FOAL
LEG ISSUES: ACQUIRED
FLEXURAL
DEFORMITIES
“Odin” was born in mid-June; a norma=
l
delivery of a healthy, spunky bright chestnut
colt loaded with Chrome. His tendons
were a little tight at the time, causing his
front feet to be a little upright, but over the
next few days in the stall they relaxed
enough that everything looked great. He
and his mom joined the other mare and
foal in the front pasture to begin the growing
up process. When the mare was bred at
30 days post-foaling and then re-checked
two weeks later to confirm pregnancy (I
love easy breeders!), Odin looked great,
even if he was not too excited about being
handled by people.
As the summer wore on, the students
worked on getting Odin more used to being
touched and to convince him that getting
scratched was a good thing. Most of
the time however, when you saw Odin, it
was watching him tear across the field
away from you! I was surprised and horrified
then when in late August I had the
opportunity across pavement (vs. mud or tall grass) and saw that he was walking on his tippy-toes instead of flat on his feet. When foals are born with “Congenital Flexural Deformity” in the form of tootight tendons that are contracted, they can be treated by a veterinarian with oxytetracycline. It is believed that the drug interacts with the metabolites of muscle action
allowing the muscles to soften and the
heels to drop. While this sounds simple, it
can be dangerous to do it without supervision
as the drug is quite potent and can
have serious side effects. As well, it only
will work in the first few weeks of life; too
late for oxytetracycline=
for Odin.
What happened with Odin is “Acquired Flexu=
ral
Deformity” (often called contracted tendons); his
is in the coffin joints in his feet, as opposed to=
the
fetlock
joint. Generally when this happens to foals that are =
one to
four months of age, it is a growth and/or nutritional
issue.
My theory is that since the pastures were so =
well
watered
this summer, that both the milk he was getting from =
his
dam and the fact that he was grazing on a field of =
clover
full of protein and calcium is that he was just plain
overfed.
This type of flexural deformity occurs in very f=
ast growing
individuals
Since my limited reading on this condition sugge=
sted
that
surgery might be in order, we called upon the
Large Animal Clinic -
to do with Odin. It was suggested first that we st=
art
with a
conservative
his dam (guilt by association) were put on stall re=
st
both
to limit overexercise =
and
overeating. We also began wrapping
his legs from elbow to coronet changing the bandage=
s
every three to five days. Fortunately, after some
dramatic lessons in how-to-wear-a-halter and how-tolead,
he’s been quite cooperative.
The bandages helped, but haven’t cured the
problem. We
also weaned him from his dam after a couple of weeks=
indoors when it became apparent that she was giving him=
plenty of nutrition through her milk and losing weight=
herself. So, after 8 weeks of stall rest and bandaging,=
Odin will head over to the clinic for Distal Che=
ck
Ligament
Desmoto=
my. Essentially, this surgery will snip the
check ligaments just below the knee to allow the deep=
digital flexor tendon to drop a centimeter or two. Hope=
fully
just enough to put his heels on the ground. He’=
;ll
have several weeks of careful aftercare, but the pro=
gnosis
is very good that Odin will have a long productive
performance
life ahead of him. We’ll keep you posted!
— Karen Lassell, Lassell@whminer.com
AG
SEMINAR SERIES: THE EFFECT OF DIETARY FISH
OIL
SUPPLEMENTATION ON EXERCISING HORSES
Horses need energy to maintain high performance =
levels
during exercise. The fast-acting energy source for hor=
ses
is glucose, but when the glucose stores are used u=
p,
horses rely on fats to get the energy that they need. =
Fats
have a high energy density, so it is often added to =
the
diets
of exercising horses. Corn and soybean oils are co=
mmonly
used to increase fat and provide energy for active
horses; however they are not a good source of Omega 3<= o:p>
Fatty Acids eicosapentaenoi=
c
acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA). Fish oil is an excellent source of
Omega 3 FA’s, but is not commonly used bec=
ause
it has
decreased palatability.
This study shows that in well conditioned horses=
, the
addition
of fish oil to the diet alters exercise metabolism=
and
provides several benefits to the exercising horse. For
example,
horses receiving the fish oil treatment maintained
a lower heart rate during exercise. This is benef=
icial
to
keep blood pressure down and also allow the heart to
return
to resting rate sooner.
