"THE HIGH POINT" Rockin' Riders 4-H Horse Club December 11, 2010 Issue #3

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE ARTICLE - "Winter Care For Older Horses"
WHAT'S NEW - "County 4-H Service Project: KIDS HELPING KIDS"
HORSE SENSE - "Thrush"
BREED OF THE MONTH - "The Friesian"
TASTY TREATS - "Whynnie's Wonderful Yumyums"
QUESTION OF THE MONTH - "How To Measure Horse Blankets"

FEATURE ARTICLE

WINTER CARE FOR OLDER HORSES

Owners need to consider how they will meet their older horses' (or their younger, hard-keeping horses') nutrient requirements during the winter. Providing adequate energy is the prime concern, and how you will provide those extra calories depends on available feed and each horse's individual needs.

A good place to start is assessing your horse's body condition score (BCS). Horses with a BCS of greater than 5 will have some extra fat stores that can provide insulation and serve as a readily available source of energy when the daily ration falls short as the temperature drops.

In developing your feeding strategy, consider increasing your horse's hay intake to meet his energy needs. Hay is digested in the gastrointestinal tract by fermentation, which produces heat that the horse can use to maintain core body temperature. There is a limit as to how much hay he can consume daily. In most cases, he will consume 2.0-2.5% of his body weight per day. If he can't consume enough hay, then adding grain to the diet will also provide calories.

Temperatures well below freezing, or wet snow or freezing rain conditions, greatly increase a horse's energy requirements, especially if he's maintained outside. Rain and wind can cause the horse to lose the insulating capacity of his hair coat, and he'll use body reserves to maintain core body temperature, often resulting in weight loss. Owners must increase the daily feed to meet these increased demands, but they play catch up with the feed unless they can accurately predict the weather or can put horses in the barn when things turn nasty.

Assess BCS regularly to ensure you've provided enough feed to maintain weight; also check BCS of pastured horses after a particularly cold, wet spell, when they can lose weight rapidly. Be thorough: get your hands on each horse, because a winter hair coat can hide a lot. You don't want to find an overly thin or fat horse when he sheds his winter coat in the spring.

Conduct an inventory of how much hay you have on hand (in tons, not bales) and its nutrient content. Consult your county extension agent about hay sampling and testing. Analysis will give you an estimate of energy content, and it will help you determine how to supplement effectively.

Ensure older horses and hard keepers have some form of shelter to protect them from the winter precipitation and wind. For the older horse or the hard keeper, losing weight is not an option, as getting that condition back during the winter is difficult and often impossible.

Consider supplementing the older, harder-keeping horse's high-quality hay with a suitable concentrate, such as a senior horse feed that has been specifically formulated to meet the older horse's nutrient needs.

In addition, adequate water intake ensures adequate feed intake. Keep the water source warm to prevent freezing. Researchers have noted that water warmed to 39°F (4°C) resulted in greater water intake. If the horse drinks less, he might eat less, or, more importantly, he's at an increased risk of impaction colic.

For horses unable to consume enough long-stem hay, consider adding beet pulp to the diet. This is an easily digested fiber source that can help meet the horse's energy needs. For other hard keepers, you might need to supplement the diet with vegetable oil to increase calorie intake.

Consult your veterinarian or equine nutritionist with specific questions.

(Reprinted from www.thehorse.com and The Kentucky Horse Council.)

WHAT'S NEW

KIDS HELPING KIDS

Rockwall County 4-H 2011 Service Project

MISSION: To improve and enrich the quality of life for children of the Navajo Nation by partnering with local community groups to obtain donations of used and/or new children’s books.

HISTORY: The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian reservation in the United States, encompassing over 27,000 square miles or 16.2 million acres in northern Arizona, New Mexico and Southern Utah. Many of the 255,000 Diné, as the Navajo call themselves, live in high-desert communities so remote that they are accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles. Most of these communities offer few employment opportunities and many families struggle to survive in the face of extreme poverty, substandard housing, sporadic medical care, limited educational opportunities and isolation. More than 50% of Navajo children drop out of school and fewer than 7% of adult Navajos have college degrees.

