Skip to content

Keeping horses cool in the hot summer

When the humidex begins to reach above the 100*f mark, you know it’s hot out. The air gets still and heavy, and it seems like there is no escape from the hot temperatures. But what about your horse? While you can use air conditioning and hide indoors, the indoors may not offer much relief for your horse.

Here are some tips to help your horse stay cool this summer:

Access to Water

Horses need to have access to cool water at all times. To avoid heat exaustion, horses need to stay hydrated at all times. Be sure the water is as fresh and clean as possible, as many horses will avoid warm, contaminated water even when they are thirsty. Ponies and foals may not be able to reach into deep water tubs unless they are topped up, so be sure to monitor water levels every day. While indoors, if you are finding you have a horse that is not drinking as much as they should, add a cup or two to their bucket to encourage them to drink.
Shade from the Sun

Standing outside on a sweltering hot day will cause your horse to sweat excessively, and this will cause important nutrients your body need to function. Shade can come from a run-in shelter, trees or other large structures. Horses may fight over protection from the elements (in any season) so try to maximize shelter space to avoid skirmishes in the field which could lead to injury.

Change your Barn Routine

Many owners elect to leave horse in during the heat of the day and turn them out at nighttime. This can be done gradually, such as turning your horses out later in the day and bringing them in later, until they have completely adjusted to evening turnout. Before turning horses out at night, check with your local wildlife office to ensure there are no predators in your area that may attempt to hunt your horses. Many farm owners find a donkey is enough to keep the odd coyote away. During certain times of year, be aware that bugs can be heavy during twilight hours, so use flyspray or turn out accordingly.

Avoiding Riding in the Heat

When your horse sweats, he loses valuable electrolytes through sweat. Many riders add electrolytes to water buckets after riding or a horse show. This will replenish your horse of the sodium chloride he or she has lost. When training, do not ride during the hottest hours of the day (most weather websites provide hour-by-hour breakdowns of the daily temperatures). Opt to ride during early morning or late evening, when temperatures tend to be low.

A bath is a great way to cool your horse down.

Keep White Marks from Turning Pink

For horses with lots of white, consider applying sunscreen to delicate areas such as around the nose and eyes. Some horses may even get burnt along their withers and back if they are clipped closely.  Use a sunscreen formulated for babies, as that tends to be gentler on their skin.

Protect Against Flies

Certain times of year can bring droves of flies and other biting insects to your barn. Excessive bugs will irrate your horses, leave welts on their skin and in general will make them miserable. Use the appropriate protection such as fly masks, fly sheets and fly spray to protect your horses. Good stable management will also reduce bugs, so keep your barn clean and tidy and open windows and doors to get as much airflow circulating as possible. Some owners feel garlic or other supplements to reduce your horse’s attractiveness to biting bugs.

Improve Barn Circulation

By opening windows and doors, even the hottest barn can offer some relief from the heat. Many barns use fans with sealed motors to prevents dust and debris from causing malfunctioning in the motor (which has been linked to barn fires). Avoid overheating circuits or plugging in fans overnight, as they could be a safety hazard. Do your research on suitable fans before purchasing one for your barn.

Sponge or Bathe Your Horse

A nice cool (not cold) sponge bath or hosing can make many horses feel better. Be sure to avoid getting water in the eyes, ears or nose. Focus on the legs, neck, barrel and hindquarters.

It’s great to enjoy the summer weather, but in excessive heat you need to ensure your horse is staying as cool and hydrated as possible.

Posted in Useful. Tagged with , .

By admin
August 10, 2010

No comments

Young owner fights to save disfigured foal’s life

What a sad story. In the Daily Mail newspaper out of the UK, young Maddison Biddlecombe is trying to save the life of her disfigured foal Diego. He has an abnormality called Wry Nose Syndrome which interferes with his ability to breathe and eat. Veterinarians fear that as he gets older, he will starve because he will not be able to graze or eat properly.

