Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
Apr 25, 2012
Horse falls short but gets to train in Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Tommy the horse failed to measure up in the United States Army, but it was nothing to do with his performance.
Tommy, it transpires, was simply too short. He did not grow as tall as expected, standing noticeably shorter than the other horses in the unit.
This would not normally be a problem, but his caisson (ammunitions) unit at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, performed a lot of ceremonial work, turning out for more than 100 military funerals a year.
Just like their human counterparts, the horses in the unit need to be of similar heights. More info...
Apr 25, 2012
Deworming Question: Can Horses Get Worms from Eating Hay?
Question: Can horses pick up worms from eating hay?
Recently a client asked if it’s possible for a horse to pick up worm larvae or worms from eating hay, and if so, even if larvae are dead, could they cause a parasite problem?
Upon further discussion, she mentioned that she was aware of the serious problems that could be caused by dead blister beetles in hay (every horse owner should know about blister beetles—see the University of Illinois Extension article for more information) and wondered if it was possible for dead worm larvae to pose a similar but far less serious health threat that warranted deworming.
The short answer: “No.”
On March 7, 2012, parasitologist Dr. Martin K Nielsen commented on the likelihood of parasite acquisition from hay on Horsetalk.co.nz in response to a question from another horse owner who was also concerned about the same deworming issue.
More info...
Apr 25, 2012
Ask Julie Goodnight: Your New Trail Horse
By Heidi Nyland with Julie Goodnight
Q: How can I increase trust with my new horse on a new trail? I look forward to riding my new horse on the trail but our relationship is brand-new, and he hasn’t left the arena too much in the past. I just brought him to a boarding barn near my home, and there are lots of great trails we can get to easily. These trails are new to me, though. What can I do to calm my nerves so I don’t make him spooky? How else can I prepare for trail challenges?
Connie Tyson
via e-mail
A: Connie, you’re starting off right by making sure you have a plan before you hit the trails with your new horse. Everything is new for you right now. How you start off this relationship with him will affect many future rides.
Start by building confidence with your new horse — getting to know him and his reactions at home and on the trail. Take these steps slowly. Give yourself time to gain confidence with your horse, the trails you’ll ride, and your own riding skills. More info...
Apr 25, 2012
Watch the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event from anywhere in the world
Lexington, KY
Get your big screen ready and set to NBC as the culminating Show Jumping phase of the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Bridgestone will be broadcast live on NBC on Sunday, April 29, from 2:00-3:00 PM EDT.
One of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and the only CCI4* in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Bridgestone returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, April 26-29. The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators and millions of viewers worldwide on international telecasts, including this year’s expanded live telecasts that will bring all the action to viewers across the nation live as it happens. More info...
Apr 24, 2012
2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace Injured, Retired
Lexington, KY
Owner Rick Porter posted on his Fox Hill Farm website April 23 that 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace has been retired after veterinarians detected an injury in her right front fetlock following a workout at Churchill Downs April 22.
"It is with great disappointment that I have to announce that Havre de Grace has been retired," said Porter. "Owning Grace through her racing career has been the highlight of my time in horse racing. She was a wonderful, wonderful racehorse, and I feel confident she'll be an equally wonderful broodmare. Thanks, Grace, for all you gave us, and here's to a long and enjoyable retirement." More info...
Apr 24, 2012
Learn the Right Way to Adopt a Rescue Horse with These 10 Tips
by Cate Lamm
In her role as a horse trainer for Colorado Horse Rescue, Cate Lamm has learned that horse rescues can be great places for you to find a special equine partner. Plus, you’ll be giving your adopted horse a second chance at life. Thinking of adopting a rescue horse? Here are Cate’s 10 tips to help you through the adoption process:
1. Consider all costs. The adoption fees may be low, but the cost of owning and caring for a horse is ongoing. Before you adopt, create a budget that includes all horse-related expenses. To determine your expenses, talk to local horse owners, farriers, and veterinarians. More info...
Apr 24, 2012
Does your tack fit? Learn how to prevent common horse problems by performing a p...
Lynn Palm
Does your tack fit? Learn how to prevent common horse problems by performing a point-by-point tack check including evaluating saddle fit with world champion trainer Lynn Palm.
