Posts Tagged ‘veterinarian’

When looking for stabling what is important to consider is the actual structure and environment of the stable. The best way to choose a stable for your horse is to know some basic facts and then to actually visit stable in your area to get a comparison.

There are basic items that every stable horse should have. When visiting a yard keep these items in mind to ensure that your horse will be well cared for. A neglected stable horse can result in a costly veterinarian bill.

From the moment you drive into a yard, your eyes should be on the lookout. What does the fencing look like? Is it well maintained and safe for a horse? Is the property and fields securely gated? Are the horses content in the fields or are there too many horses in one field?

When you enter a yard is your presence noted? Is there some one to assist you or some one taking care of the horses? It is advisable to call before visiting a yard especially if you visit during lunch when most of the staff may not be in the yard.

What do the stables look like? Are they well maintained with no loose nails, broken doors, uneven and badly cracked surfaces? Is the stable a comfortable size for your horse?

Do the stables have good ventilation and fresh air circulating? Are the stables well lit with natural light and or artificial light? Does every stable offer clean fresh water? Do the horses have hay in the stable?

What does the floor of the stable look like? Is there rubber matting, straw, dirt or sawdust for the floor? Does the floor drain well? Are the stable beds cleaned out regularly? A good sign if anything else is the smell. A well kept yard does not have a strong smell of ammonia (urine).

What do the horses in the various stables look like? Are they shaggy and unkempt or are they groomed? What are the horses doing – the behavior of the stabled horses is a clear sign of what type of stable environment you are looking at. An unhappy horse will most likely be chewing wood, box walking, kicking, wind-sucking amongst other vices.

Vices are however not the only way to tell a bad stable from a good one. Some horses may have developed the vice elsewhere, so concern yourself if a number of horses are all showing signs of agitation and boredom.

When looking for a stable your horses comfort should come first. He does not need a state of the art tack room or huge covered outdoor arena. He needs basics and it is trusting you to supply them.

Horses. Get information on buying, owning and caring for your horse, learn about stabling a horse. Learn about your horse.

Author: Benjamin Wise
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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You have probably heard the saying that “you are what you eat” and the fact is that this doesn’t just apply to humans. The saying applies to all beings and that means horses as well. If you want to keep your horse in its best possible health and shape you must know what you can and can not feed it, when the right time for feed is and what the right amount of food would be. There are some rules to follow to make sure you meet the horse’s nutritional needs and they are simple. But even so they will need to be followed consistently to have the optimal effect.

First Rule:
Find out how much your horse weigh because this must be reflected in the amount of food it will need for a optimal nutritional balance. But do try to make your horse stand on your bathroom weight because it won’t work. An easy way to measure the weight of a horse is to measure the hearth girth with a horse tape. An alternative option will be to take it to a weight for live animals. Some of the larger farms have them for their cattle.

Second Rule:
Hay is a very important ingredient for your horse but you will know how much you will need to feed it. The best possible mix will consist of a high percentage of bulk and a low percentage of grain. An often used measurement is to feed your horse with 1.5 pounds of hay per 100 pounds of the horse’s body weight. Depending on how many times a day you feed your horse you will have to divide the grain into equal portions. It is extremely important that you do not give your horse to much grain. Make sure to weigh the horse flakes as they can vary much in weight.

Third Rule:
Next step is to determine your horse’s need for grain and for the most part young and growing horses will need it in their diets. Horses that work heavily will also need grain to keep up the ability to work hard. When feeding grain you need to weigh it because every type of grain weighs differently. Corn as an example is much lighter than bran and if you in doubt then ask your veterinarian.

Fourth Rule:
Overfeeding your horse will need to more pain than pleasure for both of you and even though it is said that the way to a horses heart is through food the results of overeating can be founder and colic. Remember to have any additional food locked away because as horse that starts eating grain will not stop until is has finished or becomes sick.

Fifth Rule:
On the other hand underfeeding a horse can be just a much dangerous as overfeeding because it will leave your horse vulnerable to illnesses. A horse that lacks energy and has a weak immune system might be suffering from lack of food so pay attention.

Sixth Rule:
Fresh water is just as important to a horse as it is to humans. Without good clean water in fair amounts it is hard for anyone to maintain a good health. Colic is one of the many things that can be caused by the lack of water. If you live in an area of the world where winters are very cold you need to remember to give your horse easy access to sufficient water.

