Consider This

The Magnificent Marching Mangalarga Marchador Horse

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:06:00 +0000

Articleorb.com - Full Article

by Crystal A
2010-01-20

The Mangalarga Marchador is the National Horse of Brazil and is one of the most popular and widespread horses in South America. It has been exported to Germany, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Holland, but did not arrive in the United States until 1991 where it is still a rare breed. The United States Mangalarga Marchador in America (USMMA) is working with breeders in many states to promote this beautiful and uniquely gaited horse that exhibits classic Spanish conformation and charm and is a wonderful sport horse that can be inspected and registered as a warmblood. Traditional tack that is used for showing the Mangalarga is quite simple with the saddle resembling an Australian stock saddle. The headset is clean cut with a snaffle bit and the rider s clothing, when showing the Mangalarga in Brazil varies from region to region but it is always colorful and unique.

The Mangalarga is the product of a rich agricultural area and its haciendas where the farmers and ranchers have always valued a smooth and comfortable ride and superb temperament since they spent a large part of their work day on horseback.

The Mangalarga Marchador was originally developed in 1740 as an Iberian breed, descending from the Andalusian stallions of Portugal and Barb mares...

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The Groundwork Waltz

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:59:00 +0000

Myhorse.com - Full Article

Story by Tracey Emslie with John Lyons
How to achieve hindquarter control, softness, and shoulder control as if you were dancing.

Since riding is your goal, let's practice some groundwork steps that apply directly to your riding. You'll focus on moving one spot at a time in a specific direction, then you can observe how this action affects your horse?s performance, or what your horse does as a result of moving that one spot. The key here is to become an observer, and also to realize that many things are happening at one time as a result of one thing you're doing.

By putting the Spot, Direction, Pressure, Release formula to work, you gain more control of your horse. It improves any horse?s behavior in all areas. It can be a foundation to teach your horse to lead better, perform better under saddle, and become softer and more responsive to your commands.

What You Need
Time. Give these exercises an hour and a half of honest effort, and you will find you have a different horse. The first step in the exercises takes the longest, but it will be worth the effort because of the results. See these exercises through to the end, don't give up, don't change, hang in there! These exercises set the foundation for many levels of performance and control.

Equipment. Although this exercise can be started even with a foal in just a halter, in most cases you should have a bridle on your horse with a snaffle bit. A dressage whip is a useful tool. It also helps to put a marker between your feet. This can be a cone, a clod of dirt, a plastic water bottle, or anything that will help you remember to keep your own feet still and not walk around the horse. The horse is the one who does the walking.

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Therapeutic Shoeing of Horses Discussed at AAEP

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:20:00 +0000

Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Multiple Authors
February 22 2010

Veterinarians attending a Table Topic at the American Association of Equine Practitioners 2009 convention chose to discuss applications of the heart bar shoe; the Nolan Plate system, including what it is and how it works; shoeing after deep flexor tenotomy; suggestions for shoeing horses with navicular syndrome, and quarter crack repair for refractory cracks.

Veterinarians in the audience were asked if they were using heart bars and if so, was it for lamintis or for other hoof conditions. They answered overwhelmingly that heart bars were being used commonly for a number of different problems. Chronic laminitis was the most common use, but others used the shoe for any number of issues where frog support would be helpful.

The next topic was the Nolan Plate system. The basic questions were: what is it, how does it work, and does it work? The Nolan Plate is a thin, perforated piece of metal that is applied over the dorsal hoof capsule from toe to quarters. The plate is suppose to relieve pressure on the laminar corium, improve circulation, and help re-establish the laminae/hoof capsule bond. The plate is attached to the hoof wall by multiple sheet metal screws. There were a few in the audience who had tried the plate, but all said they would not use the plate again and questioned its efficacy.

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Boots and Saddles Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Endurance.Net) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:55:00 +0000

Fall Apart and Annoyed
Tuesday, February 23 2010

On one of the boards I follow and post, someone asked the question of what annoys you the most when new people show horses. Along with the more predictable responses of "I'm annoyed when the veterans aren't nice to use newbies!", there were a lot of complains about newbie turnout and horse cleanliness.

Now - before you get all hot and bothered, I will admit that there is a LOT veteran riders can do to make a newbie's experience enjoyable. HOWEVER, I remember as a newbie being very concerned about being a "nuisance" and really wanting to do the right thing....if I just knew what was expected. Lists like this one really helped me ride courteously at my first ride and as a result, people were more likely to stick around and help me out and explain stuff.

Here are my top 10 pet peeves in the endurance world (no matter if it's a veteran OR a newbie:

First my list of caveats: Sometimes "stuff" happens. I totally understand. We are all human. An apology and a quick smile goes a long way. I don't expect any horse to be perfectly behaved and I've been horrified at behavior that has NEVER happened at home. I think we've all been surprised......however how the offending rider handles such a situation in recognizing and rectifying it counts for a LOT. So please don't' assume if some poor innocent person accidentally does one of these, I automatically roar and singe the whiskers off the horses face in rage!

