HAT
Chat Articles – September 2007
A word from our
President
HAT has had a tremendous and
productive year as a club even though enduring some challenges. This has been
accomplished through the leadership and participation of those that have been
involved and put in numerous hours to insure we succeeded in our projects, from
the HAT scholarship, educational clinics, monthly programs, to our fun shows.
October and officer nominations are just around the corner. Now is the time for
all good HAT members to come to the aid of their club! We need to start
thinking of next year’s officers now so we are prepared for nominations at the
October meeting.
Let’s not forget opening our
hands to assist those who have continually helped HAT and its members. As many
of you are aware, Roger and Jenni Dougan lost their entire home and its
contents to fire. Thankfully, there were no injuries to humans or horses. It’s
difficult to replace what was lost, but not impossible to help.
September starts off with a
bang with our HAT Fall Open Horse Show! Robin Chouteau, HAT Vice President, and
yours truly, HAT President, are excited about working together as show
managers. The common feeling from all who participate or volunteer at HAT shows
is “What a FUN show!” The HAT Fall Futurity and Open Show is
not far behind in October. Now is your chance to spiff up your steeds and come
show them off!
Looking forward to seeing you
soon at our meetings and activities! As always, HATs
and boots are optional! J
Happy Trails,
HAT Show September 8th
Don’t forget our upcoming
Autumn Show on September 8th at Loy Lake Arena in
Registration opens at 8am,
and the first class will show at 9. We hope to see you there!
HAT Trail Ride October 7th
HAT will hold its fall trail
ride on Sunday, October 7th, at 2pm at
HAT Futurity October 20th
Our final show of the year,
the annual Open Weanling / Yearling Futurity and Open Show, will be held on
Saturday, October 20th, at the TQHA Arena in
The entry fee and format for
the Futurity is the same as last year: 1st through 3rd
place in each class will split a cash jackpot (with added money) and 1st
through 6th places will receive ribbons, while the Grand and Reserve
Champions will each receive trophies.
A flyer for this event is printed
in this newsletter and will be available on our website, www.hat-texoma.org. The showbill is also
available for downloading from the website.
Association News
HAT Member’s Home
Destroyed By Fire
On
the morning of August 28th, a fire consumed the home of Roger and
Jenni Dougan. Roger is a Past President of HAT, Jenni is currently the group’s Treasurer,
and both have been actively involved with HAT for several years.
Despite
the combined efforts of over two dozen firefighters from five different fire
departments, their home and most of its contents was completely destroyed. The
cause of the fire is unknown. Fortunately, no one was in the house at the time,
and there was no other damage to their property or their horses.
Thanks
to the generosity of neighbors, local churches, family, and friends, Roger and
Jenni have already begun the process of recovery. Many HAT members who have
already heard about this tragedy have asked how they can help, and we are
working on several ideas. Please keep checking the HAT website (www.hat-texoma.org) for updates.
All
of us at HAT would like to express our deepest sympathies to Roger and Jenni
for this devastating loss.
Officer Nominations Begin In October
In
accordance with the HAT by-laws, nominations for officers to serve in 2008 will
be accepted throughout the month of October. All officer positions come up for
election each year – President, Vice President, 2nd Vice President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. In addition, there is one opening on the Board of
Directors (Board members serve for two years).
Nominations
can be made by any current HAT member, and those nominated for a position must
also be a current member. Nominations may be made by phone or e-mail. Elections
will be held at the November meeting.
State/Local News
Local 4-H Riders Perform Well at State
Competition
Several local 4-H’ers qualified for the
The following is
a partial list of local competitors and their performance at this year’s show:
Charlotte Barrier
Acacia Chouteau
Sarah Ferguson
HAT congratulates
these talented 4-H members, and we hope to see them again at our future shows!
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Fundraiser For
Local 4-H’ers Representing
Six members of the Texas Star
4-H Club Horse Project in
The 2nd place State Horse
Quiz Bowl team and the 1st place Team Educated Talk team (in the Horse
category) will be traveling to
To help with travel expenses,
there will be a huge sale on Saturday, September 15th, from 8am to 3pm at the Trades
Day Pavilion in Bonham. If you would like to donate items for the sale, please
contact Debbie Irvin at 903-640-2073 or e-mail irvin@woodsmanpark.com, or
Cash donations are also being
accepted. All donations are tax deductible.
