Winter Drinking Water Temperature

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Horses’ overall water consumption decreases as its temperature drops.

Posted by Clair Thunes, PhD | Jan 23, 2023

Q: Should I give my horses warm drinking water in the cold weather? What are the pros and cons of warm drinking water versus cold during the winter?

A: Drinking water is one of the most important aspects of horse care in any season, but during the winter, providing fresh water can be particularly challenging due to freezing temperatures. Horses do not seem to mind drinking cold water: however, research shows that overall consumption decreases as water temperature drops. Researchers have also noted that if given the choice of cold and warm water, horses will preferentially drink the cold water. This becomes a problem if, through their choice, they are drinking less than they would have if only warm water been available. The ideal temperature for drinking water is 45-65 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can be made warmer if consumption remains low...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/1119829/winter-drinking-water-temperature/

The Wildest Kind of Trail Running You’ve Never Heard Of

Trailrunnermag.com - Full Article

Ride ‘n’ Tie racing was the precursor to the Western States 100, but its cowboy roots persist in a niche sport that’s thriving today.

January 26, 2023
Martha Nelson

The morning sun blazed over “Fair Hill,” a 5,000-acre fox-hunting estate built by Delaware’s famous du Pont family. The estate’s pristine wooded trails, open meadows, bubbling creeks, and 17 horse barns offered an ideal venue for last fall’s Chesapeake Endurance Ride.

On the morning of September 17, 2022, the barn was abuzz with riders and horses dodging between rows of chrome horse trailers in search of curry combs, electrolytes, and the rest of the pre-race checklist. Anxious horses whinnied across the meadow.

I arrived the night before with neither a horse nor a trailer, just a belly of nerves and a pup tent I pitched between beefy pickup trucks. I was a trail runner who, earlier that summer, barely survived my first “Ride ‘n’ Tie,” a topsy-turvy trail race where two runners share one horse and switch back and forth between riding and running. But like a moth to a flame, I kept coming back. When Chris lost his partner to COVID-19 and asked me to fill in at the last minute, I couldn’t say no...

Read more here:
https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/the-wildest-kind-of-trail-running-youve-never-heard-of/

Australia: There’s nothing standard about these versatile ex-racehorses

Donna Crebbin photo

ARR.news - full article

By Fran Cleland, The Regional
27 January 2023

The honest Standardbred was once the poor relation of the racehorse world.

While the Thoroughbreds had a chance of finding a life after racing, the Standardbred was far less likely to get that opportunity.

In the past 20 years – and especially since 2015 when Harness Racing Victoria set up its “HERO” rehoming program – things have really changed and they can be found in any number of occupations, without a sulky in sight. They are cherished by pony club kids and can be found every weekend at a club, playing games and doing their lessons. Those who work with them are quick to praise the generous animals.

Professional trainer Mitch Fox, who is currently campaigning the Hero champion Kasbah Kid says they are “trainable, sensible, willing and well-exposed”.

“Some trainers canter their horses as part of their race training regimes, this is something Kasbah Kid did and it’s meant that his transition to saddle has been easy,” he said.

“He’s the most reliable horse we have on our show team. We can always count on him to put his best hoof forward and not be overwhelmed by atmosphere...”

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Race Report: An Endurance Rider on the Run at Wilson Creek Frozen

TheSweatyEquestrian.com - Full Article

January 23, 2023
by Tamara Baysinger

I signed up for the 2023 Wilson Creek Frozen Trail Runs on a whim. It was November, well within the discounted entry fee window, and January 21 was a long time away. I mean, sure, it would be cold on race day, but who doesn’t like a bit of challenge?

To be clear, I signed up for the shortest race. Wilson Creek Frozen offers a 10 miler, a 20 miler, and a 50K that combines the two loops. Not being an experienced winter trail runner, I reckoned the 10 was good for starters.

The course is in the Owyhees near Melba, Idaho. It traverses a mix of rocky gullies and high-desert hills, with the long loop climbing to spectacular views at around 5,000 feet of elevation.

The weather could be anything. Wind is common. It might come with a side of rain, ice, sun, snow, mud, or any combination thereof. I’m told that, one year, the race began in temps around -4 degrees Fahrenheit.

What wasn’t to love?...

Read more here:
https://thesweatyequestrian.com/race-report-an-endurance-rider-on-the-run-at-wilson-creek-frozen/

Benefits of Riding Your Horse at the Walk

Photo by Donna Stidolph

HorseIllustrated.com - Full Article

When bad weather rolls in, you can accomplish more than you think by riding your horse at the walk.

By Jec A. Ballou - January 19, 2023

Work at the walk, practiced and touted by old classical dressage masters, is always better than letting a horse stand around when he is not able to perform a regular training schedule. Walking your horse has the benefit of allowing for full contraction of the long back muscles in a contraction-relaxation cycle that prevents tension. Further, the fine-tuned motor control that is possible at the walk enables you to help your horse find more range of motion and joint flexion.