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noreply@blogger.com (Endurance.Net) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:25:00 +0000

TheHorse.com
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
October 13 2009, Article # 15043

Curcumin, an extract of the spice turmeric, is a natural product with potent anti-inflammatory properties that also exerts beneficial effects on cartilage metabolism. Scientists believe curcumin inhibits degradative enzymes such as metalloproteinases and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and reduces cartilage cell apoptosis (programmed cell death).
To study the effect of curcumin on cartilage breakdown in vitro (in the laboratory), a research team from the University of Nottingham established a model of cartilage inflammation that mimics the inflammatory events thought to occur in osteoarthritis. They induced cartilage degeneration with the pro-inflammatory mediator IL-1 beta. Then they co-treated some cultures with curcumin (0.1-100 �mol/L) for five days, subsequently measuring the amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) released from the cartilage in the culture media.
Curcumin significantly reduced the IL-1 beta-stimulated release of GAG back to control levels. Specifically, cartilage explants exposed to 100 �l curcumin reduced GAG release by an average of 20% to 27% when co-exposed to 10 and 25ng/ml IL-1 beta, respectively.
As a result, the authors suggested "curcumin antagonizes GAG release in vitro" and that "this model may be an effective in vitro system for evaluating the potential beneficial effects of botanical extracts."
Investigators indicated the need for more research to determine the "true efficacy and potential safety" of curcumin.

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Meet the WEG Discipline: Endurance

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:10:00 +0000

Cs.thehorse.com - Full Article

22 February 2010
by Jennifer Bryant

The sport of endurance, like those of eventing and driving, has its roots firmly planted in practicality.

Before horses were companion animals, playthings, and sporting partners, they were transportation and instruments of farming and of warfare. To travel distances too great to cover on foot, one needed a horse. A surefooted, hardy mount with stamina was a must for those who had to undertake long journeys.

Today we watch the miles slip by from the windows of planes, trains, and automobiles; but we recognize "the original off-road vehicle," the horse, in the sport of endurance, now an International Equestrian Federation (FEI)-recognized discipline and one of the eight that will be featured at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, September 25-October 10 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Endurance became a competitive sport relatively recently, in the 1950s, and the FEI recognized the discipline in 1982. As it's conducted in FEI-level competition, endurance horses and their riders traverse a course of 160 kilometers (100 miles) that's divided into several sections or "phases." At the conclusion of each phase is a mandatory veterinary inspection, during which the horse's condition is assessed and monitored to gauge his fitness to continue. The horse is held until his respiration and heart rates, among other vital signs, indicate that he has had enough of a breather to go on.

Time spent in the vet box counts toward a competitor's total time, and so the objective is to start with a supremely conditioned horse who needs as little rest as possible. The horse's fitness and well-being are paramount, and any rider determined to be pushing a tired horse can be disqualified.

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Equine Parasites: 6 Tips on Learning to Live With Worms

noreply@blogger.com (Endurance.Net) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:23:00 +0000

TheHorse.com
by: Christy West
February 21 2010, Article # 15854

If you read the title of this article and said, "WHAT?!?" don't worry--you're not alone! No horse owner wants to think of even a single worm burrowing in their horse's innards. But a goal of zero tolerance for worms is no longer a realistic one; increasing resistance of worms (particularly small strongyles) to common deworming drugs means we have to use much less of them to avoid creating even more resistant superworms.

At the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas, Nev., Craig R. Reinemeyer, DVM, PhD, president of East Tennessee Clinical Research, discussed the current state of equine internal parasite resistance (primarily in small strongyles) and the new strategies we must use to control it. The basic idea is that we need to use dewormers far less often and more selectively to preserve their value and, yes, even learn to live with the worms to some degree.

Tip #1: Stop Focusing on the Wrong Things

"'Deworming' as a component of a control program is an unfortunate term, because it emphasizes treatment rather than prevention," noted Reinemeyer. While we tend to think parasite control efforts focus on killing adult worms present in our horses, he says that this is entirely the wrong goal. Our objective should be to maximize the health of our horses, and most worms do their worst within a horse as immature larvae. Thus, the better goal is to reduce parasite reproduction and contamination of the environment, so there are fewer worm larvae in the next generation to damage our horses.

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West Desert Mustangs

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:56:00 +0000

Parkcitymagazine.com - Full Article

Text and Photography: Vicki Ross-Gaebe

Last spring, some fellow photographers and I discovered that a group of mustang owners from the Utah Horse Expo & Festival of Learning had organized a field trip to the West Desert in search of the elusive mustang. We packed our cameras, joined the caravan and headed west. We were not disappointed. From the raw power of the stallions, to the fragility of newborn colts, it's hard not to be in awe of the wild mustang.

