As Facebook rolls out stricter adherence to its policy banning the sale of animals through sales groups, some horse traders are feeling the pinch. How much has our reliance on social media changed the horse sale scene? Horse Nation editor Kristen Kovatch gives the issue some thought. 

Social media has become our “everything” in this day and age — we share our life events, we keep in touch with distant friends and relatives (or, let’s be honest, just “like” posts and photos), we track our fitness. A large number of you will read this post because you saw the link on social media, be it Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest or others. And for lots of us in the equestrian world, social media has become the way we do business: we post horses for sale, we inquire about ads that interest us, we share our tack and equipment.

So when Facebook started strictly enforcing its “no sale of animals” policy in the past few days, many sellers were left feeling like their biggest resource for sharing horses for sale had suddenly slammed shut — though the policy had been in place for a long time, at least in regards to Facebook Marketplace. Marketplace is Facebook’s sales feature, allowing users to post items for sale in a group with a listed price; interested potential buyers can contact the seller directly via the ad. This feature was rolled out in October of 2016.

Marketplace has always prohibited the sale of animals within groups according to its Commerce Policy — however, the rule seemingly had not been enforced heavily, as equine sales groups have been helping facilitate connections between buyers and sellers for years. This week, however, sellers are met with messages such as the following when they attempt to post an ad:

Screen shot courtesy of Kait Schultz/Thunder Crest Performance Horses.

“I only post in horse sales groups,” describes Kait Schultz of Thunder Crest Performance Horses, who buys, trains and sells horses, specializing in off-track Thoroughbreds as well as warmbloods. “I always uncheck the ‘post to Marketplace’ option because it won’t let you post an ad, period, if you select that option. Some of my ads are still going through, but some are not, and I can’t figure out what the difference is between the groups where I’m posting.”

Screen shot courtesy of Kait Schultz/Thunder Crest Performance Horses.

It’s unclear why Facebook is suddenly cracking down on enforcing its policies when a thriving e-marketplace for horse sales has been helping connect buyers and sellers for years. Some animal rights activists are viewing this apparent change as a good thing, believing it will help reduce backyard breeders and puppy mills by taking away their sales space; horse traders are pushing back with online petitions with claims that losing their sales space will increase the dumping of horses at auctions. Both arguments seem specious, but the fact remains that this policy is affecting lots of horse owners, traders, breeders and even rescues seeking to adopt out their animals.

However, all of this discussion raises a key question: what did we do before Facebook?

Sure, having your social media and your horse shopping available through one app at your fingertips is certainly convenient, but before the advent of social marketing people still managed to buy and sell plenty of horses. Just how critical is having Facebook’s Marketplace service for horse sellers? The jury is still out.

“At this point, I use Facebook mostly for the ‘why hasn’t this horse already sold’ ads, for horses that I haven’t already placed through my connections and networking,” Schultz states. “On the other hand, Facebook helped me build that network in the first place.”

However, less than a decade ago, equine sales sites were the standard: “I sold one of my first OTTB projects from Equine.com, and that ad brought traffic to my website where I soon sold a second horse thanks to a phone call,” Schultz adds. “Originally, when you started selling horses on Facebook, it seemed like buyers had some sort of agenda — I had a lot of people asking me ‘why is this horse for sale?’ and asking if I was just trying to ‘flip’ horses. Now, it’s totally the norm to list your sales on Facebook as a trainer.”

For professionals like Schultz who have built a network of connections with that intangible but extremely valuable word-of-mouth reputation that helps bridge more contacts, losing Facebook’s sales option may hinder their efforts. For other trainers trying to get their operations off the ground, a lack of social media marketplace may seriously hurt their business. Will we see a return to the equine sales sites? Or will Facebook relax its policies again?

Weigh in, readers — share your thoughts in the comments section!

As a relatively recent convert to the fecal egg count and targeted deworming strategy, I realize that I may be preaching to the choir — but for any readers who haven’t switched to this deworming method and are curious to learn more, I hope this article helps illustrate why rotational deworming should be rotated right out of practice. How does a fecal egg count work?

The process is fairly simple: a fecal sample is gathered and a specific weight or volume of the sample is mixed in a flotation solution, then examined under a microscope. The eggs of parasites in the intestinal tract are then counted and the veterinarian or lab technician can then calculate how many eggs per pound of manure are generated by the individual horse and by which types of parasites. The veterinarian can then develop a targeted deworming program with the owner to specifically work on the parasites each horse contains.

Ideally, a fecal egg count (FEC) is paired with a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) — the second test is taken 10 to 14 days after the horse is treated with the targeted deworming product to make sure that the product was effective. If you can only test once, test prior to deworming. Samples should be tested in the spring before horses are turned out on pasture and again in the fall.

The FEC measures the amount of eggs shed by a horse — which is not necessarily to say that the horse is “infested with worms.” A high shedder can and most likely will continue to look like a healthy horse at good weight with a shiny coat, all the while he continues to shed a high amount of eggs into his pasture to be picked up by his herdmates.

But rotational worming has worked for so long. Why shouldn’t we keep using rotational products?

