SWEET FEED OR PELLETS?

It seems to be a big debate when it comes to what is best for the horse in terms of nutrition.  I personally prefer a pelleted feed in the hot summer month's and when it is cold, I have to admit even though sweet feed is not my favorite, I tend to use more of it when it is cold.
Using a pelleted feed has a big advantage in the summer providing it is of good quality and not doused with molasses for taste.  We are talking fly management.  Flies are unbearable in the summer if you are using a sweet feed and or cheap molasses laced pellet.  Imagine yourself eating with hundreds of flies swarming your face and dish as you try to enjoy your meal.  Now in the winter, the use of sweet feed works for me because I believe it gives a little more energy, therefore, helping maintain internal heat for warmth.  Nutritional value is of importance for your horse because if feed well, everything falls into place and works well and you have less of a chance to be faced with illness if you have a properly  nourished animal.  There are some very important factors when selecting the best quality and this is where some knowledge of the gastrointestinal tract will be very helpful to you and understanding what you need to provide for best nutrition.  I offer a clinical series that goes in depth in regards to the most important factors but just to give you a hint,...amino acids are very important and there are two categories:  essential and non-essential amino acids.  The non-essential amino acids are produced directly in the horse's gut, they are not in need of supplementation, but...the essential amino acids are the one's that you need to be certain of that are  of the ingredients in the food that you buy.  Want to know what they are?  Join my blog and we can talk more on the subject.  Till then ...my horse related friends

AZOTURIA....DO YOU KNOW THE SYMPTOMS?

This is a condition known as "tying-up" and is seen  mostly in nervous thoroughbred fillies due to their hormonal influx, but all horses can experience this very painful condition.   Quarter horses are known to be predisposed to this ailment genetically.  An over-worked,  physically stressed animal is at high risk due to the body's inability to deliver enough oxygen to the muscles creating a toxic by-product that breaks down and builds up in the kidneys, causing possible damage to the kidneys if not treated correctly and as soon as possible. Genetic contributors are high glycogen content and deficient calcium regulation seen in the quarter horse.   Being able to detect is essential, but prevention is key.  Symptoms of tying-up are sudden short strides, refusal to move, hardening of the muscles in the crop area, hind quarter spasms, sweating and obvious signs of pain such as flaring of nostrils, pale gums, pawing.  The best treatment is to not ask the horse to move, keep standing, and encourage fluids to help flush kidneys.  It is important to keep the horse from getting chilled and protect the kidneys and do this by covering the flank area with a cooler blanket or what ever is handy.  Prevention is simply by not over-working an un-fit horse to physical exhaustion, keeping horse from dehydration, warming-up and cooling-down properly, and feeding a low carb, high fat diet has been known to help prevent this occurance.  The administration of bute may be advised.    If brown urine is observed, this indicates a high content of toxins in the kidneys.  This is created by the muscles tearing during movement and the toxins being released so it is paramount to consider this condition for a sudden refusal to move,  rule out Azoturia before forcing movement.

THE HERPES VIRUS IS AMONG US, BE PROACTIVE....

Keep in mind that the virus, known as the Rhino virus, has two strains and the one that is making it's rounds does not have a vaccine.  The best thing that you can do in the next up coming months is to be proactive.  By doing this, it will lessen your chances of your horse coming in contact with this deadly virus.  I would suggest not to participate in horse functions for a little time to let this virus become less common through less transmission.  Vaccinating your horse on time for other ailments and keeping him/her in top notch health is your ammunition for the fight against this virus.  If you visit other barns, auctions, or functions your responsibility is to wash your hands and also to change your clothes before coming in contact with your own animal.  This virus can be transmitted on your clothes, do not be forgetful in regards to this fact, this is an easy route of transmission.   Already in Texas, we have shut down some popular auction houses for some time to help reduce the possibilities of this becoming an epidemic that will cost the lives of many horses.  Do your part and be proactive and help other horse people you come in contact with by spreading the message....and as always, especially now, if your horse is sick, carrying a fever and not feeling like him/herself, do not travel with it and call upon your vet to make certain you are not dealing with  RHINO.