Inactivity sometimes plays a larger role in creating poor muscle patterns than incorrect training or injuries...

Read more here:
https://www.horseillustrated.com/benefits-of-riding-your-horse-at-the-walk

Communication Devices – Above and Beyond Cellular

Trailmeister.com - Full Article

January 9, 2023

Communication Devices are going Above and Beyond Cellular

There are new communications devices on the market, and more are on the way. Last year Apple introduced a new feature for their latest line of cell phones – emergency SOS via satellite. T-Mobile and SpaceX plan to allow existing cell phones to use orbiting satellites for text messages. The coming year may prove to be quite exciting in terms of backcountry communications.

You’ve heard of InReach, Spot, and other communicators that are stand-alone or pair with your phone to communicate through a satellite when there’s no cell phone coverage. Now, you can forego those extra gadgets and have a phone that can do much more than your old phone.

Satellites are Everywhere

With nearly 20% of the U.S. and virtually all of the remote areas where we ride and camp unreachable by traditional cellular networks, expanded communication offerings are a game changer when it comes to staying in touch...

Read more here:
https://www.trailmeister.com/communication-devices-above-and-beyond-cellular/

Equine Vaccination Do’s and Don’ts

Thehorse.com - Full Article

Determining exactly which vaccines a horse needs can be confusing. Here are some basic do’s and don’ts to make sure you’re providing the disease protection your horse needs.

Posted by Corie Traylor | Aug 17, 2022

Best practices for making sure your horse gets the disease protection he needs

Do I need to vaccinate my horse against leptospirosis? Does my retiree need the same shots as my performance horse? What happens if they miss a round of vaccines? Determining exactly which vaccines a horse needs can be confusing. Reviewing the guidelines set forth by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is a good place to begin your research, and talking with your veterinarian can help you make the best decision based on your horse’s lifestyle, age, and geographic location. In the meantime, we’ve distilled the topic down into some basic do’s and don’ts to make sure you’re providing the disease protection your horse needs...

Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/192126/equine-vaccination-dos-and-donts/

Avoiding Equine Legal Issues

HorseIllusrated.com - Full Article

Learn which areas are most likely to lead to a lawsuit in the horse world if you’re not prepared and protected.

By Louann Chaudier
April 15, 2022

Because virtually every aspect of horse ownership carries some degree of risk, horse owners should consider the possibility that things can sometimes go wrong. Frequently the horse does not present the only risk: People who will be interacting with him can cause a multitude of problems, which in a worst-case scenario can land you in court as a horse owner. It’s important to prepare so you can avoid equine legal issues.

The following should not constitute legal advice—always consult an attorney for that—but these five topics are designed to give you an idea of the prime areas of conflict that crop up in equine legal disputes and court cases...

Read more here:
https://www.horseillustrated.com/avoiding-equine-legal-issues

Saudi Arabia: $4 million Euros prize money slated for 120-km 2023 Fursan Cup

Endurance Lifestyle

The CEI2* 120-km Fursan Cup 2023 at Al Ula will be a major international event that will host horses and riders from all over the world with a prize money of 15 million SAR - approximately 4 million Euro.

We, Endurance Lifestyle, the technical-sports team of the event, will do our best to bring the Fursan Cup 2023 into the annals of endurance history as well.

Stay tuned...

Mongolia: Should an 8-Year-Old Be Allowed to Race a Horse?

GlobalPressJournal.com - Full Article

Horse racing is a time-honored tradition that often uses children as jockeys, despite the nation’s minimum working age laws — and the inherent dangers.

URGUUTIIN TAL, ARKHANGAI PROVINCE, MONGOLIA — Soyombo Myagmarsuren, 13, began racing when he turned 6, following in the footsteps of generations of horse trainers. “I love horses,” he says, beaming with pride. “It is cool to gallop on a horse mane until the wind whistles.”

These days, Soyombo walks with a limp. Last winter, he fell from a horse while training for a race.

So he did not race competitively in this year’s Naadam, a summer celebration of Mongolian sovereignty believed to have existed since the second century B.C. and held regularly since 1639. The internationally recognized celebration is referred to locally as the “Three Games of Men,” given its showcase of wrestling, archery and horse racing. These sports symbolize strength, wisdom and courage, respectively. (Despite the name, women and girls now also compete in the latter two.)

In the races, horses run courses of 12 to 26 kilometers (7 to 16 miles) across the steppe, depending on the animal’s age. And on their backs it is young boys and girls like Soyombo, typically between the ages of 6 and 13, whose courage is on display...

Read more here:
https://globalpressjournal.com/asia/mongolia/8-year-old-allowed-race-horse/