Endurance.Net: Consider this...

Chokes are common equine emergencies with potentially serious consequences. Here’s what you need to know.

Posted by Lillian M.B. Haywood, VMD, CVMA | Nov 27, 2020

Esophageal obstruction, or “choke,” is a common equine emergency. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The most common sign horse owners recognize is feed material coming from the nostrils, although they might also notice choking horses hypersalivating, retching, not eating, acting colicky, or coughing. Chokes can have serious consequences, so it is important to have your veterinarian evaluate your horse as soon as possible.

Most commonly, chokes occur when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately. The feed doesn’t get softened with saliva and forms a firm bolus that gets lodged in the esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Anatomical problems, such as poor dentition and abnormal esophagus anatomy, can also predispose a horse to choking...

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Early Education: Instilling a Foundation of Trust and Confidence

HorseSport.com - Full Article

The Fox Hollow program teaches future show horses how to handle pretty much anything through gradual exposure to scary stimuli.

By: Shawn Hamilton | November 24, 2020

After a hiatus from their Hanoverian breeding business, Sally and Garry Moore found themselves missing the young horses around their 100-acre farm in Castleton, Ontario. Taking in a foal for a friend laid the stepping-stone to Fox Hollow Stable’s unique service of not only weaning foals, but also laying a foundation of trust and confidence through gradual exposure to stressful or scary stimuli.

Sally worked at a Hanoverian breeding facility as a young girl, where she fell in love with the breed. In 1994 she and Garry purchased the farm and had their first foal in 2002. The work they did with their own foals earned them a reputation of having well-behaved youngsters. In 2013, they retired from the breeding industry completely. The next spring, as a favour to a friend, they took on a foal she wasn’t quite sure how to raise ‒ and they were hooked once again...

Friday, November 20, 2020

Road to the Tevis Cup Post #19: Prerequisites for riding the Sierra Nevada

JessicaEBlack.org - Full Article

by Jessica Black
November 19, 2020

Well.. I suppose technically I mean prerequisites for riding the Sierra Nevada foothills. I’m about 10 miles from Sequoia National Forest. The training barn is at an elevation of ~770 feet. The gate to the cattle ranch adjacent to us is at ~890 feet. My closest riding loop rises to 1860 in a mile (a bit more than half a mile as the crow flies). My current riding (climbing) goal is Hatchett Peak, at 3,261 feet, 2.50 miles as the crow flies.

Yesterday I got about halfway to Hatchett Peak, in the distance it will really take us. I rode about 2.5 miles along our eventual trail, and then headed home. Fantazia is not yet fit enough to go the whole way. Yesterday’s ride was 5.50 miles in 2 hours. Total elevation gain = 1,650 feet. We weren’t in a hurry, we explored trails and rocky ravines. I managed to scare myself many times… Fantazia had to back up, turn leaving a specific foot on the trail, and let me get off and lead. She scrambled up a very steep rocky slope behind me, and did not step on me when I fell.

I was very grateful to have a smart, seasoned horse. And I thought I should make a list of the abilities a horse should possess before it is taken out on these hills. Horses vary in temperament, but you can teach them to be smart, to think, and to listen to the rider when things get scary...

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Is There any Benefit to Feeding Oats?

HorseNetwork.com - Full Article

If your horse has nutrient requirements that are higher than what is being met with hay alone – particularly energy, oats can be an excellent option.

By: Shannon Pratt-Phillips, PhD | April 28, 2016

Yes – if your horse needs them! Of all the cereal grains (e.g. corn, barley, wheat, etc.) oats have the most appropriate nutritional profile for horses. They are an excellent source of calories, and have a better protein and amino acid profile than many other grains. They are higher in fat and fibre (thanks to the hull) and are, therefore, lower in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) than most other grains. They are well digested within the horse’s small intestine, even with little processing (as long a horse has good teeth!) and, therefore, pose a lower risk of sugars reaching the large intestine and contributing to colic or laminitis. Also, because of their lower NSC content, they are not considered a “hot” feed...

Monday, November 16, 2020

Binge Watch the Equus Film & Arts Fest from Home

Gretchen Lida
November 13, 2020

Like many events, the 2020 EQUUS Film & Arts Fest is going virtual this year. Unlike many events in 2020, this one is perfectly suited for the at-home experience. Featuring 50 plus films, 60 books, 13 artists, six podcasts and more, it’s 10 days of jam-packed equestrian escapism—all from the comfort of your couch. And it starts now!

The EQUUS Film & Arts Fest launches today, Friday, November 13 and runs through Sunday, November 22.

Bringing together horse lovers around the world, the theme for 2020 is appropriately “Pony On,” reminding us to keep working and causing mischief even when times are hard. One common thread in this year’s submissions is the idea that horses connect us, serving as bridges across language, culture, and political divides in ways that very little else can...

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Researchers probe the metabolic consequences of Endurance racing

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

November 14, 2020 Horsetalk.co.nz

Researchers are hoping to establish a metabolic performance profile for Endurance horses, which could ultimately be used to assess their readiness to compete.

The pilot study, involving 62 horses, used molecular-based techniques to determine the effects of endurance on metabolite levels. In doing so, they painted a picture of the demands of Endurance riding in greater detail than ever before.

Endurance rising involves competitive contests over distances of up to 160km. Races are broken into a series a loops, with veterinary monitoring of horses at the completion of each loop. The elimination rate is typically 30-70 percent, with lameness, dehydration and metabolic issues being the main causes.

It is therefore crucial that horses are metabolically fit to compete.

