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Horse Care For Beginners: 5 Helpful Tips To Keep Your Horse In Top Trim.

Russell — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:32:20 +0000

For a change of pace I decided to offer a few tips

on horse care for beginners (and others).

These are primarily on the topic of Health Care.

Sweet Itch is caused by small flies

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 1.

Sweet Itch, what is it and how do I treat it?

Sweet Itch is caused by small flies or midges (culicoides flies) that breed in and around water. The bite normally causes an allergic reaction which results in extreme itching, rubbing and biting. This can cause skin damage to your horse, and hair loss and anxiety.

You’ll find that the flies are active mostly in the early morning and evening hours. Some horses are tormented constantly and the bites turn into blisters and crusty scabs.

Treatment

There are many treatments and they range from inexpensive to expensive. Not all will actually help and I suggest you ask your vet for advice before buying.

However the best treatment is to protect your horse from the biting flies. A good fly sheet and effective fly repellant is yourbest defense.

Try to bring your horse in during times when the midge is most active. There are a lot of skin soothing formulas which will relieve the itching and aid in the healing process.

Bear in mind that not all itching is caused by ‘sweet itch’ and if your horse continues to itch and lose hair, contact your veterinarian for help in diagnosing the problem.

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 2.

Static electricity from your horse blanket.

If your horse’s hair coat is very dry and fluffy, he’s more likely to get a shock when you remove his blanket.

You can avoid this by not sliding the blanket across your horse’s back which may create static. Instead, lift the blanket UP and off.

Also try using only one hand and avoid contact with your horse or blanket with your free hand. By doing this you’ll not complete the electrical circuit and your horse won’t get a shock.

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 3

How to keep mildew from growing on your tack.

The best thing you can do is make sure you have good ventilation and light in your tack room. Get a fan or dehumidifier.

Keep in mind that mould likes moisture and damp conditions. Should it occur, you can kill any mould spores by using a Lysol spray. It works great and is inexpensive. Spray it on and work it in. Leave it to set for a day or so then finish with a good leather conditioner.

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 4

What do you do if your horse has lice?

The louse (literally) sucks the blood of its victim and usually is found under the mane, tail and forelock. Heavy infestations can occur over your horse’s entire body.

Transmission of lice is cause by contact with infected tack, including brushes, combs, clippers and blankets.

To eradicate and break the cycle of the louse all tack must be thoroughly cleaned. You should then repeat the cleaning of all equipment in 10-12 days.

Do not use your equipment for at least 14 days to break the cycle of the louse. Lice cannot survive for more than a few days without having your horse to feed on!

You may wish to use a dusting powder and/ or insecticide to control the lice on your horse itself. If you’re unsure of what product to use consult your veterinarian for advice.

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 5.

Tell me, do you know what your horse is saying?

We all know our horses make sounds but have you ever wondered what they mean?

When your horse nickers with his lips closed and makes a soft “rat-ta-tat-tat” sound. he is most likely saying “Hello I’m glad to see you”.

If you horse is blowing or snorting it usually means he’s afraid of something. But some horses will snort when they are excited and hoping that something good is going to happen.

When your horse lets out a great big high-pitched NEIGH it can mean that he is either anxious or confident, depending on the tone of the neigh and the body language that goes with it.

Also when a group of horses are turned out together, one may neigh as warning to the group that he sees something unusual.

A nice big sigh is a sign of relaxation. Your horse will usually put his head down and exhale a deep breath through his nostrils.

If you’d like more tips on horse care for beginners, please leave a reply in the panel below. Thank you!

Recommended Horse Training Resources:

Natural Horsemanship Training videos … CLICK HERE

Applied Posture Riding … CLICK HERE

Do It Yourself Parelli Horse Training.

Russell — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:10:16 +0000

Parelli horse training is considered to be the first Do it

yourself horse training program .

Parelli horse training

The Parelli horse training program is named after the founder, Pat Parelli. He developed the program over his twenty five years of training horses. It’s said that the reason he developed the Parelli horse training program is due to the fact that he believed through giving deeper information with regards to training horses, people can release their potential when it comes to training horses.

The Parelli horse training program is all about the development of the self. The first 3 phases are made specifically to teach the human. After that, the next level is all about the horse. This is the part where a hands-on approach is needed because it’s more detailed. There are ten levels to work through before you can say you’ve achieved the mastery of a human to horse relationship.

Parelli horse training Level One.

Level one is where trust and respect is built. It is made to help the owners or riders to create a positive impact on the horses. This first level will also teach you how you can communicate with your horse and teach some things that your horse needs to understand while he is being ridden

Parelli horse training Level Two.

In the second level, you’ll start to develop your independence and confidence with the horses, learning how to read your horse’s behavior in advance and utilizing psychology to cause the horse to do those things you want him him to do.

Parelli horse training Level Three.

Level three is about polishing those things you’ve taught your horse during the first two levels. This time, your communication with your horse is more subtle with accurate and more précised reactions asked of your horse. This level is about finesse and grace. You’ll also need to teach your horse the vertical flexion and know its benefits.

