Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone

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Smile!

Kick start your day with a smile!

Soaring High

Pinworms Kiss Ass X_x

Don't let your horse lose his beautiful tail! If you can take care of other equine parasites, you can take care of pinworms!

Can a horse really fit inside a car? Oh wow! Just check out this cool video of Patches!



Patches seemed like a dog here, riding comfortably in a car and sitting on a couch - -a lovable dog - - only much bigger, way too big. lol.

Let me hear your thoughts about this video.

The Singing Horses

I've come across this website that presents the Singing Horses. I don't know if every horse lover out there has seen this already, but I'm gonna share it anyway - it is worth sharing! It's good to have fun once in a while.Click on the image to play with the singing horses!

To Foal or Not to Foal?

There are several considerations to be made when deciding whether or not to have your mare put in foal - among them:

• Are you prepared for the cost of breeding the mare and and willing to wait 11 months for the foal?
• Is your mare healthy enough and unencumbered with hereditary conformation faults or certain diseases that may be passed on to her foal?
• Do you have a place, somewhere safe where you can keep a mare and her newborn foal?

Horses Gone Unshod

By origin, horseshoes are designed to protect horse’s hooves from any harmful debris in the ground, to enable horses to perform their tasks better. It has been used during the Roman Ages, most often during the Crusades of Europe, wherein there came a point where horseshoes are used in lieu of money, and as a valuable item. Nowadays, some horse owners have horses that are unshod.

Horses and Euthanasia

As we grow old, so does our horses. Horses who have diligently served us long enough are more than deserving to have a peaceful death. Although it is hard to admit it, there will come a time that we should choose to let our old horses live, or let them leave this earth as peaceful and as pain-free as possible. 

Get the Confidence When Riding and Working With a Horse

It takes a great quality time and being compatible
with your horse so he can fully trust you
and obey you. 

Most people can easily learn principles and techniques of horse riding, if they are given proper instructions and dedicate enough time.  It’s how the mental state is handled that defines a good rider and a bad rider, and the most important state of mind a rider should possess is the art of confidence – the confidence to remain mounted on top of a horse, which can be achieved through proper training.

What to Consider When Sending Your Horse to a Boarding Stable

When you need to place your horse in a stable, there are many things to consider, and one of them is the entire structure of the stable and its surroundings. You need to understand about the facts of stabling and it could also help if you visit some of the stables in your area, so you can make out a comparison, which of them would be the most appropriate for you and your horse.

There are basic needs of horses that are on stable. When you visit this boarding yard, observe the things they keep around to be used on horses. If the stable you chose is neglected, you could end up paying for a significant amount of veterinary bills due to the sickness or injuries that your horse may have acquired.

Boarding stables should provide comfort to the horse.
It should also be maintained and cleaned well.

When you inspect the local stables, you need to be very observant. How does the fencing look like in a particular yard? Can the owner guarantee that it is well maintained, as well as safe for all horses? Is the entire property properly secured? Are there too many horses in a field or is it just right?

When you enter the yard, does the staff note your presence? Is someone present to assist you while other employees are taking of the horses? You may need to contact the yard first before visiting especially when you go during lunchtime, when most of the employees are taking their break.

Check if the stables have proper ventilation and make sure fresh air is circulating well. Also check the lighting of the stables, whether the owner makes use of natural or artificial light. See to it that the horses in the yard have access to clean water always and are also fed with hay.

When you look at the floor of the table, how does it look? Does the floor have rubber matting, dirt, or sawdust? Does the water drain well from the floor? Make sure that the stable beds are also cleaned out on a regular basis and keep the stable clean. This also helps reduce your horse’s risk of acquiring equine parasites. You can also tell that a stable is well-maintained as it will not smell of strong ammonia from urine.

You can also check how the horses in the stables look like. Do they look unkempt or properly groomed? Observe how the horses behave – this could be a sign that shows how the stable is managed. An unhappy horse is likely prone to develop stable vices such as kicking, box walking, wind sucking, and chewing wood. Stable vices are not the only signs that differentiate a good horse from a bad one. Some horses may show different signs of boredom, so watch out for horses that exhibit these behaviors.

When choosing a boarding stable, the first thing you need to ensure is the comfort of your horse. He may not need a huge room or an outdoor arena; he only needs the basic things that should be provided by you and your chosen boarding stable.

Photo Credit: Priceypads

Fall Feeding

Feeding adjustments may be necessary every season. When you need to do so, help your horse get used to the changes.

During spring and fall, grasses contain higher amounts of simple carbohydrates (sugars) compared to summer and winter, and this may result to feeding complications. This can mean that your horse can develop problems especially when giving him grain. You can avoid digestive disorders, including colic in horses, when you know how to feed your horse the right way.