It's about a two-hour drive from Park City west to the Cedar Mountains, where one of the largest herds of wild mustangs in Utah can be found. Being there is like a scene from a movie - a herd of wild mustangs galloping alongside our car, and then disappearing around the side of a mountain, miraculously managing to skirt treacherous gopher holes and deep crevices. The mustangs were headed to a nearby watering hole, where eventually we would find a herd of nearly 100 horses.

Quietly, we crept up to a vantage point and watched in amazement as these incredible animals carried out their day-to-day lives. We saw mothers with foals, frisky adolescents and bossy stallions.

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Minerals and Vitamins

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:49:00 +0000

Thehorse.com - Full Article

by: Karen Briggs
November 01 2009

They represent only a tiny portion of your horse's feed intake, but they pack a nutritional wallop several times their size.

Break down the components of the equine diet and think, for a moment, about what each accomplishes for your horse.

Fiber forms the basis of his energy intake for maintenance metabolism--the everyday, low-key workings of his body. It also stimulates the digestive system and helps keep it functioning.

Protein provides the amino acid "building blocks" for the growth and repair of the body's tissues.

Carbohydrates offer a concentrated energy kick for the faster, harder, longer work you ask of your performance horse.

Fats give your horse a concentrated, easy-to-digest alternative energy source to fuel long-distance work, and they help promote a shiny coat and support the reproductive system. They also assist with weight gain when adding protein is not an option.

The function of minerals and vitamins, however, can't be summed up in a sentence or two. The work they do on behalf of your horse is so varied, so comprehensive, and so amazing that they deserve a little more appreciation than they normally receive. Tiny though these elements may be, they're crucial to your horse's every conceivable function. So let's take a closer look.

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Dealing with a Pushy Horse

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:48:00 +0000

Horsecity.com - Full Article

by Charles Wilhelm
www.charleswilhelm.com
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Problem:

I was leading my horse and he was pushing into me. I tried to correct it with a whip but only thing I could do was move away. Is there something that I should have done?

The Advice:

This is a very good question and it happens a lot. There are a number of components in this situation that need to be discussed. A lot of people don't like to talk about controlling an aggressive horse. There are corrections that have to be made but there is a difference between making a correction and a beating.

In this situation, the handler tried to correct the horse, put pressure on it by blocking the horse from coming toward her but the horse kept coming and she finally moved away. Now, in horse world, a horse learns by pressure and release so the moment she moved out of the way, she released the pressure and taught the horse to do it again. I will guarantee that this will happen again if the horse is not properly corrected.

Correction is nothing more than follow-through. Everyone understands the roll of pressure and release in herd dynamics. Intellectually we understand that it means the least amount of pressure but as much as needed. If you look at any herd, pasture or big corral, when a new horse joins that environment, you can see the dynamics at work. Sometimes the lead horse will turn around and look at the new horse with snake eyes and that is the least amount of pressure. If the new horse does not respond to that or he challenges, the lead horse may swing his hind quarters around toward the new horse adding pressure. If that doesn't work, it is amazing how fast a horse can back up and kick at the same time.

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Is concussion really a problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Endurance.Net) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:46:00 +0000

blog.easycareinc.com
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 by Duncan McLaughlin

We have all seen them, those insidious concussion rings that appear in the hoof wall following an endurance ride, gradually moving down with the growing hoof capsule. Sometimes they even manifest as horizontal concussion cracks. They look ugly and they scream: Damage! And then, there is all that long-term concussive wear and tear on joints leading to inevitable arthritic change. Not surprisingly, managing concussion is often considered the primary soundness issue for your endurance horse over his career.

But need it be so?

To answer this question, let?s first consider how the hoof functions. Of course, as any internet search soon shows, there are about a bazillion or so theories on how the hoof functions and how to best manage and dress the hoof for optimal performance. For any one theory of hoof function you will soon find another in complete contradiction. However, all the different theories can be categorised into two basic models based on the distribution of weight through the hoof.

1. Whole Of Foot

Under this model, your horse's weight simply falls, via the skeleton, to the ground through all components of the hoof (wall, sole, bars, frog), which share in the distribution of that weight. The coffin bone is the load-bearing structure. Under this model, factors external to the hoof, such as the amount of daily movement, the living and working terrain, conformational traits, and the presence/absence of hoof protection, are considered to determine which hoof structures are trimmed or left untouched. The aim is to distribute weight across all hoof components, including the caudal hoof (digital cushion, ungual cartilages), to optimise correct coffin bone loading within the hoof in motion and at rest.

2. Lamellar Sling

Under this model, your horse's weight falls through to his coffin bone, which is in turn suspended in a 'sling' by way of the close interweaving of the epidermal (hoof wall) and dermal (inner hoof) lamellae. Under this model, the hoof wall is the primary weight bearing structure, and the focus is on angles and measurements of the hoof in isolation to both your attached horse and his living environment. Obviously this model is implicit in all farriery: attaching a shoe mandates the hoof wall as the only weight-bearing structure. Some vets and researchers also use this model. For example, the work of much-quoted laminitis researcher Chris Pollitt DVM is based on this model, which he describes as the 'lamellar corium - distal phalanx attachment apparatus'.