Join world-champion trainer Lynn Palm as she guides you through a tack check to optimize the safety and comfort of both you and your horse. Lynn Palm will teach you how to check your saddle, saddle pad, bridle, and bit to prevent horse problems in the future. More info...
Apr 24, 2012
Help horses by volunteering at an equine charity
Find out how to get involved during National Volunteer Week.
Americans are encouraged to get involved in charitable causes during National Volunteer Week in April. There are plenty of ways horse lovers can combine their passion for horses with volunteer service.
Why Volunteer?
A donation of time. Most average Americans don't have the financial resources to write a big check to their favorite charities. Giving your time and talent is just as valuable and won't take a chunk out of your bank account.
Local focus. Volunteering for a local charity helps the people and animals in your own neighborhood. Donating a few hours a week can help make your community a better place to live.
Spend time with horses. If you don't have your own horse, volunteering at an equine organization gives you some quality barn time with lots of equines. More info...
Apr 24, 2012
Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue Red Solo Cup Yard & Tack Sale
Loxahatchee, FL
Saturday, April 28th noon to 6pm. Tack, toys, clothes, kids items, books, household. Raffle and Door prizes.
Donation Bar, Good Food and Music
19181 Capet Creek, Loaxahatchee
Items to donate: call 561-254-0415 More info...
Apr 23, 2012
Forages for Horses
This blog post is courtesy of Jennifer Earing, PhD, University of Minnesota.
Forage selection should be based on horse needs, as there is no one forage best suited for all classes of horses. For example, providing a nutrient-dense forage like vegetative alfalfa hay to ‘easy keepers’ can create obesity issues; however, that same hay would be good option for a performance horse with elevated nutrient requirements. With so many forages available, how does one choose the best option?? Differences in the nutritive quality of forages (hay or pasture) are largely based on two factors: plant maturity and species.
Maturity
Regardless of plant species, stage of maturity significantly affects forage quality.
Young, vegetative forages are very nutrient dense and contain fewer fibrous carbohydrates (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin).
As the plant matures (flowers and seed heads are indicators of maturity), the proportion of fiber in the plant increases, to provide structural support as the plant gets larger. The increased level of lignin associated with maturation interferes with the digestion of cellulose and hemicellulose by hindgut microorganisms, thereby reducing the digestibility of the forage.
More mature forages also have lower energy and protein levels than their immature counterparts. More info...
Apr 23, 2012
Here’s the Zen Mind, Zen Horse and Aging Gracefully Webinar Recording
Dr. Allan Hamilton
If you missed it, we got it.
I’m referring, of course, to the free interactive author webinar from MyHorse Books called, “Zen Mind, Zen Horse and the Art of Aging Gracefully,” featuring author and neurosurgeon Allan Hamilton.
In addition to giving us more information about right and left brain function, Dr. Hamilton offered guidance on how to keep riding into our senior years.
As more of us baby boomers age (gracefully), many of us are intent on riding well into the last decades of life. Dr. Hamilton explored some of the unique challenges the aging rider may face, and gave tips on health maintenance and physical conditioning to get the most out of horseback riding. More info...
Apr 23, 2012
Catherine Pasmore and Z Canta Capture $25,000 ESP Spring 3 Grand Prix
Wellington, FL
The third week of competition in the ESP Spring Series featured a $25,000 Grand Prix on Sunday, April 22, in the International Arena at the PBIEC.The class featured 41 top horse and rider combinations with a win for Catherine Pasmore aboard Z Canta, an eight-year-old KWPN mare by Casantos x Abantos, owned by Pasmore Stables LLC. In a 14-horse jump-off, Pasmore and Z Canta had the fastest of eight double clear rounds over the Steve Stephens designed course. Their pace of 35.603 seconds proved to be the winning time.
More info...
Apr 22, 2012
Car Loan
Shop for your car loan online
The interest rate you pay on your car loan can make a difference of thousands of dollars during the term of the loan. Just a 1/2% interest rate lower can save you $2500 That is your hard earned money that can be used elsewhere. Don't shop for a car without first shopping for the car loan. Your application will be shown to the best lenders with the best deal, even with bad credit. You will have four loans to choose from. And you can still ask the dealer to beat the deal you got online.
