Comparing Horse Fencing

One of my great Cooperative Extension REINS (Regional Equine Information Network System) program volunteers approached me with a need for a plan to evaluate fencing on horse rescue farms. She has the coolest job as a field inspector with an animal sanctuary agency and is regularly required to make a judgement call as to whether or not the fencing on a farm is suitable and safe for the horses to be housed there. In an effort to come up with a tool to remove some of the subjectivity of that task, we sat down and devised the following rating guide. We believe this guide can be useful to many horsemen (not a gender specific title ) as they try to determine the safety and utility of the fencing on their own farms, sites they may be considering boarding a horse or the fencing on a farm they may be considering for purchase. While we were putting this together, what we concluded is that there is no one single type of fencing that can be said to be “the best” for every situation when considering expense, maintenance and effectiveness.
The following link contains the evaluation document we created:

 A Comparison of Horse Fencing

Soil Sampling Basics

   Spring has sprung, and folks I visit with are getting tired of cold windy weather and feeding hay. They are longing for warm days and green grass. But in order to have that green grass, it has to be fed by your soil. I thought it would be good to review the basics and remind folks how easy (and cheap!) it is to get a soil test.
   It is very unwise to fertilize or lime pastures without a soil sample. There is absolutely no way to know the pH or nutrient levels in a soil without an analysis. There are some indicators of problems, such as the presence of certain weeds or poor crop performance, but these weeds and symptoms can have a variety of causes, and liming or fertilizing without a soil test can make the problem worse. Also, if you fertilize without a soil sample, you could be applying nutrients that your pasture does not need, which is a waste of money and even a potential natural resource concern.
   First of all, soil sample boxes and forms can usually be found at your Extension office. Visit ces.ncsu.edu and click on "Locate Your County Center" to find your local office. While you're there getting sample boxes, check and see if the office can ship your samples to the lab in Raleigh; most Extension offices are able to do this. Sample boxes are free, and routine soil samples are also free for NC residents.
   Then, collect your tools for sampling. You will need a plastic bucket, and some sort of tool to collect the soil. A soil probe is quick and easy, but not completely necessary. You can use a trowel or small shovel.
   Select areas to sample that have similar soil characteristics. If the soil profile changes across a field, or if there is a slope and a flat bottom area in the same pasture, you may want to sample them separately. A good rule of thumb is that if an area is significantly different for some reason, and it's big enough to manage separately, then you should sample it separately. Also, keep in mind that you have to assign a crop code to each sample, such as bermudagrass, fescue or pearl millet, and the recommendations you get back from the lab will be for that specific crop. So always sample separately for different crops.
   In each sample area, collect 15-20 cores or small subsamples from random spots throughout the sample area. Place all of these small subsamples into your bucket. Avoid areas that would have a significantly different nutrient profile, like an old burn pile, or the spot where the round bale feeder sat all winter, etc. This could skew your results. In an established pasture, you want to sample down to just about four inches. When you are done, thoroughly mix the soil in the bucket, write your information on the sample box (TIP-it's very difficult to write on the box once you assemble it!) and fill the box.
    The NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services analyzes soils at their Agronomic Lab in Raleigh. Sample turnaround time can be quite long in late fall and through winter, up to nine weeks in some instances. By March, this turnaround time is decreasing to 2-4 weeks.
   Here are some NCDA&CS links of interest regarding soil sampling.

The first is Soil Sampling Basics

Also, check out Fertilization of Forage and Pasture Crops

And the Soil Test FAQ's
  

Be Prepared for Springtime Foaling

Spring can be an exciting time for horse owners and breeders who are expecting new additions to the farm.  Don't forget during the excitement to make sure that you've taken the necessary steps to be prepared for foaling.  It is really important that you're aware of the early signs of labor in your mare so you'll know when to be there to help if needed.  Decisions also need to be made as to where she will foal, and that area needs to be prepared ahead of time.  After the foal is born, be sure you know what to look for in a healthy newborn as well as how to identify any issues.  Check out this link for more detailed information!

Equine Herpes Virus - Outbreak

Do you know what Equine Herpes Virus is? How could it affect your mares? Read on to find out more.

