Funny horse pictures

Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 08:22

I just wanted to lighten the mood from my last entries.. so im posting a bunch of funny and cute and awesome horse pictures

Hope you enjoy!!!!

Hope you all enjoyed!!!! haha i enjoyed making this!

West nile virus

Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 03:41

I know alot of you including myself might not know alot about the west nile virus. So here is a fact sheet on it so we can be more aware as horse owners to what might be threatning our horses

West Nile Virus in Horses:
Frequently Asked Questions

Carey A. Williams, Ph.D., Extension Specialist in Equine Management; Wayne Crans, Ph.D., Research Professor in Entomology; and Jennifer Gruener, Graduate Assistant in Entomology.

Published 8/25/2004

Fact Sheet #526

Q. What is West Nile virus?

A. West Nile virus (WNV) is an old world mosquito-borne pathogen that appeared unexpectantly in the New York metropolitan area in the fall of 1999. The disease was first thought to be St. Louis encephalitis, a closely related mosquito-borne virus that is relatively common in the continental United States. Virus isolations from wild crows, which were dying from the disease throughout the New York-metropolitan area, as well as captive birds from the Bronx Zoo prompted the USDA’s National Veterinarian Services Laboratories to investigate. In late September 1999, CDC officials announced that the virus appeared to be West Nile virus, a pathogen previously unseen in the Western Hemisphere. Avian cases were quickly linked to a series of human ailments in the New York City area that ultimately produced 62 human cases of WNV with 7 deaths. The virus was recognized as an important pathogen of horses as it spread from its eastern focus, affecting large numbers of animals as it moved westward. West Nile virus reached the west coast of the United States in 2002 and was responsible for more than 14,000 diagnosed equine cases that year.

Q. How does West Nile virus cycle in nature?

A. West Nile virus is a disease of wild birds that is maintained in the avian population by mosquitoes that use birds as their preferred blood meal hosts. The Northern House Mosquito, Culex pipiens, is an important bird-feeding species that perpetuates WNV in urban areas as well as farm settings throughout the northeastern United States. WNV is transmitted to humans and horses by mosquitoes that occasionally bite birds but normally use mammals as their preferred blood meal hosts. Culex pipiens may be directly responsible for some human and equine infection, but mammal biters are thought to produce the majority of WNV cases each year.

Q. How do horses contract West Nile virus?

A. Horses contract WNV when a mosquito that has previously fed on an infected bird bites them. Birds circulate high levels of the pathogen in their blood and serve as the sole source of the virus for mosquitoes. Neither horses nor humans circulate enough virus in their blood when they acquire the disease to pass the virus back to mosquitoes. West Nile virus cannot be spread directly from horse to horse or from horse to human. A mosquito that has previously fed on an infected bird is required in all cases.

Q. What is the seasonal progression of West Nile virus?

A. West Nile virus is at its lowest levels in early spring and builds in intensity as the summer season progresses. Infected mosquitoes are rarely found in large numbers until the month of August. Most transmission to horses takes place during late summer into fall, the same time that infection rates peak in mosquitoes and birds. Horses that have not been protected through proper vaccination may contract the infection at this time of year.

Q. Why should horse owners be concerned about West Nile virus?

A. West Nile virus is a serious threat to horses. In New Jersey, even though WNV affected only a small percentage of the equine population, the mortality rate of those infected from 2000 to 2003 was 34%.

Q. How can I tell if my horse is infected with West Nile virus?

A. Infected horses may display one or more of the following symptoms: Lack of coordination and stumbling (most commonly described symptom), depression or apprehension, anorexia (off feed), weakness of the hind limbs, falling down, inability to rise, flaccid paralysis of the lower lip (droopy lip), muscle twitching, grinding teeth, inability to swallow, head pressing, colicky appearance, aimless wandering, hypersensitivity and excitability, excessive sweating, disorientation, convulsions, and possible total paralysis.

Q. What should I do if I see any of these signs?

A. Call your veterinarian immediately. Prompt treatment may be life-saving!

Q. Is euthanasia of West Nile virus infected horses necessary?

A. No. Horses are humanely euthanized only when the viral infection is so severe they will not be able to recover. For those that survive, a full recovery is likely. About two out of every three horses that become ill will survive.
 

