Miner Institute to host annual EquiDay
When I
was a child, the words “Outer Mongolia” held
a quality not dissimilar to the word Timbuktoo…..they represent a
kind of yardstick for far, far away places. Somewhere that people can refer to
and say, “Well, you may as well be in Timbuktoo”, implying a) that wherever you
are is far, far away and b) that it is damn well difficult to get to or c) get
out of...
I went
to Outer Mongolia in June 2006 to volunteer at Hustai National Park with the
Takhi reintroduction project. Hustai National Park is situated a long 65 miles
outside the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaan Baatar, and is home to arguably
earth’s only true wild horse, The Takhi, better known as Przewalski’s horse.
Hustai
is now home to 185 Takhi and the site of a conservation success story. In the
early 70’s it was discovered that no Takhi remained free living in the wild. A
global conservation effort rolled into action, genetically mapping all the
horses living in zoos and private collections across the planet. Due to the
relatively small numbers of the horses, care had to be taken to keep inbreeding
to a minimum. The horses were gathered in Lazares, France and also a site in
Denmark where they were to begin their journey home. These horses had to
re-learn to socialise in herd groups.
In the
early 90’s the first horses arrived in Hustai, Mongolia from Denmark; a
significant event for the Mongolian people, who had just themselves achieved
independence. I joined an ecovolunteer program to aid Mongolian researchers in
their study of the Takhi behaviour. Nandintetseg (Nandia) was researching
habitat use amongst the horses: where they go, what they do there and what they
eat. The research involved tracking the horses from dawn (when they had come
down into the valley to drink) until mid afternoon when someone else would take
over. I was armed with a GPS unit, a wind speed dial, a thermometer, clipboard
and pen and a packed breakfast! The horses sometimes covered a good distance
from the stream to their midday resting spot, often disconcertingly
dissappearing over a ridge long before I could catch up with them.
The
main results of this research indicate that the Takhi herds share boundaries of
their home ranges, they take to higher altitudes in summer to avoid flies and
excessive heat, their home ranges don’t change too much if a new stallion takes
over, and they return to the lower altitudes in the evening to graze. My own
observations noted that they mostly choose not to mingle with domestic horses
(who are chromosomally different), serious fighting between stallions is rare-
most disputes settled with a squeal and a sniff, mares tend to form tight bonds
with their offspring until they leave the herd, sometimes having two or three
young grazing with them.
The
return of the Takhi to Mongolia is one of the most successful conservation
efforts of our time. More information on both the Takhi and ecovolunteering can
be found at their website: www.hustai.mn
Lindsay Perry
Student Intern from University
of Limerick, Ireland
New York Equine Rehabilitation Facility Planned
Morrisville
State College (MSC) seeks to expand the capacity of its 302-student/400-horse
operation to further the study of rehabilitation and physiology.
This project
will offer horse owners across New York state and the Northeast with affordable
and convenient access to aquatic and hyperbaric equine rehabilitation
therapies. Eventually, MSC will offer the nation's $102 billion horse industry
an opportunity to employ students trained in a real-world laboratory setting,
with the college's planned bachelor of science degree in equine physiology.
Students and
horses at the new facility will have access to state-of-the-art equipment
including an aquaciser, or underwater treadmill; a eurociser, the next
generation of hot walker; a hyperbaric chamber which would enhance therapy
programs by introducing oxygen into diseased or damaged areas; and a swimming
pool, which would provide cross-training and a low impact means to recovery during
post-operative care.
Stabling for
an extra 80 horses and an endowed faculty chair and laboratory are also
included in the college's plans.
Morrisville
State College offers a bachelor of technology degree in equine science and two
associate degrees in equine racing management and equine and science
management. The school's current Equine Breeding and Training Center is a
34,000 square-foot breeding and hunter/jumper facility, and includes a breeding
and foaling barn, hunter/jumper barn, stallion barn, a complete breeding
laboratory, collection area, laptop classroom, and three indoor riding arenas.
In addition
to the Equine Breeding and Training Center, the college has an 80-acre Equine
Center complete with paddocks, stables, three indoor riding arenas and a
half-mile harness racing track. Additional stables include a draft horse barn.
MSC is also the only college to compete a six-in-hand draft hitch, which
travels approximately 8,000 miles each year to promote the college's equine
programs.