If you follow these six basic rules you will be able to have a healthy and powerful horse for many years to come.

If you want to know more about feeding your horse you must come visit us at HorseTrailerUniverse where you will find everything from horse trailer insurance over used horse trailers to horse nutrition.

Author: Hank Westwood
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In the care and keeping of horses, it is necessary to have a variety of standard horse supplies at the ready in order to responsibly fulfill our duties as horse owners or caregivers.

While fundamental needs such as quality food, adequate water, and comfortable shelter are obvious, there are additional supplies that are absolutely essential to the health and functionality of the horse in question and they are classified by the physical care for the horse and utilization of the horse’s abilities.

Included in physical care are those horse supplies that feature the materials used for grooming the animal. Frequent horse grooming is imperative for the comfort and appearance of the horse.

The supplies most often used in grooming include a curry comb – used to loosen dirt in the horse’s coat, a dandy brush which removes the dirt, a body brush which grooms the coat, a mane comb which does the same for the horse’s mane, a hoof pick/brush which cleans the hoofs, and a polishing towel used to give the horse a healthy sheen at the end of brushing.

As important as grooming in the physical care for a horse is medical care. Just as we keep a first aid kit in our homes should anyone require assistance, we must also keep a horse first aid kit as a part of your standard horse supplies.

Of course, in the event of illness or injury it is imperative that a veterinarian be called immediately; but in the meantime, a first aid kit can help you keep your horse comfortable – and out of immediate danger – until the doctor can arrive. Such items that should be included in first aid kit for horses include:

*antiseptics

*wound dressings

*bandages

*splints

*tweezers

*thermometer

There are, of course, those horse supplies that are associated with the utilization of the horse. For example, in order to ride your horse, you must have a variety of horse supplies on hand for riding.

The equipment used in this case is referred to as tack and includes:

Saddles – The “seat” in which the rider sits.

Stirrups – Which act as a support for the rider’s feet.

Bridles and Halters – Which slip over the horse’s head and are used to control the movement of the horse.

Reins – The ropes that run from the bit to the rider’s hands.

Bit – Which fits in the mouth of the horse.

Ultimately, there is a variety of equipment that is used for different styles of riding, racing, or showing a horse. The type of supplies used differs in each particular situation.

Owning a horse requires a significant amount of responsibility. As owners, we are committed to the physical and emotional care for the animals that have been entrusted to us.

Proper medical attention, healthy nutrition and hydration, frequent and loving grooming, and a dedication to having proper horse supplies on hand at all times are all a part of taking comprehensive care of our horses.

For more information on horses, try visiting http://www.interestinghorses.com – a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on horse supplies.

Author: Riley Hendersen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Horses, like dogs, are animals that can do considerable harm when they have bad behavior problems. Unlike dogs, however, who can only inflict harm by biting, horse behavior problems which can hurt people include biting, kicking, or striking out when being handled, and rearing, bucking, or bolting when being ridden. So it is important to have a well-trained horse, especially for youngsters or even adults who are new to the sport of horseback riding.

What do you do, then, if your horse has any, or even many, of these bad habits? The first thing to do is have a thorough check-up. Start by pin-pointing when the bad behavior occurs, or what triggers it.

Bad behavior when under saddle:

Misbehavior in horses may indicate that they are in pain and want to be left alone. If your horse misbehaves mostly when under saddle, then the first thing to check is the fit of your saddle. If the saddle does not fit the horse’s back, it can cause pinching and back pain, causing the horse to act out. An expert horse trainer may be able to assist in assessing your saddle and bridle fit, or you may want to hire a professional saddle fitter, because, sad to say, some trainers may not have that expertise.

If the saddle fits good, then check the bit in the horse’s mouth. If the fit looks good, have a veterinarian check your horse’s teeth. There may be a tooth problem that is causing the discomfort.

If your tack checks out OK, then the next step is an overall veterinarian examination to rule out other issues that could be causing pain when your horse is ridden. For example, if there is arthritis in a joint, the extra weight of a saddle and rider may be enough to cause pain.

OK, your tack is not the problem and the horse has no issues that the vet can detect. Then ask a trainer to assess the way you ride. Do you pull excessively on the horse’s mouth? Do you bounce too much in the saddle? Over time, these, too, can cause a horse to say “I’ve had enough!” If the horse is new, maybe he had bad experiences with previous owners and needs to learn that you will not hurt him. All these things need to be well thought out.

