HAT Chat Articles – August 2007
A word from our
President
As I sat to compose this
month’s letter, I found myself asking, “What the heck happened to July???” My
month started with a personal commitment and goal of riding! You may recall my excitement
after riding a friend’s horse in HAT’s reining clinic this spring. Well, it is
even more exciting to be riding my own lovely 28 year old Thoroughbred mare!
Like a fine wine, she is better than ever as we both enjoyed our partnership
through arena work, trail riding, and just plain old getting back in shape.
Kiva is a bit ahead of me in regard to getting into shape while maintaining her
graceful, youthful appearance! Time flies when you’re having fun…and the month
flew by!
A key component of this
month’s newsletter is a copy of the proposed HAT by-laws which will be voted on
at our September 6th meeting. There have been questions as to the need for
revised by-laws. Each of the multiple organizations I belong to go through this
process as the organization evolves. While the initial peek may look like a lot
of legal, beagle, gobbledy gook, bear in mind much time and thought was devoted
to this task. The goal is new by-laws which better meet the current membership
needs while paving the way for the growth and expansion of HAT. I urge you to
take a few moments to read through the proposal to prepare your vote. HAT is
about each member having a say in what we do and how we it!
I’m filled with pride as I
hear of the successes of the Texoma area youth at this year’s 4-H State Horse
Show! Many of these kids started their show careers at our HAT Open Horse Shows
and Youth Clinics, venues that provided them opportunities to learn, develop,
and excel. Watch for more details of their accomplishments in next month’s
issue of HAT Chat!
Mark your calendars with the
upcoming HAT events – Family Riding/Schooling evening on August 16th,
the next monthly meeting on September 6th, and the HAT Open Horse
Show on September 8th! As always, we anticipate and look forward to
your participation!!!
Happy Trails…and keep on
riding!
New HAT By-Laws Proposed
A proposal to adopt a new set
of by-laws has been reviewed and approved by the HAT Board of Directors. The
intentions of the proposed by-laws are to fill in existing gaps and clarify
certain aspects of how HAT operates, as well as to make some organizational
changes to better support the group’s needs and prepare for future growth.
Under the provisions of the
current by-laws, any such proposals must be approved by the membership before
they can be adopted. The Board of Directors has asked for the HAT membership to
review the proposal, and has called for a vote to be held during the monthly
meeting on September 6th. To help with this process, copies of both
the current and proposed by-laws have been printed on pages 3-10 of this
newsletter, and have also been posted on the HAT website, www.hat-texoma.org.
HAT
members are encouraged to read and ask questions about the proposal, and to
attend the September meeting to discuss the by-laws in person and to cast their
vote. For more information, please contact Mike Bernier at 903-465-4514 or
e-mail info@hat-texoma.org
Next HAT Show September 8th
Remember that the next HAT
show will be held on September 8th at Loy Lake Arena in
State/Local
News
Platter Flats Trails Still Flooded; Campground Reservation System Out Until
Spring 2008
According to a report received
from Donna Carmickle with the Collin County Horse Committee, the riding trails
at Platter Flats are still flooded from all the recent rains, and the Army
Corps of Engineers has shut down the campground reservations system until the
Spring of 2008.
“The campground itself is
still open. Parts are under water. Parts of the horse trails are under water,”
Donna said. “The water is going down. Hopefully it will be back to normal
soon.”
Donna continued, “The camping
is first-come, first-serve for the time being. Loop A is all equestrian
camping, 27 sites with electricity and water, and 28 with water only. We camp
there in the winter and have electric but the water is turned off. Hopefully it
will be safe to ride again when it dries out.”
The Collin County Horse
Committee had scheduled an overnight camp out and trail ride at Platter Flats
for September 14-15, but this has been cancelled. The event will be
re-scheduled for early next year.
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Anthrax Cases Reported in
Steve Sturtz, Texas
Cooperative Extension agent for
“Anthrax is naturally
occurring across much of our area,” Sturtz said.
“Most longtime ranchers here
have been aware of it for generations. While it is a serious zoonotic bacterial
disease, which causes sudden death, it is preventable and easily vaccinated
against.
