Texas Chrome Retires a Millionaire #TeamTexas Retired Racehorse Projects
Farm Spotlight: Schneider Farms The Northeast Texas Equine
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Winter 2017
contents on the cover
Editor’s Note
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Helping Hands
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FullBucket Back in Guatemala Helping Equines In The News Nutrition
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Is Your Horse on Bute? Consider Something Other than Omeprazole to Prevent Ulcers
Hoofcare
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Invest In Yourself!
Racing
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Farm Spotlight
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Schneider Farms
On the Farm Photo by Taylor Kubat WHR Pegasus - Owned by Windhaven Ranch
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How Much Hay Do You Need in the Winter?
Health Matters How Does PEMF Therapy Work?
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Get involved The Northeast Texas Equine wants to hear from you! Here’s how you can get involved and join in the fun!
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Email your favorite photo to valerie@grayhorsepublishing.com and you could be chosen for our new Photo of the Month section! Thrills & Spills or heartfelt photos, we want to see our readers and their horses!
PUBLISHED BY Gray Horse Publishing & Marketing EXECUTIVE EDITOR/MANAGER Valerie Mellema CONTRIBUTORS FullBucket Health Heather Perillo Juliet Getty, Ph.D. Ralph Hampton, Double H Horseshoeing DESIGN & LAYOUT Valerie Mellema
CONTRIBUTERS WANTED
We are always looking for article contributors. You can write over just about anything from horse care to training and over any discipline. You get free advertising and a bio! Contact us with your ideas!
ADVERTISE
The Northeast Texas Equine works completely on operating dollars, volunteered time and volunteer contributors. Our goal is to help the local equine economy grow. We depend on our advertisers to help us achieve this goal. We offer several advertising options at very reasonable rates. You can find more information on our website. Copyright 2017 Gray Horse Publishing & Marketing Find us online at http://www.thenortheasttexasequine.com
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We have an information packed issue this month! As always, a special thanks to our contributors. We are working hard at enlarging our audience, so if you read anything in this issue that you think would be useful to your other horsey friends, please share! We’re always looking for new contributors, advertisers and photographers to feature on our cover. We also love to feature Young Riders! If you know of a young rider that you would like to see featured in our next issue, visit our website and have them fill out the profile form. We will feature their profile as well as pictures of them and their horses. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I did putting it together! I’ve met new people and made new friends through this process and I look forward to a new year and new issues!
editor’s note
Go Riding! Valerie Mellema
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helping hands FullBucket Back in Guatemala Helping Equines Last year we featured FullBucket and their work in Guatemala to help the country’s equines with and we’re happy to write that the FullBucket team is back in Guatemala again as this piece is being written! FullBucket founders Rob Franklin and Robo Hendrickson are visiting the communities of Solola and Lake Atitlan with a team of vets and vet students co-sponsored by Precision Pharmacy, Boehringer Ingelheim, AAEP Foundation, TEVA, MWI, Zoetis and World Horse Welfare. The team also includes J Concepción Hernández Ramírez, Ignacio Francisco Ramos, Veronica Flores, Linda Quodomine, Marianne Mullen, Travis Alwine, Dr. Guardia, Dr.Brown, Dr. Fultz, and Dr. Sarah Reuss. This trip they have travelled to the community of San Pedro La Laguna and Santiago de Atitlan, where they worked on the criollo horses. These horses and donkeys in these communities are used for farming, transportation and other work. Due to the location of these communities, proper veterinarian care is inaccessible. The