Take Care of Your Horse’s Smile and a game for you!!

                                                                 

Here are some facts about the cutting edge of equine dentistry. You may think horse dentistry is a new fad, but there is nothing new under the sun. When our livelihoods depended on equines, horse dentistry was a lively profession for practitioners in every county. Well-known in Europe in the fourteenth century, the observation of horse's teeth goes back at least two thousand years. For the past couple of centuries, Europeans have had a particularly strong interest in horse's teeth. The tools which were being made by the end of the nineteenth century would still not be out of place in a modern horse dentist's set of tools – although diamond technology has brought advances in cutting, burring and grinding tools, which uncannily grind tooth enamel while leaving softer tissues such as the inside of cheeks unscathed on contact. There are currently about 25 horse dentistry tool manufacturers in the U.S.

So, what does an equine dentist do, and which horses could benefit from their practices? An equine dentist basically equilibrates a horse's teeth in a number of ways. Horses in the natural state do not usually require dentistry, the same as they do not require a furrier. Free-roaming horses eat a lot of hard plants with a high woody content, as well as grasses with silicates. These are abrasive substances, which wear down the incisors as the horse tears at the grass stalks. Hay-fed horses do not need to use their incisors in the same way, with the result that these do not get worn down and eventually get so long that the horse cannot close its mouth sufficiently to use the molars to grind its food.

All horses could benefit from the services of an equine dentist, although only a small proportion receives them. Even if your vet checks your horse’s teeth every half year, the chances are very high that there are points on the outside of the upper premolars and molars which are causing either constant discomfort or digging ulcerations in the cheeks. A thorough oral examination requires the use of a full-mouth speculum and a mild sedative or relaxant.

The most discerning owners tend to call in a specialized dentist as standard procedure, because it can improve a horse's performance dramatically and prolong active life for up to a decade. Dental work always improves the horse's digestion, and better food uptake means better performance. Over and above that, a surprising proportion of horses suffer from tooth maladies which affect the way they take the bit. A tendency to resist turning in a particular direction is, for example, a strong indication that the horse has some kind of problem on that side of its mouth. If turning is uncomfortable, the horse is going to act up. It may be simply a question of getting the bit to sit more comfortably to cause an immediate change in the behavior of the horse.

Many horses have persistent problems which cause uneven eating, distortions of facial muscle development and a build-up of pressure, which in turn can lead to constant headaches. When the horse first experiences relief from this, typically during the first session of dental treatment, under mild sedation, the effects can be dramatic. Have you ever seen a horse smile?

Friction can arise between dental practitioners and standard vets, who have very different approaches to dental problems. Typically, a vet is called in to file down teeth when they become long, but tends to do so in a very uniform manner, which does not take into account the natural variations in the horse's own way of grinding, or the angles of the teeth necessary for comfortable eating. Incorrect filing can radically change the angle of impact and effectively prevent the horse from eating.

There is unfortunately no accredited certification program for equine dentistry through veterinary organizations. Ironically, only veterinary practitioners are legally empowered to practice equine dentistry, although many are not capable of the most basic form of it. Vets sometimes act in conjunction with a highly specialized and trained lay-dentist. The equine dentists themselves are a rare breed. Because of the problems they are up against in terms of training programs and chances to practice freely, they tend to be fierce animal lovers with a high commitment to their chosen profession and an almost evangelical passion to spread the word. There is a worldwide network of practitioners, who are in constant consultation for problem-solving and sharing new techniques and findings. A visit from and equine dentist can be as rewarding an experience for the owner as it is for the horse.

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Wear The Pony

Horse Care And What Is It?

Even today, wild horses are always well groomed and good looking. While the wild horse learns from instinct how to take care if itself, the domesticated counterpart is heavily dependent on humans for its overall sprucing. Horses are really majestic animals that can leave you breathless with their wild and carefree beauty and elegance in their form they are truly one of natures wonders.