Sturtz said a zoonotic
disease is one that can cross-infect from animals to humans. Naturally
occurring anthrax infections occur through ingestion of the spores; not by
inhalation.
“The reason for this
announcement is so area ranchers with a history of anthrax in their area will
have time to vaccinate their animals, because as with most all vaccines, there
is a lag time of several days before the vaccine becomes effective after the
animal is vaccinated.”
This year’s unusually wet
weather followed by a dry spell created a prime environment for anthrax spores
already existing in the soil to resurface, Sturtz said.
“Wet weather in
“I do want to emphasis that
though the public should be aware of it, the occasional dead bird or squirrel
you might come across in town is not an indicator of an anthrax pandemic.”
Anthrax is a reportable
disease, Sturtz said, which means that suspected cases should be reported to
the Texas Animal Health Commission area office at 800-658-6642; after 5 p.m.
call 800-550-8242 as soon as possible.
The commission requires that
anthrax carcasses, manure and bedding from affected animals be incinerated,
Sturtz said. Ranchers should not move the carcass, but should wear gloves and
long sleeves when preparing the burn site.
“The commission reports that
there is no need for vacationers or hunters to worry about naturally occurring
anthrax,” he said. “But they do say not to touch or handle sick or dead
animals, bones or shed antlers.”
For more information visit
these Web sites:
·
Extension
Veterinary Medicine, Texas Cooperative Extension: http://extensionvetmed.tamu.edu
·
The Center for
Food Safety and Public Security: http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/DiseaseInfo/default.htm
·
U.S. Department
of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_ahanthrax.html
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_ahantrhadiag.html
·
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Steve Sturtz, 325-659-6524, s-sturtz@tamu.edu
National
News
USRider Urges Horse Owners to Minimize Environmental Impact
An unpleasant fact for horse
owners is that transporting their animals requires the use of heavy-duty vehicles
that use more energy than most passenger cars.
The issue of global warming
(now commonly referred to as climate change) has several sides. Some people
feel that the changes in our planet’s climate are due to natural cycles and
events. Others believe the changes are the result of greenhouse gases emitted
by human activity. Regardless of your opinions on the issue, it’s imperative
that everyone does his or her part to help reduce or slow the worst
consequences of climate change.
USRider believes that future
technological advancements in tow vehicles will minimize the impact of vehicles
on the environment. However, horse owners can take several steps now to
minimize their impact on the environment.
“Horse owners can do their
part to reduce their fuel consumption with practical travel tips that actually
work,” said Mark Cole, managing member for USRider.
Improve your fuel economy –
as well as your safety and the safety of your horses – by following these
simple tips:
Through its Equestrian Motor
Plan, USRider offers nationwide roadside assistance especially for equestrians.
The plan includes standard features such as flat-tire repair, battery
assistance and lockout services, plus towing up to 100 miles and roadside
repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency stabling,
veterinary and farrier referrals, and more.
USRider offers several
suggestions for conserving fuel while traveling. These tips work for most
vehicles.
A key to maximizing fuel
efficiency is to maintain your tow vehicles. Follow the manufacturer’s
guidelines for regular maintenance.
Minimize Environmental Impact
If your tow vehicle is an
older model, consider purchasing a new tow vehicle. New vehicles have more
power but use less fuel. Another item worth considering is to switch from a tow
vehicle that uses gasoline to one that uses diesel, as current diesel
technology is more fuel efficient.
In addition to maintaining
your tow vehicle, USRider offers vehicle operation tips that will help reduce
the impact on the environment:
“These measures have a triple
benefit – they reduce the detrimental impacts automobiles have on the
environment, result in fuel savings for horse owners and improve safety for
everyone. That’s a win-win-win situation,” said Cole.
For more information about
USRider and more equine trailer safety tips, visit the USRider website at www.usrider.org, or call (800) 844-1409.
Legislative
Update
Unwanted Horse Coalition Gathers, Spreads Message of “Owning
Responsibly”
Members of the Unwanted Horse
Coalition met during the American Horse Council’s National Issues Forum in
“It was great to come back to
the 2007 American Horse Council’s Issues Forum only one year after being folded
into the AHC with so many accomplishments such as our web site and awareness
brochure,” said Dr. Tom Lenz, chairman of the Unwanted Horse Coalition. “It was
important for us to have an audience with industry players so they can help us
educate current and prospective horse owners on owning responsibly.”
