The old adage ‘you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink’ is a very true saying.  To maintain your horse in good health you must make sure that he drinks enough and this can be an issue in the warm summer months.

If your horse is out at pasture you must check daily that there is an adequate supply of water.  Most animal rescue calls to organisations such as the ASPCA and the RSPCA regarding horses during the summer months are because they don’t have sufficient water.  A horse is a large animal, they sweat freely when it is warm and need to replace the lost fluid, it is even more important if they have been working hard.

If the weather is particularly warm then you may need to add some electrolytes to the water to help replace lost salts and minerals to ensure good horse health.  This can also be useful when traveling.  Some horses are notoriously fussy about the water they drink, and when away from home they will refuse water if it doesn’t taste right.  If they are used to having electrolytes in their water, the taste will mask the difference in the water and they will be much more likely to take on sufficient fluid.  It is a useful trick to have up your sleeve!

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Horse Health – Taking A Horse To Water

Post from: Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports

Horse Health – Taking A Horse To Water

Tying up syndrome can be a major health risk for any horse. Tying up syndrome, or Rhabdomyolysis, is found in horses that are often tied or do not get enough exercise. If you have a horse that will be tied up for any length of time, make sure that you talk to your vet about ways to prevent this and ways to treat it if you horse should develop this distressing condition.

There are three main symptoms you should watch out for, firstly your horse will walk very stiffly. Just think about how you feel after a lengthy journey – your legs will be stiff. Imagine being tied up somewhere and being forced to stay in that position for hours on end with very little scope for movement. The horse will have trouble walking and in severe cases, may not be able to move at all without help. Secondly, the horse will also probably have rear muscles that are hard to the touch and very painful. If you do touch them the horse will certainly react to demonstrate his pain. The last symptom is sweating, which will happen if the pain is very severe.

Tying up your horse for extended periods of time has additional affects on a horse’s health. You horse may develop the so called ‘Monday Morning Disease’ from eating too much when tied up (as he might be over a ‘weekend’) and could easily be injured when starting to exercise. Horses that are tied up too much are also are often unaccustomed to people or to being untied and may not be able to perform well in shows or cope well amongst a group of people or horses.

If the horse has a moderate to severe case of tying up disease, you would recognise it, but mild cases may seem similar to other medical conditions or simply laziness. Only your vet can properly diagnose your horse if there is a problem. Blood tests are most likely to help your vet determine if you horse has tying up syndrome. There are many courses to take if a horse has this medical problem. An Electrolyte imbalance may contribute to tying up syndrome, so it is important to work with a Vet to make certain that your horse is getting appropriate nutrition. If you horse simply has a mild case of the condition, walking him on a hand rein will allow him to loosen up. In more severe cases, medication can be used to relax the horse. If the horse seems to be in pain, the best thing you can do is call your vet promptly. Do not try and force the horse to move, as this can cause injury and extreme pain.

In a nutshell, make sure that you have the time to take care of a horse before you get one. If you don’t, he may spend a lot of time tied up. This is detrimental to the horse’s health and an act of cruelty. I have seen the tragic results of a horse being tied up far too often.

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Horse Health – Tying Your Horse

Post from: Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports

Horse Health – Tying Your Horse

This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to pleasant rides in the countryside to enjoy all the beauties of spring.  Many horses feel cooped up after the winter and it is so good to be out on a soft warm spring day, enjoying the fresh air and the freedom.  Riding out like this almost inevitably involves roads and if your horse is traffic shy you can have some problems.

Some horses are just nervous round traffic and if you don’t have good control of your mount that exacerbates the problems and can lead to some nasty accidents.  A lot of the problems with nerves are just lack of familiarity.  If you can, take your horse out with friends whose mounts are quiet and relaxed with traffic.  If they are reasonably experienced riders they and their horses will help to protect you until he settles down a little.

If you try to go out at quieter times of the day when there isn’t so much traffic around that helps.  Try and pick a route where drivers are aware of horses and more sensitive to the needs of equestrians too.  Alternatively you can ask one of your more experienced friends to ride him on the roads for a little while as your worry and concern about his behaviour will make his fears even worse.  He will certainly sense any tension you are feeling through your seat, knees and hands.