The supplementation also assists in lowering pla=
sma
glucose levels. During exercise the glucose to insulin<= o:p>
ratio in the blood of the horses on the fish oil diet=
was
higher than during recovery. During recovery, blood
glucose levels decreased, whereas when using the corn
oil supplementation, blood glucose levels continued=
to
rise during recovery. This indicates that fish oil
supplementation
may increase insulin sensitivity and increase
glucose uptake from the blood and into cells for
later energy use.
In addition, this study also showed lower insulin
levels in
the blood. When an animal is insulin insensitive th=
e body
must produce more insulin to achieve the same amount=
of
glucose uptake as a normally responding body would.
Increased insulin level decreases the break down=
of
fat
and animals may accumulate fat deposits.
This study has implications for Miner Institute
because
we have questionably insulin resistant horses. If =
the
horses were put on a strict exercise program, this stu=
dy
indicates that fish oil could increase insulin sensitivit=
y,
leading to decreased fat deposition and increased gluco=
se
uptake from the blood to be stored and used for
energy.
— Presented by Natasha Repard,
a Summer Experience
in
of
C.I. O’Connor et. al.,
published in the Journal of Animal
Science 2004.<=
/span> 82:2978-2984
HORSE
HAY FACTS AND FANCIES
The very best and very worst hay produced in the
Northeastern
alfalfa, full of high-protein leaves — is sold at=
high
prices
to the owners of race horses. Some of the worst &#=
8212;
July
first-cut consisting primarily of weeds and over-mature
grasses — is sold to the unsuspecting owners of
"back
yard" horses, often at very high prices conside=
ring
its
worth. My rating system for hay quality, from top to
bottom:
Horse hay, dairy hay, heifer hay, beef hay, hors=
e
hay, mulch hay. But sometimes the last two are swit=
ched.
That said, a few tips when buying hay for horses=
:
hay with 10-12% crude protein is plenty high enough=
.
This means that most horses don't need alfalfa h=
ay;
good
quality grass hay will do just fine. Moderately higher<= o:p>
protein levels won't hurt but just aren't needed, and w=
hy
pay for something you don't need?
crude protein. The ideal range of NDF (neutral deterg=
ent
fiber) levels varies with forage species, so rely
on ADF (acid detergent fiber). 30-35% ADF is ideal=
,
and don't buy hay that's over 40% ADF. Lots of hay<= o:p>
is sold to unsuspecting horse owners that's well o=
ver
40% ADF. Horses might pick over this stuff, but they
won't readily eat it, and probably shouldn't s=
ince
it's
of little nutritive value.
plague. Hay with a nice green color is preferable, but=
some years it's hard to find this kind of hay at a
reasonable
price. Rained-on hay — especially grass hay
— isn’t much lower in nutritive valu=
e as
long as it
only got rained on once and then was allowed to dry<= o:p>
completely before baling. Obviously, moldy, dusty
hay is a no-no.
— Ev Thomas,thomas@whminer.com
=
The
William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Stable Sheet October 2009 =
—
3
TRAINING
MYTHUNDERSTANDINGS:
HORSES
NEVER SAY NEVER
There's an awful lots of "shoulds"
and "don'ts" and
"n=
evers"
that come up whenever horse people start talking
about training horses or teaching people to ride. Som=
e of
them make sense from a safety standpoint and that's
important.
A whole bunch of others, however, are just based=
on the theories and assumptions of the person talk=
ing or
on their personal beliefs about what's good or bad=
or
what's humane or inhumane. None of those things are
necessarily
Back in the late '50s when I was tagging along b=
ehind
famous
trainers to learn from their wisdom, I wound up riding
shotgun behind one trainer's trailer on a 1942 Army sur=
plus
Harley Davidson motorcycle.<=
/span> Now this model was not exactly
the kind of bike most people think of nowadays when=
you say "Harley Davidson." It was a strip=
ped
down, underpowered
wimpy-e=
ngined excuse of a Harley that didn't even
have a windshield. As you draw your mental picture,
remember
that this event also took place back in the days when
nobody
thought about wearing helmets. The wind blowin'
through your hair and all that.