During the AHC Forum, members
of the Unwanted Horse Coalition made several plans for the next year, including
publishing the “Own Responsibly” handbook on the web site, developing a rescue
and retirement facilities listing and providing promotional items such as pens,
decals and lapel pins to help raise awareness of this issue.
AHC Forum participants had a
chance to hear about these activities and hear the stories of two horsewomen
who have first-hand experience with successful rescue and second-career horses.
Gillian Clissold, an event
rider and owner of Quarternote Farm in
Louise Foreman, of the Board
of Governors for the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc., shared
her experiences with the success of horses finding second careers as
therapeutic riding lesson horses. She said the need for these horses to be
donated is great, especially with a new pilot program they are developing for
injured Iraq War veterans.
These were examples of how
unwanted horses can find successful second careers when owners have the right
resources and education about their options. Spreading this message is an
important goal of the Unwanted Horse Coalition.
To learn more about the UHC,
visit the web site at www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org
or contact Katy Carter, coordinator, Unwanted Horse Coalition, at (202)
296-4031.
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NJ Horse Council President Receives American Horse Council’s 2007 Van
Ness Award
The American Horse Council
(AHC) presented the Van Ness Award to Jane Gilbert, president of the New Jersey
Horse Council, at the annual AHC National Issues Forum in
Each year the Van Ness Award
is given to a person in the equine industry who embodies the dedication and
service of the late Mrs. Marjorie Van Ness.
“Marge was a vital force in
the formation of the New Jersey Horse Council, the formation of AHC’s State
Horse Council Advisory Committee and a devoted member of the AHC Executive
Committee,” said AHC President Jay Hickey.
An extremely well-rounded
equestrian, Jane Gilbert has been involved with hunters, jumpers, dressage,
combined training, thoroughbred racing and breeding.
Mrs. Gilbert was the New
Jersey Horse Person of the Year in 2001. She has shown her leadership abilities
time and again, holding the following positions at one time or another. She has
been President of the New Jersey Bred Hunter Association, President of the
Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association, a member of the New
Jersey Equine Advisory Board, Board Member of ReRun Thoroughbred Retirement
Organization, Trustee of the Horse Park of New Jersey and a member of the RUBEA
Committee for the
“While most of us would
consider these obligations a full-time job, Mrs. Gilbert also maintains a
36-acre breeding farm, races homebred thoroughbreds and assists local
Thoroughbred adoption groups when she can. Additionally, she was a Blue Bridle
Insurance Agent for 23 years. No stranger to the legislative process, she
worked tirelessly for the passage of the New Jersey Equine Liability Law and
for expansion of the state Farmland Assessment Law,” said Hickey during the
award presentation.
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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.
Equine Science News
What Colors Do Horses See?
How do horses see color? What
does the world look like to them?
Light is detected by
specialized receptors in the retina at the back of the eye. The receptors
responsible for color vision are called cones .
Humans with normal color
vision possess three types of cones, each of which contains pigment that
responds to a different range of colors. Because they have three separate
populations of cones, roughly sensitive to red, green and blue light, normal
people are termed trichromats (literally “three colors”).
Any change in the amount of
pigment in the cones, or the wavelength of light to which it responds, can lead
to deficiencies in color vision (color blindness).
In contrast, most nonhuman
mammals are dichromats and have only two classes of cones.
Dr Evelyn Hanggi and Jerry
Ingersoll of the Equine Research Foundation,
Firstly Hanggi and Ingersoll
trained the horses to chose between two cards, one of which had a circle marked
on it. If the horse chose the card bearing the circle, by touching it with its
nose, it received a reward. For this initial training, Hanggi used a circle
composed of orange dots on a background of blue-green dots. This combination of
colors was chosen because it is visible to all humans, even if they are
color-deficient.