Most schools of barefoot trimming use methods based on the Whole Of Foot model. Rightly so - there is good reason to be skeptical of the Lamellar Sling model:

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Save Money, Save Your Horse

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:19:00 +0000

In these tough economic times, nearly every horse owner is trying to pinch pennies. When watching your wallet, it's also important to remember that trimming many veterinary expenses may cost you more in the end.

"Horses can be very expensive animals to own and maintain," says April Knudson, DVM, manager, Merial Veterinary Services. "So it's no surprise that, even in a relatively strong economy, horse owners look for the most inexpensive ways to care for their animals. However, the urge to trim costs becomes even stronger in a weak economy. When that happens, horse owners must be extremely careful not to cut back on important equine health care staples - like vaccinations, for example."

In fact, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends that all horses be vaccinated against core diseases, including tetanus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE), West Nile virus (WNV) and rabies. Other vaccinations may be recommended by a veterinarian based on individual risk if traveling or the disease is a problem for the area. This could include equine influenza and Potomac horse fever (PHF).

"Annual vaccinations - both for core and additional disease concerns - have long been a staple of equine health care and are the best way to help prevent potentially deadly equine diseases and keep horses healthy," Dr. Knudson says. "Even though there is some cost up front, vaccinations are the most cost-effective way to control veterinary expenses related to disease treatment later on down the road."

In fact, supportive care for horses infected with tetanus, EEE, WEE, WNV, PHF or equine influenza can cost thousands of dollars, especially if overnight veterinary care, intravenous feedings or stomach tubes are required. For WNV alone, supportive care can cost up to $3,000 - 45 times more expensive than simply vaccinating the horse for WNV.

Diseases listed in the AAEP's core vaccination guidelines, and PHF and equine influenza, are all diseases that could be a concern for every horse, adds Dr. Knudson.

In some cases, horses can't help but be exposed. For example, tetanus is caused by bacteria from everyday manure, dirt or rust contaminating a puncture wound, and is fatal in at least 50 percent of the cases. EEE and WEE, most often known as sleeping sickness, are two of the most common causes of equine encephalitis, and are endemic to the United States - making it nearly impossible to completely eliminate risk of exposure.

"WNV, another core disease concern, has been identified in all areas of the United States and horses represent more than 95 percent of all non-human cases in mammals," Dr. Knudson says. "Finally, rabies is transmitted in the saliva of an infected animal and is 100 percent fatal for horses and almost always fatal for humans. In the case of rabies, vaccination not only protects horses, it protects their human handlers."

While PHF and equine influenza are not included on AAEP's list of core vaccinations, they are included in the list of risk-based vaccinations. Horses that travel or are stabled with others that travel are most at risk for equine influenza, but any horse that comes in contact with infected caddisflies or mayflies can contract PHF. What's more, PHF is a potentially deadly disease that can cause mild depression, anorexia, diarrhea, abortion in pregnant mares, toxemia and laminitis. Equine influenza is transmitted through infected horses, contaminated inanimate objects and people moving between infected and uninfected horses, and is one of the leading causes of respiratory disease in horses.

"Without vaccinations for these diseases, horses are left vulnerable to debilitating side effects or even death," Dr. Knudson says. "In addition to a sick horse, horse owners may also have to deal with an empty wallet because supportive care for many of these diseases can cost thousands of dollars. When you do the math, it costs so little just to vaccinate horses up front compared with the potential cost after the horse is sick."

Today's advanced vaccine technology provides new choices for vaccination and helps protect horses. For instance, the RECOMBITEK� line of equine vaccines includes advanced recombinant canarypox-vectored vaccine technology to aid in the prevention of WNV and equine influenza, in addition to a new combination vaccine featuring recombinant WNV with EEE, WEE and tetanus.

Merial also provides leading equine vaccines such as IMRAB� rabies vaccine and POTOMAVAC? vaccine for PHF.

For more information, contact:
Michele Egan
Merial
(678) 638-3524
michele.egan @ merial.com

How To Help Your Endurance Horse With Acupressure

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:15:00 +0000

Chinesemedicineherbs.info - Full Article

Posted by admin on Feb 14, 2010
By: Nancy Zidonis & Amy Snow

It is dark and downright cold this morning! The ride starts at 5:00 a.m. and it is 3:30 a.m. Too cold to sleep and Samson, my 8-year-old gelding, is probably just as cold and stiff as I am. I can hear him moving around in his pen just trying to keep his blood circulating. I?d better get up and do something to help him warm-up and prepare for the many miles ahead....

Endurance and pleasure trail riders know how important it is to have their horses feel energized and warm before heading out for a cold, early morning ride. Cold, stiff muscles, tendons, and joints can cause injuries and certainly will affect the animal?s ability to perform at his best. Many riders are offering their horses? Acupressure Sessions as part of their conditioning routine to maintain their animal?s health and fitness.