Now on account of the no windshield deal, I was
wearing
glasses. Which was a good thing bec=
ause I
was
going to learn an important lesson about horses which=
might have been a little harder without the glasses.<= o:p>
The trainer guru whose trailer I was trailing ha=
d told
me a lot of things about horses. He was a successf=
ul
trainer so, of course, anything he said must be gospel.=
One of the things he told me was that horses will
never
void in a moving trailer. That, he said, was one of =
the
reasons you have to pull over every once in awhile and<= o:p>
stop so they can relax and pee. =
Absolutely.
A lot of
other horse people agreed that was gospel. There was<= o:p>
just one problem. No one told the horse in the trail=
er I
was following on my Harley.
The animal in question was a big 16-hand critter=
named Ivan. And Ivan figured that, even if you're
zooming down the highway, when you've gotta
go,
you've gotta go. So he did=
. And
when that yellow mist
started spraying out behind the trailer, I realized I w=
as
in a bad spot. That '42 Harley wasn't fast enough =
to
pass the trailer and dropping back just meant it too=
k
the mist a little longer to reach me.
So I learned a lot of things that day. I learned=
that
you'd
better remember to wear glasses if you're riding on a =
motorcycle
that doesn't have a windshield. I learned that the
gospel preached by successful horse trainers isn't tot=
ally
infallible. Most importantly, I learned that if you're goi=
ng
to tell people that there's something a horse will=
never
do
or not do, be sure you tell the horse, too.
There's an awful lot of well meaning people who =
assume
that because something worked with one horse, it's g=
oing
to work with every other horse. If all of their
experience
has been with Quarter horse or Arabians or scared b=
aby
horses or middle aged dominant mares, they're going to=
be just fine as long as they keep working with tha=
t one
kind of horse. They get used to doing X and have the=
horse do Y. Then along comes a critter that sees X
differently
and does an S or a Z or even a Q. Now the handler
stands there and says, "Boy is this a dumb (or st=
ubborn
or
lazy or something else) horse. He just doesn't get
it." So
they repeat whatever they were doing in a louder, mo=
re
aggressive way to try to impress the horse that they're in=
charge.
You're not really communicating with horses if y=
ou
assume
a specific pressure is going to produce a specifi=
c
response in every horse. To truly communicate, you need<= o:p>
to start paying attention to how the individual ho=
rse in
front of you at that moment feels a pressure as logic=
al or
not. Then you have to modify your pressure to use t=
he
horse's own logic to get your point across to him more<= o:p>
clearly. As a way of communicating with horses, heeding=
works because it isn't a "one size fits all"
program. It provides
handlers with a set of basic communication tools
but it's up to the handler to apply those tools
appropriately
to the individual horse.
Those individual horse respo=
nse
are what can make horse
training frustrating. When someone e mails a question an=
d
asks me why their horse won't back or load or jump w=
ithout
rushing, I can't really give them a precise answer.
Without actually seeing them and their horse, I =
can
only
guess what kind of logic the horse is using to respon=
d to
whatever pressures they are applying. But figuring that<= o:p>
out is what makes communicating with horses so rewa=
rding
and so much fun.
— Ron Meredith, President, Meredith Man=
or
International Equestrian Centre
© 1997-2008 Meredith Ma=
nor
International Equestrian Centre.
All rights reserved.
Instructor and trainer Ron Meredith has refined =
his “horse
logical”
methods for communicating with equines over 40 years as=
a horse professional. He is President of Meredith=
Manor
International
Equestrian Centre (147 Saddle Lane, Waverly, WV<= o:p>
26184; 800.679.2603; www.meredithmanor.edu), an =
ACCET
a=
ccredited equestrian educational institution.
MARK
YOUR CALENDAR!
YOUTH
EQUIDAY IS NOV. 7, 2009!
WHAT:
Youth EquiDay
WHO:
Any & all youth interested in horses
(you can bring your parents too….)
WHEN:
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, 9 a.m.— noon
WHERE:
Miner Institute’s Horse Barn,
WHY:
To learn about horses!
Registration and refreshments are from 9 to 9:30=
a.m.
