HAT Chat Articles – September 2005
A word from our President
I never thought I would see
the day when HAT members would attend our monthly meetings using
technology! But, that’s exactly what
happened at the August meeting. Mike
Bernier, our newsletter editor and Show Secretary, was on the road heading home
after flying into
Before I go
off to think some more about that, I want to remind everyone about our next
show coming up on September 18th. We had a lot
of fun doing our other two shows this year, and I’m looking forward to having
another great time at this one. You’ll
find a showbill in this issue, and if you need more copies you can also print
them from our new website.
If you can’t come out to our
show, make sure you at least get out and do something with your horse. You’ll both be glad you did.
Roger Dougan
HAT President
HAT Autumn Show September 18th
HAT’s next open show is
coming up on September 18th.
This show will be held in the Grayson Sheriff’s Posse Arena at
A showbill is included in
this issue. Additional copies can be
printed from the HAT website at www.hat-texoma.org; from any page, click on
“Showbills” and then “September 18th Autumn Open Show”.
There have been three
noteworthy changes made to this show from the previous events:
·
In an effort to defray increased expenses and provide additional values
and benefits to being a HAT member, the class fee for All Day showing has been
increased for non-HAT members from $35 to $45.
If desired, this increase can be applied toward the purchase of a HAT
membership, which would be valid through September 2006 and allow the
participant to pay the lower HAT Member fees at future events. All other show fees remain unchanged.
·
To reduce confusion regarding what does or does not count toward the
daily
·
The Hunter Hack class has been moved up in the schedule so that it now
follows the Trail classes. This was done
in order to reduce the time needed for setting up and tearing down course
obstacles, and should result in a faster-moving English segment of the show.
Volunteers are still needed
to help out with a variety of jobs at various times throughout the show
day. If you are interested or would like
to know more about the types of jobs available, contact show manager Sally
Thomason at (903) 463-6463.
We’re looking forward to
seeing you at the show!
State/Local News
Researchers
Find Ways to Turn Manure into Power
Texas Senate Bill 20,
signed by Gov. Rick Perry, compliments research underway to determine how and
where biomass can be used. The new law
requires more renewable energy to be developed and used in the next 10 years.
Combining consumer energy
needs and agriculture industry trends with the legislation will push the
research to become reality, said Dr. John Sweeten, resident director of the
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at the Texas A&M
University System Agriculture Research and
Researchers have long
worked with manure as a fertilizer and have studied ways to convert it into
energy, but this latest push of legislation and research should result in more
energy projects becoming a reality, Sweeten said.
Research is concentrating
on finding alternative uses for the growing supplies of manure, Sweeten
said. Irrigated cropland use of manure
as a fertilizer is dwindling, but the livestock industry is growing.
Other trends contributing
to a potential excess are increasing imports of grain-based nutrients to feed
the cattle; less irrigation water; and the switch to crops which use less water
and require fewer nutrients.
“Things are in reasonable
shape now, but in 10, 20 or 30 years from now, we need to have alternate uses
that are not based exclusively on land application,” he said.
Energy production has been
researched for more than 20 years, but “$60 a barrel oil recruits a lot of
interest in biomass,” Sweeten said.
“The question becomes, how do
you convert biomass into energy?” he said.
The solid feedlot waste
presents a different challenge than the liquid waste from hog or dairy
operations, Sweeten said. Researchers
are trying to determine what process and what mix of the product will create
the most useable heat and, as a result, energy.
For this study, composite
samples of raw/mixed/uncomposted manure from the Experiment Station feedlot at Bushland have been sent for testing at several labs. The manure samples were harvested May 17-June
2 from two types of pens.
One set of pens were paved
with fly-ash, a byproduct of the coal-fired power generating industry, and the
other manure was from unpaved pens. The
manure was composted and test results from the two showed a large difference
for several constituents measured, especially ash content, Sweeten said.
