Are You Up for Horsekeeping?

Taking care of a horse could be one satisfying hobby; however, like looking after any other animals, this requires much time and commitment. And before deciding on obtaining a horse, it is vital that you know your responsibilities as the owner and you have to make sure you can comply with your obligations and you also know how to properly care for the animal. Here are a few things that you may find useful in handling your horses.

• Provide the animal with adequate space to graze and pasture and be sure the animal also has a shelter to protect him from the harsh weather elements. Check out your pasture and be sure that there are no poisonous plants around. You can fence the entire pasture to hold the animals safe preventing them from getting injured. Carefully select your type of fencing fence; barbed wires really should not be used for your pasture fence, obviously.

• Always schedule a visit to the vet clinic for your horse. Regular check-up will allow you to detect medical problems earlier.

• Allow your horse to exercise. To take care of a well-fit and healthy horse, make sure a time for exercise is given to them. Provide enough space for them to run and move around. Take a ride with him every once in a while.

• Groom your horse. Your responsibilities as a horse owner include allowing them to feel clean and comfortable and this can be achieved through good grooming. Good grooming is definitely one of the things you need to learn when managing a horse. Possess the necessary tools needed for grooming and be sure that you groom your horse soon after riding him. This will help you check for injuries or cuts. Check them thoroughly from head to toe. Start your grooming routine by tying your horse correctly in a safe place to prevent them from running away. Have his hooves picked and his mane and tail brushed regularly. 

• Have the animal dewormed regularly. Indeed, it is important for horses to become dewormed and because there are several equine dewormers available, you must check with a veterinarian to help you find the right wormer and develop the right horse worming program.

• Provide constant supply of water to the animals. Horses need fresh and clean water regularly, so make sure they have ample supply in the barn or the stable.

• Make sure you also keep the stable clean on a regular basis. Stable management is part of horse care. In setting up your horse's shelter, see to it that you also provide clean beddings for your horse to rest on.

Keeping a horse is a great responsibility. You need to dedicate time to look after it, and also allot a portion of your income to answer to its needs. So, if you’re willing to take that responsibility, then you could be an excellent horse owner.

What's Wrong With My Horse? ?

A horse should possess good attitude and develop a positive relationship with the trainer in order to learn. There are several factors which may lead to the development of bad attitude in a horse; it may include how the trainer handles or treats the horse, the presence of health ailments, the way it is saddle, and the quality and type of feed given to it. In order to properly train such animal, these factors should be carefully considered. I have a friend who had difficulty in handling her 6-year old. She didn't know what was wrong with the animal so I told her to observe her more closely and find the underlying cause of such bad behavior.

Does Your Horse Feel Secure?

If you own a horse that behaves badly, make sure you look into its security aspect. Does your horse feel safe around its environment? Make sure that you make him feel secure. Horses, by nature, are prey animals, and as such they are wary of various predators and should be assured that you, as the trainer or owner, can be trusted. This would make it easier for you to train him.

Is He in Pain?

Your horse may behave oddly because of underlying conditions, which he may not be able to express. Your horse could be in pain and you don’t notice it.  He could have fractures, muscle problems, or perhaps, he could be suffering from digestive ulcers. He could also be fatigued from the intensive training that you initiated and he may need enough rest. Hoof and dental problems may also be the cause of pain for your horse, so be sure that you check any signs that might tell you that your horse is not feeling all too good on the inside.

Bad behavior may be caused by ulcers in horses.
For ulcer problems, use equine omeprazole paste, AbGard.

Is He Okay with the Saddle?

Your horse may have problems with the saddle. It might be positioned to tightly that it’s causing him pain. You might want to put on another saddle and find one that has enough padding or perhaps reposition the paddle in a way that it will be comfortable for your horse. He might react to saddles badly if he doesn’t like it, even if you have not put it on, so be sure to pay attention to how your horse reacts to saddles.

Does he like what he eats?

Horses can be picky, too, and his type of diet may affect his mood as well. Be sure that you feed your horse properly. For instance, if you give him too much grain, he may become hyperactive. Horses react differently to different types of food; one feed type may not be suitable for a particular horse while another may readily accept the feed.