Young Maddison wants to save Diego's life

While Maddison is only 6-years-old, she is trying to raise the money to give Diego an operation that could save his life. Despite other horse owners who have advised Maddison’s parents to put him down, the young girl is fighting to get him the operation so he can live a long and productive life.

Read more about the story at DailyNews.com.

Posted in Interesting. Tagged with , , .

By admin
June 22, 2010

No comments

Joint disease: Adequan, Legend and more…

Joint disease typically starts very insidiously, and can be missed by even the most attentive owner. Some horses are more stoic than others, and a small mis-step can turn into front or hind end lameness. There are a variety of degenerative joint diseases (DJD) and in some cases can end a horse’s competitive. It is not unheard of for horses as young as 7-years old to become pasture ornaments.

There are various theories surrounding why so many horses seem to be suffering from different forms of DJD. New portable diagnostic techniques also enable more veterinarians to diagnose joint problems with more ease than ever before. While there are a variety of treatments available for horses, many types of joint disease are progressive and will only destroy the joint without attention and management.

Types of joint disease can include: Synovitis, Capsulitis, Articular cartilage and bone fragmentation or fracture, Ligamentous tearing and Osteoarthritis. Your veterinarian may use different diagnostic techniques such as flexion tests, jogging for soundness, nerve blocks, radiographs, ultrasound, arthroscopy or MRI.  There is little benefit at guessing when it comes to joint disease, as the “wait and see” game could go on for years. Have you vet perform a thorough exam from the beginning to avoid heartache and unecessary pain for your horse.

Common oral supplements to treat joint disease may contain any of the following: glucosamine, sodium chondroitin sulfate, MSM, cetyl myristoleate, hydrolyzed collagen/gelatin, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. Herbs for pain and inflammation can include Devil’s Claw, Yucca, Boswellia, Bromelain and shark cartilage.  Be prepared to try a few supplements before settling on one for your horse. While manufacturers may make impressive claims, studies show that oral supplements in horses is not entirely supported by the scientific community due to lack of conclusive data that proves they work. Many riders, owners and veterinarians may have annectodal stories of certain products that worked for their horses, however be cautioned they may not work on all horses.

A more rigorous approach to joint care may include products such as Adequan or Legend. There are many products that are generic forms of both of these products, and while you may save on cost your horse may not get the full benefit of these drugs. There are also other drugs that are not marketed for joint disease however owners choose to use them off-label. Using drugs off-label can be dangerous to your horse and include horrific side effects, contraindications you may not be aware about with common drugs and other complications. If your veterinarian advises you to use a product that is off-label, a second opinion might be valuable to prevent serious health problems with your horse.

Taking care of your horse's joints will keep him comfortable and competing!

Adequan™ is an intra-muscular (IM) joint treatment/supplement for horses. It can also be administered through intra-articular (IA) injection. It is a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan and is a common option for certain types of joint disease. The recommended treatment schedule is one injection every 4 days for 7 treatments (approximately one month). While this is the optimal treatment schedule, many horses will feel the benefits of this drug if used every week, every other week or once a month depending on the severity of the damage.

Legend™ is hyaluronate sodium that is administered through intra-vascular (IV) or IA injection. The manufacturer recomments 1 treatment per week for 3 weeks.  As with any invasive injection such as IA, extreme caution must be exercised to prevent infection in the joint. After the injection, your vet may advise you to keep your horse in a clean stall for 24-48 hours to prevent infection and allow the joint to recover. Your horse can resume his regular exercise and turnout schedule after that.

Intra-articular corticosteroids and glucocorticoids are a common but controversial method of addressing joint disease in horses. While they have been proven to reduce inflammation and pain, the long-term effects of regularly injecting a horse have also indicated possible increased deterioration of the joint. Injecting with corticosteroids should be done only on the advice of a veterinarian who has experience with joint disease and whether it is the best option for your horse. Common corticosteroids and glucocorticoids include: Depo-Medrol, Celestone and Vetalog.