Consider the Bugs Inside Him

The large intestine of a horse is where fermentation takes place. Hind-gut bacteria and other protozoa located in the large intestine are there to break down the nutrients. The result of the nutrient breakdown will be utilized by your horse as source of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. When the bugs inside your horse receive a constant flow of feed for them to do their fermenting job, they can adapt to the change. But when you give your horse huge amounts of bulk feed that’s different from your normal feeding, it could reach the hindgut all at once. There will be an increase of different bugs (those that ferment that certain type of feed), and as a result, the intestinal chemistry changes and other beneficial organisms die off. The end result can be distention, gas, diarrhea, and even colic. You can help by slowly adjusting the feed but in a constant manner and also incorporate equine probiotics to help promote the growth of hindgut bacteria.

Foraging

You may have known by now that a rapid transition of feeding can result to intestinal upset. But you may not have realized that changes in hay can be risky as well. The large intestine is where food breakdown takes place. Even if you constantly feed the same hay each time, they may not be created equal. Growth conditions, the cuttings, and even the strans may differ for the same type of forage and this can influence the level of fermentable nutrients. The grass in your pasture can also change composition during the season spring and fall as they grow rapidly and may contain high levels of sugars.

Here are tips on how to do feeding adjustments:

• Gradually introduce grain feeding
• Allow three days to pass before giving an increase in the amount of grain so gut microorganisms can adapt easier.
• Do not give your horse grain that is as much as 4 pounds in one go.
• Let your horse feed from lush pastures gradually especially during spring and fall. 

The Importance of Keeping A Horse's Surrounding Clean

When you own a horse, you are probably aware that he possesses natural strength, and usually doesn’t have anything to complain to you. Horses can stay loyal and they can be wonderful animals to keep so long that you know what you are doing. As long as you provide him a safe and warm shelter to live in for colder months, a shelter from the warm months, and provide him with the right feed and clean and safe water, he can become your companion for a lifetime.

Massage for your Horses

Have you ever experienced that soothing feeling after a nice massage? Massage helps to release stress and tension from our exhausted muscles and it has the same effect for any animal built with almost muscles, like horses, that are basically made up of 60% of its body weight.  Massage for horses are really beneficial and even way back time horse owners and groomers massage the horses to keep them healthy.

The Modern Sport Horse

Sport horses are type of horses and not categorized under one of the animal’s breed.  The term was coined to usually apply to horses that are bred to participate basically for Olympic equestrian sporting events.  They are bred to meet the specific quality that is required for such sports by getting the right conformation, temperament and movement.  Although the term has different and various definition from different countries, in general it applies to all horses that are physically built for activities such as dressage, eventing, show jumping and even on hunt seat disciplines.

The Art of Dressage

Image grabbed from BestHorse Photos

Dressage has been one of the sports that needs total patience and hard work as it is not easy to train horses with the art of this activity.  During dressage, there is an aim to control your horse with its movements such as in gaiting, hopping, turning, forwards and backwards and as well as in halting.  What made the sport more impressive is the ability of the rider to understand the movement of his horse and ride with him harmoniously together and not ride against his companion. 

The sport has been basically and literally a training as its French origin word suggests.  During the training, there is systematic and progressive activity of riding the horses for them to almost perfectly execute wide ranges of precise maneuvers. 

Akhal-Teke

The Akhal-Teke is a race horse that dates its origins back to 2400 BC; Akhal-Teke horses originated from and are used as an emblem of Turkmenistan. In this country, horse-racing is the most popular sport.

In the past, Akhal-Tekes have been mentioned in ancient texts by the writers of the Chinese Han Dynasty and of Herodotus, the Greek historian. Akhal-Tekes have preserved their purity and abilities which they inherited from their ancestors because since the ancient times, these horses have been bred in a geographically isolated desert called the Kara-Kum desert and until now, these horses are continued to be bred for their speed and stamina. 

Akhal-Teke. Photo grabbed from Monica Borg.

Akhal-Tekes have been used to breed other horses such as the English Thoroughbred, the Arabian, the Trakhener, and the Russian Warmblood. Stud farms for Akhal-Tekes are found mostly in Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.

Standing from 15-16 hands, these horses are characterized by a high head carriage and a long, slim or slightly convex body, with their colors ranging from black, chestnut, palomino, buckskin, and grey, and are known for their distinct metallic sheen.  They are known for their speed and endurance on long marches. Akhal-Tekes have almond-shaped eyes and long ears. They have long and straight backs, a scarce amount of manes and tails, and they have a thin and silky coat unlike other horse breeds. They have thin, firm lips, hooked muzzles and have small, hard hooves.

