Get Ready to Hit the Trails
by Nicole Lanphear
As we head into the prime season for shows and trail rides, now is the time to make sure your horse is physically prepared for the road ahead. For advice on how best to do this, we turn to Ann Turner, owner of Wits End Farms Equine Rehabilitation (www.witsendfarms.com) in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Turner has spent 35 years in the horse industry, working everywhere from sunny Jamaica to the snowdrifts of Canada. She specializes in equine massage and chiropractic work, and has plenty of tips to prepare your horse for the summer season.
Look at Overall Health
This is the time of year for detox. Turner recommends using herbal remedies to help cleanse away the built-up gunk in your horse’s system that is a result of long winter months of relative inactivity. Ask a vet or equine nutritionist to recommend a good detox formula for your horse.
Proper nutrition is also key at this stage so your horse can reach optimal performance. Feed organic grains, salts, and good vitamins to supplement your horse’s diet. Electrolytes are vital to ensure your horse drinks enough water to stay healthy. Remember, a good diet will also aid in a healthy, shiny coat and stronger, healthier hooves.
Exercise
If snow and ice hindered you from riding as much as you would have liked this past winter, make sure you transition slowly into a more active routine. Start by walking your horse around for 10-15 minutes every other day for a couple of weeks before you begin to trot.
Building up stamina and bone density are key, and not something that can be rushed. When your horse stands in one place for a long time, the bone density decreases. This can be built up again by walking on hard surfaces, says Turner. This is important especially for show horses that must walk on various types of footing in different arenas.
Trails are an excellent way to get a horse fit because the terrain is gentle on joints. Trails also offer a variety of muscles a proper workout. Lunging can be more tricky. Turner recommends slow lunging; hard workouts on the lunge line can damage joints and work muscles in the wrong order. “It is like going to the gym and using the workout machines wrong,” she says.
It is important for each owner and rider to know how a horse should move properly. This way, you know if your horse is carrying him or herself correctly.
To Shoe or Not to Shoe?
In the springtime, it is also time to check in on hoof health and other regular maintenance routines such as teeth and vaccinations. Turner does not shoe any of her horses, but says the decision to shoe or not depends on each horse and its environment, diet, and discipline.
A shoe can only go so far, according to Turner, but going barefoot can help solve some problems such as fixing a frog or getting heels to spread. After the problem is solved, you can choose to return to shoeing your horse.
Turner had a 17-year-old Thoroughbred mare that had been shod all her life, and when she finally went barefoot, she began to loosen up; within a week, she was a completely different horse. Many times, stiffness and pain radiate from the hooves and through the whole body, which can cause stiffness elsewhere in the body and other problems.
Some pain and discomfort can occur after removing shoes from a long-time user. Turner recommends going barefoot in the wintertime so the cold weather can help with any discomfort. For her mare, she did some cold water rinsing and Epsom salts for about a week, after which there was no more pain.
Talk to several different people including vets, farriers, and trainers, to get a good idea of what might be best for your horse when it comes to shoeing. Hire a professional and go from there.
Tack Prep for the Trail
Since you will be riding for hours in a saddle, find one that fits both you and the horse. Also, make sure your saddle and bridle are properly placed. A noseband that is too tight or a bit that is too far back can cause vices such as head tossing or pulling. Ensuring that your tack is correct will make a big change in behavior.
Even if the saddle fits, if it is set too high on the shoulders, the horse will suffer. Make sure the girth is one hand's width behind the back of the horse’s front leg so the saddle is not sitting on the shoulder blades. Otherwise, the saddle can cause the front strides to shorten and make downhill riding painful for the horse.
Turner suggests using a natural fiber saddle pad, such as cotton or wool. In the hot summer months, a cotton or wool pad will breathe, preventing skin problems. Natural fiber products are also good for horses with sensitive skin.
Be aware of the little things that can ultimately make a big difference. This will prepare you and your horse for happy trails this summer. Do as the Boy Scouts do and be prepared!
