| To Blanket or Not To Blanket |
December 30, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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I have this bug about blanketing horses! I
don't mind blanketing a horse if he REALLY needs it. Like when they're
sick or if it suddenly drops to 20 below and the horse has short hair. But
to slap a blanket on a horse just because it's cold can do more harm than
just keeping the horse warm.
Lots of us tend to equate the horse's body temperature to our own. If we're cold, the horse is cold. We're
cold, we put on a jacket. The horse is cold, put a blanket on 'em.
Nice thoughts but horses have what we humans don't -- HAIR. Lots of
it!
Horse hair tends to grow in the winter or when the
days get shorter. Sunlight determines how long or how short a horse's hair
grows along with temperature. Horses in barns that keep lights on all
night have slower hair growth than horses in dark barns.
So if you're one of those that blankets a horse
when the temperatures drop 2 degrees, give some thought to HOW the horse feels
under the blanket and if the horse REALLY needs a blanket. Here's some
tips to consider:
1. Before putting a blanket on, how does he
feel? Run your hand over his body -- not just his topline and top of hair
but ON the body. The hair may feel cool and even cold, maybe some snow
laying on his back. But if you wiggle your hand down to the skin, the skin
is warm. A horse's hair coat has two different kinds of hair -- long and
'cat'. 'Cat' are the fine hair next to the body that keeps the horse's
warmth in to the body. The long hair are the coat hairs which protect the
'cat' hairs, ruffle to keep the body heat in under the 'cat' hairs and fluffy up
for rain water to run off and wind to blow over. Check his whole
body. Back. Belly. Between the front legs. If ears are
cold, put a pair of socks on 'em.
2. The
barn stalled horse has 24-hour, around the clock weather protection. He's
inside. He's OUT of the weather. If he's got good bedding to lay in
he's warm if the barn isn't drafty.
3. Pasture horses. Pasture horses grow
hair in relation to their environment. More cold weather, more hair.
The biggest problem for pasture horses is not lack of blanketing but lack of
shelter. They don't have anything to stand behind or under. That's
the reason horses band together in a pasture. They huddle up to stay
warm. Or you see horses standing in a gully or even a ditch. It's
some protection from winter winds and rain especially to the belly line.
So a pasture should have something -- anything -- for a horse to stand behind or
under. A bunch of trees. Some bushes to stop the wind force.
Even a big sign they can move around as the wind changes directions. A building. Anything to provide them protection.
4. Winter horses need to be fed more.
Feed provides calories. The horse's body ramps up in the winter to burn
more calories to keep the horse warmer. So the horse should be fed more
feed. Not just supplements or grains but good old fashion hay -- oats,
grass are what I like. It provides bulk, roughage and takes time to
eat. Fills the horse up. Keeps the 'body furnance' burning to
provide all those extra calories for 'body furnance' fuel.
5. Water. Horses require
water 24/7, 12 months out of the year. Water in winter gets
cold and even freezes, so his water has to be checked. If a horse won't
drink extremely cold water put a heater in it or add something to it.
Apple juice is good. I use Horse Quenchers, apple and peppermint
flavor. If the water freezes, Nic still licks the frozen water
surface because it has suddenly become a giant,
flavored popsicle.
6. Do you have time for a blanket!!??
I've seen blankets put on horses the first day of December and they are never
taken off until the first day of Spring. Blankets should be removed
daily. A horse's hair brushed out. Leave a blanket on a horse all
day especially in pasture and the horse will sweat. Just a tiny amount of
sweat to dampen a horse's 'cat' hairs can mean the horse will be cold that
night. The 'cat' hair can't dry out because there's no way for the
moisture to evaporate from the body. It's held in by the blanket. So
pasture blankets have to be removed daily unless it's really cold and the
temperatures are about even between night and day.
So before you put a blanket on a horse, think about
the reasons. Does he REALLY need a blanket? Next week, will tell you
some of the reasons I heard for putting a blanket ON a winter horse -- one
was "he matches the Christmas season"......
Have a Happy New Year's Eve and if you go
somewhere, be safe! And don't forget to make that resolution to "hug your
horse, brush his coat and clean hooves when at the barn". His resolution
for you is to provide "hours of companionship and miles of trail riding
enjoyment".
