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G WINTER GROOMING
By the Editors of Horse & rider magazine

Keep your horse happy and healthy through winter weather with these grooming tips.
Photo by Darrell Dodds
Once Mother Nature has clothed your horse in his winter haircoat, weight loss, wounds and skin infections are harder to recognize than when his coat was short and slick. Here are some tips that'll help you uncover--and prevent--problems through the winter.
Maintain Skin Health
Most winter skin conditions result from a dirty haircoat, which gives bacteria and fungi a foothold. Keep your horse's skin healthy by vigorously currying his body daily. In addition to lifting dirt and skin debris to the surface, it'll enable you to feel any diminishment in the fat layer over his ribs, indicating weight loss, and any bumps or clumpy hair that could signal a wound or skin condition.
Insider tip: For quick and easy dirt removal after currying, spray your horse's body, mane, tail and legs with a non-silicone hair-care product, such as Daily Coat Regimen
Take the Offensive Against Scratches
Scratches are skin inflammations on the back of his pasterns) Routinely examine your horse's pasterns for signs of redness and/or scurf, possible precursors to scratches.
Insider tip: After cleaning and thoroughly drying your horse's lower legs, apply a liberal coating of Desitin (used to prevent babies from diaper rash) to the back of his pasterns. The ointment will provide a measure of protection from water and mud and soothe any existing irritation.
Insider tip: To further prevent scratches, keep fetlock hair trimmed with a coarse (No. 10) clipping blade.
Maintain Hoof Health
Mud/manure-packed hooves provide the ideal environment for thrush. Clean your horse's feet daily. Once or twice a week, apply a commercial thrush product, such as Thrushbuster or Kopertox, as a preventive measure.
Insider tip: Make your own antithrush solution by mixing one part bleach to two parts water. Be careful not to get any of these products on your horse's skin (or yours!), as they can burn.

Preparing the Stable for Winter

In cold and warm climates alike, winter brings challenges to the stable and horse owner. Here are some tips on preparing the stable for winter.

By David Wyatt

RS Ranch, Bourbon, Missouri
© RS Ranch Rides
In cold and warm climates alike, winter brings challenges that the stable and horse owner must cope with. Shorter daylight, colder temperatures, and more precipitation often force us into crowded indoor riding areas and cope with mounts who are used to more turnout time. To make the best of the situation, we must budget our time carefully and use wells of patience long forgotten during the more pleasant days of spring and summer. Here are a few steps horse lovers can take in preparing the stable for winter to make it safe and bearable until spring arrives.
Do:
Clean house. De-clutter tack rooms, work areas, aisles, and indoor arenas by storing fans, bug zappers, fly spray, bathing equipment, fly sheets, and other warm weather items. Get rid of old hay, bedding, and cobwebs to make the indoor air quality of your barn healthier for horses, riders, and workers alike. Provide adequate room for winter sheets and blankets. Remove hoses, electrical cords, twine, and other potential tangling hazards from areas where horses and riders gather.
Electrical inspection. Inspect electrical cords, fuse boxes, and wiring in anticipation of the shorter daylight and lower temperatures. Blown fuses and weak circuits may indicate overloading, which can lead to serious hazards. A qualified electrician should be consulted to be sure your electrical system is adequate for the demands of winter use. Discard appliances that show evidence of deterioration or failure. Use only appliances that have automatic shut-off switches to prevent overheating or electrical overloading.
Fire Prevention. Inspect your fire extinguishers and re-charge them if necessary. Consider installing smoke alarms or other type of early fire detection system in tack rooms, break areas, and other places where appliances may be used. Remove trash regularly. Store fuel containers properly, in separate buildings if possible.
Remove temperature-sensitive liquids and medication and store in more suitable conditions to prevent damage.
Apply dust inhibitors, such as calcium chloride, to arena footing. Proprietary dust control compounds are also available that may be more suitable for your circumstances.
Horses and ponies can generate sufficient body heat if they are not exposed to wind and drafts. Therefore, seal drafts in walls and doors. Close louvers and soffits that are not necessary for wintertime ventilation.
Drain and cover exposed outdoor pumps that cannot withstand freezing temperatures.
Replace tractor antifreeze and dispose in properly sealed containers. Remember, dogs and other barn animals drink ethylene glycol and suffer fatal reactions.
Clean light fixtures and replace burned-out lamps to enhance indoor lighting.
Insulate exposed piping with foam-type pipe insulation, available from hardware stores.
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Don't:
Finally, some things worth avoiding when winterizing your stable:
Avoid using electric heat tape in locations within reach of horses and ponies.
Avoid using coil type water bucket heaters and never leave an electric bucket warmer within reach of a horse. Electrocutions can result.
Don't leave coffee pots, microwave ovens, and space heaters on for long periods of time. Automatic shut-off timers can provide this assurance when human memory fails.
Don't hang electric lights and other decorations within reach of a horse or pony. Injuries and accidents related to these items can spoil the spirit of the season.
 Don't store tractors and equipment in riding areas when they are in use.
Even if winter is well underway, it's never too late to winterize your stable. Some of the steps discussed here are simply good practice regardless of the season, but they can make a big difference during the winter months to enhance the economic performance, safety, and enjoyment of your stable.