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They jump over fences and make use of its front and hind legs very well. They also have well-developed muscles, and their moves are long, elastic, as well as comfortable for the horse rider. Akhal-Teke owners have no problem with this horse since they are known to be friendly towards people, be quick and observant, as well as bond with trainers very effectively. The Akhal-Tekes are naturally athletic, have great endurance, and energetic, which makes them effective for use in all classical sports, as well as on events such as show jumping, eventing, racing and endurance riding. In the Soviet Union, Akhal-Tekes are famous for winning show jump competitions. They can also be good sport horses.


There are diseases that may be of concern to Akhal-Teke owners. One is the Naked Foal Syndrome, where foals are born without any hair coat, mane or tail. Symptoms include dry, inflamed skin, and frequent pulmonary infections. This disease is fatal, killing foals within weeks of birth, and others die from complications and digestive problems.

Grooming: Lift hooves higher!

You’ve started grooming your horse: brushed his hair, cleaned his body, gave him a healthy massage—but you haven’t groomed his hooves yet. Your horse isn't even lifting it an inch. What to do?

Choosing the Right Horse Breed

So now you have decided to buy a horse. The next question will be, what type of horse should you choose? What horse breed do you want? The question of purpose also sets in. Why will you buy a horse? Is it for racing, for trailing, or simply just for pet purposes? Well, here’s a small list of the horse types that could guide you in choosing a horse. Before that, there are things you should identify.

Clydesdale. Image from Anna Herr

I want to buy a horse – but how?

One random day you woke up and realize that instead of buying a dog, you want to have a horse. Yes, possible, but how? How do you choose a horse? What is needed before you can buy one?

A Good Riding Horse

Sometimes it is not enough that we feed them, maintain their health, provide them shelter and stuff because these will not make a good riding horse.  As a horse lover and a lover of horse riding, do not depend and settle with false beliefs during your encounter with your horse.  Your horse will not be a good rider if you will not ride on it. 

Ride, ride and ride.  That’s a good way to train him to be a good riding horse.  Probably with some new horse owners they easily lose their excitement with their horse because they thought that it doesn’t follow his instructions or it doesn’t like to go do activities with him.  But the fact is they just ride randomly.  Ride your horse every time and not once a week because this will really lose his interest with you riding on him as well.  Riding with your horse more often will create more bond and tighter relationship between you and him.  The frequent rides will also draw you closer to him, make you understand more of his weakness, strength and his attitude in the whole.  Your mastery with his attitude will make you a good rider and a good rider will get a good riding horse.
Do not depend that he will improve with only the training he gets with the trainer you provide for him.  Actually the owners and not the trainers should be the more effective teachers because they should be the one gaining the trust and confidence of their horses.  Plus, do not limit the teaching from the trainers because you as the owner can also train him.  Every time you do your activities together, that is another training experience with your horse.  Some routines are considered as training for them already.  That is what we call that every interaction with your horse is already training for him. That is why, you should also be careful and responsible with the things you teach and show your horse because they are greatly affected with your actions.

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To sum it all, what good riding horses need is to be brought to riding exercises and trainings more often than twice or thrice a week.  It could even be better for them if you do it every other day.  The frequent training not only gives them another learning experience, another healthy exercise but another bond with his owner once again.  

Stables: A Safe Haven

The stables serve as our horses’ home and haven.  It is where they should relax, feel comforted and safe.  But, how can they feel relaxed if there are trash and stacks and harmful things everywhere in their safe place?  Then make sure to know how to keep your horses’ stables safe and clean by following these tips.

All About the Deadly Nightshade

A ride on your horse to an unfamiliar place or to a forest can sometimes be dangerous.  Aside from the danger when encountering wild animals, there is also danger posed by plants that are not recognized as toxic.  During the strolling, you might not be able to notice that your horse is already chewing on some grass or plant that might risk his health due to poisoning.  One notable poisonous plant found in some parts of the forests is the Deadly Nightshade also known in its scientific name the Atropa belladonna.

Breeding your Mare

There will come a point in your chosen companion’s life that he has to reproduce.  It might be your decision and for some other reasons. There is excitement to meet a new member of the family or most commonly, you need to get money out of the breeding.  It might sound too business-like but it would only seem practical because raising a horse does deal a lot of expenses. 

A Healthy Eye For Your Horse

As much as it is important to us humans, the sights of our horses are also significant to their daily lives.  To achieve and complete most of the activity that they do, they need a balanced system and good eyesight. Our everyday routine and challenges in life are being accomplished with good senses.  If we lose either, the burden will be as bad as a tragedy. There are activities and tasks that need the usage of our keen eyesight in order to achieve it.  Just for example when we clean our house; we cannot clean our house if we cannot see which is dirty and where it is, same as to horses. If they do not know and see what they encounter and do they are as good as an incapacitated.  To feel useless is to feel unwilling to survive. Although there are institutions that provide caretakers who devote their time to guide and aid these blind horses to carry on with their lives. 

