Your passion matters
At Hartpury University in the UK, you’ll immerse yourself in what you love, whether that’s equine science, performance, behaviour, welfare, or business.
World-leading equine university
Hartpury College diplomas
• Equine Management Equitation
• Equine Management Business
• Equine Management Science
Hartpury University degrees
• Equestrian Sports Coaching BSc (Hons)
• Equestrian Sports Science BSc (Hons)
• Equine Behaviour and Welfare BSc (Hons)
• Equine Business Management BSc (Hons)*
• Equine Dental Science BSc (Hons)
• Equine Science BSc (Hons)*/MSci
New: BSc (Hons) Equine Dental Science
• Equine Performance and Rehabilitation BSc (Hons)
• International Horseracing Business BSc (Hons)*
• Racehorse Performance and Rehabilitation BSc (Hons)
• Equine Performance FdSc
*Top-up routes available
You can earn your globally recognised bachelor’s degree in 3 years of study, or your graduate degree in 1 year
www.hartpury.ac.uk
international@hartpury.ac.uk
SESSIONS FILLING FAST!
Saddle up this summer
Horse & Large Animal Medicine, a Veterinary Academy Program
Help care for rehabilitating horses as you:
Shadow a teaching veterinarian in the lab and stable
Visit an equine breeding facility
Session 1 July 6 – 12
Horse & Large Animal Medicine
Pine Bush Equine Services & Veterinary Hospital, New York
Veterinary Academy offers programs across the U.S., in Costa Rica, and in Thailand for all types of animal lovers in middle or high school.
Participate in field classes about hoof care and saddle fitting
Earn up to 40 veterinary hours
Session 2 July 13 – 19
Secure your spot for summer 2025
A LETTER FROM...
JENNIFER & TERESA &
How best to describe the 2025 USPC Convention? Perhaps it can be summed up as the building of community, genuine camaraderie, and shared celebrations, all while cultivating learning through a hearty blend of leadership training, educational workshops, and hands-on learning activities. The 2025 USPC Convention was the perfect kickoff to the new year!
We had an amazing time at the convention and enjoyed meeting so many of our leaders and members throughout the days we were together. The variety of educational workshops offered was incredible; with more than 50 to choose from, our toughest task was choosing which to attend! We departed the convention enriched not only with knowledge, but also personally inspired by the many Pony Club families enjoying the adventure of the USPC Convention together. Seeing the enthusiasm and passion for Pony Club across generations reminded us that Pony Club is the keeper of traditions and culture, but it’s also the walk towards new horizons and the future. (See our recap on page 20.)
A big thank you to all who were involved in making this event a very memorable convention, including our sponsors, national liaisons, Local Organizing Committee, and our hosting region—the Great Lakes Region.
We love and share the enthusiasm that everyone has for this organization and its mission, and we look forward to a great year at USPC. A few of the new programs we are excited about include , an interactive website for anyone who loves horses (see more on page 6), the new USPC Member www.achieve. ponyclub.org), and the USPC-hosted virtual competitions (see
In closing, thank you to all Pony Club members, volunteers, and friends for all you do to make our great organization even better. Have a fantastic summer!