The study, a collaborative effort between entities under the umbrella of the Qatar Foundation, used metabolomics to assess the metabolic status of competition horses...

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Girth Aversion in Horses: Gastric Ulcers Pinpointed

KER.com - Full Article

February 19, 2020
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

Saddle enough horses and you will run into one that detests girthing. A horse that is sensitive to cinch-fitting, sometimes called a “girthy horse,” usually displays signs of protest, including tossing the head, pinning ears, wringing the tail, stomping a foreleg, kicking out with a hind leg, and worse. Is girthiness an expression of resistance, a sign of shaky work ethic, or could there be an underlying cause?

Veterinary researchers set out to determine the causes of girthiness in a retrospective study of 37 horses admitted to the University of California, Davis. Although identifying the exact cause for girth aversion remains a challenge, 12 of the horses studied were diagnosed with gastric ulceration...

Learning Arabian

GoPony.me - Full Article

November 5, 2020 / Ashley Wingert

In all fairness to mares, I’ve actually had to have “that” pre-ride chat with more geldings over the years. Granted, the proportion of mares to geldings is significantly smaller, but I don’t feel like I’ve been handed as many shenanigans by the mares. But then I am ardently biased towards Team Mare, so take it for what you will.

That said, last weekend involved full-blown Arabian Raptor Snorts after Liberty decided that large rocks were her mortal enemy. It was probably the spookiest she’s ever been, but even then, I can’t complain when the worst she does is stop and stare and snort, or maybe veer sideways a couple feet if the trail is wide enough. And what I really love is that she doesn’t overreact. Once she’s past something, it’s over and forgotten about, and she doesn’t hold onto worry or angst or keeping ramping up. I’ve said it before that she’s a very “thinky” horse and appreciates some time and no pressure to work something through in her brain. She is bold and brave but she’s also sensitive, and too much pressure will get her back up and make her start to resist...

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Remembering Sgt Reckless: USMC War Horse

BigGeekDad.com - See Video

Sgt Reckless was a Marine Corps Horse who served heroically in the Korean War. Sgt Reckless was featured in The Saturday Evening Post and Life Magazine for her heroic actions during the war. Sgt Reckless was promoted to Staff Sergeant by the Commandant of the US Marine Corps after the war ended and served out her final days with the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, CA.

Active rest: Three ways to keep your horse in shape while preventing burnout

Changing up your horse’s activities can be better for his body and mind than giving him time off. Biomechanics expert Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, explains why.

JEANNE O'MALLEY
NOVEMBER 9 2020

In Australia we have a saying that goes, “A change is as good as a spell.” It means that if you are feeling tired, don’t stop and rest---do something different. Now, if you’re exhausted from cleaning stalls, switching to cleaning water buckets probably doesn’t sound particularly restful, but the “change is good” principle is worth keeping in mind when training horses.

Developing new skills, whether they are needed to succeed in competition or to simply perform well as a trail or pleasure horse, does require a bit of work. And the best route often involves drills designed to produce incremental improvements in movement, gait or fitness with each session. It then becomes easy to adopt a mindset that makes meeting goals the priority while minimizing other considerations.

“Riders want to practice and refine their skills, and they are probably worried about disrupting the training program if they do anything but formally train,” says Hilary M. Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, FRCVS, who held the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University for 17 years. “So every day they go into the arena, perform the same routine, then take the horse back to the stall.”

This kind of routine can take a toll on a horse, both mentally and physically. Not only is he likely to get bored, but his muscles, tendons and ligaments don’t have time to fully recover from the demands placed on them. If a horse is asked to exert himself in the same way day after day, then his body doesn’t have a chance to repair itself, which means that tiny injuries accumulate...

Saturday, November 07, 2020

Qatar: QF researchers explore technique to assess readiness of horses before race

menafn.com - Full Article

11/6/2020

(MENAFN - Gulf Times) In a collaborative effort between Qatar Foundation entities, researchers from its Equine Veterinary Medical Centre (EVMC), Al Shaqab's endurance department and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), have been exploring the use of a technique called 'metabolomics' to assess the readiness of a horse before a race. 'Metabolomics is a relatively new technology used to measure hundreds of small molecules called metabolites, found in a biological sample. Metabolites are the products of constantly occurring and life-sustaining chemical reactions in all living organisms.

'Their production and removal from the blood stream is dependent on multiple factors including genetics, diet and lifestyle. Any change in these factors is reflected by a change in specific metabolite levels, which allows them to be used as biomarkers, said Dr Tatiana Vinardell, head of Research and Education, EVMC.

A pilot-study on equine metabolomics was inspired by Prof Karsten Suhre, director of Bioinformatics Core at WCM-Q and his desire to create a 'health and fitness passport for athletes. It turns out that horse endurance races are just the ideal test environment to explore such an idea.

'Every living organism has a metabolic fingerprint and by frequently monitoring this fingerprint, we can establish the reference or baseline metabolic readings indicative of that organism's wellness. 'Any changes in the health of the organism can be detected by comparing their metabolic state to their established baseline. If a considerable change is seen between the two, it can be indicative of a health problem that should be further investigated, said Prof Suhre.

Metabolomics research in human athletes has provided important insights into energy demands and training physiology, allowing scientists to identify novel biomarkers associated with better performance...

Helmet Head: Why You Need to Buckle Up Every Time You Ride

Horse-canada.com - full article

Riding is one of the most dangerous sports and you need to protect your noggin. Here are some important (and surprising) facts about helmets.