SIGNIFICANCE: Reading is an important activity that no child should be deprived of during the early years of his/her life. When children read, their vocabulary expands. Reading stimulates children’s imagination, accelerates their emotional development, fosters natural curiosity and increases their knowledge. Reading improves a child’s attention span and can successfully replace TV as a source of entertainment while helping children utilize their time in a more constructive manner. Developing the habit of reading regularly from an early age helps children cope more effectively with the rigors of future academic education and enhances their chances of getting a better job later in life.

BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING: Youth who volunteer say the benefits received include: learning to respect others; learning to be helpful and kind; developing leadership skills, becoming more patient and a having a better understanding of citizenship. Youth who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, graduate, vote, and are 50% less likely to abuse alcohol, cigarettes, become pregnant, or engage in other destructive behavior.

TEXAS 4-H: For more than 103 years, the 4-H Program of Texas has been engaging youth in activities that develop leadership, initiative, self-reliance, compassion, respect for cultural diversity and sportsmanship while teaching valuable life skills. With projects ranging from communication to community service and from goal setting to leadership, the benefits obtained from participating in the 4-H Program are priceless.

HORSE SENSE

THRUSH

Thrush is an anaerobic bacterial infection that slowly eats away at the horse's hoof tissue. "It's characterized by black, malodorous necrotic (dead) material or exudate in the central or collateral sulci of the frog (the grooves adjacent to and in the middle of the triangle-shaped frog)," says Steve Adair, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of equine surgery at the University of Tennessee.

Early stages of thrush only involve superficial tissues and don't cause lameness. But if ignored, the infection can advance into sensitive tissues and internal structures of the foot, such as the digital cushion, hoof wall, and heel bulb, warns Ashley G. Boyle, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor of medicine in the section of field service at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.

Causes

The primary factors favoring thrush are excessive hoof contact with moisture and a lack of regular foot care, either of which can occur when autumn rains and cold weather cause an owner to be less diligent about mucking the stall, picking out hooves, or turning out/exercising the horse (movement across dry ground produces a scouring action on hooves).

"Any area that stays wet, muddy, or is contaminated with urine and feces is a place that can harbor the bacteria that cause thrush," Adair says. "Swampy land, ponds, and streams provide an area that will stay wet and muddy. A common watering trough is another area. Structures that provide common shade areas or where horses can congregate will become wet and unsanitary."

Although less common, poor hoof conformation can predispose some horses to thrush, even when living in clean, dry conditions. States Boyle, "Certain breeds, such as Saddlebreds and other gaited breeds, have been found to be predisposed due to the conformation of their feet (deep grooves associated with the frog). Narrow heel conformation can result in a deep-central sulcus that extends into the heel bulbs as well." (Deeper sulci receive less air, creating a more thrush-friendly environment.)

Treatment

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs (discharge, location, loss of frog) and environmental conditions. In mild to moderate cases, diagnosis and treatment can be handled by the owner, Boyle says. "More severe cases in which the central sulcus and the crack between the heel bulbs are painful, and the horse may or may not be lame, often require additional attention from a veterinarian."

Steps to resolve thrush include:

1. "First and foremost, problem environments must be cleaned up," emphasizes Adair. "Clean the stalls and change bedding regularly. Fence off ponds and streams. Scrape and regularly clean common loafing areas (beneath trees, shade structures). Construct watering facilities so there is proper drainage."

If you can't immediately correct the horse's environment, move the horse to a clean, dry area during the treatment period, says Adair, or protect the feet with boots.

2. Clean feet daily. "Use gauze like floss to clean out the central sulcus," says Adair.

3. The owner or veterinarian should carefully trim away any dead or loose frog with a hoof knife. This prevents trapping of the bacteria and exposes the tissues to air (and therefore oxygen, limiting bacterial growth), explains Boyle.

4. Treat the affected frog and sulci of the frog with topical agents. Adair and Boyle recommend applying dilute bleach (one part bleach to 10 parts water) or dilute chlorhexidine (eight parts chlorhexidine to two parts water) or povidone iodine (one to two parts povidone iodine to eight to nine parts water). Do this daily, then decrease to once or twice a week until the condition is eliminated. Do not use dilute formaldehyde or tincture of iodine, as they can damage healthy tissue.