Once the horses had learned to
choose the card bearing a circle, the next stage was to test different color
combinations to see if the horses could differentiate them. The choice of
colors was determined by the colors that color-blind humans have difficulty
distinguishing. For example, people that are red-deficient (protanopes) can not
see a red-purple dotted circle on a dotted grey background.
If a horse could not
distinguish between the colors, it would be expected to choose the correct card
50% of the time purely by chance. So, to be sure that the horses’ response was
not down to chance the researchers set a target of 80% correct tests before
they would conclude that the horse could differentiate between the colors.
None of the four horses in
the study was able to distinguish a dotted brown circle on a dotted green
background. Neither could they see the circle when it was made of red-purple or
blue-purple dots on a dotted grey background. These findings were typical of
people with red or green color deficiencies.
However, the horses could
identify a circle of yellow-green dots on a grey dotted background. This shows
that they were not blue color deficient.
So, it appears that, compared
with humans, horses are red-green color deficient but not blue color deficient.
It is most likely that horses see the world in a similar way to humans with
red-green color deficiencies. Red, orange, yellow and green probably all appear
the same. Nonetheless, horses do just fine with limited color vision and
probably use other visual cues (brightness, hue variation, depth, etc.) to
function with ease in their environment.
For more details see:
Color vision in Horses (Equus
caballus): Deficiencies identified using a pseudoisochromatic plate test.
EB Hanggi, JF Ingersoll, TL
Waggoner.
J Comp Psychol (2007) 121(1),
65 – 72
For more information of the
work of the Equine Research Foundation and their learning and riding vacations
and internships see: www.equineresearch.org
For more about color
blindness in people see: http://colorvisiontesting.com
© 2007 Equine Science Update -- www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk
Reprinted with permission
Monthly
Poll
Last month we asked:
This month’s question: Has
any of your horse ever had colic?
To vote in our monthly poll,
go to www.hat-texoma.org and scroll
down to “Monthly Poll” on the home page. The results of this month’s question
will be published in our next issue. Be sure to stop by and cast your vote!
Extension
Service News
by Eddie Baggs,
CEA-Agriculture
Storing Big Round Hay Bales
Short
hay supplies in the last two years has ended with the blessings of above
average rainfall during the first six months of 2007. This onset of grasses has
produced an abundant quantity of hay this year, in which the quality will be
questioned later. But for now, we want to preserve the quality that we have at
baling time until feeding time.
Consider
the big round bales stored outside uncovered using net-wrap versus plastic
twine. The average dry matter loss (DM) for net-wrap is 7.3% as compared to
twine at 11.3%, granted that using net-wrap cost about $1 per bale more. If you
are going to sell hay, net-wrap has a better appearance and wrap that covers
the bale's edges has even more advantages.
Spoilage
or weathering is the result of moisture entering the bales combined with
temperature; this accelerates bacteria breakdown of the cellulose in the plant.
Moisture gets into the bales by rain on the tops of the bales, humidity, or
water puddling at the bottom of the bales. A 6 foot by 6 foot round bale of hay
will receive 22 gallons of water for every inch of rainfall. Weathering begins
slowly but then accelerates with time, because weathered hay is more easily
penetrated by rain and does not dry as rapidly.
Most
big round bales in this area are stored in rows end to end in a cigar shape. If
this is the case, producers should make sure ends are butted tight together on
a well drained area with bales running down hill to avoid a damming effect
trapping run-off water at the bottoms of the bales. Even better would be to put
rows on gravel or some type of bedding to avoid all hay-soil contact. Rows
should run north and south to allow maximum sun exposure to the rounded sides.
At least 3 feet should be left between rows to ensure sunlight penetration and
allow good air circulation.
Spoilage
losses can be 4 to 8 inches in depth on the outside of large round bales stored
outside with no protection, not to mention the loss of nutritional value. A
weathered layer 6 inches in depth contains about one-third of the bale's
volume, but decreases as bale size increases. Have you ever seen animals eat
the center out of a round bale? This is due to the loss of palatability on the
outer portion due to extensive weathering, and the animals’ refusal to consume
it.
Unfortunately,
many hay producers and buyers do not realize how huge their losses really are,
or that with little effort or expense they could be reduced considerably by
utilizing a few storage management techniques.