For more information see www.morrisville.edu/mcf.
Press Release
March 09 2007 Article # 9104
19th Annual
Equine Reproduction Workshop
The UVM Morgan Horse Farm in
Weybridge, Vermont, the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute of
Chazy, New York and the Middlebury Large Animal Clinic of Middlebury, Vermont
will host their 19th annual Reproduction Workshop beginning the
afternoon of Friday, March 30 and continuing for a full day on Saturday, March
31, 2007.
Dr. Donald Hunt and associates
are skilled veterinary practitioners in equine reproduction and physiology.
They will discuss managing the uses of lights, hormones, and ultrasound in your
breeding program, anatomy and physiology of the mare and stallion, embryo
transfer, artificial insemination and foaling/neonatal care.
The topics covered by Dr.
Josie Davis of the University of Vermont’s Equine Studies Program and Katie
Ballard, Director of Research and Equine Program Coordinator at Miner
Institute, will include updates on materials, techniques and procedures for
collecting, processing and transporting fresh-cooled and frozen stallion semen.
The staff of the UVM Morgan
Horse Farm, Miner Institute and the Veterinarians will guide workshop
participants through hands-on participation and demonstrations of ultrasound,
teasing procedures, semen collection and processing, artificial insemination
and frozen semen handling. The important step of training the inexperienced
stallion to the breeding phantom is also demonstrated.
The registration fee of $250
includes workshop materials and meals. Limited to 25 participants, but there
are still a few spaces available. Call
the UVM Morgan Horse Farm at (802) 388-2011, Monday-Friday, for further information.
Note: this is the correct date, it was incorrect
in the December issue of the Stable Sheet.
NEW STATEWIDE EFFORT TO AID EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR ANIMALS
Commissioner Introduces Creation of
Empire State Animal Response Team
New York State
Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced the launch of an
ambitious new training and education program conducted by the Empire State
Animal Response Team (ESART). ESART is a private-public partnership that
was created to serve as a unifying network of organizations, businesses and agencies
that support the prevention of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from
emergencies affecting animals. This partnership provides assistance to
local municipalities for mitigation, planning, preparedness response and
recovery activities for animals.
“Animals are a very
important part of our society, and for many of us, are like family,” the
Commissioner said. “In times of emergencies, whether a single house fire
or a flood that devastates an entire community, we want to make sure that our
animals are included in the preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. ESART
will train local response teams in order to ensure swift and effective response
and recovery assistance to homes and businesses with animals.”
Minimizing the personal
loss or separation of animals from their owners during an emergency is only one
of the benefits of this new program. ESART will also help decrease health
and safety threats to humans and animals, minimize the economic impact, and can
also help decrease the spread of disease during emergencies affecting animals.
Because disaster
response begins and ends at the local level, ESART promotes and supports the
creation of County Animal Response Teams (CARTs). CARTs are the actual
responding units that would be activated and deployed by county emergency
management offices to provide the initial assessment and response for animals
affected by a disaster or emergency within their jurisdictions. When
these resources are overwhelmed, or when specialized resources are needed, the
county emergency manager can request support through the State Emergency
Operations Center. ESART’s member agencies will be activated to aid in
the coordination and deployment of additional resources.
John R. Gibb, Director
of the State Emergency Management Office, said, “The creation of this state
team will go a long way in enhancing the State’s and a local community’s
preparedness. We know that pet owners will many times jeopardize their
own safety in order to look after their beloved animals. Incorporating
plans for the safety of pets and service animals will, in turn, help enhance
plans for the safety of their owners.”
Kelly Nilsson, Director
of New York State Disaster Response Services for the ASPCA, said, “The ASPCA is
proud to be a member of the Empire State Animal Response Team and to assist in
its efforts to mitigate animal suffering, death, and separation caused by
emergencies and disasters. We are committed to work with our partner
agencies such as the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and
the State Emergency Management Office to make this program a success.”
ESART will provide
support to CARTs through specialized training opportunities, planning guidance,
additional resource coordination, and information concerning regulatory actions
and best practices that may be useful to county teams. ESART is not a technical
or field response unit. Specific training topics include technical animal
rescue and recovery techniques, temporary sheltering planning, zoonotic disease
awareness, and how to create a CART.