By: Kim Izzo | October 21, 2020

We love our horses and we love riding. But as much as we are passionate about our sport and may hold onto the glamorous image of our hair blowing in the wind as we gallop with our equine partner across a meadow, along a beach, or towards a jump, safety is also something we should be equally passionate about.

Horseback riding at all ages and levels is one of the most dangerous sports we can participate in. According to Parachute Canada (Canada’s national charity dedicated to injury prevention), our horses are fast, really fast, and some can reach speeds up to 60 km/h. Impressive, right?

This fact has another side to the thrill ‒ we’re talking the spill. There are more injuries per hour in the saddle than during motorcycle or auto racing. Parachute offers up these sobering stats: Per 1,000 injuries in equestrian activities, two are catastrophic – meaning the person has severe injuries to head or spinal cord that result in life-altering impairment or death.

Approximately 70 per cent of equestrian deaths are the result of head injury...

Thursday, November 05, 2020

Have donkey, will travel: Woman’s intrepid 1923 journey revealed

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full article

November 3, 2020
Horsetalk.co.nz

The intrepid journey of a young woman who took on a walking tour of England and Scotland in 1923 with a pack donkey as her travelling companion has been documented in a new book.

Eve’s Journey tells the story of Eve (Doris) Brackenbury, 30, who recorded her trip in a surprisingly intimate diary. Described as a “post-WWI Bohemian”, Eve’s quirky interests, courage and curiosity, and a spark of wickedness and inclination to shock people are revealed.

Her granddaughter, Gill Brackenbury, says Eve’s story captured her imagination. “Doris, or Eve as she was also known, did not seem to comfortably fit, nor did she seem to accept, the social norms of her generation. She was very human, a determined and rather independent thinker, and controversial at times...”

Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Things to consider before removing your horse’s shoes this winter

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Alex Robinson
26 October, 2020 16:24

Is it right for shod horses to have their shoes taken off over the winter months during a break from work? Richard Stephenson MRCVS weighs up the options…

Horses, whether shod or not, have a tough, horny hoof capsule, while human feet, unless accustomed to walking barefoot, are covered with soft, sensitive skin. However, we need to remember that many horses will struggle to make the transition from being shod to going without shoes and, in some cases, they will suffer pain and discomfort to a level which is simply unacceptable. It is fashionable in some circles to view unshod horses as “natural” and shod horses as being the victims of an outdated and harmful practice. But is it natural for a modern horse to be unshod, and what are the potential benefits and pitfalls?

While shoeing is frequently described as a necessary evil, it is important to appreciate that the modern horse is the result of many centuries of selective breeding which has rarely concentrated on hoof quality. With the possible exception of some native pony breeds, there is little “natural” about our horses. We must also recognise that even the so-called native pony has an enormous variety of different environments to cope with in different parts of the UK. One foot management approach cannot be made to fit all circumstances or all horses.

Before thinking about taking shoes off during winter, we need to ask why we put them on in the first place. Farriers will say that shoes offer protection from wear and provide grip — for the majority of horses in active work this is true, but do they really need shoes while at rest?...

Friday, October 23, 2020

This invasive weed spells trouble for horses

Wild parsnip, which is found throughout the United States, can cause phototoxic reactions in horses even if they don't eat it.

CHRISTINE BARAKAT
UPDATED:OCT 16, 2020 • ORIGINAL:OCT 15, 2020

Researchers in Utah have discovered that wild parsnip—an invasive weed found throughout the United States—can cause phototoxic reactions in horses even if they don’t eat it.

Many photosensitive skin reactions occur after a horse ingests a plant that contains photodynamic compounds. When ultraviolet rays from sunlight pass through the horse’s pink skin, they interact with the compounds in the skin and blood, resulting in painful burns with extensive blistering.

However, Utah State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers recently determined that horses and goats may develop photosensitive skin reactions after simply coming in contact with the sap of wild parsnips...

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Want a Better-Behaved Horse? Consider Feeding a Low-Starch Diet

A Virginia Tech researcher investigated the impact of diet on lesson horses. Here’s what she found.

Posted by Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor | Jul 30, 2019

The amount of starch in a horse’s diet can affect him both behaviorally and physiologically. To better understand its effects, Tanner Price, a graduate student at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, assessed university riding program horses’ behavioral and metabolic responses to diets with varying fat and starch levels. She shared her findings at the 2019 Equine Science Society Symposium, held June 3-6 in Asheville, North Carolina. In her study, Price split 20 riding horses into five groups of four. Each group received a different starch-to-fat ratio in their diet, ranging from 7.1% to 14.3% starch. Throughout the 21-day period, all horses were fed twice daily, housed individually in stalls, and ridden in regular collegiate lessons (beginner to advanced equitation and hunter/jumper classes).

Price asked riders and instructors that were blind to the horses’ treatment groups to complete a behavior survey after each lesson. They evaluated each horses’ behavior when being caught, led, and groomed, as well as his energy levels while ridden, reaction to leg aids, relaxation, submission, and more...

100 Miles for Hope by mule

Legion.org - Full Article

By Henry Howard
OCT 19, 2020

Achieving the goal of American Legion National Commander Bill Oxford’s 100 Miles for Hope challenge was easy for Trish Carlisle.

“It’s all on my mule, Bella,” Carlisle says, adding that she has ridden a mule about 15 miles a day since 2005. “I ride all over Arizona. I lead therapy horse rides for veterans and their spouses. We just get out for a day and relax so they can get away from their stresses and responsibilities.”