Teresa Woods
Jennifer Sweet
RAISING STANDARDS SINCE 1986
KERRITS IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE UNITED STATES PONY CLUBS
KRISTIN LEE PHOTOGRAPHY
NOT TO MISS: Catch the following articles on the Pony Club Blog
Where to Find Pony Club Teaching Tools and Education Resources: The United States Pony Clubs has developed a wide array of teaching tools and educational resources for members to go through the Pony Club curriculum—from lesson plans to the Chart of Learning as well as Horse Management lessons and structured programs, such as Junior Pony Club. bit.ly/pony-club-teaching-tools
Tips to Help Off-Track Thoroughbreds Shine in Second Careers: If you’re wondering what it takes to transition an offtrack Thoroughbred (OTTB) into a second career, or dream of taking one to the Thoroughbred Makeover one day, Pony Club
clinician and coach Richard Lamb has some words of wisdom to share from his years of experience working with Thoroughbreds. bit.ly/off-track-thoroughbred-tips
Spring Into Action: A Horse’s Guide to Blooming Health and Fitness: An equine mobile veterinarian shares a slew of healthcare considerations and guides you through the process of determining your spring horse care checklist with humor, practical advice, and personal stories. bit.ly/spring-horse-health-tips
Lendon Gray Receives U.S. Equestrian Lifetime Achievement Award: Olympian and an A Eventing alum of the Penobscot Pony Club in the Northeast Region, dressage trainer and educator Lendon Gray received one of the highest honors from U.S. Equestrian. bit.ly/lendon-gray-us-equestrian-lifetime-achievement-award
Mental Health for the Rider: All riders struggle with fear, anxiety, anger, and frustration—in riding and in life—but how can we help ourselves and get back to better riding? Two experts share tips on developing happier riders. bit.ly/mental-health-for-the-rider
May 1–October 1, 2025
What is your favorite Pony Club memory?
My favorite Pony Club memory has to be the entirety of my trip to USPC Festival Championships in Kentucky in 2024. I made lots of memories with my friends in my club, as well as getting to meet new people outside my region. I did the 0.85 meter Jumper Show Jumping division and was put on a scramble with people I didn’t know, but in my opinion, that makes it more fun! I also loved learning all that I could during Festival. [Morgan and her team earned first place in the Standard Senior 0.85m division, along with in Horse Management.]
What makes you #PonyClubProud?
Want to be featured in a future Member Spotlight? Fill out the form at bit.ly/memberspotlight-form.
What makes me #PonyClubProud is all of the knowledge and experience I’ve gained being in Pony Club. I feel as though I’ve learned more than I ever have outside of Pony Club, and using the knowledge I have learned has made me into a better horsewoman, and I am proud of that.
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For over 25 years, Kentucky Performance Products has been committed to producing high-quality, research-proven supplements. Learn more at kppusa.com.
Morgan was on a scramble Show Jumping team, which earned first place, at the 2024 USPC Festival Championships.
How To Be a Great Client to Your Farrier
By Diego Almeida, CJF, EE, FE, TE, AWCF
From Zoetis Equine’s Winter Hoof Care blog
Just like any client-based profession, we farriers work with many different types of horse owners. And any hoof-care professional would be fibbing if they told you that all clients are equally good to work for. Here are a few pointers I can share from my own experiences to help you be at the top of your own farrier’s list all year long:
n If your horse has been stalled all day, exercise him for a bit before your farrier appointment if you can safely do so. Even hand-walking or some simple groundwork, so your horse can stretch his legs and use his mind, can help him stand more quietly once your farrier arrives.
n If your horse is turned out, have him caught and ready before your farrier arrives.
n If you need to hold your horse for the farrier, seek education from an experienced horseman or horsewoman on how to be a savvy, safe handler—this is more critical to your farrier’s safety than you might realize.
n As much as possible, avoid disruptions, like feeding the rest of the horses in the barn or turning everyone else out while your farrier is working.
n Keep dogs out of the farrier’s workspace. Use common sense when moving equipment or doing anything that might cause a spook, and ask your farrier first if you need to walk another horse by the horse she or he is currently underneath.
n Work with your horse regularly (with a professional trainer, if needed) so that he is confident and safe to have his feet handled extensively (not just picked up and put right back down). Understand that your farrier is not your horse trainer, and any time he or she must spend getting your horse to be cooperative and safe for hoof handling is not time he or she is getting paid for and will likely disrupt the rest of the day’s schedule.
n Please remember that a farrier’s body is his or her livelihood. Working through significant horse behavior challenges while putting their own safety at risk is not a fair ask of your farrier.
n If your horse’s behavior is unsafe, it is appropriate for your farrier to ask you to contact your veterinarian to arrange for sedation before he or she can continue their work. This may mean getting a prescription from your veterinarian for you to administer 45 minutes before your next farrier appointment. Or it may mean scheduling a farm call for your veterinarian to administer injectable sedation at your next farrier appointment.
n Lastly, here’s my favorite tip: coffee and (farrier) treats are always welcome!