Also apply a drying agent such as copper naphthenate (Kopertox) or an isopropanel formalin, iodine complex, and gentian-violet combination (Thrush Buster). Depending on severity, these can be used daily, every few days, or weekly.

"Make sure these drying agents do not touch the more sensitive tissues of the coronet band and haired skin," cautions Boyle, "as they are caustic and drying."

5. If the horse is not lame, provide exercise to clean the foot naturally.

6. "For severe cases, pack the deep sulci with cotton soaked with honey or sugar and betadine solution on a daily basis," re-commends Boyle. "The high concentration of sugar acts as an antiseptic." Topical or systemic antibiotics administered under veterinary direction might be necessary for severe cases.

7. With appropriate treatment you should notice improvement in mild cases within a few days, and the thrush should be resolved in two or three weeks. "Horses with deep cracks between the heel bulbs may take a few months to resolve," Boyle states.

Take-Home Message

In most cases thrush is preventable by maintaining dry footing, clean hooves, and regular turnout or exercise. For horses whose underlying hoof conformation predisposes them to thrush, couple good management techniques with regular trimming of the foot and frog.

(Reprinted from www.thehorse.com)

BREED OF THE MONTH

THE FRIESIAN

The Friesian horse is very charismatic. His gentle and willing nature provides a strong base for versatile training and his intelligence leads to a rewarding partnership between horse and owner. He can be used in many different disciplines (dressage, saddle seat, pleasure riding, trail, pleasure driving, combined driving, etc.) as well as, exhibition and light draft work. His handsome appearance and animated action provide a noble “presence” in any show ring, parade, or simply in your own paddock.

The Friesian horse is unique, truly a breed to be proud of. It developed from a very old breed which was inherent to all of western Europe. It's the only horse native to Holland. Historically speaking, the Friesian horse has been influenced by eastern bloodlines and has often been threatened with extinction. Thanks to the single-mindedness and dauntless dedication of true horse lovers, one can still appreciate the many facets of the Friesian horse today.

Characteristics

Without a doubt, the black coat of the Friesian will impress you at first sight. Bays and grays occurred earlier in the breed, but now black is the only recognized color. A small white forehead star is also allowed. Other obvious characteristics are the long, heavy mane and tail and the Shire-like fetlock hair.

Use

The Friesian horse is enjoying a revival. He is a noteworthy sight in the show ring. His shiny black coat, flying mane and tail, and high action form an imposing image. The Friesian is, by nature, a talented show horse.

Harness shows

The aim of showing in harness is to bring out the best in one's horse. The horse should be balanced in a fast, high-action trot, roomy from the shoulder and powerful in the hindquarters. The total picture is one of lively harmony, with ears pricked attentively forward. Harness events in shows are usually driven with a high-wheeled gig, the "sjees", for singles, pairs, and tandems. Driving with four-wheeled show carts is also gaining popularity.

Recreational and Competition Driving

Driving one or more Friesian horses has become increasingly popular in the past few years. Tough international competitions are only for the few, but there are many who derive relaxation and pleasure from driving Friesians for recreation. He who wants to perfect his driving and test his skill against others, can do so at the many dressage driving events.

Riding

The Friesian horse has a talent for dressage. The foundation lies in his intelligence, willingness to learn, and readiness to perform. His pleasant character and his gentleness make the Friesian an attractive mount for competition as well as for recreational purposes. The riding club "De Oorsprong" (the source), from Huis ter Heide near St. Nicolaasga in Friesland, has been using only Friesian horses since 1937 in order to advertise their abilities as riding horses.

Tilting at the ring

This traditional sport is still enthusiastically practiced throughout Holland. One can see Friesians pulling a wide assortment of carriages at these events.

Quadrille

The Friesian quadrille is a well-appreciated show number. It is comprised of 8 sjees, drawn by Friesians, driven by gentlemen accompanied by a lady, both dressed in traditional costumes like those worn in the 1850's. Complex patterns are driven, showing the drivers' trust in the obedience of their horses.