Ash, an unusable material
as far as energy is concerned, was lower in the composted manure samples from
the paved pens than the dirt pens – 20.2 percent compared to 58.7 percent. As a result, the low-ash manure had about
twice the organic matter and heating value, he said.
“The low-ash feedlot
biomass would be much better fuel than high-ash feedlot biomass,” Sweeten
said. “The problem is,
there is not that much of it in the commercial feedlots.”
Large bulk samples from the
compost pile that came from the paved pens will be tested further in a
small-scale combustion testing project in
These test results will
focus on using pulverized manure samples as reburn
fuel in a secondary combustion chamber to lower the nitrogen oxides and
specific metal emissions from coal-firing in the primary combustion chamber,
Sweeten said.
Re-sampling will begin upon
completion of 50 days of composting of the two windrows. The analysis will be repeated on the
partially-composted manure to determine changes in fuel quality produced by
more than six weeks of composting, he said.
Another research project
involves using the byproduct combustion ash as a fertilizer or construction
material, Sweeten said.
“By assuring year-round
uses of manure, the cattle feed yards in this area could not only stay current
on manure harvesting, but the fuel quality of manure improves with more
frequent harvest,” Sweeten said. “An even
greater benefit is that frequent surface manure harvesting by scraping is an
accepted method of dust control.”
Source:
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, (806) 677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. John Sweeten, (806) 677-5600, jsweeten@ag.tamu.edu
National News
AQHA Modifies Team Penning Rules
Amarillo,
Texas – The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) announced that effective
Jan. 1, 2006, its team penning rules will be more reflective of the industry
standard established by the U.S. Team Penning Association (USTPA), an AQHA
Alliance Partner and the only national not-for-profit association representing
the sports of team penning and ranch sorting in North America.
Specifically,
AQHA rule 455 (j) has been changed so that if more
than three head cross the start/foul line at the same time, a no time will be
called. Any part of the fourth animal
that crosses the line will result in a no time.
Further, rule 455 (r) now reduces the foul line to between 30 and 35
percent of the arena length from the cattle end of the arena, although it may
be extended by five percent for every 10 feet beyond 110 feet in width to
accommodate bigger and wider arenas. The
entry gate will be situated 25 percent of the distance from the arena back wall,
but not less than 55 feet from the back wall.
“We
have worked with AQHA for more than a year in modifying its rules to more
closely reflect the standards of the industry, which are designed to encourage
better horsemanship and care for the animals used in the sport,” said USTPA President
Gary Fletcher.
With
the rule change, it is now possible for producers to host jointly approved AQHA
and USTPA events.
“This
is an exciting development for producers as it brings more value to shows
sanctioned through USTPA and approved by AQHA,” said Cody Weirich,
USTPA Executive Director. “Members who
compete in these shows can earn points toward AQHA World Show qualification, as
well as credit toward USTPA National Finals qualification, among other awards
and recognition. Even more important is
how these rule changes will positively affect the sport and build it on an
international level.”
Weirich
continued by encouraging USTPA producers to contact USTPA on how dual
sanctioning and approval can be applied for and approved.
“We
are looking forward to seeing [team penning] grow and in assisting producers in
producing quality competitions,” said Charlie Hemphill, AQHA Director of Shows.
For
more information, contact the USTPA at (817) 378-8082 or go to www.ustpa.com.
U.S. Dressage Team Finishes Third
at World Equestrian Festival
The
Leslie
Morse of
The
highest score went to Anky van Grunsven
of the
Peters
was the only American to score above 70 percent. Morse’s 14-year-old Dutch stallion,
This
is the first time that the
Sponsored
by tour title sponsor Wahl Clipper, Chop For Charity
allowed tour attendees to enter into a unique drawing for the chance to cut
Clinton Anderson’s hair in any style they chose. The cost for a ticket was $5--all of which
went to benefit the non-profit North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association (NARHA),
In
total, the drawing raised over $12,000 for NARHA. In addition, Anderson and wife Beth donated
an additional $10,000 of their own money, bringing the total raised to over
$22,000.