Rotational worming — the traditional method in which horses are treated every two months or seasonally with a different class of dewormer — worked when over-the-counter deworming pastes first came on the market. However, the biggest threat has changed from large to small strongyles, and many parasites are now developing resistance to dewormers thanks to a constant use of these products. Targeting a deworming program for the type of parasite and amount of eggs shed can help prevent the over-use of medicines and increase the overall health of a herd and pasture. It also makes sure that owners are treating with the correct dewormer — not using a product that doesn’t even target the kind of parasites the horse might carry.

My horse looks healthy and he’s been on a rotational plan. Why change?

A fat, happy and shiny horse can still be a high shedder, and is continuing to release eggs into the pasture. All a rotational product does is band-aid the problem for a few months, rather than manage the parasites in a targeted fashion.

Here’s a visual that really drove home the point for me: I’ve been using a free traveling clinic that comes to our area in the fall and the spring to have fecal egg counts performed. I followed the attending veterinarian’s fall protocol with my six horses, and this spring got my father-in-law on board with his four horses, who live on a separate farm just a mile or two down the road.

My father-in-law’s horses, wormed with on rotation, are the first four horses on the list photographed below (Randy black, Chuck, Derek and Tyrone). My six horses follow after that (Winston, Red, Randy brown, Dutch, Skip and Rocky). Note the difference in egg counts after just one rotation of the prescribed protocol versus a rotational program:

Photo by Kristen Kovatch.

Seeing these figures side-by-side like this really drove the point home for me: what a difference can be made by changing tactics. Change can be hard, but it’s important to make these decisions based on what is truly best for your horses’ health.

Parasites can live in pasture for a long time — the presiding veterinarian told me up to a year; some sources state as long as a decade. It’s important to manage manure at home as much as it is to target the dewormer, but now both of our farms are on their way to managing parasites from an evidence-based perspective rather than long-standing common practice.

Further reading:

• New Thinking on Deworming (HorseChannel.com)
• What is a Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test? (HorseChannel.com)
• Equine Deworming Rotation Chart: Out with the old and in with the new (SmartPak)
• Manure Matters (SmartPak)
• What is Your Horse’s Fecal Egg Count Telling You? (The Horse)

We have our own lingo in the horse world and often if the real world were a part of our equestrian conversations, there would be quite a bit of confusion. Here are a few things that we wouldn’t be able to explain to our non-horsey friends…

Bowel Movement-Related Messages

(Because horse people are OBSESSED with poop…)

“What does her poop look like?”

“Did she poop today?”

“We have poop!” (With a photo for proof, of course.)

Equine Nutrition Facts

“Don’t give the gray horse anything. He is on a diet. He will act like he’s dying but I think he ate another one of the ponies…”

“Did he have his beer with breakfast?” (For a horse with anhidrosis)

From the Medical Perspective

“You used ALL those enemas?”

“Your herpes test is still positive.”

“I just sent a check for semen and have never been more excited!”

“Your girl is pregnant!”

“Does this look normal?” (Usually accompanied by a photo; bonus points if it’s a photo of genitalia).

“When I was in high school, I thought my horse might be pregnant so I just rode her down the street to the vet clinic to have her tested. She ended up being pregnant. The vet later left a voicemail on my house phone that said, ‘This is Dr. Dalmy calling to talk to Morgan about her pregnancy test today.’ My mother heard this message and freaked out thinking I was pregnant.”

“I think your girl horse is sick. She is chasing the boy around and squirting him with her butt…”

Auto-Correct Wasn’t Correct

“Meant to ask my friend how much her hock x-ray was… autocorrect stepped in and changed hock to something that rhymes with hock and starts with a C.”

“Was using talk to text to tell a client to go get my horse Petey ready… talk to text thought I said to go get a certain part of the male anatomy ready….”

Pure Randomness

“Pat her on the butt and tell her good job”

“Who is this horse and why is she here?”

“Do you want a sheet on him or should I leave him naked?”

“My boyfriend wanted to give my horse a treat, so he texted me a photo of two horses in a field and asked which one was mine. The answer was neither…”

Share your own weird equestrian texts in the comments section! Go riding.

Lady Gaga is 100% a performer, through and through, putting her heart and soul into every single note, dance move or death-defying leap off of the top of a stadium. Sound like anyone else you know?

When you take the green horse down his first bank:

When your horse is playing hard to catch:

Getting all the barn girls together for a photo…

…and then trying to get the horses’ ears up so they look cute:

Friends, family and responsibilities trying to get you to leave the barn:

Trying to polo-wrap your antsy horse like:

On your way back to the stabling area after winning a big class:

Trying to navigate the warm-up ring:

When you know you’ve just laid down the best pattern/test/course of your life:

Go Gaga. Go riding.

Hot off the internet presses: a full brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has been born at Summer Wind Farm in Kentucky!

Sired by Pioneerof the Nile out of Littleprincessemma, this little bay colt was born overnight. Whether they go on to win racing’s “Grand Slam” or retire off the track to start a second career as sporthorses, every Thoroughbred starts out the same: a wobbly-legged little foal sticking close to his mother’s side.

