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Administrator on March 9th, 2010
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From MyHorse.com:
The beginning of March signals the first signs of spring in many parts of the country, and with it, the pastures are beginning to go green.
Horses that are unused to grass will have to be introduced to it slowly, or they could be at risk for laminitis. Veterinarians aren’t sure what exactly happens in the equine body to cause laminitis, but they do know how to prevent—or at least increase the chances of preventing—the disease.
Horses that are in regular work generally don’t come down with laminitis, so one good rule of thumb is to keep your horse active, all year. Horses that are in good weight, have healthy diets and regular turnout are not generally at risk.
Nonetheless, introduce you horse slowly to spring pastures. Begin with 20-30 minutes a day of hand grazing for a week, then gradually increase the amount of time on pasture each week until you’re up to an hour or more. Keep an eye on your horses for weight gain.
Some horses will be fine on spring pastures. Others will need closer management. It all depends on the individual horse and how he’s been managed, as well as his body type. Ponies and overweight horses will be more susceptible to founder.
If you have any concerns at all, check with your veterinarian.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
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Administrator on March 3rd, 2010
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From MyHorse.com:
1. Triggered by longer daylight hours
2. Older horses tend to shed late
3. Feed 3 oz. of corn oil per day to hasten shedding
4. Grooming aids the shedding process
5. A soft rubber curry is the best shedding tool.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
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Administrator on February 2nd, 2010
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From MyHorse.com:
Winter is cold and flu season for people because they congregate in close contact inside warm buildings with poor air circulation, like schools and malls. The same could happen with your horse if you’re in a tightly closed-up barn with a lot of traffic on and off the premises, allowing for the introduction of viruses.
Good ventilation is one of the best safeguards. Tightly sealed barns with moist air condensing on the windows are a dream come true for respiratory infections. Follow your vet’s advice regarding vaccinations in your situation, but understand that a megadose of virus can overcome any vaccine’s protection.
Even more common is a respiratory problem that doesn’t involve infections, which is inflammatory airway disease or AID. This is inflammation caused by irritants such as ammonia fumes, dust, mites and fungal elements in hays and grains, fine hay and sawdust particles.
Symptoms range from a thin clear to frothy whitish nasal discharge, to coughs, to obvious decrease in exercise tolerance. Inflamed airways are also more prone to spasm when exposed to cold air. Closed-up barns with humid air also favor AID.
Fight AID by keeping the barn as well-ventilated as possible without putting the horses in a direct draft. Open doors and windows when stalls are being cleaned, preferably with the horses outside. Air out the barn during the warmest times of the day and when horses are turned out or being exercised. Never seal the barn up so tightly that warm moist air is condensing on the windows.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on February 1st, 2010
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Get ready for California’s favorite AQHA show, the 43rd annual SLOCQHA Mother’s Day Circuit May 6-9, 2010 at the Paso Robles Events Center. This year’s event features a full slate of rail and cattle classes, plus many new novice classes which will count towards the new PCQHA Novice Championship show in October. In addition, a 12 & over Walk-Trot Trail class open to all breeds of horses as been added for new exhibitors. The show is approved by AQHA, PCQHA and SLOCQHA. There will also be a new expanded warm-up arena and fun parties, including the Thursday Night Welcome Party and the Friday Night Youth PCQHA Bar-B-Que. Come join the fun whether you want to watch the classes, shop the great western vendors – or participate in the competition. Admission is always free for spectators! For more information, go to www.MothersDayCircuit.com or call president, Marie Miller at 805/434-1594.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on January 27th, 2010
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From MyHorse.com:
Cold, icy water means less water consumption, which can set the stage for choke.
If you’ve ever seen a horse choke, you’re not likely to forget it. Choke occurs when food gets caught in the esophagus, not in his airway, as occurs with people. The horse will cough and retch. Heavy salivation is likely, and he’ll be anxious and upset. He likely won’t eat or drink.
Choke can be mild, but it’s always a veterinary emergency, especially since its symptoms can mimic those of rabies.
When choke occurs, dehydration can occur rapidly, and the pressure on the esophagus can cause an ulcer or rupture. Unfortunately, choke is likely to happen again, because scarring in the esophagus usually occurs after a choke or the choke may have been caused by a motility problem in the esophagus.