Charlie
Begay of Big Water,
Begay
started cutting
Legislative Update
Equine Equity Act Introduced in Congress
The American Horse Council reports that the Equine Equity
Act has been introduced by Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jim Bunning (R-KY)
and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). “My legislation will remove the unfair tax burden on horses
that discourage investment in the horse industry” said Senator McConnell.
Specifically, the Equine Equity Act would: (1) make
horses eligible for capital gains treatment after twelve months, similar to
other business assets; (2) place all race horses in the three-year category for
depreciation purposes; and (3) make horses eligible for federal emergency
assistance under circumstances presently enjoyed by other livestock and crop
producers.
“This legislation is well-named,” said Jay Hickey,
President of the AHC. “It would
eliminate the disparate treatment that horse owners and breeders receive under
several out-dated and ill-conceived federal laws, including the federal tax
code. The horse industry appreciates
Senators McConnell, Bunning and Lincoln recognizing this and initiating a
change.”
Reduction
of Capital Gains Holding Period
Under the federal tax code, gains from sales by
individuals of property used in a trade or business, including horses, qualify
for long-term capital gains and are subject to the maximum capital gains tax
rate of 15%. Since the individual tax
rate can go as high as 35%, the lower rate is a real advantage.
Unfortunately, horses held for breeding, racing,
showing or draft purposes generally qualify for the 15% capital gains rate only
if they are held for 24 months. All
other business assets (except cattle) qualify if held for 12 months. Passage of this legislation would end this
discriminatory treatment of horses under the tax code and allow horse owners to
enjoy the reduced rate upon sale after holding the horse for 12 months, rather
than twenty-four.
“Reducing the holding period by half would give horse
owners and breeders more flexibility to sell and market their horses,” noted
Hickey. “It would mean that every sale
of a horse which is held for at least twelve months would qualify as a capital
gain or loss unless that horse is held primarily for sale.”
All
Racehorses Could Be Depreciated over Three Years
Presently race horses are depreciated over either
three or seven years, depending on their age when “placed in service.” A horse is generally deemed to be placed in
service when it begins training, which is usually at the end of its yearling
year.
Current tax law provides that racehorses that begin
training at the end of their yearling year are depreciated over seven-years,
even though most will not actually race for seven years. “The legislation introduced by Senators
McConnell, Bunning and Lincoln recognizes the economic reality that few horses
actually race more than three or even four years. It would change the tax code to allow owners
to depreciate all their race horses over three years, rather than seven,
regardless of when they are placed in service.
The change would provide for a more equitable depreciation schedule for
race horses, one that better matches the realities of the situation,” said
Hickey.
Making
Horses Eligible for Federal Emergency Funds
This legislation would also make horses eligible for
federal emergency relief similar to other livestock and crops. It would specifically repeal the restrictive
definition of livestock under the old and outdated Agricultural Act of 1949,
which defined “livestock” to consist of various animals, including “equine
animals used for food or in the production of food.”
The exclusion of horses from relief under the various
federal livestock assistance programs instituted since then seems to have
followed that same definition and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has
followed suit in administering them.
Losses from natural disasters affect horse breeders
just as they affect other livestock and crop producers. If a breeding farm or ranch loses horses
because of flood, drought, tornado or other natural disasters, it has lost its
“crop” and has nothing to sell. If a
drought causes feed to become more expensive it affects horse ranches as well
as cattle ranches. In cases of natural
disasters, federal emergency payments and loans could help some horse owners to
keep operating, rather than having to sell their horses or their business.
“This legislation would end this unfair discrimination
and provide that in future emergencies horse breeders would be eligible for
emergency assistance that producers of other crops and livestock have
enjoyed. Broadening the current
emergency assistance programs to include horses will rectify the unfair
economic situation now facing horse owners and breeders versus other livestock
producers in the aftermath of a natural disaster,” said Hickey.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the national trade association
representing the horse industry in
The AHC is member supported by individuals
and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners,
breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen’s associations
to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse
councils.