ESART is a collaborative
effort of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the State
Emergency Management Office, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals, the New York State Veterinary Medicine Society, the Animal Health
Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University, and Cornell Cooperative Extension,
USDA, the School of Public Health at the University of Albany, and the New York
City Office of Emergency Management.
For more information on
ESART, please visit www.EmpireSART.com.
Jessica A. Chittenden
Director of Communications
NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets
10B Airline Dr., Albany, NY 12235
518-457-3136
Managing Horses on Small Acreage
There are several considerations that must be addressed when keeping horses in limited or poor quality acreage. Ideally, we would house the horses in lush green pasture and rotate them from one well maintained broad sweeping field to the next on a regular basis. Reality usually sets in when people compare land prices, taxes, building costs and the amount of money in their budgets. When these factors are calculated, people often end up working to keep their horses on a smaller, less than desirable piece of land. There are many ways that we can work to maximize the use and stewardship of the land we have to work with.
We will look at several
things that you can do to ensure that your horse is living in the safest,
healthiest environment as possible, and that you are living up to your
responsibilities in horse and land stewardship. First, we must provide horses with adequate shelter, whether it
be in the form of stalls, shelters or natural wind breaks. The horse must have a safe environment with
adequate and clean space that provides relief from the elements. In addition, the area where your horse is
housed must be free from hazards including protruding nails, broken fences,
barbed wire, glass or windows, and toxic substances or weeds.
Horses must also be kept on
a routine feed, exercise, turn out (if stalled) vaccination, deworming and hoof
and teeth care schedule. Horses are
grazing animals by nature and instinct, and their digestive tract was designed
to handle small amounts of medium to low quality roughage on a regular
basis. When we give them one meal of
high quality roughage and calorie packed concentrate, we are inviting potential
digestive upsets such as colic or laminitis.
Some of these topics will be covered in the nutrition talk. It is critical that horses are provided with
a clean fresh source of water at all times, with the exception of after a heavy
bout of physical exertion. For
maintenance of physical as well as mental soundness, horses must receive
regular exercise. Hoof care is another
often neglected responsibility. Horses
usually need to have their feet trimmed or shod every 7-8 weeks. This can vary depending on their use and the
condition of their hooves. Consult your
local veterinarian for recommendations on vaccination and deworming schedules
for the area. Some parts of the country
have higher susceptibility for different transmissible diseases and your
veterinarian should be able to provide a yearly schedule for vaccinations and
rotations of various dewormers. You
will be able to decrease the potential parasite load with responsible manure
and pasture management as will be addressed later. Horses will generally require an annual appointment for dental
work with the veterinarian. Since horses
chew with a side to side motion, they wear sharp edges on the inside of their lower
teeth and the outer edge of the upper teeth.
The vet will use a dental float (file-like tool) to file off the sharp
edges.
Pasture
Ideal pasture has the
following elements: a high quality legume and grass mix that has established a
good stand, well maintained and safe fencing, a fresh clean water source, and,
no weeds, toxic plants, machinery, trash or dangerous objects. Poor pasture can be utilized to its fullest
extent, but it will usually serve more as an exercise area, rather than a
source for the majority of the horses nutrients. In addition, with poor pasture or an inadequate area for the
number of horses present, there is a high potential for parasite, mud and other
environmental or health problems without proper management steps.
Several ways that we can improve or maintain the maximum
efficiency and health of small acreage include use of rotational grazing,
sacrifice areas, weed control, and improvement of pasture through renovation,
maintenance and rest. Rotational
grazing will allow different areas of your pasture to rest and recuperate while
the horses graze on a different section of pasture. Without proper management, horses can quickly destroy a high
quality stand of pasture. Horses tend
to be “spot grazers,” and they will have areas that they have grazed close to
the ground, while leaving areas of high growth untouched (usually where they
have defecated). By sectioning your
grazing area off into pieces, you will be able to manage manure by picking it
up manually or using a harrow to spread it around and expose the parasite eggs
or larva to death by sunlight. If you
drag the pasture, you should keep the horses off of it for at least one week,
to decrease possibility of parasitic re-infestation.
Sacrifice areas allow you to choose which parts of the
pasture will be “given up” for the survival of the rest. Often, people will make a small paddock in
the corner or along one end of their pasture.