(Reprinted from the Friesian Horse Association of North America, www.fhana.com)

TASTY TREATS

WHYNNIE'S WONDERFUL YUMYUMS
By Shelby C. and WhynnyMay

What You Will Need:

1. 1 cup flour
2. 1/2 cup molasses
3. 1/2 cup vegetable oil
4. 1 cup sugar
5. Any extra treats such as apple/oats/carrots/peppermints crushed/grated

How To Fix It:

Preheat oven for 350 degrees F. First, mix sugar, flour, and crushed/grated goods. Then add liquid goods. Stir until well blended. The mix should be sticky, but not too runny. If it is too runny, add flour, if it is to thick, add a little more molasses and oil. Cook for 10-15 min. Apply more time if it's necessary. They should be crunchy when you are done, let cool in fridge.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Trevor wants to get a horse blanket for Daisy but doesn't know what size to get.

How to Properly Measure and Fit a Horse Blanket

You want your horse to be comfortable and safe in his stable blanket. It is easy to get the proper fit with a little attention to detail. An improper fitting blanket will cause wither and shoulder rubs; a blanket that is too large can pose danger from straps and excess material. So you want to get it right.The process is simple and straightforward.

Measure Your Horse

Find a level spot and have an assistant hold your horse. Use a flexible cloth measuring tape.

* Stand your horse squarely on all four legs and face him to the left.
* Hold the measuring tape at the center of your horse’s chest at the point where neck and chest meet, and
* Keeping your tape level, measure around the widest part of the shoulder and along the barrel and around the widest part of the hindquarter - to the side of the tail.
* Your tape should remain tight and level against all measuring points of the horse.

The blanket size for your horse is the resulting measurement from point A to Point B. If you measure 74 inches from A to B, then your horse wears a Size 74. If your measurement is an odd number, use the next highest even number.

Fit the Blanket on Your Horse

You have purchased a stable blanket in your horse’s correct size. It’s easy to dress him in this new blanket, have him look classy, and make him comfortable.

1. Fasten the blanket, in the case of an open front blanket, so that the chest straps allow some fabric overlap and the blanket back falls at the top of the tail. It should fit comfortably across the shoulders and be neither be too loose nor too tight.

2. Your horse blanket may have bias or straight surcingles or it might have just a single surcingle. In the case of bias surcingles, cross them under your horse’s belly. Each of the three surcingle styles (straight, bias, single) should be fastened and adjusted to permit a hand’s width between the straps and the horse’s belly.

3. To fasten the blanket’s leg straps, pass the right leg strap between the hind legs and secure at the left D-ring. Likewise, pass the left leg strap between the hind legs, cross through the right strap, and fasten to the right D-ring. Finally, adjust the leg straps to allow one hand width between your horse’s thighs and each leg strap. You may also parallel fasten your leg straps – left strap to left D-ring and right strap to right D-ring. Be certain, if you use this method, that the blanket fits securely and the hand’s width rule is met.

Common Problems of Incorrectly Fitted Blankets

A blanket that is too big or too small may cause a lot of rubbing. Because the horse is uncomfortable, he may actually rid himself of the blanket.

When the neck of a blanket is too large, it will hang lower on the horse’s back. This causes rubbing and consequent slippage. When the horse rolls or stands up after rolling, there is great danger that he will step on the blanket material.

The blanket is too large when it extends beyond the top of the tail. A blanket should reach just over the top of the tail. If it does not reach that far, it is too small.

It is important to allow a hand’s width between each leg strap and the horse’s thighs and it is equally important to allow the hand’s width between belly and surcingles. When straps and surcingles are too loose, the danger is that the horse may get his legs trapped in them. Leg straps secured too tightly will cause rubs.

Remember, if your horse is comfortable in his properly fitted blanket, he will be much happier to stay dressed.

(Reprinted from DressYourHorse.com)

"THE HIGH POINT" Rockin' Riders 4-H Horse Club October 28, 2008 Issue #2

Welcome!