There are other options for joint treatments that are not pharmacautical-based including shockwave treatments, magnetic therapy, Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP), Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell treatment. New studies are also investigating the uses of select types of collagen and showing positive results. Talk to your veterinarian about what options will work best for your horse.

Many owners choose to use a combination of therapies (such as Adequan, magnetic therapy and then corticosteroids at the beginning of the show season) to get the best results in the least invasive way. Many recreational riders do not need the full effects of corticosteroids however may find that a glucosamine supplement and some MSM keeps their horse happy and working all year around. Armed with your veterinarian’s advice and some common sense, your horse can plan for a long and happy career!

Posted in Useful. Tagged with , , .

By admin
June 16, 2010

No comments

Incredible jumping effort!

Here is a clip of a video I found on YouTube this morning. While the upbeat music and the video montage of horses jumping is neat, it was the horse in the first 20 seconds of the video that really caught my eye.

They show him jumping once, and then repeat it in slow motion before going onto other video clips. If you thought you have seen a horse overjump an obstacle….you haven’t seen anything until you see this huge jumping effort!

Posted in Interesting. Tagged with , .

By admin
May 27, 2010

1 comment

10 Things You Need to Know About Horses

10. Horses are people too

You head off to the barn after a hard day at work, excited to lose your troubles with a good ride… and your horse is TERRIBLE. He won’t come to the gate, he gives you faces when you mount, he fusses during the movement he performed perfectly yesterday, and almost tosses you off at the end. You leave the barn, frustrated and tense. As you replay all the things that go wrong, and beat yourself up over what you could have done differently… guess what! Horses have bad days too. A slip in the pasture which causes a sore muscle, a change in routine (however small, like getting turned out last instead of first) or even just a “mood” where he’d rather be hanging out with his buddies instead of working. Whenever possible, end on a good note and call it a day. Go home, have a hot shower and try again tomorrow!

9. Avoid breeding your horse

Unless your horse has exceptional bloodlines, an impeccable show record and a reasonable attitude, don’t breed your own. Too many horses are bred with good intentions (“she’s always been my favorite mare”) that result in the overpopulation crisis, which spills out to slaughterhouses around the world. When in doubt, DON’T BREED. Adopting a rescue horse is thousands of dollars less than paying a stud fee, paying for the extra veterinary care and of course stabling for your broodmare, which will eventually become “plus one”. It costs roughly $20,000 to breed, birth and maintain that baby until they are 3-years-old.

8. Your new horse should see a vet

While some people use pre-purchase exams as standard protocol while horse shopping, many do not. Even if you don’t care about certain blemishes, lumps or anything that appears out of the ordinary, they could be something that could not only be dangerous to you as a rider/handler, but could infect/hurt your existing horses. Your vet will not only perform tests and ask questions (that you will need to know the answers to about the horse), but confirm the horse’s age and advise you on any health checkpoints that you will need to address (i.e., teeth, worming, etc). Even if the horse will be nothing more than a pasture ornament, having this “once over” done could save you heartbreak and money down the road.

7. Soft brushes are soft

Remember in your early days of horse care, when you were taught the basics of brushes? Sure, there are many fancy new brushes and grooming contraptions that have the ability to do a variety of things. While grabbing whatever brush in your box you get your hands on first is okay, don’t forget to use the soft brush on sensitive spots like the face, ears, hip areas, lower legs and stomach. If a horse can feel something as tiny as a fly land on him, he does not appreciate metal scrapers or things with hard protrusions on his tendons or under his eye.

6. It’s okay to just “love” your horse

There is nothing wrong with owning horses just for the sake of companionship! As long as the horses are being properly cared for, keeping your horses at a boarding stable or your own backyard just to enjoy their company is just fine. Some riders are told how much “potential” their horse has, and how they should really be competing. Horses don’t have the same instincts as people, and their idea of luxury is a big grassy field with a bunch of her best buddies. They don’t know or care about ribbons or medals. If you would like to see your talented horse do more work with a competitive rider, then do it because you want to, not because someone made you feel guilty.

