Tabla de contenidos para Summer 2022 en Equus

I never planned on owning a horse, but the little fiery red mare had a heart full of passion and curiosity. I was drawn to Charlie like a magnet. Every time I showed up for a lesson and was assigned a different horse to ride, I felt bitter disappointment welling up inside me. The thought of somebody else owning her broke my heart. And that’s how I found myself purchasing a cob-sized bridle to fit her dainty head and calling my trainer to put in an offer to buy Charlie. After the sale was finalized, I scoured the internet, hungry for any information on my new partner. I found old races and watched the videos of “Charlotte’s Hope”—my Charlie. I traced back contacts and was able to talk with her…

A new scoring system developed by researchers at the University of Kentucky (UK) and beyond, promises to take some of the guesswork out of detecting and monitoring loss of muscle mass in horses. The Muscle Atrophy Scoring System (MASS) is similar to the Body Condition Score (BCS) system, the nine-point scale designed to assess equine body fat levels. “Like the BCS system, MASS uses descriptions of how body regions feel and look to determine a score,” says Alisa Herbst, BSc, PhD. “However, the MASS scores measure muscle mass instead of fat, using a 4-point scale system. My hope is that the MASS is as quick and easy to use as the BCS system.” Recognizing changes in muscle mass is important, Herbst says, because “even minor loss can affect athletic performance,…

Work on a circle, both at liberty and under saddle, is an important part of training for horses in most disciplines. But the potential effects of the associated concussive forces on joints, tendons, ligaments and hooves are always a concern. Now, a Michigan State University study suggests that when it comes to the force and pressure on a horse’s hooves, their gait of travel matters. For the study, pressure-mapping Tekscan sensors were secured under the front shoes of nine horses. “Our Tekscan sensors can measure two things,” says Alyssa Logan (BS, MS, PhD Candidate). “How much force is applied, and over what area the force is applied. The [computer] program can then calculate the pressure from the force and area.” With the sensors in place and calibrated, the researchers led…

It would be difficult to say who is more “partnered-up” here—the rider and the horse? The horse and the dogs? The dogs and the person? Trail riding with bigger dogs (that’s a lot of steps for a Boston Terrier) is great for both the horse and the dogs. This is Kailey Williams with her gelding Michael’s Power. (Kailey didn’t send us the dogs’ names!) Emori Smith helps her mare Ember (Des’s Girl) learn to walk through puddles. Water frightens many horses because they are not sure how far down the bottom is going to be. Taking it slowly as Emori is doing here is a good start. Helpful, also, is teaching the horse to cross a tarp that has been laid out on arena footing. In the beginning, the animal…

When warmer weather arrives, your own diet may change, with green salads and fresh fruits taking center stage on the table. Your horse, however, doesn’t need such a seasonal adjustment to the menu. In fact, making a dramatic change to his diet based solely on the fact it’s summer could lead to colic or even laminitis. But there are some situations in which you might make minor adjustments to his ration. For instance, if your horse’s pasture grazing time increases in the summer, he will need less hay to fill his gut and meet his nutritional needs. Horses with 24/7 access to good pasture may not need any hay at all during the summer months. Remember, however, that horses who are obese, have metabolic issues or a history of laminitis…

What a journey it has been. From the first time we walked the land, 53 pristine acres of rolling hills tucked between two mountains, we knew this was where we belonged. At an elevation of 7,400 feet, the property literally took our breath away. Within a few weeks of our first visit we had made a down payment, and the stage was set: We would build our dream ranch from the ground up. The year was 2015. And the goal was simple if a bit radical: Sell our ranch in Texas and start a new life in this wild and scenic paradise so we could enjoy our horses as never before. Now, nearly seven years later, my husband Kenny Weber and I have finally reached the point where we have…

MANAGEMENT What’s the best way to control “marish” behavior? Q: Is there a reliable way to control estrus-related behavior in mares? My otherwise easy mare becomes very difficult for a few days every month or so through the spring and summer. She is pushy with her herdmates and grumpy around people---squealing when she’s groomed and shutting down when I try to ride. I’ve given up trying to work with her on certain days. I’ve heard about medications and even spaying, but I don’t really know the pros and cons of each. What are my options? A: This is a common question, for sure. And the short answer is yes! The signs of estrus in mares vary from none at all to those you describe and more, such as kicking, reluctance…

A study from the University of Kentucky challenges long-held assumptions about the seasonality of parasite egg shedding among infected horses. The researchers also found that pregnancy, foaling and lactation did not affect fecal egg counts. The study was conducted using 20 study horses that are part of a closed herd maintained by the university on the same pasture since 1979. For research purposes, the herd has received no deworming treatments since its formation. In addition to the rate of strongylid egg shedding, the researchers focused on the presence of the parasite Strongylus vulgaris, one of several “large strongyle” species known to infect horses. Every other week for a year, blood and manure samples were collected from all the horses. The researchers tested the blood for antibodies and used coprocultures, PCR…