With planning and good communication with your farrier and veterinarian, you can forge a great working relationship, which will play an important role in helping to keep your horse, and his feet, healthy and happy.
The old rotational deworming plan is no longer recommended due to parasite resistance. Instead, fecal egg count testing and targeted deworming should be used.
clinical disease, so we do not need to expose these parasites to chemical dewormers.
When we overuse deworming medications, they become less effective as the parasites build up immunity to them. This makes it harder to treat with the same medications because they don’t work as well anymore. While researchers are working to find new parasite prevention strategies and treatments, there is currently no new medical solution in sight. Owners must be diligent with fecal examinations and only deworm with appropriate products when necessary.
Pasture management—cleaning pastures, pasture rotation and rest, and proper manure disposal—are strategies to help decrease the parasite burden on farms, which lessens your horse’s exposure to these unwelcome visitors.
Dedication to Dental Care
Horses need routine dental care to ensure they are comfortable when eating and wearing a bit. A horse’s teeth are continuously growing throughout his life, and his natural chewing pattern can cause teeth to wear unevenly and develop sharp enamel points. These sharp points can cause painful ulcers in the cheeks and on the tongue. Tooth problems or uneven wear can make it difficult for a horse to eat and chew food properly.
In addition, horses can have gaps between teeth, rotations, or fractured (broken) teeth that are all problematic. Some of these abnormalities can be corrected by a routine float and others may require additional diagnostics and care. Many sinus infections develop because of oral issues. Routine dental care can help prevent infections and discomfort.
Most horses only need a thorough oral examination and routine dental care, known as “floating” to file down sharp edges or uneven teeth, once a year. Your veterinarian will sedate your horse, for their safety and your horse’s comfort, and use special dental equipment, such as a speculum to prop the mouth open, mirrors to get a good look inside the mouth, and a special file or rasp called a “float” to smooth and balance the teeth, which helps make your horse’s mouth more comfortable.
Overall Health and Nutrition
Other common annual equine wellness tasks include doing a Coggins test, getting a health certificate, and having your vet give your horse a physical exam to assess overall health, including weight and overall body condition. A Coggins test
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May 9-10 Greeley, CO
May 9-10 Plymouth, CA
May 9-10 Riverton, WY
May 15-17 Ocala, FL
May 17 Wheatland, WY
June 6-8 Livingston, MT
June
June
June 27-29 Hamilton, MT
July 10-12 Perry, GA
July 25 Canon City, CO
Aug. 8-9 Elkhart, IA
Aug. 14-16 Monroe, NC
Sept. 6-7 Richardton, ND
Photo Credit: Mark Jump Photography
Don’t forget your horse’s teeth. Routine dental care by a veterinarian is a necessary part of any health plan.
Financial Health
Budgeting for your horse can be difficult due to the possibility of emergencies and so many unforeseen expenses. In addition to budgeting for the basics of feed, board, and hoof care, be sure to include routine health care in your financial plans and plan for expenses, such as stocking your first-aid kit. You can request a consultation and quotes from your local veterinarian to better understand the cost of care. Keep in mind, it is common for rates to increase annually as market prices and medical supply costs continue to rise. In addition to preventive care, it is important to have some funds available for unforeseen medical expenses and emergency care, such as treatment for an eye ulcer, hoof abscess, wound management, minor colic, or lameness evaluation and treatment.
Discussing budget limitations and having a plan in place for any critical emergencies, such as major colics, that may need intensive medical care and/ or surgery will allow you to act quickly and more efficiently if such a situation arises. You may also consider purchasing an insurance policy for your horse. Planning ahead will give you one less thing to worry about in the midst of an emergency.
