all, there's no need to panic. Be smart? Yes. Be aware? Yes. Panic? An emphatic "no." Pockets of the horse industry have wrestled with a neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreaks before, and they have recovered and gone back to business as usual. The current state of quarantined barns and hospitals and smattering of canceled shows is inconvenient, expensive, and frustrating, but these preventive measures are necessary and will be worth the trouble in the long run. We don't want to see more horses in additional states affected. Continue reading...
More blogs from TheHorse.com:

EVENT CALENDAR

May 24--Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak (EHV-1): Horse Owner Webinar on TheHorse.com
May 26--Ask the Vet LIVE: Conditioning Horses on TheHorse.com
May 28-June 5--Equinology Equine Body Worker Certification Course in Writtle College, Essex, England
June 2-4--North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association Conference in Lexington, Ky.
June 4--Energy Healing for Horses in Banks, Ore.

Check out our Events Calendar; view all the upcoming events by day, week, or month. To submit a horse health event to TheHorse.com calendar, click here!

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