Acupressure is an ancient healing art. This noninvasive, deceptively gentle complementary modality can profoundly impact your horse?s balance of energy, health, and general attitude. For trail riders, acupressure is particularly powerful because it is safe, drug-free, and always available.

Our friend Sara was riding in the high planes of the Colorado Rocky Mountains last summer with a group of her horse-buddies. Two days into the four-day ride, she noticed that her 16-year-old mare, Gracie, was having difficulty breathing and showing signs of distress. She was not sure if it was the altitude or over exertion, but she knew she had to do something quickly. They were at least 25 miles from any hope of finding a veterinarian.

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Racehorse Research Identifies Speed Gene

noreply@blogger.com (Endurance.Net) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:32:00 +0000

scienceblogs.com
Posted on: February 8, 2010 3:10 PM, by "GrrlScientist"

If you've worked at or been around a racetrack very much, as I have, you'll quickly realize that everyone there has their own pet idea for picking winners. Horse breeders have always relied on pedigree analysis and studying the horse's conformation to predict whether a particular racehorse is better suited for running short or longer distances. But this is an inexact science that can waste valuable time, money and sometimes, horses. Which makes one wonder whether modern molecular biology can be applied to the challenge of identifying specific genes that make a particular horse better suited to running sprints or distances?

"Everybody knows one horse can run faster than another -- most people want to know which one," said Emmeline Hill, a genetics researcher at University College Dublin in Ireland. "I want to understand why."

To gain an understanding of the athletic ability of Thoroughbreds, Dr Hill spearheaded a team of researchers that investigated the genetic factors that contribute to muscle growth. Muscle growth in animals is influenced in part by the myostatin gene (MSTN). MSTN produces a protein that contributes to muscle size development in a range of mammalian species: the animal can either have a compact, muscular body that is suited to short sprints or a longer, leaner body that is better for endurance.

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Looking After Endurance Horses

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:58:00 +0000

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Elizabeth Peplow

The sport of endurance riding looks set to reap the rewards of an increasingly high-tech approach to horse care.

As the sport benefits from the appliance of science, there will be lessons for all.

But, says Rod Fisher, who has served as British endurance team vet since 1988, both riders and officials can still do more to get the basics right. Rod stresses that more could be done to improve care before, during and after rides.

"I would like to see people monitoring their horses more closely. It is a question of seeing how receptive the horse is, how willing it is to go on and how much it isdrinking.

"Often, riders who know their horses well can spot something is not right before the vets. Some people see a problem and try to pretend it is not there in the hope that it goes away. But if you address difficulties early, they are always easier to treat."

He also stresses the benefit of using heart monitors during training and for competitions. Riders who train themselves to pick up even slight changes to their horse's demeanour before rides, he says, stand a better chanceof preventing problems taking their toll in competition.

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Second Annual Jerri FitzGerald Canter Against Cancer to Benefit Noble Hospital

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Ride Honors Memory of South Pole Physician, Dr. Jerri FitzGerald
February 3, 2010

Southampton, Massachusetts - Organizers of the second annual Jerri FitzGerald Canter Against Cancer Benefit Trail Ride, honoring the memory of cancer warrior and South Pole physician, Dr. Jerri FitzGerald, have announced that proceeds from this year's ride, Saturday September 18 (rain date September 19), will go to Noble Hospital of Westfield, Massachusetts.

"Dr. FitzGerald was an intelligent physician who was aware of the gravity of her diagnosis," said Dr. Phillip T.Glynn, director of Oncology at Noble Hospital, where Dr. FitzGerald received care. Despite the burdens of treatment, she managed to be grateful for each day and for the loving care of the people around her, he said. Her first battle, self-treating breast cancer in the late 1990s while stationed in Antarctica, captured world attention and led to her N.Y. Times best-selling autobiography: Icebound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole. She was in remission until 2005 and lost her battle against the disease on June 24, 2009.

"Noble Hospital was important to Jerri, and to those who loved her and were with her on this journey," said Canter Against Cancer organizer, Claudia Sarti. Dr. FitzGerald received treatment at Noble and wanted donations in her memory to go to the hospital.

The Canter Against Cancer benefit trail ride features 100+ autumnal acres of groomed field and forest paths, hay rides, raffle, and slow-cooked pig roast. Giddyap Girls will donate all-natural horse treats and Mark Lexton Collection will return as creators of the Jerri FitzGerald Canter Against Cancer signature rope necklace in sterling silver or gold. The ride is again hosted thanks to the generosity of Twin Orchard Farm and the Kaniecki family of Southampton, Massachusetts. Suggestion donation is $25 per rider or $25 per car for non-riders, and includes continental breakfast and pig roast.