Pay attention to your horse; he could be suffering from health problems or he may be feeling uneasy, which is why he behaves oddly. Find the underlying problem and manage it, and you will be on your way to train your horse with ease.

Riding Dressage Horses with Style

Dressage is part of the Olympic equestrian events. Train your horse the right way without inducing too much stress to avoid digestive ulcers from developing.

A simple comparison to dressage can be ballet for horses. The objective of dressage is to develop the horse's natural capability as well as its readiness to execute. At optimum performance the dressage horse feels comfortable while performing various movements requested by their riders. The general performance of the horse should be of no efforts and the rider’s lead should be minimal.

The dressage training and contest will take place in a show arena. The arena generally comes in two sizes: the small and standard size. The movements involved in dressage competitions are carried out at specific positions around the show arena. Letters are placed on designated areas of the arena so riders will be aware of the specific positions. The competition includes different performance levels – from amateurs to Olympic-rated levels. Lower competition levels will only require a simple walk and trot from the rider and the horse. These shows are often conducted in local areas and are easy to locate and participate in. As the rider competes and advances through the next level, the dressage tests become more difficult. The competition will require more skills and movements as the levels increase.

ADVERTISEMENT: Ride with style. Make dressage
competitions successful
with equine omeprazole paste, AbGard. 

A training scale is involved in dressage and it used as a training guide for the horse. It is designed in a pyramid fashion and starts from the horse’s ability to maintain rhythm and regularity. Over time, the horse will work up to collection, the training found at the top of the pyramid scale. Each level of the training should be polished as the training progresses. Therefore, a horse that competes at the Grand Prix aiming for top-level competitions still needs to know the basic performance and not just show of the high-rated skills.

For the lower levels of the competition, judging depends on the basics of dressage and how well the rider and horse achieves the performance.  The basics involve having the horse move forward, readily accepting the aids of the rider. A lot of horses will compete but judges will look for the best pair who delivered the best basics. As the rider advances to more complex levels of the competition, the movements should become suppler and rider and horse should be able to perform various movements.

It does not matter what level of the competition you participate in; just remember to train your horse the right way. Do not take the easy way out just so you can have a horse that appears great; they may not be able to serve you well in the long run and you might need to train them all over again. 

Dressage is an equestrian sport that does not discriminate horse breeds; any breed can compete in the show. Any horse and anyone who simply knows how to rider can learn the basic principles and techniques of dressage.

How Do You Handle a Fractured Horse?

Historically, horses that acquired a fractured leg will be put down to sleep. We've now been made aware that there are choices to save these horses from such dreadful fate. I want to briefly share things that you may consider if you're faced with a decision on what to do if your horse suffers a major breakdown.

There are a few very basic differences to take into account when managing leg fractures in the horse. We can't really tell if a horse will need about 3 months of bed rest with no weight-bearing on the leg. We can't teach him to make use of crutches, either. When there are fractures, the horse's lower leg can have limited supply of blood, and often what it has is damaged with the injury. Should there be an open wound, such as in the case of a compound fracture, infection is quite a challenge to prevent or treat due to the environment of the lower leg of the horse. In managing leg fractures in the horse, specialists say if there is a break in the skin with the injury, the prognosis for success is so poor due to the infection, that euthanasia will be considered. Another very significant threat is catastrophic functionality failure of the opposite leg because of constant weight-bearing. When a horse is non-weight-bearing on the damaged leg, the blood supply to the opposite foot is affected. Eventually this may result to severe laminitis.

Another thing that affects outcome in the horse with severe leg injuries is the life-threatening impaction colic. An injured horse will, of course, be restricted to the outdoors, will not get the required amount of exercise and generally, changes in routine would apply. As a result, colic in horses will develop. The stress, changes in routine and the administration of medications will also contribute to the development of impaction colic. It would pose a problem to administer equine colic treatment in this case due to the horse’s temperament. You might want to consult your veterinarian on how to initiate colic treatment for horses in these situations.

The things discussed here may appear so negative, but it could be the reality. In the heat of the moment, we tend to make a decision solely based on our emotions. Every case has different components, so heed the advice of your veterinarian or the specialist you're referred to prior to coming up with a decision.

Feeding Regimens - What Happens When You Missed Feeding Your Horse?