Choosing Your Child’s First Horse

I remember when I was younger, I told my parents about a decision to have my own horse, which is to buy one.  I didn’t realize factors that made them hesitate and so they invited me to sit down and discuss with them about the sudden decision.  It was now that I realized and understand their reaction and how it was just right for that situation. 

Child and Horse
Image grabbed from Debbie Calnan

What my parents actually told me are simple things that made me consider not having one during that time.  It was not because I was irresponsible but because I might not be able to comply with all the responsibilities with my new chosen companion because in fact I don’t have the capacity as a child.  Another important factor that made me consider is that shopping for a horse could be expensive.  Although it was possible to own, I just didn’t want to risk myself and what my new pet would be like if I can’t do such big-man tasks.  I was that understanding, I wasn’t an insistent child. 

Sharing the Road with a Horse

I remembered a friend who shared to me the experience of his aunt and the story goes like this.  She was riding along the high way with her newly washed car when all of a sudden a horse with its rider decides to cross her way.  Without being much aware of what to do during the situation she decides not to slow down and even honked hard at the creature.  What happened next made her regret her action for some time.  Uncontrollably, the horse began to nervously raise its front legs as if surprised to a halt and then landed it hard at the hood of her car leaving it a good damage.  Good thing it didn’t reach her glass windows, or much worse things could’ve happened.

So, if that were you what would you have done? 

What You Should and Shouldn't When Grooming Horses

The idea of grooming your own horse yourself is such an exciting idea and a fun activity to do but bear in mind that it is not an easy task to undertake.  I have heard from acquaintances even witnessed accidents while owners groom their horse that is why some breeders call for grooming experts to do the task for them to ensure safety for both owner and horse.  Though it is not bad to do the grooming yourself to foster closer bond with your horse, still you need to learn the most basic dos and don’ts for such task.

The Quarter Horse

Image grabbed from Melinda Melendez

The Quarter Horse has gone popular and successful in the field of sports, renowned in the whole world and is considered to be the most famous horse breed next to the Arabian horses.  What made the Quarter horse famous is because how it got its name.  If we trace back its history we can see that the breed has had a Spanish origin and blood and came from Arab, Barb and Turk breeds then shipped to America by Spanish explorers and traders.   Not later than 1611 AD that this breed has come to be recognized and became popular.  The cross has produced and developed a new breed packed with heavy muscles and hind legs that are perfect for running short distances.  This breed is known to be faster than any other horse when it comes to quarter mile sprint races and occasionally got its name from the sport it is most excellent at.  Because of its excellent talent the Quarter horses are known to be the best athletes in the field.

Hoof Problems - Make Sure Your Horse Doesn't Have Them

For the love of horses and for owning one, you have the greatest responsibility to watch over its safety and health and make preventive measures to provide him benefits.  For horses are gentle creatures that barely even fuss about pain or discomfort they feel, so make sure you know how to determine such cases to avoid getting into serious problems causing your horse. 

One of the common health problems regarding horses are focused on their hooves since they spend most of the time using it, stationary or moving.  They step on it on plain grounds, wet or dry.  They tend to get bacterial infection which may cause some serious health problems. There are many ways to avoid such cases. So, don’t let them live in suffering and pain. 

Horse Breeds - Quick Trivia on Some of the Common Breeds

Horses have many breeds. They come from different places and have different characteristics. However, an ordinary man who might have not been exposed to these animals (nor have heard of the different breeds) may have a hard time classifying them. Well, here are some, if not the most common, horse breeds, their qualities and origins. 

Where's the Cat At - The Rats are Not In!

Got rodents? Besides placing the covers of grain bins and sweeping up leftover pellets, you can keep undesirable rats at bay by seeking the expertise of a barn cat. A burgeoning mouse condition can be controlled in a farm by putting feral felines to patrol the structures. Practicing prober stable management is still required from you, but a barn cat can make your stable a mouse-free zone.

While it’s wonderful if your feral cat eventually ends up becoming totally tame, the older ones tend to fend for themselves. Most of them aren’t likely to become a real pet meaning, you can just simply pick them up, carry them and stroke their chins. You will simply care for and feed some in your barn but not really taking control over it – just give it the freedom it needs and voila! You will have the best mouse control!

If you happen to spot feral felines lurking your surrounding farm, you need to lure it to seek permanent shelter in your barn.  You should think about it – there could be food source for these cats, for if there wasn’t any food source, they wouldn’t have been there in the first place. You need to lure them in  using food but be careful though when luring with food – if the food you place disappeared without any cats in sight, you could be luring other animals, such as opossums or raccoons, which you definitely do not want hanging around your barn.

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 Once you have the cat in your territory, you need to capture it so it can be vaccinated and spayed or neutered. In the end, you’ll be responsible for looking after the cat and you certainly would not want to have a booming cat population in your barn. You may contact your local animal control department so they can lend you a humane trapping device. The department can also suggest affordable clinics where you can take the cat for spay and neutering.