But what if your horse misbehaves when not being ridden?

Misbehavior when being handled:

Horses that try to bite or kick at people when they are being groomed, led or otherwise handled may still have pain issues. Again, the first step is a thorough veterinarian examination.

Is the horse grouchy all the time, or just at certain times? If you have a mare, perhaps she bites and kicks only when in heat. Many mares have no symptoms of being in heat, while others let the world know. If your horse has severe symptoms of heat, an ultrasound might be advised to rule out ovarian cysts. If there are none, there is medication, although expensive, which prevents mares from coming into heat.

Does your horse misbehave while being groomed? Again, if the vet check does not reveal a physical problem, perhaps your horse has very sensitive skin. Just be extra gentle in currying and brushing.

Re-training:

When all physical causes of your horse’s bad behavior have been ruled out, then it is time to accept the fact that your horse has training issues. The horse may have been abused by previous owners, or he may simply be a bossy horse who does not accept you as its leader. The horse may have a fearful personality, and behaves badly out of fear. There are numerous possible causes, but to fix them only three things are required: gentleness, firmness and patience.

At this point you may want to find a professional horse trainer. Be very selective! Your horse already has issues. You don’t want a trainer whose methods will only cause more distrust. Anyone can call themselves a horse trainer, so ask around, talk to horse people you trust, and watch any potential trainer work to see how they do the job.

If you have the experience, time and patience to attempt re-training your horse on your own, then invest in some training videos or books. You can borrow ideas from various sources. It can be very rewarding to work one-on-one and develop a strong partnership with your horse.

Pamela Griffin was raised around horses and rode at such a young age that she does not remember learning, although she does have a vague memory of her first fall off a horse! She’s ridden Western, English, and shown in dressage, but currently enjoys the simplicity of riding in the Arizona desert on her Missouri foxtrotter. She writes various articles as an amateur horse owner with years of horse ownership experience.

Author: Pamela Griffin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Just because horses don’t vocalize as much as we do, doesn’t mean they’re not speaking. Your horse is constantly communicating with you through body language and verbally as well! The least you can do is to learn what he’s trying to tell you and this article will help you do so.

Groaning: Just like us, horses sometimes groan, but a groan can also be an indication that the horse is in pain so if you are unsure what is going on with the horse, you should have him checked by the veterinarian.

Many horse groan or grunt over obstacles just as some tennis players emit an “oomph” when playing, this is nothing to worry about but if the horse seems to be in pain or discomfort you should get him checked by the vet.

Horses sometimes groan with certain riders, especially those who thud on their backs like sacks of potatoes. Some horses groan when they think their work is over but if you suspect the horse is groaning due to any discomfort you should have him investigated to rule out any health problems or issues.

Sighing: Horses sometimes sigh by drawing in a deep breath and letting it out slowly through their mouth or nostrils. Sometimes these sighs seem to convey a sigh of relief, for example when the horse is being groomed or massaged. There’s a sigh that horses give when they’re given repetitive work to do which could signify boredom. If your horse sighs during a training session it could be a cue for you to try something else.

Snorting: Snorting is a louder version of the horsey sigh, the air is let out f the nostrils harder and faster resulting in a vibrating sound. This usually signifies that the horse is excited and the sound is infectious, his stablemates will soon start doing the same. This excitement can escalate and the horse may start to become difficult to manage, signs of this escalation include a head held high, lifted tail and even more snorting.

Snorting can also mean the horse is a bit wary of something, you may notice this when out riding and your horse seems startled by something along the way, horses will sometimes snort at an unfamiliar or threatening object.

Nickering: Nickering is perhaps one of the most pleasant sounds horses make. It usually means the horse is happy and anticipating something nice such as a treat or a carrot. It can also be a sign of affection, mares nicker to their foals. Horses will nicker when their feeding time approaches, and horses impatient for their food will produce high pitched excited sounds.

A soft nicker can also signify that the horse is nervous or apprehensive and when combined with pacing, eye rolling and ears that are flickering back and forth it means the horse is feeling threatened and should be immediately removed from the situation.

Neighing: Neighing can signify anxiety or confidence depending on how the horse is reacting. A horse turned out at pasture may anxiously call to his stablemates. Sweating and agitation accompanied by nervous or high pitched neighing means the horse is anxious. A bugling type of neigh where the horse has a confident body carriage with ears pricked forward signifies happy anticipation or interest in an approaching object.