Prevention:
Horses prone to choke should be fed wet feeds, and all horses should be encouraged to consume adequate amounts of water. Add one ounce (two tablespoons) of table salt to your horse’s feed every day to encourage more water consumption.
Wet feeds are easier for the horse to swallow and chew. Good choices for wet meals include:
•Beet pulp is well tolerated even if fed occasionally. It soaks up four times its volume in water. Add 2 to 3 oz. of rice bran or 4 oz. of wheat bran per pound to balance major minerals. One pound beet pulp about equals 1 pound of oats in calories.
• Soaked hay cubes or pellets can hold up to twice their volume in water. They take longer to soak than beet pulp but are a good choice for horses that can’t chew hay well. Substitute pound per pound for normal dry hay.
• Complete, senior and high-fiber feeds can also be soaked before feeding. They contain high-fiber ingredients, such as hay, beet pulp or soy hulls, and hold about twice their volume of water. Caloric values vary widely. High beet-pulp feeds with added molasses may be similar pound-per-pound to straight grain mixes, while complete feeds can be as low as one-half to three-quarters the calorie value per pound as grains.
• Wet wheat bran is well-liked by most horses. It has a mild laxative effect, and its high phosphorus content requires mineral balancing, if it’s fed regularly. You can accomplish this by feeding 1 to 1.5 times as much by weight of alfalfa pellets/cubes with the bran, or by adding 1.5 tablespoons of calcium carbonate powder or crushed human calcium tablets to the feed (5 grams of calcium per pound).
Monitor your horse for signs of dehydration or an inadequate water intake. Watch his manure for changes to small, dry balls or any evidence of mucus on the manure, and check the mouth to be sure it feels moist, indicating adequate hydration. Skin-pinch checks are difficult under heavy winter coats, so we don’t recommend using them in the winter months.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on January 9th, 2010
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By Lisa Bolivar
Originally published 01:00 a.m., January 8, 2010
Updated 08:38 p.m., January 8, 2010
PLANT CITY — A joint effort to rescue a dozen special needs horses
avoided tragedy Friday when two feuding parties signed an agreement
that saved the animals from euthanasia.
The horses were scheduled to be put down next week prior to a Jan. 14 eviction deadline.
Bernadette Resnik, operator of Aziizi Foundation Inc., a nonprofit
horse rescue organization founded in 1996, and her landlords, Peter and Roberta Murray of Plant City, had been in a dispute over past due rent that resulted in a court-ordered eviction.
While the battle over money continued, donations to the foundation
dwindled and the fate of the horses, four of them blind, remained
unclear.
“The landlords are evicting us, but they are going to keep the nine
horses until they can find homes for them,” a relieved Resnik said.
“Thank God the Murrays stepped forward.”
Martin County Sheriff’s office confirmed that Resnik and the Murrays
signed an agreement that allows the Murrays to take immediate
possession of nine of the horses. Resnik will keep three under her own
care.
Problems arose between the friends after Resnik failed to pay six
months of rent a situation she said resulted from a misunderstanding.
“This has been a huge emotional roller coaster ride,” Resnik said.
Court documents show Resnik had an agreement with the Murrays to build a $12,000 barn on 2 acres of their property at 6860 S.W. Market Street in Palm City, Florida and then begin paying $500 per month rent two years into a 30-year agreement.
Because building the barn took time to complete, and because Resnik
understood the lease would take effect two years after physically
moving the horses onto the property, there was a disagreement in when money was to be paid.
“By the time we raised the money and built the barn, 14 months had
passed since the signing,” she said. “I didn’t pay any rent until last
March, and they backed up the due date to the beginning of the signing and that held up in court.”
Eviction and a $6,500 bill to Resnik is the result.
Roberta Murray said the situation is unfortunate because both women
have the welfare of the horses at heart.
“We had been friends at one time. We just had a problem when it came to the care of the horses,” Murray said
Roberta Murray thinks she has found homes for three of the blind
animals, but that will not be confirmed until next week. She said she
also may have found some foster homes for a few of the remaining
animals, but that is still up in the air as well. Both women have agreed to overcome their differences and work together to get all of the horses placed in homes.