Though they are bred for harness racing, American Standardbreds can make great riding horses. In this issue and the next, I am pleased to let readers who own off-track Standardbreds (STBs) tell much of the story in their own words and pictures. Last fall, we posted notices asking to hear from folks who own an off-track STB, and more than 100 people responded with reports and photos that show them doing something that I think is becoming increasingly rare: having FUN with horses! Many of the reports we received from readers are insightful and heartwarming. Their overwhelmingly positive experiences stand as a great advertisement for these worthy horses who, after their racing careers are over, are often destined for slaughter if no one comes along who can see their potential.…

As much as we’ve been looking forward to the longer days and warm temperatures of summer, the season does present a few significant challenges for horse keepers. Whether summer in your area means high heat, stifling humidity or an onslaught of bugs---or the dreaded combination of all three---chances are you have a good idea of what’s just around the corner. Now is the time to prepare. Summer is particularly tough on horses. You can manage the season’s extremes for yourself by swapping sweaters for shorts, stocking up on sunscreen and taking a dip in the pool. Keeping your horse safe and happy as the temperature climbs is more difficult. The trick is to identify potential problems and address them as early as possible. And even then, you’ll need to be…

When formulating your fly-control strategy, take into account the behaviors and habitats of the species most likely to be bothering your horses: • Stable flies inflict painful bites, most often on a horse’s legs, but also on the belly, face and neck. They prefer sunlight and avoid dark enclosures. • Horseflies and deer flies inflict painful, bleeding bites. Deer flies tend to attack the head and neck; smaller horseflies bite the legs, and the larger ones feed on the horse’s back. Horsefly and deer fly species prefer bright sunlight on hot, still days. • Houseflies do not bite, but they congregate near wounds and tears, mucus and other secretions. They prefer dark, interior spaces. • Black flies inflict painful bites, usually on sparsely haired areas such as the ears and…

It’s no secret to equestrians that horses improve mental health. And research has proven that equine-assisted therapies can positively address a variety of mental health conditions, from anxiety to depression to PTSD. In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness month, here are three reader-submitted stories about how horses have helped them through difficult times. Submissions have been edited for length and clarity. Stormy and Shad “I’ve been riding for about nine years now and it has become my rock. When I was 7 years old, I was hospitalized for an anxiety-induced stomach ulcer. That was the incident that made my family and me realize that I had suffered anxiety my whole life and it was only getting worse. Just a few months after getting out of the hospital, I…

Just about every horse enjoys being groomed and knows how to lead in hand, and these abilities can be polished and shaped. Here Lauren Janesch competes in showmanship with her gelding Sharp Action. Shelly Volkman and her gelding Rose Run Luther in a costume that builds on the horse’s prior familiarity with harness tack. He is obviously not much bothered. Any horse who is OK with pulling a cart will probably also be OK pulling a drag. Here Katie Jochems builds on what her gelding Buen Camino already knows. Most STBs were line-driven as part of preparing them to pull the sulky. Owners who intend to ride the horse can use line-driving as a means of suppling to introduce lateral work, and a way to introduce the horse to longeing…

If the owner has the knowledge and skill, formal jump training is a great idea. Here Robyn Cuffey’s mare Wendy Ridgecrest rounds up beautifully on the longe line. After being introduced to the idea of jumping on the longe line, a skillful rider can begin schooling the horse over jumps in the arena. Here Meaghan Martin takes her mare Chagoal Grey over a low vertical. This is about as far from harness racing as a horse can physically get, but many STBs absolutely love jumping. This is a wonderful photo that captures one of the most thrilling bits of fun that any rider can experience: cantering along a woodland trail and popping over a few logs. Natural obstacles are more inviting to many horses than are arena jumps. Cynthia Bowers…

My history with horses began more than a decade before I was born. My father, George Nelson McHugh, signed up with the 101st Cavalry Regiment of the NewYork National Guard in fall of 1940. For a year, he galloped over the New England landscape with his newfound comrades in khaki, riding and camping for months at a stretch. Then, as the United States entered World War II, his regiment first was federalized, next went mechanized. Years later, in the 1950s, I could admire Dad’s old riding boots as well as his set of alloy spurs. He kept them polished and pristine in the back corner of his closet. Even when I was a kid, these artifacts struck me as both romantic and forlorn. My father had often told us how…

On a summer evening almost a quarter century ago, a small group gathered at an historic church in New York City to celebrate a life well lived. Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Paul McCartney had invited 400 guests to the Riverside Church in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood for a special program of speeches and song to honor the memory of his wife, Linda, who had died of breast cancer two months earlier. “Paul, Children and a Horse Gather at Memorial to Linda McCartney” was the headline for The New York Times story that was published the next day. That horse was an Appaloosa dressage champion called Pay N Go. And what led him and his owner Pam Fowler Grace on a 1,400 journey from Texas to the famous Gothic church was…