Knowing that her registration went to support The American Legion’s Veterans & Children Foundation (V&CF) was an added bonus.

“It was just a good thing to do to help the veterans and families,” said Carlisle, a member of American Legion Post 94 in Sun City, Ariz., who is also the department chaplain.

The commander’s 100 miles campaign runs through Veterans Day. There is still time to register to support the Legion’s V&CF and finish the 100 miles, by walking, running, cycling, riding a motorcycle — or even a mule...

Monday, October 19, 2020

Road to the Tevis Cup post # 15: Books about the Tevis Cup

Jessicaeblack.org - Full Article

October 18, 2020 / Jessica Black / 0 Comments

Fantazia is still recuperating from her smoke exposure–in fact, today (October 11) was the first day the AQI did not go over 200. So no new training updates. Instead, I will list all the books about the Tevis Cup I can find between now and when this post goes public.

Nonfiction books about the Tevis Cup
Fiction about the Tevis Cup
Books about endurance in general...

Read more here:
https://jessicaeblack.org/

Still Riding at 86

FEI.org - Full Story

17 October 2020
Words by Richard Mulligan

Linda Senser looks back on seven decades in the saddle...

These wonderful photos encapsulate perfectly the joy and fulfilment that come from a lifetime’s devotion to horses.

Linda Senser will be 87 years old in December, and continues to ride after 68 years in the saddle. She’s owned more than 60 horses since buying her first, Honey Pot, in 1953, the same year that Queen Elizabeth II was crowned and Eisenhower became the US President. Arthritis, a total hip replacement and back problems may have led her to give up skiing recently, but Linda has absolutely no intention of retiring from riding.

Indeed, Linda has found that at times when she could barely walk due to back pain, the agony could be alleviated through riding...

Friday, October 16, 2020

New Horses Are Rollercoasters - Ashley Wingert

GoPony.me - Full Story

September 30, 2020 / Ashley Wingert

I got a bit off track this month for blogging…not for lack of content, but more getting sidetracked and before I knew it, it’s the end of September.

We’re two+ months into things with Liberty, and after the one-month honeymoon, the hamster started falling out of the wheel a little bit, and we’ve definitely moved into the period of ups and down and the testing phase.

I’ve had her out on trail twice and she’s been brilliant. She’s bold, brave, forward, thinks before she spooks (if she even bothers to spook…she’s much more inclined to stop, think, process, then move on) and seems to love being out on trail. The arena, not so much. We’ve also got a major hiccup in our trailer-loading abilities. So more of this month has been spent on ground work and arena work versus trail work. I’m not concerned about that part, I already know she’s a good trail horse, and conditioning miles are all she needs out there. But I want her solid and reliable and cooperative on the ground and in the arena as well...

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Bombproofing the Rider

Spooky horses can erode our confidence as riders. We get nervous, the horse gets tense and it can derail the most well-planned de-spooking program.

By: Karin Apfel | July 12, 2012

Spooky horses can erode our confidence as riders, especially after a bad experience. We get nervous, the horse gets tense and it can derail the most well-planned de-spooking program. Don’t we all wish we were as cool under pressure as Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who carefully landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, saving 155 passengers from a sure crash when the engines failed? What was his secret? What made him able to function so effectively in an emergency? Was he simply not frightened?

In a CBS 60 Minutes interview, Sullenberger was quoted as saying that in the moments before the crash he experienced “the worst sickening, pit-of-your-stomach, falling-through-the-floor feeling.” So, he certainly experienced fear. How did he manage to overcome it? Speaking with news anchor Katie Couric, he said, “One way of looking at this might be that for 42 years, I’ve been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training. And on January 15th, the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal.” In other words, his competence was a combination of his rigorous Air Force training, his familiarity with safety procedures as an accident investigator, and his many hours of flight experience.

As riders, we must also educate ourselves and gain experience in order to be mentally flexible under duress. We must also have our safety procedures in place and a plan to deal with surprises...

FAQs About Horses and Alfalfa

When fed and managed properly, horses can benefit from alfalfa’s high nutritive value. But is it right for your horse? Learn about some common things to consider when feeding this forage in this article excerpt from the October 2020 issue of The Horse.

Posted by Chelsie J. Huseman, PhD PAS | Oct 10, 2020

Common (as well as a few less-common) things to consider when feeding this forage Alfalfa is a perennial legume forage commonly used in horse diets. Nutrient-rich, highly palatable, widely available, and affordable, alfalfa can benefit a variety of horses. While many horse owners and farm managers consider alfalfa a mainstay in their feeding programs, the forage remains a source of questions and confusion. In this article we’ll address some common, as well as less-common, considerations you need to make when feeding your horses alfalfa...

Monday, October 05, 2020

Everything You Need to Know About LED Lighting

LampsPlus.com - Full Article

LED lighting has come a long way in such a short period of time. The man who is recognized for conceiving the light bulb, Thomas Alva Edison, says that he “tested no fewer than 6,000 vegetable growths, and ransacked the world for the most suitable filament material” as part of the process of inventing the light bulb, which got a patent in 1880 (Source). Edison is said to have acknowledged that this was tedious and very demanding work, particularly on those he employed to help him. Having done its work for over 100 years, the bulb, as invented by Edison, is gradually being replaced by a light emitting diode (LED).