5. Using tranquilizers to ride your horse is wrong

When horses are recovering from injuries, veterinarians may recommend tranq’s to keep them calm in their stalls, for hand-walking or beginning back under saddle (in extreme cases). No matter what your trainer tells you, the misuse/abuse of veterinary medicines that are being used “off label” causes a risk to you as a rider/handler and your horse as well. Trust your instincts and when you’re not sure, get a second opinion from a veterinarian.

4. Horses smell wonderful

When you’re too tired to ride, too stressed out by family or work… don’t ride. Just go to the barn and spend time with your horse. Grooming and fussing over your horse is a great alternative to struggling to ride. Sometimes a great ride will make a terrible day better, but if you just can’t find the willpower to do it, don’t beat yourself up for it.

3. Your clothes don’t make you a better rider

Just because someone at your barn has the newest snazzy riding apparel or tack doesn’t make them a better rider. The conscientious horseperson who always tries to learn something new with the intent of improving their horse’s life or health, as well as their riding is the true horseperson. They don’t offer training advice (unless solicited) and they don’t need to push their equine opinions/thoughts. They also know when to admit they are wrong!

2. Supplements are only for horses that need them

If your horse’s daily supplement routine has more than two items or the names of things you can’t pronounce, he probably shouldn’t be getting them. While a limited amount (that means 1 scoop, not 5) of a natural ingredient or something your vet strongly recommends might be okay, many people don’t cross-check their supplement against their feed. This results in overlapping ingredients which can have ill-effects. If you’re not sure whether your horse actually needs the supplements they are getting, first gather information. Get a hay analysis done (select feed mills offer this service) on your horse’s hay, collect the nutritional labels from his feed bags, and make a list of the supplements he received (as well as the nutritional info), and then consult an equine nutritionalist. You can Google one in your area, ask your vet/local feedmill or ask around your barn for a recommended person. Don’t give your horse more things in his diet than he needs!

1. Your saddle doesn’t fit, even if it was fitted.

Horses change shape as you ride them more often/less. This means if you ride your horse primarily in the summer, chances are as he loses fitness over the fall and winter, the saddle will not fit in the following spring. Too many people buy a saddle for their horse, have it fitted and assume the same saddle will work for the duration of the horse’s life. Sport horses should have their saddles checked quarterly or twice a year, recreational riders can probably get away with once a year or twice a year.

Posted in Useful. Tagged with .

By admin
May 26, 2010

No comments

The Horse | A New Breed of Bridle (Bitless)

The Horse | A New Breed of Bridle (Bitless)

Posted using ShareThis

Posted in In My Opinion.

By admin
May 17, 2010

No comments

Spiker’s first post-surgery jumping lesson

In our Wednesday lesson, my coach finally suggested we put Spiker over some jumps to see how he felt about it. While we warmed up, he set a small crossrail fence in the center of the arena and placing poles a half-stride out on either side. He has been having a tendency to swing his head to the left, in the OPPOSITE direction of his bad eye. This gives him a distinct disadvantage while in work! However I am working on keeping him relaxed and hopefully over time he will able to carry his head a little more centered.

So finally it was time to start working over the X. We trotted into it, and while he took off a little long he was certainly forward! Trotting at it again (being sure to approach from the left, his “good” eye), he was even bolder and cantered over it. We did it a few more times (in each direction) and he did not suck back, “look” at the jump or anything else silly. He was just very bold and forward (exactly like he was prior to the surgery). After the fence I had to pull him up, and it took a good 10-15 strides!

Revising the exercise, my coach added several more trot poles before the fence, as well as 2 canter poles after. Spiker was anticipating so much (and he has such a huge stride) he sort of just cantered over all the poles and lept over the tiny fence. To help back him off a bit, a verticle was added afterwards to make it a one-stride.