In terms of general acclimatisation to road noise and traffic, if you can arrange for your horse to be turned out in a field close to a road this may help, especially if there are other horses or animals who are not bothered by traffic to keep him company.

Generally speaking with patience, care and good horse management most horses will acclimatise to road conditions and you can ride out safely and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

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Horse Management – Is Your Horse Traffic Shy?

Post from: Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports

Horse Management – Is Your Horse Traffic Shy?

The arrival of a new foal is a time of such excitement and joy. The health of your mare and her newborn has to be a prime consideration and you need to be well prepared. Horse health is so dependent on a good regime and this is even more important for a pregnant mare. She needs good food, maybe even some supplements under the guidance of your Vet. You need to help her build up the stamina and strength she is going to need to carry the foal, give birth and then nurture the little one. Your Vet should be your constant source of information and advice, especially if this is the first time you have bred horses, checking your mare regularly to make sure she is OK.

Most times the mare will give birth on her own with little help or intervention from you, and that is as it should be but sometimes you just might have to help. Talking to your vet before hand will help you to know what is normal, and how to spot if things are going wrong. Make sure you have all the things you might need to hand – including the telephone number of the vet!

Once the time comes you should be around, but keep your distance unless you are needed, just enjoy the special moment when the new foal makes his appearance and bonds with his mother. There is nothing quite so special to any equestrian as being there at that moment. It seems to create a special bond between you and the horse when he grows up and you start to ride him. Most times the Mare knows just exactly what to do and gets on with the job in hand, cleaning and nursing the foal through those first moments of life when he is just a little unsteady and unsure.

Just as a word to the wise – if you must take your camera to record the moment, please be careful of the flash, it can frighten a new baby and doesn’t do much for Mum’s equilibrium either. If she is startled she may hurt her foal which would be tragic after all you care of your horse’s health.

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Horse Health – A New Arrival

Post from: Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports

Horse Health – A New Arrival

My absolute favourite thing about owning a horse is being able to ride him. There is no better feeling than leaving the yard on a sunny morning to go out for a hack across the countryside. Most well loved and well cared for horses enjoy the experience as much as the rider. If you have done your work right in training your horse he will understand your every movement, and in time a good partnership develops with each one of you understanding the others moods and feelings, and your horse will respond to your slightest touch. This relationship is an important part of keeping both you and your horse well and enjoying your rides.

Make sure you always use good tack, and that it is properly maintained. You need a Saddle that fits well and a Bridle and Bit that are comfortable for the horse and communicate your wishes to him well. You should never have to drag on your horse’s mouth to direct him – imagine how it would feel if someone did that to you! Never ask more of your horse than he can give, we can sometimes get a bit carried away! If your horse is young (or old) it is easy to expect too much of them. Make sure you only expect him to do those things which he is capable of and that you have worked on together. The temptation to take chances is easy to give in to, and it is not fair on either you or your horse and places you both at risk – for no good reason. In time you can work with your horse so that he is capable of almost everything you want – don’t take the chance and injure one or both of you.

Horses are renowned for not stepping on fallen humans but when travelling at speed they sometimes miss potholes and dangerous ground – it is your responsibility as the rider not to take your horse anywhere he could be hurt. The chances are that you would be too. There are times when you do have to cross bad ground so make sure you do it at a sensible speed and keep your eyes open for hidden dangers.

A few sensible precautions such as these make for a good, fun ride for you and your horse.

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Riding With Care

Post from: Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports

Riding With Care

This is a site for all things Equestrian. If you are interested in horses, riding, equestrian sports – in fact anything remotely equine this is the place for you. I have been riding since I was a small child, I fell off my first horse more years ago than I care to remember and I would like to share my love for horses and riding with you. I believe a happy and healthy horse is the privilege of every rider so I will be sharing all the knowledge that I have gained with you – and maybe a few tales of my adventures along the way. I hope you will enjoy it and share your tales with me.

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Welcome to the Easy Equestrian

Post from: Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports

Welcome to the Easy Equestrian