While LED lighting has been around for some years now, many questions about it still exist. Is it worth changing to LED lights? Are LED lights more expensive? Do they truly last as long as they are said to? Will they save energy? Do they increase the amount of heat in a room? Will they one day completely replace the traditional light bulbs we have known for over a century? In this article, we took some time to answer the most common questions about LED lighting. We start by defining what it is and its technical details, how it differs from other sources of light, how LED light works, and the categories into which it falls. We then look at the cost and efficiency of LED lighting and its advantages and disadvantages. Finally, we look at what the future of LED looks like...

Thursday, October 01, 2020

Seven Feeding Myths Shattered

HorseIllustrated.com - Full Article

By Karen Briggs -August 18, 2003

Despite the ability of many horse people to diagnose a strained suspensory at 30 paces, fix a faulty flying change with just a smidge more outside leg, or understand the intricacies involved in getting that recalcitrant tractor to start, a surprising number of us are baffled by the basic principles of equine nutrition. We’re content to believe the myths and misconceptions that flourished in our grandfather’s day, to feed whatever our neighbors are feeding … or to just plain get overwhelmed by the whole subject! The result is that a great many horses are fed more according to tradition than to sound scientific fact, and their overall health may suffer because of it.

But feeding horses really isn’t rocket science. It’s pretty simple to understand, if you try. It’s time to debunk some of those pervasive nutrition myths, and replace them with solid facts on which you can base your feeding program.

MYTH #1: Horses need grain in their diets...

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Transitioning from Summer to Fall - What Should I Consider with Impaction Colic in Horses?

StandleeForage.com - Full Article

September 24, 2020

Fall is approaching and with it, cooler weather and a shift in pasture availability and moisture content. When temperatures start to decrease, some horses have a tendency to drink less; coupled with eating less moisture dense pasture and more dry hay, this transition can sometimes bring on impaction colic. Diagnosed early, impaction colic usually can be treated and resolved without surgery.

Causes:

Impaction colic is a drying out of intestinal contents causing a blockage in the horse’s gut. The large intestine twists and turns and has several changes of direction and diameter. These “corners” can be position for impactions, where a firm mass of feed or foreign material blocks the intestine. Impactions can be induced by coarse feed stuff, dehydration or accumulation of foreign material, like sand. Other management changes such as feed changes or decreases in exercise and water intake and long-term use of NSAIDs can also increase the risk for impactions colic.

Signs:

The usual signs of approaching impaction colic are...

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

The Road to the Tevis Cup, Post # 11: (Not) riding in smoke from wildfires - Jessica Black

JessicaEBlack.org - Full Story

September 18, 2020 / Jessica Black

Fantazia’s endurance training has been put on hold due the the insane fire activity in California (and much of the West coast). Riding in smoke from wildfires is a bad idea. When I got up Sunday morning, I thought I had escaped the worst of it. I had gone to Paso Robles to train in the deep sand of a riverbed (see my post on Conditioning in Deep Sand), and I extended my stay because Paso was one of the few places in California that did not have dangerous air quality.

Then on Sunday, as I was getting ready to go on a ride with my friend Laurie, I received a voluntary evacuation notice from the Tulare County Emergency Alert system. That was for where I live with my boyfriend. After an intense exchange of texts with my brother and mother, I determined that they were on mandatory evacuation. I had my boyfriend’s truck and trailer. My family needed me (my son texted as much). I didn’t want to get blocked out, if the situation worsened. I headed home. The Sequoia Complex fire

The Sequoia Complex Fire (SQF) is actually two fires. The Castle Fire started in the Golden Trout Wilderness (destroying my plan to ride in Shake Camp to Maggie Lakes). The Shotgun Fire started just south of Sequoia National Park. Now they have joined and are consuming much of Sequoia National Park. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are the land of giant sequoias, below the timberline. And a lot more, peaks, lakes...

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

The benefits of active rest

Biomechanics expert Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, explains why periodically changing up your horse’s activities can be better for his body and mind than giving him time off.

JEANNE O'MALLEY
UPDATED:SEP 21, 2020

Developing new skills, whether they are needed to succeed in compe-tition or to simply perform well as a trail or pleasure horse, does require a bit of work. And the best route often involves drills designed to produce incremental improvements in movement, gait or fitness with each session. It then becomes easy to adopt a mindset that makes meeting goals the priority while minimizing other considerations.

This kind of routine can take a toll on a horse, both mentally and physically...

Can Wildfire Ash Make Pastures Unsafe for Horses to Eat?

Leavearly.com - Full Story

Horse owners are rightfully concerned about their horses’ lung health after wildfire smoke exposure. But can the smoke and ash also affect their pastures and forage?

Posted by Michelle N. Anderson, TheHorse.com Digital Managing Editor | Sep 21, 2020

Q: Our sidewalks here in California are black with the ash from nearby fires. I’ve found information about air quality’s impact on lungs, but what about the quality of or dangers inherent in pasture grasses where ash has settled? Is it harmful for horses to consume? How does it taste? Is it bitter? We can substitute feeding hay in the barn for just so long, and it won’t rain until October at best. Help!

A: This is a great question given how many horse owners in the Western states are finding themselves dealing with ash in their horses’ environment. I have a number of friends in Northern California and Oregon who are reporting a blanket of ash over the plants in their yards, and obviously this ash is also accumulating on pastures and stacks of hay and around the barns where horses are kept. Many of us have read the warnings about looking after our horses’ lung health during the poor air quality these wild fires cause; however, the question remains, is it safe for horses to graze pastures or other forages that might result in the consumption of ash?...