Keep the rodents away with a barn cat.

After you have owned an official feral barn cat, be sure you can provide it shelter.  Try placing a used mattress somewhere in an empty area inside the barn or perhaps allow it to seek rest from the hay loft. Cats do enjoy owning a spot where they feel safe. You need to provide warm beddings for the cat so it can warm up during cold weather. If you want to keep the cat much longer, of course you need to feed it or else, they will wander somewhere else where there is constant food supply. It would seem natural for them to stop hunting for vermin if you go around feeding them. But you have nothing to worry because the presence of cats in the barn can already help keep the rodents away.

Once you have a barn cat, both you and your horse can enjoy the benefits. Plus, it will be a rewarding deed for you to go and provide a home for a feral feline.

Teeth Problems in Horses??

Caring for your horse’s teeth can be your ticket to success. Equine dentistry has its importance for the success of the equines.

Horse’s teeth are different from human teeth. Theirs is made to grind roughage. These teeth are also referred to compound teeth, which mean that they are especially made to perform efficient grinding. Teeth of a horse is also continuously erupting and worn down. As a result, irregular sharp enamels will form. Smoothing out the teeth is a process commonly called as floating.

Floating is necessary for two primary reasons: one is to correct feeding problem and the other is for bit accommodation.  When a horse has uneven teeth, he could have difficulty chewing the feed properly. Eventually, this results to loss of condition and food wastage due to improper mastication.

A horse’s teeth will keep erupting, which only means that once the teeth are smoothened with floats, it’s going to stay that way. Horses will also experience a change from their baby premolars. The newly grown permanent teeth may wear out to have sharp points. Usually, it’s the younger horses that may need more dental attention compared to senior horses as this will help prevent problems with bit.

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However, I still think that floating teeth is done just to accommodate proper chewing. It is more on promoting proper acceptance of the bit. Problems with bit can simply be prevented or avoided through dental correction. But it’s not convincing for me that the primary reason for caring for their teeth is to respond to bit pressure properly. The rider may have influence over accommodation of bit. Too much pressure on the horse’s bars may bring about insensitive scar tissue and a horse with a hard mouth. These bars are interdental space on the mandible where bit sits. The condition of the horse’s bars is more relevant to a productive performance rather than the condition of the overall teeth.

On the other hand, caring for the teeth is essential to make sure that the horse has a healthy oral cavity. The sharp teeth formed from wearing down can injure the gums, causing mouth sores for horses. The horse may not be able to chew its food as mentioned, and will result to poor appetite.

Dental checkup may be needed by your horse annually. This is to ensure that your horse will not only be healthy physically but also orally. If you think your horse does not need any dental care, think again. They do! Consult your veterinarian for the proper dental program for your horse.

Groom Your Horse to Help Him Avoid Health Problems

Any animal can look good, glamorous and smart when proper grooming is initiated. But, when it comes to horses, grooming is specially significant because if these animals do not have regular maintenance, they can be vulnerable to different health problems, especially when it comes to their hooves.

There are necessary grooming requirements that should be considered. A horse is a fairly large mammal and you need to have proper control over him, even if he is trained properly. A sudden noise that is unfamiliar to him can startle him and he could dash out while being groomed. Hence, before you begin your grooming procedures, be sure that your horse is securely haltered in place. Having crossties is important when grooming the horse to avoid potential dangers in the stable.

If you own several horses, you may need helpers around to do the grooming if you can afford to pay for them. In case if you have not groomed your horse, you need to consult from other horse owners who have the expertise. This is important as the task of horse grooming is big and important.

If you don’t regularly use your horse, then you can simply do away with some of the routine grooming. However, other grooming steps should be taken every day. As mentioned, secure the halter of your horse before you begin the process. Check if he has bumps or scrapes on the areas around his eyes, near his ears or even the mouth. Then gently move your hands along his legs to ensure that there are no irregularities.

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You also need to clean his hooves to get rid of any foreign materials that may have lodged in his frog. The hoof is an important body part of the horse; if debris accumulates on the area, an infection may result and can be detrimental to his overall health. The horse’s mane and tail should also be cleaned. Use the right types of comb to untangle the hairs and remove dirt from the coat.

The last thing you need to do is to achieve a shiny and lustrous hair coat for your horse. Combing can help remove any debris and loose matters or debris from his body. It is important to comb the coat for if not, your horse can develop a condition known as saddle sores – where the saddle is positioned above an unkempt coat for longer periods of time.

Poisonous Buttercups? – Keep You Horse Away From Them!

Buttercups . . . so pretty! Yes, indeed.  These little yellow flowers found on the fields can, unfortunately, harm your horse causing digestive upsets. You might want to do something about the growing buttercups in your pasture before your horse gets into trouble!

