Many training programs have a pinnacle event in mind. In this case, a work back plan is created based on when you want the horse to be in peak fitness. The journey leading up to the main event consists of weeks and months of conditioning including a lead up with smaller events to ensure the horse is ready for the more strenuous task ahead. It only takes one month off for a horse to start losing fitness.
Continue reading …Little Lungs: The Effect of Ammonia in Foals
May 13, 2016 Comments Off on Little Lungs: The Effect of Ammonia in Foals
About 15 percent of all foals have severe respiratory disease before they reach the end of their first year, Harper says in a study.
Continue reading …Incredible Colic Surgery Recovery Following Removal of Grapefruit-Sized Strangulating Lipoma
May 12, 2016 Comments Off on Incredible Colic Surgery Recovery Following Removal of Grapefruit-Sized Strangulating Lipoma
Aitken removed a lipoma the size of a grapefruit, along with 18 feet of intestine that was necrotic, due to the lack of blood supply.
Continue reading …Fractures No Longer a Death Sentence For Horses
May 11, 2016 Comments Off on Fractures No Longer a Death Sentence For Horses
“Locking compression plates (LCPs) have been a game changer because they effectively change how the repair occurs and are roughly four times stronger than the now out of date dynamic compression plates. Stability is paramount in any repair and LCPs, with their improved strength, translate to improved stability,” he said.
Continue reading …Cornell Student Wins Business of the Year Award With Device That Weighs How Much Water a Horse Drinks Per Day
May 6, 2016 Comments Off on Cornell Student Wins Business of the Year Award With Device That Weighs How Much Water a Horse Drinks Per Day
A horse-rider for 15 years, the mechanical engineer has created a device that weighs how much water a horse drinks per day.
Continue reading …Dangers of the Dreaded Red Bag Delivery
May 5, 2016 Comments Off on Dangers of the Dreaded Red Bag Delivery
“The oxygen tank couldn’t inflate the foal’s lungs, so I ended up taking deep draws of oxygen from the tank and blowing into the foal to keep it alive. We ended up running out of oxygen about two miles from the hospital, but by that time it was breathing on its own, with occasional help from me.”
Continue reading …Controlling Parasites Through Pasture Management
April 29, 2016 Comments Off on Controlling Parasites Through Pasture Management
Grazing a cow or sheep in with your horses can make a big difference in parasite control. Since cows and sheep don’t share the same parasites as horses, when they eat the eggs or larvae of a horse parasite, the life cycle of the parasite is broken.
Continue reading …That Puzzling Question… Why Do Geldings Drop During Training?
April 27, 2016 Comments Off on That Puzzling Question… Why Do Geldings Drop During Training?
“Like you have seen, in some examples, the horse appears very relaxed, so you wonder if it could be a mental state that results in an unusual autonomic nervous system (which regulates body functions such as heart and respiratory rate, digestion, sexual arousal, etc.) balance associated with penile relaxation or erection.”
Continue reading …Miniature Horse Receives Artificial Hoof Following Dog Attack
April 25, 2016 Comments Off on Miniature Horse Receives Artificial Hoof Following Dog Attack
One month after the surgery, Shine was fitted with an artificial hoof from OrthoPets, a company in Westminster, Colo., that specializes in animal prostheses. Shine will be the fourth miniature horse to receive an OrthoPets hoof, which looks like a narrow ski boot with a foam liner and bike-tire treads.
Continue reading …One of the Quickest Ways to Improve Your Horse Business’s Bottom Line
April 18, 2016 Comments Off on One of the Quickest Ways to Improve Your Horse Business’s Bottom Line
If your aim is to make a living and a profit with horses, you need to make room for horses that pay their way as part of your business program. Make a list of the horses you own and start tracking the revenue they provide. Evaluate the income stream, deduct the carrying costs, and determine the contribution to your profit. Keep the performers and the retirees you treasure and help the rest find a new home.
Continue reading …