FullBucket team and the World Horse Welfare organization provides dental care, castrations, vaccinations and advice on proper nutrition and feeding. They work with local veterinarians and vet students providing them with new knowledge and learning opportunities. FullBucket was created by veterinarians to make a difference. FullBucket has the highest concentration of S. boulardii, prebiotics, l-gluatmine and natural vitamin E available in any commercial horse nutritional supplement. It is used daily by the top breeding farms, equine veterinary clinics, equine veterinarians and universities in the US. For every FullBucket you buy, we give one to animals in need. You can watch the mini-documentary here…
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in the news
Texas Retired Racehorses Show in Kentucky The Retired Racehorse Training Project was founded in 2010 to inspire equestrians to choose an OTTB and to show their versatility off the racetrack. Their mission is to facilitate the placement of retired Thoroughbred racehorses in second careers by educating the public about the history, distinctive characteristics, versatility of use and appropriate care and training of the American Thoroughbred. To qualify for the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover show in Kentucky, trainers must first apply and be accepted into the makeover. The applications for next year’s makeover will open December 1st through January 15. Trainer approvals will be announced February 1, 2018. The horses must also meet specific requirements. Horses for the 2018 makeover must have raced or had a published work after June 30,
2016 and have not started training in a second career before December 1, 2017. You must also be an RRP member to participate. There are a wide variety of classes that trainers can compete in from Hunter/Jumper to Competitive Trail to Barrel Racing and Working Ranch. The purpose is to show that there’s nothing that a Thoroughbred can’t do! The 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover will be held October 4-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park. In this issue we wanted to feature two of the Texas trainers that participated, Ali Hamann of South Coast Sport Horses in Smithville, Texas and Cassie Shumate of Salado, Texas. Both competitors placed very well out of their large classes.
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CASSIE SHUMATE SALADO, TEXAS
Cassie Shumate competed on Trade, a 2009 stallion by Posse x Provincial (Pulpit). The stallion had 31 starts with 6 firts, 7 seconds and 2 thirds owning $98,571 throughout his five year career. He is owned by Natalie Roberts, who claimed him and finished his career with. In 2017, he was sent to Salado, Texas to train with Cassie. The stallion has been in full dressage training and trail training since arriving. He has competed in both dressage and ranch shows, been on numerous trail rides and has logged over 50 hours on the trail, for which he has received numerous TIP Award points. After the Makeover, he returned to Kentucky, where he will continue his career as a show horse. Trade placed 13th in trail out of 80 horses with an unfortunate slip on one of the obstacles that knocked them out of the Top 10. Photos by GRC Photo.
Photo credit NRHA/Katie Daniel 10 The Northeast Texas Equine
ALI HAMANN
SOUTH COAST SPORT HORSES, SMITHVILLE, TEXAS Ali Hamann competed on Zenne, a 2010 mare by Say Uncle x Rainy Day Woman (Storm Bird). She was foaled in Massachusetts and raced at Suffolk Downs and Saratoga earning $3787 without hitting the board. She is partially owned by Patricia Meadow of Massachusetts and has been with Ali since June 2017 by way of Ali’s Team Texas team mate Janessa Kabela. After the RRP, Ali decided to keep the mare for herself. Zenne placed 15th in the jumpers with an unfortunate rail. She also participated in a clinic with the jumper judge, Richard Lamb on Sunday after the show. Photos by GRC Photo.
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Congratulations to the University of North Texas Equestrian Teams!
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nutrition Is Your Horse on Bute? Consider Something Other than Omeprazole to Prevent Ulcers By Dr. Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D.