As we head into the prime season for shows and trail rides, now is the time to make sure your horse is physically prepared for the road ahead. For advice on how best to do this, we turn to Ann Turner, owner of Wits End Farms Equine Rehabilitation (www.witsendfarms.com) in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Turner has spent 35 years in the horse industry, working everywhere from sunny Jamaica to the snowdrifts of Canada. She specializes in equine massage and chiropractic work, and has plenty of tips to prepare your horse for the summer season.
Look at Overall Health
This is the time of year for detox. Turner recommends using herbal remedies to help cleanse away the built-up gunk in your horse’s system that is a result of long winter months of relative inactivity. Ask a vet or equine nutritionist to recommend a good detox formula for your horse.
Proper nutrition is also key at this stage so your horse can reach optimal performance. Feed organic grains, salts, and good vitamins to supplement your horse’s diet. Electrolytes are vital to ensure your horse drinks enough water to stay healthy. Remember, a good diet will also aid in a healthy, shiny coat and stronger, healthier hooves.
Exercise
If snow and ice hindered you from riding as much as you would have liked this past winter, make sure you transition slowly into a more active routine. Start by walking your horse around for 10-15 minutes every other day for a couple of weeks before you begin to trot.
Building up stamina and bone density are key, and not something that can be rushed. When your horse stands in one place for a long time, the bone density decreases. This can be built up again by walking on hard surfaces, says Turner. This is important especially for show horses that must walk on various types of footing in different arenas.
Trails are an excellent way to get a horse fit because the terrain is gentle on joints. Trails also offer a variety of muscles a proper workout. Lunging can be more tricky. Turner recommends slow lunging; hard workouts on the lunge line can damage joints and work muscles in the wrong order. “It is like going to the gym and using the workout machines wrong,” she says.
It is important for each owner and rider to know how a horse should move properly. This way, you know if your horse is carrying him or herself correctly.
To Shoe or Not to Shoe?
In the springtime, it is also time to check in on hoof health and other regular maintenance routines such as teeth and vaccinations. Turner does not shoe any of her horses, but says the decision to shoe or not depends on each horse and its environment, diet, and discipline.
A shoe can only go so far, according to Turner, but going barefoot can help solve some problems such as fixing a frog or getting heels to spread. After the problem is solved, you can choose to return to shoeing your horse.
Turner had a 17-year-old Thoroughbred mare that had been shod all her life, and when she finally went barefoot, she began to loosen up; within a week, she was a completely different horse. Many times, stiffness and pain radiate from the hooves and through the whole body, which can cause stiffness elsewhere in the body and other problems.
Some pain and discomfort can occur after removing shoes from a long-time user. Turner recommends going barefoot in the wintertime so the cold weather can help with any discomfort. For her mare, she did some cold water rinsing and Epsom salts for about a week, after which there was no more pain.
Talk to several different people including vets, farriers, and trainers, to get a good idea of what might be best for your horse when it comes to shoeing. Hire a professional and go from there.
Tack Prep for the Trail
Since you will be riding for hours in a saddle, find one that fits both you and the horse. Also, make sure your saddle and bridle are properly placed. A noseband that is too tight or a bit that is too far back can cause vices such as head tossing or pulling. Ensuring that your tack is correct will make a big change in behavior.
Even if the saddle fits, if it is set too high on the shoulders, the horse will suffer. Make sure the girth is one hand's width behind the back of the horse’s front leg so the saddle is not sitting on the shoulder blades. Otherwise, the saddle can cause the front strides to shorten and make downhill riding painful for the horse.
Turner suggests using a natural fiber saddle pad, such as cotton or wool. In the hot summer months, a cotton or wool pad will breathe, preventing skin problems. Natural fiber products are also good for horses with sensitive skin.
Be aware of the little things that can ultimately make a big difference. This will prepare you and your horse for happy trails this summer. Do as the Boy Scouts do and be prepared!
Labels: Equine Wellness, May 2008, nicole lanphear
posted by NWHS at
6:26 PM
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