Dutchess County Equestrian Round Table

03/12/2022

18 days now….counting down!

26/11/2022

⭐️ A lesson that applies to life, not just horses. ⭐️ 📷 by Olivia Yossa from The Athletic Equestrian by Sally Batton with Christina Keim.

26/11/2022

Over the past 15 years, top hunter groom Israel Gomez has learned the importance of knowing his horses inside and out. “All horses are different. Some horses are sensitive; some are aggressive, and some are calm,” Gomez said. “I try to know ...

26/11/2022

Attention horse owners and hay producers! The Equine Subgroup of the statewide CCE Livestock Program Work Team wants your assistance in understanding hay sales and purchases within the state for horses.

This research study, a partnership with Cornell and Penn State Equine Extension, covers the following objectives:
• Characterize hay buying & feeding practices of New York horse owners and preferences impacting these practices.
• Determine current hay prices and explore how different factors affect them
• Characterize hay producer preferences and practices regarding marketing and selling hay to horse customers
• Compare forage testing knowledge and attitudes among horse owners and hay producers
• Determine need and desire for extension hay education for horse owners and horse hay producers

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Please give us your input as we seek to collect data on the NY Equine Hay Industry. Your anonymous responses will help us understand the needs of both horse hay buyers and producers and develop appropriate educational products. Exclusively for New York residents, the QR Code and link for the survey may be found on our website at: www.ccelivestock.com/species/equine.

26/11/2022

Important information for Eastern Hudson Valley Horse Council Chapter members: third candidate for Chapter President.

25/11/2022

Important information for Eastern Hudson Valley Horse Council Chapter members: second candidate for Chapter President.

25/11/2022

"November 30, @ 6 pm- Join us at Clover to hear from Dr. Tania Poulin Grain Kiltz Farm and Dr. Jeremy Fredrick’s Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley to learn about Gut health and proper management through nutrition. "

25/11/2022

Important information for Eastern Hudson Valley Horse Council Members:

25/11/2022

Horses acclimated to cold temperatures often prefer and are better off outdoors.

17/11/2022

BELMONT, N.Y. -- Cornell Cooperative Extension is excited to announce the release of the New York Equine Hay Survey. Attention horse owners and hay producers!...

17/11/2022

Top 4 Factors that contribute to good senior horse nutrition:

1) Dental Work
First and foremost, a senior horse must be on a routine dental evaluation program. The years take a toll on a horse’s teeth, resulting in tooth loss and deterioration of the biting surface. A horse that is unable to properly chew his food will not be able to keep a healthy body condition and could possibly choke on his feed. An equine dental professional should examine the horse’s mouth at least yearly, and as the horse ages, maybe every six months.

2) Protein Absorption
As a horse ages, the effectiveness of his digestive tract to absorb nutrients declines. Research has found that there is a decreased absorption of phosphorus, vitamins and especially proteins. It’s important to provide a feed that contains quality protein, which is determined by its amino acid content. Soybean meal is an excellent protein source for aged horses because of its high quantities of lysine and threonine. Alfalfa meal is also another good source of the amino acid leucine, which helps in preventing loss of muscle mass.

3) Hindgut Health
Production of the enzyme needed for starch digestion can diminish with age, allowing too much starch to enter the hindgut. The microbial fermentation of starch will cause the hindgut to become more acidic, causing hindgut acidosis, which can make a horse more prone to colic and laminitis. To improve the stability of the hindgut, make sure the feed has sufficient levels of yeast cultures, prebiotics and probiotics as well as natural digestive enzymes for proper nutrient utilization.

4) Fiber Intake
Obtaining sufficient fiber is important to maintain a healthy digestive tract. However, ensuring a senior horse receives adequate fiber can be a challenge if he has lost too many teeth or they are too degraded for chewing hay or grass. Beet pulp in a senior feed is an excellent fermentable fiber source, and can be mixed with water to make a wet mash for easier digestion.

***More than 15 percent of the U.S. equine population is older than 20 with many still participating in athletic activities. With so many of today’s horses living and working into their late 20's and even 30's, it is important to adjust their nutrition programs as they age.

Need a free nutrition consultation? I've got you covered!! https://bluebonnetfeeds.com/nutrition-consult/

17/11/2022

A New York veterinarian and two horse trainers received their prison sentences after pleading guilty to felony drug misbranding and adulteration charges in a widespread horse doping scheme for which 27 people were arrested.