A second Canter Against Cancer, inspired by the Massachusetts event, will be June 12, 2010, outside of Zillah, Washington, and hosted by the Yakima Valley Riding Club. "Our club has been hit hard with members and family diagnosed with cancer. We strongly feel that it is time for us to be involved in the fight and to do what we can to raise funds to find a cure," says organizer, Linda Spurlock. For information on the Washington State ride, email Linda at lspurl3144@aol.com.

Find Canter Against Cancer on Facebook and YouTube, or for information (images available on request), contact L.A. Pomeroy, PomeroyLA@aol.com, (413) 586-6121, or Claudia Sarti, SheDancezWHorsez@aol.com, (413) 549-0050.

Craig Cameron's Top Trail Tips

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:27:00 +0000

Myhorse.com - Full Article

Story by Cynthia McFarland

We chat with the "cowboy?s clinician" about all things trail.

Cowboys are known for many things; practicality and common sense are at the top of the list.

Thanks to a lifetime of ranching and rodeoing and conducting clinics for more than two decades, Craig Cameron is known by many as the "cowboy's clinician." He?s also spent countless hours on the trail. His down-to-earth philosophy for smart riding is to make sure you can live to ride again tomorrow. He stresses safety in every aspect of horse handling, whether on the ground or in the saddle.

I caught up with Cameron just before he headed off into the Colorado wilderness for a week-long trail-riding clinic. He was kind enough to share his top trail-riding tips.

How important is horsemanship to trail riders? Why?

I think horsemanship is extremely important for good trail riding, because the better you can handle your horse, the better you?ll be able to go down the trail and the safer you'll be.

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Spanish Barb

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:28:00 +0000

Sinosheep.com - Full Article

The Spanish-Barb traces its lineage through the Andalusian and Spanish Jennet horses brought to North America by the Spanish explorers during the 16th century. Both the Andalusian and the Jennet had evolved from the Barb horse of North Africa, which was brought to the Iberian Peninsula after the Moorish invasion of Spain in 711. In America, the Spanish-Barb was most prevalent in areas of Spanish settlement, in the Southeast and the Southwest. In the Southeast, the Spanish-Barb provided the foundation for both the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indian horses. Chickasaw blood would play a major role in the development of the American Quarter Horse. In the Southwest, they became the horse of the early Spanish and later Mexican cowboys, and went on to form the basis for the wild Mustang herds of the West.

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The Ancient Akhal Teke - The Horse With The Metallic Sheen

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:25:00 +0000

Articleculture.com - Full Article

By : Crystal A.
Submitted 2010-01-21

The Akhal Teke is a hot blooded horse from the southern region of Turkmenistan, in northern Iran. Its name identifies the Teke tribe from the Akhal oasis located in the arid plains on the Northern slopes of the Kopet Dag Mountains.

It has been assumed that the Akhal Teke is descended from the ancient Tarpan Horses and Przewalski Horses of southern Asia or from the ancient Turkmene Horse that was developed in Russia from Asiatic stock that was originally thought to be an ancient Scythian type and one of the four original horse types that crossed the Bering Strait from North America during prehistoric times.

The Scythians were nomadic people and among the earliest people to master the art of riding in 8th and 7th centuries B.C. As early as 700 BC they had huge cavalries and the Akhal Teke horses were originally bred as war and raiding horses and renowned as cavalry mounts and racehorses for nearly 3,000 years.

From the Scythians, the nomadic Teke people descended and regularly traveled to summer or winter ranges. This meant that they often came in conflict with other nomadic tribes doing similar travels. This led to the Tekes invading these tribes to take what was necessary and then ride off on their swift horses. So they bred animals of incredible stamina and fiery temperament to withstand these long distance raiding journeys.

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Crabbet Arabians

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:30:00 +0000

Ezinearticles.com - Full Article
by Randy Meyer

Crabbet Arabian horses are those originating from the Crabbet Park Stud, which was founded by Lord Wilfrid and Lady Anne Blunt in England in 1878. After 93 years of operation and the production of many legendary horses that became the foundation of other great studs worldwide, the Crabbet Park Stud was dissolved and the last of the horses were sold off in 1972 when a roadway was planned that divided the park.

CRABBET'S BEGINNINGS

Anne Noel, granddaughter of the poet Lord Byron, fell in love with horses at an early age and was an accomplished equestrienne. Her husband, the poet Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, had knowledge of middle-eastern politics. During a trip to the Middle East, Lady Anne Blunt decided to embark on a lifelong quest to save the Arabian horse, whose population amongst the Bedouin tribes was dwindling for a variety of reasons, including modern warfare techniques. Lady Blunt's goal was to preserve the pure bloodlines of the desert horse, as the Bedouin had done for centuries. She was fluent in Arabic and an excellent judge of horseflesh. She and her husband ventured deep into the Nejd desert, seeking the Bedouin tribes' prized horses. In 1878, the Blunts returned to England with fine Arabian horses with which to begin their breeding program.