Bonnie
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| Happy Holidays! |
December 23, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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Don't look now but if you haven't finished your
Holiday shopping, you better run like crazy because it's only a couple days till
ole Santa will be filling stockings! With that thought in mind, I'm
keeping this column short. Remember it isn't about what, how big or much
something costs that makes a present or gift but rather in the spirit it's
given. So everyone have a Merry Christmas, stay warm and the
blessings of the season to you and yours!!!!
Bonnie & Nic
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| INVASIVE/NOXIOUS WEEDS |
December 16, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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Federal, state and local agencies are 'battling' the spread of invasive and noxious weeds nationwide. The National Forest
Service plus other federal agencies are developing land management
plans for the 'halt' and 'combat methods' for invasive/noxious weeds
and plants.
The unfortunate part of these plans is that a lot of
assumptions about weeds are based from the he-saw-it,
she-heard-from-someone-about-that-weed and horse-manure-on-the-trail
theories. There's little 'scientific data' because it's
'assumed' the noxious weed or invasive plant seeds were introduced by
horses!
During the last three years Dominican University along with
the national Park Service has been doing a controlled study and
project on "Germination of Invasive Plant Seeds after Digestion by
Horses in California". The idea was to see what if any of the
noxious and invasive weeds/plants that the California Department of
Food and Agriculture has on it's list grow, sprout or are found in
horse manure. It's from the CDFA list that California hay is
certified as weed free feed.
One has to remember that just
because a noxious or invasive plant is growing from horse manure it doesn't
mean the horse ate the seeds, the weeds passed through the horse, are
in the horse manure and sprouted. Wind, water, OTHER trail
users, mammals searching for pieces of undigested grain, etc. could
have deposited those seeds into a pile of horse manure. Plus
what is considered a noxious or invasive weed or plant in ONE state
may not be considered a noxious or invasive weed or plant in ANOTHER
state.
In fact, in this study "thirty-two plant species emerged from
these fecal samples, 24 of which were not native to California.
None of these were identified on the California Department of
Agriculture's Noxious Weed List which is used as a basis to certify
equine feed as weed free". It also means that horses in
California don't actively seek out and eat noxious or invasive
plants!
The outcome of the above study has been published in a
'scientific journal' called "Natural Areas Journal". It's in
Volume 28(4), 2008. And if you -- or anyone you know -- is
INVOLVED in keeping trails open to horses you'll soon realize that the
comments of "horses spread weeds" is one of the major comments
anti-horses on trail users talk about. Hear say, I heard about
it or someone saying it is NOT scientific knowledge of
noxious/invasive weeds/plants being spread in horse manure.
Scientific data is researched, controlled, studied and then published
after peer review and study!
To counter so called knowledge of weed seed
spread via horse manure, one needs to whip out their copy of this
study!! Since it was completed and written by the Department of
Natural Sciences at Dominican University of California and funded by
the National Park Service, it's as 'scientific' as a study can
get!!
If you don't have a copy, you can get one from the
publication. Or if you can't get one there, contact me and I'll
send you a copy. Regardless if you live in California or not,
this research article is VITAL to keeping-your-horse on the
trails.
Bonnie
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| Replacement Parts |
December 9, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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Here in California we could sure use some rain!! The weatherman has
said it "looks like rain" towards end of week. But I've been
fooled by the weatherman before -- I rely on my knee!
About 4
years ago I had a total left knee replacement. And I don't
regret it!!! Should have had it done sooner. For one thing I
can tell you when it's going to rain -- regardless what the
weatherman says! And I'm usually more accurate than the
weatherman.
You're probably wondering why I'm mentioning this.
Basically for Veronica. She's facing a knee replacement and is
"concerned" about it. Seems I get a lot of e-mails from folks
getting "replacement" parts.
I had to have my knee replaced because of the
normal reason --arthritis. It runs in my family; my knee just
wore out. I probably have to have the right one done in a couple
years and then move up to the hips!! But it goes with the
body. I like to say my body is wearing out because I "use"
it.
I had a lot of thoughts and even some doubts about knee surgery myself. Even had a couple doctors tell me they would not replace
the knee if I kept horseback riding. They had horseback riding
in the same category as skiing and sky-diving (neither of which I can
do). There's something about jumping out of a perfectly good
airplane and trying to stand up on two slats going down hill that I
just can't grasp........