“Bernadette ran out of money, she was having a hard time trying to
place them, and then there was talk about having to euthanize them, and I just can’t stand that,” Roberta Murray said. “They aren’t going to be put down now, but this may take a longer time that we planned to find them homes.”
IF YOU WANT TO HELP:
Bernadette Resnik of Aziizi Foundation Inc., and Roberta Murray need
help finding homes for nine special needs horses. None can be ridden,
four are blind, but all need to be adopted to homes that will care for
them indefinitely. In the meantime donations of feed and hay are
requested.
WHO TO CONTACT: Call Bernadette Resnik at 284-6873 or call Roberta Murray at 286-1369.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great pri
By
Administrator on December 26th, 2009
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Since its inception in 2006, the American Ranch Horse Association Stallion Stakes and Three-Year-Old Ranch Horse Challenge program has awarded horse owners and breeders with thousands of dollars in cash plus awards. The Three-Year-Old Challenge is held during the ARHA World Show each year—in 2010, June 21 to 26 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Approximately 140 stallions and young horses have competed for top overall ranch horse honors through four events designed to test a horse’s versatility and ranch suitability: conformation, ranch riding, ranch cutting and working cow horse.
Winners from past years are:
2009 Three-Year-Old Challenge: Hancocks Moonwalk, owned and shown by Sean Prater of Burbank, Okla.
2009 Stallion Stakes: Bubbas Short Stroke, owned by Brady and Wendi Rinehart of Highmore, S.D.
2008 Three-Year-Old Challenge: Ali Zack, shown by Dennis Cappel and owned by Dennis and Cindy Cappel of Silex, Mo.
2008 Stallion Stakes: Poco Mr Blue, owned by Lewis Eastwood of Boswell, Okla.
2007 Three-Year-Old Challenge: Blondies Little Rio, shown by Terry Allen of Cookeville, Tenn., and owned by Rondal Reed of Cookeville, Tenn.
2007 Stallion Stakes: Rio Band Joe, owned by Terry Allen of Cookeville, Tenn.
Set up much like a breeders’ classic or futurity, the ARHA Stallions Stakes and Three-Year-Old Ranch Horse Challenge offer money paid out for both events. For a horse to be eligible to compete in the Three-Year-Old Ranch Horse Challenge, it must be registered with ARHA, and its owners must be ARHA members. In addition, the horse’s sire must have been nominated for the Stallion Stakes program during the horse’s 2-year-old year. Anyone may nominate a stallion as long as it’s registered with ARHA and its owners are ARHA members. Nominations do not carry over from year to year. Regular nominations for the 2010 program close on December 31, 2009; late nominations are allowed until May 22, 2010, for an additional fee.
Formed in 2004, the American Ranch Horse Association promotes the abilities of the all-around versatile working horse in a positive atmosphere where western tradition is genuinely honored. Rapidly growing with more than 7,000 members, ARHA hosts competitions, clinics and educational events throughout the year.
Full Stallion Stakes and Three-Year-Old Ranch Horse Challenge details are online at www.americanranchhorse.net or by calling ARHA at 606-872-2742.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on December 16th, 2009
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America’s leading chefs are partnering with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, with Cookin’ in the Bluegrass: A Celebrity Chef Dinner Series.
The James Beard Foundation has partnered with the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for a unique dinner series. Each night from September 25-October 10, 2010, two celebrity chefs, many of whom are James Beard Award-winners, and one local or Kentucky-based chef will be cooking side-by-side at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Farmhouse restaurant. Each night, 80 guests will enjoy dining experiences that replicate the sumptuous dinners held at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. Tickets for Cookin’ in the Bluegrass will be available for purchase in early 2010 at www.alltechfeigames.com. Prices have not been finalized.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!
By
Administrator on December 7th, 2009
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This is an important article from MyHorse.com and worth reading, in my opinion, and I am glad to share it with you!
Most owners increase the amount of fibrous feeds fed in the winter, to help warm the horse from the inside out by the heat of fermentation, but high-fiber feeds require high intakes of water, 1 to 2 quarts for every pound of dry matter, which means 5 to 10 gallons for a horse with a hay intake of 20 pounds.