Have you missed feeding your horse again? There is no need to worry as it is not much of a major concern. Variations in your feeding rations will not hurt your horse; in fact, it could even be a good thing. There is no need for you to cut short your summer barbecue with the family because you need to run to the barn to feed your horse at a specific time. If you deliver his feed ration few hours later or earlier the specified time, it would not harm him in any way. If you try to vary the feeding schedule, it might help in the prevention of behaviors such as stall kicking and pacing.

One method you can incorporate feeding flexibility is to give your horse free choice of hay and after that, enough grain to maintain his condition. Make sure you divide the meals into as frequent as possible to imitate how the digestive system of the horse works (since naturally, they are all-day grazers). Chowing down a heavy meal that consists of starchy grain can lead to digestive problems,like colic or even ulcers in horses. On the other hand, an athletic horse needs to eat on a strict schedule. This is to meet the energy demands of his body to compensate for the energy lost during heavy training and strenuous competitions.  Every calorie is precious for such horse; and giving meals at the same time every day can optimize digestion so that his body can absorb all the energy from the grain.

Be careful, though, of grain feeds and meals rich in carbohydrates. Ideally, you need to introduce your horse to hay at the first chomp on his meal. This will be followed by high-carb meals like the grain. This is to allow your horse to digest his feed better and reduce digestive problems. But prior to exercise for your heavy working horse, hay should be restricted. Allow one hour to pass by after a meal and before you horse goes to training. If you own a heavy working horse for competitions, they should be fed more than three times a day.

Feeding your horse is essential to his health. How you feed your horse, as well as the timing of the feeding plays a role in maintaining the balance of the digestive system. Once the balance of the system gets disrupted, problems will start to occur, and commonly, ulcers in horses will result. Observe proper feeding practices and consult your veterinarian if necessary.

The American Quarter Horse

Let me post a short trivia on the American Quarter Horse, my featured horse for today. Visit daily for more breed information on different horse breeds.

The American Quarter Horse

Country of Origin: North America

Colors: sorrel, bay, buckskin, chestnut black, brown, dun, grullo, palomino, red dun, gray, red roan, bay roan, blue roan, cremello and perlino.

Height: 14-16 hands

The quarter horse is adaptable by nature and as such, it is commonly used in trail riding and for many police units. They possess an even temperament, which makes them great for beginner riders who are just learning about horses. Their breeding capabilities are excellent and have made several farm owners, who are up for stud services, famous and wealthy. The quarter horse is the most popular breed in America and can be seen in almost any type of discipline. Quarter horses are also becoming popular in Europe.

A picture of Pecho Dexter (1963-1984);
claimed 13 year-end high point awards
 in a span of 4 years.

Those that are bred for competitions are much larger and have more muscle mass and wide jowls. On the other hand, quarter horses intended for reining and cutting are smaller in size but have powerful hindquarters; they have impressive agility as they are quick on their feet.  All quarter horses possess the speed and power and they are easy to work with, that is why owners tend to be always pleased with them.

Among the many famous American Quarter Horses include Dash for Cash, Diamonds Sparkle, and Pecho Dexter.

Trouble With Deworming Your Horse?

I’m sure most owners have experienced the frustration with the administration of equine dewormers. Your horse most likely understands why you are in the stall and approaching him closely. A horse may sense that you have something behind your back (a tube of dewormer perhaps) and that today is the day when you need to force something inside his mouth. You have put on the halter and start stroking his head and neck. As soon as you pull out the tube of wormer, your horse starts to defend himself, pulling his head away from you. The horse could have a paranoid notion that you may be feeding him with poison. What he does not know is that you are sticking a helpful treat inside his mouth – dewormers! Most probably, your horse will remember the awful taste for as long as he lives and the cycle continues –your horse will probably go on resisting each time you want to administer the medication.

It would be easy if your horse opens his mouth that wide,
but some horses tend to resist during deworming.

