May 14, 2012
Breeding Mares: How Young is Too Young?The world of horse breeding is a complicated one, so it’s always best to consult an expert if you’re set on breeding your mare.
Here, expert breeder Bob Claymier weighs in on the question of when a filly is old enough to be bred.
QUESTION: I was wondering at what age I can breed my filly? She isn’t old enough yet, but I would just like to know. Thank you.
BOB CLAYMIER: You pose an interesting question. Like many things in the horse world, man has intervened and often not on the side of what is good for the animal – such as racing thoroughbreds at two years of age.
In this case, however, we can prolong the breeding time until the female is more mature, whereas in the wild she might be bred at a much younger age and perhaps when she is two to three years old.
There is a good reason that we define a filly as a female horse up to the age of five, and as a mare after that, because she is still maturing during that time. All other things being equal, I would probably suggest waiting until the horse is at least five before breeding, which would make her a minimum of six when she first foals. More info...
May 1, 2012
Does your horse have brittle hooves? Here are some good care tips
Learn how to prevent chipped, brittle hooves in your trail horse with these expert guidelines.
Are your horse’s hooves brittle and chipped? Here, I’ll explain how hoof supplements can help strengthen your horse’s hooves. But first, follow these tips to address any potential underlying issues.
Letting a barefoot horse go too long between trims increases the risk of chipping and breaking, and long hooves can also allow undue stretching that can lead to the crumbling of the white line.
Chip Tip #1: Schedule Regular Trimmings
Proper and timely trimmings are crucial. Letting a barefoot horse go too long between trims increases the risk of chipping and breaking. More info...
Apr 25, 2012
Prevention and Management to Protect Against Strangles
by: University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
What is strangles?
Strangles, explains University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Assistant Professor of Medicine Ashley G. Boyle, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi subsp, equi. It can cause severe swelling of the lymph nodes around the throat, making it difficult for a horse to breathe; hence the name, strangles.
Boyle, who works at Penn Vet's New Bolton Center in the Section of Field Service, says that strangles should be strongly suspected if a horse suddenly develops a high fever--sometimes higher than 103°F (about 39°C)--and appears lethargic or depressed. After the onset of a fever, nasal discharge is typical and the lymph nodes in the neck and under the jaw can enlarge. If abscesses develop in the lymph nodes, the airway will narrow, making breathing noisy and swallowing difficult. Affected horses sometimes hold their neck out straight looking for relief. In horses under the age of five (who have yet to develop normal immunity), horses older than 20, or immune-compromised horses, the signs of strangles will be more pronounced. More info...
Apr 13, 2012
Saving Money On Annual Horse Vaccines
by Laurie Cemy
Laurie A. Cerny has over 25 years experience in the horse industry as a journalist and communication professional and is a member of American Horse Publications.
She shows open, AQHA, Quarter Horse Halter Association (QHHA), and the International and the Michigan Ranch Horse Association. Here Laurie tackles the question, “How can I save money on my horse’s annual vaccines?” for us:
The first step in saving money on horse vaccinations is to know exactly what vaccinations are truly necessary for the horse(s) you have, and what particular diseases are an issue in the area you live.
Talk to your vet. Let him or her know the specifics of your horse management and how you use your animals; are they strictly backyard animals that never go anywhere, or do you show every weekend? You can also see what vaccinations are recommended by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP); go to http://www.aaep.org/vaccination_guidelines.htm More info...
Jan 24, 2012
Raisins? Watermelon Rind? What’s a Safe Treat for a Horse?
Horse Diet
Think twice before you offer a bite of what you're eating to your horse.
Sure, we all know horse cookies are fine, but what about everything else?
Horse owners often ask equine nutritionist Dr. Juliet Getty about the safety of offering common—and sometimes not so common—foods as treats. Carrots have naturally come up in discussion, but also French fries, garlic bread, and even chocolate. What’s safe and what’s not, and under what circumstances, may surprise anyone who has ever extended a chunk of apple to an eager horse.