This year’s feature topic will revolve aro=
und
horse judging;
we’ll
performance
Horses will be the featured breed. The event wil=
l
wind up around noon. Call (518) 846-7121, ext. 120 o=
r
email lassell@whminer.com for more information.
FAQs about Youth EquiDay=
:
Do we need to pre-register? No, but if you are
coming with a big group Karen would love a heads
up; you can call or email her.
Is this a
Yes. If you want full credit, you’ll need =
to be
there
the whole time and be sure to sign in & out.
Will we get to ride a horse? No. Sorry!
Can anyone come? Yes. It is free and open to the
public, but kids get first dibs on horse-related activ=
ities.
What should I wear? Comfortable clothes
& bring warm things to wear in the barn.
Will there be something to eat? Refreshments
will be provided at registration and during a
s=
hort break.
MUSINGS ON MOVING CROSS-COUNTRY
WITH A HORSE
Traveling with your horse can be a
challenging adventure.
As I began to plan my trip from
that hauling my horse, Red Hot, thousand=
s of
miles has
more complications than your average tri=
p to a
show.
Given my lack of experience, I began=
to
ask close friends
for advice.
Dehydration is always a concern when
traveling with
horses. However, when you haul for multipl=
e days
in a
row it can become an even larger proble=
m. If
your horse
does not like to drink “foreign=
221;
water there are a few
things you can try. First, several days be=
fore
leaving home,
start slowly flavoring their daily water =
with
something tasty
such as apple juice or Gatorade (they wi=
ll
receive extra electrolytes
as=
well as water). Then, when you are
traveling you
simply can add the flavoring to the local =
water
to mask any
change in taste. Second, it is always good=
to
carry a water
tank filled with water from home. This i=
s good
not only for
horses that are picky, but also in case of=
a
road-side breakdown.
Fortunately, my horse is usually not
picky, but he
does refuse to drink water while traveli=
ng
during the day. For
this it is recommended to provide extra
electrolytes in paste
form to help water retention throughout =
the
day. As well,
wetting down the hay in the haynet
or providing an occasional
bucket of very soaked beet pulp or pellets=
can
help to
keep them hydrated.
My next worry was what to do with my
gelding at night.
Again, after consulting friends I ca=
me
upon this website:
www.polocenter.com and followed the link “Horse
Boarding Stables - US” which
provides a list of equine
facilities categorized by state. Many of the b=
arns
did not
actually<=
/span> list overnight boarding as a servic=
e, but
I called
any barn in the area we were staying an=
d had
wonderful
luck! Key questions I asked each barn we=
re: 1)
Is overnight
boarding<=
/span> in a stall or a pen? 2) If a stall,=
is
bedding
provided<=
/span>? 3) If a pen, what type of fencing,
water, and
shelter is provided? 4) Is a negative Coggins test and/or
proof of certain vaccinations required? I=
f a
facility does
not require a negative Coggins
test, know that your horse
may be in the company of others horses =
that
have not
been tested. As far as deciding between a
stall and a pen,
this comes down to personal preference a=
nd the
horse’s
behavior<=
/span>; I chose pens in order to give Red =
room
to move.
Some horses may not rest while in a =
pen,
therefore a stall
may be better suited. The goal each nig=
ht is
to give your
horse time to stretch their legs, but als=
o have
them lie
down and rest.
Lastly, it is always good to be proa=
ctive.
Be sure to stop
approximately every three hours to let your horse=
(s)
rest
and to check that they are feeling OK. =
Know
how to take
their pulse, temperature, and look for si=
gns of
dehydration
or=
distress. Always travel with a heal=
th
certificate, proof
of=
a negative Cog=
gins
test, and if moving to a new area of
the country, ask advice as to what vacc=
ines
and boosters
they should have before arriving.
After four long days of traveling, R=
ed and
I arrived safely
at=
our new home in Chazy.
Both of us were certainly
tired, but weathered the trip well. Looki=
ng
back on the
trip, it certainly seemed daunting in the
beginning, but in
the end it went smoothly and safely due=
to
plenty of
preparation a good advice. Hopefully your next =
trip will
go=
as well as ours did!