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE ARTICLE - "What part of 'Whoa' don't you understand?!"
WHAT'S NEW - "Quiz Bowl Questions"
HORSE SENSE - "Tack Talk - It's a Cinch"
BREED OF THE MONTH - "The Tennessee Walking Horse"
TASTY TREATS - "Argo's Day Treats"
QUESTION OF THE MONTH - "Why do horses need salt?"

FEATURE ARTICLE

WHAT PART OF 'WHOA' DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!

By: Joanne Oemig

Whoa. A universal word horses understand. Well, most of them understand it. They may choose to ignore it, but they understand it. Spencer doesn’t understand it.

Spencer is a seventeen-year old Canadian Thoroughbred who at some point in his career as a baby horse failed to hear the word whoa. The universal equine vocabulary bypassed his growing brain cells, but he understands other words. He’s compliant when he hears “would you like to go for some grass?” and will leave without me if I’m not quite ready. Another favorite phrase: “time for carrots”. He immediately heads for my tack trunk and begins an in depth search. But whoa somehow got missed.

Whoa is an important word. Whoa is the Supreme Commander of Equine Vernacular. It means “stop whatever behavior you are presently engaged in”. Without whoa the rider is left with pitiful alternatives such as screaming for help or resorting to profanity.

Fortunately, there is an alternate phrase that Spencer has learned. “Stay there.” Now, that makes no sense whatsoever when we’re doing our workout and I’m asking for a downward transition, say from a trot to a walk. But stay there works well on the ground. Addressing a 17hand, full-bodied (plump) Thoroughbred in the manner I would a dog is a little strange, but I have adjusted to it over the years.

When Spencer and I first found each other, I tried to use whoa. It didn’t work. Out of desperation one day, I shook my finger at him and said stay there. That worked. At first I thought it was my body language. Later I realized I could say stay there in any tone of voice without hand gestures and get the same result. He stops what he’s doing and stays there. Amazing.

An interesting episode with the horseshoer (farrier) proved Spencer’s command of the English language. Spencer is a solid citizen who doesn’t need cross ties and other horse paraphernalia for routine acts like grooming and shoeing. I park him in a nice, shady spot, slip the lead rope over his neck so he won’t step on it, and he stands quietly for his shoeing. On this particular occasion he tried to follow me when I needed to fetch something from my tack trunk, leaving the farrier holding an imaginary left hind hoof. The farrier said “whoa”. Spencer kept walking. “WHOA”. “He doesn’t understand whoa”, I said. “Try stay there”. The farrier didn’t believe me, but he tried it. Spencer froze in his tracks.

I can leave this horse in the middle of anywhere, tell him ‘stay there’, and walk away. He’d still be there an hour later. I can’t get my Golden Retriever to do that. Maybe I should try whoa.

WHAT'S NEW

Each month, the High Point Newsletter will have a set of questions that might be used at the State Horse Quiz Bowl Competition at the end of the year. Bring your answers to the next meeting and everyone who answers them all correctly will be placed in a drawing to receive a prize. The answers will come from your 4-H project books. By the end of the year we will have a quiz bowl competition at our last two meetings!

QUIZ BOWL QUESTIONS

Genetics—Colors and Breeding

1. Name the five basic horse coat colors.
   
2. In addition to the five basic horse coat colors, what are the five major variations to these colors?
   
3. What is said to be the hardest color to describe, but the easiest to distinguish?
   
4. A sire’s offspring are referred to as what?
   
5. What is the male parent or father?
   
6. What is the female parent or mother?
   
7. What is the scientific study of how characteristics are passed from parents to offspring?
   
8. Name the two types of cell division.
   
9. What breed describes the ideal color as that of a newly minted coin?
   
10. What are threadlike structures that appear in pairs or twins in body cells?
    
    
    
    

    HORSE SENSE

    
    TACK TALK - IT'S A CINCH
    
    When you go to a tack store, you’ll see every shape, form and fashion of a cinch. The biggest thing is that your cinch is sturdy and safe, not worn or deteriorated. Beyond that, the different types of cinches are:
    
    
    1. Corded cinches come in a straight or wide center style and double woven. We generally call these “roper’ cinches. They vary in length from 22" for a very small horse to 38" for a very big horse. The mohair blend is better than the plain mohair because of how much it stretches. Stainless steel buckles are better than steel or brass due to corrosion.
       