Monday, September 21, 2020

Virtual Bookstore Launches for Horse Lovers

HorseIllustrated.com - Full Article

By Heather Wallace - September 2, 2020

To highlight the community of equine authors and reach readers who love horses, the Bookstore for Horse Lovers has been launched. Featuring both independently and traditionally published authors, the virtual bookstore is a unique platform dedicated to promoting authors of horse books. Readers may search authors in the following categories of featured, fiction, and non-fiction; read official author biographies; follow authors on social media; and click to websites where they can purchase each author’s books...

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Oregon: Unprecedented Wildfires Force Equine Evacuations

TheHorse.com - Full Article

Horsemen and women in the state scrambled to evacuate as emergency facilities quickly reached capacity by Tuesday.

Posted by Stacy Pigott | Sep 10, 2020

Oregon is the latest state to be under siege by wildfires, as high temperatures and strong winds have fanned the flames of more than 35 active fires that have destroyed more than 5 million acres as of Thursday morning, according to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management.

The fires spread relentlessly across Western Oregon from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Coast, a region not accustomed to extreme wildfire activity. Horsemen and women in the area scrambled to evacuate, and emergency facilities quickly reached capacity by Tuesday, the day Governor Kate Brown declared a national emergency and said during a press briefing the fires could lead to the greatest loss of property and human lives in state history...

Monday, September 14, 2020

The Love of Horses

EXPLORING THE SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN HORSE AND RIDER IN ENDURANCE EVENTS

September 10 2020

Fresh air and sleeping under the stars. Life doesn’t get much better – or simpler – than that.

And the opportunity to be involved in the enthralling challenge of endurance horse-riding was an offer too good to pass up.

Here was the chance to better understand the remarkable bond between horse and rider.

To see the love and trust that is forged between them over the many hours needed to complete the course.

And that’s the challenge – to complete the course while ensuring both horse and rider stay fit and healthy from start to finish.

It was overcast on the Saturday morning with some light rain as I drove out from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to the Mary Valley and Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Centre at Imbil...

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Leg Blowup: Cellulitis

PracticalHorsemanmag.com - Full Article

Act quickly to defeat this microbial infection whose hallmark sign is a ‘stovepipe leg.’

ELAINE PASCOEAUG 4, 2020

Your horse was fine when you left him in his stall last night, but this morning he’s moping in a corner, reluctant to step out. It doesn’t take you long to see the problem—from hoof to well above the hock, his left hind leg is swollen to twice its normal width.

That extreme swelling can be a hallmark of cellulitis, a condition that can be life-threatening in horses. “It should be treated the day you observe it, before the sun goes down,” says Emma Adam, BVetMed, PhD, DACVIM, DACVS, at the Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky. In this article, Dr. Adam helps explain what you need to know about cellulitis.

Cellulitis and its close cousin lymphangitis produce similar signs, and both are caused by microbial infections...

Algae in Horse Water Troughs: Is It Safe?

TheHorse.com - Full Article

Q: For most of the year my horses live out full time on pasture. In the summer their water trough grows a lot of algae. Is it okay for them to drink from the trough when it has algae, and what can I do to stop it growing?

A: Algae in troughs is a common problem once temperatures start to rise. To grow, algae need water, sunlight, and a nutrient source. Nutrients can come from organic material that has blown into the trough, manure, or even your horse’s saliva.

While most algae don’t pose a direct health concern, certain types of blue-green algae release toxins that can lead to colic and diarrhea. Additionally, a lot of algae might make the water less desirable to your horse and lead to reduced water intake. Keeping algal blooms to a minimum in your troughs is therefore a smart idea. Here are some solutions:...

Saturday, September 12, 2020

Feeding Horses During Disasters

StandleeForage.com - Full Article

September 02, 2020

Horses are routine animals and there are known rules we all abide by when feeding our horses, and one of those is to avoid making rapid feeding changes as this can upset the hindgut microbiome and cause diarrhea and gastric upset. Unfortunately, there are sometimes circumstances beyond our control, such as natural disasters. Flood, wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes are common natural disasters that occur throughout the United States. These events can require sudden evacuation and, in turn, rapid changes in the horse’s diet.

When it comes to your horse’s nutrition, here are a few suggestions:...

Study: Omeprazole Reduces Calcium Digestibility in Horses

While omeprazole use is unlikely to cause bone issues in horses consuming correct rations, researchers said it’s important to respect professional recommendations for both omeprazole treatment duration and commercial feeding instructions.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | May 24, 2020

Feeding horses treated with omeprazole a well-balanced concentrate ration can ensure they receive enough calcium to make up for any deficiencies the ulcer medication could potentially cause. Researchers have found that horses treated for gastric ulcers could be getting less calcium into the bloodstream than they would normally. Depending on the calcium source, horses treated with omeprazole (such as GastroGard, the FDA-approved medications for the treatment and prevention of equine gastric ulcers) could be digesting 15-20% less calcium than when they’re not on omeprazole.

Over prolonged treatment periods, this could lead to deficiencies if the horse isn’t consuming adequate amounts of calcium, said Joe Pagan, PhD, founder of Kentucky Equine Research (KER), in Versailles...

Friday, September 11, 2020

Introducing Pack-Burro Racing: Get Your Ass in Gear!

Think you've seen it all when it comes to horse sports? How about the official Heritage Sport of Colorado - a human/burro marathon with a Triple Crown!

By: Kim Izzo | September 2, 2020

If you think you’ve heard or seen everything when it comes to horse sports, think again. We came across this video of a pack-burro race in Colorado:
https://youtu.be/_DKA51RXfmM

But lest you picture these hard-working animals being ridden at a gallop along a well-groomed track, what sets this sport apart from other horse races is that it’s not only the four-hooved creature that is doing the running. In pack-burro racing the humans must run alongside the burro, or lead it, or as is the case in the video, run behind.

