Ballyshannon Equestrian Center

12/08/2024

Water trough heaters and heated buckets in the barn to help keep our horses drinking water...

Keep this important number in mind as we go through the winter months as horses tend to drink less which can lead to a multitude of issues including impaction colic

12/08/2024

Chilly 14 degrees this morning, 60s and rain early next week...lots of different blankets need over the past week.

Burrrr 🥶 Some parts of the U.S. are getting chilly! Make sure that winter blanket is fitting well on your horse ~❄️~❄️~

11/15/2024

Horse care...

If your horse has a cough that persists into exercise or is heard while your equine friend is at rest in the barn, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about evaluating your horse for respiratory disease. It could be a problem with the upper airway (the nasal passages and throat) or the lower airway (the lungs).

While waiting for your appointment, try decreasing your horse’s exposure to dust, as that is a primary trigger for lower respiratory disease such as asthma or heaves. Some simple things you can do include avoiding straw bedding, feeding hay on the ground and/or soaking it, not using a leaf blower on barn aisles, and not storing hay or bedding above your horse’s stall. Last but not least, while us humans may be more comfortable with all the barn doors closed on a cold day, your horses’ lungs will appreciate open doors/windows and good ventilation!

As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about preserving your horse’s respiratory health, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

11/15/2024

Arena footing maintenance

The ideal surface for any horse depends on many different factors, such as discipline and environment. Because arena surfaces continually change with use and maintenance, it is important to evaluate the current footing and adapt the maintenance protocol to suit the needs of the horses using the arena. Read more here from our friends at the University of Kentucky https://publications.ca.uky.edu/sites/publications.ca.uky.edu/files/ID265.pdf

11/15/2024

Safety...

Not something we think about much as horse owners, but oh so important!

11/05/2024

Poisonous plants and more...

11/05/2024

Always something to learn or expand your knowledge about...

IS RAIN ROT A FUNGAL OR A BACTERIAL DISEASE?

Rain rot (or rain scald) is the common name for a contagious BACTERIAL skin disease called dermatophilosis. It's caused by the bacterium "Dermatophilus congolensis," which thrives during wet seasons and in geographical locations with high precipitation and humidity. It can also develop after horses have sweat under blankets or tack, and equines with compromised immune systems are more susceptible.

Why should you not mistake rain rot for a fungal disease?
Antifungal medications and topicals have no effect on the bacteria responsible for rain rot, therefore diagnosing the condition correctly is very important!

How does rain rot happen?
The bacteria infects the hair follicles and damages the hair follicle and shaft; the hair will then pull out in small clumps leaving pink skin or purulent scabs behind (pro tip: your horse will NOT thank you for picking at them!) If you do not address the factors that promote the right bacterial environment (for example, you always leave your horse to stand outside in the rain without shelter or the protection of a waterproof rug), rain rot can keep recurring. If left untreated, the condition can even progress to a point where it opens the door for more serious, secondary skin infections.

If you suspect your horse has rain rot, be sure to consult your veterinarian on the best treatment plan based on the severity of your horse's case. While there are a million products that can be found in your local tack store, your horse doctor may have cause to prescribe a specific course of action.

11/03/2024

Trailing, some things for your check list

11/02/2024

Interesting...some of my horses never would eat carrots though...

As silly as it sounds, the "carrot test" can be used to help diagnose tooth aches in our equine companions.

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EORTH) is a dental condition that affects the incisors of middle-aged horses and older. As the name suggests, it acts by both resorbing the teeth and then producing large amounts of cementum (a hard substance that anchors the teeth into place).

Clinical signs such as difficulty chewing, teeth discoloration and painful gums are highly suspicious for this disease, but you can also offer your horse a carrot to assess how comfortable they are biting down. If it seems painful for them while biting the carrot, they could have EORTH!

Your veterinarian can do an oral examination and take dental radiographs to confirm the diagnosis. This is a progressive disease so there is no cure, but there are management strategies that can improve their comfort.

If you are concerned that your horse may have EORTH or is experiencing oral pain, contact your veterinarian so that they may further evaluate and suggest treatment options.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

11/02/2024

Sounds good...

