10
THE
Ultimate
WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR SENIOR HORSE’S JOINTS
NUTRITION GUIDE FOR MATURE HORSES
Horseplay
DIY
WHAT’S SAFE?
CLAY POULTICES
HOW TRAIL WALKS CAN IMPROVE YOUR HORSEMANSHIP UPDATE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EQUINE VACCINES
Display until September 30, 2019 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 4
$5.95 USA/Canada
August/September 2019
Fe ell Hollow Farm
Find out how this sanctuary is changing the lives of senior and special needs horses — and cats! EquineWellnessMagazine.com
CONTENTS August/September 2019
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Features 10
1 0 ways to support your senior horse’s joints As your horse ages, he becomes more susceptible to arthritis and other joint issues. Here are 10 ways you can maintain his mobility well into his senior years.
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Ferrell Hollow Farm
Founded to provide a permanent sanctuary for animals in need, this organization is making the world a better place for senior and special needs horses…and cats!
Columns
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Equine Wellness
N ATURAL HORSEMANSHIP How trail walks can improve your horsemanship
Trail walks are an enjoyable way to develop your horse and test some of the skills you’ve been working on in the corral.
Social Media Tips, contests and more! /EquineWellnessMagazine News, events, and tips! @ EquineWellness Tips, pet photos, and more! EquineWellness
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W ELL-GROOMED The ultimate guide to growing your horse’s mane and tail Tips on taking her mane and tail from mediocre to marvelous!
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Understanding heart murmurs from both a conventional and TCVM perspective will help you make the best decisions for your horse’s health.
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G OLDEN YEARS Feeding senior horses
There's no shortage of senior horse feeds on the market, but does every horse eventually need one? And if so, when?
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H EALTH WATCH Preventing eye disease in horses
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F UN AND GAMES Horseplay for senior equines
We consider what “horseplay” is and how it benefits the senior horse, along with some practical ideas on how to incorporate play into your routine.
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N EED TO KNOW An update on equine vaccine issues
When it comes to vaccines, the needs and requirements of horses are always changing. Learn what’s shifted over the past few years and how to best protect your equine companion.
A basic understanding of the most common equine eye conditions can help you take steps to prevent them.
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M IND, BODY, SPIRIT “Love lessons” — incorporating energy work into your horse’s training sessions
Learn how the art of equine energy exchange can enhance the development of your horse’s skills and improve his well-being.
E ATING WELL Top tips for managing your pastures
You’ve taken the time to plan and plant your pastures — now you need to manage them. Here’s how certain measures such as rotational grazing and dry lots can help.
S POTLIGHT Dental care for senior horses
A look at how regular checkups and preventative care early in life can keep your equine’s mouth healthy as he ages.
I NTEGRATIVE APPROACHES Heart murmurs in horses
Departments 6 Editorial 8 Neighborhood news 14 Herb blurb 31 Product picks 44 Bridle fit 45 Heads up 49 To the rescue 55 Equine Wellness resource guide
60 Acupressure-at-a-glance 61 Events 64 Marketplace 65 Classifieds 66 Rider fitness
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H OLISTIC HEALING Clay poultices have many uses for horses
Learn how these therapeutic fusions can be customized with natural ingredients to address your horse’s needs.
32 Equine Wellness
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NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP
How trail walks can improve your horsemanship
Trail walks are an enjoyable way to develop your horse and test some of the skills you’ve By Glenn Stewart been working on in the corral. 16
Equine Wellness
A trail walk is just what it sounds like: walking your horse online on a trail. The purpose is to ask him to do things you might want him to do when you’re riding on the trail, and to see what his behavior is going to be like while you’re not on his back. Many people compete in horse shows but can’t actually lead their horses through the trees. Chances are, their performance in the corral would improve if they could practice leading and riding their horses out on the trails.
Goals and benefits Regular trail walks will help you develop a mentally and emotionally fit horse that can adapt to any situation. A horse that’s mentally fit is able to think through situations, while emotional fitness refers to his ability to use reasoning and problem-solving skills so he doesn’t get emotional. Ideally, you want a horse that will calmly understand and follow your requests even if he’s in an unfamiliar situation. A safe horse is ready, willing and responsive, and always says “yes, ma’am” and “yes, sir”. The second goal of trail walking is to develop yourself into a calm, rational and responsive handler/rider. Leading your horse on the trail will help you discover your own mental
and emotional fitness, and give you a chance to push your limits. Pick something easy to start with — whatever that means for you and your horse. Maybe it means choosing a short trail with only one tree and no hills — however, you must be able to do much more than that as your skills improve. You should be able to go all day long and deal with any number of obstacles. If that’s not possible at this time, don’t fret — just continue working toward your goal.
Before you head out At our farm, we use what we call “the seven patterns” to help a horse develop some basic ground skills prior to going on a trail walk. This method involves seven basic steps
BACKING AND HIND QUARTER CONTROL As with any form of training, variety is beneficial for trail walking. Instead of always leading your horse forward down the trail, back him up every once in a while. Set a pace, difficulty level and destination that’s going to challenge your horse without asking too much of him. For example, if he’s new to trail walking, stop once or twice on your walk and back him up a few steps. If he’s been at it for a while, try to back him without stopping down a twisty trail, using hind quarter yields — both left and right — to maneuver through the trees.
Equine Wellness
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