Bute (phenylbutazone) is the most commonly used NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) for pain resulting from injury to the joints and feet. But while you’re relieving your horse’s pain, you may be putting him at risk of developing an ulcer. Here’s why… Bute functions by blocking the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes responsible for converting arachidonic acid (a fatty acid) to prostaglandins, some of which contribute to pain and inflammation. There are two types of COX enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2, which differ in their impact on your horse’s digestive system. COX-2 is the one we want to inhibit because it is involved in producing the problematic prostaglandins. COX-1, however, is a beneficial enzyme that maintains a healthy gastrointestinal lining and also promotes proper blood clotting. Unfortunately, bute blocks both of these enzymes, alleviating your horse’s discomfort (because it blocks COX-2), but making the mucosal lining of the stomach more vulnerable to stomach acid (by blocking beneficial COX-1), potentially leading to ulcerations anywhere along the digestive tract.[i] Bute disrupts the natural surface barrier within the stomach’s mucosal lining. Within this lining is a fatty bilayer made up of two rows of molecules called phospholipids. The outer portion is hydrophilic (attracted to water) while the inner portion is hydrophobic because of its fat content. Because bute inhibits COX-1, it causes the inner hydrophobic barrier to become hydrophilic, allowing acid to permeate the mucosal lining, resulting in ulcerations. To protect against ulcers, many veterinarians will prescribe omeprazole Produced by Merial, omeprazole goes by the brand names of the full-strength GastroGard® used to treat 14 The Northeast Texas Equine
ulcers or the lower-dosed, UlcerGard®, used to prevent ulcers while the horse is receiving bute. There is some justification for using this. Omeprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor which blocks the final step of acid production within the stomach. Since the protective mucus lining of the stomach may be compromised by bute, it becomes vulnerable to acid. Omeprazole reduces the acid content of the stomach, thereby preventing the formation of ulcers. But there are real concerns with continued use of omeprazole. You may not be aware that: • Sudden discontinuation of omeprazole can cause a rebound acid effect, at increased levels, making your horse more vulnerable to ulcer formation. [ii] • Omeprazole can lead to malnutrition because stomach acid is necessary to start protein digestion and absorption of key minerals. • Omeprazole doesn’t protect against ulcers that
may show up in the colon. Allow your horse’s stomach to do its job Your horse’s stomach is meant to produce hydrochloric acid (HCl). HCl is needed to activate pepsin, an enzyme that starts to break down large protein molecules so they can later be completely digested in the small intestine down to individual amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of the proteins found throughout your horse’s body. If the protein in your horse’s diet is not adequately digested, amino acids will not be available to produce and repair body tissues. Furthermore, minerals found in feedstuffs are typically bound to proteins, making protein digestion necessary in order for these minerals to be released and absorbed.[iii] Nevertheless, when COX-1 is inhibited, acid becomes the enemy because it can seriously damage the compromised mucosal layer throughout the stomach and the entire gastrointestinal tract. Turning off stomach acid is not the answer Well, it’s an expedient solution. And it relieves the symptoms, but it doesn’t truly undo the damage that bute has inflicted. Think about it… the lipid bilayer has been damaged by inhibiting COX-1, making it vulnerable to acid. Removing the acid doesn’t take away the fact that the bilayer is damaged. Why not just prevent damage or repair it instead? There are two important foods you can add to your horse’s diet that can prevent or repair gastrointestinal damage from bute: • Lecithin plus apple pectin • Colostrum Researchers from the University of Texas[iv] Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology described this mechanism using human subjects on NSAIDS (in particular, aspirin and naproxen). They created a formula that combines the NSAID drug with phosphatidylcholine (PC). When PC combines with NSAIDs, it creates a complex that is more fat-soluble, thereby promoting its transit across the hydrophobic mucus layer of the stomach, with reduced surface mucosal injury, while not altering the efficacy or pharmacological activity of the NSAID. They also found that not only does PC significantly reduce gastrointestinal injury, but in some cases, it even eliminated gastrointestinal ulcerations.
