News.

It's always fun to share horsey news with fellow horse folks. Please send us your news, wrap up of events and clinics, comings and goings at your barn and don't forget to add a photo or two. We'll share it on our facebook page. If you'd like us to give you press coverage of an event please email us the details as far in advance as possible.

Free Trial Offer to Professional Horse Trainers – Don’t Be Left Out In The Field and Miss It!
Press Release:
 
Every professional horse trainer seeks to improve the health and performance of their equine partners. Building and keeping your horse in tip-top health and up there on the leaderboard is hard work and having all that focus and energy reap rewards with consistent sparkling performances, is something competitors and coaches yearn to achieve.
 
Here’s a special invitation for pros who aren’t yet in the know, to help realize the most potential in their equine athletes. Don’t be left out in the field, come and get it!
 
Here's the scoop:
The recent game-changer to help professionals accomplish their goals, comes from the world of horse health supplements. It is the recently launched Grand Postbiotic. Perfected and produced by the well-respected Grand Meadows company, a leader in their own field of expertise, the significant benefits of the ground-breaking Grand Postbiotic are showcased with excellent results that have trainers adopting the supplement as a mainstay item. The bonus of saving money by dropping other supplement products that become no longer necessary is a neat addition to bringing real answers and resounding resolution to the problems their horses suffer. What is particularly interesting are the 7 published trials behind the ingredients in the Grand Postbiotic which is very unusual for a supplement. Read the full article...

Horse Trails of America Association: New Interactive Trail and Travel Map

Horse Trails of America (HorseTrailsofAmerica.com) announces the launch of the interactive horse trails and travel map. Access and post your trail, layover, camp, and guest ranch reviews when you become a site member and login at Http://hta.horse.

“We are thrilled to announce that THE Map is ready for you to add to,” says HTA Director Heidi Melocco. “We already have tons of trails listed thanks to our state ambassadors. As a free or premium member of our website, you can post to the map and search for trail rides, campgrounds, layovers, guest ranches, and outfitters where you want to ride with your horse. This is a map by and for trail riders and those who travel with horses. We want your reviews of the trails and your comments to make sure that trail information stays current. Read the full article..

University of Kentucky Specialist Urges Horse Owners to Plan for Future Hay Needs Now
By Aimee Nielson 
 
LEXINGTON, Ky., As the first hay cutting is wrapping up around the state, a University of Kentucky extension specialist is urging horse owners to begin planning for future hay needs.  

“The recent rains have provided some relief, increasing hopes for a successful second cut,” said Bob Coleman, equine extension specialist for the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “While some horse owners feed hay year-round, others need to prepare for a specific duration, particularly during winter.” 

Coleman said owners may determine the amount of hay their horses need using a simple calculation based on 2% of each horse's body weight per day. For instance, a 1,200 lb. horse would need approximately 24 lbs. of hay daily. 

“It is important to note that the amount of hay required per day can be adjusted if a forage analysis is available,” Coleman said. “Such analysis provides insights into the hay’s nutritional value and helps determine necessary supplementation. I encourage horse owners to contact their county extension agent for assistance in obtaining a proper sample and getting it analyzed. The cost of sample analyses typically range from $20 to $35 per sample, depending on the required level of analysis.” Read the full article...

Kaspar Companies, Inc. Acquired Circle Y Saddles, Inc. Assets

Kaspar Companies, Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of Circle Y Saddles, Inc. assets in a sale that closed August 8, 2023.

L-R : Darrell Nephew, Cathy Tucker, Peter Robinson, Greg Chumchal, Doug Kaspar, Jason Kaspar, Michael Ducker, Mark Jemelka

Circle Y Saddles and its family of saddle and tack brands, Reinsman Equestrian, Tucker Trail Saddles, and High Horse Saddles, will continue to operate in Yoakum, Texas, under the Kaspar Companies, Inc. umbrella. Read the full article...

AHC Announces Updates and New Appointments to Board of Trustees 

As the second half of 2023 begins to gain momentum, American Horse Council (AHC) President Julie Broadway announces the following updates to the AHC Board of Trustees: 
 
At the recent AHC Annual Meeting, the Board of Trustees elected the following officers: 
• Dr Rick Mitchell, Chair; representing United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 
• Marilyn Bertera, Vice Chair; representing United States Trotting Association 
• Matt Iuliano, Treasurer; representing The Jockey Club 
• Kristin Werner, Secretary; representing The Jockey Club Read the full article...

Air Quality and Air Pollution’s Impact on Your Horse’s Lungs
Story by: Dr. Janet Beeler-Marfisi

There’s nothing like hearing a horse cough to set people scurrying around the barn to identify the culprit. After all, that cough could mean choke, or a respiratory virus has found its way into the barn. It could also indicate equine asthma. Yes, even those “everyday coughs” that we sometimes dismiss as "summer cough" or "hay cough" are a wake-up call to the potential for severe equine asthma. Read the full article...

Horse & Country Launches on Fubo in the US

Horse & Country (H&C), the international equestrian sports network, announced today the launch of its linear service on Fubo, the leading sports-first live TV streaming platform. The channel is available on Fubo from June 21.

Programming and Live Sports Coverage

Horse & Country brings equestrian sports fans an exhilarating lineup of live competition coverage, exclusive training and educational shows, entertainment, and documentaries. Next up on H&C’s livestream schedule will be exclusive coverage from elite-level competitions throughout the world, including the prestigious CSI5* from Dinard in France, MARS Great Meadow International CCI4*-S in The Plains, Virginia, the Rolex Grand Prix CSIO5* from Spruce Meadows in Canada, as well as Dressage at Devon CDI-W and CDI3* from Devon, Pennsylvania. Read the full article...