From Dr. Michael Yoder, NCSU Animal Science, REINS Coordinator:

Attached, please find a news release documenting the EHV-1 Wild Type, outbreak in Florida. The Wild Type EHV-1 may cause abortion in mares, but may also result in neurological issues that are very serious. To date, North Carolina has not been exposed to the disease in 2013. If you wish to follow the information coming from the Florida State Veterinarian, you may find that information on the following website.

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ai/

EHV-1 Outbreak and Quarantine Information 

March 3, 2013 

Revised information is italicized 

A horse participating in the Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) horse show in Ocala was referred to the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine after showing clinical neurological signs on February 20th. The horse subsequently tested positive for the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), wild-type strain. Currently, the horse is in stable condition and continues to be treated at the University of Florida. 

Five additional horses that are linked to the HITS Show in Ocala have tested positive for EHV-1 wild type. One is located at Redfield Farm in Ocala and four are located at Miles Away Farm in Loxahatchee, Florida. One of the positive horses located at Miles Away 

Farm, has developed neurological signs and is being treated at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. While the additional positive horses were detected after leaving the Showgrounds, they resided in Tent 3 and Tent 6 in proximity to Tent 7 which housed the index case. With evidence of more widespread exposure, the HITS Showgrounds have been placed under quarantine. 

An additional horse, with no clinical signs of disease that is linked to the HITS showground’s, has tested positive for EHV-1 and is located at Calder Farms, in Ocala. That horse continues to remain clinically healthy with no signs of EHV-1 infection. 

A horse not believed to be linked with any of the HITS-associated quarantined premises has also been positive for EHV-1. This horse is located at Tequestrian Farm in Wellington, Florida. 

The Division of Animal Industry is continuing their disease investigation and developing protocols for surveillance and quarantine release measures. An Incident Command Team comprised of state and federal personnel has been mobilized to implement appropriate control measures. 

Quarantined Farms/Premises** 

 HITS Showgrounds, Ocala – Entire facility 

 Up Country Farm/Synergy Farm, Ocala 

 Montera Farm, Ocala 

 Flutterby Farm, Ocala 

 Foxwood Farms, Pinellas Park 

 Black Forest Farm, St. Augustine 

 POD-F Farm (Littlewood Farm), Wellington 

 Brookmore Farm, Oviedo 

 Kings Ridge Farm, Reddick 

 Tequestrian Farm, Wellington 

 Redfield Farm, Ocala 

 Miles Away Farm, Loxahatchee 

 Calder Farms 

**The quarantines listed above do not necessarily encompass the entire premises. 

Premises Released from Quarantine 

 FEI tent at Wellington Showground’s – February 28, 2013 

Known State Movement Restriction for Horses 

 California requirements include a negative test for Equine Infectious Anemia, obtained within the six (6) months before date of entry, and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) with a body temperature recorded for each horse in the shipment. Accredited veterinarians preparing CVIs are responsible for fulfillment of the temperature recording requirement. 

We are advising horse owners and trainers to contact the venue of destination for any additional requirements prior to travel. 

Recommendations for horses that have shown at HITS since February 5, 2013 include close monitoring of animals, reporting of fevers greater than 101.5 and strict bio-security measures for at least 21 days after departure from HITS. 

We are asking all those in the equine community to practice prudent bio-security on their farm and to report any suspected cases of EHV-1. For reporting, you may call 850-410-0900 Monday through Friday 8:00am-5:00pm and 1-800-342-5869 after hours and 

weekends. 

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services with continue to work with HITS management, trainers, and veterinarians to ensure proper safeguards are taken to prevent further spread of the disease. 

Frequent informational updates will be provided, so please continue to visit this Website regularly at: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ai/. 

Additional Resources: 

More information on the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) can be found at the following 

Websites: 

 American Association of Equine Practitioners, 

http://www.aaep.org/health_articles.php?category=Equine+Herpesvirus+%28EHV%29 

 Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, 

http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/BiblioEHV1.asp 

 University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, 

http://extension.vetmed.ufl.edu/files/2012/02/EHV-June-2011.pdf 

Bio-security information, to help reduce the risk of spread contagious and infectious 

diseases can be found at the following Websites, 

 American Association of Equine Practitioners, 

http://www.aaep.org/pdfs/control_guidelines/Biosecurity_instructions%201.pdf 

 United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (USDA, APHIS), 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf 

How much feed or hay does your horse really need?