You can even refinance your present loan and save money. Check it out.
More info...
Apr 21, 2012
Trail Ride Safety Tips
Stay safe on the trails!
Trail riding is one of the most rewarding and relaxing activities you can do with a horse. It gets you both out of the arena, experiencing new sights, and breaks up a monotonous training routine. But it is not without its dangers.
AQHA’s FREE Trail Safety Tips report will keep you and your Quarter Horse out of harm’s way when you’re on the trail.
Experts on three different areas of trail riding offer tips and advice on how to better enjoy trail riding while keeping your horse’s health and the environment in mind.
Veterinarian Rick Hill discusses how to deal with emergencies on the trail such as cuts, thrown shoes, colic and infection.
“You are not going to take the same things for a one-hour trip like you would if you were going to be gone for three or four days. It’s going to depend on how long a ride is, and how far you are going to be away, the more you are going to want to be able to handle anything you might be facing,” Dr. Hill says.
Hoof care is extremely important when you are trekking out in the open, and Doug Butler, professor of equine sciences at Colorado State University and renowned farrier, has advice to keep things moving smoothly. More info...
Apr 21, 2012
Caroline Roffman Ties Up Season with a Gold Medal at the CDI Nations Cup
Wellington, FL
Caroline Roffman has a stellar beginning to 2012, with wins across the small tour and developing horse divisions at prestigious shows on the Florida dressage circuit and most recently a gold medal at the Nations Cup CDI. At the Global Dressage Festival Nations Cup, TeamUSA took the gold, and Roffman’s score of 70.050% on her own Pie put her in second and was a strong contribution towards the medal. Team Europe took the silver, while TeamUSA 2 took the bronze. Pie and Roffman also swept the Prix St Georges classes at the Global Dressage Festival Nations Cup.
Roffman recently opened her own training and sales center, Lionshare Dressage, and has partnered with 2012 Pan Am Games alternate Endel Ots to bring the best dressage prospects and training to Wellington. In the second half of 2012, Roffman has her sights set on multiple championships, including Gladstone and Lamplight, as she looks to the future with her competition horses. More info...
Apr 21, 2012
Don't Forget to Register for MyHorse.com webinar with Clinton Anderson
Free Horse Training Seminar
Do you have a horse training question that you’d love to ask of Clinton Anderson? Here’s your chance! MyHorse Books, the online book club of MyHorse Daily, is hosting an Ask the Author event with none other than renowned clinician Clinton Anderson. This free event is sponsored by USRider. Once yo... More info...
Apr 21, 2012
Packing With Your Horse
Packing 101
Does packing into the backcountry with a pack horse or mule seem too complicated to master? I had a similar experience with another backcountry skill.
Many years ago, I stood hip-deep in the crystal-clear waters of a stream near my home, enjoying a delicious day while trying to lure a rainbow trout with my fly rod. My casts were far from perfect, but on the third try, a big trout snatched the fly from the surface, and I knew for the first time the thrill of playing a trout on a light fly rod. I also kicked myself mentally for waiting until midlife to give fly fishing a try.
I’d been psyched out by the mysterious aura of fly fishing, by tales of “matching the hatch” with just the right fly, by fears that fly casting was far more difficult than fishing with familiar methods. Then a friend gave me a few minutes of instruction and said, “Just go do it.”
Many trail riders are similarly “psyched” at the idea of packing their camping gear onto a horse or mule safely and securely for a trip into the backcountry. They’ve heard about the mysteries of the diamond hitch, read about spectacular wrecks suffered even by experienced packers, and been told that packing is an art that takes a lifetime to master. More info...
Apr 18, 2012
Summer Camps
South Florida Horse on Facebook
Anybody planning an equestrian summer camp in South Florida should post the information on our Facebook page. More info...
Apr 17, 2012
Discount Cruises
Save Money - Have Fun
Discount cruises on Disney Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America, Cunard, Crystal Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Costa Mediterranean Cruises. Cruise Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and more. Select your cruise: More info...