This will be a very high traffic area, and you may need to use gravel,
hog fuel, compost or some other source of fill to decrease the mud in extremely
high traffic places such as feed, water and gate areas. You will have to provide a complete diet of
roughage, concentrates and/or supplements to meet the nutrient needs of your
horse while they are kept in the sacrifice area. If a horse is allowed to choose their own sacrifice area, you can
be sure that it will be several different spots throughout the pasture, rather
than one concentrated area. The actual
size and shape of the sacrifice area will depend on land available, number of
horses being housed, lay of the land and the amount of horse activity. Geriatric horses will not need as much
“romping” space as a pen of yearlings.
One other critical consideration is the diversion of run off from your
sacrifice area. This can be achieved by
several methods including choice of location, buffer strips, or other diversion
techniques.
Pasture Management
The choice of seed types for
planting new pasture should be made with the help of local extension or field
experts to obtain the best pasture mix.
Most of the time, a mix is more desirable than one specific grass seed,
since different types can be mixed at ratios that will allow one to begin
coming in when the other is at the end of its maximum production. The pasture mix will probably contain a
percentage of grasses and legumes. Be
very careful that the mix is blended specifically for horse pasture, and
contains nothing detrimental for horses.
As an example, some mixes that are advertised for horse pasture contain
Alsike Clover, and this can cause extreme photosensitivity in horses. Grasses generally have a high dry matter
intake, come on strong early in the spring and then late in the fall. They tend to provide thick turf and
therefore be heartier to horse abuse than legumes. Legumes tend to have a higher protein and mineral content and
flourish in the summer, but do not withstand the use and abuse of heavy
grazing. It is important to select a
seed mixture that is complementary to your lay of the land, soil type and
drainage.
In order to establish a
thick and hearty pasture, you will need to allow it to become well established
after seeding. One of the greatest
causes of new pasture failure is overgrazing prior to establishment of a good
stand. In order to avoid over and
undergrazing, you can rotate between smaller parcels, not turn horses out until
pasture is at least six inches tall, break up the parasite life cycle by
harrowing or cleaning and/or composting manure, and keep pasture clipped to
three to four inches regularly during the growing season (after you have
rotated horses). This will help to
control weeds and prevent the grasses from heading out. Also, if you use a chainlink harrow, this
will help to break up the parasite life cycle and smooth out some of the hoof
damage that may have occurred.
Regardless of whether you
are improving or renovating your pasture, a soil test will be necessary to
determine lime or fertilization needs.
Soil tests should be representative of the entire pasture area and done
every 2-3 years. The needs of your
pasture will be partially dependant on the use and abuse level which is
directly dependent of the species type and numbers that are utilizing the land.
There are several other
health or environmental concerns that can be examined. For instance, pooling water provides an
excellent habitat for fly and mosquito breeding and weed growth. If at all possible, drain any boggy areas to
help decrease insect population. Other
issues include toxic plants or weeds.
Some types of pasture can be detrimental to your horse at different
stages of growth or physiological states of your horse. Alfalfa can attract deadly blister beetles
that can sicken or kill your horse even if he ingests a dead beetle. Fescue is a grass that is extremely hearty,
but the majority of fescue is infected with an endophyte fungus that can cause
thickened placenta, agalactia or abortion in pregnant mares. Sudan grass can cause cystitis if horses
graze it during or after a flood or draught period, and finally, several
ornamental shrubs can be toxic to your horse.
Be sure to find out what types of growth you have in the area prior to
turning out the horse. Many times, the
horse will not consume the toxic plants and weeds unless there is nothing else
to eat, but you cannot count on “smart” horses.
Finally, you have
responsibilities to your horses, neighbors, and the environment. You can control internal and external
parasites through manure management, regular grooming and an adequate deworming
program (chemical control). Further,
you need to control water run off by installing gutters, diverting water from
the sacrifice areas (to decrease contamination and mud/muck). Good stewardship of the land will include
proper manure storage and disposal, prevention of run off through the
establishment of drain fields or buffer strips. Additional precautions could include covering your manure or
compost pile and locating the manure storage area away from any streams or
running water. If you have rivers or
streams running through your pastures, fence them off to prevent trampled banks
that will result in erosion and contamination.
Ask yourself: What can I do
both immediately and long term to be a more responsible horse and
landowner.
Betsy Greene, Ph.D.