Lecithin and apple pectin Lecithin is the common term for PC. Other research indicates that lecithin is effective in providing protection and treatment of equine gastric ulcers.[v] PC is a naturally occurring substance; it is the most abundantly found phospholipid in animal and plant cell membranes, and is most commonly derived from soybeans, though can be derived from other plants. Chemically, it primarily consists of essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega 6) and alpha linolenic acid (omega 3), along with a molecule of choline (an essential B vitamin-like nutrient). Apple pectin, when combined with lecithin, offers a synergistic approach in preventing and alleviating ulcers. Pectin is a water-soluble fiber which acts with lecithin to form a hydrophobic barrier on the gastric mucosal membranes, protecting them against the corrosive effect of HCl.[vi] Lecithin granules and apple pectin can be purchased in any health food store, or in bulk through online providers. I recommend feeding ½ cup of lecithin plus 2 Tablespoons of apple pectin with each dose of bute (for an 1100 lb horse). It can be mixed with any feed and is quite palatable. Another option is a lecithin/apple pectin supplement called Starting Gate (SBS Equine Products)[vii], which may be more convenient. Colostrum Colostrum has been shown to prevent stomach and intestinal ulcerations and also increase new, healthy cell proliferation.[viii] The Transforming Growth Factors (TGF) present in colostrum actually stimulate gastrointestinal repair and maintain the integrity of the epithelium layer of the gastrointestinal tract.[ix] I recommend 20 grams of colostrum per day (for an 1100 lb/500 kg horse) while your horse is receiving bute. All horses, even healthy ones, can benefit from this nutritious food. Bovine colostrum is very low in lactose, making it appropriate for adult horses (who are naturally lactose intolerant). As a superfood, it is a natural source of nutritive factors that have a significant impact of on your horse’s recovery from a vast variety of ailments.[x] It has been used by adult humans and animals for hundreds of years with remarkable results. Its impact on the horse industry is starting to show promise, revealing itself as an amazing tool to help your horses maintain optimal health. Look for colostrum that is from a source that is harvested during the first few hours of lactation and has been processed at low temThe Northeast Texas Equine 15
peratures.[xi] Bottom line Instead of adding omeprazole to protect against ulcers when you use bute for pain relief, consider adding lecithin and/or colostrum to prevent and repair bute’s potential damage to the gastrointestinal lining. Omeprazole turns off acid production which can lead to other health issues. Lecithin, apple pectin, and colostrum protect the delicate phospholipid bilayer that lines your horse’s digestive tract. Lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) is a naturally occurring phospholipid and can easily be added to the diet along with apple pectin. Bovine colostrum is also worth considering and has multiple benefits beyond ulcer protection. Both of these offer a solution without the potential side-effects that omeprazole can create. [i] Banse, HE., and Cribb, A.E., 2015. Review of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug selection in horses. AAEP Proceedings, volume 61, 532-536. [ii] WebMD. Study: Acid reflux drugs cause acid rebound symptoms. http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/news/20090702/stopping-ppis-causes-acid-reflux-symptoms#1 [iii] Gerber, J., 2005. Improving Bioavailability of Minerals from Supplements: Can Chelation Help? Journal of American Chiropractic Association, 42(8), 6-11. [iv] Lichtenberger, L.M., Barron, M., and Marathi, U., 2009. Association of phosphatidylcholine and NSAIDs as a novel strategy to reduce gastrointestinal toxicity. Drugs of Today, 45(12), 877-890. [v] Geor, R.J., and Papich, M.G., 1990. Medical therapy for gastrointestinal ulceration in foals. Compendium on the continuing education for the practicing veterinarian, 12, 403-412. [vi] Woodard, M.C., Huff, N.K., Garza, Jr., F., Keowen, M.L., and Andrews, F.M., 2014. Effect of pectin, lecithin, and antacid feed supplements (Egusin®) on gastric ulcer scores, gastric fluid pH and blood gas values in horses. BMC Veterinary Research, 10(Suppl.1), S1-S4. [vii] Starting Gate can be purchased at http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/ products/startinggate.htm [viii] Playford, R.J., Floyd, D.N., Macdonald, C.E., Calnan, D.P., Adenekan, R.O., Johnson, W., Goodland, R.A., and Marchant, T., 1999. Bovine colostrum is a health food supplement which prevents NSAID induced gut damage. Gut, 44, 653-658. [ix] Thapa, B.R., 2005. Health factors in colostrum. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 72, 579-581. [x] Getty, J.M., 2016. Colostrum – An exceptional superfood! Library at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/library/colostrumanexceptionalsuperfood.htm [xi] Colostrum, offered by ForeFront Equine, is available at http:// gettyequinenutrition.biz/products/forecolostrum.htm [xii] http://horsesupplements.gettyequinenutrition.biz
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about the author Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an independent equine nutritionist with a wide U.S. and international following. Her research-based approach optimizes equine health by aligning physiology and instincts with correct feeding and nutrition practices. Dr. Getty’s goal is to empower the horseperson with the confidence and knowledge to provide the best nutrition for his or her horse’s needs. Dr. Getty’s fundamental resource book, Feed Your Horse Like a Horse, is now in paperback as well as in hardcover, searchable CD and Kindle versions. All except the Kindle version are available at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com -buy the book there and have it inscribed by the author. Print and Kindle versions are also available at Amazon (www.Amazon.com); find print versions at other online retail bookstores. The seven individual volumes in Dr. Getty’s topic-centered “Spotlight on Equine Nutrition” series are available with special package pricing at her website, and also at Amazon in print and Kindle versions. Dr. Getty’s books make ideal gifts for equestrians! Find a world of useful information for the horseperson at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com: Sign up for Dr. Getty’s informative, free e-newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; search her nutrition forum archives; and purchase recordings of her educational teleseminars. Find top-quality supplements, feeders, and other equine-related items, at her online Free Shipping Supplement Store[xii]. Reach Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com.Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com.