Parelli horse training Level Four.

Level four is for those who want to achieve a higher level of performance in regard to horsemanship, difficult horses, young horses and different horses.

The levels five to ten are about unity. The fifth level is the start of having a background on how to achieve unity.

The next four levels are made for achieving true unity. The true unity is what drives most dedicated horsemen. Having a physical, emotional and as well as mental unity with the horse is something rare and very special.

The final level is the mastery of true unity. This is a lifetime task because it can’t be achieved in just a few years of training. This is a continuous process that takes a lot of time before your horse masters the unity with nature and as well as with you as the rider.

It is the objective of the Parelli horse training program to achieve this.

Recommended Resources: Natural Horsemanship Training Videos … CLICK HERE

Paperback: Raise Your Hand if You Love Horses: Pat Parelli’s Journey
from Zero to Hero … CLICK HERE

The Importance of Hoof Care.

Russell — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:19:26 +0000

Here’s a simple checklist for you to refer to in your daily grooming routine.

Caring for your horse’s hooves is a important part of maintaining your horses overall health. If at all possible depending on your day’s routine you should check your horses hooves daily. At the very least, two to three times per week. You’ll find you become very familiar with what is normal and what is not, and to notice any problems that may be starting. To help you with this checking, here’s a simple checklist for you to refer to in your daily grooming routine.

1. As you approach your horse make sure the symmetry of his hooves is close. They don’t have to be exactly equal, but very close to the same size and shape.

2. Then carefully look for defects in the wall and coronary bands. Pick up each hoof, run your hand over the outside of the wall to feel for defects. You can use the exact same procedure for the coronary band, then squeeze it gently, these two procedures will also show tender spots and any moisture bearing areas.

3. Carefully inspect the sole. Check the coloring in each hoof. They should be the same in color. A clearly delineated dark spot indicates a bruise or puncture wound that my need veterinary attention.

4. Next,look and compare your horse’s frogs. The two front hooves should be similar in size and shape and the same with the rear hooves. You should lightly press each frog with your hoof pick, in most areas, with the exception of desert areas. They should be slightly spongy.

5. If your horse is shod, grasp the shoe and see if it wiggles. If it does, check for missing clinches. Should any shoe be loose you may choose to remove the shoe before your horse loses it on his own with the possible result of taking a chunk of his hoof with it.

If you keep a good close eye on your horses hooves, you can avoid a lot of issues by catching the problem before it gets severe. I’d recommend you work into your regular hoof cleaning a few simple steps. Use your hoof pick from heel to toe. If it is tightly packed you may need to loosen it up a bit before it’s removed. Once all the debris is removed, check all the areas of the hoof and make sure there is not a bad odor as this is a clear cut sign of thrush. Also make sure there are no pebbles or stones lodged anywhere, even under the shoe.

Your horses hooves should exhibit a natural glossy luster of the hoof wall. Plus a smooth uniform surface free of cracks, rings, dishes and flares and a concave sole that touches the shoe. If you have all of that, you can be pretty sure that your horses hooves are in good health.

I recently came across an excellent DVD that’s ideal for the young ones on a wet day inside. So I thought I’d pass on the following review and a link to get yourself a copy.

Saddle Club – Horse Crazy – The New Movie DVD

“I really thought this movie was good. To be sure, it is a children’s movie, specifically for young horse-crazy girls. There are a few boys that ride in it also. Very age appropriate fare for your stable/barn kids to watch and enjoy over and over again, it follows several story lines all related to life at the barn for a group of girls and boys that own and work with the horses there. As a grown up horse-crazy woman now, I enjoyed it with my 4 year old daughter and certainly would have loved for this series to be around when I was that age! Two thumbs up for young entertainment with no veiled adult-type references, no skimpy clothes, and no bad language, just good stories that are fun and horse-centric”.

Click HERE for a link to buy.

Ten Money Saving Horse Care Tips.

Russell — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 05:07:13 +0000

Today, everyone is looking for horse care savings ideas. Fortunately, there are a lot of simple, practical ideas that can add up to big savings.

1. Prevention:

Keep everything running smoothly. That includes your horse, yourself and your equipment.

Pay close attention to your horse. Every day, do a daily horse checkup. Check for food and water consumption, manure production and general demeanor. Scan her body, pick out her hooves and watch her walk. You’ll both benefit if you catch problems early.

Keep up a regular program of dental checkups, hoof care, worming and vaccinating.

Use caution when working around your horse. Watch for kicks and foot tramples when you’re on the ground, and injuries sustained while riding. Stay limber and in shape so you can stay on top of your horse care (and your horse!)

Keep your equipment in good shape. Maintain your vehicles and tractors to save on gas as well as repairs. Clean your tack and store it properly. Good quality equipment can last for years if you take care of it properly.

