Horses the size of small dogs were common for 50 million years

For more than 50 million years, was much more heat in the earth and horses, to adapt to these temperatures werealmost the size of small dogs, wandering the forests of North America, according to a study published on Thursdayby Science magazine.


These earliest known horse called Sifrhippus actually become smaller over tens of thousands of years, an age in which methane emissions have soared, possibly due to large volcanic eruptions. And the research could contribute to the knowledge of how modern animals on the planet can adapt to global warming.To reach this result, the scientists analyzed fossil teeth of horses found in Wyoming (northwest).Many animals have become extinct during this period of 175,000 years in length, known as the Thermal Maximum of the Paleocene-Eocene, which occurred 56 million years ago. Others decreased in size to survive with limited resources.According to a study author, Jonathan Bloch, of the Natural History Museum of Florida (Southeast), the average world temperatures rose 10 degrees Fahrenheit during this period due to the significant increase of carbon dioxide emitted into the air and oceans.The sea surface temperature in the Arctic was then 23 degrees centigrade, as the subtropical waters of the contemporary.The research showed that Sifrhippus fell by almost a third, until you reach the size of a small dog (four pounds) for the first 130,000 years of the period. Then he began to grow again until you get to seven pounds in the last 45,000 years of the period. Approximately one third of known mammal also become smaller during this time.
According to researchers, observing the reaction to climate change Sifrhippus of his time has major questions about how modern mammals respond to global warming today, what is happening much faster. By current estimates, the Earth's average temperature could rise by four degrees Celsius in just a century against the thousands of years it took to reach a level similar in Paleocene-Eocene.
"We estimate that about a third of mammals shrink in size and some will be very small, with up to half his original body weight," says Ross Secord, University of Nebraska and lead author of the article in "Science". "As warming occurred much more slowly during the PETM, the mammals had more time to adjust the size of their bodies. Thus, it is unclear whether we will see the same thing happen in the near future, but it is quite possible. There is a huge difference scale between the two heating which raises questions as' animals able to keep pace with climate change and readjust the size of their bodies over the next two centuries? "

Essex Police Mounted Unit welcomes new arrival

Essex Police have welcomed a new addition to its Mounted Unit – a police horse named King.

The five-year-old pure breed Shire horse has been training with Pc Dale Copley at the mounted unit base in Writtle, Chelmsford, since September last year after being bought from a breeder in Devon.

King, who stands at 18 hands high, replaces police horse Bella who retired in 2011 after developing a problem in her foot.

The new arrival joins Essex Police’s seven other horses; Major, Toffee, Trojan, Rosie, Biscuit, Carlsberg and Patrick and is expected to be fully operational by Autumn.

Read the full story by clicking here. 

What to give for your horse or not eat?

Keep feeding their horses healthy is essential for your well-being and health in one day. But not all foods have the nutrients needed to keep a horse in good shape. Meet a few of the more traditional means of horse feeding and how to choose the best diet.
Hay, the primary means of power given by the creators, must take great care when choosing. Those collected in the spring have greater nutritional value, so will the animal sated and well fed. For it is in good condition for consumption should be dry for at least six weeks. If your pet has a respiratory disease or in drier times of the year moisten the hay with a little clean water to help not hinder digestion and breathing because of loose particles in the air.
Another food that should be very careful when providing horses are herbs in general. They are important minerals in the development of the animal, but in large amounts tend to leave the belly increased, which for those athletes that are difficult activities. Knowing what type of grass to give the horse will depend on the personal taste of each animal, they tend to prefer more green leaves and tender, and his instinct chooses that which is required at the time.
To address the lack of vitamin A in the body of the horses in your daily diet includes portions of raw carrots and very clean. Being a food rich in beta carotene, helps the production of melanin in the body causing your horse has a soft fur and bright color. The carrots should not be part of the diet, but a supplement.
If you use their horses for activities or sports that require him an excessive expenditure of energy, in the daily diet includes a lot of oats. It can be mixed with hay and is easy to digest. Before the competitions coaches typically offer a little more to ensure energy until the end of activities. It is rich in iron, calcium and protein, which will prevent many diseases, especially in older animals.
A good option to supplement the diet of your animals is to mix with the food of the day-to-day some cookies concentrated. On sale in specialized stores, they contribute to the balance of vitamins and minerals important for fitness of the horse. The type of cracker must be chosen according to breed, age and size of each animal.


Sweets in general should stay out of the power of any animal, especially horses. To avoid lumps of sugar, so the level of blood glucose level will always be acceptable. To brighten the animal with a sweet taste of fruit, preferably apples, or crackers suitable for horses.
The grass has very little nutritional value, but many animals like to consume it. For horses that need to gain weight opt ​​for drought. In animals within the weight be sure to put them in sauce and serve within 24 hours so that fermentation does not occur. The other dry forage tends to colic in horses, avoid them as much as possible, especially if they perform activities that require too much effort on a day-to-day.
Other common foods in the equine diet are salt, corn, barley and sugar beets. Any doubt consult your veterinarian. Sometimes it is necessary to complement with drugs and he alone can assist you in choosing the best diet for your troop.

Taking good care of the hooves of his horse

The care of your horses go beyond food and a good environment for sleep. The observation of the hooves and verification of the horseshoe of the animals are important parts to keep them healthy and willing to perform their daily activities.
The horseshoe has the main role of protecting the hull of the horses. Furthermore, it corrects wear and assists in the treatment of wound healing. But before doing the insert or exchange is the same as it is necessary to check the poise of the animal. Without forgetting that not all horses need to be ferrageados.Those who walk in pastures loose not need to use the shoe as the hoof wear is a natural action and does not cause as much impact as that occurred in the concrete runways, for example.
But what is ferragear?
The shoeing is nothing more than the act of preaching the shoes with the specific use of nails in the horse's hoof. In addition to protecting the feet, the shoes help to compensate for the defects of training and help reduce gait irregularities.
Horses that live in barns, stables or other places with hard flooring shall be ferrageados ever for excessive wear of the hoof will not cause health problems and performance of the animal.
But not just anyone can go ferrageando a horse. The officer should have knowledge of animal anatomy, to determine which features of each part and not reach any area of ​​the soft shell. Depending on the breed and age of the animal that body part is changed constantly, so it is necessary care and attention in time to nail the studs in horseshoes.