—
Ostrowski@whminer.com
MANAGING
HORSES ON SMALL ACREAGE
There are several considerations that must be
addressed when
keeping horses in limited or poor quality acreage. Idea=
lly,
we
would house the horses in lush green pasture and rota=
te
them
from one well maintained broad sweeping field to the=
next
on a
regular basis. Reality usually sets in when people comp=
are
land
prices, taxes, building costs and the amount of money =
in
their
budgets. When these factors are calculated, people ofte=
n 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 h=
orse
and land
stewardship
whether it be in the form of stalls, shelters or natura=
l wind
breaks.
The horse must have a safe environment with adeq=
uate
and clean
space that provides relief from the elements. In addi=
tion,
the area
where your horse is housed must be free from hazards
including
protruding nails, broken fences, barbed wire, glass or win=
dows,
and
toxic substances or weeds.
Horses must also be kept on a routine feed, exer=
cise,
turn out (if
stalled) vaccination, deworming and
hoof and teeth care schedule.
Horses are grazing animals by nature and instinc=
t, and
their digestive tract was designed to handle small am=
ounts
of
medium to low quality roughage on a regular basis. Whe=
n we
give them one meal of high quality roughage and calo=
rie
packed concentrate, we are inviting potential digestive
upsets
such as colic or laminitis. Some of these topics wil=
l 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 maintena=
nce of
physical as well as mental soundness, horses must receive
regular
exercise. Hoof care is another often neglected responsib=
ility.
Horses usually need to have their feet trimmed o=
r shod
every 7-8 weeks. This can vary depending on their use=
and
the
condition of their hooves. Consult your local veterinaria=
n for
recommendations on vaccination and dewormi=
ng
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 vaccinati=
ons
and rotations
of various dewormers. =
You will
be able to decrease the
potential parasite load with responsible manure and pastu=
re
management as will be addressed later. Horses will general=
ly
require an annual appointment for dental work with the
veterinarian.
Since horses chew with a side to side motion, th=
ey
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, we=
ll
maintained
and safe fencing, a fresh clean water source, and, =
no
weeds, toxic plants, machinery, trash or dangerous ob=
jects.
Poor pasture can be utilized to its fullest exte=
nt,
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 pre=
sent,
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 rota=
tional
grazing, sacrifice areas, weed control, and improvement=
of
pasture
through renovation, maintenance and rest. Rotational gr=
azing
will allow different areas of your pasture to rest a=
nd
recuperate
while the horses graze on a different section of past=
ure.
Without proper management, horses can quickly de=
stroy
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 are=
a off
into
pieces, you will be able to manage manure by picking i=
t up
manually or using a harrow to spread it around and expos=
e 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 o=
ne
week,
to decrease possibility of parasitic re-infestatio=
n.
Sacrifice areas allow you to choose which parts =
of the
pasture
will be “given up” for the survival of t=
he
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 p=
laces
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 kep=
t in
the sacrifice
area. If a horse is allowed to choose their own sacr=
ifice
area, you can be sure that it will be several differ=
ent
spots
throughout the pasture, rather than one concentrated area.=
The
actual size and shape of the sacrifice area will depen=
d 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 yearlin=
gs.
One other critical
consideration<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> is the diversion of run off from your sacrifice=
area. This can be achieved by several methods includ=
ing
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 exper=
ts to
obtain
the best pasture mix. Most of the time, a mix is mo=
re
desirable
than one specific grass seed, since different types =
can be
mixed
at ratios that will allow one to begin coming in w=
hen
the other
is at the end of its maximum production. The pastu=
re 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 con=
tain
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 t=
end to
provide
thick turf and therefore be heartier to horse abuse t=
han
legumes. Legumes tend to have a higher protein and mine=
ral
content and flourish in the summer, but do not withstan=
d 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. On=
e of
the
greatest causes of new pasture failure is overgrazing pr=
ior to
establishment<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> of a good stand. In order to avoid over and
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 comp=
osting
manure, and keep pasture clipped to three to four inch=
es
regularly
during the growing season (after you have rotated hors=
es).
This will help to control weeds and prevent the
grasses from
heading out. Also, if you use a ch=
ainlink
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 renov=
ating
your
pasture, a soil test will be necessary to determine lim=
e or
fertilization
needs. Soil tests should be representative of the ent=
ire
pasture area and done every 2-3 years. The needs of your
pasture
will be partially dependant on the use and abuse lev=
el
which is directly dependent of the species type and n=
umbers
that are utilizing the land.