Q. Will horses and/or farms affected by the virus be quarantined?
 

A. No. Since infected horses are not carriers for the disease, quarantine is not necessary.
 

Q. How can I reduce the risk of West Nile virus to my horses?
 

A. You can significantly reduce the risk of West Nile virus to your horses by taking the following steps:

1. Call your veterinarian:

• Have your horses vaccinated!
   

• Ask about proper nutrition and supplements that can be part of an overall wellness plan to keep your horses healthy, and may protect them from diseases such as West Nile virus.

2. Contact your local county mosquito control agency:

• They are trained professionals that can help you learn to recognize mosquito larvae and their habitats.
   

• They can locate and assess mosquito breeding habitats on your farm and in nearby areas.
   

• This service is free of charge and available to county residents.

3. Reduce local mosquito populations:

• Empty and clean watering troughs at least every four days.
   
• Consider purchasing watering troughs with bottom drainage plugs.
   
• Check automated watering systems at least once a week to make sure they are working properly and not sustaining mosquito larvae.
   
• Turn over all unused containers such as buckets, feed pans, and wheelbarrows.
   
• Drill holes in the bottom of tires and other containers that cannot be discarded or readily emptied (call your county mosquito agency for guidance).
   
• Check all indoor and outdoor drainage systems to make sure they are free of debris and operating properly.
   
• Clean gutters on all outbuildings to make sure they are not holding water.
   
• Grade pastures when possible to prevent rain water from collecting in temporary pools

when is the best time to vaccinate your horse?? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT

Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 07:27

Spring has arrived and with its return the time has rolled around again for annual vaccinations for our equine friends. Following an annual protocol of vaccinating your horses will assure them a healthy life in which they are protected from many potentially costly, if not fatal, diseases. These diseases are: Equine Encephalomyelitis (Eastern, Western and Venezuelan), Equine Influenza, West Nile Virus, Rhinopneumonitis (EHV1 and EHV4), Rabies, Strangles, Tetanus, Potomac Horse Fever, Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), Rabies, and Botulism. By Darlene M. Cox

Wild mustang rescue

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 09:58

Hey everyone.. i just read a book called "the man who listens to horses" by monty roberts and "shy boy" also by monty roberts.. if you have not read these books yet DO . There are so many wild mustangs that are a huge part of the history in america.. and there being wiped out.. i think we should maybe take a stand and donate to this wonderful organization... i did....  so PLEASE go to http://www.wildhorserescue.org/ and read the story and donate... these horses deserve our help.

here is how we FOUND these wild mustangs

When we needed these horses to ride and fight in our wars. or to be loyal and understanding of our human ignorance THEY WERE THERE .

And now in a time of crisis are we really shallow enough to sit her in our cozy homes while the same horses are being tortured by hunger and cruelty ?? I THINK NOT .. Here is a glimpse at whats REALLY going on.... Its hard to believe that WE did this...

WARNING.. SOME PICTURES ARE GRAPHIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are like me and have a heart.. your about to puke... i know how that is.. and we can CHANGE it.. somebody has to. even if we could make these killings HUMANE instead of cutting them open while there stil alive (that really happens people) its like when you get your drivers liscence they ask you if you want to be a organ donor. you think yeah thats the right thing to do and then one day you get a knock on your door and there these crazy people are ready to take your organs... and your not dead... would that scare you.. i bet it would. .. So when these horses were fighting our wars and carrying us all over they thought it was the right thing to do.. and we blew it up in there faces by doing this to them... do you think there scared,,, i know i would be...

point in case.. support horse rescues....!!!!

