Hay Before Grain - The Great Debate
Filed Under Pets | Posted on March 19, 2008
Novice horse owners often make the mistake of disregarding the order in which they provide food for their horses. After all, the stuff is all going to the same place, right? In actuality, these people are making a huge mistake. A horse’s digestive system is a very volatile thing. Horse owners must manage the way that they feed their horses if they expect peak performance when it comes time to ride the horse. With that in mind, does it really matter if the horse eats grain first or hay first? The answer is a certain yes.
Horseshoeing, How To Choose A Farrier
Filed Under Pets | Posted on March 12, 2008
It took me a long time for this one to come to me. What are the criteria used to choose your Farrier? Interesting question isn’t it?
Over the 16 years of my career as a Farrier I have heard several times from people “My Farrier Specializes in Lame Horses”. For some reason I’ve always felt a bit inferior from hearing this, as if because I didn’t work with a lot of lame horses my abilities as a Farrier didn’t measure up. How wrong I was for thinking such a thing. Truth is I know how to work with lame horses and I understand lameness and I’m a good craftsman and trust the quality of my work.
Garlic - Good For Horses?
Filed Under Pets | Posted on March 7, 2008
The relatively new practice of feeding garlic to horses in an attempt to help with respiratory health has come under fire in recent months. Because garlic has strong antibacterial aspects, some horse owners are hopeful that it is a miracle cure for many horse ailments. There are many in the horse world with doubts about the product, though. A line has been drawn in the proverbial sand as some see it as effective, while others call the herb a toxic horse killer.
Horsemanship 101
Filed Under Pets | Posted on March 1, 2008
Taking care of a horse can be a fun and rewarding experience. Just like any domesticated animal or pet, they rely on us for their well-being.
The first basic step in caring for your horse is to provide adequate feed, water, and forage. Grain comes in a variety of forms, such as pellets or textured. The compressed brand being granulated into pellets, and textured grain (also called sweet feed), allows you to visible see the oats, corn, and molasses. The preference is yours, but keep in mind your horse may prefer, perform, and thrive better on one versus the other. The amount of grain that you feed your horse will depend on his performance level, general health, and nutritional needs.
Training A Yearling
Filed Under Pets | Posted on March 1, 2008
A youngster is called a yearling from 1st January of the year after his birth. Remember therefore that he may still be very young if born late (ie November) in the previous year, but still called a yearling - hence their level of maturity will depend upon how much you can do with them.
So, in this article we’re going to cover what you can expect from a Yearling, and to be clear I am referring to a foal that has been weaned and is actually between 6-9 months old.
Facts About Horses
Filed Under Pets | Posted on February 29, 2008
Depending on breed, management and environment, the domestic horse today has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. It is uncommon, but a few horses live into their 40s, and, occasionally, beyond. The oldest verifiable record was “Old Billy,” a horse that lived in the 19th century to the age of 62. The size of horses varies by breed, but can also be influenced by nutrition. The general rule for cutoff in height between what is considered a horse and a pony at maturity is 14.2 hands(h or hh) (147 cm, 58 inches) as measured at the withers. An animal 14.2h or over is usually considered a horse and one less than 14.2h is a pony.
Horses Make A Landscape More Beautiful
Filed Under Pets | Posted on February 25, 2008
The title of the book
We had no word for the strange animal we got from the white man—the horse. So we called it šunka waken, “holy dog.” For bringing us the horse we could almost forgive you for bringing us whiskey. Horses make a landscape look more beautiful.
Horses Make a Landscape More Beautiful is a slim volume of poetry written by the remarkable writer/activist Alice Walker. The work is a powerful collection of poems that are raw, honest, and celebrate the capacity to celebrate life and stand up against injustice and abuse.
Tips To Maintaining Weight
Filed Under Pets | Posted on February 24, 2008
Weight control is one of the most important issues facing many horse owners. Fat, lazy horses are simply unhealthy horses and they are more likely to live a shorter life than their in shape brethren. How do you control a horse’s weight, while still providing him with the right amount of food and vitamins? It is a delicate balance between healthy and obese, but these are a few ways to walk that line.
Grooming Your Horse - Easy Steps
Filed Under Pets | Posted on February 19, 2008
Regular grooming of your horse is a necessary horse care chore. Whether you view grooming as a “chore” or an enjoyable activity, bare in mind you’re not only keeping your horse’s coat looking healthy and shiny, but grooming allows you to further develop trust and bonding with your horse. Also, regular grooming can alert you to any signs of skin diseases, infections, or injuries. Your horse will appreciate the time and attention he is receiving from you while being groomed, and will look great as well.
Hay Before Grain - The Great Debate
Filed Under Pets | Posted on February 19, 2008
Novice horse owners often make the mistake of disregarding the order in which they provide food for their horses. After all, the stuff is all going to the same place, right? In actuality, these people are making a huge mistake. A horse’s digestive system is a very volatile thing. Horse owners must manage the way that they feed their horses if they expect peak performance when it comes time to ride the horse. With that in mind, does it really matter if the horse eats grain first or hay first? The answer is a certain yes.