Rapid Growth of IEA Dressage Program Results in Demographic Move from Regions to Zones for the 2023-2024 Season

Due to the rapid growth in membership of the IEA Dressage Program, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Board of Directors recently approved the IEA Dressage Committee’s recommendations to expand the demographic areas of teams into six Zones beginning with the 2023-2024 season. Previously divided into 11 Regions, the newly organized Zone structure allows Regions to grow within each Zone and mimics the way the IEA Hunt Seat Program has expanded over the years. Read the full article...

Biosecurity Research Findings – More than Just Vaccination

In a new University of Guelph study at the Ontario Veterinary College, preliminary findings reveal that a perception exists among horse owners and some event organizers viewing vaccination as a ‘bullet-proof’ intervention that will protect their horse from ailments. Read the full article...

Equine Veterinary Crisis - Sustaining Emergency and Critical Care Services in an Ever-Changing Landscape

There is a crisis silently brewing in the equine veterinary world.

The combination of older veterinarians leaving the field, current equine veterinarians leaving for better pay and work/life balance, and fewer numbers of veterinary students choosing equine as their elective field of specialty have seriously affected the availability of primary and emergency care for horses throughout the United States and beyond. And, if nothing is done now this could be greatly problematic for horse owners who need to seek medical care for their horses in the coming years.

Michael Erskine, director of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) in Leesburg, Virginia, is part of a national commission looking into the problem. The EMC is one of three animal health care facilities of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Equine veterinarians typically provide emergency care for their client’s horses, but emergency coverage can be especially challenging, taking a huge toll on equine practitioners who are often expected to be available 24/7,” said Erskine. “Equine referral hospitals, unlike small animal emergency clinics, are few and far between with horse owners often having to travel substantial distances to seek comprehensive emergency care.” Read the full article...

MMP Enzymes and Laminitis
Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD

MMPs are matrix metalloproteinases – enzymes that break down connective tissue protein/collagen in the body. If you follow news releases and articles about equine laminitis, you have surely seen mention of MMP enzymes since the late 1990s. Turns out they are not the major players as was originally thought.

The basement membrane (BM) in the hoof is a thin layer of connective tissue lining the junction between the dead laminae of the hoof wall, and the live laminae of the inner hoof. This system locks the hoof wall to the tissues inside like Velcro.

In laminitis caused by things like colic/gut infections, black walnut shavings, grain, or experimental fructan overload, it was noted the basement membrane is damaged or destroyed and that the level of MMP enzymes is increased. This led to the theory that the activation of MMP is what causes laminitis. Read the full article...

Horizon Structures Presents Series….Safety and Selection of Horse Hay Feeders
By Nikki Alvin-Smith

Saving up to 30 percent on your hay bill is an appealing reason to opt in to purchase a hay feeder. The University of Minnesota studies showcased that not only users of large square and round bale feeders could benefit from a smaller hay bill, but also horse owners that utilize small squares could get in on the significant savings.

Hay feeders can be labor saving boon, but with so many options on the market, what should the diligent horse owner look for when selecting a feeder and what safety measures should they employ to mitigate the risks of injury, choke or colic to their horses. Here are a few suggestions to help the neophyte equine hay feeder user navigate the world of feeders.

Cows and Horses

Cow feeders may be more readily available and cheaper than horse feeders, but does this make them a good option for use around equines? The answer is a resounding “No!”

Cows necessarily are not as athletic as horses and certainly their legs are shorter and their activities generally more lethargic than our beloved equines. While photos posted on social media of horses standing in the center of an empty round bale feeder may seem funny, the reality is that the gaps in the feeder are large enough for equine hooves to become trapped and can result in catastrophic injury or even death. Read the full Article...

Why Do Horses Eat Dirt?

One of the most frequently asked question from my clients is “Why does my horse want to eat dirt? Is she missing something in her diet?” Well, the question can be answered several ways, as there is not one particular reason why horses engage in this perfectly natural activity. Horses are supposed to eat a certain amount of dirt on a daily basis.

• Dirt is a natural part of the equine diet. It contains minerals in bio-available form that the horse needs for various metabolic functions. Some of the minerals, iron for example, are more utilizable from the soil than when added to feeds or stored in forages. Horses that are constantly stabled and deprived of minerals naturally found in dirt may develop deficiencies even when supplied with those minerals in processed feeds.

• Dirt also contains microbes that the horse’s digestive tract can benefit from. Some microbes are located in plant roots so the horse may dig through the dirt to get at the roots of these plants.

• Dirt contains water and salt which can both help a thirsty horse stay hydrated. However, it is always better to make sure horses are supplied with fresh drinking water and salt at all times. Read the full article.

Standing a Stallion? Cash in on a FREE listing in Catskill Horse Stallion Directory

The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse continues to add more resources to the magazine to service regional horse businesses and horse owners with the addition of a Stallion Directory.
To grab your free listing as a stallion owner please submit the following via email to us at info@CatskillHorse.org :-
Stallion Name:
Bloodlines to 3 generations:
Registry of Stallion: GOV/VHW etc.
Age:
20 words or less highlighting his credentials:
Stud Fee: Up to you whether you want to list or show as Private Treaty
Location where stallion stands:  Town/State ( Your full address if you wish published)
Contact Name:
Contact Tel #:
Contact Email:
Website address:
And most importantly a great photo! Must be copyright released to us by photographer if not your own to release.

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