HAT Chat Articles – February 2006
A word from our President
Usually, rainfall is something you don’t think about very
much, let alone write about it. But,
when you do without it for months and then get a good solid rain two weekends
in a row like we did at the end of January, it’s hard not to talk about it! It’s nowhere near what we need to refill
stock tanks and green up the pastures this spring, but it’s a good start.
Speaking of good starts, there are two opportunities in this
newsletter for you to get a good start on the breeding season:
First is our annual Stallion Showcase, featuring an
excellent selection of quality stallions from across the Texoma area.
Second is our Stallion Service Auction, where you can bid on
the services of seven different stallions, starting at one-half their regular fee. It’s a great
opportunity for you to purchase a breeding for your mare at a bargain price,
and help support HAT’s programs at the same time!
If breeding is not part of your plans this year, be sure to
check out our Activities Calendar. There’s still plenty of other things going on to keep you
and your horse busy!
Roger Dougan
HAT President
2006 Stallion Showcase Is Here
Our
annual Stallion Showcase feature is included in this issue. Look for it following page 16.
As
an added benefit, for the first time ever the entire 2006 Showcase is also
listed online at our website, www.hat-texoma.org. Just go to the site and click on the
“Stallion Showcase” link in the menu.
So, if you happen to misplace this newsletter, you can go online and
find the same information. The online
version will be available throughout the month of February.
2006 HAT Stallion Service Auction
Last
year, HAT held its first Stallion Service Auction, and we had great
success. This year, we are expanding the
auction to include several more local stallions, and adding some new features
to make it more exciting.
To
begin with, all of the stallions whose owners have offered breedings
for the auction will be highlighted in the Stallion Showcase (both in this
issue and online at our website). This
way, you will know at a glance whether a particular stallion is in the auction.
To
participate in the auction, all you have to do is contact us by calling the HAT
office or sending an e-mail to the HAT Webmaster to place a bid on the stallion
service you wish; bids start at one-half of their regular fee (example: if the
fee is regularly $500, the opening bid will be $250). All bids will be posted on the HAT website,
and you can also call the HAT office to find out the latest bids as well.
Bids
will be accepted through
Look
for complete rules inside this issue and on our website at www.hat-texoma.org.
Good
luck!
State/Local
News
Robin Chouteau 5th in the ApHC!
Congratulations
to HAT member Robin Chouteau, who finished 2005 with a ranking of 5th
in the ApHC National standings for Non-Pro Novice Trail with her horse, Dreams
Double Date. Way to go, Robin!
- - - - - - -
Protect
Pastures from Wildfire
Dr. Wayne Hanselka, Extension
range specialist here, said high temperatures, low humidity, high winds and
moderate to extreme drought prevail across much of the state.
All that is needed to touch off this lethal mix is an
ignition source – a cigarette or a spark from a welder, power lines or a
catalytic converter, he said.
“Over the years, land managers have tended to neglect
protective measures on the land,” Hanselka said. “Precautionary measures, such as fire guards,
particularly in more fire-prone areas, aren’t as common as they should be. However, it’s never too late to install
measures designed to protect pastures and facilities from this very real threat.”
The most common protection against wildfire is fire guards
around and through pastures, he said.
The guards form a break that keeps fuel from a fire. A fire guard can help keep fire in or out of
a pasture, or keep it contained within smaller blocks of land. The fire lines need to be wide enough to slow
the fire and keep it contained, he added.
“Fire guards may
take several forms, and several types may be used together,” Hanselka said. “The
more permanent types are done mechanically, often with a disc, a blade or a
plow. Grasses are removed or turned
under the soil so that bare soil is exposed.
Any grasses occurring on the line could form a ‘bridge’ that allows fire
to creep across the line. These fire
guards need to be at least three times as wide as the adjacent vegetation is
tall (3 ft. high grasses = 9-10 feet or more of fire guard). A flame front should approach the guard, lay
down over it, and not touch the far side of the guard.”
Temporary guards can be constructed by mowing excess fuel,
he said. The remaining stubble will
still burn, but not with the intensity or rate of spread supported by higher
fuel loads. A strip is mowed around a
pasture with a disced or bladed line next to it. Another strip is mowed to eliminate tall
grasses from the plowed strip.
