VA-NC Horse Festival- March 7, 2015

The Virginia and North Carolina Cooperative Extension Services, Person and Caswell County Horseman's Associations, Averett University Equine Program, SouthEastern Farriers and Horseowners Association are hosting a VA-NC Horse Festival on Saturday, March 7th, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Olde Dominion Ag Complex Center in Chatham, Virginia at 19783 Hwy 29 South. 

Thanks to our major sponsor, Southern States from the Chatham-Gretna Cooperative and other vendors, sponsors, and supporters. FREE ADMISSION! Hourly demonstrations include:

• Dressage and Long Lining
• Parade of Breeds (Over 20 different types of breeds)
• Hunter/Jumper 
• Mounted Shooting

Averett University Equine Program will be there that day participating in this event. Some well known national show horses and their trainers will be there as well. This event is fun for all ages! Several sponsors and vendors will have displays that will include: face painting, barn safety, boots/wraps, western wear, door prizes, UTV's, horseshoeing, tail braiding, food concessions, grooming, tack, displays, ATV's, fencing, buying your 1st horse, compact tractors, truck dealerships, horse trailers, and much more. Whether your are a horse expert, novice, or just want to learn more and see what's going on, plan to spend the day and join the fun!

Promotional Flyer

Any questions call the Caswell County Extension office at 336-694-4158

Horse Care 101

Here are some basics that may come in handy for the new horse owners out there! Contact your livestock agent with any questions.

Daily Care

·         Visual checks

·         Provide horse with adequate feed and clean water

·         Provide adequate shelter and blanketing - depending on the weather and the horse

·         Check for injuries and signs of illness

·         Muck out stalls

Weekly

·         Check amount of feed, hay and bedding on hand…try to have at least 2 weeks worth of supplies on hand in case of emergency

·         Clean manure from small paddocks

·         Check fences for broken nails, loose wires, loose gates, etc.

·         Scrub out feed and water buckets

Every 6-8 weeks

·         Farrier visit to check hooves - trim and re-set shoes if necessary

Every 2-3 months

·         Deworming - the exact schedule, timing and products will vary…consult a veterinarian for suggestions specific to your area and the possible threat

Once a year

·         Have teeth checked and floated

·         Vaccinations - again, this will vary…consult a veterinarian with any questions.

 By: Stefani Garbacik, Livestock Agent, Wayne County

Timing Foaling

With the amount of time that it takes for a horse to gestate we definitely want to make sure that the foal is as healthy as possible, the mare as well. The normal gestation period of a horse is 340 days but can range +/- 5 days either direction.  With that being said knowing the signs of parturition (birthing process) of your mare will greatly help you to narrow down that window.

The best practice is to keep records of your mares pervious foaling if she has had any.  Many mares repeat these behaviors year after year.  Udder development begins 2 to 6 weeks before foaling and milk letdown into the teats occurs 4-6 days before foaling.  The "oozing" of the colostrum or first milk, will cover the ends of the teats causing a "waxing" effect which begins 1-2 days before foaling.  If you have a steady stream of the colostrum you should attempt to collect this for possible use in the newborn foal.  In addition to the mammary development you can tell a muscular relaxation in the pelvic region 7-14 days before and the mare's vulva will relax and swell during the final days of gestation.

Some commercial kits have been created to estimate foaling times.  These kits are based on the fact that in most mares calcium and magnesium concentrations will steadily rise during the last portion of gestation up until time of foaling.  There is typically a significant rise in the calcium and magnesium levels within the last 12-24 hours with help attendants to be on "foal watch" during this time.  These kits are fairly inexpensive and are available from most Veterinarians.

All in all, whether you are using a kit or not knowing the physical signs of impending parturition will keep both your foal and mare healthier.  Always have a Veterinarian nearby and make them aware of your possible foal time so they can be ready to come assist if necessary.

Coggin’s Testing and Vaccinations

In the first couple of months of a new year, many horse owners are making arrangements to have their show and trail horses tested for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA).  In fact, folks who take their horses to any place where horses or other equine will be comingling are required to show proof of a negative Coggin’s Test.  The Coggin’s Test is the one typically used to detect whether or not a horse is carrying or is infected with EIA.  With the trail ride season starting in early March or late February, it’s a good idea to go ahead and get the negative test results ready and keep the report in a notebook that accompanies the horse(s) wherever they go.

In several counties, Cooperative Extension Agents work with local veterinarians to set up Coggin’s Clinics.  The vets agree to be at one location for part or all of a day and provide the testing service at a discount to horse owners.  These clinics work well for folks with just a few horses or folks with several horses.  Stable owners and people with a lot of horses may want to go ahead and schedule a vet visit on the farm for this service.  However, I have had folks bring two or more full trailers of horses to these clinics.

Once the negative results are received from the lab, the paperwork is good for the next 12 months, when a new Coggin’s Test will be needed.  The paperwork does get checked at shows and other events, so take care of that report.

The Coggin’s Clinic is also a good time to get any needed annual vaccinations administered to one’s horses.  The vaccinations are usually discounted a bit, saving the horse owner a few dollars. Veterinarians, Extension Agents, and others are often asked what vaccinations should be given to horses.   That answer may vary from place to place, but the most common vaccines offered to horse owners include Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE & WEE – usually combined into one vaccine), Rabies, West Nile Virus, and Tetanus. 

Be aware that different vaccination schedules are recommended for different types, ages, and even the stage of production a horse may be in.   A vaccination program is part of a health program that should be developed in conjunction with a veterinarian.  To learn more about vaccines for horses, try these links;  UC-Davis Center for Equine Health and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.  Both sites have suggested vaccination schedules for:

• foals and weanlings under one year old from vaccinated mares
• foals and weanlings under one year old from unvaccinated mares
• schedules for horses over a year old
• broodmares with a vaccination history
• broodmares without a vaccination history

Within each of the groups of horses above, there is a core set of vaccines and a set of additional vaccines considered “risk-based”.  To me, core vaccines should be given according to the schedule, as the risk of contracting these diseases is constant and a horse can be infected at any time.  The risk-based vaccines should be administered if the diseases are present at a level to be of concern.

Core vaccines include the ones mentioned above, E/WEE, Rabies, West Nile Virus, Tetanus, and one that was not mentioned, Equine Herpesvirus (EHV).  The risk-based vaccines include Anthrax, Botulism, Equine Influenza, Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), Potomac Horse Fever (PHF), Rotavirus, and Strangles. 

As with any animal health situation, horse owners should have a good client-veterinarian-patient relationship and work with the veterinarian to develop the vaccination and testing program according to the goals of the farm, how the horses are used, and what diseases may be present in the area.  Even though we may know which vaccines we want to have administered, a "once and done" vaccination for the year may not meet the need, especially for brood mares.  A veterinarian can help select the right vaccines and set up the vaccination schedule according to how the vaccine(s) should be administered.

Anyone having questions about testing for EIA or on vaccinating horses and other equines, contact a veterinarian or a local Cooperative Extension Agent.  The folks writing for this blog are also happy to help find answers to questions about horses and horse ownership.

Making sure that your horse is happy and healthy can lead to some very enjoyable times.  Credit for the photo goes to Biltmore Estate and www.romanticasheville.com.