Educate yourself about common equine ailments and management also, as this can give you confidence when faced with minor manageable health problems.
requires a blood sample to test for equine infectious anemia (EIA), which is a highly infectious and contagious disease. Coggins are usually required for transport and for buying and selling horses. It is also needed in order for your veterinarian to write a health certificate, which is required if you are planning to travel with your horse. At this time your veterinarian will do a brief physical examination on your horse to make sure he is healthy for travel.
Any physical exam is a great time to have your vet evaluate your horse’s body condition score (BCS) and discuss appropriate nutrition and weight management. Veterinarians typically grade BCS based on a scale of 1-9, with a 5 being ideal body condition (0 is emaciated, 9 is morbidly obese). Areas to evaluate include the neck, withers, shoulder, along the ribs (barrel), along the back, and the tailhead. While weight tapes can be a helpful tool, they are not always entirely reflective of fat gain or loss, which is why knowing how to evaluate BCS is important (learn more at bit.ly/horse-body-condition-scoring). It is good practice to reassess body condition at least once a year and adjust as needed. Your veterinarian can help tailor a nutrition plan for weight loss, weight gain, or maintenance, and to ensure your horse is receiving enough calories and nutrients.
Healthy Hooves
Healthy hooves are also crucial for your horse’s health. While your veterinarian is a good partner in all things health mentioned above, your farrier will be your go-to source for developing a proper plan for hoof care, which should include regular trims, and possibly shoeing, depending on your horse’s needs. With that said, a veterinarian may get involved in hoof care if
Celebrating Community and Camaraderie at the USPC Convention
By Sarah Evers Conrad, USPC Marketing and Communications Director
Photos by Elizabeth Moyer, USPC Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator
As a leader in equestrian education, the United States Pony Clubs dedicates itself to this mission year after year with the USPC Convention, an annual meeting that involves dozens of educational workshops for anyone interested in horses, along with leadership training, awards presentations, and hands-on learning activities. The 2025 USPC Convention, hosted by the Great Lakes Region, was held January 22–26, 2025, at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa near Traverse City, Mich.
“USPC’s Convention is the best way for Pony Club members and leaders to connect, share ideas, and learn more about horses and about Pony Club,” said USPC Executive Director Teresa Woods. “I love the enthusiasm that everyone has for this organization and its mission and seeing all the many initiatives getting underway for the year, such as the new USPC Member Achievement Program and the USPC-hosted virtual competitions. The leadership training at Convention is always a highlight as well, as we work to improve the Pony Club experience for all members.”
Erin Roland, USPC’s Activities and Events Director, added how special the event is for Pony Club. “It’s one event we have that truly brings Pony Club together,” said Roland. “Historically, Convention started as the Annual Meeting of Members, then grew to include national committee meetings, and again for leadership trainings, and again for educational workshops, until now we have an event with the most unique blend of leadership, networking, and education.
“There is no other Convention like it,” she continued. “And as such, it takes a village to plan and execute. A big thank you to all who were involved in making this a very memorable convention,
including our sponsors, national liaisons, Local Organizing Committee, and our hosting region, the Great Lakes Region. It’s also the only event that takes planning and programming from every department the National Office has. It’s like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle we get to put together each year.”
Education and Leadership
Hundreds of horse enthusiasts, Pony Club members, and leaders representing 34 Pony Club regions attended the USPC Convention with the goal of learning and exchanging ideas on the topics that impact Pony Club members today. In addition to leadership training sessions, professional development with motivational speaker Jay McChord was once again a highlight. The leadership training was sponsored by the Mattingley Leadership Training Fund with support from Western Specialty Insurors.
More than 50 workshops for adults and youth covered topics such as: lameness, equine anatomy, horse behavior, equine nutrition, rider fitness, saddle fit, sports psychology, horse health and diseases, horse welfare and social license, equestrian college programs, equine disciplines, and programs, volunteering, and Horse Management within Pony Club, and much more.
The youngest members in attendance also learned about horses in Pony Paddock, sponsored by the Arabian Horse Youth Association, and they held their own lively horseless horse show and other educational fun.