Equine Extension Specialist
University of Vermont
Informational
Booklet on NAIS and Horses Released
The Equine Species
Working Group has released the second edition of an informational booklet
titled "NAIS and Horses: The Facts Surrounding the National Animal
Identification System and the Horse Industry in the U.S."
The NAIS is a voluntary
program intended to identify premises and livestock, and to record certain
livestock movements for the purpose of disease management and control. The
program's ultimate goal is to protect the health of U.S. livestock, as
well the movement and marketing of animals, through a
State-Federal-Industry partnership.
The NAIS and Horses
booklet contains information on the NAIS, and includes the following sections:
·
Introduction
·
History
of National Animal ID System
·
Why
Should the Horse Industry Participate in the Development of the NAIS?
·
Equine
Diseases of General Concern
·
Methods
of Identification
·
Potential
Benefits of a National Equine ID Program
·
Current
Status of NAIS
·
Frequently
Asked Questions
·
Equine
Species Working Group Members
"There is a great
deal of misinformation regarding the NAIS that has and continues to be spread
throughout the horse industry" say Jim Morehead, DVM, ESWG co-chair.
"This booklet is an important resource that attempts to address this
misinformation while providing up to date information on the program. It is
important that industry members know the facts so they can learn about the
NAIS, the efforts of the ESWG, and how a national identification plan might
affect them."
The booklet has been
updated to reflect recent changes to the program, including USDA's position
that it is a voluntary program. It also includes the latest ESWG
recommendations submitted to USDA in August 2006.
One of the key
recommendations made by the ESWG is that no equine movements should be
reported. The group proposed that horses which move to a premises where a
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), Brand Inspection, VS-127 permit or
International CVI are required should be officially identified and that the
records maintained through those currently existing and utilized movement
permits capture the high risk movements that pose the largest threat of
spreading disease. Animal health officials would be able to query the state
databases in the event of a disease emergency to obtain the necessary records.
If horse owners choose
to utilize microchips for the purpose of official identification, the ESWG
recommends use of the ISO/ANSI compatible RFID chip (11784/85, 134.2 kHz) and
that RFID reader and scanner manufacturers and suppliers should make an
immediate effort to provide readers and scanners that can read ISO/ANSI
11784/11785 microchips, and read or at least detect all 125 kHz frequency
companion animal microchips. USDA has recently announced its endorsement of the
ISO standards if an owner decides to utilize RFID technology for NAIS
participation.
The NAIS and Horses
booklet is available on the ESWG website www.equinespeciesworkinggroup.com,
along with other important and useful information regarding the ESWG and the
NAIS, including the latest ESWG recommendations.
Stallion Service Contracts: What should it
include and what some terms mean.
Name all parties involved,
humans and horses alike! Be sure the agreement includes the registered names
and numbers of the stallion and your mare as well as all dates surrounding the
service and when it can be used.
Payment of Fees: The contract should have a
clear outline of what fees will be paid and by what dates to fulfill the
contract.
·
The
“Booking Fee” is a reservation to be in that stallion’s book for the season and
is generally applied to the stud fee. Booking fees can be annual, so if you
need to re-breed your mare due to non-pregnancy or a dead foal, you’ll likely
be required to repay.
·
The
“Stud Fee” is the price paid to get a pregnancy or foal from this stallion.
Check carefully to see what happens if you’ve paid your stud fee in full and
the stallion is no longer fit for service (ie- infertile or dead). Some farms
will refund you, less the booking fee; some will offer a substitute stallion.
If none of the substitute stallions interest you, think carefully about this
especially if the fee is very high!
·
“Chute
Fees” seem to be handling fees for semen, but they vary widely in price and
what they cover. It can include: the collection fee (or not); one or more
collections and shipments of semen; handling the mare for live cover; or taking
the stallion to a station to be collected.
This fee is usually found in the stock-horse breeds such as Quarter
Horses, Paints and Appaloosas; I’ve not seen it on Morgans, Draft Horse, or
Arab contracts.
·
“Collection
Fee” is the price of semen collection, which may or may not include shipping.
Some stallions include a shipment or two in the stud fee, others increase the
fee with each subsequent shipment. Ask the stallion owner what sort of semen
quality you can expect- ask how many live, motile sperm you’ll get in an
inseminate and what that will be at 24 hours when you receive it to use. This
is the right time to ask about conception rates for the stallion- how many
mares did he breed last year and how many of those settled? How many cycles did
it take to get those mares bred?