Pack-burro racing isn’t some weird fringe sport either; it’s actually the Official State Summer Heritage Sport of Colorado, and was designated as such in 2012. The sport made its official debut in 1949 and is inclusive, allowing men and women to compete equally like in other equestrian events. In fact, the first ever female competitor of a pack-burro race was in 1951. Her name was Edna Miller and she made history by being the first American woman to compete in a marathon – burro or no burro...

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Happy Trails Podcast: Riding and Packing with Robert Eversole

RideClimb.com - Listen

August 29 2020

Robert Eversole is the creator of Trailmeister, an online guide to trails and horse camps around North America. He created www.trailmeister.com over a decade ago after dealing with the frustration of scouting trailheads when no information was available.

With over 3,700 trails listed, the site continues to grow. Users contribute trail information, GPS tracks, and photos of their local favorites.

Robert frequently rides and packs into the back country with his horses and mules. He is passionate about sharing information and passing along the knowledge he has acquired over the years.

He has written a plethora of articles relating to trail riding; many of which have been featured in horse magazines. They are available on his website. His YouTube channel also contains many great how-to videos. Additionally, Robert teaches clinics on packing and riding in the back country where attendees can get hands-on experience.

Happy Trails!

Listen:
https://rideclimb.com/podcast/riding-and-packing-with-robert-eversole/

Monday, August 31, 2020

Never Get Lost on the Trail

Follow these simple steps to get back on track if you lose your bearings on a trail outing.

JOANNE MESZOLY
UPDATED:MAR 10, 2017
ORIGINAL:AUG 25, 2008

Some people are blessed with an innate directional sense; blindfold them and drop them off in the woods, and they'll find their way out in no time. Others become disoriented in shopping malls. If you fit into the latter category, you're not going to get into trouble on a single trail that loops back and delivers you to the starting point. Yet even seasoned trail users can get turned around on poorly marked tracks or become disoriented when forced off familiar ground by an unanticipated obstruction along the way. You have to have a rudimentary understanding of navigation and remain keenly observant of natural and/or man-made trail landmarks in order to keep your bearings.

"I find that people tend to get lost when they rely on someone else," says Montana wilderness rider Dan Aadland. "For example, you plan to head back separately after lunch, but you weren't paying attention because you were following someone else. Then it's easier to get lost..."

Supplements for Endurance Horse in Training?

KER.com - Full Article

Question
My 16-hand (163-cm) Anglo-Arabian is in good weight for his sport, just below optimal body condition. He’s in training year-round for competitive endurance riding, working towards 100-mile rides. He’s fed 2 lb (0.9 kg) of senior feed, 1 lb (0.45 kg) unmolassed beet pulp pellets, 0.5 lb (0.23 kg) whole flaxseed, 1 lb (0.45 kg) timothy pellets, one flake (3 lb, 1.4 kg) of quality hay, and free grazing. He was diagnosed with insulin resistance and hypothyroidism two years ago, but we manage that with diet control and exercise. Other than this, his health seems fine except for some hoof issues. He’s been a bit lackluster under saddle lately. I am worried about his electrolyte balance as we begin to step up the distance. I use a combination of electrolyte and homemade lipid-coated salt, but I would like to know more about calcium, magnesium, and selenium in relation to our region and supplementation.

Answer
Your current feeding program is not providing sufficient quantities of certain trace minerals–namely selenium, copper, and zinc–to meet recommendations for endurance horses...

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Capturing horses with a drone

EquineScienceUpdate Blog - Full Article

Monday, August 24, 2020

Feral populations of horses often roam over extensive areas. When it becomes necessary to confine them for management purposes – for contraceptive treatment, for example - it becomes necessary to round them up.

Current methods of trapping are based on chasing the animals into a corralled area – often using helicopters.

Is there another way? A less stressful, less expensive, and safer alternative? Sue McDonnell and Catherine Torcivia, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine New Bolton Center, believe that there is...

Friday, August 28, 2020

Feeding the Foot: Nutrition of Equine Hoof Health

Two equine nutritionists shed light on the do’s and don’ts of feeding your horse for strong and healthy hooves. Read an excerpt of this article from the August 2020 issue of The Horse here.

Posted by Lucile Vigouroux | Aug 22, 2020

How to feed your horse for strong and healthy hooves

Nutrition impacts everything from performance and temperament to growth and metabolic rate. Hoof quality is no exception. It can take up to a year for a full new hoof to grow, so what your horse eats today could impact his soundness much further down the road. In this article two equine nutritionists—Lynn Taylor, PhD, and Ashley Wagner, PhD—shed light on the do’s and don’ts of feeding for optimal hoof health.

The Recipe for Healthy Hooves

Your horse’s diet plays a crucial role in the quality and durability of the horn that makes up his hooves. Horses require certain nutrients in specific amounts and ratios to grow and maintain strong hooves. However, even the perfect diet is not enough by itself to grow good feet—several other factors come into play...

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Wildfire Season and Feeding Horses for Lung Health

RutlandHerald.com - Full Article

Smoky air makes breathing difficult and can exacerbate equine asthma. Learn how to support your horse’s respiratory health via nutrition and reduce airway irritants during fire season.

Posted by Clair Thunes, PhD | Aug 24, 2020

Q. I live in an area plagued by wildfires. Thankfully, we haven’t been directly impacted, but we have experienced very low air quality. I always worry about my horses’ health, because they’re in stalls breathing unfiltered air. Is there anything nutritionally I can do that might help protect them?