“Another combination is to use two lines – mechanical, wet
lines using water, and/or chemical lines (a super
phosphate slurry) – at an appropriate distance apart,” he said. “The space in between is then burned
out. This effectively removes any fuel
for a distance away from the perimeter of the pasture. It is effective for season-long
protection. Of course, the burning of
these ‘blacklines’ should be done when conditions
allow them to be safely burned. Widths
vary with the kind and amount of fuel present.
Black lines should be at least 100 feet wide in grasslands with oak or
mesquite brush. In volatile brush such
as cedars, the black line probably should be at least 500 feet wide.”
Fire guards provide an added bonus, Hanselka
said, by doubling as food plots for wildlife or forage for livestock. Disced fire guards
can be fertilized and planted to cool-season annual grasses and forbs, he
added. The green vegetation will not
burn and provides food for a variety of wildlife species.
Many fire guard options are available, so each landowner
must decide on the type and design that best fits his situation, Hanselka said.
Information on protecting property from wildfire is available from
Extension agents and specialists.
“As drought conditions worsen, now is the time to protect
our rangeland pastures and facilities before it's too late,” Hanselka said.
Writer: Steve Byrns, (325) 653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Wayne Hanselka, (361) 265-9203, c-hanselka@tamu.edu
National
News
CHA Introduces Equine Facilities Management Certification Program
New program allows barn managers
to become certified
The Certified Horsemanship
Association (CHA) has recently introduced a new certification program called
Equine Facilities Management (EFM).
The EFM program consists of a
twenty-hour certification clinic conducted over 2-1/2 days to evaluate
participants on their skills and knowledge of equine facility management. Participants demonstrate skills and take
written tests at each of four levels of certification:
1. Stable
Worker- Qualified to work in a barn under the supervision of a manager
2. Stable
Manager- Qualified to manage a small private stable of up to 10 head and 1-2
employees.
3. Herd
Manager- Qualified to manage a public equine facility of up to 35 head and 3-4
employees.
4. Equine
Facility Manager- Qualified as general manger of a commercial equine operation
greater than 35 head and with five or more employees.
Each participant starts at level 1
and may proceed to the next level upon successful completion of each level, and
may receive up to Level 4 certification during the same clinic.
Knowledge
and skills tested through this program include horse handling (unmounted), knowledge of horses and their behavior, daily
chores, health maintenance and first aid, turnout and exercise, tack fit and
maintenance, equipment use and maintenance, herd management, nutrition,
sickness and treatment, training and supervising staff, facility design and
maintenance, developing policy and procedures, business and risk management and
disaster planning. Minimum age
for participation in the clinic is 18, and candidates for certification must
have the knowledge and skills at any given level prior to attending the clinic.
The
emphasis of the certification program is on safety and effectiveness. CHA’s programs are
designed to objectively and systematically evaluate and certify the existing
knowledge and skill level of equestrian staff members. As an added bonus, participants also learn
new skills, are exposed to recognized industry safety standards, and have an
opportunity to network with other equine professionals. Many insurance companies offer discounts for
certification.
EFM
certification clinics are conducted at large commercial equine facilities that
stable over 35 head, and any such facility can arrange with CHA to host a
clinic. “Demand for certification is
very high in all areas of the horse industry, and with the help of the CHA
staff, planning and promoting a certification clinic is easy,” says CHA Program
Director Julie Goodnight. “There are no
upfront costs, so you can register to host a clinic and start signing up
participants through CHA’s website right away.” For more information on attending or hosting
a clinic, contact Carol Parker with CHA at (800) 399-0138 or visit the CHA
website at www.cha-ahse.org.
The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) promotes excellence in safety and education internationally, for the benefit of individuals and group riding programs. CHA serves leaders, instructors and riding program directors for youth associations, clubs, riding stables, camps, colleges and recreational programs with instructor and trail guide certification. CHA also publishes industry standards for group riding programs, accredits riding program facilities and provides the most comprehensive variety of program resources for instructional and recreational riding programs. For more information, call CHA at (800) 399-0138 or visit their website at www.cha-ahse.org.
