Friday, 30. October 2009
Laminitis is a serious hoof disease and the second most common cause (after colic) of premature death among domestic horses. Although laminitis is seldom fatal in itself, serious cases often lead to euthanasia either for humane reasons (the horse is crippled and in pain) or because the hoof damage means the horse can no longer be used.
The horse hoof contains connective tissue which holds the hoof bone (the pedal bone) in place and connected to the hoof wall. This tissue is known as laminae and if it becomes damaged the result is known as ‘laminitis’. Minor damage results in inflammation of the tissue and temporary pain. More severe cases reduce the strength of the connective tissue, allowing the pedal bone to rotate and sink within the hoof. In the most extreme cases, the pedal bone will actually penetrate the sole of the hoof and be visible. In mild cases the horse can return to normal duties but in more severe cases (depending on the amount of rotation and sinking of the pedal bone) the horse will have to be retired, with the worst cases requiring that the horse is immediately put down. Although there are a number of treatments for laminitis, once the damage is done they can provide only minor improvements, so the emphasis needs to be on prevention rather than treatment.
The term ‘founder’ is associated with laminitis but can be used in several different senses. Some people use founder as the lay term for laminitis, while others use it to describe the more serious forms of laminitis (e.g. when the pedal bone penetrates the sole).
There are two main sources of damage to the laminae, leading to laminitis. One is toxins, which enter the blood and travel to the laminae, where they cause inflammation and tissue breakdown. The other is mechanical, where the laminae is damaged due to repeated shocks to the hoof (e.g. from running or jumping on hard surfaces).
Overly rich food changes the bacterial population in the intestines, with a subsequent release of toxins by the bacteria. It occurs when the horse received a large amount of food which is too high in carbohydrates or nitrogen. This can occur either with rich feed (e.g. grain or muesli) or lush pasture. Pasture is most likely to be too rich in spring, when rain follows a dry period, or when fertilizer has been used. As some breeds (especially ponies) are more sensitive, special care should be taken that neither their feed nor their pasture is too rich. When putting horses and ponies on rich pasture, one should limit the amount of grazing time and consider the use of a grazing muzzle to restrict the amount they eat.
Competition horses, such as jumping or racing horses, which are frequently worked on hard ground, are relatively likely to eventually develop laminitis. However, it can also occur in pleasure horses, if they work or travel on hard surfaces. Try to avoid use of your horse on hard ground. If it is necessary to travel on hard surfaces, try reducing the pace since a walking horse will have less hoof shock than a running horse. Ensuring that hoof trimming is correctly done, especially avoid trimming for long toes or over-trimming as these reduce the ability of the hooves to absorb shocks. If the horse is shoed, it should be done by a competent professional. Consider using shock-absorbing shoes (e.g. horse shoes with a rubber component) or shock absorbing boots during competitions (both are increasingly being used, even at the professional level).
The third major cause of laminitis is toxins which are unrelated to overly rich feed. This includes toxins which are ingested (e.g. through moldy hay, or grass which has been treated with herbicides) or toxins which are produced due to an infection within the horse. Ensure that food does not contain fungus, mold or chemicals. Ensure that any infections are promptly and aggressively treated, before they can result in toxin overload leading to laminitis.
This Laminitis and Founder article is part of the Horse Care series by Dr. Doug Stewart
Posted in Pets by Doug Stewart -
Tuesday, 27. October 2009
People can be allergic to horses, which can result in one or more of the following symptoms: – Itchy or watery eyes – Runny or itchy nose – Itchy skin, hives or rashes – Coughing or Sneezing – Breathing problems – Asthma attack
The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person, ranging from a slight itch to a serious asthma attack. People with asthma should be careful when they first come into contact with horses as there have been a number of cases of fatal asthma reactions. In particular, asthmatic children coming into contact with horses for the first time should be carefully monitored to see if they have an adverse reaction and their medication should be available to hand in case that they do.