thanks

mariah

alittle opinionated info on equine Psychology

Posted on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 02:26

As you all know Psychology is basically the thought process or behavior of human and animal .I wanted to share alittle about equine  AKA horse .Psychology. over the period of  some 600,000 years the Equus Caballus has evolved into the horse with which we are familiar.. the realationship between horses and human has evolved to. first as hunter and prey.. then master and slave.. now alot of people people are content with the master and slave realationship.. however i am not...But over the last 30 years an increasing number of horse-keepers have begun to look for another paradigm, in which partnership and harmony replace slavery and compulsion. The search has produced some interesting consequences in the areas of use, management and training, and has created major challenges to traditional methods and attitudes. i think the work and dedication and enjoyment of riding and owning horses should be mutual between the horse and owner.. so with my horses i try to make the realationship buddy and buddy with the human buddy being the slight more authoritive.. and this must be the way it is considering that we are for one smarter than out equine friends and two being that they are much bigger than we are.. if THEY have the higher authority then were going to either get hurt.. or not have very controled horsemanship either. ive seen alot of people who dont RIDE there horses per say,. the horse is "taking a stroll" and just happens to have them on there backs... i want my horse and me to be walking together.. i just get a free ride , and he gets three square meals a day and all the love and attention he can handle... seem fair?? i think it does.. .. alot of people make honest attempts made to update old practices, but very often those at the leading edge of the search, the pioneers of a new more ethical horsemanship, have been attacked and their work dismissed or deliberately misrepresented. While there are still old diehards that find the challenges just too hard to deal with the wave of change has now become so large and strong that it's just a matter of time before its spread filters into every part of the equestrian world....So i hope that horsemanship becomes more than cowboying or buffaloing the horse into submission.. i hope it can soon be a partnership between human and animal.. Written by.. mariah brown

PRICES ON HORSE FEED IS ON THE RISE..... what can we do about it??? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT

Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 05:28

As a personal horse owner i know what it means to suffer through having to buy bag after bag or horse feed and its gone in a few days! . Here Karen E. Davison, Ph.D. anager-Equine Technical Services
Land O'Lakes Purina Feed. educates us on how we can save a few bucks when buying feed for our buddies!

There are a number of reasons for this run in prices, including pressure on crops from ethanol production, poor climate conditions in some areas and the declining value of the dollar. Of course none of these reasons lessen the impact on our pocketbooks and horse owners are feeling the financial strain. This has caused many horse owners to become more focused on getting the most value for their dollar when it comes to feeding their horses. Finding the best value horse feed means looking past price per bag and calculating the actual cost per day to feed. Divide the price per bag by 50 lbs to determine price per pound. Then, multiply the price per pound by the pounds fed per day. Horse owners are often surprised to find the feed that is cheaper by the bag may be more expensive per day because it must be fed at a larger amount per day or requires added expensive supplements to meet nutrient requirements. For example, compare oats that cost $12 per bag to Purina Strategy that costs $14 per bag. If a horse eats 6 pounds of oats per day to maintain good condition, that same horse would only need 4.8 pounds of Strategy to support the same body condition because Strategy contains 20 - 30% more calories per pound than oats. Oats priced at $12 per bag, $0.24/lb, fed at 6 pounds per day calculates to $1.44 per day to feed. Strategy priced at $14 per bag, $0.28/lb, fed at 4.8 pounds per day costs $1.34 per day to feed. Not only does Strategy cost less per day to feed, it also contains the proper balance of protein, vitamins and minerals the horse needs, whereas oats must be supplemented to provide all the nutritional needs of the horse. If you feed a daily protein, vitamin and mineral supplement, you want to figure the cost and add that to your grain cost. Basic supplements will add $0.50 - $1.00 per day more to the cost of feeding your horse. In many areas of the country hay prices have gone up faster than grain prices. Forage quality and weight per bale both factor into finding the best value for hay. Quality is impacted by variety of forage, the maturity of the plant at time of harvest and the conditions at harvest. The assumption that alfalfa is better quality than grass and therefore justifies a higher price isn't always the case. Moderate quality alfalfa, 16% or less protein, actually may be a lower feed value than good quality grass, 11% or more protein. The moderate quality alfalfa is usually very mature and lower in digestibility whereas the higher quality grass hay is more digestible and palatable to the horse. A hay test can be a useful tool to help determine the best feeding value in hay. Most people are not very accurate when estimating amounts of hay and grain being fed. For example, a three-pound coffee can holds three pounds of coffee, but it will hold four pounds of Strategy. The weight of oats can vary quite a bit depending on the quality of the oats, ranging from 2.5 - 4.25 pounds per three-pound coffee can. Hay weight can vary quite a bit as well so, when possible, hay should be purchased by the ton instead of by the bale. Hay that costs $10 per bale and weighs 65 pounds per bale is a better value than hay that costs $8 per bale but weighs only 45 pounds per bale. If you are feeding 20 pounds of hay per day, the hay that costs $10 per bale calculates out to $3.08 per day while 20 pounds from the $8 bale of hay ends up costing $3.54 per day. Also, two flakes from the heavier bale will often weigh more than two flakes from the lighter bale so your actual feeding rates may vary as well. Weighing a few representative flakes from hay when you first buy it can help keep your feeding rates more consistent and your hay costs more under control. The cost of owning horses has certainly gone up over the last couple of years and there doesn't appear to be a change in that trend in the forecast. However, using a scale and a calculator to do a little figuring can reveal possible ways to save money without compromising the health and wellbeing of your horses.