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Animal Cruelty Charges Filed Against
A Wanette,
Court papers allege
61-year-old Charles Edward Johnson failed to provide adequate food, water,
shelter, and veterinary care to 50 horses, 56 donkeys and mules, and one llama on
his farm near Wanette.
According to the Pottawatomie
County Sheriff's office, a neighbor reported that one of Johnson’s horses was
sick with diarrhea that was eating away at its skin.
Sheriff’s Deputy Scott
Hawkins saw the sick horse, as well as thin horses, a horse skull, and other
bones when he went out to the property.
Johnson, a horse trader, said
the animals were regularly fed hay and grain, had ample water, and that
veterinary medicines were regularly obtained.
Court records show a charge
of animal cruelty was filed against Johnson in 2000, but that case was
dismissed.
National News
The
“The Tennessee Walking Horse
industry provides a very significant economic impact and much recognition for
our state,” said Dr. Alan Mathew, head of the Department of Animal Science at
the
Using high performance 3D
cameras and analysis from judges and veterinarians coupled with genetic markers,
study implementers would be able to record the gait of today’s Tennessee
Walking Horses in different disciplines. Historical films will be used to
analyze the natural movements of the breed at its inception. Study implementers
will then compare the motion of the breed’s foundation horses to the motion and
mobility of today’s Tennessee Walking Horses.
“We are very excited about
the information this study could provide us and its potential use to help
preserve the historic gait of our breed,” said Chuck Cadle,
executive director of the TWHBEA.
The study would also analyze
potential differences in horses’ weight distribution based on the way they are
shod.
“Certainly there’s a natural
evolution in the performance of show horses through breeding and improved
training methods, but this study will finally help us determine if today’s
horses are still in synch with the natural gait of this breed,” said Dr.
Mathew.
Cadle continued, “We base breeding decisions on performance
in the show ring, and that may not be the best way to preserve the natural gait
of this breed. This study will help us make the best breeding decisions so we
don’t dilute our population and compromise the gait that makes our horse
famous.
“We hope that with this
scientific information, we can all agree on what’s in the best interest of the
breed and how to move forward together. If today’s show horses are not
functioning the way the breed’s founding sires and mares did, then we as an
industry may need to change our expectations for this breed.”
If the study could be
initiated within the year, it could be completed by 2011. TWHBEA and UT intend
to seek funds for the project and are willing to discuss it with interested
parties.
The UT College of
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the
The Tennessee Walking Horse
Breeders' and Exhibitors' AssociationSM
(TWHBEASM), headquartered in
Media Contacts: Ann Ewing/615.780.3330
Legislative Update
Equine Dentists in
A group of equine dentists in
Earlier this year, the state
board sent out “cease and desist” letters to a number of individuals who practice
equine dentistry, ordering them to close their practices or face sanctions.
According to the state’s Veterinary Practices Act, which is consistent with
similar acts enacted in over half of the states across the country, the
practice of equine dentistry is specifically defined as part of the statutory
definition of veterinary medicine, and therefore only licensed veterinarians
are allowed to perform dental work on horses.
Although many of the
individuals notified have certifications attesting to their training and skills
in equine dentistry, none of them are licensed veterinarians.
On August 28, a lawsuit was
filed in Travis County District Court in
The lawsuit argues that the
Veterinary Practices Act conflicts with several provisions of the state’s constitution,
infringing upon the plaintiffs’ rights to “economic liberty” by limiting their
employment opportunities, as well as denying them equal protection under the
law. The suit further contends that the regulation of equine dentistry by the
state board amounts to the creation of an unconstitutional business monopoly
for the benefit of veterinarians. The plaintiffs believe they should be allowed
to continue practicing their trade as they have in the past, with little if any
regulation by the state government.
The central point of the
conflict is whether equine dentistry is a part of veterinary medicine, or if it
is similar to farrier work and falls outside of the medical profession. The
American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the largest professional
organization in the
A similar lawsuit was filed
earlier this year by the
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American Horse Council To Host National Issues Forum At Keeneland November 2nd
WASHINGTON, DC – The American
Horse Council (AHC) will host a National Issues Forum at the Keeneland Race
Track in
The AHC has announced that
the key topics slated for discussion at the November 2 forum will include:
All horse owners are invited
to attend this unique forum opportunity. Interested attendees are invited to
call the AHC at 202-296-4031 for further details. A complete schedule of
events, as well as a final list of speakers, will be made available by the AHC
in September. Further details will be posted shortly to the AHC web site at www.horsecouncil.org.