Invest In Yourself!
hoofcare By Ralph Hampton, Double H Horseshoeing
There are a thousand pitfalls in owning horses - nutrition, deworming, vet bills, fencing, tack and gear, stabling and boarding, etc. This list is virtually endless! Woe unto the horse owner who makes the WRONG choices, right? Especially in the age of social media and its brand of peer preasure. As a horse owner, we are make choices each day that will affect the health and happiness of our Thunder or Fluffy, so why not make one of the most important choices early and often? What is one of the crucial choices you have to make? Footcare. After all, “no foot-no horse” as the old adage goes. As an owner you have to decide one of the single most important aspects of horse ownership and that is what to do about a farrier? Do you hire one? Do the work yourself? Hire a cheap one or one who is experienced? “IF YOU THINK HIRING AN EXPENSIVE FARRIER IS TOUGH....TRY HIRING A CHEAP ONE!” Personally, I’ve always believed the cost of farrier work isn’t the best indication of knowledge or trust or even whether or not the farrier you hire is good at his or her job. That having been said, I’m not the cheapest guy in town. If I had a broken arm, I doubt I’d look for a doctor who is running a sale on fixing broken arms. I’d want the doctor who knows the most about arm bones and how to repair a broken one, wouldn’t you? So why is it that owners sometimes get the cheapest horseshoer around to do some of the most important work? It makes no sense. THIS IS WHERE THE OWNER SHOULD INVEST IN THEMSELVES. In years past, farrier work was a kind of wizardry or magic. To an owner’s eye, nailing steel onto the bottom of a live animal’s foot IS magic! Think about it, we use nails to attach chunks of iron to live feet. How much more magical can you get? Also, farriers have a long standing tradition of cultivating that mystical aura. It’s just plain cool to have people think we are a special breed of men and women who can do something so outlandish and, in
many ways, unnatural. In today’s world the more basic knowledge you have, the better choices you can make! WHAT SHOULD I DO, RALPH? READ. Books are a great source of knowledge. I can’t believe I just said that, or that I HAD to say it! Here are a few suggested titles: Shoeing Right by David Krolick Well Shod by Don Baskins and Randy White Principals of Horseshoeing by DR. Doug Butler Three books (at the very least). There are tons of good books, choose your own!) that every owner should have laying around the bathroom waiting for you to glean knowledge that will help you in making the right decisions when it comes time to ask those all important questions, “Shod or not shod,” “Steel or aluminum?,” “Why does Thunder limp?” and so forth. The more YOU know, the better your horse will be when it comes to foot care! The Northeast Texas Equine
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DON’T assume that farrier who pulled up and you met for the first time 10 minutes ago or that farrier you emailed, knows everything about what is right for your horse. Your relationship with your farrier is like any other relationship, it takes time to build. Just as we should be informed when we walk into a doctor’s office. We should be informed when working with a farrier. Sure, your trusted, loyal, hardworking, educated, practitioner of farriery arts and sciences should have the last word about what’s right and wrong for your horse’s feet, but remember, you as an owner have a voice. You have input in the process and you should feel as if you can exchange ideas and thoughts with your farrier. YOU CANT FIX STUPID. Farriers do a wonderful job every day of fixing, or managing