Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports » Equestrianism

Horse Health – Equine Worms and Fecal Egg Count

Tane Moores — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:12:50 +0000

Equine Worms are a real and distressing problem for any horse. They can cause serious damage horse in a fairly short space of time so you should be vigilant in checking for any signs of infection. One of the most useful tools in any parasite control program is the fecal egg count, that is a microscopic examination of fresh manure for parasite eggs. This simple test allows your veterinarian to find out which parasites are present and how bad the infection is. A sample of 2 or 3 fresh fecal balls is usually enough to check the egg count. If you have several horses stabled or pastured together you should collect samples from at least two or three to check if there is likely to be infection in all of the group. Fecal egg counts before treatment identify the kinds of parasites and the level of infection. Samples checked following treatment should be 7-10 days after treatment.

Effective parasite management includes regular deworming, fecal egg counts, timing of treatment, and rotating products to minimize resistance. Pyrantel pamoate is effective against tapeworms, and many veterinarians recommend giving it once a year at high dose for effective removal of tapeworms, but you should always consult your own vet before administering any treatment. High fecal egg counts of more than 500 eggs per gram might be taken to suggest that the interval between deworming is too long.

However, fecal counts are not always a reliable way to assess parasite infestation. Some stages of parasites are not found in feces. Negative fecal tests should not be interpreted to mean that there are no longer any larvae in your horse. Damage inflicted by parasites may cause intestinal disturbances long after they have been eliminated so you need to keep a watch on your horse particularly if the infestation has been heavy and he may need ongoing treatment to help him recover fully.

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Horse Health – Equine Worms and Fecal Egg Count

Driftwood Horses

Tane Moores — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:02:06 +0000

A series of beautiful images landed in my inbox yesterday – there are too many to show more than a couple here but you can view them at the artists site http://www.jansch.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm

This brillliant artist creates horse sculptures from scrap and driftwood – the site is well worth a visit

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Driftwood Horses

Does Your Saddle Really Fit You And Your Horse?

Tane Moores — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:42:48 +0000

Most professional trainers and riders will agree that without buying a custom made saddle for every horse you ride, the correct pad is your only salvation. Knowing that saddles are made for the average back we are faced with the frustrating task of accommodating it to the horse. The perfect saddle fit will reduce stress by putting uniform pressure on the horse’s back. The spine and withers, of course, should bear no weight at all. As simple as it may sound, it’s not. Horses come in different shapes and sizes just as people. The Pro-Tech closed cell perforated inserts in the Cush-N-Air pad act as shims, redistributing the weight over a large area, thereby reducing the pressure per square inch.

Cush-N-Air: The greatest possible PROTECTION from soring & abrasion.
Completely WASHABLE – Rinse off with hose.
LIGHTWEIGHT
Firm cushion SHAPES NATURALLY.
This pad keeps a COOLER BACK using less energy in perspiration – will increase endurance.
Contoured to fit the horse’s back for a more comfortable fit, keeping a CLOSE CONTACT.
The Cush-N-Air Pad is a TOTAL PADDING SYSTEM, designed to be used without an over or under pad.

Find out more about the Cush-N-Air Pad

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Does Your Saddle Really Fit You And Your Horse?

The Rider’s Pain Free Back – Book Review

Tane Moores — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:45:15 +0000

Back Problems bring many a Rider’s career to a grinding halt. As well as taking care of our horse’s health, we need to take care of our own, especially the structural wellbeing of your body. One of the most vulnerable parts of any Rider’s anatomy is his or her back. The Rider’s Pain-Free Back has been around for a few months now and is receiving some excellent reviews. The description reads:-

“Explaining the impact of horseback riding on the human back in easy-to-understand terms, this guide illustrates how various movements in the saddle affect a rider’s back and outlines straightforward steps that can be taken immediately to help keep riders ready to saddle up. Too many riders suffer from back injury, stress, or strain and consequently experience pain when in the saddle or are unable to ride at all. This indispensable guide has step-by-step exercises for strengthening the body for riding, guidance on horse selection and tack selection, and tips on which horse sports are appropriate for riders with various back problems. Traditional and alternative treatments for back pain are also discussed, as are the special considerations of pregnant and elderly riders.”