17/11/2022

A total of 1,792 participants from across the world gathered donations for the Not One More Vet, Inc, “Race around the World” 👟 Partakers exceeded NOMV’s goal of 171,975 kilometers covered—tallying 106,860 participant miles in total. To put these numbers into perspective…that distance equates to nearly 4.3 times around the world! A remarkable feat achieved by all who participated.

Zoetis is a proud sponsor-partner of NOMV, a purpose-driven organization committed to the mental well-being of the veterinary community. Learn more about the fundraising event results here: https://bit.ly/3h5hs7F

11/11/2022

The term "fat leg" is pretty self-explanatory, but do you know the difference between stocking up and cellulitis?

Many horses will "stock up" with subcutaneous edema (fluid swelling) in two or more legs (usually the hind limbs). Stocking up generally results from a significant decrease in exercise and usually resolves as the horse starts exercising again.

Lymphangitis (or vasculitis, big leg disease, staph infection, or cellulitis), however, is a bacterial infection and a dramatically different condition. While its causes may vary, it’s easy to spot once it sets in: the swelling will be extreme, hot and very painful to the touch, and the horse will be depressed due to the fever and discomfort.

If you think your equine friend has cellulitis or even if you're not sure, we encourage you to seek professional help promptly. Your horse doctor will make the best treatment recommendations, both to reduce swelling and to address any sort of bacterial infection that might be active or that could occur due to the edema in the soft tissue.

Read more on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/lymphangitis-frustrating-condition

10/11/2022

To continue off of last week's No Stirrup November post, here's some more tips and tricks to make your ride more comfortable and worthwhile.
bit.ly/say-hello-to-no-stirrup-november
As with all exercises riders do with their horse, it's important to take your horse's health and well-being into consideration. Working without stirrups, while beneficial to riders, may be more difficult for horses who have sore backs or are more sensitive along their back. Make sure you understand your unique horse's needs before participating in No Stirrup November, and remember, you don't have to ride an entire lesson without stirrups. Working consistently for ten to fifteen minutes without stirrups can be just as beneficial.

05/11/2022

ATTENTION New York State Horse Council Members!!!! There’s still time!

Members can vote for NYSHC Board Of Directors electronically or via paper ballots received until November 21st, 2022.

Log into the Members Area with your member number (on your membership card) and password, or click forgot password to make a new one. Feel free to contact me directly if you are having any issues logging in.

Every vote counts and is important in deciding the future leadership of the New York State Horse Council.

If you need any help figuring out how to vote, please reach out to me or any of the current directors.

~ Mid-Hudson Regional Director - Deb Goodpaster

03/11/2022

Did you know? Your horse’s whiskers are tactile hairs that play an important part in your equine friend’s sensory awareness system. Just to mention one thing, they help your horse gather information about their surroundings in the blind spot existing from their eye level to ground below the nose and out to about six feet—so the animal can sense things like the grass he grazes on and the hand that strokes his muzzle.

If you’d like to read more about how your horse sees the world, head on over to Equus Magazine’s website at https://equusmagazine.com/behavior/eye-eye-31022/

03/11/2022

For all your clipping, braiding, grooming and horse therapies (i.e. Beemer); look up Supreme Equine Grooming! Here's my Quarter Horse/Appaloosa cross mare sporting her winter Irish trace clip done by Sarah Tompkins of Supreme Equine Grooming. I highly recommend her as a repeat customer.

Doodlebug!!!!

02/11/2022

You have a young horse and you try everything to protect them. You give them plenty of turnout, good nutrition, and a safe space, yet...

02/11/2022

Registration is free! Every horse owner, enthusiast, and affiliated business operation is invited, so encourage your friends and associates to participate.

The AHC Virtual Fly-In offers members and non-members an opportunity to learn about key issues considered by Congress which impact your businesses, recreational opportunities, and the health and welfare of your horses. You will be able to hear and interact with Members of Congress and federal agency staff who are leaders and advocates for the horse industry. Topics include tax policies, immigration, trail access, equine-assisted therapy, horse health and welfare, and even the price of hay!

28/10/2022

28/10/2022

ATTENTION New York State Horse Council Members!!!!
Members can vote for NYSHC Board Of Directors electronically or via paper ballots received until November 21st, 2022.
Log into the Members Area with your member number (on your membership card) and password, or click forgot password to make a new one. Feel free to contact me directly if you are having any issues logging in.
Every vote counts and is important in deciding the future leadership of the New York State Horse Council.
If you need any help figuring out how to vote, please reach out to me or any of the current directors.
~ Mid-Hudson Regional Director - Deb Goodpaster

28/10/2022

A timely reminder courtesy of the horse doctors at Kentucky Lake Equine Hospital:

"With the changing of seasons, fall brings beautiful colors to the trees. Although red maple trees produce handsome shades in autumn, their leaves can be poisonous to horses when consumed."