Enhance it!
Today there are many specialized courses in all areas in the care of horses and learn how to care for their hooves are part of many grid. In these classes the ferrageador will learn how to trim the hoof, correct angulations as well as special techniques for placing the shoes without the animal gets hurt. Among the materials are learned, and the anatomy of the horse, lectures on the physiology of the animal's foot trimming and trimming to broker everything goes safely.
You can find out much about your pet during trimming
When the animal is prepared to receive the shoe the process of trimming, trimming and verification of the legs can help uncover potential health problems in your pet. If the procedure is performed correctly even small deviations bone can be corrected with a simple arrangement of shells.
But do not forget that the lack of knowledge of the techniques can also harm your animal. If you are not knowledgeable of the anatomical system of transportation of horses can cause serious health problems.Therefore, creator, pay close attention when hiring a professional who will take care of that part so sensitive and important of his horses.

Get inside the largest horse fair in the world - Equitana

Almost nothing in the streets of Essen, Germany, recalls that in the city a great meeting place of races. In late winter, with temperatures between three and eight degrees, everything happens in the inner area of ​​the buildings in a kind of Essen organization that shares with other cities in western Germany.

Along with Frankfurt, Hanover and Dusseldorf, Essen specializes in fairs and exhibitions. The city has an immense structure, with several decks and four inputs. Every day, about 30 to 40 thousand people visit the fair in which more than a thousand horses. The diversity of races and a variety of countries, Equitana (Monday is considered the largest equestrian world.


In each of the 17 pavilions of the exhibition park has a fence, a barn, where a racial profiling from 15 to 15 minutes. There is also a great arena for more elaborate views, where there are dozens of simultaneous presentations, for example, the English horse, used in fox hunting, the Tennessee walking, the walker of the United States, the handsome Andalusian, pure Spanish race; and representatives of German lines of today, whose ancestors participated in sports competitions in antiquity as the Roman chariot race, chariot drawn by four horses paired. The numerous and successive views are as special shows each of the 40 races that took part in Equitana in 2011.

Most visitors hitting the leg Friday to see what's new. One shelf is lined with grass, like a health food store.The seller explains that Julia AATS is one of the herbs for intestinal problems, respiratory problems to other serves and is indicated for other stomach problems. But none is to be human. They are all herbs to prepare tea for horses.
"Actually, it's a mixture. Several herbs, highlighting chamomile. You put the herb in a bowl, comes with hot water, wait a minute and then mixed on a diet. The horse is very sensitive and always react well to these treatments, "explains Julia.
In another bookcase shelves are natural essences, known as "Floral bach." Dyes that are an English doctor invented to aid in the treatment of negative emotions. Sandra Muller, who has a herd of 30 animals, took the whole collection of dyes designed to balance the bad feelings and also a pot of edible mushrooms called "calmmatrix." "The product has antioxidants, amino acids and vitamins, ingredients that act on the immune system. My clients have used successfully on horses intemperate. In two weeks, return to ride, happy, "says the inventor and manufacturer Christian Ehrenberg.


The vet Aluízio Marins Brazil, which has expertise in the United States and Europe, directs the university in Brazil and the horse does not lose a Equitana. "One of the things we see is the very absence of injectable drugs and the increase in natural products," he says. The trend is that the horse is treated as a partner, a companion, to whom they are offered snacks, cookies in colorful flavors of banana, blueberry, eucalyptus, vanilla and pineapple. Part of rations, properly, is very varied. Its race, by sport, by service, by age and even horse retired and no teeth.
The training section provides interesting alternatives for those who can not leave with the horse. The rodador exercise many animals at the same time at varying speeds. The treadmill was developed for the animal to gain muscle, gain strength and improve heart function. Some models have the option to be shielded compartment filled with water. On a treadmill with a pool, you can double the efficiency of effort.


Cleaning is a serious issue for those who keep the troops in the bay, as in most cases in Europe. The bed, the layer of straw, sawdust, or synthetic material that coats the ground, is extremely expensive. The handler Saskia Cózman have to remove the dirt in 30 stalls every day. "The movement of swinging the rake to separate horse manure overloads the muscles of the bed. After two hours doing this task, it gives a lot of pain in the arm. I had a serious injury at the elbow, "says Saskia.
The retired engineer Klaus Schwécker devised a machine for separating manure. It has a vibrating sieve dropping the precious bed. He says that the noise does not disturb the horse and that energy consumption is the same as a lamp. The equipment costs six thousand dollars.
And what is the difference between the public on the horse in Brazil and Europe? The question was put to the judge of evidence, Professor Paulo Roberto Ribeiro and veterinary and riding teacher Claudia Lechonski, two Brazilian experts who were visiting the Equitana. "People see the care of his horse as part of having a horse," says Claudia. "In Brazil we have a very different chain. We have the creator of horse, trainer, handler and the user. The chain in Europe has a huge number of users, "adds Brooks.
In Europe, users make a huge legion. Only the German equestrian federation has nearly two million registered riders. It is a vibrant market. The bill Equitana one billion dollars from the sale of clothes, medicines, food and junk riding.
Credits - Globo Rural Program (25/09/2011)