2. Do It Yourself:

There are a lot of horse care tasks you can do yourself. You can learn how to give shots, pull and braid manes, clip your horse and clean his sheath. Ask your veterinarian for instructions on giving shots and cleaning the sheath.

3. Make It Yourself:

With a few simple tools and some skills, you can make your own jumps, tack boxes and horse clothes. And everyone can make horse toys-it’s as simple as stringing up a turnip!

4. Consign It!

Visit your local tack shop. They may have gently used items available for purchase. Blankets, tack, even clothing may be waiting for your keen eye.

Take a hard look at your gear, too. If you haven’t used it in a year, think about consigning it. Couldn’t you use those extra dollars? And the extra space?

5. Barter:

Do you have a special skill? Something you could barter in exchange for horse care services? If you can fix a car, design a website, setup a home theater, drive someone to the airport, babysit…you’ve got a barterable skill. Don’t be afraid to ask!

6. Don’t Waste:

Don’t waste hay or feed. Learn to reduce horse feed costs for big savings. Protect hay to minimize loss.

7. Don’t Overdo It:

Don’t oversupplement your horse. If your horse is healthy and eating a nutritious diet, she may not need much in the way of supplements.

8. Be A Cheapskate:

Prowl the dollar stores for great bargains on things like towels, storage containers, wipes, combs and measuring cups. Never pass up a garage sale-these are great sources of used tools, vacuums…you never know!

9. Buddy Up:

Your farrier or equine dentist may be willing to reduce fees if s/he can see more than one horse at a visit. See if you have friends that may want to participate in a group visit.

A group might help reduce hay costs, too. If you can gather a few horse owners together to purchase a larger quantity of hay, you may be able to negotiate a better price.

10. Offer Your Services:

Offer to exercise someone else’s horse. You can make money doing what you love!

Saving money on horse care is more important than ever. Take the time to look at your horse care routines-there may be room for some money saving improvements!

Let Practical Horsekeeping show you how to become an efficient, effective equine expert! Moira Clune and Noreen Girao provide helpful horse care information with a practical twist at http://www.PracticalHorsekeeping.com/ Our free horse care ezine shows you the fastest, safest, smartest ways to care for your horse and create an organized, appealing environment that works for horse and rider! Sign up today and get our free, veterinarian approved Colic Preparedness Report that shows you exactly what to do in a horse colic emergency. Join us today and start getting practical!

Wildlife Safaris on Horseback

Russell — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:25:02 +0000

If, like me, you are an avid horse rider, the phrase “African horseback safaris” probably awakens in you a deep-seated delight driving you to make whatever arrangements necessary to make this dream come true . A horseback safari on a game rich private game reserve in the depths of the watery Okavango Delta in Botswana is a magnificent experience.

Picture yourself cantering along on your lively, mature horse through a shallow flood plain next to a herd of giraffe, you marvel at their slow motion canter and wonder to yourself, how else would you experience something of this magnitude in this remote wilderness! The close encounters with wildlife that you experience from the saddle are breath-taking indeed.

African Horseback Safaris is an award winning horseback safari operator based at Macatoo Camp on the western side of the Okavango Delta . The camp features 6 large, classic African safari style tents, each with twin beds and their own en-suite shower and loo. At night, the tents are lit by the soft light of oil lanterns. Centrally there is a large mess tent with sofas, books and games, spectacular sunsets are enjoyed from the terrace and tucked away, is a private, inviting, rockpool. Meals are cooked on the open fire and are delightfully tasty. It is here that horse-mad people from all over the world meet to share this glorious wildlife experience.

A Horseback safari in a Big 5 (lion, rhino, elephant, leopard and buffalo) wilderness area demands good riding skills. You will need to feel confident about keeping up with the group, capable of riding at all paces; rising to the trot and controlling your horse at the canter. You may be required to gallop out of trouble, so beginners will not be allowed to ride. However you are still welcome at the camp if you are not a proficient horse rider. Other game activities are offered to the partners of those horse-mad people.

Going on safari on horseback means that you will be riding between 4 and 6 hours a day into the wilderness viewing various game species from the back of your horse. A maximum of 7 guests will join a safari. The horses are well trained, sure-footed and fit and you will be matched up with a horse of good size and temperament for you.

Qualified experienced game rangers will lead you on horseback through the delta interpreting the intricate language of the African bush, reading tracks and signs left by wildlife and following them for that classic close up sighting. The guides have many years experience of living in the bush and when something goes bump in the night, its always nice to know they are nearby to save you.

Macatoo Camp is a remote bush camp within the Okavango Delta and getting there can only be done by light aircraft flight from Maun or Kasane. Combining this safari camp with a few nights at the mighty Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe allows for a wonderfully varied itinerary.

Africa Tamed, a successful tour operator based in Cape Town, South Africa, offers a range of exciting Escorted Tours, Self Drive Packages and Fly-in Safaris throughout southern Africa. With a focus on friendly personal attention and with an extensive travel knowledge based on over 16 years of travel experience, they can assure you of a wonderful, memorable African holiday.

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