As you can see horses are always communicating, just because we don’t usually understand what they’re saying, doesn’t mean they’re not saying something. Learning to understand your horse’s language will strengthen the bond between you.

Stal Amani is an impeccable equestrian centre complete with three indoor and outdoor arenas. We regularly hold show jumping and dressage competitions from novice up to Grand Prix level and due to our central location in Belgium, the facility is ideal for foreign competitors looking for a temporary or permanent base in Europe. We are minutes away from Herentals. For more information please visit: http://www.stalamani.com

Author: Josie Amani
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Every year, thousands of Thoroughbred racehorses find themselves homeless and without purpose due to events in the Thoroughbred racing industry. Some horses are not fast enough, some owners cannot pay the bills. The fate of many of these horses is uncertain at best. The fortunate ones find themselves in second careers in different horse sports. Thoroughbred racehorses make excellent partners for a variety of equestrian activities. It is important for event organizers to promote these TBs so that people will be encouraged to use them.

Thoroughbred racing is exciting and beautiful to watch. The horses are magnificent and the competition is thrilling. Thoroughbreds have been selectively and carefully bred for 400 years to perform. These qualities also make them wonderful competition mounts in a variety of horse sports such as eventing, dressage, hunters, jumpers, barrel racing, and endurance. Most people, when shopping for a new horse, don’t think to look at the numerous adoption agencies and other avenues that supply the industry with off track Thoroughbreds. These horses are numerous, plentiful, and affordable. Even better, they have experience with being handled, loading on trailers, the veterinarian, the farrier, noisy crowds, and other various activities. Their young lives have exposed them to many different things. With the exception of eventing or competitive endurance, there are few sports that can begin to duplicate the physical stress a Thoroughbred has already endured.

Part of promoting Thoroughbreds as quality competitors is to recognize them as such. There are many off track Thoroughbreds in active competition, but people aren’t aware of this unless it is promoted. And excellent way to bring focus to this is by offering special classes and awards to off track Thoroughbreds through organizations or shows.

Most show circuits have local or regional shows that they organize. This is an excellent opportunity to offer year end awards for the highest ranked Off Track Thoroughbred in a class series or division. Unlike Quarter Horses, Arabians, Appaloosas, and other breeds, Thoroughbreds do not have specific breed shows in which they can compete against their peers. Offering a year end high point award, such as “the Highest Dressage Average for an Off-Track Thoroughbred” encourages their owners to compete in more shows to achieve this reward.

Local shows can offer classes for Thoroughbreds-only. An example would be a hunter show that offers a “Thoroughbred Hunter Hack Class”. Additional classes could be offered, and a Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Thoroughbred could be named at the show’s conclusion. High point awards are a great way to increase participation at a show.

Offering performance certificates is another positive way to promote Thoroughbreds for sport. Year end certificates are based on performance, not points. Examples include “Novice Level – 4 Clean Cross Country Rounds”, “First Level – 4 Scores 60% or higher”, or “Schooling Hunter – 15 Clean Rounds”.

Organizations and shows should ask for proof of Jockey Club Registry and a copy of the race record. These records are available from the Jockey Club Information System and are inexpensive if not free. Proof positive of whether or not a Thoroughbred has raced can be found in whether or not a lip tattoo is present. Racing Thoroughbreds are tattooed under their top lip with a code that indicates the year in which they were born (represented by a letter) followed by a number (several digits).

Promoting Off-Track Thoroughbreds for competitive sports is beneficial to both the horses and the performance industry. Shows and organizations that promote them should see increased participation levels and new levels of healthy competition from these already proven competitors.

Shannon McGlon operates a small training farm, Inishmore Downs, and enjoys working with off-track Thoroughbreds. She is currently training her own OTTB for dressage. A member of the Montgomery Dressage and Combined Training Association, she is sponsoring a year end award for OTTBs through her company, http://PikeRoadPillowCo.com, which specializes in fine pillows, gifts, and accessories for equestrians.

Author: Shannon McGlon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There is so much excitement and anticipation in the very art of buying a horse. It is certainly a task not to be taken lightly. A horse is certainly not as easy to drop off at your local shelter as a cat is. When you buy a horse it should be genuine, not a spur of the moment whim.