We ended up walking to the first pole (or attempted to) before trotting over the rest and entering the small grid. Once we were about five strides out from the jump, he sort of just locked in on the jump and went for it. Most the lesson was spent working on walking up to the first pole, allowing him to trot through the rest and then over the X and the vertical. Despite touching the vertical at 2′6″, my coach put it up to 2′9″.  Spiker was really pissed when he rubbed the vertical, not quite realizing how big it was until he knocked it. He pinned his ears and was really stinky when he landed. My coach laughed and said this would be to my advantage, knowing he hates to knock the jump! The next time we approached the jump, he made a huge effort over the vertical, and every time after that.  (He has always been a bit sloppy over fences under 3′ because of his size, so we attributed his first lazy attempt to him not paying attention versus worrying about depth perception.)

Overall, he was excellent! My coach was not concerned about his modified eyesight, and even noted seeing a local jumper with one eye zing around a big course on the weekend. Spiker has not seem to forgotten any of his prior jump training, and it truly felt like we were simply picking up where we left off (as if it was a week ago!).

The only thing I was cautioned about that Spiker has plenty of excess energy, most likely to my work on the track. While he is returning to jumping, for the time being he does not need any extra “GO” because he was certainly full of it today! We are going to work on improving his canter (which to the right, his bad side, is his weak side), continue to do hillwork to strengthen his hind end, and practice trotting simple X’s to work on his obedience.

This was a really encouraging lesson, and I am so pleased that his eye should not be a big hurdle as we work towards getting him back to his show career.

Posted in Spiker's Eye Removal. Tagged with .

By admin
May 5, 2010

No comments

The unofficial smallest horse in the world

A tiny minature colt was born on Friday, named “Einstein”. Weighing in at 9lbs, his owners would like him to be considered for the Guinness Book of Records.

Click on the video below to learn more about Einstein and his breeders. He’s adorable! For pics of Einstein, visit The Daily Mail.


Posted in Interesting. Tagged with .

By admin
April 27, 2010

No comments

Icelandic horses in danger

Local farmers and horse owners in Iceland are concerned about their livestock and horses due to the health impact the ash cloud that is the result of the recent volcanic activity. Residents have been cautioned to stay inside their houses to avoid the ash plume, or to wear protective masks if there is a chance of being exposed to the ash. It is made up of tiny pieces of glassy sand and dust produced when explosive eruptions demolish solid rock. It causes irritation to the eyes, ears and throat and can cause repiratory damage.

Horse owners have little choice when it comes to protecting their animals, except to herd them away from the ash cloud in the event it travels their way. Veterinarians have cautioned that pregnant mares and young foals will be the most succeptible to the plume.

Here are some incredible photos posted on the Horse Grooming Supplies forum from a resident who is trying to get her own horses through the disaster. MyHorseChat hopes that this poster and other residents (and their animals) make it through this terrible occurence.

To learn more about the volcano, visit the National Geographic website or CNN.com.

Posted in In My Opinion.

By admin
April 20, 2010

No comments

Get well soon, Courtney Dye

MyHorseChat.com wishes a speedy recovery for Courtney Dye (nee King), who was injured while schooling a horse in Florida on March 3rd, 2010. Courtney is well known in dressage circles, and was a competitor in the 2008 Olympics for the United States team in dressage. She is a seasoned competitor, empathetic horseperson and a beloved coach to her many students.

Courtney has been in a coma since her accident, as the result of a skull fracture, up until March 29th. She has been regaining consciouness, slowly but surely, and today’s update by her husband Jason happily reports that thanks to speech therapy, she has been able to say a few words and focus on certain objects for a small amount of time.

Supporters are encouraged to send well-wishes to her at comebackcourt@gmail.com.

She has recently been transferred to Teterboro, New Jersey where she will continue her recovery.

Regardless of discipline, many riders have been touched by injury at some point in their riding careers, due to the unpredictability of our beloved horses. Please support Courtney’s recovery, as this is an opportune time to rally together and support those who have fallen.

To learn more about Courtney’s progress, as well as donating money towards her recovery, please visit CourtneyKingDressage.com for more information.

Here is a video tribute for Courtney, made by a supporter in 2008 and even more poignant now.

Posted in Miscellaneous. Tagged with .

By admin
April 8, 2010

No comments