·
“Mare
Care” fees are usually a per day fee and can be “Dry”- a mare without a foal at
side or “Wet”- a mare with a foal. Understand clearly what the care is that
your mare (and foal) will get. Will she be stabled? How much turnout and with other horses? What’s the health status
of horses on the farm? What vaccinations or health papers are required of your
mare?
Transfer or Assignment of
Contract: This
will answer whether or not you can sell or give away your service to this
stallion. If you choose not to use the service you have already paid for, what
can you do with it? Not all stallion owners will honor the agreement if it is
no longer for you or the mare you specifically named as the one to be bred.
Opening and Closing Dates: Understand the breeding
season and make sure they jive with your schedule. Stallions that have busy
show seasons might have a very limited time available to breed your mare either
live cover or shipped semen. If they offer only frozen semen after a certain
date, be sure your veterinarian is experienced handling and breeding with
frozen semen. I’ve seen many show studs whose season closes on June 15th;
that’s about when I want to really start breeding! If you didn’t use lights to
manipulate her cycle starting back in December, getting an early ovulation is
much more of a crap-shoot.
Live Foal Guarantee: It is generally accepted
that a “live foal” is one that stands and nurses, but I have seen a LFG cover
up to 72 hours old. In a textbook foaling, this will be within the first few
hours of birth. The “guarantee” is the hard part and you’ll need to read
closely to determine what that is to each particular stallion owner. Most of
the time, you’ll need to have documented veterinary visits or proof that you
did all the appropriate pregnancy checks including ultrasounds and palpations,
as well as the Rhino shots at 5, 7, and 9 months of gestation. Then, if the
foal is born dead or fails to stand and nurse, you’ll again need a vet’s
evaluation. After this, your options can still be limited. Some stallion owners
will only offer return service in this second season. Read carefully!
I try to leave as many
horses outside for the winter as possible for their health sake and it saves on
shavings as well, but water can be the biggest issue. Our two larger pastures have
Nelson waterers, which are automatic and heated and rarely seem to have any
problems, no matter the temperature. The run-in shed that I wanted to keep a
couple of coming 3yo’s in doesn’t have water running to it in the freezing
months, so it needs to be brought to them.
Between the barn that the shed is a part of being old and the fact that
Morgans are notorious cord-pullers, I didn’t want to use anything electric to
keep the water from freezing; what other options are there?
I don’t remember the catalog
where I saw this contraption, but I searched the internet for the maker
(avoiding catalog price increase) and found it here: http://www.premierpub.com/amesco/default.htm
“The Bob Trough”. Considering that one of the leading causes of
winter colic is lack of water, it seemed to be a worthy insurance policy. Just
to have the vet out for a colic emergency call can run into the hundreds of
dollars and colic surgery is closer to $5,000. It cost over $500 to purchase
the 42 gallon tank and to get it to Miner, but I really wanted to try it
because if it worked….
I will admit, I was a
skeptic, but it did do the job! When I first set it up for the fillies, they
were a little unsure of this big, black box and were wary of pushing the
floating cover to get to the water, but I monitored the level all day and did
see both of them drink on day one, so “training” to it was easy. Even on the
days that the temperature went to –30°F plus added wind, the water was
available to the horses. The only time it seemed to freeze up was when snow
accumulated on the float and then froze at the surface. It did this a few times
with all the blowing snow we had, but I also could see that at least once the
girls had been able to break the ice themselves to free up the float. When I broke
the ice, it didn’t take too much to work it loose and the water in the tank
itself never froze.
If you’d like to see the The
Bob Trough, please feel free to stop in to check it out or ask me while you’re
visiting for EquiDay and I’ll take you to it. It doesn’t seem to be flimsy, so
I’m expecting it to last for many cold seasons to come, but I will be putting
it away for warmer months. Is it fully worth the money? I’m not totally sure
yet, but I think if it manages to last for many years, I would say so.