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Dying by Inches

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:44:00 +0000

Long Riders Guild - Full Article

by CuChullaine O?Reilly FRGS

Rise in Large Scale Equine Starvation Cases Highlights Urgent Need
for Social Change and Legal Action

What do Virginia, Oregon, Nebraska, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas, Florida, New York, South Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma and British Columbia all have in common? Large numbers of starving horses were recently rescued from negligent owners in each of these areas.

Because of its constant access to international equestrian developments, and thanks to a network of allied equestrian editors and journalists, the Long Riders' Guild Academic Foundation has been monitoring the alarming rise of large scale equine neglect in the United States and Canada. Thanks to the excellent on-line resources offered by the New Zealand based equestrian news service, Horse Talk, a survey of headlines revealed that the LRG's misgivings about the rise of equine neglect were not only confirmed, they were in fact far worse than we suspected.

This is not to say that other countries are not also facing similar challenges. For example in May, 2008 what was described as a "horror farm" was discovered in England. Astonished authorities seized 111 horses and ponies, then successfully brought charges in court against the owners.

Horror horse farm owners face trial May 16, 2008 111 horses and ponies
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2008/05/091.shtml

Likewise, the United States saw cases of a similar nature. The first example noticed by the LRG occurred in June, 2007 when Horse Talk reported a large-scale case of North American equine starvation.

Police raid: Up to 80 horses seized in welfare swoop - Animal welfare authorities have swooped on a Texas property, removing up to 80 horses they say appear underfed and neglected. The 80 animals were living on a property, near Greenville, which is understood to be only 40 acres in size.
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/archives/2007/06/177.shtml

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Mental Training for the Rider

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:03:00 +0000

Horsecity.com - Full Article

by Charles Wilhelm
www.charleswilhelm.com
Posted: Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The first thing when talking about mental training for the rider is that I believe we all need to understand we must be very positive thinking in our abilities. We must believe absolutely in what we are able to do. And that means recognizing what are abilities actually are no matter the level. At the same time, we have to bring into account negativity. Why negativity? Because while we want to be extremely positive about our own abilities, we also have to be realistic about where the horse is in its own training. Once we are truly aware of both the positives and the negatives in our relationship, we then also need to not become overly attached to those ideas and allow them to interfere with our intentions, meaning the exercises we have planned.

Intent and Focus

Clear intentions in training are vital. We need to identify what we intend our goals to be. And that includes where to start, how to get there, and where to end. We absolutely have to prepare our mental state to stay focused on these goals rather than to react to the environment around us. You may be working with your horse and have another horse get totally out of control, or hear another rider shouting at someone but you have to stay utterly focused on the horse you are working with. Find your center and stay on track with your own work. Don't allow yourself to get distracted and you will find your horse is much less likely to get distracted as well. If you are focused, your horse will be focused it really is that straightforward.

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The use of acupuncture in the treatment of horses

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:04:00 +0000

Roundtownnews.co.uk - Full Article

Written by Robert Vandevelde
Wednesday, 20 January 2010

GANIMED IS a 14-year-old stallion who made quite a name for himself winning the German Derby in 2000 and was named best German racehorse in 1999 and 2000. Winner show jumping 1st level class; Dressage up 3rd level; Sire of Endurance, sports and racing offspring. He's a purebred Arab now living here in Javea. He injured himself during an endurance race and I was approached to treat him with Acupuncture. So far, he's responding well to his treatment.

The history of equine Acupuncture dates back to 2000-2500 B.C. during the Shang and Chow dynasties in China. Around 650 BC Bai-Le wrote 'Bai- Le's Canon on Veterinary medicine'. It was primarily on Acupuncture and emphasised equine acupuncture. In Europe it was not until 1896 that the first mention of veterinary acupuncture appeared in print in France and it was 1947 when the first modern school of veterinary acupuncture was established in the northern university of China and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Association was formed in 1975! I started treating animals in 1986!

ACUPUNTURE FOR HORSES

Acupuncture has been used successfully in the treatment of a variety of equine lameness, including chronic back problems; hock or stifle problems and navicular disease as well as various soft tissue disorders.

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Hoof Tougheners and Thrush Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Endurance.Net) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:58:00 +0000

Enduranceridestuff.com
Karen Chaton

I try not to post too often on ridecamp. I think I?ve probably exceeded my allotment for the week, so will answer the question about what I use to toughen feet and treat thrush here in my blog. I?ve covered this stuff before, sometimes the posts get buried because they are a year or more old. You can do a search in the top right corner if you?d like to read more.

Even though I live in a climate that has seasons, I don?t generally have a problem with thrush in my horses feet. I usually clean their hooves out fairly regularly when it?s muddy just so they don?t end up with manure packed in there. It?s okay if it?s mud that is packed in the hooves, but unless you pull it out you don?t know that. So I pick their feet clean at least two or three times a week.