or even modifying problems on the bottom of your horses, their feet, but not every problem can be fixed, sometimes there are no magic potions or applications which will ever make Thunder’s conformation correct or his bones, tendons and ligaments right. Sadly, we can’t make every boo boo go away. So you, as a responsible owner have to know when to say when, when it comes to monkeying with feet and limb problems. Some horses weren’t meant to run like the wind or fly like Pegasus. We farriers can’t help this. DONT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER and DONT JUDGE. Open solid lines of communication with your trusty, educated, hard working farrier. TALK about it! What do you want? How do you think what you want can be achieved? Can your farrier make a situation better, or just prolong something inevitable? Being a farrier is WAY more than just nailing on shoes and that’s one of the best reasons to develop a relationship with the farrier your trust. Farrier “hopping” is a very bad thing usually. Find a man or woman who knows their stuff and try hard to stick with them. This usually means hiring the BEST recommended farrier you can find. ASK questions. Some farriers will tell you more about horse’s feet than you ever want to know and some wont say boo to you. It’s up to you to ask about problems and keep asking until you get answers. These answers may not be what you necessarily want to hear, but if they are TRUE answers, it will help your Thunder in the long run. I hope this will help you as owners in your quest for a better riding experience. You can’t have fun on a 18 The Northeast Texas Equine
lame horse, right? READ books. HIRE the best you can afford. DONT “hop” around~keep a farrier who is good. ASK questions. There are no silly questions COMMUNICATE- farriers don’t know what you want until you tell them.
about the author Ralph Hampton is the owner of Double H Horseshoeing. Based out of Bronson, Texas, he travels all over Texas and Louisiana. He has 30 years of experience and extensive experience with founder and laminitis. He treats his customer’s horses with a gentle touch and always recommends a program of care for each particular horse. Find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/DoubleHHorseshoeing.
racing Texas Chrome Retires at 4 as Second Texas Millionaire Texas Chrome, owned by Keene Thoroughreds of Greenville, Texas, has been retired at the age of 4 years old after winning over a million dollars in earnings. Texas Chrome won Lone Star Park’s $50,000 Assault Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths. He was trained by Allen Milligan. The win at Lone Star wrapped up an excellent career for the horse, as Lone Star was where he won his first race. Texas Chrome covered the mile on a fast track with a time of 1:36:59. Texas Chrome is a 2013 son of Grasshopper and won 9 out of 20 starts, earning $1,020,762. He was bred by Craig Uphan and was a $10,000 yearling purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Yexas Yearling and Mixed Sale in 2014. Texas Chrome is a multiple graded stakes winner having participated in the Las Vegas Breeder’s Cup Dirt Mile in 2016. The only other Texas-bred millionaire was Groovy, who retired with $1.3 million in earnings. Groovy raced in the 80s and was the 1987 Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter and three time Breeder’s Cup participant with a 2nd place finish in the Breeder’s Cup Sprint in 1987. Photo credits: Dustin Orona Photography & Mary Cage
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Schneider Farms
farm spotlight
Located in Sulphur Springs, Texas focused on bringing the joy of horses and horsemanship to the community.
