Monday, November 28, 2011
OOPS!
I've nearly forgotten one of the main reasons why I started this blog - to chronicle my first time adventure into breaking a green horse! Last summer I was blessed with a smart little filly from my mare (Docs Hollywood Poco) and a local stallion (Red E Impression), Rede Hollywood Doll (from now on referred to as Dolly), and I can't be happier (unless she's being a little turd, which she usually is :P)
Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with my goal and post pictures, stories and videos.
Dolly is a purebred (breedingstock) paint with Impressive and Poco Lena lines, to name a few. Her dam was bred specifically for cutting (never happened, she's a lazy old lard) and her sire is an all round horse with foals who exell in many disciplines. I have not decided if there's a particular discipline I want to stick to and train her in (I'm a bit of an all round rider) but at 12 hours old she showed us just how well of a cutting horse she could be, cutting the family dog, no less, and that her amazing sliding stops and turns! She's too smart for her own good, figuring out how to get into the feed room and how to open the gates at 2 months of age, and full of sass...
Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with my goal and post pictures, stories and videos.
Dolly is a purebred (breedingstock) paint with Impressive and Poco Lena lines, to name a few. Her dam was bred specifically for cutting (never happened, she's a lazy old lard) and her sire is an all round horse with foals who exell in many disciplines. I have not decided if there's a particular discipline I want to stick to and train her in (I'm a bit of an all round rider) but at 12 hours old she showed us just how well of a cutting horse she could be, cutting the family dog, no less, and that her amazing sliding stops and turns! She's too smart for her own good, figuring out how to get into the feed room and how to open the gates at 2 months of age, and full of sass...
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Kimberwick bits
A bit featuring a curb strap, D rings and shanks. Because of the shanks, they are typically regarded as a curb bit. Curb action is mild because of the short arms and no lever. They are not widely used as snaffles and pelhams, and are even illegal in some competition classes, such as dressage and hunter jumper. Considered non-classic and are avoided because they may cause the horse to over-flex or learn to lean on the bit, but can be stronger than the snaffle and used on stronger horses. Typically seen on ponies.
Sources:
Wikipedia
bigdweb.com
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) - also known as Peripheral Cushing's Disease and Equine Syndrome X - is a metabolic condition that is increasingly believed to play a roll in laminitis and a result of modern horse keeping caused by the lifestyle keepers have created for domesticated horses. There are many factors that can cause EMS, including cortisol metabolism and adipocyte (fat cell) turnover, but the primary cause is insulin resistance, similar to Type II Diabetes in humans. The hormone insulin is produced in the pancreas to bind onto specific cells to uptake glucose (sugar) levels from the bloodstream and into the stimulated cell. When a horse has a resistance to insulin, the insulin is not taken up as efficiently, causing the pancreas to produce more than the normal amount of insulin, resulting in an insulin imbalance in the bloodstream, trying to keep the blood sugar levels regular.
EMS is typical in horses considered "easy keepers:" those who can thrive efficiently on pasture alone, animals between the ages of 5-15 years, and horse breeds which evolved in harsh climates, such as the Spanish Mustang and Peruvian Pasos. Affected horses tend to be obese and have abnormal fat deposits in neck, shoulders, above the eyes, loin and tail head, even when the rest of their body is in normal condition. They can become pot bellied, polydipsic (displaying excessive thirst), acyclic and lethargic. It initially presents as laminitis, but without the pituitary-ardenal gland axis. Factors that predispose a horse of any breed to EMS are:
DIET:
Horses who are allowed to graze on lush grass and are regularly fed grains. Horses who are fed high protein, startch or sugar diets. Horses, who's intestines evolved to process high levels of fibre, instead need high fibre diets in order to maintain energy. Fibre is typically low in sugars. When the starch-fibre ratio becomes unbalanced, so will the metabolism.
EXCERSISE:
Excersise is crutial to stimulate feed through the intestines, improve digestion, increase circulation, maintain metabolic rates, prevent obesity , blood sugar levels and decrease stress.
STRESS:
Stress heightens the levels of blood sugar by elevating cortisol levels. Frequent causes of stress are irregular feedings, physical pain, confinement, over-training, neglect and emotional distress.
Although EMS can only be managed and not cured, there are many ways to maintain horse's health, ranging from natural remedies, dietary/excersise changes to drugs. There are two drugs commonly used to treat EMS, both originally designed for consumption by humans:
PERGOLIDE:
A drug originally produced for humans suffering Parkinson's Disease, it is now off the market in the U.S for human use after studies revealed a link between the drug and valvular disfucntion.
CYPROHEPTADINE:
A drug that treats a range of symptoms and disorders, like allergies (specifically Hay Fever), nightmares, PTSD, sexual disfunction and clinical vomiting syndrome, to name a few. It has been shown to suppress the growth hormone, cause dizziness, blurred vision, and conspitaton, among others, and also used to treat agressive behavior in domesticated felines.