Upcoming Events
Rose Hill Announces CT and Dressage Series
After taking a few months
off to have a baby, Jeff and Felicia Abbott have announced a new series of
Combined Test and Dressage events to be held at Rose Hill Stables in Anna.
The tentative dates for
these events are the weekends of February 18th-19th,
April 29th-30th, and June 24th-25th.
Each weekend will begin
with an open schooling day on Saturday, at a fee of $25 per horse for the
entire day. On Sunday, riders may enter
the Combined Tests at $45 per level (six levels to choose from) or
Dressage-only classes at $12 per class (also six to choose from). Additional tests and stadium rounds can be
purchased if desired. In addition,
several “fun” classes will be available, from Bareback Dressage to Sport
Horse-in-Hand.
Dress for these events is
“show casual”, and protective headgear is required for everyone while mounted.
For more information, look for the Rose Hill showbill elsewhere in this issue, or contact Rose Hill by calling (972) 924-2549 or sending an e-mail to felicia@rosehillstables.com. You can also visit their website at www.rosehillstables.com.
Extension
Service News
by Eddie Baggs,
CEA-Agriculture
Good Fences Make Good
Neighbors
Fencing for horse owners is important for many reasons. Obviously, the goal is to safely contain and
manage the horses therein. However,
other decisions may play a role in the fencing types chosen. Also, consider your ability to maintain the
fence and the efficiency of design for handling horses with less labor. The cost of the materials as well as the
aesthetics of the finished product must also be a part of the decision-making
process. Remember that while aesthetics might
be considered, it should never overrule the need for safe, functional fencing.
How high should a fence be? Perimeter pasture fences should be 5 feet high
and in some situations, 6 feet or more with taller breeds. A 5 foot fence is the same height as a 15-hand
horse. For paddocks and pens, a good
general rule is to put the tops of the fence at eye level with the horse. This will discourage fighting with other
horses. Stallion paddocks will need to
be double fenced with a lane between paddocks. Dividing fences between pastures can be 4 1/2
feet high if horses are not prone to fighting between pastures.
There are many, many types of materials that can be used in
fencing. Wooden fencing is popular, but
expensive and may involve high maintenance costs. It is most practical for stallion paddocks,
show and sale paddocks, turn out pens and for aesthetic
effects. Boards should always be on the
inside (the horse side) for safety. Wooden
posts should be at least 4 inches in diameter and 6-8 feet apart (using 12-16
foot boards). Joints should be
staggered. The use of hardwoods as well
and safety may be an issue with rails that slip. Wire fencing can also be used and is a strong choice.
The best wire for horses is a
five-diamond mesh wire. It should also
be placed on the horse side of the fence. Barbed wire is not recommended for horses for
safety reasons. Twisted barb-less wire
can be used. Five stranded wire should
be stretched tight and attached with long staples. A top board is advisable. If not, attach a plastic stringer in each
section for visibility. Rubber fencing
is used frequently especially for safety reasons. It can be expensive, but wears extremely well.
It will sag if not installed properly.
Educational programs
conducted by the
Ask The Vet
by Dr. Heather Sizemore, DVM
Adoptive Mares
I attended the North American Veterinary Conference in
Dr. Peter F. Daels
from
His team also figured out that they could artificially trick
the mare’s body into thinking she had a foal and adoption would proceed faster.
The mare’s cervix must be massaged for 3 minutes at 10-minute intervals to
stimulate the release of oxytocin from the brain. This tells the mare she has foaled and that
this is her baby. Oxytocin injected into
the mare does not have the same effect.
These mares usually adopt the foal within the first few hours and allow
it to nurse.
Dr. Daels provides this service
commercially to Warmblood clients in
An interesting study they did with these adoptive mares was
to see if the mare could recognize her new adoptive foal. They placed two foals at the end of a pen and
allowed her to choose. Fifty percent of
the time the mare approached the correct baby.
She might walk over and check out the other foal for a few minutes, but
quickly returned to her own adoptive baby.
The other half of the time when she approached the wrong foal she might
spend 10-30 minutes with that baby. She
would then figure out it was not hers and spend the remainder of the time with
her foal. When they compared this to
natural mothers, the results were exactly the same.