Over this last ride season I have talked a bit about thrush (see here) because it can be an issue for riders who are gluing hoof boots on their horses for an extended period of time. It?s not such a big deal if the boots are only on for a weekend or even one week for a multiday ride. However, once you start leaving boots on for weeks and weeks there is a good chance that some thrush will develop. It seems like that particular type of thrush can sometimes be a little bit different than what most of us view as regular thrush. I know my horse has thrush if I can dig out black goopey stuff mixed in with white flakey stuff, and it smells. The thrush that you may encounter from having a hoof sealed up for a few weeks may or may not smell and there may not be any visible signs other than your horse is tender footed. And again, if you pull the boots off and put your horse up then don?t ride right away or put boots on to ride you might not notice the subtle difference in hoof sensitivity. I tend to ride and work my horses pretty regularly barefoot and feel that leaving boots glued on for three weeks caused them to go through a couple week transition back to barefoot ? even though when their shoes were pulled that didn?t happen. Go figure!

[...more]

p.s. Karen - your posts are always welcome on Ridecamp! People can read or delete as they wish... it's always good to hear about other people's experiences and preferences, and every little bit of shared information will help us all make the best (most informed) choices for our horses and sport.

Steph
Endurance.Net

Australia's Logbook System for Endurance Rides - Part 3

mer@TheEquestrianVagabond.com (Merri) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:26:00 +0000

by Jay Randle

Penalty Points

Now, as for Patrick's and Terry's comments about how Logbooks could help with the "referee system" and "identifying people who may need some education", let me explain our Early Warning System (EWS).

All details of every horse entered in a ride, and all details from the logbooks relating to Vet Out reasons (Pulls), and health concerns, are entered into the AERA database. From here, trends are immediately noticed and acted upon. The EWS has in place standard "penalty points" that apply for each problem or transgression, as follows:

Vet Out, pulse under 66bpm, 10 points
Vet Out, pulse 66bpm or over, 15 points
Vet Out, non invasive metabolic, 10 points
Vet Out, mild metabolic, 15 points
Vet Out, severe metabolic, 30 points
Vet Out, lame ? first, 6 points
Vet Out, lame horse ? second consecutive, 12 points
Vet Out, lame horse ? third consecutive, 18 points
Vet Out, back, 6 points
Vet Out, gall or injury, 4 points

Metabolic disorders, as described above are defined as:
a) 10 points - mild metabolic disorders that do not required invasive treatment
b) 15 points - mild metabolic disorders such as Ty-Up (Exertional Rhabdmyolysis), other mild muscle conditions, Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutters (Thumps), mild heat distress, very mild GIT conditions
c) 30 points - more severe metabolic disorders - including Exhaustive Horse Syndrome (fatigue related), Endotoxaemia, more severe GIT disorders, ie, Diarrhoea, colitis, impactions, paralytic ileus, hyper/hypomotility colics, moderate to severe heat stroke.

If a horse or rider accumulates 30 or more non-completion penalty points, the Horse Welfare Officer will determine whether the rider or horse, through the owner or connections, needs to be cautioned in writing.

Any rider or horse (through owner or connections) having been cautioned in writing, who then accumulates more than 45 but less than 60 penalty points must enter all affiliated endurance rides under novice rider and/or novice horse status until two novice rides have been successfully completed.

Any rider or horse (through owner or connections) having been cautioned in writing, who then accumulates 60 penalty points or more, will be asked to show cause why the horse should not be suspended.

Horses (through owner or connections) that are known to progress to renal failure, laminitis, hepatophathies, CNS related disturbance, will be asked to show cause why the horse should not be suspended.
Riders or horses (through owner or connections) that Vet out on gait at three consecutive rides will be asked to show cause why the rider or horse should not be suspended.

These "penalty points" add up, and are reduced by
a) 6 points on the anniversary of each penalty
b) 6 points for successful completion of rides up to 90km
c) 10 points for successful completion of rides between 90 ? 159km
d) 12 points for successful completion of rides 160km and above.

Although this system works reasonably well (kind of the "big stick" approach), in my opinion it does not take into consideration a `run of bad luck'. As an example, a rider who has 100% completion on a variety of horses over 3 years, suddenly has a horse develop a severe Ty-Up requiring invasive treatment, and incurs 30 penalty points. Two weeks later the same rider rides another horse that suffers heat stroke due to extreme weather conditions. This rider is now at 60 penalty points, and is suspended from competition for 3 months after an argument with the Management Committee. Three months later, the rider competes on a third horse which is Vetted Out lame. Again the rider is suspended, this time for 2 months.

This is a hypothetical situation, however similar situations have occurred. Unfortunately, the previous three years of 100% completion is ignored! I would suggest that "completion points" be also added into a system like this, so that the rider can collect a `bank' of points for use against any future "penalty points".

Of course, this is all computerised here, and doesn't take much administration, as the points are automatically assigned when the RMs enter the ride completion details into the database. BUT...our membership levels are way lower than yours, and we have far fewer horses in competition too.