Extension Service News
by Eddie Baggs, CEA-Agriculture
Stocking Rates
This
time of year seems to bring a lot of questions about animal stocking
rates. With drought conditions and
rainfall about 6 inches below our annual normal average, grasses are a little
short and stocking rates become a factor.
Animal stocking rates can dictate animal condition and the ability to
reproduce, and it also will have an effect on grass production in the
future. Over-grazed pastures will be
slow to recover and will develop shallow root zones, and some native grasses if
grazed too closely will not recover at all.
Good
grazing management can increase pasture yields 25%. The carrying capacity of an improved pasture
(bermudagrass for example) is usually based on 70% utilization, as compared to
native grasses where over-grazing occurs when 50% of the plant is removed. Many different factors affect stocking rates
such as type of animal, forage type, soil type, fertility and climate
conditions. About 1.5 acres of excellent
pasture will graze one animal unit (AU) whereas it would take 3 acres of
average pasture.
Animal
Units are calculated on the amount of forage consumed and their grazing habits,
with most consuming about 2.5 to 3.5% of their body weight in air dry forage
each day if available. Some average AUs
and their equivalents are: 1 cow = 1 AU, 1 bull = 1.5 AU, 1 horse = 1.5-2 AU, 1
steer/heifer (up to 18 months) = .75 AU, 5 Sheep = 1 AU, and 6 Goats = 1 AU.
Grazing
patterns of livestock should be considered when determining stocking rates, the
location and distance to water, the size and shape of pastures and the
prevailing wind direction. Cattle tend
to graze in small groups; horses, sheep and goats graze in larger groups. Cattle and sheep usually graze into the
wind. Square pastures are more uniformly
grazed than long, narrow pastures.
Animals should get enough forage by grazing 2-3 hours 4-5 times per day.
The
quality of forage will determine the number of AUs that can effectively be
supported without over-grazing. Here are
some helpful tips to prevent over-grazing and maintain plant and animal
production: eliminate continuous grazing; divide pastures into smaller units;
put animals in one herd and move them to a new pasture whenever they have
grazed 30-40% of the available forage in that pasture; let plants recover
before allowing the animals to graze it again; provide a water source for each
pasture; and remember stocking rates are seasonal and will vary during the
different growing stages of the plants.
Winter Pasture Establishment
With
the hay production down this year due to limited rainfall, winter pastures
might be livestock producers only savior.
For
most horse owners and cow/calf producers, establishing winter pastures is a
real challenge, especially if most of your pasture is a bermudagrass type or
summer grass. If there was a way to feed
those animals through the winter with a minimum amount of hay the profitability
picture would look much better. There is
an effective way to convert that summer pasture to winter pasture. Sod-seeding or “over-seeding” is the most
common and is generally accomplished in September. With sod-seeding, the producer simply drills
the winter pasture into the existing sod.
This is usually done with a no-till drill. There are numerous types and varieties of
seed that can be used, such as wheat, oats, ryegrass, barley, triticale (hybrid
grain from crossing wheat and rye), clovers, etc.
Before
seeding the existing stand of forage, it must be grazed or mowed closely to
allow for seed/soil contact. This is
very important to the success of germination, as the seed must have contact
with the soil. If planting clovers,
fertilizer requirements must also be met with adequate phosphorus, potassium
and lime. A soil analysis will give you
this information. Most clovers do best in
a soil pH of around 6. Ryegrass does
very well in this area and will establish in many different soil types, but if
not managed properly it can compete with bermudagrass re-growth during the
early spring. Producers can also use a
combination of any of the varieties mentioned.
Sod-seeding
offers several benefits for the producer including: extending the season for
high quality green grazing, higher nutritional value during the winter months,
reduces hay requirements, utilizes bermudagrass acreage more efficiently
throughout the year, utilizes favorable growing conditions in the fall and
enhances fertilizer distribution and incorporation into the topsoil.