Educational programs conducted by the
A Bit of Humor
A Horse’s View of the
World
Arena: A
place where humans can take all the fun out of forward motion.
Bit: A means
by which a rider’s every motion is transmitted to the sensitive tissues of the
mouth.
Bucking: A
counter-irritant
Crossties: A
gymnastic apparatus.
Door or Gate Latch: A type of puzzle.
Dressage:
The process by which some riders can eventually be taught to respect the bit.
Farrier: A
disposable surrogate owner; useful for acting out aggression without
compromising food supply.
Fence: A
barrier that protects good grazing.
Grain: The sole
virtue of domestication.
Hitching Rail or Post: A means by which to test one’s strength.
Horse Trailer:
A mobile bear cave.
Hot
Jump: An
opportunity for self-expression.
Longeing: A
procedure for keeping a prospective rider at bay.
Owner: A
human assigned responsibility for one’s feeding.
Rider: An
owner overstepping its bounds.
Trainer: An
owner with mob connections.
Veterinarian:
A flightless albino vulture
Ask The Vet
by Dr. Katie Hayes, DVM
Electrolytes
Salt
A horse needs to take in
approximately 1 oz of salt per day to stay optimally hydrated, and up to 4 oz
of salt during hard work or hot weather. Salt contains sodium, which is a major
regulator of water in the body. Horses have developed a taste for salt, and
because their diets are normally low in salt they will seek it out. When sodium
is in short supply in the body, horses will adjust by secreting less out in
their urine and substituting other needed electrolytes such as potassium. This
substituting robs other tissues of electrolytes they need in favor of
maintaining hydration.
To ensure that your horse is
getting an adequate amount of salt, it may be added to the feed, offered free choice,
or a salt block may be provided. Salt should not be added to water unless pure
water is also readily available. One ounce per day while weather is cool or
work is light is enough to maintain your horse – that’s one pound every 16
days.
Potassium
Sweat contains approximately
80% as much potassium as it does sodium, meaning that as your horse sweats he loses anywhere from 2 to 25 grams of
potassium per hour of work. Unfortunately, most supplements are not effective
in replenishing potassium after work. This is because sodium has become
depleted and potassium is being excreted in urine to compensate for the low
sodium and to maintain hydration.
For adequate replacement of
potassium, first replenish sodium depletion and then address potassium deficiencies
with 5-10 lbs of good quality hay. Hay is rich in potassium, and just 5 lbs
contains a horse’s daily requirement.
Planning for exercise in
the heat
If you are planning any sort
of activity for your horse this summer, chances are it will be in the heat.
Here are a few tips to help keep your horse healthy:
Recipe of the Month
Orange Ice Cream Pie Servings: 8
|
1 pkg |
(1 lb) sugar cookie mix |
|
|
|
1/2 cup |
butter or margarine, softened |
|
|
|
4 cups |
orange sherbet |
|
|
|
2 cups |
vanilla ice cream |
|
|
·
Preheat oven to
375° F. In a medium bowl, combine cookie mix and butter; stir until well blended
(mixture will be crumbly).
·
Reserve 1-1/2
cups of mixture and set aside. In an ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate, press
remaining mixture over bottom and up sides of the plate; prick with a fork.
Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven and allow
to cool completely (about 1 hour).
·
On an ungreased
cookie sheet, sprinkle remaining mixture. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges of
crumbs begin to brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for
about 30 minutes.
·
While crust and
crumbs are cooling, place sherbet and ice cream in refrigerator to soften.
·
Scoop half of the
softened sherbet over pie crust and spread to cover crust. Sprinkle with 1/2
cup of crumbs. Scoop all of the softened ice cream over the sherbet and crumbs
and spread to cover. Sprinkle with another 1/2 cup of crumbs. Scoop remaining
sherbet over the ice cream and crumbs and spread to cover. Sprinkle with
remaining 1/2 cup of crumbs.
·
Freeze until
firm, 4 to 6 hours or overnight. Let stand 15 minutes to soften before cutting.
Variations:
substitute your favorite sherbet or ice cream flavors.