UVM
Spring Showcase
Sale
Horse Exhibition and Open House
Highlights:
Proven
Broodmares, Youngstock
Pleasure
and Show Prospects
Date:
May 27, 2007
Time
1:00 pm—3:00 pm
For
more information contact:
UVM
Morgan Horse Farm
74
Battell Drive
Weybridge,
VT 05753
802-388-2011
Everything Equine Highlights for April 28-29, 2007
For 2007, a full line-up of
nationally-known experts, including Lynn Palm, will provide information about
equine health, training and driving, saddle fitting, dentistry, alternative
therapies, emergency aid and more. Seminar topics range from nutrition, health
to equine reproduction. There are workshops on spring tune-up, conditioning
tips, using music in training and how to turn your horse hobby into a viable business.
There will even be a series of seminars aimed at helping the first-time or
novice horse owner get off to successful start. During the two-day show
exhibitors will display their latest equipment, nutrition supplements, and
equine-related supplies. Meanwhile, over in the seminar rooms and Poulin Grain
Horse Arena and Purina Mills Demonstration Pen, horse-lovers will have a chance
to see everything from jumping demonstrations to a live, endoscopic exam
performed by Dr. Philip D. van Harreveld, DVM.
One of the big hits of Everything Equine has been the Vermont Horse Council’s
(VHC) annual equine variety show, “Horsin’ Around on Saturday Night.” Lynn Dow
of VHC brought together 13 acts for the sold-out show last year. Organizers
added a second show on Saturday afternoon to meet the demand for tickets this
year. Proceeds benefit the VHC to further activities in the Vermont equine
community. Shows will be at 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. Purchasing advance tickets ($14
for the matinee includes Equine show admission and $10 for the evening show) is
encouraged.
On Sunday, April 29, the Vermont State 4-H Foundation
will hold a stallion service auction. As of now, the services of a Morgan,
Canadian, Paint, Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, Arabian, Lusitano and a Bashkir
Curly have been donated. The auction will raise funds for 4-H in Vermont, and
in particular the 4-H Horse Project, which has 85 horse clubs and more than 900
members in the state. The auctioneer is Louise Moon Rosalie. “The bidding
should be brisk and to add to the excitement of the day, each stallion will be
on site during the auction,” said Kurt Reichelt, the UVM Extension’s auction
organizer.
UVM Extension’s Dr. Betsy Greene is thrilled by the growing attendance and
enthusiasm shown at Everything Equine. “The combined strengths of UVM
Extension, the Exposition, and Vermont horse businesses and equine industry
experts from the region make this one of the top shows in the Northeast.,” she
said. “It was evident that people who are passionate and focused on their
animals really find what they come looking for during the weekend,” Greene
said. “We bring together horse-related businesses, riding clubs and industry
experts under one roof. It makes for a great weekend, especially for someone
thinking about getting a horse who wants to talk with hobbyists, professionals
and serious competitors about ‘everything equine,’” she added.
“Everything Equine” is
sponsored by University of Vermont Extension, Poulin Grain, Inc., Purina Mills,
Guys Farm and Yard, Shearer GMC & Shearer Chevrolet, Blue Seal Feeds, Inc.,
Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar, The Equine Journal, The Horse Works, Tony’s Tack
Shop, Nutrena and Champlain Valley Exposition.
VALUE OF NEW YORK’S EQUINE TOPS 1.83 BILLION
DOLLARS
The inventory value of New
York State equine was $1.83 billion on December 31, 2006, according to Steve
Ropel, Director of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York
Field Office. These results are from the first comprehensive state equine
survey in 5 years and are the result of a cooperative effort supported by the
New York Department of Agriculture and Markets and the equine industry.
The total inventory value of $1.83 billion was an 8% increase, attributed to a
larger inventory, over 2000’s survey. The number of horses, ponies,
donkeys and mules totaled 197,000, up 17% from the 168,000 head in 2000.
All NY equine on December 31, 2006 averaged $9,300 per head.
The survey also gathered information about related aspects of NY’s equine
industry, including land use, types of operations, equine use, asset value, and
equine expenditures and revenues. Additional survey results will be available
in the coming weeks, and a complete summary publication later this
summer. Results will also be posted on the web site www.nass.usda.gov/ny.
Horse Training? You First!
As a species horses -want- to get along. If they know what
you want and BELIEVE that they are able to do it they'll be doing it. It isn't
about if the horse CAN, because often it is quite obvious that they can when
some other person gets on and proves it, but whether the horse believes he can
WITH YOU. (I am, of course, speaking to the Generic You.) The reason that some people are able to use
traditional methods and end up with happy horses is because no matter what they
do there is never any anger or other negative baggage. Every move (even a big
one) is designed to support the horse's belief in himself that he CAN do it
and he can trust that it will be OK. That person is able to come in with
complete confidence in themselves and that gets transmitted to the horse.