For more information about
the American Horse Council and this forum, please call 202-296-4031.
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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
How Much Does That Foal Weigh?
A new formula will make it
easier to estimate a foal’s weight, according to researchers in
It is often important to know
how much a foal weighs. Records of body weight can be use to monitor growth rate
and ensure accurate dosing of anthelmintics and other medications.
Obviously a weighbridge or
scale that measures the weight accurately is the “gold standard”. But, often
scales are not available. Visual estimates are often inaccurate. Many weight
tapes are not intended for use on foals under six months of age.
Various indirect methods of
estimating the weight have been described. These usually involve a calculation
based on measurements of parts of the body. While such systems might be
practical in adult horses, they can present difficulties in uncooperative
foals.
Researchers at the
The method requires only one
measurement to be taken. The distance around the heart girth is measured just
behind the elbow and 2.54 cm (1 inch) behind the highest point of the withers.
The measurement is taken just after the foal has breathed out.
Dr. Rodriguez and colleagues
measured 80 Thoroughbred foals weighing between 50 and 250 kg (110 and 550
lbs). Analysis of the data produced a formula that could be used to predict the
weight from the heart girth:
Estimated weight (kg) = G3 x
90
(where G equals the heart girth
measurement in meters)
Editor’s Note: since most of our readers do not use the metric
system, here is a version of the formula based on pounds and inches:
Estimated
weight (lbs) = G3 / 306.5
(where G equals the heart girth
measurement in inches,
and G3 equals G x G x G)
Example:
using a heart girth measurement of 45 inches
453 (or 45 x 45 x 45) / 306.5 = 297.3 lbs
A more complex formula (Wt =
G2.9945 x 0.000088, where G is the heart girth measurement in
centimeters) was found to give a more accurate result, but the scientists
suggest that this might prove too complicated for use on the farm.
They also found that their
method was not quite as accurate as one previously described by Dr. W.B. Staniar and others. However, it does have the advantage of
simplicity. In addition to heart girth measurement, Staniar’s
formula also includes the length from point of shoulder to point of buttock,
length of left foreleg and circumference of the knee.
The scientists recommend
their new formula for estimating a foal’s weight on the farm. Not only does it
give acceptable results from a single measurement, it is relatively simple and
can easily be remembered.
For more details, see
New formula for bodyweight
estimation of Thoroughbred foals
C. Rodriguez, L. Munoz, H.
Rojas, M. Briones
Veterinary Record (2007), 161, 165-166
© 2007 Equine Science Update
Reprinted with permission
Monthly Poll
Last month we asked:
This month’s question: When
your horse’s working career is over, how will his/her retirement years be spent?
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!
Trainer’s Corner
Classical Dressage Is Accessible To All
by Dr. Thomas Ritter
©2000 - All Rights Reserved
Classical dressage is at the
same time elitist and democratic, depending on what angle you are looking from.
It is important to keep in mind that you don’t need to be a Grand Prix rider in
order to be a classical rider. The determining factor is whether someone rides
in accord with the laws of nature and the classical principles, and that can be
done at any level, high or low. The quality of what you are riding is much more
important than how advanced the exercises are. Anybody who knows anything will always
respect an honest, classical 1st level rider more than a “wannabe” Grand Prix
rider who has all kinds of holes in his basic education.
As you progress along the
path of classical dressage, the number of your peers and “superiors” decreases.
If you are fortunate enough to rise to the level of the
Riding is eminently
democratic as well, because a good seat, tact, feel, and a thorough
understanding cannot be bought. They have to be earned. Have you ever noticed
that the riders with the most talented, most expensive horses are often the
worst riders? They are used to being able to buy everything they desire. So
they buy an expensive horse and expensive tack They
board their horse at an expensive barn with an expensive trainer. Yet, they
will never learn anything, unless they apply themselves wholeheartedly, and
their horse will never learn anything, unless the expensive trainer is also a
good trainer, which is not always the case.