Got a question concerning your horse's health, behavior or habits? ASK ME

I want to invite anyone that has a question, concern or searching for information about equine management,  please,  give me a shot at an answer for you.  Throw it at me and let me give you the best, true, tried and tested answer I can give.  I have a professional background and so many years of first-hand experience and I am honored to be able to attempt to share with you what I may have learned the hard way or maybe, even, by accident.  You know, I have had some of the greatest teachers on earth, all the horses that ever crossed my path, and what I was able to learn from all of them, is something that is worth sharing and what I consider, gifts from all.  I could not of had better teachers, and they have paved the way and gave me priceless knowledge.  I encourage you to get educated and if I happen to not know an answer, I have great  professionals that can give both of us the information we need to know.  The biggest injustice you can do to any animal, is lack of EDUCATION.

BANDAGING MISUNDERSTOOD

The various reasons behind bandaging has to be a well understood, and proper application so that you get the best results for the intended situation.  There are several bandages, made of different materials and for different applications and situations.  Knowing the absolute reason why bandaging will help or is needed is a pivotal ability that a horse person must know with understanding and intellect.  You can do irreparable damage if bandaging is disregarded when necessary or  when improperly applied and not to mention, the application of the wrong bandage will also put your horse at risk either by lack of intended protection, or the wrong bandage being used.   There are 6 plus different bandages, and many of people go for color, fluff, feel and that is not all that you need to know.  Each bandage that is out there has an intended, valuable purpose.   Mix-matching these bandages can keep you from getting the best results you can get.  Bandaging is an art in itself, if properly applied, they have medicinal purposes, protective measures, supportive ideals, and there is more to know than that meets the eye.  The direction of application, the pressure and the products that are applied along with  bandaging all factor in when you are trying to achieve the best possible healing, supportive, or protective environment in leg management.  You can heal an injury much faster if you are aware of all of the tricks, proper practices and product you can you in conjunction with properly applied bandages..I host a great Clinical on this very topic, hands on and very informative, with professional flare, for those in the Fort Worth and surrounding areas.

SUMMER TIPS FOR THOROUGHBREDS AND OTHER BREEDS

Now that summer is fast approaching, a few things should be considered to make the heat and sun less of a negative factor.  First off, if applying fly spray and turning out in the sun, make certain that you try to avoid using citronella oil based products...this will make the perfect environment for sunburn and you may not be aware and when you go to ride your horse, he turns into a jumpy, non compliant animal that is out of his character.  Thoroughbreds have the thinner skin making them more prone, but, all horses are able to fall victim to the sun and the application of these products contribute greatly.  If you feel that hosing off a hot horse and placing them back in the stall on a hot humid day is helping, think again.   If you have a hot humid day and a barn that is just as hot and humid, hosing off your horse and placing him in this environment only increases the humidity the horse experiences, making them more uncomfortable.  The best product to use is 70% rubbing alcohol, in a spay bottle, saturating the skin on the chest, and torso, this will help bring down the horse's temp and make them feel cooler.  In your barn environment, if you have a concrete isle and are anticipating a humid day, don't hose and clean your shedrows  in the barn on these days.  Concrete has a tendancy to "sweat" and this practice increases the humidity in the barn.  The less moisture in the barn area, be it in the stalls, or shedrow, is your best bet for making the best possible comfort for your horse on these difficult days.  Always try to be the best help for your horse when the heat is on...somethings you would think to help just may be making matters more difficult to handle.

HOOF CARE ESSENTIALS

When you apply hoof dressing, what exactly do you think you are doing?   Moisturizing?  Well it helps but not in terms of moisture.  This moisture that the hoof needs comes from within the body of the horse.  A lot of factors are important to remember for good hoof flexibility and pliability.  When you apply hoof dressing what you are doing is providing a protective coating, making the evaporation of the moisture within slow down.  You are not adding moisture.  Moisture retention can be interrupted by several hoof situations, the removal of the natural outer covering, the peripole, that is scratched off by riding in sandy environments, and a farrier's rasp.  This waxy covering helps moisture retention and when it is removed, the moisture evaporates at a much higher rate, this in turn can make hooves dry and brittle.   So, the application of hoof dressing a few times a week helps in that regard acting as a protective covering.  Biotin, a supplement, that is advertised to promote hoof condition and growth is popular but.....  keep in mind that biotin is produced in the hind gut of the horse, if the flora is not interrupted in the gut, there is adequate biotin production.  If you have dry brittle hooves, keep the horse hydrated, replace outer protective coating with hoof dressing if you are riding in an abrasive environment, a soggy environment does't make the hoof soggy, it just doesn't allow for proper moisture evaporation.  Urine soaked stalls or paddocks are also responsible for the removal of the outer covering.  Keeping the hooves in good condition is the means to keeping the legs healthy since the frog is the circulatory pump, upon compression, the blood is delivered to the lower limb.  Post your questions and concerns, there is alot more to learn about the hoof and it's condition