There is a big difference (in my opinion) between that mindset (supporting the
horse) and 'using force'. It may look similar to the casual observer but the
HORSE'S perception (and that's the reality that counts) is clearly different to
me. With the former you can see the horse's cares and worries melt away,
whereas with the latter, matters spiral out of control.
The reason that people who just use force are not successful is because they
are focused on what they don't want happening. Whereas another fellow can come
along, handle the same horse, with the same level of energy and in seconds that
horse is grounded and calm. How so? Because the second guy is focused on what
he WANTS: to help that horse be calm and successful. Very different, and very
"clicker" even with no clicker in sight.
Clicker
training is the process of training an animal using a
conditioned reinforcer, which indicates to the animal ("marks") the
precise behavior that was correct. It was originally used in training animals
such as dolphins and pigeons, for which traditional methods of obedience
training aren't useful. Although it is a form of operant conditioning, the more
popular name "clicker training" comes from the fact that the conditioned
reinforcer used by many dog trainers is a small mechanical noisemaker called a
clicker. Clicker training has also been successfully used in horse training.
If the result of every encounter with the horse is a happier, calmer horse who
feels safe then no matter what method is employed, that horse is going to trust
that person to keep him out of trouble. To start to develop this sort of
relationship I find the "You First" rule is helpful.
Is the horse tense and excited, needing emotional control? Is the horse tight
in his back needing to release tension in his muscles? Is the horse's movement
chaotic, needing to become aligned, balanced and controlled?
The You First rule looks at the above from the horse's point of view. You want
the above in your horse, you have to go first. You have to offer emotional
control to the horse first in order to help the horse find it. You have to offer a relaxed seat if you want
the horse to relax his back. You have
to offer aligned, balanced, controlled energy if you want the horse to find it
too.
None of that is very easy at all. But it certainly separates the 'men from the
boys' so to speak when it comes to handling horses.
Sharon
Foley
Sharon Foley is a student,
teacher and author focusing on positive reinforcement based training practices.
Drawing from 20 years experience with some of the best teachers in the
world in the areas of clicker training, horsemanship, and classical dressage
she has developed a unique approach to training horses. Enthusiastic about
learning and helping her pupils excel, Sharon infects people and horses with a
can-do attitude. Her teaching and training practice is currently based out of
Heritage Equestrian Center in East Greenwich, RI. She is available for clinics and consultations. Sharon’s
first book, “Getting to Yes: Clicker Training for Improved Horsemanship” is now
at the printer and will be released to the public in Spring 2007. For more information go to www.horsemansarts.com.
In order to promote the
Morgan breed, the UVM Morgan Horse Farm raffles off one outstanding member of
its annual foal crop soon to be born!
To purchase tickets for the 2007 Morgan Foal Raffle, send a check for the
amount of tickets you wish to purchase, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope,
to the address listed below. Tickets are $2.00 ea./$10.00 for a book of 7.
Include your telephone number when ordering tickets, as we call the winner. The
tickets will be filled out and the stubs mailed back to you along with a
photocopy of the tickets. The drawing will be held on October 31, 2007.
UVM Morgan Horse Farm
74 Battell Drive
Weybridge, VT 05753
802-388-2011
American Horse Council’s New and Improved Web Site an Essential
Resource
WASHINGTON, DC – Keeping
abreast of national legislation and regulations that affect all members of the
horse industry just got a little easier. The American Horse Council’s newly
improved web site at www.horsecouncil.org
provides timely and educational information on any issues in Washington, D.C.,
that relate to horses.
“The American Horse Council’s web site is a vital tool for our
individual and organizational members and the industry as a whole,” said Jay
Hickey, American Horse Council president. “It is important for our members and
the entire horse industry to stay informed on the issues and know when and how
to make a difference.”
Stay knowledgeable about
what federal regulations there are and those being developed that directly
affect the horse industry. There are also many equine health-related government
resources and issues discussed on the web site.
As the national trade association representing the
horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to
represent equine interests and investments. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes
and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the
media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every
day.