Conversely, some of the best
riders cannot afford to buy horses whose talent matches their own level of
expertise. These “poor” but excellent riders then have to ride all the
difficult horses that nobody else can fix - which makes them even better
riders. But since this is very quiet, unspectacular work, it doesn’t translate
into fame and fortune the same way that riding fancy movements
on superhorses does. Without a good horse,
even the best rider in the world is just a pedestrian. That’s why some
excellent riders are completely unknown, although they may be better than most
Olympic participants, simply because they were never able to “show off” on a
talented horse with superior gaits. By the same token, mediocre riders
sometimes are highly overrated, because they are lucky enough to ride horses
that make them look good *in spite of* their limited equestrian expertise.
You may also have noticed
that some of the most talented students never rise above mediocrity in their
riding. Progress comes so easily to them that they never care enough to devote
themselves wholeheartedly to the pursuit of classical dressage. They get stuck,
and eventually stop riding altogether. On the other hand, those riders who want
most desperately to learn to ride are often not very talented at all. But their
perseverance and their almost “superhuman” efforts pay off over the course of
years and decades, especially if they have the help of a good teacher. These
less talented students then end up surpassing the much more talented ones, and
some of them even go on to become highly accomplished riders and teachers.
Dedication is maybe the most
important quality in a student. It can compensate for many other shortcomings
in much the same way as a willing, generous disposition can make up for many
conformation flaws in a horse. Often these seemingly less talented riders and
horses can surprise you by surpassing all expectations.
The demographic
representation of expertise is always pyramid shaped in any field. There is a
large base of novices and a small number of true artists who combine
dedication, talent, feel, and a superior education. These artists who form the
elite of their field should serve as role models and as an inspiration to
everyone who is involved in the field. Everyone who is serious about learning
and becoming accomplished in this field should strive within his possibilities
to reach this elite someday. The reason is that the
higher we aim, the higher we will climb, and life has a way of forcing us to
make compromises which tend to make us achieve less than we had aimed for. Even
if we don’t end up riding like
In the end, all we can do is
make an honest effort to do our best every day, whether it is at Training level
or at Grand Prix. If we do that, we can be content with what we have
accomplished. I often tell my students that the rider has to lead by example,
that we can only ask of our horse what we are willing and able to do ourselves.
In this case, we can say that the converse is also true. We can only ask of our
horse to make an honest effort, no more and no less. Nobody is perfect, so we
cannot reasonably expect perfection of ourselves or our horses. But that is
precisely what the armchair experts often do. The less practical experience and
expertise in the saddle someone has, the more critical he often is of others.
Nobody is safe from the armchair experts. Even great riders like Podhajsky often found themselves to be their targets. In
fact, they are probably more at risk, because they are more exposed, and
personal envy is a powerful motivation. Podhajsky
always shut all the ringside critics up by inviting them to get on his horse so
that he might learn from them. Not a single one took him up on his offer.
Extension Service News
by Eddie Baggs, CEA-Agriculture
Establishing Ryegrass Pastures
It
is getting that time of year to start thinking about planting fall pastures for
grazing. Annual ryegrass is the most popular cool-season grass partly because
it is relatively easy to establish and does not require large equipment
investments, which is very appealing to small landowners in the area. Ryegrass
does not have to be planted into the soil like small grains (wheat, oats, cereal rye). A successful stand can be established by simply
broadcasting the seed on top of the pasture, but the seed must have contact with
the soil. So before broadcasting onto a established
pasture such as bermuda, it is recommended to mow or
graze closely to increase seed-soil contact. The timing for this will be
anywhere from mid September through mid October, depending on temperatures and
available moisture. Early forage production may be increased if drilled into a
prepared seed bed. Ryegrass seed can also be mixed with the initial fertilizer application;
some fertilizer dealers offer this service to their customers. However,
remember that grazing may not be available until January. Many producers will
mix rye with a small grain to afford both early and late fall/winter grazing.
Another disadvantage to ryegrass over-seeding is that it may compete with your
warm season grass (bermudagrass) in the spring and can cause it to re-establish
slower. In fact you may lose the first cutting of bermuda by establishing ryegrass if not grazed
properly, so it is not recommended to over-seed the most productive hay fields.
Many
producers will turn to ryegrass and/or small grains for winter pasture to
lessen the cost and labor associated with feeding large amounts of high quality
forage to get through winter. Ryegrass varieties that are commonly used in this
area are: Gulf, Ribeye, TAM90,
Educational programs
conducted by the
A Bit of Humor
Save Money – Get A Horse!