news:

U.S. to Kill Wild Horses as Upkeep Costs Rise?
IMG_0072.JPG
Maryann Mott
for National Geographic News

November 14, 2008

Thousands of wild mustangs kept in U.S. government holding pens may have to be killed as costs escalate for their upkeep, according to a new federal report released this week.

The report, issued by the Government Accountability Office—the watchdog agency for the U.S. Congress—examined long-term options for successfully managing unadoptable horses.





About 30,000 animals removed from western rangelands are currently being cared for by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s Wild Horse and Burro Program.

This year, with adoptions dwindling and hay prices rising, holding costs are expected to exceed U.S. $27 million, or about 74 percent of the program's budget.

This level of funding is not enough to control wild populations while keeping older, unadopted animals alive, BLM officials said.

(Related: "H

The report comes at a critical time: A decision regarding the fate of thousands of mustangs is expected on Monday when BLM's National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meets in Reno, Nevada.

Slaughterhouse Fear

About 33,000 mustangs, often called wild horses, roam the dusty open plains of ten western states, with about half of the population in Nevada.

With few predators, wild horse herds nearly double every five years. To make room for livestock and farming operations on public lands, government-hired cowboys round up about 10,000 mustangs annually.

Horses are then put into holding facilities to be adopted or sold, or to live out the remainder of their lives. Some animals can live for 15 years in pens.

The 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act calls wild horses "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West

 
WOW!
 
TOP 10 HORSE LOVER GIFT IDEAS:

HORSE TREAT RECIPE:
 
TOP WINTER TIPS: by Kaitlin

It's very easy to get a chill this time of year, so I have a few finer points in staying warm...

First of all, your horse gets very muddy this time of year, so to save time grooming, keep a pasture blanket on him/ her.
It keeps his body clean and ready for the saddle.

If you it's too cold to shower your horse, take a clean towel, a bucket of warm water, some rubber gloves
and get ready to wipe him down one spot at time till his coat is desirably clean.

If the weather against you and has been raining lately, watch for thrush in his hooves. Its is common this time of year.

If your horse shows any signs of a cold ( runny nose, droopy eyes, or even a cough consult an expert to check on him)

Now to keep YOU, the rider, warm and healthy...Drink soup. haha

Bundle up! Keep some clothes set aside, keep your center body warm. This includes your legs, belly, neck and most importantly your chest.
IF YOUR CHEST IS WARM You WONT HAVE TO COMPENSATE FOR LOST BODY HEAT BY COMPROMISING OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY)... like your fingers and toes. I recommend wearing one or two layers of clothes, with a big snow jacket on top. Under Armor is great for this.

Next, consider your hands. They do a good majority of your work. Ski gloves are perfect for your winter hours spent riding, and will dry well too, incase getting wet is unavoidable (Example: my horse loves to lick my hands when he greets me at the gate... cute and very silly.) Anyway,
Be willing to get these gloves a little dirty. If gloves like these aren't available, compensate by wearing two pairs of wool or cheaply bought felt gloves, with the softer warmer ones on first. Expect to get the second pair dirty, and try to get a kind that is washable. I have tried everything, including 5 layers of socks, when i was desperate, but ofcourse that didn't work. So the double layer of cozies i found work best.

Next are your Boots, They too do alot of the work.
Wear insulated boots that do not allow air to seap in and out around your feet. Wear two pairs of socks.

Your head releases 40% of your body heat. Wear a warm hat or helmet ( only wear the helmet when riding, and wear the hat otherwise )
and remember...
Keep moving! Working with horses is a workout in itself. Your equine will help heat you up and keep you warm.