Better not eat too many cookies. You've got to watch your figure, Mister.
Owning an easy keeper can be a blessing … or a complete and total curse, because sometimes keeping the weight off can be a real challenge. It’s akin to trying to get all of the values right in one of those crazy algebra equations (so just save the letters for the dressage ring). And variables such as the time of year, the amount of pasture access your horse has and how heavy their workload is can complicate things even more.
As the proud owner of a good ol’ American Quarter Horse, I’ve got an easy keeper of my own. I’m a bit fanatical about monitoring his weight and making slight adjustments to his feed as needed, so I was pretty excited to see an article over on The Horse.com that gives some great tips on feeding easy keepers. I’m a little bit proud to say that I already practice four out of the five tips … because Ripley just doesn’t do grazing muzzles. Head on over to check out the article here.
And then check out some of the other highlights found in horse health news this week:
Managing and Preventing Transport-Associated Fever: Do you ever worry about your horse spiking a fever while on the road? The topic of transportation-related fevers was on tap last month at the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, and horse owners were given tips on management and prevention of this type of situation. Poor ventilation and dehydration are often the biggest culprits in these types of fevers. [Blood Horse]
Lethal Red Maple Leaves: While the colors of fall are wonderful, this season also means that leaves will be falling aplenty. And if you have any red maple trees around the farm, be aware that ingesting even a small amount of the leaves can prove disastrous for your horse. Less than a pound of dry red maple leaves can prove to be fatal for a pony. [The Horse]
EPM Webinar on Oct. 30: Looking to learn more about EPM? Check out the webinar that Bayer and EQUUS Magazine are hosting with veterinarians Steve Reed and James Little over at EquiMed. Visit this link to register for the webinar. But don’t worry if you can’t make it — the recorded webinar will be posted on EQUUSmagazine.com too.
Pumpkin Treats for Horses? Since everything comes in pumpkin flavor this time of year, why not treats for your horse too — or is it safe for them to consume this kind of yummy treat? Head over to check out an article that talks about how to safely recycle your pumpkins by turning them into horse treats once Halloween has passed us by. [HorseChannel]
Researchers Examine Fatal Lumbar Vertebral Fractures: Severe limb fractures are not the only type of life-threatening fracture that racehorses can experience. The University of California recently conducted a study of catastrophic lumbar vertebral fractures on California racetracks. During the study period, a total of 67 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racehorses experienced this type of fracture. Through the study, researchers hope to be able to recognize early warning signs so that racetrack breakdowns of this nature can be prevented. [The Horse]