Anyway, I found this doctor who's a
Sports Medicine Surgeon and best of all -- a horseowner!! Both
he and his daughter trail ride and so he knows what it's like to want
to keep riding. So he replaced my knee!!
I can do everything I did
before I had my knee replaced but Dr. J has said if I could find something to
climb on to get on that would be better; there would be less stress on the knee
joint. So now I use a mounting block to get on Nic at the
barn. Fences. Hillsides. Ditch, creek and stream banks. Rocks. Stumps. Trailer fenders. Truck tailgates and once walked about a quarter mile leading Nic before I
could find something to climb on to get on!! I "baby" my
knee.
After knee surgery, it's important to go through knee rehab.
Keep up on those knee exercises. (But I will prewarn you that
there will be a few times you'll want to kick the person bending your
knee up to your chin with a joyful smile while saying "This doesn't
hurt".)
But most importantly, be honest with your knee surgeon.
Tell him your concerns. Thoughts and even your worries.
Before surgery. After surgery. During surgery. (I
was awake when they replaced my knee. Dr. J, nurses, other folks
and I talked about horses!) I had plenty of thoughts and there's
no such thing as a 'dumb question'. I don't know a single person
who's gone through any type of surgery or life changing experience who
hasn't had thoughts, worries and concerns. If a person doesn't
have 'em, don't think one is being
honest with their own
feelings.
So, Veronica, about the only thing I can say is go for
it!! It was the right decision for me. Check with your
doctor on EVERYTHING!!
Tell him how tall your horse is.
How many hours you ride. And how many hours you plan to continue
to ride AFTER knee replacement surgery. A friend of mine has had
both knees AND hips replaced and rides 100 mile endurance races!
Do your rehab and exercises. Don't push it too hard or too fast
and let your knee tell you what it can and can't do. Remember,
you have a NEW knee. Enjoy it! Listen to it when it "says"
it's going to rain......
Take care and keep in touch!!
Everyone,
stay dry.......
Bonnie
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| WOMEN LUV HORSES |
December 2, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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If you're in the Southern California area during December
5-7, drop into the Industry Hills Expo Center in Industry, California and say
"Hi". This is the big weekend for Lynn Palm's 'Magical Equine
Experience'. The weekend is filled with events, and promises a schedule unlike any other
event in California.
To begin with, there's the line up of talented women
from throughout the nation -- Cynthia Cantleberry, Sandy Collier, Jane Savoie,
Sharon Camarillo and of course Lynn Palm plus other gals -- ready to share
their talents and expertise. All beginning on Friday, December
5th. (I have the good fortune of presenting "Horsecamping" on
Saturday 3:30 pm and again on Sunday morning at 10:30 am in the Lecture
Hall where 'Ladies Tell All'........)
Lynn is offering ladies and girls the ultimate
opportunity to showcase their Bridleless skills in Bridleless Trail Course
(Friday), Bridleless Pleasure (Saturday) and Bridleless Musical Freestyle
(Sunday). The title of 'All-Around Bridleless Champion' will be
awarded with over $5,000 in prizes!
The "Supreme HorseWoman Contest" is an invitational
competition that is offered to women trainers who have participated in an
Extreme Mustang Makeover during the previous year. Showcasing their
communication skills, horsemanship ability and athleticism of the American
Mustang, contestants will be competing for over $10,000 in prizes.
Friday night beginning at 7 pm "Fashions for
Fillies" will feature Equestrienne Fashions with Saturday night hosting
the "Cowgirl Party"! Special guest speaker, dinner, horse
entertainment, music and a silent auction benefiting the AQHA American
Horse Care Foundation and Professional Horsemen's Crisis Fund will be
held.
Along with all the clinics, presentations,
demonstrations, championships will be a trade show so you can do some really
serious Christmas shopping!
For more information including directions to the
Expo Center and a complete schedule, go to website www.lynnpalm.com. And be
sure to stop by and say 'HI' during "Horsecamping" or when wandering around
the trade show. Two Horse Enterprises will have a vendor
booth.
See ya' in Southern California!
Bonnie
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