Rivendale Equestrian Centre

21/08/2024

21/08/2024

🌟 Welcome to O3Equine! 🌟

We are a passionate trio of friends dedicated to enhancing the well-being of horses through innovative ozone blanket treatments. 🐴✨ Operating in both Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal, our sessions are designed to promote healing, boost performance, and ensure your equine companions feel their best. Join us on this journey to better horse health! 💚

Follow us for updates, tips, and success stories from our amazing clients. Let’s make a difference together! 🌿

21/08/2024

Ozone blanket therapy for horses is an innovative, non-invasive treatment involving the use of a blanket
infused with ozone (O3) to deliver therapeutic benefits:
🫧Detoxes the body;
🫧Improves circulation;
🫧Boosts the immune system;
🫧Reduces inflammation;
🫧Relieves pain;
🫧Enhances respiratory function;
🫧Antioxidant;
🫧Boosts energy

11/12/2023

💥You've been asking and we've listened! 🌟

Soul Equine will be running this final workshop for 2023 to help set you up for success in looking after your barefoot horse throughout 2024 🐴

🗓 Wednesday, 20 December 2023
⏱ 6pm to 8pm (CAT)
💵 R500-pp

📌Register here: https://forms.gle/E4QtuPkRAEL591KY7

04/10/2023

The Stages of Equine Skeletal Development

A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human. So, a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Some are still happily working but some prefer retirement and an easier life. Often depending on just how hard a life they’ve lived.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way up.

A 1-1.5 year old horse is getting their first adult tooth, this happens at 6 years old in a human child.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 year old horse can start a bit of light work experience to learn the ropes.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 5.5 year old horse has just cut their final adult tooth, this happens at 17 years of age in a human.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work.

An 8 year old horse has achieved full fusion of their final growth plates. This happens at 24 years of age in a human. This is the age it is safe to push a horse for their optimal performance.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in the failure of many body parts. Joints, spine, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting another year or two at the beginning could give your horse an extra 10 years of useful working life. Be patient with your pride and joy!

Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS Vikki Fowler

Graphic credit to Naomi Tavian

20/09/2023

20/09/2023

PASSPORT CHECKS AT SHOWS

Veterinarians and Welfare Officers will be scheduled on a regular basis to attend equestrian events and it is imperative for you to ensure that all horses competing at an event MUST have their passports with them at all times (physical passport, NOT photograph) for a spot check by these Welfare officers. Also note that all jumping horses and ponies must have their microchip number in the passport. There will be consequences for passports not in order i.e. warnings, fines or disqualification of the horse from the event. All Equine Flu and African Horse Sickness vaccinations must be up to date.

Please ensure that your horse has at least one valid AHS1 as well as one valid AHS 2 Vaccination plus the necessary Flu Vaccination in its passport, before entering a competition, e.g administered between 1 June 2021 to the current date.

This dispensation DOES NOT APPLY TO horses residing in the Controlled Area of the Western Cape.

A directive was issued by the SAEF in August 2023 regarding the shortage of AHS Vaccines. Please click on the button below for more info.

20/09/2023

AHS VACCINE SHORTAGE PANEL DISCUSSION

Attend the vaccine shortage crisis panel discussion with presentations from experts including Prof. Allan Guthrie who will be joined by Luvuyo Mabombo, Interim CEO of OBP SoC Ltd, as part of the panel discussion.

Place: Kyalami Country Club
Date: Wednesday 20th September 2023
Time: 17:30 for 17:45
Attendance: Free
Cash bar available

RSVP link: http://bit.ly/ahsvaccine2023

29/08/2023

true story 🤣

28/08/2023

For those who think horses don't feel pain as we do - you could be right. They may feel far more.

28/08/2023

*FIELD ORNAMENTS*

"I really love my horse but I don't have the time /lost the confidence to ride him - I don't want to part with him but I feel so guilty that he's being wasted in the field when I know he's got so much potential - he could be an amazing horse for someone" - I see these sentences on the horse groups constantly.

Humans are feeling guilty for not riding their horses.

Humans actually believing that horses are having their potential wasted if they're not ridden.

Many of these humans will part with their horse plainly and simply because of the pressure that the society puts on them to ride the horses. The pressure from friends and family - "why don't you ride him ? If he's not ridden you're wasting your money / he'd be better off with someone who will give him the time he needs (to be ridden). "

People need to wake up. Horses are not born to be ridden. Riding and using horses in a means of transport /working animals are over (at least in the modern world) - we have cars, bikes, train , airplanes, machines.

Horses now are used mostly for our own entertainment - whether it's taking part in competitions or riding for pleasure. Back in the day our quality of life / means of making money dependent on horses. Our future dependent on them - they were used in wars for centuries.

Now their lives depend on us.

When you feel you can't ride anymore for any reason please understand that it's ok.

You don't need to ride - more - your horse's happiness is not rooted it being ridden - you will find it's actually quite opposite.

If you have all the abilities to keep your horse despite not riding him please do so - only this way you will ensure his future.

There are so many exciting ways to be with horses that don't involve riding - going on walks together, spending time in the field, playing cognitive games, finding ways to enrich their lives.

Please be your horse's best friend, forever - just like he's been yours ....

There is nothing wrong with *field ornaments*