Bonding With Your Horse Is Essential 

Everyone knows that the easiest way to connect with any pet or your horse particularly is by interacting with it directly for as much time as you find possible. There are plenty of stories and legends to totally reinforce this belief. Horses are amongst the very intelligent animals capable of demonstrating a lot of love and deep bonding with their carers. It is common knowledge and quite well known that there are two animals out of all those domesticated ones to date, that are totally and unequivocally faithful to humans, i.e. dogs and horses.

It has often been observed that horses that live in isolation become aggressive and uncooperative. However, the moment someone talks with them in soft tones and pays loving attention to them they instantly respond to the love shown. This totally proves that horses need to be loved in order to stay healthy.

This is why it becomes the duty of the master to groom, exercise, feed, check and change when necessary its horse shoes, and so on. All these are part of the regular horse care that is due to the horse on a daily basis. The horse’s health and well being will depend on dedication and how much care it receives from its owners who are only to happy to please. These animals are very sensitive and respond surprisingly well to love and affection. This is why the most critical ingredient of horse care is love and attention.

Being with any pet is the best way to bond even though with your horse you may like to appoint a stable groom for more physical care like cleaning, combing and sponging your horse. He can even feed the horse; however, if you want to really bond with the horse, you should keep some time apart for it every day to just be with your pet and interact with it. You should walk with it, ride it, exercise it, or simply sit and talk with it. Like dogs, parrots or cats horses love to be in the company of man and actively seek it. Any attention you give will be repaid many times over in shear enjoyment of your horse.

The Essentials of Grooming a Horse

Grooming a horse is important in a couple of ways: to create a regular grooming habit, and to detect and treat any acquired injuries. More importantly, providing the best hygienic care there is for your horse would better ensure that they perform their best when you ride them. Caring for your horse should be given enough priority and it does not require a lot from you, only patience and genuine care for the welfare of your animals.

First, you will need a few grooming tools in order to get the job done. You can find several cheap tools in the market, like a curry comb, body brush, mane and tail comb, a hoof pick, as well as a soft sponge or cloth to bathe the horse in. It would be better if you have a grooming spray, hoof ointment, and scissors or clippers because you'll never know when they might come handy.

To bathe your horse, you can start from either side so long as you make sure that the entire body is washed up thoroughly. You can choose to use a sponge and a bucket of water to bathe the horse or simply a garden hose to let the water flow. You have to regularly bathe them in order for them to get used to it, and before you finish off make sure to have removed even the tiniest speck of dirt possible.

If you are undecided on what type of shampoo to use in cleaning your horse, you can actually use any type of shampoo, whether the ones made especially for horses or human shampoo. The only thing you have to remember is the rinse it off very well. Also, try not to frequent the usage of shampoo when cleaning your horse because it might strip off the natural oil and could lead to drying out of the horse's hair.

As for the horse's mane, you can vary the braiding or banding techniques used depending on a particular horse's discipline or breed. Meanwhile, there are some who completely shave off a horse's mane, while others are roaches. When it comes to the tail, you can clip, thin, or add it up to help enhance the horse's appearance or to mask off any faults. However, any forms of grooming done on the tail are done mainly for aesthetic purposes.

Because the hoof is an essential part in a horse's body, taking good care of it is extremely necessary. The most common way of cleaning a horse's hoofs is by picking out its feet wherein mud, manure, or rocks are removed from the sole. This is done not only for hygienic purposes but also to prevent the horse from suffering from any kind of bruises or ailment.

For horses that are used for competition, the importance of grooming a horse takes on a whole new level. Among the various benefits that you can get from regular horse care is an improved skin and coat health, lesser health problems, and it also enables you to assess the horse's health or check if there are any acquired injuries.

But more importantly, grooming their horses has enabled them to form a bond with their pets - the typical pet and master relationship. It enables the horse to be healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally, as this gives him the impression of actually being taken care of. When it comes to grooming a horse, a little bit definitely goes a long way!

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The ten basic rules of feeding

1. FEED LITTLE AND OFTEN

Horse’s stomachs are relatively small in relation to their body size. In fact, they are roughly the size of a rugby ball and only hold around 8-14 litres in capacity. Therefore by the time food reaches the stomach, the volume of the food will have doubled due to digestive juices working to break it down.