Dr. Getty points out that some treats are generally safe, some treats are sometimes safe, and some are never, ever good for horses. As she points out, “Horses trust humans for their care. Choose wisely.” More info...
Jan 20, 2012
Inside the Broodmare’s Belly…
- Lactation demands a lot from a broodmare! Are you anxiously awaiting that first foal of the spring?
Are you anxiously awaiting that first foal of the spring? Do you have the foaling stall ready, the vet on speed dial, and the video camera on the battery charger? While you’ve been busy prepping, here are some of the amazing changes that have taken place (or are about to take place) in your mare:
6 Month Mark: During 2nd half of pregnancy, 60 – 65% of fetal growth occurs!
Energy requirements of the mare go up almost 30% over a normal maintenance horse – from 16.7 Mcal DE per day to 21.4 Mcal DE per day.
Her protein requirements will increase 32%, and vitamin and mineral requirements also increase significantly during this time.
The mare needs to be receiving adequate calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese and selenium to provide minerals for the development of the foal and to build the foals own trace mineral reserves. Trace minerals are also critical for immune support.
Adequate protein/amino acid intake is essential – lysine, methionine and threonine, the first 3 limiting essential amino acids, need to sufficient in the diet for placental and fetal development. More info...
Jan 20, 2012
Dr. Allan Hamilton on Horses and Emotions
Dr. Allan Hamilton
Can horses be overwhelmed by intense human emotions? How do horses benefit humans? Dr. Allan Hamilton, an author and neurosurgeon, took questions from participants of our free interactive author webinar from MyHorse Books called, “A Zen Mind, Zen Horse Discourse” based on his book, Zen Mind, Zen Horse.
Dr. Hamilton answers some of those questions below:
Feelings…Deal-breakers in Horse/Human Partnership ? More info...
Jan 19, 2012
Care of Your Horse’s Teeth Counts In Equine Performance
Equine Health
Wondering whether it’s time to do your horse’s teeth or if it’s OK to put it off a year? Well, read Horse Journal Performance Editor John Strassburger’s experiences with floating your horse’s teeth. Misaligned teeth can result in your horse not eating enough, poor digestion, bit problems and even pain. And, in case you wondered, John discusses costs, too. Read on . . .
Last week, Dr. Grant Miller, who’s one of the Horse Journal’s veterinary editors, came to our farm to power-float the teeth of four of our own and three of our clients’ horses. We’ve long considered equine dental care an important element in the management and performance of our horses, and watching Grant work on our own and our clients’ horses for the last five years has only solidified our belief. More info...
Jan 18, 2012
Any Young People Work on Your Horse Farm? Then Read This
American Horse Council
The American Horse Council (AHC) has opposed the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed new child labor regulations applicable to agriculture. The proposed rule, if adopted, would place new limitations on the ability of young people to work for pay on farms or ranches not owned solely by their parents and would effectively bar workers under 16 from working in most capacities in agriculture, especially around livestock, such as horses.
“The safety of young workers is important, but these proposed rules are so broad they would keep most young people from working on horse farms and ranches at all,” said AHC President Jay Hickey. “For over 70 years Congress has explicitly allowed young people to work in agricultural because of its unique and family nature. We believe, as written, this proposed rule is contrary to Congressional intent.” More info...
Jan 13, 2012
Nutrient Deficiencies in Horse Feed Diets
National Academy of Science.
Horses, like all animals, have a range of nutrient requirements to meet their daily needs. These are spelled out as minimum nutrient requirements in the Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th Edition, published by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science.
If these minimum requirements are not met, the horse may experience deficiency symptoms. The severity of the deficiency symptoms may depend on the degree of the deficiency and the time period over which the deficiency exists.
A sub-clinicaldeficiency may be the result of a small deficiency over a period of time.
Subclinical deficiencies may also result in decreased immune response, decreased reproductive efficiency and decreased performance.
A clinical deficiency is present when there are readily observed or measured symptoms. More info...
Equine care cont