The most common cause of horse allergies is horse dander (bits of hair and skin which flake off, like dandruff). Other common causes include horse mites, urine and even horse salvia.
It is not uncommon for people to have an allergic reaction without being near a horse, through indirect contact. For example, if you enter a barn or other enclosed space where horses have been, one can come into contact with allergic agents even though the horses are not present at the time. Likewise, if a family member rides or works with horses, it is possible to have a reaction upon exposure to clothes or tack which they bring home which are carrying bits of allergic agents (e.g. dander).
Horse allergies can be easily treated, using the same methods as for other allergies. These include medication, desensitizing treatment or simple avoidance.
If you want to ride but find that your allergies are making this difficult, you may want to try riding a ‘curly horse’ breed. Many people who suffer from horse allergies find that they have little or no reaction with these breeds.
You may also wish to be medically tested to determine which aspect of horses you are allergic to. For example, if you are allergic to horse mites, treatment of the horse and its box against mites may reduce your symptoms to acceptable levels. Likewise, if it is urine or saliva you are allergic to, one can take care to avoid these specific elements when involved with horses.
The article Allergy to Horses was written by Doug Stewart, as part of his series on Horse Care.
Posted in Pets by Doug Stewart -
Sunday, 20. September 2009
Having always regarded horses and equine activities as a bastion of the upper class, I never thought that I, a member of the middle class, would have anything much to do with horses. But, in 1981 my adorable daughter was born and before she even learned to talk, she became smitten with these creatures.
I didn’t really worry about how I was going to afford horses, training, equestrian clothing, etc. because I thought she’d outgrow this infatuation eventually.
In elementary school, my daughter did not do well. School personnel as well as other child experts labeled her as being mentally slow and advised my husband and me that college was out of the question for her. We were unconvinced, and we decided to prove that they were wrong and our daughter was perfectly fine.
Her first riding lesson took place when our daughter was 10 years old. We watched in wonder as perched atop the horse, she transformed from the shy, introverted persona that she portrayed in school and became the self-confident champion that we had been sure lurked inside.
The cost of her riding became quite unmanageable for us in no time at all and we suffered more than a little making sure she stayed atop that horse in the following year.
But when she was in sixth grade, we were offered a deal. In exchange for riding lessons, she could work at the stables doing everything necessary, including grooming horses and helping less experienced riders.
Fast forward six years to her high school graduation day. She earned top honors in all her subjects and a full scholarship to one of the finest colleges in the country. At seventeen, she finally replaced her first love, an old horse named Merlin with her first boyfriend on her notebook, however, her boyfriend had a firm understanding that he was there only because he was so supportive of her passion for horses.
Our daughter graduated from college with a 3.8 GPA and she never cost us a penny after sixth grade. She worked at the stable faithfully throughout her school years.
We look back over our daughter’s growing up years and her educational career, and we realize that her passion for everything about horses, and her love of riding not only helped her be successful in that field, but in school and every other area of her life. The determination and work ethic that was required for her to follow her passion taught important lessons, and her willingness to earn her own lessons from an early age, showed her the way to achieve by hard work in a way that many other parents have wished their children possessed.
We are so glad that we didn’t allow our belief that horses were not for our daughter because it was just too expensive a habit to be maintained on a middle class income. We feel so fortunate that we took the plunge and started to try to provide those lessons. Horses did teaching that no experts in any field could do, and they did it without saying a word.
Want to learn more about horses and the many advantages of being near them? Visit our website and learn how to take care of horses through diet, health care, exercise, and even horse bedding
Posted in Pets by Rachel M. Quake -
Sunday, 20. September 2009
A number of owners prefer well cutting horses as a matter of fact some would actually conjure up reasons to prove the horse is a good one. It is hard to realize when a cattle horse is a good cutting horse, so to have a little idea of horse training them you need to understand the common myths regarding this animal.
