Horses 101 : Your Horse's Health

*Keeping your equine friend healthy and happy is essential.*

You Need to provide these services for your equine:

Shelter
Clean stall/shelter
*Water at all times*
Fenced in pasture
*Feed*

Equine pasture run-in shelter (Should be faced away from wind and is best suited in a pasture)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3AEH_LMWEjE/UYbo8VvLU7I/AAAAAAAAG3I/4p3Eu5IcDGc/s1600/DSC_0275.JPG

Equine stall inside a barn/stable (shelter) Should be 12'x12' or 8'x12 w/a 4' wide opening for doorway You want a wooden or cement floor covered by stall mats, so your horse doesn't slip and or get "stocked up." (Stocked up is stiff and swollen limbs.)
http://www.barnfactory.com/photos/horse-stall-800x600.jpg

Straw Bedding in use.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTV4iUVp53pD4AMJw2eCOeCAJ0KEdH44MjZ7YHZHgH045PHHISV

Clean stall/shelter (keeps parasites out, your horse's feet healthy/strong and keeps your horse in general good overall health) The bedding you should use is shavings. If you have an expecting mare straw is typically used, so the shavings don't stick to the foal.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/loa.images/inv/910022/910022-1008262136221020-p.JPG

These are shavings
http://www.raising-rabbits.com/images/PineShavingsRabbitLitter.jpg

Shavings come in a bag.
http://www.adenbrook.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/9012-traditional-wood-shavings-bale.jpg

Fenced in equine pasture (keeps you horse on grass while maintaining safety)
http://m2.i.pbase.com/v3/26/574826/1/46895882.EPV0084.jpg

Electric Fencing

http://store.rammfence.com/Images/Electric%20Fencing/12-pro-tek-tape.jpg

Vinyl Fencing
http://www.allhorsefence.com/IMAG0000.JPG

High-Tensile Wire Fencing
http://www.yoderfence.com/images/hightensile2.jpg

Wire Mesh Fencing
http://img.hisupplier.com/var/userImages/2012-06/15/144712780_p_k37_2012_new_stle_high_qualit_wire_mesh_fence_s.jpg

Wooden Post and Rail Fencing

http://store.rammfence.com/Images/Board%20Fence/board-1.jpg

Metal Panel Horse Fencing

http://www.440fence.com/fckeditor/editor/filemanager/connectors/php/bin/Breaking_Pen_1.jpg

Horses need fencing to keep them in, however there are specific materials that can and cannot be used.

Here is a list of good material and what you CAN use for horse fencing:

Electric fencing-a psychological and physical barrier that is energized by an electric current. If the horse touches the fence it will get shocked.

Vinyl Fencing- it prevents injury to horses, its strong and durable.

High-Tensile Wire Fencing- it is strands of electrified wire coated in polymer. It is like electric fencing because it sends a shock if the horses touch it.This type of fencing is hard for the equine eye to see, so it is often seen with ribbon tied to the strands.

Wire Mesh Fencing- this is constructed of galvanized wire that is visible, rust resistant, and does not require much maintenance. The mesh openings are no larger than 2"x4" and is usually 3-four feet high.

Wood or Plastic Coated Wooden fencing- this type is post and rail fencing. It consists of posts and wooden rails between them (usually 3-4, but sometimes 5 rails are prevalent)

http://www.equisearch.com/farm_ranch/fencing/fenceguide_101003/

Metal Panel Horse Fencing- metal livestock panels. Keeps the horses in and prevents them from breaking the fence.

*Fencing NOT Suitable for horses are:

Barbed Wire- 2 strands of twisted wire held together with a barb. This fence cuts deep in horse flesh and gets snarled in their hide. When the animal panics is sinks deeper and deeper.

T-Post Fencing- metal posts that have hooks to keep fencing in place and a bar at the end that holds it in the ground after being pounded in. This type of post slices your horses hide.

A good source of information on fencing.

Barbed Wire Fencing

http://www.moyne.vic.gov.au/page/Images/IGFenceBarbwire.jpg

T-Posts

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3gbfmAXMrqA/UWMOPfoxaGI/AAAAAAAAFWU/G4KSXq3yoPc/s1600/April+2013+009.JPG

You need to find these following services for your equine:

A Veterinary Hospital for health care
A Farrier for care of feet
Feed store for grain, hay, dewormer etc...
Tack store for gear and bandages

Deworming Chart
http://www.myhorsenurse.com/images/Dewormer%20Rotational%20Calendar.png

The Veterinarian administers: exams, shots and certain wound care. They float the horse's teeth (the teeth get filed down because unlike human teeth, horse's teeth keep growing,) and they come out for emergencies (like: colic etc..)
http://www.aboutyourhorse.com/what-does-floating-teeth-mean-why-it-necessary

What a typical Veterinarian looks like

https://theadventuresofbecky.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/cimg61051.jpg