Surely, your field that is field with bright, yellow flowers may appear pretty but these little flowers are a threat to your horses. When these flowers are ingested, toxic oils called protoanemonin from buttercup leaves and stems are released. The result? - Your horse can be seen to salivate excessively, have blisters on his mouth and may even develop digestive troubles like diarrhea and mild colic. The toxicity of the plant may vary according to species and its maturity level, but just to be on the safe side, you need to assume that all buttercups can be harmful to your horse.

Buttercups tend to grow in pastures with overgrazed grass as the weeds do not need to compete for space and nutrients that much. Also, these plants tend to proliferate as they are not that palatable –most likely your horse will not think twice about leaving them alone because they are not good to the taste! But that does not mean you need to assume that your horse will never eat those plants.  If grass in pasture is inadequate or you don’t provide supplemental hay, the horses may start to consume the flowers because they have no choice. They will do it out of hunger or boredom.

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You should not promote the growth of buttercups in your pasture as they are known to be toxic. These flowers can be controlled with chemical and/or mechanical means. If the pasture only has moderate amounts of buttercups, the use of herbicides would be the most convenient option. However, if the pasture is crowded by buttercups, more extensive measures should be carried out. These may include tilling and sowing the field with grass seeds. Extension agents from your local area can help you plan out how to eradicate buttercups from your property.

When pursuing a buttercup eradication plan, it is important to keep your horses away from the pasture two weeks after using chemicals to target the weeds. This will ensure full efficacy of the weed killer and also to allow all chemical residues to dissipate, making your pasture grass safe for horses to eat once again. Be sure that herbicide application on your field is done by professionals who have the required training to handle different chemicals.

The good thing about this entire problem is that buttercups are not considered poisonous if they dry up. So, if you find them in your haylage, do not worry about it. The worst thing they could do is dilute the nutritional value of your hay. To conclude, occasional growths of buttercup will not be a very significant threat, but if your horse graze in buttercup-infested fields then that would be the best time to take action.

Is Your Horse Okay? Come Up With a Daily Checklist!

Your horse's health is essential! To keep your horse in excellent condition, it's a great idea to get into a routine to do a daily health check. Don't worry--a health check takes just a few minutes! However, to make it more meaningful, it is important that you know signs of a healthy horse, as well as the signs of a horse that is in bad shape. Go through this checklist to make sure that your horse is in great health condition!

What expression do you get from your horse? You can often tell if your horse is not feeling any good just by examining his expression. You get to see your horse every single day, and you will definitely know what to expect. If your horse, that is normally curious, alert, and ears-forward, keeps hanging his head and has dull eyes, he could not be feeling well. Observe him closely and if there is no improvement, contact your vet.

How is his standing position? Horses that are relaxing often stand with head down and one hind leg is resting – a perfectly normal posture! However, if the horse is waiting in his pasture or stall which has a front leg resting, you may need to have him checked. Trot your horse out to check if there are indications of lameness. If you aren't sure, call your vet and have him do the test. Generally, horses do not stand with a resting front leg.

How is his lying position? All horses lie down and often it is to rest, as well as other times it is just to enjoy the sun. If your horse is rolling over on the ground under the sun, just leave him alone; he’s just having a good time. While every horse occasionally enjoys rolling over, constant rolling coupled with agitation may indicate stomach problems. If your horse rolls restlessly and seems agitated, he could have colic and this should prompt you to call the vet.

Check his appetite. When it comes to feeding, most horses love to eat! In case your horse does not belong to this category, you will know something is wrong if he leaves his food alone. A horse who isn't feeling well may lose his appetite, and may also stop drinking water. If loss of appetite persists, consult your vet.

Check his legs. This can be an everyday thing for you to do. Horses can injure themselves anywhere. Run your hands down his legs, feeling for wounds, bumps, heat , and swelling. It might take some time, but at some point you should know the difference between a normal leg temperature and an elevated temperature.

Inspect the horse's manure. The manure is an excellent sign of horse health. You most probably know how normal manure looks. The balls are very well formed but an easy task to break in half. If your balls seem extremely dry or hard, suspect that your particular horse just isn't drinking enough water. Loose manure can mean a couple things. Either your horse has too rich of a diet, or he could be harboring parasites inside. Always check for presence of worms. Worms within your horse’s manure imply that he is carrying dangerous, occasionally deadly, internal equine parasites. If you spot some, call your vet to formulate an appropriate equine worming program.

Brushing Your Horse for Beauty

Brushing your horse is a laborious task that can simply be brushed off, but it is a required daily ritual for most horse owners. Brushing them not only keeps their coat clean and shiny, it keeps harmful irritants and bacteria away from their delicate skin. Gather your brushes and abide by these steps to properly brush your horse.