The USPC Research Project Fair, presented by GraysonJockey Club Research Foundation and supported by the Equestrian College Advisor; Kentucky Equine Research; and Michigan State
18 to 23, who serve as liaisons between the youth membership of USPC and the Board of Governors. This year’s NYB introduced a National Youth Summit at convention, offering peer education and leadership principles, along with doing a service project that involved NYB members going to an assisted living facility, where they did stretching exercises and a craft project with residents.
The Meeting of the Corporation
Many Pony Club awards were presented at the Saturday morning Meeting of the Corporation, including recognition of eight Pony Clubs celebrating milestone anniversaries. The following clubs were recognized for reaching their 50th anniversary:
n Chattanooga Pony Club, Midsouth Region
n Cornhusker Pony Club, Midwest Region
n French Creek Pony Club, Northwest Region
n Meadowlark Pony Club, Midwest Region
n Pleasant Valley Pony Club, formerly in the Western New England Region, moving to the White Mountain Region
n Woodbine Pony Club, South Region
The following clubs were recognized for reaching their 25th anniversary:
n Battenkill Pony Club, formerly in the Western New England Region, moving to the Central New England Region
n Chequamegon Pony Club, Northern Lakes Region
The USPC Brookfield Land Conservation Award was presented to Tennessee Valley II Pony Club. This award recognizes efforts to promote land conservation, with a $500 cash award for the winner. Read their essay at www.bit.ly/ brookfield-conservation-tv2pc
The USPC Flash Teamwork Award, sponsored by USPC member Cathy Aranosian, went to Sonoma Coastal EquesTraining
Center Pony Club Riding Center from the Sierra Pacific Region for their fundraising efforts to get their members to the 2024 USPC Festival Championships. Read all about their amazing fundraising dinner at www.bit.ly/2024-uspc-flash-award-winner
Saturday Night Banquet Highlights
The Saturday Night Banquet, sponsored by Via Nova Training, was a highlight as attendees celebrated significant Pony Club achievements before dancing the night away. Four Pony Club members who earned A-level certifications received special recognition for their accomplishment in reaching USPC’s highest certification:
n Allison Icenogle, A Eventing, Top Hat and Tails Pony Club, Northern Lakes Region
n Erin Icenogle, A Eventing, Top Hat and Tails Pony Club, Northern Lakes Region
n Joan Leuck-Waak, A Dressage, Dune Riders Pony Club, Lake Shore Region
7. 2024 USPC Founders Award Recipients Colonel Lorelei Wilson Coplen; Yvette R. Seger, PhD; and Ron VanDyke. 8. 2025 USPC Academy of Achievement inductees Nicole Ligon Wimer and William Robertson.
9. Volunteers, like these in the Horse Management Room, help make Convention possible. Shown here are Cindy Medina, Alishia Hornburg, Kimberly Lowman Vollmer, Olivia Arbogast, and Heather Bell. 10. Individual sponsors are a huge part of the USPC Convention. This year, Candy Tavormina sponsored the Horse Management Room, along with a workshop. 11. Jane Manfredi, DVM, PhD, presented a workshop on equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and managing equine endocrine diseases. She was also there as the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and sponsor of the Anatomy Room and Research Project Fair.
To make grooming as pleasant as possible, a horse may need a different technique, amount of pressure, or a different tool altogether for various parts of his body.
Dangerous Body Language: If a horse hates grooming, he may become defensive, especially when he is tied. Without an escape, he may resort to pawing, stomping, tail swishing, and other defensive postures. The behaviors can evolve into kicking, rearing, or other dangerous situations.
Learned Helplessness: Horses may move beyond fight or flight into freeze mode. The fight or flight reflex helps horses escape or stand their ground against dangers. Freezing is when a horse mentally shuts down and may get tense or more rigid in place. This behavior is learned helplessness, and it happens when they can’t fight or flee.
Breaking Trust: Uncomfortable experiences will damage the relationship with your horse. He will see you as the instigator of pain who dismisses his communications. This distrust carries into any riding and handling that you do.
