Endurance.Net: Consider this...

Thursday, November 05, 2020

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

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 It is fashionable in some circles to view unshod horses as “natural” and shod horses as being the victims of an outdated and harmful practice.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

EquusMagazine.com - Full Article

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

Thehorse.com - Full Article

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

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

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

Thehorse.com - Full Article

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

EquusMagazine.com - Full Article

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

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 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.

“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...

Can Wildfire Ash Make Pastures Unsafe for Horses to Eat?

Thehorse.com - Full Article

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

Leavearly.com - Full Story

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

Thehorse.com - Full Article

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!

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

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/