    2. The leather cinch has recently become popular in the pleasure industry, and it is the traditional cinch used by English riders. There is a good, soft piece of leather next to the horse and it’s easily maintain by simply wiping it down.
       
    3. The nylon cinch with felt lining. There is no stretch; the felt gives a cushion to the horse but like the leather, it does not breathe.
       
    4. The neoprene cinch has also become very popular. It has a soft layer next to the horse, usually with a flap that keeps the cinch buckle off the horse. This a good cinch to use in a barn where you’re riding a lot of different horses. It’s easy to wash and disinfect so you don’t spread germs from horse to horse.
       
    5. The nylon cinch with synthetic wool lining is very soft on the horse, but like the leather and neoprene cinches, it does not breath. Corded cinches are the only ones that breathe to give air to the horse.
       
    6. On your cinch buckles, you want a round one with no center bar and one that doesn’t have any sharp corners sticking out. Center bar buckles are very dangerous and you rarely see them any more.
       Source: America’s Horse, June 2008
       
       
       

       BREED OF THE MONTH

       
       
       
       
       THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE

       
       The Tennessee Walking Horse is anything but a slow horse. They have, among their three gaits, a running walk, which is as fast and smooth as running water. Thoroughbred champions can run the mile in about a minute and a half, and Standardbred champions trot or pace a mile in about two minutes. Then they are through for the rest of the day. But the average Tennessee Walking Horse can do the same running walk for several hours, traveling from six to eight miles an hour. They are not bred for a flash of speed but for sustained travel in comfort to him and his rider. The running walk is the normal gait for the Tennessee Walker. He performs it with lots of animation. His head nods in rhythm with his feet, his ears swing, and sometimes his teeth snap which gives the sound of a Spanish castanet. Spectators often draw back in alarm at the noise, not realizing that the horse is merely moving in the gait with every muscle he has. This gait is so steady that the rider can hold a glass of water on the palm of his hand without spilling a drop.( I want to try it!) The foundation of the running walk is the slower flat foot walk with the same trotting action. In this gait, the horse is traveling 4 or 5 miles an hour. He nods his head to make the relaxed rhythm which makes the gait nice and easy for him and his rider. The fastest of the three gaits is the rocking chair canter. It has a high, bounding, elastic movement. They can canter straight between corn rows or around an apple barrel and never miss a beat. Where did the Tennessee Walker originate? About 200 years ago, Americans rode over the mountains from Virginia and the Carolinas, into the area know as Tennessee. With them they carried a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other. They must have been very good riders and steered with their knees and heels! They rode sturdy stock horses, Thoroughbreds, Morgans, and soon the Standardbreds came. The middle basin of Tennessee was soon a melting pot in which these four horses mingled to make one large family. From each breed a trait was contributed. The result was a breed of horses with distinctive characteristics. From the Thoroughbred, the characteristic of stamina; the Saddlebred, comfortable gaits; the Hambletonian blood contributed stride; the Morgan blood, a quiet disposition and gentle manners. In order to form the registry, one lone stallion was selected. His name, Black Allan. He was the great grandson of Rydyk’s Hambletonian, and his mother was the great-great-great granddaughter of Justin Morgan. He came from two great American breeds. His mother was a famous trotter and everyone expected him to become one as well. However, he wanted to pace. So in disgrace, he was sent to the back country and traded for cows and donkeys. Yet through him, more than any other stallions, came the most beautiful and true Tennessee Walkers.
       Today, the Walking Horse is no longer only found in Tennessee but in most states. The offspring of Black Allan are everywhere. They are pleasure horses used by many different people. From the businessman who want an easy mount to others who want a companion. They are very smooth and fun to ride.
       
       Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association
       
       
       

       TASTY TREATS

       
       ARGO'S DAY TREATS
       
       Ingredients:
       
       1 packet of Quaker oatmeal (dry)
       1 handful of Sweet Feed
       2 spoonfuls Applesauce
       1 spoonful Honey or Molasses
       1 handful Cherrios
       4 Sugar cubes
       a pinch of Brown Sugar
       ½ cup Water
       
       Method:
       You can mix this right in your horse’s feed bucket. Mix the oatmeal with the water. Add sweet feed and applesauce. Stir together. Add the Cheerios, brown sugar, and honey or molasses. Mix again and place sugar cubes on top. This serves one horse.
       
       
       

       QUESTION OF THE MONTH

       
       Alyson asks "why do horses need salt?"
       
       Minerals for Horses
       
       The primary minerals needed in horse nutrition are salt, calcium and phosphorous. No other animal faces a critical need for salt like the working horse. A horse may lose up to 75 grams daily (454 grams per pound) through sweat and urine. For this reason, salt should be available free choice to the horse at all times. Calcium and phosphorous are the other two critical minerals needed in horse nutrition, since most other minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sulphur, copper, cobalt and zinc, which are required by the horse, are only needed in small amounts and are usually provided by normal feedstuffs. Trace mineralized salt should be used with horses. Therefore, the primary concern in mineral nutrition is to provide adequate levels of calcium and phosphorous in approximately a 1.3 to 1 ratio. Proper calcium-phosphorous ratios can be obtained with common feedstuffs by using a combination of grain and hay. In rations where only forage is utilized, an adequate calcium-phosphorous ratio is normally maintained and no supplementation is indicated. However, if alfalfa or lespedeza is the primary forage source, excessive calcium would be fed and abnormal bone growth in colts may occur. Therefore, limiting alfalfa to 1/3 of the hay source is recommended
       
       
       

       
       

       2008 - 2009 Rockin' Riders 4-H Horse Club, Rockwall County, TX

       
       

"THE HIGH POINT" Rockin' Riders 4-H Horse Club August 26, 2008 Issue #1

Welcome 4-Hers,

We hope you will enjoy this first edition of the Rockin' Riders 4-H Horse Club Newsletter, "The High Point". We need your input! What kind of things would you like to see included in the newsletter? Do you have a particular horse you would like us to feature? Do you have a training issue that needs to be addressed? It can be about anything relating to 4-H. Please call or email with your ideas. We appreciate your input!!

The Staff

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE - "Molly"
WHAT'S NEW
HORSE SENSE - "The Correct Bit"
BREED OF THE MONTH - "The Spanish Mustang"
TASTY TREATS - "Apple Explosion"
QUESTION CORNER - "Saddle Safety"

FEATURE

MOLLY

This is really touching! It is an amazing story of an animal's understanding, it's will to live and go forward even in a most difficult time.

Meet Molly. She's a gray speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Katrina hit southern Louisiana. She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier, and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected and her vet went to LSU for help. But LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight, and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there.

'This was the right horse and the right owner,' Moore insists. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood (that) she was in trouble. The other important factor, according to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana . The little pony gained weight, her mane felt a comb . A human prosthesis designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports. And she asks for it! She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too.' And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse', she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people. And she had a good time doing it.

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life', Moore said, 'She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.' 'She's not back to normal,' Barca concluded, 'but she's going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.'

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. This shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind!

WHAT'S NEW

We Are!! Please check the website for meeting dates, times and upcoming events.

HORSE SENSE

DOES YOUR HORSE HAVE THE RIGHT BIT?

How do you know if your horse has the right bit? If your horse does the following, his/her bit is comfortable:

He travels in a round balanced frame.
His mouth is quiet and remains closed when he feels pressure.
He carries his head at a 90 degree angle to the ground.
He remains relaxed and is willing to obey when you make contact with the rein.
Then Your Horse likes his bit!

How to tell if she/he doesn’t:

He keeps his neck elevated.
Opens his mouth or sticks his tongue over the bit when pressure is applied.
Carries his head above or below the vertical.
He is tense or frightened when you apply rein pressure.
If you answered yes to these questions, your horse is not happy with his bit or it is uncomfortable and needs a different one.

