COVER
CONTENTS
Departments
October/November/ December 2019
6 Editorial 8 Neighborhood news 24 Herb blurb 35 Product picks 41 Acupressure-at-a-glance 46 Holiday gift guide 51 From the NASC 55 Bridle fit 59 Preparing for winter 60 To the rescue 61 Equine Wellness resource guide
62 Rider fitness 63 Events 64 Marketplace 65 Classifieds
Features 26
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Columns
W hat you need to know
about CBD for horses
The CBD craze is in full swing, with big displays in every supermarket, pharmacy and feed store. What does this mean for you and your horse?
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Keep your horse warm this winter These 6 tips will help your horses stay comfortable, safe and warm all winter long.
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Equine Wellness
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N ATURAL SUPPLEMENTS Equine supplements for the off-season
Here’s why giving your horse supplements can be just as important during the winter as during show season.
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S POTLIGHT Hitting the hay — a look at sleep patterns in horses
Understanding your horse’s sleep patterns — and what disrupts them — can help you care for his sleep needs to the best of your ability.
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E ATING WELL Ration balancers and your horse A breakdown of what ration balancers are, how they work, and why they’re a smart way to supplement your horse’s diet.
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L IFESTYLE 8 ways horse caretakers can save money
When you have a horse, managing your money can be challenging. Here are a few tips to help you cut costs without sacrificing quality care.
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Professor proves that lavender essential oil calms horses
IN THE NEWS
Many horse caretakers reach for lavender essential oil to ease their own stress. Now, there's proof it works on equines, too!
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H EALTHY HOOVES Preventing winter hoof issues As we move from fall into winter, your horse needs some extra support to weather the transition with healthy feet.
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T ACK TALK Is your tack ready for another year?
It’s important to set aside some time at the end of each season to ensure your tack is in good shape. Your horse’s safety — and your own — depend on it!
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A LTERNATIVE APPROACHES Understanding Bowen-based equine therapy A look at Bowenbased therapy and how this gentle bodywork technique can be used to restore balance in horses.
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N ATURAL HORSEMANSHIP How to prepare your horse for roping Roping is a diverse discipline that requires a great deal of training. These tips will help you introduce your horse to the sport safely and effectively.
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H OLISTIC HEALING Detoxing your horse’s fascia to improve mobility
This delicious treat recipe is packed full of cranberries and chia seeds — and it’s sure to be a hit with your horses!
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Toxic buildup in your horse’s body can negatively affect all aspects of his health, including mobility. Here’s how detoxing his fascia can help him move easier — and feel better!
66 H OLIDAY TREAT RECIPE Cranberry chia crunch
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I N THE NEWS Equine massage in New York — a look at the legalities
Not a veterinarian? It’s against the law to offer equine massage in New York — even if you’re a certified equine massage therapist.
Social Media Tips, contests and more! /EquineWellnessMagazine News, events, and tips! @ EquineWellness Tips, pet photos, and more! EquineWellness
Equine Wellness
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LIFESTYLE Caring for horses is an investment, regardless of how you use your equine partner. However, there are ways you can save money and spend more frugally without affecting your horse’s health and well-being.
TO BUY OR LEASE?
By Sarah Evers Conrad
When you have a horse, managing your money can be challenging. Here are a few tips to help you cut costs without sacrificing quality care.
Before making the decision to buy a horse, leasing or half-leasing one can help you determine if you’re ready to handle the costs and time involved, says Christy Landwehr, CEO of the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) and a CHA Clinician and Certified Master Instructor. Once you bring your horse home, the following eight tips will help you with money management.
1. CREATE A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT. Budgeting is crucial. It’s a good way to know what your expenditures will be, to determine when you can set money aside for emergencies, and to keep an eye on every dollar going in and out.
2. BEWARE OF IMPULSE BUYS. “The tack store is very fun to shop at, but you really might not need that extra set of reins or that purple fly sheet,” says Christy.
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Equine Wellness
Tammi Gainer, a CHA Certified Master Level Instructor and CHA President, sees horse caretakers running from booth to booth at Equine Affaire every year, looking for the “next best thing that will fix it all.” But these frivolous purchases often aren’t necessary, and they can suck up funds that could be put to better use down the road.
3. DO YOUR RESEARCH. Tammi recommends researching feeds and supplements to know exactly what your horse needs nutritionally. “Less expensive isn’t always the best in the long run,” she adds. “Many may be mostly fillers and not much of the actual ingredient you are looking for.” Meanwhile, Christy suggests calling around to price hay, as it’s very expensive — but don’t skip on quality. And of course, make sure you’re comparing the prices of products that are of equal quality and features…you want to compare “apples to apples” and not “apples to oranges.” There may be a reason one hay grower is selling such cheap hay — it may be of much lesser quality or a different kind altogether.
4. FIND PROFESSIONALS YOU CAN TRUST.
“Trusted and honest advice can not only save you money, but also heartache,” she says. Tammi trusts her own veterinarian to explain his advice and to give her good, better and best options so she can make an educated decision.
5. HAVE YOUR HORSE LIVE AS NATURALLY AS POSSIBLE. “Lots of turnout with quality grass and hay will save on feed and supplements, and also your horse’s mental state,” says Tammi. She adds that if you need to board your horse, ask the boarding stable specific questions about turnout — e.g. for how long and how many days per week, whether horses are fed
on a schedule, and if they are turned out in a herd to promote socialization. If you are up for farm ownership, Christy shares that she saves money on board by having her horses on her own ten-acre property. She keeps them on grass during certain times of the year to save money on hay. Continued on page 22.
Veterinarians and farriers are excellent sources who can help you figure out your horse’s needs. Tammi advises caretakers to look for professionals with education, extensive training and certification, because quality health care professionals will save you time and money over the long run. Equine Wellness
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