Jenny Schneider’s love of horses war born in her, just as it was many of us. She always loved horses as a little girl and her parents put her in every activity except riding. They were worried about the cost. At 13, she finally got her own horse that was kept at a stable with no trainer. She had a horrible accident and had to sell the horse. However, she still wanted to ride! She learned that if she called around and offered to work for free just to be around horses, she was able to do just that. Her hardwork led to lessons and camps. However, now she was broken hearted about the because she sold her horse, but made a promise to herself that when she grew up she would have a barn where any kid could ride, even thouse who couldn’t afford it, and I was going to be able to teach kids to
ride the “right way.” God has made this possible for Jenny. Her family has now started Schneider Farms in the heart of Sulphur Springs, Texas, right on College Street. Schneider Farms offers riding lessons for kids and adults. She hosts Horse and Pony Camp and offers Pony Parties for all ages at her facility. Horse Club is for kids 9 and over and Pony Club is for kids 8 and under. Additionally, the Schneider family wants to reach out to the community and spread Christ’s love through their ministry, “Riding Through Faith.” While still in the early stages, the ministry will allow them to The Northeast Texas Equine 21
reach out to the community and be a safe place where kids and adults can come learn to ride horses safely, learn horsemanship, learn about Jesus and create a fellowship of believers witnessing to and serving other believers and non-believers regardless of income. Jenny also has a heart to eventually work with kids who have Dyslexia and learning difficulties, utilizing the natural movement of the horse to work through these challenges. She has also become aware of people who have been denied the ability to ride due to their weight and size. Horseback riding is greate exercise and Schneider Farms has draft crosses that are ideal for these individuals. Jenny believes no one should be denied the opportunity to ride if they have the desire. She wants people to know that they are welcome regardless of size, race and ability. Jenny has been riding regularly since she was 13, working hard to be able to board her horse or for lessons. She has been riding and teaching for over 30 years and has worked at various different training and boarding facilities while in college at Texas Tech 22 The Northeast Texas Equine
University. There she began teaching riding lessons and rode in Hunter/Jumpers, Horse Trials, Dressage, Western Pleasure, Play Days, and Arabian breed shows. She majored in Wildlife and Fisheries Management and have her teaching certificate to teach Middle and Upper school science. She worked as a teacher in public school for six years. She also taught swimming lessons and coached swim teams. Now she is a homeschool mom and has been homeschooling for over 10 years. She has three children, Bear (15), Archer (10) and Greenless (6). The horses of Schneider Farms include two OTTB geldings, Gunsmoke and Noble; 1 Warmblood Percheron/TB mare Sydney, Appendix gelding Locksley, Clydesdale cross mare Teeny Tiny Tulip and two ponies Elsa and Rudolph. For more information on Schneider Farms, contact Jenny Schneider at (903) 440-5867 or JennySchneider@aol.com.
on the farm How Much Hay Do You Need for the Winter?
By Valerie Mellema
While it still doesn’t feel like winter in East Texas right now, colder days are ahead and we need to ensure that we’re prepared to feed our horses properly. Hay is crucial to keeping horses fat and happy in the winter and many find themselves trying to figure out exactly how much hay they need to feed and stock up on. Good quality hay is the best way to keep horses warm throughout the winter. The more they eat, the warmer they stay as hay is high in fiber. High fiber feeds produce more heat during digestion than low fiber grain, such as corn, oats or barley. However, of these three grains, oats produce the most heat due to the fiber in the outer hull. In areas where grass is not available or grazing isn’t an option (think snow covered fields), a mature horse should have ample access to hay and pregnant/lactating mares should have even more. According to North Dakota State University, a mature horse should be fed 2% of its body weight per day in total feed. Lactating mares should receive 3%. What does that mean in actionable numbers? A horse should be fed 2 pounds of grass hay per 100 pounds of body weight. Now, just because you stick a round bale out in the field doesn’t mean you’re meeting that 2%. Keep in mind that there is a lot of waste and a round bale feeder can help reduce waste to less than 20%. Keeping it covered and dry will also help your hay last longer. Assuming 20% is wasted, the average 1000-pound horse will require 24 pounds of hay per day. Most round bales average around 1200 pounds. Under this rule of thumb, one round bale is enough hay for about one month for one horse, accounting for waste. However, if temperatures get particularly cold, around 30 degrees and lower, this adds a requirement of an additional 2 pounds of feed per day. Every 10 degree decrease below 30 degrees, adds an additional 2 pounds of feed per day. Wind can also increase the need for more hay as well. In just a 10-15 mph wind, horses will consume up to an additional 4 to 8 pounds of hay per day. Horses without shelter in the wind, will eat up to 10-14 pounds more per day. Keep in mind that this is all based on high quality hay. Poor quality hay will not meet the nutritional requirements of horses. Good quality hay will be green, have a good amount of leaves and few large stems. Young and growing horses will also eat more, as well pregnant and lactating
mares. Feeding more poor quality hay than high quality hay will not suffice either. Horses will lose weight in the winter even if they are fed all the low-quality hay you can find. It simply does not provide enough energy and nutrients. Another important component to feeding through the winter is water. If water is not readily available, horses will reduce their feed intake and can suffer from increased chances of impaction and colic. So, get out your meteorologist hats and look ahead into the winter. Determine how many bales of hay you will need to make it through the winter based on the number of horses you have, what level of growth and maturity they are at, and how much exercise they will be getting to determine how much hay you will need to stock up on.
