Wednesday, November 28, 2012
New Page!
For those of you wondering who's behind the blog posts... we've added a new page about our writers! Check it out!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Think a Horse is the Perfect Christmas Present?
Think again. Many young children beg for a pony or a horse for Christmas. Make sure you know what you're getting yourself into before making that purchase. The article, "Christmas Horses, Ponies Take Commitment, Money" talks about all aspects of owning a horse, from how much pasture and care they'll need, to how hard it is to sell a horse and their lifespan. Not all aspects of raising horses are challenging, there are some rewards, but we want to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into before making your child's dreams come true.
For more information on what it takes to raise a horse or a pony, please contact your local extension agent.
For more information on what it takes to raise a horse or a pony, please contact your local extension agent.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Please fill out our survey
Take our survey
Monday, November 19, 2012
Protecting Your Barn and Horses from Disease
Are you at risk for a disease outbreak on your farm? Do you know how your horses get exposed to diseases? Do you know what to do if your horses get sick? Do you know what to do after a sick horse is identified? Check out this video to learn about good biosecurity practices for your farm, your horses and yourself.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Grazing Winter Annuals
In mid-August I posted about Overseeding Permanent Pastures for Winter Grazing. Today, I'd like to follow up on that topic and discuss a bit about grazing these annual forages.
The first step in getting maximum use out of these forages is to allow them to become well established before grazing. Horses must be excluded from areas where these grasses are planted until they have developed a sufficient root system to prevent the animals from pulling them up while grazing. A good rule of thumb is to allow rye, ryegrass or oats to reach at least 6" tall before grazing, and to graze no lower than 3-4".
Another consideration is that if horses have been stalled or in a drylot with no access to pasture, then care may be warranted in introducing the animals to the pasture. The following is a paragraph from "Pasture:Evaluation and Management of Existing Pasture" written by Dr. Jenifer Nadeau, Equine Extension Specialist with the University of Connecticut. (The entire article can be found here.)
"If not grazing year round, be sure to gradually introduce horses to spring pasture.
There is no need to do this if horses are maintained on pasture year round, since the growth of pastures in the spring is not rapid enough to warrant stalling horses that are typically turned out. The only time to worry about this is if horses are stalled with no turnout and all of a sudden in the spring are going to be allowed pasture. Pasture grasses are high in sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose and fructan) particularly during rapid growth. The simple sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) can be digested in the small intestine by the horse but not the fructans, which reach the horse’s large intestine undigested. The fructans are then rapidly fermented by the action of microbial enzymes with the production of lactic acid and a decrease in cecal pH leading to colic and laminitis. The first day or two after the onset of pasture growth, try to limit grazing to 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then gradually increase the time over the next 7-10 days. Avoid grazing laminitis prone horses and ponies on spring or lush pasture that may trigger laminitis. Use a dry lot for overweight horses and ponies."
The final thought I will mention is that these annual forages benefit from rotational grazing just like your permanent pastures, and making good use of rotational grazing will greatly stretch the supply of available forage, particularly in the early part of winter when the growth of these grasses is slow, before the rapid growth with warmer weather in the late winter and early spring. Good rotational grazing will also allow you to move animals off the pasture before it is grazed too low for the plant to regenerate. After all, it's not cheap to grow these forages, the last thing you want to do is waste them.
For more information on grazing winter annual grasses, contact your local Extension office.
The first step in getting maximum use out of these forages is to allow them to become well established before grazing. Horses must be excluded from areas where these grasses are planted until they have developed a sufficient root system to prevent the animals from pulling them up while grazing. A good rule of thumb is to allow rye, ryegrass or oats to reach at least 6" tall before grazing, and to graze no lower than 3-4".
Another consideration is that if horses have been stalled or in a drylot with no access to pasture, then care may be warranted in introducing the animals to the pasture. The following is a paragraph from "Pasture:Evaluation and Management of Existing Pasture" written by Dr. Jenifer Nadeau, Equine Extension Specialist with the University of Connecticut. (The entire article can be found here.)
"If not grazing year round, be sure to gradually introduce horses to spring pasture.
There is no need to do this if horses are maintained on pasture year round, since the growth of pastures in the spring is not rapid enough to warrant stalling horses that are typically turned out. The only time to worry about this is if horses are stalled with no turnout and all of a sudden in the spring are going to be allowed pasture. Pasture grasses are high in sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose and fructan) particularly during rapid growth. The simple sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) can be digested in the small intestine by the horse but not the fructans, which reach the horse’s large intestine undigested. The fructans are then rapidly fermented by the action of microbial enzymes with the production of lactic acid and a decrease in cecal pH leading to colic and laminitis. The first day or two after the onset of pasture growth, try to limit grazing to 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then gradually increase the time over the next 7-10 days. Avoid grazing laminitis prone horses and ponies on spring or lush pasture that may trigger laminitis. Use a dry lot for overweight horses and ponies."
The final thought I will mention is that these annual forages benefit from rotational grazing just like your permanent pastures, and making good use of rotational grazing will greatly stretch the supply of available forage, particularly in the early part of winter when the growth of these grasses is slow, before the rapid growth with warmer weather in the late winter and early spring. Good rotational grazing will also allow you to move animals off the pasture before it is grazed too low for the plant to regenerate. After all, it's not cheap to grow these forages, the last thing you want to do is waste them.
For more information on grazing winter annual grasses, contact your local Extension office.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Stallion Breeding Reports
Attention American Quarter Horse Association Stallion Owners:
Don't forget to submit your stallion breeding report by November 30th to avoid any late fees. It needs to be postmarked by that date or entered on-line.
Forms can be found at: http://www.aqha.com/About/Content-Pages/About-the-Association/Services/Submit-Stallion-Breeding-Reports.aspx
Don't forget to submit your stallion breeding report by November 30th to avoid any late fees. It needs to be postmarked by that date or entered on-line.
Forms can be found at: http://www.aqha.com/About/Content-Pages/About-the-Association/Services/Submit-Stallion-Breeding-Reports.aspx
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