There are several oth=
er
health or environmental concerns that
can be examined. For instance, pooling water provid=
es an
excellent
habitat for fly and mosquito breeding and weed growth.<= o:p>
If at all possible, drain any boggy areas to help
decrease insect
population. Other issues include toxic plants or weeds. So=
me
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 g=
rass
that is
extremely hearty, but the majority of fescue is infected =
with
an
endophy=
te fungus that can cause thickened placenta, agalactia
or abortion in pregnant mares.
horses graze it during or after a flood or draught per=
iod,
and
finally, several ornamental shrubs can be toxic to your
horse.
Be sure to find out what types of growth you hav=
e in
the area
prior to turning out the horse. Many times, the horse=
will
not
consume the toxic plants and weeds unless there is noth=
ing
else
to eat, but you cannot count on “smart”
horses.
Finally, you have responsibilities to your horse=
s,
neighbors, and
the environment. You can control internal and exter=
nal
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 contamina=
tion
and
mud/muck). Good stewardship of the land will include pro=
per
manure storage and disposal, prevention of run off thr=
ough
the
establishment<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> 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 th=
rough
your pastures, fence them off to prevent trampled ba=
nks
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, P.h.D.=
, Equine
Extension Specialist
OPEN
HOUSE A HUGE SUCCESS!
Late June saw the Institute looking about as goo=
d as
it can look.
Flowers in bloom, spiffed up animals and spit-po=
lished
barns
were ready to welcome the public. Despite the gloomy=
skies
and rain that fell, folks turned out in droves to e=
njoy
the historical
exhibits, the barns, the demonstrations, and the refresh=
ments.
“Miner Institute: 100 Years and Growing=
221;
was the centerpiece
to the event. A new DVD was produced to highlight =
the “then
and now” of
Farm fits into that picture. As well, a slide sh=
ow was
produced
to accent the antique vehicle exhibit which featur=
es
beautiful
pictures as well as movie footage of activities on the f=
arm.
Tours of the dairy facilities were guided by Min=
er
personnel
and had great visual displays of the diets of a cow,
dairy cow
behavior, and the research that happens at Miner to bene=
fit
the
dairy industry. Farm equipment was available for up-c=
lose
inspection.
When we weren’t busy getting prepped for t=
he two
horse demonstrations,
the horse barn was open to visitors wanting to see<= o:p>
the horses as well as our breeding shed and teaching
areas. Our
first demonstration showed “Morgan Horse Versat=
ility”.
HD
Massena and HD Eagle Bay were presented as model=
s of a
mare and gelding to show basic Morgan Horse type and
conformation.
HD Saranac demonstrated carriage driving and her=
daughter, HD Saratoga was a family and trail mount.
Regis jogged and loped as our western pleasure h=
orse.
Dressage
was offered up by HD Brookdale=
.
HD Valhalla showed her
stuff as the high-stepping Saddl=
eseat
horse. Our faithful old BL
Revolution took it all in stride demonstrating h=
ow a
horse can
be used in a therapeutic riding program. For our s=
econd
demonstration,
we brought out several horses in various stages of=
training and presented doing some of the training techni=
ques
we
use here—lungeing=
and
long lining as a means to produce a
finished riding or driving horse.
While there isn’t always as much going on =
as was
happening
that day, the farm is generally open to visitors. As=
well,
if you
run across an Institute employee, they are happy to
answer
questions for you.
— Karen Lassell, Lassell@whminer.com
FEATURED
MINER MORGAN: HD SPITFIRE
Otherwise
known as “Jo”, HD Spitfire (Legacys=
Viking
x Trija Priscilapepper) is
a 10-year-old
chestnut mare with a small star, stripe and snip. She<= o:p>
was a hot ticket with a big attitude as a youngster,
but Jo has found her stride with maturity! A bigbodied
14.1+,
Jo handles an adult rider just fine.
She’s
come a long way in the arena and even competed
in a class at the Clinton County Fair this year,
but she’s most at home out on the trails. Jo is =
in
good health and has been barefoot her whole life.
She handles well for the farrier<= /span> and vet. $2500