The biggest consideration when buying a horse is where to keep him. Investigating local stables and yards, finding out the fee and what you are paying for is an important step to make the transition easier. I have yet to find a stable that pays for horse shoeing, unless it is on their horses!

Once you’ve settled on a place to keep your horse, you can then indulge yourself in finding a good horse. Horses are easy enough to come by, but not all horses are alike. We know that all horses bite, it is a fact horse owners rarely think about. However when buying a horse it is a tidbit to keep handy.

Some horses due to cruel handling, neglect or an aggressive streak will bite. Biting is a bad habit called a vice, horses that bite do not make a good first horse purchase. There is fact in the saying “once bitten twice shy”!

Read up on vices so you know one when you see one and if the current owner says the horse crib bites, you’ll know what that means and whether it is a vice you can live with. Remember the horse is yours and will be your responsibility once you purchase it.

Like humans you have horses in good health and others in questionable health. Some owners will try to sell a horse when they find out his health is less than perfect. The horse could have been in a field and cut his leg. Seems like an every day possibility but depending on where and how severe the cut, he could have done permanent damage. He would thus have a weakness and be prone to lameness.

It is always a good idea to have a veterinarian inspect the horse you want to purchase. That way any possibility of ill health can be brought to your attention and you are in control of taking on the responsibility or not.

Find out if people know about the horse and let them tell you their view of the horse. What is he like on an every day basis when a prospective buyer is not looking? Some horses are lunged to tire them out before a buyer comes to ride…

Yes, riding is sure a very important step when buying a horse! I was so desperate to buy my first horse that I overlooked this step and regretted it every day of the two years I owned the horse. Sometimes you can simply get sold by the look of a horse…

Make sure you buy a good horse that is right for you. The best way to do that is to read and gain knowledge of horses. Take a trainer or experienced horse person with you, but be sure to trust your instinct and have the knowledge to make the best decision for you. Turns out the person I took with me to buy my first horse was really looking for something they wanted.

Horses. Get information on buying, owning and caring for your horse, learn about buying a horse. Learn all about your horse starting today.

Author: Benjamin Wise
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Buying a horse can be a very time consuming endeavor, with all the different horse breeds and skills to choose from. The more you become familiar with the process of buying and selling horses, the better your chances will be to end up with the horse to fit your needs. There are many avenues to look for the horse you want, like a local barn, tack shops, newspaper classifieds, and now you can go online and look through thousands of horse for sale classifieds. Take your time and don’t get to overwhelmed. If you make the selection process in a hurry, you might make an unwise purchase. Plan to take from one month to one year to find your ideal horse. Understandably, if you are without a horse, one year might sound like a very long time, but you can use this time to become more knowledgeable about what you want by taking lessons.

The first thing you must determine is what you really want from a horse, and to what extent you will be using him/her. Will the horse be a trustworthy companion or wonderful Dressage prospect? Buy taking the time and comparing the different classified ads presented to you, will help determine your priorities. Be sure to use the advanced search features each online classified horse website has to offer, this will help you to narrow down your search results.

Once you have found the horse you want, its always a good idea to get a professional opinion when you are buying a horse. Whether or not you use an agent to help you select your horse, you should always have a basic veterinary pre-purchase exam performed. When you seek out professional advice, pay for it and then listen to it! When your instructor or veterinarian cautions you about a horse, it is for a reason. When seeking advice, it is best to a well-respected professional that has no vested interest in the horse sale.

Here is a breakdown of what to look for when a horse is for sale:

* does the horse fit your needs

* what skills does the horse possess

* does the horse have a good temperament

* do comparisons of other similar horses

* does the horse fit the selling price

* get professional advice

* are there any lessons with the sale

* make sure to have pre-purchase vet exam

* can you afford the upkeep on a horse (such as boarding, feed, and veterinary care.)

Stay focused. Keep in mind that you are selecting a horse for a particular reason or desired skill. There are many decisions and compromises lying ahead, so it helps if you set your priorities clearly at the outset.

If the overall purpose of the horse is to teach you how to ride rather than to carry you to the winner’s circle, then the selection process will emphasize different traits to fit your needs. If the horse is intended to be a long-term project rather than a stepping stone, you may need to invest more time, effort, and money in your purchase. Remember to take your time and use the tools at your disposal, such as online horse classifieds, you will thank yourself in the end.

Sean Russell – Owner and Operator of MyEquineSource Horses for Sale Classifieds

Author: Sean Russell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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