Darkly pigmented urine is your first clue that the horse’s water intake is marginal. Left uncorrected, dehydration, colic and impaction are just around the corner.
The colored urine that some horse owners find in their horse’s pasture is from plant and bile pigments. It’s excessively dark because the urine is concentrated. The horse isn’t taking in enough water.
Dehydration in winter is a real threat. Loss of fluids in sweat obviously is greatly decreased, but loss of water through the respiratory tract when breathing dry winter air increases. Most importantly, the horse still needs to secrete large volumes of fluid into the digestive tract and make urine.
Most owners increase the amount of fibrous feeds fed in the winter, to help warm the horse from the inside out by the heat of fermentation, but high-fiber feeds require high intakes of water, 1 to 2 quarts for every pound of dry matter, which means 5 to 10 gallons for a horse with a hay intake of 20 pounds.
Darkly pigmented urine is your first clue that the horse’s water intake is marginal. Left uncorrected, dehydration, colic and impaction are just around the corner.
Some strategies to increase your horse’s water consumption are:
• Add table salt (iodized is fine) directly to the horse’s meals, a minimum of 1 oz./day divided between feedings. The salt will increase his desire to drink. Two tablespoons of salt equal one ounce.
• Incorporate warm, soupy mashes into the diet.
You can make these at home and take them to the barn in an insulated container. You can make up several ahead of time, store in the refrigerator, and then heat in a microwave before use.
• Invest in insulated or heated water buckets.
• Frequently break the ice in your horse’s water tank during cold weather, when he’s turned out.
• Make watering your last chore. The horse is more likely to drink well after it has been eating for a while.
• Don’t skimp on dumping and cleaning buckets.
• If you have hot water available, water with warm water. This can make a huge difference in how much water the horse consumes. If you don’t have hot water at the barn, consider bringing a gallon of hot water with you in a drink cooler, to add to your horse’s bucket. However, you can’t do warm water one day and not the next. Consistency will be key here, as your horse will become even less likely to drink cold water if he’s hoping there might be a drink of warmed water coming some time in the future.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices
By
Administrator on November 19th, 2009
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Female ranch-horse riders with good communication skills, excellent horsemanship knowledge and abilities, and a passion for horses are invited to apply for the inaugural American Ranch Horse Association Queen contest, which will be held at the ARHA World Show in Murfreesboro, Tenn., June 21-26, 2010.
The Queen title will provide one ARHA member with a host of prizes from sponsors, excellent exposure in the equine industry and the chance for her to help promote the organization. During her year-long tenure, the ARHA Queen will serve as an ambassador of the association, encouraging membership, making appearances at state and regional ranch-horse functions, and visiting related competitions and events to raise awareness about ARHA.
The ARHA Queen will be selected as a result of her performance in four categories:
● Horsemanship based on the Working Ranch Horse class as decided by four judges (30 percent). The contestant will ride her own horse for the cattle-work element of Working Ranch Horse; for the dry-work element (reining pattern), contestants will draw to ride a different horse.
● An interview with a panel of judges about her knowledge of and involvement in horses and ARHA (30 percent)
● A three- to five-minute speech at the ARHA World Show about what ARHA means to her (20 percent)
● A written test of ARHA rulebook knowledge (20 percent)
“Given that Working Ranch Horse is our signature class, we thought this would be the perfect class for the contest,” says ARHA judge Kim Miller, the chairperson of the Queen Committee. “Riding an unfamiliar horse in the dry-work portion of the class is a true test of horsemanship.”
Queen candidates must be 17 to 25 years old as of June 1, 2010. Complete information and a downloadable application are available at www.americanranchhorse.net. Contact the ARHA office at (606)872-2742 or Kim Smith at (615)714-3202 or kimsmith@ourcoop.com with questions.
Formed in 2004, the American Ranch Horse Association promotes the abilities of the all-around versatile working horse in a positive atmosphere where Western tradition is genuinely honored. Rapidly growing with more than 7,000 members, ARHA hosts competitions, clinics and educational events throughout the year.
Please visit us at www.savvysportsaddle.com for a look at our Bob Marshall treeless saddles, as well as a wealth of other products for horse riders, horse owners, and horse lovers of all disciplines! Great equestrian products at great prices!