It’s always good to err on the side of caution if you notice your horse behaving differently as you groom or showing signs of discomfort. Could he be in pain? Is he in an awkward position or a new location? Are you trying a new brush that he doesn’t like? If he is reacting abnormally for him, talk to your vet to rule out any physical ailments that could be causing any unusual behavior.
If your vet has ruled out health problems, it’s time to experiment with different grooming techniques.
Signs We Like
You can tell you are on the right track with your grooming sessions when you see positive signs that it feels good to your horse. Look for these visual cues:
n Sleepy and soft eyes
n Relaxed nostrils
n Dropped neck
n Resting with one hind leg shifted
n Chewing or licking
n Soft breaths, maybe even sighing
n Floppy ears
n Lip wiggling and leaning into your grooming tools when you find the “good spot”
Better Grooming
Find the brushes your horse likes, which may vary from one body part to another. He may love an extra-stiff brush on his rump but want the softest possible brush for his belly.
Switch to different bristles and curry combs to find the best combinations. More prominent, plastic bristles on hard brushes can equal the brushing power of the softer, longer bristles of a flicker brush. Both do the same thing but offer different sensations.
You’ll want to find the best flexibility and the perfect bristles that your horse loves for curry combs. Try a thin, wobbly curry comb with extended nubs or a stiffer curry with tiny, soft nubs.
You also must find the ideal pressure that your horse likes for the tools you have at hand. Finding good brushes is one part of the equation. However, you don’t have to buy every brush at the tack shop. Instead, find the tools your horse most prefers and then change how you use them. Add more pressure or use less pressure to see how your horse reacts. Your horse might love lots of pressure around the withers but a light touch down the legs. Now, you can develop a grooming map of the best tools and techniques.
A Good Grooming Environment
Horses are intuitive and can turn stress you are feeling, and transmitting, into their stress. Focus instead on making grooming a time to rest and enjoy being together. As his trust in you grows, your horse will mimic your relaxation if you make grooming a calm, quiet, and pleasant experience.
Here are some things to consider for your grooming environment:
Noise Level: Music, yelling, and other loud noises can create tense horses. Be mindful of the noises around you and adjust volumes so you can both relax.
Footing: It can be irritating for some horses to stand on hard ground. Find a nice area with mats or softer footing.
Hot or Cold Conditions: Is your horse cold? Use coolers if you think your horse is chilly as you groom. You can peel away sections to brush, then cover him up again. If your horse is standing in the hot sun, consider moving to an area with shade.
Product Application Methods: If your horse doesn’t like spray bottles, use a cloth or soft glove to apply these grooming or fly-control products instead of spraying them directly onto the horse.
Also, talk to your horse while you are grooming. Quiet words and kind touches help reinforce relaxation. You don’t need any reason to have a nice conversation with your horse, and you can talk about anything!
There are many ways you can make grooming something to look forward to for your horse. When you find something your horse loves—like a special scratchy spot, a favorite treat, or even some petting and quiet time—do that in your grooming area. The goal is to teach your horse that grooming is pleasant and positive and not something to be anxious about.
ELIZABETH
Plan for Positive Grooming
Be mindful of your horse’s age and training. A horse’s past interactions, or lack thereof, will dictate how they tolerate grooming. Consider this as you work on a positive grooming plan
Young horses need positive reinforcement during handling. When they stand nicely, lead quietly, and don’t fuss, they deserve a reward. You can train them to be less fidgety and strengthen your relationship at the same time.
Rescue horses may need you to work with a trainer who specializes in building trust. Grooming sessions may be in a round pen where your horse can move away if stressed or stand with you to enjoy a little brushing. Take your time.
Senior or injured horses might find hoof picking difficult. Honor this by picking hooves when they are warmed up and releasing their hoof instead of fighting for them to hold it up. Also, their joints or previous injuries may need different brushes and softer grooming pressure.