For this very reason, it is important to remember to feed little and often as digestion is most effective when the stomach is about two-thirds full. If a horse has been fed a large feed it may not be properly digested and much of the nutrients will be wasted.

The reason people frequently say to feed often is due to the fact that food passes through the horse’s digestive system via peristalsis. These are rhythmical, muscular contractions and so require a reasonable constant supply of food. A horse must never be left for over eight hours without food, so adequate hay must be fed to the stabled horse at night.

2. KEEP FEED BOWLS AND CONTAINERS CLEAN

Ensure bowls and containers are clean to avoid being contaminated with vermin.

3. FEED ACCORDING TO….

Age

Old and young horses in particular need specialised feeding. For instance, old horses may lose condition easily and may not be able to make good use of their food as they once did; maybe due to teeth problems and so chewing may become more difficult, whereas young horses that are growing need more vitamins and minerals than an older horse.

Amount of work

As a horse’s exercise increases, the diet too must be adjusted to supply more energy and allow for muscle gain. Therefore, if a horse suffers from an injury/illness, the amount of concentrates (hard feed) will need to be reduced whilst it’s roughage (bulk feed) is increased within the horse’s diet.

Type

Horses and ponies of the same weight and height do not necessarily need the same diet. For instance, a thoroughbred horse may need a more palatable diet to maintain condition as these types of horses tend to be poor – doers, unlike a native horse that may be prone to laminitis and thus will require more bulk feed. These type of horses are considered good – doers.

Temperament

Some horses may become excitable on oats, hence may be more suited to an alternative form of concentrate. Whilst, lazy horses may benefit from such energy giving feed to encourage them to be more active.

4. FEED PLENTY OF FIBRE

Fibre comes in the form most commonly known as hay and grass and is the basis for any diet. Hay or grass should equate to at least two –thirds of a horse’s diet.

Fibre or roughage helps keep the digestive system working and healthy. The majority of hay is best given after work and at night when the horse has plenty of time to eat and digest it.

Adding some form of roughage to the diet, for example chaff stops the horse from bolting down his food and so allowing him more time to masticate (chew), thus giving the digestive juices more time to work efficiently.

5. MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE DIET GRADUAL

To prevent a horse from getting indigestion, any changes to the food must be gradual which will allow the digestive system to adjust effectively to the new food.

The digestion of bulk feeds such as hay and grass takes place in the horse’s large intestine where bacteria break down the food.

If food is changed suddenly, there may not be enough of the appropriate bacteria to break down the new food which will not get digested and as a result could end up with the horse suffering from colic.

Approximately, one week would be sufficient time to change feed to allow the horse’s digestive system to adjust to the new food.

6. FEED AT THE SAME TIMES EACH DAY

The horse likes a routine and so once this is established will help him settle down in his environment. Plan to feed him at similar times each day to keep a regular routine.

7. USE ONLY GOOD QUALITY FEED, BECAUSE HORSES ARE FUSSY FEEDERS.

Dusty feed not only affects a horse’s condition but can be harmful as it could well be contaminated by vermin.

8. FEED SOMETHING SUCCULENT EVERY DAY…

…such as carrots, and these can supplement for a stabled horse’s lack of grass. If a horse is confined to its stable you could graze it in hand for ten minutes or so if possible.

9. ALWAYS LEAVE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER FEEDING BEFORE WORK AND ONE HOUR AFTER WORK BEFORE FEEDING.

Time must be allowed for digestion. The time will depend on the amount of work a horse has just carried out and the size of its feed.

Generally speaking, it will take a horse twenty minutes to eat a feed, one and a half hours to digest it and then be ready for normal work.

Never work a horse hard (galloping) after a full feed or when he has a full stomach of grass / hay due to him being unable to digest it. A full stomach will take up to much room and can affect his breathing also.

10. ALWAYS INCREASE THE WORKLOAD BEFORE INCREASING THE FEED.

It is better to ride a lazy horse than to have a horse that is uncontrollable. Too much energy giving feed may affect the temperament of the horse and for this reason make them difficult to handle / ride.