The writer, Dr Warson, is both a neuro-surgeon and a rider so he has full understanding of the issues involved – and doesn’t blame all your back problems on riding which makes a pleasant change! Full of practical advice with useful exercises and helpful comments I would suggest that a copy of The Rider’s Pain-Free Back should be on every Equestrian’s bookshelf.

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The Rider’s Pain Free Back – Book Review

Horse Training Success

Tane Moores — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:09:58 +0000

I came across an excellent ebook the other day which was drawn to my attention by a fellow rider when discussing training methods to help deal with some of the behavior problems you can encounter with your horse. When you first buy your horse you have to spend some time getting to know each other and it is during this time that you may discover problems that have not been addressed by the previous owner.

Horse Training Success is full of very practical information on how to train your horse into good behavior patterns presented in a step by step fashion that is easy to find your way around. The book is based around real problems presented by real riders of real horses rather than just a theoretical, airy fairy approach which does nothing for you or your horse. Problems such as biting, bolting, kicking and bucking which can cause nasty injuries are dealt with in a no nonsense fashion which will help both you and the horse to get rid of those unpleasant habits. There are a number of practical approaches to the things that make your horse skittish and jumpy like cars, blowing rubbish and other animals, not to mention getting him into a trailer without a fuss. Feeding time can often cause issues, especially if you have a strong willed horse that likes to take control and I was impressed with some of the solutions presented in the book.

The manual doesn’t only deal with horse behavior problems but also with basic training and riding techniques in plain English with no jargon or waffle – invaluable! Phil Tragear has put together an enormous amount of information and shared the benefit of years of experience both in basic horse training as well as problem management. Horse Training Success is one of the best all round manuals I have come across in a very long time.

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Horse Training Success

Equestrian Sports – Competition

Tane Moores — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:04:31 +0000

As a species human beings enjoy competition in all its forms whether it be a simple kick around in the park or taking part in a major event, either as part of a team or as an individual. Equestrian Sports fulfil this desire to compete ion every level, either as part of a team or as individual. You can represent yourself, your club or at the very highest level, your Country.

Riding demonstrate the harmony between Rider and Horse in a way that nothing else does. Men and women can both take part on level playing field which is rare in any sporting event. The speed and dexterity with which they and their mounts flash around the course can be quite astounding to a novice. This is the result of many months of training and developing the relationship between the pairing. Before this can be developed you first have to choose the horse you want to ride.

The size of the horse has to be one of the first criteria – what good is it to have a horse that can run like the wind and jump a mile if your feet dangle on the floor or you are too heavy for him. Next comes temperament, you need a horse that you can work with, they have personalities just like people and sometimes personalities clash. If you find that you rub each other up the wrong way it will show in the competition and you will always be fighting to control your mount. That can be disastrous in Dressage for example, where you need to work as one. The precise movements are almost a ballet and any disharmony would be like the orchestra playing out of tune.

In any Equestrian Sport the condition of the horse plays a major part, he needs to be healthy and happy, well fed, watered and groomed so that he is comfortable and ready for the excitement of the competition – after all you want to win a Rosette don’t you?

There are many competitions in the world of Equestrian Sports but there are some that stand head and shoulders above the rest – the Burleigh Horse Trials in the UK where the best three day eventers compete. The National Horse Show in America covers many fields of equestrian endeavour and is held in Palm Beach under the auspices of the National Show Horse Association of America who focus the competitions on good horsemanship.

One of the most popular events in the calendar is the Horse of the Year Show at Olympia, London, which is held in December each year. A huge party atmosphere prevails throughout the show which specializes in Show Jumping but with lots of other competitions thrown in as well. I have many happy memories of competing there, it was like the beginning of Christmas. The ultimate competition is of course, the Olympic Games where Equestrian Sports are one of the oldest categories.

Any competitive rider will love taking part in their chosen branch of Equestrian Sport and so will their horse providing an exciting show for spectators, the buzz is tremendous and if you win….

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Equestrian Sports – Competition