Sport horses may find grooming unpleasant if they have sore muscles. Notice flinching or new grooming responses and adjust their care and riding routines to avoid discomfort.
Grooming isn’t just cleaning your horse; it’s listening to him and responding with kindness. Let your grooming time become the best time you have with your equine companion.
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Senior horses or those with an injury or joint issues may find hoof picking difficult.
weight management when managing EMS. The key is to limit NSC intake, and the best way to do this is by using a grazing muzzle and turning out in the morning before NSC levels build up in the grass. Many horse owners are tempted to skip using grazing muzzles because they feel sorry for their horse. However, anyone who has nursed a horse through laminitis knows the pain of the alternative! Fitted correctly to a breakaway halter, using a grazing muzzle has been shown to reduce pasture intake by almost 85%.
You will want to limit turnout to the early morning hours when sugar levels are at their lowest—grass uses stored carbohydrate made the day before for overnight growth, unless the overnight temperature falls below about 40°F, which prevents growth and leaves stored sugar levels high. As a rule, NSC-sensitive horses should not graze after cold overnight temperatures.
Ultimately, horses at high risk for laminitis should not have any access to pasture grazing. In these situations, drylot turnouts and track grazing systems, which are developed to allow an area where a horse exercises around an area for grazing, prove to be very beneficial ways of providing movement opportunities without access to potentially hazardous high-NSC pasture.
Managing Pastures
One common mistake when managing horses and ponies with these conditions is believing that because the grass is very short, they are not at risk. Cold-season grasses, such as timothy, orchardgrass, and fescue, that have been grazed to a height of less than 3 inches will be stressed, and stressed grasses tend to be higher in NSC—sometimes significantly higher.
In pastures where there are areas of long and short grass, horses will prefer to eat the shorter grass because it is sweeter Managing pastures to ensure even grazing (consider mowing very long grass), removing manure or harrowing (horses will not eat where there are feces), and resting pastures once grass height reaches 4 inches will improve pasture quality and result in grass that is less stressed.
Fitted correctly to a breakaway halter, using a grazing muzzle has been shown to reduce pasture intake by almost 85%.
Monitor Body Condition
Whether the horses and ponies in your care are at risk of these conditions or not, pay careful attention to body condition as spring progresses. Obesity has multiple negative health consequences. Familiarize yourself with how to body condition score your horse (bit.ly/horse-body-conditionscoring), and use a weight tape at least once a month. Learning how to use these tools can be a fun educational activity for Pony Club meetings.
More information on managing pastures, PSSM type 1, and laminitis can be found in the advanced-level edition of the USPC Manual of Horsemanship
While pasture offers many health benefits, it is always important to treat each horse as an individual. It may be that for your horse or pony, the negative health consequences of being on pasture will outweigh any potential benefit. If you have concerns about whether pasture grazing is safe for your horse, consult your veterinarian.
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Need more help with your horse’s nutrition? Contact a Triple Crown Feed expert at www.triplecrownfeed.com or call 800-451-9916 for personalized advice. Pay careful attention to body condition as spring progresses because obesity has multiple negative health consequences.
PONY CLUB PICTURE PADDOCK
Zoe Sanborn, of Casanova-Warrenton Pony Club in the Virginia Region, enjoying Mounted Games aboard What’s Your Alibi (Alley).
of the
To be included, email a high-resolution image to marketing@ponyclub.org with name, Pony Club or Pony Club Riding Center, and name of the horse.
Piper Etheridge, of Lone Star Pony Club in the Rio Grande Region, aboard Dalhem Theano.
Peyton Burch,
Prairie Jumpers Pony Club in the North Central Prairie Region, is all smiles aboard Ellie.
Violet Hosier, of Somerset Hills Pony Club in the Eastern Pennsylvania Region, with Ally Angel on cross-country.
COURTESY DANIELA HOSIER
Mia Mullins, of Fire Sky Pony Club in the Red River Region, making a big leap aboard Cartwheel Rondo (Prince).
COURTESY
OLIVIA
MULLINS