A Bit of Humor
Living with O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome
by Scooter Grubb
Just recently, after
years of research, I have finally been able to give a name to what my wife and
I have been living with for years. It’s
an affliction, for sure, which when undiagnosed and misunderstood can devastate
and literally tear a family apart. Very
little is known about O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome.
But it is my hope this article will generate interest from researchers
involved in the equine and psychological sciences. You will, no doubt, begin to identify similar
symptoms in your own family and hopefully now be able to cope.
Obsessive Compulsive
Equine Attachment Neurosis Syndrome (O.C.E.A.N.) is usually found in the female
and can manifest itself anytime from birth to the golden years. Symptoms may appear any time and may even go
dormant in the late teens, but the syndrome frequently re-emerges in later
years. Symptoms vary widely in both
number and degree of severity. Allow me
to share some examples which are most prominent in our home.
The afflicted
individual:
1.
Can smell moldy
hay at ten paces, but can’t tell whether milk has gone bad until it turns
chunky.
2.
Finds the
occasional “Buck and Toot” session hugely entertaining, but severely chastises
her husband for similar antics.
3.
Will spend
hours cleaning and conditioning her tack, but wants to eat on paper plates so
there are no dishes.
4.
Considers
equine sweat a fragrance.
5.
Enjoys mucking
out four stalls twice a day, but insists on having a housekeeper mop the
kitchen floor once a week.
6.
Will spend an
hour combing and trimming an equine mane, but wears a baseball cap so she
doesn’t waste time brushing her own hair.
7.
Will dig
through manure piles daily looking for worms, but does not fish.
8.
By memory can
mix eight different supplements in the correct proportions, but can’t make
macaroni and cheese that isn’t soupy.
9.
Twice a week
will spend an hour scrubbing algae from the water tanks, but has a problem
cleaning lasagna out of the casserole dish.
10. Will pick a horse’s nose and call it
cleaning, but becomes verbally violent when her husband picks his.
11. Can sit through a four-hour session of a
ground work clinic, but unable to make it through a half-hour episode of Cops.
The spouse of an
afflicted victim:
1.
Must come to
terms with the fact there is no cure, and only slightly effective
treatments. The syndrome may be genetic or
caused by the inhaling of manure particles which, I propose, have an adverse
effect on female hormones.
2.
Must adjust the
family budget to include equine items - hay, veterinarian services, farrier
services, riding boots and clothes, supplements, tack, equine masseuse and
acupuncturist - as well as the (mandatory) equine spiritual guide, etc. Once you have identified a monthly figure,
never look at it again. Doing so will
cause tightness in your chest, nausea and occasional diarrhea.
3.
Must realize
that your spouse has no control over this affliction. More often than not, she will deny a problem
even exists. Denial is common.
4.
Must form a
support group. You need to know you’re
not alone - and there’s no shame in admitting your wife has a problem. My support group, for instance, involves men
who truly enjoy Harley Davidsons, four-day weekends
and lots of scotch. Most times, she is
unaware that I am even gone until the precise moment she needs help getting a
50-pound bag of grain out of the truck.
Now you can better
see how O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome affects countless households in this country and
abroad. It knows no racial, ethnic or
religious boundaries. It is a syndrome
that will be difficult to treat because those most affected are in denial and
therefore, not interested in a cure.
This Month’s Recipe
Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff Servings:
8
2
lbs beef stew meat, cut
into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
2
tbsp French dip concentrated
au jus sauce or beef bouillon granules
1
tsp fresh garlic, finely
chopped
1/4
tsp black pepper
1
can (10-3/4 oz) condensed
cream of mushroom soup
1
can (10-3/4 oz) condensed
cream of chicken soup
2
pkg (8 oz) sliced mushrooms
1
pkg (16 oz) sour cream
8
cups hot cooked egg noodles
chopped
fresh parsley
·
Combine all
ingredients except sour cream, noodles, and parsley in a large crock pot. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours
(or high heat for 4 to 5 hours) or until beef is tender.
·
Stir in sour cream
just before serving. Serve over egg
noodles and garnish with parsley.