BAD BEHAVIOR.....DOES YOUR OFF TRACK THOROUGHBRED HAVE ANY?

Once you consider all of the elements that a race horse is exposed to during its career, be it long or short, you may then be able to understand and hopefully find a solution to some ill behaviors that may be perplexing to figure out.  The stalls vices a race horse develops is due to the boredom experienced during the continuous confinement they are expected to endure.  The inability to release the energy they experience from being totally ft and wired to run, and not a means to do that unless scheduled to do so.  These vices are like  bad habits such as smoking to a human and must be dealt with delicately to make it possible to overcome or tune the vice down to a reasonable level.  Trying to force a horse to stop its acquired habits is not going to be successful and will hinder the retraining process.  You must try to switch the horse's attention to something else with compassion and kindness while trying to establish trust.  I once had a "weaver" that was so determined to weave that his newly shod shoes would turn into tin foil within a few weeks.  This behavior burned tremendous amounts of fuel, put his legs at a deteriorating risk and was also frustrating to work around in the shedrow.  I came up with this idea and I gave him a rubber ball that had a string attached to it  at the door of his stall where he would stand and weave.  I would bounce that around and he showed an interest to it and before long he was twirling that ball in his mouth, instead of weaving...it was much more comical to watch than that obsessive weaving..but the bad part of the this was that I had to buy him a new one when he made it clear that he was finished with the one he had.   But the point of all of this is that...you can deter and possibly cease some habits if you are willing to be creative and understanding.

Thoroughbreds coming off the track syndrome?????

Yes, that is correct, did you know that most thoroughbreds coming off the track are afflicted with a common syndrome?  Do you know what it is?  If not corrected this could lead to a whole hosts of problems.  It takes about one year to recover from this, possibly longer....still do not know what it is???? Well ask me and let me give you the complete story and give you the advice you need to consider.  Severely over-looked, and unknowingly mistreated, this is so common it looks and many times is perceived, as normal.  Stop the suffering right now, by educating yourself...you  may not realize this but there is ALOT  to be informed about and this blog is where you can get the information that you need for the off-the track thoroughbred.

Metabolism

Did you know that thoroughbreds have a much higher metabolism, especially ones coming off the track, they are fit and have no fat content and their muscles require much more energy.  In the winter months if temps get really cold, they require twice as much feed to generate heat.  Their skin is thinner and therefore their coats are usually thinner as well, revving up the metabolism and burning fuel like no other breed.  A knowledgeable boarding stable may ask for more money to compensate for the extra feed a thoroughbred needs.   Thoroughbreds off the track are only bones and muscle and it is not out of the question to see some ribs, but for an off the track horse if it is not being fed enough, it will appear thin and start to lose muscle mass as well.  Remember when considering the thoroughbred, they are a breed alone, and their needs may be much more than you would ever imagine.  They cost more to feed, it is their genetic make-up.

Are you retraining an off-track thoroughbred? NEED ADVICE?

There are many things to consider when training off-track thoroughbreds, they are a different breed, designed  and wired to run at all costs.  The training of off-track thoroughbreds needs patience and understanding, and unless you have been exposed to the backside of a race track to fully understand what these animals endure to become the athletes that they are...than you need to consider and ask a ton of questions and be concerned where you think that you may not have to be...ask me and I will give you some very valuable informative information that will help you with your endeavors and lead you towards success in this venture.

Mari Crabtree
Crabtree's Equine Experience
Educator/Developer