valley vet supply | Horse Racing Free Tips

While enjoying a ride with your best horse, she throws her head in frustration and pins her ears. You chalk it up as an off day, one of many as of late, but it could be much more than that. It could be time to change bits.

“It is important to understand what the bit is doing and what to watch for,” cautions Dr. Chris Blevins, associate professor in Equine Field Service with Kansas State University. “It is our responsibility to keep our horses comfortable.”

If your horse is experiencing bit pain and discomfort, you may notice signs of bit resistance.

“There are several signs of bit resistance,” says Judy Auble, with Toklat and Myler bits. “The best way to determine whether your horse needs a new bit is to pay attention to how your horse reacts to your rein action and rein pressure.”

Could it be time to change bits? Watch for these warning signs:

Inverting, when horses ride with their muzzles held high
Riding behind the vertical, as horses tuck their nose into the chest
Gaping, when horses drop their jaws behind the vertical, relieving tongue pressure
Running through the bit or being heavy on the bit
Riding with their tongue out of the mouth
Consistent throwing of head and pinning of ears

“If you think your horse is experiencing bit resistance, look for the behavior repeated frequently and routinely,” Auble said. “When a horse inverts only once in a while or is fussing because his trail buddies left him on the trail, it could be more of a behavior or training issue.”

When exploring new bit options for your horse, take into consideration not only what you are doing with your horse, but also which mouthpiece best fits your riding style, recommends Dr. Blevins.

Visit ValleyVet.com to continue learning more about horse care.

About Valley Vet Supply

Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians to provide customers with the very best animal health solutions. Building on over half a century of experience in veterinary medicine, Valley Vet Supply serves equine, pet and livestock owners with thousands of products and medications hand-selected by Valley Vet Supply founding veterinarians and their professional staff. With an in-house pharmacy that is licensed in all 50 states, and verified through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), Valley Vet Supply is the dedicated source for all things horse, livestock and pet. For more information, please visit ValleyVet.com.

The post Your Horse May Be Telling You It’s Time For A New Bit; Here’s How To Listen appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The pastures were recently cleared from overgrown trees and brush, and Kris Hiney, PhD, Oklahoma State University assistant professor and Extension equine specialist, closely looked over the brush piles to make sure no poisonous plants or trees had surfaced. “All clear,” she thought as she let her two horses back into the field.

“The very next day, they were already showing toxicity symptoms,” Dr. Hiney said. “It turns out I did have black locust trees in the pasture, and when the horses had a chance to get to them, it almost killed them.”

Of the two horses, one had lower tolerance to the toxic tree. His heart rate was elevated over 90 for a full 24 hours and to save his life, he required three days of supportive care in the veterinary clinic. Luckily, both horses survived.

Horse owners need to be familiar with poisonous plants and signs of toxicity. There are many poisonous grasses, plants and trees that can gravely impact horse health, such as black locust trees, Johnsongrass, white clover, maple trees, locoweed, tansy ragwort and black walnut trees. Fescue grass can be toxic to broodmares and their foals, causing thickened placentas and even abortions. Look to this University of Minnesota poster for pictures of poisonous plants and to better understand signs of toxicity.

Watch for these common toxicity symptoms:

Change in behavior
Anxiety
Depression
Neurologic issues
Seizure
Abnormal gait
Tremors
Stocking up or founder
Elevated heart rate
Brown or discolored urine
Mouth blisters
Colic

If horse owners fear their horse might have ingested a poisonous plant, “Call a veterinarian immediately,” Dr. Hiney said. “If horses do not receive the right care, toxicity can be a big deal. Death is often a real possibility.”

As the weather affects forage available to horses in turnout situations (especially with summer drought or winter conditions), horses are more inclined to ingest unfamiliar plants or leaves. To help prevent plant toxicity, make sure horses have adequate rations of quality hay or grass in front of them. Dr. Hiney encourages horse owners to work closely with their county extension agent to identify potentially harmful grasses, plants or trees that may surface in their pastures. Horse owners can also invest in a spray system to eliminate unwanted plants and weeds.

“Anytime there is something novel in their pasture, horses are going to investigate it,” Dr. Hiney warned. “I thought everything in my pasture was safe, but it turns out I was wrong. Be very careful, and take a look at what is accessible to the horses.”

Continue learning about horse care, with additional information from veterinarian-founded Valley Vet Supply.

The post As Drought Takes Over, Beware The Signs Your Horse Has Ingested A Poisonous Plant appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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