Horse Care | Horse Racing Free Tips

Horse Owners: Input Needed On Blanketing Preferences

To blanket or not to blanket – that is the never-ending question facing may horse owners. Wright State University is looking for responses to a blanketing survey to help researchers better understand horse owner's blanketing and management practices during winter months. If you:

Are over 18
Own one or more horses (if you own more than one, please respond with the majority of the horse's care in mind)
Live in the United States or Canada

Please click here to take the brief survey. Wright State asks that horse owners respond only once. The survey will be open until January 5, 2021. Results will be summarized and shared at a later date.

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Wild Parsnip Can Cause Painful Reaction In Horses, But Not For Common Reason

Researchers have recently discovered that wild parsnip can cause trouble for horses—even if they don't ingest it. Drs. Bryan Stegelmeier, Steven Colegate, Edward Knoppel, Kerry Rood and Mark Collett have found that the invasive weed, which is a member of the carrot family that can be found throughout the United States, can cause phototoxic reactions in horses, even if they don't eat it.

Photosensitive skin reactions often occur after a horse eats a plant with photodynamic compounds. These compounds can then found in the horse's skin and blood; when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike a horse's pink skin, painful burns and blisters can occur.

The research team discovered that horses don't need to eat wild parsnip to have phototoxic reactions—they simply have to come in contact with the plant's sap. The sap contains furanocoumarins, which have been known to cause intense skin reactions in humans who come in contact with it on sunny days. The areas of the skin exposed to the sap may be sensitive to sunlight for up to two years after the original contact.

Identifying Lameness Focus Of Cornell’s December Equine Seminar

Subtle lameness can be extremely difficult to see, sometimes even for trained veterinarians. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine will present a Zoom presentation on how to spot lameness in horses given by Dr. Heidi Reesink will explain how to spot lameness, even subtle, in your horse during the December Cornell Equine Seminar Series.

Taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 7 p.m., this seminar is part of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's Equine Seminar Series. Though the event is free and open to the public, access to high-speed internet is encouraged as part of the seminar does involve video.

For more information and to register, click here.

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Don’t Hold Your Breath: Horses Can’t Phsyically ‘Blow Up’ To Prevent Girth Tightening

When budding equestrians are fist taught how to tack up, one of the first things they learn is to always check their horse's girth before mounting; some horses hold their breath to keep the girth or cinch a bit loose. This lack of security could invite a saddle to slip.

That belief has recently been debunked: while horses may resist a girth being tightened, they don't hold their breath to do it, reports EQUUS magazine. The ribs that lie directly beneath the saddle area are relatively immobile, making it nearly impossible for a horse to expand his girth area through his lung power.

However, a determined horse might tighten his abdominal muscles enough to expand his chest and prevent the girth from being completely tightened. A horse may tighten his muscles for a variety of reasons, including the anticipation of discomfort, but many horses tighten their muscles naturally because something is being wrapped around his abdomen.

The key to preventing a horse from tightening his muscles and keeping the girth from being tightened is relaxation. First, ensure that his tack fits well and isn't causing him pain. When beginning to tack, keep the horse's girth or cinch loose, tightening it gradually throughout the tacking-up process. Once the horse has been led to the mounting block, the girth should be checked again. One final check once the rider is mounted may also be necessary.