More information can be found on our website at
https://aaep.org/horsehealth/red-maple-poisoning

26/10/2022

The Millbrook Horse Trials will return in 2023 after organizers and the owners of Riga Meadow Equestrian Center at Coole Park, one of the landowners they rely on to host the competition, reached an agreement to use the property. “We thank all th...

28/06/2022

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, now is a good time to make preparations to keep your horses, farm animals and pets safe during any fireworks that will be happening in your area.

The graphic below lists some tips to get you started. If you horses are staying out overnight, be sure to check your fencing ahead of time and neutralize any hazards like rocks, branches or holes that could lead to injury if the animals start bolting. If you are really worried about your horse's safety, consult your veterinarian about calming agents and sedatives.

No matter what your Independence Day plans are, above all please remember to practice safety and be considerate of the people and the animals living around you so EVERYONE may have an enjoyable celebration.

Happy 4th! 🇺🇸

25/06/2022

Fun fact Friday: Did you know that horses have dichromatic vision and therefore can only discern blue and yellow? Humans, on the other hand, have trichromatic vision and this allows us to see the full spectrum of red, green and blue.

Do horses have color preferences? The science says they do! Researchers recently explored color preferences in horses based on how much water was consumed from buckets painted one of six colors: red, yellow, green, light green, light blue, and turquoise. The results? It appears that horses are more likely to drink out of turquoise or light blue buckets!

Read more at https://ker.com/equinews/color-preferences-among-horses/

23/06/2022

The quality of hay can create a “hay belly.”

15/06/2022

Following up on last week’s popular post regarding heat stress in horses, and in preparation of the hot temperatures headed our way, today we are going to debunk the myth that allowing a hot, sweaty horse to drink cold water could lead to colic, founder or tie up.

The notion that a hot, recently exercised horse needs to cool down before drinking water is indeed a myth, so be advised that it is best to rehydrate sweaty, hardworking horses without delay. The key, however, is to know how much water to allow at one time! Because of the equine stomach’s relatively small capacity, offer small amounts of water every 20 minutes until the horse drinks his fill rather than letting the animal drink it all at once. A slower reintroduction of water is good common sense, while it makes no sense to hold horses off it.

Remember that water is the most vital nutrient for a horse. The average idle 1,100-pound horse in a cool environment will drink 6 to 10 gallons of water per day, but that amount may easily double or triple in a hot environment! Therefore, it goes without saying that providing cool, clean water to your horses at ALL times is of paramount importance.

Source: Equus Magazine and AAEP member Dr. Anthony Blikslager. More information about offering a horse water can be found at https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/offering-a-horse-water-after-exercise-8622/

13/06/2022

No meeting tonight. Will reach out to see if more people want to connect next month.

24/05/2022

Don't miss your chance to WIN CASH & PRIZES! Thank you for visiting with the PONYSITTERS from JL Performance Horses at the DCRCOC Expo on May 21. We welcome you to plan your visit to JL Performance Ho

23/05/2022

The Dutchess County Equestrian Round Table meeting is in session

23/05/2022

Did you know that horses can get sunburns too?

That’s right: Horses, like humans, can be at risk for the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn, especially on the non-pigmented pink-skinned areas of the body. The breeds that most frequently suffer from sunburn include Paints, Pintos, and Appaloosas, as well as many cremellos and other horses with pale coat colors.

Sunburn is most frequently seen in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and on the muzzle of pale or white-faced horses — and horses prone to recurrent sunburn also have an increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

To reduce the risk of sunburn, the best advice is to avoid sun exposure when possible. This is often achieved by stabling the horse during the day and allowing him to graze from dusk to dawn.
Another preventive option is the use of a full-face fly mask, or a full-body fly sheet for horses with large areas of white over the back and trunk, as many of these products come with UV protection.
Lots of people use use human products, such as children’s sunscreens, on their horses, however the product needs to be reapplied often to fully effective (just an on people).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your animal comfortable. Sunburn recovery in the horse can take months, so taking proactive steps to keep your equine friend protected this summer is in everyone’s best interest!

More information about sunburn and photosensitization is available on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/sunburn-photosensitivity