Lea went on to detail that field rest periods should be a minimum of one week, but that resting for two to three weeks is ideal. Field soil samples should be taken every 2 to 3 years and only the needed amendments applied, she said. However, nitrogen can be applied twice every fall without a soil test, at 60 to 80 pounds of urea per acre, she explained, but cautioned that no amount of fertilizer can make up for poor management. Though traditionally a mixture of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, white clover and some ryegrass is planted in September, farm owners can seed just ryegrass during much of the year to quickly fill in high-traffic areas for short-term cover.

Special needs horses find a loving and forever home at Tracy Acres Equine Sanctuary, located in Vacaville, California. Dean and Denise Tracy, who fulfilled their dreams by establishing their sanctuary, rescue horses that often have come from a life of abuse and neglect. Most have arrived in poor condition—some blind, others starved with ribs protruding, while still others with complex medical conditions.

Along with heart rate (pulse) and respiratory rate, rectal temperature is one of the “vital signs” that can alert us to the presence of disease. Ideally temperature should be measured regularly – both to get the horse used to the procedure and to establish what is normal for that individual. 

If you try to dodge the permit requirement, you will be not be able to legally sell your property in the future without the town’s consent and issuance of a certificate of compliance. There will likely be expensive penalties involved even if the construction is latently approved, and the town can require that the building be entirely removed.

As with most lameness, the lameness from navicular syndrome is most noticeable at the trot, resulting in a head-bob. Affected horses often have a short, choppy trot and canter, and tend to hold their neck and poll rigid. The gradual onset of lameness in both forefeet can mislead riders into thinking that “this is just the way the horse travels.”

Carrying excess weight places increased stress on the skeletal system of the horse, can limit reproductive performance, adversely affect athletic performance, and may lead to an increased risk of laminitis, osteoarthritis, heat intolerance and certain types of colic.