Have you ever wondered if all of those supplements you see ads for will help your horse? Join us this week with Dr. Carey Williams, of Rutgers University, to learn about Supplements and Nutraceuticals for horses. Carey is one of the country's leading experts in this area, and will help you determine what supplements you need, or don't need. You can register for FREE at this link; and if you missed any of the earlier webinars, you can watch the recordings. https://campus.extension.org/course/view.php?id=2605

11/02/2024

Supplements can be expensive...always check with your vet during spring and fall vaccination visits to see what they think...

Does trying to figure out what supplements you should feed your horse make your head spin? Join our webinar tonight with Dr. Carey Williams, Professor and Extension Specialist at Rutgers University, to learn the ins and outs of supplements and nutraceuticals for your horse. She will help bust some myths, and give you the real information you need on these products. The webinar is FREE... just register here. If you registered for earlier webinars in the series, you can just log in... no need to register again. https://campus.extension.org/enrol/index.php?id=2605

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween!

Our team at Extension Horses is starting to discuss plans for programming for 2025.... what are you all interested in learning about? And what format do you like? We have podcasts (check out Tack Box Talk https://www.buzzsprout.com/242373), YouTube videos, short courses and infographics... and of course, this page. We want to hear from you... and if someone already posted your idea, please like it, so we can keep track of what people are looking for.

10/30/2024

If you see somthing, say something...

Body condition scoring is a standardized system to help evaluate how much fat a horse has. Ideally, most horses would be near a 5 in body condition score; although very fit horses may be closer to a 4, and still be very healthy. If you want to learn more about body condition scoring, check out this short course. https://campus.extension.org/enrol/index.php?id=9

10/25/2024

Great information

Lots of good comments on last week's post on hay needs for horses, so here is a follow up infographic on how to estimate your horses body weight. As we move in to winter, this is a great time to estimate, and record, your horse's body weight to help you monitor how they do in the colder months... We will also share information on how to body condition score your horse, and skill everyone responsible for managing a horse should have.

10/25/2024

Senior horses..

Do you have a senior horse? There has been a change in our Webinar Schedule, and tonight's webinar will now be on Feeding the Senior horse, with Dr. Nettie Liburt. All of the other information is the same, and the Understanding Pain in Horses has been rescheduled for later in the series. You can register for FREE at this link; and if you missed any of the earlier webinars, you can watch the recordings. https://campus.extension.org/course/view.php?id=2605

10/18/2024

Please help our animal friends, if you see something, say something...

After an emergency, animals may not have access to food for days at a time. Their bodies respond to this starvation by mobilizing energy stores to meet their needs, but this can cause major fluid and electrolyte abnormalities.

Upon rescuing an animal after a disaster, it may be your immediate instinct to offer them food as soon as possible. However, if these animals are offered free choice feed after being rescued, these imbalances can drastically worsen and result in respiratory, cardiac, and neurologic complications. This group of clinical signs in response to introducing feed after starvation is termed “refeeding syndrome”.

To prevent refeeding syndrome, follow the guidelines outlined in the graphic and be sure to work with a veterinarian to address any concerns specific to your situation.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Commitee for providing this information.

10/18/2024

Opportunity...

You still have a week before the deadline to submit a grant to the American Youth Horse Council to find that idea you have had to develop a great opportunity for youth with horses. Learn more here: https://www.ayhc.com/ayhc-grants

10/16/2024

Diamonds in the Rough Equine Rescue has donkeys for adoption.

Though most people usually think of donkeys as very hardy, sturdy animals, this doesn't mean that their feet don't require the same careful attention that we give to their other equine cousins.

Donkeys should have their feet picked out daily and see a farrier to be trimmed every 6-10 weeks. Failure to trim donkeys' feet on a regular schedule can result in serious pain and health issues in their hooves.

Signs of foot pain in donkeys can manifest as very stoic weight shifting, especially on hard surfaces, and increased periods of laying down.

Additionally, it is important for farriers to take into account some of the differences between donkeys and horses when trimming their feet.

• The foot should be more upright
• The shape should more cylindrical rather than conical shaped
• When looking at the bottom of the foot, it should be U-shaped rather than an oval
• The sole doesn’t flake off and will need to be trimmed to create a concave sole
• Thier feet appear to grow more from the heel than from the other parts of the foot
• The point of the front does not go as far forward

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.