Educational programs conducted
by the Texas Cooperative Extension serve people of all ages regardless of
socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
Ask The Vet
by Dr. Heather Sizemore, DVM
Nail In Hoof
If
your horse is acutely lame on one leg with no obvious swelling or swelling only
just above the coronary band, look for a nail or other sharp object in the
hoof. If you find one, DO NOT simply
take it out and put your horse’s foot back down. This will drive dirt and bacteria into the
wound tract, making him more susceptible to infection in the hoof or bone.
In
the hoof there are two bones, the coffin and the navicular. There are also two synovial structures that
contain joint fluid; the navicular bursa and the deep digital flexor tendon
sheath. If any of these structures
become involved or infected the horse is at greater risk.
If
the object is not being pushed further into the hoof as he walks on it then
leave it in place. It is best to
radiograph it while the object is in place, for the depth of penetration and
orientation of the nail can then be determined.
The prognosis and treatment changes if the nail has penetrated to the
bone.
If
the horse does push the object further into the hoof as he walks then it can be
removed. When removing it, have material
ready to bandage the foot. Remove the
nail, but do not put the foot down; instead, immediately bandage the foot. It should then be radiographed at the soonest
to determine where the wound tract goes.
A contrast agent can be placed into the wound tract to help determine if
any vital structures are likely involved.
Aftercare
involves keeping the foot bandaged and flushing the wound tract daily with an
antibiotic like Cefa-Dri®. The horse also needs to begin systemic
antibiotics, and if bone involvement is likely it may need to be debrided.
Penetrating
injuries can be life threatening to the horse and require veterinary care as
soon as possible.
A Bit of Humor
Basic Rules for Horses with a Human Family to Support,
Part 2
Marriage:
Your personal human attendant may also have a spouse, who professes
non-equinity. Whenever your attendant
brings the non-equus spouse to visit, you are to
lavish unimaginable amounts of charm on the non-equus
spouse and, more importantly, you must act fearful of your personal human
attendant. This process must continue
until such time as the non-equus spouse converts to
full equinity, or “teases” your attendant with a 2x4 as a prelude to the mating
ritual.
Laughter:
Humans possess a thing called a “sense of humor.” This is a delightful emotional sensation that
is caused by the sight or sound of things that are out of the ordinary. You can facilitate this by providing unusual
situations that trigger the laughter response.
For instance, on the first day of a 3-day weekend, when your human shows
up with some of his turn-out buddies, loudly break wind, then fall to the
ground and stick your tongue out. The
sights and sounds you provide will stimulate the necessary laughter response.
The Passing of a Loved One: When one of your best turn-out friends has gone to
the Great Pasture in the Sky, your human attendant will require much
comforting, as they themselves fear that they will go next. Humans are instinctively afraid of
death. Offer your comfort by making deep
hacking and wheezing coughs that produce voluminous amounts of phlegm. Your human will be greatly comforted by
knowing that he’s not the next one to go.
Footwear:
Your human attendant will often risk his safety by wearing shoes that might not
provide full protection from hazardous situations. You can correct (not punish) this behavior by
applying pressure to the unprotected foot.
Humans are known to move away from pressure, but only after making loud
noises. Keep pressure applied until your
human responds correctly to this cue.
Author Unknown
This Month’s Recipe
Southwestern Skillet Chicken Servings:
4
1 tbsp vegetable
oil
1-1/4 lbs boneless
skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
1 bag (1
lb size) mixed frozen broccoli, red peppers, onions, and mushrooms
1 can (15
oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup chunky-style
salsa
1 (8-inch/burrito
size) flour tortilla cut into 2x1-inch strips
1 cup shredded
Cheddar cheese
·
In a 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high
heat. Cook chicken in oil 3-4 minutes,
stirring occasionally, until no longer pink in the center.
·
Stir in vegetables, beans, and salsa; reduce to medium
heat. Cover and cook 6-8 minutes,
stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
· Sprinkle with tortilla strips and cheese. Cover and cook 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.