1. A colt pursues any animal (e.g. canines or human) that crosses into it’s pasture, however that’s not a reliable indication to decide its potential for this purpose. Colts are normally playful and the horse might not be acting as a cutting horse though simply playing or entertaining themselves along with animals or humans. People or different animals look quite varied from cattle and besides, colts don’t possess riders to control them.
If you train a colt to be a cutting horse, it’ll instantly learn that this is not like playing and would need to work so a decent example would work cattle with style, proper form, as well as attention. A horse which aimlessly runs through a fiend is not a good one but specific breeds are inclined to do cutting labors and therefore you must choose the right colt breed. Take a note of both the dame and sire of the colt – if they were good cutters, then the colt could follow the same course.
2. Although most horses are bothered or scared to see different animals like cattle, certain horse breeds do not become scared quickly, though that’s not a sign that it can be trained to be a decent cutting horse. In many instances, good cutting horses react aggressively to the first encounter of cows and must have the ability to dominate cattle although they might be afraid initially, leaving the other creature at a safe distance.
3. Certain horse breeds are great cutting horses but this doesn’t mean that they’ll also do great within contests. A foundation reared horse is not as good as a well-bred cutting horse and oftentimes, trainers find it hard to teach such creatures to perform properly for competitions because they tend to be slow learners and do things in their own fashion. These additional are devoid of flair as well as athletic capability so it’s oftentimes a better idea to obtain a horse that has durable lineages of the cutting horses.
4. Horses are different and as is their learning pace and though some horses pick things up fast, other horses do not, therefore the length of their training is not a critical factor. Cutting horses are taught till they attain a level of becoming an efficient cutter therefore if you wish to enroll in contests the colt must begin teaching as early as possible.
Even if your horse has experience as well as skill, accidents could happen if the rider is inexperienced, so start horse training now so that the horse will learn all that it needs to understand.
You welcome to check out: Teaching a Horse to do tricks plus alignment horse training for more reviewed accurate information.
Posted in Pets by Elias Maseko -
Saturday, 12. September 2009
Your choice for a new home for your companion will be a caring, stable home, regardless of why you have chosen to sell them. Word of mouth is an efficient means of informing people that you have a horse for sale. If you are acquainted with people who are horse lovers, you will most assuredly want to let them know of your intent to sell your horse. Word will get around to other friends of horses who reside in the vicinity. Once the message gets out, you may hear that someone you know, either directly or indirectly, is in the process of searching for a new horse. It is always comforting to know that your dear pet is in the care of someone you know will offer a good home, which is a result of selling to someone you know.
The Equestrian Press is another superb source for disseminating information of your intent to sell. Ponies and horses of all types are listed in the classified sections of such equestrian magazines as; Horse & Hound in the UK, Horse Trader in New Zealand, and Horse & Rider in the USA. Online sites such as HorseQuest in the UK, Equine.Com in America, and Horse Deals in Australia, also now offer a resource to sell your horse.
When writing your advertisement, it is vital not to exaggerate your pet’s strengths or expected promise. Do not sell your horse as an Olympic dressage champion if his true calling is something much more mundane. It is important to choose the right people when attempting to sell your horse, or this can become a much more challenging, lengthened process. All applicable information should be contained in your ad including your horse or pony’s age, height, it’s level of training, and the amount you are asking for. Bloodline specifics are generally relevant when your horse is of good breeding. A high quality picture of your horseshowing detail is paramount.
Be sure to showcase your animal in the best light, when you have an interested buyer.
As if taking him or her to a show, always bathe and groom your horse thoroughly. It is important for your pet to be in pristine condition.
Present your horse in the stable or field so that the buyer will be able to observe your horse’s behavior when caught and tacked up.
The next thing your prospective buyer will want to see is a riding demonstration. This abbreviated ride should include letting your horse walk, trot, and canter. If your horse has the ability, showing a few jumps is also appropriate.