No horse owner would want that hassle. Some would even spend to hire a professional to put the thing inside the mouth. It takes a lot of practice to try to get your horse to submit to you each time you deworm. But with various formulations available for dewormers, beginners will now find it easy to deworm a horse. Dewormers come in conventional syringe form containing the paste, but there are granules available as well. One example is Abler’s equine deworming granules. This granulated wormer is so convenient to use – you simply add the wormers to the feed, and voila! Your horse can now eat the feed and at the same time get dewormed without the need to force him to open his mouth. Of course, the granulated formulation will only come in handy for beginners who want to experience convenient dosing. Experts can always follow the conventional method of deworming (the syringe), but I have heard from many of my friends in Kentucky and Wyoming that they have opted for the granule forms because of the ease of administration. Whatever works, the ultimate goal is to control equine parasite infestation.

So, if you are not a savvy of the syringe wormer, there are always alternatives and the use of deworming granules is one. Some of my friends use them because they are effective and they provide convenience when dosing.  Always consult your veterinarian about your deworming program.

Gastric Ulcers? - Horses Can Have Them

I remember one time a few years back when my friend Catherine asked me about ulcer problems in many horses. She was a beginner back then and I was not much of an expert; I got interested in horses just five years ago. She was puzzled at how her horse, Trinity, was not responding well when they were out for a ride, a year after she got her. I just told her to take Trinity to the vet, and so she did. It was later found out that the horse had ulcers. So what is it about this condition? Catherine thought ulcers only affect humans; apparently, it affects horses as well. For beginners, here is what you need to know.

Gastric ulcers in horses are apparently caused by different factors, among them include training, feeding practices, and the use of medications. Of course, no one would want to intentionally harm their horse but you tend to give him protection and pampering to make sure he is comfortable. What is likely to happen is that you keep him off the pasture to “protect” him from the exposure to parasites, without knowing that you are taking away his freedom to graze without restrictions. In addition, you add more grain to his feed because you assume that he needs more energy to do the work assigned to him. In this process of pampering and protecting your horse, you are actually contributing to certain health problems, most especially targeted on his gastrointestinal system.

If you find your horse does not respond well, has lost his appetite and consequently his weight, or starts to develop an irritable temperament, you need to do something about it – your horse might be in pain. You can take your horse to the vet and have him checked internally. Your horse may have developed a gastrointestinal problem, which caused all the changes in him – body and behavior.

Fortunately, ulcer problems in horses are easily treated. It takes omeprazole medications to treat the problem. Several brands are available but the question now lies on the cost of the product. Catherine was told that she needed to complete a month or so of treatment to completely heal Trinity’s ulcers. That would involve expensive medications, wouldn’t it? But you know how it goes; you learn secrets from your friend’s friend. They say blue pop rocks did the trick for their horses. Equine omeprazole comes in affordable prices making it easy for owners to take care of medication bills for their horses. For more information click here. So Catherine gave it a try, and it worked for her and allowed her to save money in the process. If it could work for her, it might for you. It is worth a try.

If you observe any changes of behavior and particularly how your horse reacts to everything normal, then something must be wrong. Be observant of your horse and try to “listen” to his needs.

A Little Bit of History

Horses and humans have established a relationship many, many years ago. Nomads from Asia are probably the first group to have domesticated horses 4,000 years back. Since then, these animals have been found to be of great use to humans until the introduction of the engine.  Still, horses never lost their touch and were used commonly during wars.

One species of domestic horse exist but there are hundreds of different breeds that can be used to do just about anything, including pulling wagons and even racing. All horses, though, have one thing in common – they are grazers.

While most of the horses today are domesticated, some can still be found in the wild. Feral horses are descendants of once tamed animals allowed to run free for many generations. These horses can be found in different parts of the world. Mustangs, for example, are free roaming in North America; they are descendants of horses that are brought in by Europeans about 400 years ago.

The Przewalski's horse is a native of Mongolia and is the last remaining breed of wild horses.These horses are not domesticated yet, they are being held in captivity. Only 250 of them roam freely in the wild.

The Przewalski’s horse is now the only wild horse that had ancestors that were never domesticated. However, this stocky-build animal still exists today but only in captivity. In the year 1968, the last wild Przewalski’s horse was found in Mongolia.

For the Love of Horses

Horses. Why did I decide to write about them? Well, for one, I see them as graceful creatures perfect for the fairytale setup. Fairy tales are not real, are they? But horses are - they can be the closest thing to a fairy tale for me. So I dedicate this blog for the love of horses and all things about them. If you need more tips on how to care for your horse and other stuff related to horses, I would be happy to share my blog.

Happy Reading!