A. Having lived in Northern California for many years during large wildfires, I understand your concerns firsthand. A horse’s respiratory system is the main limiter of performance.

While it’s possible to improve cardiac function and muscle mass, as well as the strength and skill to perform certain expectations, the respiratory system cannot be greatly improved through exercise. The ability to transfer oxygen across lung membranes into the bloodstream sets the upper limit on how much oxygen is available to reach muscle tissues. Muscles need oxygen to metabolize fuel stores of fats and carbohydrates using aerobic metabolism...

Saturday, August 22, 2020

A different kind of endurance race

Howard Reid, of Barre, astride the winning horse, Halcyon. Vermont Historical Society

August 22 2020
By Paul Heller For Weekend Magazine

From the Boston Marathon to the Indianapolis 500, endurance and strength have always been celebrated. Even in the bygone age of horse power, a stress test to find the best horse and rider was first staged by the Morgan Horse Club of New England in a feat of stamina and survival for Vermont horsemen and their mounts.

The “Endurance Ride of 1913” followed a route that started in Northfield and made its way through Waterbury, Stowe, Hardwick, St. Johnsbury, Wells River and concluded in White River Junction – a distance of 154 miles. The route took two days – Sept. 16-17 – and was the focus of every equestrian in New England.

The Vermont Horse and Bridle Trail Bulletin called this event “the first test in America of weight carrying over long distances.” This occasion also marks the beginning of the endurance ride as a sport, and it was a Norwich University cadet from Barre who won this first-ever public competition.

Developed by the U.S. Cavalry as a way to grade military mounts, the “Endurance Ride” became a way for breeders to establish favorable bloodlines and for equestrians to establish bragging rights...

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Did You Know: Equine Gastric Ulcers Impact Stride Length

Reduced performance, including a shorter stride length, is likely a consequence of pain caused by equine gastric ulcers.

Posted by Edited Press Release | Aug 19, 2020

No matter the discipline in which you compete, your horse’s stride length is important. Longer strides can mean faster times, bigger jumps, and prettier movement. To get that edge, horse owners often focus on conditioning and joint health. Another key area to focus on is digestive health, specifically with regard to equine gastric ulcers.

The way performance horses are commonly fed, along with the stress of training, showing and traveling, causes acid levels to rise past the glandular portion of the horse’s stomach, leading to ulcers. That pain from sores on the stomach wall can cause your horse’s performance to suffer. Two out of three performance horses have stomach ulcers, and a study has shown that horses with ulcers have a shorter stride length than those without...

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Study: Transportation Related to Equine Gastric Ulcers

Italian and Australian researchers investigated the relationship between transportation, gastric pH, and gastric ulcers. The team was surprised by some of the results.

Posted by Casie Bazay, NBCAAM | Aug 14, 2020

Veterinarians and scientists have long suspected a relationship between transport and gastric ulceration in horses, but until recently little data existed to support this association. However, a team of Italian and Australian researchers, has now found some definitive answers.

“We carried out a survey entitled ‘Horse Transport Issues and Management,’ and we found an association between transportation and stomach ulcers,” said Barbara Padalino, DVM, PhD, associate professor of animal science in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences at University of Bologna...

Friday, August 14, 2020

7 Rules for Buying a Horse

HorseNetwork.com - Full Article

Dr. David Ramey
August 12, 2020

I have had the opportunity to conduct a lot of presale/prepurchase exams. You know, the exam that you’re almost obliged to schedule prior to making one of the most important purchases (in terms of time and money commitment) in your life. And, honestly, I’m absolutely flabbergasted at what goes on in the sales process.

I mean, I do think that having some sort of an examination done on the horse that you’re intending to buy is fairly important (an examination on the horse: your significant other might think that you need to get your head examined), and especially for someone who is relatively inexperienced in the process. However, there’s quite a bit of nonsense that can go on during the process of buying a horse.

This is not a “how to” when it comes to prepurchase exams—there are probably as many ways to do these exams as there are people to do them. Instead, let’s see what we can do to help put you—and keep you—in charge of the process.

Here are seven rules to live by, when it comes to buying a horse...

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Founder vs. Laminitis

A lot of people use the words laminitis and founder interchangeably. Are these two conditions the same thing?

Posted by Bryan Fraley, DVM | Aug 5, 2020

Q:I hear a lot of people use the words laminitis and founder interchangeably. Are these two conditions the same thing?–Alyson, via email

A:That’s a more difficult question to answer than you might expect...

Read the rest here:
https://thehorse.com/115554/founder-vs-laminitis/?utm_medium=Lameness+enews&utm_source=Newsletter

Saturday, August 08, 2020

Feeding the Ulcer-Prone Horse

Learn how to craft a diet for the horse with painful lesions in his stomach.

Posted by Kristen M. Janicki, MS, PAS | Aug 3, 2020

How to craft a diet for the horse with painful lesions in his stomach Which horses would you traditionally consider “ulcer-prone”? Racehorses in training? Western pleasure horses showing competitively on the American Quarter Horse Association circuit? Pony Clubbers’ games ponies? Injured horses on stall rest? Truth is, you could be right with any one of these.

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) can plague any age, breed, or sex, and the risk factors are many—certain types of training and exercise, nutrition, feeding practices, and stabling, to name a few. Let’s take a look at one very important aspect of preventing and managing ulcers: diet...

United States ‘Space Force’ Horse Patrols California Coastline