Horses are natural grazers.  Their digestive systems were designed to process a high fiber diet, such as grass and hay.  As humans have turned (some) horses into athletes, the horses' body has demanded more nutrition.  Horses that I usually see are either WAY to fat, or WAY to skinny.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension program has an excellent article posted on their website about the basic nutritional needs of horses and how to determine exactly how much to feed your horse.  You can find this article at the link below:
http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_id=7824#Calculations

Wild Horses Find New Homes

The Wild Horse & Burro Adoption at the Duplin County Events Center will be held this year the weekend of July 12 in Kenansville, NC. This event gives potential horse owners a chance to develop life skills and gives animals an opportunity for a good home and positive human interaction.

            The U.S. Bureau of Land Management initiates the program and collects the horses, and then a veterinarian examines the horses prior to the adoption. These sales usually last three days and consist of either auctions or set adoption fees.

For the past 4 or 5 years, this annual event in Duplin County has offered about 100-150 horses or burros a chance at a new home and offered 200-300 potential horsemen an opportunity to expand their training and caretaking knowledge and experience.

According to Larry Sessoms, Duplin County Events Center Executive Director, the process is simple: come out to the Duplin County Events Center, look around and see if any of the horses are of interest for adoption. If you find a horse you are interested in, you will need to complete paperwork and meet certain requirements for adoption. If you meet those requirements, you pay an adoption fee, and take your horse home. The adoption fee varies but is usually in the ballpark of $50-$100. There is no charge for admission. Larry adds that many times, a horse trainer comes to perform training techniques used for wild horses so that anyone in attendance can benefit. Sale times vary so contact the Events Center at the number below for more information.

The Duplin County Events Center will be hosting other agricultural and horse-related events in 2013, such as the Duplin Agribusiness Fair October 16-19 (http://duplinfair.com/). For more information about the adoption or other events, contact the Duplin County Events Center at 910-275-0009 or check their website at http://www.duplinevent.com/.

  The Duplin County Events Center prepares their

arena for a wild horse & burro adoption.

 

The Duplin County Events Center hosts an adoption

with a variety of horses and burros. This year’s event

will be the weekend of July 12-14 at the events center.

Can your Horse Farm Handle a Winter Storm?

Look just what happened in the Northeast. Just imagine if any part of that winter storm was about 300 - 400 miles south! Are you ready? Is your horse ready? Is your farm ready? Although we live in an area with mostly sunny days, there are times when we have temperatures below freezing as well as an occasional snow storm.

About the worst thing for a horse during the winter months is ice; most importantly, the ice that covers the watering trough or water bucket. Water for the horse during cold weather is too often overlooked. The water may freeze, making it inaccessible to the horse. Mature horses need about 10 gallons of water a day. To keep the horse healthy during freezing weather owners should make sure an ample supply of fresh water is always available. Excessively cold water will decrease the horses' consumption of water.

The horse has two natural defenses against cold, a long hair coat and a layer of fat beneath the skin. Both provide an excellent means of insulation against the cold.

Most nutritional needs of the horse do not change during the winter season. Vitamin, mineral and protein requirements will still depend upon the horse's age and physiological status and not on the time of year. The horse should be fed according to body condition.

Thin horses should be fed some supplemental grain in addition to good quality hay to assure enough energy to produce warmth, while a fat horse will require little or no increase from their fall diet. Most mature horses that are idle and in good flesh can survive the winter quite well on good quality hay and ample clean water.

Overfeeding can cause too much weight gain during the winter, and lead to laminitis and other health problems in the spring.

While horses need shelter from cold winds, rain and snow; it is not necessary to keep them in a closed barn throughout the winter. Horses kept outdoors in the winter with access to a run-in shed, which opens away from the normal wind patterns, will generally have fewer respiratory disease problems than horses kept in poorly ventilated, heated barns.

One important aspect of care that often is neglected is hoof care. Even though you are not regularly riding the horse, the hooves still grow during the winter months. In addition, the horse is traveling on uneven, frozen ground that can crack and break feet. Have the shoes removed and the hooves trimmed before turning the horse out for winter, and have the feet trimmed on a regular basis. This insures that when spring arrives, the horse will have sound hooves that will be capable of holding a shoe.

The important thing is, do not just turn horses out and forget about them. Every day at every feeding, your horse should receive at least a visual examination.

Reference: Ann Swinker, Penn State Extension Equine Specialist, and Tyrone Fisher, North Carolina Cooperative Extension