Friday, March 13, 2009
Saturday, October 04, 2008
This month we're talking about worms!
Worms! Wage War on Equine Parasites
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) offers these tips for removing internal parasites before they can attack your horse!
Internal parasites -- worms -- are silent killers. They can cause extensive internal damage, and you may not even realize your horses are heavily infected. At the very least, parasites can lower resistance, rob the horse of valuable nutrients, and cause gastrointestinal irritation and unthriftiness. At their worst, they can lead to colic, intestinal ruptures, and death.
Using deworming agents on a regular schedule in combination with good management procedures is critical to relieving your horse of most parasites. Since parasites are primarily transferred through manure, good management is key. In terms of management priorities, establishing a parasite control program is probably second only to supplying the horse with clean, plentiful water and high quality feed.
To get rid of parasites before they attack your horse, follow these suggestions from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP):
Pick up and dispose of manure droppings in the pasture at least twice weekly.
Mow and harrow pastures regularly to break up manure piles and expose parasite eggs and larvae to the elements.
Rotate pastures by allowing other livestock, such as sheep or cattle, to graze them, thereby interrupting the life cycles of parasites.
Group horses by age to reduce exposure to certain parasites and maximize the deworming program geared to that group.
Keep the number of horses per acre to a minimum to prevent overgrazing and reduce the fecal contamination per acre.
Use a feeder for hay and grain rather than feeding on the ground.
Remove bot eggs quickly and regularly from the horse's haircoat to prevent ingestion.
Rotate deworming agents, not just brand names, to prevent chemical resistance.
Consult your veterinarian to set up an effective and regular deworming schedule.
With the many safe, convenient products available today, establishing an effective deworming program is easy. Discuss a plan with your veterinarian and implement it without delay. A good parasite control program will go a long way toward maximizing your horse's appearance, performance and comfort. The net result will be an animal that is as healthy on the inside as it appears on the outside.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Many people have not heard of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) or if they have heard of it, they’ve heard it called “Possum Disease”.
A protozoa is an organism that would be found between the bacteria and the virus. It is more independent than a virus but less affected by antibiotics than bacteria. Myeloencehphalitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord.
Horses get the disease from the feces of the possum. Once inside the horse the organism moves to the spinal cord. The horse is not infectious to other horses. If two horses in the same barn become infected, it is because both of them ingested opossum manure with their feed.
The disease is found most commonly in horses less than three years old. It can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms often mimic other health problems. If left undiagnosed and untreated, EPM can cause devastating and lasting neurologic damage.
For more information check out:
http://horsedoc_org.tripod.com/epm.htm
http://www.dclahdvm.com/aricles/epm.htm
Friday, June 06, 2008
Sunday, November 11, 2007
2004 Newmar Kountry Star - Great Option for the horseshow family!
$117,000.00 Billy McClain 775-851-1720Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Through the formation of The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the original training methods of the Spanish vaquero survive virtually unchanged. The traditional vaquero training program included numerous phases - spanning several years before a horse was considered "finished" and capable of performing to standard the various maneuvers required on ranches, roundups, and cattle drives.
To start, the snaffle bit is introduced to the young horse. Its purpose is to allow a two and three year old horse to be guided through training without undue pressure on the tongue, roof, or sensitive bars of the mouth. In skilled hands, the snaffle works on the corners of the horses's lips, providing gentle guidance to position the head, to stop and to turn. At the end of a year, a young horse should be able to perform, at speed all moves necessary for good cow work. This is possible because of a slow start and schooling taken step by step, without pain or fright associated with the training.
To test the horses cow working abilities, three year old horses compete in three events: herd work, cutting a single steer from a small herd and keeping it from returning to the herd; rein work, a pattern of figure 8's, straight runs, lead changes, sliding stops, and spins; and working a single steer "down the fence", controlling it's movements at a dead run, heading it off and turning it both ways along the fence, then bringing the steer to the center of the arena to circle it once in each direction.
As the four and five year old horses' mouths change, they progress from the snaffle to the rawhide or leather covered hackamore to give the mouth a rest. Horses learn to work off of pressure and release from the nose of the hackamore. As five and six year olds, horses are introduced to a leverage bit by two-reining them along with the hackamore/bosal.
Videos are available on all of our registered sale horses. These horses have been trained with Ralph Hull following the traditional vaquero methods outlined above. Please visit our website www.doublehhranch.net for more information.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
General Care
1. Where will your horse be kept? Stall, pasture, paddock with shelter?
2. What will your horse be fed? Type of hay, grain, supplements?
3. How often will your horse be fed?
4. Will your horse receive turn-out time? If so, how often, where?
5. Will the trainer arrange for needed veterinary care or is that your responsibility?
6. What veterinarian, farrier, chiropractor does the trainer use?
Trainer’s background
1. How long have they been a professional trainer?
2. Did they apprentice with another trainer? If so, whom?
3. What types of events do they compete in.
4. What are their specialties?
5. Discuss your horse and your goals for the horse, and ask them if they feel they are the right trainer for the job.
The Trainer’s Program
1. How many times per week will your horse be worked?
2. Who exactly will be working your horse? Trainer, assistant, both?
3. If the trainer is away, will your horse be worked? If so, by whom? If not will their be a reduction in fees?
4. Does the trainer receive a commission on show winnings or sales? If so, how much?
5. What are some common extra fees for horses that are in training? How are those fees handled? Examples: Worming; supplements; mileage to shows or vets; veterinary, farrier, chiropractic care; day care at events; grooming; stalls, shavings, etc. at shows; entry fees; holding horses for service providers.
6. Does the trainer bill clients? If so, how often?
