Table of contents for August 2016 in Equus

STOP SUMMER STOMPING Cracks that appear on your horse’s hooves in late summer may not be just a result of dry, hard ground. Annoying insects probably also play a role. During bug season, flies crawling on your horse’s legs and belly can cause him to stomp for hours at a time. This repeated concussion can lead to footsoreness and cracks in his hooves. So, in addition to taking measures to reduce the overall fly population on your property, it’s wise to provide some individual relief from insects. Fly spray can reduce insect-related stomping but needs to be reapplied periodically. For a long-term solution consider fly wraps—mesh leg coverings designed to keeps bugs off a horse’s lower limbs. For fly wraps to be effective, they must stay on, so keep the…

Because I pose these probing questions when people ask me about reporting thin horses, I am sometimes accused of not being on the side of the horse. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been involved with horses, on many different levels, for more than 30 years. But, as someone who grew up in a traditional agricultural setting, I also feel the plight of owners wrongly accused. In my career, I have seen horses on both sides of the coin—those who should have been reported and those who should not. The former are undeniably tragic. No one wants to see horses suffer needlessly. But the latter can be tragic in a different way. An inexperienced and/or poorly educated investigator will sometimes seize thinner horses who had actually been…

During an equine disease outbreak, you want current and accurate information about how to keep your horse safe. Getting that in the Internet age, however, can be tricky. Outdated and inaccurate information can spread with every well-intentioned click of a “share” button, and the true nature of an outbreak and its aftermath can be difficult to discern. The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) is hoping to change that. A clearinghouse for information on infectious equine disease outbreaks, the EDCC seeks to provide something that can be in short supply during a veterinary crisis: timely, reliable information. The EDCC website, www.equinediseasecc.org, provides updates on cases of herpesvirus, strangles and other infectious diseases based on information from local veterinarians and state animal health officials. Provided by the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the website…

COOL AND SOOTHING BREEZES Product: Copacabana EcoJet Misting Fan Description: Designed to provide evaporative cooling, EcoJet Misting Fans can decrease temperatures by 20 degrees, while also cleaning and humidifying the air, according to the manufacturer. To create an ultrafine mist, the Copacabana model draws water from a 22-gallon reservoir in the base and cools approximately 1,500 square feet, indoors or out. Wall-mountable fans are also available that attach to standard garden hoses. Price: suggested retail, $1,699 for the model shown; smaller residential models start at $199 Source: Joape/Southbee Corporation; 305-713-4424; www.ecojet.us PROTECTION WHILE HEALING Product: Post Surgical Recovery Fly Mask Description: Designed specifically to protect facial wounds, surgical closures or injured eyes, this mask comes with seven non-denting foam pads that can be attached anywhere on the interior surface to…

HOW YOUR HORSE TELLS YOU WHAT HE WANTS When your horse looks at you from across the paddock and tosses his head, he may be trying to tell you something. It has long been known that dogs sometimes interact with people using “functional referential communication,” gesturing to direct a human’s attention toward a third entity (such as an object, person or location) in pursuit of a goal. For example, a dog might use his gaze in an attempt to get a person to retrieve a toy from a shelf. New research suggests that horses are also capable of this type of communication. For a study conducted cooperatively by the School of Ethical Equitation (SEE) in Italy and the University of Vienna in Austria, 14 horses were led one at a…

Summertime is prime time for all manner of equestrian fun. But while you’re enjoying trail rides, horse shows and other events, remember to keep tabs on your horse’s well-being, especially on the hottest days. By the time you’re ready to seek respite in the shade, your horse has likely already devoted a considerable amount of energy and fluids to the process of staying cool. Horses can sweat prodigiously on hot days and still be just fine, as long as they are able to rest, eat and drink their fill of clean water before they deplete their inner reserves. However, when a horse has sweated to the point of dehydration, he begins to lose the ability to dissipate heat, and his body temperature can climb to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher…

T hree years ago, I came home from vacation to face a complicated situation. While I was away, an established farmhand had been caring for my 36-year-old Arabian gelding, Faax El Din. All had gone well during the first few days of our family’s week-long trip, but then I received word that “Fox” had stopped eating. Of course, refusal to eat would be a concern under any circumstances but it was especially worrisome with this horse: Even in his younger days, he was never one to carry extra weight, and now he was well on his way to becoming skeletal. For many years prior to this point, Fox had been unable to chew grass or hay, and his nutrition had depended on a diet of soaked beet pulp, alfalfa pellets,…

“Upon the moon I fix’d my eye, All over the wide lea; With quickening pace my horse drew nigh Those paths so dear to me.”---William Wordsworth, “Lucy” Topped with 100 percent wool in a heavy weave, the Classic Equine ESP Wool Top Pad (suggested retail, $169.99), from Equibrand, features a half-inch, open-cell memory foam core that conforms to the horse’s back to minimize pressure points, lined with an orthopedic-grade felt bottom to soak up moisture. Available in 32 by 34 inches or 34 by 38 inches, with multiple color options in each size. Call 800-654-7864 or go to www.classicequine.com. For performance, trail or working ranch horses, the Contoured EVA Sport Foam Saddle Pad with Woven Top and Felt Bottom (suggested retail, $181.79), from Weaver Leather, is designed to conform to…

If you’ve seen horses that appear to be neglected or abused, and you’ve considered the case carefully enough to be certain that reporting the owner is the right course of action, then what? • Find out who the proper authorities are. This can vary in different jurisdictions. It could be your local humane society or animal shelter, animal control department, sheriff or police department. Your county extension agent may be able to guide you. • Document what you’ve observed, but do not do anything illegal or put yourself in danger. True animal abusers may also be dangerous to people, and if they suspect you reported them, they may retaliate in anger. Also, trespassing is illegal, and in some states with “ag-gag” laws, even photographing or videotaping animals on someone else’s…

Where you board your horse can make or break your equestrian experience. When you have confidence in the care your horse is receiving, you sleep better at night and travel without worry. When your fellow boarders are friendly and share your riding philosophy, you look forward to every trip to the barn. When the facilities are well run and well maintained, you can devote all of your energies to the pursuit of your riding goals. No facility is perfect, of course, but one that falls significantly short of your expectations can make going to the barn a stressful chore rather than a relaxing respite. If your horse is a sociable fellow, open, airy stalls with lots of contact with his neighbors might be important to him. On the other hand,…