Dietary strageties (for horses with EMS) include:
EMS is typical in horses considered "easy keepers:" those who can thrive efficiently on pasture alone, animals between the ages of 5-15 years, and horse breeds which evolved in harsh climates, such as the Spanish Mustang and Peruvian Pasos. Affected horses tend to be obese and have abnormal fat deposits in neck, shoulders, above the eyes, loin and tail head, even when the rest of their body is in normal condition. They can become pot bellied, polydipsic (displaying excessive thirst), acyclic and lethargic. It initially presents as laminitis, but without the pituitary-ardenal gland axis. Factors that predispose a horse of any breed to EMS are:
DIET:
Horses who are allowed to graze on lush grass and are regularly fed grains. Horses who are fed high protein, startch or sugar diets. Horses, who's intestines evolved to process high levels of fibre, instead need high fibre diets in order to maintain energy. Fibre is typically low in sugars. When the starch-fibre ratio becomes unbalanced, so will the metabolism.
EXCERSISE:
Excersise is crutial to stimulate feed through the intestines, improve digestion, increase circulation, maintain metabolic rates, prevent obesity , blood sugar levels and decrease stress.
STRESS:
Stress heightens the levels of blood sugar by elevating cortisol levels. Frequent causes of stress are irregular feedings, physical pain, confinement, over-training, neglect and emotional distress.
Although EMS can only be managed and not cured, there are many ways to maintain horse's health, ranging from natural remedies, dietary/excersise changes to drugs. There are two drugs commonly used to treat EMS, both originally designed for consumption by humans:
PERGOLIDE:
A drug originally produced for humans suffering Parkinson's Disease, it is now off the market in the U.S for human use after studies revealed a link between the drug and valvular disfucntion.
CYPROHEPTADINE:
A drug that treats a range of symptoms and disorders, like allergies (specifically Hay Fever), nightmares, PTSD, sexual disfunction and clinical vomiting syndrome, to name a few. It has been shown to suppress the growth hormone, cause dizziness, blurred vision, and conspitaton, among others, and also used to treat agressive behavior in domesticated felines.
Dietary strageties (for horses with EMS) include:
- Restriction of ALL grass grazing
- Low sugar, high fibre hay only
- Elimination of all alfalfa, and all grains, including oats, barely, corn, COB, sweet feed, extruded feeds, complete feeds or anything else with an added sweetner.
- Use of slow feeders which allow horse to eat small amounts throughout the day
- Increase fibre intake by feeding coarse hay, soaked beet pulp or soaked soybean hulls.
- Avoid overusing antibiotics
- Excersise and freedom to move
Natural remedies:
(Please note: these should be used ONLY after the consultation and permission from your vet.)
- Give good quality probiotic daily for 1-2 months to replenish healthy bacteria culture in horse'shindgut
- Use a colon cleanser like psyllium seed (not husk), slippery elm, or aloe vera to remove overload of mal-digested material, bacteria, toxins and acids, daily for 6-8 weeks, following dosaging system on product
- Feed vitamin B6 (500-900mgs depending on weight) daily for up to four months
- Feed Siberian ginseng powder in presence of Cushing's two or three tsps a day for for months to strengthen ardenal glands, support pituitary gland, stabilize blood sugar etc
- Yucca root for laminitis and inflammation to relieve discomfort as long as required
SOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equine_metabolic_syndrome
http://www.thehorse.com/Free-Reports/View.aspx?n=equine-metabolic-syndrome&id=23
Horse-Canada(.com) magazine, November/December issue, Marijke van de Water B.Sc, DHMS
IMAGES:
janicekritchevskyvmd.com.p11.hostingprod.com (1)
completerider.com (2)
http://www.tonette.co.uk/photo_album1.html (3, 4)
A few paragraphs dedicated to my "why."
When I was a sixth grader, as if overnight, I became OBSESSED with horses. When I opened my mouth, it was to say something about horses. I can't remember speaking or thinking of anything else. I wasn't particulary quiet, so I think the pope turning my mom (and anyone else that was within earshot) into a saint is the right thing to do. I drew barn and pasture plans by the dozen, I came up with names. I checked out every horse book in my library, and even those books that go over basic horse care or kids.
It was because of these books (but mostly because of me being a pre-teen/teen) that I thought I had it all figured and that I was god's gift to horses and that not an ounce of attention should be paid during my theory lessons at the stable. I see the error in my ways now, oh my.
So, now that I am a 20 year old trying to carve out a niche as an Arabian breeder, I realize that the learning curve doesn't end and that I have a hell of a long way to go! The best way of learning for me is to gather information and write a thorough report. And then I thought... hey, why not post it online to share? And that is how this story has begun. I invite you all to learn and share with me! This blog is not dedicated to any particular topic or discipline, nor is it entirely serious business either. So please, follow or bookmark, share your knowledge, send your own articles and learn, learn, learn!
It was because of these books (but mostly because of me being a pre-teen/teen) that I thought I had it all figured and that I was god's gift to horses and that not an ounce of attention should be paid during my theory lessons at the stable. I see the error in my ways now, oh my.
So, now that I am a 20 year old trying to carve out a niche as an Arabian breeder, I realize that the learning curve doesn't end and that I have a hell of a long way to go! The best way of learning for me is to gather information and write a thorough report. And then I thought... hey, why not post it online to share? And that is how this story has begun. I invite you all to learn and share with me! This blog is not dedicated to any particular topic or discipline, nor is it entirely serious business either. So please, follow or bookmark, share your knowledge, send your own articles and learn, learn, learn!
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