Alright folks,
step right up! Tired of spending most of your paycheck on gas? No problem, I
have the perfect vehicle for you! Needs no gas, no oil, not even a battery;
just a little grass and water will do these animals fine. Now everyone has
different needs, so we have several models to choose from:
1. The Trail Horse – Your average run around town animal.
Has the energy to get where you are going, the brain to find the best way to
go, and is big enough to carry the normal sized American.
2. The Arabian – Perfect for those who travel long
distances in a day and try to multi task while driving. Although he may not go
to your home or office without specific instruction, he WILL go somewhere.
3. The Draft – Calling all soccer moms! This big guy can
carry the whole team, their gear and snacks. Just like the big machines, this
guy will require more fuel, and his shoes will be more expensive than a compact
model.
4. The Western Pleasure – The right horse for the high-end
white collar workers. This animal works harder and requires more special
knowledge so only the best can figure this out. Be sure to take your cell
phone. You won’t be stuck in traffic, you just won’t be getting anywhere fast.
5. The Parelli – Salesmen, stay at home moms, and high
school kids will all enjoy this dream. You can load him down with flapping plastic
shopping bags, ask him to walk in places a horse won’t fit, and you can dance
with him as you listen to the latest tunes.
6. The Ranch – The most dependable animal available. He
will go wherever you ask him to, at whatever speed is appropriate. You can tie
him to the stop sign and he will be there when you get back. Best of all, this
model has been specially engineered to be able to go without water for days and
stay fat and slick by eating sagebrush and dead prairie grass.
Of course, all models are
available in base colors (sorrel, bay, black). Special order colors (dun, gray,
palomino) are available, and custom paint jobs (overo,
tobiano, blanket, leopard) for an additional fee.
No horse is sold with a
warranty; however, maintenance plans are available in the event brakes,
steering, or accelerator fail.
Ask The Vet
by Dr. Katie Hayes, DVM
Equioxx
We have good news for horses
and horse owners this month. We attended a meeting in August to learn about a
new product that was just released in June for re-sale to horse owners. The
product is called Equioxx and is manufactured by Merial. It is in the same
class of drugs as
Equioxx works to battle pain
and inflammation much the same way as
Foal Vaccinations
|
Age
of Foal |
If
the mare was vaccinated before foaling |
|
4-5
months |
4-Way (EWT-Rhino) 1st
shot 1
West |
|
6
months |
4-Way (EWT-Rhino) 2nd
shot Rabies
1 shot |
|
8
months |
1
Intranasal Flu vaccination |
|
Age
of Foal |
If
the mare was not vaccinated before foaling |
|
3-4
months |
1st
EWT-West Nile combo |
|
4-5
months |
2nd
EWT-West Nile combo |
|
8
months |
Rhino-Flu
1st shot |
|
9
months |
Rhino-
Flu 2nd shot |
Foal
Worming: use Ivermectin liquid or
Panacur paste every 2 months
Pregnant Mare Rhino Vaccinations
Mares
that were bred in March or April are 5 months pregnant in September, so it’s
time for their 5 month Rhino vaccination. Mares that were bred in May will need
their 5 month Rhino vaccination in October.
Recipe of the Month
Italian-Style Beef with Mashed Potatoes Servings:
4
|
Beef: |
|
Potatoes: |
|
|
2 tsp |
Vegetable oil |
1-1/3 cup |
Mashed potato flakes |
|
1lb |
Boneless beef sirloin, trimmed of fat, cut into
bite-sized strips |
1-1/3 cup |
Water |
|
1 can |
(6 oz) Italian-style tomato paste |
1/3 cup |
Fat-free or low-fat milk |
|
1 cup |
Water |
1 tbsp |
Butter or margarine |
|
1 packet |
Low-sodium beef-flavor bouillon (from 1.1 oz box) |
1/2 tsp |
salt |
|
1/2 tsp |
Crushed red pepper flakes |
|
|
|
1 lb |
Frozen stir-fry bell peppers and onions, thawed and
drained |
|
|
·
In a large
skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook for 5 minutes or
until meat is browned.
·
In a medium bowl,
mix tomato paste, 1 cup water, bouillon, and red pepper flakes. Add tomato
mixture to beef. Add stir-fry vegetables to beef mixture and cook about 3
minutes or until mixture boils. Cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until
vegetables are tender.
·
In a separate
pan, prepare mashed potato flakes as directed on package using 1-1/3 cups of
water, milk, butter, and salt.
·
Serve beef
mixture over mashed potatoes.