Sagebrook Stables

09/06/2024

A quiet stroll over the wooden bridge at Gilroy Gaits.

09/04/2024

Careful nutrition and diet plan, medication and a consistent exercise program have really helped this beauty lose inches of belly fat!

07/17/2024

Interesting horsey book alert‼️ Shall we add to our Sagebrook Stables library?

Yes, it really happened! And what this young woman wrote about her cross-country trek with only her dog and her horse is memorable, to say the least. Listen to a brief but powerful excerpt in Barn Stories, Ep. 80: "Lost and Found in America," brought to you by My New Horse: https://bit.ly/BarnStories_Ep80

07/17/2024

We love barefoot horses and hoof boots. We also love our farriers to help our horses that clearly benefit from shoes for healing or performing the hard work required of these amazing athletes.

The Houston Mounted Police Patrol Unit has been gaining global attention recently and is being acknowledged as a leader in the natural horse movement.

The Houston Mounted Police Patrol Unit has been gaining global attention recently for its leadership in the natural horse movement. After transitioning to barefoot years ago, the Unit has now also opted to go bitless.

The mounted unit herd was previously managed in a very traditional manner, however, the officers soon realized that they were frequently faced with hoof issues and other ailments that could be attributed to the use of metal shoes. Metal shoes on asphalt create concussive force that travels through the hoof and up the leg of the horse. In 1984, the Swiss Cavalry at the University of Zurich conducted a study on the effects of metal shoeing. The research revealed that the impact force on a shod hoof on hard ground is 10-33 times greater than that of an unshod hoof. The vibration caused by the shoe in the hoof is approximately 800 hz, a level that is high enough to cause damage to living tissue.

The metallic footwear was impeding the natural flexibility of the hoof under pressure, consequently reducing essential blood flow to the hoof and lower limb.

As a result of these challenges, the unit concluded that it was worth trying something different. In 2004, they decided to experiment by allowing one horse to go barefoot. The outcome was extremely positive, leading them to transition their entire herd (40 horses) to barefoot. They observed a significant improvement in the health of their horses, resulting in a 50% reduction in vet bills. Moreover, they noticed enhanced traction on slippery surfaces, contributing to a sense of safety for both the officers and horses during patrols. It is difficult to dispute the benefits of these changes! Furthermore, the force has recently made the decision to transition to Bitless equipment, which has been met with great success.

06/16/2024

Indoor arena footing renovation.

05/28/2024

Emmy helping with arena footing inspection…

She rates it perfect for barefoot. We did some inhand (actually no-hand 😅) pole work. Good girl.

05/28/2024

Still some grass left.

“Mom, don’t make our butts look so big!!”

05/01/2024

Libby sleeps comfortably 💤💤

03/24/2024

Rainbow and sunshine after a brief downpour

02/14/2024

Yoga for horses

It’s a lovely -4 degrees out today! You can still do things with your horse in the comfort of your barn in the place of working and riding. Carrot stretches are a great way to bond and keep you and your horse limber in the cold months.

02/09/2024

Hi, mom, look I can bend to the right now.

02/07/2024

Basking in the radiant sunset, refreshed by the revitalizing downpour

01/29/2024

Forage quality is important!

Learn about 5 key physical indicators of forage quality and how to gather and interpret a chemical analysis.

01/29/2024

A helpful advice…

Research showed that housing horses on deeper bedding might improve sleep quality and mood.

01/26/2024

Something to know as grasses are growing with the good precipitation expected this year.