It will also be helpful to demonstrate how your horse will behave when taken out into|handled out in the open, through the countryside and on roads.
Your buyer will most likely ask to take a short ride to see for themselves how the animal behaves.
It will probably be hard to finally let go of your beloved pet. Be sure that your goodbyes are said prior to the new owner arriving to pick up the horse and focus on the fact that your horse will be loved and cared for. In the event that you will be seeking a new horse companion, you have many new experiences to look forward to.
Chris Robin Morris is a passionate horse rider and recently produced an interesting press release on Things You Should Know About Buying Your First Horse.
Posted in Pets by Chris Robin Morris -
Wednesday, 2. September 2009
When it comes to saddles, the first thing most people want to know is the difference between the English and Western saddles for sale. When looking at saddles for sale, the most obvious difference you will notice between the two will first of all be the horn that is present on the western saddle. The design will also be an obvious difference. The western saddle is a bit heavier than the English saddle.
Which saddle is best for regular riding?
Western saddles are made with the comfort of the horse as well as the rider in mind. They are larger so that the weight is distributed over a larger area of the horse’s back. Made originally with the cattle drives in mind and the need for keeping the horse from tiring out too quickly, the western saddle is made of rawhide. There are other materials available today and you can find lighter weight saddles for sale. But the originals were made of leather and the underside was either sheepskin or wool.
There is also a difference between trail or pleasure and work or ranch saddles for sale on the market. Different tasks or uses require different balancing and component design such as horn shaping. Barrel saddles provide closer contact. English Saddles sit higher to give the rider better positioning than a western saddle would for that sort of riding.
But what are the real differences between english saddles and western saddles?
English saddles weigh less than western saddles. They also have steel stirrups. English saddles also come with flexible cinching to let the horse breathe more freely. English saddles do not have fenders. That is why it us necessary to wear tall riding boots to protect your legs.
On the other hand, Western saddles do come with protective fenders. Obviously, most cowboy sorts do not wear boots up to their knees, so it is good to have an extra level of shielding from impact or pinching in between the saddle and the horse’s back. Stirrups on western saddles also have leather wraps to add friction for a better hold on the slick bottom of a cowboy boot. Western saddles for sale will also have scurry trim which should not be warped if you are going to make a purchase.
Show Riding Vs. Pleasure Riding
A lot of english saddles are intended for lighter riding. An all purpose saddle works for show riding and pleasure riding. You will discover that most saddles for sale are a bit expensive, so it is a good idea to know what you will be using your saddle for before you buy one.
Trail saddles and show saddles also have different constructions. Wooden trees covered in fiberglass or ralide are generally used for western saddles. These may also be crafted with rawhide. Synthetic lighter saddles are covered in leather or other skin. Show saddles also come with detailed embellishments including silver and other precious metal lacing.
English saddles have steel or man-made trees that are also wrapped in leather and stuffed with foam. Usually english saddles are less detailed and decorative than most western saddles for sale.
Finding and purchasing saddles for sale
Buying a cheap saddle is not usually a great idea. Remember that you get what you pay for. And you may have to replace a cheaper saddle as many times as it would have cost to buy a better one. Cheaper saddles can also fit your horse improperly and sour its attitude during performance. If you save money on the saddle but irritate your horse, you haven’t done yourself any favors.
Not only does the saddle have to fit correctly but the materials should be quality so they can last longer than a year or two. The stitching should remain intact and the fit on the horse should be another consideration. The saddle that does not fit well will make the horse’s back sore and this can be another cause of crankiness your horse will feel.
Whether an english or western saddle is right for you, be sure to choose a saddle that is well-made. It may be a bit of an investment up front, but in the end, it will be well worth it. And you will enjoy riding much, much more.
About the author: Jodie Daisy is happy to share information about saddles for sale with anyone who has any inquiries regarding a new saddle purchase.
Posted in Pets by Jodie Daisy -