The Farrier administers care to your horse's hooves. Like our finger nails the hoof is made out of a material called keratin (a fibrous structural protein that grows from skin.)http://queryhorse.com/toppages/articles/howhooveswork.asp They trim, clean, and put horseshoes on horse's feet. http://www.thefarrierguide.com/farriery-guide/what-does-a-farrier-do/

What a Farrier looks like
http://d2dvlr1w1gfn2q.cloudfront.net/-dKCABawwt-4/TjbM4G_a7LI/AAAAAAAChAc/WU2Xn4obK6U/IMG_0067_blur.jpeg?imgmax=800

You need to make sure you vaccinate your equines against:

Tetanus (Toxoid)

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE)

West Nile Virus

Rabies

As they are the core vaccinations in New England. Optional Vaccinations are:

Equine Herpes Virus 1&4 (Rhinopneumonitis)

Equine Influenza

Strangles

Potomac Horse Fever

Rota Virus

Lyme Disease

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)

Should be considered based on geography, herd population, and travel.

http://newenglandequine.com/New-England-Equine-Vaccination.html

Vaccination Chart

http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/22330409.png

*IF you want to show your equine you need to get a coggins (Equine Infectious Anemia) test done and show a copy to the show committee.*

*Make sure there are no outbreaks of disease in your area!!!*

If there is an outbreak BOOST your horse's vaccinations IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Keep your horse's feet, coat and weight HEALTHY!!!!

"No hoof=No horse."

Farriers specialize in equine hoof care—caring for animals such as horses and donkeys, but mostly horses. The profession is an old one that stretches back hundreds of years, paralleling the increasing domestication of horses.

Farriers:

Observe horse's hooves for potential lameness issues and intervene to correct, fix or help the problem.

Trim horse's hooves using tools such as: rasps and nippers to cut away hoof material. Its important to keep your horse's hooves trimmed because it keeps your horse balanced and it also prevents hoof issues such as: clubbed foot, cracks in the hoof, bruising, heel soreness and narvicular.

Shoe horse's hooves with horseshoes. There are different ways to shod your horse like: hot and cold shoeing (hot=heating up the shoe to ensure the perfect fit, cold=prepared, correct size.)

Types of Special Horseshoes:

Heart & Bar-covers the frog and increases frog pressure (look back to the Equine Anatomy page.) Often used for horses who have developed laminitis.
Egg Bar-shaped like an egg, it increases the ground bearing surface of the heel and often used for horses who have/develop narvicular disease.
Bar-continuous circle that increases the ground bearing surface of the heel.
Rolled Toe Quarter Tips-assists in the horse's break over action and reduces pressure on the toe.
Straight Bar-enlarges the ground bearing surface at heels by; forming a bar that runs straight between the two heels, offering support to low heels and protect the set of corn.
Racing Plates-lighter than traditional shoes and are often made of aluminum.
Polo-have often been tailored to help reduce the shoe from causing cuts.

*Common Diseases:

Equine Metabolic Syndrome-This condition most commonly effects horses and ponies classified as "easy keepers." It consists of large fatty deposits, obesity, insulin resistance or high fasting insulin concentrations. If not controlled your horse or pony gets recurrent episodes of laminitis and it will be debilitating to the animal. Once this is officially diagnosed by your veterinarian, diet and exercise plays a crucial role in stopping this from progressing.The owner should soak hay for thirty minuets and feed a concentrated protein with vitamins and minerals. Grain should NOT be fed. Feed them in small quantities. It is suggested to limit grass intake and eat slowly all day than to eat large quantities at one time. On the exercise aspect, owners should give their horses plenty of it, in order to keep obesity to a minimum. There is no known cause and or cure. Keep your horse fit. This is also commonly known as cushings disease.

http://www.newenglandequine.com/Articles/Equine-Metabolic-Syndrome.pdf

Potomac Horse Fever-Is the common name for equine infectious enterocolitis(an inflammatory condition involving the small intestine and colon.) This is caused by the rickettsial organism Neorickettsia risticii. This disease was first reported in Maryland 1979, but presently has been confirmed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. It has a seasonal occurrence: June through September with most cases in the summer months. Normally associated with close geographical proximity to a body of water. Horses can have any of the following clinical signs: high fever(up 107F,) depression, anorexia(off-feed,) dehydration, diarrhea, colic and laminitis. Horses manifest with signs of colitis(inflammation of the colon.) 1-3 weeks post-infection clinical signs occur. This is a highly infectious disease, and is minimally contagious. Diagnosis of this disease can be difficult. It cannot be detected on a blood smear like others. Treatment commonly requires hospitalization. The horse needs: IV fluids, electrolytes, anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, and specific laminitis treatment or prevention therapy. Environmental control and vaccinations prevent this disease.

http://www.newenglandequine.com/Articles/PotomacHorseFever.pdf

*A good recipe for homemade bug spray is:

3 cups water

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

It makes the bugs leave your horses alone.

(Putting on a fly-mask also helps with fly control.)

Fly Mask
http://www.brighteyesandbobtails.co.uk/acatalog/6658_Durable_mask_ears.jpg

Your Horse's Health