Work with a rubber curry comb to brush the entire body (except the head) in a circular manner to loosen dead hair, burrs, hay, or other foreign materials. Your horse will grow to enjoy this treatment. Use short, firm strokes. Start working behind his ears and continue on down his neck and back, then on to his sides, under his belly and on the legs. After using the curry comb, use a stiff-bristled brush to brush the whole body of the animal. This time, brush towards the natural direction of the hair. Short, quick strokes are ideal and make sure you don’t miss out the creases and the underside of his belly.

What a beauty!

To finish up, you need to use soft bristles. This type of brush can be used on the head and legs, where there is not too much flesh over his bones. Do take caution when brushing near the eyes.  Horses might swing their head around when you least expect it. Flick the soft-bristled brush in an outward motion to eliminate speck of debris from your newly-groomed horse.

A Few Reminders:

• When using rubber curry, be gentle especially when you are working on the bony parts.
• Purchase those brushes that have hand straps and those that fit comfortably in your hand.
• When grooming your horse, use safety precautions in general.
• Do not make use of metal mane comb or curry comb to work on the horse’s body. They are simply meant to brush the mane and tail. 

A Foal Has Been Born!

Taking good care of a foal can be one of the most delightful aspects when working with a horse. From the moment the foal is delivered into the world, there are many things that you need to do to make sure they are well-protected and cared for.

Once the foal is born, be sure to check its breathing. You need to remove fetal membranes or any mucus that could obstruct the nostrils. If you see that the foal is not breathing, gently slap its face, twist its ear, or perhaps, insert a straw into the nostrils to promote sneezing. Then, wrap towels around the foal to dry it up.

Such a beautiful miracle.

Foals are susceptible to infections as their immune systems have not developed fully yet. Septicemia, or severe infection of the blood, may result if you do not do something once the little one is born, especially about its umbilical stump as this can be the gateway for bacteria. Dip the stump with iodine to prevent septicemia.

As for feeding, the foal needs 4 ounces of the mare’s colostrum every 15 minutes. Make sure that the newborn foal is successfully nursing. If he is successful in latching on to its mother’s nipples, then you should be able to hear it slurping the milk. For the first few hours after it is born, the foal should attempt to nurse all by itself and after the first two hours, it should be already successful. If not, intervention may be necessary.

Make sure that the foal will be able to defecate in the first few hours. Enema may be given to a foal that is nursing for the first time and it may be given repeatedly if there is no success with bowel movement. Observe for any signs of colic from unsuccessful bowel movement within 24 hours after it is born.

When you think about it, horses really do not need assistance from you because if they are in the wild, they can simply give birth without any problems as nature will set its course. However, for a domesticated horse that has lived in stables and controlled pastures, you can always offer assistance to make sure that the birthing process is successful. Still, you need to leave the mare and its foal alone for the natural parenting instincts sets in. There are times, though, that the mare may react aggressively towards the foal, so when this happens, be sure to remove the foal and keep it somewhere else safe.

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Foals are susceptible to different diseases but with the power that comes from the mare’s colostrum, the foal can acquire immunity rather quickly. For this reason, it is vital that the foal should nurse shortly after being born. After nursing has been successful, contact your local veterinarian for the vaccination processes. Remember, all throughout the foaling process, a veterinarian should be present or should be ready whenever you need one to be around in case of any problems.

Show Jumping - What Is it About?

Olympics 2012 is just a few hours away. Every horse enthusiast is so excited to witness different horses compete for various equestrian event. Show jumping is one of the events that horsemen look forward to. Just what is show jumping about?

Show jumping, also stadium jumping, is a type of equestrian sport that involves moving through a series of jumps setup in the ring, a stadium meant for equestrian events. Apart from the stand alone discipline, show jumping has been incorporated in other competitions including eventing and the modern pentathlon. Inside the event of show jumping, judges assess the horses speed, stamina, and versatility, together with the communication both the horse and rider have. Competition rankings are based on the accumulated number of faults and the time it took to complete the entire course.

The fault is a point that counts against the rider and the horse. These points can be accumulated in various ways and it rarely happens that the course is completed without any flaws. If a horse knocks down a fence during a jump, this is considered a fault. The same thing goes if the horse refuses to make a jump. If the horse destroys the fence during the jump, time will be stopped temporarily until the jump will be fixed. If too many jumps have been refused, the rider and the horse will be disqualified from the said competition.

The jump courses can be designed in a simple or complex way, depending on the style of the show. The most distinguished level of show jumping is known as the Grand Prix and this features intimidating and complicated obstacles, which horses need to jump a long and high jump to get through the obstacles. How the jumps are arranged also determines the level of difficulty of the course. Traditionally, the rider makes herself aware of the course layout by walking it before riding.