Fructans can be degraded by gut bacteria and converted into fructose.
Firmicutes are the primary fructan-converting bacteria.
The percentage of fructan degrading firmicutes increases through the summer.
Firmicutes include the group of bacteria called clostridia, containing beneficial species involved in metabolic pathways and pathogenic bacteria, responsible for a wide spectrum of diseases and mentioned in research of grass sickness.
The fructan-converting bacteria also use the fructan themselves, they store as food when fructan isn’t so freely available.
Grass containing high levels of fructans will produce more Firmicute bacteria.
The horse is different to other mammals having anaerobic bacteria in the 21.3m long small intestine with equal numbers in the large intestines.
Fructans are rapidly degraded into fructose in the small intestine increasing fructose in the blood of horses on fructan-rich pasture.
A typical horse consumes between 10-15 kg of pasture grass per day which might contain as little as 0.75kg to as much as 7kg of fructan so grazing can be a bit of a lottery.
Theoretically, the over ingestion of fructans would mean an over-expression of fructanase producing bacteria and the rapid generation of fructose, some of it would be metabolized in the gut wall causing increased permeability, local inflammation and endo-toxaemia. Some fructose would make it through to the liver and cause insulin resistance. Some fructan would be degraded by other gut bacteria resulting in acidosis.
Might this explain why some horses seem to be sensitive to grasses containing high levels of fructans whilst others seem sensitive to grass containing high levels of fructose?
Do the gut bacteria play a bigger part than we think and is inflammation and leaky-gut syndrome more common than we know?
Gut Test for Firmicutes www.equibiome.org

01/25/2024

Good news!

We love to share positive news!
VSV update: The USDA issued an update on 1/22/24 regarding VSV in California.
There have been no new cases for the last two weeks. The most recent facility that had a case was released from quarantine on 1/18/24.
It’s always good to stay vigilant when it comes to your horse’s health but we are so glad to receive this news from the government officials!

01/25/2024

Naughty pony knows she can escape by doing a bit of limbo dancing. See all the big horses are perfectly content with just a vinyl covered stall chain. She already escaped twice, so here is a makeshift measure using a hay bag until the real stall guard arrives. 😅

01/25/2024

The horse set is very popular and on back order. It won’t be delivered until after mid-March. Discount is offered for your patience when you order now.

PREVENTION + RECOVERY 🐴〽️
Using the BEMER Horse-Set and the Neck-Applicator will strengthen your horse’s health in terms of prevention. The PEMF signal improves suppleness during training or when preparing to achieve your resolutions this year.

The BEMER products can also provide valuable support during the healing process, including recovery from muscle tension or soft tissue injury, and promote regeneration after illness.

01/23/2024

Rainy day is a good day for some indoor activities. The cute pony would rather be outside. Thanks to Dr. Angel Fletcher for fixing her teeth.

01/13/2024

Super pretty clouds this afternoon. It became a lot more orange later, but I was on the road and couldn’t take another snap.

01/12/2024

Yay! Found a convenient spot for pretty decent WiFi speed in the barn.

01/08/2024

Working hard to reduce the abnormal tummy fat pads due to PPID. Meds, diet and exercises!

01/08/2024

01/08/2024

BEMER time!

01/04/2024

Very interesting

Summary of a study done on feeding forage pellets to insulin dysregulated horses.

12/31/2023

Helpful information.

On average horses drink 7-10 gallons of water a day and this remains as important in cold weather as it is in the summer because reduced water intake can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as the dreaded impaction colic.

Studies demonstrate that horses will drink more if provided access to heated water and that most water consumption happens within three hours of feeding. How can you use this information to your advantage? Refill buckets at feed time with warm water to maximize your horse’s water intake—especially in the winter when water is more likely to be freezing or close to freezing.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to learn more about preventing colic in your horse, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

12/28/2023

BEMER services available at Sagebrook

One of the best ways to promote circulation within your horse is simple... by keeping them moving. Due to the limitations of cold temperatures, many owners are tasked with finding other ways to prevent their horses from getting stiff and sore while confined to their stalls. The BEMER Horse-Set is an excellent way to keep your horse feeling their best, even when turnout and other methods are off the table. The Horse-Set uses PEMF or Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field technology to increase blood flow and circulation throughout the body, resulting in better muscle movement and less stiffness.

12/28/2023

Rainy day indoor turnout.