Obviously there is no guarantee that lightning could strike twice and that this colt is destined to inherit his brother’s incredible legacy… but wouldn’t it be great if it did? Until we find out, best wishes to this little colt and his connections.

Go riding!

As seen on…

62yo jockey Sue Martin, a great grandmother, smiling aboard $53 winner Blue Haze of Fire @TampaBayDownsFL pic.twitter.com/lfC3HQslao

— Emily Shields (@ZenyattaMafia) January 30, 2017

Sue Martin is #goals. Not only is she still actively riding at age 62, she’s still riding as a jockey… and winning to boot. Aboard Blue Haze of Fire, Martin won a claiming race on Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs, marking her first win since 2014. Since Martin’s only riding a handful of races these days, that’s not a bad record.

Martin rode her first race in 1973 in Idaho. Also in the mid 1970s, she married trainer Wayne Martin; it was Wayne who trained her mount on Sunday. Amid the usual rough-and-tumble jockey life, Sue Martin also made time for having a family, with seven children, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

According to Martin, there are no plans to retire any time soon. We salute you, Sue Martin, and wish you all the best in your continued career!

If you’d like to watch a replay, click here to open Tampa Bay Downs’ replay site — select Sunday, January 29 and watch Race 4. Blue Haze of Fire and Sue are the 7 horse.

Go riding.

[Great-Grandmother Rides $53 Winner At Tampa Bay Downs]

As seen on EN’s sister site Horse Nation! Check it out for equestrian news from around the world, plus plenty of first-rate ridiculousness to help get you through your day.

That better not be a judgmental look I see on your face, little dog. Photo by Kristen Kovatch.

Some time a few years into my first job as a full-time professional horseperson, I opened my car to drive home from the barn on a cold winter night and sat down to immediately realize that I had achieved a certain benchmark status: I had an equestrian car. I didn’t realize how much this moment meant to me until it happened, nor how long I had been unwittingly working to develop that certain blend of aroma, dust and random equine detritus, but when it happened, I knew that for the present moment at least, I had “made it.”

Now that I’m managing my own horses at my own property, the situation has perhaps gotten even worse. Or should that be “better”? I can’t decide.

Chances are, you’ve made it too. Here’s a list of things you’ll find in any equestrian’s car.

1. Boots. Or perhaps a full set of riding clothes. If you go right to the barn from your day job, you might store a day’s riding apparel in your car. In my particular scenario, I’ve stashed a pair of riding boots in the backseat since I’m now wearing knee-high muck boots for the winter to get around.

2. A lead rope. Mine was serving as an emergency dog leash and I just never bothered to take it back out and put it in the tackroom. But I might legitimately need it someday to rescue a loose horse in the neighborhood or something… or I’m just lazy and it blends in to the floor now.

3. Sacks of feed. I only have room for so many pounds of feed in my collection of metal trash cans, but I like to buy enough feed that I’m not constantly driving up to the feed store to stock up, so the extra bags accumulate, sagging in the backseat like unattractive passengers or providing a foundation for more stuff to be piled on top of them in the cargo area, totally forgotten until I run to the feed store again to discover I already had two bags lurking in the back.

4. Actual tack. Headstalls, spare sets of reins, saddle pads that you keep meaning to take home and wash but will forget about until the first warm day when your car smells like a sock… perhaps an actual or saddle or two…

5. Double-ended snaps. You never can find one when you need one, but there are like four in the glove compartment or the cup holder.

6. Speaking of cup holders, lots of empty drive-through coffee cups. Pick your poison, but in my neck of the woods I’m a Tim Hortons fan.

7. Extra bulk jugs of vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, or other things you bought at the grocery store for the barn. I go through a single spray bottle of ACV, oh, maybe every two months? But I had to buy a gallon jug at grocery store so that I had one on standby, where it has been rolling around on the floor in the back of my car since September waiting for me to notice.

8. Unmatched gloves, likely all for the same hand. So you can’t even put them together to make a full pair.

9. A completely scentless dried-up air freshener. From that one time you made a legitimate effort to clean out your car and make it smell appealing, two years ago.

10. Old invoices and receipts from farrier visits gone by. Because filing things in your home office would be both responsible and also let your family see how much you’re spending.

11. Hypodermic instruments, either loaded or used. This looks really good when you get pulled over. I had to drive to a satellite farm for a few weeks to hand-walk a horse on long layup and had a loaded needle of ace floating around in my car “just in case.” I never used it but it was quite the shock when friends or significant others would open the glove compartment and I would remember its existence.

12. A barn dog. Bonus points for this one because they bring their own wake of loose hair and general filth with them. If my border collie has gotten particularly friendly with the cattle on a given day, she seems to come back with molasses lick stuck to her which is its own special variety of delight.

13. Broken things you fully intended to take home to repair. Blankets that need patching, leather that needs stitching, a wide variety of things that just need some cleaning and duct tape… someday, when you remember that you threw them into the back.

14. A fine patina of dust, dirt and hay chaff on pretty much every surface.

What’s floating around in your car? Let us know in the comments section! Go riding.