Show jumping events do not requires rigorous dress code as with other equestrian events. The rider typically puts on the traditional colored breeches, helmet, and tall pair of boots. At most shows in this particular event, wearing a jacket may be required. Horses should appear to be well-groomed and in tiptop shape, but they do not need to be arranged flawlessly as in dressage competitions.

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Show jumping is considered to be one engaging equestrian event as even those that do not share fascination with horses will appreciate how the horse can become so athletic. Riders usually sit in a forward placement with short stirrups, to focus on their weight and achieve balance, promoting quick movement for the horse through the course of jumps. Horses that participate in show jumping should be muscular, tall and have the necessary build to release power and speed. It can be a great experience to watch the rider and horse move in total coordination during the show.

Sand Colic Problems in Your Horse?

A horse that suffers from colic nay be seen rolling on its back.

When sand builds up inside your horse's stomach, trouble soon follows. Here's what you ought to know to safeguard your equine from sand colic.

When feeding horses hay off sandy soil, always put it inside a feeder, trough or on mats to reduce the quantity of sand consumed. Sand colic in horses, digestive upset that comes from the chronic accumulation of sand and grime inside your horse’s digestive system, can strike any horse that thrives on loose, sandy soil.

Horses get sand because they eat hay given on the ground or graze short grass in pastures. The granules then settle to the foot of the digestive tract, particularly within the large colon, where their grittiness can bother the intestinal lining. Mild sand colic, which is frequently supported by diarrhea, could be transient, but eventually enough sand will build up to lead to severe, on-going discomfort. Within the worst cases, the digestive tract can become twisted or become displaced, as well as rupture.

One method to know if your horse is consuming sand would be to perform the “mason jar test,” also known as the “fecal flotation test.” Get 6 balls of feces from the middle area of a fresh horse manure pile (this assures they aren't tainted with sand on the ground) and put these in a quart of water. Stir the contents; allow the concoction to settle. Fifteen minutes after, look into the container to ascertain if any sand has settled towards the bottom.

If greater than a teaspoon of sand collects at the end of the jar, your equine is most likely consuming a potentially harmful quantity of sand. However, the lack of sand doesn’t always mean he’s sand-free; it’s entirely possible that sand has settled in the stomach and just isn't moving along the digestive system. In case mild symptoms of colic present, call your vet and bring the jar for analysis. Ultrasonic imaging can reveal sand buildup and may help with creating a definitive diagnosis and initiating proper treatment for horse colic.

Getting rid of sand from the horse’s digestive tract can be challenging. Psyllium, an all-natural laxative, might help dislodge the granules, but surgery might be required to manually take out considerable amounts of sand. It’s far simpler to maintain your equine from consuming sand to begin with by feeding hay from mats as opposed to the bare ground and managing your pastures to ensure that they don't become overgrazed. Should you use treatment for horse colic to avoid sand accumulation, make sure you use the supplement as instructed on the product label.

Should You Clip Your Horse's Whiskers?

I came across an article at www.equisearch.com, where a reader asked an expert a question on clipping off a horse's whiskers; how her horse does not allow her to clip its whiskers. Why would one want to clip off a horse's whiskers anyway??

Why choo need to cut off my whiskers??

A horse may appear to be of no use, but in actuality, horse whiskers transmit valuable information to horses. The eyes of the horse are positioned in a way that everything directly in front of him or below his nose are not covered in his range of vision. So, these whiskers help them to see the objects that are not in his range of vision. For instance, if your horse grazes, he cannot see directly below his nose and what lies on the pasture. Instead, he depends on the whiskers to tell him that something that lies in the pasture, as he feeds, is edible. Whiskers that extend near their eyes can also signal them of any obstacles that cannot be seen on the grass, such as a branch that is poking. Therefore, whiskers are useful for horses to serve as an extension sensors.

Before you go on trimming your horse's whiskers, ask yourself first if such action is extremely necessary. Clipping off whiskers is a common practice but horse owners simply do it for cosmetic purposes. Competitions do not judge if your horse has perfectly-trimmed whiskers. A healthy, shiny coat, through good grooming practices and proper nutrition, is an aspect for judging your horse base on appearance - not the whiskers. If you have normal trips and your horse is perfectly fine, then there is no way that his whiskers will get in the way of his performance and behavior, so there would be no reason to cut it as well.

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Some horse owners do clip their horse’s whiskers and most of them would experience extreme reaction from the animal. Who wouldn’t? –you are trimming your horse’s “third eye”. However, extreme resistance to your touch may indicate a certain problem. For instance, a horse could have visual impairment and will solely rely on the whiskers for extra vision, and having the owner clip it off would only mean ridding of his extra sense of vision. Clipping off whiskers under the jaw and having your horse react to it fiercely, could probably mean that he is having oral problems that he tends to become sensitive when you touch that particular area.