about the author
Valerie Mellema is the owner of Gray Horse Publishing & Marketing, as well as Lake Fork Stables. She has a B.S. in Equine Business & Industry from West Texas A&M University. She is also a published author of horse care books. Valerie also owns Lake Fork Stables in Yantis, Texas. The Northeast Texas Equine 23
health matters How Does PEMF Therapy Work? By Heather Perillo, NHR PEMF Services
To understand how PEMF therapy works, you first must understand what PEMF therapy is. PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields. PEMF Therapy returns lost energy and lost cellular balance to a normal, health state of vibrations. Because of this, the entire cellular metabolism is boosted, red blood cells are regenerated and circulation is improved. Due to increased circulation, the body has more oxygen, causing the immune system to be strengthened and nutrients are better absorbed. Additionally, the respiratory system becomes more efficient, the nervous system relaxes and the bones become stronger. The organs are revitalized and the liver, kidneys and colon are able to cleanse, ridding themselves of impurities and regaining their designated bodily functions. According to Dr. William Pawluck, MD, all ener24 The Northeast Texas Equine
gy is electromagnetic in nature. “All atoms, chemicals and cells produce electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Every organ in the body produces its own signature biolectromagnetic field. Science has proven that our bodies actually produce their own magnetic fields and that all 70 trillion cells in the body communicate via elctromagnetic frequencies.” The PEMF machine converts the electrical current from the power source into a series of short, high magnitude, complex magnetic pulses that travel from the main unit through the loop. As the loop is placed on or over the body, the ultra-fast magnetic pulse stimulates the natural electric charge found within every living cell. This stimulation restores “sick” cells to their normal, electric, healthy state. Along with increased cell blood/oxygen level, the
cell membrane may once again control the exchange of nutrients and minerals going into the cell and send the waste products (such as lactic acid) out of the cell. For horses, the benefits of this therapy are many. The therapy helps with a variety of injuries, such as equine tendon and ligament injury, sore back, sore stifles, chronic hock soreness, sore shoulders, nonunion fractures, laminitis, founder, stone bruises and non-healing wounds. PEMF also helps with general pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, spasms, stress, contusions, and more. PEMF helps to increase circulation, energy, cell hydration, bone density, lean muscle mass, range of motion, strength, stamina, endurance, neuromuscular response, cellular metabolism, flexibility and more. This therapy is not limited to just equine use. It can also be used on dogs and people! It’s also important to know that PEMF therapy devices have been approved by the FDA and have been used for a variety of treatments including fusing broken bones, wound healing, pain and even depression. PEMF devices are considered safe by various standards and organizations.
about the author Healther Perillo is the owner of NHR PEMF Services. Located in Grand Saline, Texas, Heather provides PEMF Therapy to humans, eqines, canines and exotics. She covers the area of North and East Texas from Weatherford, Texas to the Louisiana border. You can find Healther on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NHRPEMF/. The Northeast Texas Equine
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