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Learn About Vaccinating Your Horse

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:24:00 +0000

Spring is on the way and for many horse owners it's the time they have the veterinarian out to give their horses their annual shots. There are a few basic shots that horses should have every year. These basic shots will protect your horse from the most common and potentially fatal diseases. Yes, there are risks to giving your horse vaccines, but the danger of your horse getting one of these diseases far outweighs the possibility of anything going wrong because of the shot itself. Learn more about vaccinating your horse and why you should.

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How to Run a Keyhole Race

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:01:00 +0000

Spring is on the way and that means horse show and gymkhana time is coming. Some of the most popular games are barrel race, pole bending and keyhole races. Key hole races is a very short game that is easy to set up. It's a fun thing to do when you get together with friends to ride and can be played in a ring or arena. Here's how to set up a key hole race.

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Diving Horses Act Won't Return

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:26:37 +0000

A while back I blogged about a documentary I had watched on Atlantic City. One of the many attractions was the Diving Horses. Horses were ridden to the top of ...

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How to Lunge Your Horse

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:49:00 +0000

To many people, lunging looks like making your horse run around in circles on a long rope. But ideally, lunging is much more than that. There are actually pitfalls to letting your horse run around you without instilling some important lessons. Lunging can teach important lessons in behavior, and is not just a way to burn off excess energy. Here's how to lunge an already trained horse.

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What to Do When Your Horse Injures Itself

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:37:00 +0000

It's an unfortunate part of horse ownership that you're going to have to treat wounds. Horses are pretty ingenious at finding ways to hurt themselves sometimes. Cuts, scrapes, punctures are are all things we need to be prepared for at any time. Most small wounds can be treated successfully at home with a first-aid kit. But you need to know the difference between what you can safely treat yourself, and what needs to be looked at by a veterinarian. Treating Minor Horse Wounds outlines what minor wounds look like, how to treat them and when you should call the vet for things that can't be safely treated at home.

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Gymkhana Games–Learn to Run a Pole Bending Race

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:11:07 +0000

Less than ideal trail conditions may mean you're ring or arena bound at this time of year. That makes it a great time to learn something new. Gymkhana games are a great way to have fun, whether you are riding with a few friends or on your own. One of the most popular games is Pole Bending. Pole Bending isn't just a fun game, it's also a great way to build on your riding skills, honing your rein and leg aids and helping you to learn balance and how it affects your horse. In a schooling situation it's called riding a serpentine, with the biggest difference being it's not a race. This game is easy to set up with a minimum of props. Give it a try next time you ride!

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Take the Horse Age Quiz

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:25:17 +0000

How much do you know about horse age and longevity?

Image:2006 K. Blocksdorf

Take this quiz and test your knowledge. Need to learn more ...

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Strangles–Disease Profile

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:18:00 +0000

Strangles is a rather old fashioned name for a rather common equine respiratory illness. The name comes from the strangled breathing of a horse with badly inflamed glands in its throat. It's somewhat akin to the human 'strep throat' and can make a horse feel pretty miserable. When strangles hits, it tends to go through stables very quickly as it is very easily transmissible. This can shut a barn down for weeks, causing much worry and resulting in loss of income on top of vet bills. If you hear about strangles in a barn near you, you'll want to keep your distance until a few weeks after the last horse has recovered. Strangles isn't a sign of a poorly kept barn. It's just one of those diseases that is hard to control and treat. Rarely is it fatal, although complications are possible. Read this disease profile of Strangles to find out more.

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Is Your Horse Too Fat or Too Skinny?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:22:00 +0000

How do you tell if your horse is too fat or too skinny? Right now I can confirm that my horse is too fat. She is living unhappily in the 'diet pasture' with two other mares that also need to lose a few pounds. I know she's too fat by looking at certain areas on her body, and her overall condition. When she came to us, she was in very poor condition indeed. Within a few months however, she returned to a healthy weight and has never looked back. How do you tell if your horse is in good, but not too good shape? Read How to Assess the Healthy Weight For A Horse to be sure your horse is the weight it should be.

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The Original Horse Bible–Book Review

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Some times you need advice, and you don't want to wait while your computer boots up, or filter through search engine pages to find information that is current, accurate and understandable. That's when it's handy to have a good reference book within reach. The Original Horse Bible: The Definitive Source for All Things Horse is such a book that every horse owner, whether just beginning or further on in their journey will find useful. I had a chance to review this weighty book and was impressed by the amount of information imparted as well as the clear photos and useful sidebars. Read my review, and I think you'll agree that The Original Horse Bible will be a useful addition to your equine library.

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