BEST BIT FITTING

How do you know if your horse's bit fits properly? Here are some pointers on making sure it does.

Snaffle Bit: the bit should rest against the corners of the mouth without creating a full wrinkle. This allows the horse to pick up the bit and hold it comfortably. It also prevents the bit from having constant pressure on his lips. The horse can feel a distinct release when the reins are loosened.

Curb Bit: is heavier and can move around in the horses mouth if it is too low. The curb bit should be set with one full wrinkle at the side of the mouth. The width of the bit is correct when the rings or shanks come in contact with the corners of the lips without pressing inward. A bit that is too narrow will uncomfortably press against your horse's teeth. If the bit is too wide it will slide around, irritating the horse.

The wrong bit in your horse's mouth can damage his mouth. If your horse fights the bit that you are using, don’t try using a harsher bit. A harsher bit will only intimidate your horse into being submissive. It could also create pain and fear which will cause more problems.

So having the bit fit properly not only helps you to have a happy and comfortable horse, it also betters the communication between the horse and rider giving you more enjoyable rides. No one likes an irritable horse. So make your horse happy by insuring that his bit is comfortable for him.

BREED OF THE MONTH

THE SPANISH MUSTANG

The Spanish Mustang dates back to the time of the Conquistadors. Today, however, they are a rare breed. When Christopher Columbus sailed to the new world, a large number of Spanish horses were brought. In years to come, the Spaniards would bring large numbers of horses as well. The Spanish Mustangs are small, athletic and very intelligent horses. Numbers of Spanish Mustangs escaped or were freed and formed small herds in remote areas of North America, primarily in the Northwest and West. There are still herds of Mustangs that are protected legally by the Wild Horse Act: the Sulphur in southwest Utah, the Kiger in Oregon, and the Pryor in Wyoming and Montana. By the late 1800’s, many of the original bloodlines had been destroyed. The U.S. government forced Native Americans onto reservations, destroying many more horses in the process. The once pure Spanish feral herds were now improved with the addition of draft and European horses. Because of their small height, they were considered too small for Calvary use and they were replaced slowly by taller and heavier breeds. Only a handful of horses remained. Through the Native Americans concern, the Spanish Mustang was preserved. In the early 1900’s, Robert Brislawn noted the strengths of the mustangs and by the mid 1920’s efforts were underway to preserve them on a national level. In 1957, he had enough quality horses that he began the Spanish Mustang Registry (SMR), which is now the oldest registry in the United States. The feral horse herds today have few pure Spanish horses left in them. There are about 4,000 Spanish Mustangs registered today. They continue to increase in number. The Colors include black, bay, chestnut, and varieties of dun. There are also buckskin, palomino, cream, roan and white, gray, overo and calico. They range in height from 13.2 to 14.2 hands, and weigh about 700 to 800 pounds. They are used for dressage, speed events, ranch work, cutting, team penning, endurance riding and more.

The Spanish Mustang Registry

TASTY TREATS

In this section of the newsletter we will feature a horse treat each month. This month's treat is:

Apple Explosion

1 cup oatmeal
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
2 spoonfuls molasses
1/2 cup water
1/4 diced apple

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in order listed excluding the apple. Grab some batter and stick a piece of the apple into the batter so it cannot be seen from the outside. Do this to every piece of apple, and place them on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
*Tell us if your horse enjoys this treat!

QUESTION CORNER

In this section we will have questions asked by readers. They can range from having to do with horses and ponies, to tack & feed, or barns & equipment. Anything that relates to the 4-H Horse Club can be asked. This month we are answering a question asked by Sarah. She asked:

"How do you know if your saddle is secure?”

Your saddle should be placed slightly behind the horses withers and the girth should be placed underneath the horses’ stomach and fastened tightly. When mounting, if the saddle slides under the horse, it is not properly secured. The girth should be tight. You should not be able to put your fist under it. Some horses will inflate their stomachs while you are tightening the girth so it is always a good idea to check the girth after you have walked the horse for a few minutes.