Hope you enjoy!

till next time!

Amazing pictures

Posted on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 12:58

I really do belive the process of growth after the conseption of a horse is AMAZING . I dont know if many people have ever seen pictures like this but technology is a wonderful thing... So here is the horse at 10 days after conseption.

There is the horse at 30 days

Here is the horse at 65 days

Here is the horse at 85 days

Here is the next step

One day god said "let there be grace,speed,and loyalty all in one... and lo, a horse was born . I hope everyone marvels and enjoys looking at this as much as i did :)

Show alittle LOVE!

Posted on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 12:56

Hey

I think everyone that has had or have horses has at least one problem horse. They either bite, kick, buck ect. Well i want to tell you right now that those horses can be saved. All around the world people are euthanizing horses, dogs, cats ect because there just not good enough. Horses cant run fast enough , dogs chew on things, cats scratch. And i wanted to open up this blog for ANYONE who has a problem horse . i will try my best to give you tips and advice you need to be on your way and maybe change the lives of you and your horse. So just drop a comment and ill get back to ASAP .

P.s during recent comments there have been people who have asked if these methods will work on children to.. please for the sake of mankind do NOT try these things on your children

Do you have a colt with a kicking problem??? HERES HOW TO FIX IT

Posted on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 12:55

I recently talked to a friend of mine who has raised two beautiful colts. They started them great by rubbing them teaching them to lead ECT but they have noticed one of them is showing symptoms of a kicking problem. I told them to just start by rubbing there hindquarters and letting them know that it’s ok for them to be behind them because nothing bad is going to happen. That would be a good start but to improve the situation. Here are a few steps you can take to prevent anymore kicking. And also beginning a better relationship with your horse

(1) Remember what your mom told you... VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER :) we sometimes as humans react a certain way to pain or fear. Like if a horse bites or kicks you most people reaction is to hit them or smack them with a foreign object or yell at them or all of the above. But all this does is scare your horse and even though he did wrong it should be dealt with by...

(1) Do exactly what he DOESNT want you to do... rub all over his butt down his legs ect. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK... THERE IS A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY THAT THE HORSE WILL KICK YOU! this is why we have to start this process as young as possible a 600 pound kick isn’t going to hurt as bad a 1600 pound kick. :) also stay as close as possible to the horse while you are rubbing them (you might think im crazy but the possible kick wont hurt nearly as bad if you are close than if you are 2 or 3 feet away) its physics people!! haha

(2) A horse only kicks for three reasons (A) fear can make a horse kick (B) being spoiled can cause kicking... if you don’t make yourself authoritive than you are just another horse to him.. And horses kick other horses :) (C) The horse just doesn’t like you... i know that might be hard for some people but it’s the truth... if all else fails... the horse just doesn’t  like you

(3) Repeat step one for the horses whole life... after awhile you wont need to do it as much but if you want your horse to feel good and safe around you then let him know GENTLY that you are the boss and the horse does NOT KICK THE BOSS

After that you should be ok and your kicking problem should be resolved... every horse is different but with a steady hand an alot of guts you can get your horse to trust you and he will stop kicking.

I hope this helps everyone who reads it! till next time.... Mariah

WARNING! IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13 DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS BY YOURSELF HAVE A PARENT OR ADULT EITHER DO IT OR WATCH YOU THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. IF THE HORSE DOES KICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My first entry

Posted on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 12:54

Hi everyone!!

i am starting this blog to meet people and also to promote what i want to do..

first off i own a small ranch in woodlawn VA i have six horses whom i love very much..

for the last 3 years i have been riding horses and apprenticing with a equine dental technician

aka a horse dentist. if you would like to look more into that please check out my links and go to Amanda bournes website.. you wont regret it.

second of all i have been training horses for various people for about a year now. and i love it.

i want to post things on here as i learn along the way so that those visiting this site might learn somthing to and might help you with your horse.

as i said i also barrell race with my QH paint named Gabriel aka gabe. he is out of mr norfleet and was given to me by a dear friend gidgett,,

well thats all for now but please continue visiting ~!